Chapter 474

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

"Host, the Shen Family has moved."

The system bounced around in Shen Yao's mind with a crafty air, cheering and leaping about, stirring up a bit of a headache for Shen Yao.

"The Shen Family moving isn't a good thing? If they didn't move, that's when I'd have a headache."

After all, communication with the Shen Family relies on She Shi and Cheng Shi's loyalty; if there is any concealment in their words after they return, with the palace being too far for their whip to reach, there is no way (other means can be used, but if it truly comes to that, Shen Yao would have to consider switching the people she supports).

"The Shen Family has probably understood the Host's intent; just don't know if they can catch anything."

The matter of the Jiangnan consorts' relatives entering the capital is still on the road; waiting for all the dust to settle will also take a good half month.

During this period Shen Yao did nothing, just stayed normally in Fengyi Palace; when free she handled palace affairs, received the consorts who came to pay greetings, or accompanied Cheng'er and Xi'er who ran back and forth.

Yu Cheng has now moved to He Lan Hall to live; the one responsible for his daily care is still Xiao Fu.

The Emperor truly values this only son of his; he arranged Grand Scholar tutors and strengthened the safety monitoring around He Lan Hall, wishing he could investigate whether even a single fly flying past was male or female.

Shen Yao let Yu Yu do as he pleased, and her own protection of her son did not slacken either; the system's monitoring is twenty-four hours non-stop, not even counting Shen Yao's other methods; it can be said that under this kind of three hundred.

Back to Yu Xi's side, Xiao Ji, who had been following Shen Yao, was arranged to go over.

Because Yu Xi temporarily resides in Fengyi Palace, the people around her need not be like Yu Cheng's, saving Shen Yao quite a bit of trouble; it's just that this child, lacking her brother's daily company, often feels bored and plays and runs wildly, causing Fengyi Palace to be somewhat unable to contain her, and quite a few of the palace's flowers and plants have been damaged.

Once again due to Yu Xi's restlessness, large-scale damage to flowers and plants appeared in Fengyi Palace; Shen Yao helplessly called the giggling Yu Xi to her side, "Why so happy today?"

Yu Xi blinked her pair of big eyes, indicating the Empress Mother had seen wrong; she wasn't just happy today, but happy every day.

"Elder Brother is returning from He Lan Hall, and Father Emperor is also coming to dine together; Mother Empress, aren't you happy?"

Yu Xi shook the little tuft on top of her head, her whole person spirited and cute, lively and confident.

Shen Yao raised a brow, indicating she was of course happy, but this kind of thing happens every few days; she can't possibly show happiness every single time.

"Happiness is saying it out loud; only then will happiness double."

Who knows where she heard this theory; Yu Xi's clamoring left Shen Yao a bit helpless.

She raised a hand to signal Xiao Ji over, her eyes glancing at the child bouncing in circles, "Any suspicious persons approaching the Princess recently?"

Xiao Ji shook his head then nodded, "The palace consorts rarely approach the Princess; the Princess usually either stays in Fengyi Palace or goes to Qianqing Palace most often.

Occasionally she also goes to He Lan Hall to see the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince is quite busy and often has no free time to accompany the Princess."

Put that way, Yu Xi seems rather pitiful; even as a golden branch and jade leaf, she still cannot do as she pleases.

"This Palace will later propose to the Emperor to have Xi'er follow the Female Tutor to learn some skills; not speaking of future enfeoffment or becoming Chancellor, as long as she can amuse herself, it also counts as passing the time." Otherwise what else can be done; in this kind of world, she can only guarantee Xi'er's survival to the greatest extent, not consider letting Xi'er be free and unbound.

She waved her hand to have Xiao Ji take the Princess away; Shen Yao stood up and came to the window side, gazing at the distant scenery.

Fengyi Palace is many times larger than Furong Palace, and palace servants come and go constantly.

Sometimes Shen Yao even dislikes putting on airs herself, but the rules are such.

"Host Host, those consorts' relatives have all been registered with the Imperial Household Department; in two more days they will enter the palace, especially the Shen Family side which has already had some small harvest; looks like this time we really can catch the Jiangnan Clans' handle."

The system appeared overly excited; these days the system is always appearing and disappearing mysteriously, running here and jumping there, the whole Huang Hou can barely contain it, and it's like a pair of kites with cut strings together with Yu Xi.

Poor Yu Xi doesn't have the system's great superpowers; she can only be bound by her physical body.

"The Jiangnan Clans' hearts grew too big."

Shen Yao does not deny that some were kept in the dark; the original intent might just have been to curry favor with the Emperor, exploited by some with ulterior motives.

But the Jiangnan Clans are a whole; whether in the Huang Hou or at Court, it is extremely rare to separate them completely; the word "implication" is simply tailor-made for them.

This time the Jiangnan consorts' relatives entering the capital, Shen Yao exerted quite a large effort.

As for the Shen Family discovery the system jumped out to mention, "How far has it gotten; the big fish hasn't surfaced, those showing their heads are all just small fish and shrimp; wait, the people exposed later will only be more and more."

Find an opportunity, still need to hint to the Shen Family; whether to stab this matter to the Emperor needs to be discussed after Rong Hou.

Discuss after Rong Hou?

"Why? If mentioned now, this group of Jiangnan-line consorts in the palace would no longer be a match for the Empress."

Even the Emperor would not take Jiangnan consorts into the palace again; after all, the precedent is too severe, unexpectedly able to drag out spies and such things.

Shen Zhanghe shook his head and wobbled his brain, expressing that his idea was truly good; one move could establish the Empress's position in the palace.

Shen Chunbai, Shen Changyu:...

Shen Chunbai suddenly felt his family's good eldest son still needs someone watching him; otherwise he can pop out two infuriating sentences from time to time.

Just take the "discuss after Rong Hou" they mentioned; the considerations naturally also include the palace Empress; the Empress had long ordered not to let the Emperor know too early, there must be the Empress's deeper intent; but Shen Zhanghe? He simply doesn't have this brain; opening and closing his mouth is just stabbing it to the Emperor.

Shen Changyu persuaded Father not to bother with him; Shen Zhanghe has always been this virtue; saying too much is useless; better to wait until matters are settled, everything completely dust-settled, then analyze.

Shen Zhanghe:...?

Just exclude him like this? Isn't it first explain to him, then say other content?

After so many years of reality's blows, Shen Changyu has already given up arguing clearly with Shen Zhanghe; compared to these repetitive nagging contents, not letting Shen Zhanghe participate too much is the best thing to do.

"This matter has me and Father responsible; Second Brother, you'd better first attend to the Yulin Guard side.

The Emperor's personal guards have strict requirements; moreover, the Court's current peace doesn't mean those officials once suppressed won't make small moves.

Now the Shen Family's entire honor and disgrace are pinned on the Emperor, the Empress, and the Little Prince; absolutely not a shred of mishap allowed."

So know what you should do? Don't participate in these brain-taxing matters at hand; just hurry and do your own proper duty.

Shen Zhanghe:... Alright then

Shen Zhanghe excluded by his own father and own brother; to say there's not a bit of annoyance in his heart would be false, but to say he'd do something because of this annoyance is also completely without much possibility.

In Cheng Shi's words, Shen Zhanghe is the typical type who gets satisfaction from his mouth; action — there is none; but the cheap talk he should take, he still takes.

Back then General Cheng married Cheng Shi off to the Shen Family's Shen Zhanghe precisely for Shen Zhanghe's ability to not stir up too much trouble.

Even if Shen Zhanghe caused trouble, Shen Chunbai and Shen Changyu would help clean up the mess, and it wouldn't affect Cheng Shi's happy life at all.

"Husband, shall I help you to the bathhouse to wash up?" Cheng Shi walked gently up to Shen Zhanghe and immediately spoke in soft, tender words.

But Shen Zhanghe didn't understand her ways. "Cheng Shi, why are you speaking like this?" It was unlike usual, and he suspected fraud.

Cheng Shi:...

"What is Husband saying? I only saw you return from the study in the front courtyard looking gloomy, and wanted to make you feel better," yet she ended up being misunderstood by him—truly, no appreciation for her good intentions.

Shen Zhanghe drew out an "oh" and scratched his head, indicating his displeasure was due to official business; he was glad she had this thought, but as for anything else, better forget it.

"Has Qing'er's side been arranged?" Shen Zhanghe asked about his eldest son.

Cheng Shi secretly rolled her eyes, her face full of smiles as she said Qing'er was fine, and she had long instructed the servants attending to him, "I am Qing'er's mother, carried him for nine months pregnant—would Husband still doubt me?"

Shen Zhanghe waved his hands repeatedly, saying he wouldn't doubt it, only feeling that Qing'er was their two sons' son; since he was the legitimate eldest son, he would surely one day stand up for their household, a matter of great importance, and nothing could be skimped on this.

Cheng Shi:... Oh, I see. So you were stimulated, and Eldest Young Master hurt you quite a bit, didn't he?

But Cheng Shi didn't sympathize with Shen Zhanghe either; this man needed Shen Changyu to remind him constantly, otherwise relying on his own immovable little brain, who knew what trouble he might stir up (pure slander).

The conversation between husband and wife ended here, after all Shen Zhanghe wouldn't say much about court matters, and Cheng Shi didn't want to ask much either.

As the lamps inside the room were blown out, the entire small courtyard fell into tranquility.

When the sun rose, shining upon the earth, a new day quietly arrived.

The consorts and families of Jiangnan began to leave the capital; they came in a hurry and left in a rush, and all they could see was that one face.

Ever since seeing the original body's nominal "mother," He Chongyi had been in low spirits.

The maidservants attending her thought their mistress was reluctant to part with the lady, offering words of comfort and soothing, but the real situation was entirely different—He Chongyi wished the other would never enter the palace again.

"This Palace is fine; let's go sit at the pavilion."

Interrupting the tiresome words of comfort once more, He Chongyi walked to the pavilion in the Imperial Garden, casually found a seat, and sat down to rest.

Outside the pavilion were rockeries and living water, inside which were kept several beautiful red gold carps, said to be tribute sent from below, precious and hard to keep alive.

Taking the opportunity of watching the fish to ponder the matter that troubled her, until a maidservant spoke up to remind her that the Empress was coming.

The Empress?

Not staying in Fengyi Palace, what is she doing running to the Imperial Garden!