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

Chapter 124

The only possibility is that they had already discovered something amiss when they were examining Lan Changzai's pulse, but were told off by someone else.

In the vast imperial palace, the only person who could give them an explanation was Emperor Yuanwu.

Shen Qingwan seemed to have discovered some enormous secret.

In order to survive, she pretended not to know anything, lay down on the bed, and covered herself with the blanket.

Shen Qingwan slept until dawn, only to be awakened by Emperor Yuanwu's imperial edict: Consort Lan had committed moral failings and plotted to harm the imperial heir, and was to be banished to the Cold Palace.

Shen Qingwan had considered countless possibilities for Lan Changzai's fate. Emperor Yuanwu, out of consideration for her loss of her child, might allow her to live a life of comfort and ease in the harem, or directly promote her to the rank of Noble Lady, or even send her to a temporary palace.

She ultimately underestimated the emperor's ruthlessness.

These days, Emperor Yuanwu often came to Kunning Palace to dine with her, and in a daze, she even felt that Emperor Yuanwu was a gentle person.

This incident served as a wake-up call for Shen Qingwan, reminding her that caution was essential in all matters within the imperial harem.

A palace banquet was to be held on the Lantern Festival. Shen Qingwan ate a few bites to fill her stomach, then sat in front of the dressing table and let the palace servants do her makeup.

Today is a joyous occasion, and Shen Qingwan has chosen a purple dress. The light purple color is elegant and dignified without being ostentatious. The skirt is embroidered with gold flowers, each one lifelike, and they shimmer especially in the sunlight. The cuffs and collar are trimmed with snow-white fur.

Wearing many layers in winter, Shen Qingwan had the palace maids comb her hair up a little higher, which made her look more energetic. She also wore a set of gold hairpins, which perfectly matched the gold-embroidered flowers on her skirt.

She applied layers of rouge and powder to her face, drew her willow-leaf eyebrows with black ink, and then chose her favorite color of lip rouge.

Willow branches sway in the mist, water flows beyond the lake; mountain brows are pale green, moon brows are yellow.

I used to think that these thin eyebrows looked a bit strange, but now, looking at myself in the mirror with this outfit, I think that these willow-leaf eyebrows are the finishing touch.

Shen Qingwan disliked overly elaborate decorations, and apart from her headdress, she wore no other ornaments. Zhen'er draped a cloak over her shoulders, and Shen Qingwan, carrying a hot water bottle, rode in a sedan chair towards the Cining Palace.

As usual, she first went to greet the Empress Dowager before heading to the Hall of Preserving Harmony together for the palace banquet.

When Shen Qingwan arrived at Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager had almost finished getting ready and had put on makeup. She looked much better than usual, but her mood was...

"This fifteen-year-old girl, the palace has lost a child out of nowhere, what bad luck." The Empress Dowager couldn't help but murmur when she saw Shen Qingwan.

People in ancient times still valued important days like the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, especially today, which is the Lantern Festival, the first Lantern Festival after the New Year.

"Mother, it is indeed unlucky for the fifteenth prince to lose a child."

When Zhang Mama heard Shen Qingwan say these words, she kept giving Shen Qingwan meaningful glances.

I had originally thought that after the Empress came, she could help persuade the Empress Dowager. But instead of persuading her, the Empress added insult to injury. The Empress Dowager didn't even have breakfast because of this.

“But Consort Lan’s child died last night. It wasn’t the fifteenth, but the fourteenth. On the contrary, it was early on the fifteenth that the imperial physicians did their best to save her from the brink of death,” Shen Qingwan said.

"Is this really true?" The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered.

"That is indeed true. Last night, my daughter-in-law heard that something had happened at Jingyang Palace and rushed there before midnight."

Hearing Shen Qingwan's words, the Empress Dowager's expression finally softened a bit: "In that case, it really can't be counted as fifteen."

"Mother, because of Consort Lan's matter, your daughter-in-law didn't sleep well all night and didn't have much of an appetite this morning. I wonder if Mother has prepared breakfast? I would like to ask Mother for a bite to eat."

"You silly child." The Empress Dowager smiled with relief. "I know you've all been trying to coax me into eating. If I don't eat, it seems a bit unsatisfactory. Zhang Mama, have someone prepare breakfast." "Yes, Your Majesty." Zhang Mama was delighted. "It's the Empress who can persuade the Empress Dowager. We servants have been talking all morning, but the Empress Dowager hasn't been willing to eat a single drop of water."

Shen Qingwan smiled, pursed her lips, and said nothing more.

However, through this incident, she also realized one thing: although the Empress Dowager and Emperor Yuanwu valued offspring and wanted to have more children in the palace, not just anyone could give birth to such a child.

When arranging concubines for Emperor Yuanwu in the future, it seems that we should pay more attention to this aspect to avoid making things worse.

After Shen Qingwan finished breakfast with the Empress Dowager, when she went to the Baohe Hall, the concubines and some princes' relatives had already arrived.

Consort Xian had just been promoted and hadn't had a chance to show off yet. Now that she had such a good opportunity, she dressed up in her finest clothes and came early.

"Your Majesty's gold ornaments are truly dazzling, like stars descended to earth," Prince Yao couldn't help but praise upon seeing Consort Xian.

"Your Highness is too kind. This gold ornament was made by my father as a gift to congratulate me on being promoted to Imperial Concubine. I said it was too ostentatious," Imperial Concubine Xian said somewhat embarrassedly.

The smile on Prince Yao's face froze imperceptibly.

He thought it was a gift from the Emperor to Consort Xian, so he said a few flattering words, but he didn't expect it to come from the General's Mansion.

"It's beautiful. The General has a discerning eye. It's truly beautiful." Prince Yao muttered a few words before returning to his seat.

However, his casual remark of praise attracted all the concubines to gather around.

"Your Highness is truly blessed. In the palace, you are loved by the Emperor, and outside, the General always thinks of you. We sisters are so envious," said Consort Chun.

"Your Highness is exceptionally beautiful, possessing a beauty that could topple kingdoms. Even the most exquisite gold ornaments would be nothing more than embellishments on your body," Consort Dong flattered.

“That’s right. The Imperial Concubine is the most favored concubine in the palace. This kind of blessing is something that many people can only envy,” Ruan Changzai added.

Consort Xian smiled more beautifully than flowers. She moved her lips, about to say something more, when the voice of a eunuch announcing her arrival came from outside.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Empress has arrived!"

Everyone rose and bowed, saying, "Long live the Empress Dowager! May the Empress be blessed!"

The moment Shen Qingwan appeared before everyone.

Everyone was drawn to the gold ornaments on her head.

Just now everyone was praising the beautiful and ingenious gold ornaments on Consort Xian's head, but little did they know that the Empress was also wearing gold ornaments today.

This is...

Shen Qingwan wasn't looking at anyone intentionally, but Consort Xian's head full of gold ornaments was too dazzling, shining brightly and colorfully in the sunlight, instantly catching her eye.

"Everyone, get up."

Shen Qingwan took the Empress Dowager's arm and sat down.

After the tea was poured, Prince Rui arrived.

He walked straight into the Hall of Preserving Harmony, glancing in the direction of the Empress Dowager before finally settling on Consort Xian.

(End of this chapter)