Chapter 15

Xie Lin was also about to go to Emperor Xuwen's side; in fact, he had been behind Shen Shuangning just moments ago, but she hadn't noticed.

Shen Shuangning looked at the Young Marquis Xie, who was within arm's reach, and she was momentarily dazed.

"Are you alright?" Xie Lin asked concernedly.

Shen Shuangning shook her head.

After seeing her stand firm, Xie Lin released his hand, stepped back, and bowed to Madam Shen and Madam Pei.

Madam Shen glanced at his handsome appearance and nodded slightly.

At that moment, Xie Lin noticed something odd about Shen Shuangning's foot, and his heart tightened.

"Are you injured?"

"Just a minor injury, it's nothing."

Shen Shuangning wasn't one to make a fuss; she could bear this pain, but walking would inevitably reveal her discomfort.

"Did you get hurt then?" Xie Lin's brows furrowed even deeper.

Shen Shuangning nodded.

Back then, when Xiao Jingyuan saved her, she actually saw Xie Lin approaching, but she only wanted to stay away from Xiao Jingyuan, so she hurried off.

Xie Lin clenched his fists: "I'll go find that scoundrel Dong Zhuo."

Shen Shuangning hurriedly grabbed his arm, stopping him: "It's not his fault; I was careless myself. Don't go. He has already apologized to me."

After saying that, she realized it was inappropriate, so she let go.

Xie Lin pondered for a moment, then said: "I'll listen to you; if you don't want me to go, I won't."

How does that sound so wrong?

Shen Shuangning suddenly didn't know how to react.

Those involved are confused while onlookers see clearly; Madam Shen beside them saw clearly that Young Marquis Xie clearly had feelings for her daughter.

Madam Pei, however, was somewhat worried.

What to do, this young marquis also has feelings for the Fourth Miss, and San Lang now has another rival.

So what does the Fourth Miss think?

Perhaps because Xie Lin twice rescued her from danger, Shen Shuangning has a bit of affection for him.

Only after experiencing someone as cold-hearted as Xiao Jingyuan does one know how fragrant a passionate youth like Xie Lin is.

But she is no longer an impulsive young lady of the boudoir; whether Xie Lin is truly a good match still needs to be seen.

Everyone around was watching Young Master Xiao and Miss Song, this perfect couple, so they didn't notice Shen Shuangning's side.

Xiao Jingyuan, however, caught sight of the Fourth Miss standing together with his close friend; his gaze paused for a moment, then he lightly shifted it away.

Although it was just a brief small gesture, the woman nearest to him still noticed.

Song Xizhi gazed toward the not-far distance and said softly: "The Fourth Miss and the Young Marquis are quite a match. Don't you think so, Young Master?"

Talented man and beautiful woman, well-matched families — indeed they are a good match.

But Xiao Jingyuan knows that Xie Lin won't like the Fourth Miss, because she is surnamed Shen.

Xiao Jingyuan didn't glance again, merely giving a casual 'hng.'

Song Xizhi once again lifted her gaze to the handsome young man before her, her feelings tender, her red lips slightly parting as if she wanted to ask something.

Does the Young Master think we are a good match?

However, before she could utter the question, Xiao Jingyuan was called away.

Emperor Xuanwen ascended the throne at twenty-five, and has reigned for twenty years; renowned for his diligent governance and love for the people, he is a rare wise ruler.

Yet because he was overly diligent in his youth, he nearly exhausted his body, forcing him to rely on various precious medicinal herbs to nourish himself.

When Shen Shuangning saw him again, although he had not yet reached the later state of emaciation and exhaustion, signs of illness were already faintly visible.

Emperor Xuanwen received the decoction brought by the elderly eunuch; its bitterness made his face wrinkle, and only after eating a piece of honeyed preserve did he feel somewhat better.

"I hope Father Emperor takes care of his health." Third Prince Zhai Ji showed meticulous concern for the emperor, while the Fourth Prince secretly rolled his eyes.

Emperor Xuanwen's offspring are not numerous; he has only four sons and one daughter, with the Crown Prince and Second Prince absent from the capital, leaving only the Third Prince, Fourth Prince, and Princess Jingyu to accompany him here.

The two princes sat at Emperor Xuanwen's right hand, while Xiao Jingyuan sat at his left, showing the weight of the Yan Prince's mansion in the emperor's heart.

In the past, the Yan Prince followed Emperor Xuanwen in conquering the realm; the two were as close as brothers, a bond of life and death, therefore after Emperor Xuanwen ascended the throne, he ennobled the Yan Prince as the only prince of a different surname in the state of Dai Liang.

Emperor Xuanwen regarded Xiao Jingyuan as if he were his own nephew.

"Your subject, your daughter, pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Your subject, your wife, pays respects to Your Majesty."

Shen Shuangning and Madam Shen performed the full kowtow ceremony.

"Are you the Shen family maiden who placed first in this ladies' etiquette contest?" Emperor Xuanwen looked at the young lady.

Shen Shuangning said: "Thanks to the Elder Princess's favor, I, your servant, have gained a modest reputation; I am deeply humbled."

"Please rise." Emperor Xuanwen's dark, deep eyes looked at Shen Shuangning: "I heard your foot is injured. Attendants, grant her a seat."

Emperor Xuanwen was born with a round, full face, soft facial features, and when he spoke his tone was gentle; yet the imperial aura surrounding him was in no way diminished. Seated, he stood firm like Mount Tai, possessing an imposing, weighty presence akin to mountains and hills bearing ten thousand catties.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Shen Shuangning sat in the chair brought forward by the eunuch.

Emperor Xuanwen stroked his frost-white beard and said: "The people are the foundation; nobility arises from the common folk. Was it you who said to let the disaster victims eat pumpkins?"

Shen Shuangning replied neither humble nor arrogant: "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Then please tell me more."

All around were the emperor's close attendants; Shen Shuangning knew that Emperor Xuanwen wanted her to speak for them to hear.

Madam Shen gave her a look, indicating she shouldn't speak recklessly.

Shen Shuangning received her mother's glance, then honestly repeated it all once more.

Grand Secretary Song snorted coldly: "The court has already opened the granaries and released grain, yet you let the disaster victims eat that damned pumpkin—saying that out loud would only invite ridicule!"

Shen Shuangning endured, still speaking gently: "May I ask if the Grand Secretary knows the true situation in the disaster-stricken areas?"

Grand Secretary Song's eyes held a hint of contempt: "I don't know—do you claim to understand it fully?"

"I really do know." Shen Shuangning said, "Two days ago, a man named Zhong A Si caused a disturbance at the city gate. He was a disaster victim from True Pacified; after his wife and children were starved to death, he went to the capital to seek justice, but soldiers barred him from entering, so he set himself on fire outside the gate with fire oil."

As Shen Shuangning spoke these words, her tone was calm, yet it was like throwing a huge stone into a tranquil lake, stirring up massive ripples!

Grand Secretary Song's face changed instantly.

Damn it, he had already blocked the news of this matter—how did this girl find out?

"The road to True Pacified is buried under snow several feet deep, making travel by carriage and horse difficult; unless driven to desperation and filled with resentment, how could he risk coming to the capital? He set himself on fire to draw the emperor's attention and seek hope for True Pacified."

When Shen Shuangning mentioned the name "Zhong A Si," Xiao Jingyuan finally lifted his eyelids, looking at her thoughtfully.

Emperor Xuwen turned his gaze to Grand Secretary Song, his face sinking: "Is there such a thing?"

Grand Secretary Song's lips trembled slightly as he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it is true, but not as she described—the troublemaker was mentally deranged, not from True Pacified, merely a beggar of unknown origin."

"This girl is just spreading alarmist nonsense!"

Shen Shuangning gave Grand Secretary Song a cold stare.

The old thing is unrepentant; it seems the Song household deserved its confiscation in a past life.

Emperor Xuwen said nothing.

Grand Secretary Song knew he could not let Shen Shuangning continue spouting nonsense.

But just then, the Grand Princess spoke.

"Zhong A Si, that name sounds familiar......"

"I remember now—he used to be my coachman. Half a year ago his mother fell seriously ill, so he returned home to attend to her. Two months later he sent a letter saying his wife had given birth to a plump baby boy, and that upon returning to the capital he hoped I would bestow a name."

The Grand Princess added, "But later heavy snow blocked the roads, and I haven't heard from him since. Oh, right—Zhong A Si is indeed from True Pacified."

The Grand Princess lowered her eyes, sorrowful: "So his whole family is dead? What a pity—he was a good coachman."

Emperor Xuwen comforted, "I will find another capable coachman for Your Highness."

Grand Secretary Song opened his mouth, suddenly realizing the matter could no longer be concealed.

He quickly changed his tone, bowing his head: "I, too, have only heard rumors from below; I am not clear what actually happened that day—perhaps there was a misunderstanding..."

Emperor Xuwen did not ask further about Zhong A Si, his eyes darkening: "Half a month ago someone submitted a memorial informing me that in the disaster areas countless people still starve to death each day, with families resorting to cannibalism. I fail to understand—where has the court's grain gone?"

Emperor Xuwen narrowed his eyes, scanning the crowd with a sharp gaze.

Some were already drenched in sweat, and Grand Secretary Song dared not lift his head to meet the emperor's gaze.

Finally, Emperor Xuwen's gaze fell upon that petite figure, and he raised a hand to point.

"Shen Shuangning, your pumpkin idea is not bad—do you have any other methods?"

Madam Shen hastily said, "My daughter doesn't understand these things, Your Majesty, don't listen to her nonsense," and gave Shen Shuangning a frantic wink.

Shen Shuangning looked at the emperor's eyes, paused, then decided to speak.

She rose from her seat: "Using pumpkin as a substitute for grain is merely a stopgap; the court opens the granaries and releases grain, yet the disaster victims cannot eat their fill. The root cause is that merchants hoard grain to drive up prices, local officials exploit layer upon layer, embezzling and hoarding supplies, so that what reaches the victims is only a bowl of thin porridge with a few grains of rice."

"If the court does not act promptly to correct these abuses, even a pumpkin as common as dirt will become unaffordable gold for the disaster victims."

As soon as she spoke, the entire hall was startled.

The emperor's expression was inscrutable, while the Grand Princess looked on as if watching a spectacle.

Madam Shen was about to faint.

Grand Secretary Song pointed at Shen Shuangning and shouted, "How dare you!"

"What does a young lady from the inner chambers know? Court affairs are not for you to meddle in!"

Shen Shuangning turned her gaze to him, gave a light laugh, though the smile did not reach her eyes.

"Grand Secretary, you overstate it—I have not meddled in court affairs. Years ago, when you managed flood control in South of the River, you also denounced salt merchants for hoarding salt; now it's merely swapping 'salt' for 'grain,' so why can't you bear to hear it?"

"I haven't even mentioned the collusion of officials and merchants yet—why are you in such a hurry?"

"Ningning, show some respect!" Madam Shen's face changed as she rebuked.

The Grand Princess promptly interjected: "Indeed, Grand Secretary Song, are you not bullying a young girl?"

Shen Shuangning is the paragon of feminine virtue she personally selected; of course she must protect her.

Moreover, she has long disliked that old thing, Song Zhang.

Song Zhang's face instantly turned the color of pig's liver.

Shen Shuangning's obsidian-black eyes fixed on Song Zhang: "You ask what a young lady from the inner chambers knows—I know that when disaster victims gnaw tree bark, they must first lay the bark on a stone and grind it for three days until it becomes powder, only then can they swallow it; I know that after a woman finishes breastfeeding her child, she must go drink Guanyin clay..."

"And I know that when the people cannot even afford pumpkins, the fire in their eyes will turn toward what target."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xuwen's expression finally changed; the large, dark eyes like soybeans burned with fierce anger.

Grand Secretary Song still wanted to say more, but catching a glimpse of the emperor's grim face out of the corner of his eye, his heart gave a sudden thump.

Oh no.

His face shifted repeatedly, finally he gave Shen Shuangning a dark, sidelong glance and pressed his lips shut without speaking.

Madam Shen plunged to her knees, "Your Majesty, please forgive us; my daughter is young and ignorant, it is I who failed to educate her properly."

Saying this, she also tugged at Shen Shuangning's sleeve, signaling her to quickly kneel and apologize.

After her outburst, Shen Shuangning's mind gradually calmed, and she felt a bit regretful.

Having said she wouldn't interfere, how could she not hold back that deadly mouth?

She feared that everyone around was now looking at her with the eyes reserved for monsters.

Shen Shuangning was unaware that Xie Lin and Xiao Jingyuan were also watching her.