dkrc Chapter 412 Not seeking a lifetime, but only a moment
Chapter 412 Not seeking a lifetime, but only a moment
Wang Shu snuggled into her mother's arms and hugged the ball. The prince and Xi He were listening intently when they saw this little rascal arrive, and they knew that their studies were in vain.
Shen Shixi then told them to go about their own business. Xihe liked to read unofficial histories and miscellaneous records, while the Crown Prince liked to read history books because he could discuss them with his mother, whose views on each historical event differed from his.
He would also take the chapters he had read to discuss with his masters and exchange everyone's views. He was able to collect different people's opinions, and every time he brought out his mother's opinion, it would shock people, which made him particularly proud.
He did gain something, though.
His mother said that everyone's opinion is based on their own position. He didn't understand it before, but now he seems to understand what it means.
However, it's not time for him to get it yet.
At night, after Li Yuanke had put the children to sleep, he held Shen Shixi in his arms and asked, "The land beneath our feet is also a planet. Where did you learn that?"
What's wrong with this bastard? He never asked me questions like this before. Is he trying to burn me at the stake? You scoundrel, are you kicking me while I'm down?
Li Yuanke was furious. What the hell was that bastard thinking about all day long?
Can't we trust him at all?
Shen Shixi yawned in his arms, "What?"
Li Yuanke didn't want to ask anymore. He lowered his head and kissed her on the crown of her head. "Nothing, I'm afraid you'll start imagining things!"
"You're the one who's just imagining things. I have evidence for everything I'm saying."
"What's the basis for this?" Li Yuanke asked.
"If you are at sea and see a ship sailing from a distance, you will first see the mast, and then slowly see the hull; similarly, if a ship leaves the harbor, you will first see the hull disappear, and then see the mast disappear. This is one point."
Secondly, if a total lunar eclipse occurs, it is not because a celestial dog eats the moon, but because the Earth, the moon, and the sun are constantly rotating and revolving. The Earth happens to be in the middle of the moon and the sun. At this time, the shadow cast by the Earth on the moon will be an ellipse. This can be verified with a model.
Thirdly, if you sail a ship from east to west in a straight line, after some time you will find yourself back at the starting point.
Li Yuanke held her close, not daring to ask, "Have you done such an experiment?" He gently stroked her back and said, "Go to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow."
Shen Shixi was also sleepy, and mumbled sleepily, "Li Yuanke, don't be afraid, I won't leave you!"
"Good!" He breathed a sigh of relief, taking a deep breath of her scent, which, mixed with his own, satisfied and intoxicated him.
In the autumn, Shen Shiwan and Shen Shixian entered the palace together, bringing with them Shen Shixian's eldest son, who was just over a year old and could barely walk. His nickname was Diandian.
Wang Shu and Fu Guang were overjoyed to see that there were even younger children than themselves, and they acted like the eldest brothers, taking their younger cousins to play.
The three sisters talked together, and Shen Shiwan reported on her life's most important matter, "I came back this time to talk to my family about remarrying. We went on a sea voyage and came back from a near-death experience. We went through a lot of things and I've come to terms with many things."
Sincerity isn't something you seek forever, but rather for the moment; who can predict the future? I feel his heart is genuine at this moment, so I'll seize it. I can't let the fear of the future ruin this moment!
Shen Shixi laughed and said, "Third sister has really grown up a lot. You don't dwell on the past or fear the future. You've finally achieved something in your cultivation."
Shen Shiwan was quite pleased with the praise, saying, "If I hadn't made some progress, I wouldn't have the face to see my second sister!"
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. "When I'm away, I miss my second sister and think about home. I really want to come back soon, but then I think about how I've accomplished nothing. What can I do if I come back?"
Shen Shixian's tears streamed down her face as she scolded, "Second Sister said you've improved, but if you ask me, saying that just shows you're spineless. Who wants you to be anything special? Who said the Shen family wants you to bring glory to the family?"
Shen Shiwan burst into laughter through her tears, "Second sister, look at her, Third sister is a mother now, she speaks with much more authority, she's scolding me like I'm Dian Dian."
Shen Shixian retorted irritably, "I'm only doing this for your own good!"
Shen Shixi smiled and said, "To be fair, what Fourth Sister said makes sense."
Shen Shixian was quite smug, while Shen Shiwan felt a surge of warmth in her heart. "It was my fault, I was wrong, okay?"
Shen Shiwan was to marry Jiang Zuibai. Quanzhou opened a port, and the imperial court organized large ships to go out to sea for trade. The first year was just the beginning. After the routes were familiarized, there were no more unified operations.
The Shen and Jiang families set sail together, but encountered a storm and their ships were forced to anchor on a deserted island. They were nearly eaten by the local inhabitants, but Jiang Zuibai saved them at the last moment.
Shen Shixi asked about what had happened, and it was indeed a near-death experience. While feeling sorry for them, she inquired further and guessed that the island they had drifted over was Australia in later generations.
Shen Shiwan hadn't expected her second sister to know so much, but considering that her second sister was naturally knowledgeable and well-informed, she felt it made sense.
Shen Shiwan and Jiang Zuibai's wedding was set for the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, the day before the Lunar New Year. The Jiang family believed that the wedding would be a good start to the new year.
Two or three years ago, Jiang Zuibai had already started making preparations, and the Shen family was also saving up a dowry for Shen Shiwan in preparation for her remarriage. Although time was short, they were not without a plan.
Shen Shiwan was reluctant to hold a grand wedding for her second marriage, but Jiang Zuibai was getting married for the first time and was the head of the Jiang family. If the wedding was rushed, wouldn't people criticize her?
Shen Shixi also agreed to a grand celebration, saying, "What's the big deal? So what if it's a second marriage? Who says a person can't be blind at times? Even sages say, 'To err is human, to forgive divine!'"
Poor Shen Shiwan and Shen Shixian, who had been well-versed in poetry and literature since childhood, wished they could go deaf when they heard such quotations.
Shen Shixian lived a comfortable life after marriage. The Fu family was from a poor family, and marrying into the Shen family would have the benefit of raising their social status. After Shen Shixian married into the family, although she had a mother-in-law, a younger brother-in-law, and a younger sister-in-law, the whole family respected her. She herself was also quite assertive, and her life was impeccable.
When Shen Shiwan remarried, the palace was full of gifts. From the emperor to the empress dowager to the empress, the gifts were all very generous.
Shen Shiwan's remarriage was quite a success.
On this day, Marquis Changning Xu Wanyi returned to the capital to report on his duties. The main reason was that the Dowager Lady of Marquis Changning was seriously ill. He did not hold any particularly important position. Consort Xu asked Shen Shixi for help, and Shen Shixi then asked the Ministry of War to grant him leave.
By a twist of fate, after Shen Shiwan's bridal sedan chair left the Shen family and paraded through the city, it happened to pass in front of Xu Wanyi's horse. Seeing Jiang Zuibai adorned in red and colorful decorations, Xu Wanyi asked curiously, "Who is the Jiang family head marrying?"
His attendants didn't answer, but the onlookers enthusiastically chimed in, "It's the third daughter of the Shen family, the one who divorced after marrying the Marquis of Changning. She's the Empress's younger sister, and she's doing very well now!"
Xu Wanyi's face was very unpleasant, and his attendant scolded, "They just got married today, what's all the fuss about? Such a grand affair for a remarried woman!"
The onlookers were unhappy, saying, "It's better than marrying the Marquis of Changning in the first place!"
The servants of the Xu family wanted to beat someone up, but Xu Wanyi, not wanting to lose face, spurred his horse and took a detour to leave.
He never dreamed that Shen Shiwan would remarry, and that she would marry Jiang Zuibai.
Inside the palace, Consort Xu heard about her brother's encounter with Shen Shiwan's bridal sedan chair. She was both angry and heartbroken for her brother, feeling that the Empress had gone too far. With tears in her eyes, she said, "I knew it! How could she be so kind? Turns out she was waiting here! This is simply outrageous!"