Chapter 443: Bound to the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 444: The Rise of a Bystander (12)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

"Why is Her Majesty the Empress always unwell, Nainai Gui? Have you asked the Imperial Physician?"

Noble Consort fired the first shot, her gaze fierce, wishing she could rush in and drag the Empress out.

"Nainai Gui, we all know health is important, but from the imperial selection of maidens to today when the new consorts came to pay their respects, Her Majesty the Empress has not appeared once. Is this... is this not improper?"

Virtuous Consort followed closely behind; the two did not get along, but between them and the Empress, they were even more enemies.

The newcomers were not suited to speak on such an occasion, but everyone felt stifled by the Empress's maneuver.

Zheng Xiurong, the highest-ranking among them, also used a gentle tone to express concern for the Empress's health: "We newcomers coming to pay our respects to Her Majesty the Empress is the rules; canceling it without cause—if His Majesty blames us, what are we to do?"

They still needed to compete for favor to bring glory to their families; now they had come to Fengyi Palace and couldn't even enter the main gate. Zheng Xiurong, who had never suffered such injustice, was furious, and the other newcomers behind her spoke up one after another, perhaps thinking that the law does not punish the many—after all, there were so many people present; were they still afraid of an old palace nainai?

Nainai Gui:...

Nainai Gui knew the situation was dire; she did not want Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort to be so impatient, and the new consorts were also quite bold.

She explained in a stiff tone that Her Majesty the Empress's illness had already been reported to His Majesty, and Fengyi Palace was indeed not receiving guests today: "Please, all consorts, return as soon as possible."

Crack—

The opened palace gate was closed from the inside; such an action also served as an order to leave for everyone.

Fine, a whole group was left dumbfounded!

Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort stared speechless; neither had expected the Empress to dare go this far. It seemed she truly did not want the Empress Position.

"Dog slave, what are you standing there for? Return to the palace!"

Noble Consort was so angry she threw things around, and when getting into the sedan chair, she wished she could kill someone.

Virtuous Consort watched Noble Consort leave in a loss of composure, then looked thoughtfully at the flustered new consorts, smiled, and followed them away: "I still have half a piece of calligraphy unfinished, Yunxiang; we cannot linger here."

The two high-ranking consorts left one after another, and the remaining people gradually calmed down.

People began to consciously focus their gazes on Zheng Xiurong and Deng Chongyuan, after all, they were the only two of Nine Pin rank present.

Shen Yao's complexion was not too good. What was this? This was called plans changing faster than expected.

Good heavens, she was dressed so flamboyantly today just to find a presence so His Majesty would remember her, but the Empress not showing up ruined everything. What exactly did this person want?

"We newcomers entering the palace must naturally follow palace rules. Since Her Majesty the Empress is unwell, we should not linger at the door to disturb her. Sisters, let us return quickly."

Zheng Xiurong first curtsied before the main gate of Fengyi Palace, then left with her maidservants.

Deng Chongyuan followed closely behind; both were typical examples of knowing when to stop. Without Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort blocking the way in front, if they rushed ahead, it would be irrational. Not having seen His Majesty's holy countenance, who knew the true relationship between the Empress and His Majesty? It was not good to narrow their own path.

Shen Yao also hurriedly brought Xiao Fu and Xiao Ji to pay respects and greetings at the door, her voice weak and without emotion.

"Master, shall we return to Furong Palace?"

Xiao Fu supported Shen Yao's arm and asked carefully.

"Returning to the palace too early; let's stroll in the Imperial Garden." Her plan was interrupted, and Shen Yao had no spirit, until she got into the sedan chair and was carried by palace attendants to the Imperial Garden.

At this time, the garden was filled with fresh flowers, and the fragrance was overwhelming.

Shen Yao was followed by Xiao Fu and Xiao Ji; master and servants walked along the main road, admiring the scenery while calming the commotion they had caused at the gate of Fengyi Palace just now.

"Given the current efficiency of palace affairs, the news should have spread by now."

Shen Yao casually picked a bright red fresh flower, carefully plucked off the thorns, and held it in her hand.

The fresh flower carried a cloyingly sweet taste, lingering at the tip of her nose for a long time without dispersing.

Shen Yao took a deep breath and signaled Xiao Fu to find the artisans of the Imperial Garden to collect this kind of flower and bring it back to Furong Palace for bathing.

"Host, any consort with some connections knows about this matter."

The system admired the Empress's courage; slapping His Majesty's face again and again. It knew His Majesty had flown into a rage in Qianqing Palace and smashed half of the Imperial Study.

"Do you think the Yu Guo Imperial Palace is strange?" Shen Yao plucked petals and slowly crushed them. "The Empress is willful, Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort are on the front line, and the other consorts basically do not appear." Clearly, many people lived in the palace, and the morning greetings should have been a lively scene. Where were the people?

System:...

The system hesitated for a while, then stammeringly said that last night the Empress had sent someone to deliver word to the main positions of the other palaces that they did not need to come today; only the newcomers and Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort had not received it.

Shen Yao:...

"What does the Empress mean? Doing it on purpose?" Playing people for fools there.

The system weakly defended: "Host, when the Empress spoke with the nainai by her side, she felt Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort needed help managing the Six Palaces, and the newcomers paying their respects upon entering the palace was a long-established rule, so she did not specially send someone to inform them."

Shen Yao sneered: "Even you, a mechanical lifeform, would not believe such a flimsy excuse."

Simply perfunctory beyond perfunctory, a complete model of the worst possible plan.

System:... Although but, what the Host says is all true.

"The Empress did it on purpose, using the pretense to deliberately put on a show for His Majesty." Shen Yao walked to a pavilion and sat down. "The Empress is provoking His Majesty!"

Whether before or now, the Empress has been deliberately angering His Majesty.

"Why? This has no benefit for the Empress at all." The biggest boss in the palace is His Majesty.

Shen Yao casually threw the half-destroyed fresh flowers into the pond; the flower scent attracted the surrounding fish to swim over and gather. "You'd have to ask them. Old matters from years ago—neither you nor I know."

Shen Yao spread her palm and slowly extended it outside the pavilion, letting the warm light shine on her exposed wrist.

The system waited a while before saying someone was coming. However, the Imperial Garden was very large; Shen Yao did not move, and the two parties would not bump into each other.

"Really or fake?" Shen Yao did not believe it.

The system was huffy, indicating its professionality was beyond question, but why was that person heading straight for the pavilion? Hey? Wasn't the intention too obvious?

Shen Yao lowered her palm and signaled Xiao Fu and Xiao Ji to step forward and tidy her collar.

Xiao Fu still did not quite understand; there was no one around, so why was the Master suddenly concerned about her appearance?

Shen Yao spoke slowly, her gaze fixed on the rockery behind in the distance, "A guest will arrive shortly, but I don't know if they are a good guest or a bad one."

Xiao Fu, Xiao Ji:... Huh?

Xiao Fu and Xiao Ji quickly understood the meaning of their mistress saying a guest was arriving.

Seeing a strange beauty dressed almost exactly like their mistress rushing over in anger, Xiao Fu and Xiao Ji were afraid, but subconsciously stood in front of their mistress.

"Where did this stray cat and dog come from? Get out of my way!"

The beauty was beautiful, but had a terrible temper; as soon as she spoke, she made people disgusted.

"That's right, that's right, our mistress is Tang Meiren of Changle Palace."

"If you're sensible, move aside quickly; this pavilion in the Imperial Garden isn't a place just anyone can sit."

The maidservant beside the beauty spoke in a very shallow manner of praising one and belittling the other.

Shen Yao somewhat suspected whether this Tang Meiren's favor was due to the Emperor's changed taste, as she had never seen a Fourth Rank Beauty act so arrogantly in front of a Third Rank Consort Shen.

Waving her hand to tell Xiao Ji and Xiao Fu not to argue with the other party, Shen Yao smiled, "So it's Tang Meiren; I've long heard of your great name, but today's meeting doesn't live up to the reputation."

Turning her body to give the other party space to pass through, Shen Yao raised her hand to touch the hanging tassel, "Tang Meiren may not have seen this Palace before; if you are bored and idle in the future, you can come to Furong Palace for a chat."

After speaking, Shen Yao left holding Xiao Fu's arm, and when walking out of the pavilion, she accidentally stumbled, causing her originally neat hair ornaments to scatter instantly like a heavenly maiden scattering flowers.

A strand of meticulous hair ran from behind to her chest, the hanging tassel swayed, bringing up two strands of hair, setting off a kind of heart-stopping chaotic beauty for Shen Yao.

Xiao Fu and Xiao Ji were startled and hurriedly asked if their mistress was alright.

Shen Yao shook her head, "It's nothing, let's return to the palace quickly."

The master and servants left in a sorry state along the path they came, looking worlds apart from Tang Meiren's group strutting proudly behind them.

Perhaps this is what is called drama? When alone, one can't see how it's done, but once there are others cooperating around, it will bring unexpected results.

"Return to Qianqing Palace."

The middle-aged emperor watching the scenery in the attic behind the rockery waved his hand; what should have been a trip to go out and relax, unexpectedly brought an unexpected gain.

Li Guiquan, who had served the emperor closely for many years, had a tacit understanding and pointed out that the person who had just left was the newly entered Consort Shen of the Imperial Harem.

As for Tang Meiren, after gaining favor she became a bit overconfident; the Emperor had long been tired of and disliked her, and today's matter only worsened his bad impression of Tang Meiren.

Tsk tsk tsk.

Tell me, why insist on seeking death? Not being a lowly favored consort honestly, but instead making a scene until losing favor and finding it hard to turn things around.

The Noble Consort of Yongning Palace is still watching like a tiger eyeing its prey; this Tang Meiren really has no chance of success.

Li Guiquan complained in his heart, but on the surface he did not forget to report to the Emperor about the matter at Fengyi Palace.

The Emperor must know about the commotion; Li Guiquan estimated the Empress couldn't last much longer, because the Emperor's patience was limited.

As long as the ancestral homes of the consorts entering the palace this time can strive, the Empress Position will definitely be taken by the Emperor as a chip, just like how the Empress could sit firmly in the Empress Position back then.

When people grow old and older, they easily recall events from their youth; some rights and wrongs are no longer important, only the results can be retained.

The Empress? Not a pity; what's a pity is the Empress's ancestral home, the Xiao Shi.

Back then, the Xiao Shi was also powerful and influential in the court, but now they have ended up withered and without descendants.

"Li Guiquan, summon Consort Shen to serve in the bedchamber today, and bring her to Qianqing Palace in advance to dine together."

The Emperor's one sentence directly pulled Li Guiquan's thoughts back to reality.

Li Guiquan made an acknowledgment sound and obsequiously indicated this matter would surely be handled properly.

"Just handling it properly isn't enough; also go to Ku Fang to take some jewelry women like; today I observed Consort Shen, she is very suited for that set of Flowing Light Gauze Skirt, so send those fabrics over together."

The Emperor waved his hand, directly letting Shen Yao receive a reward before even serving in the bedchamber.