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

Chapter 132 Unhappy

Shen Qingwan curtsied and said, "I also ask Your Majesty to understand the difficulties I face as a daughter-in-law and to move around more in the inner palace."

Emperor Yuanwu couldn't help but laugh out loud: "It seems that going to the Empress Dowager's side has caused you some trouble?"

"It's good that His Majesty knows." Shen Qingwan looked troubled.

Emperor Yuanwu:...

"Consort De is still waiting in Yanxi Palace. Your Majesty should go there soon, or she will be getting impatient."

Emperor Yuanwu:? ? ?

"Your Majesty, aren't you going over there yet?"

Emperor Yuanwu:! ! !

Emperor Yuanwu snorted coldly and turned to walk out of the Kunning Palace.

Zhen'er carried in a basin of foot-washing water and walked in tremblingly: "Your Majesty, did you just upset the Emperor? I noticed that the Emperor's expression was not good when he left the palace."

"No, I didn't." Shen Qingwan looked blank. "We were having a good chat just now. I even reminded him to go back to Yanxi Palace to rest early."

Zhen'er: ...

Your Majesty, you are truly virtuous!
I just don't know if the Emperor actually likes your virtuous character.

After many attempts to persuade him, Zhen'er realized that her master's mind was not on Emperor Yuanwu.

However, with the Empress Dowager's protection, although the Emperor did not favor their master, he often came to dine with them. It seemed that he would take the initiative to discuss many things with their master, and rewards were given one after another. Their lives were much better than before, and gradually they felt that persuasion was useless and there was no need to continue to persuade them.

"Your Highness, please rest early. I'm on night duty tonight. If Your Highness needs anything, please just call me." Zhen'er wiped Shen Qingwan's feet.

"It's cold. Since I'm the only one in the palace, just take a blanket and make a makeshift bed next to my bed. Remember to bring a thick one." Shen Qingwan took a hot water bottle out of the blanket and handed it to Zhen'er: "Sleep with this tonight, it won't be too cold."

With tears in her eyes, Zhen'er took the hot water bottle from Shen Qingwan's hands: "This servant thanks Your Majesty the Empress for your kindness."

She secretly vowed in her heart that even if their mistress were to live in the cold palace, she would serve her wholeheartedly for the rest of her life!

Ah bah bah!

Their lady will never be confined to the cold palace in her lifetime.

The next morning.

Just as Shen Qingwan saw off the concubines who came to pay their respects, someone came to report that the hostage prince had moved into Chang Le Palace and was waiting outside to pay his respects to the Empress.

Originally, the Emperor entrusted the task of receiving the hostage to Prince Rui, but unexpectedly, an assassin was encountered, so the matter was handed over to Rong Yuze, the brother of Consort Rong.

Shen Qingwan seemed to understand why Emperor Yuanwu had been visiting Consort Rong's palace so often these days; it turned out he intended to support the Rong family.

General Rong sacrificed his life for the country, leaving behind a son and a daughter who inherited his excellent qualities of being meticulous and attentive to their duties.

If the Rong family can restore the glory that General Rong was in, it can be said that Emperor Yuanwu has not forgotten the contributions of General Rong's family.

"Let him in. I will see him in the main hall." He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his face was as handsome as jade. His green robe made him look elegant and refined, like a celestial being descended to earth. His appearance alone made him look like someone from Jiangnan, lacking the wildness and ruthlessness of the people from the northern desert.

"Mogan Junyi greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years!" Mogan Junyi clenched his fist and placed it in front of his chest, bowing to Shen Qingwan according to the etiquette of the Northern Desert.

As a hostage, having entered the palace, one should rightfully perform the rite of kneeling and bowing.

Shen Qingwan didn't care about any of that; she simply invited him to sit down and had tea served.

"The hostage has had a long and arduous journey. I wonder if he is comfortable staying at Chang Le Palace?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. Chang Le Palace is very well arranged. I am deeply grateful." Mo Gan Junyi's expression was somber, revealing no particular emotion. However, a dagger hung at his waist, which, as he moved, clashed with the ornaments he wore, making it particularly eye-catching.

"Now that you have moved into the inner palace, the inner palace has its own rules. Unless you are a bodyguard of the emperor, you are not allowed to carry swords or other weapons with you."

When Mogan Junyi came to Kunning Palace, he brought an attendant with him. He didn't bring many people with him, which shows that this attendant was a close and personal servant.

The moment Shen Qingwan finished speaking, Mo Ganjunyi remained silent, but his attendant hurriedly spoke several sentences in the local dialect of the northern desert.

The attendants fell silent only after Mo Ganjunyi raised his hand.

Although Shen Qingwan didn't know what the attendant had said, judging from his expression, it probably wasn't anything nice.

The only thing that is certain is that the attendant could understand what she was saying, which means that he must be able to speak the local language of the northern desert, in order to keep others from knowing what he was saying.

Indeed, in the inner palace, she longed to speak of palace affairs, but dared not utter a word in front of the parrot.

"We have a saying here, 'Since you're here, make the best of it.' Since you've sacrificed yourself for both countries and come to the palace, I hope you can abide by the palace rules. All matters, big and small, in the harem are managed by Consort De and Consort Shu. Now that Consort De is pregnant, if you need anything, you can go to Consort Shu. Consort Shu is gentle, kind, respectful, and frugal, and will do her best to help you. Of course, if you wish, you can also come to me," Shen Qingwan said calmly.

"Yes." Mo Ganjunyi gave a wink to his attendant, who then presented a pale yellow dress: "Your Majesty, this dress was embroidered by my mother. She asked me to bring it to Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will not find it offensive."

"The stitches are even and the workmanship is exquisite. It's clear that she put a lot of effort into it." Shen Qingwan stroked the pattern on the dress with one hand and looked up at Mo Ganjunyi. "I really didn't expect that the princess would have such good craftsmanship."

princess--

Upon hearing those two words, Mo Ganjunyi's eyebrows twitched imperceptibly.

It was just a subtle movement, but Shen Qingwan, who knew everything, took it all in.

"I imagine you must be tired from traveling day and night to reach the capital. Go back and rest early." Shen Qingwan had Zhen'er bring over a food box: "I have personally prepared some snacks for you to take back."

As Mo Ganjunyi emerged from Kunning Palace carrying the food box bestowed by the Empress in one hand, he glanced back at the plaque of Kunning Palace.

"I've heard that the Empress doesn't care about anything, and it turns out she really does," said Kawa, Mogan Junyi's attendant.

The backlight shone on Mo Ganjunyi's angular profile, his dark eyes unreadable. Although he was only fourteen years old this year, he had grown up in a repressive environment for many years, making him look much more mature than children his age.

However, when the Empress mentioned his mother just now, she said "mother" instead of "concubine". Could it be that the Empress knows something?
"No matter who is in charge of the harem now, it's none of our business," Mo Ganjunyi said.

"Yes, Your Highness, I understand." Kawa clasped his hands together in front of his chest.

"Have all the accompanying personnel returned to the northern desert?" Mo Ganjunyi asked immediately.

(End of this chapter)