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

Chapter 118 Misunderstanding
Emperor Yuanwu smiled slightly: "I didn't expect the Empress to be so protective of her own."

"Does Your Majesty have the heart to pity other people's children while neglecting your own?"

Shen Qingwan's question left Emperor Yuanwu speechless.

"This matter was not well considered by me."

She was incredibly fortunate to hear a monarch admit his mistakes.

"It's not that His Majesty is inconsiderate, but rather that His Majesty is benevolent. He thought of Mo Gan Junyi, who sacrificed himself for the stability of both countries, and he was thinking of our princesses who were sent away. His Majesty's kindness to Mo Gan Junyi is also a way of hoping from the bottom of his heart that those princesses who are married off to foreign lands will also be treated well in foreign countries."

A flicker of emotion crossed Emperor Yuanwu's eyes: "What are the Empress's plans?"

“When I was cleaning the Princess’s residence before, there was an empty Chang Le Palace. Although Chang Le Palace faces north and doesn’t get much sunlight, it is still a separate palace. Even if the news reached the northern desert, it wouldn’t be considered neglecting the hostage. Mo Ganxie can’t find any fault with it. What does Your Majesty think?”

"Now that the Empress has made her decision, let her handle this matter."

"The Lantern Festival is approaching. Consort De and Consort Shu have been busy with the Lantern Festival palace banquet these days, and many relatives of the imperial family are also coming to the palace. I can't get away from them. Although Consort Gui does not have the power to assist in managing the six palaces, in any case, Consort Gui's rank is still considered to be under the control of the other consorts. It is not good to stand idly by and do nothing about the affairs of the harem. Why don't we let Consort Gui handle it now? What does Your Majesty think?"

Emperor Yuanwu was silent for a while: "When the Consort Gui was managing the six palaces, the concubines in each palace were not on good terms and there were constant trivial matters. I still feel more at ease with the Empress now in charge of the harem."

It was truly rare to hear the word "rest assured" from Emperor Yuanwu.

Shen Qingwan's expression flashed across her face like a revolving lantern: "But now she is already a Noble Consort. There is no Imperial Noble Consort in the palace. Apart from the Empress, Noble Consort Xian is the highest-ranking. Even if she does not have the power to assist the six palaces, it does not mean that the Noble Consort has to stand idly by in matters of the harem."

"The Empress is very sensible. She should be in charge of the affairs of the inner palace. I trust you to make the arrangements."

After Emperor Yuanwu finished speaking, he picked up a corn kernel, put it in his mouth, and chewed it twice: "Is this corn salty?"

"This corn was specially prepared by the small kitchen. The corn is sweet and delicious, and it tastes quite unique when coated with a layer of salted egg yolk. Does Your Majesty find it tasty?"

Emperor Yuanwu nodded: "I suppose this was made in the Empress's small kitchen. It seems the Imperial Kitchen hasn't come up with any new dishes in a long time. This is indeed innovative."

After Emperor Yuanwu finished speaking, he took another bite and said, "I really didn't expect that corn could be used as a dish."

Shen Qingwan: ...

Emperor Yuanwu ate some of each dish.

The moment Shen Qingwan saw him put down his chopsticks, she hurriedly said, "Since Your Majesty has chosen Consort Rong for the evening, you should go there as soon as possible, so as not to keep Consort Rong waiting."

Emperor Yuanwu:...

The Empress's words didn't sound wrong, but somehow they just sounded so awkward.

Even now, he found it somewhat jarring.

At this moment, Shen Qingwan stood up, assuming a respectful manner as if she was about to see him off.

Emperor Yuanwu walked out of Kunning Palace, his mind filled with the image of Shen Qingwan getting up to see him off.

"Jixiang, what do you think the Empress feels about me?" Emperor Yuanwu paused in his steps.

This question stumped Wu Jixiang. For a moment, Wu Jixiang couldn't figure out what Emperor Yuanwu meant by this. He cautiously replied, "This servant feels that Her Majesty the Empress is very respectful to His Majesty."

Respectfully?

These two words don't sound like something a married couple would use.

"Besides respect?" Emperor Yuanwu then asked.

Besides respect?

Wu Jixiang's expression was somewhat indescribable. He glanced at Emperor Yuanwu. If it weren't for the eunuch who had served Emperor Yuanwu since childhood, who caught a hint of displeasure in his eyes and hurriedly changed his words, "Besides respect, there's also affection, isn't there? Your Majesty, you see, every time you dine at the Empress's palace, she prepares with great care. Today, to please you, she even carved the frozen pears into flowers. If she didn't like you, why would she go to such lengths?"

Emperor Yuanwu's expression finally softened a bit, and he slowly nodded, which was considered as acknowledging Wu Jixiang's words.

The next morning.

The Empress Dowager ordered a stage for theatrical performances in the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

Shen Qingwan got up early, had a simple breakfast, washed up, and went to Cining Palace wearing the cloak bestowed upon her by the Empress Dowager.

When Shen Qingwan arrived, the Empress Dowager was sitting in front of the bronze mirror in her bedroom, doing her makeup.

"Didn't you go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to watch a play this morning? Why is the Empress here at this hour?" the Empress Dowager asked in surprise.

Shen Qingwan took the wooden comb from Zhang Mama's hand and helped the Empress Dowager comb her hair while saying, "I woke up early today. I thought there was still some time before the opera, so I came to Cining Palace to go to Baohe Hall with Mother."

"Your Majesty is very kind." The Empress Dowager was silent for a while before slowly speaking: "I know that the Emperor had dinner in your palace yesterday and then went to Consort Rong's palace. It was indeed inappropriate. Anyone would be unhappy in this situation. Consort Rong is the eldest daughter of General Rong. General Rong died on the frontier, and the Emperor showed her more pity, which was also to appease the army. As the Empress, you should also be more considerate of the Emperor. After all, the court and the harem are intertwined. Do you think the Empress understands my meaning?"

Shen Qingwan: ...

It's not about whether she understands or not.

Rather, the Empress Dowager completely misunderstood her intention in coming over early in the morning.

It turns out that the Empress Dowager said all this simply because she had come to Cining Palace early in the morning to complain.

Ok.

Although the original owner did indeed do such things quite a lot.

But she couldn't very well tell the Empress Dowager that she and the original owner of this body were not the same person.

Fine, she'll swallow her pride and bear the consequences of the original owner's actions.

"Mother, you have misunderstood your daughter-in-law. I got up early because I went to bed early yesterday. Consort Rong is gentle and graceful, which is the kind of personality His Majesty likes. If Consort Rong can give birth to an imperial heir for His Majesty in the future, I will be happy for His Majesty."

Seeing that Shen Qingwan spoke sincerely and didn't seem to be faking it, the Empress Dowager slowly felt relieved.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager was no longer pressing the matter, Shen Qingwan breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as Emperor Yuanwu didn't like her, he wouldn't let her serve him in bed.

She was happy whichever concubine he favored in the harem.

It's almost time.

Shen Qingwan took the Empress Dowager's arm and they went to the Hall of Preserving Harmony together.

When they arrived, almost all the concubines were already there.

After all, no concubine dared to arrive at the Empress Dowager's banquet on time.

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager and the Empress."

Upon seeing the two enter, the concubines rose and bowed.

"When did the Empress Dowager and the Empress become so close? They came in hand in hand," Consort Chun muttered softly.

"I'm afraid the Empress feels that she will never be favored in this lifetime, so she has simply put her mind on the Empress Dowager."

(End of this chapter)