Chapter 14

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Shen Yao was pregnant.

She had been pregnant for nearly a month.

Calculating the time, it was indeed the time of her first Bedchamber Service.

It seemed her Fertility Pills hadn't been taken in vain; even if the Emperor's seed wasn't good, the soil of the field was fertile, and once the seed entered, it could take root and sprout smoothly.

The Fetal Protection Pills and Womb-Protecting Pills stored in her space were taken by Shen Yao the very moment she learned the pregnancy news.

Now, Shen Yao could responsibly say that it would indeed be somewhat difficult to keep this child.

"System, it seems the constitution of this body of mine isn't bad when it comes to pregnancy.

After swallowing a few Fertility Pills, I successfully conceived offspring; so it seems the Yuanhe Emperor's body isn't as bad as we imagined."

Shen Yao touched her flat abdomen on and off while communicating with the system in her mind.

The system's mechanical sound was as ever without fluctuation, "The Yuanhe Emperor's body can indeed be saved, but relatively speaking, for a Host like you who has pills as assistance."

For others, pregnancy isn't difficult, but the Yuanhe Emperor's seed has congenital developmental issues; when the woman carries the fetus in the later stages, symptoms such as fetal arrest, failure to develop, miscarriage, abortion, and stillbirth will appear.

Even if the pregnancy passes safely and she luckily gives birth to offspring smoothly, the offspring will be congenitally weak, with a damaged foundation; relying on medicine only treats symptoms not the root, and the final result is still the death of the offspring.

Now in the Huang Hou, the Yuanhe Emperor has a total of three offspring, among whom the one in the best health is the Third Prince, but the Third Prince has now been poisoned, I'm afraid"

Shen Yao interrupted the system, "Wait, the Third Prince was poisoned?"

When did this happen? How did I not know?

The system didn't mind Shen Yao's rudeness, "It just happened."

Shen Yao:...

"So there's still mutual slaughter in this harem?" Shen Yao's mouth corner curved slightly, her tone inexplicably mocking, "At this time, they're still engaging in internal strife?"

Wow, as expected of the Huang Hou; palace intrigue indeed follows like a shadow.

The system helplessly, "At any time, internal strife will never disappear."

Where there are people, there is the Jianghu.

Shen Yao touched her chin, "The Third Prince was poisoned; how long can he live?"

There were only three Princes in the harem; the Crown Prince and Second Prince were both Medicine Jars, and the Third Prince had just been born this year and had grown sturdier in a few months; Shen Yao had thought this child could live longer than his two elder brothers, but as a result, he was actually poisoned.

"It depends on the Third Prince's own constitution; poisoning isn't fatal, it just makes the body weak."

"The Third Prince is a small infant, and his constitution is far worse than an adult's."

So, living to adulthood is out of the question; if well cared for, he might live two more years.

Shen Yao sighed, "That's truly a pity; the Third Prince lives with his birth mother, Concubine Sun has so little ability, she can't even protect her own son."

The system explained, "According to system observation, there are many spies in the entire harem; apart from the Emperor and the palaces of a few High-Ranking Consorts, others are all the same."

"You think why the Crown Prince and Second Prince were born as Medicine Jars? They were poisoned during the fetal stage."

Shen Yao:... Never expected that.

"The Emperor doesn't have caretakers?" Shen Yao wondered, after all, they are his own sons.

The system paused for a moment, "The Emperor once arranged manpower, but didn't receive corresponding trust."

The reasons were varied; explained simply, it was that personal ambition was too great without matching ability, and in the end, it could only be Basket Fetching Water in Vain.

Hearing this, Shen Yao raised her eyebrows, deeply feeling there were other matters here; unfortunately, the system didn't say much, and as a Free-loader, she couldn't press for more.

To get information from the system was never provided for free.

But it would be hard to get Shen Yao to spend money on this; after all, Shen Yao deeply felt that with her own ability, she wasn't the kind of Dragon Arrogant Heaven who must strive to be the Eldest Brother's own Second Brother, so there was no need to make herself so tense.

Shen Yao had always approached missions with the original intention of enjoying life.

As for missions, first one must be happy oneself, and secondly comes the reward settlement after mission completion.

Just like the previous two Task Worlds; clearly attacking strong people could yield more rewards, but Shen Yao felt that Male Lead wasn't her type, and instead chose a Passerby A who could only be considered a Third Male Lead.

Throughout her life, Shen Yao was doted on by this Third Male Lead Passerby A.

Although life couldn't be called Wealthy and Noble, she was financially free, able to go wherever she wanted.

Was such a life bad? For many people, this was already considered a happiness and fulfillment.

"System, what is the Yuanhe Emperor's attitude toward offspring?"

Shen Yao's hand was still on her lower abdomen; although it was currently flat with no visible bulge, Shen Yao knew that in two months, her belly should start to protrude.

Who let her luck be so good that the Fertility Pill directly resulted in Double Success? If she wasn't promoted to a consort rank during this pregnancy, she wouldn't agree.

"The royal family has always longed for offspring, especially in a dynasty where offspring are difficult."

The imperial heirs of the Great Jing Dynasty were becoming increasingly difficult; various rumors among the civilians were rampant, and at one point even reached an uncontrollable level.

Why the current Yuanhe Emperor could sit firmly on the throne was not only because his timing of ascending was quite lucky, but also because the brothers behind him were worse than one another in health; apart from the Yuanhe Emperor, none could lift themselves up.

Right now, the Front Court looked somewhat chaotic; whether it was the Retired Emperor or the sons of several Princes who had been lying low for a long time, they all had their own problems: offspring.

That's right; even the two Princes' sons who were bestowed marriages by the Retired Emperor this year had once been diagnosed by the Imperial Physician as having difficulty with offspring.

Hah, in the entire Great Jing Dynasty, as long as they were members of the royal family, there was no man who could escape this Curse.

Under such circumstances, even if these people wanted to change the dynasty, for the stability of the Great Jing Realm, they wouldn't fight too excessively.

Shen Yao combined the news she had heard to summarize the harem situation, feeling she still needed to hurry and have more children.

In such a royal family, offspring were Hard Currency; once she had offspring, she would have the greatest reliance.

"In half a month, it will be the day for the monthly Peace Pulse Diagnosis."

My belly will definitely be exposed by then; I hope there's someone in the Huang Hou as lucky as me, so we can share the firepower.

Shen Yao spoke casually, her words also carrying a hint of testing.

After all, this System of hers has a big mouth; as it speaks, it might just leak some information.

Just like the Third Prince's poisoning just now — if it hadn't been mentioned, and the System happened to know the situation, who knows how long it would have taken Shen Yao to discover it on her own initiative.

"The Host's expectation is very likely to come true; there really is an Imperial Consort in this Huang Hou concealing her pregnancy."

The System turned its head and added a sentence, like chatting about household matters, but didn't say who this person was.

Shen Yao doesn't need to know the details anyway; by the start of the month, she won't be able to hide it even if she wants to.

In the Great Jing Dynasty's Huang Hou, the Imperial Physicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau aren't mere decorations; if pregnancy news is concealed too long, it's easy to spin a cocoon to bind oneself.

After all, one month of pregnancy is normal, but past two months, clearly aiming for three months of fetal stability — could it be they suspect the palace isn't safe, can't protect the child?

Sigh

Even with doubts in one's heart, these words can't be put on the surface; isn't that offending the Emperor, offending Imperial Authority — how would one survive in the Huang Hou afterwards?

"If you're free this month, keep a closer watch on Hehuan Palace," Shen Yao stood up; her legs were a bit sore and numb from sitting so long, so she started walking around the Main Hall.

"Does the Host intend to pay remuneration?"

The System doesn't work for nothing — it can work, but not for free.

Shen Yao's mouth corner twitched. "Pay, deduct it yourself, but once you take the money you have to do the job — dig out all the spies in Hehuan Palace for me."

She was still hoping to use the Emperor's hand to clean out a batch of Hehuan Palace people after the pregnancy letter is exposed; otherwise, being pregnant on one side and guarding against threats on the other would be too exhausting.

The System had no objection to this request; these are all missions a normal transaction should accomplish.

Although it's just a System, not a life form, the System values integrity — that is its foundation of existence.

One person and one System rapidly reached cooperation in communication, and Shen Yao immediately noticed her energy being deducted.

Tsk, quite nimble movements.

With the System providing full escort protection, Hehuan Palace's safety needn't be worried about for now.

"Master, the Emperor has arrived."

Behind her, Qiu Yue's voice was somewhat excited.

Shen Yao turned her head; hearing the Emperor had come, she hurriedly ran forward two steps.

She had already taken all kinds of fetal protection, fetus guarding, and fetal stabilization pills; she simply wasn't afraid of simple running and jumping movements like this.

"The Emperor Arrives"

"This concubine Shen greets the Emperor; may the Emperor have ten thousand blessings"

Shen Yao bowed in salute; the salute wasn't even halfway done when she was pulled up by an outstretched large hand.

Shen Yao raised her head, meeting Xiao Yanchen's pair of rippling-water-color peach blossom eyes.

"Yao'er, between you and me, why bother with courtesy."

Xiao Yanchen spoke, reached out to encircle Shen Yao's slender waist, and led the person toward the Room.

In the courtyard, a ground full of slaves who had followed stood, each lowering their heads and bending their waists, not daring to look around.

"Your Majesty"

Shen Yao called out softly; seeing the Room door already shut, she immediately wrapped both arms around Xiao Yanchen's neck, pouting her pair of pretty cherry lips and pressed them on.

Two soft surfaces touched, followed by a bout of heavenly thunder stirring earthly fire, mandarin ducks entwining necks.

After a long while, the two breathing unsteadily embraced; Shen Yao blinked her pair of pretty almond eyes, impolitely pressing all her weight onto Xiao Yanchen.

Xiao Yanchen's Adam's apple moved slightly; he pulled Shen Yao's wrist and pulled her back down, the two assuming a posture lying on the couch, pressed together in an extremely intimate posture.

"Yao'er, not seen for several days, still this passionate."

A low, pleasant male voice traveled along the ear into Shen Yao's heart.

Shen Yao's cheeks flushed red, her eyes moist. "Seeing the Emperor, this concubine's heart is very happy.

Could it be the Emperor doesn't like this concubine's passion?"

Even if shy, Shen Yao would still retort; every time seeing Shen Yao react like this, Xiao Yanchen would impatiently embrace the other and bite and kiss again, until Shen Yao was panting, breath unceasing.

"Like, We, like very much."

Clearly doing things he extremely dislikes, but placed on Shen Yao, Xiao Yanchen always feels happy in mood.

Hm, perhaps others' passion carries purpose, while Shen Yao's passion is just because of him?

The current Xiao Yanchen doesn't know, Shen Yao's passion for him is completely because she's jealous of his body.

After all, both looks and body are extremely excellent; not taking advantage of now before he collapses to eat a few more mouthfuls — when he gets old later, what will Shen Yao do?