area51novel Chapter 304: The Perfect Time to Make a Move
Chapter 304: The Perfect Time to Make a Move
After the couple left Qingyi Garden and boarded their carriage, Li Yunxiu exclaimed, "Her Majesty the Empress is truly extraordinary!"
Zhao was still confused. "Your Highness, what's going on with the Empress? I haven't even asked her yet, and she's already brought it up. I was even thinking of giving the Empress the estate that was part of my dowry. What do you say, should I give it to her or not?"
Li Yunxiu said, "No need to see me off!"
"Oh, this isn't a good idea!"
Li Yunxiu said, "She's not that kind of person! Giving her a gift would be counterproductive!"
He had always heard that the Empress was a woman of great talent and ambition, with a mind no less than that of a man. He couldn't quite understand it and always felt that there might be some exaggeration. But after this encounter, he was deeply impressed.
She's a very dedicated person!
Naturally, they wouldn't engage in any shady dealings.
Zhao also felt that the Empress was far superior to Consort Jing. Consort Jing had always acted in a very undignified manner. She was, after all, the eldest daughter of the Pei family. If you wanted something from her, you couldn't even get an audience with her without offering something in return.
Madam Zhao then said, "From now on, Your Highness should focus on your duties. You have concubines in your household, and as Her Majesty has said, if there's anything you don't understand, just ask them! Don't worry about any gossip or anything like that. Her Majesty has ruled as regent before, and as you've seen, Lord Sun treats Her Majesty with great respect. It's clear that Her Majesty is truly capable!"
"I understand. I will do my utmost to serve you. From now on, I'll have to rely on you more in the household!"
Although it was hard work, the couple was very happy. Seeing the intense gazes outside, they felt that the future would be just as exciting!
There are quite a few members of the imperial family, and it is truly not easy for them to get such an opportunity.
On Consort De's side, her mother, the Duchess of Xin, arrived. Shen Shixi told her to see her directly and not to come and pay her respects.
In Huayin Palace, Consort De dismissed everyone except her mother. Before she could even begin to speak, tears streamed down her face. "The Emperor now refuses to summon the concubines in the harem and spends all his time with the Empress."
Last time I went to see the Emperor, he wouldn't even let me touch the hem of his robe. I've served him for so many years, and for him to despise me like this, it truly breaks my heart!
Lady Xinguo had no choice but to advise, "Your Majesty should be more lenient. Who in the harem can rival Your Majesty's glory? Your Majesty has given birth to three imperial heirs for the Emperor. How could the Empress have such an achievement?"
No matter what, the Emperor's eldest son and eldest daughter were both born to the Empress. Ultimately, the Empress's contribution is the greatest!
Consort De cried, "But even if I have made great contributions, what good is it if the Emperor doesn't recognize them? The Emperor has probably already grown tired of me!"
Back then, if the Pei family hadn't fallen, and if the Duke of Xin's mansion and the Pei family hadn't joined forces, which would have been detrimental to the Shen family, the eldest prince would have been gone, and the emperor might not have allowed her to conceive again.
Fortunately, she was quite moved at the time, feeling that the emperor loved her and treated her very differently.
However, no matter how extraordinary she was, she never stayed overnight in Qingyan Palace or Qianyuan Palace. Even when the Emperor stayed overnight in her palace, he never showed her any affection after finishing his business.
The only special thing about her to him was that she was able to have children; he gave her two more chances.
Before Shen Shixi entered the palace, everyone had roughly the same chances. At that time, Consort Rong had slightly more opportunities, which made people feel that the Emperor favored Consort Rong.
Lady Xinguo also wept and said, "This matter is my fault! The eldest prince is such a good child, intelligent, and looks just like the emperor. He is also the eldest son. When the empress's son grows up, the eldest prince will be able to help the emperor shoulder heavy responsibilities."
"It's all my fault! Waaah!"
Lady Xinguo was truly remorseful; she had aged considerably in the past two years.
Consort De said that she was lying if she didn't blame her mother, but she would only think about it occasionally. She didn't dare to really think about it or really resent her. Especially when she saw that her mother had become more and more obsessed with Buddhism over the years and had aged terribly, she felt even more sorry for her.
This matter is to blame the Pei and Song families, but the Pei family's entire clan was wiped out, and the Song family's wife died in the family temple last winter. They all received their retribution, but it's a pity for her eldest prince.
The mother and daughter hugged and cried for a while, but life had to go on.
Lady Xin said, "With Lady Shen alive, Her Highness will likely have little chance of advancement. But we can't easily touch someone like Lady Shen."
Consort De said, "She is now pregnant, which is a good time to make a move. However, I have inquired and found out that she does not drink any medicine to prevent miscarriage, does not use incense in the palace, and her clothes are washed by her personal maids. Not to mention the small kitchen, even Peach Blossom Valley and Zhaoyang Palace are completely impenetrable. It is really troublesome."
Lady Xin said, "Your Majesty, you must think this over carefully! The Emperor treats the Empress differently. She has both merits and a childhood bond with her. Back then, Your Majesty refused to lay a hand on Empress Pei, but now you're doing the same to Empress Chenyuan. If the Emperor finds out, it will be disastrous."
Lady Xin was not a kind person; otherwise, when Consort Ping and the First Prince fought and she accidentally killed the First Prince, she would not have acted so swiftly.
Consort De was extremely unwilling. "Am I supposed to just give up like this? I've given birth to three children for the Emperor! And who are all those people being promoted in this grand ceremony of bestowing titles upon the harem? They're all people who have sided with the Shen family."
Who exactly is the Third Prince's birth mother, Lady Li? Her father was merely a clerk in Dunhuang County, an insignificant official, yet he suddenly rose to become one of the Nine Concubines.
Lady Xu gave birth to the Ninth Prince, while Lady Cui gave birth to the Eighth Prince. Wasn't Lady Cui's maternal family much higher than Lady Xu's? Lady Xu was the daughter of a disgraced official, yet she was promoted two ranks and became as high as Lady Cui.
Is this how she acts as empress? Is there any fairness in rewarding merit and punishing demerit?
Consort De couldn't swallow this insult. "Back then, before Shen entered the palace, I heard that the Emperor intended to give her a high position. The Pei family was afraid of jeopardizing Pei's position as Empress, so Prime Minister Pei planned to put pressure on the Emperor in court."
The Emperor doted on his childhood sweetheart so much, he was so nervous that he swallowed his pride and only granted her the title of a seventh-rank Baolin, even letting Lin Shi be superior to her; she wasn't the first one to serve him in bed either, I knew it, the Emperor was wholeheartedly protecting her.
I understand the Emperor's meaning; he wants me to compete with the Pei family so that the Shen family can rise to power. But am I that foolish? If the Pei family falls, I'll be the second to suffer!
Lady Xin said, "My child, but the Emperor is your husband. Your honor and disgrace rest on his shoulders. If the Shen family cannot tolerate you, and the Emperor does not protect you, what will become of you?"
Consort De retorted, "Although she is the wife and I am the concubine, I have been in the palace for so many years, and I am not so easily bullied. If she can't tolerate me, she should see if she has the ability to do so!"
Lady Xin, however, disagreed. "Whatever decision Your Highness makes, you must think it over carefully before acting. You must not act rashly. You have hundreds of lives to save in the entire Xin family behind you!"
Inside the Qingyan Hall, Shen Shixi woke up from her afternoon nap. The emperor had not yet gone to the front court. Chaoyu wanted to report something, but hesitated to speak.
"Speak, the Emperor can listen if he wants to, what are you afraid of?" Shen Shixi said dismissively.
Bai Ping poured her a glass of plain water. She only drinks plain water now, and she always boils the water right under her nose to prevent anyone from putting anything weird in it.
Chao Yu then said, "The Duchess of Xinguo entered Qingyi Garden today and talked with Consort De in the palace for more than an hour. When they were talking, they ignored everyone else and even left some food for lunch."