Chapter 487: Bound to the Child-Bearing System, Becoming a Winner in Life Chapter 488: The Rise of a Bystander (Complete)

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

In this year's imperial selection, the number of concubine candidates entering the palace reached a record high.

Of course, the number finally retained and invested as imperial consorts was not small either.

Shen Yao had nothing to remind Yu Cheng about; after all, how one lived one's days depended on oneself, and whether one could get a good result also depended on the situation.

"In the end, Liu Shi was still invested as Empress, and the other two as Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort," the three checked each other, and even before entering the palace they had already become a force.

"Host, this Liu Shi person," the system shook its head and waggled its brain, saying that young people choosing people by looks was no good, no good.

Shen Yao:...

"Whether it works or not, one must enter the palace to know; besides, since it was Yu Cheng's own suggestion, since I've said I won't interfere, there's no reason for me to meddle," even if Liu Shi's background had flaws and might not necessarily help Yu Cheng, these were just speculations without conclusion; one couldn't condemn without proof, could one?

System:...

The system thought to itself that this was indeed the case; their discussion was based on years of experience, but it didn't rule out that some people might be exceptions.

One couldn't demand that everyone be like the majority just because of their results; what if?

"But I still don't think highly of them," even if Yu Cheng said it coldly and indifferently, after getting along for a long time one would develop feelings; if one day Liu Shi made a mistake, could Yu Cheng really treat her rationally without any emotion mixed in?

That day hadn't arrived yet; no one could predict the final result.

Shen Yao took the investiture list for the concubine candidates from Qianqing Palace from Hongguo's hands, and instructed the Imperial Household Department to repair palaces and assign palace maids; until half a month later, the concubine candidates began entering the palace one after another to be settled, and the imperial wedding ceremony for the Emperor and Empress, handled by the Imperial Household Department, also came to an end.

Shen Yao waited until the Emperor and Empress completed their wedding, and after seeing the imperial consorts in Yu Cheng's harem, did she pack her luggage and leave the palace with the many Imperial Noble Consorts of the Former Emperor.

Therefore, Liu Shi, who had just become Empress, ran over to apologize to Shen Yao with fear and trepidation.

She worried that she had accidentally offended the Empress Dowager, and even more feared leaving a bad impression before the Emperor.

After all, even Liu Shi herself hadn't expected that she would stand out among so many concubine candidates to become Empress; but now that she truly was Empress, she was reluctant to let go of the benefits she had acquired.

"This matter has nothing to do with you; after you entered the palace, the Emperor has someone to talk to more often in his daily life," Shen Yao said whatever she had to say, making Liu Shi still have some random thoughts.

"Mother Empress, Daughter-in-law has just entered the palace and doesn't understand some palace affairs yet; you" actually left so cleanly and decisively, not conforming to objective laws at all.

Don't people say the Empress Dowager and the Empress are two camps and will eventually come to blows over power? Why is this mother-in-law of mine acting contrary to common people, handing over palace authority just like that, and leaving the palace just by saying she'd go?

With the Empress Dowager gone from the palace who needed constant attention, could she then act more freely?

Thinking of the Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort who entered the palace at the same time as her and had superior family backgrounds, Liu Shi inevitably had a knot in her heart; this wasn't Yu Cheng's fault, but she just felt unhappy!

Shen Yao watched the Empress's constantly changing face and sighed in her heart.

Yu Cheng had probably lost the bet.

"This old woman is not here; if you don't understand something, you can naturally discuss it with others," there was no need to count on her; besides, there has always been the saying that with each new emperor comes a new set of officials.

Don't look at how this Empress Dowager of hers carries more weight than the Empress right now; once the Empress gives birth to an imperial heir and has a legitimate son, the situation will directly reverse; this is ultimately Yu Cheng's harem, and Shen Yao will sooner or later exit the stage.

Empress:...

The Empress coming over wasn't really to retain Shen Yao; one was to put on a show for the harem, two was to put on a show for Yu Cheng, three was to maintain her own reputation.

Seeing that Shen Yao's decision to leave the palace couldn't be changed, the Empress simply had someone send over various supplies involving food, clothing, use, and travel, all just to put gold on her own face.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao said nothing, but Yu Xi was the first to be dissatisfied, feeling the Empress was too snobbish, and even specially chose to come over and give gifts when there were many people, as if afraid others wouldn't know.

"What's the point of calculating so much? We won't lose out anyway; let her be."

Young and not close with her family, Liu Shi had learned only self-preservation methods.

Living in the palace, self-preservation wasn't wrong, but as Empress she should bear other responsibilities.

"My daughter doesn't like the Imperial Sister-in-law chosen by the Imperial Brother;" not as good as those two young Imperial Sisters-in-law; whether giving meeting gifts or talking and chatting, they were much more sincere.

Shen Yao helplessly reached out and tapped Yu Xi's head; "Whether you like her or not, she is the Empress."

"Keep the words in your heart; after this old woman leaves the palace, I won't be back for a while; you stay at the Princess Residence and pay attention at all times; if there's anything, don't forget to explain it to your Imperial Brother."

Even though Shen Yao wasn't in the palace, she was still very reassured about Yu Xi living at the Princess Residence.

Yu Cheng and Yu Xi had a good relationship; plus they had grown up together for many years with sibling affection; unless Yu Xi wanted to give up and fight Yu Cheng for the throne, the two of them couldn't be separated.

Yu Xi obediently nodded, pulled Shen Yao's arm and acted coquettish in various ways to curry favor, and also promised that she would definitely visit Shen Yao outside the palace when she had time.

"You, as long as you don't go make a ruckus, this old woman can have a few more years of leisurely days;" compared to the steady Yu Cheng since childhood, Yu Xi this child was full of energy; even though she later moved from Fengyi Palace to the Princess Residence, she was still the most beautiful scenery line in the entire harem.

Hearing this, Yu Xi pouted, saying she had been well-behaved since childhood and certainly didn't make a ruckus.

The mother and daughter gathered together to talk until a palace maid came in to report that the Empress, accompanied by the Noble Consort and others, had come to pay respects.

Shen Yao instantly became serious and stern, gesturing for Yu Xi to rest inside the hall herself, then turned and had Hongguo lead the Empress and them in.

Yu Xi:... Imperial Sister-in-law really is like that; I already said I don't like her~

Yu Xi not liking her didn't affect Liu Shi being Empress; after Shen Yao left the palace with the many Imperial Noble Consorts, this Empress Liu Shi lived even more freely.

Except for the still eye-catching Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort, the Empress felt she had no worries at all.

"But it's time to prepare; give birth to a legitimate son as soon as possible;" only with a legitimate son could she sit firmly on the Empress's throne; she hadn't forgotten how the Emperor ascended the throne; the Empress looked at the maid bringing the fertility medicine, raised her head and gulped it down in one mouthful.

"Tsk, drinking fertility soup so early; the Empress is really too impatient."

Moreover, there was no problem affecting fertility between the Empress and the Emperor's health, and the Emperor spent the most nights at Fengyi Palace every month; the Empress would surely give birth to an imperial heir sooner or later; why drink that fertility soup which is three parts poison?

"Worry; I heard that an imperial consort in the harem is pregnant and anxious."

The system liked to eavesdrop on gossip; even after moving out to live with Shen Yao, it still knew the palace situation clearly.

After one person and one system had been out for less than half a year, the system had dug up many palace secrets, including but not limited to Yu Xi's imperial consorts competing for favor and snatching things from each other.

"She is the Empress; as long as she doesn't do anything that harms heaven and reason, she is the legitimate mother of all imperial heirs;" even without offspring she could still become Empress Dowager; besides, Liu Shi was not yet seventeen; what was there to rush about.

Shen Yao truly didn't understand; it wasn't speaking without feeling pain, but rather, the ranking of imperial heirs, something to fight over for first or second place, really wasn't of much use.

"First, cannot guarantee whether the imperial heir is male or female; second, cannot confirm one's own talent; third, cannot be certain of growing into an adult." So whenever the birth happens doesn't matter, because having an imperial son is the most trivial matter, while all subsequent requirements are far more stringent.

"Those involved are confused; onlookers see clearly." The system felt that if everyone could think it through, why would events of harming imperial heirs appear in the imperial harem?

"Our decision to leave the palace was not wrong; staying in the imperial palace means handling a mess." She had managed the Former Emperor's harem for over a decade and was long since tired of it; Yu Cheng's harem? Let her cheap daughter-in-law handle it.

She hoped this cheap daughter-in-law could truly understand; she was unwilling for the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law bond between the two to be merely momentary, rather than lifelong.

Shen Yao's beautiful wishes, still in the palace, failed to reach Liu Shi.

Whether it was bad luck or incompatible magnetic fields, for three whole years, even Noble Consort and Virtuous Consort received pregnancy news, each giving birth to a princess, while the Empress's belly still showed no movement whatsoever.

At this time, Yu Cheng already had the excellent record of three sons and five daughters under his knees; although the sons' mother consorts were of low birth, there was absolutely no need to worry.

He treated the Empress with even more consideration and understanding — no urging, no blame, no anger; instead, the Empress herself drilled into a cow horn tip, eating all kinds of tonic medicines daily until addicted, forcibly eating her own waist thicker by a full circle.

Shen Yao: ……

Because the Empress's conduct was too outrageous and childish, the Emperor requested Shen Yao return to the palace to persuade her.

Considering her good relationship with her son, Shen Yao dutifully played the role of persuader, nearly wearing out her lips but failing to persuade this Empress who strayed further and further off course.

"This person is beyond saving." Shen Yao gave up, muttered a couple of sentences with Yu Cheng, and left the palace again.

Of course, Shen Yao returned alone, but when she departed she took the betrothed Yu Xi with her.

As early as a year ago, Yu Xi's husband-to-be had already been decided; recently she had become steadier. Considering the palace was a mess and would affect Yu Xi's mood while preparing for marriage, Shen Yao simply led her out of the palace to relax, and by the way cultivate Yu Xi's survival skills, lest she be deceived after marriage.

"Mother Empress, your daughter would never," the candidate was chosen by Shen Yao and Yu Cheng together, yet it did not guarantee things would stay good forever.

"Just afraid you'll suffer losses and be deceived in the future; Mother Empress cannot accompany you for a lifetime."

More depends on oneself; take Yu Cheng — if this person hadn't wanted to make an effort, to pull the Empress along, Shen Yao wouldn't have needed to return to the palace at all.

"Mother Empress"

Yu Xi didn't want to hear Shen Yao say these things, because they brought her a feeling of panic. Having lived since childhood under the protection of Mother Empress and Imperial Brother, Yu Xi was like a child who never grew up; even if she married and bore children, she still couldn't change the temperament in her bones.

"Alright, we mother and daughter won't speak of these; it's not easy to come out once, just enjoy yourselves."

Once married, she would be bound within one corner of heaven and earth; even as a princess she could not change anything.

Shen Yao felt heartache for the women of this era; whether Yu Xi or Liu Shi, they all could not break free from the shackles on their bodies, nor see a broader world.

Letting Yu Xi interact more with those Imperial Noble Consorts at the Manor, Shen Yao was practically gathering the strengths of all families to raise her daughter; she did not ask that Yu Xi truly awaken and understand everything, only that she gain a few points of understanding, so that when she later left this world she could set her mind more at ease.

A year later, Yu Xi married joyfully; Shen Yao saw off her own daughter in the palace, then turned her gaze to the already pregnant Empress.

Liu Shi's condition was not good; a woman of twenty years, with no parents-in-law causing trouble, should have had harmonious days and a comfortable life.

Yet Liu Shi forcibly made herself into an appearance aged ten years.

"Empress, during this period Sorrowful Family remains in the imperial palace; you've been busy lately, hurry back and rest."

But don't stay outside waiting for others to scheme; for an imperial heir of unknown sex, to torment yourself to this extent — Shen Yao could not understand.

Liu Shi thanked Shen Yao on the surface for staying in the palace to help, but secretly felt Shen Yao was deliberately seizing her authority; these years Liu Shi was disappointed in the offspring aspect, yet in other aspects she lived comfortably; the Empress Dowager's return now affected far more than a little bit.

So what?

Liu Shi refused to relinquish power; even while pregnant, she had to cling tightly to several important authorities and not let go; when Yu Cheng came to ask, she said she couldn't bear to let Shen Yao be busy.

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao coldly observed the Empress's self-destructive behavior from the sidelines; she left the palace after the other was three months pregnant, and was requested back by Yu Cheng after six months.

Liu Shi couldn't not relinquish power; her body was truly too poor, and such high-intensity behavior during pregnancy was gambling with her own life and the child's.

Shen Yao's assistance let the Empress protect the pregnancy to eight months and give premature birth, enduring myriad hardships to produce an imperial son.

"Body too poor, plus sequelae of premature birth." With careful nurturing there's still a chance of growing up safely, but if the Empress's side exerts excessive force, this child may not live long.

"Host, you won't help?" Their space has quite a few pills for strengthening the body.

"This is the responsibility of being parents; moreover, poor health isn't necessarily a bad thing."

With Liu Shi's obsession, once this child's health improves she'll go contend and snatch; does she still have to see the Buddha all the way to the West, escorting this child onto the throne the whole way? Stop dreaming!

Shen Yao hasn't even been this wholeheartedly diligent toward Yu Cheng; a grandchild separated by a layer of blood relation isn't worth it.

The palace has imperial physicians attending carefully; besides, the child's parents are both present — they certainly don't lack a grandmother like Shen Yao.

Waiting until the child's full month, when the body was a bit more normal, Shen Yao neatly returned the palace authority to the Empress, and once again took her people and left the imperial palace.

From then on, aside from New Year and festivals, Shen Yao rarely set foot in the imperial palace.

And everything that happened in the imperial palace had nothing to do with this Empress Dowager who stayed far from right and wrong.

Sun rises, moon sets; time cycles.

In the rear palace, old lives continuously pass away, and new lives continuously are born.

Whether in governance or in affection, Yu Cheng counts as a good monarch.

Governance is impartial; affection is neither too much nor too little; with the Empress he has youthful sentiment yet does not over-indulge.

When the Empress's legitimate son went through several serious illnesses, nearly losing his life, the Empress finally gave up her so-called obsession and shut herself in to live her days.

During this period Shen Yao still returned to the imperial palace twice, conversing respectively with several high-ranking consorts in the palace; whether perfunctory or sincere, they all conveyed to Shen Yao the signal that they would be honest and dutiful.

After all, the Empress withdrew from the crown prince contention; then their offspring exist with greater hope.

Who doesn't want to sit on that longed-for position? Everyone is a vulgar person.

"They won't be honest; they'll fight even more ruthlessly," even breaking through bottom lines, just for more possibilities.

"Indeed, an inevitable situation." Cannot stop it, nor can one stop it.

Turning sideways to watch the imperial palace grow ever more distant, no moment would compare to now in depth of understanding; a new storm has already arrived.

Ultimately who will become the final winner? Can only wait for the result to be revealed.