Chapter 457: Bound to the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 458: The Rise of a Passerby (26)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

"This servant pays respects to Noble Consort Xinzhao."

Li Guiquan wore a smiling face, and behind him were a group of little eunuchs carrying trays.

"It's been several days, Li Zong Guan, I hope you've been well."

Li Guiquan really had some smarts; among those around Yu Yu, many had suffered losses recently, but only he had remained, showing he was perceptive.

"Noble Consort Xinzhao, these are gifts specially selected by His Majesty to present to you; please take a look, Your Ladyship."

After speaking, Li Guiquan stepped back and gestured for the little eunuchs behind him to lift the trays, parading them before Shen Yao's eyes.

Xiao Ji took the opportunity to point to a stone table nearby, indicating they could place the items there, and they would handle the storage themselves later.

"Noble Consort Xinzhao, if there is nothing else, this servant will return to Qianqing Palace to report to His Majesty."

"Li Zong Guan, wait."

Shen Yao called out to keep Li Guiquan and asked how His Majesty's mood had been lately, especially regarding matters inside and outside the palace, "I've also heard that Consort Cheng's two sons have fallen ill; young children are most susceptible to cold and fright, I wonder if they have improved?"

Hearing this, Li Guiquan exclaimed, "Your Ladyship, children are weak, but His Majesty has already arranged for Imperial Physicians from the Imperial Hospital to take their pulses and treat them; I believe it won't be long before the two young princes recover."

Shen Yao made an 'oh' sound, smiling and waving her hand to have Xiao Fu see Li Guiquan off, "I've accidentally taken up Li Zong Guan's time; I hope Li Zong Guan won't take offense."

Li Guiquan grinned, "Your Ladyship is too courteous; being able to speak with Your Ladyship is this servant's blessing."

Xiao Fu took the opportunity to point toward the door, "Li Zong Guan, this way please."

"Please, Miss Xiao Fu," Li Guiquan returned the gesture with his arm resting on his duster.

Everyone just turned and left like that, until Xiao Ji asked Shen Yao if she was returning to her room.

"No, I'll stay outside for a while; you take people to register these gifts into the storehouse," she waved her hand to let Xiao Ji withdraw first, Shen Yao lightly rested her hand on her slightly swollen abdomen and paced back and forth around the small courtyard.

With no one else around, the system, which had been holding back for a while, jumped out, "Host, Host, what did you mean by what you just said to Li Guiquan?"

Asking about Consort Cheng's sons, this matter is related to Consort Cheng, but not significantly; it mainly concerns those restless cliques, with the focus pointing to the ambitious Zhou Taishi.

"It means nothing, just chatting; judging by Li Guiquan's meaning, His Majesty doesn't intend to kill Consort Cheng's sons for now, so others will have to suffer; guess who this scapegoat might be?"

System:...

The system tilted its head to ponder, finally fixing its gaze on the Noble Consort and the Zhou Family.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao shook her head, "Not them."

System: Huh? Not them?

"Zhou Taishi is not honest, and the Noble Consort is not honest either; Virtuous Consort and the Empress can be dealt with just like that, so how could the Noble Consort escape?"

"You also said, Virtuous Consort and the Empress are gone if they're gone; as for the Noble Consort living in the palace, whether she lives or dies depends entirely on a single word from His Majesty?" His Majesty isn't in a hurry to use the Noble Consort as a sacrifice, because the Noble Consort is fish on a chopping block, to be chopped whenever he wants.

"Others are different; this opportunity gave His Majesty a handle he could seize; like some old foxes, their tails can be cleaned up, but what about the juniors behind them?" They dared to set traps before their feathers were fully grown; isn't that just falling into one?

System:...

"And there's Prince Dun; this fellow hides deeply, and this time he has nothing to do with it; would you believe that?"

Not only is he himself clean and white, but his entourage is also very clean; it simply doesn't seem like the conduct of the Yu Guo imperial family.

When things are abnormal, there must be a demon; it's not that Shen Yao insists on finding trouble with Prince Dun, but the entire Yu Guo imperial family is of the same virtue; hoping for a play where bad bamboo produces good shoots is as difficult as overnight success.

"Host thinks His Majesty will target Prince Dun, or those old foxes who usually hide deeply," like some who seem easy to control on the surface, they will all be lightly let go this time.

"It's not exactly lightly letting them go; batches of people have died in the palace; those forces spent money and time for nothing, and crucially, they can't expose themselves;" setting aside His Majesty's initial resentment at being schemed against and anger at being fooled, he should give these people an award for cooperation.

"Wait and see; these days there might be more incidents outside the palace; if nothing unexpected happens, the Shen Family will rise even higher."

It proved Shen Yao's words were very accurate; after several court officials with low ranks but real power were successively demoted by His Majesty, Shen Chunbai of the Shen Family went from Second-Rank Vice General to First-Rank General, and also gained actual military power.

His two sons, Shen Zhangyu and Shen Zhanghe, though not promoted, moved about like fish in water in the Yulin Guard; and with Shen Yao as their backing, they occasionally got to see His Majesty, and the potential benefits they gained were far more useful than promotion and a raise.

Because of this, the two middle-aged youths Shen Zhangyu and Shen Zhanghe were very popular in the current matchmaking market, and along with the unmarried Shen Rong, they were the key targets of matchmakers' inquiries.

After all, which family doesn't have marriageable young men and women? Sacrificing a junior to successfully form a marriage alliance with the Shen Family; whether it succeeds or not in the end, they don't lose out; even if they lose, it's just losing a junior (showing that the cold-bloodedness of ancient clans was quite high).

"Younger sister, these two marriages in the family are basically settled; at most, within two years they can be married."

Father and Eldest Brother asked me to tell you that you don't need to worry about us all the time; living in the palace is not easy for you; we also heard about what happened at the Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet, and we were anxious, not knowing what to do."

Before the weather turned cold, Shen Rong and Lady Shen were summoned to the palace to meet again.

Lady Shen at this time became extremely clever; throughout the meeting she sat honestly without speaking, and it was entirely Shen Rong holding Shen Yao's hand and speaking freely, as if she were a different person.

"Eldest Brother and Second Brother's marriages are settled, Third Sister will find a good husband soon; in the future, living in the palace, I will be even more reassured," Shen Yao was satisfied with Shen Chunbai's efficiency.

Knowing there was no need to keep dragging it out, not being greedy, knowing when to stop while ahead, she was a good partner.

"Also ask Third Sister to tell Father and Eldest Brother that there's no need to worry excessively about palace matters; with His Majesty here, they dare not do anything."

The imperial heir in Shen Yao's womb was her greatest guarantee; no matter how many tricks someone had, they couldn't take it down.

Shen Rong's main purpose for entering the palace this time was to confirm Shen Yao's mental state and physical condition; seeing that she could eat and drink, without a hint of the anxiety and depression of a pregnant woman, Shen Rong let down much of the worry in her heart.

To be honest, the Shen Family wasn't without people who had been pregnant; Shen Rong had personally seen several younger brothers and sisters born; to put it without exaggeration, her younger sister's current situation directly outshone those concubines in the mansion; as long as the imperial heir in her womb was safely born, the Shen Family's status would be more than half secured.

As for the remaining half, they could only wait until the Little Prince grew up and took over that lofty position before everything could be considered settled.

Lady Shen and Shen Rong stayed in Furong Palace for a while; if it weren't for the palace gate about to close, Shen Rong would have been reluctant to leave.

"Younger sister, take good care of yourself; if anything happens, remember to tell the family."

Shen Rong looked at the palace behind her; no matter how luxurious it was, it couldn't hide the loneliness within; perhaps because she would also have to marry in the future, Shen Rong understood Shen Yao even more; for the sake of the Shen Family, her younger sister had truly suffered.

Shen Yao:... Although but, it's also not that

Seeing Lady Shen and Shen Rong off safely, Shen Yao returned to the bedchamber to rest.

Xiao Fu brought a thick blanket and helped cover her with it; Shen Yao casually asked about the Emperor.

"Master, the Emperor went to Lanxin Palace," Xiao Fu replied after a moment's thought.

Shen Yao kept her eyes slightly closed, her hand resting on her forehead as she slowly rubbed it. "Zheng Xiurong lives in Lanxin Palace; the Emperor doesn't usually like to go there."

Xiao Fu nodded. "The Noble Consort is ill. Master is pregnant, so the Assistant Manager of Six Palaces duties are temporarily handled by Zheng Xiurong and the others. Furthermore, Deng Chongyuan in Yuqing Palace is gravely ill — it's only a matter of days. Unexpectedly, it will certainly fall to Zheng Xiurong; after all, she is the Grand Secretary's daughter."

Shen Yao let out an "Oh." "Is Deng Chongyuan's condition truly beyond medicine?"

Xiao Fu spoke with certainty. "Exhaustion of heart and mind; beyond medical help."

The Imperial Physicians of the Imperial Hospital have given a definitive verdict; it is basically known to everyone.

Shen Yao sighed. "It hasn't even been half a year since we entered the palace." One gone just like that — it's tragic enough to speak of.

Deng Chongyuan hadn't committed any unforgivable offense. Even disputes were mostly verbal sparring; the most severe was that slap and reprimand from the Noble Consort. Yet the result was a fresh, living life ending just like that.

"Master, Deng Chongyuan's matter has nothing to do with us. With her brainless temperament," even if she gets through this time peacefully, there will be a next trap waiting for her to step into.

Xiao Fu didn't finish her words, but Shen Yao understood. Deng Chongyuan is unsuited for the Huang Hou. Rather than saying the palace eats people, it's more like the Deng Family gave her a push too.

"This palace only feels the vicissitudes of life. People come and go in this palace." To live long, one must either be tactful and sensible, or be extraordinarily gifted. Those who possess neither had best give up challenging the palace instance early.

In an era where nothing can be changed, submission seems the only suitable way out.

Three days later, Deng Chongyuan of Yuqing Palace passed away.

The funeral rites were handled by Zheng Xiurong; the protocols were all normal standard.

After these procedures concluded, Zheng Xiurong also fell slightly ill for a few days.

The palace missing one person had no influence whatsoever on them, these consorts.

Even during the half month after Deng Chongyuan's passing, He Cairen became He Meiren. The entire Jiangnan Consorts rejoiced, all setting their sights on the Emperor who frequently entered and left the Huang Hou, each employing their own methods striving for favor.

The Emperor naturally came without refusal. After all, his fundamental nature is liking beauties. Even with Shen Yao pregnant, it doesn't hinder him doting on beautiful women.

Moreover, Shen Yao's pregnancy gave him confidence, making him yearn even more for the quantity of imperial heirs. He thought: what if a few more consorts with the same luck as Xin Zhaoyi appear? Wouldn't that be even more secure?

The favor-striving consorts in their hearts weren't thinking differently either. Xin Zhaoyi could get pregnant — why couldn't they? They definitely had to try.

"Speaking of it, the Huang Hou is still very lively? That's good. The Emperor has no lack of beauties by his side, so this palace can rest assured here too." At least when it's time to act, there's no need to hesitate. The Emperor truly is a great good person.