They didn't stay in the palace for long. Cheng Zheng brought in the soup, and those with a sense of propriety knew they couldn't disturb His Majesty's good time. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the Shen family left with their rewards.
On the way back, perhaps because his son was by his side, Shen Conglian couldn't control his mouth.
"Cheng Zheng looks sickly. Did he damage his health while in Tianjin?"
In fact, Cheng Zheng's appearance was fine, far from being as sickly as Shen Conglian described. They were both married men, and they could all understand the meaning behind his words.
They knew Cheng Zheng's background better than anyone else. When His Majesty rescued the people, the entire ship was devoid of human form. Even when they met on the way off the ship, they dared not approach him to greet him.
If your tongue and legs are useless, does that mean it's useless too?
"Father, don't talk nonsense!" Shen Yuanxu frowned and warned.
Whether or not the foundation has been damaged is not something they can discuss.
Does Father mean he really intends to adopt the airs of an elder and ask His Majesty to replenish the harem?
"Second Uncle, isn't there someone else by His Majesty's side?"
Shen Conglian glanced at his nephew, Shen Yuanjing: "That's all ancient history. The other one went back to his hometown a long time ago. I heard that when he left, His Majesty gave him a lot of money to settle down. During that time, quite a few people openly and secretly offered themselves to His Majesty."
Shen Yuanhao: "Really? Your Majesty is a woman!"
Although she was not an ordinary woman, it would still be inappropriate for her to have multiple wives and concubines like a man.
Shen Conglian chuckled: "His Majesty didn't respond, and no one brought it up again afterward."
Shen Yuanxu seemed lost in thought and didn't say another word until he returned to the Shen family home.
Shen Family
Due to frequent childbirths over the years, Hu Jinyu's figure has changed, and her complexion is worse than that of her peers, showing signs of aging.
"Huan'er, has the master returned yet?" Hu Jinyu asked, forcing her eyelids open.
"Madam, there's still no movement. We'll have to wait a while longer," the maid Huan'er replied in a clear, crisp voice.
Hu Jinyu listened to the voice, glanced at her face and body without making a sound, and then waved wearily.
"Go down and tell the kitchen not to let the fire go out, so that the master can have hot soup whenever he comes back."
"yes."
When she first married into the Shen family, she was very happy about the rule that the family could not take concubines. However, after giving birth to four children, she began to regret it.
Given her current appearance, if someone with poor eyesight stood next to Shen Yuanxu, they might mistake her for Shen Yuanxu's mother.
Shen Yuanxu has treated her well over the years, and she has seen it all. She is willing to have children for him.
But looking at her aged appearance in the bronze mirror, she felt a pang of sadness, a feeling she couldn't quite describe.
If the women in her household, who had multiple wives and concubines, heard her thoughts, they would surely be so jealous they would tear their handkerchiefs to shreds.
She had already met the women Shen Yuanhao had brought back today, and to be honest, she didn't think much of them.
However, compared to the women Shen Yuanjing brought back, the one named Lian'er was actually more mentally sound.
Lost in thought, Shen Yuanxu entered the room.
"The master is back!"
Just as Hu Jinyu was about to stand up to take off Shen Yuanxu's cloak, he pressed her down onto the couch.
"You're tired, don't get up, just keep resting!"
Hu Jinyu was already used to Shen Yuanxu's thoughtfulness. Seeing that he had already taken off his cloak, she lay back down.
"When you met His Majesty today, did His Majesty say anything?"
Shen Yuanxu's expression was somber. Ever since he was sent abroad, his face had become more and more serious each day, and over time, he had developed this unsmiling demeanor.
"No, His Majesty gave us some rewards and told us about the plans for the coming year."
Hu Jinyu hurriedly asked, "Didn't they mention Chengfeng?"
Shen Yuanxu: "It wasn't mentioned."
Hu Jinyu: "Did Yuan Jing mention Emei?"
"No."
Hu Jinyu lowered her eyes in thought. After all, His Majesty and Shen Yuanjing were siblings from the same mother. Compared to their branch of the family, she was more tolerant of the people from the eldest branch.
Even so, the eldest son's family did not plead for Shen Emei, so those from other branches of the family naturally could not overstep their bounds.
“We Chengfeng are men after all. If Yuanjing didn’t plead for Emei, it would make us seem inferior to a woman if we did,” Shen Yuanxu explained in a low voice.
Looking at the man's face, which was much younger than hers, Hu Jinyu felt a surge of bitterness in her heart.
"My lord, His Majesty previously stated that the sons of the Shen family may take concubines in the future. If you have a woman you fancy..."
Before Hu Jinyu could finish speaking, Shen Yuanxu interrupted her.
"His Majesty's words are law, but he can actually change them overnight."
Hu Jinyu hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
Seeing her like this, Shen Yuanxu, preoccupied with other matters, did not ask any questions.
After washing up and lying down, Hu Jinyu vaguely heard a movement beside her. Two breaths later, when she touched the side of her again, there was no one there.
She turned over, and tears uncontrollably rolled down her cheeks.
What a load of rubbish! It sounds nice, but there's also a saying: "Deceiving superiors and concealing the truth from subordinates, secretly plotting something."
Men are all the same; Shen Yuanxu isn't much better than Shen Yuanhao.
...
Shen Yuanjing's room
"General, I haven't been feeling well these past few days. I saw a doctor, and he said I'm pregnant again."
In the past, Shen Yuanjing would have been very happy, but today his smile seemed somewhat forced.
"Tomorrow I'll talk to the household and have them heat up our house. After the New Year, I'll ask the palace to send a royal physician to examine you."
Since my mother passed away, all the imperial physicians in the mansion have been recalled to the palace. The physicians currently used in the mansion are hired from outside.
Shen Yuanjing felt anxious thinking about how His Majesty had treated everyone the same today.
After all, he and His Majesty are siblings from the same mother, and His Majesty should be more familiar with him than with others.
He had just returned to the capital and dared not inquire about his mother's death rashly. He would wait until after the New Year, when he was active in the court, before he could easily find out anything he wanted.
"General, this is wonderful! I finally have another child with you. Including the children left by my two older sisters, we now have ten children. Just thinking about it makes me feel so excited."
Shen Yuanjing chuckled softly, "We still have to distribute gifts to the children tomorrow, so let's go to bed early tonight!"
"good!"
Shen Yuanhao's room
Lian'er waited anxiously in the room for Shen Yuanhao to return.
His Majesty is a ruthless killer, especially towards his own family. Thinking of the words she heard at home today—the two-year mourning period and the prohibition against taking concubines—Lian'er's face paled with each passing moment.
She really didn't know at that time that the general had to observe mourning for his wife. If she had known earlier, she would have definitely postponed having children.
Her two children are now almost as big as the one at home. What if His Majesty blames her?
His Majesty is capable of killing even his own uncle.
There's also the old lady in the family. Rumors are circulating that she hanged herself, but who knows the truth?
After all, it was the old lady who plotted to seize the throne for Fourth Master Shen; could such a ruthless person be spared? (End of Chapter)
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