After the emperor read her mind, the salted fish concubine effortlessly won the title of empress.

Chapter 71 Golden Leather and Silver Saddle

Chao En arrived in Peach Blossom Village.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, and his master needing to move back home, he came to help.

"The tomatoes and peppers are already bearing fruit. I see they are gradually turning red. Bai Kui said that when they turn red, they are ripe. If you don't go back, I will have to pick them and bring them to you."

They dared not pick them unless their master gave the order.

"We'll be going back in two or three days. You can rest for the night and pack your things tomorrow. Move everything back with you."

"Yes!" Chao En reported on the palace affairs again, "Princess Pan of Baoci Palace has lost her dragon fetus. Incense made from cinnabar and borneol was found in the Empress's palace. Someone in Shouxian Palace has poisoned Consort Qiong's food. The imperial physician said that it was fortunate that it was discovered early. If she had continued to eat it for a while, she might have become mentally impaired."

Shen Shixi could understand the first two things, but what about Consort Qiong, a cook who was indifferent to worldly affairs? Who did she bother?

Chao En reminded her, "Your Majesty, the concubines in this palace have always been fighting over nothing more than two things: the Emperor's favor and offspring. If they cannot bear children themselves, it doesn't matter if others bear them. In the past few years, the Emperor was in mourning and basically did not come to the inner palace. After the mourning period ended, the new concubines entered the palace, and seeing that they had offspring, this dispute arose."

In just a few days, Consort Song lost her baby, and Consort Pan's baby was lost just two days after it was born.

There are three more: Consort De's, Yuan Zhaoyue's, and Consort Li's. I wonder who is protecting the pregnancies of the latter two? Or is everyone tacitly protecting them?

Clearly, Yuan Zhaoyue and Li Sihe were not qualified to raise imperial heirs, while the high-ranking concubines Qiongfei and Xianfei had no children.

"Can't Consort Xian have children?" Shen Shixi asked.

Chao En said, "The Consort Xian had a miscarriage once before. She was three months pregnant and couldn't keep it. She was injured at the time, and the imperial physician said that she would have difficulty having children in the future."

Bai Ping, recalling Consort Xian's aloof and arrogant demeanor, found it hard to believe. "Does Your Highness suspect that Consort Xian was the one who drugged Consort Qiong?"

Shen Shixi shook her head. "Who knows! It could be Song Jieyu too!"

"Song Jieyu...didn't she have a child before?"

"She knew she couldn't keep this pregnancy, and she thought that if I accidentally caused her to miscarry, would the Emperor take pity on her and promote her? Wouldn't she then return to the rank of Consort? As the mistress of a palace, she would have the right to raise the imperial heir."

"Could Consort Pan's pregnancy be with Consort De...?"

Shen Shixi shook her head. "No! The more children in the palace you can hold onto, the better. Consort Pan is Consort De's niece, a natural ally. Consort De's baby may not be a prince, but with both of them pregnant, the chances of having a prince are fifty percent greater."

There were people who didn't want to see Consort De with two princes. Also, since Consort De's pregnancy ended with Consort Pan's miscarriage, she would surely assume Consort De was behind it. This was a two-birds-with-one-stone scheme; it all depended on what Consort Pan thought of it!

Consort De was so angry that her stomach ached. She pressed her head, feeling very uncomfortable. Yinxing quickly brought her some medicine to help with the pregnancy. "Your Highness, please drink this medicine. No matter how urgent the matter with Consort Pan is, we can only deal with it after we return."

"What can I say? She might not listen to me. She only thought that because I was pregnant, she could get rid of her child. Does she think that as long as she gives birth to a prince, the emperor will definitely make her a concubine? Or even make her empress?"

Just look at her! She got pregnant, but didn't send anyone to tell me. In the end, the Empress found out first! Why did something happen to her the moment I got pregnant? How could she trust me?

Consort De was filled with regret. If she had known this would happen, she would never have allowed her family to send anyone into the palace.

Having such a useless and detrimental person in the palace is not only of no help, but also very annoying.

That evening, the emperor's decree arrived, ordering him to return to the palace in three days.

That evening, Li Yuanke arrived, and Shen Shixi was packing her luggage; she had quite a lot of things.

"Someone from Cen Yin's side is returning to the capital tomorrow. Your people should go back to the capital with his people and escort them along the way to avoid any accidents on the road."

Shen Shixi sat in his lap, "Then I won't stand on ceremony, thank you, Your Majesty!"

She cupped Li Yuanke's face in her hands and kissed him, her nose brushing against his. "Your Majesty, how did you come to have such a handsome face? I can never get enough of looking at you."

"What are your plans once you get tired of seeing this?" Li Yuanke asked irritably.

"I don't have any plans!"

Li Yuanke picked her up and carried her outside.

Shen Shixi was startled and grabbed his neck. "What are you doing? It's the middle of the night, young master. Where do you think you're taking me? My husband is the Emperor, and he's coming soon! Young master, you're courting death!"

Li Yuanke laughed!

Shen Shixi coiled around her like a snake, "Young master, how come your face looks exactly like my husband's? Are you a fox spirit from the mountains, deliberately transforming into my husband's appearance to make love to me?"

"I absolutely adore your face, young master! And your arms are so strong! I'm overjoyed!"

Li Yuanke's blood was boiling, and he felt hot all over, as if he were on fire.

He carried Shen Shixi all the way to the horse farm and asked, "Will you ride your donkey or my horse?"

[No way, no way, Li Yuanke wants to play mahjong? Wow, he's really playing hard to get! Should I politely decline? But if I refuse and he quits, wouldn't I be at a huge loss?]

Li Yuanke looked down at her, making no attempt to hide the mischievous smile on his face.

That smile also concealed a captivating and wicked charm, making him look like no good person.

"Ride my horse, run faster!" His low, husky voice rang in Shen Shixi's ear, making him feel hot all over.

[Just follow your heart, stop being so reserved! It's stupid to turn down a freebie that's been delivered right to your door, isn't it?]

"Don't follow!" Li Yuanke gave the order, then put Shen Shixi on the horse and mounted himself.

The cloaks covered the two of them completely.

Li Yuanke spurred his horse and galloped towards the mountains and forests. Li Fude and the others naturally wouldn't really not follow, and they all lagged far behind. With heavy troops deployed to guard the area, there was absolutely no chance of a rebellion like the one last time.

Shen Shixi sat facing him, with Li Yuanke holding the reins in one hand and supporting her with the other.

Under the cloak, the two were tightly clasped together.

Shen Shixi clung to his shoulder, not daring to actually sit down.

Every bump felt like floating on clouds. Their breaths mingled, and Shen Shixi buried her face in his shoulder, biting her cloak. Even so, her voice still escaped through her teeth.

Each sound is deadly!

The horse's gait set the rhythm.

Li Yuanke simply let go of the reins and let the horse stroll leisurely.

After reaching several peaks, Shen Shixi was exhausted and leaned softly on Li Yuanke's shoulder.

She complained coquettishly, "No more, boohoo, Li Yuanke, you're so mean!"

She couldn't wait any longer, so she knelt down on Li Yuanke's legs.

Li Yuanke laid her down, and both of them felt a tremor in their hearts.

Li Yuanke urged his horse to run, and as it faced the wind, that wisp of breath dissipated into the air.

In the final moment, he pressed the man onto the horse's back, uncontrollably crying out, "My darling!"