Chapter 457 The Imperial Sword Re-emerges to Preside Over the Martial Arts Examination!
Ignoring the clamor of his officials, Emperor Renxiao was worried about something else. The problem of grain seeds was considered solved. But what about the deaths of the third prince of the Yue Kingdom and his envoy?
"Lanxi, what do you say?" Emperor Renxiao was also somewhat displeased with Shen Lanxi's exchange. After all, silk was an important export product of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and before this, they had always firmly held the technology in their hands. Four bolts of silk produced by their Great Zhou Dynasty could be sold for hundreds of gold pieces in other countries.
Shen Lanxi: "I think we should get through this hurdle first, since it will take the Yue Kingdom's envoy more than half a year to arrive. As for this grain, I only learned by chance that it was provided by the Yue Kingdom to the two traitors. I guess I intercepted it!"
Emperor Renxiao's eyes lit up, and he immediately slapped his thigh and exclaimed "Good!"
All his daughters combined couldn't compare to Shen Lanxi.
He had secretly ordered Shen Lanxi to give the rebels a warning, thinking she had forgotten because she was busy, but she gave him such a big surprise.
Those who had just submitted petitions to attack and annihilate the enemy all looked bitter, never expecting that Shen Lanxi would resolve the situation so easily.
How could Shen Lanxi be so lucky!
Emperor Renxiao was overjoyed. Considering that it would take half a year or even a year for the Yue Kingdom's envoy to arrive, there was still a lot of room for maneuver in between, so he was no longer in a hurry.
He asked in a gentle tone, "How did you persuade the Moon Kingdom's envoy about the deaths of the Third Prince and his envoy?"
Shen Lanxi: "At first, I threatened them. If they didn't take off their shoes, I would unite with other countries to attack the Moon Kingdom. After they became afraid, I said that we could sign a friendly diplomatic relationship with them, and if other countries attacked them, we would send troops to their aid immediately!"
Emperor Renxiao, pondering the hidden motives, deepened his smile.
"Lanxi, you've done a great job. I can't think of anything to reward you with!"
Shen Lanxi immediately replied respectfully, "This is what I should do, and I dare not ask for any reward!"
Emperor Renxiao thought for a moment and immediately came up with an idea.
"I hereby bestow upon you an imperial sword. With this sword, you may kill any treacherous ministers and villains!"
Shen Lanxi: "Your subject kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's grace!"
The first thing Shen Lanxi did after court was to accept the imperial sword and enshrine it at home.
Since her hasty return to the manor after the princess's funeral, this was the first time Shen Lanxi had seen her family.
The Shen family was thrilled to see what Shen Lanxi brought back.
"I've never even heard of this sword!" Shen Conglian practically pressed his face against the sword in its dragon-scale scabbard.
The arrival of the imperial sword dispelled some of the gloom hanging over the Shen family.
Madam Shen said, "Your sixth aunt is taking people back to Jiangnan tomorrow, so let's have a family reunion dinner at home today!"
Shen Lanxi nodded in agreement.
Shen Shuniang's son's affair terrified Shen Huiniang. She never expected to gain nothing and instead ruin her entire family.
Shen Huiniang deeply felt the danger in the capital and the danger to the Shen family.
She now regrets coming to the capital. If she hadn't come, they would still have officially severed ties with the Duke of Huguo's mansion. Now that they've come, if something happens to the Duke's mansion, they'll be implicated again.
The Shen family's ship is not sailing steadily!
After a hurried family dinner, Shen Huiniang urged her children to leave before dawn. By the time Old Madam Shen sent someone to deliver money after daybreak, Shen Huiniang's family had already left the capital.
The court officials had strong opinions about Shen Lanxi's use of cloth technology to exchange for grain seeds, and privately they all said that Shen Lanxi would ruin the foundation of the country.
However, the public's attitude towards Shen Lanxi began to change little by little due to the continuous flow of grain seeds.
"What's wrong with women? You're a man, can you get us some seeds? If not, shut up."
"When you're really starving to death, who cares if she's a man or a woman? She'd be my ancestor!"
The people happily took their allocated grain seeds and farm tools home.
Another year has passed in the blink of an eye, and several children of the Shen family have been born.
The two men sent by the rebel king have reached the final stage of their stalemate with Zhou Ruyuan.
The two envoys could no longer bear it and secretly met together to discuss the matter.
"Emperor Renxiao certainly doesn't want us to be divided up. Our lives are in grave danger here!"
"Why don't we two disguise ourselves and leave the capital quietly before dawn?"
"You go through the south gate, I'll go through the north gate!"
"good!"
Zhou Ruyuan never relaxed his guard against them; he received news immediately whenever they made a move. He personally watched the two men leave the capital, and after they had traveled three miles, he ordered their execution!
After such a long standoff, he finally completed his reception duties.
Zhou Ruyuan let out a long sigh of relief. He hadn't expected Shen Lanxi to actually have a way to solve the grain problem. He had thought that receiving envoys would be such a simple matter, yet it had dragged on for so long!
Whether this development is good or bad is hard to say!
...
The eldest prince, who had been away for a long time, sent back news that the flood control was going well and that the people's hearts were with him!
Emperor Renxiao remarked that sending the eldest prince out was the right move.
"Let my son gain more experience for two more months, then summon him back!"
Seeing that Emperor Renxiao was in a good mood, Wang Bao promptly delivered the good news.
"Your Majesty, news has come from Consort Xiang and Consort Liu that they are carrying the Emperor's son. Noble Lady Rou, Noble Lady Liang, and Consort Xin have also been diagnosed with pregnancy. Congratulations, Your Majesty! Our Great Zhou is blessed with a series of joyous events and continuous good fortune!"
Emperor Renxiao was even more excited. Previously, some of his concubines had become pregnant, but never in such a concentrated manner. Many children bring many blessings—indeed, which emperor at his age could be so vigorous and energetic!
Thinking of the elixir presented by Song Daoxi, Emperor Renxiao not only bestowed honors upon the pregnant concubines but also sent many gifts to Song Daoxi.
Before the imperial examination was about to begin, a major event occurred in the capital: the entire family of the Vice Minister of Rites was massacred, and the neighbors, who lived just a wall away, did not hear a thing.
The Minister of Personnel and his family of more than twenty people were involved in this major case, which quickly reached the ears of the emperor.
Emperor Renxiao personally appointed Zhou Ruyuan to thoroughly investigate the case, with the Ministry of Personnel, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Ministry of War cooperating in the handling.
The people of the capital were in a state of panic, and Wu Yanzhi stepped forward to make a proposal.
"Your Majesty, the special imperial examination is a grand event. I suggest that we hold another military examination to pave the way for the civil examination."
Emperor Renxiao immediately thought of the prosperous era of the previous year.
Letting the common people see warriors fighting fiercely can indeed divert their attention.
"Very well, let's do as the Left Chancellor says, let's start with the military examinations, and then the civil examinations."
Grand Tutor: "Your Majesty, the chief examiner for this year's special imperial examination will also depend on Your Majesty's personal appointment."
After a moment's consideration, Emperor Renxiao said, "The martial arts examination is for Shen Lanxi. I'll leave the martial arts examination to the Grand Tutor."
"Your humble servants accept the imperial decree and express our gratitude!"
The officials left the court.
Shen Lanxi's current status is beyond question; wherever she goes, officials bow and see her off. Women bow in greeting, not daring to look her in the eye.
The Shen family descendants once again threw themselves into the arduous task of supervising Shen Congwen's examinations for official rank.
At this moment, Shen Yuanxu once again stood up in a high-profile manner and expressed his passionate sentiments that he was willing to be the torchbearer, to teach and educate people, and that he would never take the exam for official rank or take up students' places in his life!
Although the last sentence is debatable, Shen Yuanxu's spirit has deeply inspired the teachers and students of Bailu Academy. For a time, the call for Shen Yuanxu to lead Bailu Academy was pushed to its peak, even overshadowing the academy's dean!
(End of this chapter)
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