It was already afternoon when I came out of Empress Wang's Yanxi Palace.
Having watched several period dramas, I developed a strong curiosity about the imperial palace.
To see if it was just like in the TV series, Shen Shi dismissed his attendants and started wandering around on foot.
As Shen Shi walked along, he noticed that the palace maids and eunuchs he encountered kept bowing to him.
Tired of being told "no need for formalities," Shen Shi had no choice but to go to a less crowded place.
Wandering around, we arrived at the legendary Imperial Garden. It was early summer, and some of the flowers in the garden were still in full bloom.
One of the plants had blue flowers and looked particularly beautiful, but I didn't know its name.
Shen Shi liked it more and more as he looked at it, and called over a palace maid who was pruning the flowers to ask, "What is the name of this flower?"
Recognizing that the person asking the question was a prince, the summoned palace maid replied tremblingly, "Your Majesty, this flower is called Blue Elegance."
"A good name." Shen Shi nodded, then instructed the little palace maid, "Go to the Imperial Household Department and tell Eunuch Wang, the person in charge, to come to my Guangyang Palace."
After saying that, he took off the jade pendant from his waist and casually gave it to her as a reward.
Looking at Shen Shi's handsome face, and how he was so gentle to a palace maid like her, the rumors were indeed true. The Fifth Prince was indeed approachable.
"Thank you, Fifth Prince. I'll go right away." The little palace maid blushed as she accepted the reward and ran off to the Imperial Household Department.
Shen Shi summoned the steward of the Imperial Household Department to see him not merely to plant a few flowers and plants in Guangyang Palace.
As a prince, he lived a cautious life for the first ten years or so, keeping his clothes, food, housing and transportation simple.
Because of his status, no one dared to be reckless and skimp on his allowance, but compared to the fourth prince born to Consort Zhang, Shen Shi's expenses were considered meager.
Everyone else can spend money, so why can't I? Now Shen Shi has decided to change his ways.
"Mother, most of the flowers in this garden have already faded. What's there to see?"
Shen was thinking about the Fourth Prince when he suddenly heard his voice.
"You, you stay indoors all day long. It's not easy for you to come out for a walk, and you're already complaining." Consort Zhang's sweet voice reached Shen Shi's ears.
The mother and son walked and talked, and the source of their voices got closer and closer to Chen Shi.
As a junior, he felt obliged to pay his respects to Consort Zhang. Shen Shi was reluctant to do so, but having encountered her, leaving was out of the question.
Consort Zhang turned the corner and saw Shen Shi.
The fifth prince was always taciturn and seemed a bit dull. Even the emperor didn't like this son, so it was hard for the empress to dote on him like a treasure.
Consort Zhang thought to herself, but smiled very gently on her face.
"May Lady Zhang be blessed," Shen Shi said, bowing slightly.
"This is not appropriate," Consort Zhang quickly stopped him as she saw him bowing, and said with concern, "You've gotten even thinner. I have some of the finest blood goose nests in my palace. I'll have the kitchen stew some and send it to you tomorrow."
Even though she was no longer young, Consort Zhang was extremely beautiful, enough to make Shen Tunan willing to bear the infamy of murdering his brother.
But when Shen knew what kind of person she was, he found the face in front of him utterly repulsive.
"Your Highness, please eat it yourself. You're pregnant and need nourishment the most." Shen Shi, who disliked her, naturally didn't appreciate the gesture.
Consort Zhang became smug upon hearing this: "You silly child, why are you being so polite with me? This year, the Emperor sent so much tribute to my palace that it's practically overflowing."
The items offered as tribute could be bought outside, but in the palace, they represented honor and favor.
Those below are always the most opportunistic. Even though Shen Tunan, as the emperor, dotes on Consort Zhang, he would still consider the empress's feelings in previous years.
Unexpectedly, they wouldn't even give him this much face now, which made Shen Shi quite annoyed.
After her boastful remarks, Consort Zhang widened her eyes dramatically and exclaimed, "Alas, I misspoke..."
Then, observing Chen Shi's expression, she picked up a handkerchief, covered her mouth, and laughed.
The fourth prince, who had always been at odds with Shen Shi, couldn't help but feel happy to see Shen Shi unhappy, and loudly chimed in, "If it's my mother giving it to you, then just accept it!"
Blood bird's nest is rare, but as a prince, Shen Shi was wealthy enough that eating a bowl and throwing away a bowl was not a big deal.
But listening to them chatter on and on, Chen Shi grew increasingly annoyed. He found the mother and son utterly detestable.
"Since Lady Zhang has so much, why not send more to Guangyang Palace? It'll be good for me to have a taste." True to his principle, Shen Shi changed his mind again.
Consort Zhang stared in surprise as she was astonished that Shen Shizhen actually agreed.
Hehe, you're dumbfounded now!
When Shen Shi, who doesn't play by the rules, immediately puts on a look that says, "I knew you wouldn't want to part with it."
She said knowingly, "What? If Lady Zhang can't bear to part with it, then forget it."
Consort Zhang immediately denied it, saying, "Of course not, I'll send someone to deliver it to you in a moment."
Having achieved his goal of getting something for free, Shen Shi immediately beamed with joy: "Then thank you very much, Lady Zhang. However, my appetite has been quite large lately. Since Lady Zhang's palace is already overflowing, please send more!"
Consort Zhang's usually impeccable facial expression control faltered slightly, but the words had already been spoken, so she had no choice but to accept it.
Seeing Shen Shi's outrageous demands, the Fourth Prince Shen You couldn't help but say, "Don't push your luck!"
You can bully others, but others can't retaliate. Looking at Shen You's double standards, Shen Shi couldn't help but click his tongue twice.
"I can't understand a single word of what Fourth Brother is saying," Shen Shi said as he walked toward Shen You, his eyes filled with intense pressure.
"What do you mean by 'going too far'? How am I going too far?" Shen Shi asked in a firm tone, looking at Shen You's double standards.
Seeing the usually taciturn Shen Shi become so eloquent, Shen You was greatly alarmed.
At this time, the two were only fifteen years old. Their usual disagreements were just minor squabbles, like tearing up each other's homework or putting crickets in each other's books. They were still at the level of elementary school students fighting.
Shen You still has a long way to go to reach the decisiveness and ruthlessness he possessed in his previous life. Faced with Shen Shi's sudden attack, he had no idea how to deal with it.
Finally, Consort Zhang stepped in to smooth things over: "Fifth Prince, please don't be angry. Your brother was just being blunt; he meant well."
After saying that, he pushed Shen You again and said, "You'er, quickly apologize to your brother."
Upon hearing Consort Zhang speak, the bewildered Shen You immediately found his anchor and cupped his hands to Shen Shi, saying, "Fifth Brother, I spoke too quickly just now, please don't mind."
It's true that kind people are often bullied, and good horses are often ridden. As long as you stand up for yourself, no one will dare to bully you.
Shen Shi chuckled and patted Shen You on the shoulder, saying magnanimously, "There's nothing between us brothers, but Fourth Brother, you'd better be careful in the future."
Having failed in his attempt to steal a chicken, Shen You turned ashen-faced and slunk away behind Consort Zhang.
Watching the two figures walk away, the little devil in Shen Shi's heart couldn't help but burst into laughter, hands on his hips.
Haha, you're still too green to mess with me!
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