The little eunuch standing to the side, after being scolded by Shen Shi, was overjoyed and at a loss for words. Heaven had eyes, and his master had finally come to his senses!
Fearing that he might change his mind later, he said, "This servant will go immediately." Little Li hurriedly ordered people to carry the sedan chair.
As Shen Shi watched his departing figure disappear into the distance, he couldn't help but sigh: "With such talent, why is he still a eunuch? It's a pity he didn't participate in the Olympics."
Five minutes later, Shen Shi got into the sedan chair, and a large group of people followed behind him to Yanxi Palace.
When Shen Shi entered, Empress Wang was looking at the account books.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty." Xu Xu made a gesture and then sat down in the chair.
Thinking back to the last time, and the time before that, when she came, Empress Wang was always looking at account books: "Mother, why are you still looking at these things?" Shen Shi couldn't help but complain.
Empress Wang sighed and said with a worried expression, "Recently, there have been many natural disasters, and the national treasury is tight every year. We should try to save as much as possible on the expenses of the inner palace."
Whether in ancient or modern times, natural disasters have always been a major problem.
Hearing his mother say this, Shen Shi also picked up the account book and started looking at it. After only a quick glance, he could no longer contain his anger.
"Mother, Consort Zhang's expenses in one month are equivalent to your expenses in two months, and you are the Empress!" Shen Shi said to Empress Wang with dissatisfaction.
Knowing that her son was speaking up for her, Empress Wang lovingly stroked his temples and said gently, "Shi'er, as the mother of the nation, I should set an example for the people. My clothing should not be too extravagant."
This is simply beating around the bush. Does the Empress have to set an example for the world, so the Consort can indulge in extravagance at will?
But Shen Shi knew that Empress Wang had her own difficulties. The Marquis of Zhenbei had been in the Northwest for nearly twenty years and was now old and unable to return to the capital. Helpless, she could only endure it in the harem.
"Mother," Shen Shi called out, his head bowed and his voice low.
"You're still young, why are you concerned about these things?" Looking at her heartbroken son, Empress Wang felt a pang of sadness.
But years of living in the inner palace have given her the ability to quickly adjust her emotions.
"Come on, let's have dinner with the Empress Dowager." Empress Wang put down the account book, smiled, and led Chen Shi to the dining table.
The lunch menu was very lavish, and Empress Wang even specially instructed the kitchen to prepare pigeon soup, which Chen Shi loved to drink.
When the mother and son ate, neither of them liked to be served. Empress Wang personally ladled a bowl and handed it to Shen Shi, saying, "Drink this quickly. You don't like to eat in the summer. I see you've lost weight again, haven't you?"
Shen Shi shook his head helplessly and joked, "Even if I became a 200-pound fat man, my mother would still think I've lost weight."
Empress Wang chuckled and tapped his forehead: "You!"
The mother and son laughed together and happily finished their meal.
When Chen Shi told Empress Wang about the amusing little things she had encountered on the street a couple of days ago, she made her mother laugh uncontrollably.
Suddenly, a sharp announcement rang out at the entrance of Yanxi Palace: "The Emperor has arrived."
Then came a chorus of "May Your Majesty be well!"
Empress Wang was startled. Before she could think about why Shen Tunan, who rarely visited even once a month, would suddenly come, the figure in bright yellow had already walked over.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
Empress Wang and Shen Shi bowed together.
“Shi’er is here too!” Shen Tu Nan reached out and helped Empress Wang up, saying, “I have instructed many times that the Empress does not need to perform the ceremony.” His tone was filled with strong displeasure.
The emperor's words are the least reliable; believing the emperor will lead to utter ruin.
Not knowing what she had done to offend this powerful figure, Empress Wang could only bow again and say, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong."
Upon seeing her actions, Shen Tunan became even more displeased and said, "Rise," before sitting down on the soft couch.
Shen Shi stood obediently to the side, realizing that even his scumbag father might not be entirely without feelings for Empress Wang.
It's like trying to find sweetness in broken glass; a scumbag's feelings are worthless.
The cheerful atmosphere of Yanxi Palace, which had been filled with the arrival of Shen Tunan, vanished instantly after he had sat down and then stood up twice.
"Shi'er, how's your studies lately?" Knowing that his son was always diligent, Shen Tunan casually asked, twirling his bracelet.
Facing his emperor father, Shen Shi deliberately reverted to his former timidity, replying hesitantly, "Reporting to Father, it's alright..."
Although he was already used to it, Shen Tunan was in a bad mood today. When he saw his unlucky son, he was immediately furious and scolded Shen Shi: "A real man should act like a petty person. You get scared like this just by answering a question. No matter how much you study, it's useless."
Not satisfied with what he had said, he grabbed a teacup from the side and smashed it on the ground.
Chen Shi looked completely bewildered, wondering what had suddenly gotten into him. He'd been like this for over a decade, and she'd never seen him get angry before!
"Father, please calm your anger. Your son knows he was wrong." When the emperor is angry, corpses float for miles. Knowing the situation, Shen Shi immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness, his attitude of admitting his mistake extremely humble.
However, with his head bowed, he silently rolled his eyes where Shen Tunan couldn't see.
But in Empress Wang's eyes, her son was so frightened that he couldn't speak.
She quickly went to Shen Tunan's side, massaging his temples while gently advising him, "Shi'er, he's just naturally like this, it's nothing serious. Your Majesty, be careful not to upset yourself."
Under Empress Wang's gentle words, Shen Tunan gradually calmed down. Ignoring Shen Shi kneeling beside him, he spoke to Empress Wang.
"Qingqing, you've worked so hard these past few days, but now that Han'er is pregnant again, she's not young anymore, so I'll have to trouble you to take good care of her."
Empress Wang quickly agreed, saying, "This is all my duty, Your Majesty. Thank you for your trouble."
Shen Tunan patted Empress Wang's hand and said with a gratified tone, "With such a wife, what more could a husband ask for?"
Empress Wang smiled but remained silent.
Looking at the gentle and sensible Empress Wang, Shen Tunan opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.
Just then, Eunuch Su, who served the Emperor, suddenly came in and reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Zhang says she is feeling unwell and would like to request your presence."
"Where is Han'er feeling unwell?" Upon hearing this, Shen Tunan immediately stood up anxiously. "Quickly! Prepare the sedan chair and go to Shunuan Pavilion!"
As he spoke, he left Yanxi Palace. This kind of situation has happened countless times over the past ten years.
But Shen Tunan just fell for it; perhaps love really can blind people!
He was still kneeling to the side, sighing, when Empress Wang quickly helped him up.
Rolling up Chen Shi's trousers, Empress Wang looked at his red knees and her eyes filled with tears of heartache.
A palace maid hurriedly brought over some ointment. "Shi'er, it's all my fault. I was too incompetent to protect you," Empress Wang said guiltily as she applied the ointment to Shen Shi.
"It's no big deal." Shen Shi smiled indifferently. "If you apply this ointment a little slower, it might heal on its own."
Seeing his guilty mother, Shen Shi changed the line to "If you don't go to the hospital soon, you'll be cured" to cheer her up.
Empress Wang, unaware of the joke, didn't find it funny at first, but seeing her son laughing so happily, a smile unconsciously crept into her eyes.
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