Chapter 49

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

So this is what it feels like to become Empress, so this is the state of mind of enjoying everyone prostrating and kowtowing.

One must say, experiencing this feeling for the first time, Shen Yao found it novel.

She had no other thoughts; it was just that walking felt a bit light-headed, as if treading on clouds without a sense of reality.

Hmph, whether to say it or not, when she reaches Taihe Palace in a moment and faces even more people, will she be nervous?

Shen Yao still had the leisure to think about these random things, even recalling when Wei Jingyi was still alive.

Only a few years have passed since then, yet everything is already the same places but different people.

She only hopes the road ahead is long and brilliant, and that everything she has done is worthwhile.

Walking through the long corridor, winding past the surrounding buildings, the towering and lofty Taihe Palace appeared in the distance before Shen Yao's eyes.

Unlike previous visits, today Shen Yao wore the Empress's court robes.

Although she lacked the phoenix crown and rosy cape, she was accompanied by pearls and jewels.

The copper gongs sounded, drumbeats rolling in waves.

Shen Yao looked at the dark mass of people ahead, and a surge of heroic spirit inexplicably welled up in her heart — these would all be witnesses to her ascension to the Empress position.

One step, two steps, three steps, four steps... Shen Yao walked each step very steadily.

The previously patterned long carpet had been changed to a bright, vivid red.

It was the color of taking charge of the Middle Palace, and also the color Shen Yao could legitimately wear and display openly from now on.

The stairs of Taihe Palace were very long; palace attendants and court officials stood at every step.

Every step Shen Yao passed, she enjoyed the salutes and greetings from others.

Xiao Yanchen, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, stood at the entrance of Taihe Palace's main hall.

He slightly narrowed his eyes, looking at Shen Yao approaching step by step.

Shen Yao stopped at a spot less than five meters from Xiao Yanchen.

She saluted and kowtowed: "Your subject, Shen-shi, pays respects to His Majesty."

Xiao Yanchen did not bid Shen Yao rise; instead, taking advantage of this interval, he smiled and recited the entire investiture edict for Shen Yao from earlier.

The classical Chinese was not easy to understand, but the content was simple — an all-round praise of Shen Yao, now ordering her to take charge of the Middle Palace, not to disappoint.

Shen Yao accepted the edict and thanked him again; this time Shen Yao got up from the ground as she wished.

Placing her hand on Xiao Yanchen's outstretched palm, Shen Yao took two steps to stand at Xiao Yanchen's side.

"At last, Zhen has waited for you."

Regardless of everything before, the one who ultimately sat on the Empress position was still Shen Yao.

Xiao Yanchen suddenly felt some emotion, especially with the court officials' and consorts' kowtows and greetings still ringing in his ears.

Standing in Taihe Palace and looking down for the first time, Shen Yao's expression was calm, but her gaze held a trace of novelty.

This was an angle she had never experienced before; ordinarily she merely came to go through the motions, attend a festival banquet, but today she had become the absolute protagonist of this investiture ceremony, enjoying everyone's gaze fixed on her — this feeling was indescribable.

If forced to describe it, then one word: satisfying!

Shen Yao arrived at Taihe Palace and, together with Xiao Yanchen, enjoyed the court officials' and consorts' kowtows — this was only the beginning of the investiture ceremony; afterward Shen Yao still had to follow behind Xiao Yanchen, enter the main hall, and pay respects to all the ancestral forefathers of the Great Jing Dynasty.

The era's constraints on women indeed exist, but Shen Yao has now become Empress; some shackles have long since snapped in response.

Like a patient guide, Xiao Yanchen led Shen Yao forward step by step.

Shen Yao kept walking through various rooms, using her eyes to observe the changes in the surrounding environment.

So Taihe Palace is this large; previously she only knew it as the place for festival banquets, only now did she understand Taihe Palace's true function.

Indeed, as long as a country exists long enough, even the clan genealogy grows excessively long.

Finally, Shen Yao arrived at her destination for this trip: Fengyi Palace.

Fengyi Palace had already been renovated and tidied anew by the Imperial Household Department's slaves.

Everything related to the previous Empress (the Deposed Empress) inside had been completely erased without a trace.

Because of this matter, Shen Yao heard from Qiu Yue that the Second Prince Xiao Heng had once cried a scene, and even ran to Taiji Hall to find Xiao Yanchen to pour out his grievances.

Pity Xiao Yanchen did not feel Shen Yao had done anything wrong in this matter.

Besides, Shen Yao did not personally intervene; everything was handled carefully under the joint witness of the Imperial Household Department and Xiao Heng.

With such an arrangement, if Xiao Heng still has dissatisfaction, Xiao Yanchen would certainly be displeased.

Upon hearing this news, Shen Yao had secretly complained to Qiu Yue about Xiao Yanchen's thinking.

Truly no wonder the harem consorts desperately want to protect their offspring; without their birth mother by their side, just relying on their birth father — that has not a shred of effect.

Behind Xiao Yanchen's impartial handling of matters lies Xiao Yanchen's lack of concern for Xiao Heng.

If this matter were swapped for anyone else, even any one of Shen Yao's own offspring, Xiao Yanchen would not be so rational.

People choose rationality because sentiment is insufficient to make them lose reason.

In other words, those who can shake their rationality are not qualified enough; swap in another important figure, and there would certainly be a new handling method.

"System, so everything is fake; wanting the child to live well, the birth mother's existence is indispensable."

Sitting on the bed in the inner hall of Fengyi Palace's main hall, Shen Yao still had the bridal veil covering her head.

Although it is merely the investiture as Empress, it is also the Emperor and Empress's new joy.

Xiao Yanchen did not want to hold it too shabbily, and coupled with Shen Yao's previous grievances, he very much wanted to compensate, hence this wedding night after the investiture ceremony.

"Host's words are reasonable, but speaking to the bottom of it, isn't this matter more beneficial to you?"

Xiao Heng had no birth mother, and the Emperor did not dote on him, so once Xiao Jin and the others grew up, the resistance they faced would surely be much smaller.

Including, but not limited to, struggles over the throne—such things were inevitable.

Especially now that Shen Yao had become Empress, the children she bore were all legitimate sons and daughters.

Legitimate sons and daughters naturally held an advantage in rank and inheritance; these were well-known facts.

"There are benefits, but it's not absolute. Even if the Emperor still has father-son affection for Xiao Heng, Xiao Heng's birth mother was deposed, and so many forces from the Front Court and Imperial Harem are entangled in this—there's a huge bomb buried here. Would I be afraid?"

How could that be? Xiao Heng clearly could not inherit the throne at a glance.

Because there was conflict between his birth parents, and even some awkwardness between his birth father and his birth mother's clan.

Once Xiao Heng truly ascended, he would not be a stable factor for any side.

Xiao Yanchen feared that everything he had done would not be understood by Xiao Heng, and Xiao Heng's maternal clan, the Wei family, feared Xiao Heng would follow Xiao Yanchen's example and practice Great Righteousness Exterminates Kin.

From the moment Wei Jingyi chose to sacrifice herself to protect the entire Wei clan, it was already clear that Xiao Heng's future treatment in the palace would not be good. Being able to live as a wealthy idler depended on Xiao Yanchen being attentive enough; otherwise, if replaced by another ruthless person, Xiao Heng would only have the portion of slowly waiting to die.

The system felt Shen Yao's words were too absolute: "With sufficient benefits, there are no eternal enemies."

"As long as Xiao Heng sacrifices enough, there is no lack of possibility for him to ascend the throne as emperor."

Cede sufficient benefits to other forces in exchange for what he himself wanted.

At certain times, competing for the throne is like this—it requires pooling collective wisdom; relying on one person alone cannot accomplish anything.

The most obvious example was Xiao Yanchen; Xiao Yanchen's ascension was inseparable from the dual support of the Front Court and the Imperial Harem.

This was also one of the reasons why, despite Zheng Hongzhuang harming heirs for many years, Xiao Yanchen had still not been able to decisively deal with Zheng Hongzhuang.

Ultimately, Xiao Yanchen's throne bore Zheng Hongzhuang's efforts.

Xiao Yanchen could not fail to remember Zheng Hongzhuang's kindness; despite many years passing, besides plastic affection, there was nothing left between them.

After hearing the system's answer, Shen Yao felt moved, but more than that she felt the system had become smarter: "You can actually associate with so much—system, you have grown."

At least she had heard plenty of gossip over such a long time and learned plenty of the Front Court's intrigues and rules.

Previously it was all dry mechanical sounds, relying on its own functions for various calculations.

Now it could finally analyze and infer from a human-like perspective.

"Mm, it seems that if cultivated this way, the system might completely possess human thoughts; then their conversations would surely be more relaxed and at ease."

"What you reminded me of is correct, but Xiao Heng will never have such an opportunity."

"You must know that an emperor must at least guarantee his own health and unobstructed heirs."

"Xiao Heng? Hah!"

Shen Yao let out a short laugh in her heart; it really wasn't that she had done anything, it was simply that this birth father of hers, Xiao Yanchen, was too capable. Besides the few imperial heirs Shen Yao had successfully given birth to relying on the Childbirth System, the other few were truly even more pitiful than Xiao Yanchen.

"These news items, as long as one goes to the Imperial Medical Bureau to investigate, can be made crystal clear."

"Otherwise, why would Concubine Li and her son be so peaceful? Is it truly just because the Li family was unlucky and implicated?" That was only a small part; the greatest source was Xiao Yu's physical problem.

Li Yanzhen knew competition was hopeless, so she stayed in the palace without a thought, eating vegetarian and reciting Buddhist texts.

If there were even a glimmer of hope, who knew if Li Yanzhen would go mad like Sun Churuo?

From the Crown Prince's ranking, it could be seen that Li Yanzhen had certain thoughts.

But those thoughts lasted only a short while before being crushed to pieces.

As for why Shen Yao knew these many inside stories so clearly, she also had to thank Qiu Yue's various arrangements and the placement of manpower everywhere earlier.

Some news didn't need to be deliberately inquired about; someone would come running to deliver it.

System:...

Struck by Shen Yao's few retorts, the system remained silent for a long while.

Until a commotion came from the Front Court's Dian Dian, Xiao Yanchen, wearing a red wedding dress and brocade robes, reeking of wine, walked in.

"This servant pays respects to Your Majesty."

Xiao Yanchen raised his eyes, and when his gaze fell on Shen Yao sitting by the bedside, a trace of warmth entered it.

He waved his hand, ordering the others attending Shen Yao to hurry downstairs.

Xiao Yanchen quickly came to Shen Yao's side, using the red string tied to the nearby steelyard beam to flick off the veil on top of Shen Yao's head.

"Your Majesty."

Shen Yao tilted her head to size up Xiao Yanchen before her; to be sure, Xiao Yanchen in a red wedding dress, with an upright and handsome figure, was indeed attractive.

"Yao'er."

Xiao Yanchen called out a nickname he had not used for a long time, reaching out to lightly touch Shen Yao's cheek.

Shen Yao simply raised her head and met Xiao Yanchen's gaze, until Xiao Yanchen pursed his lips in a light laugh and pulled Shen Yao from the bed into his arms.

"Has Your Majesty drunk too much wine?"

Otherwise, why would he be so abnormal today, his bearing and expression not at all like an emperor who plans strategies, but rather like a newlywed young man, awkward and somewhat at a loss.

Amused by the scene she imagined in her head, Shen Yao reached out and wrapped her arms around Xiao Yanchen's slender waist, coquettishly saying the hair ornaments she wore were too heavy.

"Heavy?"

Xiao Yanchen spat out a single word from the corner of his mouth, then turned around and took Shen Yao to the Dressing Table.

The Dressing Table was a new tool crafted by the Imperial Household Department's slaves according to Shen Yao's instructions.

It was much better than those from before, and the dressing mirror on the Dressing Table was larger; after Shen Yao sat down, more than half of her body could be reflected in it.

"Your Majesty."

Shen Yao sat down before the Dressing Table and turned her head to look at Xiao Yanchen beside her.

Xiao Yanchen curled the corner of his mouth, placed his index finger by his lips to gesture, and then he began to do it himself, removing the ornaments from Shen Yao's head one by one.

Shen Yao:...

Enjoying the emperor's personal service for the first time, to be honest, the experience was quite novel, but if she could choose, it was still better to leave professional matters to professionals.

After several times pulling at her hair strands, getting tangled in the ornaments, and finally in a flurry lowering all her hair, Shen Yao let out a long breath of relief; she had finally come back to life.

Xiao Yanchen was slightly ill at ease, especially with a rosy flush on both cheeks, more pronounced than his previous expression.

"Cough, cough, Yao'er, it's just that I'm unpracticed, but with more practice in the future, I will surely do better than now."

Shen Yao:... You're not giving up this business? Those servant girls attend to it quite well.

"Since Your Majesty has this intent, this subject is deeply moved."

Shen Yao smiled, took Xiao Yanchen's wrist, and stood up from the round stool herself.

Her raven-black hair was scattered loosely over her shoulders and neck, falling upon the wedding dress embroidered with golden thread, creating a stark contrast of colors.

Xiao Yanchen unconsciously stared, lost in thought—a beauty in red, and moreover the one his heart belonged to; how could he not be moved.

"Yao'er, if I had met you sooner, I think we would not have missed each other for so long."

Perhaps the atmosphere was too good, or perhaps by candlelight everything seemed just right.

Xiao Yanchen suddenly wanted to say something, and those love words he had hidden in his heart, thinking he would never speak them in this lifetime, were all spoken out.

Shen Yao looked back at Xiao Yanchen, her eyes holding clear, bright radiance, "What Master Xiao said is also what Yao'er thinks; to have this present result, Yao'er has long been content."

After speaking, the two smiled at each other, then held each other all the tighter.

The dragon-and-phoenix wedding candles burned until dawn, finally burning out and extinguishing.

When the night ended, Shen Yao opened her eyes and discovered for the first time that Xiao Yanchen had actually not left.

"Yao'er, are you surprised?"

Xiao Yanchen lay on his side, revealing a beautiful jawline and half his face.

Shen Yao nodded and shook her head, "This subject could not react in time."

Yesterday was their imperial wedding, and with extra activity last night, Shen Yao's body and spirit were still somewhat fatigued and weary.

After lying in bed with Xiao Yanchen and talking for a while, hearing sounds from outside the hall, the two had to clutch the bedding and sit up from the bed.

"Your Majesty"

Qiu Yue helped Shen Yao down to the floor, carefully and attentively attending to Shen Yao's makeup.

When the hair bun was done and it was time to insert hairpins and draw eyebrows, Xiao Yanchen, who had already packed up his things, came over and snatched this task from Qiu Yue's hands.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao was helpless and could only endure this amateur master Xiao Yanchen showing off his technique.

Fortunately the final product was not bad; a pair of willow-leaf curved eyebrows set off Shen Yao's goose-egg face very well.