“What is it?” Gu Chaobei raised his eyebrows and asked.
“The Loyal Marquis still has no intention of resigning and returning home, correct?”
Bringing up this matter made Gu Chaobei somewhat troubled. Yan’er had already imprisoned Madam Shen, Bao Shi, in the imperial prison. Logically speaking, if Shen Shiqing would just resign and return home, then as the son-in-law, he could still give him a way out by demoting Bao Shi to commoner status and sending them home together—that would be considered merciful.
But the Loyal Marquis made no move at all. The Ministry of Justice had already submitted the decision to execute Bao Shi, and Gu Chaobei had even mentioned it at court.
Shen Shiqing didn’t plead for mercy, didn’t say much, and actually knelt forward shouting, “Murder is punishable by death. Your Majesty is wise.”
Bao Shi’s life was truly miserable enough—betrayed by her own daughter, and her own husband had no intention of saving her either.
The documents had already been issued. In two days, Bao Shi would be beheaded in the streets. To distance himself, Shen Shiqing had elevated a concubine to principal wife and given Bao Shi a letter of divorce. When she was beheaded, he wouldn’t even collect her corpse.
He hadn’t yet had time to tell Yan’er any of this.
Seeing Gu Chaobei’s expression, Shen Guiyan understood. She pressed her lips together. “This subject-wife wishes to leave the capital for four months, taking the imperial son to seek the famous physician at West Mountain to treat the imperial son’s legs. During these four months, Your Majesty can find ways to purge the Shen family. This subject-wife will absolutely not obstruct.”
Actually, this was quite a good solution. Gu Chaobei was mostly holding back from moving against the Shen family out of consideration for her. If she wasn’t present, everything would be much more convenient.
However, the Emperor shook his head without thinking. “No.”
Shen Guiyan frowned. “Why not?”
“The Shen family’s roots run deep. Purging them is easier said than done.” The Emperor turned his head away. “You don’t need to avoid this. If the Shen family commits grave errors that even I cannot protect them from, naturally I will deal with it. Right now they’ve committed no offense. If you leave, I can’t do anything either.”
And they’d have to endure lovesickness again.
“But the imperial son’s legs…” Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together. The Shen family matter was secondary—seeking medical treatment for the imperial son was the priority, wasn’t it?
Gu Chaobei petulantly picked her up. “If there’s a famous physician, I can send people to invite him. Why must you go personally? Four months is nearly half a year. Are you so willing to leave me without a moment’s hesitation?”
Before, he had quite wanted a son. Now he felt he’d had one far too early. She hadn’t loved him enough yet, and already had to divide some of that love for a little brat who hadn’t even grown all his hair. And now she wanted to leave the capital for that little fellow?
Shen Guiyan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Your Majesty, he is also your imperial son.”
“Precisely because he’s my imperial son, you don’t need to worry about him like this every day.” Gu Chaobei said firmly. “Even if he can’t stand up for his entire life, he can still inherit my throne and stand higher than everyone in the realm.”
He just didn’t want to be separated from her for that long again when there were clearly other solutions.
Shen Guiyan fell silent, the smile on her face slowly fading, finally settling into calm stillness.
Gu Chaobei hurriedly came over to coax her softly. “Tomorrow I’ll send people to West Mountain to seek the physician. When there’s news, I’ll tell you immediately, all right?”
“Mm.” An emperor’s words could not be defied. What he said wasn’t unreasonable either. Though her heart held slight dissatisfaction, Shen Guiyan still suppressed it and said no more.
The next day when Xu Mengdie came to the palace to ask, Shen Guiyan could only say regretfully, “His Majesty ordered people to seek the physician. He wants this palace to wait for news in the palace.”
Xu Mengdie frowned slightly. “That divine physician is said to be extremely proud. Just sending people to seek him out—they probably won’t find him.”
What else could be done? Shen Guiyan lowered her eyes. Today when she went to see the imperial son, that child wouldn’t even look at her properly, only sitting on thick carpets playing with the newly arrived little palace maid.
The little palace maid’s name was Nuo’er. Upon investigation, it was discovered she was the daughter of Gui Lan, the personal maid attending Gao Jinxiu.
When Gao Jinxiu turned eighteen, Shen Guiyan had released her from the palace. According to their agreement, she had even planned to bestow a marriage between her and her beloved. But at that time, warfare raged everywhere. The person Jinxiu loved was said to have died on the battlefield and never returned.
So now Lady Gao lived alone in her family’s capital residence, calling herself a widow. Whenever Shen Guiyan had time, she would visit her. To thank her for staying to help with the childbirth back then, she even had the imperial son call her Second Mother. Their affection could be said to run deep. Since she was the daughter of Gui Lan at her side, Shen Guiyan naturally didn’t punish her further.
Jinxiu said Gui Lan’s daughter was mischievous. Because Gui Lan had to attend to her and had no time to watch over her, she was sent to an old nanny still in the palace to help teach her proper conduct.
That was why she had accidentally offended the First Prince that day.
Though it all sounded somehow not quite right, Shen Guiyan still allowed Nuo’er to accompany the First Prince, only instructing Baoshan to watch more closely and report immediately if there were any unusual movements.
Now she asked for nothing else, only that the imperial son could grow up safely and happily.
“By the way, this wife recently heard that the foreign kingdoms seem to be sending something remarkable again this year.” Xu Mengdie raised her eyes. “Does Your Majesty remember what this wife said before?”
Xu Mengdie had said too many things. Shen Guiyan looked at her. “Which statement?”
“However small the foreign kingdoms are, they should not be taken lightly.” Xu Mengdie said meaningfully. “Previously when the foreign kingdoms came to pay tribute, the beauties they sent weren’t accepted by His Majesty. At the state banquet, they completely lost face. When the Wen family rebelled, the foreign kingdoms didn’t lend troops to assist the Emperor—they only observed. If they come to the capital this time and present more beauties, what will Your Majesty do?”
The six palaces were without consorts. Shen Guiyan had suggested filling the rear palace, but Gu Chaobei had refused using “reducing expenses” as the reason. In truth, nowadays the realm produced abundant grain and the people were prosperous—it was hardly the rear palace’s turn to cut costs. His saying so was nothing more than wanting to make her happy.
The foreign kingdoms’ marriage alliance had already been rejected once. If there were another this time… she wouldn’t mind Gu Chaobei accepting. After all, she was now the Empress.
Only once he accepted, she would take the imperial son to seek medical treatment—both sides would be just right.
Speaking plainly, sitting in the Empress’s position meant on one hand allowing one’s husband to favor others, while on the other hand secretly gritting one’s teeth until they shattered.
“You needn’t worry about this palace. This palace has a sense of proportion.” Shen Guiyan smiled at Xu Mengdie. “Having come through these three years, there’s nothing that can make this palace lose composure anymore.”
Xu Mengdie was startled, then pressed her lips in a smile. “That’s very good then.”
Her heart somewhat uncomfortable, as soon as Xu Mengdie took her leave, Shen Guiyan went to find Grand Empress Dowager Nian.
Grand Empress Dowager Nian’s spirits were quite good lately, probably because her son was capable. Even when sitting, she crossed her legs, spitting melon seed shells in perfect arcs.
“This Dowager sees you every day with that same miserable face.” Grand Empress Dowager Nian glanced sideways at Shen Guiyan. “You’ve become Empress and still aren’t happy?”
“It’s not that.” Shen Guiyan looked at Grand Empress Dowager Nian, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “This subject-wife is only thinking that the rear palace cannot remain empty forever. If there are suitable people, they should be selected into the palace.”
Grand Empress Dowager Nian snorted coldly. With a flip of her lip, a melon seed shell was spat onto the luxurious carpet. “Don’t give this Dowager such proper speeches. This Dowager also went through your stage—how could I not know what you’re thinking? Your son has a leg condition, you’re gloomy and sullen every day, afraid the Emperor will tire of you, so you might as well bring new people into the palace early, so the Emperor won’t be seduced away by other unfamiliar little vixens later, right?”
The corner of her mouth twitched slightly. Shen Guiyan remained silent.
Ginger is spicier when old.
Grand Empress Dowager Nian snorted. “You think this Dowager hasn’t urged the Emperor to fill the rear palace?”
Shen Guiyan was startled and looked up.
“Don’t glare. You’re a mother too, so naturally you should understand this Dowager’s feelings.” Grand Empress Dowager Nian muttered. “This Dowager asked the Emperor: the Empress is dejected all day, speaks little, and doesn’t know how to find ways to make the Emperor happy—why does he only want her alone in the palace?”
“Guess what the Emperor said?”
Shen Guiyan raised her eyes to look at Grand Empress Dowager Nian, pressing her lips together.
Grand Empress Dowager Nian snorted lightly. This girl really was blessed, encountering her son who happened to be infatuated.
“That she’s dejected, speaks little, and doesn’t know how to make this son happy—actually it doesn’t matter. This son likes her just this way. She only needs to say what she wants to say and do what she wants to do. As for everything else, just leave it to this son.”
That was exactly what the Emperor had said then.
Shen Guiyan was slightly stunned. Her heart felt as if it had been lightly struck by a warm fist, her ears turning red.
“So this Dowager sees that you don’t need to worry about so many things at all. The First Prince’s legs aren’t good—the Emperor is seeking physicians, so you just wait. The Emperor doesn’t want to take in a rear palace, so you just secretly rejoice under your blankets. You don’t need to force smiles trying to be a virtuous empress. You should have been living quite comfortably originally. Recently you’ve been overthinking too much.”
Like a revelation, Shen Guiyan suddenly understood. Recently she did seem to have been creating troubles where there were none. She didn’t know what was wrong—she kept thinking about all sorts of unnecessary things.
Leaving the North Palace, Shen Guiyan’s mood improved. Baoshan supported her, smiling. “The Grand Empress Dowager still has great wisdom. Forgive this servant for speaking frankly—although the Second Madam Gu comes to help Mistress every time, each time Mistress comes out of Falling Leaves Pavilion, her mood seems to become irritable.”
Was that so? Shen Guiyan smiled. Perhaps recently her emotions weren’t very easy to control.
Lantern Festival, flower lantern fair. Early in the morning, the Emperor finished his political affairs and completed all the memorials that had accumulated for a long time. At dusk, he brought Shen Guiyan out. Both wore common clothes, followed by Zhuiyun and Baoshan, to watch the festivities.
By rights, with their current status, the Emperor and Empress shouldn’t travel so casually. Gu Chaobei had arranged in advance—because Yan’er was in poor spirits, he specially requested Grand Empress Dowager Nian’s permission to take her out to relax.
“Mother Empress, rest assured. This son will definitely act discreetly and won’t attract attention.” Before leaving, Gu Chaobei had solemnly promised Grand Empress Dowager Nian thus.
As a result now, he had brought Yan’er and they were blocked by the masses on a flower carriage.
The capital was full of lovelorn young ladies! The Emperor had originally wanted to bring Shen Guiyan to join the excitement, getting on a flower carriage to watch the beautiful river lanterns. Who knew they’d be blocked on the street? The young ladies all around kept throwing fruit, handkerchiefs, and fragrant sachets onto the carriage. Listening carefully, there were even bold young ladies passionately calling out, “Whose young master is this? Does your family still have room for more?”
Gu Chaobei laughed dryly, turning to look at Shen Guiyan. Shen Guiyan had her face covered with a light veil. She had not the slightest intention of rescuing him, instead saying, “This young master’s family has three thousand spare rooms. Whoever can win favor might just get to go home with him.”