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

Chapter 219 Brainless
Shen Qingwan took the gold and gemstone peach and bat hairpin that Zhen'er had brought and put it in Consort Zhen's hair. "When I first saw this hairpin, I thought it was especially suitable for you. It is indeed beautiful."

Although Consort Zhen couldn't see it, she couldn't help but raise her hand to touch it. Seeing the glimmer of light in her eyes, Shen Qingwan knew that this thing had touched her heart.

A woman.

No matter how old or when, people never tire of dressing up. This is especially true for the women in the imperial harem, who are selected through layers of competition and each one stands out. They all want to outshine the others, so they have an inexplicable fondness for headdresses and the like.

"It's getting late. I plan to visit the eldest prince at the princes' quarters later." Shen Qingwan glanced at the time.

Consort Zhen then happily rose and bowed, "Then I shall take my leave now, Your Majesty. Rest assured, I will do my best to carry out the matters Your Majesty has entrusted to me."

After Consort Zhen left, Shen Qingwan moved her lips, just about to ask Zhen'er if the food prepared for Jiang Wenlan was ready, when Su Tianhe walked in from outside.

"Your Majesty, Consort Tong is waiting outside the palace, requesting an audience with you."

Tong Changzai?
Why did she come at this hour?
Could it be because of the palace maids leaving the palace?

Shen Qingwan was in a hurry to go to the Prince's residence and wanted to ask her to come another day, but unexpectedly, Consort Tong was already standing at the entrance of the main hall of Kunning Palace.

"Let her in," Shen Qingwan said softly.

"Your Majesty." Consort Tong entered, knelt on the ground and performed a grand salute, "This concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress, may Your Majesty live a thousand years."

Zhen'er poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Shen Qingwan. She took a small sip and said, "If Consort Tong has anything to say, she can just stand up and say it. There's no need for this."

"Your Majesty, I will not rise. Please allow me to finish what I have to say." Consort Tong's expression was solemn, as if she had committed a grave error.

Shen Qingwan couldn't help but frown. One of the dishes she had asked the kitchen to prepare for Jiang Wenlan was fried meat strips. That stuff tastes best when eaten hot; if it's left out for too long, it won't be crispy.

This Consort Tong is really unlikable. What is it that she has to come and say it at this time?

"Your Majesty, I have come today to apologize. I was foolish and ignorant when I first entered the palace. I listened to Consort Ruan and Consort Dong and chose the wrong side. Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Consort Tong finished speaking and kowtowed on the ground.

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

Did you choose the wrong side?

Which side did you choose?

When did such factionalism begin in the imperial harem? How come she, the empress, didn't know?
"Your Majesty, I was foolish and ignorant. Please forgive me, Your Majesty is magnanimous." After saying this, Consort Tong kowtowed on the ground again.

Although her words were cryptic, Shen Qingwan seemed to understand them.

Shen Qingwan didn't have a deep impression of Consort Tong, but she did have some impression of Consort Dong and Consort Ruan. It seemed that when they first entered the palace, the two of them were biased towards Consort Xian.

At that time, Consort Xian was at the height of her power, having just been granted the title of Noble Lady.

No one expected that she would be demoted to the rank of concubine before she could even settle into her position as a noble consort.

The grudges and grievances between Consort Ruan and Consort Xian are now too complex to be explained in a few words.

It seems that Tong Changzai is in a hurry and has come to her to pour out his troubles.
"Just say what you have to say. I'm in a hurry to get out," Shen Qingwan said calmly.

"Your Majesty, I have now realized my mistake and will do my best to help you in any way you may need me. However, I have been in the palace for so long but have never been favored by the Emperor. I am afraid that I will have no future. I beg Your Majesty to help me and give me a child!"

Shen Qingwan: ... Shen Qingwan choked on the tea she had just drunk and coughed violently.

This Ruan Changzai is really interesting.

If she wants a child, she should go to Emperor Yuanwu.

She... she's a woman, how can we help her get a child?

She must have had the will but not the ability.

"Your Majesty the Empress." Consort Tong knelt on the ground, watching Shen Qingwan cough incessantly. She wanted to get up but dared not, raising and lowering her hands in a flustered manner, unsure of what to do.

Zhen'er hurriedly came over and gently patted Shen Qingwan's back to help her catch her breath.

Shen Qingwan struggled to stop her cough and calm herself down. She looked troubled and said, "Consort Tong, if you want a child, you should go to the Emperor. I am a woman and I really can't help you."

"No." Consort Tong shook her head firmly. "Her Majesty the Empress can do it!"

Shen Qingwan: ...

"Your Majesty, I know that His Majesty listens to you. As long as Your Majesty puts a word in His Majesty's ear, he will definitely visit my palace." After saying this, Consort Tong kowtowed again.

Shen Qingwan: ...

She was really worried that when Tong Changzai got up from the ground, his head would be bleeding from all the kowtowing.

"Consort Tong, please be careful with your words. The Emperor is supreme, how could he listen to me? Although I know that Consort Tong's words were unintentional, if they were to spread from my palace, I'm afraid they would cause me trouble." Shen Qingwan's eyes darkened.

Tong Chang was taken aback, then kowtowed several more times, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, that's not what I meant. I misspoke. Please don't take it to heart."

"Alright, I don't mean to blame you. I just want to tell you that the way to survive in the harem is to be careful with your words and actions. I know what you're thinking, but I can't decide who the Emperor likes or who he wants to favor. If I could be in charge of such matters, I would naturally keep the Emperor in my palace every day."

Shen Qingwan did not refuse or make up an excuse. Instead, she told her directly that she could not help with this matter and it was impossible.

"But Her Majesty the Empress..." Consort Tong's face turned ashen, "...Consort Xi, she..."

Shen Qingwan shook her head with a laugh, thinking that this Consort Tong had lost favor because of her own abilities. The harem was never short of beauty, and although this Consort Tong was somewhat pretty, she was indeed brainless!

She found it difficult to even speak to her at this moment, let alone Emperor Yuanwu, who was fawned over by everyone in the harem.

Is she brainless, or has she lost her mind altogether? How dare she mention Consort Xi?

Who is the Nobleman of Happiness?
She was the Empress Dowager's niece and Emperor Yuanwu's cousin.

Even if they were distant relatives, they were still the Empress Dowager's maternal relatives, far superior to her small Tong family.

Based on what she said at that moment, Shen Qingwan thought she was a complete fool.

Shen Qingwan stood up from the stool. "Regarding the matter you mentioned, I'm afraid I can't help you. Consort Tong, please leave..."

(End of this chapter)