However, Chen Shicai wasn't so bored; he was busy being affectionate with his wife.
Since Ji Ying'er became Empress, she has suddenly become very busy.
Empress Dowager Zhang was a pragmatic person. After the Zhang family fell from power, she understood the importance of yielding power and promptly handed over the power to manage the harem to Ji Ying'er.
The affairs of the harem are complicated, and Ji Ying'er was inevitably overwhelmed when she first took over. Dealing with all kinds of matters in the palace every day left her exhausted, so she didn't care much about Chen Shi.
Ji Ying'er began to neglect him as soon as she became empress, and Shen Shi was very unhappy when he realized this.
But being proud, he couldn't say it directly, so he could only subtly remind Ji Ying'er, "This lotus seed porridge is too bitter, I don't like it." While he was having his meal with Ji Ying'er, he pointed to the porridge in front of him and said with dissatisfaction.
"Too bitter? How could that be? This was sent from the Imperial Kitchen. Could it be that the lotus seeds weren't cleaned properly?" Hearing him say that, Ji Ying'er quickly took a bite of the porridge as well.
After taking a sip and feeling nothing, she took another sip and still found it tasted sweet, even without any bitterness.
At this point, Ji Ying'er didn't realize anything was wrong until she saw Shen Shi's dissatisfied gaze, at which point she gradually came to her senses.
"I think it's not the lotus seed porridge that's bitter, but the Emperor's heart that's bitter, isn't it?" Thinking that he was such a grown man, and the emperor above all others, yet he was throwing a tantrum like a child, Ji Ying'er found it quite adorable.
"The lotus seed porridge is bitter, and the Empress is too busy to pay attention to me, but my heart is even more bitter." Shen Shi took Ji Ying'er's fair and jade-like hand and placed it on his face, his eyes looking pitiful as if he had suffered a great injustice, and said in a tender tone.
Seeing her like this, Ji Ying'er felt a mix of unfamiliarity and pity, and fell into a pitiful trap, her heart instantly melting.
"It's not that I'm ignoring Your Majesty. I just didn't know anything when I first started managing the harem, so I had to learn everything from scratch," Ji Ying'er explained gently, touching Shen Shi's face.
"With so many people in the harem, wouldn't it be very difficult to manage them?" Shen Shi asked.
Unexpectedly, he asked that question, and Ji Ying'er was at a loss for words. After careful consideration, she gave a standard answer: "It's alright. Although it's not easy to get started, with the Empress Dowager's careful guidance, it's not too difficult."
"I know you well enough, so this isn't hard to understand," Shen Shi said slowly, toying with her jade-like hand.
Seeing her husband being so considerate, Ji Ying'er felt as sweet as if she had drunk honey. "It's not easy. Husband and wife are supposed to be of one mind and heart. As your wife, I should always share your burdens."
It's all worth the hardship to have such a husband.
Ji Ying'er's smiling eyes looked straight into Shen Shi's heart. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, stroking her back and whispering, "Ying'er is so good."
The soft, tingling whispers in her ear made Ji Ying'er blush and her heart race, but even though she was shy and embarrassed, she still boldly wrapped her arms around Chen Shi's neck.
"No matter how good Ying'er is, she can't compare to my husband."
It was rare for Ji Ying'er to show such emotional expression, and her sweet words were the best emotional catalyst for Shen Shi.
It's a pity we were eating, otherwise...
Ji Ying'er is a smart girl, and she understands how to manage the harem very quickly.
By the time the royal celebrations came next month, she had completely mastered the art and put on a spectacular show.
She and Shen Shi were a young couple; she took care of external affairs while he stayed at home, and they lived a wonderful life.
If they were just ordinary people, this way of getting along would be perfect. But Shen Shi was the emperor, above all others, and he also had four or five concubines.
The emperor and empress's blissful days had only lasted a short while when the court officials began to get restless, submitting petitions requesting that the emperor's favor be distributed equally among the emperors so that the royal family could have many children.
When the imperial edict arrived at his desk, Shen Shi felt nothing but absurdity.
Even his liking and disliking of whom he chooses to be with is controlled by a bunch of old men. What's the point of being an emperor?
So Shen Shi made a bold decision: he issued an edict ordering the dismissal of the concubines in the harem.
Apart from Zhang Han'er, the daughter of Prime Minister Zhang, who was going to a temple for spiritual practice, the rest could choose their own destinations.
Upon hearing this news, the remaining concubines were quite happy. They had never seen the emperor since entering the palace, and staying here would have been like living a life of widowhood. It would be good to have the opportunity to go out.
Not to mention, the emperor also allocated them residences, and they could also take away the servants who served them in the palace. They could enjoy wealth and honor without having to suffer in the palace. Anyone who didn't leave would be a fool.
Overnight, all the concubines in the harem left, except for one person.
When Shen heard the eunuch's report that Qi Zhenzhen wanted to stay in the palace, he also found it unbelievable.
Why would she stay?
Qi Zhenzhen loves Qi Xiao so much that she'd become a demon-slaying monster. She should be dreaming of leaving the palace, so why would she choose to stay?
To resolve his doubts, Shen Shi summoned Qi Zhenzhen.
"I have decided to be with the Empress for life. It is futile for you to stay. Why don't you take advantage of your youth and go out to see the world? Leaving the palace is a good choice. Why doesn't the Consort leave?"
"I grew up on the frontier since childhood and have seen all the sights outside. The outside world is nice, but it is too complicated. I only wish to live a peaceful life from now on. I beg Your Majesty to grant me that wish," Qi Zhenzhen said indifferently.
Upon hearing this, Shen Shi took a closer look at her, and what he saw shocked him. In just half a month, Qi Zhenzhen's transformation was absolutely astounding.
Her face was deathly still, devoid of any vitality. She resembled an old woman on her deathbed, devoid of any hope for life.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
