Chapter 458

·

·

·

Main Character:

Shen Yao

In the twelfth month, a winter snow turned the entire Imperial Harem silver-clad and white-wrapped.

Shen Yao, carrying her eight-month pregnant belly, was surrounded by a group of Imperial Hospital Imperial Physicians taking her pulse, all looking worried and afraid.

Lv Taiyi was naturally among them, and could even have a say; after all, unlike the other Imperial Physicians, Lv Taiyi had accepted benefits from the Shen Family, and in his heart already considered himself one of the Shen Family's people.

"Consort Xin, your fetal breath is stable, but twins are not the same as a single child after all; during this period you must be even more careful and cautious in dealing with it."

Childbirth is a ghost gate for women; every day before delivery there may be all kinds of accidents, and even an accidental fall causing premature birth could endanger life.

After Lv Taiyi finished his routine examination, he paced around, carefully inspecting the inside and outside of Furong Palace's main hall to ensure there was nothing adulterated that could affect the health of Shen Yao and her children.

Right now the entire Imperial Hospital, top to bottom, was most concerned about the imperial heirs in Consort Xin's womb.

Even the Emperor had issued a verbal decree, putting the Imperial Hospital in full charge of Furong Palace's childbirth affairs, and they must guarantee the safety of Consort Xin and her two children — three people in total.

"Lv Taiyi, rest assured, this palace has long known," Shen Yao sat on the couch, smokeless warm charcoal burning on the floor, thick fur covering her body, "Xiao Fu, see Lv Taiyi out for this palace."

Xiao Fu rose and bowed to Lv Taiyi, gesturing forward, letting Lv Taiyi lead his people out.

Seeing this, Xiao Ji brought over the hand warmer placed to the side to warm his master, and at the same time tidied the small tea table's items, replacing the cooled tea and removing the hardened pastries.

The small kitchen's newly made pastries and beverages arrived again in less than half a quarter-hour; Xiao Ji watched all directions and listened to all sides, constantly alert to his master's condition, striving to discover any matter the moment it arose.

Shen Yao: …

Shen Yao called Xiao Ji to go down and rest, "There is temporarily nothing here for this palace."

In fact, since the Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet on the fifteenth of the eighth month, these past three months the palace had experienced several more large-scale purges arranged by the Emperor.

Whether truly innocent or falsely innocent, all elderly palace people were sent outside the palace.

Now the new staff added to each palace were all newcomers selected by the Imperial Household Department; one cannot guarantee these people are absolutely safe to use, but because newcomers lack the elderly's slick thoroughness, even if there are problems it is easier to uncover the forces behind them.

As a key protection target, Furong Palace's people were also replaced in large numbers one after another.

Among this current batch, aside from Xiao Fu and Xiao Ji, some are the Emperor's confidants, some are people sent from the Shen Family outside the palace, and some come from the Imperial Household Department.

Because of this, the System's monitoring frequency for Furong Palace has dropped considerably compared to before; if not for three Imperial Consorts still living in the rear hall, the System would long since have completely let itself go and shifted its energy to other palaces.

"Master, this servant will wait at the doorway; if anything happens, call this servant anytime."

Xiao Ji refused to go back and rest, deciding to stand guard; the master does not sleep, this servant absolutely will not rest.

Hurrying a few steps to the doorway to wait, Xiao Ji ran into Xiao Fu coming in.

They smiled at each other with pursed lips; Xiao Fu rubbed her palms and walked up to Shen Yao, "Master, just now before Lv Taiyi left, he noticed one of Furong Palace's midwives had a problem; this servant has already taken the person and sent them to Qianqing Palace."

As for how the Emperor in Qianqing Palace will handle it, whether it will implicate the Imperial Household Department — that is no longer Furong Palace's concern.

"Midwives — this is already the third case this month; I expect the Imperial Household Department will send new people this afternoon; you keep an eye on them then."

Midwives and wet nurses had been prepared early since Shen Yao was six months pregnant.

Unfortunately the people sent came batch after batch, yet few were usable.

Now watching herself about to give birth, yet such a thing can still happen; Shen Yao smiled, lifted the teacup to her lips.

Xiao Fu was indignant on her behalf, "Master, you are simply too good-natured."

At other consorts' places, the Emperor visits a few more days and they strut like peacocks; our master carries an imperial heir yet is still benevolent and kind to people — truly letting those Imperial Household Department slaves who only know how to flatter superiors and bully inferiors get off cheap.

"Our current priority is guaranteeing the imperial heirs land safely; the Imperial Household Department is for the Emperor to handle — he won't let us down," Yu Yu still has this much eye for the situation, just like the many tribute items already piled full in Furong Palace's storehouses, all from Yu Yu's private treasury; any single piece taken out would be worth a thousand gold.

Raising children costs money; Shen Yao's body's origin was not very wealthy; even though the Shen Family specially subsidized her when she entered the palace, she still couldn't compare to certain consorts.

Now with the Emperor's exclusive tributes, Shen Yao has made up for the shortcoming of her own thin foundation; in her heart she wishes this kind of harmless-to-the-big-picture thing would happen a few more times; who knows about the rest, but the compensation certainly won't be small.

Master and servant were just speaking when they heard Xiao Ji raise her voice: "Li Zong Guan has arrived"; Xiao Fu instantly understood tacitly, turned and went out to welcome this big red person by the Emperor's side.

Li Guiquan smiled broadly; during this period the number of times he ran to Furong Palace was remarkably diligent.

Before Xiao Fu could even say polite words, she saw a row of little eunuchs lined up behind Li Guiquan, and the gifts held in his hands.

"Li Zong Guan"

"Miss Xiao Fu"

The two tacitly glanced at each other, and following Li Guiquan's flick of the duster in his hand, the delivered gifts entered the storehouse.

Li Guiquan quietly told Xiao Fu the midwife sent over had already been dealt with, and the Imperial Household Department who selected the person as well as the midwife's family would all be interrogated; but as for the result, "Please ask Miss Xiao Fu to explain to Consort Xin: the Emperor, considering the overall Court situation, can only temporarily wrong Consort Xin for some time."

After all, pull one hair and the whole body moves; the Emperor hasn't been idle using the opportunity to clean up the Court lately; now the ministers' sensitive nerves are stretched too tight; if the Emperor still wants to maintain Morning Court stability, he can only put it off for now, wait until the wind passes, then settle accounts after autumn — no one will escape.

Xiao Fu: …

What can Xiao Fu say? The previous few midwives were handled exactly the same way; the Emperor bestows gifts to appease, the master is considerate and doesn't make a fuss — the whole process she has already memorized to the point of familiarity.

Smiling, she nodded, exchanged a few polite words with Li Guiquan, and learned the Emperor would come to Furong Palace for dinner tonight.

Xiao Fu saw Li Guiquan off, instructed the small kitchen to prepare the meal in advance, then turned and told the master waiting in the room.

Shen Yao gave an "Mm," "The Emperor has many scruples; we just do our own part well."

As for the blank checks the Emperor has written in her presence, Shen Yao considers them unimportant.

With one hand she stroked her round belly, Shen Yao turned her head to glance out the window.

"Host, how can you sit still? Someone is planning to harm you!"

The System shouted anxiously, looking just like a jumping frog.

"You mean Noble Consort? She's almost done for; let this wish of hers be fulfilled."

System:???

What wild words is the Host spouting? Fulfilling Noble Consort's wish means they suffer; how can you still be rushing toward premature birth and difficult labor?

"Only if I am frightened into premature birth and difficult labor will the Emperor not blame Furong Palace."

"Better to hit the day than pick one — His Majesty is coming tonight. You go back and send word to Yongning Palace."

Don't say she won't help Noble Consort; Shen Yao is now risking her life to cooperate, I'm afraid even Noble Consort's own relatives couldn't match her.

System:... 6

Host's maneuvering left the System dizzy and bewildered; never expected it could be played like this!

"Of course I can. She's smug and complacent now — how could this palace resign herself?"

In Yongning Palace's main hall, Noble Consort looked haggard, her face deathly pale without a trace of blood color.

Lian Xiang's hand ached from Noble Consort's grip; she both wanted to persuade and felt helpless.

"Lian Xiang, you are this palace's personal maid; this time you'll help this palace too, won't you."

Lian Xiang nodded perfunctorily, "Your Ladyship, your servant naturally stands on your side, only"

"Standing on this palace's side is enough," Noble Consort cut off Lian Xiang's trailing 'only,' her face alight with joy as she pulled Lian Xiang into plotting how to give trouble to Imperial Consort Xin Zhao, "We'll go straight to Furong Palace and confront Imperial Consort Xin Zhao before His Majesty's face; best to make His Majesty see Imperial Consort Xin Zhao's true face; then..."

The more Noble Consort spoke, the more excited she grew, her expression increasingly manic and uncontrolled.

Lian Xiang retreated backward in fright, but alas her hands were clenched tight in Noble Consort's grip; unable to break free, she could only submit and listen.

Yongning Palace passes days in cold frost; inside Furong Palace, spring warmth and flowers bloom.

His Majesty entered and was welcomed in; Shen Yao, being without pregnancy, could not rise to salute, so she merely sat on the couch and called from afar, "Long live His Majesty."

"You and the imperial sons are well, then We are at ease." Yu Yu truly feared something might happen on Shen Yao's side — especially with the twin pregnancy's great belly, coupled with the midwife and wet nurses caught out every few days; Yu Yu's head ached to death.

"His Majesty has labored hard of late; your subject can do nothing, now only hopes to deliver the imperial offspring in the belly peacefully, not letting His Majesty continue to have it hard."

Hard indeed — when there's no heir, one must consider half-brothers' offspring and balance morning court; when there is an heir, one must still guard against certain people jumping the wall like cornered dogs to sever his bloodline roots.

Yu Yu raised his hand and stroked Shen Yao's round, bulging belly; his stern expression grew ever gentler and calmer, "Once the imperial sons are born safely, We and Beloved Consort can both breathe easy."

Shen Yao smiled without speaking; in her heart she thought: the truly tense days come after they're born.

Raising babbling infants into adults — who knows how much heart's blood they'll have to pour out.

Shen Yao didn't bring up any mood-killing matters during the tender moment; the two leaned against each other in the bedchamber, enjoying the rare warm time.

Until the late dinner prepared by the small kitchen was served; Shen Yao was helped to the Eight Immortals Table and sat down, His Majesty personally arranging dishes; by the time they finished eating, outside the sky had already darkened.

At this hour His Majesty most likely wouldn't leave, so she waved her hand and had people prepare warm water for bathing.

"Your Majesty, your subject's figure is ugly; unwilling to offend Your Majesty's eyes, you'd best go to other consorts' palaces to sleep."

Shen Yao spoke words contrary to her heart that would sound satisfying to His Majesty, directly causing His Majesty's last trace of hesitation to retreat; he declared he would simply sleep in Furong Palace.

Shen Yao:... that's exactly what I wanted

"Your Majesty~"

Shen Yao was moved to tears; as a non-normal person who only gets a fat belly not a fat face, she even cries beautifully.

At least His Majesty doesn't dislike this kind of feigned behavior, and is even willing to play along a bit.

Everything ready; only the east wind is lacking.