r18novel Chapter 157 Knocking out teeth and swallowing blood
Chapter 157 Knocking out teeth and swallowing blood
Shen Shixi picked up her teacup and took a slow sip. "So, the Grand Madam is quite satisfied with Princess Yunyang as her daughter-in-law?"
Upon hearing the title "Yunyang," others were unmoved, but the Empress Dowager was deeply shaken, her eyes filled with tears.
This was the title given to a princess of the previous dynasty, a title bestowed upon her younger sister by her father. After the new dynasty was established, no one dared to use it anymore.
There's nothing wrong with shouting it out, but what if someone accuses you of reminiscing about the previous dynasty?
"That's right!" The Dowager was just hoping Shen Shixi would ask that question so she could show her loyalty to the Empress Dowager.
There's a story behind the Duke of Ying's mansion.
Back then, the Empress Dowager's younger sister, Princess Yunyang of the previous dynasty, divorced her ex-husband. However, somehow she became involved with the Duke of Ying. The Duke of Ying was suspected of deceiving her into marriage, and he initially concealed his identity.
He originally had a legal wife.
Even a princess from a previous dynasty could not become someone's concubine.
The late emperor issued a decree to grant the marriage, and the Duke of Ying's ex-wife became his concubine. She was a virtuous woman who hanged herself with a white silk ribbon, leaving behind an infant daughter.
Princess Yunyang would be one thing if she were a princess of this dynasty, but she wasn't, so anyone could jump on her head and shit on her, and she suffered all kinds of cold looks and scolding from the world.
But for Shen Shixi, why should this be Princess Yunyang's fault? It was clearly the work of that scumbag Duke Ying.
Shen Shixi sneered, "The baby's milk's gone! Now that the person's dead, you're suddenly fond of them! How can you say such things against your conscience? How could you have bullied and abused them like that when they were alive?"
"You're talking nonsense! How did I bully or abuse you?"
"Didn't you? You told Princess Yunyang every day that she forced the Duke of Ying's first wife to her death. When Tingyue was born, you said she was incompetent and couldn't give birth to a son. You said she suffered so much during her confinement. You set rules for her every day and embarrassed her in front of all the servants in the mansion."
Before Your Majesty ascended the throne, you believed that Prince Jin would inherit the throne, and you poisoned people several times and even caused Princess Yunyang, who was pregnant, to give birth prematurely. Did I fabricate all of this?
Seeing the Empress Dowager weep, the Dowager Lady cried out and knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, I'm innocent! Consort Chen is slandering me! I haven't done any of these things!"
"Guards!" Shen Shixi shouted. Lan Ying stepped forward. "The Dowager Lady of Ying State has spoken arrogantly, disrespectfully of her superiors, and insulted the royal family. Slap her twenty times!"
The Empress Dowager seemed stunned and remained in shock for a long time. Seeing this, Yang Tingyue quickly pleaded with the Empress Dowager, "Aunt, please stop Consort Chen! Grandmother didn't mean it!"
Lan Ying's hand held a hidden force. She and Lan Tan were not ordinary palace maids. After twenty slaps, the Grand Madam really had to swallow her pride and bear it.
In front of all the noblewomen of the court, she was slapped by a concubine.
The old lady cried and wailed, her mouth full of blood and tears, "Your Majesty, if you do not avenge me today, I will not want to live anymore."
"Then die!"
Everyone was stunned. The Dowager Lady was like a goose with its neck caught in its throat, unable to cry anymore. She never expected Consort Chen to be such a scoundrel.
Shen Shixi sneered, "It just so happens that the court is on holiday, and today is an auspicious day in the first month of the lunar calendar. All the civil and military officials can go to offer sacrifices for you without even asking for leave. If you choose to die at this time, who won't say that you are blessed?"
The young noblewomen couldn't help but secretly smile; Consort Chen was too domineering.
The old lady then wailed, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager..."
Shen Shixi wouldn't let her speak, "Send the Grand Madam out of the palace, and find a royal physician to give her a proper check-up. Her brain is probably damaged."
Two eunuchs arrived, about to escort the Grand Madam away, when Yang Tingyue stopped them, looking expectantly at the Empress Dowager, "Your Majesty, my grandmother..."
Shen Shixi smiled but didn't say anything.
The Empress Dowager knew perfectly well that Shen Shixi had only acted because she was backing her sister, but she still felt relieved.
"Why don't you see your grandmother off? Consort Chen is straightforward, and I like her for that. She says what she thinks and doesn't hide anything. Fortunately, she's not the kind of person who makes trouble unnecessarily."
They understood what the Empress Dowager meant.
The old lady suffered a great loss in silence, knowing that she could not get justice, and could only leave in tears and resentment.
Following behind the Dowager was a young girl, the daughter of the Duke of Ying's first wife. She was definitely not coming to the palace to pay New Year's respects at this time.
The Dowager did indeed intend to send Yang Xiuyue to the palace. She was afraid that Yang Tingyue would become estranged from the Duke of Ying's mansion, and she was not afraid that the Empress Dowager would not agree, because logically speaking, Princess Yunyang had killed Yang Xiuyue's mother.
However, she died before she could even speak; she was slapped by Shen Shixi.
The atmosphere was somewhat somber, and everyone was still in shock. Consort Chen's move was too audacious; in terms of seniority, the Dowager Empress was her elder.
She even disfigured him.
No matter how old a person is, their face is swollen, their teeth are missing, and they've lost all face.
There's nowhere to seek justice. Everyone can see that Consort Chen is taking revenge on her own behalf. No matter how she tries to vent her anger, she's actually helping Princess Yunyang get revenge.
With the Empress Dowager backing her up, where else could she seek justice?
There was no one from the Duke of Ying's mansion in the imperial court.
The Empress Dowager suggested going to Changyin Pavilion to watch a play, saying, "The Emperor will also be there with his entourage later, so let's go and grab a good spot first."
She let Shen Shixi support her, also to give Shen Shixi face.
When I arrived at Changyin Pavilion, I listened to the chorus of "Ah Ah Ya Ya" for a while, with the sleeves waving so high they almost reached the sky. I couldn't help but feel sleepy and extremely bored. As soon as I sat down, my mind started to wander.
[This lead dancer has a nice waist, so supple, like a willow branch, but her face isn't much to look at. Tsk, speaking of which, that bastard Li Yuanke is really lucky. He should be grateful that someone as beautiful as me is willing to sleep with him!]
Li Yuanke and a group of ministers had just entered Changyin Pavilion when they heard these words and almost missed a step. Li Fude quickly helped him up.
One short-sighted censor, thinking the emperor was weak from excessive debauchery, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that Consort Chen is currently enjoying exclusive favor in the palace. I believe that for the sake of the country and the harmony of the harem, Your Majesty should bestow your favor equally and ensure the continuation of the imperial lineage to solidify the foundation of the nation!"
emperor:……
He was already in a bad mood today, and he had just gotten a little better when he heard this. He was so angry that he wanted to imitate that bastard.
He stood still, watching Prime Minister Pei.
Prime Minister Pei was initially delighted, but then his heart tightened. Coming to his senses, he said to the censor, "Censor Qi, His Majesty is not yet thirty, yet he already has three princes and one princess, and there are also pregnant concubines in the palace. Is the foundation of the nation not stable?"
The truth is, the emperor selected many concubines last year, but in less than a year, there have been very few successes. Who can be blamed?
Last year, many concubines became pregnant, but how many miscarried? Who was to blame?
If you're going to blame Consort Chen, what did she do? She neither took action nor competed for the emperor's favor, and none of the other concubines in the harem failed to conceive.
It's all the Empress's fault.
When Imperial Censor Qi came to his senses, he only thought about how Consort Chen had been the emperor's favorite concubine, and how she had worn the emperor's legs out of their wits. He forgot that the empress had just lost her first child.
If the emperor gets his concubines pregnant, he has fulfilled his duty. If the concubines cannot keep the pregnancy, then it is because the empress is incompetent.
Li Yuanke led Li Yuanyin upstairs and first went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. The younger noblewomen quickly stepped aside, while Shen Shixi sat in front of the Empress Dowager. She had just yawned and her eyes were watery, her peach blossom eyes capable of stealing one's soul.
In a short while, Li Yuanke glanced at it several times.
That bastard beat someone up again!
When Yang Tingyue saw Li Yuanke, he was like a dog that hadn't eaten for three days seeing a piece of fat meat; his eyes were practically glued to him, making Li Yuanke very uncomfortable.
"Is Consort Chen sleepy? Or does she not like watching?" Li Yuanke couldn't help but laugh at her drowsy appearance.
The Empress Dowager also looked over.
Shen Shixi was so uncomfortable sitting that she leaned against the Empress Dowager's lap and said, "It's always the same pieces. How about, Your Majesty, I have someone arrange something nicer for you?"
She even had the urge to adapt "Journey to the West" into a large-scale stage play.
What's so great about this large-scale song and dance performance? Forgive her for her poor taste, but in her opinion, it's no different from a shamanistic ritual.
People in this era really didn't have much entertainment. Back then, even the emperors of the Tang Dynasty would personally go up and dance.
[It would be quite a sight to see Li Yuanke dance it!]
Li Yuanke also wanted to beat her up.
The Empress Dowager smiled and patted her head, "Alright, I'll remember your words."
Shen Shixi said, "Then you should tell the people at the Jiaofangsi to select two literate and clever people for me. I will arrange a performance for you to see. If they are good, then arrange more."
"That's easy, the emperor will arrange it."
Shen Shixi looked at the emperor and smiled, realizing that he had given the emperor another reason to be in trouble.
Seeing the two exchanging glances, Yang Tingyue was furious, and she almost tore the sash on her arm to shreds.
The emperor glared at her with a smile, then stood up. "Your Majesty, Consort Chen is here. I'll head over there first."
"Go about your business, I don't need your help."
Li Yuanyin, however, stayed behind for the time being and asked, "Shixi, what are you going to arrange for the Empress Dowager to see?"
He was very curious about everything Shen Shixi did.
"A story about a monkey. I once met a man named Wu Cheng'en, who wrote a story called 'Journey to the West.' It tells the story of a monk named Tang Xuanzang who went to the Western Paradise to obtain Buddhist scriptures."
At this time, Buddhism was just beginning to flourish.