Sick Man Turns Out to be a General

What was this? Test? Or was she trying to find a miracle from him? Shen Jingli looked at the four big words on the paper and laughed bitterly. The Emperor was really cunning, with a question like this, no matter how he answered, the person who posed the question would not suffer a loss.    

Originally, his status was low so it was normal for him to not have much experience. It wasn't strange that he couldn't write out an interesting answer. If he could write out an interesting answer, then he would have earned it.    

Did the Emperor want to get any interesting answers from him? The wise and wise emperor also had times when he was perplexed.    

He was really thinking highly of him. He was neither in the field of history nor in the field of finance or agriculture. How could he have any special insights from such a lofty topic? The Emperor couldn't possibly want to see those empty words that tickled his boots, right?    

Shen Jingli couldn't help but laugh, he felt that he was in quite a good mood, he placed the piece of paper down, took out the letter, and wrote a long letter to Mu Chen.    

After he finished writing the letter, he realized the current situation in the capital. He might not be able to send this letter out.    

"Ah, I feel a bit disappointed." Sighing to himself, Shen Jingli placed the completed letter into the envelope, sealed it carefully, and placed it under his pillow.    

"Nanping County Prince, did you rest?"    

The voice of Young County Prince Yongan came from outside. Following that, he saw Young County Prince wearing undergarments run in with big steps while hugging a small pillow.    

"Xun Er said that your storytelling is very nice to listen to, but it's really interesting. So, from today onwards, you will have to tell me stories everyday to coax me to sleep." Young County Prince threw the small pillow onto the bed and climbed up quickly. He then slipped into the blanket and waved at Shen Jingli, "Hurry over here, I want to hear an interesting story."    

Ah, it's really a nanny!    

Shen Jingli frowned, he shook his head helplessly and kept the things on the table, preparing for bed, Xun Er and Huaixin also ran in.    

"Mama, I want to sleep with you tonight … Ah, why are you here? " Xun Er pointed to Young County Prince who was lying on the bed, and shouted in shock. He immediately ran over and extended his hand to pull him down.    

"Let go, is this County Prince something you can casually touch?" Young County Prince was old, and quickly retracted his hand, both of his hands at his waist, as he shouted towards Xun Er.    

"This is my Mama's bed. Get down from it now, I want to sleep with my Mama." Xun Er also climbed onto the bed and extended his hand to push Young County Prince down. Because one person was not strong enough, he dragged Huaixin along and the three children began to play on the bed.    

Shen Jingli watched as they played and took out a few storybooks and a few small toys from the luggage he had brought.    

"Only obedient children get toys."    

As soon as he said this, the three children obediently stopped and sat down in a neat row.    

"I want toys." Young County Prince was the first to speak. He saw it, there was a butterfly with moving wings, it was carved beautifully, it looked like it was real. There was also a sika deer, just like the one in his zoo, and its ears could move … It was his first time seeing such a clever toy. How interesting.    

The Young County Prince's gaze was completely attracted by the toy, but Xun Er and Huaixin remained unmoved. They had toys that Shen Jingli had designed, and every day, they would play with them for an entire month as if they were the same. Thus, they did not have Young County Prince's joy as Xun Er ran down from the bed and took out his own little tiger from Shen Jingli's chest.    

The little tiger was Xun Er's favorite toy. He had to hug the little tiger every day in order to be able to sleep soundly.    

Shen Jingli passed the toy to the Young County Prince, and then hugged Huaixin. "Sit properly, I'll tell you the story of Zhu Bajie in a while."    

"Zhu Bajie is carrying his wife?" Huaixin turned around and asked. He had heard Sister Jin Yu and the others talk about it before and it seemed to be a very interesting story.    

"No, Zhu Bajie fell from the sky." I remember it was a funny cartoon. I used to watch a few episodes with my little cousin.    

"Will Zhu Bajie fall from the sky?" Huaixin thought about that scene and suddenly frowned, "Will he fall to his death?"    

Hearing his worried words, Shen Jingli laughed. The child's mind was truly pure.    

Shen Jingli carried Xun Er and made him sit inside the bed with Young County Prince. Then, he took out his own story book and showed them Zhu Bajie's image.    

It was originally a story designed for children, adding on to that, Shen Jingli purposely told it in a more playful and lively tone, the few children listened very seriously, and the more they heard, the more they didn't want to sleep.    

"..."    

The next day, the Queen came to see them and passionately asked Shen Jingli how he had been doing last night. She even saw the twins and gave them a greeting gift.    

"I heard that Mr. Liu set up some homework for the County Prince. Is it difficult?" The Queen asked casually as she picked up the teacup.    

His eyes were calm as he stared at Shen Jingli. He heard that this lowly Nanping County Prince had intelligence that didn't match his birth, not only did he know about printing, he had also "invented" matches, and had a good business background … Such a person would indeed attract the attention of others. No wonder his son mentioned him so specially.    

The empress pursed her lips and smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. The depths of her eyes were still cold.    

What did that mean? It really was a test. Shen Jingli's heart thumped, as he pulled out a smile that had a deeper meaning to it, "That's right, Your Majesty thinks too highly of me. How would I know so much?"    

The more strange it was, the more people who liked to show off would easily enter the eyes of others and be on their guard.    

This was because intelligence was also a characteristic of spies, and there was also a huge disparity between their statuses and knowledge.    

As Shen Jingli thought about it, his back felt a chill.    

"Just do as you say. His Majesty likes unique insights."    

That would be even more terrifying. If it was too unique, offending the entire political situation, or overturning the very foundation of Great Yan Dynasty, wouldn't he be courting death?    

"I'm just a country bumpkin who doesn't know anything. What kind of unique insights could I possibly have?" Shen Jingli smiled humbly.    

To be honest, he didn't understand the Emperor's methods. Why did they bring his family into the palace?    

The Queen did not speak, but used her beautiful phoenix eyes to look at Shen Jingli. That pair of eyes seemed to be able to speak, staring at Shen Jingli, making him feel like something was amiss.    

"I heard that Your Highness is being taken care of by the Empress, so why don't we bring her along as well? It's a bit more lively." Shen Jingli changed the topic dryly.    

After saying that, Shen Jingli immediately felt that something was wrong with the Empress's mood, as if there was disdain and indifference there. That's right, she was another woman and her husband's child after all, no matter how magnanimous she was, it was impossible for her to not have any feelings for them.    

Ah, how stupid.    

Shen Jingli cursed himself as he lifted his teacup and pretended to drink his tea to hide his awkwardness. Talking was also a technical matter, and not only to look at the situation, but also to look at the other party's character.    

After a long while, the empress smiled and said, "That's true. With a few more people to play with him, he might be happier."    

She did hate the other wives of the harem, but she was not shameless enough to vent her anger on a child.    

"Gui Fang, ask the wet nurse to bring your highness here to play with County Prince Yongan and the rest."    

The twins were still young and could not play with Xun Er and the others. Shen Jingli let Jin Yu and Nian Hua carry them and basked in the sunlight in the courtyard while Xun Er and Huaixin had the palace maids follow closely behind.    

The empress only sat at the Palace for a short while before she left, leaving the young princess behind.    

The Little Princess was still young, and because the royal child had to live apart from the mother after the full moon, and the child was brought by a special wet nurse, they had only seen each other once every few months. The Beauty Zheng was favoured and had seen the little princess more often, but even so, they had only seen each other once every month.    

Seeing that Xun Er and the others were running away so quickly, the Young County Prince seemed to really like this little brother. When he heard him cry, he immediately went to comfort him.    

A child's feelings are the most innocent, but how long can this innocence last?    

Shen Jingli stood under the tree and watched the children play together, his heart a little unclear on the current situation and identity. It was destined that their future would be intertwined by various interests.    

— —    

In the end, Shen Jingli still handed in a set of answer scrolls and organized the changes proposed by the generations of Great Yan Dynasty. He recited his own views on the side and submitted them to the Emperor.    

"I have really underestimated him." The emperor looked at the items Shen Jingli handed over, his face had a smile that seemed to be filled with anger, a sharp gaze filled with hidden killing intent, he coldly shouted, "Li Fei."    

A black figure flashed in from outside the door and knelt before the emperor.    

"Go investigate the past of Nanping County Prince and what he did after he married General Mu." How much could a person change? Was he hiding his true power, or was he no longer the same person?    

Yong Ming had once said that there was a spy in the imperial court with Great Lee, and he had very likely snuck in seven or eight years ago. There were two possibilities, one was to replace the official with a certain method, and the other was to become an official through the examination or donation.    

"Also, tell the others to investigate the situation of all the officials in the capital for the past ten years." After thinking for a moment, he added, "During this period of time, those who are transferred to other places or from other places, must focus on their investigation."    

"Yes, sir." Li Fei took the order and left like a gust of wind.    

He actually had enemy spies under his nose, and they were even hidden for seven or eight years. For him to still be able to survive all these years, it really was …    

The emperor smiled. Everyone had their own bargaining chip. The fact that the opposite party could move under his watch did not mean that he had to accept it.    

"Lee Dehai, how do you think we should fight this battle?" As if he was mumbling to himself, yet at the same time thinking of a countermeasure, Lee Dehai pondered for a long time. When he was about to answer, the emperor already had a complacent expression on his face.    

Your Majesty, he already knew.