blogombal Chapter 138 The Emperor's Intentions
Chapter 138 The Emperor's Intentions
Shen Shixi is going shopping, how could Li Yuanke possibly go shopping with her? He wants to go shopping too, but is he even capable of doing so?
He's going on a tour, so the censors will have to submit their advice overnight.
There was no other way, so the carriage had to keep stopping and starting. Shen Shixi would look around from inside the carriage, and if she saw something she wanted to buy, she would stop the carriage and have someone buy it for her.
"I want to buy jewelry from Wanbaoge; I need to go and pick some out."
Li Yuanke grabbed her, preventing her from getting out of the carriage, and ordered, "Buy all the jewelry from Wanbaoge this year."
Shen Shixi stopped struggling. Although she might not like many of them, it was the New Year, so it was nice to give them to the palace maids and her family.
She nestled into Li Yuanke's arms, raised her little feet, and swung them back and forth.
[That bastard is the sugar daddy, the biggest sugar daddy, hehe, what else can I buy? Hmm, nothing much to buy. Bringing outside food into the palace is just asking for trouble. Sigh, forget it, I'll let this bastard off the hook.]
Shen Shixi was pinched, she hissed, and rolled her eyes at Li Yuanke, "What?"
"What do you mean, 'What are you trying to do' again? Are you trying to torment me again?"
"No!" Shen Shixi got up and sat in his lap. "Li Yuanke, let me tell you, you shouldn't feel bad about me spending your money. You should be happy. I don't just spend anyone's money. I wouldn't even bother spending my father's money."
Li Yuange rolled his eyes at her. "Your father has a little money, less than two hundred taels a year in salary. What can that buy you?"
Shen Shixi said, "So, you're saying I'm not going to follow you anymore? The only one in this world who can support me is Your Majesty!"
Li Yuanke was almost driven mad by her manipulation. He pinched her cheek and said, "You're just trying to fool me. I'm not stupid!"
As they were talking, a commotion arose outside. Shen Shixi, not wanting to miss such a lively scene, disregarded all manners and quickly climbed over Li Yuanke's lap. She lifted the curtain and exclaimed, "Quick, quick, Li Yuanke, come and see!"
Li Yuanke had initially maintained his composure, but he couldn't resist her provocation and went over. The two heads huddled together to look outside, where they saw that Pei Xunli, the eldest son of the Pei family, and Pei Yanli, the seventh son, were having a conflict.
"You dare disobey your father? Didn't I tell you not to form cliques? How dare you drink and make merry with them in broad daylight!"
Several people were standing in front of Fan Qinglou.
Behind Pei Yanli were Xie Wensheng and the others. Today was the 21st of the twelfth lunar month. According to custom, the imperial court sealed off the palace and began the annual leave. They had arranged to get together, and then some of them would be returning to their hometowns.
Pei Xunli and his friends came to visit and saw this. They asked Pei Yanli to join them, but Pei Yanli refused, and the two brothers got into a fight.
Lin Xiangchuan and the others didn't care. They were from humble backgrounds and used to being looked down upon. But who was Xie Wensheng? He was a young master from a prestigious family, with a proud spirit. How could he not be angry when someone insulted him like that?
Just as he was about to retaliate, Pei Yanli stopped him and said to Pei Xunli, "Brother, the Emperor has given the five of us time to discuss our studies together. Besides, today is also a gathering to discuss what books we should read with the Emperor next year."
If what you say is true, elder brother, would I be committing dereliction of duty? Since I receive a salary from the imperial court, I must be loyal to the emperor. Why must you, elder brother, act so rashly in a fit of anger and utter hurtful words?
It was Xie Wensheng and his group that were injured.
Unable to win the argument, Pei Xunli angrily pointed at Pei Yanli and said, "Fine, fine, fine! Do you think that just because you've gained the Emperor's favor, you can disobey even your father's words?"
Xie Wensheng naturally wouldn't let such a good opportunity slip by, and laughed, "According to Young Master Pei, does that mean that as His Majesty's subject, Brother Anqing must prioritize his father over his sovereign?"
Pei Yanli, courtesy name Anqing.
Pei Xunli said angrily, "Xie Wensheng, this is a family matter of the Pei family. You'd better not interfere."
Xie Wensheng said, "Does your Pei family think you can disregard the fundamental principles of loyalty between ruler and subject?"
Pei Xunli was at a disadvantage. If he continued, his words would be distorted further, making people think that the power of the prime minister was usurping the imperial power. He snorted twice, flicked his sleeves, and left.
Xie Wensheng asked, "Brother Anqing, will your father and brothers make things difficult for you after you go back?"
Pei Yanli laughed and said, "You all don't need to worry about me. Maybe on ordinary days, but definitely not today. If you make things difficult for me, Brother Xie's words today will come true. My father is, in any case, a subject of the Great Zhou, and that is beyond doubt."
The others also stepped forward and complained a few words, but Pei Yanli listened with a smile and didn't say anything.
Sensing something was amiss, Shen Shixi lowered the carriage curtain and lay down, while the carriage continued on its way.
Pei Yanli's move was truly brilliant; that scoundrel is incredibly cunning. Abolishing the prime minister system isn't something that can be done overnight, and its impact is enormous. It's not something a single emperor can achieve; it's a power struggle between the imperial court and the aristocratic clans—quite dangerous!
"What are you thinking about?" Li Yuanke asked.
Shen Shixi's eyes darted around, and she sat up in his lap. "Li Yuanke, you're still young, you have plenty of time and energy. Don't rush things. I don't want to be forced to move the capital with you in the future. The Pei family is a behemoth; you need to be patient!"
"Mmm." Li Yuanke held her in his arms. "Don't be afraid, I'm not stupid."
"But you must keep the army firmly in your own hands. Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Throughout history, having an army has provided the means to rebel. But controlling the army is not just about using both kindness and severity to command the generals. Soldiers are not just tools for killing; they all have their own thoughts."
Li Yuange, you can try to cultivate some people to serve as the commander-in-chief's deputies. These individuals can provide daily political and ideological education to the soldiers, instilling in them loyalty to the emperor and the country, and training each and every one of them to be a weapon protecting you. As long as Li Yuanzhi lives, the Pei family will never give up; we cannot let our guard down.
Shen Shixi has never shown mercy to his arch-enemies.
The main reason is that Li Yuanzhi's family are not political enemies.
Li Yuanke understood immediately. This deputy was not allowed to interfere with the battle strategy, but could monitor the commander-in-chief and keep the soldiers' minds firmly under control.
"good!"
Take it slow and steady, and persevere over a long period of time.
Li Yuanke kept replaying this sentence in his mind: "That bastard has never been to school, but she's really smart."
He couldn't help but believe Shen Shixi's words: reading books doesn't make people smarter, it just gives them more experience in dealing with people.
When the two returned to the palace, everyone in the harem knew that Shen Shixi had not only gone out with the emperor, but had also brought back a lot of things from outside.
"I heard they carried several boxes of those jewelry boxes. The Emperor already gives her a lot of gifts, so why would she buy all those rare things outside the palace just to impress her sisters?"
Consort Qing was talking with the Empress in Fengyi Palace. The Empress smiled and said, "Since you know there's nothing good out there, why do you care?"
"Your Majesty is right!" Consort Qing looked at the Empress's belly, a complex emotion hidden in her eyes. "Your Majesty's unborn child is already four months along, isn't it?"
I conceived on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Empress forced a smile. "Yes, I just hope the days will pass quickly."
She looked terrible; this pregnancy was so dangerous she was practically dying. She even began to suspect the emperor's motives—that he knew she couldn't conceive, but deliberately got her pregnant just to ruin her health.
(Empress Pei's brother's name, Pei Chengli, was changed to Pei Xunli.)