Chapter 53 Chapter 53 [VIP]
Emperor Yuan Shuo was almost amused by her. While the child's jealousy was indeed unusual, it was only meant to irritate him a little. "When have I ever been so honest with you?"
What really angered him was the prince's fleeting sense of guilt.
He was so flustered when being curiously looked at for a moment by a beauty who belonged to his father, which shows his character.
Even when he was furious, he never hit her. Perhaps it was just this little liar pretending to be pitiful and coaxing others. Emperor Yuan Shuo asked, "Yi Niang, do you think I'm a tyrant?"
Shen Youyi shook her head and murmured, "It was just a nightmare. Your Majesty will kill me in the dream."
Emperor Yuan Shuo looked at her helplessly and said calmly, "I shouldn't have listened to your nonsense. How can you take dreams seriously? It's best to take medicine and recuperate from now on."
This crooked way of doing things was inherently absurd, and he was seduced by the beauty and agreed to it for some unknown reason, which was simply a joke.
Shen Youyi realized he had misunderstood and complained, "Your Majesty, can't you say a few nice words to comfort me? You love me so much and would never kill me. A monarch like Emperor Wen of Han would give a copper mountain to his male favorite for a prophecy. I only need a few nice words, and you're so stingy?"
Emperor Yuanshuo looked at her leisurely, a smile on his face. "Yiniang knows what happened to Deng Tong in the end. Even if I grant someone a red seal and an iron certificate, I wouldn't recognize them. If you ever get the copper mountain and the red seal, and become arrogant and want to rebel and assassinate me, will I forgive you?"
Shen Youyi looked him up and down, eyes wide open: "Your Majesty actually thinks highly of me!"
But she felt a little disappointed in her heart. No matter what kind of protection she had obtained at this moment, it was all a matter of the emperor's decision.
Emperor Yuan Shuo cut a piece of venison for her, his brows relaxed, and he said softly, "Only you dare to speak so presumptuously."
She took a small bite. The processed venison had only a slight muttony smell, revealing a unique mellowness amidst the aroma of rose water and pepper. She muttered, "Then how will Your Majesty punish me?"
Most of the methods he came up with were difficult to express. Emperor Yuan Shuo looked at her and smiled, saying softly, "I can't bear to do it."
Shen Youyi tasted something dangerous and spoke slowly about the draft she had prepared long ago. She recalled that when she was little, her mother held her in her arms and took her to the temple fair, where she imitated the teacher by circling and commenting on her brother's manuscript. She was caught by her brother and put on the couch at the side. She didn't even dare to yawn, but watched him copy another identical article before she was allowed to lie on the couch for a while.
Emperor Yuanshuo listened with great interest. Dreaming about these childhood memories was better than thinking about irrelevant people. He said, "I think Yi Niang's brother has the idea of becoming an official."
Not only that, he has already entered the Hanlin Academy. Shen Youyi said vaguely: "My brother admires His Majesty very much. Although my father wants him to study literature, he also wants to give up writing and join the army to follow His Majesty to do something."
When she was naughty and playful, it was the most glorious and unbridled time of the emperor, when his iron hoofs had measured thousands of miles of rivers and mountains. Emperor Yuan Shuo smiled and said: "It's a pity that I didn't know it at that time, otherwise if I could pass by your house, I would definitely go in and ask for a bowl of water to see the you of that time."
Back then, he could never have imagined that he would marry a naughty little girl in the future.
Shen Youyi smiled and glanced at him sideways. After he finished drinking the water, he fell in love with both his brother and sister, and then he wanted to take their entire family away and keep them under close supervision. She didn't know what he was thinking yet!
The two of them only talked privately for a while under the candlelight, and then fell asleep in each other's arms. Shen Youyi lay in his arms, and suddenly wanted to blow on his pillow. She whispered: "I think His Highness is quite pitiful. My husband only has His Highness to place his hopes on now. Why don't you give him more salary?"
She was also somewhat relieved. Although if she were in that position, the Crown Prince would have to provide her with more financial support, but not becoming the Crown Princess could be considered a blessing in disguise. At least she never had to worry about food, clothing, and other expenses.
Emperor Yuan Shuo stroked her smooth back. This was the second time today that she mentioned the prince and spoke well of him.
"When have I ever been harsh on him?"
Emperor Yuan Shuo picked her up and turned her sideways, looking thoughtful: "Is it so hard that even the crown prince wants to follow Yi Niang's path?"
Shen Youyi laughed and whispered, "What does this have to do with Your Highness? It's just what the ladies outside say... The expenses of the Eastern Palace are not as much as those of Your Majesty back then. I think so too. Who would dare to say that to you? You held military power in the past, and Bai Ran looked down on the salary of the Eastern Palace. Your Highness the Crown Prince relies on those tens of thousands of taels of silver every year, but he has to suffer a lot."
Emperor Yuan Shuo held her in his arms, and his Yi Niang slowly recalled the past. She seemed to be much more tolerant and generous. Although she had not been disciplined by the traditional court, she had some of the bearing of a queen and could talk to him calmly about the prince born to another woman... It was just that the prince and her were so close in age that this tolerance made him a little uncomfortable.
And... it's too much, but I'm afraid he has already found a way to make money in private.
Emperor Yuan Shuo avoided talking about this until the next day when he ordered Shen Huaian to draft an imperial edict and summoned those people again in front of the crown prince.
The prince was a little confused. Although his father accepted advice, he rarely asked for his opinion when making appointments. It was all his own decision whether to employ or retain people, not to mention that he made up his mind after just a few days.
But this is a good thing after all. My mother said that money is an indispensable expense for him to win people's hearts. If he gives more importance to the children from poor families, it will not only save his money, but also allow them to run a business for him to claim.
However, his father looked gloomy today, as if the glance he gave him last night had caused trouble. The atmosphere in the tent was solemn and autumnal.
The prince calmed himself down and thought, Father, the relationship between Bai Wen and Yi Niang was kept very secret. It would be strange if the emperor had a grudge against him.
Yuan Shuo, but was just asking whether his parents, brothers and sisters, wives and children would agree to their long journey, but then he changed the subject and talked about it.
The prince was slightly surprised. He vaguely felt that something was wrong, but the young men he recommended did not understand the meaning of the emperor's words. They spoke of their guesses tremblingly.
Even the children of aristocratic families were ignorant of what was happening thousands of miles away. They would occasionally say something hilarious, but no one in the tent dared to laugh.
Emperor Yuan Shuo glanced at Shen Huaian, who was on duty today. Although his surname, identity and even age were quite similar to the brother that Yi Niang mentioned, they did not look alike, and there was not much excitement of brother and sister reuniting when they met.
Shen Huaian served respectfully on the side. He listened to these foolish men relying on their good family background to show off their passion in front of the emperor. A sarcastic smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and was suddenly pointed out by Emperor Yuan Shuo.
Emperor Yuan Shuo said gently, "Weixing, what do you think?"
Shen Huai calmed his mind and said in a voice as sweet as gold and jade: "I believe that most of the people in Nanzhao are barbarians. Even if they are taken under the rule of the country, they may not surrender wholeheartedly."
There are many small tribes there, with towering mountains and lingering miasma. The climate makes the men of the Central Plains miserable. Although the words of these rich young men about "flattening the mountains" and "eliminating foreign races" are heroic and passionate, they are unrealistic.
"Your Majesty has used the Mengshe edict as a weapon to subdue the various tribes and enfeoffed their leaders as Kings of Yunnan. Although they are mediocre, they are grateful for Your Majesty's kindness, which is enough to make them govern without any problems. The court will no longer have to control the food and clothing of the various tribes. Once these subjects are broken up into small groups and gradually moved to the interior, how to appease them, how to change their customs, and how to prevent them from gathering and rebelling will probably be a headache for the Grand Commander of Yizhou, and you gentlemen will have to come up with a solution."
Nanzhao, acting as a buffer between the Central Plains dynasty and Tubo, struggled to survive trapped between the two monarchs. All it needed to do was to control the support of its rulers. Bai Ruo said calmly, "The Nanzhao king is descended from the Baiwu barbarians. Those noble families, now united in a common hatred of the enemy, are merely descended from the Baiman tribe and have gained capable ministers and generals. But once the benefits are gone, they will scatter like birds and beasts. If the imperial court waits until the old Mengshezhao forces have been completely destroyed and the various ethnic groups are at odds before sending out troops to conquer them, it will only lead to the various ethnic groups joining forces to resist our army. The emperor's army must be launched with a pretext. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider."
Emperor Yuan Shuo was not particularly interested in the idea of expending vast amounts of manpower and resources to bring the people of Nanzhao under his control. Seeing that Wei Xing had considerable experience despite not having set foot in Southern Xinjiang, he smiled slightly and said, "Although Wei Xing is a scholar, he can also see the situation thousands of miles away."
The prince was a little apprehensive and forced a smile, saying, "Mr. Shen is a close minister of my father's. He is certainly not comparable to the young men recommended by my son."
Several of these young men, thanks to their parents Yu Ze, have already reached the same level as Shen Huaian, but because they showed their weakness in front of their father, it will be difficult for them to even seek a fourth-rank official title.
Emperor Yuanshuo nodded. "I have made my decision. I have ordered the Grand Commander of Yizhou to lead the army into Nanzhao territory to quell the rebellion for its king. I am very impressed by the men recommended by Zihui. I will have them receive their tokens and march to Yizhou soon to be at the command of the Grand Commander."
The Yang family's children were relatively calm, but several wealthy young men who had traveled thousands of miles to the capital were dumbfounded.
Their uncle was a merchant, so neither they nor their descendants could become officials. That was why they came to the prince's father-in-law, hoping that the prince would act as a bridge and help them get an official position near their hometown.
They paid a lot of money, which was more than enough to buy a county, let alone become a county magistrate.
Who knew that once the emperor opened his mouth, he would send them far away to a place of exile and make them serve in the army!
They were all brought up in pampered conditions, how could they have ever suffered such hardships?
However, the emperor's innate majesty was suffocating. Most of them were only twenty-three or twenty-four years old. Even the princes who used to need to be served respectfully were just as submissive and docile in front of the king. Even if they had unspeakable pain in their hearts, they dared not even speak out, let alone get angry.
The Crown Prince saw that his father had only chosen one or two of these people to be appointed to local official posts, while the rest were exiled thousands of miles away. Unsure of his father's intentions, he waited until his father told them to leave before mustering the courage to stay. He asked anxiously, "Father, do you think these people have great ambitions but little talent?"
He wanted to get two of them minor official positions in the Salt and Iron Department, and then to get a good job for a few cousins who had been in the government for a few years, but in the end, it was all in vain. He couldn't imagine what his mother would look like then.
Bai Ran, these people's answers did not satisfy Aye. The prince knelt on the ground and apologized, "My son was careless for a moment, but young people are eager to make progress, and this idea is always good."
"I also come from the military, and I have accumulated merits and been promoted in the army. I am rewarded according to my merits, and this is the most suitable place for young talents to come forward. I remember that when your companions were studying and gaining experience, Zihui was also very supportive."
Emperor Yuan Shuo glanced at his young son at this moment, and seemed very surprised that he asked such rash questions, but obviously had no grudges.
The Crown Prince regretted his gaffe and quickly apologized and retreated. At most, he felt sorry for the suffering of the Yang family's children, but the Grand Commander of Yizhou was always a good person and would not let a few children from aristocratic families charge into the battle. As for the remaining few, most of them were relatives of the Crown Princess, some of whom he had never even seen. Even if they died in battle, he would not be that sad.
But these people were appointed by Yang Xiuyuan. The prince hastily appeased them and only reported to his mother when he had some free time.
The fate between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the world is very strange. His mother looked down on Yi Niang, but got along well with the Crown Princess. When he entered, the Crown Princess was reading out the list of gifts one by one, which made his mother smile.
But when he came in, the smile on the Crown Princess's face faded instantly. The Crown Prince was unwilling to stay with her for another quarter of an hour, and his face became gloomy: "I am talking to my mother, you should go back first."
The Crown Princess stood up and replied, "Yes." However, Yang Xiuyuan glared at her son and said lovingly, "She's not a stranger. How could she have offended you? How could she not even let her know a few kind words?"
Several of the Crown Princess's cousins were also on the journey to Nanzhao. Although the Crown Prince was puzzled as to why his mother would treat him so well, he still respectfully explained the Emperor's arrangements and whispered, "Mother, I will write a letter and have my cousin take it to the army. I will definitely protect them."
As he expected, Yang Xiuyuan's expression changed, but the Crown Princess's face was even uglier, so pale that she couldn't even pretend in front of others.
He remembered that these people were not her biological brothers.
"That vixen must have said something in front of your father again!"
Yang Xiuyuan stood up angrily and said, "Your Majesty always approved your requests before, but how come after she stayed in the main tent for a few days, the tide has turned?"
Before the imperial concubine came, the princesses and ladies surrounded her, trying to curry favor with her. But as soon as the imperial concubine came, those people sensed the emperor's intention and flattered that vixen in every possible way.
That vixen was not quiet even when she was living in the main tent. There was no privacy in the tent compared to the palace. Even if she couldn't see it, the palace maids below were very curious. When the news that His Majesty had sex with the imperial concubine all night and had sex at night reached her ears, she would know it clearly even if she wanted to be deaf and blind.
It's so abominable!
The prince was somewhat dissatisfied. Yi Niang was not an unreasonable person. If her father did not pity her, could she still refuse the emperor?
What's more, she fell ill again, but her mother blamed everything on her, as if everything A'niang did was right and everything Yiniang did was wrong.
But the Crown Princess rarely spoke to him along the way, her face anxious: "Your Highness, is there no sign of the Emperor's will changing?"
The prince glanced at her. Death and bloodshed were inevitable on the battlefield. "Your cousins have done nothing. If you want to reach Fengluantai, Bai Ran should take his time."
The Crown Princess was not worried about this. The wishes her father made for people were not big, they were all positions that the emperor did not like. But now almost none of the wishes have been fulfilled, so isn't her father's situation precarious?
She cast her gaze towards the palace servants who were dismantling the tents, and with a rare effort to suppress her resentment, she suggested, "The Imperial Concubine is favored by His Majesty. Why don't we go and ask her for help..."
The Crown Princess never thought that one day she would bow down for a few pieces of silver, seek medical help from all directions when she was sick, and even think of humbly asking the Imperial Concubine for help.
The silver given to her alone amounted to tens of thousands of taels. Once they died, these people's uncles and aunts would bear a grudge and who knows what they would do.
It was simply the emperor's will that gave these young men the opportunity to serve in the army, but the Crown Princess's extraordinary care aroused the Crown Prince's disgust.
"What nonsense are you talking about? How could Aye allow the women in the harem to participate in court affairs?"
The Crown Prince was more like his father in this regard. His mother wanted to interfere in government affairs, and as a son, he couldn't stop her. However, his father already knew that Yi Niang was distracted, and these things were beyond her control: "Don't bother Concubine Wei unless it's necessary. She's not in good health. Are you afraid that others will not know about my relationship with her?"
The maids were all packing their luggage for the journey, but the two masters were arguing so fiercely that they quietly withdrew and left the space to the prince and princess.
However, the Crown Princess was not angry when she heard this, and she even became much calmer because of this sentence.
I almost laughed out loud.
If her guess was correct, the beauty her husband loved would not even survive a month. When death was imminent, the prince was still worried about whether he would be discovered by His Majesty. It was simply ridiculous!
As long as she gets rid of that imperial concubine, she will slowly return the money and ask her father and brother to appease those people. Why bother to argue with the prince about these matters?
…
The emperor was about to return to the palace, and the soldiers began to move their camps and start cooking, but Emperor Yuan Shuo did not ride a horse or review memorials in the imperial carriage.
Instead, he had someone light the charcoal fire and focused on teasing the not-so-obedient concubine.
Shen Youyi didn't make up new stories to tell the emperor every day. After all, he didn't come to visit last night.
He rarely had sexual desire during the day, so she could have a peaceful day.
However, Shen Youyi was wrong.
The man held her waist with his palm. Unlike when they came, what was placed on the emperor's desk was no longer memorials and inkstones, but a beautiful woman.
Her skin was snow-white, and her figure was very impressive. It trembled with her breathing, and was soft and delicious, as if she was as afraid of him as her owner.
Teach Emperor Yuan Shuo to recall the soft and delicate feeling in his palm with just one glance.
His concubine never complained. She just leaned on the pillow and looked at him with tears in her eyes, silently accusing him of the calluses on his fingertips... and his excessiveness on his lips and teeth.
Poor and cute.
For some reason, I wanted to teach someone to bully her a little more and make her cry.
She liked that method of treatment, and he should give her more.
Shen Youyi gritted her teeth tightly, she couldn't cry, but the sound of horse hooves outside the carriage was getting closer and closer, she almost twisted her teeth in fear, which caused Emperor Yuan Shuo to gasp.
She was like a beast that had just transformed into human form, showing herself to the Supreme Being before her without reservation, but the man was well-dressed, and even looked majestic and calm because of his calmness.
They relaxed a little, and Shen Youyi thought that as old-fashioned as he was, he would definitely restrain himself a little if he knew someone was coming. She pushed him gently and nervously identified the person.
Chen Rongshou and a group of imperial eunuchs guarded the carriage and did not allow anyone to come in, but her maidservant also followed beside her. The ceremonial procession was magnificent, but there was not even a palace servant in front of the emperor and his concubine to make tea or summon them. Shen Youyi was a little worried. Anyone could tell at a glance that there was a vivid beauty hidden in the emperor's carriage.
As expected, Chen Rongshou stepped forward with a smile and leaned forward, "Your Highness, is there anything you would like to report?"
His voice was a little loud, obviously as a reminder.
Shen Youyi was terrified. She suppressed her tears and reminded him in a low voice, "Your Majesty, it's the prince, it's the prince!"
Emperor Yuan Shuo hummed, and did not use her strength to hand it over. Instead, he slowly withdrew. Shen Youyi thought that this was the end, but in a moment of distraction, he was again separated from her, rushing around stupidly.
Deeper, heavier.
He pecked her collarbone soothingly: "I know."
Shen Chuyi was stunned. He knew, what did he know?
Isn't it said that one should be more dignified in front of the younger generation? Even a kiss is considered disrespectful by her, so what is he doing now?
He knows nothing! She is about to scream!
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