Chapter 435: Bound to the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 436: The Rise of a Passerby (4)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Shen Yao's body was nursed back to health only by early February; by the time she could go out and move about, it was already mid-February.

The weather in Jingcheng had warmed considerably compared to before. Shen Yao wore a light-colored long skirt with few patterns, and two tassel hairpins hung slightly on her head, giving people a sense of natural beauty like clear water emerging from a lotus, unadorned and pure.

Shen Rong brought her maid to visit Shen Yao, and in her words she did not forget to praise Shen Yao's outstanding appearance.

Why had she not noticed Fourth Sister's excessive beauty before? Could it be that Fourth Sister usually kept too low a profile, and because they were not close?

Since she couldn't figure it out, she simply stopped thinking about it. Shen Rong smiled broadly and showed Shen Yao the jewelry she had personally picked out for Shen Yao, all styles that complemented Shen Yao's complexion.

"…Sister's jewelry is a bit too few. How about in a few days, Elder Sister accompanies Younger Sister out to look? Several shops in Jingcheng have new styles."

Shen Rong enthusiastically invited Shen Yao to go out together. Girls, especially young and beautiful girls, wouldn't it be a loss not to buy more clothes and jewelry?

Shen Yao smiled and declined on the grounds of household lessons, "Please forgive me, Third Sister. The tutors are arranged with the wholehearted intention of Father and Mother; I cannot fail them."

Shen Rong: …

After hearing this, Shen Rong felt a bit awkward and guilty. Could she say her mother arranged tutors with ill intentions, deliberately finding trouble for her sister? Or better not say it.

"Younger Sister's studies are important; not going out is fine. With Elder Sister here, Elder Sister will directly buy them back for you," Shen Rong patted her chest, saying she would take care of it all.

Shen Rong knew better than anyone the situation of those famous shops in Jingcheng, guaranteeing to select fabrics and jewelry that would satisfy Younger Sister.

Shen Yao: …smiled without speaking; naturally someone would spend money to pay for her.

The two sisters chatted for a while, until the maid beside Shen Rong could not bear it and reminded her that it was time to go to the Main Courtyard. Only then did Shen Rong leave Shen Yao's small courtyard, looking back at every step.

'To be honest, I personally quite like Shen Rong; I really don't hope she marries into the Yuan Family in the future.'

A cesspool should stink and rot on its own instead of dragging good people down to sink with it.

If that cousin of the Yuan Family were sensible, he shouldn't make the Shen Family and Shen Rong face difficulties. From the partial intelligence she obtained, the Yuan Family was far inferior to the Shen Family; Shen Rong marrying over there would most likely meet with great misfortune.

'But these matters shouldn't be my concern. Besides, I'm also a mud Bodhisattva crossing the river, unable to save myself,' Shen Yao turned around and shook her head, beginning to ponder the list Shen Changyu had sent her two days ago.

The list was full of her future opponents, including this time the daughter of a First-Rank official. The lowest rank entering the palace was also the Second-Rank Nine Pin. As for her, a concubine-born daughter of a Third-Rank military family, managing to secure a Fourth-Rank Beauty position would be thanks to the Emperor's favor. After all, the status of military men in Yu Guo was truly awkward.

'In the Huang Hou of Yu Guo, aside from the Empress as the principal wife, there are seven under her jurisdiction: Four Consorts and Three Ladies of the First Rank.'

'Nine Nine Pin of the Second Rank, nine Jieyu of the Third Rank, nine Beauties of the Fourth Rank, nine Talented Ladies of the Fifth Rank.'

'Twenty-seven Bao Lin of the Sixth Rank, twenty-seven Nüshi of the Seventh Rank, twenty-seven Cai Nu of the Eighth Rank.'

'Changyi, who have no set number and no rank, are not counted among them.'

With so many ranks and numbers set, currently only one-third were filled. Even after this year's Imperial Selection batch was added in, it would just be making a sound.

Shen Yao sat in the Study, with a book of strange tales spread open on the desk. The story content was quite strange.

'Host, what is the connection between the rank setting of Yu Guo's Huang Hou and the book you're reading?' The System was puzzled. The Host had been staring at this page for nearly half an hour, and it had studied left and right but found no problem.

Could it be that it thought too little?

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow, closed the open book, 'Not much related. I just feel that the eight-character fate-telling recorded above is so valued by people. We should also send a meeting gift to the current Holy Emperor in advance.'

System: …Huh???

Shen Yao's lips curved up, her eyebrows and eyes curved. She thought that person had sought children for many years without seeing a bit of hope. Estimating that as long as it was a method, they would be willing to try it.

So, when people cannot see hope, engaging in feudal superstition makes them most likely to be deceived.

"You want the Imperial Astronomy Bureau of the palace to forge it?" Shen Chunbai was startled by his daughter's words.

Shen Yao: …

Cheap Father put it so harshly. What do you mean by forging? This is a kind lie.

And, "Father, it is not forging. How could a daughter have such gall to dare deceive the Holy Emperor?"

The matter of months is too general and vague, but the Holy Emperor's birth month—she left the sentence unfinished, letting Shen Chunbai fill in the blanks himself.

The current Holy Emperor Yu Yu was the fifth son of the late Emperor and is now thirty-one years old.

Compared to his several paternal brothers, the only thing worth saying about Yu Yu was that his birth time was the third day of the third month, also called the 'Superior Festival.'

On the third day of the third month, Xuan Yuan was born. So the third month is a good day.

Coincidentally, Shen Yao was also born in the third month. Even among the girls in the Imperial Selection, there would definitely be a few born in the third month.

But so what? Only with many people could Shen Yao's innocence be highlighted.

Shen Chunbai raised his hand and stroked his beard. The more he pondered, the more he felt this could indeed be used. He didn't even need to go out himself; just let out some rumors, and naturally there would be families daring to take a gamble.

Whether this matter succeeded or not, for the Shen Family there was no harm.

"Yao'er is wise; as her father, I am greatly comforted." Indeed, they had found the right person.

Shen Chunbai looked at Shen Yao and grew more satisfied. Compared to Shen Rong, who shouted and had no brains, Shen Yao, who was quiet and unexpectedly pretty, was the key to whether their Shen Family could rise.

Men understand men best. To be fair, Shen Yao's appearance and temperament could easily arouse a man's protective desire. The current Holy Emperor held great power and controlled the court alone. What type of woman would someone who had long been in a high position like?

"You and I are father and daughter. Yao'er, if you have anything to say in the future, just say it without hesitation."

Shen Chunbai's attitude improved even further. Shen Yao was not surprised.

Shen Yao nodded obediently and spoke of her concern about the instability of Yu Guo's borders. "I believe the Holy Emperor also needs his ministers to share his worries. Daughter hopes Father can seize the opportunity to bring fame to the Shen Family."

Shen Chunbai's expression became even more excited. "As Father, I wholeheartedly want to share the Holy Emperor's worries. It's just that there is currently no good opportunity." Only then did he think of sending his daughter into the palace through the back door to pry some resources for the Shen Family.

Shen Yao bowed her body and made a curtsy. "Daughter entering the palace is willing to share Father's worries."

"Good daughter."

"Father."

"…"

Two old foxes acted for each other. They clearly knew what was in each other's hearts, yet they insisted on saying these words before they would stop.

By the time Shen Yao emerged from the study, the horizon was already faintly darkening.

Xiao Fu held up a cloak for her Young Lady, her words expressing worry over her mistress's delicate body.

Shen Yao smiled, shook her head to indicate she was fine, and walked forward at a leisurely pace.

"Host, why lay everything out in the open?" Everyone is clever; shouldn't one leave fewer handles, with everything left unsaid?

"Simplify complex problems; don't spell everything out—what if someone has misgivings?"

Dealing with clever people, and family at that, one cannot always put on airs of depth.

Speaking more plainly and thoroughly is false, but both sides have confidence.

Otherwise, once Shen Yao enters the palace and cannot easily leave, with news not arriving in time, won't clever people overthink?

System:... feels like my brain isn't enough

Before entering the palace for the Imperial Selection, Shen Yao's daily life was just two points and one line; besides staying in her own small courtyard, she went to the front courtyard study or the main courtyard to report, while the idle Shen Rong would come over three or five times to gossip with Shen Yao.

There was no helping it; who made Jingcheng so lively because of the upcoming Imperial Selection?

"... Sister, you don't know that both families have girls waiting for the Imperial Selection; with this commotion, I reckon the Selection is off," Shen Rong shrugged her shoulders, saying it was just a quarrel of a few sentences, yet it spread throughout the city, "Someone's handwriting is definitely behind this."

Shen Yao:...

"Sister doesn't believe it?" Shen Rong's eyes shifted slightly, she secretly leaned close to Shen Yao's ear and spoke a name, "This person is usually jealous and loves to show off, absolutely no good reputation."

Shen Yao slightly raised her head, looking at Shen Rong's face which was exactly like her own; besides finding it funny, she also felt touched.

Reaching out to hold Shen Rong's wrist, Shen Yao sincerely thanked her for helping investigate; if not for her own need to enter the palace, Shen Rong truly had no need to investigate these things.

Speaking inevitably, Shen Yao's appearance indeed helped Shen Rong solve her own problem of not wanting to enter the palace, but whether Shen Rong later sent clothes and jewelry, came over to keep Shen Yao company, or like today investigated news and specially informed her, all were Shen Rong's intent as an elder sister.

Judge by deeds, not by intentions.

"Host, haven't even entered the palace yet, and these selected girls are already fighting so fiercely?"

How does it feel like two different styles; clearly the Host's side looks like peaceful years.

"The unlucky ones are families with only beauty but no matching ancestry; coincidentally, these families act high-profile, whether sincere or unintentional, they will all become targets for some people to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys."

Inside the palace or outside, who doesn't want overnight success to sit on the Empress Position?

Even though the current Holy Emperor already has a principal wife and no offspring, it still cannot stop ambitious people from placing their bets; what if they succeed? Even if they don't, it's just losing a daughter.

Wealthy families never lack girls of marriageable age; like cultivating chives, after one batch is cut, another grows; the value of ancient women, marriage alliances come first.

"Host, it's really dangerous, so we..." The System didn't want to pour cold water, but it was a bit timid and afraid.

"Who wins or loses is still unknown; don't you believe I can laugh last?"

Shen Yao retorted, causing the System to hurriedly explain it wasn't that it didn't have, it was just making the worst preparations, it

"Alright, put your heart in your belly," Shen Yao interrupted the System's slightly useless narration, "If that day really comes, I still have you, and I still have treasures like the space;" pushed to a dead end, just directly take the cheat to smash the negotiation table; in this contest of victory and defeat, Shen Yao never planned to lose from the start!

"Human strength has limits, but we don't;" the greatest cheat is that neither of them is human.

Abiding by human rules is only to better complete the mission; when the day of life and death truly arrives, Shen Yao will only choose to tear the rules to shreds, then have her formulate new rules.