Chapter 182
Shen Tang inwardly cursed that old Emperor for being truly cunning, but outwardly remained unfazed, “Thank you, Father, for your concern. However, constructing a residence would be a waste of resources, so it’s unnecessary p>
She glanced around the room, her gaze landing on Shen Qingli not far away, curling her lips into a subtle smile,
“Besides, I am accustomed to only living in the former Princess Mansion p>
With these words, the atmosphere at the scene suddenly became somewhat delicate.
The Emperor and Empress’s facial expressions stiffened, showing a trace of awkwardness.
Who in the Empire doesn’t know, that year Shen Tang was just exiled, leaving the Princess Mansion, and the new princess soon moved in, treating her belongings like garbage.
This matter was widely circulated at the time, and many Beastmen mocked her behind her back.
— a defeated dog driven out by the Royal Family.
Shen Qingli’s face turned ugly, this wench brought up this matter in front of so many media, as if she was the intruder who occupied the nest.
Shen Tang seemed oblivious to the grim expressions of the whole family, raised her lips in a light laugh, and casually spoke again, “But since my sister has settled in, and lived there for so long, she has feelings for it, so let her have the Princess Mansion p>
Shen Qingli’s beautiful eyes blazed with anger, nearly shattering her silver teeth with rage. What do you mean by ’let’? How dare this wench utter such words? Everything belonged to her in the first place!
“Don’t talk nonsense, that Princess Mansion wasn’t yours to begin with p>
Shen Qingli couldn’t help but speak, but was sternly reprimanded by the Emperor, “Enough, you should say less too, your sister has already stated it, you should calm down p>
The Emperor didn’t want that embarrassing event from the past to stir up a commotion again, otherwise, it would be a disgrace for them.
Shen Qingli had to swallow her words, feeling increasingly agitated and angry.
The Empress regained her composure and looked at Shen Tang kindly, “Yet you are now a Princess, you can’t just keep running to those mountain valleys, you need to stay in the Imperial City and not let outsiders gossip p>
Stay in the Imperial City for what?
So they can have the opportunity to act anytime?
Shen Tang sneered inwardly, did they really think she was stupid.
She maintained obedient brows and eyes, “Thank you, Father and Mother, for your love, your daughter is not that ambitious, having a place to live is good enough p>
The Emperor and Empress relaxed their expressions upon hearing this, feeling pleased, this adopted daughter is truly unambitious, as long as she’s willing to remain a non-threat, they wouldn’t mind spending a little money to raise a titular princess, just like keeping an extra pet at home.
Shen Qingli also showed disdain, this useless person is indeed unworthy of staying in the Imperial City, something like that rundown, impoverished valley is the only thing suitable for her.
Shen Li held the wine glass in his hand, smiling as he spoke, “Indeed, Xiao Tang just wants to live well with us, without any grand ambitions, perhaps Father and Mother might as well directly grant her that unwanted impoverished valley, it’d be more convenient for us to live there p>
The City Lord of Greenfield City expressed allegiance to Shen Tang, but it was only a mutual decision between them, without official recognition.
After all, the Empire remains under the reign of the Emperor and Empress.
It requires the Emperor and Empress’s personal approval for Greenfield City to officially become Shen Tang’s territory.
The Emperor’s expression changed upon hearing this; they actually came with the intention of asking for land!
Sending Shen Tang to live in the valley compared to directly granting land are two entirely different things!
They really underestimated this adopted daughter, truly ambitious!
A foster daughter without blood ties, what gives her the right to ask them for land?
Yet, the Emperor couldn’t outright say that, given Shen Tang is now a legitimate Empire Princess, he had previously promised the Empire’s citizens to regard her as his own to quell public opinion, denying her ability just due to blood ties would be a slap to his own face.
The Empress forced a smile, “This… the matter of granting land is significant and requires further discussion p>
Shen Li’s long, jade-like fingers gently swayed the wine glass, his charming eyes narrowed with a sly smile, exuding a captivating allure, “Father and Mother summoned us back so urgently, presumably aware of the online discussions p>
The Emperor’s expression darkened slightly, “The online discussions shouldn’t be taken seriously, I’ve already decreed Qingli as the future heir of the Empire, how could it be easily changed p>
“But popular opinion is the trend of the times, if the heir to a country’s future cannot be recognized by its people, the political situation is bound to be unstable, surely Father wouldn’t want to leave a mess for Qingli to clean up, right p>
His words reached this point, leaving the Emperor speechless.
Shen Li’s eyes lifted slightly, revealing a mischievous innocence, his red lips curled into a smile, “I have a suggestion: let both princesses choose a piece of land each for a year-long competition p>
“In this year, whoever governs better and gains the people’s recognition earns the qualification of inheritance; how about that p>
People tend to favor compromise, Shen Li’s move of retreating to advance was more acceptable to them compared to directly asking the Emperor for land.
This time the Emperor called them over, perhaps to offer some benefits to control the online opinion.
Shen Li provided them with a better solution.
As long as Shen Qingli could defeat Shen Tang in this competition, not only could it halt the online gossip, but also earn her the people’s favor and consolidate her future ruling position.
As for Shen Tang winning?
Hah, the Emperor and these people wouldn’t even consider such a scenario, the competition’s scope was too broad, there were too many places to manipulate, as long as they didn’t want Shen Tang to win, she had practically zero chance of winning.
Shen Li didn’t guarantee whether Shen Tang could win, but it didn’t matter, securing the land today was their objective.
The fabricated competition was merely bait to lure the Emperor, whether they win or lose benefited them; losing wouldn’t harm them a bit, while they could gain legal territory for free.
Shen Tang glanced at Shen Li’s charming smile—this cunning fox was indeed astute!
Sure enough, after thorough consideration, the Emperor agreed to the request.
And announced to the entire Empire that the two princesses would engage in a year-long competition.
Shen Qingli was assigned a city with a population of only about a hundred thousand.
On the surface, it was just an ordinary small city, but Shen Tang knew through the system that that city was a mineral-rich territory with abundant underground resources, a promising development.
To show the Royal Family’s generosity and fairness, the Emperor allowed Shen Tang to choose any territory within the Empire as her fief.
Shen Tang again chose Greenfield City as her fief.
There were many better choices than Greenfield City, but she couldn’t be at ease; this place was conquered through her efforts, the people’s hearts were high, no need to worry about any revolts.
Shen Qingli didn’t even know where Greenfield City was, she even spent a long time looking at the map and found it was just a plain, border town with its area unnamed on the map, just a series of numbers, showing how rundown that impoverished valley was.
For such an impoverished valley to develop would be extraordinary!
Shen Qingli confidently believed this competition would make Shen Tang her stepping stone, with no chance of turning the tables!