SFS Chapter 253 Your own heart is the most important.
Chapter 253 Your own heart is the most important.
Shen Shixi glared at her. "Stop being so coy and get down to business. It's your own marriage. If you don't make the decisions, who will? Your parents and siblings can only offer advice. Your future is your own, so be discerning before you get married!"
The second wife then gave her daughter a push, saying, "Listen to your second sister!"
Shen Shiwan had no choice but to muster her courage, "That depends on how he sees me, how he... how he sees me!"
Her face turned as red as the clouds in the sky.
Shen Shixi rolled her eyes. "Shen Shiwan, I'm warning you, don't expect to marry into another family and have a loving husband, a doting mother-in-law, a respectful father-in-law, or a flattering concubine. That's all nonsense. Don't ruin yourself for these worthless things."
Shen Shiwan was stunned.
This is the mainstream ideology now, and this is also the education girls receive.
"Live your own life well! Isn't your cousin Hanyun enough of a wake-up call? Don't your family love you enough? What do you need other people's love for? What do you need other people's affection for? In this life, loving yourself, being good to yourself, treating yourself kindly, and not letting yourself suffer are the most important things! Do you remember what I said?"
The second wife kicked her foolish daughter again, saying, "Your second sister is asking you a question!"
She nodded blankly, "I...I've got it!"
Then she rushed to her second sister, hugged her, and cried, "Second sister, are you having a hard time in the palace? Is the Emperor treating you badly?"
Upon hearing this, both the First Madam and the Second Madam burst into tears, unable to stop.
Bai Ping and Bai Kui quickly went out and stood guard outside.
If the emperor were to suddenly arrive and see this, it would be quite a scene.
Shen Shixi patted her sister's head and said, "When did you ever see me having a bad time? Can you change this tendency to overthink things? No one in the world is having a bad time, it can't be me."
I hope you feel the same way. Other people's opinions don't matter; what matters is your own heart. Don't wrong yourself!
Shen Shiwan nodded.
In the end, she chose Xu Wanyi, whom Shen Shixi least favored. He was a gorilla, the newly appointed Marquis of Changning after his father's death in battle.
A million curses raced through Shen Shixi's mind. Having lost interest in seeing her newborn nephew, she couldn't help but ask, "Do you know him? Have you ever seen him?"
Shen Shiwan blushed deeply. If her second sister hadn't been so fierce, she really wouldn't have wanted to say, "I've seen him many times, and I even saved his life!"
"Tell me, tell me everything! I didn't know that before, you can't keep it from me!"
Shen Shiwan said, "I met him on the street three years ago. I was almost knocked down, and he pulled me up. I saw him win the willow-shooting competition during the Dragon Boat Festival the year before last."
When I was being bullied, he stood up for me and spoke up for me. Last June or July, I went to visit his estate in the suburbs and saved his life.
What a twist of fate! The connection between us is quite deep!
There's nothing we can do about it.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so Shen Shixi didn't say that the person looked like a gorilla and how could you possibly like him; those words were too hurtful.
Upon seeing this, the Second Madam said, "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Changning's residence has also sent people to visit, but regarding this marriage, I thought I should ask Your Majesty for instructions. The child is currently in mourning, so there is no rush. That's why I didn't go to the palace to tell Your Majesty immediately."
Shen Shixi said, "If that's the case, we can settle it first."
She patted her younger sister's head. "Marriage is marriage. You must always stay clear-headed and not let men cloud your judgment. Life is a long journey, and only by remaining clear-headed at all times can you avoid stumbling and getting hurt, understand?"
Shen Shiwan, who was still full of girlish thoughts, suddenly understood after her sister's words. She nodded and said, "Second sister, I'll remember."
"If you don't have a good life in the future, come to the palace and tell me. I will take care of things for you. But the condition is that you don't let men bewitch you."
Shen Shiwan was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear, and called out coquettishly, "Second Sister!"
Shen Shixi laughed, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Let's have a meal in the palace before we go out."
She had a meal served. When the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress heard that the Shen family had entered the palace, they each sent dishes over, and the table was filled with food.
Shen Shiwan initially kept a straight face, but seeing how much her older sister enjoyed her food, she started eating heartily too. In her heart, she thought, "My second sister is right. I don't need to care about other people's opinions. I should just enjoy my food first."
As a result, I ate until I was stuffed.
On the way back, the second wife rubbed her stomach and said, "You ate so much. I usually tell you to eat more, but you never want to."
Shen Shiwan said, "I saw how happy my second sister was eating, so I couldn't help but eat a little more too. It's still very happy to eat what I want. In the future, I want to do what my second sister said."
The second wife said, "Your second sister is clever. I would be at ease if you could get even a little bit of her cleverness."
At Qianyuan Palace, officials from the Imperial Observatory came to report that this year's field sacrifice ceremony would be held on the second day of the second lunar month, the day the dragon raises its head, but the silkworm-raising ceremony would be held on Shen Shixi's birthday.
Upon receiving the date, Li Yuanke asked, "Isn't there another auspicious day for the Silkworm Rearing Ceremony? Why must it be set on this day?"
If the silkworm-raising ceremony is held on this day, Shen Shixi cannot celebrate her birthday on that day. What's the point of celebrating it on another day?
The Director of the Imperial Observatory reported, "Your Majesty, this is the best day of the year. It happens to be the Imperial Noble Consort's birthday, making it an extremely auspicious day!"
Li Yuanke gave him a deep look. "You may leave."
Shen Shixi came over from next door and saw the emperor staring at the date. She leaned on his back and said, "What are you thinking about? It's just a date. Oh, by the way, when you went to plow the fields this year, you used the plow that the Academy of Natural Sciences had modified. Do you know how to use it? Do you want to practice first?"
Li Yuanke held her on his lap. "I'm so stupid, I don't know how to use it. Why don't you help me plow?"
Shen Shixi laughed and leaned on his shoulder. "Li Yuanke, you're so stupid! How about I lend you the roses so you can work in the palace? Otherwise, you'll embarrass yourself and damage your image as a wise ruler."
Li Yuanke didn't dwell on the topic. "The silkworm-raising ceremony is scheduled for your birthday. The Empress is unwell, so I want you to preside over it!"
Since ancient times, "the emperor personally tills the fields, and the queen personally raises silkworms." This ritual system, established since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, has been strictly followed by successive monarchs and improved upon generation after generation.
The Zhou emperor personally tilled the fields in the southern suburbs, and the empress personally tended silkworms in the northern suburbs. The ceremony was grand and prestigious.
Shen Shixi did not refuse.
If no one gave the order, the Imperial Observatory wouldn't have chosen to hold the silkworm-raising ceremony on her birthday. Prime Minister Pei was worried that the events of last year's birthday would repeat themselves. If Li Yuanke went crazy again and gave her a new title, the Empress might as well hang herself in anger.
"However, I would like to slightly change the agenda for the Silkworm Ceremony. I want to showcase the textile technology newly developed by the Institute of Geology at the ceremony."
"You can discuss it with the Ministry of Rites!"
Li Yuanke then pulled Shen Shixi to her feet, called Caiying to help him change his clothes, and then left the palace. Shen Shixi was pulled along and ran very fast, asking, "What are you doing, Li Yuanke? What are you going to do?"
"It's rare that you've lent me your stupid donkey. If I don't use it today, wouldn't I be letting you down?"
"Really? You really want to use roses to plow the fields? No, the emperor himself plows with oxen."
"I will practice plowing with a donkey first."
Li Yuanke ultimately didn't use roses to plow the fields; the donkey was not only stupid but also lazy.
But after trying the improved plow, he found it to be very useful and issued an imperial edict ordering the Ministry of Works to promote its use and instructing the steel mills to manufacture more and distribute them to the surrounding prefectures and counties.
On the second day, the ceremony of personally plowing the fields was completed, and the new plow was unveiled. After the emperor used it, it was placed in the busiest place in the capital for display, so that blacksmiths could learn from it and make new plows.
The Imperial Medical Academy is also busy now. Smallpox vaccination is being implemented throughout the palace. During the morning court session, Li Yuanke even discussed with his officials the possibility of promoting smallpox vaccination nationwide.
"This method was developed under the guidance of Imperial Noble Consort Chenyuan. Imperial Noble Consort Chenyuan and her people were the first to be vaccinated, and it was very successful. This is a good thing that will benefit future generations. I intend to name this method of smallpox inoculation the Chenyuan Method and reward it accordingly!"