Chapter 65: The Grudge Is Set

“Good, good, this is wonderful news. You and your father-in-law are truly pillars of the nation, helping to ease my burdens,” Emperor Deye praised generously, as if compliments cost him nothing.

“Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. This is the formula, and this is the deed to the house. My father-in-law is willing to offer them both to Your Majesty. Please accept them.”

“Hahaha, the Su family, is it? I remember them,” Emperor Deye laughed heartily as he took the fertilizer formula. “How thoughtful. I will certainly grant him the title of Imperial Merchant. That way, his patriotic heart will not go unrecognized.”

Shen Xiuyan clenched his fists and said with determination, “My father-in-law has no need for the title of Imperial Merchant, but there is something else I wish to ask of Your Majesty.”

“Speak freely.” He was in a great mood—so long as it didn’t threaten the state, he would agree to anything.

This was Shen Xiuyan’s brilliance: he first offered a temptation the emperor could not refuse, then brought up the true purpose of his visit.

Shen Xiuyan humbly recounted the events of the previous day in full. Then he bowed his head, adopting a sorrowful expression, and fell silent.

Emperor Tianlong frowned. “Ridiculous! And Lord Sun just lets his household behave this way?”

Shen Xiuyan looked pitiful. “This was originally a family matter and shouldn’t trouble Your Majesty. But Lady Sun’s harsh words yesterday truly frightened me. I can endure it, but my wife already suffered undeserved torment. We’ve only just managed to save her—if anything else were to happen, my entire family would be doomed.”

“Rest assured, I will give you justice!” Emperor Deye thumped his chest with conviction as he looked at Shen Xiuyan’s pitiful face.

“I knew it—Your Majesty is a ruler who cares for his subjects. I knew coming to you was the right decision.” Shen Xiuyan’s eyes were full of respectful admiration.

A surge of responsibility rose in Emperor Deye’s heart. At that moment, Shen Xiuyan became his lucky star.

White sugar before, grain production now—everything he brought was a blessing to the nation and the people.

Shen Xiuyan’s future held boundless potential. Anyone who opposed him was opposing the emperor himself.

He must protect this lovable, pitiable head of his!

“Leave it to me without worry.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Shen Xiuyan hesitated slightly, then added, “There is one more matter—I’m not sure if I should mention it.”

“Speak.”

“My father-in-law and I have recently been researching something called ‘cement’. Once it sets, it can bear hundreds of pounds without cracking. It can be used to build roads and houses, significantly extending the lifespan of buildings.”

Shen Xiuyan threw out another big bait—he felt that just grain improvement might not be enough. Now, with another innovation on the hook, Emperor Deye would surely be even more serious about supporting him.

Sure enough, Emperor Deye looked at him with even more warmth in his eyes. “Excellent, excellent! Keep researching. If you need funding, come straight to me.”

Then, smiling broadly as if struck by inspiration, he said, “If you have any more novel ideas in the future, come to me right away. Don’t hesitate—I love hearing them, and I won’t blame you.”

“I understand. Then I’ll take my leave for today.”

“Go on, go on,” Emperor Deye waved cheerfully.

Ah, what a good subject.

Ah, what a worry-free subject.

If only everyone were like him—what worries could this empire possibly have?

Sigh. It’s a pity he must enter the Hanlin Academy first. If only he could go straight into the Ministry of Works—what wonders could he achieve?

Who knows which ancestor made the rule that the top three in the civil service exam must first serve in the Hanlin Academy for training?

Shen Xiuyan walked off with a hidden smile. With all he’d presented, even if he couldn’t match the power of the Minister of Personnel, the emperor would surely vent some of his anger for him.

His expectations weren’t high—after all, his opponent held a lofty position and couldn’t be toppled with just one or two moves. But at the very least, he wanted to peel off a layer of his skin.

As for the rest…

They’d see about that in the days to come.

Like a hyena, Shen Xiuyan had little else but infinite patience. One day, he would deal a crippling blow.

Sure enough, Emperor Deye came through. The very next day, in front of all the civil and military officials, he publicly rebuked Lord Sun and ordered him to apologize and reflect in isolation for a month.

Lord Sun never expected the matter to escalate so far—even the emperor had heard about it! He was utterly humiliated, his petty scheming now laid bare for all to see.

Feeling the mocking gazes of his colleagues, he even imagined commoners whispering about him on the road home.

When he got home, he flew into a rage.

For the first time, he struck Sun Yunrou. A large handprint appeared on her face, already swollen from the day before, now puffed up like a steamed bun.

Covering her face in disbelief, Sun Yunrou cried, “Father, you hit me?”

“Yes, I hit you, you unfilial child! Do you want to anger me to death?”

No matter how much he doted on this daughter, it could never compare to his official career. Right now, he wished he could tear her apart.

Sun Yunrou threw herself into Madam Wu’s arms. “Mother!”

Lord Sun glared. “Don’t call her your mother. Tomorrow you’ll go live at the country estate. I’ll hire several governesses for you. You can return when you’ve learned proper conduct.”

Sun Yunrou was thunderstruck. The countryside estate wasn’t fit for human habitation—and he was sending her there?

Madam Wu couldn’t help but cry out, “Husband!”

Lord Sun shot her a glare. “Too much maternal indulgence ruins the child. Say another word and you’ll go with her.”

Madam Wu instantly fell silent.

She couldn’t go. Compared to her daughter, her son’s future was more important.

If she left, the concubines at home would surely use it as an opportunity to sabotage her son’s path.

Watching Madam Wu’s silence, Sun Yunrou sobbed and screamed, “Mother, say something! Why aren’t you saying anything?”

But no matter how hard Sun Yunrou cried, her fate was sealed—she was being sent away.

After dealing with Sun Yunrou, Lord Sun immediately brought gifts to apologize.

But he was refused at the door by a cold-faced Shen Xiuyan—he couldn’t possibly afford to associate with the Sun family now.

And so, the grudge between the two was sealed!