Chapter 17

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Tai Ji Hall Study

"Did Imperial Concubine Xi really say that?"

After Xiao Yanchen finished today's government affairs, he saw Wei Zhu, who had run to Hehuan Palace to deliver rewards, return with a troubled expression.

Without thinking, one knew this clever and mischievous young woman had caused trouble again.

Xiao Yanchen's question made Wei Zhu dare not conceal anything; he hesitantly relayed Qiu Yue's words to the emperor, then lowered his head waiting for his master to fly into a rage.

After all, there had been imperial consorts before who liked to get full of themselves, and their final fate was that they vanished from the imperial harem.

Oh my, how desperate was Imperial Concubine Xi to dare speak to the emperor like that?

Wei Zhu wailed in his heart that the promising seedling he had finally found was just gone like that.

As a result, after hearing this, Xiao Yanchen not only did not get angry as Wei Zhu thought, but seemed rather happy.

Happy?

Tsk, there was definitely something fishy.

Wei Zhu was terrified in his heart, then he heard Xiao Yanchen's hearty laughter and pampering words.

"Since that's the case, you go to the Ku Fang and send all those ornaments and objects to Imperial Concubine Xi."

By the way, weren't there still two sets of ruby head ornaments and the brocade tribute from Jiangnan? Bring them over together."

Xiao Yanchen waved his hand, and the ornaments originally in the Ku Fang directly found a new owner.

Wei Zhu was greatly surprised, never expecting his master to be so generous.

You must know, those two sets of ruby head ornaments were tribute from a vassal state; the emperor didn't even give face to Noble Zhou Guifei and the Empress, only sending two sets each separately to the Empress Dowager in the East and West Palaces.

As a result, the only remaining two sets were actually going to Imperial Concubine Xi of Hehuan Palace? Imperial Concubine Xi was so impressive.

"Yes, this slave obeys the decree."

His heart was in turmoil, but on the surface Wei Zhu could still stand firm and steady.

After all, he was a slave serving before the emperor; if he didn't even have this bit of discernment, there was no need to continue mixing in the Imperial Guard in the future—sooner or later he would be replaced by others.

Wei Zhu turned and left, while in his heart he valued Imperial Concubine Xi of Hehuan Palace even more.

Now he could also see a bit: Imperial Concubine Xi could not be mentioned in the same breath as other imperial consorts in the harem; this person was the special one in the emperor's heart.

He didn't know how long this special state would last, but just based on Imperial Concubine Xi being able to open her mouth and take all the ornaments from the Ku Fang, well, surely it would last longer than him.

If Imperial Concubine Xi became pregnant again and bore offspring, oh my, that would be a big deal.

Wei Zhu happily paved the way for Shen Yao in his heart, unaware that what he was thinking now was exactly what Shen Yao had already done.

Shen Yao now, as long as she didn't deliberately court death herself, it would truly be hard to lose favor.

Don't think this is an exaggeration; Shen Yao and Xiao Yanchen had been getting along for over a month now, and the two could be said to be in tacit cooperation, more to each other's taste than those who had lived in the harem for three years.

Surviving in the harem was not a matter of whoever stayed longer being more advantageous.

Why else say Favored Consort?

The appearance of a Favored Consort must be the most special; she might not be the one who stayed by the emperor's side the longest, but she must be the most special person in the emperor's heart.

Shen Yao just happened to have a hold on Xiao Yanchen, letting him step by step place her in his heart.

The current Xiao Yanchen might just think Shen Yao was more interesting, and pamper her more if he liked her.

These were just his belated realizations; after all, whose pampering would give such heavy gifts?

Wait until Xiao Yanchen reacted—would Shen Yao's status not rise? Impossible.

Wei Zhu just like that led a row of people behind him in a grand and mighty procession to Hehuan Palace.

Because they did not deliberately conceal it on the way, other imperial consorts could also see the trays in those people's hands.

Fine, their hearts ached again.

Daily inquiry: how could the emperor like Imperial Concubine Xi so much?

"Exactly where am I inferior to Imperial Concubine Xi? A woman from a small gate and small household—why should she be valued by the emperor?"

Ning Fei stood at the doorway of Yu Fu Hall, vividly interpreting the words "furious and helpless."

The maids around Ning Fei dared not speak, only each being careful, for fear of being dragged in.

"No, this can't go on; if Imperial Concubine Xi becomes another Noble Zhou Guifei, wouldn't I have to stifle to death alone?"

After all, Zhou Ningyan was still from the Right Prime Minister's Residence—what was the deal with that Imperial Concubine Xi? A legitimate daughter of a Fifth Rank Assistant Official—truly low to the point of finding no one lower.

"You, tomorrow morning, go to Hehuan Palace for a trip," Ning Fei casually pointed out an unlucky one, "invite Imperial Concubine Xi to Yu Fu Hall for me; I want to teach this person how to live in the harem."

Ning Fei had a fierce expression, directly ruining her clear and beautiful face completely.

And the palace maid she had summoned was desperate in her heart, it's over, it's over—this time, her little life was not safe.

Master and servant's joys and sorrows were not connected; besides, if Ning Fei were easy to talk to, she wouldn't have become the harem's acknowledged malignant tumor.

This person just had decent ancestry; her biological father wasn't as brainless as not favoring his own daughter—otherwise, with Ning Fei's behavior style, she would have died seven, eight, ninety times already.

Summoning people to her own Yu Fu Hall to cause trouble was just Ning Fei's routine operation; after all, before, Ning Fei had done just that.

Even Noble Zhou Guifei, who had now climbed above Ning Fei's head, had not been spared Ning Fei's difficulties when she first entered the harem—who let Ning Fei and Consort Shu enter the mansion before the emperor ascended the throne, giving them a higher starting point than Noble Zhou Guifei.

After Ning Fei vented her anger, she felt comfortable in her heart.

She smiled and waved her hand, ordering people to quickly tidy up the room she had harmed, then she swaggered off to Consort Shu's residence next door, Cuiwei Palace.

Consort Shu:... Damn unlucky, who did she provoke.

Consort Shu looked down on Ning Fei as a person very much, but what was helpless was that Ning Fei was more useful than ordinary imperial consorts.

Consort Shu has few subordinates who can still serve as pawns these days; after all, pawns are expendable, and who knows when one might be abandoned to save oneself.

Only Consort Ning truly relies on her family and remains strong to this day.

With such a good choice, Consort Shu, even for her own future convenience, must patiently coax her.

Just like that, Consort Ning and Consort Shu kept flirting; even after entering the palace, both became Second-Rank consorts, yet neither could do without the other.

Those who know understand these two are restless; those who don't think they are deeply affectionate sisters.

Anyway, the reputations of Yu Fu Hall and Cuiwei Palace lost their purity long ago.

Meanwhile, Shen Yao was happily playing with the jewelry and treasures Wei Zhu sent, completely unaware that great disaster would befall her tomorrow.

"Qiu Yue, quickly register them into the ledger; there are also these two sets of ruby headpieces."

"Keep one set aside separately; since the Emperor gave them, when I go to pay my respects the day after tomorrow, I should take them out for the other sisters to see."

While showing off her favor, hehe, Shen Yao felt that after over a month in the palace, she had already learned to be bad.

Indeed, those near vermilion become red, those near ink become black.

It's all because Xiao Yanchen is too improper, dragging down this pure and innocent little woman of mine.

Stroking both sides of her temples, Shen Yao played with the hanging Flowing Ruby Step Shake.

How wonderful, these carefree days, this life of doing as she pleases, she can endure it.

That night, because of what Xiao Yanchen did, Shen Yao dreamed of being surrounded by all kinds of gold, silver, pearls, and jewelry; let alone that, when Shen Yao opened her eyes the next morning, she was exceptionally spirited, as if she had taken a stimulant, showing no discomfort of getting up early at all.

Dressing and getting down from the bed, washing and grooming.

After tidying herself up, Shen Yao sat by the Eight Immortals Table and used the morning meal that the palace attendant had specially taken from the Imperial Kitchen.

After all, Shen Yao was favored, and the slaves of the Imperial Kitchen dared not shortchange Hehuan Palace's portion in this regard.

Moreover, Shen Yao was generous with her spending; the rewards she received for making food for Hehuan Palace were several times that of other palaces.

Who wouldn't like such an easy job that earns money? Isn't it just serving people? They entered the palace to serve; are they afraid of one more or one less?

Look, this is the real Huang Hou; as long as your value is high enough, no one will look down on you.

The morning meal was top-notch without exceeding her rank; even the millet porridge Shen Yao drank was freshly ground rice made by the palace attendants.

It's just that the other consorts in the Huang Hou don't know; if they knew, they would surely be even more mentally shattered than now.

"Nothing to do today; reorganize the items in Ku Fang once more."

"The Emperor has sent many things recently; it would be bad if anything is missed."

Shen Yao felt that since she was pregnant, it was time to save some treasures for the children in her belly.

The child's father is the child's father, she is the birth mother; she can't just push all the children onto Xiao Yanchen when the time comes.

Qiu Yue nodded in agreement, and while at it, placed the soup she had served for her mistress down.

Shen Yao reached out to take it, lowered her head to smell the fragrant aroma of the soup, thinking to herself that it was good she took many kinds of pills; otherwise, just some early pregnancy reactions would be enough for her to suffer.

Slowly finishing the bowl of soup in her hand, Shen Yao used a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth.

"Clear these all off the table."

Waving her hand, Shen Yao stood up and went to the Bedchamber to rest; on days when she didn't need to pay respects and didn't have to go to Taiji Hall, she stayed cooped up in Hehuan Palace.

Who made her successfully pregnant? Going out to wander around at this time is not only extremely risky, but if caught by some jealous and sour people, she would surely suffer a round of ridicule and sarcasm; anyway, Shen Yao is now just a Noble Lady, and she wouldn't go out to invite trouble.

Qiu Yue took the opportunity to have the palace attendant at the doorway quickly serve Shen Yao a pot of warm tea.

She arranged for others to come in and clear the table, and didn't forget to take the account book placed behind the dressing table; Qiu Yue hadn't forgotten what her mistress had told her just now—the things in Ku Fang needed to be gone over again.

Qiu Yue was busy on this side without her feet touching the ground, while Shen Yao inside the room looked through the storybook in her hand with great interest, occasionally offering a couple of opinions on the storybook's content.

"Mistress, people from Yu Fu Hall have come."

Shen Yao raised her head, a smile still on the corner of her mouth, and casually put down the storybook in her hand; "Yu Fu Hall, isn't that Consort Ning's sleeping palace?"

What do people from Consort Ning come here for? You should know she and Consort Ning are not close, and they hardly exchange words even when paying respects.

Qiu Yue had an ugly expression; "They say Consort Ning wants to invite Mistress to Yu Fu Hall for an important discussion."

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao looked at Qiu Yue with a profound expression; "Qiu Yue, does your mistress look like a fool to you?"

Qiu Yue shook her head; if her mistress were a fool, there would be no clever people in the Huang Hou.

Their mistress had easily wrapped the Emperor around her finger in just over a month, making the Emperor constantly lower his bottom line.

This month, how many benefits had their Hehuan Palace received? As the mistress's personal maid, she was the most qualified to speak.