vncnus Chapter 44 Fighting
Chapter 44 Fighting
She arrived a little late, first paying her respects to the high-ranking concubines before taking her seat.
"It's been quite a while since I've seen Consort Shen. Your seat must be covered in dust. Why don't we have someone wipe it clean for you?"
Consort Qing is mocking Shen Shixi for not coming to pay her respects to the Empress for so long.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The people here at the Empress's residence are all diligent and hardworking; none of them are lazy or shirking their duties. I believe that even if I hadn't come, they wouldn't have abandoned me. It's Consort Qing who, with such good intentions, has come to inquire about the internal affairs of Qifeng Palace."
Shen Shixi looked at Consort Qing and smiled, "Your Majesty, at this time of year, eating salty radishes is bad for your health!"
Consort Qing was frustrated and dared not say another word.
The Empress entered, glanced around, and asked, "Where is Consort Rong?"
"Your Majesty, Consort Rong attended to the Emperor last night, so she will likely be late." The one who replied was Su Fuying, who had just been selected as a concubine and was now a Baolin.
Among the new concubines, three more were chosen to serve the emperor: Su Fuying, Zheng Ruojin, and Yuan Zhaoyue.
Just then, Consort Rong arrived. "Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. I am late. His Majesty did not attend court today and slept in my palace a little late, so I had to stay with him a little longer."
What could the Empress say? "It's only right. We can't just leave the Emperor unattended. Please take a seat!"
Consort Rong's face was radiant, the shyness of last night still lingering, her brows and eyes brimming with spring-like passion.
Everyone who saw it felt like they were going to vomit blood.
Shen Shixi glanced at it, picked up her tea and took a sip, seemingly unconcerned.
It must be said that Li Yuanke was quite skilled in bed, if he was willing to compromise for someone.
Consort Rong was indeed the most favored concubine in the harem, and her family background was also illustrious.
Consort Rong glanced at Shen Shixi and smiled, "Sister Shen, last night, I asked the Emperor how to continue the poem you wrote. The Emperor said that I should ask you, and that you would never refuse to tell me."
Shen Shixi smiled and said, "That poem wasn't written by me. I just happened to see it, and it's truly heartbreaking. The Emperor dotes on Your Highness and regards you as the apple of his eye. Why should Your Highness force yourself to write a new poem to feign sorrow?"
"What a fine line, 'forcing oneself to write new poems to express sorrow'! Consort Shen's words are truly apt! If even someone like Consort Rong has to read such melancholy poems, then what about those of us who lack the Emperor's favor? Are we supposed to hang ourselves?"
Consort Rong smiled faintly. She was indeed beautiful, and every smile and frown was graceful and charming. She was truly a rare beauty. "Sister Consort De must have believed what Consort Shen said. Normally, if I said something, Sister Consort De would never take it to heart."
No wonder Consort Shen is so popular; even Consort De speaks up for you!
Shen Shixi laughed and said, "Where did Consort Rong get these words from? And it's not Consort De speaking up for me; it's clearly a case of great minds thinking alike!"
Consort De smiled, "Yes!"
The Empress said, "Alright, it's early in the morning, just a little banter is fine, but don't get angry. I summoned you all here today to discuss the important state banquet in two days. Everyone should dress according to their rank, and not be too overdone and lose their composure."
These words were spoken to Shen Shixi.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress's decree!" Shen Shixi had no choice but to stand up and say.
"Remind each other, and also, Consort Song, that there will be many people and things to deal with, so you must be extremely cautious and not act rashly. Be careful with the imperial heir!" the Empress said.
"Yes, I will be careful." Consort Song looked at Shen Shixi provocatively. "Consort Shen hasn't come to Qifeng Palace to pay her respects for so long. Could it be that she is also pregnant with the emperor's child?"
"I haven't congratulated Consort Song yet!" Shen Shixi said, bowing. "I am not as fortunate as Consort Song. My uterus is cold and my qi is weak, so I will not be able to conceive a royal heir for a while. I can only ask Your Majesty and my sisters to put in some effort for His Majesty."
"Hmph! If you can't conceive a royal heir, you should know your place. Don't always try to seduce the Emperor and ruin his future," Lin Guiyou mocked.
Shen Shixi smiled and said, "Yes, Consort Lin's words make sense. From now on, if the Emperor comes to my place, I'll say that I'm acting on Consort Lin's orders and dare not serve the Emperor, and then I'll send him away. However, Consort Lin, wouldn't it be easier for you to tell the Emperor this yourself?"
Seeing that there was nothing else to discuss, she rose and curtsied, "Your Majesty, I still need to go to the Empress Dowager's residence to copy Buddhist scriptures, so I will take my leave now!"
"Okay, go ahead!"
After Shen Shixi left, Lin Guiyou was furious. "She can't even get pregnant, yet the Emperor stayed with her for over ten days! How could the Emperor be so biased towards her!"
The Empress glared at her irritably. "Shut up! Consort Shen was ill some time ago, and the imperial physician was summoned every day. Everyone knows that! The Emperor only went to accompany her every day because he pitied her youth. Now that she's better, the Emperor has stopped going."
The Emperor treats all women in the harem equally; how could you utter such disrespectful words as "favoritism"?
Lin Guiyou hurriedly knelt down, "Your Majesty, I have spoken rudely and beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
"Alright, considering your good intentions towards the Emperor, I will not punish you!"
Shen Shixi finished copying the last bit of Buddhist scriptures in the morning, having copied two sets in total. The Empress Dowager was not in good spirits. "The Buddhist scriptures are finished. You don't need to copy any more. It's been hard on you to keep you here these days."
"I won't keep you for lunch today. If your small kitchen ever needs anything, just have someone get it from me."
Shen Shixi thanked the Empress Dowager and started to walk back. Bai Ping asked worriedly, "Master, why did the Empress Dowager suddenly stop allowing you to copy Buddhist scriptures?"
"It was just a pretext anyway. Isn't it better not to copy anymore? I'm tired of copying too. I copy every day and never have a moment to rest. It's not like being in Peach Blossom Village every day, where I can eat and sleep whenever I want. Although it's good here with the Empress Dowager, I'm always a bit restricted."
Bai Ping didn't understand what the pretense was, but since her master didn't explain, she didn't ask any further.
When I came from Jinshan, I heard someone talking and calling for my second cousin.
Shen Shixi guessed who it was and tried to avoid them, but she still guessed right.
"It's you! What are you doing in the palace?" Yang Tingyue glared at her, and before Li Yuanyin could stop her, she rushed over and grabbed Shen Shixi's hair ornament. "Shameless slut, you really did seduce my cousin! You've entered the palace, haven't you?"
Shen Shixi was not about to be caught. When Bai Ping offered to help, she pushed her aside and stepped forward herself, kicking Yang Tingyue in the stomach. "You're the slut! Your whole family are sluts! What does it matter to me if you like Li Yuanke? If you're so capable, go find Li Yuanke and make him kick me out of the palace!"
Yang Tingyue fell to the ground, let out a wail, and then revived on the spot. She got up and rushed towards Shen Shixi again, saying, "That sounds nice, but everyone knows you were shameless when you were a kid, always clinging to your older cousin."
Li Yuanyin was extremely anxious and ordered someone to quickly go find the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
Yang Tingyue's maid wanted to help, but Bai Ping stopped her, and the two almost got into a fight.
Enraged, Shen Shixi slapped her across the face, pushed her down again, and straddled her. The two of them pulled and pushed each other, and accidentally tumbled into the lake.
Li Yuanyin was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. He tried to stop the two little devils, but neither of them would let go first, and he dared not touch either of them.
"Help! Someone, jump in and save them!"
When Li Yuanke and the Empress Dowager rushed over, the patrolling eunuchs rescued Yang Tingyue, but Shen Shixi was nowhere to be seen.
Bai Ping desperately tried to dive into the lake, crying her heart out, "My girl, my girl is still in the lake! My girl, let me save her!"
"Your Majesty, please save my young lady!"
Li Yuanke scanned the area but didn't see Shen Shixi. A chill ran through him. He leaned against a willow tree by the lake. "All of you, get down here! No one is coming back up until you find Consort Shen!"
The Empress and the concubines all rushed over, but what each of them was thinking was anyone's guess.
Basically, everyone was hoping she would drown.