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

Chapter 21 Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager," Consort Shu and Consort De replied in unison.

After leaving Cining Palace.

Zhen'er, supporting Shen Qingwan's arm, had only taken two steps when Consort Rou caught up.

"Your Majesty, let me escort you back to the palace."

Shen Qingwan nodded.

"Your Majesty, please believe me. Those two people are really not from my palace. I have always respected Your Majesty and have never been disrespectful," Consort Rou explained solemnly.

Shen Qingwan nodded: "I understand."

"I have only been in the palace for a few days. Apart from paying my respects and attending the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, I have not left the palace. I really do not know when I offended Consort Xian, who would slander me like this. Today, I am fortunate to have Your Highness's protection."

Shen Qingwan and Consort Rou stopped in their tracks at the same time: "Your Majesty's great kindness and virtue will be remembered in our hearts. If Your Majesty ever needs our help in the future, we will definitely go through fire and water for Your Majesty without hesitation."

Shen Qingwan's lips curved slightly: "I am just telling the truth and do not want to wrong an innocent person. No need for Consort Rou to take it to heart. Consort Rou is currently enjoying great favor. You should take good care of your health and give birth to an imperial heir for the Emperor as soon as possible. That would be the greatest way to repay me."

Consort Rou was taken aback, seemingly surprised by what the Empress said to her at this moment.

Before entering the palace.

Rou Guiren's mother repeatedly warned her to be careful of the Empress, who had a penchant for giving safflower to lower-ranking concubines after they had spent the night with the Empress.

It seems the rumors were untrue.

She had served the emperor many times, but the empress never once offered her a contraceptive potion. In fact, she even urged the emperor to give birth to a son for him as soon as possible.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will certainly remember Your Majesty's teachings."

The two were talking.

Wu Jixiang walked over from behind.

"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. His Majesty has said that he will have lunch at Kunning Palace at noon. Please prepare accordingly."

"Thank you for your help, Eunuch. Please inform the Emperor that I am aware of this," Shen Qingwan said politely.

"Then this servant will take his leave."

"Please take care, Eunuch Wu."

Consort Rou chatted with Shen Qingwan for a while, and then escorted her to the entrance of Kunning Palace before leaving.

Zhen'er stared at Consort Rou's departing figure: "Your Majesty, do you believe that Xiang'er is the mastermind behind the abduction of this servant?"

Shen Qingwan remained silent.

Whether she believes it or not, whoever Emperor Yuanwu believes is whoever he wants.

The Empress Dowager was ultimately wary of Consort Xian's maternal family, so she did not punish her, but only stripped her of her power to assist in managing the six palaces.

Consort Xian had just returned to the palace when she angrily smashed everything on her dressing table.

"Useless! You can't even handle this simple task, a bunch of useless trash!!!"

Xia Fuchuan, the head eunuch of Consort Xian, knelt at the front and slapped himself in the face.

"This servant deserves to die! It was all my negligence that implicated Your Majesty. It was all my fault. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

"You can't even handle such a small matter? What use are you all?" Consort Xian walked angrily to the embroidery frame, picked up a pair of scissors, and shredded all the money pouches in the palace to shreds. She even took the two brocade nightgowns in the wardrobe.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't! Even if Your Majesty is angry, you can't cut up these two brocade nightgowns. What if the Emperor finds out and blames you?" Xia Fuchuan tried to stop him, but it was too late. Looking at the tattered fabric on the ground, he slapped himself twice.

"Your Majesty, it's all my fault. But my men clearly saw Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Lizi enter Jixiang Hutong before returning to report. How did the Empress's people discover that there was something wrong with those two? Did they wait in Jixiang Hutong the whole time?"

Xia Fuchuan's words calmed down Consort Xian, who was filled with anger in the palace.

yes?

How exactly was it discovered?
How did the Empress, who always acted without thinking, suddenly become so shrewd?

Could it be that the Empress has a mastermind guiding her?
"Your Highness, please don't worry. His Majesty has already ordered that Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Lizi be beaten to death. They will no longer have the chance to spout nonsense."

Consort Xian's chest heaved heavily. "Don't rush, don't rush. The Empress Dowager has taken back the power to assist in managing the six palaces. You're telling me not to rush? That rootless little Shunzi is a good-for-nothing. Is his mother in your hands?" Xia Fuchuan's face suddenly stiffened upon hearing Consort Xian's words.

"Your Majesty, Xiao Shunzi is already dead, or else..."

Xia Fuchuan tried to say something in support of Xiao Shunzi.

However, he was hit on the forehead by a rouge box that Consort Xian casually threw at him.

Bright red blood gushed out instantly, flowing down his brow bone and into his eyes, blurring his vision.

"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will take care of it."

Xia Fuchuan had just reached the palace gate when Consort Xian called him back.

"Also, tell your father to make sure Xiang'er's family is taken care of."

Xia Fuchuan was slightly taken aback: "Yes, Your Majesty."

The imperial kitchen had just delivered lunch when Emperor Yuanwu arrived at Kunning Palace.

Shen Qingwan thought that Emperor Yuanwu had something to tell her, but unexpectedly, Emperor Yuanwu just ate quietly throughout the lunch, and the two hardly said a word to each other.

Seven days later.

Good news has arrived from the previous dynasty.

Consort Xian's father won a battle at the border.

Emperor Yuanwu was overjoyed and granted special permission for Consort Xian's family to enter the palace to visit her.

According to past court practice, such an honor was usually reserved for the birth mothers or sisters of imperial concubines.

Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea; it's really not easy to see your family.

Consort Xian's birth mother had passed away, and she had two younger brothers and a younger sister, all born to General Zhenyuan and his concubine.

Consort Xian would naturally not leave such an honor to her half-sister.

Childhood.

Because my father was away fighting battles for many years, my mother was in poor health.

Often, it was the distant aunt who took care of them more.

My uncle was the imperial chef in the palace, and my aunt's family owned a restaurant. They often sent food to the young Consort Xian.

I haven't seen you for many years now, and I miss you dearly.

Consort Xian's aunt, and also Gao Da's mother, Sun Jiabi.

Gao Da was punished and was still recuperating when Sun Jiabi went directly to Jingyang Palace upon entering the palace.

"Greetings to Your Highness, Consort Xian. Your humble servant greets you."

"Please rise, Aunt. I have missed you dearly since you entered the palace today." Consort Xian curtsied and helped Sun Jiabi up from the ground. "Please come inside and let's talk, Aunt."

"I have heard about what Your Majesty is doing in the palace. The General asked me to pass on a message to Your Majesty: Your Majesty should just focus on taking good care of the Third Prince in the palace. In a few days, he will submit a memorial to the Emperor to pay his respects and speak on Your Majesty's behalf."

Consort Xian's tears fell in tears of grievance: "Father still cares about me the most."

“Your Majesty, these are some foods that I brought from home. They are all things that Your Majesty loved to eat when you were a child. I don’t know if Your Majesty’s tastes have changed.” Sun Jiabi said, opening the food box full of food.

"I love it, I love it, thank you Auntie..."

The two were talking.

Su Tianhe walked in from outside.

"Greetings, Consort Xian. Her Majesty the Empress has prepared lunch at Kunning Palace and invites Consort Xian and her aunt to dine there together."

(End of this chapter)