Chapter 30: Bound to the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 30: Cannon Fodder Little Consort (30)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Inner Room of Yu Fu Hall

"Your Ladyship"

"Are the arrangements made?"

"Everything proceeds according to Your Ladyship's plan."

"Well done. If this succeeds, Xiu Ying, this palace will credit you with a first-class merit."

Zhao Yunyue laughed aloud, looking at the humble maid kneeling before her, and waved her hand generously.

But though Xiu Ying was pleased on the surface, she could not smile in her heart. What did it mean to credit her with a first-class merit? If she could, she would rather not have it.

"This servant thanks Your Ladyship."

Xiu Ying rose, saw that her mistress had no further use for her here, and simply left.

Zhao Yunyue was lost in the beautiful fantasy of having framed Zhou Ningyan and could not extricate herself, so naturally she did not care that the maid had already left.

Ever since she was released from confinement that year, her mind had not been quite right.

And after the demotion incident, Zhao Yunyue's nature became even more obsessive.

Fortunately, though Zhao Yunyue was obsessive, she still had her proper sense—except when facing Zhou Ningyan and Shen Yao.

Only, since she could not frame Shen Yao, Zhao Yunyue could only turn her gaze to Zhou Ningyan.

Especially after Zhao Yunyue learned that Zhou Ningyan craved offspring like a madwoman, she was determined to bring this about.

Anyway, the authenticity of the prescription still needed verification, so why not find someone to verify it?

Zhou Ningyan bore her a grudge; if she could successfully frame Zhou Ningyan, Zhao Yunyue would not fear the other truly conceiving.

Anyway, judging by the prescription she provided, even if the child were conceived, it would be a case of having the fate to bear but not the fate to raise.

By then Zhou Ningyan would be gone from this world, leaving only a lonely little infant, and dealing with her would be easy as anything.

"Zhou Ningyan, Zhou Ningyan, all of this is what you owe me, Zhao Yunyue."

Don't blame her for being ruthless—the Zhou family and the Zhao family have always been like fire and water.

Her open palm was clenched tightly once more, and Zhao Yunyue gazed coldly and grimly into the distance; the ruthlessness in her eyes was chilling.

……

In mid-December, good news came from the Huang Hou: Noble Zhou Guifei of Chaoyang Palace was confirmed pregnant.

"Pregnant?"

Shen Yao, five and a half months along and already found by the Imperial Physician to be carrying twins, looked calmly at Qiu Yue, who came to report.

Since the weather turned cold, Shen Yao had stayed in Weiyang Palace and no longer went out.

Fortunately, the charcoal sent by the Imperial Household Department was plentiful, and the family of four all stayed in the warm great hall, eating various foods and products sent from the Imperial Manor while cultivating their feelings—it was so comfortable.

Qiu Yue nodded. "I've heard she's been pregnant for over a month, Your Ladyship. This servant thinks it's related to that prescription."

Qiu Yue had pondered much along the way and was also very familiar with Noble Zhou Guifei of Chaoyang Palace.

After all, her seeking children and falling into demonic obstacles was too famous; it was hard not to attract attention.

Noble Zhou Guifei, for whom offspring were so difficult, had suddenly conceived; Qiu Yue did not believe there were no unconventional methods involved.

What Noble Zhou Guifei was best at and integrated into daily life was precisely all sorts of secret prescriptions for bearing children.

She drank them in endless variety at almost every meal.

Now that Noble Zhou Guifei had pregnancy news, it was highly likely she had obtained it by drinking a secret prescription for bearing children.

Qiu Yue vaguely felt that this matter was inseparable from Yu Fu Hall.

Shen Yao sat in the bedchamber, separated from her three children by a small Eight Immortals Table.

Xiao Jin's three children were at that moment playing with toys Shen Yao had had crafted by the Imperial Household Department, not noticing the situation on their side at all.

Shen Yao beckoned to Qiu Yue and lowered her voice. "It's very likely that prescription. The people of Yu Fu Hall wouldn't so kindly send Chaoyang Palace a child.

Arrange for someone to watch them carefully. Wait a while longer and we should learn where the problem lies."

Shen Yao even maliciously speculated that the child Zhou Ningyan carried would almost certainly not be carried to term, and not only that—it would likely burden Zhou Ningyan's body, already ruined by all sorts of secret prescriptions for bearing children.

Hearing this, Qiu Yue assented. "Your Ladyship, no matter what Noble Zhou Guifei does, you need not worry that the children she bears will affect the Eldest Misses."

Shen Yao smiled. "I'm not worried. With bodies like theirs, how could they bear healthy children?"

Rather than care about these people's childbirth, Shen Yao might as well focus on herself.

As long as her own children were healthy and safe, everything else was empty.

Shen Yao simply did not care about Zhou Ningyan's pregnancy.

But Shen Yao not caring did not mean others in the Huang Hou did not care.

Zhou Ningyan was a Noble Consort, one rank above Shen Yao, and her father was the Right Prime Minister, who held power over the court. If she safely bore a Prince, would not the order of the Huang Hou be overturned?

Many had this premonition, and they looked toward the Empress in Fengyi Palace with even more sympathy.

The Empress's Second Prince was famously in poor health.

Empress: ……

The Empress was angered into laughter by such news, especially since there were palace people in Fengyi Palace worrying like this.

"Truly, you worry too much. My Second Prince, however weak, is already seven years old, and his health is gradually improving.

Now, whether Noble Zhou Guifei carries a boy or a girl is still unknown; you worry far too early."

Moreover, for Noble Zhou Guifei to safely bear a child, she must still endure a long eight-month pregnancy. Given Zhou Ningyan's abilities and the harem environment that leaks like a sieve, does she really think she has Noble Consort Xi's luck?

Wei Jingyi sneered, showing not the slightest regard for Zhou Ningyan on the surface.

But when no one was around behind closed doors, Wei Jingyi would always gnash her teeth and curse a few times—how could heaven be so blind? Of all people to get pregnant, it had to be Zhou Ningyan, possessed as she was. Now the Huang Hou would surely descend into even greater chaos.

As for Zhou Ningyan's pregnancy, besides the palace attendants above and below Chaoyang Palace being overjoyed, Zhao Yunyue of Yu Fu Hall was also very happy.

Zhou Ningyan was pregnant—what did that mean?

It meant the prescription in Zhao Yunyue's hands was effective, and it meant Zhou Ningyan was not far from death, and could no longer match her blade for blade in the Huang Hou.

Oh, what a pity.

Thinking thus, Zhao Yunyue's mouth corner curved into a brilliant smile; in the empty Dian Dian, however one looked at it, it was strange.

Spring went, autumn came; cold came, heat went.

In the blink of an eye, the harsh winter had passed; the withered branches in the Garden sprouted green buds, and the gentle breeze carried a refreshing vitality.

Time came to mid-February of the new year; Shen Yao was already seven and a half months pregnant, and even Zhou Ningyan had completed three months of pregnancy and could go out of the palace.

Yes, you heard right—Zhou Ningyan had stayed secluded in Chaoyang Palace for a full two months, giving face to no one, not even attending the most important New Year palace banquet, claiming everything must give way to the child in her belly.

Despite Zhou Ningyan valuing this pregnancy so highly, the fetus was not peaceful.

Summoning the Imperial Physician every few days had become routine; on several severe occasions she had nearly miscarried and could not keep the fetus. She could only come out after three months of pregnancy because Zhou Ningyan's body was too weak to endure the strain of pregnancy and had to remain in bed rest.

Tsk, with such a physical condition, even if Shen Yao went mad, she would never think Zhou Ningyan could block her path.

Now Shen Yao's seven-and-a-half-month fetus could eat and drink, run and jump, play and frolic.

Compared to Zhou Ningyan having to be careful and cautious, taking every precaution, just to go out—it was truly worlds apart.

Even Xiao Yanchen, who came by regularly, couldn't help but sigh at the difficulty of Zhou Ningyan's pregnancy.

But Xiao Yanchen's sighing was just sighing; this man was cold-blooded when it came to offspring.

Perhaps too many unhealthy offspring had accumulated enough disappointment in him.

Now, as long as it wasn't Shen Yao who was pregnant, Xiao Yanchen held no hope at all.

Shen Yao:... Not necessary.

Facing Xiao Yanchen's heavy trust, Shen Yao always held to the principle of dispensability.

Anyway, even if she explained, Xiao Yanchen wouldn't believe her, and she had the System in her hands; a healthy birth was normal, after all, her System was a professional System.

During an occasional outing, Shen Yao and Zhou Ningyan met head-on.

But one was heading back, the other going out; both sat in Sedan Chairs, exchanged a glance at eye level, greeted each other, and then parted ways.

Shen Yao rubbed her belly and summoned the Childbirth System in her mind to ask, "Noble Zhou Guifei's complexion—is it that prenatal nutrition isn't keeping up?"

Wax yellow, wax yellow, eyes lacking spirit and vitality; no matter how fine the skin, it couldn't withstand such wanton ruin.

The System answered quickly, "The child in the other's belly is snatching the nutrition that should supply the mother's body."

"Nutrition is all concentrated on the child; the mother's body certainly won't look healthy."

Shen Yao remained calm, "Is this normal?"

Pregnancy does affect the mother's body, but surely it wouldn't be as severe as Zhou Ningyan's reaction, and with so many Imperial Physicians attending Chaoyang Palace and Zhou Ningyan being wealthy enough, could such a person suffer from insufficient prenatal nutrition?

The System explained, "Abnormal. The child in Noble Zhou Guifei's belly is not a normal offspring; it will not be born."

"And it keeps snatching the mother's nutrition; the mother's body will collapse and perish prematurely."

Listening to the System's words, Shen Yao grew more and more confused, "What do you mean it won't be born? Mother's body perishing—does it mean Noble Zhou Guifei won't survive?"

"Literal meaning. Noble Zhou Guifei is carrying twins, but now there is only one life sign in her belly; that child simply cannot be born."

"Mother's body perishing means Noble Zhou Guifei will exhaust all her body's nutrition supplying the fetus in her belly, her lamp oil and wick burned out, and die directly."

After hearing the System's popular science, Shen Yao felt not a shred of pity or fluctuation in her heart.

Quite right. Whether it was dying peacefully in her first life or living seriously in the worlds after,

Shen Yao was no longer a young girl; she had hot-bloodedness, kindness, and good intentions, but not much.

Moreover, in this sort of harem intrigue drama, the big shots originally had no friendship; expecting Shen Yao to take pity and tell Zhou Ningyan the news?

Not to mention whether the baby-crazed Zhou Ningyan would believe her words—just speaking of how to handle this matter, there were different opinions.

They said pregnancy at three months could make the child, not yet in human form, stop snatching nutrition, or persuade Noble Zhou Guifei to abort the fetus she had finally awaited? These suggestions were all unrealistic.

Shen Yao and the System sighed, "Without you, I wouldn't have children."

Even in the Modern Times, with highly developed medicine, women still encounter all sorts of accidents in pregnancy and childbirth.

If not for the Childbirth System guaranteeing the child and mother's body one hundred percent healthy, even if she went mad she wouldn't give birth.

"Host, that you have such understanding makes the System happy."

"Please continue to strive, complete more missions, improve the System's permission, and prepare for the future."

Having listened to the System's mechanical Mechanics Department voice for so long, Shen Yao could actually detect emotion in it.

Smiling helplessly, Shen Yao refused the bowl of Chicken Soup the System had brewed for her.

Mm, she had eaten too full when coming out; she really couldn't drink it.