The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

Chapter 444 A Busy Daily Life

Qiongniang woke up in the middle of the night, and Xiahe stayed by her side the whole time.

Seeing that Qiongniang was awake, Xiahe quickly got up and went over to her. "You're awake. Do you want some water?"

Still dazed and confused, Qiongniang stared at Xiahe for a while before she came to her senses.

"I...I've returned to the palace?"

"Yes, you're in the palace right now."

Xia He let Qiong Niang lean on her shoulder and fed her the water she was holding.

After drinking the water, Qiongniang gradually regained her senses.

She looked up and around, and sure enough, this was her room.

How did I get back?

For Qiongniang, the past few days had felt like a dream, unreal yet she could clearly sense that those things had truly happened.

"It was the master himself who led people to the Imperial Hospital to bring you back."

Xia He didn't know much either. She only knew that Shen Tianjiao led people to bring Qiongniang back from the Imperial Hospital.

As for what Qiongniang went through in the Imperial Hospital, she didn't know.

"Huh?" After a brief moment of disbelief, Qiongniang smiled slightly. "It wasn't a dream after all. It really was her. She brought me back."

“I knew she would find me and bring me back safely.”

The days that Qiongniang was locked in the cellar were even more painful and desperate than the days she spent in the Netherworld Palace.

A person is locked in a dark cellar, with no one by his side, no light, no food, and no water.

They just stayed there, silently waiting for death to come. In that confined environment, the psychological pressure and torment they endured far outweighed the physical pain and hunger.

What has sustained Qiongniang these past few days, the belief that she must live, is that Shen Tianjiao will definitely come to save her.

Unexpectedly, Shen Tianjiao actually came to the Imperial Hospital to save her.

"What about her?"

Qiongniang didn't say who she was looking for, but Xiahe knew in her heart who she was looking for.

"Your Majesty is handling state affairs. A lot has happened in the palace while you were away."

"The Emperor returned from the Imperial Ancestral Temple with his court officials just as the lanterns were lit yesterday."

Xiahe helped Qiongniang up and placed a cushion behind her so that Qiongniang could sit up for a while.

"It seems that a lot has indeed happened while I was away from the palace."

Qiongniang looked up at the gray sky outside and asked, "Has she not slept all night again?"

Xia He sighed softly and said, "Yes, my mistress has been busy ever since she returned from the Imperial Hospital yesterday, and she hasn't rested yet."

"She's really risking her life."

Upon hearing Xia He say that Shen Tianjiao hadn't slept all night and had been handling government affairs, Qiongniang was both worried and somewhat angry.

People who don't take care of their bodies will definitely break down if they continue like this.

"There's nothing we can do about it. His Highness the Crown Prince is still too young to share the burdens of his master. Since there are no other people around the master who can help, it's naturally going to be very difficult for him."

Xia He felt sorry for Shen Tianjiao, but despite her sympathy, she had no way to help Shen Tianjiao.

"Yes, Mu'er is still young and can't share his mother's burdens yet."

"She has no one around to share her burdens, it's really hard on her, making her work so hard."

At this moment, Qiongniang felt that she was a useless piece of trash, not only unable to help but also causing trouble.

"So you need to get well soon. Among us, you are the only one who can help our master share his burdens."

Xia He glanced at the sky outside; it was time for her to get up, as usual.

Although Shen Tianjiao had Chun Chao by her side, Xia He still wanted to prepare some food and send it to Shen Tianjiao.

My body hasn't gotten enough rest, and if I don't eat something nutritious, how can I possibly hold on?

Qiongniang, seeing the expression on Xiahe's face, naturally knew what she was thinking.

"Xiahe, prepare some food for me and take it to Jiaojiao."

"She hasn't slept all night and needs to eat something to replenish her energy so she can hold on."

"Go to the storeroom and take a look. There's a century-old ginseng there that's been processed by the Imperial Hospital. Take out a few slices, make some soup, and send it over."

Hearing what Qiongniang said, Xiahe breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately got up and said, "Then I'll go get the ginseng and then go check on the small kitchen."

"Last night I already instructed the kitchen to make your favorite soup dumplings and white fungus soup."

"If you're hungry right now, I'll have someone get some for you to eat first."

Qiongniang shook her head and said, "I'm not hungry now. You go and do your thing. If I get hungry later, I'll just have the maids get it for me."

Since Qiongniang returned, she has been fed ginseng soup seven or eight times. Even though she hadn't eaten for several days, she didn't feel hungry after drinking so much tonic like ginseng soup.

When it was fully light, Shen Tianjiao finally put down her pen and began to close her eyes to rest.

After Li Zhaohui's rebellion, not only will the powerful families in the capital be reshuffled, but the imperial court will also be reshuffled and undergo a major purge.

Some people are unworthy of high positions, but they rely on their family's power to occupy those positions without doing anything, and they cannot make way for truly talented people.

Some people, through nepotism, rose from being ignorant and incompetent, or even lacking any real ability, to occupy positions without contributing anything, becoming troublemakers and disrupting the court.

There are also people who are capable and talented, but unfortunately, they are dishonest and cannot use their minds for good.

Instead of thinking about how to use his power to restore Yunli and bring prosperity to its people, he is always obsessed with power.

They're always forming cliques and factions, always seeking personal gain; there's never a moment of peace.

Dealing with them normally requires a lot of effort, and if not handled properly, it can incite public anger and cause all the court officials to oppose the ruler.

But with Li Zhaohui's plot to rebel today, things will be much easier to handle. After all, plotting a rebellion for Yun Li is a capital offense punishable by confiscation of property and exile.

Moreover, Li Rui's actions at the Imperial Ancestral Temple had already intimidated the court officials, and at this point they would absolutely not dare to oppose any of Shen Tianjiao's decrees.

If we miss this opportunity, it will be harder than climbing to heaven to deal with these people in the future.

Therefore, Shen Tianjiao must seize this opportunity. If she gets rid of these people, there will still be endless messes to clean up in the future.

Shen Tianjiao handed the completed list to Yu Po and instructed, "Just handle it according to this list."

"No need to rush, just take it slow and proceed step by step. If we move too fast, some people will get impatient and start causing trouble."

"We need to maintain stability while eliminating them all."

During these past few days, Yu Po has thoroughly investigated all the prominent families and officials in the capital.

Having thoroughly investigated their backgrounds, Shen Tianjiao compiled this list based on the intelligence brought back by Yu Po.

"Yes, my subordinates know."

After receiving the list, Yu Po immediately turned to leave to do the things Shen Tianjiao had asked her to do.

Before she could even take a step, Shen Tianjiao called out to her, "Come back. I already said, this can't be rushed."

"For the next three days, do nothing. Get a good night's sleep and do things you enjoy."

"what!"

Yu Po, who was suddenly given a holiday, looked at Shen Tianjiao with some confusion.

Shen Tianjiao said she would be given a three-day holiday so she could do things she liked, but apart from practicing martial arts and carrying out missions every day, she didn't have anything else she liked to do.

Yu Po is a very capable person, but if her life experiences were written down, they could be summarized in just a few words.

Practicing martial arts, going on missions, and protecting Shen Tianjiao—that's all she really doesn't know what else to do.

If she were suddenly given free time, she wouldn't know what she could do.

Looking at Yu Po's bewildered and helpless expression, Shen Tianjiao felt an indescribable sadness in her heart. This girl's world revolved around her.

However, Shen Tianjiao did not want Yu Po's world to consist only of her. It is not easy for a person to live in this world once, and they should experience more different things so as not to waste their life.

"Don't look at me like that. Go get some sleep first, and then go find some things you enjoy."

"Don't say anything. Go to sleep now. After you've had your sleep, do what I tell you to do."

Before Yu Po could refuse, Shen Tianjiao gave the order.

Shen Tianjiao knew very well that if she spoke to Yu Po nicely, Yu Po might not listen, but if she ordered Yu Po to do something, Yu Po would obediently do as she was told.

Yu Po went out feeling wronged, but was stopped by Chun Chao who was waiting outside the door.

Chun Chao pulled Yu Po aside and handed her the hot soup that had been prepared beforehand.

"You came back last night and haven't eaten anything since. Go drink some hot soup to warm yourself up, then go to sleep."

"Don't worry about what Master has told you. After you wake up, I'll go for a walk with you and see if there's anything you'd like to do."

"It's okay if I didn't find something I like this time. There's plenty of time in the future, and I can look for it slowly."

"Hmm." Drinking the hot soup that Chun Chao gave her, Yu Po's heart calmed down, and the panic from before was gone.

As long as you have someone with you, you can always find something you want to do.

Having been busy all night without getting any sleep, Shen Tianjiao felt weak and tired and wanted to go to bed.

But at this moment, Xia He and Chun Chao appeared together in front of Shen Tianjiao.

They had come to bring food to Shen Tianjiao, of course.

Following Qiong Niang's instructions, Xia He stewed wild ginseng soup for Shen Tianjiao and also prepared some other foods that Shen Tianjiao liked.

"Master, please have something to eat before you go to rest."

Before Shen Tianjiao could speak, Chun Chao placed the food in front of her and handed her the chopsticks.

Shen Tianjiao looked down at the chopsticks in her hand and the food on the table. Even if she had no appetite, she would still eat some.

While Shen Tianjiao was eating, Xia He spoke up, "Master, Qiongniang has woken up."

Shen Tianjiao, who was eating, immediately looked up. "She's awake. When did she wake up?"

Seeing Qiong Niang's weak appearance, Shen Tianjiao thought she would sleep for at least a day or two before waking up, but she didn't expect her to wake up so quickly.

"She woke up this morning. I fed her ginseng soup seven or eight times last night. Perhaps the ginseng soup worked, because she was in pretty good spirits when she woke up."

"This wild ginseng soup is what she asked me to make for you."

Xia He placed the wild ginseng soup in front of Shen Tianjiao, clearly indicating that she wanted Shen Tianjiao to drink it to replenish her strength.

Shen Tianjiao smiled. How could she possibly hide Xia He's little scheme from her? She then picked up the bowl of wild ginseng soup and drank it.

Seeing that Shen Tianjiao had drunk the bowl of wild ginseng soup, Xia He and Chun Chao both breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Tianjiao doesn't really like supplements; even if they're made for her, she might not eat them.

Shen Tianjiao quickly finished her breakfast. She put down her chopsticks, stood up, and said, "Let's go. Now that Qiongniang is awake, let's go see her."

"She suffered terribly this time; she almost lost her life."

"Chun Chao, go find two clever girls who know kung fu. From now on, have them stay by Qiong Niang's side so they can protect her at any time."

After this incident, Shen Tianjiao had to start paying more attention to Qiongniang, because if something else happened to her, it would be troublesome.

"Yes, I'll get ready right away."

After Chun Chao left, Shen Tianjiao took Xia He to see Qiong Niang.

When they arrived, Qiongniang was just starting to prepare breakfast.

"You came."

Seeing Shen Tianjiao arrive, Qiongniang patted the seat next to her and said, "You've come at the right time. Have breakfast with me."

Shen Tianjiao sat down next to Qiongniang and said to her, "You eat. You already ate when you came."

After saying this, Shen Tianjiao moved some of the foods that Qiongniang usually liked to eat closer to her.

In just a few days, Qiongniang had lost a lot of weight. Even without her saying anything, Shen Tianjiao knew that she had suffered a lot in the past few days.

"From now on, you will stay in the palace and not go anywhere else."

"I have already instructed Chun Chao to find you two clever girls who know kung fu. From now on, they can stay by your side and you must take them with you wherever you go."

Qiong Niang, who was eating, stopped, looked at Shen Tianjiao, shook her head, and said, "Your arrangement is not appropriate. You should cancel it."