Chapter 34

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Adhering to the principle that early cultivation means early reaping, Shen Yao placed great importance on the education of Xiao Yanchen's three children.

Of course, she would not neglect the two born later either, but Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhinian were still young; for now they were merely two infants who only knew how to nurse and wail, so she would wait until they grew up to speak of it.

Shen Yao's daily life was still quite simple and regular, and this had a direct connection to Xiao Yanchen's concern and protection for Shen Yao.

Both inside and outside Weiyang Palace there were many of Xiao Yanchen's people; while they guarded Shen Yao and her children, they were also surveilling them.

Fortunately Shen Yao did not mind, therefore she lived quite well.

Over these years, whenever a problem was discovered in Weiyang Palace, it would be swiftly resolved by these people in private, basically never exposed before Shen Yao.

But the other consorts were different; others did not have Shen Yao's convenience, so when the Front Court was in turmoil, they, these consorts in the Huang Hou, would all be terrified and inexplicably uneasy.

Each lived carefully and cautiously; even if they held highly effective secret fertility prescriptions in their hands, they did not dare to rashly jump out and cause trouble.

The current Huang Hou was like an explosive drum filled with explosives; one never knew when it might go bang and blow the whole thing open.

Shen Yao watched with cold eyes from the sidelines; during this period Xiao Yanchen also came over at times.

Only Xiao Yanchen came and went in haste, extremely rarely staying overnight in Weiyang Palace.

Shen Yao did not mind this either, simply peacefully tending to the several children and passing her own days well.

Until Chaoyang Palace's Zhou Ningyan met with mishap — she inexplicably went into premature labor, and even dragged Yu Fu Hall's Ning Guipin into it.

Even the Consort Shu residing in Cuiwei Residence could not escape being severely reprimanded by the Emperor.

"How is it now? Does Chaoyang Palace allow us to enter?"

Weiyang Palace's Main Hall; Shen Yao paced back and forth inside the hall, unable to help herself.

From hearing the news until now, Shen Yao had not taken a single step out of Weiyang Palace.

It was not that Shen Yao did not want to go out, but because the carried-back Zhou Guifei had already issued an imperial decree sealing the palace; apart from the Emperor, the Empress, and the Imperial Physicians of the Imperial Medical Bureau, no one else in the Huang Hou was permitted to enter.

It sounded like a very overbearing order, yet others miraculously did not come looking for trouble at such a time.

The reason was simple: this child Zhou Guifei bore would very likely take her own life along with it.

To go provoke a dying person — who likes doing such a losing business?

Everyone tacitly stayed in their palaces, then dispatched their palace maids and servants to go investigate news.

On Shen Yao's side, Qiu Yue was fully in charge.

Qiu Yue exhaled, soothing her master, "Your Highness, the situation at Chaoyang Palace is currently unclear.

This servant only knows the Empress and the Emperor both rushed over; Ning Guipin has been confined to Yu Fu Hall, and Consort Shu accompanied them."

Shen Yao beckoned with her hand, tone curious, "Zhou Guifei and Ning Guipin — how exactly did they run into each other?"

These days, as Zhou Ningyan's belly grew larger, her body became increasingly poor.

Matters like going out of the palace to chat with Shen Yao as before were very difficult for Zhou Ningyan to manage.

Including Zhao Yunyue, who honestly hid in Yu Fu Hall and did not easily go out; she fundamentally could not run into Zhou Ningyan.

But miraculously, this time Zhou Ningyan and Zhao Yunyue yet ran into each other and trouble occurred — this was very suspicious.

Bringing this up, Qiu Yue's face turned solemn, "Your Highness, it is said Ning Guipin wanted to go to the Buddhist Hall to recite scriptures, and accidentally bumped into Zhou Guifei who wanted to go outside for a walk.

The two exchanged angry words; Ning Guipin somehow fell onto Zhou Guifei.

Zhou Guifei immediately bled from below and went into premature labor; the person was carried back to Chaoyang Palace, and until now there has still been no news."

Shen Yao listened and understood in her heart: so it was Zhao Yunyue who was schemed against by Zhou Ningyan.

But it was also fitting; Zhao Yunyue herself insisted on going out at this time, so she could not blame Zhou Ningyan for waiting by the tree stump for the rabbit.

With a single prescription Zhao Yunyue nearly schemed Zhou Ningyan to death; if she were Zhou Ningyan, she would also want to drag Zhao Yunyue down with her.

After all, she was the chief culprit who harmed her life, and even tampered with the offspring she most desired.

Dancing on someone else's landmine — one can only say Zhao Yunyue truly courted her own doom; even immortals could not save her.

Sighing, Shen Yao raised her head to gaze at the distant majestic palace halls, "Regardless of how Zhou Guifei fares this time, Ning Guipin cannot escape a death sentence."

Death is the simplest; what is feared is that it might implicate the entire Zhao Family outside the palace as well.

If memory serves, the system would occasionally chat with her about Court affairs; that Zhao Family's Minister of Rites walked very closely with several princes' sons.

Coincidentally, those several princes' sons were all very favored by the Retired Emperor; on ordinary days, whether there was business or not, they would go stay at Yichang Garden for several days.

Heh, truly interesting.

Qiu Yue stared blankly at her own master, not knowing what to say.

"Go down, no need to investigate Chaoyang Palace," Shen Yao waved her hand, person turning to enter the hall, "Presumably it won't be long before Chaoyang Palace's matter spreads throughout the entire Huang Hou."

When that time comes, will there still be a need to specially inquire? The news will already have been delivered to our ears.

Qiu Yue lowered her head and answered yes, following her master's orders to instruct the others to guard Weiyang Palace well, while she herself stood at the doorway acting as a door god.

At this very moment, the Chaoyang Palace spoken of by them was deathly silent.

The Emperor and Empress stood in the courtyard; not far away, a dense mass of palace servants knelt covering the ground.

"Your Majesty, this subject—" Wei Jingyi wanted to speak, eyes looking toward the delivery room not far off.

"Empress, you are responsible for all Chaoyang Palace matters; do not let certain news leak out."

Xiao Yanchen cut off Wei Jingyi's words, himself turning and walking toward the delivery room.

Wei Jingyi watched Xiao Yanchen leave, herself lowering her head, silent and speechless.

Thump-thump—thump-thump-thump————

The delivery room door was pushed open; Xiao Yanchen disregarded the bloody smell wafting from the room and walked with a calm face to Zhou Ningyan's side, who was already at the end of her strength.

"Noble Consort, is there anything you wish to say?"

Zhou Ningyan's lips turned pale, her gaze hazy and unfocused, clearly showing signs of decline.

Her belly remained as high and swollen as ever, a strong smell of blood drifting from the bedding covering her.

"Your, Your Majesty, you have come."

Her voice weak and hollow, Zhou Ningyan raised the hand hanging at her side, straining to reach upward, but finding she could not lift it, she gave up helplessly.

Forget it, it was merely her wishful thinking.

"Your Majesty, I beg you not to bury this subject in the Imperial Mausoleum; this subject wishes to be buried with her birth mother, even without a tomb."

Xiao Yanchen remained unmoved, "Nothing else? The Right Prime Minister's House is not worth such sacrifice from you."

As for Zhou Ningyan, he could not say he liked her, nor could he say he disliked her.

Their respective statuses destined that he and Zhou Ningyan would never develop feelings for each other.

The Right Prime Minister was too snobbish, and moreover possessed the skill of being decisive.

Xiao Yanchen disliked such people, yet had no choice but to use them; the reason the Great Jing Realm could be passed down for a hundred years lay in the emperor's ability to employ people, not in mere likes and dislikes.

Zhou Ningyan smiled at the corners of her lips; though she was no longer as beautiful as before, such charm returned to her at the final moment of her life.

"No, Your Majesty, this subject's very life was given by the Zhou Family."

No matter how much resentment she bore toward the Zhou Family in her heart, this subject was able to grow up safely and enjoy over a decade of wealth and honor, and should repay the Zhou Family for their nurturing grace.

Today's matter was originally this subject's own willing choice; if the Zhou Family profits from it, that is their good fortune."

Even from the very beginning, the reason Zhou Ningyan took Zhao Yunyue's prescription was because the Zhou Family had fueled the flames behind the scenes.

But what could be done about it?

A single clear tear fell soundlessly from the corner of her eye; Zhou Ningyan felt she should never have been born, bearing so much right and wrong, and in the end departing without much clarity and integrity.

Hah, her life had always been useless.

"Your Majesty, this subject has come to this day entirely through her own fault."

I beg Your Majesty to grant this subject her final wish, considering the many years this subject has served you."

Having spoken, Zhou Ningyan closed her eyes, her breathing gradually becoming rapid.

Seeing this, Xiao Yanchen, where else could he fail to understand, this was a sign of being driven away.

It was also reasonable; at the final moment of life, even he did not wish to see a bore.

Turning around, Xiao Yanchen left the delivery room without a word, completely disregarding the fact that Zhou Ningyan was about to breathe her last and die.

Perhaps this scene today had already been played out countless times in both their hearts.

To say he was sad was false; at most there would be a trace of vague loss.

Not long after Qiu Yue delivered the news, Shen Yao heard in Weiyang Palace of the outcome that Noble Consort Zhou had suffered difficult labor and both mother and child had perished.

Shen Yao did not find it surprising; Zhou Ningyan's body did not look like it could bear the child in her belly, and moreover, according to the system's words, it was inferred that not giving birth was better than giving birth.

"Your Ladyship"

Qiu Yue came to Shen Yao's side once more, her expression nervous.

"Make preparations; we need to attend Noble Consort Zhou's funeral rites."

Shen Yao's expression was blank, but in her heart she was thinking that these days she could not eat meat and fish, and her mouth would feel uncomfortable.

Qiu Yue nodded, supporting Shen Yao to the inner room to change clothes; along with this, the various hairpins on her head were removed, and Shen Yao, dressed in plain, simple vegetarian colors, instead gained a different kind of beauty.

"Leave enough manpower to care for the several imperial princes and princesses; the rest follow this palace to Chaoyang Palace."

Having finished speaking, Shen Yao took the lead, directly mounting the sedan chair waiting at the palace gate.

With a cry of the sedan chair setting off, the crowd followed behind Shen Yao, hurrying forward in a bustle.

On the road.

Shen Yao received the latest news regarding Taiji Hall: Consort Ning, as an accomplice who knew but did not report, causing Noble Consort Zhou's mother and child to die, was stripped of her title, reduced in rank, demoted to commoner, and given a cup of poisoned wine to send her on her way.

Consort Shu, as an accomplice who knew but did not report, was stripped of her title and demoted all the way down, becoming a Fifth-Rank Pin.

Do not think the rank of Pin is very high; to those below the rank of Pin it is something to be desired, but to Qian Naqi, who entered the palace as a Noble Consort and rose all the way to Consort Shu, it was a naked slap in the face and mockery.

Seeing these two edicts issued by the emperor, Shen Yao could only say that the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Revenue of the former court were in trouble.

Sure enough, before Zhou Ningyan's funeral rites were even finished, Xiao Yanchen began to strike at the court.

Not only did he send the Minister of Rites away to accompany his daughter, but he also removed the Minister of Revenue from office and investigated him.

Even several of his nephews and nieces of that generation were reprimanded by Xiao Yanchen, and more severely, they were exiled to the border, forbidden to return to the capital within ten years.

To the court, Xiao Yanchen's series of operations could be called a complete change of blood.

Except for the Right Prime Minister, who was not demoted but promoted, everyone else suffered some hidden loss.

Once they reacted, they all cursed the Right Prime Minister as an old codger who sold his daughter for glory, shameless.

But the Right Prime Minister was not guilty either; the benefits he gained today were exchanged with his daughter's and grandson's lives; although there was also his hinting and pushing here, no matter what, their Zhou Family did not lose nothing at all.

Blah blah blah—

The court fell into a new round of arguments, especially between the two factions of those who gained benefits and those who did not.

Seeing that the emperor had finished his rage, everyone thought the matter was over.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yanchen still had a big one bottled up in his heart: that was the Wei Family, where the Empress was.

Hah, thinking they could escape?!

The reason Xiao Yanchen did not deal with the Wei Family now was because the Empress, between the Empress Position and her family, ultimately chose her family and gave up the Empress Position.

Xiao Yanchen could not be said to be disappointed; he just felt it was somewhat uninteresting, even though the Wei Family was not good to the Empress and her son.

Perhaps this was one of the reasons Xiao Yanchen disliked great clans: they were too overbearing.

In treating women, it was more like treating them as mere tools that could add chips for the family.

Even as Empress, Wei Jingyi still could not escape these shackles.

After Zhou Ningyan's funeral rites concluded, the Huang Hou entered a period of harvest.

Those Imperial Consorts who obtained the secret recipe for bearing children — a small portion still could not resist the temptation, used it on themselves, and successfully conceived.

When Shen Yao and Qiu Yue chatted privately, they already knew that five people were pregnant, and all because of this secret recipe.

"Truly unafraid of death — Zhou Guifei's precedent is right there, yet they still dare to stake themselves as the wager."

Shen Yao shook her head; perhaps this is the difference between herself and others.

Whether she has the System or not, she always looks after herself first before thinking of anything else.

But others? They consider things very comprehensively — only themselves are missing.

Saying it out loud is even laughable; Shen Yao even occasionally banters a few lines with Qiu Yue.

Qiu Yue is completely at ease before Shen Yao; some words that should or shouldn't be said, she says without pressure.

"Your Ladyship, they are desperate, thinking they will give birth safely."

Little do they know — if such a good thing truly existed, it would have been hidden away long ago; how could it end up known to everyone?

"Then they are overthinking; just watch — once this batch passes, the Huang Hou will surely become much quieter."

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow; in her heart she thought: fewer people is also a kind of quiet on another level.

Only pity that such quiet has a time limit; once the next Imperial Selection begins, the Huang Hou will grow lively again.

"Has His Majesty been busy with Court affairs lately?" Shen Yao showed concern for Xiao Yanchen, far away in Taiji Hall.

Heaven and Earth bear witness — toward Xiao Yanchen, Shen Yao truly has put her heart into it.

But helplessly, the ways she can help Xiao Yanchen are few; at most she sends someone to deliver soup to Taiji Hall; the rest of the time, she simply waits honestly in Weiyang Palace for Xiao Yanchen to come over.

Now that Xiao Yanchen is busy handling governance, all Shen Yao can do is move her lips.

Hearing her master mention His Majesty, Qiu Yue's heart gave a start; she hurriedly adjusted her emotions and agreed.

Hiss—

Could she say that His Majesty just sent someone to say he would come to Weiyang Palace today? Eunuch Wei by His Majesty's side specially instructed her to conceal it from her master first.

Qiu Yue's unnatural change of expression was keenly noticed by Shen Yao; Shen Yao silently raised an eyebrow — hmm, could it be that Xiao Yanchen isn't busy after all?