manynovel Chapter 114: Getting Caught in the Act of Gossip
Chapter 114: Getting Caught in the Act of Gossip
When Shen Shixi had nothing to do, she made a bunch of strange things.
After the wax paper and ink were delivered, she began experimenting.
The multiplication table was etched onto wax paper, and then mimeographing began.
Li Yuanke watched from the side, somewhat incredulous.
She printed it once, but the ink wasn't very good. After some adjustments, she printed it again, and the text was very clear.
Li Yuanke also found it quite eye-opening.
Shen Shixi raised it and said, "From now on, Your Majesty can have people use this to publish the court gazette. It's convenient and quick, but since it's written with a pen, some people may not be used to it."
For Shen Shixi, writing with a hard pen was more convenient than writing with a soft pen, but that might not be the case for people of this era.
Li Yuanyin delivered several large pieces of glass to Shen Shixi, along with a pile of materials she had requested.
The glass delivered this time is of very good quality.
"I adjusted it according to your method, how is it? I think it's done to perfection." Li Yuanyin looked very confident, as if he were taking credit for his work.
Shen Shixi took a look and found it to be very clear, with no impurities. It was comparable to the glass of later generations.
"That's right!" Li Yuanke said truthfully.
"It's barely usable!"
Li Yuanyin ignored Shen Shixi's words and asked, "What exactly do you want such a big piece for?"
"You'll find out when the time comes." Shen Shixi instructed Chao En and the others to move the sandalwood shelf that matched the glass inside and set it up.
"If I had known you were so disloyal, keeping it a secret from me, I wouldn't have made it for you," Li Yuanyin said angrily.
"Heh, if you don't make it for me, plenty of others will. Do you think I care? I'm the one who has the core technology. Don't think that just because you can make glass now, I have to beg you. With the little skill you have, I can crush you in a minute!"
Li Yuanyin didn't believe him. "What other tricks could you possibly have?"
"You only know how to make this kind of glass, right? I can make glass in all sorts of colors. Just think, what price would a woman's headdress, inlaid with colorful glass beads, cost?"
Shen Shixi said, "Also, when the Emperor's birthday arrives, you'll know what this piece of glass can be used for. Then you'll see what you're capable of!"
She turned to Li Yuanke and said, "Your Majesty, I want some glass. Replace all the windows in my palace."
"You cunning woman!" Li Yuanyin gritted his teeth.
Li Yuanke laughed and said, "Get her some of these glass pieces, and while you're at it, replace the ones in Cining Palace, Qianyuan Palace, and the three main halls."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Shen Shixi laughed heartily, as pleased as a hen laying an egg.
With the emperor's birthday just days away, Shen Shixi began making mirrors.
Of course, she didn't forget to make a full-length mirror for herself first. The mirror she planned to give to Li Yuanke was also a full-length mirror. The coating on the back was made using a chemical silver plating method. She had almost forgotten her chemistry knowledge over the years and had to experiment many times to figure out the technique.
No one knows who leaked the news, but it was said that Zhaoyang Palace was closing its doors and windows because it was preparing a big surprise: to present the Emperor with an absolutely stunning treasure as a birthday gift.
Even the emperor was curious and asked Li Fude, "Have you found out what birthday gift Zhaoyang Palace is preparing for me?"
Li Fude shook his head, "Forgive my incompetence, Consort Yuan did not hide anything from people, but what she did was incomprehensible to everyone. Since Consort Yuan did not say anything, no one knew what she was doing."
The Emperor's birthday is on October 18th, while Shen Shixi's birthday is on March 18th. To be precise, Li Yuanke is eight years and seven months older than Shen Shixi.
It was already deep winter.
Snowflakes fell on the first day, and stopped after a day. On the day of my birthday, the sun came out and shone brightly, making everyone feel very happy.
Li Yuanke did not want to hold a grand celebration. Firstly, he was impatient with socializing; secondly, he was still young and didn't want to celebrate his birthday; and thirdly, the Empress Dowager was still alive, so how could a son celebrate his mother's birthday in such a grand way?
This year, as in previous years, a family banquet was held at Qian Yuan Palace. However, the Empress invited all the imperial relatives to attend.
There aren't many princes left from the late emperor's generation; those still alive are mostly his brothers. The only ones Shen Shixi can name are the Prince of Han, the Prince of Kang, and the Prince of An, who came with their wives.
There weren't many people of Li Yuanke's generation. First, they fought with their brothers and killed several of them. After Li Yuanke came to power, he was dissatisfied and caused the deaths of several of them. Now, only five remain.
Everyone was talking about the new glazed windows in Qianyuan Palace. The sunlight was streaming in, making it both bright and warm, and the view outside was unobstructed. No matter how fine the window screens were, they couldn't compare to these glazed windows.
It's said that Li Yuanyin created it, so everyone is asking him for it.
Li Yuanyin dared not take credit for it. "Don't look for me! It was my elder brother who gave me the prescription. I've been helping him with the work. If you want it, go ask my elder brother!"
The Emperor was also talking about this with the Empress Dowager, saying, "It was Xi'er who came up with the idea. My twelfth brother did a good job of making it happen. I'll have him replace all the windows in Mother's palace later."
The Empress Dowager was very pleased. "Xi'er received a reward, and Yuan Yin also contributed. As his elder brother, I won't say how to reward him."
The emperor remained silent.
Li Yuanzhi arrived. He was the third son of Empress Wenzhen, and was granted the title of Prince of Jin.
Princess Consort of Jin was dressed very beautifully today. She came with Prince Jin to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. When they paid their respects to the Emperor and Empress, the etiquette was not so formal, and they performed the family etiquette.
The fact that Li Yuanzhi was older than Li Yuanke, and that Li Yuanzhi was the fourth son while Li Yuanke was the eighth son, made the situation seem even more incongruous.
Lady Qing Zhaoyuan probably didn't want her son to have to deal with such troublesome uncles after he ascended the throne, so she thought Li Yuange might as well just kill Li Yuanzhi as well.
She said, "Oh dear, what kind of etiquette is this, Princess Consort Pei? Forgive me for not understanding, but how can one not perform such a grand ceremony before the Emperor and Empress?"
She didn't call him Princess Jin, but instead called him Princess Pei. You can imagine what her intention was.
This means that the Empress will also be implicated.
Before the Empress could speak, Lady Pei said, "Consort Qing is quite the lady of manners. I heard that she was overshadowed by Consort Yuan, a lowly concubine, and Consort Qing never bothered to discipline her. Yet today she dares to try and control me, the Princess Consort! Even Her Majesty the Empress hasn't said anything, and you're already overstepping your bounds!"
Shen Shixi has somehow managed to get caught up in the gossip herself so quickly.
Although she didn't get along with Qing Zhaoyuan, she was even more hostile towards Pei Fenghua.
Back then, before she even reached marriageable age, Pei Fenghua spread rumors about her. Of course, it's normal for political enemies to use any means necessary, and she never held back. But what can you do when she's so vengeful?
"Princess Consort Jin sounds quite indignant! What, are you eager to help the Empress discipline us concubines?" Shen Shixi said with a smile.
Lady Pei replied, "I wouldn't dare! Everyone knows that Consort Yuan is incredibly capable, back then..."
Shen Shixi said, "Back then, the Pei family wanted to support Prince Jin to sit on the throne, but fate did not favor them. No wonder Princess Jin still holds a grudge to this day."
"Prince Jin, could it be that you now resent your past failures, harbor rebellious intentions, and wish to overthrow the dynasty and regain the throne?"
Before the Prince of Jin could even take his seat, he pulled his wife down to her knees with a thud, weeping bitterly, and said, "Your Majesty, Consort Yuan's words are truly malicious! How could I dare to say such a thing? I had no such intention!"
Shen Shixi wouldn't let it go, "You dare to do it, yet you say you wouldn't even think about it!"
Princess Consort of Jin angrily retorted, "Consort Yuan, don't make false accusations!"
Shen Shixi said, "So what if I spit it out? Don't you also disregard etiquette and have no sense of duty as a subject to the emperor, relying on the emperor's power to protect you and on Prime Minister Pei's influence in court?"
The fig leaf covering up the Prince of Jin and his wife was thus torn off!
The Prince of Jin, enraged, pointed at Shen Shixi and shouted, "You, you, you're talking nonsense!"
Shen Shixi looked at him coldly, "Prince Jin, take your finger back. I hate it when people point at me like that. As long as I am the Emperor's person, you cannot be disrespectful to me, unless you want to rebel!"
The Prince of Jin quickly withdrew his finger, as if it had been burned.