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

Chapter 147 Nourishment
Her coldness made Emperor Yuanwu feel somewhat uneasy for a moment.

“I know that I should have stayed with the Empress last night, but someone from Yanxi Palace came to tell me that Consort De was bleeding. The Empress also knows this. I have few children to begin with, and Consort De has served me for many years without ever getting pregnant. My visit to Consort De was actually more for the sake of having children.”

Shen Qingwan was taken aback. Emperor Yuanwu had come over after she woke up and was unaware of the matter. Now that Emperor Yuanwu was explaining it this way, it seemed deliberate.

Although Shen Qingwan had no intention of vying for favor, it was just that Consort De's invitation to invite people seemed to disrespect her as the Empress.

She's only been pregnant for a short time and has already had two bouts of bleeding. This shows how unstable the pregnancy is. But if it's unstable, shouldn't the imperial physician be called? Why call the emperor?
The emperor doesn't know how to treat illnesses.

When Emperor Yuanwu saw that Shen Qingwan was not speaking, he thought that she was really angry with him about this matter. However, he was indeed inconsiderate about what happened last night. "I went to Huguo Temple early yesterday morning and then rushed back to the palace. I was busy until midnight. I was really tired. After seeing Consort De, I was too lazy to do anything else. Consort De is pregnant now and cannot serve the emperor. So I stayed at Yanxi Palace."

Shen Qingwan was speechless when she heard the sentence, "Unable to serve the emperor, he stayed at Yanxi Palace."

Emperor Yuanwu was deliberately trying to explain to him that even though he slept in Yanxi Palace, he only chatted with Consort De under the covers and did nothing else.
"The Empress really doesn't need to take it to heart."

Shen Qingwan: ...

The words were crude but the reasoning was sound, and Shen Qingwan could still laugh it off as a joke.

But what exactly is this "concern" about?

Could it be that Emperor Yuanwu said all that simply because she was jealous and throwing a tantrum because he went to Consort De's palace yesterday?

"Your Majesty is overthinking it. I don't mind, and I won't mind. It's a blessing for Consort De to be able to conceive, and it's also a blessing for Your Majesty. It's only right that Your Majesty takes extra care of her. Besides, I'm fine."

Shen Qingwan's tone was calm, but Emperor Yuanwu felt that her words had a hint of sourness. He was used to seeing the women in the harem fighting over him, so he didn't find it particularly strange.

However, since Shen Qingwan recovered from her serious illness, she had been indifferent to him. Now, she could say a few sarcastic things, which he found particularly pleasant to hear.

A faint smile unconsciously curved the corners of Emperor Yuanwu's lips.

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

She clearly didn't say anything, so what was Emperor Yuanwu laughing about?
Or was it because Consort De was pregnant that made him so happy?

“Your Majesty, I am fine now. If Your Majesty has nothing else to do, why don’t you go and see Consort De? After all, bleeding is not a good thing for a pregnant woman.”

The moment Shen Qingwan finished speaking, the smile on Emperor Yuanwu's lips deepened even further.

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

baffling!

"Since the Empress has said so, then I will go to Yanxi Palace to see Consort De." After Emperor Yuanwu finished speaking, he stood up, took a step, and then looked back at Shen Qingwan.

Seeing that she was still sitting on the bed with her eyes downcast and looking listless, he seemed to feel better.

Although he disliked the constant strife and chaos among the concubines in the harem as they vied for the emperor's favor, he found Shen Qingwan's jealousy and sarcastic remarks rather amusing.

Shen Qingwan: ...

Didn't he say he was leaving? I've been waiting for ages and he still hasn't left. Does he expect her to get out of bed and see him off?

Isn't this Emperor Yuanwu incredibly immoral?

Even in this state, we can't let her go. Shen Qingwan frowned in annoyance, just about to throw off the covers and get out of bed.

"Your Majesty is not feeling well, so please rest more. There is no need for you to personally escort me."

After Emperor Yuanwu finished speaking, without waiting for her to reply, he walked lightly toward the entrance of Kunning Palace.

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

Are you sick?
Since you were so happy to visit Consort De at Yanxi Palace, why come to Kunning Palace and disturb her sleep?

Watching him step out of the palace, Shen Qingwan burrowed into the covers and went to sleep.

When Emperor Yuanwu came out of Kunning Palace, the corners of his lips were turned up in a smile.

"Your Majesty, it seems that Consort De's pregnancy has truly pleased you." Wu Jixiang flattered enthusiastically, "Would Your Majesty like to have lunch at Yanxi Palace?"

"Alright then." Emperor Yuanwu looked towards Jingyang Palace in the distance: "I heard that the Empress Dowager has lifted Consort Xian's confinement. Let's have lunch at Jingyang Palace."

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager sent word yesterday that the Empress is unwell and that Consort Xian should go to Kunning Palace this morning to pay her respects to the Empress," Wu Jixiang said.

"Did she go?" Emperor Yuanwu suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Your Majesty, this morning, Consort Xian went to Kunning Palace, but at that time, the Empress was still asleep and had not yet gotten up, so she went back."

"Did you go there again after that?" Emperor Yuanwu continued to ask.

“This…” Wu Jixiang looked hesitant: “Perhaps Consort Xian is afraid of disturbing Her Majesty the Empress’s rest, so she will go later.”

"How long is 'waiting a little longer'? Doesn't she have any sense of propriety? The Empress is showing leniency because the Empress is unwell. It's one thing for her not to stay in Kunning Palace to serve the Emperor, but does the Empress have to personally invite her? Consort Xian is becoming more and more ignorant of etiquette." Emperor Yuanwu snorted coldly and took a step forward.

The young eunuch, who had already turned to go to Jingyang Palace to report the news, looked at Emperor Yuanwu's back and then glanced at Wu Jixiang.

"Master, is His Majesty still going to Jingyang Palace for lunch?" The little eunuch looked bewildered and asked earnestly, which made Wu Jixiang so angry that he slapped the brim of the eunuch's hat hard: "Do you want to try the lunch at the Shenxing Division as well?"

When Shen Qingwan woke up again, it was already time for dinner. Zhen'er placed the lotus seed and pork heart soup that the small kitchen had been simmering all afternoon in front of Shen Qingwan.

"What is this?" Shen Qingwan stirred the soup in the bowl twice with a spoon.

"Your Majesty, this is lotus seed and pork heart soup. It nourishes the blood and heart and is very calming. I had the kitchen stew it all afternoon, just waiting for Your Majesty to wake up. Your Majesty was frightened, so please try it while it's hot."

Shen Qingwan lowered her head and took a bite: "It tastes pretty good, I'll reward you."

Zhen'er happily curtsied and said, "This servant thanks Your Majesty the Empress for your reward."

"When did you learn about medicinal cuisine?" Shen Qingwan asked in surprise.

"Your Majesty, there's no need to learn this specifically. I follow the Empress around all day, watching her prepare nourishing meals for the Emperor. I've gradually learned it by observation!" Zhen'er said proudly.

Upon hearing her words, Shen Qingwan choked on her soup and coughed violently. As if she had been stabbed by something, she jumped up from the stool, covered Zhen'er's mouth with one hand, and cautiously looked around, deliberately lowering her voice.

(End of this chapter)