blenderwars Chapter 224 The crow need not complain about the pig's black color
Chapter 224 The crow need not complain about the pig's black color
The two tables at the very top were undoubtedly for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. They were two tables of the same height, one on the left and one on the right. The Empress occupied the one on the left, while the other table was empty, which was obviously for Shen Shixi.
Shen Shixi accompanied the emperor to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.
Your subject greets Your Majesty, wishing you happiness, longevity, and good health!
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty enjoy a happy festival and be blessed with good health and longevity!"
The Empress breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that Shen Shixi did not address the Empress Dowager as "Mother".
Shen Shixi looked up and glanced at the Empress, smiling as if she had guessed her thoughts perfectly. The Empress was furious and embarrassed.
After leading the concubines to pay their respects to the emperor, the empress said, "Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, which is why you are late. Why is Sister Chenyuan also so late?"
"I was hoping that if my younger sister could have come sooner, we sisters could have kept Mother company and chatted together!"
[You talk too much, will you die if you don't spout nonsense? I'm giving you face, are you asking for it?]
Shen Shixi didn't even glance at her, and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I'm always clumsy and awkward with words, and I'm afraid I might say something wrong and upset the Empress Dowager. Wouldn't that be a shame on such a joyous occasion?"
She bowed to the Empress and then sat down, at eye level, which the Empress found extremely irritating.
The seating arrangement was arranged by the Imperial Household Department. It didn't matter to others how it was arranged, but Shen Shixi's position was definitely at the emperor's behest. She hadn't thought about it before, but now that Shen Shixi was truly on equal footing with her, she felt as if a block of ice was stuck in her heart.
As soon as the emperor sat down, he asked Li Fude to serve him several dishes that Shen Shixi liked. Shen Shixi did not stand on ceremony, thanked the emperor, and began to eat as soon as he heard that the meal was about to begin.
She was hungry.
Given her current position, the imperial kitchen would never skimp on her meals, and she no longer has the appetite for communal meals, so they're quite delicious.
"Did the Imperial Noble Consort find today's feast quite good?" Li Yuanke asked.
When called out, Shen Shixi was stunned for a moment, puffed out her cheeks, and looked up at Li Yuanke.
[Just eat, why are you talking?]
She held a mouthful of food in her mouth and chewed slowly, her chubby cheeks bobbing up and down, just like a greedy hamster—it was incredibly cute.
Li Yuanke looked at her with a smile in his eyes.
The others looked at the emperor, then at Consort Chenyuan, and felt a tightness in their chests and an eyesore.
Shen Shixi swallowed her food, wiped her mouth, and felt utterly humiliated by this scoundrel. She glanced at him sideways and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"
[You've ruined my meal! I'll never forgive you! Humph!]
Li Yuanke smiled and said, "A reward!"
Li Fude hurriedly agreed, thinking to himself, "If the Imperial Noble Consort says it's delicious, the Imperial Kitchen will have to reward her. She must be overjoyed!"
The Empress is dignified and graceful, so she would never be like Shen Shixi, who disregards propriety and eats and drinks excessively at the banquet. Look at her and Consort Qiong, they look like they've been reincarnated from starving ghosts, they eat so much!
Consort Jin ate heartily. Now that she had her son, she was content with everything and was quite tired every day, so she didn't care about her figure and gained weight.
"Your Majesty cannot grant only the Imperial Kitchen for the sake of Sister Chenyuan. Consort Xie gave birth to Your Majesty's second princess last night. Shouldn't Your Majesty promote her?"
The Empress had this intention all along, in order to demonstrate her tolerance and magnanimity. Consort Xie gave her a full-length mirror with peonies painted on the back, which was just right for her status and also very much to her liking.
This is a rare item, and we must not let Xie Cai Ren down.
Li Yuanyin's eyes lit up, but he also glared at Shen Shixi with great dissatisfaction.
It's her fault for being stingy and refusing to help no matter what.
Shen Shixi then looked at Consort Xu. Her father had died in battle in Zhangzhou, and her brother, nicknamed "Gorilla," had fled to Beisha and was now under her father's command as the commander of Bingzhou. With military power in hand, he was considered safe.
Xu Wanyi's memorial has been delivered to Li Yuanke's desk. Just as Yun Yue's investigation revealed, Marquis Changning Xu Sheng had fallen into the trap set by Marquis Jiaqing and his son. Yun Yue captured the rebels who colluded with them, obtained witnesses and physical evidence, Marquis Jiaqing was detained, and his son escaped.
In any case, Consort Xu should be rewarded and promoted, but Li Yuanke has just returned to the capital and probably won't have time to attend to her for the time being.
The Empress Dowager added, "The greatest contribution of the harem is still giving birth to imperial heirs. The Emperor currently has few children. Since Consort Xie has made a contribution, she should be rewarded accordingly."
The emperor then readily agreed, saying, "It's entirely up to the Empress Dowager!"
It means that the Empress Dowager can reward or promote someone as she pleases.
The Empress Dowager was caught off guard. This was different from the Emperor's desire for her to promote Shen Shixi. This was clearly an impulsive act, used to provoke the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager knew her eldest son was still angry, but her youngest son was watching expectantly, so she had no choice but to say, "In that case, let's follow the example of Consort Li and promote her to the rank of Jieyu."
After the talented woman comes the beautiful woman, after the beautiful woman comes the lady-in-waiting, and after the lady-in-waiting comes the nine concubines.
He jumped two steps at once.
The emperor disagreed, saying, "Consort Li gave birth to a prince."
This means that Xie only gave birth to a princess.
Consort Li felt very pleased to hear this, thinking that the Emperor was truly a wise ruler!
[This bastard dares to favor boys over girls! Why didn't you mind that I'm a woman at night?]
Shen Shixi muttered to herself, and Li Yuanke glanced at her.
He is not sexist; he is not even aware of that right now. He simply doesn't want these people to be happy.
The Empress Dowager was also speechless. "In that case, promote her to the rank of Beauty and bestow upon her another title."
Although the titles were drafted by the Imperial Household Department, the emperor's selection was equivalent to imperial decree, highlighting the status, character, talent, and favor of the concubines, whether derived from their virtues and achievements or from the emperor's affection.
What does Xie have? Just because she's the one Li Yuanyin likes?
The emperor was disgusted.
But in this situation, he couldn't afford to fight with the Empress Dowager over such a small matter, so he could only say, "Then let the Imperial Household Department draft a few titles and send them over."
The Empress was overjoyed at her victory. "You must be tired from accompanying the Emperor on this trip with Consort Jin and the others. I would like to offer you all a toast."
She exudes the demeanor of a mature and sophisticated woman.
Shen Shixi smiled, said only "Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress," picked up her wine cup, took a sip, and said nothing more.
Consort Jin, Consort Yuan, and Consort Guo also took a sip, but since everyone had a limited capacity for alcohol, they didn't force themselves.
Seeing that everyone in Shen Shixi's group had risen to the position of a palace master, no one felt good. What kind of person was Consort Jin? She couldn't have children and didn't even serve the emperor anymore, but by currying favor with Imperial Noble Consort Chenyuan, she not only rose to the rank of consort but also had a son.
As soon as Consort Jin returned, she went to the Empress Dowager's palace and brought the Fifth Prince to her own palace. Now she is surrounded by a charming aura of maternal love, and she is much more composed in her speech and actions.
Consort Yuan and Consort Guo are now close to her and frequently visit her palace, as if the three of them are raising a child together.
With the help of two people, Consort Jin, who had just become a mother, was very at ease.
"According to ancestral rules, one cannot be granted the title of concubine without a son, nor can one be promoted without great merit. However, due to the Emperor's favor, my sister Chenyuan is now second only to me."
"From now on, you should set an example for all the concubines. I think Consort Jin listens to you, so you should teach her more and make sure she doesn't lose her sense of propriety in her words and actions!" the Empress said.
Consort Jin was about to eat when she heard this, so she put it down, somewhat annoyed. "Imperial Noble Consort Chenyuan made great contributions on this trip with His Majesty. My father said that no military general in the world has made as many contributions as the Imperial Noble Consort. Everyone admires the Imperial Noble Consort."
The Empress smiled and said, "Since you are His Majesty's concubine, it is best to make contributions in the inner palace!"
[Are you even letting me eat? If you keep babbling, I'm going to flip the table. You talk too much. Did you have to say everything you'd been holding back for half a year all in one night?]
Shen Shixi spoke up, "What about the Empress?"
She simply put down her chopsticks, leaned against the armchair behind her, and smiled at the Empress.
The Empress was momentarily confused. "What do you mean, sister?"
Shen Shixi asked, "Then what makes the Empress so high up in rank? Is it because of her title and authority, or because she gave birth to the imperial heir?"
The empress was immediately enraged and embarrassed.
She never had a wedding ceremony with the emperor!
She also lost her baby!
Shen Shixi did not let her off the hook. "The Empress should know that you are neither the Emperor's first wife nor a primary consort. You know better than anyone why you hold the position of Empress. I hope you will behave yourself!"
All of you sisters here, like me, have reached your current positions through your own efforts, the prestige of your families, or the achievements of your fathers and brothers; therefore, old crow need not complain about pigs being black, we are all in the same boat, let's just make do!"