radicalducati Chapter 173 I'm quitting, okay?
Chapter 173 I'm quitting, okay?
Shen Shixi knew that the emperor was waiting here.
The emperor never cared about royal dignity or anything like that. In his heart, he and Li Yuanzhi were on opposing sides. If Li Yuanzhi's wife could be beheaded in public for committing such a serious crime, he could at least enjoy the spectacle.
So, this person is shameless.
"What do you think, Xi'er?" Li Yuanke picked up his pen, waiting for Shen Shixi's opinion.
Shen Shixi clung to him like a boneless fish, pressing Li Yuanke's body towards the table. "It's either poison or a white silk noose. Why doesn't Your Majesty be a little more merciful and let Prince Jin send her on her way?"
That's too toxic.
Li Yuanke smiled and tapped her nose. "Listen to Xi'er!"
He approved the memorial, instructing Li Fude to deliver the reply to the Ministry of Justice. Then he embraced Shen Shixi, saying, "Xi'er has performed a great service again this time. What reward do you desire?"
The two played exceptionally well this time. After many years, their tacit understanding has likely improved due to more in-depth communication, making them even more in sync.
Shen Shixi hugged him and gave him a big kiss. "I've said it so many times, what's yours is mine, and what's mine is still mine. Tell me, what do you have to give me?"
If it were anyone else, Li Yuanke would have accused someone of treason, but Shen Shixi said he just found it amusing. He bent down to taste a few bites and then became a little irritated. "What does Xi'er want?"
It means you can have whatever you want.
Shen Shixi didn't want anything. She climbed up Li Yuanke's shoulders, put one hand on his leg, and slipped, turning the direction slightly.
"Hiss! You want to cripple me?" Li Yuanke quickly lifted her up.
Shen Shixi bit his neck, but didn't dare to use force, and then bit his jaw.
He has a very sharp jawline, as if carved by a knife and axe, with very beautiful lines that connect with his prominent Adam's apple to form a perfect outline, making him resolute, handsome, and sharp-edged.
Shen Shixi loved it and ate it all.
Li Yuanke was also tempted, and the two embraced and kissed passionately.
Shen Shixi slipped her hand inside his collar and stroked his back. It was warm and smooth, and she could feel the evenness of his muscles. His body was tense, and his arms around her tightened, his breath brushing against her face.
Li Yuanke picked her up, and the two of them walked together towards the hot spring pool, still connected.
There was no one along the way.
Li Fude had already dismissed everyone else when the two masters were alone together.
He was also extremely considerate. The masters hadn't been together for several days, and since they had time and were in the mood today, this was naturally a must.
A soft moan escaped from Shen Shixi's teeth as she bit down hard on Li Yuanke's shoulder and back.
Li Yuanke held her waist.
The glass window next to me was filled with steam, making it blurry.
Their shadows overlapped on the wall, the candlelight flickered, and Shen Shixi's hair, hanging down like seaweed, seemed to sway in the wind.
Her snow-white skin contrasted sharply with Li Yuanke's bronze skin, like snow piled up under the moon.
The two kissed passionately.
The lingering sensation within my body surged up like a tide and then slowly receded.
Li Yuanke carried her down from the hot spring pool and sat on the steps. Shen Shixi leaned against him, feeling weak and powerless.
Their hair floated on the water, intertwined.
Li Yuanke looked down at her, his eyes still moist and slightly red, the lingering passion making her even more alluring.
Li Yuanke then placed her on it.
Shen Shixi gasped and tried to protest by grabbing his shoulders, but Li Yuanke lifted her up. "Don't you want to?"
His voice was hoarse.
Shen Shixi released her grip.
……
Afterwards, the two took a nap together, and when they woke up, they ate their meal with gusto. Li Fude couldn't help but swallow his saliva as he watched.
Cen Yin has arrived. News has come from Jiangnan East Circuit that Marquis Changning, Xu Sheng, was ambushed during the suppression of bandits, was hit by several arrows, and died in battle!
"Your Majesty, there are many suspicious points here. According to the investigation, the news of bandits in Daqin Mountain was told by the Marquis of Jiaqing. The Marquis of Changning's plan to suppress the bandits was originally very secretive, but it was ambushed halfway through. Obviously, someone informed on it."
Moreover, the arrows used in the ambush of Marquis Changning were military supplies.
[Is the Marquis of Jiaqing using someone else to do his dirty work? The Marquis of Changning is also a veteran of the battlefield. Although he could be considered to have died on the battlefield, if someone really informed on him, then he would die in the intrigues of the court. The Marquis of Jiaqing has once again taken control of the military and political affairs of Zhangzhou. The separation of powers among the three departments is indeed not so easy to implement. At this time, Prime Minister Pei may very well have played a role behind the scenes.]
Li Yuanke tapped his fingers on the table. "Where is the heir apparent of the Marquis of Changning?"
He still remembered that the other party was a gorilla-like person, and he was also worried that there would be a prince like Xu Shizi in the future. Therefore, when he summoned the concubines before the New Year, he was very resistant to Xu Shi.
But since his father and brothers were risking their lives for him at the front, it wouldn't be right for him to neglect them.
"The Crown Prince escaped and his whereabouts remain unknown!"
Li Yuanke then summoned five academicians, Prime Minister Pei, several military generals, and key ministers to the East Warm Pavilion of the Taiji Hall for a discussion.
The Empress summoned Shen Shixi.
During the first month of the lunar year, Shen Shixi only went to pay New Year's respects to the Empress and exchanged a few pleasantries. After that, he never went to Fengyi Palace again.
The Empress also pointed out that if she had any questions about palace affairs, she would definitely come to ask, but she didn't.
When the emperor heard about it, he forbade her from coming, but Shen Shixi was not afraid of anyone. She also wanted to see what the empress was going to do, and perhaps she could take the opportunity to return the palace affairs to her.
They came with a purpose.
Shen Shixi bowed, but the Empress did not tell him to rise.
Shen Shixi didn't stand on ceremony and took a seat directly. "I wonder what Your Majesty the Empress has summoned me for?"
Granny Qu remained silent. She did not approve of summoning Lady Shen. The Empress was currently unwell, and Lady Shen would have to be troubled with palace affairs. Besides, she did not approve of the Empress sacrificing herself for Lady Pei.
There's no way to save him anyway, so why drag yourself into it?
The Empress, however, was so coaxed by her mother's kind words that she lost her composure.
It wouldn't be appropriate for the Empress to reprimand anyone herself, and since Granny Qu remained silent, she had no choice but to hold back.
"After reviewing the palace's expenditures over the past two weeks, I found that several thousand taels of silver have been saved compared to this time last year. It is certainly good that Consort Chen is thinking of saving money for the palace."
"I'm afraid you don't know, this is the imperial family, a large and wealthy household, unlike those noble families who have never seen good things. Besides, they are all the emperor's concubines; it's not good to cut back on the expenses of each palace. I've heard that some concubines have to pay out of their own pockets if they want an extra dish or two of pastries. Is that true?"
"A noble family, who has never seen anything good before?" Shen Shixi was too lazy to argue with her, nor did she have the patience to explain anything else to her.
The money saved was because the palace started using coal this year, and the underground heating system used coal, thus saving on firewood and charcoal.
The imperial kitchen also used coal more frequently.
Every year, the palace in winter incurs a significant expense in firewood and charcoal.
As for paying for extra snacks, that's always been the rule; you can't pay for any extra expenses yourself.
The Empress was clearly looking for trouble.
Shen Shixi said, "When Your Majesty mentioned this, I happened to have something to report back to. I heard that Your Majesty's health is much better now, and I think that makes sense. A mere miscarriage is nothing compared to childbirth, and a two-week postpartum period is enough."
"I will send over the accounts and other documents today, and return the palace affairs to Her Majesty the Empress. I hope Her Majesty will understand my limited abilities and inadequate handling of the matter, which has caused distress to my sisters in the palace!"
She raised an eyebrow at the Empress, "Does Your Majesty have any other instructions?"
Can't I just quit?