boyutpedia Chapter 121 The Emperor is acting like a father to Consort Yuan!
Chapter 121 The Emperor is acting like a father to Consort Yuan!
This child certainly came at the worst possible time.
The Empress was also helpless, but she was extremely reluctant to have the child aborted.
Besides, the imperial physician didn't say it couldn't be saved.
Naturally, we will do everything in our power to protect it.
The Empress naturally dared not say that she had been tricked by someone again; she was too embarrassed to say such a thing, even in front of her own mother.
Gao asked, "Didn't you drink the contraceptive soup? How could you be so foolish? You're still young, and it's not like you won't be able to conceive in the future. Why are you in such a hurry?"
The Empress said, "Mother, please don't say such things. It wouldn't be good if others heard. The Emperor's favor is so great, how could I possibly drink contraceptive soup? Now that I'm pregnant, it proves that this child is destined for me, and I must protect him no matter what."
Lady Gao said, "If that's the case, then you should let Consort Fan come to your palace more often. If she happens to meet the Emperor, she can serve him in bed."
Although she was schemed against the Emperor by your sister back then, so many years have passed, and the Emperor has likely long forgotten about her. She's also a rare beauty, perfect for suppressing Shen's arrogance.
The Empress was extremely unwilling. She and the Emperor were husband and wife, and now that they had a legitimate son, she was even less willing to arrange for someone to serve the Emperor in bed.
However, she had never dared to disobey her mother since childhood, so she simply replied, "Yes!"
Lady Gao came because she felt sorry for her eldest daughter and scolded the Empress, saying that as the Empress, she couldn't even control a concubine.
After she left, Granny Qu said, "Your Majesty, are you really going to send Consort Fan? The Emperor's intentions... But in all these years, the Emperor has never said he wanted to summon Consort Fan!"
The Empress said, "I'm afraid the Emperor has long forgotten her. Since Mother said to let her come, and I'm not feeling well, I'll let her come to serve me. She's fortunate to have met the Emperor and be allowed to serve him in bed. As for the rest, I can't control it."
At this moment, the Emperor also summoned Imperial Physician Zhang to the Qian Yuan Palace and inquired about the Empress's pregnancy. He couldn't help but chuckle, "Pregnancy-inducing incense, what is this again?"
His harem is truly full of good things!
Judge Zhang said, "This is a fertility aid, but it is a potent medicine that can easily cause multiple pregnancies and can cause some damage to the mother's body. Most people dare not use it, and gradually no one dares to use it anymore. Even the prescription has been lost."
I don't know how the Empress came to use it.
Li Yuanke asked, "Can the Empress keep this pregnancy?"
After a moment of silence, Judge Zhang said, "I will do my utmost."
"How long can it be maintained?" the emperor asked.
Sweat dripped from Dr. Zhang's forehead. "Based on the current pulse reading, at most... at most five months."
Li Yuanke was too lazy to care anymore. "Who's been taking Consort Yuan's pulse lately?"
"I, the Imperial Physician Zhang, and I will take turns checking Consort Yuan's pulse to ensure her well-being," said Physician Jiang.
Consort Yuan was quite concerned about her health, and she always kept in mind her pulse reading, which she took every ten days.
"How is she feeling?"
Judge Zhang said, "Consort Yuan is in very good health."
How could he not be healthy? He beat the Prince of Jin and his wife two to a pulp, leaving them with broken arms and legs.
After Judge Zhang withdrew, Li Yuanke called out to Li Fude, "Prepare generous gifts; I am going to the Prince of Jin's residence."
Li Fude couldn't help but sigh for the Emperor; it seemed he had to go to the Prince of Jin's residence to apologize.
The Emperor is acting like a father to Consort Yuan!
You can make harsh remarks in court, but you can't neglect the proper etiquette.
There are a thousand reasons, but if Consort Yuan beat the couple so badly and didn't offer any thanks, it would be truly unacceptable.
Under the cover of night, the emperor arrived at the Prince of Jin's residence.
With his arms and legs broken, Prince Jin was naturally unable to get up. Princess Jin's leg was also fractured, and she was in pain whenever she moved, so she was also unable to greet him.
The one who came to greet us was the Crown Prince, who was fourteen years old, tall and handsome, and looked very much like a member of the Pei family.
Upon seeing the Crown Prince, Li Yuanke's first thought was, "That bastard wants to have a little Li Yuanke, but I'd rather have a little Shen Shixi, who looks like her and preferably has the same personality, so she can experience what it's like to raise someone like her."
"Take me to see your father, the King. What did your father, mother, and the imperial physicians say?"
The prince respectfully replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the imperial physician said the injuries are quite serious and require rest. Your Majesty, how could Consort Yuan strike someone so casually?"
Li Yuanke stopped in his tracks, glancing at him dismissively. "Who told you that Consort Yuan could hit people at will?"
The crown prince did not enter the palace; he could only hear about it secondhand.
The prince then realized something was wrong and knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, I dare not! Please calm your anger. It was all those dog servants in the manor who were just spreading rumors from outside. I will certainly teach them a lesson."
"They deserve to be hit!" the emperor said. "Lead the way!"
The Prince of Jin lay on the bed groaning. The pain had subsided, but then the Emperor arrived.
Does he have to act all happy?
The emperor stood motionless at the door for a while before the crown prince called out a reminder. Only after the noise inside stopped did the emperor go in.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" Prince Jin, having learned proper etiquette, struggled to bend over the bed, supported by the two of them, and gave the emperor a rather informal bow.
But there was nothing he could do. He had a leg and an arm that were crippled, and they were on the same side. His posture was a bit awkward, but his attitude was very sincere.
If Shen Shixi saw this, she would surely be pleased, as all the effort she put into training him would not have been in vain.
"No need for formalities!" the emperor said.
He didn't even offer to help him up, mainly because Li Yuanzhi smelled strongly of plaster, which made him uncomfortable.
"How is Fourth Brother? Is he feeling better?" The Emperor had no choice but to ask.
Sure enough, Prince Jin began to wail loudly, "Your Majesty, I have never suffered such torment! Isn't Consort Yuan a bit too fierce? I am Your Majesty's elder brother, after all. Even if I have a thousand faults, I still have the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. How dare she lecture me?"
In fact, they both knew perfectly well why Shen Shixi was targeting them. Back when they were vying for the throne, the two families had become mortal enemies, political rivals and sworn enemies.
Back then, one of the brothers of the Pei family even planned to depose Shen Shixi, who was only ten years old at the time.
However, in the end, that Pei family boy was crippled by Shen Shixi, and his remains have never been found.
Now that the emperor needs the Pei family, Shen Shixi, who has always been very magnanimous, has not made any moves for the time being. But who can blame him for being so shameless and insisting on provoking them? How could Shen Shixi possibly have any good luck with them?
But in order to cover up the truth and exonerate Shen Shixi, the emperor insisted that Shen Shixi was trying to uphold imperial authority. What else could the Prince of Jin say?
The Emperor said, "Consort Yuan has always been gentle and compliant. Yesterday's events were not without reason. I know that my fourth brother was unwilling to perform the grand ceremony for me because he considered that there was no need for such formality between brothers. However, Lady Shen does not know that she has always valued me. It is inevitable that she would have such a misunderstanding when she saw that my fourth brother was disrespectful to me."
Prince Jin nearly coughed up blood. Gentle and compliant? Did the emperor even believe that himself?
"Your Majesty, please forgive my ignorance, but I truly cannot see where Consort Yuan's gentleness and obedience lie. From ancient times to the present, I have never heard of, much less seen, a woman who would pick up a table and smash someone. I..."
Li Yuanke's expression turned sour, a cold smile playing on his lips.
The Prince of Jin was extremely unwilling. "If Your Majesty punishes me or beats me, I have nothing to say. But if I am beaten like this by a woman, what face do I have left? What will the world think of me? I might as well be dead."
This is threatening suicide.