OBS Chapter 716 Zhou Died
Chapter 716 Zhou Died
Nangong Xuanyu was not angry, and said gently: "It's okay, take good care of the Fourth Prince."
The wet nurse then breathed a sigh of relief, replied "yes", and carried the Fourth Prince downstairs to clean up for him.
Only then did Shen Zhinian withdraw his gaze from Nangong Xuanyu.
It is normal for babies to have uncontrolled eating, drinking, defecating and urinating.
If this man gets angry because of this and dislikes his own son...humph!
Because he was his biological son, the emperor's appetite was not affected at all. Also, because Shen Zhinian was by his side, he was in a good mood and ate a small bowl more than usual.
Li Changde was watching from the side and felt very relieved.
His Majesty worked day and night for state affairs, and often did not even have time to eat. Those who served him closely always felt sorry for him.
If His Majesty could be like today every day, he would not need to worry about his health.
……
Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye it was early May.
During this period, the harem was peaceful and calm.
Everyone thought that Concubine Chun had just been favored, but her favor was snatched away by Concubine Chen, and she would definitely do everything she could to win back her favor.
Unexpectedly, she also became silent.
There are still some smart people who sense the undercurrents in the palace and think that this may be the calm before the storm...
That day, Fuqiu suddenly came in hurriedly from outside, and said with a complicated look: "Madam, the Shen family just sent a message in, saying that Zhou has passed away..."
Although Zhou always looked kind-hearted but cruel at heart when she was in the Shen family, she often made things difficult for them in secret.
But after knowing the inside story and hearing the news of Zhou's death, Fuqiu felt happy but also a little sad.
Seeing Fuqiu's expression, Shen Zhinian knew that there might be something else behind this matter.
She put down the account book in her hand, raised her eyes and asked, "Tell me, what's going on?"
Shen Zhinian has always known that the relationship between himself and Shen's father is not much different from when he formed an alliance with Liu Shiqing.
It's all because of profit.
If one day, she can no longer bring benefits to the Shen family, or someone can bring greater benefits to Shen's father.
After weighing the pros and cons, Mr. Shen will definitely sell her.
Therefore, how could Shen Zhinian not be on guard against Shen's father at all?
Although she was in the harem, with her current identity and status, she could still bribe a few inconspicuous old servants in the Shen family and get information.
Fuqiu is also responsible for coordinating these matters.
Hearing Shen Zhinian's question, Fuqiu replied "yes" and said with a complicated expression: "Your Majesty also knows that Zhou had a stroke some time ago and is paralyzed in bed."
"The doctor said that Zhou's condition is actually relatively mild. If treated properly, he may be able to recover."
“Even if it cannot be restored, the impact on life expectancy will be relatively small.”
"But the master...deliberately asked the doctor to make Zhou's condition sound very serious. And, and..."
Fuqiu didn't need to say the rest, Shen Zhinian and the others understood.
For Shen Maoxue, who is now a first-rank official, Zhou is of no help to him and is instead a burden.
Although he would not do something so cruel as to murder his wife, what if Zhou herself fell ill?
He will definitely go with the flow.
It must have been Shen Maoxue who gave the order specifically, which delayed Zhou's treatment.
Given her condition, with no one taking good care of her and even mistreating her harshly, she won't live long.
As expected, Fuqiu's next words confirmed Shen Zhinian's guess: "... before Zhou's death, because the master was cold to her, most of the housekeeping power in the mansion was divided up by a few favored concubines."
"Because Zhou didn't have an imperial decree, and the Shen family was under the control of the master, this matter was not spread out, and no one knew that the master favored his wife and then killed her."
"Those servants flatter the powerful and bully the weak. Zhou's life in the Shen family is very difficult."
"Your Majesty knows what kind of personality she had in the past... Many concubines who had been troubled and harmed by Zhou, how could they miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity after Zhou's death?"
"They don't even need to do anything to Zhou. They just need to go along with it, or even indulge the servants in Zhou's yard, and Zhou will..."
"And these are all known to the master."
Handan was silent for a while before she said, "If the master hadn't agreed, how could the Shen family have such courage?"
"My lady, please forgive me for saying something disrespectful..."
"The master clearly wants Zhou to die!"
"Although Zhou was not a good person, I feel very happy to hear the news of her death."
"But the master's cruelty and coldness are really frightening..."
"No matter what, Zhou is his first wife!"
At the beginning, before the Empress entered the palace, the Master was only a minor official of the sixth rank. They had heard that although the Master had passed the imperial examination when he was young, he was always frustrated because of his humble origins and lack of family background.
He was even suppressed by his superiors and could not make any progress for many years.
It was Zhou who asked her own family for help and made many arrangements and efforts for the master, and only then was he able to secure a sixth-rank official position for him.
Looking back now, the master really was...
Handan knelt down slowly, lowered her head and said, "I spoke out of turn, please forgive me, Your Majesty."
No matter what, the master is the biological father of the queen, and it is not something that a servant like her can discuss casually.
Shen Zhinian had lived two lives and had long seen through his father's cruelty and coldness. Handan's words were not wrong.
Therefore, although she has always valued Father Shen, she has also been wary of him.
Shen Zhinian did not blame Handan, and said calmly: "Get up."
"Thank you, empress."
Although Zhou was no longer considered Shen Zhinian's mother, she was promoted to Shen Maoxue's equal wife by the emperor and was posthumously conferred an imperial decree along with Lady Meng. But the relationship was there after all, and if she did nothing, she would definitely be gossiped about.
Shen Zhinian looked at Fuqiu and ordered, "You leave the palace on my behalf and go to pay your respects to Zhou."
Fuqiu bowed and said, "I understand."
Handan sighed, "When I was in the Shen family before, the person I feared the most was Zhou. I was always worried that the Madam might be harmed by her one day."
"I didn't expect... Zhou to die so quietly and tragically..."
Nanny Lin used a handkerchief to rub the corners of her wet eyes: "If it weren't for Zhou's harassment, Madam Meng wouldn't have passed away so early."
"Now Zhou has received his due punishment for his evil deeds. I'm sure Madam Meng's spirit in heaven will be very pleased if she knows about this."
Thinking of his biological mother, a hint of longing emerged in Shen Zhinian's eyes.
The reason why she had never taken action against Zhou until now was because she knew that with Zhou's short-sighted character and Shen Maoxue's cruelty and coldness, Zhou was destined not to live long.
At this moment, Shen Zhinian was thinking about another thing.