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

Chapter 157 A Big Scene

"I cannot make a decision on this matter. I will discuss it with His Majesty before making a decision. Physician Zhang, please help Consort De stabilize her condition first."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Imperial Physician Zhang bowed. "As for the imperial palace, I have already gone to inquire. The health of the imperial concubines is relatively good. I have also prescribed medicine for the Empress Dowager. Coughs are difficult to cure, and with the cold weather today, it is even more difficult to recover. I will go to the imperial palace again in a few days to see if the medicine needs to be changed."

Shen Qingwan expressed her gratitude, "I have another matter. Last time, Physician Zhang mentioned that my maternal family had once saved your brother. My father has already replied to me saying that this is not true. Perhaps my brother is mistaken. Physician Zhang doesn't need to keep this favor in mind. If we find the person who saved my brother in the future, it won't be too late to thank them properly."

Physician Zhang was taken aback. "Yes."

"Then I'll trouble Imperial Physician Zhang for Consort De. I'll head back now."

"Your humble servant respectfully sees off Your Majesty the Empress."

Physician Zhang watched Shen Qingwan's departing figure from afar, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

The person who saved his brother was not from the Shen family?
Regardless of whether he was a member of the Shen family or not, he had already accepted the matter in his heart and expressed his gratitude.

The Empress could have easily accepted this favor without telling him, which would have made it easier for him to remember the kindness and use it for her purposes in the future.

But she...

It's truly unexpected that the Empress is such a breath of fresh air in the harem. No wonder Emperor Yuanwu respected her so much; her pride and integrity, which she held in high esteem, were truly admirable.

Having served in the harem for so many years, this was the first time he had encountered a woman like this.

If it were someone else, they would probably get involved even if it wasn't their own interests.

Emperor Yuanwu went mad all night, but went to court early the next morning as if nothing had happened.

Shen Qingwan rarely went to bed late and got up early, which surprised Zhen'er. "Your Majesty, why are you up so early?"

Shen Qingwan yawned lazily. "Go and get the things I prepared yesterday. After I wash up, I'll go and make the pastries."

"Your Majesty, would you like some breakfast served first, and then we can prepare more later?"

"No need." Shen Qingwan paused. "How's things at Yanxi Palace?"

"This morning I came to report that Consort De is still the same as yesterday, with no improvement. Pei'er spent the whole night comforting her, telling her that it wasn't Consort Li, but Consort Chun in disguise, but she's still terrified." Zhen'er said, glancing around to make sure they were alone in the palace before cautiously asking, "Your Highness, you said Consort De is so afraid of Consort Li's ghost coming to claim her life, could it be that Consort Li's death is related to Consort De?"

Shen Qingwan quickly put a hand to her lips, gesturing for her to be quiet: "Have you forgotten all the rules I taught you?"

"It was my mistake. I will help Your Highness change your clothes." Zhen'er lowered her eyes with a serious expression.

Everything was prepared in advance, so it was quick to make, and a batch of cakes was steamed in no time.

"Your Majesty, this smells so good! I thought this steamer could only steam buns and dumplings. I never imagined it could steam such delicious things." Zhen'er couldn't help but swallow hard, her mouth watering.

Shen Qingwan took a piece and handed it to Zhen'er: "Eat it."

"Your Majesty." Zhen'er's eyes welled up with tears. "Look at you, so easily moved to tears by a piece of cake."

Shen Qingwan's words only made things worse, as large tears welled up in Zhen'er's eyes: "Your Majesty, this servant must have done good deeds for nine lifetimes in my past life to be able to come to Your Majesty's side and serve you in this life."

Shen Qingwan: ...

"Isn't it said that if you do good deeds for nine lifetimes, you'll be reborn as a cat?"

Zhen'er: ? ? ?
"This servant doesn't want to be a cat. This servant wants to serve Your Highness. This servant must have done eight lifetimes of good deeds to be able to come to Your Highness's side and serve Your Highness." Zhen'er said, sniffing.

Shen Qingwan: ...

She felt like those words were more like "I'm thanking your ancestors for eight generations."

"Alright, alright, go and call everyone in the palace over. Give each person a piece. If they can't finish it, have them take it back. At lunchtime, take it to the small kitchen to heat it up before eating. It's cold, so don't eat anything cold to avoid getting an upset stomach. Steam the rest as well. Get me five food boxes. Send three of them to the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and the First Princess, respectively," Shen Qingwan instructed.

"What about the remaining two portions?" Zhen'er asked, puzzled.

"Of the remaining two portions, send one to the Empress Dowager, and the other..."

Shen Qingwan suddenly stopped halfway through her speech.

She took out a cake that she had specially prepared, which was bigger than any other pastry. She cut it open with a knife, put some jam in the middle, cut some fruit on top, put it in a food box, and then covered it with a thick cotton cloth to keep it warm.

Shen Qingwan carried the food box she had prepared for the Empress Dowager to Cining Palace.

"Your daughter-in-law greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be well."

"Why is the Empress here at this hour?" The Empress Dowager, in high spirits, put down her prayer beads and walked over when she saw Shen Qingwan approaching.

"Mother, your daughter-in-law made some pastries early this morning and brought them over for you to try. It's my first time making them, so they're not very good. I hope you won't find them offensive."

"The Empress's cooking skills have always been excellent, and Mother is very pleased." The Empress Dowager said, taking the food box from Shen Qingwan's hands. "What is this?"

"Reporting to Mother, this is a cake. It's made by mixing flour, eggs, milk, peanuts, walnuts, melon seeds, black sesame seeds, and red dates together and steaming them. I also added some honey and sugar to make it sweeter," Shen Qingwan explained earnestly.

The Empress Dowager took a bite and looked very satisfied: "Your Majesty is very thoughtful. Zhang Mama, go and tell the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes for lunch today. Your Majesty, please stay here and have lunch with me before you go back."

"Mother," Shen Qingwan said with a troubled expression, "I made a little extra and wanted to share it with the princes and princesses. I'm afraid it will get cold after lunch. How about I deliver it to them and then have dinner with you?"

The Empress Dowager held Shen Qingwan's hand and said with emotion, "The Empress is truly thoughtful. I am deeply gratified to see that the Empress treats the children of the harem as her own."

"Mother, as the Empress, these are all things I should do."

Hearing Shen Qingwan's words, the Empress Dowager couldn't help but shake her head. "There's no such thing as 'should' or 'shouldn't.' It's a blessing for me and the Emperor that the Empress has such a heart. I've heard that the Emperor caused a huge scene in the harem yesterday and even sent Consort Chun to the Cold Palace. The Emperor is not young anymore. Consort Li has been gone for so many years, yet he still can't forget her. It's truly disheartening for me..."

(End of this chapter)