After the emperor read her mind, the salted fish concubine effortlessly won the title of empress.

Chapter 145 Restlessness

Shen Shixi ate a few bites and was full.

This palace banquet won't end in less than two hours.

However, the several novel dishes served at today's palace banquet still sparked much discussion among the ministers.

The fresh, tender green vegetable leaves on one of the boiled pork slices were a real treat.

Some ministers asked, but no one knew how it was grown.

Prime Minister Pei then asked the emperor, "Your Majesty, where did these vegetables come from?"

It's freezing cold outside, and it's impossible to grow it in the south.

The Emperor said, "It was Consort Chen's idea. The people in the Ministry of Works can consult with Consort Chen more often."

Shen Shixi was waiting there and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, this is not a strange method. As long as you build a glass house, the vegetables will be easy to grow."

The ministers were also aware of the stained glass windows of the Qianyuan Palace and the three main halls.

The emperor then realized that this was a scheme to exploit the emperor and profit at the expense of his ministers.

"A glassmaking bureau will be established in the palace, dedicated to the production of glass. At this time, Prince Chang Le will be in charge. If you want glass, you can contact Prince Chang Le."

Shen Shixi stopped caring about it and was too lazy to bother with it, so she just looked around at people.

[Huh, Lady Pei actually dares to glare at me? Heh, she's practically asking for trouble. The concubines in Prince Jin's mansion are just like the women in Li Yuanke's harem—they're all disposable. They're killed by Princess Jin every day. She's only killed one, and she's already showing off!]

Shen Shixi didn't know about this at first. It was only today that the steward said that the Prince of Jin's mansion had lost a concubine and would be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver, so she sent someone to inquire about it.

Princess Jin kills women in her harem every few days, even pregnant women are beaten to death.

Who does he/she think he/she is!

However, if this matter is handled well, it could be used to send Princess Jin away.

After nine rounds of drinks, it was time for the toasting ceremony.

Madam Gao actually raised her wine glass to toast Shen Shixi, leaving Shen Shixi completely bewildered. "You, the mistress of the house, are toasting a concubine like me? Are you trying to kill me with flattery or something else?"

Do you think I'm stupid?

Shen Shixi didn't even pick up her cup, and chuckled, "I can't accept this. Although I am a member of the royal family and have a legal relationship with you, Madam, you are still the Empress's mother. As an elder, please don't take advantage of my lack of manners!"

This directly points out the ulterior motives behind her actions.

Lady Gao was surprised that she was still quite lucid, and quickly smiled and said, "Your Majesty the Empress has suffered a miscarriage. This humble woman wishes to visit her in the palace tomorrow. I have heard that Consort Chen is currently in charge of affairs in the palace, so I would like to ask Your Majesty for permission to enter the palace tomorrow!"

The singing and dancing stopped for a moment, and everyone pricked up their ears to listen.

The rivalry between the royal wives and concubines was even more fascinating.

Shen Shixi said, "Thank you for your kind words, Madam Gao! I have been entrusted by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and trusted by the Empress, to temporarily assume the power of the palace. However, the Empress has only suffered a miscarriage, and I believe a month of rest will be enough for her."

"A month from now, this palace power must be returned to Her Majesty the Empress. Although I am uneducated, I understand the principle that one should not meddle in matters outside one's jurisdiction. Madam Gao, there is no need for you to test me with this. The royal family has a clear distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and I have never intended to overstep my bounds."

[I don't want to do this job even once. What's the point of testing them? Everyone in the Pei family is so annoying. I feel like only the Empress is somewhat decent. She's like a little cabbage in the field, so naive and obedient. She's almost been completely fooled by her mother, even helping to count money!]

Lady Gao was quite embarrassed. "Your Highness, Consort Chen, you have misunderstood. I would never have dared to make such a assumption."

Shen Shixi directly exposed her, "Her Majesty the Empress only suffered a miscarriage, or even if she had given birth to a prince, she wouldn't be so debilitated that she couldn't get up and listen to a few words. Besides, the Empress is naturally very happy that the Lady came to visit her. It's not like she's going to cause any trouble. You could have just submitted your petition and entered normally, so why did you have to say such things in front of the nobles and ministers?"

They ripped off the fig leaf and even dragged the Empress out for a spin. She had a miscarriage, not the birth of a prince.

[If you make me unhappy, then you can forget about having a good New Year! I treated you to good food and drinks, and you still make me miserable. You might as well just die!]

Madam Gao deeply regretted provoking her and said to Old Madam Shen, "It was my fault. I never expected that Consort Chen would misunderstand me so much!"

Madam Shen pretended not to hear. When someone next to her reminded her, she made two noises, "Oh dear, I'm getting old, my hearing is really not good. I don't know who spoke just now, or what they said?"

Princess Jin was furious when she saw this. "Consort Chen has always been favored by the Emperor. In just half a year, she has risen from a lowly concubine to a high-ranking consort. Who wouldn't worry that the Empress's power will be divided? I've remembered Consort Chen's words today. You must return them to the Empress in a month!"

Shen Shixi laughed and said, "Look, this is the way the Prince of Jin's mansion behaves. Last time, on the Emperor's birthday, you were also causing trouble at the banquet, making it impossible for anyone to have a peaceful time. Today, on New Year's Eve, you're starting to cause trouble again while we're having a proper New Year's dinner."

"I can understand Madam Gao's inquiries, but you, a princess consort, are you preoccupied with your brother-in-law's private affairs? Are you just bored and have nothing better to do, or are you harboring some wicked intentions again?"

"you……"

Shen Shixi didn't give her a chance to speak. "Not to mention that I'm only acting as a substitute for a month or two, even if there are really things in the harem that violate etiquette and ancestral rules, all the officials in the court are dead. Why should you stand up and speak?"

Last time, I personally slapped you, without having my subordinates do it to you. That was me being lenient with you. What, do you want to stage another full-blown brawl in front of so many people today?

She hadn't even vented her anger from the last time, and her injuries had only just healed. Now she was going to suffer another bellyful of anger. How could Princess Jin bear it? She stood up abruptly.

The Empress Dowager said, "Madam Gao, I am the mother-in-law, but look at me, does my daughter-in-law respect me? Under heaven, which daughter-in-law doesn't behave properly in front of her mother-in-law? I am the Empress Dowager, and it's fine that I can't see the Princess Consort of Jin on ordinary days, but now that it's almost the end of the year, I can't even have a quiet meal."

Upon hearing this, the entire Pei family, as well as the entire Prince Jin's household, knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

Pei Xiang said, "Your Majesty, please understand that this matter was caused by a misunderstanding."

The Empress Dowager said, "There are so many misunderstandings. It's all about the power struggle in the harem. I know Consort Chen. If I hadn't spoken up, she would never have bothered with these matters in the harem."

"If you truly have this concern, tomorrow morning, I will have Consort Chen return the affairs of the inner palace to the Empress. Just don't say that the royal family is mistreating their daughter-in-law."

"Your Majesty, we dare not say such things! The Empress's miscarriage has already harmed her health. We implore Your Majesty to have pity on the Empress and forgive our rudeness just now!" Prime Minister Pei said sincerely.

The Empress Dowager was just saying that no one could actually do such a thing, and since it was New Year's Eve, the matter was dropped.

There was a little commotion at Xie Tingwan's place. Her teacup was knocked over by a palace maid, and Zheng Ruojin's maid came over to help her wipe the water off her body.

After a while, Chao En came over and whispered to Shen Shixi, "Your Majesty, someone has made a move."

Shen Shixi glanced around the room. There were quite a few people who weren't there, but the fact that Xie Tingwan and Li Yuanyin were both absent made her very upset.

He also grew increasingly annoyed with the Empress.

What does this have to do with her? Why should she care?

At this moment, Zheng Ruojin invited Yang Tingyue to go for a walk together to get some fresh air.

Palace banquets are so long that it's quite common for people to leave midway through.

The two went out.

Shen Shixi said, "Go find Eunuch Li and have him bring his men. No matter what happens, detain the person involved and lock them up until after the banquet. Also, keep an eye on the drinks and food on their tables and don't let anyone touch them."

"yes!"

Li Yuanke, look over here.

As time went on, the Empress Dowager also sensed something was wrong, and her heart pounded with anxiety. "Where is Yuan Yin? Where has he gone?"

Shen Shixi stood up and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Prince Chang Le had a bit too much to drink just now, and his servants helped him back."

When the Empress Dowager noticed that Xie Tingwan was also absent, she became alert. "Your Majesty," she said, "it's getting late. The ladies of the court need to return to their residences. It's late, and it might not be safe for them on the road. Why don't we disperse now?"

"That concludes our New Year's Eve dinner. Ladies and gentlemen, let us drink to this feast!"

After the palace banquet ended, it was time to stay up all night to celebrate the New Year. The ministers who stayed to keep the emperor company moved to the Linde Hall, which was like a postmodern Spring Festival Gala, where many wonderful programs would be performed.

After everyone had left, the Empress Dowager asked, "Consort Chen, has Prince Chang Le returned yet?"

Shen Shixi didn't actually know much, but it was very unusual that Zheng Ruojin and Yang Tingyue hadn't returned either.

"Your Majesty, I do not know the details of the matter. I only know that someone is taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble. I have detained everyone involved. Why don't we go and take a look together now?"

Chao En also arrived and was detained in Zhaoren Hall, an auxiliary palace of Qianyuan Palace. It was not used normally, but only during grand banquets. This time, it was used for the ladies of the court to change clothes.