In the evening, after Sheng Jinyan finished reviewing the memorials, Old Zhengzi came to remind him, "Your Majesty, tonight is the day for favoring newcomers. The Empress has sent over a cousin. What do you think for tonight?"
Should you favor this cousin?
Sheng Jinyan frowned upon hearing this, "When did I agree to let the Empress foist someone on me?"
He most disliked others disrupting his life rhythm.
According to the calendar, today was indeed the day for favoring newcomers.
But those newcomers were all selected according to palace rules. This one sent by the Empress at the last minute did not enter the palace through the normal procedure.
So he refused.
"Send her back."
"Let her wait for her turn with the newcomers according to palace rules."
Old Zhengzi knew this would be the outcome and went to report back to the Empress.
Upon hearing the rejection, the Empress felt mixed emotions, "I don't know why the Emperor is so stubborn. He won't even take a woman delivered right to his doorstep."
He really has no sense of romance.
Nanny Huang hurriedly dismissed the palace attendants, "Please watch your words. His Majesty values rules above all."
The Empress was irritated, "Rules, rules. He's even more old-fashioned than my father."
Her father was quite strict about rules, but Sheng Jinyan is an even bigger old fuddy-duddy than her father!
Meanwhile.
Shi Zhenxiang heard that Sheng Jinyan hadn't favored the Empress's people at all and chuckled, "He's really such a stick-in-the-mud."
No sense of romance at all.
No wonder his technique is so terrible!
Sister-in-law Shi quickly covered her mouth, "Good Ninth Sister, you can't just say things like that."
If the Emperor hears, it could cost you your head.
Shi Zhenxiang then lowered her voice, "Don't worry, I'm just whispering a couple of words in the room."
Just then, the lamb stew from the Imperial Kitchen was ready.
It was served hot in front of Sheng Jinyan.
Sheng Jinyan didn't expect the late-night snack to be such a luxurious lamb stew. He frowned, "Isn't today not a meat-eating day?"
He only adds meat on the fifteenth of each month. Today is only the fourteenth.
The eunuch reported, "Noble Consort Shi used her personal savings to buy it for you, wanting to nourish your body."
"Her Highness dotes on you for your daily hard work."
Sheng Jinyan didn't expect Shi Zhenxiang to dote on him so much, and even use her limited personal savings.
It showed how much that woman loved him.
Smelling the fragrant lamb stew, Sheng Jinyan rarely pressed his lips together, "Oh well, it's her kind gesture, I shouldn't waste it."
With that, he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.
Old Zhengzi beside him was dying of craving.
Heaven knows he followed the Emperor every day eating two dishes and one bowl of rice; his mouth was so bland he could taste nothing.
But since the Emperor ate so plainly, how could they, his servants, dare to eat rich foods? They were bound to be starving for it.
Although Sheng Jinyan didn't have a strong appetite, after eating vegetables every day, suddenly tasting such a delicious lamb stew, he couldn't help but eat an extra bowl.
In the end, he gave the leftovers to Old Zhengzi and the others.
Old Zhengzi happily thanked him and went to eat the leftovers with joy.
The Emperor saw the joy on their faces and his mood improved as well.
It seems that Old Zhengzi and the others could feel Noble Consort Shi's sincerity towards him; look how happy they were.
Old Zhengzi.....
We were clearly just craving meat.
Sheng Jinyan, full and satisfied, suddenly felt a bit nostalgic for the princesses.
Usually, after he finished with the memorials, the Eldest Princess would bring the little princesses to deliver late-night snacks to him.
Although not every day, they came every few days.
Now the bedchamber was empty and quiet, and he felt unaccustomed to it.
His feet unconsciously carried him outside.
Walking along, he arrived at the Shi residence.
Old Zhengzi looked at General Shi's mansion, also surprised, "Your Majesty? Did you come to see the little princess?"
After all, Sheng Jinyan was cold towards the women of the harem, but he cherished the princesses.
Sheng Jinyan nodded, "Mm, come to see the fifth one."
The Fifth Princess was born, and he hadn't even seen her yet.
Having free time in the evening, he came to take a look.
Old Zhengzi thought to himself, "Just as I suspected."
After all, given the Emperor's lack of interest in women, it didn't seem like he had taken a liking to the Noble Consort. He was probably just missing the princesses.
So he went to announce.
The General Shi's residence quickly received them.
Everyone in the mansion knelt down.
Shi Zhenxiang didn't expect Sheng Jinyan to come looking for her in the middle of the night; she was quite surprised.
She knew that her interactions with Sheng Jinyan were mostly when he came to Zhenxiang Pavilion to see the children and check their lessons; there was nothing extra.
Before the scheduled day, he wouldn't even have sex with her.
When he came, it was purely to see the children.
Now coming in the middle of the night, he probably missed the children.
So she had the wet nurse carry Little Fifth to show to Sheng Jinyan.
Sheng Jinyan saw the soft, chubby little face of the Fifth Princess, and his rigid face rarely showed a trace of human warmth.
"She's a cute, chubby baby."
Little Fifth was also easygoing; she didn't cry even when being carried around, and she smacked her little lips, which was endearing.
The Eldest Princess and the others, after bowing, also rushed to hug Sheng Jinyan's legs, "Imperial Father, Yue'er misses you~"
"Imperial Father, Xingxing and Cancan miss you too."
"Imperial Father, Anping misses you too."
The four princesses all hung on Sheng Jinyan's legs. The rigid and boring Sheng Jinyan was not only not angry, but also had a smile in his eyes, "If you miss me so much, why didn't you come back to see me tonight?"
The Eldest Princess, with the highest emotional intelligence, said considerately, "Imperial Consort said you are busy with a myriad of affairs and get very tired in the evening, so she told us not to disturb you and to let you rest well."
The Second Princess and the Third Princess echoed in agreement.
The Fourth Princess, the youngest, couldn't speak clearly, but with good sense, she nodded in agreement with her sisters.
Sheng Jinyan laughed at the sight and picked up all four children at once with his two hands.
He weighed them, "Mm, you've gotten heavier. Did the tofu taste so good tonight that you ate an extra bowl of rice?"
The four princesses nodded together, "Mm hm, the things you give us are all delicious."
It was actually the meatballs added by Imperial Consort that were delicious.
But they didn't say that; they were all clever.
Even the Little Fifth Princess in her swaddling clothes let out a few "aww" sounds, as if joining in with her sisters.
Sheng Jinyan's originally irritable mood suddenly eased.
He was in a good mood, so he couldn't help but glance at Shi Zhenxiang a couple of times, "You've taught them well."
The children are all lively and lovely.
Shi Zhenxiang bowed gracefully, "Actually, the children all learned from you."
Sheng Jinyan looked at her soft and weak standing posture and felt it was not quite proper, not dignified at all.
But thinking that she had just given birth and probably hadn't recovered yet, he frowned and waved his hand, "Go rest for now. Once you've recovered, return to the palace."
Shi Zhenxiang thanked him again, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Sheng Jinyan instructed the children a few words and then left without looking back.
He didn't say even one more word to Shi Zhenxiang.
Sister-in-law Shi watched and felt embarrassed, thinking to herself that this Emperor was indeed very dull.
Shi Zhenxiang whispered quietly, "Right? I barely exchange a few words with him all year round."
First, she was afraid that more words would lead to more mistakes, and second, every time she said something, Sheng Jinyan always rigidly thought her ideas were too unconventional.
Over time, she became too lazy to talk and simply let the children play with him. Instead, that could strengthen the father-daughter bond and also increase her own standing.
Sister-in-law Shi was very curious, "When you two have nothing to say, do you also silently do big things in bed?"
Shi Zhenxiang.....
"No, sister-in-law, you're driving a bit too fast."
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