Chapter 453

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

"Your Majesty, this subject was merely thinking of the Shen Family outside the palace," Shen Yao made a show of lightly sighing, "Your Majesty should be aware of this subject's situation. A few days ago, something happened at home; if it were not for Your Majesty's wisdom and martial prowess, this subject and the Shen Family would likely not have today."

Yu Yu hurriedly said, "Beloved Consort, why do you say such things? I certainly cannot allow you and my Imperial Son to suffer such wrongs."

Even if the Shen Family truly had problems in some matters, those problems must be nonexistent.

Now Shen Yao and the Imperial Son in her womb are the most important; no one can affect the birth of the Imperial Son. Could it be that someone else has come to Furong Palace to wag their tongues without his knowledge?

Yu Yu began to suspect certain concubines who were not entirely honest, especially the families behind them. One by one, they did not attend to their proper duties, but all kept their eyes on Furong Palace—what did that mean? Did they truly hope he would die without an heir?

"Your Majesty, this subject merely spoke out of feeling during her pregnancy."

If Your Majesty permits, this subject wishes to see her birth mother and eldest sister at home. Although this subject is not close to her birth mother, she truly has affection for her eldest sister."

Shen Yao did not drink the soup, but gazed expectantly at Yu Yu beside her.

Her eyes, washed clean by tears, were pure and bright, revealing her entire emotional state.

For concubines in the imperial harem to summon relatives into the palace was already fraught with concern; generally, aside from festivals, only the time before a concubine gave birth remained.

It was just that the current imperial harem had few offspring, and since the Emperor's own birth mother had passed away early, her maternal clan relatives were scattered far and wide, so very few concubine relatives could enter the palace.

Shen Yao's request was somewhat improper, but who made Shen Yao pregnant? This belly was Shen Yao's Immunity Token, and even the Emperor had to give it extra consideration.

"Since Beloved Consort wishes to see them, then let her see them," Yu Yu finally agreed, even waving his hand to have Li Guiquan send someone to deliver an oral decree. This matter should be done sooner rather than later; they should bring the people into the palace as soon as possible.

Upon receiving the news, Li Guiquan immediately sent someone to deliver a letter to the Shen Family outside the palace. The Shen Family outside the palace, upon receiving the oral decree to enter the palace, also urgently convened a family meeting.

Those attending the meeting naturally included Lady Shen and others. Among them, Shen Rong, because Shen Yao was favored in the palace, remained secluded in her boudoir and was not yet betrothed.

This time entering the palace, Shen Chunbai and Shen Zhanghe father and son mainly hoped Shen Rong would serve as a communication bridge to pass messages, thereby keeping the exchange between both sides smooth.

"Does Master not trust me?" Lady Shen broke down. It seemed that ever since Shen Yao entered the palace, Lady Shen was unhappy every day over various trivial matters.

At first Shen Rong and Shen Zhanghe would advise and coax her, but after a long time, these two also grew tired, and let Lady Shen toss and turn at home as she pleased.

Earlier, Shen Chunbai had suddenly been imprisoned, Shen Zhanghe and Shen Zhanghe were suspended from office and returned home, and Lady Shen was pressed down by Shen Zhanghe because she went mad. Now she was pulling this again—let alone Shen Zhanghe and Shen Chunbai, even Shen Rong was getting sick of it and could not stand it.

"Mother, when did Father say he doesn't trust you? The list for entering the palace the day after tomorrow includes you and your daughter together." If she didn't trust you, how could Lady Shen get the opportunity.

Lady Shen was stubborn: "Shen Yao is good at putting on a show. Who knows if she is sincere or fake? What if she invites me into the palace to humiliate and mock me? Wouldn't entering the palace just be doing what she wants?"

Shen Rong:...

The more she said, the more outrageous it was. Fourth Sister couldn't possibly do such a thing. What on earth was Mother thinking?

"Mother, Fourth Sister has now been invested as Xin Zhaoyi, honored as the head of the Nine Pin at Second Rank."

"After Fourth Sister safely gives birth to the Imperial Son in her womb, it is not impossible to further rise and even be invested as Empress."

Shen Zhanghe felt it was more useful to speak with facts. Lady Shen just missed her maiden home too much; no matter what was said, Third Sister could not be allowed to marry back there.

"Mother, Eldest Brother is right. You always speak ill of Fourth Sister, which does us no good. If possible, it's better to see less of the Yuan Family's aunt and them," Shen Rong frowned, feeling the Yuan Family was like a dog-skin plaster—once it stuck, it couldn't be shaken off.

Earlier, Shen Rong thought the Yuan biaoge was not bad, and Lady Shen stopped her from wanting to marry. Now Shen Rong was somewhat unwilling to marry the Yuan biaoge, but Lady Shen wanted to push this marriage through at all costs.

Unable to figure it out, Shen Rong planned to enter the palace and ask Fourth Sister's opinion. Now the Shen Family was the new nobility of Jingcheng, the maternal clan of the future Imperial Son. If they wanted to propose marriage to Shen Rong to hitch onto the Shen Family, who knew how many miles of families were lining up.

They say people move to higher places, water flows to lower places. Yuan biaoge? Who is he?

Lady Shen was repeatedly wounded in heart by her own biological children's words, and Shen Zhanghe also acted reserved, saying the Yuan Family was simply no good, and told her not to get involved.

Lady Shen:...

Lady Shen was once again speechless, sitting listlessly to one side without speaking.

It was a pity that the other four of the Shen Family knew this was only temporary. Soon Lady Shen would return to her old self, continuing to jump around and dig at the Shen Family's walls to fight for benefits for the Yuan Family.

Shen Chunbai glanced at Lady Shen, who no longer spoke, turned around and instructed Shen Rong to be extra careful when entering the palace. "Yao'er is pregnant, and now she has been invested as the head of the Nine Pin. There will surely be people watching inside and outside Furong Palace."

Shen Zhanghe carefully moved his wrist. "Third Sister, after entering the palace, listen to Fourth Sister's arrangements. We come from the same Shen Family, and our bodies flow with Shen Family bloodline. We are naturally closer than outsiders."

Lady Shen, upon hearing this, moved her eyelids, and soon returned to silence again.

Shen Rong nodded, understanding Eldest Young Master's meaning behind the words. If it weren't for Mother's maiden family acting this way for years, how could Eldest Brother have become estranged from Mother.

Shen Chunbai and Shen Zhanghe were naturally not just instructing Shen Rong on this one matter. Some words were not convenient to say in public, and they could only wait for a private opportunity to remind her.

Because of the matter of entering the palace, the Shen Family began to get busy, while Shen Yao in the palace was confirming information with the system, including that flash of spirit light previously interrupted by the Emperor.

"Your Ladyship, the Emperor has gone to Yuqing Palace to stay overnight. You should rest."

Xiao Fu reached out to help her master up from the bedchamber and carefully sent her to the bedside.

She brought warm water to carefully clean her master. After finishing, Xiao Fu did not forget to draw the bedchamber curtain and extinguish the several candles in the room.

The light became dim. Shen Yao lay alone on the bed and turned over. "System, Noble Consort probably won't live much longer."

"Host, why do you say that?" The system jumped out and repeatedly confirmed that the Emperor currently had not made a move against Noble Consort.

"Virtuous Consort and the Ye Family have met with misfortune. It can be said the Emperor is settling accounts after the autumn, killing the chicken to scare the monkey." Because the Ye Family and Virtuous Consort had both committed major taboos, the Emperor took the opportunity to liquidate them. It could only be said they brought it on themselves.

"Noble Consort and the Zhou Family also have unclean places. Previously, when Virtuous Consort was still around, Noble Consort could deceive herself and others. Now that Virtuous Consort is gone, Noble Consort is left only with fear." The guillotine hanging above her neck, not announcing its fall for a moment, was challenging Noble Consort's sensitive nerves.

It just so happened that Noble Consort was not a person of strong psychology. Continuing like this, it would be strange if she didn't become more and more insane.

"Host, what does this have to do with the Emperor?" If Noble Consort dug her own grave, she couldn't blame others.

"It has nothing to do with the Emperor." Shen Yao opened her closed eyes again, the corners of her mouth curving up, revealing an arc. "We can take this opportunity to get them involved."

System:... Huh?!!!

The system activated its not very clever little brain. Get involved?

"That is, use them one more time to bring in the other few hidden forces."

Shen Yao turned over, placing both hands flat on her abdomen. "Don't tell me those few princes who have offspring all like leisurely and undisputed days and have no thoughts for the throne."

System:... How could it be? Those without sons all want to have sons to fight for the throne, let alone those who have sons. Even in their dreams, they want to change doors and become Retired Emperor.

"So, in this fight to the death, if I don't strike first, how can I compete with them?"

The little bean in her womb was still a flesh embryo; how many years until he grew up?

Shen Yao was not waiting impatiently for the natural succession of the throne; rather, the longer it was delayed, the more likely variables would appear.

The best method was to kick out everyone blocking the road before the child grew up, including Qin Zi; only being half-dead could make one love the child more.

System:... The surroundings were chilly, why was it a bit cold?

Two days later, Shen Rong and Lady Shen entered the palace with the Emperor's permission.

Such news naturally caused dissatisfaction among the Imperial Consorts in the Huang Hou once it spread.

Deng Chongyuan complained that Xin Zhaoyi was special; they were all Imperial Consorts who entered the palace together, merely pregnant, yet she had become so expensive.

"Xin Zhaoyi is now the head of the Nine Pin; if Deng Chongyuan is dissatisfied, she can try getting pregnant too, and I believe the Emperor will permit Deng Chongyuan's mother to enter the palace."

Zheng Xiurong spoke as always, calm and choking; Deng Chongyuan flared up and flicked her sleeve away, angering the maid beside Zheng Xiurong, "Consort Chongyuan's temper comes and goes, simply treating Lanxin Palace as Yuqing Palace; just because the Emperor visits several more times," there was no need to be so lacking in propriety.

Zheng Xiurong put down the teacup in her hand, "Mind your words; you are not permitted to stir up trouble with your tongue."

"How Deng Chongyuan is has nothing to do with us; whether she is happy or unhappy, it cannot influence Lanxin Palace."

The maid still wanted to argue, "Consort, but her attitude toward you is not very respectful," affecting the mistress's mood.

Zheng Xiurong smiled indifferently, "Why bother arguing with her?" Deng Chongyuan had a simple brain and was easily impulsive, and it was only because the Emperor had recently given her some confidence; otherwise she would have settled down long ago.

"Bring me the book this palace has not finished reading; at this hour, Xin Zhaoyi has probably already seen her family relatives," truly making people envy her.

"Mother, Third Sister, sit down quickly."

Shen Yao pulled Lady Shen and Shen Rong to sit on the couch; Xiao Fu and Xiao Ji hurriedly brought pastries and tea drinks.

This was the first meeting since Shen Yao entered the palace; Lady Shen was not familiar with her, and with family instructions, she had few opportunities to speak; Shen Rong, on the other hand, adapted well, and after a few words she was no longer awkward, constantly caring about Shen Yao's body.

"Third Sister, rest assured; my body is very well."

Patting the arm that had obviously gained flesh, Shen Yao picked up the pastry for the two to sip; it was all made by the Imperial Kitchen's head chef, not only pleasing in appearance but also unique in flavor.

Shen Rong nodded, "Bu Gong Qi, it is the palace's imperial cook; Third Sister, this time you have borrowed your younger sister's light," otherwise she could never eat such pastries.

"We sisters need not be so courteous; if Third Sister likes it, take them away directly when you return; it is just a matter of a few words, worth nothing."

Shen Rong showed a sincere smile, indicating that since she had this opportunity, she would bring more, and could also let Shen Chunbai and others at home sip and taste.