The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits-Chapter 196

"Now you are a prisoner. What right do you think you have to make demands? Moreover, many people in the court already know your identity. Regardless of your original intentions, it wasn't someone else who pushed you to this point—it was yourself," Shen Yu said.

"You're right," Grand Tutor Zeng was taken aback for a moment, his momentum deflating. "It's nothing more than self-deception."

"The late emperor left behind five hundred thousand troops. I could only mobilize half of them. I don't know where the rest are. He also left a vast amount of money, jewels, and treasures. Of that, I could only access thirty percent. Oh, and within these treasures are large quantities of battle armor. Left behind by the ever-victorious Lin family army..."

Grand Tutor Zeng disclosed a great deal. Shen Yu and Shang Junlin stayed in the prison for over an hour before leaving.

Sitting in the carriage back to the palace, Shen Yu hugged a hand warmer. "Your Majesty, how much truth and how much falsehood do you think is in Grand Tutor Zeng's words?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Shen Yu didn't believe Grand Tutor Zeng would reveal everything just because of a whipping. If it were that simple, Official Fang wouldn't have questioned him for so long without extracting much useful information.

"Regardless of how much is true or false, I will have people verify each point one by one. Although he disclosed the late emperor's arrangements, he didn't say where these undiscovered arrangements are. Whether he truly doesn't know or is deliberately withholding, only he knows."

Shen Yu nodded. "Have Official Fang continue the interrogation. Perhaps he can extract something more."

Shen Yu had originally wanted to take this opportunity to see King Yue, but they had spent too long with Grand Tutor Zeng, and it was almost dark. Besides, Shang Junlin was unwilling for him to see King Yue, so he didn't go.

Upon returning to Yuzhang Palace, Meng-gonggong promptly ordered hot water prepared. Shen Yu soaked comfortably in a bath and changed into clean clothes.

Shang Junlin had also changed into more casual attire. When not holding court, he didn't wear the complex formal imperial robes, preferring simpler, informal clothes.

The man, dressed in a loose black robe with wide sleeves, sat upright by the soft couch. Before him was a small table piled high with memorials.

His back was straight as he held a brush, making annotations. He worked quickly. Finished memorials were placed to one side. After several, Eunuch Meng would take them down and place them on another table.

The bedchamber was very warm. Shen Yu, having just bathed, was dressed rather lightly. Hearing footsteps, Shang Junlin looked up.

He set down the brush, stood up, picked up a nearby cloak, and walked towards Shen Yu.

"Why are you wearing so little?"

"I'm not cold," Shen Yu lifted his chin, making it easier for the man to fasten the cloak's ties.

"Even if you're not cold, you shouldn't wear so little."

"I know, Your Majesty."

Only then did Shang Junlin nod in satisfaction.

Shen Yu, embraced by the man, sat on the soft couch, just in time to see the half-reviewed memorial on the small table.

It was submitted by an official from Lin County. After a year of effort, flood control in Lin County had achieved significant results. This year's spring flood season would be the best time to test the outcomes.

"With Ah Yu's methods, the people I sent to Lin County for flood control treated them like treasures. They've been implementing them this past year. Last year, several small-scale flood disasters passed without major incident," Shang Junlin stroked the long hair on Shen Yu's back.

"As long as it works, that's good," Shen Yu's eyes curved into a smile.

He had provided these things precisely for them to be of use to Da Huan. In the face of natural disasters, human strength is always limited. But not all natural disasters leave people helpless. Some can be prevented in advance, minimizing losses as much as possible.

After spring began, the court was plunged into a new round of busyness. Reforms to the new commercial laws were brought up at this time. Unsurprisingly, many voices of opposition arose in the court.

Any reform goes through this. Shen Yu accepted it well. Shang Junlin let the court argue for a few days before finally approving the reforms proposed by the Minister of Revenue.

"Your Majesty, you must not! Compared to previous dynasties, Da Huan is already generous enough to merchants. We cannot allow merchants to grow too powerful!"

The Minister of Revenue was displeased. "Have you carefully read the methods I proposed? If you had read them carefully, you absolutely would not say such things. I welcome your opposition, but the premise is that your reasons for opposition must be substantive. Don't make assumptions based on mere conjecture."

That official indeed had not carefully read the new commercial laws proposed by the Minister of Revenue. Struck dumb by the Minister's rebuttal, he was left speechless.

"Enough. This matter is entrusted to the Minister of Revenue for implementation. Are there any other matters to report?"

Shang Junlin's attitude was clear: since this matter was already decided, there was no need for further argument.

The first major undertaking of the new year was amending the laws concerning merchants. In fact, the changes weren't extensive. For example, the rule that merchants' sons could not become court officials remained unchanged. Some additions were made, such as official recognition of acts like Yan Zheng sponsoring the Ministry of Works' road repairs or merchants from various places donating supplies to Beimo.

The court would grant certain preferential treatment based on their contributions.

After a whole winter, stone tablets inscribed with the donors' contributions were carved. In the future, they would be displayed in the most prominent location in the capital, protected by railings. Commoners could visit and view them at their leisure.

The Civilian Newspaper published a special report on this matter, including the amendments to the commercial laws. Ordinary commoners didn't pay much attention to the latter, focusing instead on the former.

"The Civilian Newspaper says the stone tablets are already carved. On the auspicious day selected by the Directorate of Astronomy1regulating time and astronomical observations, they will be displayed."

"I saw that too. Counting the days, it's only ten days away. I must go see them then. Back when donations were called for, I donated quite a lot. Thinking that my name will be carved by the court is truly exciting."

"Yes, we're just ordinary commoners. Who would have thought this day would come?"

For a time, public discussion shifted to the imminent unveiling of the stone tablets. They had followed Beimo disaster situation throughout. Seeing Beimo, for which they had contributed money and effort, become better and better after the disaster filled everyone with satisfaction.

Who doesn't hope their efforts yield returns? Although this return wasn't something tangible, it provided immense spiritual fulfillment.

"By the way, today is the day the Capital Peace Newspaper is published. Are you going to buy it?"

"Of course I am. The newspaper is cheap, and there's a special section for literacy. Not to boast, but now I can barely manage to read some of it."

"I'm the same. Buying ten copies of the newspaper comes with a free literacy primer. With tomorrow's purchase, I'll get another one. My son will start learning soon; it'll be perfect timing."

"I never thought I'd be able to read one day."

"Maybe in the future, His Majesty will greatly promote basic education, and every household will become literate."

In the past, commoners didn't have many thoughts about literacy. But after the Civilian Newspaper emerged, they gradually felt the disadvantages of illiteracy. Now that there was a path to literacy, and it wasn't expensive, commoners with some spare money were happy to learn.

The Capital Peace Newspaper mentioned by the commoners was precisely the newspaper jointly operated by the bookstore under Shen Yu's name and the court. It was sold cheaply, published once every ten days. Later, after Shen Yu discussed it with Shang Junlin, a special section was opened in it. It didn't take up much space, but would include some basic characters for purchasers to learn.

Aristocratic ministers were busy with various court affairs and hadn't yet noticed the changes among the common people. By the time they did, the groundwork would already be laid. No matter how dissatisfied they were, there was little they could do.

King Yue was dreaming again.

He knew he was dreaming because the development in the dream was completely different from reality. In the dream, all his plans proceeded smoothly. Under his schemes, Shang Junlin's reputation grew worse and worse. Most importantly, Shen Yu did not enter the palace; the one who entered was Shen Qingran, the illegitimate son of the Zhenbei Marquis.

Furthermore, no one in the palace was ever granted the title of Noble Consort.

In this dream, the person Shen Yu loved was him, and the person Shen Yu chose to aid was also him.

Shen Yu returned to his fief with him, managing everything in his domain. Under Shang Junlin's tyrannical rule, a steady stream of people came to pledge allegiance to him, bringing with them vast amounts of wealth and troops.

In the dream, he seemed divinely aided. Everything went so smoothly. He watched Shang Junlin gradually decline, the court's authority crumble, while his own power grew stronger and stronger.

Time in the dream progressed rapidly. He saw a major flood disaster strike Lin County, and he stepped forward at the critical moment. He saw a plague break out in the south, and he led people to eradicate it. The people's hearts gradually shifted towards him.

The northern barbarians caused trouble. Shang Junlin led troops on an expedition and died on the battlefield in the final battle. From then on, the realm fell into chaos.

Amidst the crowd's support, he ascended the throne as emperor.

Then he woke up.

On the eve of his ascension, he was awakened by a jailer.

For several days afterward, he repeatedly had the same dream. Without exception, he would wake in terror just before ascending the throne.

At first, the dream was vague, but it grew increasingly real—so real it made him suspect that if Shen Yu hadn't entered the palace, events might have unfolded as they did in his dream.

The jailer guarding King Yue noticed that King Yue had begun speaking nonsense—all rebellious, treasonous talk. Not daring to hide it, he reported the matter.

King Yue had gone mad.

"One would think I'd been mistreating him," Shang Junlin scoffed after hearing the report.

Shen Yu sat to the side, arranging a chess manual he'd found in the palace library. Seeing Shen Yu's interest, Shang Junlin had given it to him.

"What did he do?" Shen Yu set down the manual and asked.

"Replying to the Noble Consort, the prisoner has been talking nonsense in his cell, saying..." The Minister of Justice glanced at Shang Junlin, then bravely continued, "...saying he will soon ascend the throne and such things."

"Your Majesty, forgive me. Your servant is merely repeating..."

"I haven't done anything. Why are you so frightened?" Shang Junlin was displeased.

The Minister of Justice thought to himself: You haven't done anything, but with that chilling aura you're exuding, I'd believe you're about to drag me out and behead me next.

"Tell me the specifics."

"Yes. King Yue's behavior had been somewhat off for a while now, but the jailers didn't pay it much mind. Recently, over the past few days, the jailers noticed he frequently talks nonsense—about the Lin County flood, the southern plague, the northern barbarian troubles... He even said he ended it all, that he should be the destined ruler of Da Huan..."

Shen Yu initially didn't take it seriously, but the more he listened, the more something felt off. A single incident could be a coincidence, but what if all these events matched those from his previous life?

His heart sank unconsciously.

Was King Yue speaking of events from the previous life? Had he also been reborn?

"Does Your Excellency know why King Yue would say such things?" Shen Yu's hand, hanging at his side, slowly clenched.

"He says it's because of dreams. I verified this; all these things King Yue mentions are what he dreamt. He seems unable to clearly distinguish between dreams and reality," the Minister of Justice said.

Was he dreaming of the previous life?

Shen Yu fell silent.

Judging from the Minister of Justice's words, it seemed King Yue hadn't dreamt of the previous life's ending. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so immersed in the dream that he couldn't wake up. Should Shen Yu tell him? Turn his beautiful dream into a nightmare?