Chapter 1946: The Perfect Woman in the Eyes of Men
Ning Shu expressed that there was truly nothing on Earth that could escape such patterns. Even wise monarchs could be tricked into falling in love with such a pattern.
These rogue systems were existences that stole the fortune and natural laws from planes.
Zhao Xu was the emperor. He claimed the title of ‘the rightful emperor, the Son of Heaven,’ so he naturally possessed strong luck, as well as the luck bestowed on the leader of such a large nation. As the emperor’s women, the women of the inner palace also possessed good fortune. If that wasn’t the case, they never would have been able to become an emperor’s woman in the first place.
The favored concubine system created the perfect woman in the eyes of men: a woman tailored entirely to that man’s taste. That way she could defeat all others in the inner palace. It accomplished this by concentrating all good fortune into the female lead’s body, even seizing the emperor’s fortune and the fortune of the nation.
Despite Attendant Zhou’s apparent freedom and the myriad of perks she received, she was just a puppet: a slave to the favored concubine system. But she was happy with this because she gained a high standing and wealth; even having an emperor fall in love with her as a result. He would go so far as to dismiss the imperial harem for her, which increased her vanity.
“Your Majesty, this servant already sent Attendant Zhou over to the Palace of Moonlight and told Consort Zhuang to take good care of her. I also asked Nurse Cheng to instruct her,” Qiu Ling reported when she returned.
Ning Shu nodded. “Very good.”
With her violent temper, Consort Zhuang would make things difficult for Attendant Zhou - both openly and secretly. Nurse Cheng was the eldest nurse from the former emperor’s time and was incredibly strict. Moreover, she was old. Her temper had become increasingly unstable over the years, and she rarely restrained herself.
They would definitely make Attendant Zhou suffer.
The favored concubine system constantly issued tasks to the female lead and she was given skills when she completed them. As a result, the female lead would turn into the all-around ‘perfect woman’.
Right now, contact between Zhao Xu and Attendant Zhou had to be reduced. As long as they kept meeting, it would keep triggering tasks. The more of those tasks Attendant Zhou completed, the more skills she gained.
However, she wouldn’t be able to make the emperor love her if she failed too many tasks. Once the favored concubine system gathered enough fortune, it would discard its slave and begin its search for a new host.
What Ning Shu needed was the window of opportunity that would be created when the favored concubine system discarded Attendant Zhou. Once the two separated, 2333 could completely destroy and engulf the other system.
“Your Majesty, His Majesty said that he would come over at noon to have lunch. Should this servant notify them to start preparing now?” Qiu Ling asked Ning Shu.
Ning Shu nodded in agreement and told her, “Deliver a message to Mother.”
“Yes.” Qiu Ling curtsied and withdrew from the chamber.
Fu Wanhui’s father was the imperial tutor, and Fu Wanhui was the youngest daughter of her family. As she was born in her parents’ old age, they doted on her considerably.
Fu Wanhui had already been married to Zhao Xu for several years and yet had no children.
Ning Shu took this body’s pulse and knew it could be considered healthy.
At noon, Zhao Xu arrived for lunch and saw a table filled with various dishes. He watched as Ning Shu ate with her head lowered, then got some food for her as he said, “My dear empress, you must be tired from managing the entire inner palace. You’ve worked hard.”
“This subject wife isn’t tired. It’s just that I’ve still not given Your Majesty children. This subject wife is too ashamed to face Your Majesty,” Ning Shu said.
“There’s no need to rush, it is as the heavens that decide such things. My empress and we are still young,” Zhao Xu said unconcerned.
Ning Shu didn’t know whether he truly didn’t care or was faking it.
Was he really not anxious? There were very few inner palace heirs. So far, Concubine De was the only one who had a princess.
At any rate, Ning Shu wouldn’t be the one giving birth so she didn’t really care.
Once their lunch was finished, Zhou Xu chatted with her for a while longer before saying he had government affairs to deal with and leaving.
Translator: Kiara