dmims Chapter 225 Scolding the Empress
Chapter 225 Scolding the Empress
The Empress was extremely embarrassed!
"Now that I have ascended to the throne, I have a legitimate title and right to rule. You shall not be presumptuous before me!" the Empress said angrily.
Shen Shixi said, "Have I ever been presumptuous? When I came in, did I not bow to the Empress? Did I not use honorifics when I spoke? Did I provoke you? Who has repeatedly tried to insult me with their words?"
Shen Shixi slammed her wine cup on the table with a bang, spilling food and wine all over the table. "Empress, you are the eldest daughter of the Pei family and a woman well-versed in literature. You should understand one thing: your reputation is something you give yourself! I did not wish to put the Emperor in a difficult position, so I had no intention of competing with you. Empress, you should stop now!"
"How dare you speak to me like that? Don't you understand the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children?"
Shen Shixi smiled, "So you want to use your position to torment me? You try it! You're asking for it!"
That's a very strong statement!
When has the Empress ever been treated like this!
Even the Empress Dowager couldn't stand it anymore and shouted, "Chen Yuan!"
Shen Shixi then said, "Did I have this rank as soon as I entered the palace? Have I never followed the rules in front of you? It is you who have repeatedly provoked me, and what kind of first wife are you pretending to be in front of me all day long!"
"You can't tolerate me, yet you expect me to respect you? Who do you think you are? The Queen Mother of the West? Don't you even know if you have the ability!"
Since things were going to fall apart anyway, Shen Shixi was too lazy to pretend anymore.
The Empress Dowager said, "Chenyuan, you are not allowed to talk nonsense!"
The Empress was so angry that she trembled all over, tears streaming down her face. She looked at the Emperor with pleading eyes, hoping he would stand up for her, since she was, after all, the legal wife.
The emperor was as if he were deaf, only concerned with eating his own food, without even raising his head.
The Empress Dowager could only sigh and say, "Get the Imperial Noble Consort a different table and bring out another feast! Chenyuan, calm down. The Empress didn't say anything. You're both the Emperor's people, so please be considerate of each other. If you two start a fight, things won't look good in the palace!"
Shen Shixi sneered, "For the sake of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, I'll let it go. But try provoking me again!"
[If that bastard Li Yuanke can't bring himself to divorce his wife, I'll make him lose her! What a load of rubbish! No wonder there's always a reason why someone is pitiful; it's infuriating! They should all just give up on life!]
The Empress Dowager then said to the Empress, "You know Chenyuan's temper. She's like a donkey that needs to be stroked gently; you have to be gentle with her to get along with her. Take this dish to the Empress, and after she finishes eating, she'll come with me to see the play in a little while."
"I've never heard of the plays that Chenyuan arranged for the Imperial Music Bureau to stage. I'll go and see for myself later."
As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, the Emperor instructed Li Fude to bestow several dishes from his table upon Shen Shixi.
Then he asked her, "Are you full?"
The empress's tears did not stop.
The Emperor is too biased. She is still the legal wife, and it was Shen Shixi who broke the rules first. What did she say? Shen Shixi is so relentless!
Shen Shixi didn't even bother to express her gratitude, nor did she get up or ask for more food to be served. She picked at the dishes the emperor had given her a few times and was already full, while everyone else was still hungry. But after all that commotion, no one had any appetite left.
Consort De led the conversation by saying a few other things, and then they all went to Changyin Pavilion.
The director of the Imperial Music Bureau was already waiting with the opera troupe. After the masters were all seated, he first distributed a mimeographed synopsis of "Jiang Liu Ji" to them. After reading the synopsis, the audience would be much more immersed in the opera.
For a moment, no one spoke.
The Empress wept silently by herself, but no one paid her any attention; everyone was watching the show.
Li Yuanke also found it novel; he had never seen this kind of stage presentation before. It presented a story through scenes, actions, language, and characters, which was very intuitive, impactful, and captivating.
When the Empress Dowager saw the robbers push Jiang Liuer's father into the river, take Jiang Liuer's mother, and use his father's seal to take up his post, she cried and cursed, and even ordered the Emperor to behead the robbers.
The emperor was speechless. "Mother, this is just a play, not real. Please don't get agitated!"
"There must be something to this story, otherwise people would make it up. You should investigate carefully; you might find something similar." The Empress Dowager persisted.
I have to say, that makes a lot of sense!
"Yes, yes!" Li Yuanke replied perfunctorily. "Li Fude, reward him!"
He admired the strong sense of immersion the audience had; he had to admit that this opera had a unique flavor compared to song and dance.
Shen Shixi found it quite interesting, because the singing style of this Peking Opera was neither like Peking Opera nor like Yue Opera, which made her laugh.
As everyone saw, after the two concubines fought, one was heartbroken, while the other was so happy she wanted to roll around on the floor.
In Shen Shixi's view, the combination of "singing, acting, reciting, and fighting" is very rich and seamless, and has great artistic value.
Indeed, people are intelligent and creative; the only thing limiting the development of an era is their limited knowledge and experience.
After two acts were performed, it was already 9 PM. Shen Shixi didn't want to watch anymore. This level of entertainment couldn't entice her, so she took her leave. "It's getting late, Your Majesty, Empress Dowager. I'll return to the palace now. You may continue watching."
The emperor also wanted to come along; he had been thinking about the argument the two had before they arrived.
"Mother, it's late. How about we have the Imperial Music Bureau perform again tomorrow? I'll escort you back to the palace now."
The Empress Dowager was still not satisfied, but it was indeed very late. She ordered someone to reward the Jiaofangsi (a type of entertainment venue) before rising and saying, "The Emperor need not see me off. You and the Empress go back. You haven't been to the Empress's palace since you returned. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a day for family reunion. You and the Empress should also have a reunion."
Shen Shixi walked straight ahead, followed by Consort Jin and Consort Qiong, who called out, "Hey, wait for us!"
Yuan Chongrong and Guo Chongyuan also hurriedly followed.
Shen Shixi found it amusing, "What are you guys doing? Coming to a nightclub?"
"Let me visit your palace. I haven't been there since you came back."
The second prince was still young, and when the banquet ended, Consort Qiong had already sent him home. As for the fifth prince, he wasn't brought along at all.
"Let's go, I have some good wine, let's drink until we drop tonight!" Shen Shixi said with a smile.
All four of them were quite happy. When they arrived at Zhaoyang Palace, Shen Shixi took them to the small garden, set up a table, and as soon as he took out the Xuepei (a type of fermented rice wine), Consort Qiong got excited and wanted to drink it.
Shen Shixi stopped her, "Let's play musical chairs. Whoever gets the flower has to drink a glass of wine and perform a Mid-Autumn Festival-related act!"
This is fun, and everyone is eager to try it.
Today is a festival, and Zhaoyang Palace is brightly lit with lanterns.
Chao En brought over a small drum, turned his back to them, and began to beat it. A sprig of osmanthus flower was passed from Shen Shixi's hand. Everyone was quite tense amidst the drumming. In the end, the osmanthus flower ended up in Consort Jin's hand, and everyone clapped with delight.
It's so much fun!
"Consort Jin, you must first drink the penalty wine, then you can perform!" Consort Qiong said with a smile.
Consort Jin stood up, picked up her wine cup, and drank it down in one gulp with great gusto. Then, like a great general, she raised her hand and said, "Bring the zither!"
"The moon rises bright, and the beautiful woman is lovely. She is graceful and charming, and my heart is filled with sorrow..." She sang as she played the piano, and it sounded quite nice.
She's a lady from a respectable family, after all; who doesn't have a few tricks up their sleeve?
Everyone applauded.
After the performance, the drumming started again, creating a tense atmosphere. Once the osmanthus branch was in hand, it was quickly passed to the next person. However, when it reached Consort Jin again, the drumming stopped.
Consort Jin stomped her foot in anger, "Chen Yuan, who is this eunuch? Why does he act like he has a grudge against me!"
Chao En was truly wronged and hurriedly said, "This servant didn't, this servant is innocent! Your Highness Consort Jin, this servant really didn't!"
Shen Shixi laughed heartily, "Chao En, ignore her. She's just greedy for wine. Once she got the osmanthus branch, she wouldn't let go. Why do you care about her!"
Consort Jin pretended to hit Shen Shixi with a osmanthus branch, "I'm innocent!"
She drank another glass. "I'm sorry, sisters, it's not that I don't want to give you this opportunity, it's just that you yourselves are not up to par!"
Hahaha!
Everyone burst into laughter, even Guo Chongyuan, who was usually serious and very quiet, laughed until tears streamed down her face. She hadn't laughed so heartily in a long time.
Consort Jin had no choice but to rack her brains and come up with another little tune to sing, but it didn't fit the Mid-Autumn Festival at all, so she had to drink another cup as punishment.
I felt a little dizzy.
Fortunately, when the drumbeats stopped, the osmanthus branch was in Yuan Chongrong's hands. She then told a story about eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, which made everyone laugh.
When it was Consort Qiong's turn, she performed a dance.
When they arrived at Guo Chongyuan's place, she also drank some wine and sang some folk songs, which were quite pleasant to listen to.
Everyone was looking forward to Shen Shixi, but she was really lucky; it took her two turns before it was her turn.
Consort Qiong then said, "We want to hear the song you sang for the Great Consort of Beisha. You are not allowed to play the flute; you must play it while singing for us."
Shen Shixi said, "Forget it, that has nothing to do with the Mid-Autumn Festival. If you try to back out later and make me drink another cup of wine as punishment, who am I supposed to cry to?"
Li Yuanke arrived and laughed, "Who dares to renege? I'm here, who would dare to renege?"