Chapter 649 Xiao Fang proposes to Liu Xian!
"Your Majesty, in the past few days, twenty-five carrier pigeons and six carrier hawks have flown out of the Shen family. They are all children who have complained to their family."
The pale-faced eunuch bowed and reported to Shen Lanxi.
What are they all saying about me?
She rarely had free time, so she was very happy to listen to the little ones' complaints.
The pale-faced eunuch took out a copybook and began to read it aloud one by one.
“Shen Emei complained to Shen Yuanjing that no one in the family cared about them. Her grandfather drank heavily every day, her grandmother burned incense every day, her grandfather’s concubine’s courtyard was tightly closed and she would not see anyone. Her younger brother and sister only knew how to cry and make a fuss, and Shen Chengfeng talked back to her every day and did not act like a younger brother at all.”
"Shen Chengfeng cheated on all these exams, and the teacher favored him..."
“Shen Chengfeng complained to Shen Yuanxu that Shen Chengfeng would make things difficult for him all the time, and that he always beat Shen Emei in the exams.”
“Shen Peng did not file a complaint, but only mentioned that he wanted to transfer from the Imperial Academy to the Common People’s Academy.”
“Shen Ying…”
“Chen Ting…”
Shen Lanxi listened very patiently, but then offered no comment.
It's just a bit of fun. At their age, aside from some jealousy, they haven't thought about hitting anyone yet, which shows they're already well-educated.
"You did very well, keep it up!" The pale-faced eunuch immediately smiled and stepped aside.
The pale-faced eunuch was a descendant of the Li King. After he was cured, he was sent to Shen Lanxi's side to take over Wang Bao's position.
He considered himself nameless and gave himself the name Nu'er. He had been in the palace for two or three years, but no one called him by his name. Everyone just called him Eunuch.
He clearly defined his position: he was His Majesty's henchman.
Every emperor had a eunuch by his side, who was like his right and left hands.
...
The person in charge of the Shen family has already chosen a place for the Shen family's children. Naturally, they will favor their own children to attend good academies.
Unfortunately, all the arrangements were interrupted by an imperial edict.
"His Majesty has entrusted the arrangement of the academy to the Ministry of Rites, and the arrangements are as follows."
"With delicate eyebrows and a gentle breeze, Shen Chengfeng enters Bailu Academy!"
"Shen Ying and Shen Peng are hereby admitted to Liufang Academy."
"Sinking..."
After going through all the arrangements, the Shen family was dumbfounded.
"Shouldn't girls attend girls' schools? How can they study in schools for all boys?"
The pale-faced eunuch stared at Liu Shi with a gloomy expression: "In another month, there will be no more girls' academies in the capital. From now on, men and women will all have to study in the same academy."
"What, do you have any objections to His Majesty's arrangements?"
Liu looked terrified.
Opinion?
She wouldn't dare have it.
Men and women attending the same academy? How can that be allowed?
That would cause chaos!
Seeing that Liu was about to lose her temper again, Shen Conglian quickly whispered a reprimand to her.
"You'd better shut up. Even an imperial edict can't shut you up!"
After the pale-faced eunuch left, Shen Conglian reprimanded him again.
"If you still can't control your mouth, then spend an hour in the ancestral hall every day."
Liu looked as if the sky had fallen.
The ancestral hall is full of memorial tablets; she would never go there, no matter what.
She still has nightmares every day, dreaming of the old lady and the people in the fourth house.
The children in the fourth house, in particular, all stared at her longingly, reaching out to her and begging her to save them.
She wakes up in fright every night, can't sleep well at night, and has no energy during the day. She looks even more haggard these days than when the old lady and the others died.
I couldn't hold back my tears again.
"Crying, crying, crying! All you do all day is cry! What bad luck!"
Shen Conglian angrily turned and left.
Miao was not much better off than Liu. Unlike Liu, who was so frightened that she couldn't keep her mouth shut, Miao was so frightened that she was somewhat speechless.
When it comes to making decisions, she becomes mute; she tries to speak but her mouth just won't cooperate.
~
"Second Brother, are you really sending the children?" Shen Congli asked, his face full of worry.
Shen Conglian sighed.
"What can we do? Do you dare to tell them?"
Who dares? If anyone should go, it should be him.
No, that's not right.
"We can't count on the eldest brother, let the princess go instead."
Shen Conglian curled his lip: "The princess can't rely on anyone either."
Shen Congli started complaining again: "It's all the fourth brother's fault. He insisted on courting death. We told him to stop messing around, but he wouldn't listen. Now look what happened, we can't even trust him anymore."
Shen Conglian still tried to think positively.
"Not necessarily. Her Majesty hasn't punished the rest of the Shen family; she's only taken action against those who are courting death. As long as we behave ourselves, she won't do anything to us."
Shen Congli kept his head down, his eyes flickering.
Who knows what will happen in the future?
...
The capital received a series of urgent reports from Tianjin, and Shen Lanxi ordered them to be read aloud in the imperial court.
"Zhou Ruyuan's remaining followers have all been captured. Twenty-six stubborn ones have all been executed. Six hundred surrendered, and one thousand surrendered voluntarily. All of them have been distributed to the Northwest and Southwest regions."
"Since taking office, the Governor of Tianjin has been resettling displaced people, persuading pirates to become civilians, inspecting islands, building merchant ships, distributing land to the people, and arranging jobs. A total of 26,000 displaced people and pirates have been resettled and registered in the household register."
"The construction of the merchant ships is nearing completion, and they will be ready for use in two months."
"Governor Yuan Lang also established academies and clinics in Tianjin and actively learned from the experience of surrounding cities. Garrison commander Xiao Fang assisted him from the side. The two, one a scholar and the other a warrior, worked together seamlessly."
"Commander Xiao Fang wiped out the remaining pirates and assisted Governor Yuan Lang in registering the pirates. Twenty-seven pirates who refused to surrender were killed. The rest of the pirates, under pressure, all surrendered and were convinced of his authority."
"Xiao Fang has pacified fifty-seven islands of varying sizes, of which fifteen have been garrisoned. He has been actively training his troops and has already gained initial control of the navy."
Xiao Fang suggested that after two more months of training, a match should be arranged, and such matches should be arranged at least twice a year.
“And another…” The pale-faced eunuch glanced at Liu Mingxin as he read this.
At this moment, Liu Mingxin was completely unaware.
Shen Lanxi: "Read it!"
The pale-faced eunuch said, "Xiao Fang begs to marry Liu Mingxin's daughter, Liu Xian, on his knees!"
Shen Lanxi: "..."
Officials: "..."
Liu Mingxin: "..." Angry!
Who is Xiao Fang that he would ask to marry his daughter?
His daughter is a top scholar, and even the Emperor praised her as having the potential to be a prime minister. Xiao Fang, on the other hand, is at best a nobody.
Shen Lanxi watched helplessly as Liu Mingxin went from being stunned to being filled with rage and ferocity.
"This...this Xiao Fang is really a scoundrel!" Shen Lanxi cursed dryly.
"How can such family matters be discussed in the imperial court? How can they be placed together with imperial documents? This is utterly absurd!"
She had hoped to ease the tension and reduce the pressure on Liu Mingxin, but she underestimated the extent of a father's anger, which stemmed from his love for his daughter.
"That damned Xiao Fang, daring to threaten this old man!"
Shen Lanxi was dumbfounded: How did it become coercion?
"Don't even think about it! He's like a toad trying to eat swan meat! I won't allow it!" Liu Mingxin shouted angrily, his face flushed red.
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