Chapter 31: Bound to the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 31: Cannon Fodder Little Imperial Consort (31)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

In the fourth month, fifth day of the eleventh year of Yuanhe, Shen Yao, nine months pregnant, safely gave birth to a pair of dragon-phoenix twins at Weiyang Palace.

Dragon-phoenix twins—though not as remarkable as the triplets Shen Yao had given birth to earlier, they were still a unique wonder in the imperial harem.

As soon as the two children were born, Xiao Yanchen ignored the Empress's expression and directly decreed Shen Yao's promotion to Imperial Concubine Xi.

Not only that, Xiao Yanchen also bestowed many treasures from his private treasury upon Shen Yao; even the Shen Family outside the palace benefited, kneeling before the imperial edict carried on bright yellow and shouting that imperial grace was boundless.

On the day of the Washing Third Ceremony, Xiao Yanchen bestowed the names Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhi upon the dragon-phoenix twins.

The entire imperial harem was jubilant under Xiao Yanchen's influence.

Xiao Yanchen was even more exaggerated; after handling state affairs, he kept running to Weiyang Palace, but the Empress Dowager at the East and West Palaces could hardly come out to move about, and the Retired Emperor at Yichang Garden could not manage palace affairs—no one could persuade the Xiao Yanchen above, so they could only let him do as he pleased.

"What does 'do as he pleases' mean? His Majesty likes coming to my Weiyang Palace; that is my own skill."

"What, are those people jealous in their hearts? Let them lure His Majesty away themselves."

Lying in bed during postpartum confinement, Shen Yao drank the nourishing soup Qiu Yue brought while complaining to Qiu Yue about these trivial matters in the imperial harem.

In Shen Yao's view, those who spread gossip were simply idle with nothing to do, relying on sour words to get through their days.

Qiu Yue nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Your Ladyship gave birth to five imperial heirs for His Majesty; it is only natural that His Majesty favors Your Ladyship."

"Otherwise, why not come to Weiyang Palace and go to other palaces in the imperial harem? None of them have any movement; going there would be a waste of time, and His Majesty is no stupid person."

"Furthermore, Your Ladyship and His Majesty have a very good relationship; even when separated by a screen normally, they would talk for quite a while. Compared to His Majesty's attitude toward others in the imperial harem, His Majesty coming to Weiyang Palace is perfectly normal. Those who spread lies are just ugly people making trouble."

However Qiu Yue thought in her heart or spoke with her mouth, anyway everyone inside and outside Weiyang Palace was their own person, and they did not fear these words being spread outside.

"Besides, aren't there already plenty of gossips about Weiyang Palace outside? The slightest breeze or grass movement gets talked about endlessly; Qiu Yue was almost driven to death by these people."

Shen Yao finished the nourishing medicine in her hand and tidied the thin blanket covering herself.

Nowadays, each day was warmer than the last, and this pregnancy of Shen Yao's went as smoothly as her previous one.

The Imperial Physician said her body was recovering well; she did not need to observe forty days of postpartum confinement, only thirty-five days would do.

"Recently I do not go out; who knows what they will call me outside—a monster, perhaps."

"Watch carefully, especially around the children; pay more attention, and do not let others find an opening."

Giving birth is not just about bearing children; one must also raise the born children successfully and nurture them into adults.

"But Shen Yao is now a Noble Consort; the point of nurturing them into adults does not need her to do it. Shen Yao only needs to guarantee the children are healthy and safe; the rest will be arranged by their father, Qin Zi."

Qiu Yue nodded in agreement, not forgetting to tidy the bedding for her mistress with her hands.

Observing postpartum confinement is delicate work; if not done well, it affects the mistress's health.

Qiu Yue hoped her mistress would always be favored and bear children, so their Weiyang Palace would remain high and mighty.

Therefore, when it came to serving people, Shen Yao was sometimes not as meticulous as Qiu Yue.

However, Shen Yao still very much enjoyed Qiu Yue's care—this life of having clothes handed to her and food brought to her mouth, fine clothes and delicious food, enjoying the pleasures of the mouth, truly made her feel decadent yet at ease. If every time could be like this, she could struggle for a few more worlds.

There was no way; even though Shen Yao was just an ordinary person from modern times in her first life, once she had tasted the joy of exploiting others, she would gradually go along with the corruption.

Moreover, from the very beginning of signing the system, Shen Yao had sold some emotions unique to humans.

Otherwise, adapting to various different worlds with modern worldviews would indeed make it very hard to be human.

Shen Yao's current performance was very good; she would not truly care about anything, and while striving to complete missions, she could also live well in every world—fulfilling and satisfying.

……

Shen Yao observed postpartum confinement for a full thirty-five days before stepping out of the gates of Weiyang Palace.

In order to observe confinement well, Shen Yao did not pay much attention even to the Full Moon Banquets of the two children.

Fortunately, all these matters were fully handled by Xiao Yanchen; Shen Yao did not need to worry or be concerned, and occasionally she could hear Qiu Yue describe the grand scenes. Even without paying attention, she could understand a thing or two.

"Your Ladyship."

Dressed in cool palace attire, Shen Yao glittered with gold from head to toe.

Extending her jade-white wrist to rest on Qiu Yue's back of hand, Shen Yao touched the step shakes hanging on both sides of her head. "Let's go. It's been several months since I went out. I fear the people in this imperial harem may no longer recognize me."

Holding a round fan embroidered with pink butterflies in her hand, Shen Yao walked and fanned, and by the way brought along the three children who had been complaining recently that she did not play with them enough.

"Mother Consort, are we going to the garden?"

"Mother Consort, my son wants to go to the pond to see fish."

"Fifth Brother, what's so important about fish? Shall we go pick flowers instead?"

"……"

The three children gathered together, like hundreds of ducks opening their mouths, quacking quacking quacking.

Shen Yao sighed, thinking to herself that every time it came to bringing the children, she would be worried sick.

It was not that she disliked the children; after all, they were her own offspring. No matter what, she would not feel they were bad, but they were just noisy.

No matter which world, children this big could not be reasoned with; she could only grit her teeth and endure it.

Shen Yao cheered herself up in her heart. Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Once the children grow up a bit and become sensible, it will be fine.

By then she could be a hands-off shopkeeper, lying easy in Weiyang Palace, living a retirement life of chewing on her children.

"Jin'er, take good care of your younger brother and sister. Today we are going to the garden. There are many people there; do not leave Mother Consort's sight."

Calling over the eldest of the three children, Xiao Jin, Shen Yao bent down and instructed Xiao Jin.

Fortunately, Xiao Jin was already used to Mother Consort's behavior. He grunted and nodded. "Mother Consort, rest assured. My son will watch over my younger brother and sister."

Shen Yao smiled like a flower. "Good boy. Mother Consort's Jin'er is the most obedient."

Xiao Jin: Mother Consort is always like this. Oh well, of course I choose to understand.

Young Xiao Jin sighed cutely; there was no helping it — he was a man, and Mother Consort always told him this and that on ordinary days. Xiao Jin had heard it many times and also felt Mother Consort's words made a lot of sense; although some were strange, they were certainly for his own good.

"Mother Consort, your son will be obedient."

Xiao Jin pinched his little fist full of vital energy, then ran patter-patter to Xiao Yu and Xiao Yue's sides, taking the two bickering twins by the hand, one on the left and one on the right. "Come on, Fourth Brother will take you to the garden."

"Fourth Brother"

"Fourth Brother"

Xiao Yu and Xiao Yue liked to bicker on ordinary days, to the point that neither would yield to the other.

But when facing Xiao Jin, the two of them were still very cute and obedient.

Acquiescently obedient, walking properly, and would even say nice, obedient words to coax their own brother.

Shen Yao walked behind watching the three children squeezed together occasionally giggling, and shook her head rather amusingly.

Children's feelings are truly unfathomable to adults.

Shen Yao went out, still bringing the three children; the palace servants swarming around them alone formed a vast mighty crowd.

With so many people going to the garden, before the people even arrived, they had already alarmed the surrounding neighborhood.

Some came to watch the excitement, some had other thoughts, and some were indifferent.

Anyway, by the time Shen Yao sat in the pavilion by the pond shaking her round fan admiring the scenery, quite a few other imperial consorts had already gathered around.

Each had their own petty thoughts, but without exception, they all treated Shen Yao with utmost reverence, fawning over her in every petty way.

Shen Yao felt it was truly the wheel of fortune turning; early on, they used to look down on her, yet now they could actually bring themselves to lower their faces and grovel.

But fawning over her was of no use — Shen Yao, first, had no palace authority; second, could not give them alchemy pills; and on ordinary days she rarely even stepped out of Weiyang Palace's gates.

"All of you sit quickly; this palace went out today merely because a few children wanted to come out for a walk.

If everyone has no other business, then taking advantage of the sunlight being just right, hurry back to the palace."

At this time, there was no sunscreen protection; she had the childbirth system and could pop pills to maintain her physical condition, but others lacked this cheat — relying purely on the Imperial Medical Bureau's healing and saving people was not enough.

Shen Yao spoke directly; among the consorts who came over, a few with thin face-skin had already reddened from head to toe, and seemed to also feel that staying further would be somewhat disregarding face.

Timidly they said "Your concubine takes her leave," and following them, several more left in a straggling trickle.

Some left, yet others would still stay — the thick-skinned ones were also a few, all palace veterans who no longer cared about face; they valued more the benefits gained from Shen Yao.

For example, whenever Shen Yao went out she would always run into the Emperor coming over; although not every single time, it accounted for the vast majority.

Everyone was also thinking of leaving an impression in front of the Emperor; perhaps then they could serve the Emperor for a night, and if by chance they conceived offspring, that would be even better.

"Imperial Concubine Xi, we have nothing to do back in the palace; staying to disturb you, you wouldn't mind, would you?"

"Imperial Concubine Xi is beautiful and kind-hearted; how could she mind? The way you put it makes it sound as if Imperial Concubine Xi is some unreasonable person."

"I, I didn't mean that; Imperial Concubine Xi is benevolent and approachable, naturally extremely good."

"We came over to keep Imperial Concubine Xi company chatting; what does Your Highness think?"

"..."

Shen Yao looked at these few before her dressed in red and green, talking to themselves yet still able to cooperate with each other, and only wanted to howl at the sky — too melodramatic.

It seems the women of the imperial harem, in order to strive for favor, really go all out.

What a pity; today Xiao Yanchen is very busy — being able to come to Weiyang Palace for the evening meal is already good; these few consorts who expended their thoughts, tsk, they'd best give up hope early.

Casting a pitying glance over the few before her, Shen Yao merely smiled without speaking, said nothing, did nothing, just watched them perform like this.

The consorts who stayed:... awkward

"Quick, don't stand there; sit," Shen Yao pinched her round fan and pointed. "What you say is not bad; this palace is pregnant and bearing a child, and in a blink several months have passed without seeing you; chatting is also fine."

"Ha, who says it isn't; chatting is quite nice."

"Yes, Imperial Concubine Xi, you don't know; the imperial harem these days..."

Shen Yao listened with relish, occasionally even opening her mouth to comment a couple of sentences.

As for Qiu Yue at her side, she had long since run off to guard Xiao Jin's three children.

The three children just stood by the pond directing palace servants to catch and release fish, playing with great delight.

Until a female voice came from not far away, interrupting the harmonious scene before them—