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

Chapter 224 Ambush
Tong Changzai: ...

She glanced around cautiously and deliberately lowered her voice, saying, "What are you yelling about? Do you want everyone to hear what we're saying? What do you mean by 'hearing who said what'? Who could I possibly hear what you said? Don't talk nonsense. I was just going along with what you said."

"Tch." Ruan Changzai couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I thought you really overheard something behind our backs, but you didn't tell us. Are you even a good sister?"

"Actually..." Dong Changzai paused before speaking, "Her Majesty the Empress is the mother of the nation. All the children in the harem, regardless of which concubine gave birth to them, should call Her Majesty the Empress 'Mother.' Now that Her Majesty the Empress is highly regarded by the Emperor, even if she really wanted to adopt the First Prince, the Emperor would probably agree."

“You can’t say that. There were fewer princes in the harem before. The eldest prince wasn’t favored by the emperor, and the second prince was never very healthy. That left only the third prince. Everyone thought it was only a matter of time before the emperor made the third prince the crown prince. No one expected that after the selection of princes, the winds in the entire harem would change. They not only stopped blowing towards Jingyang Palace, but it seems they’ve even reached Kunning Palace. If the Empress really adopted the eldest prince, do you think she wouldn’t try to compete for the crown prince position? Even if it’s not for the eldest prince, she’d have to think about herself.” Consort Ruan said sullenly.

"However, there's something I've never understood. Since Her Majesty the Empress can help so many low-ranking concubines in the harem compete for the Emperor's favor, why doesn't she help herself? You know, Her Majesty the Empress hasn't even consummated her marriage with the Emperor yet," Consort Tong said, puzzled.

Dong Changzai spread his hands and said, "Such a thing is not something that can be won by simply wanting to. If the Emperor does not want to favor the Empress, I'm afraid there is no one in the whole world who can persuade him."

"So, according to your logic..." Consort Tong's expression was complicated, "Those concubines in the harem who were promoted by the Empress, the Emperor actually liked them from the beginning. The Empress speaking well of them to the Emperor was just going with the flow?"

"Oh dear, we were just chatting, why is Consort Tong taking this so seriously?" Consort Ruan shook her head with a laugh. "Whether the Emperor likes it or not, it doesn't seem to concern the three of us. Before entering the palace, I looked forward to becoming a concubine, but now that I'm in the palace, I realize that an unfavored concubine can only see the Emperor a few times a year."

Consort Tong said impatiently, "Alright, all of you, say less. In another month, when the Fourth Prince celebrates his one-month birthday, he'll be able to see the Emperor..."

Ruan Changzai: ...

Dong Changzai: ...

Apart from three, almost all the other concubines were discussing the matter of palace maids leaving the palace.

"How many people have left your palace?" Consort Shen asked Consort Yao beside her.

"I'm doing alright here. Two people have been released, and the remaining one is quite old. According to the original palace rules, she should have left the palace next year, but she said that she has no one left in her family and doesn't know where she could go if she left. Now that the palace rules have been changed, she can stay and won't have to leave the palace next year," Consort Yao said calmly.

"That's good, but I'm annoyed. After the registration yesterday, all four of my palace maids reached the age to leave the palace. After dinner, I asked them briefly, and it seems they don't want to continue serving in the palace. They said that at this age, they can still find a good family to marry into. If they leave the palace in a few more years, they'll probably only be able to become someone's concubine. I really don't understand. What's wrong with being someone's concubine? Rather than being the wife of a poor family, it's better to be a concubine in a wealthy family. At least you won't have to worry about food and clothing. What else can a lowly palace maid want?" Consort Shen was annoyed.

"Four? With so many fewer people in the palace, it's indeed a bit inconvenient to serve them." Consort Yao exclaimed in surprise.

"Alas, indeed," Consort Shen sighed. "After I pay my respects to the Empress, I need to ask the Chief Steward of the Imperial Household Department if, since these four palace maids have all left the palace, I can temporarily select two of the newly arrived maids to fill in." "..."

Just then, Zhen'er came out from the main hall. "Your Majesties, Her Majesty the Empress has finished washing and dressing. Please come in."

Consort Xian's legs ached from waiting at the door. As soon as she heard that she could go in, she disregarded her rank, which was only that of a concubine, and was the first to enter the main hall of Kunning Palace, completely ignoring Consort Shu and Consort Jin who were squeezed behind her.

The two looked at each other.

When Consort Xian was a concubine, she never took Consort Jin seriously. After all, in her eyes, a concubine who had never been favored for many years was just a figurehead with no real power, no matter how high her rank was.

But Consort Shu was different. Consort Shu was in the same rank as her back then. Consort Shu's father was a civil official, no lower than Consort Xian's father. Although she couldn't enjoy the same favor as Consort Xian, Emperor Yuanwu would still visit her palace from time to time. In the harem, Consort Shu was considered someone who could keep Consort Xian in check. Otherwise, when Shen Qingwan suggested that Consort Shu take care of the Third Prince after Consort Xian's incident, Emperor Yuanwu and the Empress Dowager would not have readily agreed.

Currently, Consort Xian is a concubine, and Consort Shu is a consort.

According to palace rules, Consort Xian should bow to Consort Shu. Her failure to do so violated palace regulations. Such disrespect was indeed unacceptable.

Consort Shu's face was not good, and she still did not say anything. Consort Jin couldn't bear to watch any longer and couldn't help but speak up, "What time is it? This Consort Xian still doesn't recognize her own rank. Is she forgetful or has she lost her mind? Could it be that she has forgotten that she is no longer the high and mighty Consort Xian? She is just a concubine. She is so arrogant. Who is she trying to impress?"

"Never mind." Consort Shu frowned and glanced at Consort Xian's limping figure.

Consort Shu said it was alright, but Consort Jin could not say it was alright. "Sister is just too kind-hearted and too easy to talk to."

"Sigh." Consort Shu couldn't help but sigh. "Even if it's for the sake of the Third Prince, no matter what, she is the Third Prince's birth mother. As long as it doesn't look too bad on the surface, let's just let it go."

"Heh." Consort Jin sneered, "Sister, you've been swallowing your anger and letting things slide, but that's only because of you. Look at how arrogant she was just now. Did she have any respect for you at all? Besides, she was the one who nearly killed herself back then. The Third Prince was so young at the time. It was only after the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress that you were asked to raise him. You were just following the orders of the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the Empress. You don't owe her anything. Why should you humble yourself in front of her?"

"That's what I say, but..."

(End of this chapter)