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

Chapter 163 Virtuous
"Consort Xian, please don't stand on ceremony, please sit down."

Consort Xian slowly stood up, her radiant expression already showing signs of unease.

However, the people in the room at this moment—the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress—were all older than her, so no matter how wronged she felt, she could only swallow her pride and bear it.

Because Consort Xian had been kneeling for a while, she almost lost her balance and fell when she stood up. Fortunately, Emperor Yuanwu reacted quickly and helped her up.

Consort Xian smiled awkwardly: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Alright, you can sit down too." Although Emperor Yuanwu didn't say anything, his expression was rather unpleasant. In his view, as soon as Shen Qingwan entered, Consort Xian took the initiative to greet her, but the Empress didn't even glance at her. It wasn't until he sat down that he remembered Consort Xian was still being polite. This was clearly a deliberate attempt to embarrass her.

The feud between the Empress and Consort Xian was no longer a palace dispute; it stemmed from a grudge that originated in the Prince's residence.

Even if there were great grudges, they were only grudges with the original owner. But Zhen'er was someone by her side. She had only just transmigrated into this body when Zhen'er almost fell victim to Consort Xian's poison. Moreover, Zhen'er was on her way to fetch the imperial physician for her. She had remembered this debt and hadn't settled it yet.

Does she, Shen Qingwan, mean that anyone can just mess with her?

Although it is said that a gentleman takes revenge even after ten years, she will settle this score with Consort Xian sooner or later.

Shen Qingwan couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Was Emperor Yuanwu really unhappy just because she had been made to be polite for a short while?
Could it be that Consort Xian really is the savior he invited?
Shen Qingwan didn't say anything, but the Empress Dowager was displeased.

"What's wrong with the Emperor? He comes here with a long face, as if there's something about me that displeases him. If that's the case, it would be better if the Emperor didn't come at all." The Empress Dowager's expression turned even more unpleasant.

Yesterday, she had a dispute with Emperor Yuanwu because of Consort Li, and today she gave Consort Xian a cold shoulder.

How could such a trivial matter possibly escape the notice of the previous palace intrigue champion?

The emperor had come to apologize, but seeing that the empress dowager was angry again, he hurriedly lowered his head and said, "Your subject did not mean that."

"Whether that's what you mean or not, Your Majesty still has state affairs to attend to, so please go back early. I heard that Prince Rui and Prince Xiang each presented Your Majesty with two beautiful women. Is that true?"

Shen Qingwan was listening intently to the Empress Dowager reprimanding Emperor Yuanwu when the Empress Dowager suddenly turned to look at her.

She quickly replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, both beauties have been arranged. The one sent by Prince Rui's residence has been named Consort Xia, and the one sent by Prince Xiang's residence has been named Consort Shen. They have both been settled, and His Majesty can choose a consort tonight."

The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction at Shen Qingwan's arrangement, "The harem does indeed need some new faces. For the sake of the imperial heir, the Emperor should also visit the palaces of the younger concubines more often."

Shen Qingwan nodded with a faint smile.

Emperor Yuanwu seemed to have little aversion to the concubines in the harem, as long as they were not personally arranged by the Empress Dowager, and then nodded in agreement.

He had already displeased the Empress Dowager twice. If he were to argue with her about such matters again, he would likely be branded as unfilial. In any case, he would favor all the concubines who entered the palace sooner or later, so why bother displeasing the Empress Dowager over such trivial matters?

"Let's rest in Consort Shen's palace tonight."

Emperor Yuanwu's words caused Consort Xian, who was sitting beside him, to visibly turn pale.

At this very moment, the Empress Dowager, as if deliberately, asked Consort Xian, "What does Consort Xian think?"

"The Queen Mother is right."

Consort Xian's voice was gentle, but the anger in her heart was almost uncontrollable. Shen Qingwan watched the three of them fighting, feeling like she was about to suffer internal injuries from holding back her laughter. Especially seeing Consort Xian's humiliation and her inability to retaliate, she really wanted to laugh.

Each person had their own thoughts, and after a few awkward words, they realized they couldn't see eye to eye, so they simply parted ways.

As soon as he stepped out of the Cining Palace, Emperor Yuanwu's face darkened.

Shen Qingwan, having held it in for too long, couldn't help but burst out laughing. This laugh made Emperor Yuanwu's already gloomy face darken even more.

Consort Xian stood there, feeling like an unwanted outsider. There had been a time when the three of them had stood together.

At that time, Emperor Yuanwu had just ascended the throne. Her father had made great military achievements. She was the beloved eldest daughter of the general's family and the most favored concubine in Emperor Yuanwu's harem.

At that time, many things were sent to the imperial harem as tribute from various places. Emperor Yuanwu immediately noticed the exquisitely carved mandarin duck pendant and gave it to her.

Mandarin ducks, always in pairs, symbolize unwavering love. Mandarin duck pendants are usually a token given between husband and wife to express their affection.

When the Empress learned that Emperor Yuanwu had bestowed upon her such a pair of mandarin duck pendants, which symbolized marital love, she immediately caused a great disturbance in the palace.

At that time, Emperor Yuanwu put one arm around her waist and said to the empress with an annoyed expression, "You are the empress favored by the Empress Mother, not by me. Since the Empress Mother has decided that you are the empress, I am not willing to make the Empress Mother unhappy over such a trivial matter. If you are willing to be the empress, then fine. Otherwise, you should abdicate and give way to a more worthy person. There are plenty of concubines in the harem who are worthy of the position of empress."

Consort Xian clearly remembered that when Emperor Yuanwu finished speaking, he glanced at her.

That casual glance was enough to tell anyone that the Empress's position was always reserved for Consort Xian, and not for Shen Qingwan.

But at this moment, looking at the exchange between Shen Qingwan and Emperor Yuanwu, she felt like a loving couple, flirting and teasing each other, while she herself stood there, feeling utterly superfluous.

"I'm feeling a little unwell, so I'll go back to rest first," Consort Xian said, then looked up at Emperor Yuanwu.

She still harbored a faint hope that Emperor Yuanwu would at least offer some words of concern after hearing that she was unwell, even if he didn't fuss over her.

All fantasies vanished completely with a gloomy "hmm" from Emperor Yuanwu.

Shen Qingwan stared at Consort Xian's departing figure, and she actually caught a trace of dishevelment and loneliness in her hurried footsteps.

But it was only for a moment.

Shen Qingwan quickly averted her gaze, and when she inadvertently glanced at Emperor Yuanwu, she saw his cold eyes fixed on her.

Even though Shen Qingwan didn't care about Emperor Yuanwu, she could tell from his angry expression that he was upset.

"Your Majesty, what's troubling you? Why don't you tell me, and see if I can help you share your burden?" Shen Qingwan said softly.

"Heh." Emperor Yuanwu snorted coldly: "The Empress is truly virtuous, arranging everything for me."

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

Could it be because Consort Shen and Consort Xia were mentioned in the Empress Dowager's palace just now?