Chapter 207 Harmony in the Harem
In broad daylight, blatant debauchery.
An ambiguous atmosphere filled the room.
The Empress lay languidly in Shen Yulou's arms, her slender fingers tracing circles on his firm chest, a hint of unresolved worry in her eyes.
"I heard you're leaving for the Yan State tomorrow. The journey will be long and full of dangers. this concubine... truly can't rest easy."
"Don't worry, your husband here is blessed with great fortune; even the King of Hell wouldn't dare take him."
Shen Yulou gently patted her back, comforting her softly.
"It's you I'm worried about. How have you been in the Imperial Harem these days that I've been away? Have those little vixens been bullying you?"
At the mention of this, the Empress became annoyed and couldn't help but complain.
"What else could it be?
That slut Li Yunshu, relying on having given birth to a prince, now has her tail practically wagging in the sky.
She's always sarcastic when she sees this concubine, constantly annoying this concubine!"
"A trivial matter."
Shen Yulou's lips curved into a mischievous smile.
"Before I leave, I'll take care of this for you.
The Imperial Harem, after all, should be harmonious. What kind of decorum is it to have constant scheming?"
Emperor Ren, that old fellow, was a hands-off manager. He couldn't even manage his own Imperial Harem, letting it become a chaotic mess, with half of his heirs dead from infighting.
This wouldn't do. For the great cause of ruling from behind the curtains in the future, the backyard could catch fire, but it had to be a fire he himself started.
And if Shen Yulou wanted it to go out, it had to go out.
Shen Yulou instructed Tao Hong, who was waiting outside the door.
"Tao Hong, go send a message to the Noble Consort's palace. Just say... the little prince misses his mother and won't stop crying, so please ask the Noble Consort to come visit."
...In the Noble Consort's palace.
When the Noble Consort heard Tao Hong's message, her personal Palace Maid Xiaoyue looked utterly bewildered.
"Your Ladyship, how old is the little prince? He can't even speak, so how would he know he misses you?"
The Noble Consort, however, blushed, her heart as clear as a mirror.
She didn't know if the little prince missed his mother, but she knew that bad man definitely missed her.
She bit her lip, her eyes sparkling with vibrant spring allure.
"I'm afraid... Lord Shen misses this concubine."
The Noble Consort arrived as promised, familiar with the route, and entered Shen Yulou's room.
After a period of "intimate exchange" after a long separation, when their passion reached its peak, just as they were about to delve into secrets that even VIP clients couldn't uncover... "Bang!"
The door was suddenly kicked open.
The Empress stormed in, full of fury.
"Li Yunshu! You slut! How dare you commit such an outrageous act! How bold of you!"
The Empress pointed at the Noble Consort, her voice sharp, her phoenix eyes glinting with menace.
"If His Majesty finds out about this, how many heads do you have to be chopped off?!"
The Noble Consort was scared out of her wits, tumbling off the bed, her clothes disheveled.
She knelt on the ground with a thud, her face pale with fright, trembling like a sieve.
"Empress, spare this concubine! this concubine... this concubine was just momentarily confused! Please, Your Ladyship, be merciful!"
"Slap!"
The Empress raised her hand and delivered a resounding slap, making the Noble Consort see stars.
"Mercy?"
The Empress sneered, looking down at her, her gaze as cold as a knife.
"From now on, you'd better be obedient to this concubine!
If this concubine tells you to go east, you cannot go west!
If you dare to show the slightest disrespect again, this concubine will immediately report this matter to His Majesty today!
Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes... this concubine will never dare again..."
The Noble Consort covered her face, crying profusely, without a trace of her former arrogance.
"Hmph! Now, hurry up and get back to your palace with this concubine!"
The Empress flicked her sleeve, like a triumphant queen.
The Noble Consort, like a maid who had made a mistake, followed behind her with her head bowed, step by step.
As they reached the door, the Empress suddenly stopped.
She turned back to Shen Yulou, who was still lying on the bed watching the show, and winked at him secretly, also blowing him a charming kiss.
Shen Yulou sighed, thinking how difficult this day had been.
He was taking care of both children and women.
If the Old Emperor didn't give him a bigger salary, it would be an injustice to him.
He ambled to Zhao Qi's room. The adorable princess was diligently writing in a pile of account books.
When she saw him, her eyes lit up, curving into two crescent moons as she smiled.
"Teacher!"
"Mm, pack your things,"
Shen Yulou sat down and took a sip from Zhao Qi's teacup.
"You're coming on a long journey with me."
Zhao Qi's exquisite face immediately brightened when she heard about a long journey.
"Where are we going? What for?"
"To the Yan State."
Shen Yulou said unhurriedly.
"Didn't His Majesty ask me to go beg for alms?
The likely outcome is returning empty-handed.
However, we can't really be beggars.
So, while openly begging, secretly, we need to bring back some money."
Zhao Qi, having followed Shen Yulou for so long, had a quick mind and nodded like a chick pecking rice.
"Teacher, I understand!!"
She mysteriously dragged a small wooden box from under the bed, opened it, and inside were neatly stacked bundles of silver notes, dazzling to the eye.
"This is what I've earned from business over the years, plus my usual pocket money. It adds up to about thirty thousand taels.
I've already inquired; the Yan State produces a type of fabric called Cloud Brocade.
There are also fine furs. If we bring them back and resell them, we can at least triple our money!"
Shen Yulou looked at the thick stack of silver notes, his eyelids twitching.
Holy cow!
This little girl is amazing!
She's truly my proud student; her business acumen is sharper than a dog's nose!
"A teachable child!"
Shen Yulou nodded in satisfaction. He was now both a good parent and a charmer of women; even he admired himself a little... After settling the princess, Shen Yulou had to return to the Princesss Residence to reassure his home base.
As soon as he entered the door, the Princess greeted him, full of worry.
"Husband, the journey to the Yan State is perilous; you must be extremely careful!"
The Princess knew very well how the Princess of Yan State had escaped. Shen Yulou had been kind to her, which was why the Princess felt at ease with him going.
Otherwise, if it were anyone else, this trip would certainly be extremely dangerous.
"I understand."
Shen Yulou took her small hand and squeezed it.
"Don't worry, your husband here has never suffered a loss, has he? Not only will I not die in a foreign land, but I will return laden with treasures."
The Princess was still uneasy, and took another thick stack of silver notes from her private treasury and handed them to him.
After thinking for a moment, she still felt it wasn't enough.
"Let Qingqing go with you. It will be good to have someone to serve you on the road."
Shen Yulou nodded. Although Qingqing, the little girl, was powerless, she was meticulous and excellent at making tea and massaging feet. Taking her along wouldn't be a loss.
He leaned close to the Princess's ear and quietly told her Madam Li's true identity.
After hearing it, the Princess's beautiful eyes widened like brass bells, and her small mouth hung open in surprise.
"What? Sister-in-law is... the top expert on the fengyun ranking?"
This news was too shocking!
However, after the shock came immense relief.
With such a formidable figure as a bodyguard by his side, her husband's safety was finally assured... Early the next morning, the team assembled.
A carriage, not luxurious but spacious enough, was parked at the entrance of the Princesss Residence.
Madam Li and Qingqing sat in front, driving, while Shen Yulou and the Seventh Princess, Zhao Qi, were comfortably nestled inside the carriage.
The carriage slowly started. Qingqing looked at Madam Li's skilled driving technique beside her, her small face filled with curiosity and admiration.
"Madam Li, when did you learn martial arts? How are you so amazing at such a young age?"
Madam Li looked straight ahead, her tone calm, as if she were discussing the most ordinary everyday matters.
"Oh, I just casually practiced some Lightness Skill with my maternal grandfather when I was young. Later, I found it boring, so I went to the Tang Sect to learn some stone-throwing techniques.
As I practiced, I don't know how it happened, but they just said I was the best in the world.