Chapter 351 Repeatedly
"Cough cough cough!"
Shen Cong coughed repeatedly, his entire face, including his earlobes and neck, turning a light pink.
Li Nanke chuckled inwardly.
She had just mentioned the words "ex-lover," which greatly displeased Shen Cong.
If she showed no curiosity about the term "cut sleeve," Shen Cong, with his keen sense, would soon realize that she understood it.
She could only feign curiosity, blinking her round eyes as she looked at Shen Cong.
"Ninth Brother, why is your face so red? This is the first time I've ever seen Ninth Brother blush. What exactly does the term 'cut sleeve' mean?"
Why is Ninth Brother blushing just saying those two words? That's strange, Ninth Brother, don't you know either? Maybe I should go ask Uncle Erfeng.
Li Nanke continued to tease Shen Cong with malicious intent, pretending to stand up.
"Don't you dare ask!"
Shen Cong grabbed her small hand and pressed her down to sit beside him.
Li Nanke blinked her grape-like eyes, "So Ninth Brother knows what that means?"
"Ahem," Shen Cong coughed lightly twice, his eyes flickering, "A broken sleeve is a sleeve that has been torn off."
Li Nanke almost burst out laughing, but secretly pinched himself to swallow the laughter back.
"Oh, so a 'broken sleeve' means a torn sleeve."
Shen Cong clenched his fist, pressed it to his lips, and gave a soft "hmm," quickly changing the subject.
What brings you here today?
Li Nanke then remembered the purpose of his visit and handed him the borneol incense he had brought.
"Master Huang went through some connections to buy some top-quality incense, and I mixed some borneol incense myself. Ninth Brother, would you like to try it?"
Shen Cong looked at the neatly arranged scented tea leaves in the box, his gaze softening slightly.
He casually took out a piece and put it into the incense burner behind him.
Wisps of smoke drifted from the incense burner, cool yet gentle, instantly clearing one's mind.
Shen Cong's lips unconsciously curled up, thinking to himself that although life was difficult, having this little girl by his side made it seem less agonizing.
The month after Xue Shu married into the Changping Marquis's household, the Xue family and the Changping Marquis's household jointly submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting that the eldest prince, Shen Xu, be made the crown prince.
The emperor asked Shen Cong for his opinion in the court.
Shen Cong strongly agreed.
"The eldest prince is both the legitimate son and the eldest son, so it is reasonable for him to be made the crown prince."
The emperor smiled and the next day issued an edict to establish Shen Xu as the crown prince, and ordered Shen Xu to follow Shen Cong to learn how to handle state affairs.
"I often feel tired and have no energy to teach the Crown Prince. Let A-Cong take over."
Shen Cong naturally agreed.
From then on, apart from studying at Jingxing Academy, Shen Xu frequently visited the Xuan Prince's residence, inseparable from Shen Cong, and sometimes even stayed overnight at the Xuan Prince's residence.
Li Nanke had encountered them twice, and he and Shen Cong agreed to talk at Jingxing Courtyard or Yunqi Tower.
She voluntarily reduced the number of times she visited Prince Xuan's residence.
Summer passed in the blink of an eye, and Shen Cong's health improved day by day. His complexion was no longer as pale as before, and he even had some color in it.
The emperor's health visibly deteriorated, and he would sometimes even fall asleep during the morning court session.
By the end of October, he set off again for the Luoyang Imperial Palace to recuperate, while Shen Cong took over the administration of state affairs with Shen Xu.
The pregnant concubine also went to the Luoyang Palace.
In the twelfth lunar month, news came from the imperial palace that Consort Jieyu had given birth to a prince, but the little prince was weak and died just two hours after birth.
Overwhelmed with grief, Consort Jieyu remained bedridden and passed away less than half a month later.
The following year, the emperor returned from the imperial palace, his health noticeably improved, just as it had been when he returned on New Year's Eve the previous year.
But on the day the emperor returned, Shen Cong vomited blood again and began a new round of recuperation.
The emperor would fall ill every autumn and then go to the imperial palace to recuperate in October.
Every spring, concubines in the imperial harem would become pregnant, but the princes born at the end of the year were always either weak and sickly, not living more than three to five days, or stillborn.
Shen Cong is sickly in the first half of each year, but his condition begins to improve in the fall.
This went on for three years, and as autumn approached, the emperor fainted during the morning court session.
The court officials have begun to deal with this in an orderly manner. Crown Prince Shen Xu has turned fifteen and is now acting as regent.
King Xuan was assisted by Shen Cong.
This time, the emperor remained unconscious for a full five days before waking up. Upon waking, he expressed his intention to go to the Luoyang Imperial Palace.
Accompanying her was a pregnant concubine from the imperial harem.
When the news reached Empress Xue's ears, she slowly put down her teacup and scoffed.
"Go, go, give the order to bring plenty of food and supplies, and two more imperial physicians. Enjoy this time before delivery."
I wonder if I'll even be alive to enjoy this after having a baby.
"Your Majesty, please be careful what you say!"
The trusted nanny jumped up in fright and looked around in a panic.
Empress Xue curled her lip, unconvinced.
"What are you afraid of? This is the truth, isn't it? Look at the harem these past few years, it's like it's been cursed. Every year, concubines get pregnant, but none of them can give birth to a healthy child."
His Majesty even went to Baoguo Temple to offer sacrifices for this, but to no avail. The common people are gossiping behind my back, saying that I am jealous and cannot tolerate my concubines giving birth to children.
Empress Xue gritted her teeth in anger.
"Bah! Am I that kind of jealous person? The Crown Prince is already fifteen. Even if another prince is born, what will he compare to the Crown Prince?"
The trusted nanny echoed her sentiments.
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty is right."
Empress Xue still felt disgruntled.
"I don't know what kind of evil spirits have struck, why can't one of them be strong enough to give birth to the child smoothly?"
The trusted nanny dared not respond.
Empress Xue grumbled and instructed her trusted nanny, "Have the imperial physician keep a close eye on Consort Chen's pregnancy, and hopefully she can have a smooth delivery."
"Yes, this servant will convey it to the imperial physician."
At this moment, Ding Wang came to see him outside, holding a memorial in his hand.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty says that the Crown Prince has reached the age of fifteen and it is time to select a Crown Princess. This is the list of candidates His Majesty has just drafted. Please take a look, Your Majesty."
When the topic of her son Shenxu's marriage came up, Empress Xue's face lit up with a smile.
"Yes, it's time to choose a good Crown Princess for Changsheng, and two concubines to take good care of the Crown Prince's daily life."
Empress Xue took the memorial from Ding Wang, glanced at the names inside, and her expression suddenly turned extremely ugly.
The document above clearly stated the candidate for Crown Princess: Li Nanke.
The Crown Prince has two concubines: one is her niece Xue Rui, and the other is Zhao Wanqing.
Empress Xue was so angry that she almost tore the document to shreds.
Why is her niece, the legitimate daughter of the Xue family, inferior to Li Nanke and relegated to the position of a concubine?
No, the more important question is why we chose that brat Li Nanke as the Crown Princess?
"His Majesty said that Her Majesty the Empress can summon a few young ladies to the palace for a look. If Her Majesty likes them, then the matter will be settled."
After His Majesty recovers and returns to the palace, an imperial edict will be issued to prepare for the Crown Prince's wedding.
Empress Xue squeezed the folded document tightly before managing to force a smile.
"I understand. Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance. I will find time to summon the ladies in for a talk."
After Ding Wang left, Empress Xue threw the memorial away.
"Someone, summon Lady Xue to the palace."
Meanwhile, Li Nanke was unaware that the emperor had already nominated her as a candidate for crown princess.
She was at Jingxing Courtyard talking to Shen Cong about the emperor's plan to go to the imperial palace to recuperate.
"Ninth Brother, don't you feel that these past few years, you and His Majesty have been... as if you're using one life as a weapon?"
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