LRAB Chapter 241 Questioning
Chapter 241 Questioning
The nine-dragon and nine-phoenix crown on her head and the seven-dragon and nine-phoenix robe on her body signified the emperor's favor. This reminded people of the perfunctory way the emperor conferred the title of empress. Some perceptive people also saw some information in it.
In short, it seems like a few words, but in reality, the process is complicated. You have to keep praying all day long, and you have to keep smiling the whole time. There's no time to rest.
Some people envied her, such as Consort De.
When she was crowned empress, she also participated in the ceremony for being made a concubine. She had personally experienced how simple it was. But after experiencing this ceremony today, she realized that the ceremony for making a concubine could be so complicated, solemn, and dignified.
A grand banquet was held at Qianyuan Palace.
It was both a celebration for the Emperor's birthday and a celebration for the Imperial Noble Consort.
The Emperor is in high spirits today. Many court officials offered him wine, which he drank in one gulp.
The Empress did not come, but the Imperial Noble Consort sat with the Emperor, and the emperor and his ministers laughed and chatted together. Prime Minister Pei was very calm. Gao Shi, who usually liked to cause trouble, actually seemed very indifferent today. She took the opportunity to talk and chat with the noble ladies around her. Anyone who did not know would think that the one being conferred the title of Empress was the one being conferred the title.
In Fengyi Palace, the Empress felt extremely uncomfortable and humiliated.
After the banquet at Qianyuan Palace ended, the Empress removed her hairpins and wore plain clothes, intending to go to Qianyuan Palace, but was stopped by Granny Qu.
"Your Majesty, no matter how wronged you are, you cannot do so today!" Granny Qu knelt on the ground, tugging at the Empress's robe. "If you must go, you can only go tomorrow!"
The Empress nearly went mad. "Tomorrow? I don't know how the whole world will laugh at me today, but I can wait until tomorrow! The Emperor and I are husband and wife!"
She cried, "Have you forgotten how shabby our coronation ceremony was? We were all made empresses together with a bunch of other concubines, and they didn't even have to offer sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. But when it comes to me, a mere concubine, the Emperor has to offer sacrifices to our ancestors. What face do I, the Empress, have left?"
In this comparison, the empress who had never offered sacrifices to her ancestors was like the principal wife of an ordinary family who was not listed in the family genealogy.
Granny Qu was speechless.
The Empress was indeed feeling extremely aggrieved.
She had no choice but to accompany the Empress to Qianyuan Palace.
Inside the palace, Shen Shixi was exhausted from the day's events, but the Emperor was in high spirits and pinned her down on the floor of the hot spring. Just as he was doing this, Li Fude called out from outside, "Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience!"
"roll!"
Li Yuanke focused his efforts on Shen Shixi.
"Li Yuanke, you bastard, be gentle!"
Li Yuanke hugged her, "I'm so hungry today, aren't you going to let me have a proper meal!"
He squeezed her shoulders. "Xi'er looks so beautiful today, so alluring, so gorgeous, I love it!"
When he saw her wearing that outfit, he wanted to peel it off piece by piece himself.
Shen Shixi kicked him, "You're crazy!"
The Empress refused to leave and remained kneeling outside for almost half an hour before Li Fude finally came out to invite her. Granny Qu shakily got up and then helped her to her feet.
Li Yuanke was also quite tired today. He had been exhausted all day and had eaten a hearty meal, so he was really hungry now.
The Empress entered and bowed. Li Yuanke picked up a piece of pastry, ate it, clapped his hands, and said, "Help the Empress up!"
Caiying went up and helped the Empress up.
In the past, when the empress came here, the emperor would at least pretend to lend a hand, even if he didn't actually help her. But now, he's too lazy to even pretend.
The Empress, with tears in her eyes, said, "Your Majesty, I wonder what the officials in the court will say about today's events? Is Your Majesty bestowing the title of Empress or a Consort?"
The Emperor said, "I have always rewarded those who have rendered meritorious service, and my rewards and punishments are clear! Instead of asking me, Empress, you should ask yourself how much merit you have rendered to me."
"Leaving aside everything else, let's just talk about the harem. The Empress hasn't even fulfilled her most basic duties, so what right does she have to ask me this question?"
The Empress's expression changed drastically.
The Emperor said, "Why did my legitimate son die? You knew you were carrying my imperial child, yet for your sister's sake, you disregarded the imperial heir, only to be pushed by her and nearly miscarry. Has the Empress forgotten?"
The Empress was speechless!
"How is the Third Prince doing now?"
The Empress was somewhat bewildered and puzzled by the question.
The Emperor said, "The Third Prince was raised by you, nursing several times a day. Do you know how much he weighs now, whether he sleeps well at night, and how his health is when the weather gets cold?"
He asked as if he knew the answer himself.
Fortunately, the Empress was unaware of it and never inquired about it.
The Emperor nodded. "If the Empress is unwilling to raise the Third Prince, then let us find another foster mother!"
The queen slunk away, her mind blank with confusion.
Upon returning to Fengyi Palace, she asked Granny Qu, "Whom should I entrust the Third Prince to for upbringing?"
Granny Qu didn't know either. "Your Highness, let's talk about it tomorrow. It's getting late today, so please rest. Your health is more important than anything else if you get pregnant with the legitimate son."
It seems that His Majesty is becoming increasingly intolerant of the Pei family!
The Empress, however, was completely unsuspecting. If she were to conceive a royal heir, the Emperor might show leniency towards her out of consideration for the legitimate son. But if she did not conceive, given the limited affection between husband and wife, the Empress would likely have to make way for the Imperial Noble Consort.
The snow was particularly heavy that year, so Shen Shixi sent Chaoyu to the palace to have her third brother buy up as much grain as possible in case of an emergency.
She then asked her third brother to find a way to purchase Champa rice from Champa. This type of rice was harvested three times a year in Champa and was only introduced during the Song Dynasty, which increased grain production.
The emperor also decreed that all licenses for the special trade zones should be exchanged for grain, and silver would no longer be required.
In the capital, many houses collapsed. The emperor was busy with court affairs and did not enter the inner palace until the New Year. Only the Imperial Noble Consort accompanied him in the Qian Yuan Palace.
Before we knew it, it was time for the annual banquet, which this year was held in the Taiji Hall.
The torches burned fiercely, the precious wood blazing into the sky, emitting bursts of fragrance as it burned.
Civil and military officials, relatives of important ministers, concubines and other guests gathered together.
This year's seating arrangement is different; two seats, one on the left and one on the right, are set up next to the imperial table, and they are of equal height.
The Empress entered first with the Empress Dowager, followed by the Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort. Even with a thick layer of makeup on her face, the Empress could not hide her haggard appearance and sallow complexion.
Since the Imperial Noble Consort's investiture ceremony, the Empress has suffered from insomnia.
In the words of later theories, it was caused by anxiety.
Today, the emperor is wearing a grand robe, and the empress and imperial concubine naturally have to wear their most cherished clothes, so comparisons are inevitable.
The Empress's outfit made her look like a concubine; not only were the colors, patterns, and hues unattractive, but she also appeared unwell.
Shen Shixi's crown and robes were already eye-catching, and with her rosy complexion, peach blossom eyes like spring water, and graceful figure, she was like a goddess.
The emperor led her in by the hand and seated her in the high seat to his right.
The Empress smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I wish to congratulate you today. Consort Ning is pregnant! She is almost three months along."
Consort Ning was also lucky. In order to appease the Marquis of Changning's family, the emperor promoted her rank and summoned her to his bedchamber once. On that one night, she became pregnant.
The Empress, wanting to disgust Shen Shixi, then smiled at her and said, "I suppose Sister Chenyuan is also happy for the Emperor!"
Is the Empress ill? She's seriously ill! Why is she saying such things?
Therefore, all the civil and military officials, as well as the invited ladies of the court, knelt down to congratulate the emperor and empress, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! The royal lineage continues, truly a blessing for the Great Zhou!"