allendalepharm Chapter 341 Full Moon Ceremony
Chapter 341 Full Moon Ceremony
There were a lot of people here today.
Almost all the civil and military officials of the third rank or above, as well as the ladies of the court, came.
The princes were also brought along by their mothers.
Consort Jing has been bedridden for many years, and Consort Du's health is even worse than Consort Jing's. At less than thirty years old, she is already old and frail and can no longer see people, so naturally she cannot come.
Apart from the deposed concubine who was banished to the cold palace, everyone else came.
Since the Empress couldn't come, the Emperor himself came with the Crown Prince and the Princess. Everyone knelt down to pay their respects.
"Your Majesty, we respectfully wish you good health! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Crown Prince! May Princess Xihe be well!"
The eldest princess had no choice but to follow suit and pay her respects. After she rose, the second prince asked her with a smile, "Eldest sister, how do you feel seeing this?"
On the high imperial platform, their father, the emperor, sat on the dragon throne with one child in each arm, excitedly discussing the appearances of the crown prince and princess with several close relatives and ministers.
Prince An laughed, "The Crown Prince and the Princess both look like the Emperor. The Crown Prince even has a mole on his ear that resembles the Emperor's. They really do look alike!"
Previously, Li Yuanke had fantasized that at least one of his two children would resemble Shen Shixi. However, as they grew up day by day, it became clear that the three of them were cut from the same mold, so he had to give up on his hopes.
When the Empress Dowager arrived and paid her respects, she continued the topic, "They look just like the Emperor. These two children were born looking just like him. The Emperor has had quite a few princes and princesses, but these two are the most like him."
The emperor was extremely pleased with himself, while the princes and princesses below didn't even glance at him.
The eldest princess was so angry that tears welled up in her eyes. Her father was so biased. She was clearly her father's eldest princess, but he had never hugged her since she was a child.
"What do you mean?" The eldest princess's voice was very sharp, and everyone around fell silent for a moment.
The second prince smiled, took two steps to the side, and dared not provoke him any further.
He's done his job of making people angry.
The eldest princess always looked down on him, and behind his back she would tell others that his birth mother was a disgraced concubine, and her words were extremely nasty.
As the banquet began, the Emperor had two cribs brought in and placed where the Empress usually sat. The two children slept soundly, undisturbed by the surrounding noise.
Prince An then complimented, "The Crown Prince and Princess are both composed and have a calm demeanor!"
Li Yuanke was very happy to hear his children being praised.
The eldest princess snorted coldly, a sound that was noticed by those around her.
Putting everything else aside, this wheeled crib is certainly a refreshing sight.
The ladies of the court were quite interested and inquired about it, only to find out that it was made by the Imperial Workshop based on the Empress's ingenious ideas.
They found it very convenient to use, as they could simply push it around. So these people thought they would go back to the Imperial Workshop and ask if they could make one for their grandchildren as well.
Hearing everyone praising the Empress again, the eldest princess felt increasingly distressed. Since her mother was poisoned, she had been lying in bed growing weaker day by day, and her father, the Emperor, had not visited her even once.
Her father never held her.
Her heart was filled with resentment.
When it was the princes and princesses' turn to toast the Emperor, the eldest princess asked with tears in her eyes, "Father, my mother is very ill. When can you go to see her? She misses you so much!"
The hall fell silent. The emperor stared at the eldest princess with a terrifyingly intense gaze.
The Empress Dowager panicked, thinking to herself that this child had grown up and was completely disobedient. She quickly said, "Princess, what's wrong with you? Your mother just gave birth to your tenth brother and fifth sister. Your father is busy with state affairs every day and also has to take care of your mother. He will naturally go back to see your mother when he has time. Why don't you leave now!"
The eldest princess cried, "Don't my tenth brother and fifth sister have nannies and aunts to take care of them? Why does Father Emperor have to take care of them personally? Has Father Emperor ever taken care of his children before? Why are my tenth brother and fifth sister treated differently?"
The Empress Dowager found the child unreasonable and laughed, "Your tenth brother and fifth sister are still young, but you are so grown up. How can you still argue with newborn babies? You child, get down here now, or you will become a laughing stock among the nobles and ministers."
The eldest princess stared stubbornly at her father.
Li Yuanke's gaze was stern as he said, "Go down. Today is an auspicious day for the Crown Prince and Xihe. I will forgive you this time, but if there is a next time, I will punish you severely!"
The eldest princess doesn't want to benefit from the Crown Prince and Xihe's fame. Xihe had such a beautiful name as soon as she was born, while she's already so old and still doesn't have a name.
However, she was not afraid of death, but the people around her were. They quickly came up and forcibly pulled her down, using quite a bit of force. But the emperor saw this and said nothing.
The nannies knew that the Emperor didn't have much of a fatherly affection for the eldest princess, so they were relieved.
Yang Baishi brought her son Yang Xiancheng to the banquet today. After the banquet, the two were informed that the Empress had summoned them.
Shen Shixi moved from Zhaoyang Palace to Qianyuan Palace and met Yang Baishi and Yang Xiancheng in the East Warm Pavilion.
Yang Xiancheng was nearly twenty years old, and had red lips and white teeth.
Shen Shixi glanced at it and then instructed Chaoyu, "Go and invite the Second Prince. Have him take Young Master Yang for a stroll in the Imperial Garden. The koi in the Imperial Garden are at their most beautiful at this time of year."
Yang Baishi's son was truly grateful for such treatment, but once the man left, she began to betray him.
"As a woman, I only know that people in the capital are always looking for you, sir. The steward in the house still listens to me. It was only after several attempts that I found out that they were from the Cui family."
"I truly did not expect that, having escaped the Pei family's calamity, an even greater one awaits us now!"
Yang Baishi wiped away her tears, "This humble woman should have lived and died with her husband, but I still have a heart loyal to the emperor. Your Majesty's kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain, and I am eternally grateful. I have no choice but to resort to this desperate measure, and I hope Your Majesty will help me!"
She knelt down and kowtowed.
This time, Shen Shixi had no intention of leniency towards Yang Shougui. Previously, he was focused on dealing with the Pei family and did not want to make things too big.
It's like a person who only has scabies. Squeezing out the pus will cure it, but a quack doctor insists on cutting away the flesh, creating a bigger wound. Why bother?
Moreover, Yang Shougui holds the position of military governor of three towns simultaneously, harboring wolfish ambitions. If this continues, he will become the Zhou Dynasty's version of An Lushan. He may not fear the fate of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, but if he really rebels, the common people will suffer.
Shen Shixi sighed and ordered someone to help Yang Baishi up. "As the old saying goes, a man fears choosing the wrong profession, and a woman fears marrying the wrong man. I greatly admire your loyalty and courage, but unfortunately, your fate is full of twists and turns, and you can only be with a rough man like Yang Shougui. I also feel sorry for you."
"I just saw your son, and he is truly handsome, a refined and elegant young man. I dare not even imagine that he might be implicated by his father and meet a tragic end!"
Yang Baishi feared this most, and tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, "Your Majesty, please show me the way!"
Of course, she did it for her son.
Not to mention that Yang Shougui had no chance of succeeding, even if he did succeed, it was hard to say who would benefit in the future, but she dared not gamble because she had no chance of winning.
The Emperor is skilled in warfare, and the Empress is skilled in strategy. They can accomplish what even Prime Minister Pei couldn't before.
Now that Yang Baishi has secured the Empress's favor, she no longer wants to take risks with Yang Shougui.
Shen Shixi said, "Young Master Yang is, after all, Yang Shougui's own son. If he wants to save his life and clear his name of all charges, there is only one way he can do!"
Yang Baishi was overjoyed and sincerely said, "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"