Chapter 42: Bound to the Birth System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 42: Cannon Fodder Little Imperial Consort (42)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Wei Jingyi could be sacrificed, but Wei Jingyi's advantage over Zheng Hongzhuang was that she seized the initiative in time and could make an advance layout for her own affairs after death.

Although Shen Yao's side lost, elsewhere Wei Jingyi, relying on her status as Empress and others' greed, still took full advantage.

Riding this east wind, Wei Jingyi continued to scheme for her own side, dissatisfied, though she did not know whether doing so would truly bring her wish.

When the Empress's virtuous reputation spread more and more fiercely in the palace, the Empress, supporting her increasingly frail body, went to Taiji Hall to request an audience with the Emperor.

What exactly the Emperor and Empress said when they met was still unknown to others.

But closely following, the news that the Empress requested to be deposed spread like a windstorm passing through.

The key was that the Emperor nodded and agreed.

"Did the Emperor really agree?"

"The Emperor really agreed."

"The Emperor actually agreed!"

"......"

Spreading along with this news were the various reactions of others in the Imperial Harem.

Especially the Imperial Consorts in the Imperial Harem, facing such a "righteous and awe-inspiring" Empress, suddenly felt at a loss.

Is this something the Empress could do?

How could the Empress possibly request to be deposed out of guilt over such a small matter?

In the great hall of Weiyang Palace, Shen Yao, upon hearing the news, couldn't help but snort, then turned over and simply changed position to continue lounging.

"The Empress is using public opinion pressure to make the Emperor see, forcing the Emperor to agree."

She grasped the Emperor's psychology; mainly, the Emperor still cared about face, and besides, the Empress's deposition being proper was harmless and beneficial to the Emperor.

The Emperor did not truly want to shake out the Empress and the Wei Family behind her, as ruthlessly and mercilessly as he had treated the Zheng Family earlier.

Because between the Emperor and the Empress there was still Xiao Heng; the Wei Family was Xiao Heng's maternal family, and he had to consider Xiao Heng's dignity.

The Zheng Family had no Prince, only an Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager had fallen out with the Emperor, with no affection at all.

The weight of these two sides in the Emperor's heart was obviously different, so the Emperor's final disposition would naturally be completely opposite.

"Your Majesty, the Empress doing this, isn't she afraid the Emperor will bring up old scores later? By then, the Empress might not even be alive, how could she protect the Second Prince in the palace?"

Anyway, Qiu Yue had lived this long and had never seen or heard of a deposed Empress who could live long.

Counting the various Empresses of the Great Jing Dynasty, they either died on the throne or became Empress Dowager; the few deposed Empresses were all given poisoned wine and white silk at the same time the Emperor deposed them, within no more than a quarter of an hour, the speed was frightening.

Shen Yao picked up the teacup at one side to moisten her throat, "The Empress cannot even take care of herself and can no longer manage so much; the time the Emperor left for the Empress was originally not much."

Plus, the Empress had always been unruly and personally sent the Zheng Family and Empress Dowager Zheng on their way.

To be honest, this kind of thing, as long as there were some connections in the palace, a little inquiry would reveal what was going on.

Then those outside the palace, especially families closely related to the Zheng Family and implicated, would surely generate resentment from hatred and blame the Empress and the Wei Family.

If the Empress could not do more at the critical moment, then what awaited her could only be a silent death, just like Empress Dowager Zheng back then.

"Whether for Xiao Heng in the palace or for the Wei Family outside the palace,

the Empress must seek a bit of protection from the Emperor before she dies,

so that if Xiao Heng or the Wei Family encounters trouble later, the Emperor will remember their feelings and let them off."

After Shen Yao finished speaking, the cup and bowl in her hand were put down again, and the tea inside disappeared without a trace.

After hearing her mistress's analysis, Qiu Yue pondered for a moment but still felt the Empress's move was too risky.

This was simply stepping on the reputation the Emperor valued to achieve her own purpose.

Good grief, the Empress had the means to shape herself into a virtuous and filial daughter-in-law, but what about the Emperor? The Emperor had used the evidence provided by the Empress to deal a devastating blow to the Zheng Family, completely stirring the entire Zheng Family into chaos.

If the Zheng Family wanted to rise again to high positions in the future and achieve their earlier accomplishments, their descendants would have to work hard diligently for several generations.

Hiss

Comparing the Empress and the Emperor, it increasingly highlighted the Emperor's cold impartiality and lack of human feeling.

Qiu Yue did not dare say such things; she lowered her eyes and continued to serve her mistress's eating and drinking.

As for Shen Yao, after finishing her analysis, she thought of the Emperor's situation and mocked him unreservedly in her heart.

Well, it mainly depended on whether the Emperor felt happy about his own misfortune.

After all, Shen Yao couldn't help with this kind of thing; the Emperor had chosen his wife himself back then, and today, whatever happened, he could only endure it.

"Forget it, let's not talk about Fengyi Palace and Taiji Hall; matters between the Emperor and the Empress as husband and wife—where is it our place to discuss? I slept late yesterday; I'll go rest on the bed first. Wake me up in half an hour."

Waving her hand, Shen Yao got up from the bedchamber, took Qiu Yue's hand, and simply entered the inner room.

Yawning casually, a trace of weariness surged up from her heart.

Last night Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhi were throwing tantrums, not sleeping late at night; Shen Yao had no choice but to patiently coax them for a long time before returning to the great hall to sleep.

In the morning, because Xiao Jin and the other two came to offer greetings, Shen Yao had to get up early.

With this back-and-forth delay, by noon Shen Yao's body was already feeling sleepy.

Fortunately, there was nothing much happening in the Imperial Harem recently, and Shen Yao did not need to go out of Weiyang Palace to socialize.

It was just weariness; with so much time, she could just sleep.

The Empress passed away three days after requesting to be deposed, dying alone in Fengyi Palace.

When Shen Yao received the news, she was having the morning meal sent from the small kitchen.

As a result, the meal had only been eaten halfway before she had to put down her bowl and chopsticks and rush to Fengyi Palace to take charge of the overall situation.

There was no choice; the Imperial Harem currently had no Empress, and Shen Yao's Noble Consort rank was the highest position in the palace.

Whether by sentiment or reason, the Deposed Empress's funeral rites were not the turn of other people to preside over.

"So, His Majesty assigned the Deposed Empress's funeral rites to Concubine Li and Concubine Sun, these two people, to be responsible for?"

Shen Yao stiffened a beautiful face; although her complexion was calm, her heart was like a volcano erupting.

Hmph!

What on earth is His Majesty up to? Could it be that he despises this Imperial Concubine Xi of his who comes from an ordinary background?

Qiu Yue was frightened into a panic; she softly persuaded her own mistress to calm down. This matter was also her own fault for not investigating in a timely manner, letting her mistress lose great face at the Fengyi Palace doorway.

"It was a last letter specially left behind by the Deposed Empress. His Majesty found it hard to refuse the Deposed Empress's final request, so he let Concubine Li and Concubine Sun manage it according to palace rules."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yao eased for a while, then turned her head and moved her somewhat sore and stiff neck.

Her gaze met Qiu Yue's line of sight; master and servant converged in one place. "According to palace rules?"

What rules could the Deposed Empress have? Even down to the rank of Consort, analogized as equal to a Consort — a complete face-slapping.

"Did His Majesty really instruct it this way?"

Wow, Shen Yao's eyes suddenly brightened. She raised her head to look at the surroundings, thinking in her heart that she didn't even know what to say.

Does the Deposed Empress know that the posthumous affairs she valued are being handled this casually and simply? Would she regret stirring up these messy things?

Anyway, Shen Yao didn't believe that this "handled according to palace rules" had not a shred of personal grievance.

His Majesty, still as petty as ever — that's just men.

The corner of her mouth abruptly revealed a trace of a smile; the anger that had surged up earlier vanished without a trace in an instant.

Why be angry? It turns out His Majesty didn't let the Deposed Empress have an easy time; then her breath of anger has dissipated by half.

No matter why His Majesty didn't give the Deposed Empress face, for Shen Yao, the result was all very good.

"Go in and take a look." Since this time she wasn't needed, she ought to take a good look at Concubine Li and Concubine Sun's strength. Just how much benefit did the Empress give these two people, that they dare jump into any muddy water.

Leaning on Qiu Yue's hand, Shen Yao lifted her lotus steps slightly and plunged headfirst into Fengyi Palace, filled entirely with white mourning cloth.

Concubine Li and Concubine Sun were at this moment standing in the center of the main hall, instructing the palace servants on what they should go do.

Seeing Shen Yao enter, the two people quickly exchanged a glance and hurried over to greet her.

"Exempt from salute. This palace has come to take a look. Concubine Li and Concubine Sun, if you have matters, go attend to them."

Shen Yao wore a smiling face; at this critical juncture of the Deposed Empress's passing, however you looked at it, it felt awkward.

Are they angry? But this has nothing to do with them; it was all the Deposed Empress's own unilateral arrangement.

Concubine Li's heart gave a start; she quickly answered yes and turned to leave.

Concubine Sun, on the other hand, wanted to explain a couple of sentences to Shen Yao, but Fengyi Palace's affairs were too busy, and before she could even open her mouth, she was interrupted by someone.

Helpless, Concubine Sun could only use her eyes to express apology, and herself turned and went outside the hall.

Shen Yao stood in the original place, turned sideways and looked back. "The Deposed Empress and Concubine Li, Concubine Sun didn't coordinate well? It doesn't look like a prepared-in-advance appearance."

At the very least, the gaze with which Concubine Li and Concubine Sun looked at her all carried a trace of fear and at-a-loss-ness.

This doesn't look like an anticipated result. At the very least, before the Deposed Empress's death, she didn't speak with them about it.

Then this matter, the greatest possibility is that the Deposed Empress acted on her own initiative, thinking His Majesty wouldn't be too utterly ruthless, while simultaneously selling Concubine Li and Concubine Sun a bit of benefit.

After all, being able to help manage the Deposed Empress's funeral rites is also a kind of being valued.

Pity that everything, all of it, was stirred into nothing by His Majesty's single act of following the rules.

His Majesty not giving the Deposed Empress this face — then even if Concubine Li and Concubine Sun are responsible for this funeral, they are still in an neither-here-nor-there predicament.

Who knows, in the end they might not gain any good, but instead all be harms.

Just like right now, the two of them don't quite dare face Shen Yao.

Qiu Yue tilted her head. "Niangniang, do we continue staying here, or return to the palace?"

The funeral rites aren't entrusted to them; staying here is merely wasting time.

Shen Yao spread her palm. "Wait a bit first; the other Imperial Consorts of the Imperial Harem haven't come over yet.

Later, including the matter of keeping vigil, let's listen to how Concubine Li and Concubine Sun put it."

Qiu Yue nodded in agreement. "This servant understands."

Shen Yao, bringing Qiu Yue, just waited in the main hall; during this time, other Imperial Consorts kept coming over.

Each and every one in plain white mourning garb, not a hint of color could be seen, pallid like ink-wash paintings, completely different from the previous appearance of heavy makeup and plain wrapping.

The crowd, seeing Shen Yao was also there, those with designs would come over to ask a sentence about how to arrange things.

But upon hearing that Shen Yao was also waiting for Concubine Li and Concubine Sun's answer, the main hall atmosphere instantly became strange.

Hah!

So it turns out this funeral is the responsibility of Concubine Li and Concubine Sun, these two people?

The Crown Prince and Third Prince's birth mothers — could it be there's some news they don't know about in here?

In an instant it aroused much gossip; other people's eyes darting around was simply undisguised.

Shen Yao felt this scene was quite funny. Presumably the Deposed Empress lying in the coffin certainly couldn't have anticipated that the affairs she painstakingly arranged would end up turning into this.

Counting on the cowardly-to-death Concubine Li and Concubine Sun to help Xiao Heng? The Deposed Empress might as well count on His Majesty having a bit more benevolent fatherly heart — that would be more practical.

No wonder the Crown Prince and Third Prince's health is poor; because their two birth mothers are just this clever. Under Zheng Hongzhuang's hands they couldn't protect their children. Now Zheng Hongzhuang is gone, but the Crown Prince and Third Prince's bodies are already ruined more or less. Two medicine jars who fall ill every three or five days — what threat can they pose?

Shen Yao stayed in Fengyi Palace for a small half-moment, until Concubine Li and Concubine Sun had said what needed saying, then she brought Qiu Yue back to Weiyang Palace.

The first sentence upon returning to Weiyang Palace: "Behind closed doors from now on, live our own small days.

The Imperial Harem has no Empress; before His Majesty selects a new Empress, we won't go meddle."

She didn't mention palace authority, nor did she bring up Concubine Li and Concubine Sun, these two people.

Shen Yao sat in the bedchamber, body leaning sideways, curled up inside the Xiao Ba Xian table.

She tapped the tabletop. "The palace will likely be chaotic for a period of time; our Weiyang Palace has many imperial heirs, so it will certainly draw attention."

Qiu Yue instructed the slaves of Weiyang Palace that during this period they absolutely must keep their spirits up.

Once we smoothly weather these, this palace will reward you generously."

Mere pep talks and painting big pies are useless; at least in Shen Yao's view, there still needs to be a carrot dangling in front to attract them before it works.

What Shen Yao adopts toward the entire Weiyang Palace is precisely the carrot-and-stick principle.

As long as they perform well, Shen Yao will treat them with absolutely no stinginess in rewards.

Under this kind of subtle, gradual operation, the palace staff of the entire Weiyang Palace have strong cohesion, at least achieving the ability for the whole palace, top to bottom, to be united as one.

Don't think this sort of thing is simple; swap in other palaces of the Imperial Harem, and spies can be caught by the handful, while one's own people tripping each other up are not few.

Sometimes Qiu Yue tells her some gossip, and it can make Shen Yao laugh; all of this stems from the Imperial Harem's contribution.

Qiu Yue listened to her own master's words, nodding very satisfyingly.

You see, their own palace staff just like this kind of master who is ordinarily generous in action.

Because they can eat very well while also saving quite a lot of silver money.

Who, having security, would go do risky things? Excluding those whose greed leads to loss, ordinary people would all choose to live honest, steady lives.

This is also one of the reasons why Weiyang Palace has rarely seen spies from other palaces over the years.

The master was originally a tycoon, and her spending is even more lavish without blinking an eye; put anyone in that position, who could resist?

Weiyang Palace, keeping to itself and living its own life, can be called a unique scenery in the Imperial Harem.

Because Shen Yao does not participate in those troubles and chaos outside, the subsequent struggles for power among the palaces, joining hands and then turning on each other, have nothing to do with Weiyang Palace.

Shen Yao is precisely that observer who sits watching clouds roll and unfurl.

Watching ten-thousand-zhang high towers rise from flat ground outside, mountains crumbling and earth splitting like falling off a cliff, she merely smiles faintly, using the unchanging to respond to the myriad changes, ready at any moment to wait for the opportunity and act.