Chapter 440: Bound to the Birth System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 441: A Bystander's Rise (9)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

After letting her mind relax and sleeping for a full day and night, Shen Yao woke up with a clear head, feeling her body more relaxed than ever before.

Xiao Fu waited at the doorway; hearing movement from the room, she immediately asked if Young Lady needed washing and dressing.

Although it was getting a bit bright outside now, it didn't matter; Young Lady waking up was most important.

"Have Father and Mother sent word back?" Shen Yao got up, stretching her body; sleeping too long had one downside—stiff muscles.

"Replying to Young Lady, I've already arranged for someone to report back," Xiao Fu knew that right now, the Shen Family mansion's most watched person was their own Young Lady; how could she forget this matter?

"Mm, send some pastries and beverages over in a while," Shen Yao touched her somewhat dry belly and decided to eat and drink her fill before discussing anything else.

Xiao Fu smiled and agreed, saying the meal had already been prepared in the kitchen, waiting only for Young Lady to speak before it could be sent over.

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow, "Was it Eldest Young Master who had someone prepare it?"

Among the Shen Family, Shen Zhanghe was the most meticulous, truly capable of grasping state affairs and family matters with both hands; she believed his future achievements would not disappoint her.

"Young Master sends someone every day to ask about Young Lady's condition; when Young Lady wasn't at the Shen Family, it was also Young Master who arranged manpower to manage the small courtyard," during this period many items had been added inside and outside the small courtyard, all from Shen Zhanghe's hand; though not very valuable, among family, intent was most important.

Cold hard cash anyone could give, but divided concern must not be scorned.

"Eldest Brother has the heart to care for me; I naturally accept this kindness," once she entered the palace, as long as Shen Zhanghe wasn't too excessive, Shen Yao could do some favors for the Shen Family.

Helping others helps oneself; relying only on oneself without ancestry made it very hard to stand firm in the Huang Hou.

Shen Yao's initial goal wasn't low; to achieve her wish, she needed more helpers.

The Shen Family was the most basic and important link; fortunately Shen Zhanghe hadn't been spoiled by Shen Chunbai, fortunately Lady Shen hadn't been able to influence Shen Zhanghe much; Shen Yao wasn't afraid Shen Zhanghe valued profit over affection, after all only sufficient profit could last long—who didn't want a firm ally?

After finishing washing and eating a tasty meal, Shen Yao stood up and hurried to the front courtyard study.

Presumably during the time she rested, Shen Chunbai and Shen Zhanghe must have been waiting anxiously.

"Hehe, Yao'er, why don't you rest more?" Clearly her facial expression was as if she couldn't wait for Shen Yao to repeat every single move, word, and action from the palace for serious analysis, yet her words were unexpectedly considerate and sensible.

Shen Yao found it funny in her heart, but what showed on her face was full of emotion; in words she expressed that she had rested long enough, and today she came to explain her situation in the palace: "Daughter doesn't dare speak too absolutely, but," Shen Yao bashfully curtsied, "palace affairs are busy and complicated; please ask Father and Eldest Brother to prepare early."

Shen Chunbai, Shen Zhanghe:?!?!

Hearing these words, the father and son exchanged a meaningful glance, both able to see shock and joy in each other's eyes.

Yao'er/Fourth Sister's words—didn't they mean entering the palace was truly settled!

Settled was good; their Shen Family was saved!

Shen Chunbai couldn't help but laugh out loud, his hearty voice carrying far away: "Yao'er, as your father I indeed didn't misjudge you; worthy of daring to volunteer for the Imperial Selection—you indeed have some skills."

Shen Zhanghe clasped his hands behind his back, "Fourth Sister, items needed for the palace I'll help you handle; the Imperial Household Department side need not be worried about either," though the Shen Family couldn't compare to some Civil Official Factions, they weren't truly useless.

Shen Yao sincerely thanked them, "Yao'er thanks Father and Eldest Brother for your help."

Shen Chunbai waved his hand, "Between you and me, father and daughter, why stand on ceremony?"

Shen Zhanghe followed closely, "I am your Eldest Brother; if you need anything in the future, just send a letter to the Shen Family."

Good relationships naturally required effort to maintain; whether Shen Chunbai and Shen Zhanghe valued Shen Yao's ability or the blood ties between both sides, there was no harm.

The three talked for a long time in the study about entering the palace, discussing various small matters.

All were relatively obscure things not usually spoken aloud in daily life; who made Shen Yao different from before, with a person's importance emerging as status rose—like Shen Rong and Shen Zhanghe previously, both slowly marginalized, and they had no one to blame but themselves.

…………

Qianqing Palace

After handling today's official business, the Emperor sat leisurely in the bedchamber listening to a small tune.

Not far away, the rich scent of Dragon Yan Incense slowly rose from the incense burner, setting off his whole face with majesty and solemnity.

To be fair, most members of the Yu Guo Imperial Family weren't very good-looking, including Emperor Yu Yu himself; it was just that holding high office for long brought an aura of awe without anger, making people unable to help but feel submission upon meeting him.

Li Guiquan held the booklet sent by the Empress's attendant, carefully lifting it before Yu Yu.

"Your Majesty, this is the roster of newly promoted Imperial Consorts' ranks and palace assignments; please have a look."

Yu Yu took it casually upon hearing this, and signaled the singers performing the tune to all withdraw.

In less than half a cup of tea's time, only a sharp crack was heard, and the atmosphere instantly froze.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

"Dog slave, how can there be so few people on the roster?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, this, this, this is Her Majesty the Empress's meaning; Her Majesty the Empress..."

Crack—

Inside and outside Qianqing Palace, a whole group knelt down with crackling sounds; regardless of whether these palace attendants appeared by the Emperor's side, it didn't affect their admitting defeat.

"Hah! The Empress! What kind of Empress does she think she is?"

Li Guiquan wished to bury his head in the ground; hearing the gnashing curses from above his head, he secretly felt it was bad luck.

Her Majesty the Empress really was something—didn't she know her position could be preserved only thanks to the late Emperor's last edict and the Xiao Family guarding the border with the whole family exterminated in tragedy; how could she be so careless?

Although Her Majesty the Empress was indeed pitiful and had a little something to do with the Emperor, that wasn't a reason for her to provoke the current Holy Emperor time and again.

One must know that grace used once is less once; if Her Majesty the Empress continued to be obstinate and unrepentant, sooner or later she would play herself into ruin.

After a while, just as Li Guiquan had finished cursing the Empress once and pitied her once again in his heart, the voice from above his head finally let him rise.

Li Guiquan:... not easy, not easy

Bearing the soreness, Li Guiquan climbed up from the ground, still bowing and not daring to raise his head; after all this matter wasn't over yet—the number of people on the roster was fewer, and by the Emperor's meaning, he definitely had to find replacements elsewhere.

For many years in the palace no offspring had been born; the Emperor dreamed of an imperial heir; not enough people entering? Then just add more.

"Issue a secret edict to Cai Shen; select show girls from Jiangnan to fill the Huang Hou."

Cai Shen was an official serving in the Jiangnan region and Yu Yu's own trusted favorite minister; entrusting matters to him would surely satisfy Yu Yu.

Li Guiquan thought to himself that they had indeed come, and hurriedly nodded in agreement, but regarding the roster, "This slave dares to say that Shen Canjun's daughter Shen Yao residing in Furong Palace with the rank of Sixth Rank Bao Lin is indeed too lowly."

After all, she was the daughter of a Third Rank Official's household, and Furong Palace was personally promised by the Emperor; was the Empress's bestowed rank not meant to belittle her? Indeed, it made sense that things were getting worse and worse.

"Shen Yao," Yu Yu recalled; her figure was decent and her appearance not unremarkable, she was the type he favored.

Sixth Rank Bao Lin? The Empress was truly a talent, and still had the face to pick a fight with him? Why didn't she just request to be deposed and live in the Cold Palace? Putting on airs!

"Correct."

With one sentence, Yu Yu easily left Li Guiquan dazed, huh?

Changed from Sixth Rank Bao Lin to Third Rank Jieyu, promoted three ranks in just a few words? My goodness, Consort Shen has some luck!

"Acknowledgment, this slave understands."

Li Guiquan did not persuade his master to calm down, nor would he say that Zheng Shiying, daughter of a Grand Scholar, was the Second Rank Zheng Shi, and others with higher status than Shen Yao were only Third Rank Jieyu; with the Empress around to spoil the mood, there was enough of that. As a mere slave serving his master, it was more important to honestly follow the rules.

Turning around and holding the roster with the changed rank, Li Guiquan left, feeling that luck was truly hard to predict; it should be this Consort Shen who had the luck.

"Luck? This is danger and opportunity coexisting; a Third Rank Jieyu holding a hot potato."

Shen Yao rested her chin, everything happening in the palace was broadcast in real time by the system; although she could not truly participate, she could count as a witness.

"Host, what exactly is going on between the Emperor and the Empress?" She felt there were truly many melons buried inside.

Shen Yao smiled lightly, "Their interests differ; the Empress now only has an empty title, so of course she is unhappy that the Emperor has everything."

Simply put, they were cooperative partners where one lost big and one gained big; comparing the two sides, they directly started an unpleasant quarrel.

System:...

The Host's metaphor was truly unexpectedly simple and clear; upon careful thought, it was indeed so. A couple should be together; not being able to advance and retreat together surely meant both parties had problems. Thinking further of the Emperor and Empress's situation, tsk tsk tsk, involving imperial power struggles, it was truly cruel.

"Third Rank Jieyu, Sixth Rank Bao Lin," Shen Yao laughed lightly, feeling somewhat grateful that this cheap couple, the Empress and Emperor, were dueling with magic; otherwise she would have had to put in private effort to rise.

Now it was good; directly a Main Position in a palace, she could rise a rank even while pregnant, and rise another rank upon smoothly giving birth.

Indeed, the ranks in this palace were indeed easy to rise, as long as one mastered the method.

"What? Third Rank Jieyu, just because she is a concubine-born daughter of a Third Rank General?"

Has the Emperor gone mad? Why didn't the Empress stop this!

In the main hall of Yongning Palace, the Noble Consort was eating her favorite fruit platter, not expecting the news brought by the maid to be so off-putting to her appetite.

Her eyebrows furrowed in anger, her chest heaving, the Noble Consort almost cursed loudly, but was stopped by Lian Xiang.

"Master, this matter is already a settled fact; you getting angry over this is not worth it," no one would know if you ruined your health from anger.

The Noble Consort flicked her sleeve, "When I first entered the palace I was only a Third Rank Jieyu," she was still the legitimate daughter of a Grand Preceptor; a Canjun's daughter? What sort of thing is she!

Lian Xiang:...

"Master, since the other party is so undeserving of her position, after entering the palace she will surely be targeted and schemed against by everyone. Why not we sit and watch the tiger fight, and wait for the ending."

Lian Xiang, having served the Noble Consort for many years, of course understood that the Noble Consort was somewhat defensive/upset.

The Noble Consort, who always prided herself on her good birth, looked down on anyone inferior to her.

Consort Shen, who had not yet entered the palace, had violated the Noble Consort's taboo. Although this matter had nothing to do with Consort Shen, who let all the benefits be enjoyed by Consort Shen?

It is said that thunder and rain are all heavenly grace.

Consort Shen making enemies in the Huang Hou this time was due to there being too much heavenly grace.