National Division

Chapter 83 Mr. Shen Answers All Questions in the World… (Double monthly vote period, please vote!)

Shen family ancestral home

Shen Lin nodded, his aged gaze sweeping over the group of women, and said in a hoarse voice, "Everyone's here. It's so late, and you haven't eaten yet?"

"We've been waiting for you and your son." Old Madam Shen stood up, looked at Shen Lin, and asked, "I just heard from my daughter-in-law that something happened to Shen Bin and his grand-nephew Shen Xian."

Du's almond-shaped eyes, beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows, gazed intently, their expression filled with worry.

Shen Lin looked at Shen Zheng with a stern expression and said, "Tell your mother."

Shen Zheng's tone was filled with excitement as he explained, "Mother, Mu Zhi has been appreciated by the Empress and promoted to Academician of Zhaowen Pavilion and Commander of Zhuque Division, holding the rank of Senior Fifth Grade."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall was shocked and began whispering amongst themselves.

No, Mu Zhi is... Shen Xian's courtesy name?
From the fifth rank?

The old master is only a fourth-rank official, is this just a joke?
Shen Lin walked to the armchair next to Old Madam Shen and sat down. A servant served him fragrant tea, and he slowly withdrew. He coughed lightly, and the hall immediately fell silent.

Shen Lin said in a complicated tone, "The Empress Dowager values ​​Mu Zhi highly and treats him with great courtesy, personally bringing him out of the Dali Temple."

As Shen Lin, the most esteemed patriarch of the Lanxi Shen clan, confirmed the news, the women in the inner hall of the mansion were shocked.

Du's bright and beautiful face was filled with disbelief.

How can it be?

Madam Zhou was equally surprised. Her son, Shen Jun, was studying at the Imperial Academy under the patronage of the emperor and had not yet entered officialdom. No, even if he did enter officialdom through the imperial examination, unless he ranked first in the palace examination, it would take many years for him to rise to the fifth rank.

Shen Lincang glanced at everyone and said, "Muzhi may be going back to the manor to stay later. Have someone prepare a quiet and elegant courtyard."

He was about to retire, and Mu Zhi would become the new pillar of the Shen family in Lanxi.

Madam Shen said, "Master, how old is Xian'er? How did he suddenly become a scholar of the Zhaowen Academy?"

Shen Lin picked up his teacup, his tone filled with excitement: "Gan Luo became prime minister at the age of twelve, and Huo Qubing was ennobled at the age of seventeen. Ambition is not limited by age; without ambition, one lives a hundred years in vain."

He may one day have the potential to become a prime minister.

At this moment, the faces of Shen's relatives in the hall all changed drastically.

Upon hearing this, Madam Shen asked, "What about the marriage agreement between the Shen family and the Yu family?"

Shen Lin said, "Mu Zhi upholds integrity and follows the right path. He does not harm the blind woman. The Empress has already pardoned the Yu family girl. As for the Yu family's matter, perhaps... there is still a chance for a turnaround."

Upon hearing this, Madam Shen breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Shen Qian snorted and said, "Second Uncle, when Mu Zhi came to the mansion today, he said that he was stopped by the servants outside the gate, and that he did not recognize Mu Zhi as a member of the Shen family of Lanxi."

This was the first time Shen Lin had heard of this matter. His thin, bony brows furrowed, and he suddenly looked at Shen Zheng, demanding, "Is this true? I always taught you brothers to restrain the servants in the household. How could you do such an arrogant thing?"

Shen Zhengdao: "Father, I was quite angry about this matter before, but I didn't have time to deal with it."

Of course, in Shen Zheng's eyes at that time, Shen Xian was just a junior member of the Shen family. Although he was annoyed by the servant's rudeness, he did not want to make a big fuss about it.

The practice of tailoring one's treatment to the individual is ubiquitous.

Shen Lin said coldly, "Expel the servant who blocks the way from the Shen residence! If the Shen family has any more servants with such arrogance, they shall be severely punished!"

Just then, Shen Zhai also came in from outside, looking completely lost.

Having just come from the Dali Temple, Shen Zhai felt heavy-hearted. It was drizzling, and his hair was a little wet. His handsome and refined face was as pale as paper.

The main reason is that when facing the criminal officials of the Dali Temple, he was eager to cut ties with Shen Xian, but the other party turned around and became a guest of honor of the Empress, riding in the same phoenix carriage.

Looking back at myself, I was jumping around and making a complete fool of myself!
How can a scholar be without a sense of shame?
I felt ashamed, jealous, and angry all the way, feeling utterly humiliated and utterly disgraced!
However, since everyone in the Shen family was busy going back, no one noticed the change in Shen Zhai's mood.

Shen Lin frowned when he saw Shen Zhai and said, "Ji Ping, how do you usually manage your servants?"

"Greetings, Father." Shen Zhai quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Father, I will go and handle this matter immediately."

Old Madam Shen felt sorry for her youngest son and said, "Why didn't you use an umbrella? You'll catch a cold."

Shen Lin snorted coldly and said, "You were so eager to distance yourself from Mu Zhi before, but now you're acting like this."

After all, he was an old and shrewd man, so how could he not know about Shen Zhai's changing mindset?

Shen Zhai paused slightly, lowered his head, hesitated for a moment, and finally knelt down with a "plop" and said, "Father, your son knows he was wrong."

Everyone in the hall looked at Shen Zhai, and Madam Du's lips moved slightly, but she didn't know what to say.

She was a fifth-rank scholar of the Zhaowen Pavilion and also the commander of the Zhuque Division. Not only her husband, but even she couldn't have imagined it.

It felt like I had returned to the founding era when dragons and snakes rose from the land.

Only in an era when renowned ministers and strategists shone brightly could such a young talent emerge.

Shen Lin sighed and said, "Our Shen family has always been known for its brotherly love and respect. The plaque in the front hall, inscribed with the words 'Tangdi Tongxin,' was personally written by our ancestors, emphasizing both literary and martial talents. We originally hoped that you brothers would be harmonious, for your harmony would be invincible. But I never expected you to do this." Shen Zheng stood with his hands clasped, his face respectful, listening to Shen Lin's admonition.

Shen Lin said in a deep voice, "When Mu Zhi returns from the palace, you must personally go and apologize to him, and put away your arrogant and disdainful attitude!"

The young man from before should not be treated like a child. He was chatting and laughing with the Empress Dowager, discussing national affairs. He must have extraordinary talent.

Shen Zhai was taken aback for a moment, then cupped his hands in agreement.

Although I still felt some resentment, I could only suppress it for the time being.

Shen Lin said in a deep voice, "Go to the ancestral hall and kneel down, then copy the ancestral admonitions to his sons a hundred times."

Shen Zhai was startled and bowed in response.

Although Madam Shen felt sorry for her youngest son, she didn't dare to say a word. Or rather, this was the family tradition of the Shen family: the father is the head of the family, and the husband is the head of the family.

"Take her downstairs to change her clothes, so she doesn't catch a cold," Old Madam Shen instructed her daughter-in-law, Madam Du.

Madam Du rose, bowed to Shen Linfu, and helped Shen Zhai leave the hall.

Shen Lin said, "Zhongcheng, come with me to Qingfeng Pavilion later for a couple of drinks."

Shen Qian bowed and agreed.

Shen Zheng hurriedly instructed people to prepare wine and dishes, bustling about with activity.

After Shen Lin left the hall, Shen Zheng's wife, Zhou, whispered, "Father, this is too much..."

A fifth-rank official under the age of twenty—this is the talent of a prime minister?
Madam Shen's tone was complicated: "Yes, our Shen family has produced an extraordinary person. We don't know if it will be a blessing or a curse."

Early success is rarely long-lasting.

A tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind; a mound that rises above the bank will be eroded by the current; a person who excels above others will be criticized by the masses.

Zhou was speechless for a moment, his mind still unsettled.

Guo was equally shocked, though he was of low status.

It's safe to say that the entire Shen family of Lanxi will be sleepless tonight because of this.

……

……

Palace Garden, Qianyuan Hall
The imperial carriages, escorted by guards and palace attendants, stopped on the white marble square. The cool moonlight, like a thin veil or a light mist, shone on the glazed tiles of the palace, flowing like water.

A gentle breeze stirred the tassels on the phoenix carriage, lifting a strand of hair from Gu Nanzhu's temple and brushing against her delicate cheek.

The beautiful woman gazed intently at the tall, slender young man whose sleeves fluttered in the night breeze.

Regardless of whether he was a boastful person or not, he was indeed elegant and refined, like a hermit or a wise man.

As Shen Xian alighted from the imperial carriage with the Empress, he looked up at the majestic and magnificent palace. The red lanterns under the eaves swayed in the wind, seemingly mirroring his own fluctuating fortunes.

Palaces and pavilions, a cold moonlit night, imperial carriages and palace maids... perhaps all that's missing is a progressive little song, "Spring Snow in the Courtyard".

The reason he received such special treatment from the Empress was that he had maintained the image of a national hero and strategist since they met.

To put it simply, he consistently delivered valuable insights, which impressed even the queen of pop.

However, to maintain this impression, and even to make it deeply rooted in the Empress's mind, forming the impression of "Mr. Shen as the Imperial Tutor who answers all questions in the world," requires continuous and high-intensity output.

From national policy formulation to political maneuvering and personnel management, from the imperial court to the common people, it covers the entire scope and system... a commanding view and a devastating blow.

With this in mind, Shen Xian followed the Empress into the side hall of Qian Yuan Palace. Stepping into the hall, it was brightly lit, resplendent in gold and jade, with various furnishings shimmering with light.

"Mr. Shen, please sit." The Empress sat down on a cloud-covered bed, behind which was a bronze sculpture of dragons and phoenixes, displaying the majesty and nobility of the royal family.

Shen Xian cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The two had just sat down when an announcement came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, the Princess requests an audience."

The Empress paused for a moment, then a faint smile appeared on her jade-like face: "Let's go into the palace and have a meal together."

However, it's not appropriate to inquire about the art of rulership under the watchful eyes of everyone.

A short while later, Princess Zhenguo, along with Si Di and Xue Zhihua, entered the palace and bowed to the Empress.

"Please sit down," the Empress Dowager instructed.

The princess thanked them, then sat down with Si Di and Xue Zhihua. Gao Yanfu quickly instructed several eunuchs to prepare tea, snacks, and fruits.

(End of this chapter)