Chapter 478

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

"The Host is indeed hard-mouthed but soft-hearted after all."

The system watched its own Host, who ultimately still chose to appear in Qianqing Palace, and sighed that its previous words were all false; once her own true interests were involved, the Host was far calmer than a system like it.

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao felt she was being mocked by the system, and she had evidence — and it was extremely ample.

"One must bow one's head under another's eaves." In other words, the Emperor is still useful; he cannot suddenly collapse at this moment.

She raised a hand to brush aside the bangs at her forehead, then shifted the food box held in her hand by Hongguo; seeing nothing amiss, Shen Yao signaled Lvying to notify Li Guiquan that she had come to request an audience with the Emperor.

"Oh my, Empress Niangniang, your timing is truly inopportune this time; the Emperor is currently summoning court ministers to discuss state affairs," Li Guiquan said with a face full of difficulty, pointing behind himself and smiling obsequiously as he invited Shen Yao to go rest in the side hall first.

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao gave Li Guiquan a meaningful look, staring until Li Guiquan broke into a cold sweat all over, then she merely hmmed once and nodded. "In that case, let us go to the side hall; in a while I will still have to trouble Li Zong Guan to go inside and announce me."

Without quibbling over whether there really were court ministers inside the study, Shen Yao took a step back first, letting Li Guiquan catch his breath.

It really was "oh my"; in his heart Li Guiquan prayed incessantly that those fox-like, bewitching minor consorts would be driven out by the Emperor at once — how could they be so terrible at picking a time, choosing precisely the day the Empress came to stir up trouble? Bad luck!

Li Guiquan was thoroughly dissatisfied with those low-ranked, ill-tempered consorts; clearly he had suffered no few silent losses and torments at their hands on ordinary days. Who let the Emperor like this sort of tune? Perhaps all men love this type of woman?

Li Guiquan did not understand; after seeing Shen Yao off, he turned back to the study doorway to wait for any movement.

Perhaps because he had muttered it in his heart, before long the study transmitted sounds — rustling, indistinct — but the tone of consorts unwilling to leave was one Li Guiquan knew all too well.

They're leaving? Li Guiquan's eyes brightened; he pushed open the great study doors and asked with a face full of respect whether there was anything he could do.

"Li Zong Guan doesn't usually come in much, but the moment us sisters leave you're full of enthusiasm."

He Cairen gave Li Guiquan a small barb, then turned to act coquettishly toward the Emperor sitting in the bedchamber.

"Your Majesty, look at Li Zong Guan — isn't he deliberately bullying us sisters? It's all because us sisters have low rank and no ability……"

The Emperor casually caught He Cairen, who was about to cling to his thigh and fake-cry. "What nonsense; a dog slave — how would he dare bully Our several Beloved Consorts."

He glared at the neck-shrinking Li Guiquan, then the Emperor deployed gentle coaxing in full force, finally turning He Cairen's tears into laughter, and she left Qianqing Palace happily.

"Dog slave, speak," the Emperor snorted, scaring Li Guiquan into hurriedly kneeling on the ground and loudly begging for mercy, insistently declaring he would never dare, that he absolutely wasn't giving those consorts a cold shoulder — he was just a slave, how would he dare offend his master? He truly dared not overstep.

"Dare not overstep?"

The Emperor did not believe Li Guiquan's words, but he could also understand this man's manner of speech. He had heard of the reputation He Cairen and the other consorts held in the Huang Hou; it wasn't that no one had feigned complaints before him — just that he had ignored them all.

He was the Emperor; he only needed to ensure his own pleasure — what did the other consorts' daily suffering have to do with him?

The two big characters "scumbag" were engraved on the Emperor, yet he was utterly unaware. He waved his hand to let Li Guiquan rise and casually asked, "Who just came? You were so eager to send He Cairen and the rest away — was it the Empress?"

In the entire Huang Hou, aside from the Empress, no one else had this much face.

Even including the Virtuous Consort, Li Guiquan would not be this respectful.

As he thought on, a very strange feeling rose in the Emperor's heart, and his gaze toward Li Guiquan changed as well.

This degree of sensory perception Li Guiquan could not possibly not know; he secretly warned himself to be cautious, then bowed and explained that it was indeed the Empress who had come — however, he had not been eager, but had considered the Emperor's imperial majesty and therefore wanted to dismiss these low-ranking consorts.

Heh!

The Emperor sneered in disdain. "This thinking of yours — it seems We should thank you instead?"

Utterly absurd!

"Go, invite the Empress here." He also wanted to know the other party's purpose in coming this time — surely she hadn't heard some wind, or this dog slave hadn't informed on him behind his back?

The Emperor, growing ever more distrustful of the man before him, had many thoughts — until Shen Yao entered carrying the freshly simmered food box. Only then did the Emperor's face once again don a smiling countenance; he beckoned Shen Yao to quickly sit beside him. "Such a trifling matter — just have the slaves below handle it. Why let the Empress personally deliver it?"

"Your Majesty toils day and night; your subject cannot help, and can only do some trivial small things." Shen Yao opened the food box, brought out the steaming soup inside, picked up the spoon and stirred a few times, then straightforwardly fed it to the Emperor's lips. "Your Majesty, quickly taste — it is chicken soup newly made by the Small Kitchen, with many qi-supplementing ingredients added; the Imperial Physicians all say it nourishes the body."

As for whether it truly nourishes the body, who knows? Anyway, all the various soups in the palace carry this sort of efficacy — it is completely standard operation.

The Emperor very obligingly lowered his head and drank two mouthfuls, praised the soup's flavor a few times, then took the opportunity to mention that these days court affairs were busy and he had neglected the Empress — truly he should not have.

Shen Yao: ……

A ghost-deceiving excuse, ready the moment he opened his mouth; anyway, neither of them believed it in their hearts.

Even both of them tacitly did not mention that group of low-ranked consorts who had just left — after all, they had walked out right in the open; ignoring them was difficult.

Inside the study the atmosphere was tender and affectionate; if the Emperor and Empress were acting, they both counted as masters. By the time Shen Yao left Qianqing Palace again, the Emperor had already promised to go to Fengyi Palace for an overnight stay.

Regardless of whether this came from true feeling or false intent, the Emperor's attitude was placed here; the other consorts in the Huang Hou, upon hearing, would not dare slight Fengyi Palace.

"Truly giving him face — he must have forgotten the anxious appearance I had back when I had not yet given birth to Cheng'er and Xi'er. The entire Huang Hou leaked like a sieve; now, after barely recovering for a few years, it is solidifying and sprouting anew."

Shen Yao sat on the sedan chair being carried back to Fengyi Palace, eyes slightly closed, chatting idly with the system. "Believe it or not, as long as the Emperor reveals even a bit of his true attitude, He Lan and Fengyi Palace will be stuffed full of spies.

Especially He Lan — the danger around Cheng'er has never lessened by much."

In matters of food, clothing, and daily necessities, wherever a hand could be reached, all sorts of large and small accidental events would appear. No matter how arbitrarily the Emperor acted, he never spoke to withdraw the many confidants previously placed beside Yu Cheng — all for the sake of doing everything possible to guarantee that his only son could grow into an adult.

"Host, since ancient times, struggles for the throne have been filled with bloody cruelty.

Not to mention an Huang Hou with only one Prince — even with many Princes, it is equally dangerous.

The Emperor having this heart is already very good; the Host need not be excessively demanding."

The system, over these years, had also seen through the rights and wrongs of the Huang Hou; wanting to guard a mere three-fen plot of land and live out one's days was certainly impossible. For a situation like the Host's, where retreating one step meant a dead end, only constantly striving forward could open a path to survival.

"I have already given up hope on him; it is just that Cheng'er's age is still too young, yet court disputes and strife are incessant." She needed the Emperor to serve as an arrow shield pressed at the front, until Yu Cheng could truly control the court or the Shen Family grew powerful enough to suppress the court — otherwise the imperial house would be left with only an orphan and widow, which is the omen of a dynastic change.

"Niangniang, we have arrived at Fengyi Palace."

Hongguo reached out to support Shen Yao as she slowly stepped down from the stabilized sedan chair; Lvying, leading palace attendants, waited at the doorway, and upon seeing their master appear, hurriedly performed salutes and greetings.

Shen Yao waved her hand and asked after Yu Xi, who remained in the palace — was her condition good?

"Reporting to Niangniang, the Princess is entirely well; she has eaten the late dinner and is just preparing to rest."

Shen Yao went to Qianqing Palace to deliver soup, conveniently ate a late dinner there, and by the time she returned the sky was already dark; if the Emperor came over again tonight, she probably wouldn't get much sleep.

"Have the small kitchen prepare a bowl of special Soothing Soup; when Xi Er falls asleep, have her drink it," children always slept lightly; fortunately the Imperial Hospital had her own people, Shen Yao worried about Yu Xi's spirits, so she simply prepared it in advance to avoid a scramble later.

Lvying acknowledged with a yes, raised her hand to support Shen Yao's other arm bend, and the two together escorted their master into the hall.

After changing and washing, Shen Yao walked to the bedchamber and sat down; beside her were tea and pastries brought by Hong Guo and Lvying.

Simply eating a few mouthfuls to pad her belly, Shen Yao rubbed her temples, and told Hong Guo and Lvying to withdraw and prepare in advance.

The warm water that should be ready was prepared in advance, the wine and dishes that should be there were placed in the small kitchen to warm; Shen Yao took out the cosmetics and watercolors from before the dressing table and simply applied them facing the copper mirror, then immediately fished out the long-unused Pill and put it in her mouth.

The beauty in the copper mirror was familiar yet strange; Shen Yao raised her hand to touch her face, and finally revealed a somewhat brilliant smile.

She stood up and tidied her spirits; in just a moment, with a cry of "The Emperor Arrives," Shen Yao went out to welcome the Emperor arriving in a sedan chair.

The two were intimate as before; the cracked fissures had also been plastered clean.

The Emperor expressed concern for the daughter living in Fengyi Palace, even though her importance did not equal a son's.

"Xi Er has already fallen asleep; this subject originally wanted the child to wait together for the Emperor to come over, however"

"Let Xi Er sleep peacefully; We can come over anytime, don't disturb her."

The Emperor really is a birth father; daughter and son are important, wife is not important.

Shen Yao rolled her eyes in her heart, but her hand still warmly pulled him into the hall; a middle-aged couple who had gotten along for years, even without intimate interaction the atmosphere was thick.

Moreover today Shen Yao was playing the idea of reconciliation; especially for someone like the Emperor, as long as his body was comfortable, everything was negotiable.

…………

"Hmph! The Empress is truly a fox spirit, she actually hooked the Emperor into staying overnight at Fengyi Palace."

It's not the First and Fifteenth when ancestral regulations are set in advance; this seizes their fertile opportunities.

He Cairen hid in the side hall muttering, more complaint and anxiety than anything.

She'd drunk Fertility Medicine for several months straight, how come she still had no movement?

Didn't He Jieyu have good news before? How come the same Fertility Medicine has no effect when she uses it? Could it be the Emperor's age has arrived?

Only a few years' difference; it can't be that the Emperor's body has a problem, and her drinking medicine is treating symptoms not root?

He Cairen shook her head, shaking the messy thoughts that popped up out of her brain, turned her head and continued firmly drinking medicine to seek a child.

As for whether this medicine has effect? Heart sincere then spirit; He Cairen believes the Bodhisattva and Buddha Ancestors hearing her heart's voice will surely let her wish be fulfilled.

Another night passed; Shen Yao rose to send off the Emperor going to early court, turned her head and slept another nap.

Vaguely, Shen Yao heard someone calling her; she opened her eyes and just saw Yu Xi running in.

"Mother Empress"

Yu Xi blinked her own pair of flashing eyes, pattered over to Shen Yao, and with a mischievous face pulled her swaying left and right.

Shen Yao propped herself on her arms and slowly sat up, gathered Yu Xi into her arms and kissed her fragrantly again and again.

Yu Xi let out giggling happy laughter, dodging while feeling ticklish.

"Mother Empress, Mother Empress"

"What's wrong with Xi Er? Why didn't you go out to play with Aunt Xiao Ji?"

Yu Xi raised her little meat hand to cover her mouth corner, "Aunt Xiao Ji said there are bad people outside, Xi Er won't go out."

This was because once when going to the Imperial Garden, Yu Xi was nearly knocked into the pond by a little eunuch running out; although it was a scare without danger, it was still scary enough, making both Shen Yao and the Emperor assign many palace attendants to guard Yu Xi's side.

Not only that, Yu Xi also reduced her chances to go out, and even when she went out, Xiao Ji would arrange palace attendants to scout the places to go in advance, afraid that an accident like before might happen again if not careful.

Yu Xi is only young in years, not ignorant.

Understanding that not going out is to protect herself, she is especially understanding of Xiao Ji and the others; usually she spends time with several masters taking lessons, remaining leisure time passing in Fengyi Palace, or going to He Lan to find her brother to play, worst case there's still the Qianqing Palace Father Emperor, she certainly won't be bored with nothing to do.

Shen Yao raised her hand and rubbed rub-rub Yu Xi's head tufts, praising the child for being sensible and obedient.

"Trust Mother Empress; it won't be long before Xi Er can play however she wants, even exit the palace."

"Exit the palace? Mother Empress, I can exit the palace?" Yu Xi's eyes shone bright; she had grown this big and never exited the palace.

What the world outside the palace is really like, Yu Xi had only heard from Aunt Xiao Ji's mouth, which made her even more yearning and curious.

"Xi Er can of course exit the palace; not only exit the palace, but also go to maternal grandfather's home, also see lively streets, bustling crowds..."

Based on her own sight and hearing from earlier years, Shen Yao seriously described the world outside the palace to Yu Xi, increasingly arousing this child's curiosity.

"So you promised Xi Er to take her out of the palace?" Shen Yao rubbed her eyebrows, helplessly complaining that the Emperor agreed too fast; the palace isn't safe, outside the palace is even more dangerous, this isn't a game.

The Emperor knew he was in the wrong, raised his hand to touch his nose tip, indicating he just happened to need to exit the palace on business, Xi Er was clamoring to go out and play, "We momentarily couldn't hold firm; Empress won't blame Us, right?"

Shen Yao:... even if you blame, can this person take back the decree? Go back on his word?

"The Emperor's words are interesting; this subject only worries Xi Er is young in years, exiting the palace if she encounters an accident, it would delay the Emperor's proper business.

Since the Emperor has already agreed, this subject has no reason to oppose.

At that time please Emperor take extra care of Xi Er, don't let her play too wildly, give you trouble."

Shen Yao glared at the Emperor, supplementing the words in advance, to prevent the Emperor blaming her with words when he returns — a great idle person who didn't exit the palace.

Emperor: ……