Chapter 16: After Binding the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 16: Cannon Fodder Minor Imperial Consort (16)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Noble Consort Zhou Ningyan, who had hurried back to Chaoyang Palace, was unaware of the ruthless and poisonous scheme brewing in Ning Fei Zhao Yunyue's heart.

Feeling physically tired from walking, Zhou Ningyan once again boarded the sedan chair that followed alongside, carried by palace attendants.

Sitting in the sedan chair, Zhou Ningyan still felt a bit stifled — not because of those two provocative sentences from Ning Fei, for in Zhou Ningyan's view, Ning Fei never used her brain in daily speech or conduct; if it weren't for Ning Fei's father having some utility in the court, the Emperor would never have tolerated Ning Fei prancing about in the Huang Hou for so long.

Sigh

Reaching out to touch her flat belly, Zhou Ningyan pursed her lips — when would she ever become pregnant?

The consorts in this palace keep increasing; what will become of me as my years advance? I cannot possibly count on the Emperor's favor lasting forever.

Even if the Emperor spoke the words, she could not believe them — a man's mouth is the most deceitful.

Zhou Ningyan bit her lip lightly, not letting go even as teeth marks appeared.

"Wenhe, upon returning, send the prescription to the Imperial Medical Bureau and have the other imperial physicians review it again."

The previous prescription she switched to had no effect after drinking it, because her monthly courses came again this month.

Vexed at her body's failure to contend, Zhou Ningyan grew even more anxious about the offspring issue.

Not only because Huang Hou favor was unreliable, but also because her clan outside the palace kept pressing her, even harboring thoughts of sending new people into the palace — after all, any offspring born would benefit the Zhou Mansion, so it didn't matter who gave birth.

Hearing this, Wenhe hurriedly raised her head to look at her master whose expression was unreadable in the sedan chair, "Your Highness, you've only taken the medicine for a few days; why not wait a bit longer?

The imperial physicians at the Bureau aren't all our people; if outsiders find out," it could easily backfire.

This hasn't happened for the first time; if our master hadn't acted cautiously, her body might have been completely ruined by now.

Wenhe felt very awkward, thinking her master was pushing herself too hard on this matter.

If it really comes to it, we could use the clan's suggestion of borrowing a womb to bear a child — the master is already a Noble Consort, adopting a clan offspring would be no problem, why must she go through this herself and suffer this ordeal?

You must know the master's birth mother died giving birth to her.

Had the master not been lucky, and had the Zhou Family no daughters so she could be raised under the Lady's knees, she would have been a lone infant, long since crushed in the cruel back courtyard.

Zhou Ningyan knew nothing of Wenhe's many worries; her mind now was entirely consumed by offspring.

Someone else's child could never be as reliable as her own; besides, she loathed her own origins to the extreme.

Outsiders, including those in the Prime Minister's Residence, all said how fortunate she was to have received such good upbringing from her birth mother, but only Zhou Ningyan herself knew — her birth mother disliked her, detested her deeply.

Had she not always known her place, never approaching her birth mother, she would not have survived to this day, let alone entered the palace smoothly and become a Noble Consort.

Yet equally, even as a Noble Consort, she still had to rely on the Zhou Family.

Unless she could bear a Prince, making the Zhou Family see her value — otherwise she would forever remain the Zhou Family's vassal, and when necessary would still have to be sacrificed for the clan.

How could Zhou Ningyan possibly be willing?

So ever since entering the palace, she had kept an extremely tight grip on the matter of offspring.

Alas, Zhou Ningyan's body truly failed to contend; six years in the palace and still no pregnancy news.

Her palm unconsciously clenched tight; Zhou Ningyan exhaled, tone firm, "Go do it."

No matter what ulterior motives the imperial physicians at the Bureau might harbor, none could block her determination to have a child.

Wenhe:... Alright then

Persuading no further, Wenhe obediently nodded assent.

On the other side, the already-pregnant Shen Yao was flirting with Xiao Yanchen.

Unlike the other harem women for whom seeking offspring was fraught with countless difficulties, for Shen Yao to want offspring was truly simpler than drinking water.

Both arms looped around Xiao Yanchen's neck, not letting go, Shen Yao's cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes glistening.

The corners of her mouth were faintly reddened — one look and you knew the two had just been up to nothing proper.

Shen Yao's breathing was somewhat unsteady; no help for it — in this aspect women innately lack men's advantage.

But Xiao Yanchen wasn't faring much better either; Shen Yao had stirred his desire, yet because the sky outside was still bright, no matter how much Xiao Yanchen wanted to, he could not commit impropriety in broad daylight.

Helpless, he lowered his head and kissed the soft flesh of Shen Yao's mouth corner hard, "You — actually causing trouble for Us."

Xiao Yanchen's voice was somewhat hoarse, sounding especially seductive.

Shen Yao's eyes shimmered with lovely light — especially given their current positions, one above, one below, Xiao Yanchen could easily gaze into those star-bright eyes.

Hah

Her just-steadied breathing turned rapid once more.

Shen Yao's hands hung loosely on Xiao Yanchen, as if they might let go the next second, yet they held remarkably firm.

"Your Majesty, it is time for the late dinner."

Although Shen Yao still wanted to continue teasing Xiao Yanchen, she understood — if she teased too hard, she herself would be the one to suffer in the end.

Even though she had already taken fetal-protection pills, she should at least fulfill a mother's responsibility.

Shen Yao absolutely refused to admit she was no match for Xiao Yanchen — she was a highly experienced veteran driver; Xiao Yanchen? A piece of cake.

Xiao Yanchen laughed aloud, especially when Shen Yao mentioned the late dinner.

This little woman often liked to change the subject after provoking him; sometimes he truly wanted to disregard everything and discipline her into obedience.

Alas, the time was not yet ripe — whether the Front Court or the Huang Hou, the constraints he currently faced were too many.

Eyes darkening slightly, looking both captivating and criminal, Xiao Yanchen reached out and pulled Shen Yao up from the couch, enveloping her entirely in his embrace.

"Will you dare next time?"

The voice came from beside her ear cochlea; Xiao Yanchen pressed his body against Shen Yao's back, the two locked in an embrace, appearing inseparably intimate.

Shen Yao nodded and shook her head, a cunning smile traveling from her brows and eyes to her lips, "This concubine likes the Emperor, so naturally she still dares."

What is there not to dare? Without a bit of thick skin, how can one live life well?

As for the matter of putting down one's dignity to act coquettishly, Shen Yao wouldn't lose a piece of flesh over it; she did it with practiced ease.

Xiao Yanchen was truly amused by Shen Yao; he simply stood up, still holding Shen Yao horizontally in his arms.

Just like that, he placed her to sit properly by the Eight Immortals Table, completely ignoring the surprise of the many slaves at the doorway.

"Wei Zhu, have the Imperial Kitchen send the meal; our Xi Guiren is hungry."

One could hear Xiao Yanchen's mockery in his words, especially since he said it right in front of the slaves.

Shen Yao inevitably flushed red, but her expression remained as unyielding as ever. "Your Majesty speaks the truth, Eunuch Wei, trouble you to arrange it."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhu waved his hands repeatedly, saying he didn't dare. He had figured it out: His Majesty truly liked this Xi Guiren, liking her several times more than the Zhou Guifei of the past.

Turning around, Wei Zhu personally led people on a trip, not only stirring up the Imperial Kitchen staff so they had no peace, but also causing several passing palace consorts to have complex thoughts.

This Xi Guiren didn't look remarkable at all, and wasn't even the most beautiful in the Huang Hou, so why was she so specially favored in His Majesty's eyes?

The wedding guests who couldn't figure it out ate poorly and slept poorly, their hearts still cursing Shen Yao, the culprit behind it all.

But what about Shen Yao?

She had eaten her fill and drunk her fill, and had already stripped naked and was fighting fairies with the big handsome guy.

Who cares about these people's sour words? Shen Yao's motto is to live in the moment and live each day well.

For words that could affect her mood, Shen Yao simply didn't listen at all.

At night, Xiao Yanchen completely transformed into a wolf.

He made good on what he told Shen Yao this afternoon, flipping Shen Yao over and over, again and again.

Shen Yao: ……

Even though Shen Yao had eaten quite a few Body Strengthening Pills, she still couldn't withstand Xiao Yanchen's onslaught.

She thought to herself, who knows if the other women in the Huang Hou are truly unfavored; otherwise, why would Xiao Yanchen be this excited and restless every time he came to her?

Like a wild beast that had never eaten meat, and she was a fragrant, perfectly balanced piece of streaky pork.

Shen Yao was embarrassed by her own metaphor, and thus momentarily distracted, she was caught spacing out by Xiao Yanchen.

"Heh, Yao'er still has the mood to space out? It seems We are still not satisfying Yao'er enough."

The words barely finished, and before the muddle-headed Shen Yao could react, she welcomed an even more violent storm of an onslaught than before.

Shen Yao: …… No, it's a misunderstanding.

Shen Yao weakly tried to open her mouth to explain, but the more she explained, the more excited Xiao Yanchen got. In the end, Shen Yao's throat was hoarse and she couldn't even speak; her whole person directly became a wasted fish.

By the time she opened her eyes the next day, Shen Yao ate two Body Strengthening Pills in a row before she alleviated her body's fatigue.

Hiss—

Appraisal complete: this scoundrel Xiao Yanchen is just a pervert who likes to torment people.

Getting up and out of bed, Shen Yao hazily had Qiu Yue serve her, then rallied her spirits to have some soup, and then turned her head and fell asleep again.

Even after she fell asleep, Qiu Yue thoughtfully refused several waves of Huang Hou invitations on her behalf.

"Mm, refused them?"

Shen Yao wore palace attire embroidered with honeysuckle flowers; the fabric was specially sent by Wei Zhu on Xiao Yanchen's orders, and even her storehouse had been filled quite a bit thanks to Xiao Yanchen's contributions these days.

Eating the fruit sent from Taiji Hall, Shen Yao leaned lazily against the bedchamber, speaking lightly.

Qiu Yue nodded, massaging Shen Yao's legs and pounding her shoulders. "They're all consorts from the surrounding palaces, the highest rank being only Pin.

This servant thought the master has been busy with affairs these days, so I tactfully declined them, but the due apology gifts were still sent."

Not sending gifts would truly be looking down on them; although Qiu Yue felt her master was favored, she wasn't arrogant to that extent.

And their storehouse has quite a lot of good things; sending apology gifts casually would leave no fault to be picked.

"Mm, you handled this matter well." Shen Yao indeed didn't want to exchange greetings with these Huang Hou consorts; it was of no use.

When she went to Fengyi Palace to pay respects initially, she had witnessed these people's methods.

Don't look at how each one looks quite presentable, but they're still too rough, completely not the same kind of people as a delicate little fairy like her.

Shen Yao happily touched the pretty pearl hairpin pinned at her crown, her eyes turned, and she instructed Qiu Yue again, "Next time Eunuch Wei comes over, you directly have him take a message to His Majesty.

Just say my jewelry here is really too few, not enough to go around for the sisters in the Huang Hou, have His Majesty send people to deliver more."

This apology gift business wasn't Shen Yao's idea; wasn't it because Xiao Yanchen demanded too ruthlessly from her, leaving her without the strength to go out and socialize?

Qiu Yue: …… Truly a fine move of twisting logic and striking first.