The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits

"This is what His Majesty wears. Aren't you afraid of His Majesty blaming you for destroying it?" The woman was taken aback by Shen Yu's abnormal behavior and her face changed dramatically.

"If it's broken, it's broken. His Majesty only cares if I had fun while breaking it," Shen Yu turned around and spoke in a slightly cold tone, "Send this lady back."

The plan fell through before it even began. The woman was unwilling to let it go and looked at the broken jade pendant with resentment flashing in her eyes.

What's worse than having something she desired so much being easily obtained by someone else? She had been waiting for an opportunity, but it was ruined so easily, and in this way.

She knew that Shen Yu was warning her not to touch things she shouldn't. But why? Shen Yu was just lucky enough to enter the palace first, why was he showing such a high-handed attitude?

"Your Highness, does His Majesty know that you are so jealous? I just wanted to return His Majesty's jade pendant, and you just broke it..." The woman spoke with a soft voice.

Shen Yu stopped in his tracks and looked coldly at the woman, "I thought everyone knew that I am not someone to be trifled with. Don't let me catch you with any improper thoughts in the future, otherwise..."

The pressure in the young man's eyes was like a mountain pressing down on her. The woman had no doubt that if she dared to do anything, her fate would be the same as that of the jade pendant.

She was too hasty. She almost forgot about the incident where a woman deliberately fell on His Majesty and was still being held in the Jade Pavilion.

Realizing her mistake, fear began to surface in her heart. Even if she had more ambition, she was still an unmarried woman who couldn't compare to Shen Yu in terms of knowledge.

"What's the commotion?" A man's deep voice came from behind.

Shen Yu turned his head and saw Shang Junlin walking towards them from another direction.

He was originally discussing matters with the prime minister and several other ministers when he suddenly received news that a woman was causing a disturbance and demanding to see him. She even claimed that she wanted to return his personal belongings. However, Shang Junlin immediately dismissed the messenger and had no intention of meeting with the woman. If it weren't for hearing that Shen Yu had gone out, he would never have come out.

"Your Majesty." Everyone present saluted.

Shang Junlin waived their courtesy and walked straight to Shen Yu, without even looking at the tearful and beautiful woman whose tears were about to fall.

"Is Ah Yu feeling better today?"

Since that night, Shen Yu had been unwell. Shang Junlin was extremely worried, and only after having Doctor Gu examine him and confirm that he was fine, did he finally relax. He did not dare to let anyone disturb him for these few days.

Shen Yu had actually rested well for a few days, and his spirit had gradually recovered.

When he arrived, Shang Junlin had already roughly understood what had happened. It was just a woman he didn't know, and he didn't want to bother with it.

Shen Yu nestled into Shang Junlin's arms. "Your Majesty, I dropped your jade pendant. Will you be angry with me?"

"As long as Ah Yu didn't mean to drop it, it's just a piece of jade," Shang Junlin held Shen Yu's hand and brought it to his eyes. "Did Ah Yu get hurt?"

Shen Yu was originally a bit unhappy, but Shang Junlin's actions made him laugh. "It was just a jade pendant. How could I get hurt?"

"If you don't like it next time, you can let the people around you smash it. You don't have to do it yourself." Shang Junlin pinched Shen Yu's fingers.

"That woman..." Shen Yu glanced at the woman outside.

The woman had finally seen Shang Junlin and had wanted to do something. If she could plant a seed of discord between Shang Junlin and Shen Yu, it would be even better. But who would have thought that Shang Junlin completely ignored everyone else, not even giving her a glance.

The woman's face was pale, and she seemed to be about to collapse at any moment. However, no one felt any sympathy for her weakness.

Several of the women who came out of the palace are not simple. They can see through the true intentions of these women at a glance. Since their purpose has not been achieved, and the emperor has not punished them, why are they pretending to be victims?

"Bring them back and have them copy the female precepts as punishment. Order their family elders to take good care of them. I don't want to see the same thing happen again."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Also," Emperor Shang Junlin slowly rubbed his fingers and said, "Don't let these people come to bother the Noble Consort again next time, disturbing his mood. I will hold you responsible."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"The Emperor allowed these people to bring their families here as a grace, but who knew they would have so many ulterior motives behind their backs."

Of course, Shen Yu knew that not only this woman but there were also others with similar thoughts. Whether it was for power or something else, there would always be people who would throw caution to the wind.

Emperor Shang Junlin was decisive and gave no face to that woman. In no time, everyone in the palace knew that the daughter of the Minister of Revenue had attempted to get close to the emperor but was instead disgusted by him.

The Minister of Revenue flew into a rage and ordered, "Lock up this embarrassing thing. Without my permission, no one is allowed to release her!"

He knew his daughter had some ulterior motives, and to be honest, he was also tempted. Looking at how well Shen Yu was being treated now, he could only imagine how great it would be if his daughter gained the emperor's favor after entering the palace.

Because of this little scheme, he did not stop his daughter's actions, but he never expected that Emperor Shang Junlin would be so ruthless.

Now everyone knows what his daughter did, and she is ridiculed both overtly and covertly. The Minister of Revenue was born into a prestigious family and had already paved the way for himself to become the Minister of Revenue. How could he have ever imagined experiencing such humiliation?

"Your Majesty is trampling on the face of my Tan family," the Minister of Revenue slammed down a cup of wine.

"Not only that, but our Emperor is a man with a plan. Do you really think he is only targeting the Tan family? Obviously, he wants to use this matter as an example to warn us not to have any wrong intentions!"

"The emperor has had prejudices against the aristocratic families for quite some time now. Originally, we planned to send more rational and well-informed women from the aristocratic families into the palace to ease tensions between the two sides. However, who would have thought that the emperor would be so infatuated with a man that he wouldn't want anyone else? Our plans had to be shelved."

Allowing those rumors to spread was also a test for them. Previously, the emperor rarely had contact with women from aristocratic families and could easily see them anytime he wished. Perhaps if he liked them, he would change his mind.

The emperor did not pay attention to those private rumors. Just when they thought they saw an opportunity, the emperor struck a heavy blow and shattered their illusions. It was not a tacit approval, but rather an opportunity to resolve the issue all at once.

After this incident, no one dared to have such thoughts, and even if they did, they would not show it. Each family would restrain their own members and subordinates, as they could not afford to lose face.

After a bout of anger from Emperor Shang Junlin, Shen Yu never encountered similar incidents again. Mu Xi also said that no one dared to discuss such things privately anymore.

Shen Yu was quite satisfied with this result. Anyone would be unhappy if their people were always being watched by others.

Even during the hottest time of the year, the temperature in the palace was not too high, and it was even a bit cool at night. Shang Junlin could finally hold Shen Yu without being repulsed.

Every three days, the imperial edicts from the capital would be delivered to the palace. Today was the day for their delivery, and Shen Yu watched as Meng Gonggong directed a group of eunuchs to bring the edicts into the study, and then to carry the finished edicts out of the palace.

"Why are there so many edicts this time compared to before?" Shen Yu asked in surprise as he walked in and took a glance.

"Those aristocratic families who stayed in the capital received the news from the palace. I estimate that more than half of these edicts are related to that incident."

Shang Junlin finished signing the edicts in his hand and ordered, "Meng Chang, sort these out and put the less important ones aside."

Meng Gonggong skillfully went to distribute the papers. Shang Junlin led Shen Yu out of the study.

"The people in the capital have already started using ice. The Ministry of Works has asked Us for the recipe for making ice, but We have not given it yet."

Now, those who have been arranged to make ice are people from the imperial estates, which belong to Shang Junlin personally. Shang Junlin specifically ordered that the recipe for making ice should not be leaked.

"Your Majesty, don't give it to them yet," Shen Yu suddenly thought of another use for saltpeter: making weapons with high killing power.

"After the establishment of the new department, I want to put the recipe there." Shang Junlin was referring to the Bureau of Investigation and Research that the court was preparing, which would be independent of all government departments and directly under the emperor's jurisdiction.

In the beginning, it was agreed that officials entering the Bureau of Investigation and Research would not have the same power as the six ministries. There were not many objections to this plan, except for the Ministry of Revenue.

Because of the establishment of the Bureau of Investigation and Research, it would inevitably require a lot of money. The Minister of Revenue was more concerned about the money in the national treasury and wanted to spend every penny on the knife's edge.

"I want the Bureau of Investigation and Research to be completely separate from the court. If the profits from the things produced can be used as the next research cost, they will not be restricted by any power in the court. I want a pure Bureau of Investigation and Research that will not have too many entanglements with other officials." Shang Junlin spoke of his plan.

Shen Yu thought it was good.

"Is the Deputy Minister of Revenue impeaching me again?" Since that incident, the Deputy Minister of Revenue had not been pleased with Shen Yu. He could find fault with anything Shen Yu did, and he had not hesitated to distort the facts.

"Ah Yu, don't worry, We will avenge you." Shang Junlin had also had his eye on the position of Deputy Minister of Revenue for a long time.

The two strolled to the lakeside, where the lotus flowers were in full bloom. A delicate boat was parked by the shore. Shen Yu led Shang Junlin over. "Does Your Majesty know how to row a boat?"

"A little."

That meant he knew how to.

"Your Majesty, shall we row the boat?" Seeing the interest in Shen Yu's eyes, Shang Junlin did not refuse. Meng Gonggong wanted to call a few guards who knew how to row a boat, but Shang Junlin refused.

He got on the boat first and then helped Shen Yu onto it.

The boat was not large, just enough for two people. Shang Junlin rowed the boat to the center of the water and stopped.

Shen Yu reached out to pick a lotus seedpod not far away and successfully picked one. He opened it and fed one to himself.

It was very sweet.

Seeing that he liked it, Shang Junlin rowed the boat closer and picked some more, and placed them next to Shen Yu.

"Ah Yu likes them. When we go back, we will ask the kitchen to make some lotus seed pastries for you."

"Is there any in the palace?"

"Of course, there are many different varieties of lotus flowers in the palace."

The weather in the palace was cool, even when the sun shone down, it was not too hot. Afraid that Shen Yu would get sunburned, Shang Junlin picked a lotus leaf and held it over Shen Yu's head.

Shen Yu ate the lotus seeds, which were sweet in his mouth. He peeled one and held it up to Shang Junlin's mouth, saying, "Your Majesty, have some too."

Shen Yu's hand was very white and under the sunlight, his fingers appeared crystal clear. As he held the snow-white lotus seed between his fingertips, it was unclear which was more enticing, the lotus seed or his fingers.

Shang Junlin's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.