boyutpedia Chapter 283 You too have a day when you rise in status because of your son!
Chapter 283 You too have a day when you rise in status because of your son!
Shen Shixi smiled and said, "It's alright. Whether it's a tortoise or a turtle, it will always show its face eventually. We'll know then. Just be more vigilant about what's going on outside."
"This servant obeys! This servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace!" Chao Yu was extremely grateful.
Other masters would beat or scold their servants for the slightest mistake, but the Empress never did.
As March approached, Li Yuanke grew more excited each day.
At night, when the two were making love, Li Yuanke wouldn't listen to Shen Shixi.
"You're dreaming! What if I send you home and you sneak away? Where am I supposed to find you then? If you're carrying my child, no matter where you go, you'll eventually have to come back!"
Shen Shixi burst out laughing, pounding the bed, "Li Yuanke, so you've finally gotten your share of fame and fortune because of your son!"
"Shut the hell up!" he snapped.
Shen Shixi gasped.
Li Yuanke stayed up all night, and afterward, he massaged her lower abdomen while muttering something under his breath, which seemed rather abnormal.
Two days before the wedding, Li Yuanke would send her back to the Shen family, where she would stay for two nights and one day. On the third day, he would personally go to fetch her back.
The Shen family, the third brother Shen has already arranged the betrothal gifts sent by Li Yuanke, and all 368 loads of dowry have been prepared.
Han Xiao made great contributions during the rebellion and is now the deputy commander of the Southern Imperial Guard. He has ordered his brothers to guard the Shen family's residence tightly, not allowing even a fly to get in.
On the sixteenth day, the emperor and empress's carriages arrived, and the streets had been cleaned and covered with red carpets.
The imperial carriage stopped in front of the Shen family's gate. Li Yuanke got off first, then turned around and carried Shen Shixi down.
The entire Shen family, along with the onlookers, knelt down to welcome the imperial procession.
Li Yuanke, beaming with pride, exuded a sense of elation, as if he had reached the pinnacle of life. "Everyone, rise!"
Upon entering the Shen family residence, Li Yuanke solemnly handed Shen Shixi over to Shen Xianzhang, saying, "The Empress will stay at home for two days. I will personally come to fetch her on the day after tomorrow, the day before the grand wedding."
Father-in-law, please keep a close eye on her for me. Don't let her run away, or anything bad happen to her!
Originally, Mr. Shen was quite happy that his daughter was coming back to stay for two days. Although his daughter had caused him some trouble, how could he not love his daughter? However, upon hearing this, his legs felt like they were being fluffed up with cotton.
Can I politely decline?
Would the consequences of disobeying the imperial decree be better than not being able to keep an eye on someone?
Shen Xianzhang simply couldn't take it anymore!
"This...oh dear, where do you think you're going? You don't even care about your family anymore, do you? You...you...you troublesome brat, you better stay home for two days and forget all your worries, or I'll hang myself right there at the door!"
Shen Xianzhang was in tears. Was it easy for him?
Shen Shixi glared at Li Yuanke. "Go back now. Don't spread these alarmist rumors. If you scare my father half to death, you can forget about your wedding!"
A joyous occasion has turned into a tragic one!
"Pah, pah, pah!" Old Madam Shen quickly spat a few times, meaning to drive away all these unlucky things.
"On such a joyous day, can't you two say something nice? The Emperor is right here, forget all formalities!" said Old Madam Shen, then turned to the Emperor apologetically, "Your Majesty, rest assured, we will certainly take good care of the Empress!"
"Then I thank you very much, Grandmother!" The Emperor said with a smile.
"You've kept all the roses locked up in the palace, where can I go? Don't scare yourself. Oh, I see, you'd love for me to run away so you can install someone else as empress, wouldn't you?"
[You bastard, dream on! Don't try to fool me with your feigned retreat!]
Li Yuanke smiled, raised his hand and ruffled her hair, just like when she was a child. But now, she no longer wore her hair in a little bun, and he couldn't pull on her little bun anymore.
After Li Yuanke stayed for a meal, he escorted her to her boudoir, where they spent some time together before he left.
Before leaving, he repeatedly told her to be careful.
The alleys near the Shen family's residence were filled with the Bad Guys and the Xuanjia Army. Cen Yin and Xu Chun even moved in there, making it impossible for them to get in or escape.
Shen Shixi never thought of flying away. Why should she give up the empress's position and the future of the Great Zhou Dynasty to someone else?
As soon as Li Yuanke left, the sisters all gathered around and talked with Shen Shixi. That night, Shen Shiwan and Shen Shixian slept with Shen Shixi. The three sisters talked until midnight, and Qinghao had to urge them several times before they finally fell asleep.
Li Yuanke returned to the palace, where all the concubines were eagerly awaiting his return. However, the emperor neither chose a concubine nor went to the inner palace.
Since the Emperor returned from his personal campaign, the imperial harem has not been visited even once. The concubines with children are relatively calm, but those without children are even more anxious.
That night, Li Fude woke the Emperor, "Your Majesty, someone from Baoci Palace reports that the Fourth Prince has vomited and requests Your Majesty to come and see him!"
Li Yuanke was thoroughly annoyed and roared, "Can't you summon the imperial physician if you're sick? Issue an edict to Consort De: if you can't raise an imperial heir, there are plenty of childless concubines in the palace!"
In Baoci Palace, Consort De held the Fourth Prince in her arms. Upon hearing these words, tears streamed down her face.
The imperial physician arrived, and after taking the child's pulse, he said that the child was young and had a weak spleen and stomach. He had eaten too much at once, which caused the vomiting.
The imperial physician prescribed some hawthorn berries, told me to boil them in water and drink the water, and to massage my stomach to relieve the symptoms.
After seeing this doctor, the imperial physician had to rush to Jiafu Palace to treat the seventh prince. The seventh prince was over six months old. After careful care from the imperial physician and wet nurse, he was showing some promise, but he was still very thin. His eyebrows, eyes and demeanor resembled those of the Pei family, while his nose and mouth were somewhat like those of Li Yuanke.
Because of poor health and lack of energy, this child has a very quiet personality.
But you can tell from his eyes that he's a smart child.
Since Consort Jing was deposed, she has been plagued by illnesses and ailments, and the care of her children has been entirely handled by Granny Qu.
The child vomited quite a bit today and also had a cough. The imperial physician said that the weather is getting warmer, so the child should wear less clothing, but not too little, lest the child catch a cold. In short, this child is like a delicate porcelain doll, very difficult to take care of.
Consort Jing was also a frequent patient with illnesses. She developed a condition called "Little Redness" which never improved, and she became as thin as a skeleton.
She cried, "I wish I could have died that day, so that the whole world could see how heartless and ungrateful the Emperor is! How could she have the nerve to steal my Empress position and capture the Emperor's heart, making him disregard even his principal wife!"
Shen Shixi forged an imperial edict and deposed her from her position as empress. When the emperor returned, he didn't even bother to ask about it!
The prince she gave birth to for the emperor at the cost of her life has yet to be seen by him.
Granny Qu quickly covered her mouth. "Your Highness, from now on, you must keep these words to yourself. You are not alone now; you still have the Seventh Prince. He is so young; he cannot be without his mother!"
This stirred the Empress's maternal instincts, and she wanted to hold the seventh prince.
Granny Qu didn't let her hold him. "The Seventh Prince just drank his milk and fell asleep. You can see him tomorrow. I heard that there are still people in the Pei family. The Seventh Prince took his concubine and the eldest master's child to Quanzhou. You are not the only one in the Pei family."
"Please don't do anything foolish. If you implicate Seventh Master and the young master, how will they face the master in the afterlife?"
Consort Jing gripped Granny Qu's hand tightly. "Are you telling the truth? But he's a traitor! Did he betray Father and the others? How can he still have the face to live?"