Since it was for Ying'er, it had to be the best. With that in mind, Chen Shi was meticulous with every stroke of his brush, and it took him two hours to complete one painting.
When the complete portrait was displayed in front of Ji Ying'er, she was so surprised that she couldn't close her mouth. "This is too... similar."
In the scene, a beautiful young girl is picking flowers in a garden full of peonies. She is so focused on the flowers that she doesn't notice a boy of the same age standing behind her.
The scene that Shen Shi described was the moment when the two confessed their feelings to each other. He still remembers it clearly now, and how he was so nervous that he couldn't speak at the time.
Love arises without warning and deepens with time. Over the course of several years, he went from being an unfavored prince in the palace to becoming an emperor revered by all.
Imperial power can drive people mad and lead them astray. As he slumbered, everything around him changed, and even his heart was no longer as pure as before. In this wave of change, the only constant was the lover by his side.
Ji Ying'er is the only boat on the vast lake, a lone tree that stabilizes when sinking. "No matter when, as long as you are here, I feel at ease."
He gently kissed her fair, jade-like hand, his voice filled with tenderness.
When she met his loving eyes, Ji Ying'er's heart pounded wildly. While he still possessed the boyish charm of his youth, he had also gained a mature allure, leaving Ji Ying'er, who was already helpless against him, completely mesmerized.
"I only wish your heart were like mine, that you would treat me like this, then my life would not have been in vain." Ji Ying'er stretched out her fair and slender arms and hugged Shen Shi's waist tightly.
Chen was taken aback by her sudden action, but after he realized what was happening, he was overjoyed and hugged Ji Ying'er back tightly.
Two lovers embraced tightly in the imperial study, a symbol of power.
He had spoken his heart and done sweet things, and Shen Shi felt that he had rediscovered the joy of his youth. This mature-beyond-his-years young emperor was unusually carefree, like a young man.
Originally intending to spend more time with Ying'er, Shen Shi had to review a lot of memorials due to the overwhelming amount of paperwork. Ji Ying'er accompanied Shen Shi for dinner and then stayed overnight at Qingyang Palace.
That night, as the couple played in the water, Shen Shi keenly noticed that Ying'er was unusually shy and also unusually proactive.
This unexpected discovery made Shen Shimei incredibly happy. He instantly transformed into a ravenous wolf, devouring Ying'er and the little white rabbit until not a bone was left. The two rediscovered the joy of newlywed bliss.
Last night's experience was so wonderful that I woke up with a smile the next day.
Looking at Ji Ying'er's sleeping face, Shen Shi felt a warm current flow through his heart. Waking up to find his beloved person by his side, there was nothing happier than this.
A smile appeared on Shen Shi's lips, but as he lifted his lips, a sharp pain immediately shot through them.
I touched it and sure enough, the skin was broken. I never expected that this seemingly well-behaved little girl would be so rough at night. You really can't judge a book by its cover!
Seeing that Ji Ying'er was still fast asleep, he couldn't resist pinching her little face.
Her skin felt soft and plump, and she still had baby fat on her face. Her feet were also small, not even as big as his palm. Seeing that Ji Ying'er showed no signs of waking up, Shen Shi's naked gaze was undisguised, and the more he looked at her, the cuter she seemed.
The lovely idea had just flashed into his mind when Chen Shi couldn't help but think of Ji Ying'er's bewitching appearance last night.
I never imagined that promoting my wife's rank would also bring me benefits. Such a win-win situation is definitely something I should do more of!
So Shen Shi had just finished washing up when she sent a eunuch to summon the people from the Ministry of Rites, asking them to choose an auspicious day to arrange the empress's investiture ceremony.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty," said Mu Sheng, kneeling before the Imperial Observatory.
"Get up." Seeing that the person had already arrived, Shen Shi decided to get straight to the point: "I have summoned you to an audience today to discuss the matter of bestowing the title of Empress. The Empress is the mother of the nation and is of utmost importance. The bestowal of this title must not be taken lightly."
"A grand ceremony must be held on an auspicious day to respectfully inform our ancestors of their blessings."
As a modern person, Shen Shi naturally doesn't care about these formalities. He is a minimalist who rejects any unnecessary trouble. His motto in life is to live only for himself.
But times have changed. Every era has its own characteristics. Since we're here, we must abide by the rules.
The emperor's status is both the source of his power to do whatever he wants and a shackle that binds him.
In the imperial palace, where everything is governed by rules, Emperor Chen Shi could escape the tedious etiquette, but he could not escape the boundless loneliness.
Thanks to Ji Ying'er's company, Shen Shi found life interesting again.
Therefore, he was determined to do everything well for Ji Ying'er, including her status as empress and the grandest coronation ceremony.
With the imperial edict announcing Ji Ying'er's appointment as empress reaching the Wutong Pavilion, her position as empress was practically sealed.
Ever since Ji Ying'er gained favor with the Emperor, all the palaces have been paying close attention to the movements of Wutong Pavilion. No sooner had the eunuch delivering the imperial decree left than they flocked to offer their congratulations.
Upon hearing the news that the imperial edict had been issued, Zhang Han'er, who had still held a sliver of hope, was plunged into utter despair.
In fact, not only her, but also a group of officials from the previous dynasty were very dissatisfied with Ji Ying'er becoming empress.
In an effort to persuade the Emperor to change his mind, these people even jointly submitted a memorial, bitterly pointing out the various disadvantages of Ji Ying'er becoming Empress, from her father being a criminal to Ji Ying'er's lack of offspring for three years.
In short, these self-restrained scholars attacked every possible aspect of her.
When this joint letter landed on Shen Shi's desk, he was almost amused by its contents.
No children? Which of his concubines has children? His Ying'er can't be empress because she has no children, but Zhang Han'er was also childless before, and a lot of people advised him to make her empress.
The idea that she was the daughter of a disgraced official is utterly absurd.
The fall of Anyang Prefecture occurred during the reign of the late emperor. He punished everyone in the prefecture, but he did not do anything to Ji Ying'er, and the Empress Dowager continued to support her.
Neither of these two powerful figures mentioned that Ji Ying'er was the daughter of a disgraced official, let alone that he was now the emperor during Chen's reign. Who would dare to convict her? They're really asking for trouble!
Enraged, Shen Shi ruthlessly dismissed all those who had jointly submitted the petition. Those who were somewhat useful were demoted three ranks, while the unimportant ones were directly dismissed.
Paying salaries to ministers is meant to encourage them to care about the people, manage all matters concerning people's livelihoods, and act as public servants who are the parents of the country and its people.
Unexpectedly, these good-for-nothings had nothing better to do than spend their days staring at his harem and gossiping about innocent women.
What's the point of keeping them around? It would be better to just fire them all.
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