Ch 65: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

“Smallpox?” The Emperor appeared puzzled, but as he flipped through the booklet presented to him, his expression changed instantly.

He quickly scanned the contents, his astonishment growing with each page. If this were all true, it would be a blessing for the entire nation!

The Emperor rose excitedly. “Is this real, Shen Jun? Truly real?”

Shen Jun was equally thrilled. “It is true! Initially, it was Consort Xian’s curiosity. When I returned to the capital, she asked me if it was true that cows could contract cowpox and that people who worked with cattle didn’t get smallpox. I remembered hearing about it in the countryside and thought it might just be a coincidence. But we decided to test it at Consort Xian’s estate with cows and volunteers.

The results over the past few months have been promising. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to approach Your Majesty. The records Consort Xian read are indeed accurate!”

When Shen Yunxuan had first told him about this, he thought it was just a trivial matter and indulged her by conducting an experiment. Who would have thought that those inoculated with cowpox on the estate would remain free of smallpox? The results were astounding. Only then did he realize why his sister had said this discovery could help him gain a strong foothold.

Yet, he couldn’t take all the credit for himself, so he frequently emphasized Shen Yunxuan’s contributions, hoping to elevate her status in the Emperor’s eyes.

The Emperor motioned for Shen Jun to rise, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back before instructing Li Defu, “Summon Consort Xian to accompany me. We will dine here tonight. Ask her what she would like to eat and have the imperial kitchen prepare it.”

As Li Defu was about to leave, the Emperor added almost instinctively, “Send a carriage with warming braziers and remind everyone to be careful.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Rest assured,” Li Defu replied with a smile, retreating with excitement. After all, this concerned smallpox. If cowpox could truly prevent smallpox, Consort Xian and her brother would have achieved a monumental contribution! It was no wonder they were dragon-phoenix twins—truly auspicious!

Shen Jun, seeing the Emperor’s thoughtful instructions, finally felt reassured about Shen Yunxuan. A man understands another man best, and witnessing the Emperor’s reactions confirmed that he truly cared about his sister. Knowing she was doing well in the palace was an immense relief.

Shen Yunxuan, several months pregnant with a belly as round as a pot, was rarely allowed out by the Emperor. She was accustomed to receiving him at Anhe Palace, so the sudden summons surprised her. Even Li Defu, who only smiled mysteriously, refused to disclose the reason.

When Shen Yunxuan arrived at the imperial study and saw Shen Jun’s silhouette, her eyes widened. “Brother?!”

Shen Jun immediately turned, smiling. “Consort Xian, your humble student greets you—”

“Brother! No formalities!” Shen Yunxuan quickly stepped forward to stop him, shocked. “What are you doing here?”

She turned to the Emperor, who helped her to a seat and explained with a smile, “The examination results were announced today. He ranked first.”

Shen Yunxuan was overjoyed. “Brother, you’re the top scorer? Really? That’s amazing!”

In her previous life, Shen Jun went to war and missed the imperial examinations, something he always regretted. This time, she had urged him to return early, but she never expected him to take the top spot!

Shen Jun smiled. “With the precious books Your Majesty and Her Highness bestowed upon me, I had to work hard. Besides, His Majesty even set exam questions personally. If I didn’t rank first, wouldn’t I have let down such generosity?”

“What? You set exam questions?” Shen Yunxuan turned to the Emperor, who awkwardly touched his nose.

Shen Jun was stunned. He had always thought the Emperor tested him as a favor Shen Yunxuan requested. To find out the Emperor did it of his own accord and hadn’t even mentioned it to her was shocking.

After his initial surprise, Shen Jun smiled. Didn’t this show how much the Emperor cared about Shen Yunxuan?

Not wanting to dwell on the subject, the Emperor handed her the booklet on cowpox. “Winning first place is one piece of good news; this is the second. Take a look.”

Shen Yunxuan glanced between the two men, puzzled by their secrecy. As she opened the booklet and read the records, her eyes widened. “The cowpox experiment succeeded?”

“Yes, thanks to Your Highness’s guidance, it succeeded,” Shen Jun replied, his eyes crinkling with joy.

Shen Yunxuan eagerly flipped through the records. Although she had confirmed that the information in the Book of Memories was accurate, smallpox was a historically feared and deadly disease. The book only briefly mentioned that vaccines and cowpox were effective, with no detailed guidance.

She didn’t know how to make vaccines, so she had only mentioned cowpox to her brother in passing. She hadn’t expected him to achieve success in experimenting with it. Ecstatic, she said, “This is wonderful! Your Majesty, if the imperial physicians find no issues, cowpox inoculation can be promoted to save countless lives!”

The Emperor, seeing her joy, felt gratified. “That is exactly why I called you here to celebrate. It’s also a chance for you two to reunite. I’ve already decided to have the imperial physicians secretly verify the results under Shen Jun’s supervision. Once the trials are complete, we’ll make it public to avoid unnecessary complications.”

Shen Jun understood the political implications. The Prime Minister and his faction were vying for control of the court, constantly challenging the Emperor. An initiative that could win popular support would undoubtedly draw sabotage. It was better to keep it quiet until everything was ready. With the border conflicts ongoing, the court couldn’t afford further instability.

Shen Jun cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty is wise.”

Shen Yunxuan held the Emperor’s hand and smiled warmly. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s kindness.”

When she first entered the palace, she truly thought it would be many years before she could see her brother again. To her surprise, only a few months had passed before they were reunited. The Emperor, despite being so busy he often skipped meals, still took the time to test Shen Jun—proof of his care for her. She remembered this and felt immense joy.

That meal was informal, without strict etiquette. The Emperor shared much advice about the responsibilities of serving as an official, which greatly benefited Shen Jun. In turn, Shen Jun spoke of his experiences in the countryside and his journey to the capital, recounting many things the Emperor had never seen, which piqued his curiosity. They also discussed the miscellaneous books Shen Yunxuan had read. Both the Emperor and Shen Jun expressed interest in these books, particularly to see if there were other valuable records besides the one on cowpox.

Shen Yunxuan regretfully said, “Many of the things I liked were destroyed by Shen Yu. I haven’t come across similar books since.”

Shen Yu had bullied her since childhood, deliberately destroying anything she cherished, including several books. Both the Emperor and Shen Jun recalled this, assuming that rare and valuable books had been lost. They felt both pity for Shen Yunxuan’s hardships and anger at Shen Yu’s reckless behavior.

The Emperor asked, “Previously, you discovered that fan shi were edible and now cowpox as well. Have you come across anything else unusual?”

Shen Yunxuan’s eyes lit up. “Yes, many things! One book mentioned cultivators from other worlds possessing spatial bracelets where they could store items freely.” She extended her hand, revealing her bracelet, and said wistfully, “I tested all my bracelets and ornaments with blood, but none of them reacted…”

“What? Blood testing?” The Emperor and Shen Jun exclaimed in unison, their expressions changing.

The Emperor frowned. “Do not act recklessly in the future. If you wish to test something, inform me, and I will find someone to do it for you.”

Shen Jun also disapproved. “If Your Highness is curious about anything, please instruct me. Do not put yourself in harm’s way.”

Shen Yunxuan replied sheepishly, “Understood, don’t worry. The imperial physicians said I’m in excellent health. By the way, one travelogue mentioned someone crossing the ocean to reach other lands with many unfamiliar goods. They brought items from here to trade and made a fortune. Your Majesty, brother, have you heard of such distant places? They’re described as having people with blue eyes, green eyes, and yellow hair—aren’t those traits of monsters?”

Neither the Emperor nor Shen Jun had seen foreigners but had heard vague rumors, particularly of a northern “red-haired” nation. If the travelogue was true, could it be possible to reach numerous other countries across the seas? Could those lands possess valuable items not found in the empire? Still, the travelogue might just be fanciful fiction, as few could truly cross the ocean.

The Emperor mentally noted this. Across history, various dynasties could have recorded such accounts, which were later lost until Shen Yunxuan stumbled upon them. If possible, he hoped to verify this someday—perhaps the fan shi was also introduced from abroad.

Shen Yunxuan continued thoughtfully, “Speaking of interesting things, one person complained about bumpy roads and wanted to develop something called ‘cement’ to make roads smooth and weatherproof. Unfortunately, he died of illness before succeeding. Another person speculated that firearms could be made to fire continuously with great power. If someone skilled enough could create guns with long range and high destructive capability, they would be unstoppable on the battlefield!

“But I’ve never heard of anyone succeeding, so these are likely just fanciful ideas.

“Oh, and someone wished for more efficient farming tools. Planting bent over is too exhausting—what if one could plant while standing? Harvesting is also tiring; if there were a cart that could reap crops as it moved, it would make things much easier. And someone noticed how warm sheep’s wool is, suggesting that wearing it could provide excellent insulation. They also wondered if the feathers of chickens and ducks, which resist the cold in winter, could be used for clothing…”

Shen Yunxuan laughed as she spoke, and the Emperor and Shen Jun joined in, amused by the whimsical ideas. They seemed like dreams born of idle minds.

However, the Emperor began pondering firearms. While guns and cannons existed, they were far from what Shen Yunxuan described. They couldn’t be mass-produced for every soldier, and they posed risks like accidental misfires. Her words sparked an idea: perhaps he could recruit experts to secretly develop better firearms. If successful, it would greatly strengthen his forces and stabilize the border.

Shen Jun, on the other hand, considered farming tools, feathers, and wool. Having seen these materials often in the countryside, he felt they had potential and were worth exploring. Though he had no clear direction, he decided to begin small experiments at the estate.

Seeing they had taken her words to heart, Shen Yunxuan lowered her eyes and happily continued eating. This rare opportunity allowed her to share various peculiar ideas, demonstrating the breadth of her knowledge. That way, any future discoveries she introduced would seem less surprising.

As for where those miscellaneous books came from, it was easy to explain. Her mother’s dowry included a large collection of books brought from the Fang family, a renowned military lineage that had fought battles for three generations over a century. It wouldn’t be surprising for them to have gathered a variety of items. And since many of her books had been destroyed by Shen Yu, the loss of rare books could easily be attributed to him, making everything sound plausible.

The most important thing was that the Book of Memories was her secret alone. No matter how much others speculated, they could never imagine she possessed such an incredible opportunity. Even if she discovered numerous useful ideas from those miscellaneous books, others would simply attribute it to her having read widely, having a good memory, and being extraordinarily lucky—nothing more. After all, the true origin of her knowledge was beyond anyone’s guess, and everything others could investigate appeared normal.

The three of them enjoyed their dinner with laughter and cheer, and Shen Yunxuan went to bed that night with a smile on her face.

Afterward, Shen Jun moved to the imperial estate, where he balanced his studies with secret experiments on cowpox alongside several imperial physicians. During his downtime, he would squat in front of farming tools, chickens, ducks, and sheep, pondering how to make them more useful.

Meanwhile, the Shen family couldn’t find him and assumed he had left home after an argument with Shen Xiuyuan. This frightened Shen Xiuyuan greatly!

With the Shen family’s reputation soaring due to Shen Yunxuan and Shen Jun, Shen Jun was clearly the most promising heir of his generation. Shen Xiuyuan scolded him only to subdue him, not to drive him away! Worse, if Shen Yunxuan found out Shen Jun had been driven off by him, who knew how she might retaliate against the Shen family?

In desperation, Shen Xiuyuan quietly sent people to search for Shen Jun but didn’t dare make a public fuss, fearing it would attract attention. Whenever someone came by to visit or send invitations to Shen Jun, Shen Xiuyuan would claim he was either out of town or too busy studying to meet anyone.

Just as Shen Xiuyuan was losing sleep from worry, Shen Jun finally sent a message back, stating that he had moved elsewhere to study in peace, away from disturbances.

Shen Xiuyuan was livid, his face red with anger. Disturbances at home? Who could possibly disturb him there? Wasn’t it just because of family discord?

He turned his frustration toward Liu Shi, blaming her for being intolerant and overly harsh, driving a wedge between Shen Jun, Shen Yunxuan, and the rest of the family. Liu Shi, in turn, expressed her disappointment in Shen Ming, sighing every time she saw him. She even ordered servants to keep a close eye on his studies, insisting he pass the exams three years later.

Once an avid scholar, Shen Ming now loathed studying. He believed he would have passed if Liu Shi’s constant nagging hadn’t provoked his rebellion. The outstanding success of Shen Yunxuan and Shen Jun had further shaken his confidence, leading to his failure. His father’s attention was entirely on Shen Jun, his mother only blamed him, and his life felt completely ruined—even his marriage prospects suffered. He couldn’t understand why his parents had brought Shen Jun back in the first place.

Shen Yu, unable to tolerate the oppressive atmosphere at home and the constant comparisons, was even more frustrated. Once dismissive of Shen Yunxuan and Shen Jun, he now had to watch them bask in glory. Desperate for recognition, he begged his parents to send him to the battlefield to earn military merits. When Liu Shi refused, he knelt in the ancestral hall and refused to get up.

Eventually, Shen Xiuyuan and Liu Shi relented, assigning him a team of guards and personally visiting the Shao family to request a letter of introduction from Shao Qun’s father. With this letter, Shen Yu was sent to the border to find Shao Qun, who would ensure his safety while training him. This arrangement both tempered Shen Yu and protected him.

Liu Shi finally saw some benefit in Shen Yunrong marrying into the Shao family. Despite Shen Yunrong’s injury, the Shao family owed the Shen family care, which Liu Shi believed placed them in the Shen family’s debt. She resumed close contact with Shen Yunrong, seeing her as the only child who could help her now. Shen Yu departed for the border, thrilled at the prospect of achieving military distinction.

Shen Yunxuan, however, was unaware of these events outside the palace and didn’t care. She had already exacted her revenge in her previous life. In this life, she focused on enjoying her new beginning, occasionally dealing with those who crossed her mind but otherwise paying them little attention.

During this time, Shen Yunxuan acted as a proxy in managing palace affairs. Having fully grasped the intricacies of palace operations, she began implementing reforms. In her past life, she had managed the Shao household exceptionally well. Coupled with insights from the Book of Memories on running companies and large enterprises, she combined the strengths of both approaches to devise new regulations tailored to the palace’s needs.

She didn’t make unilateral decisions, instead consulting Consort Chen and Consort Li, then presenting the plans to the Empress Dowager for approval before implementation.

The new regulations introduced clearer reward and punishment systems, defined roles at all levels, and included training and evaluations. Outstanding performers could further their skills, while those who failed assessments were reassigned to roles that better suited their talents. The system discouraged idleness and scheming, ensuring that competence determined one’s success.

Once the reforms were in place, the palace became far more efficient, with much red tape eliminated. Incidents of mistreatment between superiors and subordinates decreased significantly. Shen Yunxuan also introduced an anonymous complaint system, deterring those who bullied others.

Initially, many palace staff resented the changes, believing Shen Yunxuan was creating unnecessary trouble. However, once they adapted, they realized the reforms benefited those who worked diligently. They earned more and advanced faster. Young maids and eunuchs, in particular, found new opportunities and were immensely grateful to Shen Yunxuan.

Shen Yunxuan implemented sweeping changes to palace regulations, affecting many areas, especially procurement. Suddenly, all purchases required detailed pricing records, and items priced higher than market value needed justification. This drastically cut back the “extra profits” many had been enjoying, leaving the palace steward in a bind. He immediately ran to the Empress Dowager to complain about the difficulties.

The Empress Dowager, concerned, sent someone to inquire about the matter. Unexpectedly, Shen Yunxuan came in person. The Empress Dowager quickly said, “Why did you come all the way here? It’s snowing outside! Had I known, I wouldn’t have sent anyone.”

The steward’s heart sank at those words. The Empress Dowager doting on Consort Xian this much meant things wouldn’t go his way today.

Shen Yunxuan smiled and said, “Mother, someone disturbed your peace, so naturally, I had to come and check.”

The steward’s expression shifted as he hurriedly tried to plead for forgiveness, but Shen Yunxuan didn’t give him a chance to speak. Sitting down, she smiled faintly and said, “It’s normal for the imperial palace to use fine items. I’m not unreasonable. But when eggs costing a few coins each are purchased at three taels of silver, are they golden eggs laid by a golden hen?”

The steward froze, sweat beading on his forehead. “Your Highness, you may not know, but all the food for the palace’s masters is of the finest quality. These eggs come from specially raised hens fed with unique, carefully chosen feed.”

“Have the imperial physicians examined them? Regular grains would produce eggs costing just a few coins each. Eggs priced at three taels must involve medicinal herbs in the feed. Who knows what their properties might be? Are they harmful to the body? Where are these hens raised? Who raises them? Summon them to the palace for inspection by the imperial physicians,” Shen Yunxuan said coolly. “Or is someone pocketing the difference?”

The steward immediately kowtowed. “I’m innocent! Innocent, Your Highness!”

Shen Yunxuan continued, “The border is at war, and His Majesty is troubled about the state treasury. As women of the imperial harem, we cannot contribute much, but we can establish rules to ease His Majesty’s worries. Cutting back here allows more resources to feed the soldiers at the front.

As for these three-tael eggs, I find no difference in taste compared to ordinary eggs costing a few coins. The same applies to many other items.

And yet, you dared to complain to the Empress Dowager. Is it dissatisfaction with me? Or do you have ulterior motives?”

“Your Highness, I wouldn’t dare! I absolutely wouldn’t dare…” The steward was drenched in sweat and full of regret. But it was too late.

Shen Yunxuan ordered the steward to be taken away and instructed Zhuang Mama and Qin Mama to lead a team to audit the accounts thoroughly. Clearly, she intended to make an example of him.

Once the others had left, the Empress Dowager expressed her concern for Shen Yunxuan’s health and patted her hand in reassurance. “Seeing you handle this so well puts me at ease. His Majesty’s choice of your title was perfect—‘Xian’ truly suits you.”

The steward was the first major figure to fall under Shen Yunxuan’s reforms. She had his crimes thoroughly investigated and submitted the evidence to the Emperor. To avoid causing too much upheaval at once, which might provoke resistance, she chose not to expose too many others immediately.

The Emperor confiscated the steward’s property and sentenced him to immediate execution.

From that point on, the palace atmosphere became markedly cleaner. Shen Yunxuan’s authority was firmly established, and she gained a level of respect even exceeding that of the Empress. No one dared to slack off or scheme anymore, and the palace settled into order. Even the Emperor noticed the improvement.

Before long, the Emperor discovered that palace expenditures had decreased by two-thirds. Yet, everyone from the Empress Dowager to the lowliest eunuchs still received sufficient food, clothing, and firewood, and their lives were better than before.

Amazed, the Emperor sent Li Defu to investigate. He confirmed that all allowances were distributed as usual, and no one had been shortchanged. This proved that the prior overspending had been due to corrupt servants enriching themselves at the palace’s expense.

The Emperor was both shocked and proud. In all his years, no one but Shen Yunxuan had ever managed the harem so efficiently. He reviewed her new regulations, finding them innovative and practical. He couldn’t fathom how she came up with such ideas.

With some free time, the Emperor decided to visit Shen Yunxuan at Anhe Palace. By now, her pregnancy was advanced, and the palace staff cared for her with great caution. Yet, her excellent health allowed her to manage palace affairs as usual, with little change apart from her visibly larger belly.

Without announcing his arrival, the Emperor approached her and saw her recording something. The booklet contained strange tables and numbers that seemed to be accounting records. Curious, he asked, “What’s this?”

Shen Yunxuan looked up, saw him, and pulled him to sit beside her. Smiling, she said, “It’s a ledger. The old format was too complicated, so I simplified it. Now, bookkeeping and audits are much faster. Take a look.”

The dynasty had its numbering system, though it wasn’t widely used. Shen Yunxuan explained the meaning of each row and column. The tables made income and expenditure clear at a glance, and each page could record much more data. The new format was simpler and more efficient.

The Emperor immediately thought of broader applications for such tables. Surprised, he asked, “Did you come up with this yourself?”

Shen Yunxuan quickly replied, “How could I? I saw something similar in a book once. It listed items and prices using tables and numbers. When my eyes ached from poring over the old ledgers, I remembered it and adapted it. It’s not my invention; I just borrowed the idea.”

The Emperor hadn’t expected yet another innovation to stem from the miscellaneous books she had read. Praising her, he said, “The ability to apply what you’ve learned is a skill in itself. My dear Consort, you are truly exceptional. No need for humility.”

Shen Yunxuan laughed and said, “In my opinion, the common people are the truly exceptional ones. The books I read often mention discoveries and ideas from ordinary folk—neither officials nor wealthy elites. They simply lacked the means to share their findings with the world. The wisdom of the people is the greatest resource.”

“The wisdom of the people…” The Emperor repeated her words thoughtfully, gaining a new perspective.

At that moment, he realized why he was so fond of Shen Yunxuan. Her unconventional ideas seemed to open a window to a new world, full of possibilities and opportunities. How could anyone not admire such a remarkable woman?

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆