Chapter 210: Extra Chapter 1: Happy Daily Life

The realm is at peace, a hundred neglected affairs await revival.

In the court, the head of civil officials is Pei Zhi, the head of military officers is Xiao Jingyuan; the former is the imperial tutor, the latter the Prince Regent.

The young emperor had two supporters; in less than a year, he completely reshuffled the court, clearing out the old dynasty's accumulated abuses.

Vacant positions in the court needed to be filled, so the new emperor prematurely opened the imperial examinations; besides the regular exams, he added a special grace exam to recruit talent widely.

Among them, a youth named Chen Shi Liang stood out and was directly appointed as Minister of Revenue.

This Chen Shi Liang is no ordinary scholar—during a great drought year, he introduced potatoes and promoted their cultivation, saving the people of Great Liang from famine, earning him the nickname 'Chen Potato' which spread across the world.

However, those who know him well prefer to call him 'Stone'.

This 'Potato Minister' had more talents; he was also skilled at cultivating novel crops. In his first year in office, he presented the new emperor with a southern fruit: covered in spines, extremely smelly, called durian.

It is said that when the durian was carried into the hall, the entire court of civil and military officials thought the latrine had exploded.

The new emperor's face turned green; if it weren't for the fact that this 'Chen Potato' had been recommended by the Prince Regent, he would have had him dragged out and punished on the spot.

Although the durian was not favored by the emperor and seemed rather disliked, the Prince Regent appeared to like it quite a bit.

He didn't mind getting the smelly fruit's odor on himself; he took the flesh and happily carried it back to his residence.

In short, since this Minister Chen took office, fresh happenings at court have increased considerably; even the once-precious lychee has gradually ceased to be considered rare.

Besides having such an extraordinary person as Minister Chen, the court also had another: the Minister of Justice, Gu Fengchun.

This person was a capable aide promoted by the Grand Tutor Pei Zhi; not only did he solve cases like a god, he could clear up the backlog of difficult old cases one by one.

He also understood how to adapt the law; when revising the criminal code for the new dynasty, he balanced justice and people's livelihood, making him the most relied-upon capable minister under Pei Zhi.

Thanks to his talent and Pei Zhi's appreciation, everyone at court and in the countryside believed his future was limitless, and he would surely enter the central authorities in the future.

But no one expected that, at the peak of his smooth career and soaring reputation, Gu Fengchun would submit his resignation, forsaking the glory and wealth of the capital, and decisively resign to return to his hometown!

"Minister Gu, you really won't stay?" Xiao Jingyuan called out to him outside the palace gate.

Gu Fengchun hadn't expected the Prince Regent to try to retain him; he was momentarily surprised, then clasped his hands and said in a refined manner: "My ambition does not lie in officialdom; I initially entered service merely to seek justice for the wronged souls of the Medicine King Valley, to let the truth of that year be revealed to heaven. Now the court's entrenched ills have been eliminated, the injustices redressed, my wish is fulfilled, and it is time for me to depart."

The wronged souls Gu Fengchun spoke of were the innocent people who perished tragically in the Medicine King Valley.

He looked at the esteemed Prince Regent before him; his calm eyes held no pity, only compassion for all beings.

Xiao Jingyuan said: "Minister Gu, from the very beginning, the person you wanted to approach was me, right?"

Gu Fengchun did not deny it, smiling gently: "Yes. You are most deeply connected to the old case of the Medicine King Valley, and you are also his bloodline; if you want him to admit guilt, you cannot avoid dealing with you."

Xiao Jingyuan couldn't help but ask: "You have gone to such lengths, scheming and placing yourself in the situation—could it be that back then, that incident also brought disaster upon your family?"

"No." Gu Fengchun shook his head: "I merely cannot bear to see justice buried by power, the innocent's blood shed in vain. The emperor, if he breaks the law, should be punished like commoners; since it is written in the law, it ought not be an empty letter."

"Sir, your righteousness." Xiao Jingyuan's tone gained a measure of respect.

Gu Fengchun was taken aback, then smiled: "I dare not accept such praise. The Prince Regent knows the truth of his origins, yet still chooses to enter court to assist the new emperor and work for the people of Great Liang—that is true righteousness."

At that moment, Xiao Jingyuan seemed to see someone; his sharp gaze unconsciously softened a little.

Xiao Jingyuan chuckled: "I don't have that kind of all-encompassing selflessness. Protecting the world, guarding the court, is only because there are people I cherish in this world."

Upon hearing this, Gu Fengchun followed his gaze and saw two figures, one tall and one small, standing not far away; he immediately understood.

"Father!" Before approaching, three-year-old Xiao Ningzhou broke free from his mother's hand, his little short legs moving steady and quick, like a lively little dough ball.

This child has been full of energy since young, very sturdy, and is a 'let-go-not-catch' type; Shen Shuangning could chase but never catch him.

"Ningzhou, go slower, don't fall."

Xiao Jingyuan had already bent down, steadily embracing the running son, his fingertip lightly brushing the child's nose, and said gently: "No manners, quickly greet Lord Gu."

Xiao Ningzhou blinked his round eyes, looked at the upright Gu Fengchun beside him, and said in a childish voice: "Ningzhou has seen Uncle Gu."

Gu Fengchun's lips curved: "Little Ningzhou is doing well. Long time no see, you've grown quite a bit taller."

As they spoke, Shen Shuangning, supported by her younger cousin Shen Ling, also walked over slowly.

Beneath her loose robes, the curve of her abdomen was already quite obvious, evidently she had been pregnant for several months.

Xiao Jingyuan immediately set the son down, took off his own fur coat, and draped it over his wife's shoulders; his eyes instantly held no one else.

"The weather is cold; you didn't even know to wear more when you came out."

"I'm already wearing plenty."

Ningzhou stood between his parents, face upturned, his mouth flattened enough to hang a water kettle.

Shen Shuangning said to Gu Fengchun: "Today is the Lantern Festival; it's not too late for Minister Gu to have a simple meal at our residence before leaving the capital."

Gu Fengchun had no relatives or family; during festivals he was always alone, occasionally visiting Pei Zhi's residence for a brief sit.

Shen Shuangning's gesture was also for her younger cousin; Shen Ling had long admired Gu Fengchun.

Before Gu Fengchun could respond, Shen Ling beside him already had reddened ears, lowered her gaze not daring to look at him, her fingertips subtly clutching her garment's edge, her eyes unable to hide anticipation.

How could Gu Fengchun not understand the young lady's feelings? Yet he merely regarded Shen Ling as a sister.

Indeed, their ages differ greatly; Gu Fengchun is already thirty, while Shen Ling is still a young girl of about thirteen or fourteen; they seem mismatched no matter how you look.

In the end, Gu Fengchun politely declined Shen Shuangning's invitation, left alone, without the slightest reluctance.

Shen Ling watched his retreating back, her eye sockets gradually reddening—was he not, in fact, gently rejecting her?

She had long understood that Gu Fengchun treated her well simply because he is a good person by nature; yet she could not help but fall for him.

Whenever he showed even the slightest fondness for her, she could abandon everything, disregarding dignity, to pursue his silhouette.

Shen Shuangning sighed, patted her head: "Forced melons aren't sweet; there are plenty of fine young men in the capital, Ah Ling will meet someone better."

Shen Ling bit her lip and slowly nodded.

As the year's end approached, Shen Shuangning gave birth to a healthy baby girl, named Xiao Ningxi.

After Ningzhou gained a sister, he no longer constantly clung to his parents; every day he revolved around his sister, more attentive than a wet nurse.

Even as an infant in swaddling, little Ningxi was exquisitely carved like pink jade, so adorable that the old matriarch of the Shen clan, upon seeing her, would directly say she was carved from the same mold as Shen Shuangning.

When this reached Xiao Jingyuan's ears, he, who already doted on his daughter, became even more indulgent, causing Ningzhou to feel somewhat dissatisfied.

It was not dissatisfaction with his father favoring the daughter, but rather dissatisfaction that his father had taken away the daughter's attention.

"Dad monopolizing Mom is bad enough, but why is he even making my sister compete with me?!" Ningzhou puffed out his cheeks in complaint.

"How dare you speak to your father like that—have you finished today's lessons?" Xiao Jingyuan held little Ningxi, teasing her with a rattle drum, unmoved by Ningzhou's complaint.

Ningzhou glared: "I finished it long ago!"

"And the martial arts? Have you held the horse stance long enough?"

"I just finished practicing!" Ningzhou stamped his feet in anxiety, then softened his tone: "Can I hold my sister for a bit? Just a bit!"

"No." Xiao Jingyuan refused without hesitation.

"Why? I can already lift a fifty‑catty stone! That's ten catties more than last time!"

"You're pleased with just fifty catties?" Xiao Jingyuan finally looked up, gave a soft snort: "Wait until you can lift a hundred catties, then we'll talk about holding your sister."

"I'm only four years old!!"

Xiao Jingyuan said lightly: "When I was four, I could already carry a load while looping around the imperial city three times."

"You're bragging!"

Unable to win against his father, Ningzhou pouted and burst into tears: "Mom!!!"

Under a nearby tree, Shen Shuangning leaned on a bamboo chair fitted with a soft cushion, utterly torn between laughter and tears.

Ningzhou ran to his mother to tattle, and Shen Shuangning also felt Xiao Jingyuan had gone too far today—although the father and son often bickered, Xiao Jingyuan wouldn't usually drive the child to tears.

She then gently asked: "Ningzhou, did you do something to upset your father?"

Ningzhou thought carefully and said: "Today after school, Dad went to the Imperial Academy to pick me up, and on the way we ran into the Grand Preceptor."

Shen Shuangning asked: "Then what happened?"

Ningzhou: "The Grand Preceptor gave Dad an ugly sachet and me a packet of maltose candy. Then Dad asked me what I thought of the Grand Preceptor."

Shen Shuangning glanced at the man still playing with his daughter not far away, thinking that sachet must be the one he had lost long ago, and somehow it had ended up in Pei Zhi's hands.

Although she later made him a nicer‑looking one, he still preferred the original.

Shen Shuangning collected herself and softly asked: "How did Ningzhou answer?"

Ningzhou's eyes instantly filled with admiration, and he naturally replied: "I said the Grand Preceptor is erudite, a pillar of the state, and the most formidable person in Great Liang; I hope to become someone like the Grand Preceptor in the future! I also said it would be wonderful if the Grand Preceptor could come be my tutor......"

"Then Dad kicked Ningzhou and said I was itchy." Speaking thus, little Ningzhou rubbed his buttocks, aggrieved: "My butt still hurts, Dad is being utterly unreasonable."

Shen Shuangning held him on her lap and explained for Xiao Jingyuan: "Your father and the Grand Preceptor are on bad terms."

Ningzhou puzzled: "The Grand Preceptor seems like a nice person—why does Dad dislike him?"

Shen Shuangning paused, not bothering to explain all the details to the child, then said solemnly: "It's a long story, but from now on you must not say such things in front of your father, understand?"

Having already suffered for it, Ningzhou dared not repeat the mistake; he obediently nodded, then leaned close to his mother's ear and whispered: "I know, Dad is narrow‑minded."

Shen Shuangning let out a "pfft" laugh, then straightened her face and scolded: "Showing no respect, you're not allowed to speak like that about your father."

Ningzhou immediately lowered his head: "Ningzhou knows he was wrong." From now on he'll just say it in his heart.

Shen Shuangning smiled and rubbed his little head.