kvmb Chapter 383 Empress Ning's Gift
Chapter 383 Empress Ning's Gift
Chapter 383 Empress Ning's Gift
“I know you played a big part in the deposed crown prince’s efforts, and he died at your hands during this rebellion. I can’t understand why you are so heartless, but that doesn’t matter anymore. Let bygones be bygones.”
"I no longer care about my current situation. The deep palace has exhausted me, and death would be a good relief." Empress Ning took another breath after saying this: "But I cannot watch my children be at the mercy of others just like me."
Shen Li understood; she needed to pave the way for Li Che.
“If Li Chen really becomes the crown prince and Zheng becomes the empress, not only will there be no place for my son in this palace, but his life will also be in danger.”
Shen Li knew this was no exaggeration. Li Che was different from the other princes; he was the legitimate son, and if he couldn't obtain the right of succession, only death awaited him.
"Che'er is intelligent, calm, and decisive, far superior to Li Chen. He shouldn't be wasted like this." Empress Ning looked earnestly at Shen Li: "Now only you have the ability to help him, and only you know how to help him."
"Your Majesty is too kind..."
"There are no outsiders here, so you don't need to speak in official jargon. If you look down on Heng'er, you will definitely look down on Li Chen as well. You will make a move."
“…” Shen Li.
"I've summoned you here today to give you a gift." Empress Ning gently patted the box in her hand. "Come and take it."
Having said all that, Shen Li couldn't refuse any longer, so she went to the bedside.
Empress Ning took out a small golden key to unlock the box. Shen Li stared intently at it, only to find the box empty.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, she noticed what appeared to be paper at the bottom of the box.
Empress Ning gestured for her to take it out.
Shen Li gently squeezed it and found that there were three pieces of paper inside.
When held up to the light, there are three blank sheets of paper, without a single word on them, except that the Empress's seal is stamped in the lower right corner of each sheet.
It is an imperial edict.
Three blank imperial edicts.
She was genuinely surprised to see this; it was asking her to name three conditions.
"Che'er is a filial child. If he ascends the throne one day, he will definitely accept my imperial decree. This is my guarantee to you." Empress Ning leaned against the bed, her voice even weaker.
It seemed as if unlocking the door had exhausted all her strength.
Before Shen Li could speak again, she waved her hand and said, "Go on, but don't tell Che'er about this."
Shen Li then bowed and left.
Even if she were asked to speak, she wouldn't know what to say. Empress Ning and Li Heng were both her adversaries, but with Li Heng's downfall, Empress Ning lost all her offensive power and might even become her ally.
The change in her status made her need to think carefully about how to treat her.
The day's classes were cancelled because Li Che met with Emperor Cheng and earnestly and forcefully stated his demands and the pros and cons of the matter. Emperor Cheng then ordered the imperial physicians to be summoned to examine the Empress.
Upon hearing this, Prince Yi felt even more that his mother had committed a grave offense. If such an act of deceiving the emperor were caught by the censors, she could forget about becoming empress.
This, of course, indirectly hindered his chances of becoming the crown prince.
So he immediately sent a letter to his mother, urging her to admit her mistake herself and, ideally, to have the emperor punish her to silence the censors before they could submit their memorials.
At the same time, Yi Wang also noticed someone: Li Che.
His younger brother, born of the eldest son, was exceptionally intelligent from a young age. Now, at only half a year old, he possesses such courage and boldness, which compels us to take him seriously.
Shen Li returned to the Shen residence with three imperial edicts. She wanted to visit her father and give him some instructions.
"Li'er, you're finally back. When will this faking illness end?" Shen Zizai was pacing back and forth in the study, feeling utterly bored.
“You’re not the only one faking illness. His Majesty is faking it too. Doesn’t that make you feel better?” Shen Li comforted her.
"That's true, but it can't always be like this," Shen Zizai sighed.
"Don't worry, your daughter is here to help you." Shen Li smiled and said, "You should write a letter today, saying that Prince Yi should take charge of the ancestral worship next month."
"What?" Shen Zizai was the first to express his displeasure upon hearing this: "What qualifications does he have to preside over the ancestral worship ceremony? That is something only the Crown Prince can participate in."
“First of all, Prince Yi is the eldest son among the princes in the capital. Secondly, since no crown prince has been appointed yet, how can the sacrificial ceremony be held properly?” Shen Li gave a reasonable explanation.
Shen Zizai still frowned: "Then why write it now?"
"We have to give him a taste of success first, and also give the old emperor a sense of crisis," Shen Li said.
But another reason is that the Zheng Youde incident and the imperial physician incident last night have put Consort Zheng in the eye of the storm, and she wants to suppress this public opinion.
The Shen family has many disciples, and the Qingliu faction almost always acts according to the Shen family's opinions.
The Shen family must make a statement at this moment. As long as the Shen family's attitude remains ambiguous, or even shows a tendency to side with the King of Chess, the subordinates will not act rashly.
The King of Chess's men naturally wouldn't make a move.
Public opinion naturally subsided.
She wanted to force the Emperor to reconsider; if he didn't retract his order, she would miss the best opportunity to strike at the Prince of Yi and his cronies.
"Li'er, tell your father the truth, you didn't really side with the King of Yi, did you?" the old man asked, somewhat uneasy.
"Father, do you think your daughter is stupid?" Shen Li laughed helplessly, "I'll rely on him and then accept the concubines he sent to my husband?"
"I might agree to sell something else, but not a man. I only have one."
Shen Zizai thought for a moment, and felt relieved when he thought about his daughter and Gu Chang'an's condition.
"Father, have you been in officialdom for too long? You even doubt your own son," Shen Li muttered discontentedly.
Feeling rather guilty after being told this, Shen Zizai stroked his beard and said, "Father will write the memorial now. You can go to the backyard."
Shen Li was both amused and exasperated.
When they arrived at the backyard, they realized they might have come at the wrong time. Their mother and sister were sitting in the pavilion, with a large pile of account books in front of them, and each of them had an abacus in their hand.
"You typed it wrong. Can't you tell the difference between three and four?" Xiao Bailing said sternly.
"Mother, can I not learn?" Shen Yue complained incessantly. She hadn't said anything at first, but when she saw Shen Li, she immediately said, "Sister didn't learn either, but she still got married, didn't she?"
“…” Shen Li.
She shouldn't have come.
"Can you compare to your sister? Your sister is proficient in everything from music and chess to calligraphy and painting. If you could just calm down, would your mother still have to worry?"
Xiao Bailing scolded Shen Yue, then said to Shen Li, "Li'er, you should talk to her. It was one thing for her to practice swordsmanship before, but now she runs around outside every few days. What kind of behavior is this?"
"It's also my fault for spoiling her since she was little. Now it's so hard to get her to calm down."
"I'm innocent! I only went to my grandfather's house and occasionally strolled around the streets. I didn't go anywhere else," Shen Yue pouted, looking very aggrieved.
Shen Li then realized that learning accounting wasn't the key issue; the key issue was that Shen Yue was always running off.
"Li'er, you be the judge. Is it appropriate for a young lady to run around like this?" Xiao Bailing pulled Shen Li over.
"Sister." Shen Yue looked at her with a pitiful expression.
Shen Li was truly in a dilemma for a moment.