One hundred and seven
The second day after he ascended the throne was the first day of the Lunar New Year. Everyone officially began their vacation. The cancer of the Xia family was eradicated, and hundreds of people in the mansion were all executed. The whole capital was filled with joy.
No one cared about the death of the former queen. Instead, they were very happy. The vicious woman committed suicide, which was the greatest honor for her.
You Shu was melancholy for a long time. He didn't expect that he would be the last person to see her. He thought it would be a while, because according to the laws of Daliang, no serious criminals would be executed during the New Year. Even someone like Xia Lingwei would be executed after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
But he didn't expect that she would actually commit suicide. The fire in the cold palace was so big that there was no way to put it out. The palace servants could only carry buckets of water and pour water into the fire again and again, but it was like a drop in the bucket. In the end, they had to watch the palace turn into ashes in the flames, and finally nothing was left.
You Shu tried to guess her state of mind, but found that he still couldn't see her clearly.
Maybe she died peacefully, or sadly. Maybe no one in this world had ever paid attention to her, and no one cared about her thoughts. Even when he was reading, his eyes wandered between the male and female protagonists, and never stayed on the queen's words for even a second.
that's too regretful.
You Shu sighed, and just as he was about to get up, Xiao Weixin hugged him lazily from behind: "It's still early, sleep a little longer."
"It's getting late." You Shu pointed to the bright light outside the window.
Xiao Weixin was not a person who stayed in bed too long, but he had not been able to sleep well in recent days because he was busy with various things. He finally had a chance to rest on the first day of the new year, so naturally he didn't want to get up. You Shu knew that he was tired, but he really couldn't sleep. Instead of lying in bed doing nothing, he might as well get up and do morning exercises.
"Alas." Xiao Weixin couldn't persuade him, so he had to let go and sit up with him, "Xiao Shu is really a devil."
You Shu laughed helplessly: "Don't use random words."
The two of them stood up, talking and laughing. The palace maids heard the noise inside and after getting permission, they filed in and began to serve. The mouthwash and washbasin had already been prepared. You Shu refused the little palace maid's offer to change his clothes for him and dressed himself.
But Xiao Weixin had to be helped to dress himself. After all, this was the rule. No emperor had ever done it himself, and it would be considered improper if it got out.
The new emperor was given a holiday the day after he took office. No one had yet figured out his temper, so the palace servants were extra careful when serving him, fearing that they would be scolded for making any mistakes.
But there are exceptions.
You Shu didn't pay attention at first. After he got dressed and washed himself, he held his sword and waited boredly by the side. He also complained about how the rules of being an emperor were so cumbersome that even rinsing the mouth and brushing teeth had to be divided into several steps. He wished that the mouthwash was made of gold. Tsk.
As he watched, he suddenly felt that the little palace maid who was tying the belt for Xiao Weixin was really beautiful. Her dress was slightly different from that of other palace maids, the colors were brighter, and she had a crabapple silk flower in her hair, which was eye-catching from a distance. Among a group of well-behaved palace maids, she was definitely a standout.
You Shu held the sword and stroked his chin thoughtfully. Although he was a thick-skinned man, he was very accurate in judging other people's affairs. This girl... Could it be that she has a crush on his prince, or rather, his emperor
It was nothing originally, but because he suddenly became more concerned, You Shu felt uncomfortable no matter how he looked at it. This kind of thing would never have happened when he was in the palace before, because everyone knew the prince's rules, but there were newcomers in the palace, and most of them didn't know what he was thinking. In addition, the dog emperor who was in power before was absurd and lustful, which led to a not very good atmosphere in the palace, and the upper beam was not straight, and the lower beams were crooked.
You Shu was thinking this silently when he suddenly heard Xiao Weixin speak coldly.
"roll."
When he came to his senses, he found that the beautiful palace maid was kneeling down crying, her eyes were wet with tears, and she looked very touching, as if she didn't understand what she had done wrong.
Xiao Weixin frowned, not even bothering to say a word, and only ordered outside the door: "Drag this person out..."
"Your Majesty." You Shu couldn't help but remind him, "Today is the first day of the new year."
He knew Xiao Weixin's style too well. It was just his first day on the throne and it was also the New Year. He must not let his reputation of being harsh spread out, and he must not punish him too severely. If he were to beat him with a hundred sticks, someone would have to die.
Xiao Weixin paused, turned around and glanced at him, then changed his words: "Drag him away and give him twenty strokes of the cane, fine him three months' salary, and never be allowed to serve in front of the palace again."
After saying this, he glanced at the palace servants who were kneeling in the room, and said, "If the people serving me dare to behave unruly again, it will not be just this simple."
Everyone kowtowed in response, and gradually they understood that the new emperor was not a womanizer, and anyone who dared to cause trouble again would suffer the consequences.
When everyone had dispersed to prepare breakfast, You Shu walked up to Xiao Weixin and couldn't help but say, "It's only the first day in the palace, and our emperor is really lovable."
Xiao Weixin was originally unhappy about being touched by the palace maid without permission, but after hearing what You Shu said, he turned his head to look at him, and after thinking for a while, he smiled: "It's rare to see Xiao Shu talking in such a weird way, is he... jealous?"
You Shu was stunned, and subconsciously wanted to accuse him of talking nonsense, but then he changed his mind and realized that when he said those words just now, there was indeed a hint of resentment. Even though he thought he was not such a petty and mean person, there was no way he could explain those words clearly.
He seemed to be a little impatient indeed.
"Can't I be jealous?" You Shu finally admitted openly, "You are a prostitute. Now that you are the emperor, there will be more and more women who want to sleep with you. Can't I be jealous?"
I didn't expect him to say it so bluntly. Xiao Weixin was speechless. He walked to his side, sighed softly, and hugged him gently, "Don't be afraid, Xiaoshu. I will always be loyal to you."
"Yeah." You Shu responded, but his mind was wandering somewhere else. "I'm going to practice swordplay, and I'll have dinner with you later."
He walked out of the inner hall gate holding his sword, and when he stepped into the courtyard, he knew that there was always a shadow in his heart.
Even though Xiao Weixin had promised him many times that he would never be bothered by the issue of offspring or harem, but... but many things in the world are beyond one's control. How could an emperor not have a harem? Throughout history, only a few emperors could do that.
It is easy for people to restrain themselves when they have no power, but once they hold great power, no one can restrain them over time, and their inner desires will grow day by day. One day, they may no longer be satisfied, because the temptations around them are too great, and as long as they want, everything in the world is theirs.
You Shu didn't know where to go.
He was not such an indecisive person before, but he changed his mind again and again for Xiao Weixin. He always had some doubts about this relationship, fearing that true love could not withstand the worldly world.
While he was daydreaming, the sword in You Shu's hand suddenly flew out and got nailed on a tree not far away.
He stood up slowly, walked over slowly to draw out the sword, and stood under the tree for a long time without moving.
Xiao Shu, you shouldn't be like this.
His sister once taught him that people become strong because they are strong inside. No matter what happens, one should not be indecisive, as that will only destroy oneself.
You Shu sheathed his sword and calmed down for a while before leaving.
Today is the first day of the new year, and it is also the first time in You Shu's life that he celebrates the new year in the palace. After breakfast, Xiao Weixin took him to another place.
In the past, because of the presence of Queen Mother Xia, he could not openly worship his mother, but now he has removed all obstacles. The first thing Xiao Weixin did was to temporarily place the spirit tablet of Concubine Xian in the palace and wait for a good day to relocate it in the future.
He also planned to posthumously confer the title of "Gongshun, Roujia and Sheng Empress" on his mother so that she would always be respected and remembered by future generations.
You Shu knelt down with him in front of the tablet, feeling a little nervous.
"Mother, I have brought the person you really want to see." Xiao Weixin knelt on the futon, raised his head and quietly looked at the tablet with the name of Concubine Xian engraved on it, his eyes were calm, "My years of hard work have finally paid off."
After that, he pulled You Shu's clothes and said to him, "Xiao Shu, come and meet your mother."
You Shu quickly followed suit and kowtowed a few times, "Greetings, hello, Her Majesty the Concubine."
Even though Concubine Xian had passed away many years ago, when facing her tablet, You Shu still felt nervous as if he was meeting a parent, fearing that he might not do well and make her dislike him.
"My mother is a very gentle person, you don't have to be so restrained." Xiao Weixin said softly and helped him up, "She will definitely like you."
You Shu's face turned red as she knelt down with him, listening to Xiao Weixin chatting with the tablet and listening to him talk about the pain and hardship he had experienced over the years.
"Fortunately, it's all over." Xiao Weixin whispered, "That old thief Xia Maoan will never stand up again this time. As soon as the fifteenth day comes, I will drag him down and behead him. Although I really want to tear him into pieces..."
"As for the bitch who killed you, Zhao Shen will not let her go either."
You Shu heard the sadness in his words and couldn't help but quietly hold his hand.
He spoke quietly to the tablet of Concubine Xian in his heart.
Your Majesty, I will definitely treat him well, don't worry.
But, but, please bless us both too.
They knelt in the hall for an hour. When they stood up, their legs were numb. Xiao Weixin stood by the door for a while, then suddenly turned around and looked at You Shu, his eyes full of tenderness: "I have brought Xiao Shu to see mother as promised."
"She also recognized you. In her heart, you are her daughter-in-law."
You Shu couldn't help but blush again, "What nonsense are you talking about? Who is the daughter-in-law?"
Xiao Weixin liked to see his blushing face, so he pulled his hand and walked out together, "Let's go."
You Shu was being pulled away by him, and suddenly he turned back to take another look. The tablet of Concubine Xian was standing quietly in the hall, quiet, calm, peaceful and serene, as if there really was someone there smiling at this side.
He turned around and looked at Xiao Weixin who was holding his hand firmly and walking forward, not caring whether he would be seen by the palace servants. Suddenly, he felt that he was really unqualified.
Xiao Weixin has already made up his mind, why is he still hesitating? If his sister knew about this, she would probably scold him for not being resolute enough.
Besides, if Xiao Weixin dared to break his oath, he would break all his legs.
You Shu thought so viciously.