Chapter 449

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Compared to outside, the interior of the hall was obviously much livelier. Everyone found a seat, and shortly after, the two joined a new game again.

"You must be Xin Meimei, truly hearing about someone is not as good as seeing them," said the Third Rank Jieyu sitting beside Shen Yao. Those who had entered the palace the shortest time had been there for three years.

Facing an imperial consort like Shen Yao who was exceptionally favored on the surface, no matter how much they grumbled in their hearts, everyone spoke very kindly and gently.

Shen Yao smiled and complimented the other party a couple of times, "How could I compare to Elder Sister's praise? It is merely the Emperor's favor."

"Xin Meimei is too modest. Do not underestimate yourself. We few also wish for the Emperor's favor, but nowadays we probably cannot even see his face."

"What about Hu Qin? Can't you still see her during holidays and festivals? There's no need to scare Xin Meimei for no reason."

"Giggle giggle giggle, Sister Xu, it's been many days since we last met, and you're still as quick-witted as ever."

"Zeng Meimei is not bad either. However, don't just let us few talk; we must let Xin Meimei speak as well."

"……"

Shen Yao had to admit that facing these straightforward and unscrupulous elderly Jieyu beside her, she had no way to deal with them at all.

After all, even when joking, they didn't forget to dig for material from her own person; their mental state was simply far ahead.

Also suffering the same distress as Shen Yao was Zheng Xiurong sitting opposite her. The imperial consorts beside her were all Second Rank, and speaking of it, there was much resentment.

One sentence: "Sister, aren't you favored? Aren't you sad?" The next sentence: "Sister, don't be afraid, there are plenty of days like this; you still have to rely on yourself to endure."

Zheng Xiurong: ……

Zheng Xiurong could still smile until now, entirely relying on her own cultivation to hold on. After all, whose natal family among the Nine Pin doesn't have a few backings? In the imperial harem, snapping at each other is a small matter, but offending someone and affecting court relations is a big one.

As the highest-ranked Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort entered, the hall fell silent.

The Noble Consort was displeased and said with implied meaning, "It looks like you were chatting very happily. Why, as soon as this palace arrives, everyone becomes mute and doesn't speak?"

Virtuous Consort's expression turned slightly cold as she tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Noble Consort Niangniang, since you know you are not well-liked, why bother saying it out loud and making yourself look foolish?"

The Noble Consort let out a light snort. "This palace only needs the Emperor to like me. Unlike Virtuous Consort, whom no one likes."

Everyone in the hall: ……

Including Shen Yao, everyone was crazily refreshing their screens in their hearts, thinking the Noble Consort had gone mad.

Wow, heavens, can such words be spoken? Too blunt and bare. The Noble Consort wouldn't really want to follow in Consort Shu's footsteps and not want to live, would she?

Virtuous Consort coldly looked at the Noble Consort, but in the end said nothing. Until the Empress entered the door leaning on Gui Mama's hand, did the hall slowly regain its noise.

"Subject pays respects to the Empress Niangniang. May Niangniang have ten thousand blessings."

"All of you, rise."

Because the Empress had been worshipping Buddha for many years, she carried a scent of sandalwood on her person.

Shen Yao's seat was some distance from the Empress's main position, but she could still smell it clearly.

Placing a single hand at the tip of her nose, using the faint scent on her clothes to cover the smell of sandalwood, Shen Yao had the system analyze it quickly. She felt something was wrong.

The Empress was a bit unusual today. She did not refuse outright with a single stroke as before, nor did she rush to the next procedure. Instead, she pulled the Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort to chat with the imperial consorts they hadn't seen for a long time.

Chat?!

Shen Yao lowered her eyes, using the light to block the emotions about to overflow in her gaze, and gently replied to the Empress's useless and time-wasting questions.

"Cough cough"

The Empress turned her head and coughed twice, then softly called Shen Yao to come forward. "This palace has not appeared in the imperial harem for a long time. The meeting gift from before should be made up. This pair of ruby earrings was a reward from the late Emperor. You keep them."

Keep them?

Shen Yao hesitated, but the Empress's kindness was hard to refuse, so Shen Yao could only accept them.

Turning around, she handed them to Xiao Fu beside her. Shen Yao discreetly returned to her seat and coldly watched others come forward to receive rewards.

"Host, the Empress is really black!"

The system found an opportunity to speak, while doing its best to block danger for Shen Yao.

"If not black, how could she sit firmly in the Empress Position?" Shen Yao fiddled with the handkerchief in her hand. "I reckon that for many years, the Emperor's imperial harem has not heard the sound of an infant's cry. The Empress has also contributed a part."

The scent of sandalwood was strong, perfectly covering the smell of musk within. Also, the ruby earrings used by the Empress as a reward had been soaked in medicinal herbs for invigorating blood and removing blood stasis. Long-term wearing is disadvantageous to women in childbirth.

"Tsk tsk tsk, the Empress is stalling for time. I don't know what benefit this does for her?"

The system shook its head and swayed its brain, thinking that given the Emperor's current physical condition, among all the imperial consorts in the whole room, only the host had won the prize; the others did not have those conditions.

The Empress distributed 'contraceptive pills' equally to everyone. Not only is it useless, but it is also easy to expose. What if some imperial consort kicks up a fuss because of this? Wouldn't the only path left be that of a Deposed Empress?

"There are plenty of things with no benefit, yet I haven't seen others do less."

Shen Yao felt the system was simply making a fuss out of nothing. Some things cannot be judged by common sense. Also, the Empress emphasized the late Emperor with one sentence and the imperial bestowal with the next. Isn't she just clearing her own relationship?

Using this unclear evidence to drag in the Empress, without checking whether she would admit it or not.

"First priority is to guard our own turf. The rest can wait until we go back."

Shen Yao put away the handkerchief, wearing a just-right smile on her face. She only heard Gui Mama say "Newcomer enters the hall," and this purposeful greeting finally came to an end.

…………

"Niangniang, all the imperial consorts have left safely. You have been busy for a long time. You should go back and rest."

After closing the doors of Fengyi Palace again, Gui Mama returned to the main hall and reached out to send the Empress to the inner room next door. Unexpectedly, she was refused by the Empress. "Let's go to the small Buddhist hall."

Gui Mama subconsciously glanced behind her. "Niangniang, you have been in the small Buddhist hall for many years. There's no rush for this moment."

Why must she run to the small Buddhist hall to eat bitterness and suffer? Kneeling for a whole day at a time. Niangniang's knees have already deformed, and every night she wakes up in pain several times in her sleep.

Gui Mama's heart was in a knot. She really wanted to grab the Empress and seriously persuade her. Unfortunately, the Empress didn't listen to what she said, and thinking more was useless.

"If the heart is not sincere, the Buddha Ancestor will not forgive this palace." Besides, today she had done many deeds of killing and creating karma.

Leaning on Gui Mama's arm to stand, the Empress staggered as she slowly made her way to the Small Buddhist Hall.

Gui Mama:...

Sigh, why is the master so stubborn? Must she ruin her body before she's satisfied?

"Your Majesty, these ruby earrings, this servant..." Xiao Fu hesitated; logically they should be placed on the dressing table for daily use, but these were a gift from the Empress, and because of certain past events, Xiao Fu had no good impression of the Empress and was even more unwilling for her master to use such things.

"Just put them on the dressing table; after all, it's the Empress Dowager's goodwill."

Shen Yao held a round fan in her hand, idly flipping through books.

All were anecdotes and stories from the Emperor, with little substance, perfect for relieving boredom.

Xiao Fu made an "oh" sound, placed the ruby earrings before the dressing table, then turned back to her master's side to take the fan and fan her master for coolness.

Shen Yao happened to free both hands, making it easier to read the book's content.

"System, deal with that pair of ruby earrings; preserve the scent on them while delaying its dissipation, so they can be used when putting on an act in the future."

"Host, rest assured, leave it to me," this kind of thing was a piece of cake for the system.

"Xiao Fu, who do you think the Emperor will summon tonight?"

Shen Yao changed her posture, trying to relax her tense body as much as possible.

"This servant thinks it should be that He Cairen from Jiangnan."

He Cairen was not only beautiful but also the highest-ranking among this batch of Jiangnan consorts; the Emperor surely had a deep impression of her. Based on her limited understanding of the Emperor, Shen Yao inferred that this He Cairen had an extremely high probability of standing out.

"She indeed is the type the Emperor likes, but not necessarily able to gain favor; too wooden, far less smooth than the other few."

Like a pretty porcelain doll, she looks fine at first, but after getting along for a long time, one would find her tiresome and would rather stay with interesting people in their heart.

Among these consorts from Jiangnan, there are indeed many interesting people.

Putting down the book in her hand, Shen Yao beckoned to Xiao Fu, leaned to her ear and whispered a few words, "... report to me if there is news; this matter is not urgent, just have someone keep an eye on it."

Xiao Fu's eyes lit up terribly, nodded in agreement, then turned and left the main hall.

"Host, does this count as spying on the Emperor's traces?" Actually daring to bribe someone by the Emperor's side.

"Nonsense, this is clearly a show of love for the Emperor," what does spying on the Emperor's traces mean, the wording is too harsh.

"Would you believe the Emperor would be very happy after knowing?" For someone arrogant like Yu Yu, open investigation is more like currying favor.

In his heart, the consorts are small pets raised in a circle, posing no threat compared to the Front Court.

This is also why the Empress and the others can continue to jump around; as long as no one foolishly moves against Yu Yu, Yu Yu won't think anything of it.

How does that saying go? A knife doesn't cut one's own body so one doesn't know the pain; Yu Yu can stay out of it now because he hasn't been dragged in, but once someone has the mind to slay the dragon, the first to go crazy will be Yu Yu.

"Host, hearing you say this, the current Holy Emperor is truly terrible," the system expressed disdain and said this person would be one of the worst choices in their missions.

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow, "There's no worst, only worse. Our mission hasn't ended, theoretically we could encounter any kind of choice."

Think Yu Yu is terrible? No no no, Shen Yao is actually very satisfied with Yu Yu.

Simple and easy to manipulate, and even when kicking someone off the table, no hesitation is needed; there is no more qualified tool person than this kind.

Doing missions, as long as feelings aren't discussed, things can be half easy.

System:...

The system fully agreed with the host's words and said future missions could also allow the host to choose to the maximum extent, thereby increasing the host's enthusiasm for missions and the richness of mission rewards.

After all, seeing the host so motivated, the system itself had a premonition that this mission would surely be a great success.

That night, the Emperor indeed summoned He Cairen and favored her for three days, with gifts and outings, followed by summoning other Jiangnan consorts; until the end of June, the Emperor kept circling among this group of Jiangnan beauties.