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

Chapter 159 Emotional loss of control
Emperor Yuanwu blamed Jiang Wenlan for the death of Consort Li.

Everyone in the harem blamed Jiang Wenlan for Consort Li's death.

He even blamed Consort Li's death on himself.

This time, Jiang Wenlan nodded firmly at Shen Qingwan, "Your Majesty, I believe what Your Majesty says."

"If anyone brings this up in front of the First Prince again, bring that person before the Empress, and she will punish him properly for you, okay?"

Jiang Wenlan nodded heavily.

"Then let's eat cake."

After the two finished eating the cake, it was lunchtime. Shen Qingwan simply asked the imperial kitchen to serve the meal, and she ate lunch with Jiang Wenlan at the prince's residence before returning to Kunning Palace.

Although Jiang Wenlan kept his head down and ate what was in his bowl, Shen Qingwan clearly saw something glistening in his eyes.

When we returned to Kunning Palace, it was almost 1-3 PM.

Seeing Shen Qingwan return, Su Tianhe quickly walked over and said, "Your Majesty, Master Wuchen has passed away."

"What?" Shen Qingwan's breath hitched. "When did this happen?"

“On the night of the third day of the second lunar month,” Su Tianhe replied truthfully.

February 3rd?

Wouldn't that mean Master Wuchen would send her back to the palace, and then...

Shen Qingwan's fingertips trembled with panic.

Could it be that Master Wuchen found out about Prince Rui's martial arts competition and wanted to kill him to silence him?

However, if it weren't for Master Wuchen's intervention, Emperor Yuanwu would have already thoroughly investigated this matter.

If that were the case, how could he have survived until now?

How could Prince Rui have such thoughts...

"Does the Emperor know? What did he say? Since he passed away on the third day of the second month, why is it only being reported today?" Shen Qingwan used almost all her strength to make her tone of voice sound normal.

"Your Majesty, today is the anniversary of Consort Li's death. His Majesty is already in a bad mood. I have already told Eunuch Jixiang about this, and I think he will find a suitable time to tell His Majesty."

Shen Qingwan nodded and remained silent for a while before slowly asking, "Are there any palace banquets recently? Does Prince Rui intend to attend?"

When Zhen'er heard the words "Prince Rui", her face turned pale instantly. Fortunately, only she and Su Tianhe were in the hall at that moment.

"Your Majesty, did you get up too early today and get too tired? You probably want to ask the Emperor, right?" Zhen'er smoothed things over.

"No, I just want to know when Prince Rui will be entering the palace recently." Shen Qingwan's mind went blank, and she blurted out the answer almost without thinking.

Su Tianhe was startled and hurriedly closed the main door of Kunning Palace: "Your Majesty, you mustn't ask around. If others hear that Your Majesty is asking about the Prince, it will inevitably cause trouble." Shen Qingwan then calmed down, "I just wanted to ask, since His Majesty has been busy with state affairs lately, I was afraid that if there were any palace banquets or something, it would be good to prepare in advance so as not to worry His Majesty."

“Your Majesty is quite right. However, the Lantern Festival has just passed, and as for the palace banquet… I’m afraid there won’t be one in the coming days. I heard that Prince Rui left for Jiangnan yesterday. With Prince Rui gone, His Majesty probably won’t summon the other two princes to the palace for a gathering.” Su Tianhe finished speaking and glanced at Zhen’er.

"Your Highness," Zhen'er hurriedly said, "Your Highness got up too early today and has been busy all day. Why don't you let me help you rest for a while? You still have to go to the palace for dinner tonight."

Shen Qingwan nodded slowly, letting Zhen'er help her back to bed.

Normally, she would fall asleep the moment her head hit the pillow, but now, lying in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. All she wanted to do was ask Prince Rui in person if he really wanted to kill her to silence her because he was afraid that Master Wuchen would reveal her secrets.

Shen Qingwan couldn't figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it and drifted off to sleep.

She felt as if she had fallen into an abyss. No matter how hard she tried to climb out, everything she grabbed would vanish into nothingness. The emptiness around her made her increasingly panicked.

Shen Qingwan sat up abruptly in bed and saw Zhen'er standing by the bedside.

"Your Majesty, why are you sweating so much? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No." Shen Qingwan slowly shook her head and glanced out the window. "What time is it?"

"Your Majesty, it is already past 5 PM."

"The hour of You (5-7 PM)?" Shen Qingwan was startled. She threw off the covers and got out of bed, questioning her with a hint of reproach, "We're supposed to have dinner at the Empress Dowager's palace tonight. Why haven't you woken me up yet at this hour?"

"Your Majesty need not worry. Someone from Cining Palace just came to say that the Empress Dowager is not feeling well and has already gone to rest. Therefore, Your Majesty does not need to go over for dinner. That is why I did not wake Your Majesty."

"Is the Empress Dowager unwell? Has the imperial physician been summoned? What did he say?" Shen Qingwan frowned. "Help me change my clothes. I'm going to Cining Palace to see her."

"Your Majesty." Zhen'er hesitated, then gave a wink to the servants in the hall. After they all withdrew, she slowly spoke, "Your Majesty, it's best if you don't go. I heard from Granny Zhang that the Empress Dowager invited the Emperor to have dinner at Cining Palace tonight. The Emperor went straight in after finishing his official duties. I don't know what the Empress Dowager and the Emperor talked about, but the Emperor started arguing with the Empress Dowager not long after he went in. The Empress Dowager is really angry right now. It's best if Your Majesty doesn't go for the time being."

Will they start arguing?
Could it be that this mother and son are arguing because of Consort Li?

But it's better not to go.

Shen Qingwan felt dizzy and unwell. She casually ate some congee and side dishes, and had only taken two bites.

Wu Jixiang hurriedly walked in from outside, "Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress, may Your Majesty be blessed."

Shen Qingwan was taken aback and put down her chopsticks. "Why is Eunuch Jixiang here at this hour? Does His Majesty want to see me about something?"

"Your Majesty, His Majesty was in a bad mood when he returned from the Empress Dowager's place this evening. In addition, today is the anniversary of Consort Li's death. He drank too much in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and no one could persuade him to stop. Your Majesty, may you go and see him?"

Although Wu Jixiang spoke in a very subtle way, Shen Qingwan knew in her heart that the Hall of Mental Cultivation must be in a complete mess right now, otherwise Wu Jixiang would not have made the trip in person.

Shen Qingwan was genuinely curious about what exactly had caused the argument between Emperor Yuanwu and the Empress Dowager.

Since she transmigrated into the original owner's body, she has never seen Emperor Yuanwu lose control of his emotions. Could it really be just because today is the anniversary of Consort Li's death?
Shen Qingwan felt that this matter was not so simple no matter how she thought about it. "I understand that I have troubled Eunuch Jixiang to make the trip. I will change my clothes and go."

(End of this chapter)