Especially now that he is Shen Fengmo, Lord Pei is considered a senior official in the court and a man of integrity among scholars. If the Empress Dowager were to learn of the intricacies of the matter, she would most likely make an issue of it.
The author of the book said he would enter the palace two years later, but now it has happened so much earlier, and that feeling of unease that was beyond his control resurfaced.
Jiang Wang focused on his power struggle with the Empress Dowager. When gods fight, mortals suffer, and the most difficult situation is for the common people below!
Jiang Wangchoed these days, and she understood why. Summer was almost over, but the national treasury had no money to provide relief to the disaster victims. The famine and displacement outside were getting worse, and the disaster victims from the flood still had not been properly dealt with.
Thinking of the day she encountered the young man in brocade robes who rode his horse and drove away the refugees, she felt a tightness in her chest.
Heavy-hearted, Jiang Wang returned to the study. With a headache, he leaned back in the armchair. Hearing footsteps, he knew who it was without even looking.
"Did you see your uncle?"
Shen Mingzhuang hummed in agreement, not hiding anything from him. It was probably difficult to avoid Jiang Wang's notice when he was meeting people in the palace, so it wasn't surprising that Jiang Wang knew.
She only uttered one word, but Jiang Wang could tell she was preoccupied. He opened his eyes and, unusually gently, called out to Meiling.
Shen Mingzhuang, who was tidying up the bookshelf behind him with his back turned, turned around at the sound and saw Jiang Wang looking at him with a worried expression.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly stepped forward to ask him what he needed.
Is something on your mind?
Shen Mingzhuang saw the bloodshot in his eyes and felt a slight pang in her heart. She felt a pang of sympathy for Jiang Wang at that moment. She quickly suppressed her chaotic feelings and shook her head, saying, "No."
"You're not telling the truth." Jiang Wang looked at her with certainty, as if he could see right through her.
Shen Mingzhuang, who had been keeping something to himself, readily agreed and said, "Your Majesty, I feel sorry for the people of the world."
"Why do you say that?" Jiang Wang looked at the person in front of him seriously. Her beautiful eyes were watery, as if they were filled with spring water. Every time he looked at her, he couldn't help but be captivated by them.
Shen Mingzhuang then recounted what he had witnessed that day to Jiang Wang, and then stared intently into Jiang Wang's eyes, which were deeper than the night sky. "After hearing that cannibalism had occurred in Huainan that day, I was restless every night. Seeing the luxurious clothes and sumptuous meals in the palace, the feasts and banquets in the mansions, unaffected by the fires and floods outside, I felt..."
As she spoke, her voice grew softer and softer until she finally fell silent.
Jiang Wang was, after all, an emperor. It was one thing for me to speak so boldly, but if I were to insult the royal family, I was afraid I would anger him.
"Do they think that we, the royal family, are exploiting the people, holding positions without doing any work, unworthy of our positions, and unworthy of the worship of the people?"
Shen Mingzhuang was surprised by Jiang Wang's sharp and insightful remarks, which made her feel quite relieved and unable to say anything more.
Jiang Wang let out a long sigh of relief, feeling quite pleased. He laughed and said, "How could I not know what people think of me? They all say I am tyrannical and a tyrant, unworthy of being the son of a sage. Many people dream of rushing into the Taiji Hall and taking my head. But who knows my difficulties? Everyone has their own difficulties, and the emperor is no exception."
Just as he finished speaking, Tan Yonglin's hurried footsteps sounded outside. He quickly entered the study and stepped forward to report, "Your Majesty, a maid from the Empress Dowager's palace has come to announce the Empress Dowager's imperial decree!"
He glanced at the Emperor in fear and said in a trembling voice, "It is the imperial decree bestowing marriage upon Shen Fengmo."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
