allendalepharm On the Eve of Chapter 261
On the Eve of Chapter 261
Li Yuanke held her waist, not even wanting to lift his eyelids. "Shen Shixi, if you have any conscience at all, help me finish reading these memorials on the table and give your replies."
Shen Shixi leaned against his chest, "If you keep acting like this, I won't come next time you ask me!"
Li Yuanke laughed angrily, "What do you think I called you here for?"
"Oh, I thought you called me here to sleep with me!"
Shen Shixi drew circles on his chest with her hand, and Li Yuanke grasped her hand and kissed her.
Shen Shixi wrapped her arms around his neck, and the two shared a deep kiss.
As soon as Shen Shixi arrived, Li Fude went out and closed the palace door. The two masters hadn't been together for several days, and he had gradually gotten used to their behavior of doing things anytime, anywhere.
Li Yuanke lifted her skirt.
Shen Shixi bit his cheek and ground her teeth.
Some inappropriate sounds could be heard inside the hall.
Outside the door, Li Fude walked even further away and instructed Jiang You to stand guard at the door. In broad daylight, what if some ignorant minister wanted to come to pay his respects? How would they receive him?
The ministers didn't come, but the empress did.
Jiang You saw the Empress's figure and groaned inwardly. The Empress always came at the worst possible time, and today was even worse.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor is very busy right now and is afraid he cannot see you!" Jiang You said nervously, thinking to herself, "What kind of situation is this!"
The Empress was immediately enraged. "Whether the Emperor sees me or not is not up to you."
With her family backing her up, she now has confidence.
She didn't know that Shen Shixi had just arrived, so she thought she didn't know that the Emperor was with that slut Shen Shixi right now?
Jiang You knelt down, refusing to let the Empress in no matter what.
If you put that in, his head will be gone in an instant.
The Empress was furious. If it weren't for the Emperor's reputation, she would have stormed in. Who knows how the Emperor would be bewitched by that vixen Shen Shixi right now? In broad daylight, who knows if he's doing something shameful.
A young eunuch quickly went to inform Li Fude.
Li Fude also realized the situation was bad. He didn't dare to tell the Emperor, because if the Emperor got angry at this crucial moment, no one could bear the consequences.
He had no choice but to ignore his godson.
Jiang had to shoulder the burden alone.
Inside, Li Yuanke was in high spirits.
Shen Shixi was also engrossed in it.
She clung to Li Yuanke, her body as limp as noodles.
"You damn brat, why are you being so obedient this time?"
Shen Shixi bit his lip, scratching it like a kitten. "You're not old yet. Wait until you're old and can't move anymore, then it'll be my turn!"
"I'm over twenty-five!"
Shen Shixi grumbled a few times, which only fueled Li Yuanke's anger, and he began to strike without mercy.
The two of them collapsed onto the bed. Li Yuanke pulled her onto his lap, stroking her shoulders and back, "Are you tired? Stay and keep me company."
He lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead.
"Ugh, I'm sleepy, Li Yuanke, I need to take a shower. You're so sweaty and stinky!" Shen Shixi kicked him in disgust.
Li Yuanke grabbed her ankle and squeezed it. "You bastard, why didn't you look down on me just now?"
"If I dislike you, then I'll have no one to sleep with! Li Yuanke, why did you have to become emperor of all things? You're exhausted like a dog every day, and your life is constantly insecure!"
Li Yuanke sneered, "If I weren't emperor, would you have some wicked thoughts?"
[If this bastard doesn't become emperor, I'll tie him to the bed, oh my, lock him up with a gold chain, tsk tsk, that physique, those abs...]
Li Yuanke picked her up, but his hand trembled, and Shen Shixi almost fell. Startled, she turned and threw herself into his arms. "Li Yuanke, what are you doing?"
Outside the door, Li Fude heard the noise subside and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived. She's been waiting for almost half an hour!"
Jiang Youdu was unable to withstand the attack and remained kneeling on the ground, refusing to get up.
The Empress also went mad and insisted on coming in.
Li Yuanke said, "Understood. Those who wish to wait can wait, and those who don't can go back!"
The two of them took a leisurely bath at the hot spring. Fortunately, Li Yuanke had been staying up late every day recently and didn't dare to overexert himself. This rascal was only interested in his body, and he didn't dare to risk anything serious, so he didn't continue.
After noon, Shen Shixi finished washing up and went to bed.
Li Yuanke changed his clothes and washed up before going to his study. The Empress was still there and waiting to see him, so he had no choice but to let her in.
Li Fude poured him a cup of tea, which Li Yuanke gulped down in two large mouthfuls. He then asked, "What is it?"
Seeing that the Emperor's eyes still seemed to hold a hint of lust, and that he looked utterly satisfied, the Empress felt extremely uncomfortable and couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, I heard that Sister Chenyuan has arrived, but I haven't seen her?"
The emperor gave her a displeased look. "If you want to find the Imperial Noble Consort, what are you looking for here with me? Go look for her at Zhaoyang Palace!"
The Empress, taken aback by the rebuke, choked for a moment, "That's not what I meant. I waited outside the palace for almost half an hour. Is there something Your Majesty is busy with?"
To do such a thing in broad daylight! If word gets out, what kind of image will this have?
The emperor grew even more displeased, his expression turning cold. "If the empress has nothing urgent, she should return to the palace. I have other matters to attend to!"
The Empress dared not argue any further and said, "Your Majesty, I have come to inquire about the Mid-Autumn Festival. What are the plans for this year's festival in the palace? Who will be invited?"
"We will do the same thing as in previous years!"
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the emperor stayed at Fengyi Palace and bestowed a grand reward the following day.
At that time, the edict deposing the empress was still lying in the emperor's study, and the key to the lock box was hanging on Li Fude's waist.
Everyone, both inside and outside the court, was focused on the Empress's belly.
Meanwhile, a carriage carrying Pei Xunli's concubine, who was a month pregnant, returned to the capital from Bingzhou and settled in the Pei family's villa on the outskirts of the capital to rest and prepare for childbirth.
In September, the long-standing stalemate between the court and the central government finally began the process of recommending the Grand Secretary.
The emperor had been avoiding the matter of selecting a new Grand Secretary, but Prime Minister Pei insisted. In the end, the emperor did not persist and selected Cui Fangli, the grandson of the former Minister of Rites and from a prominent family, as the new Grand Secretary.
Prime Minister Pei and the Emperor insisted on different people, and Cui Fangli was a compromise, which Prime Minister Pei was very satisfied with.
If the emperor insists on his own way, or if the emperor gives in to Prime Minister Pei's wishes, Prime Minister Pei will be uneasy.
The emperor's insistence on his own opinion meant that he was well prepared, otherwise he would not have dared to challenge them. If they had his way, it would mean that their actions were already within the emperor's expectations, and they would have had no chance of winning.
On the 18th of October, the Emperor's birthday, the Empress was diagnosed with a pregnancy.
Pei Gaoshi also breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that the emperor could still get the empress pregnant proved that the emperor was not yet on guard. Naturally, their actions needed to be expedited.
She asked the person sent to Longyou, "What did Yang Shougui say?"
The man replied, "The military governor said he will act according to the circumstances!"
Pei Gaoshi breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Yang Shougui, having removed his armor, returned to the inner courtyard. Madam Bai personally served him tea, waved for everyone else to leave, and massaged his shoulders as she spoke.
"Our Cheng'er is already seventeen years old this year, it's time to arrange a marriage. I've looked at several young ladies, and I think the daughter of the Prefect of Tianshui County is quite nice, but unfortunately, she's the legitimate daughter and doesn't think much of Cheng'er!"