bookbashuk Chapter 174 The Slap in the Face Will Come Quickly
Chapter 174 The Slap in the Face Will Come Quickly
Have it?
Is it possible?
The results for the eldest Pei family's case came down, and the Empress was heartbroken. That's why she summoned Consort Chen over, originally just to vent her anger.
She deliberately didn't wake up, partly to give Consort Chen a hard time.
Consort Chen is a stubborn person; does she think she won't get up unless you tell her to?
"You and my sister originally had no personal grudges or grievances. Back then, you were just serving different masters. Now that the outcome is decided, why must you fight to the death?"
"Consort Chen, your personality is truly domineering. Now, relying on the Emperor's favor, you act without any restraint. Do you really think that the Emperor's favor can protect you forever?"
The Empress's words put her at a disadvantage.
Granny Qu sighed inwardly.
Shen Shixi smiled and said, "Your Majesty's heartfelt words have deeply moved me. But that's just my nature; I'll drink today and be merry, and if there's no wine tomorrow, I'll rest tomorrow. Fortunately, His Majesty is still quite kind to me today. Power unused is power wasted."
As for your sister, the Princess Consort of Jin, her fate has absolutely nothing to do with me. Did I force her to harm those girls? No! A life for a life—doesn't Your Majesty understand that?"
The Empress was both embarrassed and annoyed. "I've heard that Lord Shen only has one concubine, who is as close as a sister to Madam Shen. Does Consort Chen think that the harems of all the powerful and influential people in the capital are like the Shen family's?"
"This is beyond my control. As I have said, this matter has nothing to do with me. I have no sisters in the Prince of Jin's residence, and I do not know the victim. If Your Majesty truly wishes to hold me accountable, then so be it; there is no need to inform me."
After she finished speaking, she turned around and left without even bowing, which was extremely arrogant.
But nobody could do anything about her.
She came from Qianyuan Palace.
Soon, Consort Chen returned with account books and other documents. After verifying the accounts in person, she forced the Empress to sign them, and then stamped her own seal as well. After that, she would have no further involvement in any subsequent matters.
With more than ten days left until the end of the month, Consort Chen couldn't wait to hand over the palace affairs.
Consort Li was very unwilling for Consort Chen to stop managing affairs. When Consort Chen was in charge, no one dared to bully Lian Yue Pavilion.
Now that the Third Prince has been taken away by the Empress, the power in the palace has returned to the Empress's hands. Who knows how many people will fawn over her and bully her? As a mere concubine, her future days will not be as good as they are now.
Consort Shen was taking good care of herself during her pregnancy in the palace. She knew everything about what was happening in the harem, and she was quite moved by it.
Yinxing was very puzzled. "I heard that many noblewomen from outside the palace want to pay their respects to Consort Chen, but Zhaoyang Palace has refused them all. Even the Empress hasn't finished her postpartum confinement yet, so Consort Chen can take charge for a while longer. With the Emperor's word, does she really have to hand over this palace power?"
Consort Shen laughed and said, "That's because you don't understand. Consort Chen is a rare and insightful person. With the Emperor's favor, what need does she have for palace power? Look at how many years the Empress has been managing in this harem. Once Consort Chen takes the reins, who dares to disobey her?"
"That steward who insisted on sending gifts to the Prince of Jin's residence, are you still alive? As long as the Emperor is around, what can't she have?"
After Shen Shixi handed over the power of the palace, he was truly free of all worries.
The Ministry of Works delivered the parts for the sniper crossbow, and Shen Shixi, along with the Emperor, Yun Yue, and Cen Yin, assembled it. Her speed didn't seem fast, but her movements were very skilled, as if she had practiced it many times.
After teaching these people, they went to the training ground together.
Shen Shixi then taught them how to use it.
She tested it herself and found that the maximum range was 550 paces and the effective range was 350 paces.
Now that the glass has been made, the crossbow can be fitted with a scope, making long-distance aiming no problem at all.
This undoubtedly broadened the horizons of Li Yuanke and his ministers, and the group thoroughly enjoyed using the sniper crossbow.
"Your Majesty, if I had such weapons, I could easily rout those rebels with just a hundred men."
Yun Yue was the emperor's childhood friend and the commander-in-chief who was to lead troops to Zhangzhou to quell the rebellion and investigate the cause of death of the Marquis of Changning. He was safe if he fought against the rebels, but he was really not good at guerrilla warfare.
However, with these powerful crossbows, things become much easier.
Imagine this: the other side can't hit you, but you can hit them every time from a great distance. What else is there to say?
"Approved!" Li Yuanke was also very excited.
When Shen Shixi said that the range could reach 500 paces, to be honest, he didn't believe it. It wasn't that he couldn't make such a bow, but who could pull such a big bow?
However, the crossbow in his hand was only half the size of a large bow. Whether it was loading an arrow or shooting, it was just a matter of pulling a lever. There was no need for anyone to pull the bowstring hard. It could shoot the arrow 550 paces away with minimal effort.
Aiming is also very convenient.
Anyone in the army can use it, but even with the current horn bow, not everyone in the army can draw it.
Shen Shixi only asked Li Yuanke to leave her a powerful crossbow so she could use it to show off when she went to Beisha. She didn't care about the rest and returned to Zhaoyang Palace.
Li Yuanyin was still helping her blow glass. He was so busy during the first month of the lunar year that he barely went to the palace.
The Empress Dowager was heartbroken, but it was better for her youngest son to have something to do than to be idle.
Shen Shixi only urged him a little and provided some technical support before leaving it to others.
Her cousin, Du Hanyun, handed over the token, but Fengyi Palace blocked it and wouldn't let it in. But does that mean the message can't get through if it's not allowed to be handed over?
Shen Shixi had Chao En go to the door to welcome him in, carrying a jade token from Li Yuanke, which directly embarrassed Fengyi Palace.
Her cousin hasn't divorced He Wensi yet, and she's still a seventh-rank noblewoman, not a criminal. Why can't she enter the palace through normal channels?
Chao En led his people to Fengyi Palace first, asking his cousin to kowtow to the Empress. The Empress was furious and didn't want to see her, so she sent her away directly.
Du Hanyun was filled with unease. Upon arriving at Zhaoyang Palace, she asked, "Have I caused you any trouble?"
"No, no! I sent the Empress's sister to the guillotine. She didn't like you, and you were implicated because of me."
"If it weren't for you, how would I have known the Empress!" Du Hanyun was even more worried. "Will the Empress bully you?"
"Yes, but if she dares to bully me, I'll bully her even more. So, she'd better not bully me!" Shen Shixi also thought it was better to avoid trouble.
There's no point in fighting back and forth.
Li Yuanke clearly didn't like the Empress very much.
The empress herself was also clueless. Although she was caught in the middle and couldn't please either side, she had been brainwashed by her own family to such an extent that she was a complete traitor to her husband's family. Even a saint like Li Yuanke couldn't tolerate her.
Leaving aside the Empress, Shen Shixi asked her cousin, "Have you thought it through? Are you going to divorce that bastard or put up with him and stay with him?"
Shen Shixi didn't plan to interfere with her cousin's decision to just put up with it.
"I've already moved out..."
Before Du Hanyun could finish speaking, Xiangyuan knelt down with a thud. "Your Highness, you must do justice for our young lady! That man surnamed He is a scoundrel! He heard that our young lady had entered the palace, and he actually... he actually... forced himself on her!"