The matter of franchise agency carries significant importance.

Firstly, the person undertaking this responsibility must represent the emperor, and thus their image must be upright.

Secondly, the visits to various provinces will not be resolved in a day or two; this means that the person must set aside their current affairs for an extended period.

Finally, this individual must not be afraid of power, lest certain influential families use this as a threat against them.

The emperor pondered, “What do you think of Li Xian?”

Du Ke paused.

Li Xian, whose full name was Shen Lixian, was the emperor’s original consort, the late Shen Empress’s own younger brother.

After the emperor’s registration, the position of his secondary consort was promoted to the title of Empress Dowager, while the original consort was elevated to Empress.

As a result, the Shen family became the Marquis of Cheng’en.

This event caused quite a stir at the time. But what could be done?

The emperor was already the emperor; no one could dictate to him.

Moreover, promoting the original consort to empress was not theoretically wrong.

In the past, the late emperor had favored the current emperor and intended to make him the crown prince.

Therefore, the Shen family, who were betrothed to him, was undoubtedly a prominent family with a reputation for integrity.

Unfortunately, the original consort’s relationship with the late emperor had turned complicated.

Few knew the details of the past, and Du Ke was one of the informed.

After the palace banquet, the original consort passed away and was, in fact, brought into the harem.

Despite the late emperor’s affection for his son, he could not share the same woman with him.

Although both the late emperor and the current emperor were entrapped in this affair, there was nothing to be done; the original consort became the sole sacrifice.

Because of this incident, the late emperor felt guilt towards the current emperor, which created a rift between them.

Though Du Ke knew some insider information, he was unaware of the subsequent emotional entanglement between the emperor and the original consort, who had become the Empress Dowager, and that they had a son together.

This son, though born out of wedlock, could not be denied as a legitimate heir.

The current emperor’s son with the original consort held more legitimacy than that of the secondary consort.

However, due to the affair involving the original consort and the late emperor, no one would accept such a legitimate heir.

The current emperor had once planned that if he succeeded in seizing the crown, he would change the original consort’s identity and marry her back, making her his rightful wife, and their son a legitimate heir.

However, the original consort felt shame about her identity and committed suicide by setting herself on fire.

Seeing that Du Ke had not answered immediately, the emperor narrowed his eyes. “Do you think Li Xian is unsuitable?”

Du Ke came back to his senses and quickly said, “I have no such intention. The heir of the Cheng’en Marquis is a talented individual, renowned at a young age. In the entire capital, there are few who can compare to him.”

Du Ke’s praise was sincere; Shen Li Xian was indeed a remarkable figure.

Those who ranked alongside him at the time included Wei Ting and others. “However, Master Shen is not from the Ministry of Revenue. Moreover, this matter requires further discussion with Qin Fang in Yunxiang County.”

The emperor said, “Based on your opinion, you would be the most suitable for this task, wouldn’t you? You are familiar with Qin Fang, making discussions easier.”

Du Ke’s heart tightened. “I have no such intention.”

The emperor waved his hand, indicating he didn’t mind. “You are indeed the most suitable for this task. But if you go, what will happen to the Ministry of War? Who can take over your responsibilities? This trip will not be short.”

Du Ke truly did not wish to go himself; running around in distant places was not something he wanted to do.

The emperor continued, “How about having the old Minister temporarily handle the affairs of the Ministry of War while you take charge of the franchise agency? Let Li Xian serve as your deputy, and you can go to Yunxiang County together.”

Du Ke was taken aback, realizing the emperor’s initial plan was exactly this. “I…”

The emperor interrupted, “Enough, it’s decided. Du Qing, this matter is of utmost importance; I’m relying on you for the national treasury.”

Du Ke felt a heavy pressure: “This minister will obey the decree.”

The emperor said, “You may withdraw. Go arrange the matters at hand.”

Du Ke replied, “This minister takes his leave.”

After Du Ke left, the emperor said to Chief Steward Chi, “Summon Shen Lixian.”

Chief Steward Chi responded, “Yes.”

Before long, Shen Lixian entered the palace.

Grand Eunuch Chi stood guard at the door of the study and did not enter.

Whenever the heir of the Duke of Cheng’en came, the emperor would order him to guard the entrance to the study to prevent anyone from intruding.

“This minister pays his respects to the emperor.” Shen Lixian was the biological brother of Empress Shen and was only thirty this year.

The Shen family had once been favored by the late emperor, a prestigious family with a longstanding reputation and high standing in the world.

However, due to the issues involving Empress Shen, the late emperor gradually changed his attitude towards the Shen family.

How to say it?

The matter between the late emperor and Empress Shen, although not the fault of the two parties involved, nevertheless… in a situation where the late emperor could not be at fault, even if Empress Shen was innocent, she became culpable.

For example, when there were problems, a married woman should have committed suicide to protect her purity, and so forth.

Furthermore, whenever the late emperor saw members of the Shen family, he would think of that absurd affair, which caused the Shen family’s important positions in the court to be gradually replaced after the incident involving Empress Shen.

Afterwards, the Shen family had been relatively idle.

Until the emperor ascended the throne.

After the emperor ascended, members of the Shen family were promoted again.

Many people had no objections to this. Especially the family of the imperial consort, who initially thought the emperor would take another daughter from the Shen family as a consort, but over the past two years, there had been no sign of this happening, so the imperial consort’s family no longer worried.

After all, there were no members of the Shen family in the harem, so what was there to fear?

Moreover, the family of the imperial consort had no enmity with the Shen family; after all, Empress Shen had already died, and could they still hold grudges against a deceased person?

Thus, the Shen family had been relatively peaceful in the court.

However, no one knew the emperor’s true intentions in promoting the Shen family.

The emperor said, “No need for formalities. Lixian, after all these years, have you ever resented me?” Shen Lixian had been his companion when he was still a prince, and his relationship with Liling also began at that time.

Shen Liling was the courtesy name of Empress Shen.

“I once swore to protect her for a lifetime, yet not even half a lifetime was fulfilled.” As he spoke, the emperor’s eyes reddened; she was the only woman he had ever loved in his life, as beautiful as a flower, yet because of him, she became a victim in the struggle for the throne.

Back then, he had never imagined that brothers would use such despicable means in the competition for the throne.

However, this method was indeed ruthless, causing his father to feel guilt and estrangement towards him.

Shen Lixian said, “This minister does not dare to resent you; moreover, this matter is not the emperor’s fault.” Although he said this, he felt resentment in his heart.

They had once been the best of brothers; when the emperor was a prince, he had been his companion.

When the emperor became a prince, they had been related by marriage, and he had once sworn to assist him well.

However, he had paid with his younger sister’s life.

Even though the struggle for the throne was perilous, and he knew this matter could not be blamed on him, he still could not let go of his sister’s situation in his heart.

Indeed, the matter between the late emperor and Empress Shen was something the Shen family was also aware of.

The emperor said, “There is something I have never told you. In fact, there is a child between Liling and me.”

Shen Lixian’s calm expression changed: “Your Majesty, what are you saying?”

The emperor replied, “Back then, after Liling entered the palace, she was placed in the cold palace by the late emperor. Everyone in the cold palace was arranged by me, and I did not sever ties with Liling. Therefore, we have a child together. In terms of age, he is second in line.” The child of the imperial consort ranks first.

“Lixian, that child is my legitimate son. I have been suppressing the rank of the imperial consort because I do not want another legitimate son.”

Thinking of that being his sister’s only offspring, Shen Lixian became somewhat agitated: “Where is that child?”

The emperor replied, “Back then, Liling used the turmoil in the palace to send the child away. She set herself on fire, and as a result, no one knows the child’s whereabouts.”

“Impossible.” Shen Lixian said, “Even if my sister used the palace turmoil to send the child away, the child needed someone to carry him away. There must have been someone who knows about it. Who sent the child away? Surely we can find out? Or is it that Your Majesty has no intention of searching at all?”

The emperor was not angry at his attitude: “For the past two years, I have been searching. When the turmoil happened in the palace, by the time I had arranged things and went to the harem to find Liling, she had already burned herself to death.

Moreover, there were many palace maids missing or dead, making it impossible to trace.

Even among the surviving palace maids, none were close to Liling, so she could not have entrusted the child to them. Besides, if they took the child away, how could they possibly still be in the palace?”

The emperor only never considered that the nanny had taken care of the child and later walked out of the palace in broad daylight.

Shen Lixian had gradually calmed down: “Your Majesty, what is the purpose of telling me this today?”

The emperor would not tell him things for no reason, so he needed to figure out what he should do next regarding the child.

The emperor said, “Recently, I have someone…” He recounted the matters regarding Qin Fang, potato flour, and sweet potato flour. “I want you to follow Du Ke to the provinces; on the surface, you will be Du Ke’s deputy to participate in the franchise and distribution matters. Secretly, you will search for that child.”

Now that he knew of the child’s existence, even if the emperor did not mention it, Shen Lixian would strive to find him.

However, the Shen family was not an ordinary family in the capital; if they suddenly searched for a child, even with the utmost caution, the news would surely leak.

Thus, finding a reason to leave the capital was the best course of action.

The emperor added, “For now, I will hand over the people under my command to you. They have been searching for that child. And here, this is a portrait of the child.”

Shen Lixian took the portrait and, upon seeing the image, his eyes reddened: “Those eyes really resemble my sister’s.”

The emperor sighed, feeling quite saddened: “This was drawn by Liling when the child was four years old. Now he is already six; I don’t know what he looks like now, but his features should have developed a lot. Look, although his eyes resemble Liling’s, the outline of his face is still similar to mine.”

Shen Lixian found the emperor’s comment somewhat distasteful, but he had to admit it. “Your Majesty, I dare to ask, the child’s identity is very awkward. Even if we find him, he cannot acknowledge himself as your son. How about… we raise him as a child of the Shen family, my child, growing up in the Shen family?”