RNP Chapter 7 Asking for Grace
Chapter 7 Asking for Grace
In her previous life, she lived for less than three months after entering the palace.
She was the first of the new concubines to die.
Fuju, her personal maid, said, “My lady, Consort Jiang has been demoted. The Emperor has clearly grown tired of her. Since you live in the same palace as her, you will inevitably be affected. Even Consort Li has already served the Emperor, but it hasn’t been your turn yet. If you don’t get to serve the Emperor first, you will fall behind step by step.”
Xu Murong's eyes turned cold. Yes, in her past life, Fu Ju had also told her the same thing. She had sent a generous gift to the Empress and asked her to move to Zhaoyang Palace.
The Empress was more than happy to oblige and had the change given to her.
Zhaoyang Palace was a newly renovated palace, decorated both inside and out, and its furnishings were very luxurious. She was overjoyed at the time.
Who would have thought that the emperor never slept with her until her death?
She lived in the west wing, where a large plot of land in front of the door was later covered with corn as tall as a person, forming a green curtain that blocked all the doors and windows.
She complained to the Emperor, but he replied, "Who gave you permission to move here?"
That was the last time.
Later, she got into a conflict with someone in the Imperial Garden and was pushed into the lotus pond and drowned.
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Xu Murong didn't want to doubt Fuju.
"My lady, in my opinion, if the Emperor summons you to his bedchamber tonight, there will be a chance for things to turn around. If he doesn't summon you, you'll have to find another way out."
Xu Murong remembered that the Emperor would not summon her to his bedchamber tonight; Shen Shixi would be the one to serve him.
"What way out?" She wanted to hear it.
"I heard that Zhaoyang Palace has been newly decorated, and even Consort Rong wants to move in. It must be very nice inside. Why don't you ask the Empress to let us move to Zhaoyang Palace and keep Consort Shen company?"
"I've heard that His Majesty and Consort Shen had a deep bond when His Majesty was still a prince. The generous rewards he bestowed today clearly show that His Majesty treats Consort Shen with special favor. His Majesty will surely visit often in the future, and we'll be able to benefit from that as well."
To put it bluntly, it's about using Shen Shixi to curry favor.
Although she didn't know in her past life, Xu Murong can still see things clearly now, and she's afraid there are quite a few people who have the same idea as her.
After noon, it was heard that the Emperor had gone to Zhaoyang Palace and did not leave until dinner time. He also stopped choosing concubines. Everyone in the harem knew that the Emperor would be staying at Zhaoyang Palace tonight.
Since giving birth to two children, Consort De has rarely served the emperor in bed. Even when the emperor comes to Baoci Palace, he usually just has a meal and rarely stays overnight.
Knowing she couldn't keep the emperor, she arranged for Consort Pan, the daughter of a fifth-rank official named Honglu Temple Vice Minister, to live in a side hall among the new concubines entering the palace.
This year, the Duke of Xinguo's mansion arranged for five young women to be selected for the imperial concubine examination, but only Pan was chosen.
Consort De needs help to maintain her favor with the emperor, and she will also need manpower in the future struggle for the crown prince position. Only by making plans early can she remain invincible.
At this moment, Consort Pan's maid was very anxious. "My lady, the Emperor went to Zhaoyang Palace and hasn't left yet. It seems he's going to stay there. You come from a good family, so you should serve him in bed soon."
Consort Pan was also very anxious. There were twelve of them in total. The further back in the line they were, the less favor they received. If the Emperor became infatuated with someone, wouldn't they have to wait until the year of the monkey and the month of the horse?
You can wait, but you can't wait indefinitely.
When Li Yuanke entered Zhaoyang Palace, Shen Shixi was squatting in the vegetable garden watching the vegetable seeds sprout.
"What are you looking at?" Li Yuanke didn't have anyone announce the ceremony; he simply approached silently.
Startled, Shen Shixi turned around too sharply, lost her balance, and fell to the ground.
Li Yuanke dodged backward, even though he could have easily caught her with a simple gesture, but he laughed as she fell on her bottom.
[You bastard, all you do is laugh at me. You'll be in my hands sooner or later!]
Shen Shixi glanced at Li Yuanke with a resentful look, only to see his smile freeze on his face. Little did she know that Li Yuanke had overheard her inner curses again. She reached out to Li Yuanke, "Your Majesty~~~, won't you help me up?"
Li Yuanke was stunned for a moment before coming over, reaching out to pull her up, and pinching her waist. "I didn't help you just now, you didn't curse me in your heart, did you?"
Shen Shixi pouted her red lips and stomped her foot. "Why does Your Majesty think of me like that? Am I such a hypocrite? I'm so honored that my tripping and falling could make Your Majesty smile!"
[I never imagined I'd be playing King You of Zhou, lighting the beacon fires to amuse my beloved concubine, Li!]
Li Yuanke was furious. He, a dignified emperor, was being secretly slandered as a femme fatale who brought ruin to the country. He grabbed Shen Shixi's chin and demanded, "You really don't blame me?"
Shen Shixi ignored him, stroking Li Yuanke's eyebrows and eyes, which were as beautiful as a painting and as dreamlike as a dream. "Your Majesty is so handsome. My painting skills are not good. I can only capture Your Majesty's form, not your spirit!"
If this guy weren't so incredibly handsome, I'd rather die than go to the palace!
Li Yuanke chuckled coldly a few times, carrying her as he prepared to enter the palace. Seeing the green sprout that had emerged, he asked, "What is this?"
"Over the years, I've collected some plant seeds from outside and tried growing them myself. They're mostly imported foods. If some of them have high yields and can fill our stomachs, Your Majesty will see them with your own eyes, which will make it easier to promote them in the future."
Li Yuanke gave her a deep look, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and strode toward the palace gate.
"Put me down, Yue, I'm throwing up, I'm going to throw up!" Shen Shixi's stomach was stuck on his shoulder, and she was so angry that she kept hitting his back.
Li Fude's eyelids twitched as he watched from behind. Good heavens, you attacked His Majesty in full view of everyone, how could I not see it or not?
Fortunately, Li Yuanke was afraid she would vomit on him, so he put her down, still carrying her in his hand. Once inside the hall, he placed her on his lap and asked, "Did you get into a fight while paying your respects this morning?"
"No, they are all your beloved concubines. As a newcomer, how could I be so tactless as to get involved with these senior ones? They say that a night of marriage brings a hundred nights of affection. You and I were only married for one night, but those others have shared many nights of marriage."
"You scoundrel, what nonsense are you spouting? I only made an empress after I ascended the throne, so where did all this talk of marital affection come from?"
"Oh, I misspoke. Apart from the Empress, we are nothing but lowly concubines. Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I was ignorant and overestimated myself!"
Li Yuanke was so angry he almost became depressed, and he slapped her on the butt.
Shen Shixi shifted closer to him, sitting directly on the crotch of his lap. With a hiss, she lifted him up, angrily saying, "Do you want to cripple me by sitting on me like this?"
Shen Shixi rolled her eyes, tilted her head, leaned on his shoulder, and said softly, "Your Majesty, I wish to ask for a favor!"
Li Yuanke said irritably, "You need my favor? Tell me, how do you plan to ask?"
Shen Shixi's face lit up with a smile. He wrapped his arms around Li Yuanke's neck, cupped his head, and kissed him several times. Li Yuanke's face was covered in saliva from the kisses. He quickly covered Shen Shixi's mouth and said, "I won't allow it!"
Shen Shixi bit his palm, her teeth grinding lightly. Li Yuanke felt an electric shock all over his body, released her, and his heart started beating faster.
Looking outside, the sun was still high in the sky. He was never one to compromise himself.
"Stay with me for a while!" He picked up Shen Shixi and carried her into the inner palace.
After another vigorous session, the two lay down and settled down for a good night's sleep.
Li Yuanke had dinner at Zhaoyang Palace, and the meal that evening was exceptionally lavish.
Even when the emperor dined with the empress, the empress would stand and serve him several bites, only daring to sit down after receiving the emperor's favor. Shen Shixi, however, simply plopped down and began to eat heartily, even more voraciously than the emperor.
While eating, they complained, "The meat filling in this braised lion's head meatball dish wasn't pounded long enough. The one at West Lake Moonlit Pavilion makes the most authentic version."
The eunuch serving the emperor braised lion's head meatballs paused, unsure whether to put them back or place them on the plate.
Li Yuanke reached for the mandarin fish closest to him with his chopsticks.
"Mandarin fish needs to be seasoned with Shaoxing wine to bring out the crab flavor and make the color elegant and pleasing to the eye. This one should be seasoned with Qiuyuebai wine from Beijing, but the taste is still a bit lacking."
He slammed his chopsticks on the table. "Are you going to eat or not? If not, go to sleep!"
He wasn't full!
I really admire that mouth; it can eat and chatter away at the same time, never stopping.