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

Chapter 171 Disgusting
"Your Majesty has misunderstood me. What I meant was that Your Majesty should feel free to ask me for anything you need, no matter what."

"You really are filial." Consort Xian sneered. "I heard that Eunuch Huang came early this morning to replace a batch of potted plants in Jingyang Palace. I'm really curious, what new varieties have you cultivated in your greenhouse this year?"

Huang Zongxiao's smile froze for a moment. What new variety? In this cold weather, these flowers and plants are lucky to have survived the cold. Where did this new variety come from?

"This servant thinks that since it's cold today, all these flowers and plants have withered. However, there are a few plum blossoms in the greenhouse that are in full bloom, and I thought I'd send them over to Your Majesty to add some joy. When spring comes, I'll pick out some of the best ones to send to Your Majesty," Huang Zongxiao said with a smile.

"Since you have such filial piety, then just send those plum blossoms over directly. As for the remaining potted plants, even if you move them back to the greenhouse now, they will all wither. It's better to leave them in Jingyang Palace for now and replace them in the spring."

Hearing Consort Xian's words, Huang Zongxiao felt a chill run down his spine, and his forehead was covered with a layer of fine sweat. "Your Majesty is right. However, this servant was thinking of taking the potted plants from Your Majesty's palace over first, so that we can loosen the soil as soon as possible and replace them with new ones. Then Your Majesty's palace will be the first to be filled with flowers, and those flowers will be as beautiful as Your Majesty, unmatched by anyone."

Consort Xian couldn't help but laugh out loud, "You really are the head eunuch of the flower room. Your words are as lovely as blooming flowers. In that case, bring up the plum blossoms you brought so I can have a look."

plum bossom?

He came over early in the morning, but where did he bring any plum blossoms?

It was already a sudden arrival, and he had only intended to inform the Empress and take away the old potted plants. Who would have thought that such a small matter would alarm the Empress, who held the highest position in the palace?

If it were any other axiom, all it would take would be to tell the head aunt, and the matter would be settled.

"What?" Consort Xian's eyes flashed sharply. "Eunuch Huang said he wanted to add some festive cheer to Jingyang Palace, so why did you come empty-handed? Do you and your wife think I'm not worthy of the plum blossoms in this cold winter, or were you planning to trick me from the beginning?"

Huang Zongxiao trembled with fright and knelt on the ground. "Your Highness, I know I was wrong. I will have someone bring you plum blossoms right away. It's all my fault for upsetting Your Highness so early in the morning."

After saying that, he raised his hand and slapped himself twice.

"Alright, I'm not that difficult to talk to. In that case, Eunuch Huang, you may leave now. I still need to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress." Consort Xian said, standing up.

Huang Zongxiao was stunned.
Consort Xian looked quite angry just now, how come she's suddenly gone?
He was almost scared out of his wits just now, but he didn't expect that the matter would be agreed to so easily.
He felt like he was dreaming.
"Yes, Consort Xian, this servant will take his leave now. I will go and plant some of the finest plum blossoms to bring to Your Highness." He paused and then continued, "This servant will also take the potted plants back with me, so as not to bother Your Highness again in the future."

"Take it back? I only told you to bring the plum blossoms, not to take the potted plants away." Consort Xian's lips curled into a cryptic smile. Especially after seeing the hint of panic in Huang Zongxiao's eyes, she became even more certain of her earlier guess. "Even now, Eunuch Huang still won't tell the truth?"

Huang Zongxiao then realized that he had gone through such a long and complicated process, only to be tricked by Consort Xian.

It turns out that Consort Xian already knew his purpose for coming when she let him in. Who exactly secretly tipped Consort Xian off?
Huang Zongxiao's eyes trembled, and he spoke with a sob in his voice, "Nothing can be hidden from Consort Xian. I beg Consort Xian to have mercy and save my life."

Consort Xian then slowly sat back down, her hands casually resting on the armrests of the chair. She leaned back casually, looking relaxed yet dignified. "Speak quickly if you have something to say. I don't have time to waste with you."

Huang Zongxiao kowtowed twice on the ground before daring to speak, “Yesterday, His Majesty went to Consort Zhen’s palace and met the eldest princess. I don’t know why, but His Majesty suddenly wanted to bestow the two pots of green chrysanthemums that were cultivated last year upon the eldest princess, saying that he wanted to keep them for her to use for embroidery. These green chrysanthemums are precious, and it takes hundreds of pots to grow just one. The flower room only has two pots in total. Last year, we presented them to Consort Xian. His Majesty has issued an edict that if this servant cannot deliver these two pots of green chrysanthemums to Consort Zhen’s palace today, I am afraid that this servant will lose his head. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy on this servant, who has an elderly mother to support, and allow this servant to take these two pots of green chrysanthemums back. This servant kowtows to Your Majesty here. This servant has no way to repay Your Majesty’s great kindness and virtue. In the next life, I will be a cow or a horse to repay Your Majesty’s great kindness.”

Consort Zhen?

Upon hearing those two words, Consort Xian's fingers, which were draped over the armrest of the chair, suddenly tightened, and even her back, which was lazily leaning against the chair back, straightened a bit.

It's true what they say: a kind person is often bullied, and a good horse is often ridden. Emperor Yuanwu had only been away from her Jingyang Palace for a few days.

Now, even Consort Zhen, who is out of favor and unable to bear a son, dares to ride roughshod over her.

OK!

That's really great!
Xia Mei watched as Huang Zongxiao kowtowed until his head bled, yet Consort Xian remained silent. As a servant herself, she hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up, "Your Highness, regardless of which consort's palace this green chrysanthemum is sent to, since His Majesty has spoken, why not do a favor and have it delivered directly? You'll earn a reputation for being virtuous, and Your Highness should at least give His Majesty some face, shouldn't you?"

Xia Mei's words finally eased Consort Xian's expression somewhat.

Yes, we should respect the Buddha even if we don't respect the monk.

If the Emperor finds out about this, even though the green chrysanthemum was sent to his palace by the flower shop last year, the eldest princess wants it, but she is holding onto it. The Emperor might become suspicious and think that she is deliberately making trouble for the eldest princess.

But Consort Xian just couldn't swallow this insult.

From the day she entered the Prince of Jin's residence to later entering the imperial harem.

No matter what good things, delicious food, nice clothes, or useful items there are, Emperor Yuanwu always makes sure they're in her room first before others get a chance. Now, the tables have turned, and it's time for others to take things from her palace.

She smiled, but the smile seemed to carry a hint of self-mockery. She felt as if she had swallowed a fly, feeling somewhat disgusted, yet still asked with some reluctance, "When His Majesty bestowed the green chrysanthemums upon the First Princess, did he know that these two pots of green chrysanthemums were with me?"

(End of this chapter)