After receiving a satisfactory answer, Shen Qingzhuo’s eyebrows relaxed, and a hint of smile appeared in his bright peach blossom eyes, “Good boy.”
Xiao Shen looked at his master eagerly, expecting his master to touch his chin or head again.
However, Shen Qingzhuo deliberately ignored his eager eyes, retracted his fingers, and refocused his attention on the memorial.
The big dog had no choice but to kneel down in front of the couch with grievance, quietly accompanying his master to review the memorial.
Shen Qingzhuo asked questions intermittently. After a while, he seemed to remember something and said, “Get up. The ground is cold.”
Although the fire in the Yuehua Palace was strong, but it was still cold, and it was easy to catch a cold if one sat on the ground for a long time.
Xiao Shen then stood up and sat on the other end of the warm couch.
After thinking for a while, he lifted his cloak, carefully grasped his master’s ankles, and stuffed the jade-like feet in woolen socks into his arms to cover them.
The imperial preceptor didn’t even raise his eyelids and let the emperor cover his feet, as if it was just a very ordinary thing.
The atmosphere in the hall was peaceful. The sky outside the window was getting darker and darker. A feeling of drowsiness came over him quietly, and Shen Qingzhuo closed his eyes unconsciously.
“Master?” Xiao Shen soon realized that his master seemed to be asleep and called him tentatively, but there was no response.
After a while, he gently put down the jade-like feet in his arms and pulled down the warm quilt to cover his master, but when his eyes met the beautiful and peaceful sleeping face, the movement of his hands stopped involuntarily.
He was like a possessed man, concentrating and holding his breath as he bent down, getting closer and closer to the face he had been thinking about day and night, his heart pounding with nervousness, almost jumping out of his chest.
The rich plum fragrance flowed into his nose, and he stared at the slightly closed lips intently. Just when the warm breath was about to blend intimately, it changed direction in a panic and fell on the temples.
A kiss as light as floating cotton wool, separated in an instant.
Xiao Shen suddenly turned his back, trying his best to suppress his heavy breathing, not daring to wake the person sleeping on the couch up.
If his master knew his dirty thoughts, he would definitely not let him off easily…
At the same time, the crow-like eyelashes trembled twice, then fluttered open, frowning and staring at his back.
After the beginning of spring, under the instruction of Shen Qingzhuo, the emperor issued three major decrees.
First, increase the performance evaluation of officials at all levels, especially those noble children who are in office but do nothing, and eliminate all those who do not do practical work. Second, reduce the power of the great nobles and strengthen the court’s supervision over the territories of the vassal kings. Third, the endless hereditary system of the Dayong Dynasty was broken. The fiefdoms and titles of the vassal kings could only be passed down for three generations at most. If the descendants did not have new military merits and political achievements, they would be returned to the state.
This order obviously greatly violated the interests of the princes and nobles. The court was in an uproar, and the upsurge against King Duan reached its peak. Impeachment memorials flew to the emperor like snowflakes.
Although Shen Qingzhuo did not care about the impeachment of the court officials, but he still decided to catch a few examples and kill the chicken to scare the monkey.
So, he asked the Beizhen Fushi to thoroughly investigate the nobles who were the most active. After finding out the problems, they confiscated their homes and put all the property into the national treasury.
“Why, when the imperial court cracked down on local gentry, didn’t you all applaud?” Shen Qingzhuo stood in front of the hall with a calm smile, “When it touches your own interests, you all shout to abolish it?”
“This…” The courtier who was fiercely opposed was speechless, and he tried to argue, “These laws have been formulated since the founding of Dayong. Now…”
“So what?” Shen Qingzhuo interrupted him, “Why should we stick to the laws that are not good for the country or the people?”
The young emperor sitting high on the dragon throne waved his hand and said, “Zhen has made up his mind, dear ministers, there is no need to say more.”
The princes and nobles were indignant, but at the same time, they were all worried and had to keep their tails between their legs, fearing that they would be the next to be confiscated.
At the same time, King Duan also received strong support from the Qingliu faction, and scholars from poor families expressed their approval of the new order.
In fact, since the new emperor ascended the throne, the regent king’s repeated drastic reforms have saved the country from collapse, making the decadent Dayong Dynasty rejuvenated, and the people gradually freed themselves from the dire days.
But the princes and nobles whose interests were violated were not so easy to let go.
King Duan became a moving target. Those people were like a group of blood-sucking leeches, densely crawling in every corner, waiting for an opportunity to pull him down.
One day, Pei Yanqi walked into Yuehua Palace in a hurry, “Your Highness.”
Shen Qingzhuo was studying the grain seeds that were tributed by foreign countries. Hearing this, he raised his eyes and said, “What’s wrong? Why are you so flustered?”
Lord Pei glanced at the palace attendants waiting in the palace, and he dismissed them knowingly, “What’s going on?”
“I received reliable information that they are going to take action against me.” Pei Yanqi replied in a low voice, “The new policy is about to be implemented, and many people can’t sit still.”
Shen Qingzhuo straightened up and sneered, “It’s well known that you are my person. Since they can’t touch me, they plan to cripple my arm first?”
Pei Yanqi frowned and replied after careful consideration, “Now the princes and nobles have united to make suggestions to His Majesty. Three people make a tiger. Over time, it is hard to guarantee that His Majesty will not be shaken or not.”
Shen Qingzhuo was silent for a moment and asked, “Are you sure you are clean and they don’t have any evidence against you?”
“Absolutely no evidence.” Lord Pei said solemnly, “The humble minister has always been upright, please rest assured, Your Highness.”
“Then that’s good.” Shen Qingzhuo replied calmly, “Just focus on your work and leave the rest to me.”
Pei Yanqi was about to say something when a report came from outside the door that the commander of the Jinyiwei requested to see him.
“Summon him in.” Shen Qingzhuo lifted his robe and sat down, motioning to him, “Lord Pei, sit down too.”
Soon, the commander of the Jinyiwei came in and reported, “Your Highness, the princes of various places have been moving around frequently recently, especially King Qin, who has unusual movements in his territories.”
“King Qin ah…” Shen Qingzhuo tapped the table lightly, saying meaningfully, “King Qin should not have any other intentions.”
A few years ago, he received an unexpected message from a time traveler. The reason why he was reborn was because the tyrant killed Xiao Luchi in his previous life.
Once the protagonist of this world dies, the whole world will collapse, and the people who manage this world will restart it.
“If King Qin raises an army in the name of clearing the court of corrupt officials, I’m afraid…” Pei Yanqi couldn’t help but worry, “Your Highness, you should have made plans earlier.”
The commander of the Jinyiwei withdrew, and Shen Qingzhuo took a sip of tea slowly. “Why are you panicking?
The 100,000-strong army in Youbei is on standby at any time, and the well-trained imperial guards in Jingdu are not just for show either.”
Xiao Luchi is definitely not a reckless man and will not act rashly.
“But they can’t let it go.” Pei Yanqi insisted, “Now that the new policy is being implemented, the people in the court and among the people who support Your Highness are in high spirits. If the kings rebel at this time and the world is in chaos, it is the best time for Your Highness to reform the old and establish the new and change the dynasty!”
After the voice fell, Shen Qingzhuo stared at him.
They were so focused that they didn’t notice that there was a figure sticking close to the window, holding his breath and eavesdropping on their conversation.
After a short silence, Xiao Shen heard a clear and pleasant voice: “Change of dynasty, then where are you going to put His Majesty?”
It was like a basin of cold water being poured over his head. It was clearly spring, but Xiao Shen suddenly felt as if he had fallen into an icy cave. The chill that came from the depths of his heart spread to every part of his body like lightning.
“No one understands Your Highness’s ambitions better than me. Your Highness is concerned about the country and the people and takes the world as his responsibility. However, in the eyes of those parasites, Your Highness is greedy for power and is causing chaos in the government. They wish they could skin you alive and pull out your tendons.” Another familiar voice sounded, “Your Highness knows very well that His Majesty will rule the country sooner or later, and by then the Dayong Dynasty will surely decline again.”
The hall fell into a long silence.
In this endless silence, Xiao Shen felt numb from the cold, his dark eyes seemed to fall into a bottomless abyss, and he finally left without a sound.
Not long after he left, Shen Qingzhuo replied softly, “Lord Pei, I don’t care about being called a traitor for all eternity, but I still want to give His Majesty another chance.”
Pei Yanqi was stunned: “Your Highness—”
“I am not soft-hearted, but the current situation is not irreversible.” Shen Qingzhuo stood up and walked to the window with his hands behind his back. “You go back first, let me think about it carefully.”
If there is really a change of dynasty, it means that he can’t keep his little disciple anymore.
Having said this, Lord Pei knew that it was useless to say more, so he bowed and left.
In order to overcome all difficulties and implement the new policy, Shen Qingzhuo was busy with government affairs day and night, so much so that he neglected other things.
Lord Pei’s suggestions were also pushed to the bottom of the box by him and were not mentioned for the time being.
It was not until dinner time that day that the emperor’s greeting came from outside the palace gate: “Master.”
“Why did you come to see Master at this time?” Shen Qingzhuo put down his silver chopsticks, thinking that he hadn’t seen his little disciple for a few days, and couldn’t help but smile, “What have you been busy with during this period?”
Xiao Shen stepped into the doorway and stared at him intently for several moment. “Nothing’s going on, but Master has lost weight.”
“The weather is getting hot, and my appetite is not good.” Shen Qingzhuo ordered someone to add a pair of bowls and chopsticks. “Let’s eat together.”
Xiao Shen did not refuse and sat down obediently to have dinner with his master.
The two chatted casually, and suddenly there was a crisp sound. Shen Qingzhuo subconsciously looked under the table. “What fell?”
“It sounds a bit like jade.” Xiao Shen reminded calmly and quickly poured half a bottle of colorless and tasteless water into the teacup.
“Ah, I saw it, it’s your jade pendant.” Shen Qingzhuo bent down to pick up the jade pendant that fell at his feet and handed it to him.
Xiao Shen put away the jade pendant. “Thank you, Master.”
After taking a few more bites, he picked up the teacup. “Today there is a big happy event, I will use tea instead of wine, and I will offer Master a glass first.”
Shen Qingzhuo raised his eyebrows slightly: “What big happy event. Why don’t I know about it?”
“I’ll tell Master later.” Xiao Shen smiled mysteriously and drank a cup of tea first.
Shen Qingzhuo was really curious. Under his expectant gaze, he drank a sip of tea with a smile. “Can you say now?”
Xiao Shen also smiled: “Master, wait a little longer.”
Shen Qingzhuo didn’t know what his little disciple was up to, but soon, he suddenly felt dizzy, his vision was blurry, and the person in front of him became invisible.
“What’s going on?” He shook his head vigorously, propped himself on the table, and tried to stand up. The next moment, he felt dizzy.
“Master?” Xiao Shen quickly stepped forward to catch him and held him in his arms. “Master, what’s wrong with you?”
The hot breath quietly approached, Shen Qingzhuo’s consciousness was almost scattered, and his weak fingers rested on his arm. “Xiao Qi, you give me…”
Before he finished his sentence, he fell into a coma.
At this moment, the young emperor, who was holding him, finally revealed his deeply hidden madness on his handsome face.
Xiao Shen buried his face deeply in the soft and smooth neck, wantonly sniffing the cold fragrance that made him crazy, and after a long while, he was willing to raise his face.
“Master…” He pulled out a hand and stroked the inky eyebrows heavily, “Master, you have many dogs. I thought that as long as I was the most ferocious and obedient dog, you would only touch my head.”
A person in a coma would naturally not respond to him.
“But I was wrong. No matter how well I did, in Master’s eyes, I was just a dog that could be thrown away at will.” The dark eyes were crazy and calm. “If that’s the case, then I have to find a way to make Master only see me.”
A loyal dog will not show his fangs to his master even when he is forced into a corner, but his master forgets that his nature is actually that of a wolf, a greedy and hungry wolf.
