Chapter 432

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Yu Dynasty, Jingcheng

The New Year had just passed, and the festive atmosphere had not yet faded when the entire city of Jingcheng grew heated over the imperial selection.

Ordinary families merely watched the excitement, but among the households of officials truly qualified to participate, it was a mix of joy and worry, very lively indeed.

Shen Family Official Residence

Just an ordinary inner-courtyard room, where a young woman lay on the bed, slowly waking with a sigh.

Shen Yao propped her dizzy, throbbing forehead with one hand, taking a long while to recover her senses.

Oh, she had transmigrated again.

"System, we've rested a bit too long this time," she said, so that upon re-entering a new body, she was still somewhat unadjusted in mindset.

"Yes, the previous mission went very well, and we rested for a while in the System Space," were it not that this mission world's host interested them, they would have given up on this idea of waiting a bit longer.

It was also because the previous few mission worlds frequently went wrong, the system's compensation.

Increasing the host's opportunity to actively choose, thereby mobilizing the host's enthusiasm for completing missions.

"It's been a while since we've been to an ancient world; organize the memories, and let's first take a look at the situation."

Casually instructing the system with a few words, Shen Yao only then felt somewhat cold.

Taking out two pills beneficial to the body from the space and swallowing them, Shen Yao pulled over the outer garment from one side, loosely draping it over her shoulders.

Five minutes later, the system chimed, transmitting the original body's memories into her mind.

Shen Yao had to lie on her side to digest the situation, and when she finally opened her eyes, she felt very much like hating iron for not becoming steel.

Was this person an idiot? At a time like this, looking for some cheap cousin? Wasn't entering the palace as a Noble Consort fragrant?

"Host, given the original owner's background, entering the palace she could only start from a low-ranking consort and slowly climb up; isn't becoming a Noble Consort too difficult?" The system was realistic, feeling the host shouldn't be too ambitious.

You must know that the original owner's body was of a concubine-born status, her birth father being a Third Rank Canjun; historically, military officials were never as valued as civil officials, and her participation status was automatically a step lower—not to mention that upon entering the palace she'd have to compete with a host of beauties, and the system was truly a bit worried about the host's personal safety.

Shen Yao:...

"System, thank you for your consideration," was she looking down on her? Had they forgotten they had an advantage no one else had?

"The current emperor is over thirty years old, and to this day has not a single son or daughter, while the emperor's several brothers all have some little sprouts in their homes; tell me, is the emperor anxious?"

"Speaking further of the Yu Dynasty's situation, it's no exaggeration to say there are internal troubles and external threats."

The borders are constantly harassed and invaded by enemies, yet here in Jingcheng there is music and dance in peace, a life of luxury and decadence.

Such signs of a dynasty's end times—do you think the Yu Dynasty has any hope left?"

System:...

The system was left speechless by the host's words, its unmoving brain reacting for a long while, finally stammering a reply: "What does this have to do with the host entering the palace?"

Shen Yao snapped her fingers, "Of course it's related, a huge relation."

"What is the Childbirth System for? And what is this body's maiden family for?"

As the saying goes, the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility.

"Since I can bear children, I should enter the palace; since the Shen Family are military officials, they should go to the battlefield and shine."

"But all of this requires the emperor's approval; otherwise, how can I bear children alone? How can our Shen Family go to the battlefield without soldiers?"

After listening to the host's long string of words, the system finally understood (?) the host's purpose: entering the palace.

"However, Host, the person the Shen Family has selected to enter the palace is your elder sister."

"No problem, she hasn't been reported on the list yet; I can strive for it personally."

After speaking, Shen Yao got off the bed, called the maid waiting at the doorway to help her dress, and pondered the Shen Family's situation in her heart.

As for the Shen Family, simply put: Shen Yao's birth father Shen Chunbai is a Third Rank Canjun, who hasn't moved positions in some years and hasn't left Jingcheng.

Shen Yao's grandfather and grandmother have passed away; those sons and daughters under their knees who should have divided the household have divided, those who should have married have married; currently, only Shen Chunbai's branch lives in the Shen Family Mansion.

As for Shen Chunbai's principal wife, also a daughter of a military family, surnamed Yuan, she has some wit but not much; under her knees she bore two sons and one daughter.

The eldest son Shen Zhanghe, the second son Shen Zhanghe, and the youngest daughter Shen Rong.

The remaining concubines and chambermaids in the mansion are not few, but those who bore offspring are only two or three.

Shen Yao is one of them, ranked below Shen Rong, who was born to Lady Shen; behind her are a younger concubine sister Shen Ling and a concubine brother Shen Changsheng.

Because Shen Yao and Shen Rong are only half a year apart in age, Shen Yao, though her birth mother died in difficult labor early, was not particularly favored by Lady Shen, and in the Shen Mansion she was always a nonentity.

The boldest thing this person ever did was secretly liking the Yuan family cousin who was mutually affectionate with her elder sister Shen Rong.

Especially this year, with rumors of the imperial selection spreading, the Shen Mansion wanted to send Shen Rong to the palace to participate; the original owner felt somewhat hopeful and thought to ask her birth father and principal wife to help marry her off after she caught a freezing illness.

When Shen Yao first arrived, she felt cold, precisely because this girl was truly simple-minded, underestimated the winter temperature, and overestimated her own body's endurance; after she died, Shen Yao picked up the bargain.

As for the frostbite issue, Shen Yao easily resolved it with two pills, without any aftereffects or influence.

"Xiao Fu, is Father in the front courtyard study?" Shen Yao asked while tidying herself before the copper mirror.

"Replying to Young Lady, the Old Master is in the study; Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master, and Third Young Lady are all there."

Xiao Fu kept her head slightly lowered; she was Shen Yao's personal maid, recently arranged by Shen Yao to closely watch the front courtyard situation.

Therefore, whenever Shen Yao spoke, Xiao Fu could say one, two, three.

With an affirmative sound, Shen Yao nodded in satisfaction, "Lead me to the study."

She had to seize the time to get in touch with her birth father; this palace wasn't somewhere just anyone could enter, and elder sister Shen Rong's temperament and appearance weren't very suitable; she had to be the one to go.

Shen Yao wasn't deliberately belittling Shen Rong by saying this, because Shen Rong herself didn't like entering the palace, and usually excelled at wielding knives and spears; letting this person enter the palace to sing, dance, and compete for favor? That was a completely different picture.

When Shen Yao arrived at the front courtyard study, she could still hear several voices arguing from within.

"Housekeeper, please convey word that I have come with a matter to request an audience with Father."

Shen Yao smiled at the Shen family's old housekeeper and nodded, causing this extremely smooth and proper old housekeeper to hurriedly step aside.

"Fourth Young Lady is too courteous; this old one will go report to the master immediately."

She said nothing disallowed, nor did she mention the legitimate-vs-concubine family rules that certain people in the mansion love to lecture about.

That's why they say old hands are sharp; though the Shen family does not have an abundance of rules, internally there are a host of chaotic taboos, and this old housekeeper has been able to remain steady in the mansion for so many years, showing he is truly capable.

Shen Yao, standing outside the door, did not know that the old housekeeper's report had to some extent eased the conflict in the study; none of the four understood the significance of Shen Yao coming over, and Shen Zhanghe even sniped that she did not know how to pick a time.

"Father, anyway the daughter is unwilling to enter the palace; this move of the Shen family runs contrary to the daughter's wishes."

Shen Rong stuck out her neck with an unwilling look, making Shen Chunbai slap the table in anger, "Hmph! Whether you are willing or not, this matter is settled; you have no room to be unwilling!"

Shen Rong was anxious, "Father"

"Enough!" Shen Chunbai interrupted Shen Rong's speech, waving his hand to have the old housekeeper bring Shen Yao in.

Shen Rong was still unconvinced over this, was pulled by Shen Zhanghe, who quietly reminded, "In front of outsiders, you are not allowed to speak nonsense."

Clearly, they did not regard Shen Yao as kin; Shen Rong did not refute, but Shen Changyu glared at them several times and warned Shen Zhanghe to watch his words, "Fourth Sister and Third Sister are both sisters; if you don't like it, get lost back where you came from."

Shen Zhanghe:... What sister is Fourth Brother? Not born of the same mother.

Pursing his lips and ignoring Shen Changyu, when Shen Yao came in to salute and ask after them, Shen Zhanghe still acted as if he couldn't be bothered, exactly as if Shen Yao owed him money.

"Hmph! Such ambition; I hope he can keep up this ambition from now on!"

Shen Yao complained in her heart that Shen Zhanghe was childish; turning to face Shen Chunbai, she wore a smile, completely hiding her true thoughts.

Shen Chunbai was currently troubled by Shen Rong's matter and did not want to beat around the bush with Shen Yao, directly asking Shen Yao the purpose of her visit.

Shen Yao explained she had something to say, and asked if the three elder siblings could avoid it.

Shen Changyu immediately wanted to take Shen Zhanghe and Shen Rong, this pair of younger siblings, away, but Shen Zhanghe and Shen Rong were both unwilling to leave; the most excessive was Shen Zhanghe, looking at her with both contempt and curiosity, making Shen Yao really want to slap him hard twice.

"It's nothing much anyway; since Second Young Master and Third Sister want to listen, let them stay."

Without waiting for Shen Zhanghe to find a gap to interject sarcastically, Shen Yao shifted the topic to her own marriage, "Since catching a glimpse of Your Majesty last year at the Upper Yuan Festival, the daughter has admired him for a long time; today she dares to beg Father to agree to let the daughter enter the palace for the Imperial Selection."

These few words spoken directly held the four people present spellbound, including Shen Zhanghe who always liked to pick trouble.

In the end Shen Rong reacted first, hurriedly pulling Shen Chunbai to agree, "Fourth Sister having such a thought, Father naturally should grant it," so that she herself would not have to enter the selection and could continue to love her cousin.

Shen Changyu first looked at Shen Yao kneeling on the ground, then at Shen Rong jumping up and down, walked up to Shen Yao and asked quietly, "I do not know if Fourth Sister's words come from the heart?"

Entering the palace is not a good thing; who knows how many young imperial consorts die in the palace every year.

The Shen family sent Shen Yao to participate because the imperial will cannot be defied; the daughters of all officials of Fifth Rank and above, of legitimate lineage and marriageable age, must participate, while those born of concubines have no such requirement.

Shen Yao... Shen Changyu lowered his eyes; he had not paid much attention to this concubine-born younger sister, only knowing she was a gentle and quiet person, impossible to do something so bold; could it be that his mother and sister cooked up this new trick behind his back?

Official ranks (combined, borrowed, inaccurate)

Because there are regular and deputy ranks, the deputies were deleted and certain integration was done; the content does not involve too much. (Sorry, inaccurate, please forgive)

First Rank — (Civil) Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, Grand Guardian, Grand Academician. (Military) General, Admiral.

Second Rank — (Civil) Heir Apparent's Junior Preceptor, Heir Apparent's Junior Tutor, Heir Apparent's Junior Guardian. (Military) Vice General.

Third Rank — (Civil) Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, Commissioner of the Transmission Administration. (Military) Canjun.

Fourth Rank — (Civil) Vice Commissioner of the Transmission Administration, Junior Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent's Household. (Military) Guerrilla Commander, Regional Commander.

Fifth Rank — (Civil) Scholar of the Hanlin Academy, Lecturer of the Hanlin Academy, President of the Imperial Academy, Junior Vice Minister of the Guanglu Temple, Director of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, Junior Vice Minister of the Honglu Temple, Surveillance Commissioners of various circuits, Lecturers of the Hanlin Academy, Prefects of various provinces.