get-shopping Chapter 101 In the Imperial Court
Chapter 101 In the Imperial Court
The hall was brightly lit by candles, and Li Yuanke held her as they sat on the couch.
"During the New Year, I went to talk to the Empress Dowager and asked her to promote you to a higher rank. Once you become the head of a palace, you will live in the main hall. It is spacious there, and the interior and exterior have been completely renovated. All the furniture and decorations have been replaced, and not a single item has been removed."
If you don't like something, you can change it to something else according to your own preference later.
He lowered his head and rubbed his nose against hers with the tip of his nose.
Shen Shixi nestled in his arms, "No rush, it's quite nice living here."
She turned around, put her arms around Li Yuanke's neck, and suddenly asked, "Do you know the methods that the mistress of the inner quarters often uses to control her favored concubines?"
Li Yuanke knew she never spoke nonsense, "Well, just say what you want to say?"
Little did he know, all he knew was that a woman's only purpose to him was to bear children.
To ensure the continuation of the imperial line is the duty of an emperor.
He gives anyone who can give birth, and whoever has the ability to give birth, the chance. If you fail to give them the chance, there won't be a next time.
"That time in the Empress Dowager's palace, the Empress knew that the Empress Dowager did not want Yang Tingyue to enter the palace, but the Empress still encouraged and expressed her support, simply because you dote on me."
Yang Tingyue is the Empress Dowager's niece. With her support in the palace, the Emperor will undoubtedly treat her with great respect. However, Yang Tingyue is arrogant and domineering, a match for me. When two tigers fight, one will surely be injured, and the hunter will benefit.
Shen Shixi looked at him and asked, "Your Majesty should know that in the harem this is a matter of sharing favor, and in the court this is a matter of sharing power. Prime Minister Pei has controlled the government for more than 20 years, and he was a powerful prime minister during the reign of the late emperor. Your Majesty's life is not easy now. He also has a daughter who is married to Li Yuanzhi. As long as Li Yuanzhi is alive, the Pei family will have another way out."
However, Your Majesty, if you cannot defeat one person by supporting him, you can support a group of people.
Shen Shixi was thinking of what Zhu Yuanzhang did in later generations. In order to consolidate monarchical power, he abolished the prime minister system, which had been prevalent for thousands of years. Zhu Di then established the cabinet system on this basis.
"Xi'er, just say it!"
Shen Shixi then shared this experience with him, saying, "The emperor is young and capable, while the court is full of old and frail officials. This is understandable. Those who are able to attend court every day must be quite old."
But the emperor didn't want to spend every day with a bunch of old men, so he found a group of young, energetic, and courageous men to accompany him. Ostensibly, they would study with the emperor, but over time, they would inevitably want to get their hands on power and become his servants!
Li Yuanke's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh, exclaiming, "That's right!"
He pulled Shen Shixi into his arms, exclaiming, "Xi'er, Xi'er, how are you so smart!"
Shen Shixi smiled, "Because we once stood at different points in the long river of history, I was more than a thousand years later than you."
[Haha, all talk and no action, but you never reward me!]
Li Yuanke laughed heartily, "I will reward you tomorrow. Whatever you want, go to my private treasury and choose it yourself."
"Really?" Shen Shixi stood up abruptly, and then her forehead bumped into Li Yuanke's chin. The two of them looked at each other in pain, their eyes filled with tears.
Li Yuanke hissed, so angry he wanted to hit her, but seeing her pitiful appearance and the red mark on her forehead, he could only rub it for her. "Is it worth making such a fuss? What have you set your sights on? Would I refuse you?"
very painful!
"Who cares what you have? I'm just curious. I want to see what treasures you have." Shen Shixi said angrily, "I'm not going tomorrow. I'll remember this and go when I have time."
"If you don't go, then it's gone. What do you have to do tomorrow? You're a concubine, yet you're busier than I am every day. Other concubines send me soup or handicrafts every few days to show their affection, but what have you done? Look at what you've been doing! I've never seen you send me anything since you entered the palace."
"Oh, so you're picking on me now? Do you think I can make soup or wield a needle? Li Yuanke, if you dislike me, just say so. Come or leave if you want! You dare compare me to all your beauties? Get out of here right now!"
Enraged, she turned and headed towards the inner chambers. Li Yuanke rushed forward and picked her up, saying, "You rebellious thing, how dare you tell me to get out?"
"Who told you to pick on me?" Shen Shixi struggled.
He wouldn't let it go. "Am I nitpicking? Even if you can't do it, just standing there watching for a while means you did it yourself. Do you think I'd hold that against you?"
Shen Shixi was also somewhat speechless.
[You idiot, what's wrong with your diet? You don't have a fever!]
"I won't do it, I'm lazy, I don't want to. I heard that Consort Qiong used to send you food every few days, why didn't you eat it?"
Li Yuanke was so angry he wanted to hit someone.
Shen Shixi wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Li Yuanke, you should do your job in your position. What use is it for me, a concubine, to be so virtuous? Don't expect me to compete for your favor. If you do, I'll accept it; if you don't, we'll live together if we can, and die if we can't!"
"What nonsense are you spouting now? You keep talking about death and life. I know you're not afraid of death, you're ready to die, alright!" Li Yuanke said irritably.
"Hmph!" Shen Shixi turned her face away, refusing to look at him.
Li Yuanke turned her face towards him and kissed her.
The two rolled onto the bed, and Li Yuanke immediately sensed something was off. He touched it and asked, "What's that on the mattress?"
"Why don't you see for yourself?" Shen Shixi lay slumped on the bed, her legs still draped over Li Yuanke. "Do you remember the pot of cotton I sent you before?"
"Well, the flowers are just so-so, but when the fruit bursts open, it looks like a cloud."
"The cotton quilt on the bed was made from that cloud; it's incredibly warm. I'm not used to using animal hides, so when I saw it, I had this made, along with some cotton-padded clothes. It's really useful. Li Yuanke, have someone plant some of this next year."
From now on, there will be no need for arduous hunting. Once it becomes widespread, the people will benefit. No one will freeze to death in winter, and there will be no food shortages in years of famine. Then, the world can be at peace.
If I can witness a peaceful and prosperous era, then my life will have been worthwhile!
Li Yuanke held her in his arms and remained silent for a moment. "I will have someone do that. However, for now, I want to do something else."
He thought about it at noon; that bastard was running too fast.
Li Yuange pressed down on her, and Shen Shixi lifted her leg and wrapped it around his waist. She was always very cooperative in this regard, mainly because she herself was also tempted.
Li Yuanke hasn't come for two days. I don't know what he's been busy with these past few days. He hasn't come to the harem, nor has he summoned anyone to his bedchamber.
Therefore, the two were like dry wood meeting a raging fire.
It quickly caught fire.
Li Yuanke is quite patient in this regard, mainly because Shen Shixi is also picky. When she is too lazy to do anything, she likes to nitpick at Li Yuanke, insisting that he do things her way, grumbling and complaining endlessly.
Once she's in the mood, she'll want to take over.
Li Yuanke simply lay on his back without moving, letting her do whatever she wanted.
She was somewhat capable, but in these kinds of situations, women are never at a disadvantage. She would fumble around for a while and then give up, leaving Li Yuanke to take over, the kind who was both incompetent and prone to making a fuss.
She stopped making a fuss and refused to get down, instead clinging to Li Yuanke and kissing him, his Adam's apple, the hollow of his shoulder, and those two spots on his chest, leaving no place untouched. Li Yuanke trembled all over and couldn't help but want to move, but she wouldn't let him.
He practiced riding and archery for many years, so he had great strength in his waist and abdomen.
Shen Shixi was so dizzy from being shaken that she bit his chest with her pearly teeth, and the two of them took a deep breath.
Li Yuanke was only half full. After lying down for a while, he rolled over and pinned her down. "You dog, what else can you do besides torment people? That's all you're good for, yet you always have to show off."
But each time is a different experience, and it's exhilarating.