How can you rule the world if I'm just a substitute for you?

Zhang Shitou's eyes lit up: "An abandoned training ground? I've been there; the area is big enough to accommodate everyone!"

"Exactly." Lin Xuan continued to make arrangements, "Tonight, the three of you will lead the team to move everyone into the training ground barracks and settle them in."

Meng Yuanbao is in charge of taking stock of the grain and supplies. I will have someone deliver rice, noodles, and meat. Zhang Shitou will divide the training areas.

The three men received their orders and led three thousand able-bodied men to the abandoned training ground on the west side to settle them in. Lin Xuan arranged the follow-up matters and returned to the East Palace.

As soon as he stepped through the gates of the East Palace, Wang Fu, the chief steward of the East Palace, hurriedly stepped forward, bowing and smiling obsequiously: "Your Highness, your bedchamber has been prepared. Would you like me to help you to rest early?"

Lin Xuan waved his hand casually, "No need, I'll be visiting the Crown Princess tonight."

Upon hearing this, Wang Fu dared not say another word, but respectfully responded and tactfully bowed and stepped aside.

Lin Xuan entered Shen Qingyi's palace. As soon as he entered, he saw Shen Qingyi sitting in front of her dressing table, slowly combing her long hair with a wooden comb in her hand.

Today, Lin Xuan was handling affairs of the Jingzhao Prefecture and hand-drawing designs for new armor and repeating crossbows. He didn't even have a moment to rest all day, and his whole body ached.

Without any formalities, he went straight to the bedside, leaned to the side, and lay down on the bed, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Hearing the noise, Shen Qingyi put down the comb and turned around, her brows furrowing slightly, her tone somewhat awkward: "Yesterday, you actually took Hu Zi to that kind of place, and even wanted to give Hu Zi..."

The words caught in his throat; he simply couldn't bring himself to say the second half.

Lin Xuan lay half-reclined on the bed and replied casually, "That's right. Hu Zi is not young anymore. It's time for him to broaden his horizons and experience the joys of being a man."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingyi's face immediately flushed with anger, and she secretly regretted that she should not have agreed to let Shen Hu be Lin Xuan's personal bodyguard, as he would be corrupted sooner or later.

She walked quickly to the bedside, looked down at Lin Xuan lying down, and said with a hint of warning in her voice, "I'm warning you, you absolutely must not lead Tiger astray."

Seeing her annoyed expression, Lin Xuan chuckled inwardly and had no choice but to compromise and coax her, "Okay, okay, I understand. I'll know how to behave in the future."

Looking at Lin Xuan lying lazily and relaxed on the bed, Shen Qingyi finally couldn't hold back her worries and spoke softly, with a hint of trepidation and unease.

"Have you forgotten about saving my father?"

She stared intently at Lin Xuan, afraid that he would just give a perfunctory answer.

"I'm telling you, you absolutely mustn't lie to me."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan immediately sat up in bed, looked at the worried woman before him, and smiled helplessly:

"My beloved consort, how could I forget? My father-in-law is the Grand Tutor and the head of the civil officials. I want to rescue him more than anyone else."

Shen Qingyi frowned, her heart filled with anxiety, and pressed on, "Then why have you been so slow in requesting His Majesty's decree to thoroughly reinvestigate my father's case?"

Lin Xuan's expression darkened.

A month ago, Shen Wenyuan was ordered to take stock of the central granaries in the capital. He personally verified the accounts and counted the grain throughout the process, and after confirming that everything was correct, he personally signed and sealed the granaries.

But no one expected that overnight, 300,000 dan of grain in the huge granary would disappear into thin air, leaving it completely empty.

As soon as the case came to light, the Third Prince Lin Fu and his cronies immediately launched a joint impeachment, directly accusing Shen Wuyuan of embezzling public funds and misappropriating official grain.

The Ministry of Justice took the opportunity to conduct a thorough investigation, and Shen Wuyuan was eventually imprisoned in the imperial prison, bringing the case to a swift conclusion.

Everyone else thought that the Third Prince had framed a loyal official.

But Lin Xuan saw through it all; behind this matter was Emperor Qian's tacit approval and deliberate action.

Emperor Qian wanted to support the Third Prince, but Shen Wenyuan, as the Grand Tutor, the head of the civil officials, and the Crown Prince's father-in-law, was the biggest obstacle on the Third Prince's path to the top.

To clear the way for the Third Prince, we must first get rid of Shen Wenyuan.

Therefore, this miscarriage of justice, which appears to be a frame-up by factional strife, is in fact a deliberate political maneuver by the emperor.

Lin Xuan gently shook his head, looked at the worried Shen Qingyi, and explained in a deep voice:

"Things are far more complicated than you think. It's not that I don't want to help, it's just that the timing isn't right."

Even if I were to directly request an imperial decree to reinvestigate this case at the morning court session tomorrow, not to mention whether my father would agree, the entire court of officials from the third prince's faction would definitely collectively obstruct me.

This case has already been settled and the matter is closed. Overturning it now would only backfire.

Shen Qingyi felt a chill in her heart after hearing this.

She had always thought it was just a scheme by petty officials in the court, but now she realized that it involved a huge, complex situation concerning the emperor's mind and the balance of power among the crown princes.

He was anxious and flustered, his eyes filled with worry, fearing that his father would be imprisoned forever.

Seeing her like this, Lin Xuan softened his tone and gently comforted her:

"My dear consort, rest assured, your father-in-law is not in any immediate danger. Your father is merely using this as an opportunity to suppress him; he does not truly intend to take your father-in-law's life."

"As long as I seize the opportunity, I will personally overturn my father-in-law's case and get him out of jail."

Shen Qingyi bit her lip and nodded gently, suppressing her anxiety and choosing to trust Lin Xuan.

The atmosphere eased slightly, and Lin Xuan changed the subject, speaking with a hint of helplessness:

"By the way, my dear consort, as Grand Tutor, your father-in-law has served in office for many years. Has he... left you any family fortune?"

Shen Qingyi was taken aback and looked at him questioningly: "Why are you asking this?"

Lin Xuan gave a wry smile and frankly revealed his current predicament:

"I need money for everything right now."

Of the 300,000 taels that he had swindled from the third prince, 100,000 taels were handed over to the emperor, leaving only 200,000 taels.

In addition, the 90,000 taels earned from the "bitterness-remembering-sweetness-the-sweetness" banquet, though seemingly a huge sum, would not last long.

I have recruited three thousand young men who need food and fodder, and I am about to independently develop and build a full set of military equipment and armor for one hundred men.

In addition, after I took over the Jingzhao Prefecture, I promised to increase the salaries of all the yamen runners by 30%.

I still need to run my business, but I'm short of money and manpower!

After hearing these words, Shen Qingyi instantly understood his intention.

She remained silent for a moment, without asking any questions or hesitating for a moment, then turned and walked to the hidden cabinet in the hall, taking out an exquisite and heavy sandalwood box.

With a click, the lid of the box opened.

The box was full of dazzling and valuable jewelry.

Shen Qingyi pushed the wooden box in front of Lin Xuan, her tone calm yet firm:

"This is all my dowry. If you urgently need money, you can take it all."

Lin Xuan was stunned on the spot.

He was just saying it casually, but to his surprise, Shen Qingyi didn't hesitate and offered all of her dowry to help him.

Looking at the full box of dowry that was presented without reservation, Lin Xuan felt a warmth in his heart. He reached out and gently held Shen Qingyi's hand, speaking solemnly.

"My beloved consort has been so devoted to me that I don't know how to repay her. Rest assured, if I ascend the throne one day, you will be the Empress of my Great Qian Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingyi rolled her eyes at him.

He's the only one who can make grand promises so easily, and they're always so perfect.

She returned to the main topic and asked seriously:

"Your Highness, I'll make a note of the cake, but there are two urgent matters at the moment. Do you have any suitable candidates?"

"What is it?" Lin Xuan asked.

"First, if you want to start a business or do new business, you need a reliable person to manage it."

Secondly, those three thousand able-bodied men need to train day and night to prepare for the hunt; you can't personally oversee everything.

Lin Xuan shook his head helplessly upon hearing this, and gave a wry smile:

"I happen to be short of people for both of these matters. Right now, the Crown Prince's Palace has too few people available. If all else fails, I'll have to take care of both myself and keep a close eye on them personally."

Shen Qingyi smiled faintly:

"If Your Highness trusts me, I have two people I can recommend to you who can solve your immediate problem."