Chapter 433: Bound to the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 434: The Rise of a Bystander (2)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

"Yao'er, are you truly willing to enter the palace?"

"Replying to Father, Yao'er's words are all spoken from the heart, not a single false word."

"Get up. Father already knows about this matter. You may all return first."

The study door opened again. Unlike when Shen Yao had entered alone, this time all four of them left together.

"Fourth Sister, were the words you just spoke to Father truly from the heart?" Shen Rong grabbed Shen Yao's wrist, her anxiety plainly visible on her face.

Shen Yao smiled and nodded, appearing both shy and earnest. "Not hiding it from Elder Sister, when I first felt affection for Sheng Di at the Upper Yuan Festival, I thought we would never cross paths again. This palace selection is a great blessing for me."

This was her first step to the top; no matter what, she could not give up.

The girl's light brown eyes held longing and joy for her beloved. Shen Rong, who boasted of her deep affection for Yuan biaoge, found Shen Yao's sincere words even more endearing, treating her as a kindred spirit.

That was right. Neither of them was wrong. Feelings could not be avoided; they both pursued them earnestly, all for a perfect ending.

"Fourth Sister, rest assured. Elder Sister will definitely help you and fulfill your wish."

It would be best if Fourth Sister entered the palace while she herself married Yuan biaoge—both sides would be happy, and nothing could be better.

After speaking, Shen Rong took Shen Yao's hand and invited her to her own residence.

Shen Rong felt they had much to talk about. Previously she had misunderstood Fourth Sister; now the misunderstanding was cleared. As sisters of one family, they should love one another.

Shen Yao:...

How to put it? Shen Rong's personality was indeed unsuited for the palace. She was truly helping her, not taking advantage of her.

"Hmph! Deeply scheming!"

Shen Zhanghe watched Shen Rong being coaxed away, gnashing his teeth in anger.

Shen Yao really had methods. No wonder she was a concubine-born daughter unfit for polite society—just as her mother said, she was always putting on airs.

Shen Zhangyu:...

Shen Rong and Shen Yao had already left. Now, apart from the little servant attending them, only the two brothers remained.

In other words, these were all their own people!

With one's own people, things were easy to handle.

Slap—

In front of the little servant, Shen Zhangyu did not hold back but directly gave Shen Zhanghe a slap.

This sudden action not only stunned Shen Zhanghe but also frightened the few little servants nearby into kneeling on the ground, wishing they could gouge out their own eyes.

Ayaiya, what was all this? How had they bumped into the Eldest Young Master striking Young Master Two? Would they be silenced for this?

"Eldest Young Master."

Shen Zhanghe widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief. Eldest Young Master had actually hit him!

Why?

"You still dare to ask why? Whether in the study or at the doorway courtyard, don't you know what you yourself said?

What can be said and what cannot—are you stupid or foolish? Do I need to teach you this principle?

The Shen family is a military family. If we wish to enter the court as officials in the future, we must achieve merit on the battlefield.

Put aside your contempt for Fourth Sister. In the future, our Shen family may have to rely on Fourth Sister to turn things around. If I hear you say such brainless words again, go kneel in the ancestral hall until your head is clear!"

Shen Zhangyu's words were far from courteous; it was practically pointing at Shen Zhanghe's nose and scolding him.

Shen Zhanghe wore a look of displeasure. Whether it was what Shen Zhangyu said or the future possibility of Shen Yao turning things around and their Shen family having to rely on her, Shen Zhanghe stubbornly refused to believe it.

Shen Zhangyu sneered. "If you don't want to achieve merit and establish a career, only wanting to be a good-for-nothing, then continue to offend Fourth Sister."

Compared to Shen Rong, whom anyone could see at a glance was not material for entering the palace to compete for favor, Shen Zhangyu was more willing to place his hopes on Shen Yao, who usually appeared quiet and reserved.

He was the Eldest Legitimate Son of the Shen family and also the future Head of the Family. Shen Rong and Shen Yao were both his sisters.

After speaking, regardless of how Shen Zhanghe thought, Shen Zhangyu took the lead, taking the little servant and leaving directly.

He still needed to go to the Main Courtyard to see Lady Shen. After all, Shen Yao's matter ultimately stole Shen Rong's opportunity (although Shen Rong was very willing, the fear was that Lady Shen might not be willing). Shen Zhangyu had to go first to soothe his birth mother, lest someone with ill intent take advantage of the opening and affect their relationship with Fourth Sister.

"Host, Shen Zhangyu truly has ideas. No wonder he is the child Shen Chunbai favors most."

"You think? Whether the Shen family can rise depends entirely on Shen Zhangyu's methods."

This could also be considered Shen Yao's small test. The Shen family was indeed her ancestral home, but she could not truly be left to fly solo. One person's effort ultimately cannot compare to mutual pursuit. Hope Shen Zhangyu does not disappoint her.

"Younger Sister, how do you like this set of jewelry? Doesn't it suit your complexion? I..." Shen Rong took out her own jewelry and new clothes, piling them before Shen Yao. Judging by her actions, she practically wanted to bundle them all and give them to her.

Shen Yao:... No need, truly no need.

As for Shen Rong, she was good in every way, just very unsuited for a complex place like the palace.

Upon learning that a sister she was not close with would enter the palace in her place, Shen Rong was very happy. But after the joy, she felt an indescribable guilt, as if watching a young girl in her prime enter a den of demons. Was the palace a good place? Fourth Sister truly suffered.

Once Shen Rong fell into her own emotions, she would listen to no one, even if Shen Yao repeatedly explained that this decision had nothing to do with Shen Rong.

Shen Yao:... Tired, do whatever you want.

When Shen Yao left Shen Rong's courtyard, she held in her hands many pieces of jewelry and cloth that Shen Rong had stuffed to her. Lady Shen doted very much on Shen Rong. It could not be said that Lady Shen treated other concubine-born daughters badly; it was just that in matters of duty, no one could find fault, but it could not compare with her own biological daughter.

"Fourth Sister, come again next time."

Shen Rong stood smiling at the doorway to see Shen Yao off, and the maid beside her could not persuade her otherwise.

Shen Yao smiled and bade farewell to Shen Rong. When leaving the courtyard, Xiao Fu was still a bit lightheaded. Her Young Lady had received so many treasures—were they all real?

"Young Lady, will Furen hold you accountable?" Lady Shen's temper was not very good; occasionally losing her temper once could frighten someone to death.

Although Xiao Fu was not very clever, she could do what needed to be done. At the moment, she looked at her Young Lady with a worried face, and Xiao Fu bit her lip.

"No need. When we return, I'll put it away properly. Since Third Sister means well, we cannot let her kindness go to waste."

Shen Yao thought to herself that Lady Shen had Shen Changyu to soothe her; once her emotions stabilized, she would naturally invite Shen Yao over, and by then there would still be a tough battle to fight.

Compared to men who like to focus on the big picture, women living in the inner quarters pay more attention to small details.

Lady Shen had an unfortunate childhood and has always disliked these concubine-born children of theirs, and her usual conduct is to ignore them whenever she can.

Having grown up in such an environment, how could Shen Yao make Lady Shen feel at ease? Once she enters the palace, will she really contribute to the Shen Family?

"I'm just afraid your Fourth Sister harbors resentment in her heart, secretly bearing a grudge over the years for Mother's neglect of her. Then what will you do with Changhe and Rong'er?"

In the main courtyard room, even though Shen Changyu kept laying out facts and reasoning, Lady Shen still held a suspicious attitude toward Shen Yao.

Judging others by herself, Lady Shen herself dislikes concubine-born children; if it were Shen Yao, would she have a good impression of them wanting the main house?

It must be said, Lady Shen does have some self-awareness.

Shen Changyu:...

Shen Changyu could understand the point of Lady Shen's worries, but just as Shen Yao said, Shen Changyu had been raised from childhood as the Head of the Family of the Shen clan, and what he concerned himself with were major clan affairs. As for these petty matters between women—you resent me, I hate you—Shen Changyu considered them a waste of time.

"Mother, perhaps you are overthinking it. I observe that Fourth Sister is clear and orderly in her speech, and her words have substance. She surely will not take those past trivial grudges to heart."

"If Mother is truly not at ease, you might as well start treating Fourth Sister better from today."

"Fourth Sister is also of Shen blood. One prospers, all prosper; one suffers, all suffer. The rise of the Shen Family helps Fourth Sister, and Fourth Sister entering the palace is also a help to the Shen Family."

How could a matter beneficial to both sides escalate to mutual destruction? Besides, if the Shen Family meets disaster, it is no benefit to Fourth Sister either. The Imperial Palace indeed does not look at birth, but having a background is certainly better than having nothing at all.

Lady Shen:...

Lady Shen angrily pushed away Shen Changyu's arm, pointing at her own eldest son as she said, "What are you saying? Mother hasn't done anything wrong."

And let her treat that concubine-born daughter better? On what grounds?

Shen Changyu:...

"Mother, my son is considering the Shen Family. Third Sister's nature is unsuitable for the palace. If she enters the palace, it will be harmful and of no benefit to the Shen Family."

Since that is the case, why not send Shen Yao into the palace? They are all your own sisters; what difference does it make who receives the Emperor's Favor?

Lady Shen stamped her foot. "How is there no difference? A mere concubine-born daughter is not fit to be mentioned in the same breath as Rong'er. It would be better to send your uncle's family's Portion'er into the palace. At least she is your cousin sister, Mother."

Shen Changyu loudly interrupted Lady Shen. "Mother, Cousin Sister Portion is also concubine-born, no different from Fourth Sister. Besides, judging by kinship relation, a cousin sister is not as close as Fourth Sister."

Lady Shen:?...!!!

Lady Shen was made so angry by Shen Changyu that her chest ached. What is this child saying? "He is your uncle!"

"So what if he is your uncle? The Yuan Family now has only one presentable cousin brother. Your uncle behaves in the most improper way." Shen Changyu gave Lady Shen no face at all. Obviously, some words had been held in his heart for too long. "Mother, since you trust your uncle so much, why not agree to let Third Sister marry the cousin brother? Instead, you insist on sending Third Sister into the man-eating Imperial Palace?"

They all speak nicely, but it is all for the sake of benefit. Upon close examination, there is no affection.

Shen Changyu admits he is utilitarian, but his starting point is always for the Shen Family. What about his mother? Uncle! Uncle! The Yuan Family has been defeated for many years; they are not even as good as our Shen Family! His mother's heart is also biased!

Lady Shen and Shen Changyu, mother and son, could not communicate smoothly, and in the end they could only part on bad terms.

Shen Changyu pondered how to handle things when he returned. It didn't matter that Lady Shen's side could not be persuaded; what was important was that Father's side must agree.

As the elder brother who had watched Shen Rong grow up since childhood, Shen Changyu knew Shen Rong's character too well.

But if there was any possibility, Shen Changyu was willing to send Shen Rong into the palace. Unfortunately, it won't work. Shen Rong has not a single ability to survive in the palace, and she might even drag the Shen Family down.

As for whether Shen Yao can do it? Shen Changyu dares not guarantee it one hundred percent, but Shen Changyu can be certain that Shen Yao is definitely more reliable and scheming than Shen Rong. Comparing the two, Shen Changyu supporting Shen Yao entering the palace is completely understandable.

What about other clansmen of the Shen Family, or the children of Shen Chunbai's other brothers and sisters? If you can use a sister who shares the same father but a different mother, why use a paternal cousin who shares neither father nor mother? Everyone is born of a mother and raised by a father. If even one's own family is not reliable, how can one expect other families to be?