NABC Chapter 343 Your Highness, Crown Prince
Chapter 343 Your Highness, Crown Prince
When Li Yuanke arrived, he saw that his two children were keeping the wet nurse very busy.
The wet nurses were chosen by the Imperial Household Department from among hundreds of candidates. They were young, healthy, and experienced, but the Crown Prince and Princess were extremely unruly and had terrible tempers.
Fortunately, the Emperor and Empress never criticized or scolded them; on the contrary, they respected them, so the wet nurses were not nervous or at a loss.
Seeing his son and daughter kicking their chubby little legs with great force, Li Yuanke laughed. "You little brats, you peed, so what? Why are you crying like that? You've woken up both of your mothers. Shouldn't you get a spanking?"
He pretended to hit them, but the two children didn't understand. Hearing his voice, their bottoms were wiped clean, their diapers were changed, and they felt comfortable. So they stopped crying and just whimpered. Two tears hung in the corners of their eyes, and their faces were as chubby as fat cats. They were just so adorable.
Li Yuanke chuckled, raised his hand to wipe away his son's tears, and gently touched his little face. "Look at you, where is the bearing of a crown prince?"
Beside him, his daughter was babbling. Li Yuanke picked her up, examined her for a long time, and said with great regret, "Why can't she look like her mother?"
She then complained about her son, "You too, you good-for-nothing!"
After the two children fell asleep again, Li Yuanke returned to his bedchamber. Shen Shixi snuggled into his arms in her sleep, and he held her, feeling very content.
Yang Baishi didn't sleep well all night, tossing and turning. One moment she was worried that she had misunderstood and that the Empress did not mean to give Princess Xian'an to her son. The next moment she was worried that if she did, she would be putting her son's life at risk.
He hated Yang Shougui to death.
The next day, she submitted her petition to the palace again, subtly inquiring about Princess Xian'an.
Shen Shixi never liked beating around the bush, so he told her directly that the princess was a bit arrogant, but people's personalities are not so simple. Just because they are compatible doesn't mean they can get along. It's like the pot and the lid.
If Yang Baishi is willing, the marriage can proceed.
Yang Baishi was overjoyed and performed a grand ceremony to express her gratitude.
The Empress Dowager went directly to the Emperor to intercept the marriage, wanting to betroth Princess Xian'an to Yang Xiancheng. She had no doubt that Yang Xiancheng was the ideal husband that Shen Shixi had chosen for her fourth younger sister, and she strongly opposed the Empress's actions.
Because the Shen family were civil officials, and since ancient times there has been a clear distinction between civil and military officials, they dared not overstep the boundaries for fear that the emperor would suspect them of collusion.
Shen Shixi had already informed Li Yuanke and was waiting here.
The emperor seemed to agree with his mother's words and immediately issued an edict to grant the marriage. The empress dowager felt that the emperor was on her side and was overjoyed.
Finally, February 15th arrived. Upon waking up early in the morning, Shen Shixi couldn't wait to jump into the hot spring pool and wash herself thoroughly from head to toe with soap. After getting out, she felt refreshed all over.
She directed the people in the palace to change all the bed sheets and blankets, the curtains, and all the furnishings in the room, replacing them with something refreshing for her.
The plum vase on the high table in the corner, which held red plum blossoms, was originally white-glazed, but Shen Shixi asked her to replace it with the Ru kiln type. "Let's put some forsythia in it. Oh, by the way, have the peach blossoms bloomed yet? If they have, let's put some peach blossoms in it."
Bai Ping said, "It's not that early. The flower buds haven't even opened yet."
Shen Shixi then remembered that there was an open space next to Zhaoyang Palace, and instructed Chao En, "Go and get some peach saplings, seventeen of them. After His Majesty finishes court, His Majesty and I will plant the peach trees."
After Li Yuanke left the court, Li Fude followed behind with a large pile of memorials. Shen Shixi was stunned when she saw them. "How many days has it been since you last reviewed any memorials?"
Li Yuanke picked up his teacup, took two large gulps, and said, "I'm busy to death every day, how can I have time to review memorials? I don't have to take care of the kids, I don't have to go to court, can't you see how tired I am every day?"
After saying that, he came over and hugged Shen Shixi. "Xi'er, I don't think this will work. Otherwise, I will die sooner. I don't need you to help me much. Just help me look at the memorials every day. Don't look at too many, just half of them will do. How about that?"
"Once the child is older, I won't need your help anymore."
Shen Shixi was speechless, but he really had nothing to say.
Since she became pregnant, Li Yuanke has had a very busy day. She, on the other hand, eats, drinks, and sleeps well every day. Li Yuanke is not only worried, but after the baby was born, he takes care of the baby day and night, which is indeed hard work for him.
The child is still young, Li Yuanke certainly can't fall.
"It's a promise, once the child is older, you'll do it yourself and you're not allowed to enslave me."
"You think I'm enslaving you? We're husband and wife, sharing joys and sorrows. You even say such things to me when you're just approving a few official documents. Xi'er, your heart has hardened."
"Get lost!" Shen Shixi shoved his face. The newly sprouted stubble was a bit prickly, and she rubbed it against his face a couple of times.
Li Yuanke couldn't resist and hugged her.
Everyone inside the hall quickly left.
The couple hadn't been intimate for almost half a year, and this encounter was like a bolt from the blue.
Shen Shixi was carried into the bedroom by him. The newly changed sheets and blankets still smelled of sunshine, which was mixed with the scent of the two of them.
She wrapped her arms around Li Yuanke's neck, resting her head on his broad shoulders, where a scar remained, its uneven surface rubbing against her palm.
Having not done it for a long time, they were all a little excited, and Li Yuanke hugged her and kissed her.
Although Shen Shixi has given birth, she has recovered well and has been exercising for the past two weeks. Surprisingly, her physical strength is no worse than before.
She clung to Li Yuanke like a vine.
The match was evenly matched, and it was quite exhilarating.
Later, Li Yuanke simply lay in bed and let her do as she pleased.
Shen Shixi was having his fun and didn't care about Li Yuanke.
He was furious. "If you're going to mess with me, then come at me!"
Shen Shixi kicked him, "I was the one doing all the work, how much did you contribute? How can you be like this?"
"I didn't want to do anything? You want me to move?"
Li Yuange lost control, and Shen Shixi almost flew out. She quickly grabbed Li Yuange's arm, and Li Yuange also quickly grabbed her waist.
Finally, the two ascended together. Li Yuanke lay there, too tired to move. Shen Shixi gasped for breath and pushed him, "You're so heavy!"
After a while, Li Yuanke resigned himself to his fate, got up, and carried her to wash.
The bed had been changed, and the two of them came back after showering, intending to take a nap. However, the two little ones started making a fuss again. Li Yuanke was too tired to move, but he couldn't bear to ignore it. Just as he was about to get up, Shen Shixi got up and pressed him down, saying, "I'll go check on them."
She went to the side hall, where the wet nurses were extremely anxious. They knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, we don't know what the Crown Prince and the Princess want. They haven't urinated, they're not hungry, and they're in good health."
Shen Shixi waved her hand, signaling them to get up. Looking at the two unruly children, she was really annoyed. She wanted to stuff them back into her womb and reshape them. "It's all because their father spoiled them. What do they want? To fly to the heavens? Go ahead!"
Hearing Shen Shixi's threatening words to the children, Li Yuanke felt a pang of heartache and rushed over, angrily saying, "What nonsense are you spouting? How old are they? Can they understand? What kind of mother are you?"
Shen Shixi ignored it and walked away. Li Yuanke could do whatever he wanted with her; she didn't care.
Shen Shixi woke up from a nap, but Li Yuanke hadn't returned yet. The two children had slept and eaten their fill and wanted to go out for a stroll. Would the wet nurse dare to take them out?
Of course I wouldn't dare.
Only Li Yuanke dared to do that.
Shen Shixi felt a pang of sympathy for a second. To be honest, she would rather do housework than take care of a child.
For the first two months after she was born, she didn't take care of her for even a second. She would only play with her occasionally when she had nothing else to do, treating her like a toy. As soon as she started crying or fussing, she would immediately want to be taken away, not wanting to hear her howling for even a minute.
She watched Li Yuanke lead the way and felt sorry for him.
The weather was nice, so at noon, Li Yuanke simply took the two little troublemakers for a stroll in the Imperial Garden. The two children lay side by side in the stroller, with the Crown Prince's one leg propped up on the railing. His two round eyes looked around happily.
The princess, being slightly more refined, was gazing at the white clouds overhead.
Upon reaching the koi pond, Li Yuanke truly didn't want to walk any further, so he climbed onto the pavilion and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, why don't we rest here for a while?"
After consulting with the two children, Li Yuanke sat down without waiting for their consent.
I feel a little sleepy.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects! May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"
Li Yuanke turned his head and saw a woman dressed in formal attire bowing to him. He couldn't remember her at all. Li Fude reminded him, "Your Majesty, it's Consort Rong."
Fearing the Emperor might not know who Rong Xiuyuan was, Li Fude added, "Empress Cui!"
Upon hearing the name Cui, Li Yuanke immediately knew who she was: the granddaughter of Prime Minister Cui.