newbobooks Chapter 138 Court Politics
Chapter 138 Court Politics
Li Heng's heart sank when he heard this. The Divine Machine Battalion was the main force of the three major battalions. The emperor and the Ministry of War were in charge of mobilizing and commanding the troops. Each battalion had one commander-in-chief of the second rank and two deputy commanders of the third rank.
A general of the third rank with real power would most likely be chosen to marry into the family; how could he possibly marry a prince?
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost to repay your grace." Lin Wan'er expressed her gratitude.
Although we couldn't go to the border, it's still a good place, and it's a first step.
Shen Li breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief. Although the process was somewhat unexpected, she had at least accumulated some leverage, which was a good thing.
After the court session ended, Shen Li and Lin Wan'er left the palace together. However, due to the large number of people around, they did not exchange any words. Once outside the palace gate, they boarded their respective carriages.
The cabinet ministers and the six ministers had to stay inside the Meridian Gate to work, so Shen Li did not see her father or Gu Chang'an. After leaving the palace, she headed towards the Shen residence.
She had already informed Gu Chang'an that she would be going home to stay for a few days. After all, her parents must have been worried about her a lot these days, and she hadn't even been able to spend the Lunar New Year with them, so she naturally wanted to go back and fulfill her filial duty.
She only brought Lianqiao and Shaoyao with her when she entered the palace, and when she returned home, she only brought the two of them. She did not go back to the Gu family mansion because she did not want Ying'er to come along, otherwise she would have to pay attention to her every move.
For the sake of long-term stability, this person cannot be dealt with yet; she can only try to get rid of him by any means possible.
The message had already been sent home, and Xiao Bailing came out with Shen Yue to meet them.
"Sister, you're finally back." Shen Yue hugged Shen Li's arm as soon as she came up.
"Mother, your daughter is unfilial and has worried you." Shen Li bowed and noticed that her decisive mother had lost a lot of weight, obviously because she was worried about her and her grandfather.
"It's good that you're back. Don't say that." Xiao Bailing looked at Shen Li happily and said, "Daughter has lost weight. You should eat more to make up for it these next few days at home."
"Okay," Shen Li replied with a smile.
"Sister, is the battlefield fun?" Shen Yue asked impatiently.
"It's not very fun," Shen Li said truthfully.
"I must meet them in person in the future, and become someone like my sister and Wan'er," Shen Yue said with a look of longing.
“You silly child, what’s so fun about the battlefield? It’s all about real fighting and dying.” Xiao Bailing admonished him, “If you want to go, you should learn the skills first, otherwise you’ll just be throwing your life away.”
"Don't worry, Mother, I will definitely learn well." Shen Yue said confidently.
"I never imagined that women would have the opportunity to go to the battlefield now. I was just born at the wrong time, otherwise I would definitely be no worse than ordinary men," Xiao Bailing said regretfully.
Of course, she didn't think she could compare to her daughter, who was incredibly strong, or Lin Wan'er, who could take the head of a general, but she was certainly no less capable than an ordinary man.
Shen Li couldn't get a word in edgewise; this was the most common scene when the mother and her two daughters chatted.
"You wrote that your injury has healed, but is it really healed?" Xiao Bailing asked again when they entered the inner room.
"Alright, Mother."
"Did you get cold during the march?"
"No."
"That's good, that's good." Xiao Bailing said happily, "This is a great event for the court, and also a great event for our family."
Shen Yue wholeheartedly agreed.
In a war, the old and the young all went to the battlefield. While other families might worry about one person, their family had to worry about three.
If they lose, it's hard to tell whether the imperial court or the Shen family is more unable to afford to lose.
"Mother, I'm hungry. Can I eat now?" Shen Li asked.
"Mother has prepared everything for you, it's all on the stove." Xiao Bailing said, and then told her personal maid to call the kitchen to serve the dishes.
The family quickly and happily began eating. After finishing, they sat together drinking tea and chatting, and only ate dinner when Shen Zizai returned in the evening.
"Father," Shen Li called out.
"Look what this is?" Shen Zizai took out an oil paper package from behind his back and presented it to Shen Li like a treasure: "I brought it for you."
"Sanweiju's Sanhe Pastry?" Shen Li's eyes lit up after taking a sniff.
"This is your favorite food when you were little. I brought it back for you on my way. Eat it after you've eaten," Shen Zizai said affectionately.
Seeing his daughter today filled him with emotion. Unbeknownst to him, his daughter had grown from a little girl who followed him around to a figure in the imperial court. The armor she wore back then and the official robes she wore today made him realize that his daughter had truly grown up and was capable of standing on her own.
"Father is lying. It's not on the way back from the palace to Sanweiju." Shen Li laughed and exposed him: "Father deliberately took a detour to buy it for me."
"Little rascal." Shen Zizai didn't refute, and when Shen Yue stepped forward, he took out another bag of pastries with his other hand: "Yours, walnut shortbread."
"Thank you, Dad." Shen Yue said excitedly.
"Eat first, then eat. Come and eat." Xiao Bailing called to the group from the dining table, and then smiled as Shen Zizai walked over: "You just spoil them."
"There's one for you too." Shen Zizai beckoned and a servant brought over an oil paper package. He took it and handed it to Xiao Bailing, his eyes filled with the same doting affection: "Almond shortbread."
"There's one for me too?" Xiao Bailing happily accepted it, then chided, "You're so old, why are you giving me this?"
“What they have, you should have too,” Shen Zizai said matter-of-factly.
The family chatted and laughed happily, and Shen Li, surrounded by the scene, felt that if there were a picture of happiness, it would be this moment.
She now understood why her father was so indignant in court; he genuinely respected women and never denied their power.
"Father, do you know that your words have offended the Crown Prince?" Shen Li asked during the banquet.
“I know, but being an official means speaking up for the people. I can’t just stand by and do nothing when I see injustice.” Shen Zizai still looked annoyed when he mentioned this matter: “It is not the behavior of a gentleman to bully a girl.”
"Father, you were truly a hero in my eyes today in court. But aren't you worried that the future Crown Prince will be sidelined after he ascends the throne?"
“If becoming a high-ranking official is just to please the superiors, then what’s the point of being an official?” Shen Zizai said without a care: “Even if it’s a cold bench, I, as your father, will sit here dutifully.”
Shen Li changed the subject and said, "If the Crown Prince is incompetent and another prince with the potential to be a wise ruler seizes the throne, what choice will Father make?"
“Apart from His Highness the Crown Prince, all those who covet the throne are traitors and rebels.” Shen Zizai probably saw through Shen Li’s thoughts and said solemnly, “Does Li’er know that the influence of a monarch’s goodness or badness on the court is not as great as the negative impact of a struggle for the throne?”
“Once the door to a successful succession is opened, the descendants of the Great Zhao will surely follow suit. Even if the current emperor is a wise ruler, his merits will be temporary, but his sins will last for eternity.”
"So, Father also thinks the Crown Prince is mediocre?" Shen Li asked with a smile.
Shen Zizai paused for a moment, then said, "Even so, it has to be him."
"Father is very righteous," Shen Li could only agree.
She was well aware of the dangers of a disordered succession; otherwise, why would she have risked her life for him in her previous life?
As it turned out, she didn't know whether Qianqiu was in chaos or not; her entire family was wiped out.
In this lifetime, she is determined to help a prince she approves of ascend the throne and rewrite everything.
No one can stop her.