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

Chapter 237 Cover
Shen Qingwan: ...

"The Emperor already has an eldest son. Besides, I am the Empress. The children in the harem are also my children. Even if the Emperor wants to establish a Crown Prince in the future, he will consider which child can shoulder the heavy responsibility, and it will not depend on whether he is born to me or not."

"The Empress's words are indeed very virtuous and kind," Emperor Yuanwu said sullenly.

Shen Qingwan: ...

If you're not virtuous and kind, are you going to resort to unreasonable arguments?

Being an empress is difficult, but being the empress of Emperor Yuanwu is even more difficult!
"Alright then." Emperor Yuanwu stood up from the stool. "Then the Empress should come with me to Xianfu Palace to see Consort Xi. If you don't go, you'll inevitably have to listen to the Empress Dowager's nagging again tomorrow."

Shen Qingwan: ...

Shen Qingwan was tormented; did he even know that?
But what he heard from the Empress Dowager's ramblings was nothing compared to what she heard!

Fortunately, at least Emperor Yuanwu still has something to fear; she was afraid that he would fear nothing at all!
Now that he's willing to go, we can finally give an explanation to the Empress Dowager.

Let her stay with us.

She's still not full!

When Shen Qingwan accompanied Emperor Yuanwu to the gate of Xianfu Palace, the Empress Dowager had already arrived.

She was sitting by Consort Xi's bedside, holding her hand and talking to her. Just by looking at her expression, Shen Qingwan was certain in her heart that Consort Xi was indeed pregnant.

Otherwise, if she were simply feeling unwell, the Empress Dowager wouldn't have come over so late in person, nor would she have been smiling so broadly that she could barely contain herself.

Shen Qingwan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, she managed to persuade Emperor Yuanwu to come over. Even the Empress Dowager came in person, so it would have been unreasonable for Emperor Yuanwu to just stand in Kunning Palace and not come over.

"Your Majesty." Emperor Yuanwu walked to the Empress Dowager's side and bowed. "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Shen Qingwan followed closely behind, saying, "Your daughter-in-law greets Your Majesty."

"Good, good, good, you've come at the perfect time. I have some good news to tell you." The Empress Dowager smiled broadly. "Consort Xi is pregnant."

The news was indeed good, and Shen Qingwan finally felt relieved.

When Wu Jixiang came in just now and said that people from Xianfu Palace had come to invite Emperor Yuanwu, she was only guessing.

"Congratulations to Consort Xi, congratulations to the Emperor, congratulations to the Empress Dowager," Shen Qingwan said with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress." Consort Xi was about to get up when Shen Qingwan hurriedly stopped her.

Although she used her pregnancy to invite the Emperor over, she looked really unwell. Whether she was fainting or not was hard to say, but she definitely looked uncomfortable.

“It is a joyous occasion that Consort Xi is pregnant. At this time, there is no need for so many formalities. You can also skip the greetings from now on. What you need to do now is to take good care of your health and give birth to a healthy baby boy for the Emperor,” Shen Qingwan said with a smile.

Consort Xi lowered her eyes shyly, "I dare not hope for a prince, a princess would be fine too."

“Whether it’s a princess or a prince, His Majesty will like them.” After saying that, Shen Qingwan turned to Emperor Yuanwu and asked, “Your Majesty, don’t you agree?”

Emperor Yuanwu pursed his lips deeply. "That's natural."

When he looked away, he glanced at Shen Qingwan.

It was as if to say, "Whether I'm happy or not doesn't matter, as the Empress seems quite pleased."

Shen Qingwan didn't care at all. Anyway, she had personally delivered the person, so her task was complete. The Empress Dowager was also there. As for whether Emperor Yuanwu should stay and accompany Consort Xi, that was not her business.

"It's getting late, and Consort Xi, being pregnant, should rest early. I'll head back now." Shen Qingwan said, and without waiting for anyone to speak, she curtsied and walked directly towards the gate of Xianfu Palace.

Shen Qingwan slipped away as fast as she could, practically running all the way out of the Xianfu Palace gate.

"Your Highness, please slow down and wait for me." Zhen'er followed behind, almost unable to catch up. "Is there something urgent that Your Highness needs to return to?" She asked, trying to walk faster.

Are they waiting for Emperor Yuanwu to use her as a cover?

She had seen how reluctant he was to come over.

Whether Emperor Yuanwu stays or not is his business. Even if he really wants to leave, he cannot leave with the Empress Dowager in front of her.

She's not taking the blame for this!

The Empress Dowager thought her precious cousin was perfect in every way and couldn't tell at all how much the Emperor disliked her.

If people think she deliberately tried to win the emperor's favor and managed to seduce him away, wouldn't she be wronged?
"I'm just a little hungry!" Shen Qingwan said leisurely.

Zhen'er: ...

"Then this servant will ask the imperial kitchen to prepare some late-night snacks and send them to the palace. If Your Majesty is really hungry, just drinking bird's nest porridge won't be enough to satisfy your hunger," Zhen'er said with concern.

"Mm." Shen Qingwan nodded.

Don't say it!

I slept all afternoon and didn't really have much of an appetite when I woke up. But thanks to Emperor Yuanwu, I went out for a stroll and I'm actually hungry now!
Since Consort Xi has a child, it's definitely time to have a good meal to celebrate.

Help her escape disaster!
Otherwise, Emperor Yuanwu might really have had to stay overnight at Kunning Palace tonight.

"Let's use that cloisonné enamel pot with the floral pattern that the Emperor bestowed upon us. Let's prepare a pot, some mutton, some meatballs, and some simple vegetables. Just a simple meal will do."

Zhen'er: ...

It's so easy to eat hot pot in the middle of the night.

Zhen'er instructed the two palace maids who had come to Xianfu Palace with them: one should return to the palace to prepare, and the other should go to the imperial kitchen to deliver a message.

Now only the two of them remained.

Shen Qingwan lowered her head and had only taken two steps when she vaguely felt a figure in front of her.

I looked up!

Prince Rui?
Shen Qingwan's eyes widened in surprise.

Why is Prince Rui entering the palace at this hour?
Could it be that he also knew about Consort Xi's pregnancy? Even if he wanted to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, this was a bit too fast, wasn't it?
Prince Rui seemed to have seen her too. He quickened his pace, walked up to her, and bowed with his arms crossed, saying, "Sister-in-law."

"Prince Rui's information network is truly impressive; he's entered the palace so quickly?" Shen Qingwan smiled awkwardly.

"Hmm?" Prince Rui raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "Forgive me for not understanding what you meant, Your Highness?"

Shen Qingwan: Uh…

It seems she was overthinking it!
"It's nothing. I just accompanied the Emperor to Xianfu Palace to see Consort Xi. Consort Xi is pregnant, and the Empress Dowager is overjoyed. She is currently at Xianfu Palace with Consort Xi," Shen Qingwan said with a smile.

Prince Rui's eyes flickered. "That is indeed a joyous occasion."

Shen Qingwan nodded and didn't continue speaking. She really didn't know what to say, especially recently. She kept thinking about what had happened between the original owner and Prince Rui. The more she couldn't remember this memory, the more she felt a strange sense of panic whenever she saw Prince Rui.

The two stood facing each other, neither speaking, neither showing any intention of leaving, creating an awkward and strange atmosphere.

Just then, the attendant following Prince Rui took a step back, casually turning to look to the side...

(End of this chapter)