frightfiction Chapter 1187 Decentralization
Chapter 1187 Decentralization
"You little brat still has some conscience."
The emperor's voice was extremely soft and teasing, and he lightly touched the tip of the Fourth Prince's nose with his fingertips.
The fourth prince was amused even more. He kicked his arms and legs and made louder noises from his mouth, as if responding enthusiastically.
Shen Zhinian watched this scene with a smile, and his heart felt warm.
She stood up and personally offered a cup of warm ginseng tea: "Your Majesty has been handling government affairs all day, please warm yourself up."
"I heard from Nanny Lin and the others that Ah Xu has been talking about Father a lot these days."
Nangong Xuanyu took the teacup with one hand, but his eyes were still fixed on the Fourth Prince. His smile deepened when he heard the words: "Oh? You little brat miss me so much?"
The emperor sat down holding the fourth prince in his arms. The fourth prince began to twist restlessly on his legs, and his little hands curiously reached out to grab the mutton-fat jade pendant hanging around his waist.
The emperor simply took off the jade pendant and stuffed it into the fourth prince's little hand, letting him play with it.
For a moment, the only sounds in the warm room were the soft babbling of a child, the gentle sound of jade pendants colliding, and the emperor's occasional low, joyful teasing.
Shen Zhinian sat aside, speaking softly about what Nanny Lin and the others had told her about the Fourth Prince's recent interesting events.
For example, how he learned to take a step and didn't cry when he fell.
How to talk to your new stuffed tiger.
Nangong Xuanyu listened attentively, occasionally looking down at the little figure in his arms. The figure's hard outline seemed particularly soft in the candlelight.
At this moment, there is no treacherous situation of the previous dynasty, no undercurrents in the harem, only the tender affection of the rare reunion of a family of three.
As the night deepened, the palace servants quietly dimmed a few of the candles in the warm room, leaving only a hazy and soft glow.
The Fourth Prince was tired from playing and fell asleep in his father's warm embrace, his little fist still loosely clenching the warm jade pendant.
The wet nurse tiptoed forward and took the sleeping Fourth Prince away.
The hall fell silent.
Nangong Xuanyu looked at the direction where the Fourth Prince was being carried away, the tenderness in his eyes had not yet faded.
He turned his head, his deep gaze falling on Shen Zhinian. His eyes were filled with unfinished tenderness and a deep possessiveness that was only shown to her.
The palace maids had already tactfully withdrawn silently.
The thick brocade curtains isolate the outside world.
Warm fragrance floats in the tent and red candles flicker.
The figures of the two people embracing were cast long on the tent wall, swaying and entangled slightly with the flickering candlelight...
The next day.
It was still dark, and the chill of early winter seeped in through the cracks in the window frames.
Shen Zhinian was sleeping soundly in the warm quilt, but the seat beside him was empty, leaving only the faint scent of ambergris and a hint of the emperor's body temperature.
Nangong Xuanyu stood beside the bed, staring quietly at Shen Zhinian's peaceful sleeping face in the faint morning light coming in from outside the tent.
His fingertips gently brushed a strand of black hair on her cheek, his movements as gentle as if he was touching a fragile treasure.
After a moment, the emperor withdrew his hand, his eyes returned to their usual depth, and he turned and left this warm place.
The figure quickly blended into the deepest darkness outside the temple before dawn.
A new day, a mountain of state affairs, and the conclusion of the Dingguo Mansion treason case are waiting for this diligent emperor.
After breakfast, Concubine Xue came to Zhongcui Palace to ask for an audience.
She sat upright on the rosewood armchair below Shen Zhinian, her back as straight as a bamboo, and her cold face without any extra expression.
Concubine Xue placed a stack of neatly bound account books with clean covers, along with a token symbolizing her authority to manage palace affairs, on the desk in front of Shen Zhinian with both hands, her movements meticulous.
"...while Noble Concubine Chen is away from the palace, the palace accounts and detailed dispatches are all here."
Her voice was as clear and steady as the clash of ice and jade, without a trace of self-aggrandizement or arrogance. "I have fulfilled your mission. Please examine it, Your Majesty."
Shen Zhinian didn't immediately flip through the account books. Instead, his gentle gaze fell on Xue Fei, with a sincere smile on his lips: "Sister Xue Fei, you've worked hard."
"I heard since I returned to the palace that during my sister's time in charge, the palace was awe-inspiring and all affairs were in perfect order. Even those cunning people in the Internal Affairs Department behaved themselves much better."
"Sister, you are fair and methodical in your actions. You are truly a talent. I am very pleased!"
This compliment comes directly and carries a lot of weight.
Xue Fei was slightly startled, and a very faint ripple seemed to pass through her eyes, which had always been cold and calm.
She lowered her eyes, avoiding Shen Zhinian's smiling gaze, and whispered, "Your Majesty, you are too kind."
"I dare not claim credit for anything that is within my responsibility."
However, the ears of Concubine Xue, hidden beneath her dark blue hair, were faintly flushed, like a touch of rouge spreading quietly beneath a layer of ice.
Shen Zhinian took in all of Xue Fei's subtle reactions and understood.
She did not point it out, but turned her eyes to the pile of palace files on the desk waiting for her to deal with, but her thoughts drifted to the not-too-distant future.
It is now late October, and in about two months, she will be promoted to Imperial Noble Consort.
At that time, authority will be greater and affairs will only become more cumbersome and complicated.
Shen Zhinian picked up the green jade teacup at hand, feeling the warm porcelain wall with his fingertips, thoughts racing in his mind.
The way of a superior is to control people, not to do everything personally.
If you want to go higher and more steadily, you must learn to delegate power and, more importantly, learn to cultivate truly useful and trustworthy confidants.
Holding all power tightly in one's hands will only tire oneself out. It will also leave loopholes due to being distracted.
Having made up his mind, Shen Zhinian put down the teacup and returned his gaze to Concubine Xue: "I trust your talent, my sister."
"The harem is now overwhelmed with affairs, and I am unable to handle them all. There are so many complicated matters in the palace, and if I rely on myself alone, I am bound to miss some things."
She raised her hand, cut out about one-third of the files to be processed, and pushed them to the other side of the desk. Her voice was clear and gentle.
"From now on, I'll have to trouble Sister Xuefei to continue to take care of these things and help me share some of the burdens."
"Sister, just follow the rules. If you encounter any difficult or urgent matters, please report to me."
"What do you think, sister?"
As soon as these words were spoken, there was silence in the warm room for a moment.
Assisting in palace affairs is by no means an ordinary assignment, but a real decentralization of power.
It is a great trust and honor!
If this happened to any of the concubines in the harem, they would have been ecstatic and moved to tears of gratitude.
Xue Fei lowered her eyes again, and her long eyelashes cast a small fan-shaped shadow under her eyes, covering the complex emotions surging in her eyes.
In the past, she would have declined without hesitation.
Concubine Xue was aloof and aloof, disliking socializing and even more so the tedious and trivial chores. She only wished to spend the rest of her life in the quiet of Yanxi Palace, reading her chess manuals and playing her zither.
But think about...
The fingertips hidden in her sleeves curled up slightly.
It's different now.
She has a daughter.