Chapter 15

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

"Since His Majesty has come today, you are not allowed to leave."

The two lay on their sides on the couch; because the space was cramped, their bodies pressed close, skin against skin.

Shen Yao's words were domineering, but for Xiao Yanchen, who had spent many days with her, he strangely liked this domineeringness.

Mm, one can only say men are all cheap hides; they don't like it when others patiently coax and indulge them, but instead prefer what they haven't experienced before.

Like Shen Yao right now — domineering and fond of throwing little tantrums, occasionally acting spoiled in Xiao Yanchen's arms — she tormented him enough.

But Xiao Yanchen? He just found it to his taste, believing Shen Yao showed a trace more reality and lack of pretense before him than anyone else.

Shen Yao: ……

What could Shen Yao do? Since he liked it, she would just keep maintaining the persona.

Anyway, in every mission, Shen Yao would strive to live out her natural lifespan in this world.

If she couldn't develop a different kind of life in peaceful days, Shen Yao would eventually grow weary of this life; then it wouldn't be her failing the mission and being discarded by the system, but her giving up on herself, self-exiling.

Shen Yao didn't want to end up in that situation, so every time she arrived at a new mission world, she would choose a different persona to live.

Right now, willful and domineering yet with a few childish whims, acting coquettishly but with a bottom line, sincere to people yet calculating — these were all the genuine humanity Shen Yao revealed facing Xiao Yanchen.

Xiao Yanchen loved Shen Yao's unique genuineness to death; lately his visits to Hehuan Palace only increased, and even Wei Zhu became familiar with the road to Hehuan Palace.

Because she was valued by Xiao Yanchen, Shen Yao — now a named figure in the harem — lived quite flavorfully.

As for the consorts who thereby bore a grudge against her, aside from going to Fengyi Palace for the greeting every three days, Shen Yao rarely left Hehuan Palace; others might want to find a chance to teach her a lesson, but pity — they couldn't even catch a glimpse of her, only gritting their teeth in secret resentment.

"Rest assured, I came this time just to see you; naturally I'm not leaving."

Xiao Yanchen had just finished the front court affairs with difficulty, and it was precisely the time he wanted to relax.

Compared to going to Fengyi Palace or Chaoyang Palace, Xiao Yanchen preferred Hehuan Palace, where he could relax his spirit.

He reached out and patted Shen Yao's shoulder, then pulled her into his arms; flirtatious words poured from his mouth without cost.

Shen Yao listened with feigned shyness on one hand, and returned the same fiery routine with equal enthusiasm on the other.

She thought to herself: it's a good thing she has insight — she only covets Xiao Yanchen's body.

Otherwise, if it were any other consort in the harem, they'd probably be bewitched to death by Xiao Yanchen.

Sure enough, people — the prettier they are, the more dangerous.

Shen Yao leaned against Xiao Yanchen's shoulder, feeling she must remain even more steadfast, lest she accidentally fall into a trap and end up framed into having nothing.

The two stayed in the hall mutually teasing each other.

On the other side, the Empress and her party, just out of the Dong Palace Empress Dowager's place, all wore faces of irritation.

The Dong Palace Empress Dowager — that is, the Yuanhe Emperor Xiao Yanchen's birth mother — was ill.

Not serious, just caught a chill; but as Empress Dowager, her status was precious.

As daughter-in-law and junior, the Empress had to come pay a visit.

This day the Empress was also clever; she directly summoned Noble Consort Zhou Ningyan, Consort Shu Ning Fei, and Consort Shu, along with Crown Prince's birth mother Concubine Li, and Third Prince's birth mother Concubine Sun — all came together.

Because there were many people, the Dong Palace Empress Dowager couldn't well make trouble for the Empress, letting her muddle through.

Hu

Hearing the noisy clamor behind her, Empress Wei Jingyi's eyes turned ruthless.

She was disgusted after all; she hadn't expected that after so many years, the Dong Palace Empress Dowager still disliked her.

Wei Jingyi thought of the Xigong Empress Dowager, whose attitude was even more vile, and felt her future was bleak — which Empress has ever been as stifled as her?

Hmph, these East and West Palace Empress Dowagers — if not for the fact she still had a legitimate son under her knees to raise, who knows, they might have long since moved to pull her down from the Empress's throne.

Anyway, she was never the final choice for Empress for either of them; back then she merely played along with their scheme, gaining a cheap opportunity.

Otherwise, the one who should have lost her life early would have been her, not that Fifth Prince Consort.

"His Majesty lately always likes to go to Hehuan Palace; sisters, are you just going to watch a mere Imperial Concubine climb over our heads and lord it over us?"

Wei Jingyi's ears twitched, and her brows knitted tight — not because she disliked Ning Fei's words, but because she was dissatisfied with Ning Fei's address to them.

Sisters?

Who in this harem is your sister? Sisters ready to stab you in the back at any moment? Or sisters who want to pit the other to death for their own gain?

Worthy of being the Minister of Rites' legitimate daughter — the rules she speaks sound so nice.

Wei Jingyi's mouth corner curled slightly, her expression revealing mockery; she didn't turn back, continuing forward on her own.

And after Ning Fei finished speaking, another female voice chimed in — the Noble Consort who never regarded others.

"Heh, Ning Fei's words are truly interesting; this palace doesn't know when we became sisters.

My father has had only me as a daughter for many years."

Zhou Ningyan wore a rose-red palace attire; though not true red, it was exceptionally eye-catching.

Her eyes swept haughtily over Ning Fei; Zhou Ningyan felt this person truly didn't know how to read the room — isn't she the Minister of Rites' daughter? Where are the rules and propriety?

Ning Fei: ……

Ning Fei's face paled slightly; her clear and beautiful features looked even more unsightly.

At her side, standing next to Ning Fei, was Consort Shu.

Consort Shu's appearance matched her title 'Shu' — utterly dignified and stately.

Mm, to put it bluntly, a concubine's body carried the air of a main wife, which made Empress Wei Jingyi very displeased.

"Noble Consort Niangniang misunderstands; Ning Fei merely misspoke for a moment, not targeting Niangniang at all."

Consort Shu spoke with graceful composure, then reached out to steady Consort Ning's arm and turned to leave.

These two had been on good terms before entering the palace, and after entering they were even more constant companions.

However, because Consort Shu was the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue, and the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Rites had never gotten along at court, this was also a rare spectacle in the court.

Zhou Ningyan watched Consort Shu and Consort Ning with a smile that was not quite a smile; Consort Ning could barely endure it, her complexion alternating between pale and purple, but Consort Shu — that towering, unmoving bearing — even Zhou Ningyan had to sigh that she fell short.

Hmph, putting on an act!

"Whether it was unintentional or not, once stupid words are spoken, one should go back and reflect properly."

Zhou Ningyan's red lips curled slightly, and paired with that face like spring flowers and autumn moon, it made Consort Shu especially displeased.

Everyone has someone they envy; Consort Ning felt she had beauty to spare but lacked dignity, while Consort Shu was sick of her own dignified looks, unable to keep the Emperor longer in her Cuiwei Palace — even with her consort rank, what good was it? She still envied and jealous those favored consorts day after day like a madwoman, wishing she could take their place.

"Enough, Noble Consort, mind the occasion."

Wei Jingyi spoke up, reprimanding in a low voice the three who had just spoken.

Concubine Li and Concubine Sun, who had been serving as mere background, both let out a breath of relief in unison.

When immortals fight, mortals suffer.

Though the two of them had offspring to rely on, the children were not yet grown, and they lacked the Emperor's favor; for now all they could do was keep a low profile and survive.

The two's spineless appearance was seen by the other four, who mocked them another round.

The Empress laughed at their shortsightedness, Zhou Guifei laughed at their cowardice and timidity, Consort Ning and Consort Shu laughed at their inability to tell good from bad — anyway each had their own smugness, including Concubine Li and Concubine Sun, who also often rejoiced that they had imperial heirs by their side, far better than others' rootless duckweed.

At such times, it is usually the elder brother laughing at the second brother — no one is nobler than anyone else.

The topic came to an abrupt halt when the Empress interjected; the six of them looked at each other, you look at me, I look at you, and finally exchanged mutual bows before each returning to their own quarters.

Consort Ning turned her head to watch Zhou Guifei walk away with swaying grace, her heart churning with the urge to vomit blood.

Consort Shu observed her expression and could not help sneering inwardly, but this person's face did not change — putting on an act was her greatest skill.

"Zhao meimei, what's wrong?" Consort Shu supported Consort Ning's arm, slowing her pace, "Still thinking about just now? Zhou Guifei has been like this ever since she entered the palace; her temperament you know better than anyone. No need to bother with her, making yourself upset for no reason."

Listening to Consort Shu's words, Consort Ning felt even more stifled; at home she too had been raised with a thousand indulgences, and even after entering the palace she held a second-rank consort position.

By what right did Zhou Ningyan speak to her like that? In terms of birth, she was legitimate-born, not a concubine's daughter — who knew how many levels higher she was than the other woman.

Had she not heard her mother say that Zhou Ningyan's birth mother was merely a maid who had climbed into her birth mother's bed, and ultimately met with misfortune, dying in difficult childbirth with a stillborn child?

If not for the Right Chancellor having no daughter for many years, would the Chancellor's wife have wanted to adopt Zhou Ningyan? Wasn't that just deliberately disgusting herself?

Hmph!

Consort Ning frowned, "Qian jiejie, I was also infuriated by Zhou Guifei's words.

Her origins, examined closely, cannot compare to ours, yet she actually managed to become a First Rank Noble Consort by relying on her clan, constantly pressing down on us."

Consort Shu sighed, "What can be done? The Right Chancellor has the Emperor's favor; the two of us together cannot contend with Zhou Guifei."

No exaggeration — the two of them tied together are not as important in the Emperor's heart as Zhou Ningyan alone.

Consort Ning: ……

Consort Ning hatefully clenched her handkerchief tight, "This grievance, your younger sister cannot swallow."

Consort Shu's eyes flickered, "How does younger sister intend to proceed?"

Consort Ning had long since thrown Shen Yao to the back of her mind; right now she was single-mindedly set on dealing with Zhou Guifei, to regain face for herself.

"Elder sister, don't rush, let younger sister think a moment," Consort Ning suddenly recalled that Zhou Guifei seemed to desperately want a child; hehe, just perfect — her clan had recently sent her a prescription, said to be effective, but with obvious side effects: it would severely damage the mother carrying the fetus for the sake of the child.

This prescription was sent in not for Consort Ning to use herself.

Rather, they wanted Consort Ning to take the initiative to find someone to bear a child for her.

Consort Ning had been hesitating lately whether to go through with this matter.

She was still young; who knew if later she might still rely on herself to become pregnant — then not to mention whether an adopted imperial heir by her side would be awkward, she herself did not want a child without her own bloodline.

But for now, before choosing a person, she could first experiment on someone else.

Zhou Ningyan — wasn't she the perfect candidate?

This woman loved the Emperor madly; the fertility medicines she drank daily numbered not eighty but a hundred — if she didn't seize the chance to take advantage and return the favor, it would be an insult to this woman's targeting of her.