Chapter 46: Great achievements shock the master
Although the plague in the south of the city had subsided, the storm in the imperial court, just as Jiang Mianmian had predicted, followed closely behind.
The saying goes, "When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked."
Throughout history, the phrase "merits that overshadow the ruler" has led to the deaths of countless heroes and valiant figures. Now, Regent Shen Jin, along with his princess, has rescued the people from suffering, and his prestige is at its zenith, even subtly overshadowing the young emperor among the common people. This naturally touches a nerve with some.
The morning court session was held in the Golden Palace.
The atmosphere was even more oppressive than during the outbreak of the plague.
An elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a scarlet official robe, was kneeling in the center of the hall, weeping and kowtowing repeatedly.
This person is none other than Yu Tiezui, the head of the Censorate, known for his "stubbornness".
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! This old minister has something to report!"
Holding a thick memorial in his hand, Yu Tiezui spoke with grief and indignation, “The Regent Prince Shen Jin, taking advantage of the plague, arbitrarily mobilized the Imperial Guards, sealed off the capital, and even allowed the Princess Consort to win over the people in the south of the city, erecting a shrine for them to live in and receive the worship of thousands! This is… this is usurpation! This is utter disrespect! This is wolfish ambition!”
"Now the people only know the Regent, not His Majesty! If this continues, will the country still belong to the Shen family? Does His Majesty intend to watch a powerful minister usurp the throne?"
These words were like daggers to the heart.
The young emperor sat on the dragon throne, feeling as if he had nails stuck to his bottom. He glanced at his expressionless uncle standing below, then at the censor spitting as he spoke, his little face scrunched up in a frown.
“Well… Minister Yu,” Shen Xingchen said weakly, “the Imperial Uncle did it to save someone… and the Imperial Aunt’s memorial tablet was erected by the people themselves…”
"His Majesty!"
Yu Tiezui was heartbroken. "You are still young and don't understand the wickedness of people! This is called 'killing with praise'! This is called 'creating momentum'! If it is not checked and balanced, I'm afraid... I'm afraid tomorrow this will not be the Golden Palace, but the Regent's Palace's back garden!"
The surrounding Empress Dowager's supporters echoed her sentiments:
"I second that! The Regent's achievements are too great and threaten the Emperor's authority; he must relinquish his military power to appease the people!" "The Princess Consort is spreading heresies, and that 'goddess' theory is utterly absurd. I beg Your Majesty to order the demolition of the shrine!"
Shen Jin stood at the head of all the officials, his expression indifferent.
He is like a majestic mountain, standing firm and unmoved by wind and rain.
But only he knew that his hand, hidden in his sleeve, had clenched slightly.
These people are targeting him, that's one thing.
It was a terrible mistake, a huge mistake, to throw mud at that woman who had been working tirelessly for days and nights to save people and was now catching up on sleep at home.
Spreading rumors and misleading the public?
If it weren't for that "witch," would you old fogies still be standing here spewing nonsense? You'd be lining up for coffins in the south of the city by now!
"Lord Yu."
Shen Jin finally spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying a chilling coldness, "You say I'm trying to win people's hearts?"
"Isn't that so?" Yu Tiezui retorted, "Does Your Highness dare to say that the people of the south of the city aren't calling your name now?"
"Whose name the people recite is their business."
Shen Jin stepped forward, staring intently at him. "All I know is that if I hadn't sealed off the city and if the Princess hadn't administered the medicine, your entire family, Lord Yu, would probably be on the road to the underworld by now. Is this how you repay your savior?"
"You...you're just spouting nonsense!" Yu Tiezui was so angry that his beard trembled. "Even if it costs me my life, I will expose your true colors!"
"Death advice?"
Shen Jin sneered, "Fine. Then I'll see whether Heaven will take you or me."
...
After the court session, at the Regent's Palace.
Jiang Mianmian had just woken up and was gnawing on a pig's trotter to replenish her collagen when she saw Shen Jin return with a dark expression.
Yingyi quietly reported the events in the court.
After hearing this, Jiang Mianmian's pig's trotter no longer tasted good.
Holy crap! Is this old man crazy?
[Is this what they call eating from the bowl and then cursing the cook? I worked myself to the bone to save them, and they want to tear down my memorial tablet? And call me a witch?]
[You're Yu Tiezui, right? The Censor-in-Chief, right? Fine, you just wait!]
Jiang Mianmian tossed the pig's trotters onto the plate, pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth, and her eyes flashed with a fierce light that seemed to be a form of "physical exorcism."
"Your Highness."
She looked at Shen Jin with a serious expression, "It's one thing for this old man to bully me, but he's bullying you too. You can tolerate this, but I can't."
Seeing her flustered appearance, half of the gloom in Shen Jin's heart dissipated.
"What do you want to do? Go beat him up?" Shen Jin raised an eyebrow. "He's a civil official, his body is fragile, he can't withstand a punch from you."
"Beat him up? That's too easy on him, and it'll just give people something to talk about."
Jiang Mianmian sneered, took out a small straw doll from her sleeve, and then took out a needle.
"I want to—put a voodoo doll on him! To curse him!"
Shen Jin: "..."
He looked at the crudely made straw figure with the words "Yu Tiezui" written on its head, and his lips twitched.
This...this is her method of retaliation?
Isn't that a bit too... childish?
"Will this... work?" Shen Jin asked skeptically.
"Of course it works!" Jiang Mianmian said with a charlatan's air. "This is called 'divine retribution'! I observed the heavens last night, and I know there will be thunder and rain tonight. This old man has done so many bad things, and his mouth is so sharp, he'll definitely be struck by lightning!"
Hehe, of course not by using voodoo dolls.
I want to give him a 'scientific' shock.
Have you heard of Franklin? Ever heard of a lightning rod? Just put an iron rod on the tallest chimney on his roof, connect a wire to it… and tonight, he'll have no choice but to take the lightning!
[Dare to call me a witch? Then I'll show you what real 'sorcery' is!]
As Shen Jin listened to her plan, although he didn't know who Franklin was, the words "lightning rod" sounded impressive to him.
This woman can actually control lightning?
No, it's using lightning.
"Shadow One".
Jiang Mianmian beckoned, "Come here, I have a secret mission for you. It's dark and windy tonight, go to Lord Yu's rooftop..."
She leaned close to Yingyi's ear and whispered something to her for a while.
Yingyi was stunned: "Your Highness, putting down an iron rod... can really attract lightning?"
"Don't worry, trust science." Jiang Mianmian patted his shoulder. "Remember to wear rubber-soled shoes, or you'll end up getting yourself killed."
...
That night, the capital was indeed shrouded in dark clouds, with lightning and thunder.
An autumn rain, accompanied by rumbling thunder, pressed down with a deafening roar.
The Imperial Censor's Study.
Yu Tiezui was sitting under the lamp, writing furiously, preparing to write another lengthy "Proclamation Against the Regent," hoping to humiliate Shen Jin even more severely tomorrow.
"Boom—!"
Thunder rumbled outside the window.
Yu Tiezui snorted: "Even the heavens are angry! They must be displeased with the regent's abuse of power!"
He was engrossed in writing and didn't notice that above the roof, a thin iron rod stood alone in the wind and rain, like an upright middle finger pointing straight to the sky.
Meanwhile, on a rooftop not far away, Yingyi, wearing Jiang Mianmian's specially made "insulated shoes," was huddled in a corner waiting to watch the show.
"Crack—!!!"
A blinding bolt of lightning ripped through the night sky, like a silver snake dancing wildly, precisely drawn to the iron rod and striking straight down along it!
The electric current instantly pierced through the roof, shattering the tiles, and headed straight for the study with devastating force!
"boom!!!"
With a loud bang, a large hole was blown open in the roof of the study in the Imperial Censor's residence.
Tiles flew everywhere, and roof beams broke.
Yu Tiezui, who was writing an article swearing at someone, suddenly saw a flash of white light, followed by a huge heat wave, and felt as if he had been slammed against a wall by an invisible hand.
"ah--!"
The screams were drowned out by the thunder.
...
The next morning.
An explosive piece of news swept through the entire capital city.
"Have you heard? The Imperial Censor Yu has been struck by lightning!"
"Really?"
"It's absolutely true! Last night, in the middle of the night, a bolt of lightning struck straight into his study and ripped the roof off! I heard he was writing a memorial criticizing the Regent's wife at the time!"
"My God! Is this divine retribution? Even the heavens can't stand it anymore?"
"It seems the Regent's wife is truly a goddess! Anyone who insults her is doomed!"
Inside the teahouse, the people were buzzing with discussion, their gazes toward the Regent's Palace filled with even greater awe.
Meanwhile, at the Regent's Palace.
Jiang Mianmian listened to Yingyi's report and laughed so hard she rolled around on the couch.
"Hahaha! It's burnt? It's really burnt?"
Yingyi suppressed a laugh: "Your Highness, although he is not dead, his hair and beard have all been burned off, and his body is as black as charcoal. He is currently lying in bed talking nonsense. The imperial physician said... he was scared out of his wits."
"Should!"
Jiang Mianmian slammed the little straw figure covered in needles onto the table. "This is what you call—scientific cultivation of immortality, boundless magical power!"
Shen Jin sat to the side, looking at the smug little woman, and then at the little straw man who had supposedly succeeded in "cursing" her.
Although he knew it was all thanks to that "lightning rod," to outsiders, it was Jiang Mianmian's supernatural power.
After this incident, the ministers in the court who had originally wanted to echo Tie Zui all backed down.
Who would dare gamble with their life? What if they were struck by lightning?
"The princess's move of 'using the heavens to kill' is truly ingenious."
Shen Jin peeled an orange for her. "Now, I'm afraid no one in the court would dare to call you a witch anymore."
"That's right."
Jiang Mianmian took the orange, her face full of arrogance, "Whether I'm a demoness or a goddess depends on how well they behave. If anyone dares to bully you again..."
She waved her little fist, "I'll give them another 'thunderbolt from a clear sky' performance!"
Shen Jin felt a surge of tenderness in his heart as he looked at her protective manner.
He reached out, took her fist, and kissed it.
"good."
"From now on, all the thunder in this major operation will be under the control of the Princess."
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