get-shopping Chapter 125 Ruthless
Chapter 125 Ruthless
Shen Shixi ignored all of that. She heard that Li Yuanyin was building a glass house in the northeast corner of the Imperial Garden, so she went to see it.
Li Yuanyin was also hoping she could help. All the materials had been delivered, and they were just waiting to figure out how to start construction. The Ministry of Works had also drawn up the blueprints. Shen Shixi took a look and gave some pointers, which made it much simpler than the Ministry of Works had thought, and it was also more time-saving and cost-effective.
Her method was simple: she built a frame, divided it into three-foot by three-foot sections, placed the glass pieces on it, and secured them with nails.
Wouldn't that make things much simpler?
"It's a bit ugly!"
"What's so ugly about it? What's the point of looking good? What we need is a large area of sunlight and long hours of light. The way you built that house doesn't do anything right."
After giving her instructions, Shen Shixi left it alone, estimating that it should be able to be built in about half a month.
That evening, Li Yuanke arrived and saw Shen Shixi writing furiously again. He went over to look and saw that she was writing her copy of "Journey to the West." Just as he was about to pick it up to read, Shen Shixi handed him the pen, saying, "I'll read it, you write it!"
Li Yuanke was not a diligent person. He had been busy all day, so he threw down his pen and said, "If I don't want to write, I won't. I'll just pick her up and head to the hot spring."
"Li Yuanke, can we take a day off? Aren't you tired from last night?"
"I'm not tired." Li Yuanke was actually a little tired. He hadn't planned to do anything; he just wanted to wash up and go to bed early.
As it turned out, Shen Shixi misunderstood and became interested instead.
The two had a gentle, playful time in the hot spring, then went back to bed and fell asleep like dead dogs.
In the middle of the night, Li Fude started shouting again, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, something has happened at Gyeongbokgung Palace."
Li Yuanke roared, "Get out!"
Li Fude had no choice but to leave quickly. It was a serious crime for a concubine to commit suicide, but Consort Xian hadn't died, and the Emperor wasn't worried. Why was a mere eunuch like him in such a hurry?
Shen Shixi was somewhat wary. "Isn't Consort Xian residing in Gyeongbokgung Palace?"
Li Yuanke snapped out of his daze and asked impatiently, "What's wrong with her now?"
Outside the door, Bai Ping heard, "Your Majesty, Consort Xian of Jingfu Palace attempted suicide but failed. The imperial physician has been summoned, and the Empress has already gone there."
Shen Shixi was really annoyed. She got up resignedly. It was really inappropriate not to go on such an important matter.
The key point is that she is now the head of a palace, so she has to maintain some dignity.
Even though her reputation is already ruined, she can't just give up and ruin everything.
The emperor wanted to go, and since the emperor was with her, she couldn't refuse.
The emperor couldn't refuse to go either; after all, he had just caused a scene with the entire family, so he had to go even if it was just to make a show of it.
Gyeongbokgung Palace was brightly lit. The Queen sat at the head of the table, while Feihua knelt on the ground. "Her Majesty said she wanted to take a walk by herself and didn't want me to follow. So I stayed where I was. But after a while, I heard a cracking sound and ran over to see what was happening. Her Majesty had fallen to the ground and was in this state."
To put it bluntly, Consort Xian wanted to commit suicide. In the middle of the night, she went to the Imperial Garden and hanged herself from a tree in the persimmon orchard with a shawl. However, the shawl was of poor quality, and the tree branch was not chosen well, so it was too weak to support the weight. Both broke at the same time, and Consort Xian did not die.
The broken branch was still lying next to Fei Hua, with a few persimmon stems still hanging on it.
Shen Shixi drooled as she looked at it.
[I completely forgot the persimmons were ripe! Oh dear, have they all been eaten?]
The Empress gave her seat to the Emperor and sat down to the side, her expression also quite unpleasant.
The baby in her belly is killing her every day.
Consort Xian woke up and began to sob.
The emperor didn't say he would go in to see, but almost everyone who could come was there, because they all knew the emperor would definitely come. How could they not come when it was such a rare opportunity to see the emperor?
Apart from Consort De, Consort Song, who was too ill to get out of bed, and Li Sihe, who was heavily pregnant, were all present.
Consort Fan diligently helped the Empress stand up.
Lin Guiyou moved closer to Shen Shixi, "Why are you here too?"
Shen Shixi gave her a speechless look.
When are you free tomorrow? I'd like to come see you.
Shen Shixi knew she had something to say. "I'll go to Fubi Pavilion tomorrow, and we'll meet there."
Fu Bi Ting was at the entrance of the persimmon orchard, and she planned to pick persimmons to eat.
Upon hearing this, Madam Song turned and glanced at Shen Shixi.
After the emperor understood the situation, before he could take any action, the Empress Dowager sent Aunt Qingruo to deliver an imperial edict.
"The virtuous Consort is unworthy and should have been executed. However, considering that she has served the Emperor for many years and has made some minor contributions, she is spared severe punishment. She is hereby demoted to the rank of Consort and confined to Jingfu Palace. Without the Empress Dowager's decree, she is not allowed to leave the palace, nor is she allowed to be visited by anyone else."
Everyone who heard this felt a chill run down their spine.
Upon receiving the imperial decree, Consort Xian burst into tears. She looked at the Emperor, but was met only with his cold and indifferent face. Her heart felt as bitter as gall, for the Emperor was so heartless towards her.
After the incident of intercepting the emperor's favor in Consort De's palace last time, no one dares to intercept Shen Shixi's favor now.
The emperor left without saying a word, taking Shen Shixi with him.
The gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace slowly closed, shutting out Consort Xue's cries.
That woman who buried flowers, wept over grass, and ultimately wept for herself—who knows how many more days she can live deep within these palace walls?
The once magnificent Duke's mansion collapsed, and in the end, it buried her along with it.
As Consort Fan watched the Emperor's imperial carriage disappear into the dim light of the palace lanterns in the distance, the Empress said,
"I can keep you in Fengyi Palace to serve me, but you must earn my favor yourself. Do you expect me to drag the Emperor to your bedside?"
"Yes, thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty! In this palace, only I am truly willing to help Your Majesty the Empress. Whenever I have a chance to rise in rank, I will obey Your Majesty's decrees and never betray you," said Consort Fan.
The Queen stroked her still-flat belly, feeling a slight stinging pain. She commanded, "Hurry."
Granny Qu objected, "Your Majesty, it's late at night and the roads are slippery from the snow. It's better to be safe."
Before the emperor left, he didn't even glance at the empress.
The next day, the emperor had a morning court session, and he went there early.
After finishing her workout, Shen Shixi enjoyed a delicious breakfast.
Chao Yu was summarizing the news from the capital for her: "The Duke of Wei's mansion has been sealed off and will no longer have that title. Early this morning, His Majesty issued an imperial edict: all male members of the Xue family over the age of fourteen will be beheaded, those under the age of fourteen will be exiled, the female members will be removed from the brothels, and all servants will be sold off."
He swallowed hard and said, "And also, exterminate their entire family!"
These three words are simply too heavy.
Bai Ping sighed, "I thought the Emperor would be lenient towards the Duke of Wei's family because of Consort Xue, but who knew that Consort Xue would insist on committing suicide? Now look what's happened, she has ruined three generations of her family."
Shen Shixi couldn't help but find it amusing.
He's a traitor!
If Li Yuanke were truly so affectionate, he wouldn't be sitting on the throne today.
This imperial edict might have been written yesterday and was just waiting for today.
Li Yuanke was also a master at manipulating people's hearts; Lady Xue was once his bedmate.
The area around Tianfei Pass has always been guarded by the Xue family; it is their territory. If he can't figure out the Xue family's character, how could he not know who the Xue family is?
He's incredibly accurate in his calculations.
He made everyone in the court and the public think that he wanted to let the Xue family off the hook, after all, the Xue family had also contributed to the rise of the new emperor. However, the Xue family not only did not know how to be grateful, but also slapped him in the face.
When an emperor is enraged, millions will die and blood will flow for miles; the Xue family has only themselves to blame.
It's a pity that Xue was used by him. But what kind of person is Xue? Why try to manipulate the emperor? Even if you are, this is not the way to do it.
It has nothing to do with her anyway.
After having breakfast, Shen Shixi had someone carry her a basket. She was wearing a thick woolen coat, a Zhaojun-style cloak, and a mink cloak when she heard that the Ministry of Rites and Prince An had entered the palace. The investiture ceremony was to be held at Qianyuan Palace, and the Emperor had already issued an edict ordering all the concubines to attend.
The Ministry of Rites also sent over the official hat and robes.