Chapter 42: Peasant Girl vs. Princess of the Former Dynasty (17)

Since Wang Xiu ascended the throne, the weather has been good and the people have lived and worked in peace and contentment. Everyone praised his ability to govern the country.

What made the people praise him even more was that although he and the queen had no children in their lives, he always respected and loved his queen.

Time is unforgiving. The emperor who had fought and lashed on the battlefield in his early years was full of pain all over his body when he got old. At first, he could still bear it, but later he had to rely on drugs to relieve the pain. Every time he got sick, Shi Yi always wished that he could take his place to bear the pain.

This day, Shi Yi came from the imperial kitchen with soup. Seeing

Wang Xiu lying beside him, he was in good spirits for a rare time, so he said a few more words to him.

"You have worked hard." Wang Xiu held his queen's hand tightly. Since he got sick, she had been by his side every day, and the flesh on her cheeks had sunken a lot.

"Why are you saying this?" Shi Yi raised the soup bowl and fed him mouthful by mouthful with a silver spoon.

She knew that he had a poor appetite, but people are made of iron and rice is made of steel, so he had to eat a little.

"Do you know what I'm most afraid of?" Wang Xiu's throat hurt and he didn't want to eat at all, but she fed him, and he didn't like it but endured it.

"You're most afraid of me being helpless." Shi Yi calculated the upper limit of the pain his throat could endure and stopped feeding him.

"Now that you know, I am even more worried." Wang Xiu lay on the bed on her side, "My health is getting worse day by day, and I don't know when I will die."

"What nonsense are you talking about." Shi Yi clenched his hands, her eyes slightly red, "You promised me that you would accompany me for the rest of my life."

"But I'm too selfish. I don't want you to go first and leave me alone in pain." Wang Xiu reached out and scratched her palms, "You are in your prime now, and it's not too late to remarry."

Shi Yi suddenly pulled out her hands and said angrily, "A good woman does not serve two husbands. You are going to push me to the target of public criticism and torture me."

"What's the use of fame? Only when you live happily and freely can your life be worthwhile." Wang Xiu touched her fingers carefully, "I will have peace in my grave only when someone takes care of you."

"But I only want to be faithful to one person in this life." Shi Yi looked firm, "My life has become meaningful because of you."

"Alas..." Wang Xiu sighed, turned his back, and crystal tears rolled from the corners of his eyes.

"I'll stay here with you." Shi Yi took off his shoes and socks and lay down beside him skillfully.

"Be careful not to infect you." Wang Xiu moved inside. He was recently diagnosed with a cold by the imperial physician, and he didn't dare to have more breathing contact with

Shi Yi. "We can't sleep together in life, but we can be buried together in death." Shi Yi gently put her hand on his waist.

If the man in front of her really died, she would not live in humiliation.

"You." Wang Xiu curled up into a small ball and was held in her arms.

How could she be so stupid? He didn't mean to let her be buried alive with him, never.

"Rest quickly, the ministers will come to discuss matters later." Shi Yi tried her best to make him sleep comfortably, and felt very distressed that he couldn't get a day of rest even though he was seriously ill.

Wang Xiu clung to her warm body, his consciousness gradually relaxed, and finally fell asleep.

After sleeping for about an incense stick of time, Prime Minister Wu took Si Yu to see him.

The emperor is old, but the new crown prince has not been nominated. For the sake of the world and their own interests, the ministers in the court submitted memorials every day to urge him.

The crown princes nominated by the ministers are the son of his distant cousin and the grandson of his father's brother.

Even though he was ill, Wang Xiu was still the shrewd and benevolent emperor. Behind these two crown princes, there are supporters of the Wang family. It is very likely that once he dies, the supporters behind them will come out to guard the government and make the whole country in chaos. More importantly, Shi Yi, who has no children, how can she survive in these power games?

After a political game, he finally chose Yuan Yi, the nephew of Emperor Yuan, as the crown prince of the East Palace.

Emperor Yuan's power had been cleared by him long ago. Yuan Yi was born out of wedlock since childhood, his mother died early, and he was not favored by his father and mother. If he was a smart person, he would definitely know to rely on the queen. The queen has raised him since he was a child, and he will respect her whenever he really holds power.

During the New Year, the palace was bustling with activity. The most famous folk opera troupe performed in the Yikun Palace for three consecutive days and nights.

The ten-year-old Yuan Yi followed the queen and looked at the emperor from time to time. Although he was the nephew of Emperor Yuan, there were many children in his family. He was just an inconspicuous one who did not attract any attention. He never dreamed that he would be chosen as the crown prince by the new emperor.

Wang Xiu waved to him with all his strength.

There were some things that Shi Yi, as a mother, was not convenient to say, but he, as a father, had to say them. Shi

Yi gently pushed Yuan Yi and motioned him to come over.

Yuan Yi looked back at his mother with a slight fear in his eyes.

"Don't be afraid, the emperor just wants to talk to you." Shi Yi took his hand and walked in front of Wang Xiu.

This child was too sensitive and timid. She had to find time to cultivate him slowly.

"What books have you read recently?" Wang Xiu coughed a few times, and the attendants around him hurriedly handed over the handkerchief.

While Shi Yi was not paying attention, he hid the handkerchief.

"Your Majesty?" Yuan Yi's face was filled with horror when he saw the blood on the embroidered handkerchief.

"Hush." ​​Wang Xiu looked at the busy background and made a quiet gesture to the child in front of him.

Yuan Yi thought that he had annoyed the new emperor, and hurriedly lowered his head.

"Can you promise me one thing?" Wang Xiu held his thin wrist and frowned for the first time, somewhat surprised that the child was so thin.

"Please speak, new emperor." Yuan Yi found that the new emperor was not as scary as the rumors said, and gradually became bolder.

"No matter what, take good care of my queen." Wang Xiu looked at the child in front of him and treated him as a peer of his own age.

"Hmm?" Yuan Yi looked up at the new emperor, and his heart somehow ached.

He had been accustomed to all kinds of calculations since he was a child, and thought that there would be no true love in the imperial family, and that he was just a calculated pawn.

However, everything that happened today overturned his own cognition.

"Shi Yi and I have gone through countless hardships to be together. I am seriously ill now, and I don't know when I will die." Wang Xiu reached out and hugged him, "She treats you as her own son, I hope you don't let her down."

"I know." Yuan Yi boldly touched the golden dragon on his clothes, his eyes full of envy.

"Have you talked enough, it's time to eat Yuanxiao." Shi Yi walked in front of the two of them with a bowl, "One for each of you, and happiness is perfect."

Wang Xiu smiled and held her hand, "As long as you are here, every day is perfect."

"You eat the first one."

"You eat it too."

Yuan Yi stood aside obediently. This was the first time in his life that he was envious of others.

(End of this chapter)