sjar 065 Shu Yingwen's Backer
065 Shu Yingwen's Backer
While Shen Lang was training the new army and overseeing the production of military equipment;
While Mu Changge was busy forming factions in an attempt to use public opinion to gain the position of the emperor's son-in-law;
Shu Yingwen, who had always been on the fringes, was in a state of illness like Lin Daiyu lying on her sickbed.
He was leaning against the bed, his face pale as he gazed out the window at the scenery, his eyes filled with a heartbreaking sadness.
Just then, Shu Yue brought a bowl of medicinal soup to Shu Yingwen's side.
"Brother, this is a medicinal soup that I specially asked His Majesty to prescribe for you at the Imperial Hospital to treat your cold. Drink it while it's hot."
It turns out that Shu Yue and Shu Yingwen are siblings. Shu Yue was brought into the palace by the Empress Dowager when she was young, and this identity has never been made public, not even to Jiang Mengxuan.
Looking at the orange-yellow medicinal soup in the bowl, Shu Yingwen shook her head and said, "Aren't you afraid that if His Majesty finds out the truth at this time, it will bring about our deaths?"
Shu Yue replied, "Don't worry, His Majesty is currently attending the morning court session, and there are no outsiders in the Huanyu Palace at the moment, so no one will know."
"Ugh--"
Shu Yingwen sighed, took the medicine, and placed it aside.
Shu Yue immediately became anxious upon seeing this: "Brother, how can you get better if you don't take your medicine?"
Shu Yingwen gave a bitter smile: "What's the use of getting better? I've found that no matter what I do..."
It seems I can't win His Majesty's heart. Since I can't gain His Majesty's love, I might as well just die.
"Brother, how could you think such a thing? The matter isn't over yet, how can you give up so easily?"
"I have tried my best, but I can tell that His Majesty's mind is not on me."
Mu Changge is incredibly wealthy and has recently made connections with many powerful figures in the capital. Even among the common people, the calls for him to become the emperor's son-in-law are growing louder.
And I, a down-on-my-luck scholar from a poor family, what do I have to compete with him? Cough cough…
Shu Yingwen coughed twice as she finished speaking.
"And then there's Shen Lang, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I don't know what it was about him that caught His Majesty's eye, but last time at Shuyu Tower..."
He has a close relationship with the current emperor's uncle, Prince Jing, while I am a nobody with no connections. How can I compete with them?
What His Majesty needs right now is a useful person, but I have no money, no power, nothing at all, and am destined to be unqualified to be the Emperor's son-in-law.
After hearing this, Shu Yue stepped forward, picked up the medicine soup, and handed it to Shu Yingwen: "Who said that my brother is not qualified to be the emperor's son-in-law?"
In my opinion, no matter how much trouble Mu Changge and Shen Lang cause, the final choice for the emperor's son-in-law will inevitably be the elder brother.
Shu Yingwen was taken aback: "Sister, why do you say that?"
Shu Yue smiled mysteriously: "Brother, what do you think is the reason you were able to enter the capital and become one of the chosen sons-in-law? You don't really think it's just because you have a handsome appearance, do you?"
Shu Yingwen: "Is there some inside story that I don't know?"
Shu Yue nodded: "That's natural. My brother's ability to enter the palace for selection is naturally arranged secretly by a noble person."
Shu Yingwen took the soup bowl and asked anxiously, "Who exactly is the benefactor helping us behind the scenes?"
Shu Yue: "Naturally, it's the current Empress Dowager."
"Empress Dowager?"
Shu Yingwen asked in bewilderment, "Why did the Empress Dowager choose me? Sister, tell me, what exactly happened?"
Shu Yue replied softly, "It's alright to tell you. Actually, I've been a spy planted by the Empress Dowager to His Majesty since I was a child."
The purpose was to monitor His Majesty's every move so that he could report back to the Empress Dowager in a timely manner.
The Empress Dowager, grateful for my contributions over the years, specially selected you to enter the palace for the imperial examination.
No matter how powerful Shen Lang and Mu Changge are, without the Empress Dowager's approval, His Majesty has no right to choose his own husband. Do you understand now?
Upon hearing this, Shu Yingwen suddenly realized: "So, His Majesty's final decision on the choice of his son-in-law can only be made by the Empress Dowager?"
Shu Yue nodded: "Yes, if you are eliminated during the selection process, the Empress Dowager will personally escort you back to the palace from Jade Peak Mountain to intervene in the selection of your son-in-law."
The Empress Dowager wields immense power; even the current Chancellor Ye gives her a wide berth. With her backing, does your brother really think he has no hope?
Upon hearing this, Shu Yingwen drank the medicine in her hand in one gulp.
Her complexion improved significantly immediately, and her eyes regained their sparkle.
"If I can successfully marry into the Emperor's family, I am willing to serve His Majesty for the rest of my life, obeying his every command and never changing my heart."
Shu Yue breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Brother, you bear the heavy responsibility of revitalizing our Shu family."
As long as the Empress can conceive a child of my Shu family, he will be the future ruler of the Great Chu Kingdom.
At that time, the Shu family will no longer have to be subservient to other powerful families and can rise again.
Shu Yingwen sighed and then said, "But I have no connection with the Empress Dowager. I really don't know how to thank her for helping me like this."
Shu Yue smiled and said, "Brother, just remember to follow the Empress Dowager's arrangements. Never betray her, because everything we have is given to us by her."
"oh, I understand now."
After listening to Shu Yue's words, Shu Yingwen cheered up again, seemingly full of confidence in the future.
……
On Qingyu Peak, inside a solemn temple.
The outer perimeter was filled with martial artists of the Acquired Strength Realm, and the leader was a master of the Perfected Transformation Realm, completely sealing off the temple from top to bottom, so that not even a fly could get in.
This is the place where Empress Dowager Ji Yuxi prayed for the deceased Emperor Jiang Yan and practiced quiet meditation.
However, within the solemn temple, bursts of lewd laughter and boisterous laughter could be heard, a mixture of male and female pleasure.
Inside the room, two intertwined figures were entwined on the bed, with clothes scattered all over the floor.
After a long while, the man finally broke free from the woman and leaned against the bed, breathing heavily.
On the bed was a beautiful young woman who looked to be around thirty years old and exuded an air of nobility.
The young woman's face was still flushed. She grabbed a gauze dress and casually wrapped it around her body, making no attempt to conceal her stunning figure in the Buddhist temple.
She was the Empress Dowager of the current dynasty, Ji Yuxi, and Jiang Mengxuan's nominal biological mother.
Despite looking like she's under thirty, she's actually over fifty and maintains her figure and appearance entirely thanks to elixirs.
She has a daughter and a son.
Her daughter is Princess Changyang, Jiang Ruoxi, and also a disciple of Fengyuanting.
His son was Jiang Chong, the King of Shu, who controlled the military and political affairs of Shu and commanded more than 300,000 troops.
As for Ji Yuxi, she is a lewd person at heart and is extremely obsessed with power.
When the late emperor was alive, her feigned purity and innocence deceived everyone.
The saying goes that one is like a wolf at thirty and a tiger at forty. After Jiang Yan's death, Ji Yuxi, who was actually over fifty years old, began to secretly hire male lovers to satisfy her desires.
The year or so I spent at Yufeng Ancient Temple allowed me to completely release and vent all the pent-up emotions of the past few years.
She strolled down from the bed, glanced at the male concubine on the floor, and couldn't help but smile slightly. She then raised her jade-like foot and lightly touched his chin.
"You have pleased me greatly. Please visit me more often when you have time."
"It is my greatest blessing to serve Your Majesty. Whenever Your Majesty has any requests, I will do my best to satisfy Your Majesty."
"It's wonderful that you have such a kind heart. It's no wonder I've spoiled you so much. Go back and get some rest and nourish your body. Come see me again at this time tomorrow."
"Yu Nu takes her leave."
As he spoke, the male concubine opened a door beside the bed, bent down, and slipped inside, disappearing without a trace in no time.
Ji Yuxi quickly dressed and then solemnly went to the Buddha statue in the front hall and lit an incense stick.
Just then, an old nanny with a fierce face came to report: "Your Majesty, a report has come from the capital that His Majesty doesn't seem to care much about Shu Yingwen?"
Ji Yuxi's face turned cold: "It seems that it will be necessary to teach that child a lesson. Does he really think that he can do whatever he wants just because he has become the ruler of a country?"
Marriage is a major life event that should be decided by the parents; even a monarch cannot disobey them.
Rong Momo asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, how should you reprimand His Majesty?"
Ji Yuxi snorted coldly: "No rush, let's wait a bit longer. The situation in the capital is complicated."
Chaos is sure to break out soon. I also want to see how Her Majesty intends to handle these state affairs.
If Your Majesty dares to overstep your bounds, then I wouldn't mind making her the seventh adulterous woman of the Chu Emperor in "The Secret History of the Empress."
After saying that, she closed her eyes and rhythmically began to strike the wooden fish.