Quick Transmigration: Survive to the End

"Good, it's good that you're back," Consort Shen said, relieved to see her smiling and with palace servants carrying rewards behind her. She then led her to the main hall.

After sitting down in the hall and dismissing the unrelated palace servants, Consort Shen asked, "Why did the Empress keep you here for so long?"

"Perhaps you're curious about my life outside these past few years?" Shen Ruyin's tone carried a hint of uncertainty. "Before entering the palace, I heard that Her Majesty the Empress was recuperating in seclusion, so I thought I wouldn't be able to see her this time either."

"It's probably not that simple," Consort Shen said, having dealt with the Empress more and understanding her better.

When the Empress is willing to protect you, she can be incredibly attentive in everything she does, ensuring you have no complaints. But when she's plotting against you, her every move, even a small ornament nearby, can become a weapon to achieve her goals.

Seeing her sister deep in thought, Shen Ruyin rolled her eyes, picked up her teacup, and drank half a cup of water.

"I still prefer the tea here, elder sister. It's a pity I'm too thirsty right now to savor it properly, which is a real waste."

Consort Shen came to her senses: "Why are you so thirsty? Nanxing, go and make a bowl of osmanthus honey."

“I talked too much with Her Majesty the Empress just now,” Shen Ruyin said, putting down her teacup as soon as she heard there was osmanthus honey. “I talked to Her Majesty the Empress non-stop for almost half an hour.”

"If Her Majesty the Empress hadn't noticed that I kept drinking water, she would have wanted to continue listening."

"However, she also said that I would continue to tell her the unfinished story when I go to the palace next time."

"There will be a next time?" Consort Shen frowned.

Before Nanxing brought over the honey water, Consort Shen suddenly scoffed, "She's quite the schemer."

"Sister?" Shen Ruyin turned her head to look at her. "Have you figured it out?"

Consort Shen nodded: "The Empress closed her palace to recuperate for the sake of her reputation, but she can't stay in the palace forever. She has to find an opportunity to recover."

"That's why I returned to the capital from outside, and learned many stories that ordinary people don't know. Is that what Her Majesty the Empress has been doing recently? After all, listening to stories makes me feel better. And when I'm in a good mood, my illness gets better quickly."

Shen Ruyin said, then smacked her lips again: "It's probably partly because of my older sister. After all, I'm your favorite younger sister."

"I spoke with Her Majesty the Empress for so long alone. To outsiders, it might seem that your relationship with Her Majesty the Empress has improved, or that you have even reached some kind of understanding in private."

"It's not simply that the Empress appreciates me, or that she just wants to hear stories."

"Big sister, am I right? I haven't lost my brain while I've been away from home these past few years!"

Consort Shen smiled and said, "You're right."

“However,” a sharp glint flashed in Consort Shen’s eyes, “if she wants to use you to achieve her goals, she’ll have to ask me for my consent first.”

“Elder sister,” Shen Ruyin looked at her with some concern, “but she is the Empress after all. She still has the eldest prince, her legitimate son, under her care.”

"The eldest prince has always been intelligent and is well-liked by the emperor. Even for the sake of the eldest prince's reputation, the emperor will not allow the empress to bear such a disgrace."

“How could I not know?” Consort Shen said with a bitter smile. “The Empress’s two get-out-of-jail-free cards are, firstly, the affection between her and the Emperor, who were childhood sweethearts and supported each other, and secondly, the outstanding eldest son, the First Prince.”

"We have paid such a high price, but all we have done is to make her and the Emperor's relationship less than before."

"Moreover, I have watched coldly as the Empress's concessions during this period have made the Emperor reconsider his intention to release her."

"Perhaps the reason the Empress has kept you here for so long today is because she has guessed the Emperor's thoughts."

After listening to her finish speaking, Shen Ruyin said with envy, "The Emperor and Empress are indeed husband and wife after so many years. The Empress really understands the Emperor. Even when she is in the Phoenix Palace, she can grasp the Emperor's psychology so accurately."

“My third brother and I have been husband and wife for so many years, and sometimes I still can’t figure out what he’s thinking.”

Consort Shen suddenly looked up at her, only to find that she had winked at her.

"My dear sister, I'm caught up in this situation, and I don't even need you to enlighten me on such a simple principle."

"Didn't my older sister say that I should be an outsider and tell you what I see from time to time?" If Shen Ruyin had a tail, it would probably be wagging its tail to the sky by now. "I wasn't in the capital a few years ago, but now that I'm back, of course I have to tell my older sister about it."

"Alright, I'll patiently listen to what you have to say," Consort Shen said in a good mood. Seeing Nanxing bring over the honey water and personally place it in front of her, she said, "Good sister, please say a few more words."

"Still talking?" Shen Ruyin pretended to think for a while, "Actually, I don't know if this idea is right or wrong."

"It's alright," Consort Shen encouraged her, "Just say what you think."

Shen Ruyin then continued, "The Crown Prince and the Empress are mother and son. Since the Empress is so well-informed, what about the Crown Prince?"

“I am not in the palace and do not know the situation of the First Prince. But the rumors outside have already divided the First Prince into two classes with the other princes.”

"Putting aside his status, does the eldest prince truly possess such great ability, so perfect that he can always outmaneuver his brothers, or does he have an informational advantage that others don't have, which is why he can always speak to the emperor's heart?"

"Of course he's not perfect in everything," Consort Shen sneered. "Your nephew told me that my elder brother doesn't like him being too good at studying."

"I didn't take it too seriously at first, until your nephew was scolded by the Emperor several times because of the eldest prince."

"But in fact, the fault does not lie with your nephew."

Shen Ruyin wore a complicated expression: "Is the First Prince really this kind of person?"

Consort Shen nodded: "Now it seems that we can make use of these things."

"However, we can't rush it!"

Hearing her sigh, Shen Ruyin didn't say anything to comfort her. Her older sister had already figured it out herself, and there was no need for others to say anything more.

"Enough of them," Consort Shen said, looking at Shen Ruyin. "I summoned you to the palace today to see how you were doing outside. Who would have thought that my time would be taken up by irrelevant people, and I wouldn't even have time to ask you a question."

"What does it matter?" Shen Ruyin stood up and twirled in front of her. "What do you think of me, big sister?"

Consort Shen half-covered her smile with a round fan: "So happy, like a peacock strutting about."

"Big sister~"

Seeing that she didn't like the metaphor, Consort Shen said seriously, "You haven't aged much in the three years you've been away, which is truly a joy to see, and it's clear that your brother-in-law has taken good care of you."

"As the older sister, I should reward him!"