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

Chapter 230 Please
Consort Xian paused abruptly when questioned. Emperor Yuanwu's icy gaze made her mind go blank for a moment, and a nameless panic welled up in her heart, leaving her unable to utter a single word.

Emperor Yuanwu lost his patience, especially since he had just come out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and saw her sitting at the door. Even though Consort Xian hadn't said anything, Emperor Yuanwu assumed that she was just throwing a tantrum because he hadn't been to Jingyang Palace in a long time.

"If there's nothing else, Consort Xian, you may return now. I've been busy all morning and haven't had lunch yet," Emperor Yuanwu said, and before she could reply, he had already started walking.

Consort Xian seemed surprised by Emperor Yuanwu's coldness. She paused for a moment before quickly catching up with him. "Your Majesty, I have come here today because I truly have something to say to you."

Emperor Yuanwu did not speak, but his pace gradually slowed down.

"Your Majesty, there is something I don't know if Your Majesty is aware of." Consort Xian said, glancing cautiously at Emperor Yuanwu. "For some reason, Her Majesty the Empress suddenly decided to release all the palace maids who are 18 years of age or older out of the palace."

Emperor Yuanwu did not stop walking, but when he heard her mention the palace maids leaving the palace, his brow furrowed imperceptibly. "A few days ago, when I was dining with the Empress in Kunning Palace, I heard her mention this matter. Why? Is there something wrong with it?"

Consort Xian gave an awkward laugh. "Your Majesty may not know, but this matter has caused quite a stir in the harem. The entire harem is now filled with complaints. I wonder if Your Majesty has heard about it?"

"Hmm?" Emperor Yuanwu suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned his head and glanced at Consort Xian, his voice drawn out. "Is this true?"

"Of course." Seeing that Emperor Yuanwu's attitude was no longer as cold and unapproachable as before, Consort Xian hurriedly stepped forward and took his arm. "Your Majesty, think about it. Most of the ladies in our palace have served in the Prince's residence. Their servants have also been with them since they entered the Prince's residence. Naturally, they are all quite old. If we follow the Empress's suggestion that palace maids can choose to leave the palace or stay and continue serving when they reach the age of 18, I'm afraid there won't be many people left in our palace."

Emperor Yuanwu did not speak, but his gaze was noticeably deeper than before.

"Your Majesty, I don't know what Consort Shu and the others are thinking, but after all, they all have the power to assist in managing the six palaces. Whether to release or keep the palace maids in their own palaces is not for outsiders to say. They will definitely resolve it within the palace themselves, but I..."

Consort Xian paused abruptly, her face filled with sorrow as she wiped her eyes, tears welling in her lashes. "...She could only be at the mercy of others."

"Consort Xian, you are exaggerating." Emperor Yuanwu sighed. "The Empress's decision to allow palace maids aged 18 and above to leave the palace naturally had other intentions. It was not directed at any individual in the harem. She was asking all palace maids aged 18 and above to leave the palace, not just those in Jingyang Palace. Consort Xian, you are indeed overthinking this matter."

Consort Xian froze, looking up at Emperor Yuanwu in disbelief.

What kind of spell did Shen Qingwan cast on him? How could he trust her so completely after such a short time since she last saw Emperor Yuanwu?
Is she overthinking it?

She hasn't said anything yet.

"Your Majesty," Consort Xian looked even more aggrieved, "Your Majesty has misunderstood me. That's not what I meant. I just wanted Your Majesty to put in a good word for me with the Empress. I'm not feeling well and I'm used to being served by the old servants in the palace. There's no need to trouble Jingyang Palace to replace them with a new batch of servants."

Emperor Yuanwu's eyes flashed coldly. "How come I remember the Empress telling me that the palace maids being released from the palace were all free to do so voluntarily? After they turned 18, they had the right to choose to leave the palace. As for whether or not to leave, it was entirely up to them. What? Do the people in Jingyang Palace not want to stay and serve us anymore?"

Consort Xian: ...

Consort Xian's face turned ashen after Emperor Yuanwu's words. "Then...that's naturally not it." "Since it's not, what exactly does Consort Xian want me to say to the Empress?" Emperor Yuanwu's tone was tinged with impatience.

Seeing this, Consort Xian dared not continue speaking. She knew that Emperor Yuanwu had been holding a grudge against her these days, especially after the incident where she and Consort Ruan had a big fight in Jingyang Palace, which she had indeed overstepped her bounds.

Now that she has been demoted to the rank of concubine for so long, Emperor Yuanwu not only has no intention of restoring her to the rank of concubine, but he also refuses to even enter the gates of Jingyang Palace. If she were to anger him again because of a few palace maids leaving the palace, wouldn't she be shooting herself in the foot?

Consort Xian just couldn't understand what methods the Empress had used to make Emperor Yuanwu believe in her so unconditionally, even to the point of having no doubt about her. Even though she had made her words so clear, he still didn't waver in the slightest.

"Your Majesty, I understand." Consort Xian smiled apologetically. "I did act impulsively just now, which is why I said those things. I will discuss the matter of the palace maids leaving the palace with the people in the palace. I will definitely not cause any trouble for Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress."

Emperor Yuanwu's expression softened somewhat upon hearing her words. "It's best that you think this way."

"Your Majesty," Consort Xian said ingratiatingly, "I just heard Your Majesty say that you were discussing state affairs with several ministers in the Imperial Study. You must be very hungry after a busy morning. It's lunchtime now, so why don't you come to my palace for lunch? It's been a long time since Your Majesty has visited my palace."

Emperor Yuanwu remained silent.

Because he had been busy all morning, he wanted to have something different for lunch. Most of the food in Jingyang Palace was sent by the imperial kitchen, and he was tired of eating the same few dishes over and over again. There was nothing new about it.

However, it was indeed lunchtime, and they couldn't think of a place to eat. Since Consort Xian had already spoken, then...

While Emperor Yuanwu was talking to Consort Xian, they had already arrived at the Imperial Garden. Just as he turned his head to say "okay," he inadvertently caught a glimpse of a wooden boat moored in the center of the lake in the Imperial Garden.

"Has Prince Rui not left the palace yet?" Emperor Yuanwu pointed in the direction of the wooden boat and turned to ask Wu Jixiang.

Wu Jixiang was also full of surprise. "Your Majesty, Prince Rui drank a bit too much with Your Majesty yesterday. Late at night, he said he was feeling unwell and left the palace overnight, also summoning the imperial physician."

Not Prince Rui...?
That is?

Just as Emperor Yuanwu was wondering, Wu Jixiang saw several eunuchs standing on the shore. They were from Kunning Palace, so he reached out and called them over.

"Do you know who's on this ship?" Wu Jixiang asked.

"Your Majesty, the person sitting on the boat is Her Majesty the Empress..."

(End of this chapter)