Chapter 655

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

The Emperor immediately invited the abbot of Huang Jue Si and Daoren Changsheng into the palace.

The three of them plotted again; what they said was still unknown to others, but from the subsequent actions of the Yong Wang Fu, it was clear that Yong Wang's power could not compare to imperial power, and he obediently returned to his mansion to recuperate.

Of course, the Emperor did not openly let Yong Wang go to his death, but still arranged for the abbot of Huang Jue Si and the daoren of the Dao Guan to solve Yong Wang's troubles.

As for whether they could successfully resolve this old grudge, that was no longer something the Emperor should care about.

"Ha, Yong Wang."

Shen Yao shook her head speechlessly, indicating that if the other party were truly smart, they should have immediately admitted their mistake and begged the Emperor for help when the incident happened (when Old Wang Fei was ill); at least at that time, although the Emperor would be dissatisfied, he could not ignore their life or death.

But who made Yong Wang too clever for his own good, presuming to guess the psychology and actions of the demon? Now the cuckoo bird did not play by the rules, directly causing Yong Wang to be completely finished.

The system asked, "Will Yong Wang die?"

Hearing this, Shen Yao raised her eyebrows and said affirmatively, "It's only a matter of time."

This cuckoo bird's purpose was very clear: while taking back the contents of that previous transaction, it was also avenging the cuckoo bird that had been unjustly imprisoned.

Among the several forces involved here, Yong Wang's lineage was the easiest to deal with; Huang Jue Si and the Dao Guan each had several big shots with extraordinary abilities to back them up, while the cuckoo bird wanted to have a head for every grievance and a master for every debt—it was a wild demon, yet it possessed such strength.

"That's not bad; solving Yong Wang also counts as indirectly avenging it. I suppose this sensible cuckoo bird will leave Jingcheng soon."

Shen Yao shook her head with an unfathomable expression, her eyes full of pity: "I once said the cuckoo bird is a demon with a heavy grudge; do you think it would leave so easily?"

System:???

But if it doesn't leave, it can't kill its way into Huang Jue Si and the Dao Guan—that's what the Host just mentioned.

Shen Yao:...

Every time she spoke with the Silly White Sweet System, Shen Yao gained a sense of superiority from crushing it intellectually. She raised her hand to rub her temples: "Many times, revenge is not only solved by martial force."

System:... Ah?

"Beauty, ancestry, capability, imperial power," Shen Yao blurted out several methods, calmly indicating that the cuckoo bird could also borrow strength to fight strength.

Borrow strength to fight strength?

The system's head was dizzy; unknowingly, its train of thought had been led away by the Host again.

Fortunately, Shen Yao had not deliberately deceived it; some of what she said was actually true. Previously, when Old Wang Fei was alive, she had recommended the cuckoo bird to the various imperial consorts to catch their eye, mentioning the imperial selection after the new year in her words.

"If the cuckoo bird enters the palace and gains favor, it can use imperial power to suppress the several forces."

"To this day, the demons have not been able to form an effective group. If a demon could successfully integrate all demons, twisting them into a force not to be underestimated, would Huang Jue Si and the Dao Guan still dare to imprison demons at will?"

A faint smile appeared on the corner of her lips as Shen Yao leisurely turned over and sat up from the couch: "Solutions are always thought of; as long as one has the will, there is nothing that cannot be done."

It's just a matter of whether one uses one's heart and how much heart one uses.

System:...

The system listened with its mouth agape, and a strong sense of pride rose in its heart. Wa ka ka! This was its own Host, truly impressive!

"Alright, in a few days it will be the New Year palace banquet. You usually love listening to gossip, don't you?" Shen Yao blinked her eyes playfully, indicating that there were always more gossips among noble families during this period, so much free material—the system should hurry and collect it.

Wow~

The system's pair of mechanical eyes (it had to have them) sparkled, and with a whoosh it ran far away directly.

Gossip, gossip, its favorite!

After being reminded by its dear Host, the system finally realized what the "more" in the Host's mouth referred to—there was simply so much that it was surprised; apparently, saying a sentence counted as gossip!

Hiss

These noble families were truly terrifying; even daily conversations could not be spoken properly.

The younger generation vied for favor, the older generation vied for power, and even the mansion servants learned to imitate each other in pulling strings. The system listened with great delight on this land in East City, opening its eyes every day to watch continuous dramas.

On the other side, Shen Yao was also selecting supplies for leaving the capital next spring.

The Emperor in the palace could no longer endure Lin Xingzhi's pestering; his words hinted that this time they would be gone for a long time, and even these towns would cross the entire land of Li Guo.

Mm

In Shen Yao's understanding, it was like a national tour? Anyway, setting out from Jingcheng, first an eastern tour, then northward, then westward, and finally southward.

After completing the circle, they could return to Jingcheng.

This journey would probably take three to five years; not only would their whole family go, but they would even bring along the Imperial Guards to protect their safety.

You must know that the Imperial Guards were the exclusive army specifically guarding Jingcheng's safety and maintaining the Emperor's dignity.

This time, Lin Xingzhi's family going out, the Emperor arranging the Imperial Guards was also openly telling other people with petty thoughts not to lay a hand on the Jing Wang family.

Sigh

"Someone, bring the registers from the Ku Fang."

After Shen Yao finished looking through the register in her hand and found some contents did not match, she called out for others to bring more registers.

A thick stack of registers was placed on the table; Shen Yao casually opened one, spread it flat, and then selected according to her needs, circling one after another with a red vermilion brush.

Until the brush tip covered in cinnabar stopped, Shen Yao exhaled, raised her hand to pick up the teacup, placed it by her lips, and sipped lightly.

The tea fragrance was light and mild, with a sweet aftertaste on the teeth and cheeks.

Slowly putting down the teacup in her hand, Shen Yao rubbed her wrist, then stood up and headed to the courtyard.

A few days ago, a snow had just fallen. Shen Yao let the servants help her put on a fox fur coat; her neck and cuffs were trimmed with a circle of snow-white fur collars, making her whole person appear with red lips and white teeth, a beauty that could topple a city.

At this time, the three little demons could not stay idle. Before Shen Yao even reached the center of the courtyard, she saw several snowballs flying through the air not far away.

It turned out they were having a snowball fight!

Lin Xingzhi had rare free time, so he simply joined the three children in their roughhousing.

Lin Chengjing and Lin Xingzhi stood together as father and daughter, Lin Chengyan and Lin Chengjue stood together as brothers, but unfortunately the brothers were no match for the father and daughter at all, and were beaten back step by step.

"Mother Consort, Mother Consort"

"Mother Consort"

Lin Chengjing's little hands were red from the cold; she tossed snowballs while laughing, and when she turned and saw Shen Yao walking over through the snow, she eagerly stretched out her little arms and ran over asking to be held.

Lin Chengyan and Lin Chengjue followed along calling "Mother Consort"; the two brothers walked with the stiff bearing of little men, little knowing that clumps of white snow clung to them, making them look like two dirty little steamed buns.

Shen Yao helplessly bent down, took out a handkerchief and wiped the faces and hands of the three children.

"Hee hee hee hee hee, Mother Consort, it tickles"

Lin Chengjing thought Shen Yao was playing with her, and couldn't help giggling as she dodged backward.

Lin Xingzhi raised his hand from behind, gathered his precious daughter into his arms and coaxed her a moment, then turned and handed her to the wet nurse waiting at the side.

"Yao Niang"

Lin Xingzhi's voice was so gentle it seemed water could drip from it.

Shen Yao lifted her head and shot a glare at Lin Xingzhi, then coaxed the two sons a bit, before letting out a soft hmph and lightly poking Lin Xingzhi's lower back with her hand.

"Taking three children to run wild in the snow; later when it's time to drink the cold-dispelling medicine you can be the one to coax them."

Even though the three children have good constitutions and don't catch cold easily, it's deep winter and staying out too long still inevitably means they'll have to swallow some bitter decoction for prevention.

Including the little men, they all count as difficult medicine-drinkers.

Yet the children are strong and can make a fuss; every time they drink medicine it takes a good number of people both coaxing and persuading, more exhausting than handling the mansion's routine affairs.

Lin Xingzhi:...

Hearing those words, his expression stiffened slightly; he lowered his eyes and looked timidly at Shen Yao, and Lin Xingzhi had no choice but to use his own beauty, leaning close to beg her in a low voice.

Shen Yao:...

Letting the servants take the three children back to their rooms, and summoning the mansion physician to help diagnose and treat them, only after the people had left did Shen Yao pull Lin Xingzhi into the nearest room.

The Jing Prince Mansion's daily expenses flow like water; even rooms no one lives in regularly have charcoal braziers and furnishings, and are constantly swept and maintained.

She reached up and touched Lin Xingzhi's slightly sweaty forehead; Shen Yao angrily pinched his cheek hard, "Don't you know your own physical condition?"

You're still far from fully recovered; without me, this rechargeable battery, often helping you recuperate, you'd probably still be staying at the hot spring villa convalescing carefully.

Lin Xingzhi climbed the pole after the snake, knowing his own wife wasn't truly angry, and hurriedly pressed his whole body against her, kissing and hugging, expressing that he knew he was wrong and would absolutely never do it again.

Hm?

"Yao Niang"

Lin Xingzhi muffledly pressed against Shen Yao's ear, calling her name over and over.

Shen Yao's heart softened at the calling; her stern expression turned gentle and docile.

Seeing this, Lin Xingzhi continued to lean closer and whispered a few private words; Shen Yao's cheeks suddenly flushed red, her eyes limpid with affection, and she couldn't help biting her lower lip lightly.

"Don't"

Lin Qinghuai lowered his head and kissed, rescuing the pair of cherry lips from between her teeth.

"What nonsense, broad daylight, always so improper."

Weakly refusing Lin Xingzhi's ambiguous invitation, Shen Yao stood up to leave, but unexpectedly her greatcoat was too bulky, and along with it she fell into his arms.

Lin Xingzhi smiled as he leaned in; what is this called? Wife throwing herself into husband's arms, husband cannot refuse.

The greatcoat on her body was taken off and placed on the bedchamber; Shen Yao's gaze kept shifting, finally settling on Lin Xingzhi's handsome face with reddened eartips.

"Princess Consort, the carriage is ready; it is time to set off."

Shen Yao gave a soft assent, allowing the servants to respectfully help her, dressed in full formal attire, onto the carriage waiting outside the door.

Lin Xingzhi was already waiting by the carriage; seeing Shen Yao approach, he hurriedly stretched out his hand to clasp hers, then slowly helped her into the carriage compartment.

In the carriage behind the two of them sat three children wrapped like red packets.

At this moment it was already time for the New Year palace banquet; the five members of their family were about to enter the palace, to accompany the Emperor in acting out this play of whole-family joy.

The carriage reached the palace gate in just a moment; the family of five had to dismount and walk.

The three children had special privilege — palace attendants carried them; Shen Yao and Lin Xingzhi did not have such good luck, and could only follow behind the eunuchs, and on the road when they encountered familiar imperial relatives, they still had to smile and exchange greetings.

"The Yong Prince Mansion's Heir and Heiress Consort"

Shen Yao pointed at the two people walking at the very front; even though only their backs were visible, she still recognized them.

"The Yong Prince is gravely ill; the two of them should be at home attending to his sickness, so why did they choose this time to enter the palace?"

It's not that Lin Xingzhi is superstitious, but given the series of events recently at the Yong Prince Mansion, the Emperor would consciously avoid contact; if the Heir and Heiress had any sense, they shouldn't have rushed into the palace to create more disturbance.

One must know the Yong Prince has not yet died and yielded his position, and the Heir's inheritance of the title also requires an imperial decree from the Emperor.

Choosing to enter the palace at this time and offend powerful figures — is the Yong Prince Mansion really this brainless?

No, one can't say they have no brains; one can only say their thinking differs from other people's.

The Yong Prince Heir and Heiress feel they should enter the palace at this very time to make more appearances; even if they cannot attend the New Year palace banquet, as the saying goes 'meeting gives three parts of affection' — their relationship with the Emperor is merely face-deep; if they don't draw closer, how can they inherit the title? How much of it is that the fathers' generation is gone, and the grandchildren's generation is still living crowded together in the mansion.

"Hope the Emperor can look at our years of law-abiding conduct and not hold it against us," the Yong Prince Heir sighed; their Yong Prince Mansion is now the laughingstock of the entire capital.

Even the Old Princess Consort's natal family doesn't have it as miserable as the Yong Prince Mansion.

The Heiress pinched her fingers, admonishing the Heir not to be too pessimistic; they are still imperial clan relatives after all, the Emperor and Empress will consider face.

"This palace considers face, but they themselves should also be sensible and know propriety; entering the palace at this kind of time, don't they feel it's inappropriate?" In the Fengyi Palace main hall, the Empress allowed palace attendants to apply her makeup and wash.

Hearing the servant beside her suddenly report that the Yong Prince Heiress requested an audience, the Empress hadn't even reacted yet.

Who? Who comes to pay respects? Picking such a day of whole-family joy?

Speechlessly waving her hand, the Empress didn't even see the Yong Prince Heiress, merely saying time was short and sending her away.

Yong Prince Heiress:...

The Emperor on the other side wasn't so ruthless as the Empress; he granted an audience to the Yong Prince Heir, just watching from afar, and casually bestowed some tonics for him to take back.

The couple shrank back as they left the Imperial Palace, staring at each other at the Palace Gate.

They seemed to have misunderstood the meaning the Emperor and Empress expressed, thinking they hadn't come enough times, and actually still planned to come over.

It was also because the Emperor and Empress didn't know the two's Qizhi; otherwise they would certainly have cursed them roundly, a whole family of stupid goods!

…………

The New Year palace banquet was placed in the afternoon; by the time it all ended it would be evening.

Because of Lin Xingzhi, Shen Yao's seating was forward; she only needed to raise her head slightly to see the Emperor and Empress sitting at the highest place.

The Emperor and Empress, the two of them, were somewhat harmonious in face but not in heart; even when gazing at each other there was no emotion at all.

Shen Yao sat below watching the lively scene, occasionally also socializing a few sentences with the other princess consorts beside her, until the Emperor laughed and raised his cup to celebrate together, then the Dian Dian interior suddenly saw Yue Shi appear to play music, Palace Maids in colorful clothes dancing gracefully.

Shen Yao looked at the delicate food arranged on the tabletop that had long since gone cold, and had not half a bit of appetite.

The three young children were carried off to the Pian Dian to rest, while Lin Xingzhi sat not far from Shen Yao, chatting and laughing pleasantly with the surrounding people, exchanging cups of wine.

Lin Xingzhi did not like drinking wine, but on this kind of occasion he had to brace himself and socialize.

By the time the family of five came out of the Imperial Palace, Lin Xingzhi had long been steeped in the smell of wine, his drunk appearance making Shen Yao shake her head repeatedly.

"Mmph"

Lin Xingzhi's brows were tightly knit, leaning in the Che Xiang with eyes closed, groaning softly.

Shen Yao raised her hand and rubbed his forehead, then fed the soup she had prepared in advance into his mouth, until Lin Xingzhi obediently drank it all, opened his eyes and dazedly looked around the surroundings.

Shen Yao: ……

Shen Yao couldn't help raising her hand to pinch his face, and under Lin Xingzhi's protest soothed him properly.

Inside the Che Xiang it was full of life and fragrance; she did not like wine, but she liked Lin Xingzhi's drunk appearance.