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

Chapter 126 Rumors
Shen Qingwan was taken aback, not expecting the Empress Dowager to bestow something upon her.

Actually, she wasn't aggrieved at all, especially after hearing Prince Rui's words, "graceful and elegant, still charming," she wasn't angry at all.

The Empress Dowager insisted on giving it to her, so she could only reluctantly express her gratitude: "Your daughter-in-law thanks Your Majesty for the reward."

Consort Xian had just stepped out of the Baohe Hall when she looked up and saw Prince Rui sitting alone in the side hall corridor, drinking.

"Prince Rui?" Consort Xian straightened up. "On such a cold day, why is Prince Rui sitting here drinking alone? Why isn't he dining with the Emperor and the others in the palace?"

Following the direction of the sound, Prince Rui slowly turned his head and looked at Consort Xian: "Why isn't Consort Xian in the palace with my brother? Why did you come out alone?"

The same words caused Consort Xian to pause for a moment: "I just felt stuffy in the Hall of Preserving Harmony because it was crowded, so I wanted to come out for some fresh air. But Prince Rui is sitting here, so I'm afraid there's something in the Hall of Preserving Harmony that Prince Rui doesn't want to see."

Prince Rui raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Consort Xian, there's no need to beat around the bush. If there's anything, just say it directly."

“Prince Rui is a wise man, but there are some things I don’t understand. I have never had any grudges against Prince Rui, and we’ve never even exchanged a few words. Why did he have to embarrass me in front of so many people today?” Consort Xian’s eyes darkened.

"Ugly?" Prince Rui's lips curled into a faint smile. "I really don't understand what the Imperial Concubine means by this. I was just stating the truth. How could that make the Imperial Concubine think it's ugly?"

"Prince Rui!" Consort Xian blushed with anger. "I know that Prince Rui has long admired Shen Qingwan and that you were once engaged to her. However, Prince Rui must not forget that Shen Qingwan is now the Empress. If this gets out, I wonder what the Emperor will think?"

Prince Rui raised his eyes and glanced coldly at Consort Xian. The clear and bright look in his eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a bottomless abyss filled with black mist, a chilling and gloomy aura that sent shivers down one's spine just by looking at it: "Your Highness, Consort, is of noble status. If the Emperor finds out that you are spreading rumors about the Empress and his younger brother behind their backs, I wonder how he will deal with this matter?"

Consort Xian sneered: "Prince Rui, don't try to scare us. Everyone in the capital knows about your messy affair with Shen Qingwan. Prince Rui is still unmarried. Could it be that you still have feelings for Shen Qingwan?"

"What shameful things could there be between me and the Empress? The previous marriage agreement was just a casual remark from Father. The marriage between the Emperor and my brother was bestowed by Father. Since ancient times, marriage has always been arranged by matchmakers and parents. Since Father thinks my brother and the Empress are a good match, I will only bless this marriage. Is Consort Xian being disrespectful to my brother by saying this? Is she deliberately spreading rumors behind my back?" Prince Rui's eyes flashed coldly: "If what Consort Xian said is true, I heard that before the General's Mansion's eldest daughter, Feng Hua, entered the mansion, the young men from all over the capital who came to propose to her almost wore down the threshold of the General's Mansion. Could it be that Consort Xian still can't forget those young men?"

"You...!" Consort Xian's face turned deathly pale with anger.

"I am an upright and honest man, and I am naturally not afraid of anyone spreading rumors or causing trouble behind my back. However, if someone does slander me, I will not let it go, no matter who she is. As my brother's concubine, you have called the Empress by her name in front of me, which is extremely disrespectful and slanders my innocence. If I report this to my brother, I'm afraid that the Imperial Concubine will lose her position before it is even secure."

As soon as the words were spoken, Prince Rui rose from the bench and walked into the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

Consort Xian was left alone, staring at his retreating figure for a long while.

"Your Majesty, we've been out for a while now. We should head back as soon as possible. If the Emperor finds out that you left early, it won't be good if he blames you," Xia Mei advised from the side.

Consort Xian was so angry with Prince Rui that her whole body trembled. After a while, she took a deep breath and walked into the palace.

She watched Shen Qingwan from afar. Even with so many people surrounding her, nothing could overshadow her radiance. She was young and beautiful, with fair and smooth skin, as radiant as a peach blossom. She exuded a unique aura, unlike any of the other concubines in the palace, like the glow of the bright moon.

Although she was reluctant to admit it, she had to admit that even she herself back then was somewhat inferior to Shen Qingwan.

No wonder the Emperor gradually began to change towards her. Not to mention men, even she herself, if it weren't for her status and position, would want to take a second look at her in a crowd.

Consort Xian picked up her wine cup and drank it one cup after another.

Emperor Yuanwu seemed to be in a great mood, and he rewarded everyone who attended the palace banquet, including ministers of the third rank and above, as well as the Imperial Medical Academy, the Imperial Kitchen, the Imperial Household Department, and even the Imperial Household Department, which the emperor usually disliked the most.

The entire palace was filled with jubilation. As the Empress, Shen Qingwan not only received a reward, but also the largest one, so she was naturally in a good mood.

When the palace banquet ended, Emperor Yuanwu was successfully made drunk. There were many concubines in the harem now. If each of them drank a cup, even the best drinker would not be able to withstand such a drinking contest. Moreover, those concubines who were usually rarely seen would not be allowed to drink more than one cup when they finally had the chance.

The Empress Dowager was truly worried sick about Emperor Yuanwu and the Empress every day. After all the guests in the palace had left, seeing that Emperor Yuanwu had drunk too much, she did not let him rest in the Yangxin Hall, which was closest to the Baohe Hall. Instead, she had him taken to the Kunning Palace, which was far away.

A man reeking of alcohol was lying on his bed.

Shen Qingwan really felt that it was a bit hard to explain.

Emperor Yuanwu was occupying her bed, and Shen Qingwan wanted to catch up on some sleep, so it wouldn't be appropriate for her to go to the side hall.

She held a book, half-reclined on the chaise longue, and fell asleep in no time.

When she woke up, she found herself lying in bed without her noticing, but Emperor Yuanwu, who had been lying in bed, was nowhere to be seen.

"What about the emperor?"

Shen Qingwan suddenly sat up in bed.

Upon hearing the commotion, Zhen'er hurriedly ran in from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, Prince Rui was fine during the palace banquet, but in the afternoon, while resting in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he was suddenly attacked by assassins. It is said that he was seriously injured. At this time, everyone from the Imperial Hospital went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and the Emperor also rushed there after learning about the incident."

"How are you all doing your jobs? Such a big thing, and no one woke me up. What kind of image will this have if word gets out?" Shen Qingwan hurriedly climbed off the bed.

Zhen'er was so frightened that she knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Before His Majesty left, he told me not to wake Your Majesty and to help Your Majesty to bed. His Majesty was afraid that Your Majesty would catch a cold if you slept on the chaise longue in the cold weather."

(End of this chapter)