stonecrandall Chapter 156 Making the Handsome Man Happy
Chapter 156 Making the Handsome Man Happy
Shen Shixi could also tell that Li Yuanke was genuinely unhappy.
But it's impossible for her to go to great lengths to appease someone who's angry for no reason.
Especially considering that there was another way, she was even less likely to try to appease Li Yuanke.
[What's wrong with that bastard now? Didn't I already agree to let him leave the palace? Sigh, the emperor's mind is hard to fathom; he's even harder to please than a woman on her period!]
Li Yuanke didn't know what menstruation was. He was leaning against the pool wall with his eyes closed, feeling as heavy as if a weight was pressing down on his heart.
He only opened his eyes when he heard Shen Shixi's movement, and saw that she had also entered the hot spring pool. "Come here!"
"I'm not going!"
Shen Shixi was separated from him by a hot spring pool. Li Yuanke looked at her exposed shoulders, which were as white as jade, and then plunged into the water and swam over.
Shen Shixi didn't dodge. Looking at the male mermaid in the water, his body was so agile, with perfect proportions. His black hair spread out on the water's surface, making him look as beautiful as a prince in a fairy tale who kisses a princess awake.
Shen Shixi was held in his arms, and when she looked up, she saw the scarlet in his eyes, which was a little frightening.
Shen Shixi wrapped her arms around his neck, but before she could say anything, he kissed her.
He closed his eyes, so Shen Shixi couldn't see the expression in his eyes. She could only sense that he was very depressed, and for the first time, she couldn't guess why.
But she was never one to waste her time or effort on others.
She would cooperate with whatever Li Yuange wanted.
She wanted it too.
Li Yuanke was exceptionally gentle and compliant today. He did whatever Shen Shixi wanted without uttering a single unnecessary word.
But Shen Shixi was undoubtedly a master as well. She was very clever and had done so many things with Li Yuanke. She knew exactly how easy it was for him to seduce her. With her superb skills, she easily sent the two of them up there.
Afterwards, Li Yuanke held her, panting.
The two of them were very quiet tonight, with only the sound of the hot spring water lapping against the pool walls.
Once she was lying in bed, Shen Shixi asked, "Li Yuanke, what's wrong? Do you think it's unfair of me to try and take your throne? I was just saying it, I wasn't serious. If I really wanted to take it, I wouldn't have told you!"
"Yes! I know."
He held her tightly, "Are you tired? Don't you want to sleep?"
"What's wrong? Did someone bully you again? Don't be afraid, I'm here, I'll protect you!"
Shen Shixi propped herself up on the bed, looked up at him, and reached out to touch his face. "Li Yuanke, you're so handsome, you should smile more!"
Li Yuanke smiled.
Shen Shixi frowned, clearly disgusted, and said, "That's really barely passable!"
[However, she's still very beautiful! A beauty from every angle, even more so than Nuwa's graduation project. If she really died, I'd be a little sad!]
However, this feeling of reluctance is only fleeting.
She lay down, wrapped one arm around Li Yuanke's waist, closed her eyes, yawned, and fell asleep.
Li Yuanke was not asleep. He picked her up and placed her on his lap, gently stroking her back.
He stared at the top of the tent with his eyes open, but he didn't know when he fell asleep.
The next day, Bai Ping woke Shen Shixi up, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, we are going to the Empress Dowager's palace."
The Empress Dowager rested yesterday, but today she started receiving New Year's greetings from the noblewomen again, so Shen Shixi had to go and serve her.
She got annoyed and impatiently rolled over, "Okay, okay, shut up!"
Li Yuanke closed his eyes and pulled her into his arms, saying, "If you don't want to go, then you don't have to."
Shen Shixi then asked, "What time is it?"
Bai Ping said helplessly, "Your Majesty, it's Chen Shi (7-9 AM)!"
Shen Shixi mentally calculated that it was seven in the morning. "What are you doing so early? Wake me up later!"
Bai Ping thought to herself that she still needed to pay her respects.
Before she could speak further, Li Yuanke said, "Get out!"
Shen Shixi had slept for another half an hour, so she had to sit up. Li Yuanke was still asleep, so she didn't disturb him.
It snowed all night, but the sun is shining outside today.
It was already around eight or nine o'clock. Shen Shixi stood at the palace gate, took a deep breath of the crisp, snowy air, and felt a sense of openness and exhilaration. "This year is bound to be a good year!"
"Yes, the snow is good this year, and the weather is good too!" Lan Ying said with a smile.
Shen Shixi reached out and touched Lan Ying's cheek. "Our Lan Ying is beautiful and speaks very well!"
Lan Ying blushed deeply after being teased, and gave her a reproachful look, "Why did Your Highness resort to violence?"
Shen Shixi burst into laughter, and Chao En helped her onto the carriage.
Shen Shixi got up, and Li Yuanke woke up too. Too lazy to move, he just lay in bed.
The faint scent of her body still lingered on the pillow, a fragrance that was captivating.
Li Fude called out from outside, "Your Majesty, the princes and their consorts have all entered the palace and are waiting at Qian Yuan Palace."
Li Yuanke had no choice but to get up. "Hmm, order someone to treat us well!"
Today, a banquet is still being held at Qianyuan Palace.
Changyin Pavilion has been staging song, dance, and acrobatics performances these past two days; there's no opera or similar shows these days.
However, Shen Shixi didn't like watching these things, finding them too noisy, so she didn't go.
The Empress Dowager's palace was already quite full of people, and they were talking when someone at the entrance announced, "Consort Chen has arrived!"
Shen Shixi entered with a smile, bowed to the Empress Dowager, and said, "Your Majesty, I am late!"
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "No need for formalities. Hurry up and help her up. It's warmer under the covers in this snowy weather. I'm getting old and can't sleep. When I was young, I couldn't wait to celebrate the New Year so I could stay in bed a little longer."
The noblewomen all laughed, including Yang Tingyue's grandmother, the Dowager Lady of the Duke of Ying's Mansion.
The Dowager said, "It is the Empress Dowager who is so kind and tolerant towards the younger generation. However, Consort Chen is also a junior. It is not right to neglect our filial duties just because our elders are kind and benevolent!"
Shen Shixi glanced at Yang Tingyue next to the Grand Madam and saw her smug expression, so he knew what was going on.
The Dowager Lady was the mother-in-law of the Empress Dowager's sister. After arriving in the palace, she liked to act arrogantly because of her age.
Shen Shixi smiled and said, "I have heard that the elders are kind and benevolent to the younger generation, which is why the younger generation lives a long life. No wonder the Duchess of Ying left us so early. It is a pity that such a beautiful woman had such a short life."
Normally, no one would mention such a painful matter in front of the Empress Dowager or in front of Da Nian, but who is Shen Shixi? Her mouth is like it's been smeared with poison. She dares to hit even a prince without hesitation, so why would she be afraid of you, you old hag?
She always believed in a "you're good, I'm good, we're all good" attitude; if you weren't, don't blame me for being ruthless.
The hall, which had been filled with laughter just moments before, was now silent, as everyone was waiting to see what would happen.
The Dowager Lady burst out, "Your Highness, I dare not accept such words! In this capital, who doesn't know that I have always been the kindest and most generous to my daughters-in-law? My daughter-in-law passed away so young, how could I not be heartbroken!"
Shen Shixi smiled and said, "The Dowager Madam is truly the best elder in the world. However, while you are kind to the younger generation, why do you incite the Empress Dowager to be harsh towards them?"
Seeing that Shen Shixi was digging the pit deeper and deeper, the Dowager Lady had no choice but to say, "Your Highness Consort Chen, how can you compare to my daughter-in-law?"
"My daughter-in-law manages the household affairs perfectly. Now that you are managing the inner palace on behalf of the Empress, all sorts of things are happening, and you yourself are still sleeping until late morning. Am I not even allowed to offer a word of advice?"
That was a very clever remark; it elevated the Empress Dowager's sister while using facts to suppress Shen Shixi.