118Was Shen Yulou the real emperor?
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Chapter 118 Is Shen Yulou the real emperor?
The Empress Dowager nodded, "I only knew about him because I heard he was the County Princesss Husband."
"Emperor, you have been a bit too harsh on Zhao Siyi these past years. You must compensate her after they get married."
Emperor Ren nodded, "Mother's teachings are correct."
Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess was very cute when she was little, and the Empress Dowager was very fond of her.
After so many years apart, she still remembered her.
After Emperor Ren and the Empress Dowager returned to the palace, they immediately discovered the fire inside the palace.
Fortunately, it wasn't too serious, only burning down two woodsheds. Emperor Ren punished the person in charge, and the matter was considered settled.
After entering the palace and settling the Empress Dowager, Emperor Ren immediately ordered Shen Yulou and Princess Siyi to be summoned for an audience.
After Shen Yulou and Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess entered the palace, they arrived at the Empress Dowager's sleeping quarters and found that many people were already there.
Imperial Harem concubines and some Imperial Heirs were all present, and there were even some court officials. The Empress Dowager's return to the palace was a major event, and many unfavored concubines hoped to be noticed by the Empress Dowager.
If the Empress Dowager liked them, perhaps the Emperor would also bestow more favor upon them.
Shen Yulou quietly asked, "Are you familiar with the Empress Dowager?"
Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess shook her head, "I saw her when I was little, but I wouldn't say I'm familiar."
They entered the sleeping quarters and saw the Empress Dowager.
Speaking of which, Emperor Ren was still heroic and extraordinary, possessing the appearance of an emperor, but there was nothing special about the Empress Dowager. Aside from her luxurious attire, she was no different from a modern old lady.
Even if she were placed in a square dance troupe, she would simply blend into the crowd.
Perhaps it was because she hadn't been in the Imperial Palace for many years that she lacked that particular aura.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager!"
The Empress Dowager smiled, "Little Zhao Siyi, come closer and let me see you."
Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess stepped forward, and the Empress Dowager dotingly patted her head.
"Good child, you've suffered these past years."
After the Empress Dowager spoke a few words with Zhao Siyi, the Commandery Princess, her gaze fell upon Shen Yulou.
"You are the County Princesss Husband?"
"Your humble servant greets the Empress Dowager!"
"Come closer and let me see."
Shen Yulou took two steps forward.
The Empress Dowager squinted her eyes and scrutinized him, then her expression suddenly changed, and she said,
"You are the Emperor!?"
Everyone was instantly startled, their faces showing fright.
Shen Yulou quickly said, "Empress Dowager, Your humble servant is Shen Yulou, the County Princesss Husband."
The Empress Dowager said decisively,
"I would never be mistaken, you are the Emperor!"
Emperor Ren said from the side, "Mother, I am here."
The Empress Dowager pointed at Emperor Ren and said,
"You are not the Emperor, he is the Emperor. I would never mistake my own son."
Emperor Ren's face suddenly darkened, a hint of anger in his brows.
A layer of cold sweat also seeped from Shen Yulou's forehead. Wasn't this Empress Dowager purely trying to frame him?
I didn't provoke you, why do you want to harm me?
At this time, there were many people who had come to pay respects, mostly high-ranking court officials.
Hearing the Empress Dowager say this, everyone's expressions became strange.
Some were fearful, while others were gloating.
The old eunuch Dezhong stood to the side and said, "Shen Yulou, why aren't you kneeling down quickly!"
Shen Yulou glanced at him and quickly knelt on the ground.
He was a little puzzled. Didn't Eunuch He Shun say he had greeted him? The last time he saw this Dezhong, he found his attitude a bit cold.
This time, it wasn't just cold, but rather a bit targeted!
Old man, are you forcing me to kill you?
Dezhong said, "Audacious Shen Yulou, what method did you use to bewitch the Empress Dowager? Are you planning a rebellion?"
After Dezhong finished speaking, a voluptuous beautiful woman stepped forward.
This person was Consort Shu, the birth mother of Prince Zhao Jing.
Before this, Consort Shu had always been without presence.
After Prince Zhao Jing went to Mount Wutai with the Empress Dowager, Consort Shu spent her days eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures in her sleeping quarters.
Now that the Empress Dowager had returned, Consort Shu was the happiest.
The mother's status rises with her son's, and her son had returned, giving her someone to rely on.
Consort Shu said,
"Your Majesty, if this matter spreads, I fear it will be detrimental to the Imperial Family. Your humble servant believes Shen Yulou should be executed."
Consort Shu's reason for wanting to kill Shen Yulou was very direct: she absolutely could not let him cure Zhao Ying!
Shen Yulou's expression completely turned cold.
Damn it!
All of you remember this, I'll kill each and every one of you later.
Emperor Ren's expression was also clearly displeased. Although such treasonous words were spoken by the Empress Dowager, why would the Empress Dowager say such things out of nowhere?
They had only just met Shen Yulou for the first time. Could this young man truly harbor rebellious intentions?
The Empress stepped forward and said,
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is advanced in years, perhaps she is forgetful. This is her first meeting with Minister Shen, so it should just be words from her illness. How can a loyal minister be killed because of such a sick remark?"
Consort Shu said, "Sister's words are mistaken. The common people are most easily swayed by such words.
Whenever rebels plan a rebellion, they always spread similar rumors.
Once such rumors reach the ears of the common people, it will greatly harm Your Majesty's prestige."
The Empress snorted coldly, "Consort Shu is truly putting a huge hat on him. Just because the elderly Empress Dowager said something due to illness, you define the person as a rebel.
If the person spoken of by the Empress Dowager were you, would you be willing to die willingly?"
Consort Shu smiled faintly, "Sister, the Empress Dowager did not speak of Your humble servant. If she truly spoke of Your humble servant, Your humble servant would not be unwilling to die for the monarch."
"You..."
The Empress was somewhat speechless. This Consort Shu was truly shameless, quite skilled at sophistry.
She had already withdrawn from the Imperial Harem struggle before, but she didn't expect that with the Empress Dowager's return, she would jump out again.
Consort Qing said, "Anyone with eyes can see that this is merely because the Empress Dowager is old, perhaps forgetful, or perhaps her vision is unclear.
This is a very common occurrence even in ordinary households, just such a trivial matter.
Yet you insist on exaggerating it to this extent. Have you been chanting Buddhist scriptures for so many years, only to chant scriptures that call for murder?
Your Majesty is already working very hard, busy with state affairs all day. Not only do you not share His Majesty's burdens, but you are also here spreading malicious rumors.
This is merely a sick remark from the Empress Dowager. What wrong has Minister Shen committed?"
Consort Qing was, after all, more cunning than the Empress, and her words were much sharper.
She directly launched a personal attack on Consort Shu.
Consort Shu's expression changed slightly, "Sister Consort Qing, I am also doing this for Your Majesty's good..."
Enemies meeting each other are especially hostile.
Consort Qing sneered.
"Is this for Your Majesty's good?
Shen Yulou is the Deputy Manager of the Imperial Heirs Residence, specifically responsible for the children in our Imperial Harem.
If you kill him, who will look after these children? You?
The Empress Dowager has just returned, and you are already targeting Minister Shen like this. What are your true intentions?
Do you think that because Prince Zhao Jing has returned, you want to eliminate all his competition and wish for all other Imperial Heirs to die of illness to fulfill your desire?"
Consort Shu's expression changed, and she quickly knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty, Your humble servant does not mean that!"
Consort Qing said, "Your Majesty, all those who target Minister Shen are people with malicious intentions towards the Imperial Heirs. Your Majesty must be vigilant. The matter of The Twenty-Fifth Prince is a lesson from the past."
Hearing this, Shen Yulou was speechless.
Consort Qing was indeed Consort Qing; she could even say such things.
The Twenty-Fifth Prince was killed by her... But no matter what, although this woman was ruthless, she could still stand up for him at critical moments.
With Consort Qing and the Empress speaking up, Consort Shu was immediately rendered speechless.
As for the Imperial Noble Consort, she stood by, feigning ignorance, eyes downcast. Although Shen Yulou had dealt with her twice, this woman clearly still held some resentment.
Emperor Ren roared,
"Enough! This is simply outrageous