Chapter 3. Have the roles been decided yet...?
Jiang Shuifu agreed. The Crown Prince returned to the capital, and the imperial family would have a simple reunion dinner.
When she arrived at the East Palace Gate, a dark purple figure stood not far away. He was elegant and refined, like a scholar brewing wine and drinking tea in a secluded spot. Yet, with just a glance, he exuded an aura of power that made people tremble with fear.
She knew it.
He will wait for her here.
This was his rule—to give the Crown Princess face in front of outsiders.
Jiang Shuifu slowly walked towards him.
Under the dappled light and shadow, the man, who was standing sideways, turned his head slightly, the gilded belt hook and pendant at his waist clinking together.
At this moment, his obsidian-black, deep eyes, his straight and handsome nose, and his thin, tightly pursed lips seemed to be coated with a warm glow under the afterglow, making him as gentle as warm jade.
She had a feeling that he was waiting for someone important.
Jiang Shuifu stepped forward, curtsied, and nodded subtly, her expression barely perceptible.
He returned to his usual indifference, as if nothing was worth his attention, though there was a faint bluish tinge between his brows.
I'm afraid I've been busy since before dawn.
"Husband, you don't look well. Did you sleep poorly last night..."
"Let's go."
Before Jiang Shuifu could utter her words of concern, Shen Jizhao got into the sedan chair without paying any attention to the women behind him.
Jiang Shuifu was used to it.
The two remained silent the entire way.
When the sedan chair came to a stop, Jinqing respectfully helped Shen Jizhao alight from the carriage.
Jiang Shuifu followed behind him, keeping a half-step distance.
The official road was bustling with activity, with many princes, ministers, and other dignitaries present.
The second prince put his hands behind his back, his eyes both mocking and venomous:
"The Crown Prince is truly blessed, having married a wife of unparalleled beauty and having a trusted minister as his father-in-law. Do any of you have such good fortune?"
The Fifth Prince shook his folding fan and laughed:
"Of course not, we rely solely on ourselves!"
The other princes also laughed.
Jiang Shuifu's gaze immediately followed forward. As expected, Shen Jizhao was somewhat impatient. She panicked and, with a sore hand, she fell down when she got out of the sedan chair.
Shen Jizhao didn't look at her, so how could he know that she was rushing towards him? His straight back bent in the next moment.
He immediately steadied himself and had no choice but to catch the woman who threw herself into his arms.
He was being affectionate and touching in public, and everyone was teasing him. He lost all face.
His eyes grew even colder, and his tone was icy:
"They're right, having you is my blessing."
Jiang Shuifu's face turned pale again:
"I didn't mean it, I'm obedient, my husband..."
The man, who had been striding forward, suddenly turned around.
Jiang Shuifu immediately changed her tune:
"Your Highness, I have finished copying the Buddhist scriptures. Shall I send them to Putuo Temple as usual?"
Shen Jizhao gave her a deep look, a few dark glints flickering in his eyes. After a few breaths, he responded with a soft "Mm".
Jiang Shuifu knew.
His turning back was a scrutiny, a reminder, a gesture of clear distinction, telling her:
The word "husband" is only allowed to appear within the Eastern Palace.
It's improper to be outside.
*
Kunning Palace.
The emperor sat on the phoenix throne, a symbol of his status. Although the empress was over forty and had fine lines on her face, she possessed an exceptional demeanor and was poised and dignified in every gesture.
The Empress smiled and handed the tribute of Pilo tea to the Emperor. He took it with one hand, and although he made no extra movements, he exuded a solemn and dignified aura.
The true dragon emperor possesses an abundance of yang energy.
Upon seeing the perfectly matched couple approach, after bowing to the two people seated at the head of the table, the emperor instructed them to take their seats.
"No need for formalities, we're all family tonight, please take a seat."
The Empress smiled and nodded slightly.
The emperor slowly rose from his seat and went to the banquet with the empress.
Jiang Shuifu followed behind Shen Jizhao. Both of them were very tactful and waited until their parents were seated before taking their seats one after another.
As soon as we were seated, a variety of dishes were served.
The emperor took a bite first, and then everyone else began to eat.
Seeing that Jiang Shuifu looked unwell, the Empress sighed:
"I haven't seen the Crown Princess for a few days. She's gotten so thin. Her face isn't round anymore. It's obvious that the people around her don't know how to take care of her."
The Empress glanced at Shen Jizhao as she spoke.
Shen Jizhao sensed it. He paused in his eating, but his expression remained calm, showing no sign of anything amiss.
He didn't think he had done anything wrong.
A wife is someone you marry to manage the household, that's all. Besides, she's a troublemaker.
Jiang Shuifu felt a warmth in her heart as she watched the Empress's actions.
She was lucky. The relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in aristocratic families is always difficult to manage, but her mother-in-law never made things difficult for her. On the contrary, she treated her with great care.
She lost her mother at a young age, and it can be said that the Empress made up for some of the maternal love she lacked.
"Your Majesty is too kind. The Crown Prince treats me very well. It's just that the weather has been getting hotter lately, and I haven't had much of an appetite."
The emperor put down his chopsticks and offered a few words of advice on the matter.
“Zhao’er, although you are busy with court affairs, you should know how important a wife is to a man. Besides, the Crown Princess has been with you for so long.”
Jiang Shuifu never expected that her father, who always focused on politics and state affairs, would care about the love and affection of his children and instruct his son to treat his wife well.
She glanced at Shen Jizhao subconsciously, and his eyebrows involuntarily twitched downwards.
Jiang Shuifu understood that Shen Jizhao, given his status, was extremely proud at heart, and he did not want his actions to be judged.
However, he maintained a calm and obedient demeanor.
"Your subject has learned your lesson."
During this time, the Empress noticed that Jiang Shuifu was eating too little, and would whisper in her ear from time to time, urging her to eat more.
Actually, Jiang Shuifu didn't eat little, but rather ate slowly. The royal family valued eating slowly and carefully, and there were many etiquette rules. In addition, her wrists were a little sore.
After dinner, the emperor's imposing presence had largely dissipated, and he lazily brought up the matters to be discussed that day.
"The Crown Prince's great victory over Tajiang is a cause for celebration throughout the palace."
The Empress echoed:
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. Expelling the invaders is a matter of great importance to the nation and is worthy of celebration. However, the war has already exhausted the people and wasted resources. To hold a grand celebration at this time would be to disregard the people's livelihood."
The emperor frowned slightly, pondered for a few moments, and then made a decision.
"In that case, let's halve the scale of the victory celebration banquet and use the saved money to comfort the soldiers and people on the frontier."
The Empress smiled slightly.
"His Majesty is benevolent, but the scale of the banquet has been reduced. Should the number of people in charge of organizing the banquet also be appropriately reduced?"
The emperor nodded and began to ponder again.
This matter has always been handled by the concubines in the inner palace, and since it cannot be done on a grand scale, it is not appropriate for them to participate.
Therefore, only the prince's wife remained.
Thinking of this, the emperor first looked at the empress, who was looking down with gentle and humble eyes. Then he turned to Jiang Shuifu.
"I wonder if the Crown Princess is capable of handling this matter?"
Jiang Shuifu, who had no connection to the matter, listened quietly, but for some reason, she was suddenly brought up.
Since the founding of the nation, victory celebrations have been a grand event in Da Bei, requiring the Empress to coordinate with other high-ranking consorts to organize them, as a sign of importance. Even if a consort is not up to the task, seniority is the norm in the royal family, and there are still eight princes with their principal wives waiting above them.
The eldest prince's wife comes from a prominent family in Hedong. She is proficient in arithmetic and house management, and is a model woman in the capital.
The Fifth Prince's wife was no less outstanding. Her grandfather was in charge of teaching the princes, and she was influenced by him from a young age, making her the most learned woman.
In conclusion, although the Crown Princess has a high status, she is too young and lacks experience.
How could it be her turn?
Jiang Shuifu noticed a gaze upon her, and upon looking up, she understood why.
It means "Empress Dowager".
The Empress Dowager is making plans for her.
Women in the palace needed to rely not only on their husbands to survive, but also on their own abilities.
Especially those in high positions.
Without ability, even a high platform can collapse in an instant.
Jiang Shuifu clenched her hands, her mind racing. On one hand, she didn't want to disappoint her mother, but more importantly, she wanted to try herself. This was a good opportunity to prove herself and her abilities as the Crown Princess. She wanted Shen Jizhao to see if she could help him.
But one reason she hesitated was because of Shen Jizhao.
Unexpectedly, the emperor asked another question at this moment.
"What does the Crown Prince think?"
Jiang Shuifu did not expect the emperor to suddenly mention Shen Jizhao. All her hopes shattered instantly. She had no chance. At the same time, she couldn't help but start to feel nervous.
She hesitated because he didn't think highly of her; he had always felt she was unruly and disrespectful.
Besides, he just said yesterday that she was not a qualified Crown Princess, so how could he agree to let her take over such an important event as his victory celebration banquet?
Shen Jizhao would definitely refuse. Although she was prepared, she still couldn't help feeling a little sad.
She diligently studied all the rules of the royal family, and even Grandma Kong praised her for being capable enough to handle things on her own.
The atmosphere suddenly froze. The Empress's gaze shifted between Jiang Shuifu's drooping eyes and her seemingly deaf eldest son, and she sighed silently.
"Besides state affairs, what else does the Crown Prince care about? Your Majesty need not ask him; it's a waste of breath."
Jiang Shuifu's heart leaped into her throat. The Empress's words were clearly a rebuke to Shen Jizhao, and she instinctively wanted to defend him:
"Mother, the Crown Prince..."
"How could I be wrong? The Crown Prince did not want the Crown Princess to be tired, so he spent the whole night working alone in the study last night. Da Bei is truly fortunate."
Jiang Shuifu was surprised that the Empress directly brought up their intimate moments at night. She felt somewhat at a loss and embarrassed.
She was even more afraid, afraid that Shen Jizhao would misunderstand her and gossip to his mother. She quietly raised her hand, gently tugged at his sleeve, and shook her head anxiously.
Shen Jizhao turned slightly, and the hem of his clothes slipped off, freeing him from her fingers.
Her fingers trembled; he had still misunderstood.
But the next second, her heart came back to life:
"Mother, I know I was wrong. I will go back to my room more often from now on. You don't need to worry about me anymore. The Crown Princess is shy."
Jiang Shuifu was in a daze, her heart racing, and he was protecting her.
The Empress's expression softened, and she was about to ask him his thoughts when Shen Jizhao cut her off, saying, "However, this matter is of great importance, and the Crown Princess has neither experience nor knowledge..."
The Empress casually remarked, "What the Crown Princess lacks is experience?"
What he didn't have was his heart.
Jiang Shuifu understood, but her smile remained unchanged. She asked for very little and was content with what she had.
Seeing this, the Empress could not say anything more. The imperial couple must maintain proper boundaries. She smiled gently at the Emperor, leaving the decision entirely to him.
Jiang Shuifu immediately acted as a peacemaker:
"Father, Mother, your daughter-in-law has been unwell recently, I'm afraid..."
Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a sentence that surprised her greatly:
"However... I think it's worth a try."
Jiang Shuifu's eyes widened. Had she heard correctly?
My husband agreed!
He actually agreed!
Didn't he say she wouldn't be a good Crown Princess?
Is it to train her?
Do you still want to believe her?
Shen Jizhao glanced at the smiling woman beside him and deliberately ignored her, then said to the Empress and the Emperor:
"Just now, I also wanted to recommend the Crown Princess. She is virtuous and upright. Although she is not yet capable, she has a lot of ideas. I am at ease entrusting the banquet to her."
Jiang Shuifu's face visibly flushed, and when she opened her eyes, her radiant beauty immediately reappeared.
She is gentle and charming.
The jade bracelet on her wrist shone brightly.
Shen Jizhao said he wanted her to organize his victory celebration banquet from the very beginning, and she was really happy!
This was the first time Shen Jizhao had affirmed her and entrusted his affairs to her.
This feeling was as if he had pulled her into his camp; she was no longer a lone traveler excluded from the battle.
His glory will be orchestrated by her.
The two of them shared the glory.
The Empress nodded with satisfaction and pulled Jiang Shuifu aside to talk about women's matters.
On the other side of the main hall, all the palace maids and servants were removed.
The emperor was discussing the recently concluded war with Shen Jizhao.
"Jiu Zhao, what did you gain on your trip to the frontier?"
Jiu Zhao was the emperor's nickname for Shen Ji Zhao in private.
Nine is the highest yang number, symbolizing imperial power and the supreme status of the emperor.
Shen Jizhao was not only the eldest son of the main wife, but also ranked ninth in the family.
The emperor naturally favored her greatly.
"Your Majesty, in this battle, the Tajiang tribe has been almost completely wiped out, with only some remnants remaining. I have left He Beiqing to deal with them, and they will be captured within a month."
The emperor nodded proudly.
His son is most like him, cold-hearted and ruthless.
Although the Tajiang people were always restless and ambitious, they dared not take action without authorization due to the strong military strength of Dabei.
The Da Bei's laxity over the years nurtured their dark desires, and Ta Jiang began to tentatively reveal their true colors, repeatedly invading the Da Bei's borders, until Ta Jiang was no longer satisfied with small skirmishes and slaughtered three cities in one go.
Upon hearing this news, Shen Jizhao immediately volunteered to lead a large army to the frontier, intending to exterminate the Tajiang people under the pretext of protecting the people.
With a legitimate cause and expanded territory, Dabei had become the largest state in terms of land area.
When the emperor heard about this, he couldn't help but sigh at Shen Jizhao's ruthlessness.
Only by enduring what ordinary people cannot can one cast a long line to catch a big fish.
This game of chess has been going on for several years.
In essence, he adored his heartless and cruel son.
He has no superfluous emotions, so he will not be entangled by anyone or anything.
If he becomes emperor, he will surely accomplish great things.
Career is important, but so is family.
The imperial court and the harem were inextricably linked.
"It has been two years since you married the Crown Princess, yet you have not yet had any children. Is it because you are too busy with affairs of the Eastern Palace to attend to both? If so, it is time to put the welcoming of a concubine or a high-ranking lady on the agenda. Have you all chosen your candidates?"
A note from the author:
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Shen Jizhao: Having you is my blessing. You are not allowed to call me husband.
Author: You've got some nerve! Crematorium firewood +1
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