Chapter 454

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Meeting with relatives only allows for so much conversation; moreover, the original body Shen Yao inhabited was not particularly close to Shen Rong and Lady Shen, and it was only later, due to shared interests, that she slowly developed some affection with Shen Rong.

As for Lady Shen, this person had not said few bad things about Shen Yao in the Shen Family (secretly reported by the System).

Let Xiao Fu take Lady Shen out for a stroll first; the scenery at Furong Palace is quite nice.

Upon hearing this, Shen Rong pushed Lady Shen's hand, "Mother, I haven't seen my younger sister for a long time, and we happen to have some private words to say. Didn't you say earlier that staying in the room was stuffy? Going out for a walk with Miss Xiao Fu would be good too."

Lady Shen: ……

This dead child, to actually arrange things like this; she never said staying in the room was stuffy, she still wanted to mention the matter of supporting her natal family to Shen Yao.

Glaring secretly at Shen Rong who was tripping her up, Lady Shen left very unhappily.

Shen Yao feigned ignorance, only instructing Xiao Fu to take good care of Lady Shen and not let certain people seize an opportunity.

Shen Rong patted her chest worriedly, "Younger sister, is the palace this dangerous?"

If one must be careful just walking around Furong Palace, then Younger Sister has lived in the palace for several months — could it be she has already suffered losses?

Shen Yao laughed and patted the back of Shen Rong's hand, "Third Sister, there are many consorts in the palace, and some inevitably have poor relations with Younger Sister." This is inevitable; a group of women vying for one man — if they got along, that would be the problem.

Shen Rong revealed an 'I understand' expression, "Younger sister, you have suffered these days."

Not to mention anything else, just the Shen Family's farce of arrest-and-release a few days ago was enough to make Shen Rong recognize the cruelty and cold-bloodedness of reality.

If not for Younger Sister's pregnancy, the Emperor giving the Shen Family a chance to prove their innocence, who knows, they might have been forced to leave the capital and be demoted to a remote small city for the rest of their lives.

Shen Yao did not explain that she was not suffering, but went along with the topic and let Shen Rong's imagination run wild, making up all kinds of hardships for her.

They say sharing weal and woe; compared to sharing blessings, it is hardship that makes people empathize more deeply.

The Shen Family lives poorly outside the palace, so Shen Yao in the palace lives even more unsatisfactorily.

Vaguely saying a couple of sentences that everything is in the past, that now she is smoothly pregnant, the Shen Family's bitterness has turned to sweetness, and they have all walked out of a certainly fatal situation.

"Third Sister, we should be happy; compared to those whose lives are gone, we are very lucky."

The more Shen Yao acted light and breezy, the more Shen Rong's heart ached for Shen Yao who entered the palace alone; with tearful eyes she spoke of the family's situation these days, Shen Rong earnestly instructed Shen Yao to take good care of herself, not to hide anything from the family, not to only report good news and not bad; the Shen Family and Shen Yao are partners in the same battalion, they advance and retreat together.

Shen Yao: …… This child, the more she speaks the scarier it gets; it really hasn't reached that point.

"Third Sister"

Shen Yao didn't know whether to laugh or cry; in her heart she thought that she could take care of herself in the palace, it was precisely the Shen Family outside the palace that she worried about; the few people at home aren't stupid, but Lady Shen — she is a ticking time bomb.

"We sisters have talked so much, yet haven't asked about Third Sister's major marriage matter," Shen Yao imperceptibly switched to a sensitive topic, laughing and teasing when she would get to drink Shen Rong's wedding wine.

Although she cannot leave the palace, begging the Emperor's grace to arrange someone to go out and help add to the dowry is still possible.

Shen Rong: ……

Shen Rong's face suddenly flushed bright red, like a ripe red apple, making one want to take a bite just looking at it.

"Younger sister, a major marriage matter still requires parents to decide; Elder Sister currently doesn't know much either."

Shen Rong rubbed her wrist, explaining two sentences very embarrassedly.

"Do Father and Mother have any thoughts?" Shen Yao continued to press, not forgetting to drag the Emperor in as a tool, "If his character is good, Younger Sister can request the Emperor to bestow a marriage; it would likely be a fine tale."

Hearing this, Shen Rong's eyes instantly brightened.

An imperial bestowal of marriage is an extremely useful banner; if Younger Sister truly helps her, then the value of her own marriage would rise further.

Shen Rong couldn't help but feel excited in her heart; after all, everyone has selfish desires, Shen Rong also wants to live harmoniously after marriage; even if they cannot love each other deeply, they must at least achieve mutual respect, otherwise producing a pair of resentful spouses would be worse than marrying into the Yuan Family.

Thinking of the Yuan Family, Shen Rong's overly excited expression slowly calmed down.

Shen Yao hurriedly asked, "Does Third Sister have something on her mind?"

Shen Rong hesitated and glanced at Shen Yao, then said firmly, "It is the Yuan Family's matter."

Shen Yao thought in her heart: As expected, it came; what she is worried about right now is precisely the Yuan Family.

Compared to other families which are easier to deal with, the Yuan Family is Mother's natal family; Shen Changyu and the others find it extremely difficult to cut ties with them, and moreover the Yuan Family itself is useless mud that cannot stick to the wall — badly handled, the Shen Family might trip up on this in the future.

"The Yuan Family is Mother's natal family; Yuan Biaoge and the cousins often visit the Shen Family; does Mother want Third Sister to form a marriage alliance with Yuan Biaoge?"

Without waiting for Shen Rong to explain, Shen Yao continued, "Yuan Biaoge's temperament is not bad, and he is also an enterprising good match, but given the Shen Family's current situation, Third Sister and Yuan Biaoge are not considered well-matched; Third Sister can choose a better husband, one who helps herself and helps the clan."

Although saying this carries the suspicion of selling oneself, in ancient times women forming marriage alliances was just this mercenary.

People of the time all speak of high gates marrying off daughters and low gates taking wives, but that also must combine with one's own circumstances.

The Shen Family was previously unremarkable, again a military general family with nothing presentable; but now, with Shen Yao's pregnancy, the weight of the sole imperial heir in her womb means even several imperial relatives must weigh it carefully.

If Shen Rong continues to entangle with the Yuan Family, not only will it waste the rare opportunity Shen Yao provided, it will also bind the Shen Family and Yuan Family together for life; in the future, once the Yuan Family commits some offense on some pretext, both the Shen Family and Shen Yao will be implicated.

The raised teacup was placed back on the table; Shen Yao needed no further words, and Shen Rong could also understand the deep meaning Shen Yao wanted to convey.

No matter how the family considers this Yuan Family marriage, from Shen Yao's angle alone, she disagrees.

Shen Rong felt lost yet also a little relieved; who let her deep down also be somewhat unwilling.

Before, there was no better choice, so she determined to marry into the Yuan Family for a stable life; now a better life is right before her eyes, yet Lady Shen wants Shen Rong to sacrifice herself to prop up the Yuan Family — simply absurd.

"Younger sister, Father and Eldest Brother both think this way; recently marriage proposals have been constant, and they are seriously considering them; only Mother is more willing to add kinship to kinship, but the family is ultimately decided by Father; Mother's words carry insufficient weight and have no effect at all."

Shen Yao pulled Shen Rong's wrist, "Third Sister, this matter ultimately requires your nod.

Although in families like ours marriage considers many things, Younger Sister still hopes Third Sister can be happier; the road upward has many paths; since you have suffered this much hardship, you must certainly choose well."

Bitterness has been eaten; a little more sweetness is no problem.

The Shen Family's range of choices is relatively broad; as long as they avoid families too deeply entangled with certain Princes, the Emperor will not say much.

After all, the Shen Family is Shen Yao's natal family, and also the maternal clan of the imperial heir in Shen Yao's womb.

If Shen Rong marries well, the Shen Family's power grows stronger, and Shen Yao in the palace and the imperial heir in her womb benefit even more; the Emperor is currently delighted to see it succeed.

Handing over the court and the realm to one's own son versus handing it over to one's own nephew are two different concepts.

Who likes sending the family business to outsiders? Blood relatives are definitely the first choice.

The main purpose of chatting with Shen Rong was still to convey her own attitude to the Shen Family.

Actually, not only Shen Rong's marriage, but also Shen Changyu and Shen Zhanghe, both of them are older youths now, they also need to have matchmaking meetings.

However, Shen Changyu and Shen Zhanghe are men; it is easier for them to take wives than for Shen Rong to find a husband. She believes Cheap Father Shen Chunbai will not shortchange his sons.

Time always flies when chatting and laughing. Hearing Xiao Ji's reminder, Shen Rong only then reacted — their time to enter the palace had arrived, and they should leave.

"Younger sister, no need to see me off. When there is a chance later, Elder Sister will enter the palace to visit you again."

After chatting, Shen Rong's mood was relaxed; she had already thrown away certain emotions entirely.

Smiling, she bid farewell to Shen Yao. Shen Rong asked where Lady Shen was.

Xiao Ji raised her head and pointed outside Furong Palace. "Madam and Elder Sister Xiao Fu went to the Imperial Garden; they have not returned yet."

"Since it is so, I will accompany Third Sister for a walk." Shen Yao usually stayed in her room, which was rather dull. Left and right, the Imperial Garden was not far from Furong Palace. Smiling, she pulled Shen Rong's wrist, and the two sisters, followed by palace attendants, set off in a vast mighty procession toward the Imperial Garden.

"Host, this time you may need to descend like a god to rescue Madam Shen from dire straits."

The system suddenly ran over to join the fun, saying Madam Shen truly has a trouble-attracting constitution. A trip to the Imperial Garden and she runs into a palace consort — and one hostile to the Host at that, Deng Chongyuan. Wah-kah-kah-kah, Madam Shen is in for it.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao subconsciously raised her head and rubbed her temples. Shen Rong at her side asked with concern if her body was too tired, which made Shen Yao's feelings even more complex.

"Can't Madam Shen quiet down for a while? Deng Chongyuan is waiting to find trouble for me. This trip to the Imperial Garden was definitely premeditated."

Unexpectedly, Madam Shen was schemed against. As for Deng Chongyuan, she is most likely cannon fodder too.

"Host is clever. But what to do now?" Those people outside the palace really don't give up. It feels like they won't rest until they cause the Host's imperial heir in the womb to be lost.

"Cold toss."

Replying coldly in her heart, Shen Yao and Shen Rong soon arrived at the Imperial Garden.

"Younger sister, I just seemed to hear Mother's voice." Shen Rong subconsciously pulled Shen Yao, placing herself horizontally in front of Shen Yao to scan the surroundings.

"Xiao Ji, go check the situation." Shen Yao signaled Shen Rong not to be nervous.

In just a moment, Xiao Ji returned, followed by a resentful-looking Lady Shen and Xiao Fu, and after them, a smug and complacent Deng Chongyuan.

The three parties met. Deng Chongyuan seized the initiative, accusing Lady Shen of having no right to appear in the Imperial Garden.

Shen Yao smiled. Moving a thousand catties with four taels, she said, "If Deng Chongyuan is dissatisfied, she may personally go to Qianqing Palace to report to the Emperor."

What are you chirping about here? If you have the ability, go file a complaint directly.

Deng Chongyuan:...

Deng Chongyuan pointed a finger at Shen Yao, wanting to shout something, but was pulled back by a maid at her side.

"Deng Chongyuan, rank and status have their order. Upon seeing a consort higher in rank than you, you should salute and pay respects."

Shen Yao's gaze swept coldly over Deng Chongyuan. She had already placed the other party on her blacklist.

The Deng Family! Prince Cheng's followers!

Sooner or later I'll make them know what's what!