area51novel Chapter 61 I Won't Let a Woman Carry My Back
Chapter 61 I Won't Let a Woman Carry My Back
Li Yuanjian's face changed drastically, his pupils dilating in terror. He stared at Shen Shixi in disbelief, "You wicked concubine, you really are the wicked concubine! The Emperor's reforms to the Ministry of Personnel are all based on your advice..."
"Your Majesty!" Shen Shixi turned and grabbed Li Yuanke, speaking before Li Yuanjian could, "He is not the late Emperor's son; he is a bastard child conceived by Consort Yin outside the palace!"
"Shen Shixi, how dare you slander the late Emperor?" Li Yuanjian roared.
Upon seeing this, Shen Shixi realized her guess was correct; Li Yuanjian knew she knew. "Li Yuanjian, do you dare say you don't have a single brother in Xiling? He lives near Shenshan. I've met him once, and you know I've seen him. That's why you're so intolerant of me, afraid I'll tell the Emperor!"
"You're lying! I didn't! Your Majesty, I didn't! She's lying! You vile concubine, the harem must not interfere in politics! You've interfered in court affairs and had songs slandering the Song family sung—you're the one who did all of this!"
"I said, you did all of this! After you did it, you tried to throw this filth on me, didn't you? Li Yuanjian, Consort Yin has confused the royal bloodline and committed the heinous crime of deceiving the emperor. Do you think you can get away with this by slandering me?"
"Your Majesty, in Guazhou, southeast of Xiling Shenshan, there is a place called Sandaogou. There is a family called Jian, who is the ex-husband of Consort Yin. Their eldest son, Jian Yizong, looks almost exactly like Li Yuanjian. You two are brothers with the same father and mother, right?"
Back then, Consort Yin entered the palace as a widow, but in reality, the Yin family deliberately arranged for her to divorce her ex-husband and remarry. The late Emperor actually believed it, favored her for many years, and even entrusted her with the affairs of the six palaces. You and your son harbor such wolfish ambitions, do you even intend to use this to seize the throne of the Great Zhou?
Li Yuanjian spat out a mouthful of blood, pointed at Shen Shixi, and cursed, "You slut, you slut, Shen family, you'll die a horrible death..."
With a single glance from Li Yuanke, Xu Chun stepped forward and gagged him.
"Back to Qingyi Garden!" Li Yuanke spurred his horse and turned back.
Consort Rong cried out again, "Your Majesty, please don't abandon us!"
Consort Rong fell off her horse and was seriously injured; she could not move her left leg.
Li Yuanke turned his head and glanced around, seemingly only then remembering these people, and said, "Li Fude, find someone to escort Consort Rong and the others back!"
Consort Rong and the others knew they had been used as targets and were now being forgotten by the Emperor. They felt that the Emperor's favor was cold and indifferent, and no one wanted to think anything of it.
If the emperor doesn't offer any rewards, will they follow him out?
With so many people following along, when danger struck, the emperor only thought of Shen Shixi, not only holding her in his arms but also protecting her back with his arm. Why couldn't he be the one being protected?
But it's also impossible to blame them.
Did His Majesty know beforehand that the Prince of Yidu was going to rebel?
If the emperor knew, would he still go into the cage?
Didn't the emperor himself encounter danger?
The Emperor was only protecting those closest to him, since Shen Shixi was following him closely.
Upon arriving at Lizheng Gate, Li Yuanke dismounted and carried Shen Shixi down as well. The two then rode in the imperial carriage back to Qingyan Palace.
"Should I send you back to Peach Blossom Village or leave you in Qingyan Palace?" Li Yuanke asked.
Shen Shixi, still somewhat shaken, clung to his neck. "I want to stay with you. I don't want to be alone tonight."
"good!"
He carried Shen Shixi to the bedroom. "Go soak in the hot spring for a while, change your clothes, and then come out for dinner. Is there anything you want to eat?"
Shen Shixi shook her head and cried, "Li Yuanke, do you think Li Yuanjian is bullying me? What have I done that he called me a demon concubine! It's true that I wrote that doggerel to criticize the Song family, but wasn't it the Song family who struck first? I was just retaliating! Why am I a demon concubine?"
Seeing her so aggrieved, Li Yuanke almost laughed. "I know about that matter. What do you care what he says? You know he failed in his rebellion and used you as a cover. Why are you still upset about it?"
Shen Shixi stamped his foot in frustration, "But your court officials won't believe it! Even if they know what's going on, how could they let go of such a good opportunity to make a name for themselves in history!"
"Waaah, Li Yuanke, if anyone asks you to execute me, please don't! You can banish me to the cold palace, but you can't really abandon me, you can't let me starve and freeze!"
Li Yuanke burst into laughter, "You dog, you're usually so tough, not even afraid of me, but you're afraid of those officials! Do they feed you or drink you? What are you afraid of!"
Shen Shixi hugged his neck tightly, her tears smearing on his shoulder. "You love me, of course I'm not afraid of you! But those old geezers are stubborn and wicked. Which one of them wasn't born of a woman? Yet, when they curse women, they're always extremely vicious."
I'm afraid they'll turn against you. Since they can't do anything about you, they'll use me to attack you, and then I'll be unjustly killed!
[You bastard, if people find out that the reform of the Ministry of Personnel was caused by me, do you believe they'll have you burned at the stake? Or curse me as the reincarnation of Daji?]
Li Yuanke held her, looking down at her, "Don't worry! Even if I unfortunately become the ruler of a fallen kingdom in the future, it will be because of my incompetence. I won't let a woman take the blame for me. I'm not that despicable!"
"When that time comes, nothing you say will matter. History is written by the victors. For the sake of my reputation, you should be a wise ruler so that I can enjoy a peaceful and prosperous era."
"good!"
Shen Shixi went to the hot spring, and Li Yuanke rushed to the Empress Dowager. With such a major event happening today, the Empress Dowager was naturally very worried.
Just as I was getting anxious, I heard that the emperor had arrived.
"Quick, quick, let him in!"
The Empress Dowager was still concerned about Li Yuanke, and helped him up to look him over, asking, "Are you alright?"
"All is well!" Li Yuanke sat down, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. "Mother Empress knows, right?"
"I know about the rebellion, the one Xi'er mentioned. I'm confused; is there any evidence to support this claim?"
"Regardless of whether there is any evidence or not, once this gets out, Li Yuanjian's identity will be in doubt, and no one will object to my killing him." Li Yuanke gritted his teeth, his anger blazing.
"Back then, Consort Yin did enter the palace as a widow. Although the imperial physician examined her pulse, if the pregnancy was too early, less than a month, even the most skilled physician might not be able to detect it."
The fourteenth prince was born prematurely, reportedly by more than half a month, which now seems quite suspicious. However, given that it concerns the late emperor's bloodline, it's best to be cautious to avoid giving others cause for criticism.
"Your Majesty, I have already ordered a thorough investigation into this matter. Until the truth comes to light, I beg Your Majesty to confine Consort Yin to her quarters, forbidding anyone from having any contact with her, and to ensure she does not die!"
"I understand. You must take care of yourself too. How is Xi'er?"
"Thank goodness, she must have been quite frightened." Li Yuanke felt a pang of sadness thinking about how she had truly cried today.
When the Empress heard that something had happened, she rushed to Qingyan Palace, only to be told that the Emperor had gone to Leshou Hall. By the time she arrived at Leshou Hall, the Emperor had just left.
"The Emperor is well, Empress, there's no need to worry. How are the concubines who accompanied him? Are they all alright?"
The Empress said, "Consort Shun and Consort He, relying on their superb riding skills, ran at the forefront and were unable to dodge when the rebels attacked, and unfortunately died; Consort Lin was injured in the abdomen and the imperial physician is treating her, but it may affect her ability to have children."
Consort Rong fell from her horse and was seriously injured; everyone else sustained injuries of varying degrees, but only Consort Zhao and Consort Xue were unharmed.