Chapter 14 Chapter 14
The prince sneered. Why else could he dote on Yi Niang? Because he doted on Yi Niang much more than anyone else. Those women were not enough to pose a threat to her, but Yi Niang could.
She was obviously well prepared, and there was no maid following her.
But his father and grandmother were nearby, so he didn't dare to be rash. He went with her one after the other into a quiet room for nobles to rest temporarily, and ordered his confidants to guard the door and not let anyone in.
He was a little impatient and frowned, "What are you going to do?"
The Crown Princess personally poured two cups of tea and offered them. She smiled and said wistfully, "How pitiful! I am able to have a quiet conversation with my husband in a room all by myself, thanks to Mother Wei."
She had the Crown Prince's lifeblood at her fingertips, but threats like this couldn't be used often, and she didn't want to keep the conversation a secret. "Your Highness might be thinking, 'You've already secretly placed her in another residence before your wedding. My annual salary is eight hundred silver, and she has one thousand.' You only stay in the main room twice a month, and you have daytime sex with Shen, so six times a month is not enough. It doesn't seem unreasonable for me to not tolerate her."
The past was brought up again, and the prince suppressed his anger. If he had not been worried that his father would find out, he would have wanted to kill the woman in front of him.
My father's harem has been childless for many years. As long as my second brother maintains his current calm temperament, he doesn't need much help from his wife's family. The most important thing in choosing a Crown Princess is to cater to the wishes of my father and grandmother, and secondly, to accommodate Yi Niang.
He had no other requirements for this nominal wife, otherwise she would not have been able to take the position of Crown Princess.
"But Your Highness, have you ever considered that you deliberately concealed this matter? How could a concubine like me, a pregnant woman in the deep palace, know about the secret affairs between you and Shen?"
The prince felt vaguely uneasy. He was convinced that the Crown Princess had secretly planted spies. Later, things happened one after another, and he had no intention of investigating the details.
Tears welled up in the Crown Princess's eyes, and she felt strangely pleased. "She came to me that day and told me in person how you took pleasure in her and obeyed her in every way. If you hadn't been counting on the wives and concubines in the Eastern Palace to give birth to a son for you, you wouldn't have even touched me."
Before this, she always thought that she lived a comfortable life. After all, those concubines were considered favored if they could have the emperor's favor once a month.
However, I didn't expect that the reason why the prince was so pure and unselfish was not to please his father, but... he had already been satisfied outside.
She remembered Shen's expression that day very clearly. Although she was such a lowly woman, she showed contempt and pity towards her, as if she had only picked out a few unimportant things to tell her, and something more serious was yet to come.
The prince just wanted a son. He didn't care about the legitimate son or the illegitimate son. He just wanted to prove that the crown prince was able to have children, to please his father, to consolidate the position of the Eastern Palace... and to pave the way for the children born to Shen in the future.
He was so impatient that he had already found a good family for her to marry into, intending to pass her off as a peasant girl he had met by chance while hunting.
How ridiculous! Her husband, whom she depended on, was planning day and night to pave the way for Shen. Shen had racked her brains and was willing to reveal all of this just to escape the confinement of the Eastern Palace.
Even when she mentioned the Crown Prince, her tone, no matter how lightly she spoke, couldn't hide the annoyance deep within her heart: "Your Majesty, please don't think I'm playing hard to get, trying to drive you and the Crown Prince apart. In fact, I've long disliked sleeping with him. Wild sex requires mutual consent, but I don't want to, and the Crown Prince won't let me go. What else can I do besides looking for you?"
...She really couldn't believe that Shen was also the daughter of an official.
"Shut up!"
The steaming teacup shattered on the edge of the Crown Princess's skirt, shards of porcelain splashed everywhere. Veins popped out on the Crown Prince's forehead, his original gentleness and humility disappeared completely, and his expression was horrifying. He didn't dare to recall the scene of that day.
Yi Niang had been acting like a child with him for a long time before, wanting to break up with him completely, as if the love between them was just a power/sex transaction.
Before he could figure out the woman's complicated and awkward annoyance, she changed her mind and happily stayed with him.
She reluctantly agreed to be his concubine first, and then gradually become his concubine and finally his principal wife, but when he became emperor in the future, the position of the Eastern Palace would definitely be reserved for the prince she gave birth to.
He was so happy that he couldn't sleep at night. After a few days, he patiently mentioned to the Crown Princess that he wanted to take a new bride into the palace. That night he even held a small banquet for his wife to celebrate the Crown Princess's pregnancy. He was so happy that he drank a few more glasses.
But on the afternoon of the next day, when he woke up, he heard that he had foolishly given Yi Niang to Lingyang Hou Xiao Che last night. Archer knew how much he loved Yi Niang, but he accepted her frankly after getting drunk, and shamelessly said that since she was a woman the prince loved, it would be unfair for her to be a concubine.
This man is crazy and wants to marry her as his wife.
From then on, Yi Niang treated him coldly, and no matter how hard he begged, she kept him at a distance.
It was not until Xiao Che died in battle and she had no one to rely on that he used some medicine, and Yi Niang's attitude softened.
It was obviously not a wise thing to be in the same room with an angry man, but the Crown Princess knew very well that he would not dare to kill her here.
No matter how high the prince's mountain is, it cannot reach the sky.
"Unbeknownst to Your Highness, your beloved Concubine Wei has long been flirting with your trusted Young Master Xiao... I suspect your recent behavior is likely due to something the Empress has said to you again."
The Crown Princess gave a low laugh. She had no biological children, and even if the Prince of Hengshan was favored, he would only be making wedding dresses for others in the future. She spoke gently yet maliciously, "Her eyes are very beautiful, and she must have looked very innocent when she cried. That day at the dance at the Duke of Yan's mansion, she clearly wanted to reconcile with you, but she climbed onto the wrong bed and slept with the wrong person, accidentally getting involved with Your Majesty. In fact, she loves you in her heart. Am I right?"
The stone dropped into the lake, creating ripples that were instantly smoothed out like a mirror. The Crown Prince looked at her intently, feeling strangely comforted by her words. The corners of his lips curled slightly, "Since you're so confident, you should go to Father and make trouble for me. Why not just ask me to be beheaded? Why act like a grouchy woman here?"
Whenever he heard about Yi Niang, he found it difficult to calm down. Yi Niang was like a bowl of hot tea with malt sugar. Even if the Crown Princess did not come to remind him, he could not help but taste it carefully in the dead of night. Even if there was bitterness in the sweetness, the astringency was still lingering.
The emperor's father was a man of both talent and beauty, so perhaps Yi Niang would be moved after being favored by him. However, it was indeed an accident that she was favored by her father. After entering the palace, she took cold medicine to avoid pregnancy every time she was favored by him. Even when the secret was exposed and the emperor was furious, Yi Niang refused to give him up.
It would be ridiculous for him to have doubts about such feelings.
This Crown Princess seemed to be unaware that her life, honor and disgrace were all in her own hands. Perhaps she was living too comfortably and was actually taking care of him.
"There are many spirits in the Taoist temple. I don't know what has offended you today, and I don't want to make a fuss."
The prince regained his gentle demeanor and patted her shoulder tenderly, saying, "After all, we have been together for so many years, and we have always been the perfect couple in the eyes of our father-in-law and mother-in-law."
The warmth on his shoulder was fleeting. The Crown Princess watched him as he ordered the waiter to bring a handkerchief mixed with perfume and wrung out, slowly wiping each finger clean. He gently advised, "But before you say anything, I advise you to think more about Le Yang."
The anger that had been choking her heart suddenly dissipated, and the Crown Princess looked at the Crown Prince in disbelief with tears in her eyes.
Le Yang is her only daughter...but not the prince's only daughter.
After the prince left, he ordered his attendants to come closer, his brows gradually raised. They had been married for many years, and there was no tender affection between them, only naked threats. It would be of no benefit for the princess to report him.
"There are still fewer people serving the imperial concubine now."
During the time that the Emperor had been at the palace, he hadn't shown any interest in Yi Niang. Yi Niang had willingly stayed there for him. Thinking of this, the Crown Prince's voice softened. "Take advantage of the next two days to secretly send some attentive and capable people to serve. Tell the Empress to ask for anything she needs... Even in the palace, no one can wrong her."
His mother doesn't like Yi Niang, and the Crown Princess refuses to turn a deaf ear to it, so he can't help but worry about Yi Niang's safety.
The eunuch serving the crown prince hesitated to speak. Emperor Yuanshuo was in his prime, and the crown prince cared so much about his stepmother. If His Majesty found out... thinking of those who had been planted in Zhaoyang Palace, they couldn't help but sweat.
But over the years, while the Crown Prince has become more and more humble and respectful in front of the Emperor, his obsession with Concubine Wei has also become deeper and deeper. Even the Crown Princess is unable to dissuade him, and even if they wanted to, there is nothing they can do.
When Shen Youyi was lazily reading a book on the beauty couch, she saw the more than ten newly sent eunuchs and palace maids. Her eyebrows raised slightly, and she was almost laughed at by the prince.
Even if Concubine Wei really had something with the prince, it could only be called a fleeting romance. What did the prince think of him as, his legal wife?
Not only does he not trust her private oath, but he also places spies around her, watching her words and actions, waiting to catch her in adultery?
Shen Youyi had a headache. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was very good to Concubine Wei, but he hadn't made much progress over the years. He was still acting impulsively as she had seen him do in the beginning, or perhaps he felt that she had been out of favor for too long and was acting without scruples.
But his jealousy was not wrong, and she had no intention of reconciling with him.
She set such tricky conditions just to make him lose his patience and break the contract before her.
She is now a noble concubine, so she would not really remain a virgin for the prince's few light promises. She just wants to leave a way out and keep him stable for a few days.
The eunuch who had brought the guests over had long heard of the Imperial Concubine's picky nature towards people and things. Seeing her expression of displeasure, he breathed a sigh of relief and said carefully, "Madam, do you dislike clumsy servants like me?"
The palace was short of staff. In addition to the waiters who followed the concubines, the Yunting Bureau had added many new servants to each palace to do rough work. However, the imperial concubine had been accustomed to living here for a long time. If they suddenly tried to please a concubine who had fallen out of favor, it would not be a safe move if you looked into it carefully.
Shen Youyi glanced at him a few times. She had no impression of this person, but he should be someone the Crown Prince trusted. She said with a pleasant face, "Li Shi, you are joking. You were all carefully selected by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Why should I be unhappy? It's just that I feel a little sorry for you."
She was very attractive, and when she was in the Eastern Palace, she treated the servants with compassion. It was very easy for her to win their hearts: "Don't even mention such mundane matters as promotions and titles. You all have serious and important things to do by following His Highness. Serving a woman like me in the cold palace is just a waste of time."
The imperial concubine's words were sincere, and the eunuch smiled and said humbly, "It is an honor for me to serve you, my lady. You are putting me down by saying that."
Shen Youyi sighed: "I know that Your Highness is filial, but it's not appropriate to do this. The palace has always had rules for employing people. Your Majesty cultivates morality and advocates frugality. I am a criminal. If there is a new person in the palace, I must first ask the Queen for permission... Besides, I don't lack people to serve here."
The eunuch, filled with gratitude, lowered his voice and reminded, "Your Highness is simply too concerned. Even though you are in the inner court, you must be careful of the one in the East Palace... Your Highness is thinking of you, and I, your servant, have come here on orders. If I can get you a personal item, I can report it back to you."
Shen Youyi was not unfamiliar with these requests. Men and women who were caught up in the passion would always leave some clues for each other. She had made a vow with Prince Taishan, and had received countless hairpins, pearls, and jades, as well as given away many hair fans and pendants. She had suffered a lot of fear and worry in vain, but she had never seen these things help her win her lover's heart.
The eunuch felt a little uneasy after making the suggestion, and secretly looked at the imperial concubine's expression. No matter how poor the imperial concubine was, she was still the master, and he was being too demanding.
However, the imperial concubine actually pulled out a white handkerchief from her sleeve and threw it on him.
He didn't understand what she meant, but he saw that the imperial concubine seemed shy and turned her head to look at her makeup in the bronze mirror. He scolded her, "He really is so naughty. Just this once, let him guess for himself."
The mirror surface was as shimmering as water. He squinted his eyes to take a closer look. The beauty had a tense face, not looking angry, but rather like she was trying to suppress a smile. Only then did he feel relieved, bowed, excused himself and left.
The Taoist temple lectured on the sutra for three days before the emperor returned to the palace.
Seeing that Emperor Yuanshuo was in high spirits recently, the Empress Dowager often ordered the Imperial Concubine to come when the Emperor paid his respects and teach the child to admit her mistakes, so that she wouldn't have to live in fear all day, worrying that she would be abandoned in the cold palace by the Emperor.
But I don’t know what’s wrong with this child. He either has a headache or a fever, or he is chanting scriptures and worshiping Buddha. He often can’t refuse to come.
The emperor had only stayed in Wangming Palace for a limited time, and he was not a three-year-old child. After coming and going for a few days, he understood what the imperial concubine meant. Instead, he advised her not to ask the concubines to come and serve him early, disturbing the quiet time between mother and son.
The two of them were really weird, but she looked at them coldly and it seemed that the emperor didn't seem to be annoyed with the imperial concubine.
The empress came to Wangming Palace to pay her respects and happened to meet the emperor. During the conversation, she talked about the concubines and royal family princes who were present. She asked about the seating arrangements for Yang Xiuyuan and inadvertently mentioned the imperial concubine to test the emperor's intentions.
"Logically, the Imperial Concubine is the most respected and should be below me. However, Madam Xiuyuan is the Crown Prince's biological mother after all. She comes to ask me for this favor, and I am somewhat embarrassed. I have come to ask for the consent of the Queen Mother and Your Majesty."
Before Wei entered the palace, Yang Xiuyuan had the highest status and seniority among the concubines. Emperor Yuan Shuo did not pay much attention to her for the sake of the crown prince and the eldest grandson.
However, the emperor was somewhat displeased that day: "The inner court determines hierarchy by rank, and the empress is in charge of the harem. There is no need to disturb my mother's peace with such a trivial matter."
Concubine Wei had long claimed to be ill, and the emperor wanted to embarrass her by simply not letting her go out. Although the empress knew that the emperor's intentions were unpredictable, she still agreed with a smile.
The emperor's birthday is a celebration with many rituals. Although it is just a small banquet, it is enough to give people a headache. The emperor got up at three o'clock in the morning, and the concubines were not much better off. Before the rooster rang the fourth watch, Shen Youyi was urged by Tan Rui to get up, change clothes and put on makeup.
She secretly practiced palace etiquette, and the empress also ordered someone to inform her of the banquet arrangements. After receiving congratulations from ministers and envoys, Emperor Yuanshuo would play polo and cuju with the crown prince and other ministers, and then go up to the tower with the empress and concubines to watch lions and elephants playing music and dancing horses in formation, showing the grandeur of the emperor, and finally there would be a banquet, singing and dancing.
Shen Youyi had long known that she was naturally beautiful, and even without any makeup, she looked like a lotus in clear water. She didn't think that heavy makeup would add much to her appearance.
But the gorgeous clothes and high bun brought not only heavy fatigue, but also excitement and tension about the unknown future.
The beauty in the mirror had bright eyes, a fair face and a rosy complexion. Surrounded by maids, she looked like a goddess from heaven. She still had a lazy posture as if she had not woken up yet. Her clothes were light in summer, and she had deliberately changed them a little to show her slender waist. Although her skin was voluptuous, she had a somewhat delicate posture.
Sui Chao is different from Tan Rui and other palace maids who have been serving in the palace since childhood. She has experienced matters between men and women. Today, she was the one who helped put on the imperial concubine's underwear. Until now, her hands under her sleeves are trembling slightly, and she has no desire to sleep at all.
She knew that the imperial concubine was reckless and bold, but even though she didn't dare ask, she couldn't help but remind her: "Will His Majesty be angry if your wife acts like this?"
Shen Youyi couldn't help laughing and glanced at her.
The emperor was so uneasy during the New Year's period, which showed that he must be annoyed by her avoidance in the past few days.
After these days, she was convinced that the people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had indeed placed an eye in the Yaoguang Palace.
Concubine Wei could only rely on the candlelight in the Qingping Palace to spy on the king, but the emperor could see her every move.
The emperor, who was high above, had thousands of ways to observe her calmly and peacefully, how to watch him with all his heart, try to please him, and beg him to change his mind.
But she just wanted to add fuel to the fire and refused to satisfy the emperor.
Her palms were practically sweaty, and even though she was teasing him, she still had the leisure to soothe him: "Your Majesty doesn't know what I'm going to give him, so why should you be angry?"
Sui Chao's expression suddenly changed.
But Your Majesty already knows.
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