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

Chapter 220 Fools are blessed

Consort Tong was stunned, completely dumbfounded. "Your Majesty, was I not clear enough? If Your Majesty is willing to help me have a child, I am willing to bring him to Your Majesty to raise. Hasn't Your Majesty never had a child?"

Shen Qingwan: ...

I really don't understand why the Tong family sent her to the palace in the first place.

In the past six months, although the harem seemed peaceful, a lot of things happened. She felt that she had taken extra care of the pregnant concubines, but she still lost two children in a row.

So... Consort Tong has survived to this day.

Perhaps it's true that fools are sometimes lucky.

Shen Qingwan stood up. "I have heard and understood everything you have said today. However, I am truly powerless to help you with these matters. Consort Tong, please leave."

"Mother...mother..."

Shen Qingwan didn't give her a chance to speak again, and turned to walk into the hall. Zhen'er walked to Tong Changzai's side, "Tong Changzai, Her Majesty the Empress really has something to attend to today, please go back first."

Tong Changzai pursed her lips deeply, stood up from the ground, snorted coldly at Zhen'er, and turned to walk towards the outside of Kunning Palace.

As she walked outside the Kunning Palace, she became increasingly unwilling to accept her fate.

Everyone in the harem said that the Empress was usually the easiest to talk to, so why did she seem different from the rumors when she went to request an audience today?

Isn't it said that the Empress often arranges concubines for the Emperor in the harem?

Since it's all about making arrangements, making arrangements for others is also making arrangements, so why can't we make arrangements for her?

No matter what, she was much prettier than that Consort Xi. Why was it that Consort Xi, who only served one night, suddenly became a Consort?

They originally lived in the same palace. Consort Jin was the principal consort, and she and Consort Xi were both consorts, so they didn't think much of it. But not long ago, Consort Xia moved in.

She's just a lowly maid sent in by Prince Rui's mansion. If she weren't somewhat pretty, she probably wouldn't even be qualified to be a concubine for Prince Rui, let alone become a noblewoman.

Now, Xi Changzai has also become Xi Guiren.

In the entire Xianfu Palace, she became the one with the lowest rank, which is truly laughable!
All she wanted was a child of her own, so she could have someone to rely on in the palace in the future. Was that wrong?

I just heard from Her Majesty the Empress that she has something to do and needs to go out later.

Could it be that I made up an excuse because I was in a hurry to leave?

Is it that he doesn't want to help her? Or is he simply too busy to deal with her right now?
Consort Tong felt increasingly uneasy. Having already walked most of the way to Xianfu Palace, she decided to turn back and try to talk to the Empress again…

Just as I was walking past the entrance of Kunning Palace, I saw the Empress leading a group of people in the opposite direction.

Zhen'er was also carrying an exquisite food box.

Who is the Empress going to deliver food to?

The group of people walked along, then suddenly stopped, as if they had encountered someone.

Tong Changzai, filled with curiosity, quickened her pace and took two steps. Just as she was about to catch up with Shen Qingwan, someone patted her on the shoulder.

"Consort Tong, what are you doing here?" Consort Tong couldn't help but shudder. Perhaps it was because she felt guilty, but the moment she turned her head, she felt her heart was about to jump out of her throat. "Consort Xia... Consort Xia? What are you doing here?"

"I was just strolling around the palace out of boredom when I unexpectedly ran into you here," Consort Xia said with a smile, looking in the direction Consort Tong had just been looking. "What is Consort Tong looking at? That looks like Her Majesty the Empress. Does Consort Tong have something to discuss with Her Majesty the Empress?"

"No...no." Consort Tong's expression was stiff, and her smile was awkward. "I wasn't looking at anyone. I was just bored and wandering around the harem. I was planning to go back now."

"Oh?" Consort Xia said in a drawn-out tone, "What a coincidence, I was just about to go back anyway. In that case, why don't you come back with me, sister?"

Consort Tong's expression was somewhat complicated. Although she didn't want to return to the palace so soon, she couldn't very well tell Consort Xia that she was going to see the Empress.

If she finds out that I just got humiliated at Kunning Palace, she'll lose all face!
"Okay." Tong Changzai nodded reluctantly.

"Let's not go over there and disturb Her Majesty the Empress. How about we go back via this side path?" Consort Xia said, turning around and taking a step towards the side path before Consort Tong could even speak.

Consort Tong glanced at the backs of the Empress and her entourage with resentment, stomped her feet on the ground in anger, and still followed behind Consort Xia at a distance.

She had finally managed to find such a discreet opportunity to see the Empress today; who knows when she'll get another chance?

This Consort Xia!
Why can't we just stay comfortably in the palace?

What are you out for a stroll about?
Consort Tong took a deep breath and quickened her pace, calling out, "Consort Xia, wait for me!"

The other side.

Shen Qingwan led her people toward the direction of the prince's residence, when a person walked towards them.

Prince Rui?
Why did he enter the palace at this hour?

At the same time, Prince Rui also saw her. She suddenly stopped and bowed, saying, "Sister-in-law."

Shen Qingwan returned the greeting: "Prince Rui, why are you entering the palace at this hour?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, it was Your Majesty who summoned me to the palace to have dinner together in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. I didn't expect to run into Your Majesty here. Would Your Majesty like to come along?"

Shen Qingwan smiled gently, "Since it was His Majesty who invited the Prince to the palace for a meal, His Majesty must have a lot to say to the Prince. I will not disturb you any longer. Another day when there is an opportunity, His Majesty and I will invite the Prince to a meal together."

"I often hear my brother mention that the food in my sister-in-law's small kitchen is a hundred times better than the food in the imperial kitchen."

Shen Qingwan lowered her eyes, feeling embarrassed by the compliment. "Your Highness is too kind. I have other matters to attend to today."

"Where is Your Majesty going, Sister-in-law?" Prince Rui glanced at the food box in Zhen'er's hand.

"I went to the Prince's quarters to see the First Prince. I was a little late coming out, and I'm afraid the First Prince is still waiting for me to have dinner together," Shen Qingwan said apologetically.

"Please wait, Your Majesty." Prince Rui said, gesturing to his attendants behind him.

The attendant handed him an exquisite box.

“Your Majesty, this is some Dong’e donkey-hide gelatin that I brought back from the Jiangnan region. Usually, this donkey-hide gelatin is used for medicinal purposes. This shop has made it into a kind of snack with red dates, peanuts and sesame seeds. It’s quite novel, so I bought a few boxes. I originally planned to have the Empress Dowager pass it on to Your Majesty when I pay my respects to her tomorrow, but I didn’t expect to run into her in the palace today. So, Your Majesty, I’ll give you this one first.”

Shen Qingwan's eyes widened in surprise. She hesitated slightly before taking the item from Prince Rui's hands.

Has Prince Rui gone mad?
(End of this chapter)