Chapter 66 Chapter 66 [VIP]
The Empress Dowager was always worried about the Emperor's poor health. Although she sometimes looked down on Prince Zhao's behavior, she felt some comfort in having Cheng Huan by her side when she was in dire straits.
She didn't want to think too much about it. The country depended on the eldest prince. Although the Queen Mother had not been deposed, she might not be able to win the support of the people in the future if she was treated like this by the Emperor. Although the Second Prince was a legitimate son, he was born weak. Not to mention the Emperor, even she could not be satisfied with him. Therefore, she could not help but feel restless when she saw this ridiculous son in front of her.
...If it is true that the younger brother will inherit the throne after the elder brother, it seems that we cannot let such a rich and idle person go up.
"When the Emperor went to Yuezhou to quell the rebellion, you, as his uncle, were the regent. Why didn't you pay more attention to Hui?"
The Queen Mother thought of her eldest grandson, who was still imprisoned in the Eastern Palace, and felt deeply sorry. "Don't say Shen is innocent. Even if she is truly guilty, she should be given some time off. How have your brother and I always tolerated you?"
Emperor Yuan Shuo unexpectedly respected the Empress Dowager's choice in choosing a concubine. As for Shen Youyi being her granddaughter-in-law, the Empress Dowager didn't think she could do a good job, but she also didn't think she would cause so many scandals.
Prince Zhao felt wronged. There was a world of difference between helping a fifteen or sixteen-year-old Dowager as regent and being a puppet for his brother, the Emperor. He was kept busy every day, exhausted, and yet he still didn't please Emperor Yuanshuo. Even if he guessed his nephew had recently fallen in love, he couldn't pay any attention. He certainly couldn't have anticipated so many things that would happen in the past five or six years. "The Dowager and my mother didn't say anything about this, so how could I know the truth and rashly interfere in the affairs of the Eastern Palace?"
The Queen Mother sighed deeply as she thought of the increasingly outrageous stories that were spreading. "Have you visited the Purple Palace today to ask about His Majesty's well-being? Is he feeling better?"
Prince Zhao looked a bit more resentful. What could possibly be wrong with his brother? In the Purple Palace, heaven and earth were in harmony, and he was probably in a very good mood. He said thoughtfully, "Brother, you seem to be in good spirits today, but I think you need to rest for a while. You probably won't be able to leave your bed for the next few days."
The emperor massacred Chang'an in an outrageous massacre on charges of witchcraft, but he remained secluded in Taiji Palace, testing the reactions of all parties. Now that his illness is almost healed and he has a beloved woman by his side, it is estimated that it will take another two or three days before he is willing to show himself to his subjects.
The Empress Dowager nodded. She was still concerned about the Emperor's condition and wanted to go to the Purple Palace to check on him. However, Prince Zhao's trip was to cover for the people there. She said tactfully, "Mother, my brother has told me that any important memorials should still be sent to the Purple Palace. Your Majesty has been working so hard, so I'm afraid it would be best to wait a couple of days before visiting him."
She has always been like this. The Empress Dowager can rest assured as long as she knows that his health has improved, so that she doesn't have to mention the seductiveness of the Imperial Concubine every time, and the Emperor would have to argue with her despite his illness.
Prince Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. He really didn't know how to talk to A Niang about the imperial concubine's sudden return to the palace. He hoped that his brother, the emperor, could spend a few nights in the warm tent and make up a lie to make A Niang feel at ease.
However, just as he was thinking about it, the palace servant who had delivered the message outside the Jiade Hall hurried in, looking a little timid. Nanny Jiang went out to ask, and when she came back, she also looked hesitant and said softly, "Your Majesty, Shen... Niang requests an audience and is waiting outside the palace gate. Do you think you should summon her in?"
The emperor did not abolish the imperial concubine's position, and only told the outside world that she should rest. However, given the empress dowager's attitude, how they should treat this imperial concubine was indeed a tricky issue.
Prince Zhao could hardly believe it and stood up suddenly. However, the Queen Mother was equally shocked. Seeing his astonishment, she was not surprised at all. She laughed in anger: "This is the vixen your royal brother favors. You haven't seen her yet. The emperor let her go, and she has the nerve to come back!"
He didn't even dare to mention the border affairs in front of the Empress Dowager, for fear that his mother would blame the war on the Imperial Concubine again, and thus create more rift between them. But the Imperial Concubine was determined to move forward!
Could it be that his royal brother is worried about the war and is planning to recover today?
But when the imperial concubine came in, there was no eunuch from the Purple Palace following her.
Shen Youyi wore no makeup, her emerald green dress looking even more plain, and her hairpins and jewelry were not of the style worn in the palace. She bowed deeply and said softly, "Your concubine Shen pays homage to the Empress Dowager. I wish her good health and a long life."
All the servants around him left, but King Zhao seemed unaware and stayed by his mother's side.
He felt a little uneasy. The chaos caused by the imperial concubine was much bigger than the one in the palace. Would his mother be so unhappy that she would order the imperial concubine to be executed?
The Queen Mother saw the girl in a white dress with a light waist, who was radiant and graceful, and looked like a lotus branch when she bowed down to her. She had always liked young and beautiful girls, but when she saw the Imperial Concubine again, she was filled with anger and resentment!
What's so difficult about choosing between a woman and a son? Emperor Yuan Shuo spared her life, but imprisoned the son he had raised for twenty years with his own hands. She could be proud of this!
This vixen should have gone far away to the horizon and put an end to the emperor's crazy idea. Why did she dare to come back? Did she think her life was too long?
"Who is so bold as to send you into the palace?
Shen Youyi shook her head and said, "I am worried about you, so I went to the palace to visit you."
The Empress Dowager glanced at her calm expression, almost furious, and sneered a few times: "There are so many, there is no need for you to be so attentive. The Emperor is nostalgic and is willing to let you go this time. Come here!"
She stood up quickly, not allowing the palace maids to come in, and said with a smile on her face: "What's wrong with mother? She chants Buddha's name all day long. What if my brother finds out..."
The Queen Mother sneered, "It's true that he has the ability to kill people, but he even dared to kill his own mother for a seductive woman!"
Prince Zhao apologized repeatedly, but these words could not suppress his mother, but the palace maids outside should always understand.
Shen Youyi waited for the Queen Mother's anger to subside before she said softly, "I really don't know. Your Majesty used to love me very much. I don't know how I, having been away from the palace for several months, could have offended you to the point of anger."
The Queen Mother's anger, which had just subsided a little, immediately surged up again. The hand pointing at her was shaking violently. "Do you think I'm still in the dark?... It's not enough that you seduced the Queen Mother and killed the Marquis of Lingyang. How dare you collude with the Wei family, enter the palace to serve the Emperor, and even have a private relationship with the Queen Mother!"
If the emperor was as incompetent as the Prince of Zhao and insisted on taking other people's wives and concubines, it would be fine, and Shen could be said to be pitiful. However, she knew that the emperor and Hui were his father, but she was completely shameless, actively flattering him, and put on such an innocent attitude!
She could even guess that after this fairy entered the palace, she and Liaohui had put many hats on the emperor!
Shen Youyi laughed and said patiently, "I and Your Highness were in love in my early years. It's natural for young men and women to fall in love. I think the rumors are untrue and have made Your Highness angry."
"The general died on the battlefield, and it's unpredictable." Shen Youyi didn't want to argue with the Queen Mother about her grandson's role in the matter. "As for Your Majesty, I did have to conceal my background that day out of helplessness, but Your Majesty is the Lord of Heaven. If only Luo Hua had the intention, I'm afraid it wouldn't work."
King Zhao's eloquence suddenly lost its effect at this moment, and he would rather be deaf and dumb.
He didn't even dare to speak like that to his mother... How could this delicate little girl behave one way in front of his brother, and then act like another in front of outsiders!
How can a person be so honest? Which mother-in-law would be willing to see a woman who has no feelings for her son take away all her love? Wouldn't she say that she fell in love with the emperor at first sight and couldn't help herself?
The Queen Mother looked down at this arrogant woman, and every wrinkle on her face was cold: "So this is how you repay your Majesty's favor, and the Queen Mother...how dare you?"
Shen Youyi shook her head and said frankly, "Your Majesty did pester me hard at first, but I have never done anything to offend Your Majesty. I was just worried that if I received too much favor, I would get pregnant with Your Majesty's heir, so I wanted to ask Your Majesty for help to get some medicine that would prevent me from getting pregnant."
Prince Zhao fell completely silent. His royal brother would naturally not tell him about the imperial concubine's past. What he had heard was not detailed to this extent. Obviously, his mother had not heard of this past either.
The Queen Mother almost wanted to punish her immediately, but she had been trapped in this fog for too long, and she really couldn't swallow this anger, so she wanted to kill her without knowing what was going on.
However, with such a distraught girl standing beside him, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. This little girl was no more romantic than the emperor. What if he started to feel pity for her...
The Queen Mother spoke slowly, "Silang, don't you want to see Liu? She is in the back hall, worshipping Buddha. You haven't seen each other for a long time, so even if you talk for a while, your brother won't know."
King Zhao didn't want to stay in a place of controversy for long, so he nodded in agreement and quickly walked to the back hall. Shen Youyi then said softly, "It was for this reason that Your Majesty exiled me to the palace in the first month of the year, not because of jealousy."
The Empress Dowager's heart slowly sank. She had also been confused that day... The Imperial Concubine was already the most favored in the six palaces, unmatched by anyone. What on earth was she not satisfied with that she still had to fight for it?
The emperor knew from then on that her feelings were not sincere, but he still favored her for a few more months!
The Queen Mother's heart ached faintly, and her face turned pale with anger: "Don't you have any regrets at all?"
Shen Youyi said calmly: "I naturally regret it, so I want to let Your Majesty know the existence of those East Palace confidants in Zhaoyang Palace... If Your Majesty gets tired of me from now on, it won't be a bad thing for me to spend the rest of my life in the palace."
If Emperor Yuan Shuo could still change his mind, she believed that even if she lost her memory, she would still be willing to have children with him. If the Queen Mother was afraid of her father's bloody massacre in Zhaoyang Palace and behaved herself from then on, what could she do to the Crown Prince?
The Queen Mother was disgusted by her hypocrisy: "Then you should just be content with your old age. Why should His Majesty waste so much time and energy on you?"
Shen Youyi lowered her head. The fact that she had lost her memory should no longer be a secret in the palace. "I didn't remember anything at that time. I just thought I was reincarnated as a human. As Your Majesty's concubine, I should serve you well. But later I remembered everything again... I knew that Your Majesty would not kill me for the sake of Lingyang Marquis. For the sake of the royal family's reputation, he would not leave me as a trouble. Your Majesty would pester me all day long. Once the truth comes out, I will surely die."
But she survived, while the queen who was placed with great hopes was in danger: "I never thought I could live to this day."
The Queen Mother felt a little bitter as she thought of her son who was lying on his sickbed.
He once told her that he would never mistakenly grab a piece of her clothes in the Purple Palace just because the imperial concubine had disrupted state affairs. He felt hot all over and had lost a lot of weight, but he was still calling "Yi Niang" in a low voice.
"So you think His Majesty is soft on you and wants to take this opportunity to regain His Majesty's favor?"
The Queen Mother's murderous intent flashed across her face. She said contemptuously, "Shen, you think too highly of yourself. Even if His Majesty spares your life, do you think you can still stay in the palace and enjoy wealth and luxury?"
Shen Youyi shook her head. Being pregnant was certainly her confidence, but if Emperor Yuan Shuo showed coldness towards her, she didn't want to compromise for decades and then enjoy the blessing of children.
"It was only after I left the palace that I realized how much love and affection Your Majesty had for me. Returning home with my parents, I often missed Your Majesty and the Empress, and regretted my youthful impetuosity."
Her heart moved slightly. In fact, it wasn't just Tian Liao's power and looks that she liked. He treated her with such consideration that it almost made her feel disgusted with himself. "But now that I've been found by the Imperial Guards, I can no longer suppress my longing for Your Majesty. Even if I can only be a slave and a maid, and take care of me by your bedside, it's a way to repay Your Majesty for not killing me."
The Empress Dowager paused. The Emperor was so ill and confused, yet he still mobilized people to continue the search and was so concerned about Shen. Her tone softened a little: "So-called love is nothing more than a man's charity to a woman. How long can you maintain this beautiful face? Ten years, twenty years. When His Majesty is sixty, do you think it will still be you who stays by his side?"
Shen Youyi nodded: "Your Majesty is right. I am bold and reckless, jealous and have deceived Your Majesty many times. My only advantage is my beauty. But Your Majesty doesn't like only these. He is a law-abiding man, but he likes my willfulness and eccentricity. There are many gentle and docile beauties in the palace. Perhaps Your Majesty prefers women who do not follow etiquette and have a heart of stone."
He was used to everything as it was, but he could indulge himself a little in her and feel her fresh desires. They were not kind-hearted and were also unwilling to be honest. If she were a sentimental woman, she would probably have been jealous of his neglect and worried and heartbroken.
What's more, love itself is something that makes no sense. Love and not love are both illusory things. There is no need for conditions to be loved, and there is no need for not loving. The love that comes naturally may surge, and may go away in a hurry.
"Your Majesty has always had more than one woman by his side. Perhaps it won't take that long. His beauty fades before his love for her fades. Even three to five years would be enough for Your Majesty to find a new, young and beautiful concubine. However, Your Majesty has always been tolerant of the concubines in the inner court. He could either grant me a place to stay or let me leave the palace. He would never make the rest of my life miserable."
Her demeanor was extremely deceptive. Even if the other party knew she might not be so fragile and pitiful, they would often be moved by her almost sincere words: "Is there anyone in the world who loves Your Majesty more than you? I know you hate me, but what happened with you was not my original intention. If you kill me now, Your Majesty may be sad for a while, but if Your Majesty finds a new love, how can my life or death be so important?"
The Queen Mother wavered slightly. The woman kneeling on the ground was weeping, looking truly adorable. The stunning beauty wept, "I am also from a decent family, but my fate is like a floating duckweed. Even if I want to find a man to accompany me until old age, I absolutely do not want to remarry several times. Your Majesty is still too..."
However, the Queen Mother's gaze had already moved behind the screen.
The emperor, who had been in danger several times in the Purple Palace and was bedridden, miraculously got better one day!
His expression was stern, his brows gleaming with anger. He turned from behind the brocade screen, reached out and pulled the still dazed beauty to her feet. Almost suppressing his anger, he performed the usual courtesy to the Queen Mother and said gently, "My son greets you, Mother."
The Queen Mother carefully examined the deceased Baise. Even though he still looked a little tired after his illness, there was no sign that he was about to die. She understood almost instantly. She was so angry that she could hardly stand. Her heart was chilled and her eyes were almost filled with disappointment. "You...even you are trying to deceive your mother!"
Inexplicably, she wanted to curse like a shrew. They were truly a couple made in heaven. She had cried so much for the emperor these days, but her son...
But before she could be angered by Emperor Yuan Shuo and faint, Shen Youyi, who had been kneeling on the ground for a long time, frowned and staggered for a moment. If it weren't for Emperor Yuan Shuo's quick eyes and hands, she would have almost fallen to the ground!
The Empress Dowager's heart instantly rose in her chest. This woman suddenly came to the Jiade Hall. It wasn't necessarily because she was stupid and full of courage, but... she was trying to sow discord between their mothers!
Emperor Yuan Shuo didn't care about that and told Chen Rongshou to immediately call all the imperial doctors on duty that day over. He stretched out his arms and took the unconscious beauty with her eyes closed to the side hall for her placement.
After reviewing the memorials, he returned to the Purple Palace only to find the tent empty. Upon learning that she had come to the Guardian Palace, he was so angry that he almost wanted to hit her a few times, but he could not care less because he was worried that she would be scolded and harassed by her mother.
Unexpectedly, a eunuch beside King Zhao came to report the news halfway, saying that her mother really wanted to kill Yi Niang, and she actually went to die!
He even said that to the Queen Mother...
Emperor Yuan Shuo personally removed her shoes, socks and outer clothes. The eunuch opened the window and removed the sandalwood incense from the side hall. The palace maid brought warm water mixed with honey and tried to feed her a few mouthfuls, but the imperial concubine couldn't even swallow it.
Even if she wanted to die, there was no need to resort to such means. She should never think of leaving the Purple Palace again in this life... She wouldn't even have to leave the inner chambers again!
It was not until several imperial physicians and female physicians hurried over that Emperor Yuan Shuo reluctantly left the side hall.
Prince Zhao had already returned to the Queen Mother from Lady Liu's residence. He had already been reprimanded and was trying to comfort his mother gently when he saw Emperor Yuan Shuo approaching. A complex expression crossed his mind and he said cautiously, "Greetings, brother."
Seeing is believing. His royal brother has a strange temper, his pets are strange, and the imperial concubine he likes is no ordinary woman.
The Empress Dowager was still furious. Seeing the Emperor approaching, she said bluntly, "Your Majesty, with your beautiful concubine hidden in a golden house, do you think you are comparable to Emperor Wu?"
If Shen didn't come out on her own, was it because he planned to hide this woman until she became pregnant and then bring her to see her?
Emperor Yuan Shuo forced a smile and said, "Mother, I didn't have this idea before. I will bring her to see you in a while."
Given his status, it should be easier for him to convince the Queen Mother: "Even though she was married before entering the palace, it's not a big deal. My daughter has already had two queens. Will anyone say anything bad about me appointing a third one?"
The Queen Mother was so angry at his calm appearance that her heart ached: "You are the God, how can a woman compare to you?"
Emperor Yuan Shuo chuckled softly, "It's true there's no comparison. Yi Niang doesn't like Er Le, but Er Le loves her in his heart. She might not be willing to come back, but I can't live without her. Whether it's coaxing, deceiving, or bringing the whole family back, it was all my idea. Why should my mother embarrass her?"
The Empress Dowager was furious, her ears still ringing with his heartless remarks from the previous day: "Emperor, you said you wouldn't dethrone or enthrone based on a few words from the Imperial Concubine. The kingdom versus the beauty, which is more important? Can't you tell the difference?"
Emperor Yuan Shuo naturally remembered what he had said. That was the first day after he reconciled with Yiniang. He was full of joy, but also felt a little unwilling.
For Yi Niang, his heart was almost in turmoil. He was waiting for that carefully designed encounter, almost counting the days for her birthday gift, and even determined to scare her and send her away from the palace. A piece of flowery note lured him to Yaoguang Palace.
He thought everything should be under his control, including Yi Niang.
These are short-lived romances.
"While Liaoyan is truly outstanding, he is not fit to be made the crown prince... and he is no longer the son of me and Yi Niang."
Emperor Yuan Shuo thought of many reasons for not enthroning this son. The country needed a young and strong monarch, and his temperament was not suitable for this position. But what if he was Yiniang's son?
If it was Yi Niang's son, he would take the trouble to teach this son to become the crown prince no matter what. Even if he was very young, he would still place his hopes on him... as long as he was Yi Niang's son.
Emperor Yuan Shuo took a deep breath. "Mother, what do you expect me to do for the Cui family? Even if Father had wanted me to die on the battlefield, I wouldn't have complained. But I never let your majesty suffer even the slightest injury. You also said that it was just a father's preference. Why can't your son show filial piety? Your son has taken a fancy to a widow, and no one would blame him for loving her. But he wants to pester me endlessly. He is trying to steal my woman. How dare Yi Niang tell me?"
Yi Niang would never believe him. She knew very well that he was heartless. The reputation of the royal family was more important than anything else. She thought he would definitely choose the queen.
When he was almost mad, he wanted to kill her with his own hands, and he also hoped that she would stab him with a knife, but he still hoped that she would be alive, living in a corner that he would better not know about.
"I have no intention of deceiving my mother. When I couldn't find Yi Niang a while ago, I was truly devastated and hated myself."
Emperor Yuan Shuo whispered, "Why do you have to be so cautious? As long as I like her, she should stay by my side. If Your Majesty can give up after seeing her tragic death, how can I be relieved? Can I only rest assured after she dies?"
But even if he was about to die, he still couldn't let her go. Without him, what could she do as a woman?
They were heartless to each other when they met the last hundred, even though he clearly didn't think so.
The Empress Dowager was dumbfounded. Although the Emperor had been a little strange during those days, he personally sent the Imperial Concubine away and could still talk and laugh in front of her calmly, which showed how cruel he was.
She trembled and said, "You still want to make her the queen, Emperor. Do you know how bad people say it is?"
Did he think he was the King of Zhao, a member of the royal family who only occupied one line of words in the history books?
Emperor Yuan Shuo did not deny this idea. He had already accepted the fact that the father-in-law and the daughter-in-law were having an affair, the wife was having an affair with the mother, and the father was having an affair with the daughter-in-law. He said, "Mother, I cannot control what others say, nor do I want to. I want to marry Yi Niang, and it has nothing to do with them. As long as I am alive, no one will dare to say a word. Even after I die, I will let the historians write the truth."
The Queen Mother had never seen him talk about shamelessness in such a righteous manner, as if he was talking about some great principles of governing a country. The King of Zhao lowered his head. He was just advising his brother to think a little more clearly, not to be bound by worldly rules, and to be more humble and say sweet words to girls. But after his brother figured it out, how come he changed so quickly and became so shocking that even he could hardly recognize his brother?
Envoy Song entered the palace with a look of joy on his face, but the tension between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor was high, so he lowered his voice when announcing the good news: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, the Imperial Concubine is nearly three months pregnant."
…
There were people coming and going around her, and the palace servants in the Jiade Hall were no longer as reserved and fearful as before, and they asked her attentively if she needed anything to eat.
Shen Youyi felt a little guilty after waking up. Her fainting was not entirely artificial, she must have been hungry...
I haven't had a proper meal these days. I tossed and turned several times at night. After kneeling for a long time, I suddenly stood up and felt a little dizzy and my head ached. But after drinking a few drops of honey water, the pain didn't seem so severe.
She was pregnant. Even if Prince Zhao was not by her side and the emperor continued to recuperate in the Purple Palace, she would still be able to turn the danger into safety, but she would not have to faint for too long.
No matter how noble the Queen Mother is, she still has to consider the feelings of the Emperor. If she coaxes him a little and acts pitifully, nothing might happen.
But if he disobeyed the Queen Mother in public for her, the old lady might think too much.
She smiled softly, and when she looked up, she saw everyone bowing and greeting the sky.
Shen Youyi hurriedly stretched her head out, she was eager to see Emperor Yuan Shuo's reaction.
She was pregnant with the child he had been dreaming of. Would he cry with joy and hug her and cry?
However, she looked at him for a long time without blinking, and still felt a little disappointed.
After this old man came in, he didn't seem happy at all about her pregnancy. Instead, he seemed angry with her?
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