Shen Conglian skillfully slipped a few silver notes into the pale-faced eunuch's hand.
The pale-faced eunuch raised the corners of his mouth: "Your Majesty is really busy, after all, he will be making a southern tour after the New Year! I stay up with Your Majesty every day until the wee hours of the morning. If I didn't have some powder on my face, I would be too embarrassed to go out and see people."
Upon hearing this reason, Shen Yuanhao's expression softened considerably.
"Your Excellency, you must remind His Majesty to take care of his health!"
The pale-faced eunuch said, "Of course, this servant must hurry back to report."
"His Majesty is only used to the ink that I grind for him; he can't get used to ink that anyone else grinds for him!"
Shen Conglian and Shen Congli hurriedly and obsequiously saw the eunuch out.
Shen Yuanhao's expression darkened again.
"He's just a eunuch, yet he dares to act so arrogantly in front of us."
Shen Conglian hurriedly advised, "Even a seventh-rank official is subject to the prime minister's authority. It's better to offend a gentleman than a petty person. He's a favorite of the emperor. Not to mention me, even the current prime minister has to treat him with utmost respect."
Shen Yuanhao, who had been stationed at the border for many years, found it difficult to adapt at first.
They are His Majesty's closest people. Does His Majesty know that the eunuchs around him are treating them like this?
She certainly didn't know that he would definitely tell His Majesty next time he went to the palace.
...
"Your Majesty, I have returned to report." The pale-faced eunuch carefully looked around, and seeing that no one else was in the room, he took two steps toward the dragon throne.
Shen Lanxi's gaze was deep and unfathomable: "Do you think I'm cold-blooded and heartless?"
The pale-faced eunuch stepped forward two more times until he held the ink stick in his hand, then respectfully said, "Your Majesty is the ruler of a country, and should be decisive in killing and wiping."
To utter the phrase "womanly compassion" is to tarnish Your Majesty's reputation.
"Your Majesty is already very busy with countless affairs of state every day. You have already protected the Shen family for so long, and they cannot rely on Your Majesty's protection indefinitely. What Your Majesty is doing now is a wise move."
Shen Lanxi smiled: "After being sent to Guigu for several years, you have learned quite a lot."
The pale-faced eunuch gave a rare, simple laugh: "It's all thanks to His Majesty's wisdom."
Shen Lanxi suddenly asked, "Am I old?"
The pale-faced eunuch's eyebrows twitched, as if he had been startled. His face turned pale, and he knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"Your Majesty is in the prime of your life; please do not let the idle gossip of the previous dynasty disturb your mind."
She chuckled.
“A man who does not plan for the future will have trouble in the present. I just want to nip some ideas in the bud.”
As for how to execute the decapitation, examples have already been left by our predecessors.
As dawn broke, Shen Lanxi had already gotten up.
A hand reached out from inside the tent, as if trying to get up.
"You can continue sleeping. I will get up at this time every day from now on."
Cheng Zheng ignored him and insisted on getting up.
The pale-faced eunuch's voice rang out: "Your Majesty only went to sleep at midnight last night. It's not time for the morning court session yet. Why don't you sleep a little longer?"
Shen Lanxi: "No need."
After getting dressed, Shen Lanxi led the two to the training ground.
The Moon-Companion Blade hummed in the cold wind. Although it was still incredibly sharp, it had gained more of a craftsman's touch and less of a killing intent because its owner hadn't used it for a long time.
"How long has it been since I last came to this martial arts arena?" Shen Lanxi asked the two to wait there, and walked forward alone with a smile.
Cheng Zheng knew better than the pale-faced eunuch about His Majesty's feelings for this sword. This sword had accompanied His Majesty in battle, and after the war, it was here to guard the land.
His Majesty has been busy with state affairs and has not practiced martial arts for a long time, let alone touched the Star Companion Blade.
Although the pale-faced eunuch had never witnessed His Majesty's heroic figure in battle, he longed to see it.
At this moment, both of them looked at the person who drew the Companion Star Blade with one hand with excitement, and their eyes involuntarily reddened.
A person doesn't only cry when they're sad; they can't help but shed tears when they're excited.
One cut, two cuts, three cuts... sixty cuts.
His Majesty wielded the longsword, which weighed over a thousand pounds, sixty times, each strike cutting through the air with unwavering speed and swiftness.
"From now on, I will go to the martial arts training ground every day and strike the ground with my sword sixty times."
There was no movement in the court on the first day, but when the court resumed on the second day, all the officials knew about His Majesty's sixty slashes with his sword.
By the third day, the news had spread throughout the entire capital.
Those who had previously whispered behind His Majesty's back that he was getting old and that in order to consolidate the empire, he needed to establish an heir as soon as possible, all fell silent.
That knife would require six strong men, even in their prime, to lift.
His Majesty is busy with state affairs every day, but he has not neglected his martial arts skills.
The call to establish an heir apparent was extinguished like a candle flame.
Given His Majesty's current physical condition, he can remain on the throne for at least another twenty years.
With the return of the two sons of the Shen family, the New Year arrived.
On the last day of the Lunar New Year, Shen Lanxi summoned the Shen family.
Shen Conglian and Shen Congli led Shen Yuanxu, Shen Yuanjing, and Shen Yuanhao into the palace.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"
Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "Rise, we are all family, there's no need for such formalities."
Although the words sounded warm and friendly, the Shen family had already sensed the difference.
Shen Conglian and Shen Congli forced smiles, but didn't know how to respond.
The three sons of the Shen family had always been away from home and had not experienced the deaths of Shen Congyi, Madam Shen, and Zhou Xinrou. They had not truly experienced the oppressive feeling of having a sword hanging over their heads, so their expressions were much more relaxed than those of Shen Conglian and Shen Congli.
Shen Yuanxu: "Your Majesty is the ruler, and we are the subjects. The country comes first, then the family. Therefore, the ceremony of bowing is naturally indispensable."
Shen Yuanjing: "Your Majesty, now that the whole world has submitted and all the people have turned their hearts to you, they all rely on Your Majesty's governance. Your Majesty must be very tired."
Shen Yuanhao: "Your Majesty must take good care of your health."
Shen Lanxi smiled and said, "Although the world has been settled, we cannot relax. I have only been sitting firmly in the court for a few years, and I cannot be like the foolish emperors of the previous dynasty who were complacent and indulged in pleasure. No matter what, I always keep in mind the four words 'be prepared for danger in times of peace'."
Shen Yuanjing was looking forward to the reunion of her siblings and the family, but she didn't expect to hear these empty words. For a moment, she felt that the people in front of her were somewhat unfamiliar.
"Your Majesty, I heard you plan to make a southern tour after the New Year?" Shen Yuanxu asked.
Shen Lanxi: "Yes, I have already made arrangements for you. After the New Year, one of you will accompany me on my southern tour, and the other two will stay in the capital. As for the selection, we will decide on them after the New Year."
The three sons of the Shen family instantly forgot their estrangement and began to have other thoughts.
"Now that the border is safe, you three brothers can stay in the capital to take care of the elders and teach the children!"
Shen Yuanhao and Shen Yuanjing both found excuses to return, but Shen Yuanxu was the only one who officially stayed in the capital after going through the proper channels and receiving an imperial decree.
Yuan Hao and Yuan Jing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
Now they don't need to find excuses to stay in the capital anymore.
Does Your Majesty's saying this mean you still cherish family ties and wish for your loved ones to stay by your side?
No matter how strong a woman appears, she will always soften her heart when it comes to her family.
Shen Yuanxu had a longer-term vision than Shen Yuanjing and Shen Yuanhao. When he relinquished his military command at the border, he worried about losing real power. Now it seems that this empire still needs the brothers' help to protect it! (End of Chapter)
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