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

Chapter 152 Quarrel
“Consort Zhen is fine, but Consort Jin…” Emperor Yuanwu paused and looked up at Shen Qingwan.

Shen Qingwan wore a perfectly timed smile: "Since Consort Zhen has no problem with it, then Consort Jin, being a consort, what problem is there in assisting Consort Shu in managing the six palaces?"

Emperor Yuanwu paused for a moment before slowly saying, "No problem, but I didn't expect the Empress to suddenly think of Consort Jin."

"It must be the Emperor who can't remember Consort Jin," Shen Qingwan said sullenly. "Although Consort Jin only sees the Emperor once a year, she has never complained or resorted to any tricks. After what happened with Consort Li, out of all the concubines in the palace, she was the only one who stayed and stayed with me to keep Consort Li company all night. I am the Empress, and when the concubines in the harem encounter trouble, I naturally have to rush to the front. But Consort Jin probably only meant well back then and didn't necessarily expect any reward. Consort Jin has no children and no favor. However, she has been serving the Emperor since the Prince's residence. Consort Jin is not young. If things continue like this, even if she gets a consort title, I'm afraid her life in the palace will become increasingly difficult. I intend to help her, but she has to prove herself first, right?"

Emperor Yuanwu looked at Shen Qingwan for a while without speaking, then nodded silently: "The Empress is very sensible."

Neither of them spoke again, each keeping their heads down and eating what was in their own bowls.

After lunch, Emperor Yuanwu returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Physician Zhang from the Imperial Hospital came to check Shen Qingwan's pulse.

"Her Majesty the Empress is much better now. I have prescribed a few more doses of medicine. When Her Majesty was seriously ill before, she weakened her body. Although she has recovered, her health was still compromised. For example, if someone catches a cold, they might get better after taking one or two doses of medicine, but Her Majesty... needs to take good care of herself," said Physician Zhang.

"Thank you for your trouble, Physician Zhang." Shen Qingwan knew that Physician Zhang was not exaggerating; the original owner of this body had already passed away from that illness. "I have another matter I would like to trouble Physician Zhang with. I wonder if it is convenient for you?"

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"When I accompanied the Emperor to the temporary palace this time, there was a concubine named Consort Xian who had been suffering from a cough for half a year. I wonder if Physician Zhang had time to take a look at her. If he didn't have time, I would like to ask another physician in the palace to take a look. Although she is in the temporary palace, she is still a concubine of the late Emperor. If she really dies from her illness, I'm afraid it will cause criticism from future generations."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will personally visit the imperial palace tomorrow during my leave to see what the situation is."

Go see for yourself.

Shen Qingwan was slightly taken aback when she heard those four words. Although she thought that as the Empress, she couldn't very well refuse Imperial Physician Zhang's request, sending the head of the Imperial Hospital to treat the Imperial Concubine in the Imperial Palace was indeed a bit...

After all, a physician like Zhang, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, usually only served the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress. Even the favored concubines in the palace were served by other physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy.

But to her surprise, this Physician Zhang was not only willing to go, but also willing to use his own vacation time to go, which was something she had never expected.

"Then I'll have to trouble Doctor Zhang."

“Your Majesty, please don’t be so polite. This is all what I should do. Moreover, my younger brother, who is born of the same mother, encountered a bully while treating someone last time. It was Your Majesty’s family who came to his rescue. If it weren’t for Your Majesty’s family, my brother would probably be dead by now. I have always kept this in mind and haven’t been able to thank Your Majesty properly. If Your Majesty ever needs my help in the future, please just let me know. There’s no need to be so polite with me.”

Shen Qingwan was completely confused. What did Physician Zhang mean?
Her family had saved her brother.

If this were true, why was it not mentioned at all in the letter, and why was it not mentioned when Lady Liu entered the palace? Could it be that this Physician Zhang made a mistake?

After Physician Zhang left, Shen Qingwan wrote a letter and sent it to the Shen family.

It's best to clarify the matter that Physician Zhang just mentioned. She doesn't believe that the original owner's parents and uncle would risk their lives for a few thugs for a complete stranger like a doctor.

Physician Zhang is the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. If even the family of a fifth-rank official can't handle this, how could the original owner's maternal family possibly manage it, unless they reveal their identity as relatives of the current empress?

I fear that if this happens, at best it will be seen as the Empress's family upholding justice and eliminating evil, and at worst it will be seen as them using their status as the Empress's relatives to oppress the people.

Then things might get complicated.

As evening approached, the head eunuch of the Imperial Household Department walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation with a look of utter disbelief, holding a green plaque.

The sun will rise in the west tomorrow, and the Emperor has actually chosen Consort Jin for his concubine.

"What? Did you hear that right?" Consort Xian looked up in astonishment.

Xia Mei frowned: "No, Your Majesty. The people in the Imperial Household Department also thought they had made a mistake at first. The Emperor did indeed choose Consort Jin."

"This Consort Jin has been out of favor for many years. Why would the Emperor suddenly remember her?" Consort Xian's eyes darkened, filled with anger.

“Your Majesty, I heard that a few days ago, the Empress said that Consort De was pregnant and could not assist in managing the six palaces, so she handed over the task of managing the six palaces to Consort Jin. Perhaps this is what made His Majesty think of Consort Jin.” Xia Fuchuan glanced cautiously at Consort Xian. “Moreover, I heard that His Majesty had lunch in Kunning Palace today.”

Consort Xian sneered inwardly, "Good, very good!"

Since Shen Qingwan was out of favor, she began to find ways to send women to the emperor's bed.

Nowadays, any Tom, Dick, or Harry can serve as a bedmate.

She really can't have a moment's peace in this harem.

"Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Perhaps the Emperor just suddenly remembered. Consort Jin has never been favored; the Emperor only summoned her once," Xia Fuchuan comforted her.

Consort Xian remained silent, her face turning ashen. Consort Jin was not out of favor; when she first entered the palace, Emperor Yuanwu was quite fond of her, and for a time, he spent almost every night in her room.

Just when everyone thought that Consort Jin would soon become pregnant, her father made some mistakes in the court, was demoted, and was also implicated.

What worried her wasn't Consort Jin gaining favor, but rather that if Consort Jin did, the Emperor would favor her family. If her father's case were overturned, then...

Over the years, there have been too many rises and falls in the harem. Now she is worried that Consort Jin is favored, even more so than she herself is without favor.

Emperor Yuanwu stayed in Consort Jin's palace for three consecutive days. This made the concubines in the palace restless. When they came to pay their respects to Shen Qingwan early in the morning, they gathered in the courtyard of Kunning Palace.

(End of this chapter)