Chapter 116 How has Aunt been all these years? ...
You offended two people at once.
First, appease your brother.
She chased after him, calling out "Brother!" again and again.
The brother stopped, turned around, pursed his lips, and glared at her, giving her a look that said, "Let's see what you're going to do about it."
Shanlai walked over, got closer, blushed, and asked him softly, "Brother, would you like to touch my child? Father and Liansi haven't touched it yet..."
My sister already has a child.
Wei Ying looked down at his sister's belly; it was indeed a curve, though not very obvious yet… The feeling in his heart at that moment was hard to describe. After a while, he looked up, his tone hesitant, and asked, "Can I really touch it?"
"Why not?"
As she spoke, she took his hand and placed it on her stomach.
It protruded, it wasn't flat, and although there was no movement, it was definitely there—a child.
Wei Ying's anger dissipated instantly.
I'm angry because I feel sorry for her.
To love someone so intensely, focusing solely on loving them, ignoring everyone else, even yourself.
If she hadn't loved him that much, he would have taken her home long ago, and none of what happened afterward would have happened.
Wei Ying and Liu Min weren't very familiar with each other, but he knew everything about Shan Lai and Liu Min because Li Xiang had invited him to drink alone several times.
It's terrifying to think about it now; we almost became separated forever, never to see each other again...
Inevitably, he got angry again.
My uncle-in-law is right, Liu Liansi is a menace.
"What's so good about him? He's just a pretty boy, so soft-hearted. He got cheated and didn't put up a fight. He just lay there and let himself be slaughtered, making you travel thousands of miles to suffer in that kind of place..."
"Brother, how could you say such a thing about your friend? If he were no good, why would you want to be friends with him?"
Of course, we can't be friends if we're not good friends, but what can we do when he's more than just a friend?
"I have many friends! Little White is still my friend! Little White is a dog."
"You're comparing him to a dog! Brother, if you keep talking nonsense, I'm going to get angry."
Do you think I'm not angry?
Okay, she was indeed in the wrong first; she was just trying to appease people.
“Brother, you’re not as nice to me as you used to be. You never disagreed with me before, and you always did whatever I said…”
Those are minor matters; the important thing right now is the big one. Can they be compared?
But the younger sister's lips were pressed into a thin line, and her eyelashes were wet.
It really proves the saying: once a girl grows up, you can't keep her. Why bother arguing with her?
"Good! He's good! He's incredibly good! He's the best in the world! Is that alright? Are you satisfied now?"
Shanlai nodded and said, "You are not allowed to speak ill of him in the future."
It's so cloying.
But he really had no other choice but to agree.
Shanlai immediately sniffed, grabbed his arm, and pulled him back, saying, "Let's go back."
Wei Ying let her do as she pleased, and after taking only two steps, she heard her ask, "Aunt... how have you been lately? She seems to have changed a lot. What is Uncle's attitude towards this?"
Wei Ying stopped and turned her head to look down.
His sister stopped at the same time, looked up at him, and remained calm.
Crane Fairy is so clever!
“My aunt…” he hesitated, “has indeed changed a lot over the years… I want to advise her, but she just doesn’t have much patience for me… I think she’s willing to listen to you, so you must try to persuade her more…”
Is it serious?
Wei Ying remained silent.
Good deeds come without haste.
After a while, Wei Ying spoke again, "They are family after all, and in a sense, it's just a family matter. But Aunt is a woman, so she'll be at a disadvantage. And Uncle is the emperor, so the last thing he needs is women..."
It seems to be quite serious.
Just then, I heard voices, "What are you two saying under the sun?"
It turned out that the Empress was worried because the two of them hadn't returned for a long time, so she chased after them.
"No matter how angry you are, you're not allowed to take it out on your sister. She's pregnant. If you hurt her, you'll see how I teach you a lesson."
"Auntie, you're overthinking it. How could I dare to upset her? We've already made arrangements."
That's fine.
The Empress had indeed seen her sister's body. The dead cannot be brought back to life, and there was nothing she could do. Her only hope was her niece. Now that her niece had been found, life could not be better. The Empress was overjoyed.
"Madam, although you have only just met your granddaughter, she is my only niece. So please let me take her to stay with me for a few days so we can have a good talk."
She is the Empress, and her words are imperial edicts. Who would dare to disrespect her?
Shanlai naturally rode in the same car as his aunt.
The Empress held her hand tightly and kept asking her questions. Fortunately, she was indeed doing quite well and there was nothing too bad about her. She spoke calmly, and the listener listened calmly as well.
But to say that one is completely indifferent is, of course, impossible.
"I owe you all a debt I can never repay in this lifetime..."
If we had truly been trapped inside the Great Chongen Temple, then all our efforts would have been in vain, and all our scheming would have been for naught.
Even if they weren't surrounded, my sister still fell into the hands of the enemy...
My sister is a good sister. She genuinely cares for her and knows her suffering. She would rather die than cause her any trouble.
In that situation, she really couldn't choose her younger sister, and no one else would allow her to choose either.
"Aunt, please don't say that. We are family, one family, sharing joys and sorrows, honor and disgrace. Doing this for you is doing this for ourselves. No one will complain."
That's the logic, and everyone can understand it, but she still had to hear it from her niece. Only her niece could say it; no one else was worthy of it. Only when her niece said it could her feet truly touch the ground.
"I want to make it up to you. When we get back, I will have someone draft an imperial decree to make you a princess and grant you a fief of ten thousand households."
Shan Lai's heart skipped a beat when he heard this.
Princesses of different surnames have existed since ancient times, and fiefdoms with ten thousand households are not unprecedented, but...
She's not worthy! There's no need for a marriage alliance, and neither she nor her parents have accomplished anything extraordinary. How could they possibly win over the people? Of course, the emperor is the Son of Heaven, above all others. He decides what's best for the world and can do whatever he wants. If he so desires, no one can stop him.
But what if he doesn't want to?
What should I do if he doesn't give me face?
So of course, the answer is no.
"Aunt, there's no need for that! I don't want to be some kind of princess! Even if I'm not a princess, will I be deprived of my wealth and status? Just taking a little extra benefit will make me the subject of gossip and become a spectacle in other people's eyes, and I don't want that!"
The child is still young and doesn't understand.
The Empress smiled and took Shanlai's hand, patting it lightly twice. "Isn't liveliness good? Besides, it's not just a little bit of a benefit. Otherwise, why would everyone be so desperate to climb up the ladder? It turns fathers and sons into enemies, and brothers into enemies. Don't talk nonsense. Would your aunt ever harm you?"
Shanlai sighed inwardly.
Sometimes, a husband and wife are less reliable than a father and son or brothers.
"Of course I know my aunt is good to me, but I really don't want to! Aunt hasn't told anyone else about this idea, right? Please don't tell anyone else, I really don't want to be a princess! Everyone is watching me, saying this and that, I have no freedom at all, I hate that the most, Aunt, please promise me, don't think about it anymore, please."
He clung to the Empress's arm, speaking in a coquettish tone.
The Empress remained unmoved. "Only powerless princesses are afraid of this. What do you have to be afraid of? If you're unhappy, cut out their tongues and gouge out their eyes. Let's see who dares to mess with you then!"
Power has indeed corrupted people, and it has reached this point.
There was really no other way.
“If I become a princess, what will happen to Liansi? I will be a princess, and he will be the prince consort. What future will he have? Will he spend his whole life doing trivial things? It’s not easy enough as it is. He will be labeled as someone who relies on his in-laws. If he becomes the prince consort, he will never be able to stand up straight. He has studied for so many years, burning the midnight oil every day. Do you want him to have studied for nothing? I can’t bear it.”
The Queen was genuinely angry.
"Who cares what he does? He's already incredibly lucky to have married you, what more could he want? Studying and taking exams are all about seeking wealth and status, aren't they? Wealth and status are already right in front of you, why go to such lengths? Besides, who says becoming a prince consort has no future? The rules are set by the emperor, and of course, the emperor can change them. Whoever is in power has the final say! What's wrong with you? I didn't join in criticizing you when you were at your house, afraid of putting you in a difficult position. Just how far are you going to go for a man? You keep asking for trouble!"
The words may be a bit harsh, but I'm genuinely disappointed in them. They don't want others to sacrifice themselves for them, yet they tear themselves apart and give themselves away without reservation. They're not bodhisattvas.
Having said all that he wanted to say, he not only failed to achieve his goal, but also dragged Lian Si into the mess, causing her to suffer an unjust accusation.
But we really can't leave it unchecked.
Shanlai didn't stand on ceremony and said directly, "I'm doing this for your own good, Aunt. How have you been all these years, Aunt? Is Uncle still as obedient to you as he was back then?" He leaned closer, almost touching her, and lowered his voice to a whisper, "Aunt isn't an emperor, Uncle is. How can you allow someone else to snore beside your bed? I'm afraid in Uncle's eyes, Aunt has forgotten herself. We've been through thick and thin together, how could things have come to this?"
This is the first time in over a decade that someone has spoken to the Empress in this manner.
The emperor rested in Yaoguang Pavilion, a place surrounded by beautiful flowers.
Shanlai knelt down and performed a grand salute, saying, "Long live the Emperor!"
The emperor already knows who she is.
"He Xian... I never thought we'd meet again... Get up, why aren't you calling me Uncle? Haven't you always called me Uncle?"
Li Ning, the current emperor, stood tall and handsome, his smile now full of kindness, showing none of his usual silence and self-restraint.
Shan Lai smiled and replied, "Times have changed. His Majesty is now His Majesty, how can we allow him to be offended?"
The emperor smiled slightly upon hearing this.
"Speaking of which, I've heard countless people call you 'Your Majesty,' but this is the first time I've heard you do it..."
It's inevitable to think back to those days.
Crane Fairy, Wanwan, Tingting...
The emperor turned to look at his wife.
Tingting was deep in thought with her eyes down, and she looked somewhat like she did in the old days.
I wasn't unmoved.
"It's good that you're back. Where have you been all these years? If you're doing well, why don't you come home? So many people are worried about you day and night."
"When I was in trouble that day, I was rescued by others, but unfortunately I was injured in the head and forgot my past. So I had to become a different person and have a different fate... Speaking of my matter, I have to ask Your Majesty for a favor."
"Oh? What grace?"
“My husband…Your Majesty, I married last year. My father-in-law is the former Minister of Works. My husband’s name is Liu Min. Last year, he was framed and caused some trouble at the Imperial Academy. Your Majesty sentenced him to exile for 2,500 li…Your Majesty, I swear on my life that he truly did not kill anyone. He was murdered. I beg Your Majesty to reopen this case and restore his innocence…”
The emperor still remembered this incident; his chief minister and the Minister of Works, a father-in-law and son-in-law, had caused so much trouble.
He knew exactly what was going on.
I never expected to be involved with his family.
“I will issue an edict immediately, summoning him back.”
Shanlai asked, "Isn't a retrial necessary?" She smiled, "Only by clarifying the facts can he truly be exonerated. There's no rush for him to come back..."
"No need for investigation. Just give the order to have them write a report and submit it. It will save time and effort."
Shanlai simply smiled.
Seeing her like this, the emperor knew that she might be dissatisfied, but the emperor had his own considerations.
"You two have indeed been wronged in this matter. When you return, they will have no choice but to hold an apology banquet for you. The two families can sit down together and talk things out, and that will resolve the issue."
This treatment clearly shows the emperor's bias.
The Empress's expression was beyond just looking ugly.
So Shanlai hurriedly knelt down to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The emperor glanced at the empress first, then smiled and said to Shanlai, “Don’t think I’m unwilling to uphold justice for you. It’s just that I can’t bear it. After all, Leyuan is a pillar of the country, and he has made great contributions. He only had three sons and one daughter in his life, and he recently lost one of his daughters. If we were to harm his sons as well, I’m afraid he wouldn’t be able to bear it… He will be grateful for your kindness.”
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