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

Chapter 206 A Story Too Long to Tell
Consort Xia?
Who is she talking to?

Shen Qingwan took a step to the side and saw clearly the person standing opposite Consort Xia: Consort Jin?

Didn't the two of them live in the same palace?

Judging from their expressions, it didn't seem like they were just chatting idly. What important thing could they have to talk about in such cold weather, that they had to hide here and discuss it secretly?

"Your Highness, it looks like Consort Xia and Consort Jin over there. Shall we go over?" Zhen'er followed Shen Qingwan's gaze.

Shen Qingwan shook her head slightly. She wondered if it was a woman's intuition, but she felt that the way Consort Xia and Consort Jin talked just now didn't seem like a simple chat.

"Su Tianhe, could you try to find out what exactly happened in Jinfei's father's case back then?" Shen Qingwan asked solemnly.

"Your Majesty, why did you suddenly ask about this?" Su Tianhe asked, puzzled.

"I'm just a little curious." Shen Qingwan said, taking a step forward. She deliberately avoided the path where Consort Jin and Noble Lady Xia were talking and headed towards Cining Palace.

"Your Majesty, this servant has heard a little about this in the palace..." Su Tianhe said, scratching his head sheepishly.

Consort Jin's father, Hao Deying, was a first-rank general.

Back then, General Rong guarded the frontier, General Pang guarded Dongliao, and Hao Jianjun guarded Xijing.

Whether it was due to bad luck or some other problem, of the three generals, only General Pang succeeded in capturing two cities in Dongguan, General Rong died in battle, and General Hao lost two cities in succession.

At that time, a secret agent reported that he had obtained letters between General Hao and the leader of Xijing in secret communication.

It is said that those letters clearly stated that as long as General Hao deliberately suffered a defeat, Xijing would promise him many benefits.

Emperor Yuanwu was furious and searched General Hao's house. He found many precious items from Xijing and also discovered that one of General Hao's most favored concubines was also from Xijing.

At that time, the emperor had just ascended the throne, his power was not yet secure, and he was most afraid of his court officials plotting rebellion. General Hao, at this very moment…

Enraged, Emperor Yuanwu imprisoned General Hao and his entire family, including his deputies Liang Zechuan and Wei Mingyu. Not long after being imprisoned, General Hao committed suicide in prison.

suicide?

Shen Qingwan's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes, Your Majesty. It was reported from prison at the time. At that time, Consort Jin had just become pregnant. When she heard that General Hao had committed suicide in prison, she was heartbroken and lost her child. The Emperor pitied Consort Jin and did not hold her accountable because of her family, but Consort Jin lost favor because of this." Su Tianhe said regretfully.

"Has this matter been thoroughly investigated?" Shen Qingwan continued to ask.

“How can we investigate further? After General Hao committed suicide in prison, his two deputy generals also died mysteriously in prison. At the time, more than a hundred people were involved. The women were made into servants, and the men were all exiled. Then the Minjiang River fire broke out, causing countless casualties. The Emperor focused all his energy on the Minjiang River fire. How could he have the energy to investigate General Hao’s case in detail? In addition, several key culprits were already dead. As the saying goes, there is no way to verify the facts. So this matter has come to an end…” Su Tianhe said, and couldn’t help but sigh. “When the late Emperor was alive, General Hao made great contributions. He was the late Emperor’s most trusted minister. I just can’t understand how a general who killed countless enemies on the battlefield could betray the country and collude with the enemy for the sake of indulging in women.”

Shen Qingwan: ...

It's really hard to comment.

There's an old saying that goes, "Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman."

However, judging from what Su Tianhe just said, what kind of rare and precious treasures could possibly sway a dignified general to betray his country?

If it were just some money, it might not make sense, but if a concubine were to whisper in her ear, it's definitely not impossible. However, if she remembered correctly, isn't the Minjiang area very close to Dongliao, where General Pang is stationed?
When Shen Qingwan arrived at the entrance of the Cining Palace, she faintly heard a soft sobbing sound.

"Who's inside?" Shen Qingwan suddenly stopped and asked Zhang Mama, who was standing at the door.

"Your Majesty, it is Consort Xi," Zhang Mama sighed. "Consort Xi has been crying ever since she arrived. The Empress Dowager has been trying to comfort her for almost two hours. It's just in time for Your Majesty to arrive. Please go in and see her."

Shen Qingwan: ...

She cried for two hours?

I'm afraid it wouldn't have taken Meng Jiangnu two hours to cry the Great Wall down.

The Empress Dowager is really good-tempered; she can persuade people for two hours. If it were her, she would probably have exploded long ago.

However... it seems she came at the wrong time. Is it too late for her to leave now?
Just as Shen Qingwan took a small step back without making a sound, and was about to sneak away, the Empress Dowager's voice came from the Cining Palace's bedroom, "Who's talking outside? Is it Zhang Mama, or has the Empress arrived? Let her in."

Shen Qingwan: ...

She came at the worst possible time.

Does the Empress Dowager have super hearing? How could she hear her when she was speaking so softly?

It seems that the Empress Dowager was truly afraid of Consort Xi's nagging; her casual remark became the last straw she clung to.

Shen Qingwan had no choice but to bite the bullet and go inside.

"Your daughter-in-law greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be blessed." Shen Qingwan curtsied.

When Consort Xi saw the Empress approaching, she hurriedly wiped away her tears and stood up from the stool. "This concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed."

"Get up," Shen Qingwan said softly.

Seeing that the two had both bowed, the Empress Dowager hurriedly raised her hand to invite Shen Qingwan to sit on the stool next to her. "The Empress has come at the right time. Come and help me persuade her. She's already a concubine in the palace, but she's still like a child all day long, crying at the drop of a hat."

Shen Qingwan's expression was somewhat complicated. She even regretted not going over to greet Consort Jin and Consort Xia when she saw them talking earlier. Perhaps Consort Jin had some business in the inner palace that kept her occupied and wouldn't have come today.

At this moment, she was filled with deep regret.

Shen Qingwan sighed inwardly. What else could it be? She had seen her come to Cining Palace to cry like this before. It was either because her rank was too low or because Emperor Yuanwu didn't like her.

Aside from these two points, Shen Qingwan couldn't think of anything else, no matter how hard she tried. After all, she had an aunt like the Empress Dowager, so no one in the harem dared to mistreat or neglect her.

"It's because Consort Xi feels that she rarely sees the Emperor, and the Emperor doesn't like her. Her rank is also low. Consorts sent to the palace by the Prince's mansion become Noble Ladies as soon as they enter the palace, but she has been in the palace for so long and is still just a Consort."

The Empress Dowager spoke with a smile, but Shen Qingwan's expression was somewhat complicated.

Although the emperor determined the ranks of the imperial concubines, the empress dowager and empress did not lack the right to promote the concubines.

(End of this chapter)