dmims Chapter 434
Chapter 434
Many members of the Shen family came and paid their respects to the Empress. Shen Shixi, not in much spirit, smiled and said, "Father, Mother, please rise. And brothers and sisters-in-law, no need for formalities, we're all family. How is Grandmother?"
"Your grandmother is still in good health and spirits, but she has some difficulty walking. She was supposed to go to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress, but I didn't let her come." Shen Xianzhang held back his tears.
How heartbroken her grandmother would be to see the Empress like this!
Madam Shen was already in tears, unable to utter a single word.
Shen Shixi smiled. "Father, Mother, I have a few words to say. Please come here."
Shen Xianzhang and his wife came over and tried to kneel down, but she waved her hand weakly, saying, "Father, Mother, please don't!"
She was reborn into this world, and Shen Xianzhang and his wife truly loved her no less than her parents in her previous life. However, before giving birth to Dongjun and Xihe, she didn't have much of a sense of belonging to this world.
But this land did indeed give birth to her.
Her inherent sense of justice prevented her from standing idly by.
The people suffer when the country prospers, and they suffer when the country falls. She did her best to alleviate the suffering of the people.
"Father, no matter how many years pass, the men of the Shen family will always uphold the principles of peace and stability for the nation, taking the family name and the nation as their own responsibility. They will establish a moral compass for heaven and earth, and secure a future for the people. They will never be granted titles, never take a single needle or thread from the common people, and never eat a single grain of rice from them for free! This will be our family motto!"
Shen Xianzhang couldn't help but shed tears, his voice trembling as he said, "Your subject obeys the decree. I will remember it well. If anyone in the Shen family disobeys this instruction, they will be expelled from the clan without exception!"
Shen Shixi then said to her mother, "Mother, daughters of the Shen family do not study the Four Books for Women. They have the same opportunity to study as boys. They can choose their own marriage partners and separate from their partners as they please. Elders should value the life and dignity of girls as much as that of boys."
Madam Shen wept and said, "Your Majesty's decree states that the daughters of the Shen family are just as precious as the sons. If they suffer in their husbands' homes, their elders will certainly not stand idly by. If they choose to divorce and return home, their families will love and cherish them just the same. If a daughter of the Shen family wishes to divorce, her family will definitely support her!"
Shen Shixi glanced at her brother, sister-in-law, and nephews, all of whom were crying uncontrollably. She closed her eyes and said, "I'm tired, Father and Mother, you should all go home!"
From now on, may we both take care!
Li Yuanke was in the side hall, his hand supporting his forehead, his eyes already moist.
For so many days, he had tried every method imaginable, even inviting Buddhist and Taoist priests, whom he had never believed in, to the palace to perform rituals, but to no avail. Her life was like water in a pond, slowly flowing away, and he could see the bottom before him, but he was powerless to do anything about it.
What use is being an emperor?
After Shen Shixi closed her eyes, she began to dream again. This time, she was back home. Her soul was floating in the air. She heard her mother talking to her father on the phone. Her father was stirring up trouble in some African country.
Just as she was about to listen, she heard Li Yuanke calling her. She opened her eyes, saw Li Yuanke, and tried to reach out to touch his face, but she couldn't muster the strength.
Li Yuanke took her hand and pressed it against his face. "Xi'er, don't sleep!"
Shen Shixi held his head in her arms, pressing it against her chest. "Li Yuanke, don't be afraid!"
"We'll be together forever, you promised me!" Li Yuanke closed his eyes, letting his tears soak her chest.
Shen Shixi smiled. "Beauties, like famous generals, are not allowed to grow old in this world. I am, after all, a great beauty. Perhaps God doesn't want you to see my white hair and wrinkled skin!"
Li Yuanke felt as if his heart was being torn apart. Behind him, four children knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Shen Shixi waved to the children, and the four children came over. She stroked each of them one by one, feeling very reluctant to part with them. Looking at the children, she couldn't stop her tears from flowing.
We are not in control of our birth, nor can we control our death. This is probably what life is all about!
"Mother, don't leave us!" Wang Shu rushed over, buried her face in her mother's shoulder, and cried uncontrollably.
Shen Shixi patted her youngest son's head, "From now on, I'm entrusting my father to you. Take good care of him! No matter where I go, I will always think of you."
Dongjun must prioritize the well-being of his country and its people in the future; Xihe must compile the "Yongxi Encyclopedia"; Fuguang must build the chariot; and Wangshu, will he become a great mathematician?
Wang Shu cried, "Mother, you must watch your son become a mathematician!"
"Mother will be watching, Mother will be watching you all, to contribute to this country and the people of Great Zhou, to achieve great things, and to become useful people to the nation and its people!"
The children were crying very sadly, and Shen Shixi couldn't bear to watch. "You all go downstairs. Your mother and father need to talk."
Li Yuanke looked up and wiped away her tears. "We can talk about it another day. I'll stay with you for a while."
Shen Shixi stroked his face, "Li Yuanke, the peach blossoms are blooming so late this year, I can't wait any longer, carry me to see them!"
Li Yuanke carried her on his back and left the palace, heading to the Peach Garden.
Along the way, everyone knelt down and wept uncontrollably.
In the 29th year of Yongxi, at the end of February, before they had planted the 36th peach sapling, there were only a few early peach blossoms in the orchard. Li Yuanke stopped there.
His voice trembled, "Xi'er, I thought that as long as I tried my best, we could grow old together. I thought that with all my efforts, I could keep you. I thought that after having four children, you wouldn't want to leave... Xi'er, how can I keep you?"
Shen Shixi leaned weakly on his shoulder. "Li Yuanke, don't blame yourself. We're both just ordinary people. There are times when we try our best but are powerless to help. You gave me everything you could, and I'm very content!"
"But I'd rather you blame me, hate me, and argue with me."
Shen Shixi kissed him on the neck and smiled, "Meeting you is the greatest fortune of my life. You gave me a stage to showcase my talents and the opportunity to fulfill my dreams. The grievances I suffered have nothing to do with you, and the achievements I made are because of you. Li Yuanke, I will think of the children, and I will remember you!"
Li Yuanke's heart was breaking. "I don't want to hear any of this. If you leave now, I will never remember you, and there will be not a single word about you in the history of the Great Zhou. I will not care about your children either!"
"Li Yuanke, you're such a bastard!"
Shen Shixi's voice was very faint, so faint that only he could hear it.
She smiled, looking at the peach blossoms, and in a daze seemed to return to many years ago, when she sat on a peach tree branch and a young man passed by her feet, his demeanor graceful and beautiful, like a pearl or jade.
"Li Yuanke, the peach blossoms were so beautiful that year..."
[She's good-looking too!]
Her hand fell to her side, and Li Yuanke's legs went weak, causing him to kneel down. Li Fude heard a cracking sound of bones breaking, and his heart skipped a beat.
He didn't need anyone's help. He steadily supported Shen Shixi with one hand and stood up with difficulty. His knees ached terribly, but he felt a strange pleasure in the pain.
"Xi'er, I'll carry you back, I'll carry you back right now. It's windy outside, don't sleep..."
Li Yuanke tried to walk a few steps faster, but stumbled and almost fell over.
Li Fude dared not help, but saw the Emperor carrying the Empress on his back, stumbling and falling. Fortunately, the Crown Prince and the others arrived and helped their father while crying.
But Li Yuanke didn't want them to get close, so he carried the Empress on his back and moved step by step to Qian Yuan Palace, carefully placing her on the bed.
He held Shen Shixi's hand, a metallic taste rising in his throat. He pursed his lips, but blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He pressed Shen Shixi's hand to his face, tears streaming down his face.
I will love what you love, I will let history remember your great achievements, I will take good care of our children, I will always remember you, and we promise to be an ordinary couple with only each other in the next life.
On the 26th day of the second month of the 29th year of Yongxi, Empress Chenyuan Zhao passed away at the age of 40.
The Emperor decreed: Empress Chenyuan Zhao, whom I knew since childhood, assisted me with wise strategies and shared hardships with me to achieve great things. Later, she entered the palace from humble beginnings, yet she cared deeply for the people, mindful of their hunger, and personally tilled the land. She advised me on the cultivation of grains, and the promotion of corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes is entirely due to her efforts. Today, the world is free from hunger, a testament to her virtue. My misjudgment in choosing officials led to the loss of the Heavenly Consort Pass, which she cleverly recovered. The improvement of weapons in the army was also her achievement. Later, she prepared for the imperial examinations, established military examinations, founded academies, promoted scientific research, established the Grand Secretariat, quelled internal rebellions, and rectified official corruption. Her contributions as an inner helper are too numerous to recount. Now, she has suddenly passed away, and my heart is broken; my grief is beyond words! Her virtuous deeds cannot be fully described; therefore, I write her biography to show future generations and to attest to the greatness of her achievements!
Empress Shen, of the Chenyuan Zhao clan, was a woman of virtuous character and outstanding virtue. She was my wise and beloved advisor and the only one in the harem. Losing her is like losing my heart. I will never appoint another empress in this lifetime to express my grief! No subject or citizen may speak ill of her.
So be it! March 18th, the 29th year of Yongxi.
(End of the article)