manynovel Chapter 6 Rewards and Promotions
Chapter 6 Rewards and Promotions
Bai Ping, supporting Shen Shixi, whispered, "Baolin, if this happens, she'll probably hold a grudge against you!"
"So what if she holds a grudge? Does she stop holding a grudge just because I talk to her?"
In many people's eyes, she, as a relative, was an outsider who blocked their way.
The harem was full of women who served the emperor in bed. The empress wasn't much more noble, and the infighting among them was even fiercer than that of the previous dynasty.
Therefore, she doesn't want to get involved with anyone. Let whoever wants to kill, as long as they don't splatter blood on her.
"She was the first to serve the emperor, so she thought she had a place in his heart. She didn't like me, or maybe she wanted to get some information out of me."
Just be a good person with connections and do your job well; there's nothing to fight for!
An emperor is a creature that can be given but not taken away, especially since Li Yuanke has a terrible temper.
He didn't even appoint a crown princess back then. The reason he has Empress Pei now is because he was forced to do so when he ascended the throne. He may not be happy about it.
However, he also has one great advantage: he looks down on everyone equally, so he does bad things openly and never schemes behind people's backs.
The Empress echoed this sentiment, saying, "The Emperor's thoughts are becoming increasingly unfathomable. Tell me, what was his intention in sparing those five people that day?"
The draft was by no means a fair competition, especially the first draft after the emperor ascended the throne.
The Empress handed the list of five people to Granny Qu. "Shen was the one I had already decided on. Li took the initiative to curry favor with the Emperor. As for the other three, Lin, Pan, and Su, I really can't understand what's so special about them that they were all kept."
The other person chosen was Chen, and the Marquis of Zhongyong's family got in through the Empress's back door.
The Empress naturally agreed. With Lady Shen in, it would be best to use Lady Chen to compete.
"It's better than having a few more come in, otherwise Her Majesty will have even more of a headache," said Granny Qu. "Besides palace affairs, Her Majesty's most important task now is to take good care of her health and give birth to a legitimate son as soon as possible."
Pei was brought into the Crown Prince's residence at the age of thirteen. At that time, she had not yet had her first period. Later, the late emperor passed away, and the mourning period ended. It was not until last winter that she consummated her marriage with the emperor.
She also wanted to give birth to a legitimate son as soon as possible, preferably before everyone else, to give birth to the emperor's first son after his ascension to the throne.
"What does the Empress think of this young Lady Shen?" The Empress always felt uneasy; compared to the one who had died, this one was much more unpredictable.
Granny Qu reassured her, "She's clever. The cleverer she is, the less Your Highness needs to worry. Such a person knows her place. I think she's willing to respect Your Highness. If Your Highness lets her have her way, she'll surely live in peace with Your Highness."
The Empress thought the same thing, "I know that anyone in this palace can get into trouble, but she can't!"
As for others who insist on attacking Shen Shixi, that's none of her business.
She summoned someone to deliver the gifts intended for Shen Shixi, making sure they were of higher quality: four bolts of palace satin and eight pieces of jewelry, all of them fine items.
The breakfast at Zhaoyang Palace today was quite good; there was a wide variety of dishes, the presentation was good, and the taste was acceptable.
This is the benefit of being favored; no wonder the women in the harem fought tooth and nail for it.
The emperor's gifts also arrived, personally delivered by Li Fude, who read out the gift list:
"By imperial decree, Lady Shen of Baolin, who is known for her virtuous conduct, chastity, and respect, is hereby granted the title of Talented Lady."
Shen Shixi was stunned for a while. Li Fude reminded her, "Consort Shen, accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude!"
Shen Shixi then thanked the emperor and accepted the edict. Upon unfolding it, he discovered it was a personal imperial edict from Li Yuanke. Perhaps it was written by the Hanlin scholars; otherwise, he must have been blind to write "pure and virtuous in demeanor, chaste and respectful."
"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!"
"Consort Shen, His Majesty has more rewards to bestow!" Li Fude waved his hand, and seven or eight boxes were carried up behind him one after another, all filled with rewards for her.
Li Fude didn't read out the gift list, but gave it directly to Shen Shixi. She looked at it and saw that it included 100 taels of gold, 2,000 taels of silver, 12 bolts of silk, 24 pieces of jewelry, and various decorative items and paintings.
They probably heard that she paid for the decorations herself from the Imperial Household Department, which is why they rewarded her so much.
This reward was truly substantial. Li Fude had chosen it according to the Emperor's decree, and he knew perfectly well that Shen Cairen would be overjoyed. However, she only glanced at it twice and said, "Put them all away and register them."
Li Fude was a little anxious, thinking to himself that this Master Shen was quite picky. Twelve bolts of fine brocade were only given to those of the rank of concubine or above, yet she didn't even look at them.
"Consort Shen, here is a jade bracelet. His Majesty acquired it several years ago and has kept it all this time, reluctant to part with it. He only said today that he would take it out to bestow upon you!"
Li Fude took it out and presented it with both hands.
The pink jade bracelet resembles peach blossoms formed by a light rain, its pale pink hue delicate and its translucent appearance captivating.
It's good, very rare, and it's finally caught her eye.
Shen Shixi wore it on her wrist, and it looked like a circle of peach blossoms floating around her, the pink and white contrasting like a light rain of peach blossoms falling on a handful of snow.
"Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty. You are too kind, Eunuch!" Shen Shixi asked Bai Ping to give him a generous reward.
Bai Ping handed a purse to Li Fude. It was so light that Li Fude knew it was quite heavy.
"It is His Majesty's high regard for Consort Xi; I dare not take credit for it!" Li Fude said with a smile.
"The Emperor only talks about rewarding me. Does he expect to personally go to the storeroom and choose what he wants? Whatever he rewards me with is all thanks to the Eunuch for my sake. How could I not appreciate it?"
But these bracelets were specially ordered by the Emperor to be given to Consort Shen. Li Fude didn't say anything, but he wouldn't dare to touch such a special gift unless the Emperor told him.
Shen Cai Ren is clearly a smart person; this goes without saying.
After she was promoted, she had more servants, including two eunuchs and two maids. Shen Shixi instructed Chao En and Lan Ying to manage them well and not allow anyone from Zhaoyang Palace to have any dealings with anyone from any other palace outside.
Today, everyone in Zhaoyang Palace is rewarded.
After that, Shen Shixi asked Chao En to go to the Imperial Household Department to remove her jade pendant.
"Master, why is this?"
Chao En didn't understand, and he wasn't the only one who didn't understand. Wasn't this a perfect opportunity? The Emperor didn't blame his master for being rude and even bestowed a generous reward upon him. Yet, his master didn't even thank the Emperor for his kindness; instead, he seemed to be giving him the cold shoulder.
"Just do as I say, don't ask so many whys." Shen Shixi has never liked explaining to people.
Chao En dared not ask any further questions and did as instructed.
Back in Qian Yuan Palace, Li Fude returned to report, "Master Shen is extremely grateful and delighted with the Emperor's reward; he was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes!"
Li Yuanke looked up at Li Fude and asked, "How much did you get from her?"
Li Fude knelt down with a thud. "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, please understand! Master Shen rewarded me with one hundred taels of silver, but I... I was afraid... afraid that Your Majesty would be too upset..."
Li Yuanke didn't seem inclined to pursue the matter further. "She didn't even fancy that peach blossom bracelet?"
"The only thing I'd like is that peach blossom bracelet; I didn't look at anything else much."
"Ha, what a bastard, she's a heartless scoundrel."
"Your Majesty, there is one more thing!" Li Fude simply closed his eyes and blurted it out in one breath, "Master Shen has removed the jade tablet."
The jade plaques contained the names and ranks of the concubines. Every evening before dinner, the emperor would flip the plaques to select the concubine who would serve him in bed. Unless she was ill and had menstrual blood, the plaques were generally not removed.
Removing it means not serving the emperor in bed.
"Is she sick?"
"No imperial physician was summoned," Li Fude said.
"What happened during your morning greetings today?" The Emperor knew that Shen Shixi had insisted on paying his respects today.
When Li Fude recounted Jiang Jieyu's provocation during his greetings, the emperor's face darkened upon hearing it.
Soon, an imperial edict arrived from Qian Yuan Palace, demoting Jiang Jieyu to the rank of Cai Ren (a lower-ranking concubine) for "speaking foul language and slandering the Emperor." This was a very serious crime, and the Emperor's decision not to take her life can only be described as extremely merciful.
But the emperor was not merciful. It can only be said that the emperor knew that Consort Jiang did not mean that, but he also hated Consort Jiang's mouth. Even if Li Yuanke did not care about his reputation, he did not want to be said to have been having a good time and then dozing off on his way to court.
The main thing is that the two of them were arguing together, but Shen Shixi went to pay her respects as if nothing had happened.
Consort Jiang was terrified, as was Consort Xu, who lived with her in Huilan Palace.
She was actually reborn! Why couldn't she have been reborn sooner? She didn't want to enter the palace as a favored concubine at all!