radicalducati Chapter 73 She also has a hot spring pool now.
Chapter 73 She also has a hot spring pool now.
When she arrived, Shen Shixi rode in her own carriage. On the way back, Li Yuanke summoned her to accompany him, mainly asking about her glassmaking skills, "Where did you learn those crafts?"
"I haven't just been eating and playing around all these years; that's how I've gained so much knowledge and experience. The best place to make glass is still Persia. I met a Persian merchant recently and learned some techniques from him. Let's give it a try; maybe it'll work."
Shen Shixi nestled in his arms. This dragon carriage was huge, and the shock absorption was much better than her small car. It was much more comfortable to sit in, and before long, Shen Shixi fell into a deep sleep.
When they were almost in the capital, Li Yuanke woke her up and had someone take her to his carriage.
Shen Shixi woke up and didn't go back to sleep. Looking at the scenery of the capital, she sighed, "Alas, when will I have the chance to stroll around these streets again?"
Bai Ping asked, "What nonsense is Master talking about?"
"Ha, you know I'm talking nonsense. What do you think would happen if I jumped down and ran away right now?" Shen Shixi was having another episode.
Bai Ping, who knew her well, was understandably startled. "My lady, you mustn't do such a thing! Even if the Emperor indulges you, this is still a grave act of disrespect. You shouldn't be thinking about your own safety, but rather about the master and the whole family, shouldn't you?"
"I was just thinking about it! What are you worrying about? Look, see that bookstore? I'll have someone pick out a few storybooks for me to read later."
Upon returning to the palace, Consort Qiong led the remaining concubines to greet the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress. "Your Majesty, we pay our respects to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and Her Majesty the Empress. May you enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"
"Get up, all of you! It's late today, so you should all go back to your homes. We can talk about it tomorrow!" The Empress Dowager said wearily.
Upon returning to Zhaoyang Palace, the entire palace was waiting to welcome her.
"This servant greets Consort Yuan. May you be blessed with good fortune!"
Shen Shixi smiled and said, "Get up, everyone. You've all worked hard these past few days!"
The courtyard had changed dramatically, and Shen Shixi couldn't take it all in. All the crops she had planted were ripe. The tomatoes were bright red, the peppers were also a sea of red, the corn had grown tassels and looked ready to eat, and the potatoes and sweet potatoes were definitely ready to be dug up.
Shen Shixi immediately picked the reddest tomato, washed it, took a bite, and found it to be sweet and sour. Wow, it was so delicious!
In her later years, she had eaten expensive Provence tomatoes, and those pink tomatoes sold in supermarkets weren't naturally ripened. Hers were pure, natural, and pollution-free tomatoes with an incredibly refreshing taste.
Shen Shixi was about to take a bath when Bai Kui said, "While Your Majesty was away from the palace, the Imperial Household Department built a bathhouse for us. The water is fresh and clean, drawn from the hot spring in Qian Yuan Palace. It will be much more convenient for Your Majesty to take a bath from now on."
"Okay, I understand!"
A side hall was specially built where the bath was located, and the interior was also very luxurious. A long carpet ran from the palace to the bath. The bath was about half the size of a basketball court, paved with white marble, and the water was indeed alive.
The windows were opened high to prevent people from peeping. Since the summer heat hadn't subsided, the windows were all open, allowing air to circulate in the upper part of the room, making it less likely to catch a cold while taking a bath.
Shen Shixi was very satisfied, took off her clothes and went downstairs.
While he was resting with his eyes closed in the bath, the emperor arrived. He hadn't arranged anything for him today, and as for the matters concerning Li Yuanjian and the heir of the Duke of Wei's mansion, he could just proceed as planned.
Shen Shixi was startled by the sound of water. When she saw it was him, she said irritably, "You didn't even tell me you were coming. Are you a thief?"
"What are you thinking about, so lost in thought? You didn't even notice I came!" He lifted Shen Shixi's chin and kissed her. They kissed for a while, and Shen Shixi clung to him. "What could I be thinking about? Just rest for a bit."
The two hadn't made love for two or three days, and now that they were aroused, they didn't need to hold back.
Li Yuanke was originally a somewhat patient person, but when he was with her, she would get impatient and eager every time this happened, and Li Yuanke would inevitably be affected by her, and his emotions would easily get the better of him.
Fortunately, Shen Shixi knew her limits and wouldn't keep bothering him with this matter. However, when she thought about it herself, she would just take action.
Li Yuanke held her up, and the two shared a deep kiss.
The hall was empty except for the sound of water splashing against the pool wall. The hot spring made people feel soft and limp. Shen Shixi lay on the pool wall like a willow branch swaying in the wind.
Waves rippled across the hot spring pool, lapping against the pool walls and splashing water.
Shen Shixi was tossed high into the air by the waves and then fell rapidly back down, like a small boat floating on the sea in a storm, which could be swallowed up by the waves at any moment.
Shen Shixi was finally carried up by Li Yuanke. After drying off the water droplets, the two of them put on some clothes and then came out.
Before dinner, Shen Shixi had someone pickle a tomato with icing sugar. "Your Majesty, please try it in a moment. There are many ways to eat this kind of red fruit. It can be stewed with beef brisket, stir-fried with eggs, or eaten raw like a fruit."
Tomorrow, I will go to the Empress Dowager's palace and have someone prepare a meal using these five ingredients for the Emperor to enjoy!
"good!"
"We humbly request Your Majesty to bestow names upon these five ingredients!"
She pulled Li Yuanke along and made him dig up sweet potatoes and potatoes, break off an ear of corn, pick red peppers, and pick a tomato. Shen Shixi also explained to him how to eat these foods.
"By the way, how are the crops growing in His Majesty's Qian Yuan Palace?"
Li Yuanke said, "It's been managed quite well. Your people go to check on it every day and guide them on how to take care of it. They've done a good job. I'll reward them later."
"Then I will express my gratitude on their behalf!"
When it comes to such an important matter, Shen Shixi is extremely serious.
Li Yuanke didn't have the obsession of bestowing a name upon his son. Whether or not he was given a name was irrelevant to him, since the son wasn't his own.
Hearing Shen Shixi say how outsiders called them, he just followed suit: potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, peppers, and tomatoes. "Just use the names Xi'er used before, as long as you know what they are."
During dinner, Li Yuanke almost finished the plate of candied tomatoes. "They tasted good. I'll wait for Xi'er's meal tomorrow."
When will you be free?
"Let's have lunch. I'd like to eat as soon as possible."
Li Yuanke naturally stayed in Zhaoyang Palace. In the middle of the night, he was so overwhelmed by the weight that he could hardly breathe. Shen Shixi was lying on top of him, and if she had taken another half step, she would have fallen.
Just as Li Yuanke was about to pull her off, he realized their position... and couldn't resist the urge to punish her properly, so he didn't hesitate any longer.
Shen Shixi thought she was dreaming.
【Duck, what's wrong with me? Why would I have such a dream? It's so real!】
She opened her eyes to find herself being held down by Li Yuanke, who seemed determined to nail her to the bed.
Li Yuanke's two muscles were clearly defined, and his strong arms pressed down on her shoulders. She couldn't push him away or break free, which only aroused his excitement.
"Aaaaah, Li Yuanke, are you crazy? You bastard, taking advantage of someone in distress! What's wrong with you? Did you take the wrong medicine?"
Sweat rolled down Li Yuanke's face. "I was sleeping soundly, I thought I was being paralyzed by a ghost! What kind of sleeping posture is this? I'm going to be crushed to death by you in the middle of the night sooner or later!"
Shen Shixi immediately realized she was in the wrong, "You, you, you're just being crazy, why are you dragging me into this?"
Although she was woken up, she didn't go to court!
Besides, she wasn't actually uncomfortable; she simply lay down, whimpering softly, her eyes reddening and tears welling up, looking like a vixen who could melt a person's heart.
Li Yuanke was in high spirits and ate a hearty meal.
The two went back to bed; it was almost dawn.
In this season, it still gets light very early.
When the Empress woke up in the morning, she learned that the Emperor had stayed overnight at Zhaoyang Palace again. She ordered someone to bring her the official records: "In half a month, the Emperor has chosen her five or six times. There are still a few days left before she is due to have a stroke, and the Emperor still stayed overnight at her place."
The Emperor hasn't really touched any of the new concubines. He only visited Consort De once, but she was pregnant and therefore not allowed to serve him. Consort Zheng, Consort Su, and Consort Yuan each served him once. The Emperor is truly showing favoritism!