dkrc Chapter 129 Manipulating the Empress Dowager
Chapter 129 Manipulating the Empress Dowager
"I didn't mean anything by it. Do you think I'd kill you? Murder is illegal, don't you know that?"
As a result, Shen Shixi said this again.
Yang Tingyue couldn't figure her out and went back in a huff.
The main reason is that Shen Shixi is injured, so the two can't fight. She absolutely can't beat Shen Shixi verbally.
When Yang Tingyue came to Zhaoyang Palace, the Empress Dowager summoned the Emperor and mentioned that Yang Tingyue's mother had passed away and entrusted Yang Tingyue to her before her death.
"And her younger brother, Yang Tingyu, what abilities do I have? I can only hope that you will take good care of him."
Li Yuanke naturally wouldn't refuse such a thing. "When he grows up and has some abilities, I will make arrangements. Right now, he should focus on his studies."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "You used to dislike reading too."
"I practice riding and archery, and I have also read quite a few books."
However, none of them were Confucian classics. Some were read by Shen Shixi, so he would take a look, and if he didn't understand them, he would ask someone to explain them to him.
As for the kind of arduous study that leads to eloquent speech, he was unwilling to learn that.
"And Tingyue!" The Empress Dowager knew her son was very resistant. "She has admired you since she was a child. In the past two years, I have tried to persuade her a lot, but ever since Xi'er entered the palace, she has refused to listen to me. I can't do anything about it."
Li Yuanke was very disgusted, "What can she do in the palace?"
For Li Yuanke, the value of the imperial harem lay in ensuring the continuation of the imperial line.
But he wouldn't even look at Yang Tingyue, let alone sleep with her. He was always comparing himself to Xi'er. How could he not know that Yang Tingyue was infatuated with him, and that her fighting with Xi'er and flirting with her were all just ways to get his attention?
If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's sake, who would dare to covet him like this? Li Yuanke would have killed them long ago.
"You didn't have many women in your harem to begin with, and you've already dismissed quite a few. What difference does it make to you if she enters the palace, whether there's one more or one less person?"
"She's arrogant, unreasonable, disdainful, and disregards etiquette. If she enters the palace, won't she cause endless trouble? Won't the Empress Dowager side with her?"
Li Yuanke was very unhappy. In his opinion, the Empress Dowager was making him suffer for the sake of a niece.
The Empress Dowager was speechless.
Aunt Qingruo tried to dissuade him, "Your Majesty, please stop. This old servant feels that Consort Yuan is qualified for all of what you've said. You're just worried that if Miss Yang enters the palace, she and Consort Yuan will not get along."
"No matter how much trouble she and Consort Yuan cause in the future, wouldn't the Empress Dowager just mind her own business? Besides, from now on, they'll be under the Empress's jurisdiction. How can the Empress Dowager interfere in the Emperor's harem affairs?"
Li Yuanke said, "Mother, you need to think this through. Yang Tingyue will not enter the harem. For your sake, Xi'er will always be a little more considerate of her."
But if she enters my harem, she will become a concubine. You promised not to favor one over the other, so no matter what happens in the future, don't blame Xi'er.
This is how they manipulate the Empress Dowager.
You can enter the palace, but if my people clash with yours, you're not allowed to help them! And don't force me to do anything!
Yang Tingyue then became the fish on Shen Shixi's chopping board.
The Empress Dowager naturally understood, but what could she do?
Once she sat on the throne, she was first the emperor, and only then did she become her son!
I understand the reasoning, but when it really comes to this, the Empress Dowager will still be sad and heartbroken.
After Li Yuanke left, Aunt Qingruo was still a little worried. "Empress Dowager, what if what the Emperor said is really true?"
The Empress Dowager shook her head. "She insists on entering the palace. What can I do? I'm not worried about Xi'er. She's an open-minded girl and won't really do anything to Tingyue. I'm worried about Tingyue herself, and about the rest of the people."
The emperor protected Shen Shixi very well, and Shen Shixi herself was extremely intelligent, but in the end, she still fell into a trap. As for that fool Yang Tingyue, I wonder how many chapters she can survive in the harem.
When Yang Tingyue returned, she heard that the Emperor had just left. She was very disappointed, but now she could finally openly admire her older cousin.
The Empress Dowager asked her, "You went to see Consort Yuan, what were your thoughts?"
"How could she be so useless, getting schemed against like this!" Yang Tingyue almost blurted out the word "idiot." "Aunt, she actually doesn't want me to enter the palace! My cousin isn't just hers, and she's not the Empress, what right does she have!"
The Empress Dowager glanced helplessly at Aunt Qingruo.
Aunt Qingruo pretended not to see it and didn't want to get involved.
Helpless, the Empress Dowager could only say, "If you enter the harem, I will not speak for others, but I only ask one thing of you: to get along well with Consort Yuan. If you cannot do this, I will not agree to your request."
Shen Shixi is not a good-tempered person, and her methods are ruthless. If she angers Yang Tingyue, she won't be able to go a single blow with her.
Yang Tingyue was very indignant. "Aunt, don't you love Yue'er anymore? You used to love Shen Shixi more than Yue'er."
The Empress Dowager wasn't buying it. "Just tell me if you can do it or not?"
Yang Tingyue had no choice but to agree, though she secretly thought she would decide after entering the palace.
The Empress Dowager sent Aunt Qingruo to invite the Empress.
The Empress's pregnancy was already precarious, and she was frightened at Zhaoyang Palace that day, which caused her to bleed. She has been resting in bed for the past few days, but the affairs in the harem are far from over.
The Empress Dowager and the Emperor were like blind men; they didn't even bother to find someone to help manage the affairs of the inner palace. Everything remained the same as before: they would return to Fengyi Palace and wait for the Empress to deal with them.
The Empress was carried over, and as she was bowing, the Empress Dowager finally remembered and said, "Quickly, you may dispense with the formalities. You are pregnant now, so there's no need for such formalities in the future."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The Empress, who was usually very particular about etiquette, did not insist on it this time, which showed that she was really not good.
"I called you here to talk about the current state of the harem, and all the things that have happened so far! Let's not even talk about Consort Yuan, who was only selected this year and several people were brought in along the way. But now, how many of her are still capable?"
It's hard to believe without counting; including Song Zhihuan and the two princesses, a total of nine generals have been lost.
That's outrageous!
The Empress was also frightened and wanted to kneel down to apologize, but Aunt Qingruo stopped her.
"It's not entirely your fault!"
But there's still something strange about it.
The Empress hurriedly said, "Mother, it's all my fault. I'm incompetent, which has led to the dwindling number of people in the Emperor's harem. I've taken a liking to someone, and I beg you, Mother, for the sake of the Emperor, to be willing to part with her."
They both knew exactly what they were talking about.
The Empress Dowager said, "Tell me about it."
"Your Majesty, I think Tingyue is a good girl. I had this idea before. Now that she has lost her mother, I think the Empress Dowager is also reluctant to let her be alone. I think it would be better to let her enter the palace during the mourning period."
If we're talking about the best marriage in the world, which one can compare to the Emperor? Sister Tingyue can enjoy the Empress Dowager's favor for a long time.
The Empress Dowager was also satisfied. "That's fine then, you make the arrangements!"
"Thank you for your kind consideration, Your Majesty!" The Empress seemed very pleased. "I wonder which palace would be best for Sister Tingyue? I think Sihuang Pavilion is quite nice; it's the largest pavilion and close to both Cining Palace and Qianyuan Palace..."
"Let her stay at Menglan Pavilion!" The Empress Dowager interrupted her, giving her a deep look.
Sihuang, what an ironic name!
"Aunt!" Yang Tingyue was initially overjoyed, but when she heard that she was to live so far away, she immediately became unhappy. She wanted to live near Qian Yuan Palace.
Menglan Pavilion is to the east, separated by at least two palaces, which is too far.
The Empress Dowager gave her a cold look.
The Empress then suggested, "How about Xuanruo Pavilion? It's closer to Mother's place, and it would be convenient for Sister Tingyue to come and keep Mother company whenever she wants."
It is mainly located very close to Zhaoyang Palace and Qianyuan Palace.
Yang Tingyue was looking forward to it.
But the Empress Dowager refused, saying, "Just do as I say."
The Empress had no choice but to reply, "Yes!"
Inside Zhaoyang Palace, the same words were being spoken. Bai Ping was furious. "I really don't understand Miss Yang. She can't listen to anything, good or bad. How could she be so foolish as to insist on coming to the palace? I don't know how she'll be able to stand up to you, Master, in the future."
"I'm not afraid of her!" Shen Shixi was just having fun with her. She pulled the blanket up and wrapped herself up. Then she heard people outside greeting her. She looked at the door and sure enough, the emperor came in.
Shen Shixi stretched out her hands, and Li Yuanke waited in front of the incense burner for a while before coming over and hugging her. "I'm cold."
Through the window, you can see that the snow has stopped and the winter sun is shining brightly.
Shen Shixi nestled in his arms, her hands burrowing into his neck, making him hiss from the cold. "You rascal, are you cold but I'm not? How are you today? What did the imperial physician say?"
"That's great!"
After being sick for a while, Shen Shixi became impatient. He couldn't go out and could only lie in bed, which was so uncomfortable!
Li Yuange rolled his eyes at her, seeing right through her thoughts. "Take good care of yourself and don't get any other ideas. You're weak right now, and it's cold. Don't even think about going out. It's freezing outside, what's so fun about that!"