Don't be a salted fish, the daily life of the concubine in the palace

Li Yuanjing looked unhappy. After thinking about Shen Wei's words, he waved his sleeves and said to Li Chengxun: "You go back first. I will spare your mother's life."

Li Chengxun was overjoyed. He kowtowed repeatedly to express his gratitude and left.

The side hall fell silent.

Shen Wei was also about to say goodbye: "Your Majesty, please go ahead and take care of the palace affairs. I will go back to the palace to handle the palace affairs——"

Li Yuanjing grabbed Shen Wei's arm, turned up the finely crafted Shu brocade sleeves, and took out the six white chess pieces that Shen Wei had stolen.

A look of embarrassment flashed across Shen Wei's pretty face.

Li Yuanjing curled his lips and said, "Continue to play chess with me, and do not regret or steal any more moves."

Shen Wei: ...

This guy is just endless!

Shen Wei resisted the urge to lift the chessboard and patiently played chess with Li Yuanjing for the whole afternoon. After dark, Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing had dinner and enjoyed the cool air in the pavilion.

The waterside pavilion was next to a pond, and in summer the lotus flowers were in full bloom, with a refreshing fragrance. After the lotus flowers withered, Shen Wei asked the palace servants to collect the lotus pods, as she quite liked to eat lotus seeds.

Especially the lotus seeds that you peeled by yourself.

Li Yuanjing watched Shen Wei eat lotus seeds one after another, with no sign of stopping. Li Yuanjing held Shen Wei down and said, "Lotus seeds are cold in nature. Eating too much is not good for the spleen and stomach."

Shen Wei smiled and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. I am strong and healthy. Lotus seeds alone won't hurt my stomach."

Li Yuanjing asked quietly, "When you asked me to be gentler and slower last night, you didn't seem to be 'strong and healthy'."

Shen Wei almost choked on a lotus seed.

Even though Li Yuanjing is over 40 years old, he has been riding horses and shooting arrows for many years. He has a very strong waist and his physical strength is still as good as before.

If Shen Wei hadn't maintained a good habit of fitness, she really wouldn't have been able to bear it.

Fortunately, Deshun's arrival broke the awkward atmosphere in the waterside pavilion. Deshun respectfully reported: "Your Majesty, Queen, the Eighth Prince is here."

Li Yuanjing raised his eyebrows: "Let him come over."

After a while, Li Chengtai, wearing a black and gold brocade robe, walked into Yongning Palace. He walked steadily, wearing a jade crown on his head, and his face was still a little immature, with eyebrows and eyes quite similar to Li Yuanjing.

Palace lanterns illuminated the waterside pavilion, and Li Chengtai paid his respects to his father, the emperor, and his mother, the queen.

Shen Wei smiled and asked, "Can you have dinner?"

Li Chengtai nodded: "Mother, I have already had dinner." Li Chengtai saw the white jade porcelain plate in front of Shen Wei's desk, with three peeled lotus pods on the plate.

There are also lotus seed cores that can be removed.

Li Chengtai said with a straight face, "Mother, the doctor said that lotus seeds are cold in nature and should not be eaten too much. Last summer, you ate too many lotus seeds and developed stomach problems. Sister Leyou was so scared that she cried. Have you forgotten this?"

Shen Wei was speechless.

Although he is very young, he speaks like a mature principal.

Li Yuanjing couldn't help laughing and took away the lotus pods that hadn't been peeled yet: "Listen to the child."

Shen Wei felt mixed emotions and had to pick up the unfinished storybook next to her and prepare to read a folk novel.

Li Chengtai said, "The waterside pavilion is windy and the candlelight is swaying. It's easy to hurt your eyes if you read here, mother."

Shen Wei threw the notebook: "Pick the lotus and the apple! Pour the tea! I want to drink the tea to calm my nerves!"

Cai Lian brought the tea.

Li Yuanjing almost laughed out loud. Shen Wei was stubborn and sometimes Li Yuanjing couldn't do anything with her. Fortunately, there was always someone who could control her. Li Chengtai was able to control Shen Wei a little.

Seeing Shen Wei drinking tea peacefully, Li Chengtai turned around and said to Li Yuanjing, "Father, today I read the New Law of Daqing sent by the Ministry of Justice. I feel that some of the laws are not strict enough and would like to discuss it with you. A country has its own laws, and a family has its own rules. If the laws are not strict enough, the people will not be at peace."

Li Yuanjing pointed to the empty chair next to him and said in a good mood: "Sit down and tell me what you have to say."

As the tea began to boil, Li Chengtai and Li Yuanjing began their discussion.

Shen Wei was drinking calming tea nearby, occasionally glancing at the father and son who were talking.

The waterside pavilion of Yongning Palace became a court, and the father and son talked to each other, like father and son, like monarch and his subject, like the wolf king and his little wolves in the pack.

Shen Wei was secretly amazed. Li Chengtai was indeed her son. At such a young age, he already had the potential to be a top student. He was a born workaholic.

Of course, I also maintained the good habit of combining work and rest and did not overwork myself.

After the father and son finished their chat, Li Chengtai stood up and said goodbye: "The law is enforced without fear of the powerful, and promotion and demotion are not based on closeness. Tomorrow, I will discuss with the officials of the Ministry of Justice to further improve the Qing Code. I'm leaving now, and father and mother, please go to bed early."

Li Chengtai wanted to leave.

Li Yuanjing suddenly called him and said, "Next year, you will preside over the spring imperial examination."

The summer night wind picked up, and Li Chengtai's sleeves fluttered. He paused, his eyebrows slightly wrinkled: "Spring Examination?"

Shen Wei was also surprised.

He presided over the Spring Examination, and all the successful candidates in that year were "disciples of the emperor" and became Li Chengtai's "disciples."

Shen Wei vaguely realized that Li Yuanjing seemed to be paving the way for Li Chengtai's future.

Li Yuanjing took a sip of the calming tea and said calmly, "In ancient times, Gan Luo became prime minister at the age of twelve. You will be thirteen next year, so it won't be difficult for you to preside over the Spring Examination."

Li Chengtai was quick to accept the order and replied calmly, "I will obey your order."

The night wind blew, and Li Chengtai turned and left. He had grown taller, and his back looked particularly steady in the moonlight.

In the waterside pavilion, Shen Wei looked worried: "Your Majesty, presiding over the Spring Examination is no small matter."

Li Yuanjing replied calmly: "I see that he is so young, but he acts like an old man all day long. It won't be difficult to let him preside over the Spring Examination. Weiwei, who do you think this child looks like? When I was young, I didn't act like an old man either."

Shen Wei spread her palms: "I don't know either."

It was late at night, and Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing went back to the house to rest.

In the four square ice containers in the bedroom, the ice slowly melted, bringing a comfortable coolness.

Shen Wei changed into a crimson silk nightgown, the fabric was cool. She leaned on the bed and continued to read the storybook, which was a new book published by the bookstore in Yanjing City. It was a bestseller in Yanjing City and the plot was very exciting.

As the country became rich and the people became strong, the people's material needs were met and they began to have spiritual needs. The best-selling storybooks, the music halls and drum towers in the city, and the new operas in the opera theaters all became the spiritual needs of the people after dinner.

Shen Wei keenly grasped this point and asked Manager Ye to open up the "entertainment industry", which made a lot of money.

After Li Yuanjing entered the room, his eyes rolled over Shen Wei's new pajamas for several times.

Li Yuanjing coughed slightly and grabbed Shen Wei's slender hand: "Weiwei, you didn't keep your promise."

Shen Wei didn't understand and asked in confusion, "What is the emperor talking about?"

Li Yuanjing took the notebook from Shen Wei's hand and said in a dissatisfied tone: "I have sent someone to send Chengyou to Liangzhou. Weiwei, you promised me that you would keep Leyou away from the Liang family boy."

But yesterday Leyou sneaked out of the palace again and went to Luoyue Lake to go boating and pick lotus seeds.

Leyou is not good at swimming, and the boy from the Liang family is afraid that she will fall into the water, so he disguises himself as a guard and protects Leyou.

When Li Yuanjing learned about this, he became very angry.

Shen Wei blinked, looking innocent: "I kept my promise and did not lie."

Li Yuanjing rubbed the corners of Shen Wei's eyes with his fingers: "You are telling lies with your eyes open."

Shen Wei put the storybook on the table and said, "Your Majesty, think about it carefully. That night, I promised Your Majesty that Le You would not go hunting with the Liang family boy in Nanshan in the future. Le You did not go hunting with the Liang family boy in Nanshan, but went to Luoyue Lake for a cruise."

Li Yuanjing choked.

For a moment, I couldn't refute it.

Shen Wei said seriously: "I kept my promise and did not break it. It's getting late, I need to rest."

After saying that, Shen Wei fell back onto the cool white jade mat.

Li Yuanjing held Shen Wei's wrist: "Weiwei, you are being too picky! The Liang family boy is taciturn and silent, how can he be Leyou's consort! Leyou is a princess of a wealthy family, her husband must be a dragon and phoenix among men..."

Shen Wei saw that Li Yuanjing was still chattering and had no intention of stopping. Shen Wei sighed, hooked her delicate hands, grabbed Li Yuanjing's collar, and moved her red lips closer.

Like jet-black hair falling on shoulders.

Shen Wei blinked, her crow-feather eyelashes were like a small fan, blowing an ambiguous wind towards Li Yuanjing.

With years of careful maintenance and constant exercise, Shen Wei's face remains as beautiful as ever, and her eyes and eyebrows have added a rare charm. With just a light touch, Li Yuanjing was aroused.

Although he knew it was a beauty trap, Li Yuanjing was unable to resist.

He held Shen Wei's waist tightly, wanting to eat the person in front of him cleanly.

...

...

The next day, in Xiangyun Palace where Concubine Qiao lived.

Liu Qiaoer sat under the phoenix tree sewing clothes, thinking in her mind how to defeat Shen Wei.

There were rustling sounds of footsteps outside the house. Liu Qiaoer looked up and saw Eunuch Deshun leading a few young eunuchs towards her.

Liu Qiaoer put down her needlework, stood up and said, "Eunuch Deshun, what brings you here?"

Liu Qiaoer looked down on eunuchs.

But Deshun was the chief eunuch in the palace, a favorite of the emperor, and was highly valued by Shen Wei. Liu Qiaoer was an unfavored concubine, so she did not dare to offend the favorite of the emperor, and her attitude was relatively mild.

Deshun said: "I am here to convey the emperor's oral instructions."

Liu Qiaoer suddenly had a bad feeling.

De Shun said, "The emperor has issued an order that Concubine Qiao Liu has been discussing state affairs, plotting evil, shaking the foundation of the country, and disturbing the palace. From today on, she will be demoted to a noble lady and confined to her house for a year, with only one palace maid to serve her. The third prince, Li Chengxun, will move to the prince's residence."

Liu Qiaoer’s face was pale and she stood there like a puppet.

After Deshun delivered the emperor's instructions, he turned and left. Liu Qiao'er came to her senses and quickly caught up with Deshun: "Eunuch Deshun! There must be a misunderstanding! I want to see the emperor, someone must have framed me!"

Deshun told her expressionlessly: "Please stop, Lady Liu. The Emperor will not see you."

Deshun left with a group of young eunuchs.

At this moment, Liu Qiaoer's mind was blank. She had been hiding for many years, just to get to a high position one day. But before she could climb out of the quagmire, she was pushed into the abyss by the tragic reality, without even a chance to turn over.

Where is the problem?

At this time, Liu Qiao'er's personal maid hurried in and told her: "My lady, something has happened! I heard that at the court this morning, the emperor dismissed your father from his post and demoted several officials to bitter and cold places."

Liu Qiaoer just felt her head buzzing.

She staggered to sit down, her hand subconsciously touching the half-mended clothes, and she muttered to herself: "Father was dismissed from office... My father was a fourth-rank official, and the emperor dismissed him directly..."

Did the Emperor know that she was plotting to seize the throne?

Demoting her to a noble lady was the emperor's warning to her.

Liu Qiaoer felt cold all over.

"I contacted my father privately and the matter was secret. How could the emperor know about it?" Liu Qiaoer murmured.

The maid thought about it and couldn't help but tell Liu Qiao'er: "My Lord, I saw the Third Prince go to Chang'an Palace to meet the Emperor yesterday... Maybe the Third Prince told the Emperor."

Liu Qiaoer was so angry that she tore the clothes she had just mended: "Go and call Chengxun!"

After about a cup of tea, Li Chengxun came to Liu Qiaoer's palace with his head down.

Liu Qiaoer sat under the eaves. She asked coldly, "Did you report this to the emperor?"

Li Chengxun bowed his head deeply, not daring to look into his mother's eyes: "Yes... yes, my child..."

As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Qiaoer grabbed Li Chengxun's wrist like crazy. She lost control and said, "Look up at me! Look up at me!"

Li Chengxun looked up fearfully, and Liu Qiaoer's hideous old face came into view.

Liu Qiaoer pointed at her own face and said heartbreakingly, "Back in the Prince of Yan's Mansion, I was one of the most beautiful women! If it weren't for you, how could I have endured for so many years and turned myself into an old, ugly woman!"

"Look at this desolate and dilapidated yard, and the coarse clothes I am wearing! All my years of hard work have been wasted!"

Li Chengxun knew that Liu Qiaoer had suffered a lot.

But he couldn't help but say, "Mother! It's not that easy to be an emperor! The people of the world need a wise ruler. I am incompetent and immoral. I can't be a good emperor."

Liu Qiaoer cursed: "Why do you care what the people of the world do? You are a member of the Liu family, and you have the blood of the Liu family flowing in your veins!"

Li Chengxun disagreed with his mother's words.

He took two steps back and saluted Liu Qiaoer, "Mother, it is very kind of the emperor to spare your life. With the recommendation of the queen, I will go to the Ministry of Works today to discuss water conservancy projects in the south with officials. I will be traveling frequently in the future, take care."

Li Chengxun had no ambition to become emperor, he just wanted to do what he liked.

When Liu Qiaoer heard this, it was as if she had heard a fairy tale. She angrily scolded: "The Queen recommended you? Foolish child, do you think she is recommending you sincerely? She is eager to send you away so that no one in the imperial city will compete with her son for the throne!"

Li Chengxun remained silent.

Regardless of whether Queen Shen was sincere or not, at least he could save his fragile life and still do his favorite project.

Being in the royal family, it is not easy to keep your life.

Liu Qiaoer continued confidently, "Shen will fall out of favor sooner or later. She is just lucky. Her brother and sister-in-law hold military power, and her brother is a powerful official, so the emperor pretends to favor her. Chengxun, mother knows the emperor. The emperor will definitely eradicate the Shen family in the future! Then your chance will come!"

Liu Qiaoer kept chattering on and on.

Li Chengxun didn't hear a word.

He turned and left.

Even if he was smashed to pieces in the end, at least he left the depressing and cramped house and saw the sky outside.

Li Chengxun has been cowardly for more than ten years, and he wants to be brave for once.

...

...

Yongning Palace.

Cai Lian walked into the study and told Shen Wei about Liu Qiaoer's demotion.

Shen Wei put down the brush in her hand and stretched her sore wrist: "Qiaopin - oh no, she is now Concubine Liu. How did Concubine Liu react?"

Cai Lian replied, "Noble Lady Liu and the Third Prince had a big quarrel, and the Third Prince resolutely left. Noble Lady Liu cried for a while, then inexplicably began to calm down and continued to mend clothes under the eaves."