Chapter 127:

It was quite a coincidence, but in three months, it would be the time for the imperial selection.

All families in the capital began their preparations, and all daughters of eligible age from officials’ households were required to participate. However, although all were candidates, there were differences among them.

Some families from modest backgrounds understood their daughters’ abilities and knew their chances were slim. They had already begun seeking suitable husbands elsewhere. If a girl failed the palace selection and remained unmarried for a long time, waiting instead for the next selection round, she would be ridiculed.

Others clung to the hope of rising from humble beginnings and were now diligently cultivating talents at home.

After all, a daughter of a low-ranking Hanlin Academy official had, within just three years, risen to become the highest-ranking of the four imperial consorts. How could those with greater ambitions not make further plans?

Layue was playing with a child using a rattle when she listened to Jinxin’s report.

“Your Highness, there’s news from the Shen family.”

Layue did not look up, and Jinxin naturally understood to continue: “The Matriarch says, could you please think of a way to ensure that Miss Wanru fails the palace selection.”

Layue understood this point well. If she failed the first round of physical examination, it would look bad. However, failing in the second round would be different and much more acceptable.

But why would her second aunt, who was always scheming, give up the chance for her daughter to enter the palace and rise in status?

“Who decided this?”

Jinxin replied, “They made the decision collectively.”

Layue didn’t understand how her second aunt suddenly became “reasonable,” but then again, with the Grandmother involved, there wouldn’t be any major problems.

After thinking for a moment, Layue felt that the Emperor was indeed unlikely to favor her cousin Wanru, so she nodded and said, “Alright, I understand. I will speak to the Emperor about it. Let them rest assured.”

“Alright.”

The second Madam Shen naturally also wished for her daughter to rise quickly in status. However, although she was impulsive, she wasn’t completely foolish.

After analysis from the Matriarch and advice from Min, the wife of her elder brother Ping Ge, she understood that entering the palace required cunning to survive. Otherwise, the outcome could be uncertain.

Her daughter Wanru had always been honest and straightforward. Admitting it herself, as a mother, she had to acknowledge that Wanru was inferior in appearance to Shen Layue. Looking at her now, her scheming abilities were even worse.

Thinking about how even her close cousin Chen, whom she used to be very close with, had been completely outmaneuvered by Shen Layue, the second Madam Shen was genuinely reluctant to let her daughter enter the palace. Moreover, what the Grandmother said made sense—given Wanru’s temperament, if she entered the palace and was harmed by someone, how could she, as a mother, live with herself?

It was better to inform the palace beforehand, letting Imperial Concubine Shen know they had no intention of having Wanru enter. This way, they could make plans in advance and add more dignity to Wanru’s position.

With an elder sister already serving as a noble consort in the palace, Wanru would naturally become a highly coveted candidate in marriage negotiations.

Shen Er Ye wasn’t a particularly insightful person and had always followed his elder brother’s lead.

Thus, the Shen family members reached a consensus.

Since Layue had promised the Shen family, she naturally had to fulfill her promise. In her heart, she wasn’t entirely sure whether the Emperor would choose Wanru—perhaps he wanted more balance? However, no matter what, bringing up this matter at this time, the Emperor wouldn’t likely object.

Sure enough, when the Emperor came to see the children, holding little Jiaojiao and calling her his precious baby, Layue poked her son’s little face and casually said, “Your Majesty…”

“Hmm?” The Emperor naturally knew about the message from the Shen family that morning.

Layue hesitated for a moment but then thought it was better to be direct.

“Today, the Shen family sent a message to the palace.”

“Oh?” The Emperor continued playing with little Jiaojiao, causing the baby to laugh toothlessly.

Watching him continue to make single-syllable sounds, Layue waved the rattle in front of him a few times, signaling him to pay attention.

The Emperor, seeing her childish behavior, chuckled.

Meanwhile, little Jiaojiao thought her mother was playing with her and made babbling sounds.

A baby of three or four months couldn’t speak, and all the babbling resulted in drool running down her chin, smearing the Emperor’s dragon robe.

Layue couldn’t bear to look at the mess, but the Emperor remained indifferent, even praising, “My daughter is so clever, just like me. She’s already trying to speak at such a young age.”

Looking at his proud expression and Jiaojiao’s innocent smile.

Layue silently glanced at her cheerful son.

This father and daughter pair was truly hard to watch!

Your Majesty, don’t you feel a bit hypocritical saying that?

Seeing Layue lowering her head, seemingly lost in thought, the Emperor touched her cheek with his daughter’s little foot.

“Go ahead, I’m listening.”

Layue looked at him this way and then at Jiaojiao’s foot, sighing helplessly.

Can you be any more childish?

Alright, better to get back to business.

“I have a cousin, Wanru, the daughter of my second uncle. She’s entering the palace for the selection this year. The family hopes that I might ask Your Majesty for a favor, allowing her to be eliminated during the palace selection.”

The Emperor raised his eyebrows with a smile: “What? You don’t want to serve the same husband as your cousin?”

Layue pouted playfully: “Of course not. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

Seeing her tilting her head, smiling sweetly at him.

The Emperor felt an itch in his heart.

“What if your cousin is a peerless beauty? Won’t I be at a loss?”

Layue feigned displeasure: “Don’t I count as a peerless beauty? Your Majesty truly hurt my feelings. Besides, how could I let Your Majesty be at a loss? I will serve you well.”

She emphasized the last sentence, looked at the Emperor, and threw him a flirtatious glance.

The Emperor was momentarily stunned, then laughed again.

“Since that’s the case, then tonight. Layue, show me your sincerity, and tomorrow I will give the order.”

Since she was to be eliminated in the palace selection, she couldn’t be rejected in advance.

The Emperor naturally understood that Wanru wasn’t particularly outstanding.

Layue, seeing his expression, knew he wanted something in return.

“Of course, I’m delighted. I wonder if Your Majesty will stay here directly or come later?”

It was already evening.

The Emperor smiled and lifted her chin: “Tonight, I will have dinner here with you.”

This meant he wasn’t leaving.

Layue smiled happily and was about to give orders.

The Emperor added, “I don’t like sweet food.”

Layue usually liked sweet food, but he didn’t.

Layue bit her lip and looked at him, saying, “Coincidentally, I don’t like sweet food either. What Your Majesty likes, I like.”

Seeing her expression, the Emperor found her truly enchanting.

Without regard for holding their daughter, he kissed her.

“You Shen family really doesn’t need to send another daughter into the palace. With my little Layue, a peerless beauty, I naturally don’t need anyone else.”

Layue giggled playfully, feigning shyness.

While the parents flirted, the children weren’t idle either. Little Jiaojiao continued to babble and drool, little Si’er waved his arms and blew bubbles, and little Wu’er tilted his little head, seemingly watching his parents or not.

If it were an ordinary family, it would have been a harmonious scene.

That night, of course, needs no further description. The two, who hadn’t been passionately intimate for a while, caressed each other’s bodies, trembling repeatedly…

After a long time, the two lay entwined together, covered only by a thin blanket, with Layue’s head buried on his chest, breathing heavily.

“Good?”

The Emperor still had the mood to tease her.

Layue was already out of strength, making a soft, affectionate sound as a response.

Sliding his hand down, he caressed her bottom a few times, gently patting it: “I told you this little Jiaojiao is as delicate and cries like who? This is the owner found, I love you, and you cry too.”

Layue pouted: “How can you be so unfair? In the evening, you said little Jiaojiao looked like you.”

She wouldn’t accept such an accusation.

The Emperor’s hands were mischievous, and his mouth wouldn’t stop: “Intelligent, naturally like me; delicate and crying is like you.”

Hearing this, Layue was furious and bit down, hmm, so hard.

This bite was nothing, but the Emperor felt a surge of desire again.

He flipped her over, pinning her beneath him, kissing her passionately.

“My baby, you’re bigger here.”

Since giving birth, Layue’s chest had become fuller, which delighted the Emperor beyond words.

Putting it in his mouth, he made smacking sounds.

“My baby, I want to drink milk,” the Emperor somehow uttered these words, causing Layue to blush intensely.

How could this man be so lewd?

Layue covered her face, refusing to speak. Bastard, pervert!

Seeing her shyness, the Emperor became even more unrestrained.

In the past few days, they had used other ways to resolve their desires, not as intimate as today. The Emperor felt extremely pleased.

Indeed, Layue was the best.

Even after giving birth to three children, the tightness in the right places remained.

She was truly more lovable than many young girls.

Spreading her legs, he indulged in more play.

When it was already dawn, Layue was drowsy, vaguely feeling the Emperor leave her body.

Not only Layue but even Lai Xi felt particularly uneasy. The Emperor was so unrestrained, and as a servant, he should remind the master to take care of his health. However, considering how long the Emperor had been abstinent while staying with Imperial Concubine Shen and how the Emperor usually didn’t listen to advice, Lai Xi felt increasingly reluctant.

Layue herself didn’t like to use young eunuchs, and the Emperor was aware of this. Even though they were castrated, they were still men.

Thinking this way, he also disliked the young eunuchs looking at Layue.

Only after properly drawing the curtains did he call Lai Xi in to serve him. After getting ready, the Emperor went to court, looking refreshed.

Looking at the slightly rising sun, although the Emperor looked refreshed, he indeed felt a bit weak in his legs.

No way around it, he had done too much!

Thinking again about the promise to Layue, the Emperor smiled: “Issue an order. Keep Shen Wanru, the cousin of Imperial Concubine Shen, until the palace examination.”

Lai Xi responded affirmatively.

Unaware of the background, this sounded like an order to keep her.

Lai Xi was somewhat puzzled, but he was loyal and naturally followed his master’s orders without question.

As if the Emperor had anticipated this, he added, “I promised Imperial Concubine Shen to keep Shen Wanru until the palace examination and then reject her.”

Upon hearing this, Lai Xi understood.

This was the Emperor’s way of giving face to the Shen family, and the Emperor didn’t want more people to know.

As for Imperial Concubine Shen’s thoughts, it was normal. No one liked having someone enter the palace to compete for favor, especially when that person was her cousin. Moreover, previously, Chen Yulan was still Imperial Concubine Shen’s cousin, but what happened? If it weren’t for heaven’s help, Imperial Concubine Shen might have been framed.

In this way, it was better to nip this sprout in the bud.

Thinking about the three months before the selection, Lai Xi secretly thought that the palace would indeed be calm and peaceful for now.

How could it be calm and peaceful without preparing to face the more charming new candidates three months later?

When people have a common enemy, they become different.

Moreover, not every family had only one eligible daughter. Many families had close or distant sisters entering the palace. At that time, life for the palace women would be quite difficult!