Chapter 477: After Binding the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 478: A Passerby's Rise to Power (46)

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

He Chongyi did not stay long in Fengyi Palace, because a palace servant ran in to report that He Cairen and He Jieyu had quarreled and come to blows.

He Chongyi: ……

He Chongyi looked at Shen Yao with utter helplessness; even though she said nothing, a sense of powerlessness still clung to her.

"Have you found out the reason? How did He Jieyu and He Cairen suddenly start quarreling?"

Too embarrassed to say the two quarreled and came to blows, Shen Yao felt that for this kind of thing to happen, it could not be separated from either of them.

Hongguo's expression was awkward; she glanced at He Chongyi beside her and said in a low voice, "He Cairen wanted to ask He Jieyu for help; He Jieyu refused on the grounds of being at odds in principle; He Cairen was convinced He Jieyu did it on purpose, and as they spoke they exchanged a few sharp words.

It is said He Cairen struck first; He Jieyu, unable to swallow her anger, struck back," and in the end the quarrel escalated, and both He Cairen and He Jieyu sent their own palace servants running to Fengyi Palace to lodge complaints.

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao raised a hand to rub her temples; seeing this, He Chongyi asked Hongguo how the situation was now, "Your Ladyship is not a physician; have you summoned an imperial physician?"

Hongguo nodded, then shook her head, and finally fixed her gaze on Shen Yao, "Your Ladyship, should we go over?"

He Chongyi also turned to look at Shen Yao; in her heart she felt it did not matter whether they went or not, because the Empress was up front blocking for her anyway.

Although such a thought was base, as the proverb goes: better a fellow cultivator die than oneself.

After a moment's thought, Shen Yao nodded, "Let's go take a look."

Signaling He Chongyi to accompany her, Shen Yao rose and changed into a rather magnificent everyday dress, and with palace attendants in vast mighty procession went to Qionghua Palace where He Cairen resided.

When the crowd arrived, Qionghua Palace was in noisy uproar; the main hall continuously emitted the sound of porcelain shattering, the palace servants outside were frightened into a huddled cluster, and occasionally pleas for mercy could be heard.

"This servant / this slave greets Empress Your Ladyship, He Chongyi Your Ladyship"

Shen Yao kept a stern face, her cold gaze sweeping over those before her, "Where is He Cairen?"

One of the little palace maids raised her head, trembling, and stole a glance at the main hall where the commotion originated, "Reporting to Empress Your Ladyship, He Cairen is in the main hall."

Main hall?

He Cairen should not be able to enter the main hall; clearly her status is insufficient.

He Chongyi hurried to Shen Yao's side, curtsied, then turned and led the people straight for the main hall.

Shen Yao remained in place and asked about the other party involved, He Jieyu; the little palace maid said He Jieyu had already returned to her palace, and just then an even more piercing sound came from the main hall not far away.

Shen Yao raised her head and signaled the palace attendants to temporarily disperse; she herself stepped toward the main hall.

The closer she got, the more clearly she could hear the disputatious clamor coming from within.

He Cairen appeared on the surface to be no more than a petite, delicate Jiangnan woman; her voice carried the soft Wu dialect lilt, the very type of gentle beauty the Emperor favored most.

Only now, not before the Emperor, He Cairen no longer restrained her temper; in her overbearing, aggressive state, even her outstanding features looked somewhat ferocious.

"He Chongyi, Elder Sister He? You truly are my good sister. What intentions did you harbor in summoning He Jieyu? Your abacus beads are about to bounce right onto my face!"

When He Cairen turns sarcastic, ordinary people cannot withstand it; even though He Chongyi had prepared herself mentally, she was still rendered speechless by He Cairen's retorts.

Her face flushed red from holding it in, not knowing what to do; it was Shen Yao entering the hall who rescued the tongue-tied He Chongyi.

"He Cairen, loud quarreling is forbidden within the palace halls; how did you learn the palace rules? It seems the Imperial Household Department must continue sending nainai over."

"Empress Your Ladyship"

He Cairen was startled by Shen Yao's sudden appearance, but from the moment she sent people to Fengyi Palace to lodge a complaint, He Cairen had also made psychological preparations.

Quickly steadying her expression and emotions, He Cairen curtsied softly and weakly, "Empress Your Ladyship misunderstands; this concubine merely became overly agitated upon seeing He Chongyi, and just now appeared to speak without choosing words."

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Speaking without choosing words?" If this counts as speaking without choosing words, then how severe must the earlier certified quarrel have been?

He Cairen nodded affirmatively, then turned and let fall a string of tears, "Empress Your Ladyship, you have come at just the right time; you must decide for this concubine."

Kneeling is impossible, but the complaint must still be lodged, especially since He Jieyu is not here; she must viciously blacken her a few times to vent the anger in her heart.

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao did not need to listen to know what He Cairen would say; nothing other than pinning all the blame on He Jieyu, since He Jieyu cannot defend herself anyway.

"He Cairen, speak properly if you have something to say; you and He Jieyu both come from the He family, your relationship is close."

There is no need to make such a scene; all of Shen Yao's punishments must be based on palace rules; when the time comes, each will receive fifty heavy strokes, and it is not certain either of them will be happy.

"Empress Your Ladyship, since this concubine entered the palace she has relied on He Chongyi's care; He Jieyu has long been absent, and the occasional appearance is only to make things difficult for this concubine; such a relative this concubine cannot afford."

He Cairen's words carried heavy resentment qi, and some were even directed at He Chongyi.

Background board He Chongyi: ……

He Chongyi was speechless in her heart; she had already hidden herself away, yet she still got dragged into it.

Truly, a troublemaker is a troublemaker wherever she goes; next time she must continue to hide.

"Empress Your Ladyship, Empress Your Ladyship, please have pity on this concubine, help this concubine..."

He Cairen wept in a halting, stammering way; the tones she emitted were nine curves and eighteen bends, making Shen Yao's ears buzz.

Before Shen Yao could speak, He Chongyi hurriedly stopped He Cairen's unruly behavior, "This matter the Empress has already decided; you must not be unreasonable."

He Cairen glared at He Chongyi in anger, turned her head toward Shen Yao, raised a hand to wipe tears, clearly meaning she did not want to pay He Chongyi any heed.

He Chongyi: ……

Failing to recognize good intentions!

He Chongyi took small steps back to Shen Yao's side, thinking she would like to see to what extent this person could make a scene; the Empress would not allow her to run wild and roll on the floor.

"He Cairen, return to your side hall first," Shen Yao beckoned Hongguo over, "Notify the Imperial Household Department to tally today's losses in the main hall and replenish them anew."

Hongguo lowered her head and answered yes.

Shen Yao turned and left; she did not return to Fengyi Palace, but went to Qianqing Palace instead.

He Chongyi naturally did not follow along, because Shen Yao said this matter was not troublesome, but He Cairen was the Emperor's recent new favorite, so he had to consider the Emperor's wishes and ask around before deciding on the punishment.

"The Empress is not going to Qimei Palace?" He Chongyi thought the Empress would ask about He Jieyu.

Shen Yao shook her head. "There are palace attendants to replenish supplies, and with He Cairen's words, there is no need to go to He Jieyu's place again."

After all, an Empress like Shen Yao coming to Qionghua Palace was already giving them face; if she went out of her way to run to Qimei Palace without sparing effort, He Jieyu was not important enough.

He Chongyi watched Shen Yao and her people head to Qianqing Palace, then returned to Changle Palace in high spirits.

The maidservants left in the palace saw their mistress so happy and hurriedly asked why.

Why?

He Chongyi covered his mouth with one hand. "That annoying person can finally be quiet for a few days. Your mistress here is carefree and light-hearted. Don't you think I'm happy?"

Happy! Must be happy!

Shen Yao could not empathize with He Chongyi's happiness, because after arriving at Qianqing Palace, the words the Emperor spoke made her heart sink.

"He Cairen's offense is not serious. Considering her young age, the Empress need not pursue it excessively."

Shen Yao:...

"Your Majesty, your subject does not wish to quarrel with He Cairen, but this matter is known to everyone in the harem, and He Jieyu, who was slapped, is making a scene. No matter what, we must set an example for the other imperial consorts."

If she could be let off so easily, could other favored consorts in the future also act as they pleased? How would she manage the harem? Could the Empress's position still sit stable?

Shen Yao complained in her heart that the Emperor was deliberately causing trouble, while valuing even more the Shen Family's trip to Jiangnan.

The Emperor was old after all; having been an emperor for too long, the arrogance and conceit in his bones could not be avoided.

Even more, the later it got, the more the Emperor liked to play contrary to her.

Not for any other reason, simply not wanting Shen Yao to have more reputation and prestige, wanting Shen Yao to always remain beneath him, an Empress in name only.

"What benefit does this bring the Emperor?" The system felt the host was thinking too pessimistically. As the only Prince's birth mother in the harem, even if the Emperor did not consider Shen Yao, he could not ignore Yu Cheng's feelings.

One must know that the realm of Yu Guo would sooner or later be handed to Yu Cheng. The Emperor causing trouble for Shen Yao—was he not afraid his own son would bear a grudge, and father and son would become enemies in their old age?

"What is there to fear? As long as Yu Cheng does not uphold righteousness by destroying kin and personally force the Emperor to abdicate and yield to the worthy, the initiative will always remain in the Emperor's hands."

Shen Yao lowered her head slightly, a few fallen strands of hair covering her facial expression.

After a while, the Emperor suddenly spoke, reluctantly letting Shen Yao handle it herself.

Shen Yao:... Huh?

Shen Yao smiled and nodded, telling the Emperor she would not deliberately target He Cairen. By the rules, both of them causing trouble should be confined to reflect and copy the palace regulations several times. But He Cairen was the Emperor's new favorite: "Confinement can be waived; as for the palace regulations, three times will do. What does Your Majesty think?"

Shen Yao did not set a deadline for submitting the palace regulations, meaning He Cairen could have palace attendants copy them for her, or copy them slowly herself, or even pretend this matter did not exist. Anyway, as long as she was happy.

The Emperor smiled and nodded. "The Empress has considered everything thoroughly. Let it be so."

Shen Yao left Qianqing Palace. Not long after, the disposal result regarding the trouble caused by He Cairen and He Jieyu today was delivered.

He Cairen copied the palace regulations three times; He Jieyu was confined for half a month, copied the palace regulations three times, and must submit them within one month.

The two punishments were about the same (?), but comparing their ranks and favor, He Jieyu was clearly worse off.

Qimei Palace unsurprisingly erupted in argument, with He Jieyu loudly cursing everyone (except the Emperor).

"Your Ladyship, He Jieyu is too ungrateful. We shouldn't have spoken for her before the Emperor."

You think this punishment was deliberate? The Emperor clearly wanted to punish her more severely. Thanks to Your Ladyship's advice, a middle-ground solution was chosen. Otherwise, He Jieyu's confinement would start at no less than one month.

"It's just words. If she didn't speak, He Jieyu would make an even bigger scene."

The Emperor doesn't care about He Jieyu, but He Chongyi has to consider these things.

"He Cairen enjoys the Emperor's favor at its peak. This palace helping He Jieyu can also ease the conflict in the harem. Otherwise, others would fear He Cairen even more, and then no one would dare to charge into battle. This palace cannot always personally take the field."

Hongguo couldn't help but puff her cheeks, still feeling her mistress had been wronged. He Jieyu didn't know a good person's heart; no wonder she lost her son and lost favor.

Life in the palace is like this: either the east wind overpowers the west wind, or the west wind overpowers the east wind.

He Cairen's days being good makes the other consorts' days seem even harder.

Shen Yao almost every day received various accusations from the consorts in the harem. Most involved He Cairen, a small part because of He Jieyu.

Hmm, even though confined in the palace, He Jieyu could still rely on her noise to disturb the people and make a name for herself. How is that not a skill?

"How is Jiangnan? The Shen Family has been in Jiangnan for half a year. How is the reconnaissance going?"

Shen Yao thought of the Shen Family rooted in Jiangnan. Recently, because She Shi entered the palace infrequently, and with letters between the two places being effective, Shen Yao was not very familiar with the latest situation in the Jiangnan region on the surface.

But Shen Yao had a cheat. The system could transmit messages without obstruction at any time. Once the Shen Family obtained any information in Jiangnan, Shen Yao already had definite intelligence before Shen Chunbai on that side even knew.

With such transmission speed as a foundation, she dared to sit stably on the Fishing Terrace.

"Jiangnan is still the same. The He Family is not resigned and is thinking of ways to shake off the Shen Family, trying their best to save themselves."

The system disdained the He Family's inability to hide their actions, thinking the evidence was all in the palace. The He Family had only the path of admitting defeat and waiting for death, yet they dared to jump out and cause a ruckus everywhere.

"Perhaps they are unwilling to give up. Who wants to die?" The He Family could not turn back, including all clansmen together. What they did was all head-chopping business.

The Shen Family had grasped the evidence of the He Family's crimes, and the He Family could not topple the Shen Family. The two sides' situations were different; what the He Family could do seemed not much.

System:...

"It's really strange. Afraid of death yet daring to take this path." Who doesn't know that if such a thing is discovered, it's death? Regretting and struggling now, why couldn't they figure it out at the beginning?

"If everyone could figure it out and see things clearly, wouldn't life have so many ups and downs?"

Times change. When hot-blooded, no one thinks so much. Only when trouble is right before one's eyes does one reflect and examine oneself.

The He Family is currently in such a state. Let them struggle a bit. Better than the fish dying and the net breaking, with the Shen Family suffering along with them.

When one person and one system talked about Jiangnan, they inevitably could not avoid the He Family. And not just the He Family; the Shen Family had also hooked several more families in the past half year, big and small, all somewhat related to the Nanman. The initiative is in the Shen Family's hands. How to handle it in the end depends on her and the Shen Family's wishes.

"First pinch their seven inches, slowly nibble away at the forces in the Jiangnan region, and let them temporarily serve us." Money and supplies are indispensable.

The Shen Family keeps an army in their hands. To make it serve them, daily clothing and provisions must be in place.

"The Shen Family is striving toward this goal. Believe that in the not-too-distant future, the Shen Family's actions will surely satisfy the host." The system flattered with rainbow farts, then turned the topic to Shen Yao: "Host, we should still first draw the Emperor's attention back to Fengyi Palace. The two children are not yet grown. We cannot tear our faces with the Emperor."

Shen Yao gave the system a white-eye look. "You mean, let me compromise and seek fullness?"

The Emperor had not come to Fengyi Palace for some time. He spent all day entangled in the Wenrou Xiang. Even for Yu Cheng and Yu Xi to meet, they had to go to Qianqing Palace. It was clear that before enjoyment, sons and daughters were not important.