After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

Shen Lingyi learned many things she shouldn't have known from the memorials, such as the fact that floods were more frequent this year than in previous years.

Most of the court officials submitted memorials on this matter, saying that they should take advantage of the winter to quickly build up the dikes.

She rubbed her fingertips, pondering how to tell Pei Heng.

Shen Lingyi remembered that the plot also included descriptions of floods.

Next year, there will be floods along the Yangtze River, and many people will die.

At this point in the storybook, Shen Tingjiao took the initiative to suggest to Xu Yanqing a picture she had obtained from a scholar, which detailed methods for controlling floods.

Shen Lingyi definitely wanted to steal the credit and claim it for herself.

However, the scholar had repeatedly failed the exams because his strengths did not align with the exam's focus, and he remained an unknown figure in the vast sea of ​​people, with no idea where to look for him.

Shen Lingyi glanced at the man beside her. Pei Heng must have a solution. Should she tell him?

"Looking at me like that, what kind of wicked scheme are you plotting now?" Pei Heng didn't even look up, but he still noticed her little movements.

Shen Lingyi feigned concern: "Floods have always been a major concern for our dynasty. The Yangtze River floods every few years, killing tens of thousands of people each time. The areas along the river are constantly being treated, yet they still suffer from floods. I am worried about those hardworking people who don't know where to run when disaster strikes."

Pei Heng's expression was solemn. "Therefore, I am also considering who should be in charge of this matter."

Water conservancy projects must be built, but deciding who to build them is a problem. The Yangtze River passes through several places, including Quzhou and Nanyang, and other places should not be underestimated either.

Should the Minister of Works, who has been in charge of this matter, be sent to carry out the order, or should the newly promoted and very energetic Vice Minister of the Right be sent instead?

The former's advantage lay in its composure and experience, yet it repeatedly failed in its endeavors; the latter's disadvantage stemmed from its lack of experience.

What do you think?

Pei Heng suddenly had a whimsical idea: he wanted to see how Shen Lingyi would choose to act.

Previously, he had noticed that she was organized and methodical, unlike the rumored image of a woman who was all looks and no brains. Perhaps Shen Lingyi's insights would be a pleasant surprise for him.

Shen Lingyi hesitated and bit her lip, "I think... we should try to change the focus of the imperial examination questions first."

In an instant, the hall fell silent, with only the crackling of the candlelight.

Pei Heng stared silently at the person in front of him who was completely unaware of what he had said, his eyes unreadable. After a long while, he heard him sneer, "Do you know what you're saying?"

The Great Wei Dynasty placed great emphasis on the classics, with miscellaneous tasks accounting for only one or two tenths of the total. This change would not only alter the examination questions but also the system for selecting officials.

Throughout history, how many of those who attempted reforms met with a good end?

Shen Lingyi, however, seemed completely oblivious to the gleaming guillotine above her head, her eyes filled only with affection and trust for him. "Will His Majesty punish me?"

Pei Heng tapped his fingers on his knees, saying, "Continue."

In fact, he had long had the idea of ​​reforming the scientific expedition system, but it had been frequently thwarted since he came to power.

The ministers refused to allow the changes, saying that the classics were passed down by the sages and could not be abandoned, and even used Emperor Zhao's words to pressure him.

The man sneered at this thought. They knew that bringing up the late emperor at this time would be useless; they were a bunch of shrewd old foxes.

"I took the monthly exam at the academy and came in first place," Shen Lingyi said, a hint of pride in her eyes that made Pei Heng chuckle.

Come to think of it, he hasn't yet celebrated her victory.

Shen Lingyi, unaware that the person in front of her was thinking about what gift to give her next, continued speaking on her own:

"The exam paper was mostly filled with questions on classical texts, but only a few on miscellaneous matters, especially mathematics. The miscellaneous matters even included questions on how to govern a region. Such an imbalance was really inappropriate and unnecessarily eliminated many people with real talent."

Those classic texts were all kept by aristocratic families, and children from poor families had no access to them, so how could they possibly get high marks in the classic texts?

That scholar was just like that.

Despite his exceptional skills, he was eliminated due to his lack of familiarity with the classics. Dejected, he was about to return to his hometown to farm when he met Shen Tingjiao and casually gave her the drawing.

Shen Lingyi was so angry she almost laughed.

Why doesn't she have such good luck? She has to go to great lengths to find someone.

It's just a book, and Shen Lingyi will use it to make a profit, but she won't really let it control her destiny.

Pei Heng simply said he would consider it, and then prepared to call the palace servants in to turn off the lights.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lingyi stirred and asked, "Would this humble woman wish to sleep in the side hall tonight?"

"There are no bedding in the side hall. If you want to wake up with a high fever tomorrow morning, that's not impossible."

"How can I sleep with Your Majesty when we have no official status?" Shen Lingyi's eyes clearly said, "You're taking advantage of me."

Pei Heng was almost laughing in exasperation; this was unacceptable, and that was forbidden.

"Do you expect me to hand over the Zichen Palace to you?"

After thinking for a while, Shen Lingyi actually came up with an idea: to place the pillow in the middle so that Pei Heng would not be allowed to cross the boundary.

The man looked at the boundary that he could easily cross with a simple reach and pull the unsuspecting woman into his arms, and couldn't help but wonder if she was this trusting of everyone.

However, when the poison wasn't acting up, Pei Heng wasn't so bad at controlling himself.

After all these years, what is there that I can't control?

The night was quieter than he had imagined. Pei Heng felt a strange sense of peace as he lay down. Remembering something, he said in a deep voice, "By the way, the young imperial physician you sent in did a good job. He prescribed a medicine for me."

When this matter was mentioned, Pei Heng's eyes involuntarily darkened. He actually had a way to deal with the Gu poison that even the imperial physicians in the palace were helpless against.

However, according to Qing Le, this prescription also needs to be combined with a set of acupressure techniques to stimulate the acupoints.

Only Shen Lingyi knows this massage technique.

He summoned people to the palace for two reasons: one was to discuss matters at the end of the year, and the other was to discuss this matter. However, as they talked, he forgot about it altogether.

Pei Heng wanted to ask, but there was no response from beside him.

Just as he was about to sit up, a soft, delicate body rolled into his arms, its gentle hand lightly resting on his chest like a feather brushing against him.

"Shen Lingyi?" Pei Heng called out again.

Shen Lingyi remained silent, her small face flushed, and she had fallen asleep.

Pei Heng was both annoyed and amused. He was annoyed that she had teased him so many times only to fall asleep right away, and amused that she really thought of herself as a gentleman.

Her rosy lips gleamed slightly in the night. Pei Heng recalled seeing Wei Chengrui holding her tightly and kissing her during the day, his eagerness as if he wanted to devour her whole. He glanced down at him, then pressed his thin lips to hers with burning passion.

Disturbed in her sleep, Shen Lingyi murmured sweetly.

"Your Majesty, please don't..."

"I wish to be the only one in your heart."

Pei Heng's eyes showed an undisguised surprise; he had no idea that her repeated refusals were for this reason.

His gaze became slightly complicated, but in the end he only placed a kiss on her neck and said in a hoarse voice:

"Then you'll have to work even harder."