nyslfriends Chapter 111 The Empress was actually tricked!
Chapter 111 The Empress was actually tricked!
Li Fude overheard the whole thing and knew perfectly well that Consort Yuan must have stirred up trouble again, causing the Emperor to be alarmed.
Li Fude was always an onlooker, listening to whoever the emperor favored.
The Emperor and Consort Yuan always had the longest arguments. With that much time and energy, three or four concubines would have been enough. Did Consort Yuan still not have enough?
She really is a vixen.
But the emperor indulged him.
If Shen Shixi knew that Li Fude had misunderstood things like this, she would be furious.
She was in good health and liked Li Yuanke's physique. Even if she was tired at night, she could catch up on sleep during the day, so she didn't mind. However, she didn't think Li Yuanke's time was too short. On the contrary, she thought he was too persistent.
But that's not a drawback. As long as it's enjoyable, longer is always better than shorter.
He couldn't hold on to the short ones before the woman even woke up. Doing it with that kind of thing is just asking for trouble.
She was unaware of what was happening at Qian Yuan Palace at the moment, as she was in a meeting at the Empress's Palace.
"Didn't His Majesty stay overnight at Zhaoyang Palace last night? How come you still have the energy to get up this morning, sister?" Consort Qing asked with a smile.
Shen Shixi glanced at her, "Sister Qing Zhaoyuan wants to have a second child? If you do, go tell the Emperor. It's no use telling me. I won't persuade the Emperor to go to Chengming Palace."
Seeing that Consort Qing was about to get angry again, the Empress interrupted, "Alright, don't say these things as soon as we meet. Consort Qing, you are a senior member of the palace and should set an example for the new consorts."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will follow your teachings." Consort Qing suddenly became exceptionally respectful to the Empress.
Shen Shixi watched coldly. After the last incident, Li Yuanke clearly disliked Qing Zhaoyuan. Although her son, the Second Prince, was Li Yuanke's only healthy prince, Li Yuanke obviously did not care about him.
For several months now, Li Yuanke has not visited Chengming Palace even once.
However, he visited Consort De's palace twice. Once was because he felt bad for the eldest prince, and the other time was when he took the initiative to visit him.
He still felt some pity for the eldest prince who had been murdered, but the second prince had said those words that unless he had only one son when he died, there was absolutely no possibility of him being made crown prince.
What is Kyung So-won up to now?
She never dared to underestimate Qing Zhaoyuan.
In Li Yuanke's harem, only Consort Qing was able to hold the rank of concubine without being born into a prestigious family.
The fact that she was able to give birth to a prince, protect him, and even obtain the title of imperial concubine, despite being the daughter of a fourth-rank governor, proves that she was not as foolish as she appeared.
She had never sided with the Empress before, so her decision to do so now must have its reasons.
Shen Shixi couldn't see through it for the time being, so she stopped looking.
"Lady Song, how is your sister? Has her health improved?" the Empress asked.
Today, Song Zhihuan wore a pale yellow high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a scarlet wide-sleeved blouse over it. Her hair was styled in a towering Lingyun bun, and she wore a headdress adorned with gold thread and jeweled flowers. She was naturally beautiful and looked delicate. This outfit was similar to Shen Shixi's, making her particularly attractive.
Shen Shixi's outfit today was rather simple. She wore a begonia-red herringbone skirt, a rose-red jacket embroidered with begonia flowers, and a daylily-yellow brocade robe with gold brocade over it. She also wore a sapphire headdress. She was truly charming and beautiful.
Song Zhihuan felt a little uncomfortable being overshadowed by Shen Shixi, but she remained calm and stood up to reply, "Your Majesty, Consort Jieyu is feeling much better, but my sister is still upset about losing the imperial fetus. I will try my best to persuade her."
The Empress said, "There's nothing we can do about it. Try to persuade her to think more positively."
The emperor would never again favor Consort Song, so he couldn't bring himself to say that she might be pregnant again.
The Second Prince has been suffering from a cold and cough these past few days, mainly due to the autumn chill. The Empress gave Consort Qing a few words of advice, but since she herself has never given birth, she could only say so much.
The main topic was the Emperor's birthday celebration. "There probably won't be a big celebration right now. His Majesty has never been too concerned about his birthday. But we can't just skip it, so we should still have some fun. You can prepare your own birthday gifts and use your own talents. I won't say any more."
"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty!"
After everyone had paid their respects, the Empress said that everyone should leave, and so they all dispersed.
The Empress's spirits were not quite right. Granny Qu suggested that the Imperial Physician be summoned to take a look. "We just had her pulse checked and she was fine. If we summon another one, it will be too much trouble and will alarm the Empress Dowager and the Emperor."
With the Emperor's birthday approaching, it's a busy time, so I'll put that aside for now. I'm not feeling unwell, I just lack energy.
"Your Majesty the Empress hasn't been sleeping well these past few days. Is something on your mind?" Granny Qu was her wet nurse, even closer than her own mother.
The Empress leaned against the wet nurse's chest. "Not really, I slept fairly well last night."
To say I slept very well wasn't entirely true; I always tossed and turned at times.
She would always find herself thinking of the Emperor, wondering what it would be like for him, such a cold and aloof person, to be with Lady Shen.
In the afternoon, the Empress's mother handed in a token.
"This humble woman greets Your Majesty the Empress!"
Before her mother could perform the grand ceremony, the Empress hurriedly rose from her seat and helped Lady Gao up. "Mother, why perform such a grand ceremony? Is there something wrong at home? Why did you come to the palace?"
When the mother and daughter were about to speak, everyone in the hall left, leaving only Granny Qu and Tingqin behind.
They were all elderly people brought into the palace from the Pei family.
They were all trusted confidants.
"I only just learned that Her Majesty the Empress was actually framed!" said Madam Gao.
His disappointment was undisguised in his words.
The Empress was so ashamed that she couldn't lift her head. Granny Qu knelt down beside her, saying, "It's all my fault, I..."
"Shut up!" Madam Gao scolded in a low voice. "She can be schemed against like this, so you are not without fault either. It seems that she relies on you a lot in this palace, which is why she has let her guard down."
"Mother, it's my fault." The Empress blushed. "I have failed your teachings, and I feel very guilty."
"It's one thing for you to have someone plot against you, but it was only after the Emperor searched the palace that that filthy thing was found and ordered Commander Cen to deliver it to you. Just think about it, do you still have any face left in front of the Emperor and his mother?"
Seeing that the Empress was almost embarrassed, Lady Gao stopped there.
She finally asked with concern, "Did the Emperor say anything?"
The Empress shook her head. "The Emperor didn't say anything."
"After this incident, did the Emperor visit your palace?"
"I've been here!" The Empress blushed slightly.
Madam Gao frowned as she looked at him. "Although you are the Empress, you must remember your place. You are a daughter of the Pei family. No matter how good or considerate you are to the Emperor, he will never trust you."
And don't forget, when you and Lady Shen entered the Eastern Palace together, the Emperor didn't hold a wedding ceremony with either of you. You were merely the Empress he appointed; you must not develop feelings for him."
The Empress bit her lip and nodded reluctantly.
Madam Gao said softly, "Would your mother harm you? Whether it's the inner quarters or the harem, there are so many women. Once you can't control your heart, you've already lost."
"Daughter understands!" The Empress's eyes were a little moist.
Madam Gao was very worried and said to Granny Qu, "You must pay attention to everything concerning the Empress while you are in the palace. The Empress is currently unwell and should not conceive. Remember to give the Empress her medicinal soup after you have intercourse."
Granny Qu wanted to say that the imperial physician had already said that the Empress was unlikely to conceive, but it was better to keep it a secret than to cause trouble. She said, "This old servant remembers."
Lady Gao then cautioned, "How long has it been since your sister entered the palace? You can't just think of yourself and neglect her completely. If she doesn't show her face for so long, who in the capital will even remember that Prince Jin and his wife exist?"
Prince Jin was Li Yuanzhi, the third son of the late Empress, and the person the Pei family wanted to support back then. He married Pei's elder sister as his princess.