Since Shen Shi was a prince, the guards who were administering the beatings didn't dare to use too much force; after ten strokes, his body only turned a little red.
He was adopted by the Imperial Concubine, and since his birth mother had already died, no matter how much Shen Shi disagreed, he still became the Imperial Concubine's son.
So he angered Shen Li and was punished with a beating, and Consort Zhang came to visit him with a group of people.
She hadn't changed at all; she was still arrogant and haughty, but this time, Shen Shi had changed.
By this time, he had come to understand that one cannot fight against one's superiors. As a single person with no power, influence, or favor, avenging his mother was just a pipe dream.
A gentleman takes revenge even after ten years. Suppressing his resentment, Shen Shi forced Consort Zhang to act as if they were a loving mother and son. Seeing his forced compromise, Consort Zhang was naturally pleased with her victory.
Consort Zhang was a very strong-willed person. As the daughter of the prime minister, she didn't need to enter the palace. Her family also advised her to choose a scholar and live a life of monogamy.
But she wasn't satisfied with that. She wanted to be the most honored woman in the world. All she wanted was the position of Empress Dowager, but unfortunately, she couldn't give birth to a son.
But now that Shen Shi is here, it doesn't matter whether he's her biological son or not; what matters most is that she becomes the Empress Dowager and rules from behind the curtain.
As time went by, Shen Shi gradually became more compliant and respectful to his mother. Consort Zhang then had no other thoughts and focused on raising him.
If he were to become the son of Consort Zhang, and anything were to change, it would be his mindset.
Originally, he was the unfavored tenth prince, an insignificant figure in the vast palace. But one day, he became the son of a concubine, and everyone said he had risen to prominence. Even his brothers, who had previously disregarded him, began to show their fangs at him.
As the attitudes of those around him changed, Chen Shi's mood also changed drastically.
He was no longer the cautious tenth prince, no longer timid and retreating at the first sign of trouble. In order to avenge his mother's wrongful death and to survive, Shen Shi also had to ascend to that position.
The path to the throne is fraught with bloodshed. While the nine sons of the dragon are all different, Shen Shi, being the tenth son, lacked the exceptional talents of his elder brothers and also lacked his own power base.
But fate is the best magician, and as a result, he, the most inconspicuous tenth prince, overcame all obstacles and ascended to the throne.
By the time Chen Shi, seated on the dragon throne, received all the information, it was already dark.
Now that I've transmigrated to this world and become the emperor above all others, I should enjoy myself to the fullest.
"Someone, bring the meal."
At Shen Shi's command, palace maids and eunuchs filed in, and the dishes freshly prepared by the imperial kitchen were brought up by one beautiful palace maid after another.
Whether it flies in the sky, runs on the ground, or swims in the river, you can find any ingredient you can find here.
The table was filled with plates and bowls of all sizes, a total of eighty-one dishes, a variety of delicacies that were too much for the eye to bear.
If Shen Shi hadn't previously been a prince and had some understanding of the grandeur of the royal family, he would have been astonished and wide-eyed.
As everyone knows, being an emperor is a very dangerous job, requiring constant vigilance against poisoning or assassination attempts.
For Shen Shi's safety, and also for his own head, a young eunuch served him meals, responsible for testing for poison before serving it to the emperor.
This whole process was already quite complicated, but the emperor also had a rule that he could not eat more than three times. No matter how much he liked a dish, he could not take more than three bites of it.
Despite the complicated procedures, Shen Shi was extremely dissatisfied with this feast.
Sigh, being an emperor isn't easy!
After the meal, Shen Shi dealt with some government affairs, and then it was time for him to retire for the night.
There weren't many women in Shen Shi's palace, and usually the Imperial Concubine was the most favored. But these past few days, the Imperial Concubine had somehow angered the Emperor, and Shen Shi hadn't visited her for several days.
The Imperial Concubine sent someone to invite him back today, but the Emperor did not go. It seems he will not go tonight.
The palace servants were very good at reading people's expressions. Just as Shen Shi was showing signs of drowsiness, Xiao Xiazi came to him with a plaque and asked, "Your Majesty, it is getting late and you should rest. Please choose a plaque."
Chen Shi raised his eyes and looked at the green plaques on the tray. There were about seven or eight of them. Except for the one belonging to Consort Rong, which had some marks, the rest were all very new, so they must not have been turned over.
Of course, the newest one is the one with the words "Sakura Beauty" written on it, which is placed in the far corner of the tray.
Seeing that Shen Shigan was staring at the tray without reacting, Xia Xiazi tentatively asked again, "Your Majesty?"
His wandering thoughts were pulled back to reality. Looking at the colorful signs in front of him, only the words "Sakura Beauty" remained in his mind.
Then Xiaxiazi saw the Emperor's well-defined hand pick up the green plaque of the Sakura Beauty.
This is quite a rare occurrence. In the three months since the Emperor ascended the throne, he hasn't visited any of the concubines except for Consort Rong. This Lady Ying has really struck it lucky.
Just when Xia Zi thought that the obscure Sakura Beauty was finally going to be remembered by the Emperor, Shen Shi put the plaque back.
"I will not be choosing consorts today. I am already exhausted from dealing with state affairs all day long, and I have no time to care about the harem. There is no need to bring these out in the future."
After Shen Shi finished speaking, he dismissed Xia Xiazi.
The feeling of having everyone listen to what you say is wonderful; being an emperor is truly amazing.
After sighing, Shen Shi instructed a palace maid beside him, "Go and fetch me a set of casual clothes, in black."
Although no one knew what the Emperor was going to do by changing clothes so late at night, the Emperor's command could not be disobeyed, so the palace maid responded and brought the clothes.
Then the palace maid was about to help Shen Shi get dressed, but Shen Shi was not used to it and waved her away.
After changing his clothes, Shen Shi looked at himself in the bronze mirror on the table. Although he couldn't see very clearly, it didn't diminish his elegant demeanor.
The last rays of the sun had set, and the sky was pitch black; not a single star could be seen in the night sky.
It was a chilly autumn day. Shen Shi put on a cloak, didn't let anyone follow him, and walked into the darkness with a lantern in his hand.
In this era without electricity and cell phones, there are very few forms of entertainment available, and even fewer in the strictly regulated imperial palace.
Wutong Pavilion is located in the southwest corner of the palace, the most remote place. The beautiful lady Ying lives in the pavilion. She is Ji Ying'er, the daughter of the former Earl of Anyang.
People in the palace are the most adept at currying favor with the powerful and belittling the weak. Because Consort Ying's rank is not high and Anyang Prefecture has long since fallen into decline, there are only two maids in Wutong Pavilion, and even their meager allowances are being cut.
When the time for the sinking arrived, Ji Ying'er was sitting by the window in a daze.
Her hair was loose and unadorned, and she wore the simplest clothes. Yet, despite all this, she possessed a fragile, glass-like quality that made people feel tenderness towards her.
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