Chapter 460: Chapter 458 Brother Lu Ying, What Great Prestige
Kunning Palace.
Huo Mingyan sat in the main seat, and the concubines beneath her were seated on both sides, chattering noisily.
Wen Kuixiang scolded, "Her Majesty has something to say. Why are you all squabbling? Can’t you quiet down?"
Shen Yunxi rolled her eyes, "Acting all high and mighty with nothing but chicken feathers."
Huo Mingyan said indifferently, "I have gathered all of you here today not for any private matter of mine. It has been over half a year since His Majesty ascended to the throne, yet the harem remains void of joyous news. You sisters have entered the palace for months, but there’s been no sign of movement in your wombs, leaving His Majesty’s lineage pitifully thin."
"But, Your Majesty, surely you cannot blame us for this?" A concubine spoke softly, "His Majesty rarely visits the harem. We can scarcely earn his favor, let alone bear children to extend the imperial lineage."
"That’s right! Since entering the palace, I’ve only been favored twice. His Majesty doesn’t even remember my name!"
"I’ve heard that His Majesty spends every night in the Imperial Study. Could it be that he has some hidden ailment? Or perhaps... prefers the company of men?"
"..."
Complaints rose one after another.
Some of them had been sent into the palace by their families, others had entered voluntarily, each harboring ambitions to make their mark in the harem. However, the situation within the palace was drastically different from what they had envisioned. There were no internal battles, no scheming for favor, as His Majesty equally refrained from favoring any of the concubines. Thus, there was no need for them to compete.
Shen Yunxi, plagued by her illness, watched this chaos with amusement.
While munching on melon seeds, she laughed and said, "Back in the day, Her Majesty the Empress attended to His Majesty on the first and fifteenth of each month, and yet, there was no progress either. If Her Majesty cannot conceive herself, why command us to charge ahead on her behalf!"
Huo Mingyan lowered her eyelids and chuckled softly.
If these concubines knew that her cousin was not disinterested in women but instead spent every night indulging in Shen Yinning, there would surely be an uproar.
But alas, she dared not reveal it casually for fear of incurring her cousin’s resentment and a rift between them.
Leaning against a round silk brocade pillow, her voice carried unspoken authority, "I have heard that Shengguo Temple has recently built a Moon Elder Hall, reputed to be highly effective for praying for marriage and offspring. Many women have returned pregnant after just a few days of prayer. I intend to take all of you sisters out of the palace to pray for blessings. What do you think?"
Of course, she did not believe in any deity of fertility.
That said, the matter of concubines leaving the palace was significant and would inevitably attract attention from officials.
If the civil and military ministers learned that they were praying for offspring, they would surely associate it with the lack of results in the harem since her cousin ascended to the throne. Those old-fashioned officials would then pressure her cousin.
By then, her cousin would have no choice but to actively favor these concubines.
Was Shen Yinning not lofty and aloof?
She was eager to see how Shen Yinning would cope once her cousin began favoring other concubines.
If it drove a wedge between Shen Yinning and her cousin, wouldn’t recovering her cousin’s heart become far easier?
Calculating her moves, Huo Mingyan said, "Her Majesty speaks wisely. I am willing to accompany Her Majesty to the Moon Elder Hall."
Other concubines also agreed to go.
After all, whether they could conceive was one matter, but being able to leave the palace and see the world was worthwhile.
With that, Huo Mingyan set the date for seven days later, when she would lead the harem’s concubines to Shengguo Temple.
That night.
In Penglai Palace, the water shimmered beneath the night’s glow.
Shen Yinning leaned feebly against Lu Ying’s embrace, her cheeks tinged with lingering redness, her long, delicate lashes drooping: "I heard that Her Majesty the Empress plans to lead the harem’s concubines to Shengguo Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings..."
Several ram’s horn tasselled lamps hung above the bed.
Lu Ying held her slender waist with one arm, while flipping through a military book with the other: "Do you want to go?"
Shen Yinning curled a strand of her black hair around her fingertip: "May I not?"
"They are going to pray for offspring," Lu Ying lowered his gaze to her, "Zhaozhao already has a child. What else would you pray for?"
The girl’s voice was light as a feather: "For marriage, of course."
Lu Ying paused, suppressing the displeasure that surged in his narrow eyes. He lowered his head and kissed her brow: "I am Zhaozhao’s destined marriage. Even Moon Elder Hall cannot tie another red string for you. If they dare, I’ll extinguish their incense fire myself."
Shen Yinning closed her eyes, her fox-like gaze briefly flashing with icy clarity.
When she reopened them, her smile was as radiant as ever, though her words dripped with sarcastic venom: "Lu Ying, such an imposing display of authority."
Shutting his book, Lu Ying forcefully gripped her chin: "You are mine. I will not allow anyone else to be your match."
"It seems even praying for marriage is off-limits." Shen Yinning broke free of his grip, "I want to visit Shengguo Temple to light an Everlasting Lamp for Cui Ji."
"You know well I detest hearing his name."
"At the Spring Banquet, Your Majesty declared that whoever found the most treasures could ask for a wish. Are you planning to go back on your word?"
The bedchamber fell into prolonged silence.
Shen Yinning traced his broad shoulder with her fingers, her eyes lowered to his gaze. Her crimson lips hovered faintly near his cheek: "Just one Everlasting Lamp—would you deny me that? After all, he was your half-brother, the biological father of Zhuoyu... During the time you expanded the harem upon ascending the throne, I felt utterly tormented. It was him who patiently consoled me. If not for him, I would’ve barely survived... You hurt me so deeply back then, and now you confine me here. Do you mean to forbid me from kindling an Everlasting Lamp for my husband? Lu Ying, this is unfair."
The girl’s voice was faint, each word laced with the sharpness of swallowed knives.
These words stirred unpleasant memories within Lu Ying.
He clasped Shen Yinning’s hand, his palm brushing hers again and again, unable to make a decision.
He loathed Cui Ji.
Loathed that he had once bestowed Shen Zhaozhao upon Cui Ji as a concubine.
Shen Zhaozhao calling Cui Ji "husband" ignited within him a fiery jealousy.
He always believed himself to be a tolerant man, but after stumbling on so many occasions over Shen Yinning, he realized he was, in truth, deeply jealous.
Jealous of Cui Ji, jealous of Lu Shiyan, and even jealous of Huo Mingxu.
To love someone was to abandon the semblance of oneself.
His thin lashes cast shadows across his cheeks as he murmured, "You have never called me husband."
Shen Yinning propped her elbow on his chest, lifting her gaze to look into his eyes.
He had an empress, countless concubines.
He was an emperor.
If he so wished, all the beauties of the harem would call him "husband."
Why bother pretending to enact some tender romance here with her?
The depths of her fox-like eyes brimmed with mockery. She said, "I want to go out of the palace to light an Everlasting Lamp for Cui Ji. May I, husband?"
The tone was anything but gentle.
Lu Ying, however, seemed to be subdued like a beast gradually tamed, intertwining his fingers with hers. "Only one lamp."
...
Shen Yinning’s true intention, of course, wasn’t to light a lamp for Cui Ji.
She did like Cui Ji and appreciated the conveniences he had brought to her life, but the problem was—Cui Ji was already dead.
Overindulging in grief for the deceased would only delay her progress toward revenge.
After offering the Everlasting Lamp, she returned to the Zen room. She had just sat down when Liao Lili entered with a newly gathered bouquet of wildflowers, laughing brightly: "I’m late! On the way here in the carriage, my husband insisted on picking some flowers for me, which delayed the hour!"
She placed the bouquet into a vase, her eyes curved with delight: "I heard that Her Majesty the Empress has already finished offering prayers at the Moon Elder Hall and is now listening to the abbot’s sermon. Shen Yunxi claimed to be suffering from a stomach ache and brought two palace maids to a secluded Buddhist Hall, where she’s now playing cards with the noblewomen of the capital."
Shen Yinning unfolded a scented, gilded folding fan and chuckled lightly, "Is it lively?"
"Very lively!" Liao Lili replied meaningfully, "Would the Commandery Princess care to join?"