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

Chapter 161 Newcomer Enters the Palace
Wu Jixiang hurriedly ordered the servants guarding the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation to retreat ten steps.

The next morning.

Consort Yao returned to Qixiang Palace in a luxurious carriage. Emperor Yuanwu bestowed upon her numerous jewels and ornaments, and even a pillow made of broken jade.

Everyone in the palace knew that this jade pillow was Emperor Yuanwu's favorite.

Now that Consort Yao has been given an identical one, does it mean that Emperor Yuanwu will visit her frequently in the future, and that her favor will continue to come?

Immediately, the entire palace was abuzz with discussion.

Consort Yao returned to her palace and hurriedly changed her clothes before heading to Kunning Palace.

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed."

Shen Qingwan lowered her eyes and glanced at Consort Yao kneeling on the ground. "Get up."

"This concubine thanks Your Majesty the Empress."

"What brings you here so early, Consort Yao?" Shen Qingwan asked.

"I have come here specifically to thank Your Majesty the Empress for your kindness. I was sent to the palace by Prince Yao's mansion. I know that the Emperor has always been wary of me because I come from Prince Yao's mansion. I will not be able to have children of my own in the future. I know that I have no use in the harem. Your Majesty the Empress is still willing to help me. I am deeply grateful for this kindness. I can never repay you in this life. In the next life, I will be your servant to repay you."

Shen Qingwan: ...

She was only favored by Emperor Yuanwu once.

Surely Consort Yao wouldn't exaggerate the situation to such an extent.

They even brought up the afterlife.

Looking at Consort Yao, Shen Qingwan couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

It has no practical value.

So that's how she's always defined herself.

"His Majesty was in a bad mood yesterday, and I only asked you to deliver a bowl of hangover soup. His Majesty likes you and dotes on you, which is your good fortune. Consort Yao, you don't need to take this to heart."

Consort Yao raised her eyes and glanced at Shen Qingwan, her gaze trembling slightly. For a moment, she was unsure what the Empress meant by those words.

Before she entered the palace, the nanny who taught her manners always told her that in the harem, Consort Xian was the only one in power. Although the Empress held a stable position in the harem, she was only a figurehead and had no real say in the harem. Moreover, the Emperor was the first to dislike her.

After she entered the palace, she discovered that this was not the case.

However, in the harem, regardless of whether the empress is favored or not, or whether she is loved by the emperor, she should cultivate her own power and influence, and win over some favored concubines to do things for her.

This empress is different from the people she usually interacts with.

She's already shown her such kindness, why won't she accept it?
Could it be because he doesn't trust her?

Consort Yao rose and knelt on the ground again. "Please believe me, Your Majesty. I truly want to thank you. If Your Majesty ever needs my help, I will do my best to assist you."

Shen Qingwan reached out and helped Consort Yao up. "I don't need your gratitude, nor do I need you to do anything for me. It is your blessing to be favored by the Emperor. You should cherish this blessing. As long as you behave well in the harem, know the rules and etiquette, I will still help you in the future."

Although Consort Yao didn't quite understand what Shen Qingwan was saying, she still stood up as Shen Qingwan raised her hand. "Yes."

The fact that Consort Yao was favored by Emperor Yuanwu last night is known not only to everyone in the harem, but also to the people in the Prince's residence.

Since Consort Li passed away, the entire harem has never been peaceful on the anniversary of her death, and no concubine has ever been favored by Emperor Yuanwu on this day.

Even Consort Xian, who enjoyed the emperor's exclusive favor, was left out in the cold on the anniversary of Consort Li's death. How could a woman who only resembled Consort Li so easily win over Emperor Yuanwu? Wasn't it all too simple?

Whether it's a royal palace or a minister's household, who wouldn't want a favored concubine in the harem to have come from their own household?

That afternoon.

The Prince Xiang's Mansion and the Prince Rui's Mansion each sent a woman to the palace.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress, may Her Majesty be blessed."

"Get up."

Shen Qingwan looked at the two beautiful and pretty women in front of her.

Since the Prince Yao's Mansion initially bestowed the title of Noble Lady upon those sent in, the Prince Xiang's Mansion and the Prince Rui's Mansion should naturally also be granted the title of Noble Lady.

The Prince Xiang's Mansion bestowed the title of Noble Lady Shen upon her and granted her residence in Changchun Palace, where she would live with Consort Zhen.

The Prince Rui's Mansion bestowed the title of Noble Lady Xia upon her and granted her residence in Xianfu Palace, where she lived with Consort Jin.

"Once you enter the harem, you will all be sisters of the same family. However, you did not enter the palace through the selection process. You entered the palace because of the two princes. You still need to follow the nanny and learn the rules properly."

"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress's teachings." Consort Shen and Consort Xia bowed.

Shen Qingwan picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and then slowly asked, "Since you come from the Prince's residence, how are the two princes' health?"

Consort Shen and Consort Xia exchanged a glance. Consort Shen spoke first: "Your Majesty, Prince Xiang is getting old. Although he is still quite healthy, he drinks ginseng soup every day and relies entirely on His Majesty's blessings."

Shen Qingwan looked Consort Shen up and down. Judging from her manner of speaking, Consort Shen was probably not a maidservant in the household before entering the palace, but someone who had been trained since childhood.

It's clear that Prince Xiang was very thoughtful; he must have been waiting for this day for a long time.

Shen Qingwan turned her gaze to Consort Xia and asked, "How is Prince Rui?"

Compared to Consort Shen's composure and fluent answers, Consort Xia was noticeably more flustered. "Your Majesty, I have been serving at the Prince's private residence and do not see him often. I... do not know."

Private residence.

Upon hearing those two words, Shen Qingwan's hand holding the teacup paused heavily.

Besides the Prince's residence, as far as she knew, Prince Rui only owned a house at the foot of Huguo Temple Mountain. If Consort Xia was serving in that private residence, then what happened last time...

Shen Qingwan's brow twitched imperceptibly.

"The last time I went out with the Emperor, we passed by Prince Rui's private residence at Huguo Temple. Prince Rui is very refined and built that house in a unique style, with a touch of Jiangnan charm. It is indeed beautiful."

"The prince also planted an osmanthus tree. Whenever the osmanthus blooms, the whole mansion is filled with its fragrance, which is very pleasant," Consort Xia added.

Osmanthus tree!
Shen Qingwan's heart skipped a beat when she heard those three words.

Is this Consort Xia really from the private residence at the foot of Huguo Temple Mountain? What is Prince Rui's purpose in sending her to the palace? Isn't he afraid that she will mention what she saw on the second day of the second lunar month in front of the Emperor?

Is he really not afraid of death?

"Okay, everyone get up."

Shen Qingwan tried her best to suppress her uneasy heart, "I have prepared a pair of jade ruyi for each of you. I hope that your days in the harem will be as fulfilling as these jade ruyi."

(End of this chapter)