svetikya Chapter 394 The Son of the Sinful Concubine
Chapter 394 The Son of the Sinful Concubine
As soon as the second prince arrived, he knelt on the ground and said, "Your subject is guilty! It was your subject who had the powder brought into the palace."
He didn't know that without Shen Shixi's tacit approval, no one could have brought such a dangerous thing into the harem.
Shen Shixi didn't let him get up, continuing to handle state affairs. After he had been kneeling for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, she finally said, "Get up. Tell me, what did you do wrong?"
The second prince was filled with shame and dared not raise his head. "Your subject should not have attacked Yang Tingyu. Your subject's actions were not honorable. Your subject knows his mistake!"
"All's fair in war! But that's not what I meant by 'you're wrong'! Think about it again!"
After Shen Shixi finished speaking, she left him standing aside again.
Several ministers came in with matters to discuss: one was the progress of the railway project and the difficulties encountered; the other was the internal strife in the Spratly Islands.
When the Wolf King of Beisha came to attend the ceremony for the Crown Prince's investiture, he broke with the Great Zhou Dynasty. After returning, he was ambushed by Ling Menghui and Nie Yunshen as soon as he crossed the border, but to no avail.
The Wolf King of Beisha was too cunning, or rather, he knew Shen Shixi, this fox-like woman, too well and knew she would definitely make a move, so he took precautions.
However, after the Northern Desert Wolf King was delayed by the Great Zhou for some time, the country had already undergone a complete transformation. The Southern Desert King's power had greatly increased, and he had won over many old officials and generals. With the covert support of the Great Zhou, the Northern Desert soon broke out in a civil war, splitting into two parts.
The King of the Southern Desert is determined to take revenge and is irreconcilably opposed to the Wolf King of the Northern Sands. He wants to kill the Wolf King of the Northern Sands. Over the years, his power has grown day by day, and the Wolf King of the Northern Sands is exhausted from dealing with him.
This made them even more covetous of the divine weapons in Li Yuanke's possession.
The Wolf King of Beisha has indeed captured some powerful crossbows from the Great Zhou Dynasty, but at a heavy price. After obtaining them, he studied them and found that their design was so ingenious that they could be destroyed upon disassembly. He could not obtain the complete structure, and the current industrial level of Beisha is not up to the requirements for manufacturing them, so he could only look on with envy.
Sarilang achieved her goal of avenging Suhebalu, and to her relief, Suhebalu also became the King of the Southern Desert. However, when she went to the King of the Southern Desert's territory, she was expelled.
The King of the Southern Desert refused even her request to see him, and similarly, he did not allow her to appear under his rule.
Sarilang was also wanted by the Wolf King of Beisha. She fled all the way and froze to death at the foot of Crow Mountain in early winter.
After hearing this, Shen Shixi remained silent for a moment. "If she hadn't leaked the information, those innocent people from the Quanzhou Charity Hall wouldn't have died. Even tearing them to pieces wouldn't be enough to quell my hatred."
The prime minister comforted her, saying, "She was cruelly abandoned by the King of the Southern Desert, which must have been a devastating blow to her heart."
"Let's not talk about that," Shen Shixi said. "If we were to support another person under the Wolf King of the Northern Sands, someone with a firm will, equally ruthless and ambitious, what about Sangkur?"
The Minister of War said, "I believe that Her Majesty the Empress has keen insight and true wisdom, and this person is capable of shouldering great responsibilities."
Shen Shixi said, "Then inform Ling Menghui and Nie Yunshen to turn the Northern Desert Wolf King and Sangkuer against each other. The Southern Desert King's power is already large enough, so there is no need to secretly support him for the time being."
Once Sangkur kills the Wolf King, it will be the Southern Desert King's turn to confront the new Northern Sand Wolf King. As long as the Northern Sands remain ununified, they will no longer pose a threat to the Great Zhou.
It must be said that the Empress's tactic of sowing discord was truly masterful.
After finishing his political affairs, the second prince said he knew he was wrong.
Shen Shixi told him to stand up and reply. He had been in the hall just now, and the ministers had all seen him and looked him over when they were replying.
He didn't feel ashamed at all; on the contrary, he was very happy.
It's not terrible for a prince to be reprimanded or punished; what's terrible is to be ignored by the emperor and empress and live like a ghost.
"Your subject knows he was wrong!" the Second Prince said, kneeling.
Shen Shixi said, "Get up and answer me. Tell me what you have to say!"
The second prince said, "Your subject should not have involved himself, should not have been without a backup plan, and should not have implicated Your Majesty in the end, leaving Your Majesty to clean up the mess for your subject."
Shen Shixi said, "It's not that you're incapable of being completely flawless and arousing no suspicion. But by deliberately revealing such a flaw, are you trying to see how I'll react—whether I'll help you or push you out and absolve myself of all responsibility, right?"
The second prince trembled, his face ashen, and he knelt down, saying, "Your subject dares not!"
Shen Shixi said, "But have you ever thought about whether your trust in me is that important to me? Just because you're willing to use me doesn't mean I have to use you."
The second prince was truly regretful and very sad. "Your subject knows he was wrong. Your subject was afraid that Your Majesty would not use your subject."
This is the truth.
The second prince was fifteen years old (by Chinese reckoning) and had not yet gained any experience. He could hide his thoughts from others, but not from Shen Shixi. Shen Shixi also appreciated his ambition.
"You are a prince, supported by the people, and are born with responsibilities on your shoulders, for the country and for your family. If you can be upright, why wouldn't I use you?"
The second prince knelt down in a panic, "Your subject dares not, Your subject would never dare to have any such wishful thinking, I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!"
"You are also the Emperor's son, so it's understandable if you have any thoughts."
"Since Mother Empress has spoken thus, your son has no choice but to die!"
Seeing that he had given them enough of a reprimand, Shen Shixi said, "Get up! When I said to have the right mindset, I meant that I hoped you would prioritize the country and its people, and be able to do practical things for the court and the people in a down-to-earth manner."
"Your Majesty, I will obey your decree and never forget it!"
The second prince returned to his residence, a main hall of Xianfu Palace, with a mixture of excitement and frustration.
Granny Qin served him tea, and seeing the child's mixture of sorrow and joy, and his seemingly erratic state, she couldn't help but worry, "Second Prince, what's wrong?"
Seeing that no one was around, the second prince sighed and said, "I didn't expect the Empress Dowager to be so perceptive. She saw right through me. I was given a good talking-to by her today. I wonder if she will forgive me."
Granny Qin glared at him. "I told you not to act up, but you insisted. Are you scared now? Her Majesty the Empress should punish you properly, to see if you dare to do it again!"
"I definitely won't dare!" The second prince spun around in his chair like a top, extremely excited. "I wouldn't say I'm scared! Anyway, Mother has already scolded me, so she definitely won't punish me again."
I've thought about it. Since my mother still dares to scold me, it proves she thinks highly of me. From now on, I'll just do my job well.
Qin Mama smiled and said, "I'm so glad that Your Highness can think this way! Her Majesty the Empress is a good person. Who doesn't say that Her Majesty is a Bodhisattva descended to earth?"
Putting everything else aside, just look at this palace. Since Your Highness entered the palace, I've seen it all. You've never harmed anyone. Your Highness, rest assured, as long as you act sincerely, a prince will surely be caught in the crossfire.
"I don't care about being a prince or not. My mother is right. I am supported by the people, so I should do my best to serve them throughout my life!"
He picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp with great gusto.
The eldest princess was led out of the palace when she happened to run into the fifth prince returning from the training ground. He was carrying a small bow in one hand and a quiver in the other, dressed in a blue jacquard silk arrow robe with a leather belt around his waist, looking very spirited.
The fifth prince was a generous and forthright man who aspired to emulate his maternal grandfather and uncle and become a great general who would bring peace to the country. At the age of eight, he was already putting in a lot of effort in horsemanship and archery.
"Eldest Princess!" The Fifth Prince stepped aside and bowed.
The eldest princess glanced at his attire and scoffed, "The son of a disgraced concubine dares to harbor such delusions!"
He left right after saying that!