allendalepharm Chapter 349 Threats, Methods
Chapter 349 Threats, Methods
The Empress Dowager was so angry she was about to vomit blood. She had experienced the fall of the country and the destruction of her family in her lifetime, but as an unfavored princess, she did not receive much love from the last emperor of the previous dynasty. Moreover, she had known the late emperor since childhood and had gone through some storms, but she had not suffered much injustice.
Being threatened repeatedly by her daughter-in-law would be unbearable for most elderly women.
"How dare you!" The Empress Dowager was also furious. "Do you think I can't do anything to you? You're unfilial; I can have the Emperor depose you!"
Shen Shixi smiled and said, "Even if I hadn't given birth to the Crown Prince, and hadn't become Empress, do you think the Emperor would have deposed me?"
"As his own mother, you don't stand on the same side as the Emperor, but instead ally with a bunch of villains. Do you think the Emperor would divorce me, his wife who has shared joys and sorrows with him, and keep you, his own mother who is determined to overthrow him?"
"Aren't you afraid I'll tell everyone about your filial impiety?"
Shen Shixi remained unmoved. "Go ahead and say it! Don't forget, you are the current Empress Dowager and also a princess of the previous dynasty. How many people do you think still remember the good times of the previous dynasty?"
"Your Majesty, I can also tell people that my filial impiety stems from your desire to vindicate the last emperor of the previous dynasty. Do you think the people of the land would agree to that?"
"You, you, you dare to slander me?" This was the first time the Empress Dowager had ever seen such shamelessness; it was simply unheard of.
Shen Shixi said, "How have I been unfilial? I just don't want you to make any bigger mistakes, so offering you advice would be unfilial. You listened to Zhang's words, saying that the Taoist priest was invited by me to sow discord between the Emperor and Li Yuanyin. Isn't that slander?"
She stood up, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I have said all I need to say. Please consider this carefully. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now!"
After Shen Shixi left, it took the Empress Dowager a long time to recover. She hugged Qingruo and cried, "How could she treat me like this? I'm her mother-in-law! Is there any mother-in-law in the world who can be treated like this by her daughter-in-law?"
She was still the Empress Dowager.
What could Qingruo say? She thought to herself, "Was the Empress not good to you when she first entered the palace? Why did you have to act so recklessly? You were always going against the Emperor and Empress, and you were always trying to support your youngest son. You even praised your niece to the skies. You caused a rift between mother and son. Who can you blame?"
Shen Shixi received the homage of noblewomen from both inside and outside the palace at Fengyi Palace.
Fengyi Palace has now become a workplace. With the removal of personal belongings, it appears spacious and empty. After the ceremony, it was getting late, so Shen Shixi ordered a banquet to be held here to entertain the ladies of the court.
She laughed and said, "Originally, I didn't want to celebrate this birthday. I told the Emperor that we got married at this time last year, and the Crown Prince and Princess will have their one-month celebration in February this year. Soon, Princess Xian'an will be born. It's really inappropriate to trouble everyone so frequently."
Today, let's set aside the formalities of ruler and subject, gather together, chat, and reconnect. This is also my way of thanking you all for your years of support in assisting your husbands, enabling them to serve the country loyally.
These words instantly elevated the ordinary daily lives of every noblewoman devoted to her husband and raising her children to a level equal to that of her husband. Everyone was already drunk even before they had a drink.
"Your Majesty's words are something I will have to discuss with my husband when I get back, so he won't keep criticizing me for being a mere woman!"
"That's right, that's what my family says too. They always say that women don't understand this or that. In such a big mansion, am I not busy every day at home? I'm probably not much more relaxed than him."
These words resonated with many, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.
Shen Shixi didn't need to say anything. He sat on the phoenix throne, drinking tea and resting for a while. He would listen to a few words if he wanted to, but he was too lazy to listen if he didn't.
Even though more than a thousand years have passed, the lives of people today and those of people in the future are not that different. Their lifestyles may be vastly different, but the core of life remains unchanged.
Once the banquet was set out, Shen Shixi gave the order, and everyone took their seats.
Seeing that the Empress was kind and approachable, everyone relaxed and came forward to offer her a toast.
She was drinking fruit wine, but Shen Shixi was still worried that drinking too much would be bad for her health. She had only been a month pregnant for a short time, so she only took a small sip. However, she was very particular about her manners when exchanging pleasantries with others.
She has a good memory and knows everything that happens in each family. She chooses topics that are always pleasant to talk about, such as someone's youngest daughter or a newly born grandson. In short, everyone who talks to her feels like they are being treated with kindness and respect.
Liang Ji eventually married the widow Jin, and she came today as well.
In her early thirties, she was remarkably well-preserved, with skin as delicate as a young girl's. She wore her hair in a high bun adorned with a jade swallow hairpin, a light green scholar's robe, an orange-red high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and a dark green embroidered lotus flower robe with wide sleeves, along with a pale yellow printed shawl. Every smile and gesture exuded charm and allure.
No wonder Liang Ji initially looked down on her status as a widow, but in the end he was willing to condescend to marry her.
"Your Majesty, I am the crabapple tree mentioned in Your Majesty's poem, 'A pear tree in full bloom overshadows the crabapple.' Your Majesty, do you think I am worthy of the title 'crabapple'?"
She raised her head and gave Shen Shixi a bewitching smile, causing Shen Shixi's heart to skip a beat and leaving him momentarily stunned.
[Damn, if this widow enters the palace, she'll definitely be a major rival to me! I'm already captivated, so Li Yuanke must be completely smitten!]
Shen Shixi's momentary daze was short-lived. He smiled and said, "Madam is breathtakingly beautiful, even more so than a begonia. Please!"
She raised her glass and exchanged a few drinks with Mr. Kim.
Shen Shixi thought this person was capable, so he said, "Although it's already March, when I went to the Begonia Garden in the Imperial Garden the other day, less than 20% of the flowers were in bloom. I wonder if it's because the weather this year is a bit colder than usual?"
Lady Jin then chimed in, "These crabapple trees must be waiting for Her Majesty the Empress's birthday. The weather is fine today, so they might all be in bloom. I adore crabapple blossoms; would you have the honor of strolling through the Crabapple Garden after the banquet?"
Shen Shixi smiled and said, "After the banquet today, those of you who wish to stroll through the Imperial Garden may do so."
After the banquet, the ladies of the court went about their business in the inner palace. Some went to see their daughters, such as Lady Zhang, while others went to visit the Empress Dowager, though of course, they could not do so now.
Shen Shixi didn't make it too obvious; some people who wanted to go could still go.
For example, the Dowager Lady of Yingguo, who was also the grandmother of Consort Ping Yang Tingyue, also wanted to go to Cining Palace, so she did.
Zhang couldn't help but wonder if the Empress Dowager had seen through something.
Some also went to see the Empress, such as Lady Jin.
Li Yuanke will definitely not come to the inner palace today; Shen Shixi will meet with Lady Jin at Zhaoyang Palace.
She bowed deeply to the Empress and said, "My husband was Gao Jichang, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat. He passed away three years ago. When I went to Ci'en Temple to offer incense for my late husband, I accidentally met Prime Minister Liang, which led to our current fate."
Originally, I absolutely refused to agree. My son with my late husband is still a minor. But after hearing Her Majesty the Empress's poem, "A pear tree in full bloom overshadows a crabapple tree," I agreed to this marriage.
Originally, it was agreed that when she married into the family, she would bring her son with her to raise together. However, Liang Ji made another condition: he could help raise her ex-husband's son, but he had to change his surname.
Kim naturally disagreed and was dissatisfied.
She's already married, so she's essentially being controlled.
Shen Shixi asked, "How old is your son?"
"Twelve years old."
Shen Shixi nodded. "He's the same age as the Second Prince. Now that the Second Prince is choosing a study companion, bring your son to the palace another day so I can take a look."
Ms. Jin was overjoyed.
She knew she had made the right bet.