pdf-ebookys Chapter 227 Who Will Become Empress?
Chapter 227 Who Will Become Empress?
In Baoci Palace, after taking a bath, Consort De lay on the bed while Ginkgo applied a special moisturizing balm to her. After giving birth to the fourth prince, her waistline was still somewhat thick, but fortunately, after more than half a year of care, it had recovered quite a bit.
"It seems that Lady Shen is no longer willing to endure this. There is bound to be turmoil in the court! The Emperor is quite something, enduring for so many years, waiting until Lady Shen enters the palace, so that the two can join forces again." Consort De said this reluctantly.
Ginkgo was very worried, "In the future... I wonder who will be the empress?"
Consort De gave a mocking smile. "Didn't you realize? She's determined to become Empress!"
Yinxing said, "Without even an heir, it's truly wishful thinking. Your Majesty needn't worry; throughout history, it's always been a case of the snipe and the clam fighting, while the fisherman benefits. Your Majesty, should we have to spread the word about tonight's events?"
The Imperial Noble Consort's disrespect towards the Empress was also a move to strike at the Shen family.
"No need. This little thing won't sway her, and besides, even the Empress has done it before." She turned slightly to the side. "Have someone spread that news. Do you know what to do?"
Consort De said, "We can't reveal that it's us; this matter must be unrelated to us."
"Yes, this servant knows what to do!"
Consort De stood up, took Yinxing's hand, and said, "You are my own sister. I didn't want you to enter the palace, but without you, I have no capable helper. You see how difficult life is in this deep palace. With you, I have someone to rely on."
"Your Majesty, this servant dares not! This servant will certainly be loyal to Your Majesty, please rest assured." Yinxing knelt down.
Although her mother was a concubine of the Duke, both mother and daughter were very clear-headed. If the Duke's mansion truly wanted to treat her well, they wouldn't have sent her to the palace.
"Get up quickly. Don't worry, in the future... I will definitely find you a good home. If the Fourth Prince comes along, what kind of wealth and glory wouldn't we have?"
"I'm entrusting the Empress's health to you. Keep a close eye on her. If she gets pregnant and gives birth to a prince, she certainly won't live much longer, will she?"
Yinxing said, "Given the Empress's current health, if she were to give birth to the imperial heir, she would surely be on her deathbed. If the Empress were gone, what would become of Imperial Noble Consort Chenyuan?"
Consort De laughed and said, "Don't worry, the Emperor needs her now, that's why he's praising her so much. Since ancient times, women in the harem are not allowed to participate in politics, and how can the Emperor's bed be used for others to snore? Look at how arrogant she is today, how many men would like that?"
It was only a matter of time before the Emperor grew tired of her. Remember Consort Hui? She was so self-important, thinking she'd read a few books, and she was always showing off her knowledge in front of the Emperor. He was so annoyed with her.
Yinxing quickly replied, "Your Majesty is right. It is indeed Your Majesty who is a virtuous wife and loving mother. No wonder the Emperor was willing to bestow upon Your Majesty the title of 'Virtue'."
Consort De smiled alluringly. Although she had given birth to three children, her body was somewhat weakened, but for now she could only take it slow and recover. "I'll tell Consort Wang to make preparations in advance, and have her come over when the Emperor comes to my palace."
Yinxing replied, "Yes!"
Just as she was about to leave, Consort De grasped her hand. "Don't blame me. The Emperor never touches palace maids, so I can't introduce you to him."
Yinxing hurriedly replied, "This servant wouldn't dare! This servant has absolutely no intention of currying favor with the powerful! Your Majesty, please understand!"
Consort De said, "Don't worry, I will never mistreat you, no matter who else I mistreat."
The next day, Shen Shixi woke up naturally, while Li Yuanke was still asleep. He hadn't had a proper rest since returning to the capital after the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. Compared to Yongzheng, Li Yuanke was much lazier.
Shen Shixi needed to urinate, so she got up. Li Yuanke reached out and pulled her into his arms, saying, "Sleep a little longer with me!"
"Li Yuanke, let go, I'm going to wet the bed!"
Li Yuanke was so frightened that he quickly withdrew his arm. "You bastard, is she even a woman?"
Shen Shixi ignored him, hummed twice, and went to the bathroom.
At Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager got up early in the morning and issued an imperial edict, thanking Consort Xie for her merit in bearing an heir, promoting her to the rank of Beauty, and bestowing upon her a title, which was to be drafted by the Imperial Household Department.
The Imperial Household Department had to work overtime. When the proposed titles were delivered, Shen Shixi and his companion were having breakfast. There were three titles in total: Jing (静), referring to virtue; Li (丽), referring to appearance; and Xin (欣), signifying auspiciousness and joy.
Li Yuanke looked at it, but didn't like it. He asked for paper and pen and wrote the character "贞" (zhen), meaning steadfast integrity and unwavering adherence to propriety.
That's ironic.
It can be said that, apart from Shen Shixi, Xie Meiren was the only person whose title was personally bestowed by the emperor.
But for Xie Meiren, this word was undoubtedly a slap in the face, an extreme humiliation.
But this is not Li Yuanke's fault. Although Xie had some past with Li Yuanyin, Li Yuanke did not hold a grudge against her when she entered the palace. Instead, he treated her very equally. This is the magnanimity of an emperor and the broad-mindedness of a man.
However, Xie's actions were utterly disgusting.
The title was bestowed, but the Empress Dowager, who was watching a play, lost interest in it and shed tears over the performance.
The beautiful lady kowtowed on the couch, thanking the emperor for his great favor.
After the people from the Imperial Household Department left, Bingyan was worried that her mistress might do something rash, but Consort Zhen acted as if nothing had happened. "In this palace, there are only a few people with titles. I can't compare to someone like Imperial Noble Consort Chenyuan. Then there are Consort Qiong and Consort Jin, and the rest is me."
I gave birth to a princess, while Consort Li gave birth to a son, yet my rank is higher than hers, and I even have a title. I know many in the palace laugh at me, but what does it matter? I use my leverage to fight for myself. Those who serve the emperor with their beauty, how much more noble can they be than me?
Bingyan said, "What you say is true, my lady. As long as one can be promoted and reach a higher position, who cares how one gets it?"
"Yes, I knew from the beginning how difficult it was in the harem. But now that I'm here, I've never been afraid."
Consort Zhen looked at the princess beside her, her fingers gently tracing the princess's face, her eyebrows and eyes. She felt a deep regret; why wasn't she a prince? "I will have a prince!"
In the Empress Dowager's palace, the Empress Dowager was speaking to Li Yuanyin, "From now on, if you dare to meet with her people again, I will not let you off lightly."
Li Yuanyin agreed, and after he left, the Empress Dowager was very annoyed. She said to Qingruo, "The Xie family cannot be kept! But if I really take action, Yuanyin will become estranged from my son and me."
"The Emperor is already like this; if even Yuan Yin refuses to be close to me, what meaning will I have?"
Aunt Qingruo said, "She's nothing but a troublemaker. In my opinion, the Prince should have a principal wife to keep him in check. What woman in the world would want to see her husband's heart belong to someone else?"
The Empress Dowager wholeheartedly agreed, "It's time to find someone suitable. This can't go on forever. Among the young ladies of noble families in the capital, who is the right match?"
The old lord of the Zheng family presented a plaque requesting an audience with Imperial Noble Consort Chenyuan.
Now that the Imperial Noble Consort has the power to manage the six palaces, she doesn't need to report anything to Fengyi Palace. If she's allowed in here, the people at the palace gate will bring her in.
Shen Shixi was dressed very solemnly today, wearing a crimson embroidered longevity chrysanthemum skirt, with a pomegranate red embroidered begonia patterned gold brocade over it. Her hair was styled in a high bun, and on her head was a very luxurious headdress inlaid with mutton fat jade, carved with red and blue sapphires, and butterflies and flowers. A pair of bluebirds carried a pair of tassels, and the beads strung with gold thread were actually very rare Dongzhu pearls.
After the Zheng family mother and daughter-in-law bowed to her, Shen Shixi ordered, "No need for formalities, please take a seat!"
After taking a couple of sips of tea and exchanging a few pleasantries, Shen Shixi got straight to the point, "I invited you two here because of Zheng Shi. Since we're speaking frankly, I'll allow you to ask anything except what she did. Please speak freely if you have any doubts!"
Upon hearing this, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were at a loss for what to ask.
Madam Zheng, suppressing her grief, said, "Your Highness, I have only one question: did my daughter die unjustly?"
Shen Shixi said, "If we consider the laws of the country and the palace rules, she did not die unjustly. She should have been executed on New Year's Eve last year, but the Emperor was merciful and spared her life because she had served him once."
Later, when the emperor went on tours, there were always places in the Cold Palace that couldn't be looked after. Human hearts are unpredictable; to end up like this, one can only say it was fate!