Chapter 43: After Binding the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 43: Cannon Fodder Minor Imperial Consort (43)

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Shen Yao

For a very long time after the Deposed Empress passed away, Xiao Yanchen did not mention the matter of re-establishing an Empress.

Because Xiao Yanchen did not mention it, the Front Court and Imperial Harem were initially quite peaceful, but a trend of petitioning to establish a new Empress suddenly arose.

Regardless of who it was, even those with ranks as low as Imperial Consort, they all began forming factions and actively maneuvering everywhere.

Shen Yao in Weiyang Palace watched the spectacle while commenting that doing such a thing was no different from an old birthday star hanging himself — courting death.

Is the Emperor's reverse scale so easy to touch? Why did the Empress become the Deposed Empress? It seems these concubines in the harem still haven't learned enough lessons, thinking their actions are hidden and harmless.

Shen Yao happily hid in the palace watching the spectacle, but just as she said, others had not failed to think of these things either; after all, the rumors of establishing an Empress appeared very strangely, as if they suddenly swept across the entire Front Court and Imperial Harem overnight.

But human hearts are greedy; some people, even knowing this, cannot control their own mindset.

There's no helping it; everyone thinks they will be the luckiest one, and the whole lot of them exert all their strength to fight and snatch, making Weiyang Palace seem like a weirdo, standing alone on the opposition side of the entire harem, which is very incomprehensible.

Even Xiao Yanchen would occasionally ask Wei Zhu about movements in Weiyang Palace.

Although Wei Zhu reported each time that Weiyang Palace was very well-behaved, the Emperor still did not feel at ease.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Shen Yao, but that he didn't trust those with ulterior motives from scheming against Shen Yao (seems like the same meaning; anyway, it's just a natural guard against Shen Yao, even though Xiao Yanchen holds a place for Shen Yao in his heart).

Another routine inquiry, receiving the same reply as before, Xiao Yanchen lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then told Wei Zhu to continue sending people to monitor.

"There are still Jin'er and several children in Weiyang Palace; you send people to pay more attention; if anything happens, report back promptly."

Wei Zhu acknowledged with a "Yes," nodding in agreement.

Waving his hand, Xiao Yanchen turned around, facing away from Wei Zhu, leaning against the chair by the table, "Go on down; as for movements in other parts of the harem, you handle them yourself; those who are not well-behaved, kick them out as early as possible."

Those spies are like wild grass — wildfire cannot burn them all, spring wind blows and they grow again.

You must know the harem's spies were previously dealt with by Xiao Yanchen time and again, yet he still could not stop the ever-increasing numbers.

Hmph!

They truly have eaten bear heart and leopard gall; Xiao Yanchen couldn't help but feel killing intent rise in his heart; if it weren't for the fact that now is not the time to see blood, he absolutely would not have tolerated these people for so long.

Wei Zhu acknowledged and quickly left Taiji Hall.

After going out, he first steadied his breath, then Wei Zhu beckoned a servant on the side, "Go according to our family's previous instructions, continue watching.

Also, send a verbal message to Imperial Concubine Xi of Weiyang Palace, just say everything is as before."

Finished speaking, Wei Zhu reached up and wiped the sweat beads emerging on his forehead, then turned and walked away.

On the other side, the little eunuch sent by Wei Zhu to deliver the message successfully met Qiu Yue.

Obediently relaying Wei Zhu's words, this person took the silver Qiu Yue rewarded him with and happily left with small quick steps.

Qiu Yue watched the person leave far away, then simply returned to the main hall to report to Shen Yao.

Shen Yao was sitting in the bedchamber eating emerald-green grapes presented by the Imperial Household Department.

The grapes were sweet and sour, soft and tender, like exquisite, beautiful top-grade agates.

Perfectly conveying the little eunuch's words, Qiu Yue brought a basin of clear water to serve Shen Yao in washing her hands.

"Mistress, what does Eunuch Wei mean? Our Weiyang Palace has been very well-behaved recently; could it be that the Emperor misses Mistress in his heart and is hinting for Mistress to go to Taiji Hall?"

Qiu Yue blinked her pair of beautiful big eyes; after speaking, her mind was still a bit dazed.

Uh uh, perhaps she also felt what she said was a bit absurd after saying it.

Qiu Yue visibly panicked, stammering, not knowing how to explain.

Fortunately Shen Yao didn't mind too much and understood this was an unintentional slip by Qiu Yue.

Master and servant have spent too much time together; sometimes it becomes like this.

Besides, Xiao Yanchen can be a bit awkward sometimes; he really likes pulling this kind of little stunt — sending messages to her through Wei Zhu as a go-between, asking her to come to Taiji Hall.

Now Wei Zhu sent a sentence that made no sense; Qiu Yue's first thought was to guess it was about Xiao Yanchen, purely a conditioned reflex.

But unfortunately, this time it wasn't Xiao Yanchen missing Shen Yao; on the contrary, Xiao Yanchen was suspecting Shen Yao.

The sentence Wei Zhu sent her belongs to a special communication between the two people.

Although Qiu Yue is Shen Yao's personal maid, she doesn't know everything.

Like the single-line contact between Wei Zhu and Shen Yao, it directly concerns Wei Zhu's life and livelihood; Wei Zhu naturally cannot let a third person besides the two of them know.

"Don't worry about what Wei Zhu means; we only need to guard Weiyang Palace well."

The Emperor's suspicion is inevitable; with so many palaces in the harem having movements, big and small all detectable, only Weiyang Palace here appears peaceful no matter how you look at it.

Shen Yao indeed doesn't have too many thoughts in this regard, because she knows the probable ending.

Even if she cannot sit on the Empress Position as she wishes, but when Xiao Jin and the others grow up, and Xiao Yanchen chooses the next Heir to the realm, Shen Yao, as the new Emperor's birth mother, will certainly also sit on the Empress Dowager's throne.

Since it's like this, what is there to fight for? With the Emperor's seed quality like this, does Shen Yao still need to fight? The existence of several children has already placed Shen Yao in an invincible position, hasn't it.

Shen Yao's words seem like she didn't say anything, but Qiu Yue thinks carefully and it really is this meaning.

Our Weiyang Palace has always liked to stay detached from the whole event; this time will be no exception.

"Mistress rest assured, this slave understands," Qiu Yue sighed that after cultivating for many years she still wasn't as steady as her master, and in her heart she revered Shen Yao as a deity, enshrining her high above.

Shen Yao didn't know her own maid thought of her this way; she was still pondering what purpose lay behind this sudden Empress-establishment storm.

Perhaps it is related to the Imperial Selection that might be held next year?

When the Deposed Empress died, a year had passed since the Selection, and in the Great Jing harem, a Selection is normally held every three years.

This year is almost halfway through; next year in May, barring accidents, the Selection edict will certainly be issued across the entire Great Jing Dynasty's national territory.

With an Empress-less harem, will those rich and powerful families be tempted?

You must know Xiao Yanchen's age is really not great, and the legitimate son in the palace is a sickly weakling with poor health.

With such a configuration, any family with even a shred of ambition would want to send a daughter in to try.

If they lose, it is merely the loss of a daughter; but if they win, whether it is offspring or anything else, their side is certain to profit more.

This account, anyone who is human can calculate clearly — so His Majesty is uncertain about the Empress candidate, waiting for those outside the palace to make a move?

She reached up to touch her chin; Shen Yao felt her IQ was truly not quite enough.

Previously, listening to Xiao Yanchen's meaning, she thought her ascension to Empress was a done deal.

Result: over half a year passed, and Xiao Yanchen did not mention the matter at all.

Shen Yao only dared to be this relaxed, unhurried, because she had several children as backing and had learned in advance through the system about Xiao Yanchen's body — knowing he would find it extraordinarily difficult to sire healthy children.

Otherwise, any other woman would have already employed every scheming method, all for that Empress position.

……

Is the Empress position really that important? For ordinary people, "important" can no longer describe it — it can be said to be the lifelong pursuit of some who enter the palace.

Originally, Shen Yao thought this suddenly stirred-up palace selection turmoil would come to an abrupt halt after blowing over.

But unexpectedly, this turmoil grew fiercer and fiercer, directly blowing the entire Imperial Harem into disarray.

After Shen Yao reminded Qiu Yue once more that they only needed to manage themselves and need not worry about others, the Crown Prince's birth mother, Concubine Lili Yanzhen, directly ran into trouble.

Li Yanzhen's clan, the Li family, was dragged into a very important corruption case.

Among them, Li Yanzhen's father, none other than Minister of Justice Li Dekai, fell into it along with several of his students.

Upon learning the news, Li Yanzhen, frantic with tears, ran to Taiji Hall to beg an audience with His Majesty.

She implored His Majesty, for the sake of the imperial heir and her own face, to spare her birth father.

The result was naturally self-evident: Xiao Yanchen could not possibly show leniency in such a matter, especially since the corruption involved Imperial Consorts and the imperial heir — severe handling was the lightest option; Xiao Yanchen practically wanted to stage a textbook demonstration to show his impartiality and integrity.

Concubine Lili Yanzhen: ……

Li Yanzhen cried until her tears nearly ran dry, yet still could not move His Majesty's ruthless heart.

Even because Li Yanzhen indiscriminately pleaded for her birth father without regard for reason or propriety, her own rank was demoted from Third Rank Guipin to Fourth Rank Pinyu.

Before this, His Majesty had intended, for the Crown Prince's sake, to promote Li Yanzhen from Third Rank Guipin to Second Rank Fei; now, instead of promotion she was demoted — purely losing both the wife and the troops.

With this, Li Yanzhen and the Li family behind her completely withdrew from the possibility of contending for the Empress position.

After this battle, Li Yanzhen became even more honest and dutiful, her presence reduced to the lowest.

As one waned, the other waxed: Concubine Sun Sun Churuo, who had originally received the Empress guarantee together with Li Yanzhen, advanced by leaps and bounds — her birth father was promoted two ranks from Minister of Honglu Temple, and she herself turned around to become Sun Guifei; moreover, because the Third Prince's body was nurtured well, she faintly seemed about to be promoted to Fei by His Majesty.

In the current Imperial Harem, aside from Shen Yao this kind of Imperial Concubine Xi who is detached and cares about nothing, only Sun Churuo this Sun Guifei has the most presence.

Xiao Yanchen, as His Majesty, would also often stay overnight at Sun Churuo's Changle Palace.

For this, Sun Churuo was frequently rumored to be the next Empress, and even several times Qiu Yue reported it to Shen Yao.

Shen Yao: ……

Although, however, Sun Churuo wanting to become Empress is still not quite qualified.

Leaving aside other things, just the Third Prince's body — Zheng Hongzhuang showed no mercy when she struck back then.

Now watching the Third Prince healthy, but inside it was already like a cavity carved badly, impossible to patch up.

And Sun Churuo is not Shen Yao; she cannot use cheat methods to make herself pregnant.

Only a single child, and a bomb that could explode at any moment — tsk, fundamentally no competitiveness.

Shen Yao briefly commented a few sentences on Sun Churuo and then stopped paying attention; when Xiao Yanchen came to Weiyang Palace, Shen Yao did not speak of such gossip, but wholeheartedly enjoyed her time with Xiao Yanchen like a person with no cares.

Xiao Yanchen, who still wanted to observe Shen Yao's situation: ……

Xiao Yanchen once tentatively asked Shen Yao's view on the rumors, and was completely dismissed by Shen Yao's single sentence: "Just rumors."

From then on, Xiao Yanchen no longer tangled over Shen Yao's attitude, but devoted himself wholeheartedly to digging pits and filling them in for those who wanted to jump into the pit.

When late autumn turned to winter, heaven and earth were silver-clad and white-wrapped; the entire palace was wrapped in a layer of silver-white new clothes.

"Today is Imperial Consort Sun's auspicious day; are the congratulatory gifts prepared?"

Shen Yao wore a set of new winter attire and beckoned to Qiu Yue.

Qiu Yue held a wooden box in her arms; inside the wooden box was an expensive jade Buddha.

This was the "thoughtful gift" Shen Yao had specially selected, and also a jade ruyi placed inside the wooden box.

"Your Highness, we should go."

Today is Changle Palace's auspicious day; Sun Churuo was finally conferred the title of Fei.

Although she had no fief title, compared to her previous Pinyu, Sun Churuo had already achieved a three-rank identity leap, only one rank below Shen Yao.

At the doorway, the sedan chair waiting there was already arranged; Shen Yao, wearing a thick cape, sat up, and at a single call of "lift" was directly raised.

Weiyang Palace is not that close to Changle Palace, and to ensure Shen Yao would not freeze, Qiu Yue had specially placed a small fire basin inside the sedan chair.

It used top-grade silver silk charcoal, no smoke smell, even wafting a few wisps of faint grass-and-fruit fragrance.

This was because steps were taken during the charring of the charcoal; otherwise, dry charcoal fragrance, if a person is smoked for a whole night, they might get pickled through.

Like this now is good; the body occasionally still carries a wisp of faint grass-and-wood fragrance — it can be said there are no more rear worries.

"Lower the sedan."

The sedan chair descended; the curtain that had been lowered earlier was lifted open.

Shen Yao bent at the waist and walked down from the sedan chair, her hand lightly resting on Qiu Yue's palm.

She stuffed the hand warmer in her hand into Qiu Yue's arms, Shen Yao straightened her own cape, then touched her hanging sideburns and tassels, and stepped inside.

Changle Palace's area is not large; compared to Weiyang Palace it is smaller by more than half.

But Changle Palace has one relatively good point: the scenery is not bad, and it is very close to the rear garden — step out the door and it is scenery, no need to walk far.

Of course, for the winter court, this advantage is temporarily still invisible.

And the rear garden here borders where palace servants live; foot traffic is relatively large, noise chaotic — this counts as Changle Palace's shortcoming.

It is said His Majesty intends to change to another palace for Sun Churuo and her son to reside; the reason is the Third Prince rests poorly at night, and the body nurtured with great difficulty earlier has thinned down again.

Nowadays, looking at her pale, sickly face, there was no difference from the Crown Prince and Second Prince up front.

"This slave greets Imperial Concubine Xi."

"This servant has seen Imperial Concubine Xi."

"……"

All the way, her footsteps did not stop; she waved her hand signaling the palace attendants saluting to rise, and Shen Yao lifted her step into the Dian Dian.

The temperature inside the Dian Dian was much better than Outside; a wave of heat rushed over, forcing Shen Yao to take off the Cape on her body.

"This subject/imperial consort has seen Imperial Concubine Xi."

"Imperial Concubine Xi, peace."

"Imperial Consort Sun, an auspicious day of great joy; this palace arrived late, please forgive."

"Everyone else rise; today all have come over to congratulate Imperial Consort Sun, no need for restraint."

Having spoken the words with a smile, she then had Qiu Yue present the prepared congratulatory gift with both hands; Shen Yao walked slowly to the Chair and sat down, catching her breath.