Chapter 591 Reusing Huang Yu!
The next day, Wang Shen submitted his resignation, at which time he had just turned forty and was at the prime of his career in officialdom.
Shen Lanxi picked up the red pen and wrote, "Approved!"
Wang Shen's departure caused little stir, but Mr. Ruohua's entry into the court attracted much attention.
Even if she hadn't replaced the Ministry of Rites with her people and instead taken control of the Ministry of Works, the result would have been the same.
Shen Lanxi smiled and proceeded with the next steps of the plan.
Time flies by, should we fight in Tianjin or not?
The people went from initial anxiety to anticipation, and now to a more relaxed attitude.
"It's not easy to fight. Fighting requires money and food, and Zhou Ruyuan has neither."
“Zhou Ruyuan doesn’t have it, but our Great Zhou does! Why doesn’t Your Majesty take the initiative?”
"Could it be that she still has feelings for Zhou Ruyuan?"
"Pah..." The hatred of killing one's mother and the resentment of usurping the throne, are there still lingering feelings?
It's more like they still harbor resentment!
The people of Tianjin shared their puzzlement.
They wanted to escape, but all the key roads were guarded, and going through them meant certain death.
Although Zhou Ruyuan ostensibly reduced taxes and encouraged land reclamation, it was all just talk. Not only did taxes increase, but he also began conscripting laborers and conscripting able-bodied men. Previously, those under fifteen or whose families had only one male member were exempt from military service, but now no one cared. Anyone over thirteen who could wield a weapon was taken away.
With no men available, they began conscripting female guards.
With only the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled left at home, how much work can they do in the fields?
Not to mention, they would have to cultivate the land. They simply didn't have the physical strength to do that.
In many places, farmland has begun to be abandoned, and people who are able to move around have fled for their lives.
Just then, the number of pirates at sea gradually increased.
Zhou Ruyuan argued with his court officials every day. They all advocated attacking, but were unwilling to send their own troops. Everyone knew what they were up to.
Whenever he wanted to assign troops to someone, that courtier would refuse for various reasons.
Just as Zhou Ruyuan decided to go all out and send his troops to attack, pirates began to roam the seas again.
He had no choice but to send Liu Binglin to suppress the bandits.
With Liu Binglin no longer guarding Tianjin, Zhou Ruyuan was worried and had no choice but to shelve his attack plan.
Overwhelmed with worries, Zhou Ruyuan began to frequent the inner palace.
...
"Victory report from Pan Yunshan! The bandit leader Pan Yunshan has been wiped out..."
During the court session, Shen Lanxi received news of Pan Yunshan's great victory.
"good!"
A court official stepped forward.
"The general His Majesty sent to suppress the bandits was brave and valiant, and deserves commendation."
Shen Lanxi glanced at the man and said, "Promote Huang Yu to the position of Deputy Commander of the Capital Guard!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
After the news of Huang Yu's promotion spread, the Shen family finally learned that Huang Yu had gone on a mission.
Shen Yuantang's face was gloomy. She thought Huang Yu had left the Shen family, but she never expected that he would become the deputy commander of the capital guard.
After she returns to Beijing, won't she have to go back to live at the Shen family's house?
"Princess, the mistress is ordering people to repair the courtyard where Huang Yu lives," a maidservant reported.
Previously, Shen Yuantang was reluctant to accept the title of County Princess. However, as time went on and more women from the Shen family returned to the manor, she felt that without an honorific title, she wouldn't be able to control the women in the manor. So, she had her maids and servants change their address to her.
Shen Yuantang was somewhat displeased and immediately went to the inner courtyard.
"Mother, I heard that you are having the courtyard where Huang Yu lives repaired?"
Zhou Xinrou knew that Shen Yuantang wouldn't come to her unless he had a reason.
"Yes, she was promoted to deputy commander of the capital's guards for her meritorious service. If you see her again, do not act rashly."
Shen Yuantang would get very angry every time he heard his mother say that.
"Mother, she was able to earn merit only because His Majesty gave her the opportunity. If it weren't for His Majesty, with so many men, would she have been chosen?"
Zhou Xinrou's face instantly turned cold.
"shut up!"
Shen Yuantang froze, feeling somewhat fearful but still angry.
“Huang Yu is no ordinary woman, just like your older sister. If you continue to be so unruly, don’t blame me for finding you a disciplinary nanny.”
Shen Yuantang's expression changed.
She has just turned her reputation around. If word gets out that her family has hired a nanny to discipline her, what will people think of her?
"Mother, you're being unfair!"
Zhou Xinrou said coldly, "Yuan Xin is already married, and the family has already arranged for Yuan He and the others to find suitable husbands."
"You've been divorced for a long time now, it's time to find someone to rely on and get married."
Shen Yuantang stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "Mother, I don't want to get married."
No matter how she refuted, Zhou Xinrou said as if issuing a notice: "There is no woman in the world who will not get married. Your mother will not harm you. You can stay in your room these days and embroider your wedding dress and wait to get married!"
Shen Yuantang's face was pale, and his eyes were somewhat panicked.
“Mother, everyone in the capital knows that I used to be from the Zhennan Prince’s Mansion. With my status, who would want to marry me?”
Zhou Xinrou had made up her mind.
"I will prepare a generous dowry for you, and then I will request an imperial decree to grant you marriage, so you can marry in style and honor."
"I won't marry him!" Shen Yuantang shouted.
Zhou Xinrou also lost her temper.
"You have no choice, Granny. Take her back to the courtyard. No one is allowed to let her out without my permission!"
The two old women immediately carried it out.
"Let go, let me go..."
"Mother, why are you doing this to your daughter..."
The two old women warned in a low voice.
“Miss Yuan Tang, if you don’t want to lose face, then don’t call me that.”
“We old servants won’t bother to apprehend you, and you won’t lose face.”
Shen Yuantang struggled a few times, but when he realized it was no use, he gave in.
"Let me go, I'll walk by myself!"
The two old women immediately let go and stood on either side of her like door gods.
Huang Yu was just an outsider, so why did her mother treat her better than her own daughter?
My mother wasn't one to meddle in other people's business; things only changed after Huang Yu saved her.
Shen Yuantang gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing.
...
Huang Yu, a woman, already garnered attention for winning the martial arts championship. Now, she has quietly wiped out Pan Yunshan's bandits, drawing even more attention from the people.
Shen Lanxi even praised this person during the morning court session, clearly indicating that she intended to entrust him with an important task, which aroused much discussion among the officials in private.
"Your Majesty is a woman, so naturally you favor women. It seems that it will be difficult for us men to rise in the future."
"Huang Yu's victory as the martial arts champion was purely by luck. If it were a different group of people competing, she definitely wouldn't have won!"
"Huang Yu is also Princess Minrou's goddaughter, so she's sure to have a bright future in her official career."
Zhou Xinrou was very satisfied with Shen Lanxi's speech in court.
This daughter is fairly obedient.
Huang Yu quickly dealt with Pan Yunshan's matter and returned to Beijing to report on his work.
Shen Lanxi even ordered a special welcome banquet to celebrate the return of her meritorious officials.
"Your Majesty, I have successfully fulfilled my mission, annihilating the bandits and reclaiming Pan Yunshan."
Shen Lanxi saw Huang Yu's spirited demeanor.
The eunuch held the waist token and official robes of the deputy commander of the capital's guards, waiting for his imperial pronouncements.
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