Chapter 461

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

"Consort Xin is thoughtful, leaving the nourishing soup; have someone return first."

After resting a night, Yu Yu's complexion had recovered somewhat, but his lips were still pale.

Li Guiquan acknowledged with a sound, turned around to settle things, and did not forget to return to continue serving.

Yu Yu touched his bandaged chest and could still feel that throbbing pain spreading from inside out, indescribable, making one's mood irritable.

Yesterday, because Shen Yao's childbirth was holding things up front, Yu Yu's emotions were excited, thus overlooking the pain on his body; now that the joy of having a qilin son had passed, Yu Yu couldn't help but replay the scene that happened outside Furong Palace earlier.

Consort Xin, Noble Consort, the surrounding palace attendants, the gold hairpin—placing this string of information together, Yu Yu suddenly suspected the Consort Xin who had just given birth.

It shouldn't be, and there was no reason; even at the moment Noble Consort rushed forward, Consort Xin subconsciously wanted to pull him away. It was he who, mindful of Consort Xin's unborn imperial heir, turned to block slightly, causing the gold hairpin in Noble Consort's hand to stab into himself.

If he remembered correctly, Yu Yu had also seen the shock in Noble Consort's eyes.

Noble Consort's action was clearly aimed at Consort Xin, while Consort Xin thought Noble Consort wanted to harm him; through a twist of fate, the gold hairpin ultimately landed on himself.

Yu Yu replayed the entire process over and over, finally suppressing the doubtful emotions in his heart, and did not forget to drink the nourishing soup Consort Xin had sent over.

Hah

"Li Guiquan, immediately send word to the imperial harem to report the good news, and lift yesterday's oral decree."

"As for Consort Xin's investiture ceremony, wait until the imperial heir is one month old, and have the Imperial Household Department hold a grand event."

After speaking, Yu Yu stood up and headed to the study; Li Guiquan, standing in place, bowed his body and called out loudly in acknowledgment, then turned around and set the palace attendants within Qianqing Palace into motion.

Like a gust of wind, the news of Shen Yao safely giving birth at Furong Palace, along with her promotion to Consort Xin, spread throughout the entire imperial harem.

Confined for a day and a night, even when she came out and had already expected it in her heart, upon hearing the certain news, Zheng Xiurong still looked dazed.

Did she give birth safely? Or was it Consort Xin?

She painfully tugged at the corners of her stiff lips, and amidst the maid's worry, shook her head, "The news came too suddenly; this palace is also inevitably at a loss."

Promoted too fast!

These consorts of theirs all entered the palace in April this year; now it's barely the end of the year, the New Year hasn't even passed, and the other party had already climbed from Third Rank Jieyu to a First Rank Consort position.

If no more imperial heirs are born in the imperial harem, the vacant Empress position will sooner or later be pocketed by the other party.

Truly enviable.

Although the other party's journey wouldn't be easy, people only wanted to see the surface glory; no one wanted to understand the hardships within.

Seeing Shen Yao with a son, favor, and a rank, even the calm and Buddhist Zheng Xiurong had moments of imbalance, let alone the other consorts in the imperial harem.

Roughly, it was the thought that Consort Xin could do it, so could she, feeling both unconvinced and indignant.

Thinking of this, Zheng Xiurong mentioned the Noble Consort who had died silently, "Worlds apart."

Joyous events in the palace are known to all, but funerals in the palace are cared about by no one.

"Your Ladyship," the maid carefully pursed her lips.

Zheng Xiurong waved her hand to tell her not to be so nervous, "The Zhou family is finished."

"Find an opportunity to send a letter to father; the Shen family is an excellent marriage alliance partner."

If you can't beat them, join them.

The Shen family's rise made them hard to suppress, and she herself couldn't become a favored consort in the imperial harem; since that was the case, why still go against the Shen family? A strong union would give both sides what they wanted.

The maid nodded in agreement, keeping her mistress's words seriously in mind.

Families entering the palace would prepare manpower in advance; Zheng Xiurong's background was not bad, and the Zheng family was willing to spend money. Even though the palace had been purged by the Emperor more than once, they could still contact the Zheng family outside the palace.

As for whether Zheng Xiurong's news sent out would result in a successful marriage alliance between the Zheng and Shen families, it could only be said: do one's best and leave the rest to destiny.

Better than doing nothing at all.

…………

Outside the Palace, Shen Family

Shen Chunbai looked at Shen Zhanghe with an excited face, "Our Shen family's luck has come!"

News from the palace was to a certain extent a weather vane for the court.

Shen Yao safely giving birth and being made Consort Xin was truly a real joyous event.

Shen Chunbai turned and paced around the study again and again, still unable to hide the excitement and joy in his heart.

Shen Zhanghe was the same, and even Shen Zhanghe felt it more deeply.

Who let it be that the morning court session had stopped but the Yulin Guard was still present? Shen Zhanghe and Shen Zhanghe, the two brothers, were congratulated all the way from their shift to the end of their shift by colleagues today. If Shen Zhanghe still had some sense and pulled back the boastful Shen Zhanghe, who knows if Shen Zhanghe would have been coaxed by some scheming people into calling each other brothers.

"Father, at times like this, our Shen family must steady ourselves, cannot take a wrong step, cannot disgrace the consorts in the palace and the Little Prince."

Shen Zhanghe reminded his biological father to act with more restraint, after all, the Shen family was still headed by Shen Chunbai.

Men, after all, when flattered too much by those around them, tend to lose their senses.

Objectively speaking, Shen Chunbai was not lacking in responsibility, but when it came to women, just looking at the concubines and the like in the Shen family's back courtyard could make one understand Shen Zhanghe's worry.

"Zhanghe, as your father, I know the priorities and will definitely not do anything to make the consorts in the palace and the Little Prince feel awkward," Shen Chunbai glared at his eldest son who mentioned the wrong pot, and felt a subtle awkwardness in his heart.

It was because the previous outrageous deeds had been done too many times, causing the children to distrust him.

It seemed this needed to change; now that their identity and status were different, Shen Chunbai felt establishing a career was even more important.

Hearing this, Shen Zhanghe tacitly did not mention it again, but instead brought up Shen Rong's undecided marriage.

He and Shen Zhanghe both had candidates, just waiting for the wedding rites to be finalized; only Shen Rong had been delayed again and again, and now it could no longer be waited.

"Rong'er's marriage, as your father, I already have some leads," Shen Chunbai indicated that Shen Rong's desirability was comparable to Shen Zhanghe, the eldest son of the Shen family, "It should be settled within a few days."

Shen Zhanghe tested, "Is it a family of civil officials?"

Shen Chunbai tacitly agreed, "Too many military officers make stability difficult; Zhanghe alone is enough. You and Rong'er bear heavy responsibilities." A martial-civil marriage alliance was originally aimed at profit.

Relying on Shen Changyu alone to marry into the family wasn't enough; Shen Rong also had to marry in as a binding agent.

Shen Chunbai currently favored several families with good family traditions and outstanding juniors; if the red thread could be successfully tied, it would do Shen Rong no harm.

Shen Changyu nodded, "Father, rest assured, I will make things clear to Mother. I trust Mother cares more about Third Sister than her maternal grandfather's family."

Even if she didn't care, Shen Changyu would not agree to the Yuan family's marriage proposal.

Shen Chunbai raised his hand and patted Shen Changyu's shoulder, "The Shen Family has you; as your father, I am reassured."

He truly hadn't been raised in vain. Compared to the second son Shen Zhanghe, who lacked foresight, the eldest son Shen Changyu had no shortcomings apart from his birth.

Previously, Shen Chunbai had felt the Shen Family's platform was too low to offer Shen Changyu substantial help, so he planned to send Shen Rong into the palace to gamble for wealth and status.

Later, because Shen Rong was unwilling, Shen Yao volunteered herself, a dispute arose within the Shen Family, and finally Shen Chunbai, taking a gamble, sent Shen Yao into the palace.

Now, with the willows dark and flowers bright, the Shen Family, having won the bet, gained Shen Yao's support; both sides cooperated with tacit understanding and rose straight to the clouds, and a smooth broad road was thus opened.

"It really is a road straight to the clouds, Host. The Shen Family bet on the right treasure."

The system sighed that the Shen Family had to do nothing and could just sit on a rocket and soar upward with a clatter.

"It can't be put that way. They didn't drag others down; they knew how to reflect, and are already far better than ordinary people."

How many were clever themselves but ruined by their families? Among the imperial consorts in the palace, who wasn't forced by their family?

"Host, hearing the Emperor's will, after you finish your postpartum confinement, your rank should be able to rise another level."

Now she is Noble Consort Xin; if promoted again, would it be Noble Consort or Empress?

"Noble Consort."

Because the previous Noble Consort was already gone, silently and soundlessly, with no one caring.

The system clicked its tongue twice, "Host, your promotion speed is truly beyond reach."

No wonder so many people wanted to move against the Host; it simply overturned the normal promotion path of consorts.

If the system didn't know the Host's situation, it would surely suspect this was a demon consort, the kind that brings chaos to the court and causes a foolish ruler to frequently break ancestral rules.

"My promotion relies entirely on my peers setting me off. If they could safely bear children and expand the imperial family's branches, the lowest they'd reach is a first-rank consort position."

Regarding offspring, the Emperor was not stingy at all; just look at those few princes with children—offspring is the passport of the Yu Guo imperial family.

The system regretted, "They have no chance." With the Emperor's ruined body, it was thanks to the Host; otherwise, the Yu Guo imperial family would inevitably face turmoil over the choice of heir.

Now it's completely unnecessary. The Emperor has his own son, and even the rowdy imperial princes have become much more obedient, let alone the court officials, who are timid beyond measure.

"Just a rabble gathered together. When the Emperor gets angry, they know fear; when the Emperor ignores them, they jump up and overturn tables."

"Do you believe it? Days like this won't last long before they can't help but kick up a fuss again."

Shen Yao stayed in her room observing postpartum confinement, spending most of her time chatting idly with the system.

Only occasionally did the Emperor come over, and then they would exchange a few words from behind a screen.

Fortunately, it was winter and the weather was cold, so there wasn't too strong a smell in the room; otherwise, Shen Yao would be the first to be unable to bear it.

"Human nature is like this. The Host also has no intention of stopping, and still wants to further remove some stumbling blocks."

"Yes, the court is too chaotic. The old don't leave, and the new don't arrive."

The elders of the court all had their own supported candidates. For the Shen Family to scrounge a mouthful of rice within it, the effort required far outweighed the gain.

A losing deal cannot be made, just as a valueless marriage alliance cannot be agreed to.

The two children were not yet a month old, so Shen Yao could only observe postpartum confinement in Furong Palace, while outside the palace the Shen Family was tense with drawn swords over Shen Rong's marriage.

Lady Shen was being led around in circles by the Yuan family, while Shen Chunbai and Shen Changyu gritted their teeth in disagreement. It escalated until Shen Rong was summoned for questioning on the spot, and the scene became quite ugly for a time.

"Mother, the Yuan family won't do; the Zheng family is very good."

Shen Rong firmly held her attitude. Of course, this also reflected Shen Yao's wishes from within the palace.

"The Zheng family's proposal is from their youngest son. If you marry in, when the family divides property, you'll get nothing," Lady Shen said, bringing up that the Yuan family's cousin was the Eldest Legitimate Son. Shen Rong could manage the household upon entering, and her father-in-law and mother-in-law were her uncle and aunt—marrying relatives, what could be wrong with that?

Shen Rong:... It's just not good.

Three against one; once one gave up, Lady Shen was completely defeated, and Shen Rong's marriage to the Zheng family was thus put on the agenda.