get-shopping Chapter 149 The Emperor has really gone all out this year!
Chapter 149 The Emperor has really gone all out this year!
"When you told me to find my father and brothers and have them perform meritorious service, did you foresee that my father and brothers would report the Duke of Wei's mansion?" Lin Guiyou asked tearfully.
"Yes!" Shen Shixi said without any hesitation, "The heir of the Duke of Wei has been colluding with Xiling for a long time. The Right Guard General and the Duke of Wei's mansion have always been at odds and have been looking for an opportunity to bring down the Duke of Wei's mansion."
Your father and brothers will not let this opportunity slip by. However, they are still weighing how to calculate the credit; naturally, they will use their leverage to exchange for the greatest benefit from the Emperor.
Lin Guiyou asked, "Why don't you want the Emperor to attribute the credit to my father and brothers?"
"Of course I'm doing this for your own good. If you can't have children, without a title, without favor, how will you live in the palace?"
Of course I'm afraid that your father and brothers' achievements will overshadow the emperor!
Lin Guiyou lunged forward, trying to hug Shen Shixi again, but Shen Shixi dodged her.
Lin Guiyou was deeply hurt. "Xixi, why are you so good to me? Why are you so smart? Why couldn't I have thought of these things?"
"In this world, men have it much easier than women. Don't always think about your family. As a daughter, you should think more about yourself, focus on yourself, and make your life easier."
"Even without any merit, your father and brothers still live well, but what will you do in the palace?"
"I know! Only you would say such things to me. My mother always tells me to think more about the family and to whisper sweet nothings in the Emperor's ear. It's ridiculous. Can I tell her that the Emperor and I never even share a pillow?"
She only had two chances to serve the emperor, and afterwards she was carried away—all thanks to the pillow talk!
"After I was injured, the emperor never summoned me again. I couldn't even see the emperor. I couldn't even make a living. My mother never thought about me."
"Just think of yourself; it doesn't matter whether others think of you or not. The relationship between parents and children is a bond that grows stronger with time; you don't need to hold onto it forever."
Shen Shixi then asked, "I'll go and see what happens between Consort Xue and us. Let's see how we resolve this matter first, what do you think?"
Lin Guiyou nodded. "She's a pitiful person too!"
"Don't pity others! Just this once. If there's a next time, I won't care what you do!"
Bai Ping couldn't understand it. When did her daughter develop such a compassionate heart? She was the kind of person who would peel off someone's scalp if they pulled a single hair from her head.
Upon returning to the palace, Bai Ping asked, "Your Majesty, why didn't you let Consort Jin complain to the Emperor? You were there today, and Consort Xue also wished she were dead. If the Emperor found out, he would definitely not let her off."
"I just don't want the Emperor to harm her because of me!" Shen Shixi said. "In this harem, the person who is most devoted to the Emperor is Consort Xue. Even if the Emperor is heartless, he cannot remain unmoved."
Clearly, the Empress Dowager was well aware of this, which is why she promoted her rank again.
Seeing that Bai Ping didn't understand, Shen Shixi patted her head and said, "The emperor's affection, no matter what kind, whether it's guilt or pity, is too expensive."
"If His Majesty punishes her today, what if he feels guilty afterward? He'll surely think he punished her because of me. She didn't come at me today, so why should I take the blame?"
Once guilt is buried in one's heart, who knows what it will eventually ferment into? Shen Shixi didn't want to create such a hidden danger.
Today, in the Taiji Hall, Shen Xianzhang pleaded for Song Piyang as Shen Shixi had suggested. At present, the emperor's affairs of state depended on Song Piyang. The emperor was overjoyed, pardoned Song Piyang, and also rewarded the Shen family handsomely.
The Shen family is now attracting much attention in the court because of Shen Shixi, the favored concubine. However, none of the three brothers, Shen Xianzhang, have the potential to become powerful ministers, so they are not valued.
Neither the Pei family nor the Prince of Jin's mansion took the Shen family seriously.
The Taiji Hall was bustling with activity. It was impossible for the emperor and his ministers to ignore state affairs when they gathered together. Li Yuanke then discussed the matters to be addressed in the new year, including the promotion of new crops: potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and cotton. The first three were related to feeding the people, while the latter was related to keeping them warm.
Secondly, and most importantly, is the imperial examination system.
The imperial examination system flourished in the previous dynasty, and Li Yuanke's maternal grandfather lost his throne because of it. However, Li Yuanke's proposal at this time was not to vigorously develop the imperial examination system, but to adjust the examination items.
This doesn't bother the aristocratic families much; on the contrary, it seems to have increased the difficulty, which helps to keep people from poor families out.
Good governance is naturally an important matter as well.
Next, they discussed the Emperor's planned tour of the thirteen border towns in March, focusing on negotiations with the Beisha region. How to negotiate and in which direction to negotiate were still undecided.
If we can't reach an agreement, I don't intend to force it.
Anyway, Beisha and Da Zhou, as well as the previous dynasty, have been at war for so many years that they have long since formed a blood feud.
The Wolf King wanted to talk to Da Zhou because the disasters in Beisha were severe in the past two years. The year before last, there was a snow disaster, and last year there was a drought. The grass on the grasslands all dried up and died, and cattle and sheep died in large numbers.
Now that Li Yuanke has a powerful army at his disposal, he is very confident.
Pei Xiang suddenly felt that some things were no longer under his control.
After they dispersed, he specifically called out to the seventh brother, Pei Yanli, to ask the Emperor about his position on Beisha. Pei Yanli shook his head; he didn't know either.
Li Yuanke was very satisfied. He wanted to keep Prime Minister Pei confused. Prime Minister Pei was very capable and could do things for him. However, he could keep the core matters, such as state affairs, in his own hands.
Today, when the court officials came to pay their respects to the Emperor for the New Year, they naturally did not come empty-handed; they all presented gifts to the Emperor.
The emperor naturally reciprocated with gifts, all of which were mirrors. The higher the official rank, the larger the mirror; for lower-ranking officials, it was a small target mirror.
I heard long ago that the palace has created a mirror that can reflect people very clearly, showing every detail, just like a real person.
Now that they have it in their hands, everyone is looking at themselves in the mirror, and it all looks quite ridiculous, especially in the imperial court.
They also admired the glass beads, which were colorful, round, clear and bright. When people saw these glass beads, they thought they were gemstones.
At this time, glass beads and gemstones were in the same category.
His Majesty has certainly been very generous this year!
Li Yuanke was very happy when he returned to Zhaoyang Palace. He was dressed in a royal robe, and the hem of his robe was flying up.
Shen Shixi took his hand, looked him up and down, her eyes sparkling, "Your Majesty looks so handsome in this dragon robe, so very handsome!"
Then she pounced on him, hugged him, and took two bites. "Let me taste what dragon meat tastes like!"
Li Fude couldn't bear to watch, so he lowered his head, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.
Li Yuanke laughed and patted her on the shoulder, "Get off me, I'm exhausted!"
Shen Shixi wrapped her arms around his neck and waist and refused to get down. Li Yuanke did not pull her down either, and they entered the palace just like that.
He changed into casual clothes, sat on the tatami mat, and spoke to Shen Shixi, "What did you do today?"