Chapter 51

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Cuiwei Palace

Fallen leaves covered the ground of the small courtyard; wherever the eye looked, all was desolation.

Because of that incident back then, Consort Shu had always been coldly treated by the Emperor, and even after the incident, the Emperor had not given Consort Shu any chance to speak in her defense.

From initial calmness to panic, and finally to numbness, Consort Shu's heart had long since turned to ashes.

What meaning was there in living? But to die just like that was still very unwilling.

Day after day wasted in this Cuiwei Palace without a shred of hope, a life that could be seen to its end at a glance, Qian Naqi did not know how long she could persist.

"Mistress, you should return to the palace to take medicine."

The maidservants serving Qian Naqi were replaced batch after batch, until only a little girl named Pan'er remained.

Thin and small in appearance, she looked weak and timid, as if anyone could step forward and bully her.

Qian Naqi moved her somewhat stiff shoulders and blinked her eyes, "Return to the palace?" Not going back.

Pan'er once again mustered her courage, reached out to hold Qian Naqi's arm, and pulled the person into the room.

Qian Naqi was like a lifeless doll, lowering her head and drooping her eyes, letting Pan'er do as she wished.

Until her feet were about to step into the Dian Dian, Qian Naqi suddenly pulled her arm back, disregarding Pan'er's instability after being shoved hard, she herself turned around and hurriedly ran to the palace gate to knock and call for someone.

"Let this palace out, let this palace out, let this palace out……"

Pan'er's expression instantly became panicked; she disregarded the pain throughout her body and nimbly crawled up from the ground, "Your Ladyship, you should return to the palace to take medicine."

Qian Naqi turned her head and pushed Pan'er away with a fierce expression, viciously telling people to leave.

"Did you hear? This palace wants to go out, this palace wants to go out!"

Pan'er:... Although but, you can't go out!

With an expression as if she were about to cry, Pan'er's voice trembled as she spoke, and she shivered from being frightened by Qian Naqi, "Your Ladyship, don't make trouble anymore, we should go back."

Repeating the same two sentences over and over like a broken record, this pair of mistress and servant was also amazing; what they said didn't connect with each other, yet they could still chat together.

In the end, Qian Naqi still couldn't argue with Pan'er; mainly because Qian Naqi's health had always been poor since being imprisoned, and after arguing with Pan'er for so long, she slowly ran out of breath, and could only let Pan'er help her into the Dian Dian to take medicine.

The medicine bowl had been placed on the table for a long time, and the originally warm medicine had become cold.

Qian Naqi didn't care; she picked it up and gulped it down, even though the bitter medicine stimulated her stomach and caused constant acid reflux, making her whole body uncomfortable and nauseous, she still didn't rinse her mouth with warm water.

Pan'er: What to do? Mistress is too stubborn; I can't handle her at all.

Every time after taking medicine, Mistress was in a bad mood; Pan'er didn't dare to come forward to persuade her at this time, after all, the bruises on her arm hadn't healed yet; to suffer another beating for no reason, even if Pan'er were made of steamed buns, she couldn't seek abuse like this.

Carefully taking the medicine bowl down and placing it properly, Pan'er forced a smile and helped Qian Naqi to the bed to rest.

Fortunately, the medicine Qian Naqi drank contained calming and sleep-inducing ingredients; after drinking it, she would unconsciously feel sleepy.

She tidied the scattered bedding and covered it properly, then lowered the two bed curtains used to block light.

Pan'er breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, and her steps were lighter when leaving the Dian Dian.

Boom boom—boom boom boom—

The gate of Cuiwei Palace, which had not been knocked for a long time, made a dull thumping sound.

Pan'er stood frozen in place; first she glanced at the closed room door behind her, then she suddenly startled herself and immediately ran to the palace gate to inquire about the situation.

With a creak, the gate was pulled open a crack; Pan'er half-closed her eyes and cautiously poked her head out, "May I ask what is the matter?"

Outside the door was a palace attendant from the Imperial Household Department coming to deliver auspicious robes, holding a heavy tray in her hands.

"This servant has come to deliver the investiture auspicious robes to Consort Shu; Her Majesty the Empress, upon first ascending the Empress Position, is benevolent and magnanimous, and specially spoke on behalf of all the consorts in the Huang Hou, including Consort Shu."

"From today onward, Consort Shu is Consort Shu Jieyu; please take the auspicious robes, this servant will return to report and cannot delay the auspicious hours of the other consorts."

The little eunuch spoke this long passage fluently and simply handed the tray to Pan'er.

Pan'er was stunned, as if she had become a fool, and only after a while did she take the tray before her.

The little eunuch, who had been watching Pan'er's expression, saw this, turned his head and pursed his lips, clearly looking down on her behavior.

It was only natural; Pan'er was a palace maid of Cuiwei Palace, and Cuiwei Palace was where Consort Shu was imprisoned.

This place was no longer the bustling place it once was; it could be called colder than the Cold Palace. Expecting these servants of the Imperial Household Department to respect the people here was less useful than going to wash up and sleep early; in dreams, one could have anything.

No matter how much she disdained them in her heart, the little eunuch remained respectful on the surface.

Seeing that his business was finished, he smiled and offered a few compliments, then was about to turn and leave.

Seeing that the person was about to leave, Pan'er's heart suddenly raced; she didn't know where she got the courage from. This little palace maid who had been transferred here after being squeezed out by the Imperial Household Department stepped out of the gate of Cuiwei Palace for the first time, and with her thin and weak body, stopped the departing little eunuch.

Little eunuch:... Hmm?

A flash of surprise passed through his eyes; patiently asking Pan'er what exactly she wanted, the little eunuch did not forget to throw his weight around using the authority of the General Managers of the Imperial Household Department.

Hey!

It was only because she wasn't valued in the Imperial Household Department; there were so many consorts being promoted and invested in the Huang Hou, yet she was assigned to the imprisoned Cuiwei Palace.

Not only could she not get reward money, she also had to be careful not to get involved and unable to extricate herself.

Who didn't know that Cuiwei Palace had no benefits; even the Cold Palace was better than this place.

Pan'er nervously wanted to rub her palms to steady her mind, but since she still held the tray in her hand, she could only pluck up her courage to ask about the date of the consorts' investiture.

"This Eunuch, this servant has heard that the consorts' investiture takes place at Taihe Palace."

"If, if the auspicious hour is missed, His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress will blame the consort."

So what time exactly is the investiture ceremony? Someone needs to give a word.

Furthermore, is there another Empress in the Huang Hou? Wasn't the former Empress already deposed? When did this new Empress come out?

All sorts of questions filled her mind; Pan'er was not a clever person to begin with, otherwise she would not have been assigned to Cuiwei Palace.

But Pan'er had served her master for a long time and understood that her master's heart still cared about the outside.

Since there was an opportunity today, no matter how you put it, she ought to investigate a thing or two for her master.

Although, although Pan'er herself did not believe she had the ability to find out any news.

The little eunuch thought Pan'er would ask something, but after hemming and hawing for a long while, she actually asked the stupidest question.

Hah? Hahahahaha

Laughing delightedly in her heart, not from happiness, but from mockery, from naked contempt.

Thought she was a clever person, but unexpectedly, in the end she was still a fool.

Entered Cuiwei Palace yet still dreaming the beautiful dream of one day getting out, ayo, this really is... the little eunuch shook his head, the emotion revealed in his eyes utterly undisguised.

Pan'er:...

Pan'er felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, feeling very uncomfortable; she did not understand why the other party would look at her with such eyes just because she asked a small question.

Subconsciously hunching her shoulders, trying to minimize her exposure to the other's gaze.

Unfortunately the human body's posture is fixed there; it is not as Pan'er wishes, she can do whatever she wants.

"Miss jokes; Shu Pin Niangniang's situation is known to all.

This time being able to be granted the rank of Jieyu was still because the Empress Niangniang took into account Shu Pin Niangniang's many years of hardship.

As for the investiture ceremony, Shu Pin Niangniang had better just stay properly in Cuiwei Palace.

His Majesty's decree absolutely cannot be changed; Miss should not joke with this slave using such a jest.

This slave has busy matters; I will take my leave now, Miss please stay."

Finished speaking, the little eunuch decisively bypassed Pan'er, walking away coolly and swiftly, afraid he would be stopped.

Only this person was truly overthinking; Pan'er had no mood to stop him, because the conversation just now had already caused Pan'er's CPU to overload.

Pan'er:... family, turns out I myself am the clown!

Listlessly holding the tray in her arms, Pan'er returned to the palace, head lowered, eyes drooping, not knowing how to report back to her master.

Planning to delay as long as possible, stabilize things first then speak; unexpectedly, before she even entered the hall, she saw her master with a calm face appear before her eyes.

Pan'er:?!!!!

Subconsciously her heart skipped a beat, Pan'er's breathing became rapid, she nearly fainted from fright; fortunately Qian Naqi reached out and steadied her, not letting Pan'er fall.

Frowning, Qian Naqi looked at the auspicious robe held in Pan'er's arms, puzzled, "This thing, where was it dug up from?"

Qian Naqi entered the palace as a Consort; she had never climbed up from the bottom.

Pan'er took a deep breath, hurriedly recounted the origin of the tray once more.

Finished speaking, Pan'er tightly closed her eyes, not forgetting to deliver the tray to Qian Naqi's front.

Qian Naqi:...

The expected beating did not appear, only her breathing was a bit rapid.

Hm?

Pan'er opened her eyes and peeked, only to see her master looking ahead with a face full of sadness.

What kind of emotion was that? Pan'er had never seen it on her master before.

Having served by her master's side for so many years, her master had shown madness, had shown obsession, but uniquely had never revealed such a sorrowful expression.

As if the heart had died, that bit of vitality in a person drifted away and far.

"Put it away; from now on, do not take it out again, and do not go out again."

Qian Naqi at this moment was calm in a way completely unlike her; she gave Pan'er a couple of instructions, then turned and returned to her room.

If not for the fact that from her back one could see Qian Naqi's walking was slightly trembling, no one would discover her abnormality.

Lost! Everything lost!

Lost thoroughly, from beginning to end, she was just a joke!

Ha!

Tears unconsciously flowed from the corners of her eyes; Qian Naqi looked indifferently behind herself.

The room door tightly shut, light blocked outside, the dim space made Qian Naqi appear all the more desolate and lonely.

"Your Majesty, there will come a day you will regret," truly a heaven-great joke.

Who could have thought, the person who moved the Emperor's heart was not the person who loved the Emperor most.

We people, in the end, lost to whose hands? She was unwilling.

"What use is unwillingness, human hearts are greedy, and cannot restrain themselves.

All actions now are reaping what one sowed; grievances are not up to people.

Could it be you truly think you are the heaven-chosen woman? Gaining the Emperor's favor, able to look down on the entire harem and front court?"

Too funny; sometimes Shen Yao even suspects, is it herself who has a cheat, or those noble ladies raised on feudal thought since childhood who have a cheat.

How come those noble ladies' thoughts are even more modern than her, a modern person?

Shen Yao cannot figure it out, so regarding the matter of Shu Pin of Cuiwei Palace dying of illness just one month after being granted the rank of Jieyu, she expresses no opinion.

Even sneers at Qian Naqi's act of sending a questioning letter to herself before death.

The person is gone, why still care about these things? Besides, whether she loves Xiao Yanchen or not important? Xiao Yanchen may not love her that much either.

Women of the harem, no matter how clear-headed at the start, in the later stages will all be tripped up by these romantic entanglements.

Perhaps this is just different personal ideas; things Shen Yao would never do, in the harem are commonplace.

Qiu Yue brought Shen Yao the throat-soothing tea she often drinks recently, smilingly asking about the arrangements for going to the Summer Resort Palace in a few days.

Shen Yao waved her hand, "Since we are going, then bring all the harem concubines along.

Leaving them in the palace is not as good as keeping them under this palace's eyelids for peace of mind."

"Also, on His Majesty's side, we need to prepare several more sets of everyday clothes."

"Right, tell the children to conduct themselves with propriety in speech and behavior."

"Especially Xiao Jin — now that he has gone to the Study to study, he is no longer a child."

"The Crown Prince and Second Prince are there; the proper respect that should be shown is absolutely indispensable."

"However you put it, they occupy the two most legitimate positions; they are not qualified to be Xiao Jin's opponents, yet they are Xiao Jin's best foils for display."

"Still that same saying — Xiao Yanchen is too young; no one can say for certain what the concrete situation will be ten years from now."

"Shen Yao can now rise through her offspring; in the future she could be regarded with wariness by Xiao Yanchen because her offspring have grown up."

"A person without far-reaching consideration will inevitably have near-term worries; making preparations well in advance is not a harm."

Qiu Yue, having listened to her own master's arrangements, replied 'yes' in an extremely cute and obedient manner.

"Your Ladyship, this servant will help you rest."

"Mm, the hour is not early; it is time to rest."

"..."

The daily life of the Huang Hou is calm yet clamorous; no matter who leaves, things can carry on."

On the fifth day after Qian Naqi's death, Xiao Yanchen took Shen Yao and a whole retinue of Imperial Consorts to the Summer Resort Palace."

"..."

Arriving at the same place once again, Shen Yao's identity has undergone a change."

With absolute advantage she moved into the Xing Gong's Main Hall; Shen Yao watched the busy palace servants and had the good fortune to experience the leisurely daily life belonging to the Empress."

No matter what she does, someone has arranged it in advance; no matter what she does, someone has taken care of it a step ahead."

Those fang-and-claw baring Imperial Consorts in the Harem have all turned into cute and obedient little rabbit kits; if they can avoid disturbing Shen Yao, they absolutely will not disturb her."

'Look, this is the taste of power; no wonder people who stay in high places for long become unlike themselves.'"

Who could withstand this kind of benefit? Shen Yao hasn't even spoken a single word for the Shen Family, yet those opportunistic court officials have already submitted memorials requesting that the Shen Family be granted a noble title for honored support and commendation."

Shen Yao's side declined again and again, politely refusing repeatedly, but still could not withstand Xiao Yanchen wanting to give it."

Now their Shen Family is also a new noble house with a First-Rank Duke title."

Those married off earlier are fine; but now, like Shen Yao, the several half-sisters who have not yet formed marriage alliances are each and every one the unequivocal choice of those high-ranking great households."

"Anyway, marrying them in is just to serve as an auspicious mascot for contacting the Harem; whoever they marry, it's all the same."

Fortunately Shen Yao's cheap grandmother hasn't been dizzy from these benefits; she knows to enter the palace and discuss countermeasures with her; otherwise Shen Yao might not wait a few years before having to carry out 'great righteousness exterminates kin,' properly giving the Shen Family a cooling-down to wake up their brains."

"But with matters like these, who can say for sure? The situation changes in an instant; one can only take one step and watch one step."