The harem is too complicated; the empress, a lazy bum, wins by doing nothing.

Chapter 107 Grievance
"Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty."

Their conversation was interrupted by a cold, clear voice.

"Why is Prince Yao blocking the doorway and preventing the Empress Dowager from entering?"

Shen Qingwan turned around in the direction of the voice. Prince Rui was wearing a purple robe with silver patterns embroidered on it. The hem of the robe fluttered gently, making him look elegant and noble.

Prince Rui, who is usually late or leaves early at banquets, was surprisingly punctual today.

No, it wasn't on time, it was early.

Shen Qingwan stared at him, puzzled. Just then, Prince Rui also looked in her direction.

"Your Majesty's sister-in-law," Prince Rui bowed.

"If Your Highness has nothing else to do, I will go in first," Shen Qingwan returned the greeting.

No sooner had they entered the Hall of Preserving Harmony than Zhen'er couldn't help but remark, "Prince Rui looks even more handsome in his purple attire today than before."

Shen Qingwan: ...

"Your Majesty, do you think the Emperor is more handsome, or Prince Rui?" Zhen'er asked curiously.

Shen Qingwan suddenly stopped, glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then turned to Zhen'er and said, "Is it okay to talk about the Emperor behind his back?"

Zhen'er suddenly realized she had said the wrong thing and hurriedly lowered her head, saying, "This servant deserves to die."

Shen Qingwan didn't say anything and continued walking towards her seat.

Today is New Year's Eve, the biggest day of the year. Servants in the palace can receive all sorts of rewards on this day. Zhen'er is always cautious, so she must have slipped up for a moment.

But if she didn't remind him now, and someone else overheard her saying that, she would probably be in trouble.

Even in secluded places within the palace, one must be mindful of one's words and actions.

New Year's Eve is a big day. Even the concubines who were pregnant and usually couldn't attend any palace banquets gathered together at the Hall of Preserving Harmony, but the eldest princess was nowhere to be seen.

Shen Qingwan was tired after a long day and didn't have much of an appetite. Despite the singing and dancing, she put down her chopsticks halfway through her dinner.

Emperor Yuanwu was supposed to rest at Kunning Palace after the palace banquet.

The palace banquet was only halfway through when Shen Qingwan was already so sleepy that her eyelids were drooping.

She used almost all her strength to sit there with a dignified air.

Emperor Yuanwu, who was sitting next to her, happened to see this scene and leaned close to her ear: "Is this song and dance show so boring? It's making the Empress sleepy."

Shen Qingwan couldn't help but shudder: "I was quite sleepy just now, but I'm wide awake now."

Emperor Yuanwu chuckled and shook his head. If he hadn't seen her pinching her own hand with his own eyes, he would have almost believed it.

"Since the Empress is tired, she should go back and rest early," Emperor Yuanwu said calmly.

Shen Qingwan really wanted to go back, but this was a palace banquet, not just a casual dinner. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor hadn't left yet, and if she left the table because she was sleepy, it would not only be against the rules, but it would also cause a lot of gossip.

"emperor……"

Shen Qingwan moved her lips, but before she could speak, Wu Jixiang walked in from outside the hall in a panic and whispered something in Emperor Yuanwu's ear.

Emperor Yuanwu's expression suddenly changed, and he rose from his seat.

He left, and Prince Rui, Prince Yao, and Prince Xiang all followed him.

With so many people suddenly gone from the main seat, even the most lively singing and dancing seemed deserted. "I'm getting old, I'll go back now. You all continue enjoying yourselves."

The Empress Dowager stood up to leave, and Shen Qingwan also stood up: "Mother, let your daughter-in-law escort you back to the palace."

Shen Qingwan thought that, according to past practice, the Empress Dowager would definitely say that it was cold and slippery outside, so there was no need to see her off, and she could then go back to the palace to sleep. However, she did not expect the Empress Dowager to reply with a simple "okay".

Shen Qingwan: ...

Shen Qingwan helped the Empress Dowager out of the Taihe Hall.

"Your Majesty, I happen to have something to tell you."

Seeing the expression on the Empress Dowager's face, Shen Qingwan felt a tightness in her heart. Thinking of what happened in Mobei before, she really shouldn't have said so much in front of Emperor Yuanwu.

The Empress Dowager wouldn't punish her on New Year's Eve, would she?

"In the matter of the northern desert, Consort Xian's father made a great contribution, but this great contribution cannot be considered a merit. The Emperor wants to reward her, but he cannot do so openly. Therefore, I am thinking that since Consort Xian has not been promoted since giving birth to the third prince, why not take advantage of the festive atmosphere of the New Year and make her a Noble Consort?" The Empress Dowager held Shen Qingwan's hand and said earnestly.

Shen Qingwan was taken aback: "Your daughter-in-law will listen to Mother Empress. Your daughter-in-law has no objections."

Her quick agreement left the Empress Dowager speechless, unable to find the words she had been pondering all night. After a while, the Empress Dowager patted Shen Qingwan's hand and said, "The Empress is virtuous and kind, and knows the bigger picture."

Shen Qingwan: ...

The Empress Dowager's words sounded nice, as if she were discussing things with her. But to put it bluntly, as the Empress, she would naturally have to be informed of the matter of being promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine.

The battle in the northern desert appeared to be a loss, but in reality, it was a great victory.

Whether Moganbu's willingness to stay in the capital was voluntary or out of necessity, Shen Qingwan believed that he was more likely to be detained.

The northern desert had always been a major concern for Emperor Yuanwu. Now, by restoring peace to the border without firing a single shot, what did it matter if a few people were wronged?

It looks like a new king is about to be established in the northern desert.

If we were to bestow a title upon a general at this time, wouldn't that be a direct slap in the face to Moganbu? Moganbu has been in power for so many years and has a certain prestige in the northern desert. Moreover, there are still many old subordinates and soldiers in the northern desert who are sworn to follow Moganbu to the death. If we were to provoke their dissatisfaction and cause them to rebel and directly attack our border, even if we were to win, it would result in a lose-lose situation.

If the late emperor truly had the strength to conquer the northern deserts, why would he have sent his daughter to marry a foreign ruler in exchange for a few years of peace?

Many things are quite different from what they appear to be on the surface.

However, this means that the general's military achievements cannot be openly rewarded, but the promotion of Consort Xian to appease the officials must still be done.

Although Shen Qingwan was unaware of the matter and why Emperor Yuanwu had the Empress Dowager speak to her about it, she assumed that the imperial edict of investiture would also be issued by the Empress Dowager.

The next day at 3:45 AM.

Shen Qingwan set up a stove and a fruit stand in the main hall of Kunning Palace.

Jiang Wenlan, Jiang Wanying, and Jiang Wenyuan surrounded her.

"Your Majesty, and your son, I want to eat oranges."

"Your Majesty, I would like some chestnuts..."

The three children surrounded Shen Qingwan, watching her skewer oranges with bamboo sticks, then quickly boil them in a pot, creating a translucent, sugar-coated fruit.

Consort Shu held the Third Prince and sat beside him watching. Although the Third Prince was still young and couldn't eat these things, he laughed along as he watched his older brothers and sisters chasing each other and having fun.

"Her Majesty the Empress really knows how to make these novelties. The candied hawthorns we used to eat were all filled with hawthorn berries. This is the first time I've ever seen candied fruit and chestnuts wrapped in candy." Consort Liang stood aside and watched intently.

(End of this chapter)