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

Chapter 160 Hangover Relief Soup

After Wu Jixiang bowed and withdrew,

Shen Qingwan picked up her chopsticks again.

"Your Majesty, aren't you going to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to see the Emperor?"

Why are you still eating?
But Zhen'er didn't dare to say the second sentence directly.

"Prepare some hangover remedies and send them to Qixiang Palace. Have Consort Yao deliver them to the Emperor," Shen Qingwan said calmly.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty is in a bad mood today, most likely because of the anniversary of Consort Li's death. Yesterday, Consort Chun impersonated Consort Li, which angered His Majesty. If we send Consort Yao to deliver the hangover soup now, I'm afraid His Majesty..."

Shen Qingwan stirred the white porridge in the bowl with a spoon: "Your Majesty won't do that, just do as I say."

Although Zhen'er was puzzled, she still replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Consort Chun's disguise as Consort Li turned all of the Emperor's hopes into disappointment.

He felt that Consort Chun had played a trick on him, so he wanted to severely punish Consort Chun.

Actually, there's something he's always been afraid to admit, and unwilling to admit.

Everyone thought that Consort Li was his ideal woman, and even he himself always believed that Consort Li was irreplaceable in his heart.

But one day, suddenly there was a person who was wearing the clothes that Consort Li used to love to wear and had the hairstyle that she used to love to wear. He could easily recognize that person as Consort Li.

This incident struck a nerve with him. The actions of Consort Chun were like a slap in the face, making him realize that he didn't love Consort Li that much, and that anyone could replace her.

Consort Yao was different.

Consort Yao resembled Consort Li in appearance, rather than deliberately dressing up to resemble Consort Li.

When Emperor Yuanwu saw Consort Yao, he felt a stronger sense of identification with her and found it easier to see the image of Consort Li in her.

Furthermore, since Consort Yao was personally selected and sent by Prince Yao's mansion, this gave him an even more legitimate excuse to favor her.

Shen Qingwan sneered.

the man.

They all have the same character.

When Consort Yao saw the hangover soup sent from Kunning Palace, she was shocked. "What? Her Majesty the Empress sent me to deliver hangover soup to the Emperor?"

"My lord, this is what Her Majesty instructed, and I'm sorry to trouble you to make this trip in person."

Consort Yao took the tray containing the hangover soup from Zhen'er's hands, her face ashen: "Please trouble Aunt Zhen'er to inform Her Majesty the Empress that I understand."

Zhen'er bowed and left Qixiang Palace.

Consort Yao carried the bowl of hangover remedy towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Just as she reached the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she heard the sound of Emperor Yuanwu smashing things.

When Wu Jixiang saw Consort Yao bringing over the hangover soup, he was slightly taken aback, but quickly understood the Empress's meaning.

He quickly took two steps forward, bowed, and said, "This servant greets Your Excellency. May Your Excellency be blessed."

"Eunuch Jixiang, may I ask how His Majesty is doing now?"

Wu Jixiang sighed, "His Majesty is a man of deep feelings and loyalty. He is in a bad mood every year on this day. He was just scolded by the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace, which made him even worse. Consort, please go in quickly. Perhaps His Majesty's mood will improve when he sees you."

Consort Yao: ...

She carried the bowl of hangover soup, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to go inside. Just as one foot crossed the threshold of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, a teacup grazed her cheek and flew out.

It crashed to the ground behind it with a crisp sound.

Consort Yao couldn't help but shudder, and her heart began to pound.

"Get out! Who let you in? Get out of here!!!"

Before she could even step her other foot through the doorway, she heard Emperor Yuanwu's merciless curses.

Consort Yao raised her toes, then slowly lowered them back down.

She looked conflicted for a while.

The hangover soup was ordered by the Empress to be delivered. If it wasn't delivered, it would be considered disobeying the Empress's orders, which could result in being confined to one's room for reflection or even being punished with a beating.

If she were sent in, given Emperor Yuanwu's current furious state, he might very well take her life.

Compared to that, it would be better to die quickly.

If she died at the hands of Emperor Yuanwu because of the Empress's orders, Prince Yao probably wouldn't blame her family anymore. Considering she had worked for him, he would likely treat her family well. Then her…

She died a worthy death, I suppose.

Having calmed herself down, Consort Yao ignored the harsh words Emperor Yuanwu uttered and quickly went inside.

She faced death without the slightest hesitation and walked straight to Emperor Yuanwu.

Emperor Yuanwu was reclining on a couch, his cheeks slightly flushed, and he smelled strongly of alcohol. He propped his head up with one hand and stared intently at Consort Yao.

"How dare you! Did I let you in?"

Consort Yao acted as if she hadn't heard what he said. Since she was about to die anyway, what did she have to be afraid of? As long as she followed the Empress's instructions and did what she was supposed to do, even if she died, no one could find any fault in her.

"Your Majesty, you have had too much to drink. The Empress asked me to bring you some hangover soup, but it has gotten cold from the journey. Please drink it quickly, or it will get cold soon."

Following her voice, Emperor Yuanwu lowered his eyes and glanced at the hangover soup that Consort Yao was holding in her hands. A faint, ambiguous smile slowly curved his lips. "Why didn't she come? Why did she have to bring it over?"

Consort Yao lowered her eyes and said, "I don't know."

"Don't know?" Emperor Yuanwu sneered. "Then what do you know?"

"All I know is that Her Majesty the Empress instructed me to deliver a hangover soup to His Majesty. Once His Majesty has drunk it, my mission is complete."

"You're quite sincere." Emperor Yuanwu sneered, his chilling voice squeezed out from between his teeth, sharp and piercing: "Then do you know that the Empress sent you here not just to deliver hangover soup?"

Consort Yao shook her head.

In fact, she knew in her heart that today was the anniversary of Consort Li's death, and the reason why the emperor was like this was related to the deceased Consort Li.

The reason why Prince Yao chose her to enter the palace to serve Emperor Yuanwu was because her face looked exactly like Consort Li, whom Emperor Yuanwu longed for day and night.

"I do not know. I have no grudge against Her Majesty the Empress. I believe Her Majesty the Empress would not harm me." Consort Yao slowly raised her head. The candlelight flickered, illuminating her fair and flawless face. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she could not hold back and they slowly slid down her fair cheeks, like crystal dewdrops on flower petals in the morning, carrying endless sorrow.

Her delicate and fragile appearance evokes pity; what man in the world could remain unmoved by it?

She had practiced this scenario countless times day and night when she was in Prince Yao's mansion, all so that one day, when she made a mistake in the palace, she could evoke Emperor Yuanwu's pity and save her life.

Emperor Yuanwu's gaze trembled as he stared at her, and the sound of the porcelain bowl shattering unveiled the enchanting scene under the flickering candlelight.

(End of this chapter)