thenovelthief Chapter 246 Second Uncle: Your Majesty, just blink if you need anything.
Chapter 246 Second Uncle: Your Majesty, just blink if you need anything.
Shen Congzhang cried, "Your Majesty, there are still dozens of lives left in the Shen family! The old lady is almost seventy years old. You can't let her end up with her head separated from her body, dying without a complete corpse!"
Shen Shixi was completely bewildered. "Second Uncle, what are you talking about?"
Knowing he wasn't as cunning as his niece, Shen Congzhang didn't mince words and said directly, "Your Majesty, I humbly request an audience!"
"If you want to see me, then see me. Why make it sound so scary?" Shen Shixi was quite speechless. "Anyone who didn't know better would think I'd done something monstrous!"
Shen Congzhang breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that he could see the emperor.
The emperor, leaning against the headboard, was reading a storybook. Hearing that Shen Congzhang had arrived, he quickly tucked the book under the covers and said, "Come in!"
Hearing that the emperor's voice was normal, Shen Congzhang felt a little relieved. After entering and paying his respects, he secretly glanced at the emperor. Hmm? How come he's still acting normally?
"Your Majesty, I have heard that Your Majesty is unwell. May I ask how you are?" He winked at the emperor, meaning, if you have any problems, please tell me, and I will certainly correct them.
"Does my beloved minister suffer from an eye ailment? Fortunately, the imperial physician is here; may he take a look?" Li Yuanke said.
Shen Shixi then realized something was amiss and scoffed, "Second Uncle, what do you mean? You think I've imprisoned the Emperor and am controlling the court? Oh, no wonder you want to see the Emperor, have you come to his rescue?"
Li Yuanke couldn't help but laugh.
He was handsome, and when he smiled, it was like a plum blossom blooming beautifully in the warm winter sun, filling the palace with its sweet fragrance.
The Shen family is really interesting.
Normally, if you suspect your niece of doing such things, shouldn't you rush to help?
This second uncle actually thought of saving the emperor!
Seeing the Emperor smile, Second Uncle knew he was overthinking things.
He wasn't embarrassed at all, but said, "Your Majesty, the Empress has summoned me to discuss some political matters. Is this Your Majesty's decree? The Empress is a concubine, and according to ancestral rules, the inner palace is not allowed to interfere in politics. If people find out, it may be detrimental to the Empress."
Li Yuanke said, "I have been ill recently, feeling unwell and quite tired. However, state affairs cannot be neglected. I trust Chenyuan, and she is capable of handling them. What's wrong with that?"
Shen Congzhang wondered, was this a matter of trust or distrust?
"Your Majesty, what if the court officials find out..."
"Why don't you just keep quiet, Second Uncle?" the Emperor said.
Shen Congzhang kowtowed repeatedly, "Your Majesty, I dare not, I am unworthy of such an honor!"
He thought to himself, "The King of Han and the King of Kang are your uncles!"
The emperor had only said it casually and didn't bother to argue. "Why has the Imperial Noble Consort summoned you?"
Shen Shixi then said, "According to the memorial from the Prefect of Huai Prefecture, there has been no rain or snow since last winter. Generally, if a place does not receive rain or snow, it will not be limited to just one prefecture or county; the surrounding areas will inevitably be affected as well. I have already asked Cen Yin to send people to investigate."
This year will inevitably see a severe drought, so we must prepare in advance. We don't know how long the drought will last. In any case, spring planting will definitely be delayed. Fortunately, corn, cotton, potatoes, and sweet potatoes can be planted later. I would like to ask my second uncle to go and guide agricultural production. That's one reason."
The emperor nodded.
Shen Shixi continued, "Secondly, Second Uncle, please pass on a message to Third Brother: have him go to Huaizhou to develop this year's business. Huaizhou's crop has always been wheat, but last winter was dry, and this year it's possible there will be no harvest at all."
How will the common people live? The Bian embroidery and porcelain industries can flourish there. Let him set up workshops, hire workers, and pay them. Also, send the Ministry of Works to repair the roads connecting Huaizhou to the capital and other parts of the country, paying the labor costs with grain.
She handed her second uncle a list that suggested setting up sugar factories, Ru porcelain kilns, fruit canneries, knitting sweaters, and Bian embroidery, all of which were her ideas to develop the local economy and provide a way for the people to make a living, given the existing sugarcane and beet cultivation.
No one could have planned it better than Shen Shixi!
Li Yuanke asked himself if he could have done this, and he doubted that any emperor in history could have done it as well.
"Xi'er's consideration is excellent; let's do as Xi'er wishes."
Shen Shixi said to his second uncle, "Second Uncle, there is still no progress on the porcelain matter. You should ask your third brother to go to Ruzhou to find local old craftsmen, build a large kiln, and fire porcelain that can be called Ru porcelain. If there is any good porcelain, it can be sent to the palace as tribute."
When I passed through that area years ago, I saw some porcelain being made that was truly beautiful. It resembled jade but was not jade, yet it surpassed jade in beauty. Its colors were elegant and natural, like the sky after rain when the clouds parted. If this could be developed, it would be a good thing for the local area.
Shen Congzhang never doubted his niece's abilities. Since it was permitted by the Emperor and she was ill, he couldn't force her and returned home trembling with fear.
He handed over the task to Shen Shilang, packed his things, gave instructions to the people in the Ministry of Works, and asked them to prepare crop seeds. Then he took his people and luggage and went to Huaizhou.
Shen Shilang didn't linger. He took a few stewards and hurried off to Ruzhou to get the kilns up and running.
Huai Prefecture was indeed experiencing a severe drought, just as Shen Shixi had predicted. It wasn't just Huai Prefecture; several surrounding prefectures were also facing the same situation. Most prefectures in Henan Province were in the same state, as were some prefectures in Hebei Province.
The Pei family was also talking about this matter. The prefects of some prefectures in Hebei and Henan provinces were Pei Xiang's people, including his students, relatives by marriage, old friends, and new acquaintances. This time, there was a drought there. Last winter there was no rain or snow. Pei Xiang knew about it, but the emperor did not.
"Duan Huaixiu submitted a memorial, and now the Emperor must know about the severe drought in Huai Prefecture. This matter cannot be kept secret for long. But this action will certainly provoke the Emperor to strengthen his defenses."
"Moreover, if the people of the nearly ten prefectures were to rebel, how could we face the late emperor?" Prime Minister Pei said.
Pei Xunli returned home for the New Year and said, "If we incite a popular uprising, that will be our opportunity. Father, we can't wait any longer. You know the Empress's situation in the palace; she's no match for that vile woman, Shen!"
Prime Minister Pei remained silent.
Pei Xunli then exchanged a glance with Gao Shizhong.
Gao Shizhong asked, "Brother-in-law, what are you really thinking? You haven't changed your mind, have you? You can let Shen go, but do you think Shen will let us go? Your nephew and niece died at her hands, as did your own daughter and son;
She's no ordinary woman; she won't let us go. We're sworn enemies!
Prime Minister Pei sighed, "How could I not know? But once we take action, war will break out, and the people will suffer, with corpses littering the fields. Perhaps the Northern Sands, the Western Mausoleum, and the Eastern Sea will also take advantage of the situation. How can I bear to do that!"
Pei Xunli was terrified, fearing his father would change his mind halfway through. "Father, are we just going to surrender?"
Gao Shizhong was also afraid. "Brother-in-law, you can't be soft-hearted at a time like this! It's either you or me who lives. If you're soft-hearted, none of us will survive."
Lady Shen is even more insidious than Daji; she bewitches the emperor, brings disaster to the country, and with such a vixen in the harem, the emperor can never be a wise ruler.
Madam Gao arrived, ostensibly to deliver soup and drinks, but in reality, she came to participate in the discussion.
"Your Majesty has seen the Empress's predicament. If Fenghua were here, she would be the Empress today, and I wouldn't be worried at all. But Linghua is different; her personality is not suitable to be Empress. Not to mention that the Emperor has never taken her seriously, she herself is simply incapable of standing on her own feet."
They were raised in the same way from childhood, but some people are just hopeless and can't be helped. What can parents do?