Transmigrated Empresses (Male and Female)

Chapter 1

Parrots Sunbathing in the Moonlight: Transmigrated Empresses and Consorts

[Main Text: Chapter 1]

I don't know what happened, but I suddenly felt short of breath. When I felt normal again, I realized I was crying.

Then I heard a flurry of thumping noises, and someone wrapped me up, saying, "Madam has given birth, it's a girl."

The weak voice paused for a moment before continuing:

“A daughter? What a misfortune. Go tell the midwife not to say anything she shouldn’t. If anyone asks, just say it’s a son.”

"Understood, Madam."

At this moment, I was certain I had been reborn. Because of my physical condition, I couldn't see the world clearly yet. I could only learn from conversations with others that this family was very large, no less so than my previous life.

My mother didn't seem to be favored, because no one paid any attention to me for the first month after I was born. But my mother didn't seem to care much. She came to see me every day, breastfed me herself, and held me to sleep at night. I guess she was a magnanimous woman, at least she remained calm and didn't feel sorry for herself when she was neglected.

When I could finally see the world clearly, the person smiling at me was a stunningly beautiful woman. Her soft, flowing hair cascaded over her shoulders, brushing against my face with a silky smoothness. Her beautiful phoenix eyes shone with boundless affection as she gently touched my nose with a poetic smile, instantly filling my vision with sunlight.

"Little one, Mother will take you out to enjoy the autumn scenery."

She picked me up, inhaling that familiar scent that I'd smelled for nearly two months, and I was quite surprised: such a stunning beauty was actually unloved. Has the world gone mad?

As it turns out, the world wasn't crazy; what made everything turn out this way was my mother, who possessed both intelligence and beauty.

She was originally the most beautiful courtesan in the capital, which meant that no matter how hard she tried, the outcome would be the same.

Her behavior when she goes out to meet people is completely different from her behavior in this small courtyard. Now, with her face heavily painted and her body covered in gold, Shi Hui feels as if he has encountered a fly while eating when he sees her.

Today is the first birthday celebration of the son of Xue, the most favored concubine in the mansion. It's a big day for the "grasping ceremony" (a traditional custom where children choose their objects to predict their future). My mother is also taking me out to see the world.

Standing in the crowd, the mother smiled obsequiously at the ladies present, her smile punctuated by exclamations of envy and jealousy, just like a country girl who had never seen the world.

This move greatly pleased those seemingly favored faces. I was in my mother's arms, laughing happily, applauding her act, smiling at her self-preservation, and laughing at her wisdom.

"This must be the eleventh son born to my sister. Congratulations to my sister! The little prince looks just like her." One of the concubines said coolly.

"Sister, you flatter me. I'll be content if my son, the Eleventh Prince, is half as outstanding as your son, Zi'er. Everyone knows that Master favors your son the most in the household." The mother flattered the concubine with anticipation and hope.

A chilling laugh rang out as she continued, "Little sister, you really know how to talk. I didn't give Little Eleven any gifts when he was born, so I'll give this bracelet to him."

As she spoke, she took off the jade bracelet from her wrist and threw it at me. She really threw it; I could feel its weight.

The mother was flattered and thanked her profusely.

"Third Madam, the old man has arrived."

"Hmm, she gave birth to a son and she's not doing well! She can even get the master to come and pay attention to her!" It seems this lady is not happy about anyone competing with her for favor.

[Main Text: Chapter Two]

A middle-aged man in his forties walked towards me. His face, though wrinkled, did not show his age. He carried a child in his arms and walked briskly. Behind him followed a lovely woman who was not as beautiful as my mother, but was still as delicate as jade.

In my opinion, their relationship is like a CEO keeping a mistress, an old cow eating young grass.

His loud laughter during the banquet foreshadowed a new dynamic among the women in the household.

The little boy was given the name Shen Ziyuan today and officially joined the Shen family genealogy.

My mother seemed a little sad at that moment, probably because of me.

She spends most of her time embroidering and writing. I prefer her embroidery to her calligraphy; the lifelike butterflies, the vibrant peonies, and the elegant orchids always inspire me to try them out. I sometimes just toss them around carelessly.

I learned to crawl when I was two years old. Actually, I didn't want to crawl at that age, but seeing my mother's worried eyes, I reluctantly chose to crawl.

At three years old, I wasn't planning to speak yet, but seeing her bitter face, I reluctantly called out, "Mom." She burst into tears of joy.

Before I was three years old, I rarely saw outsiders. My world consisted of my wet nurse, my mother, and a talkative little boy, who would come and go in a hurry.

When I was four years old, my mother named me Shen Ziyi.

Throughout the day, I rested in bed except for necessary physical exercise. Even when my beautiful mother held my hand and taught me to write, I didn't cooperate and made a fuss. It wasn't my fault; her handwriting wasn't as good as mine, so why should I waste my time? While I was still young, I rested whenever I could, and if I didn't rest, I would just daydream.

My father was the Minister of Revenue, and his wife was the daughter of the Minister of Rites. They had two sons and a daughter, and he had countless concubines.

The nagging man who often comes to see me is the fourth son of my family—Shen Ziming, the eldest son of the Shen family. He is the kind of prodigy who doesn't have to do anything but is always surrounded by spotlights.

Zimo is two years older than me. He was six when he started attending the Royal Academy. Since he went to school, I've noticed that the kid has become more talkative and his eloquence has improved.

He hides here after school every day to gossip about campus life. I don't want to listen, but I can't kick him out.

I fought off my drowsiness and dozed off on his lap. He spoke with such passion that I was practically falling asleep. From his narration, I learned that the Royal Academy had a child prodigy—Sikong Qian, the current Prime Minister's beloved grandson. When Zimo mentioned him, her eyes were filled with admiration. "So young and already idolizing celebrities, that's really not a good child."

In the same year, the late Emperor Hirenkwang ascended the throne at the age of seven.

Spring flowers bloom and autumn passes, summer birds sing and winter hides. Time slips away amidst my laziness and Zimo's nagging.

In order to help me learn something useful and to please Zimo's mother, my mother made me eligible to study at a prestigious academy.

The term "noble academy" is used in contrast to "royal academy." If the royal academy is meant to cultivate the future economic and political centers of the nation, then the noble academy is a better place to train the cattle and horses for these centers.

On my first day of school, Zimo, like a little adult, reminded me to get along well with my classmates. My mother dressed me in a beautiful new outfit and made me something that looked like a schoolbag but wasn't quite one.

"We've arrived. Ziyi, remember to listen to your teacher and get along well with the other young masters." My mother lifted me down from the carriage, smoothed out the invisible wrinkles on my clothes, and watched me walk into that place that held hope.

After entering the academy and paying my respects to the dean, he led me into a classroom for lower grades. It was then that I realized something terrifying: the entire room was filled with boys.