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

Chapter 26 Be more serious
Consort Xian and Noble Lady Bai looked in the direction of the sound.

"The eldest prince? Why is he studying here?" Consort Xian asked, puzzled.

"Your Highness, Consort Xian, you didn't know?" Consort Bai asked in surprise.

"What do you know?" Consort Xian asked in return.

"I heard that a few days ago, His Majesty suddenly went to the Princes' quarters and inquired about the eldest prince's studies. I don't know why, but His Majesty got very angry. He not only changed the eldest prince's tutor, but also replaced all the nannies and eunuchs in the eldest prince's palace. Some of the previous nannies and eunuchs were flogged and all of them were sent to the Department of Cautious Punishment."

After Bai Guiren finished speaking, she looked around to make sure no one had heard her before she slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Is that so?" Consort Xian stared at the First Prince's figure, her gaze darkening.

"Even though Consort Li has been gone for so many years, the Emperor has never forgotten her." Consort Bai sighed, "When Consort Li was alive, the Emperor never cared about any other woman."

"The Emperor doesn't seem to care about anyone these days," Consort Xian said resentfully.

“However, I heard…” Consort Bai looked around, “The Empress told the Emperor about the First Prince.”

Queen?

After seeing off the concubines, Shen Qingwan returned to her palace and slept until noon.

After lunch.

She changed her clothes and went to the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace.

The stage was set up outside the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

The time is about right.

Shen Qingwan accompanied the Empress Dowager toward the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

"Your Majesty is too kind. Actually, Your Majesty didn't need to make a special trip to Cining Palace to pick me up. I can go by myself." Although the Empress Dowager spoke politely, the smile on her lips showed that she was quite happy that Shen Qingwan was going to Cining Palace to accompany her.

"Mother, it's no trouble at all. I don't have anything to do anyway, so it's fine for me to accompany you for a walk." Shen Qingwan paused, then continued, "Mother, Consort Rou has only recently entered the palace. Not only is she pregnant, but she has also been promoted three ranks. I've already given her a lot of instructions, but..."

The Empress Dowager seemed to have already guessed what Shen Qingwan was going to say next: "If the Empress has any concerns, she may speak frankly."

"I think it would be better if Your Majesty personally appointed a physician to help Consort Rou with her pregnancy. That way, even if someone has any ulterior motives, they will be more cautious. What do you think, Your Majesty?" Shen Qingwan said.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat surprised by Shen Qingwan's words, but she was no longer as astonished as she had been when she first heard them.

She used to think Shen Qingwan was faking it, but now she was almost certain that Shen Qingwan had indeed changed after her serious illness.

"Your Majesty's considerations are thorough, and I am very pleased. The Chief Physician Zhang of the Imperial Medical Academy has served in the palace for many years and has been loyal and virtuous for three generations. Rather than Consort Rou's pregnancy, let's entrust it to Physician Zhang. What does Your Majesty think?"

Shen Qingwan is sensible and knows proper etiquette.

Unlike before, when she made all the decisions herself for fear of causing trouble, the Empress Dowager spoke with a tone of consultation when expressing her thoughts.

"Your daughter-in-law thinks it's very good," Shen Qingwan said softly.

"Zhang Mama, let's do it this way!" the Empress Dowager instructed Zhang Mama behind her.

"Yes, Your Majesty, this servant will go to the Imperial Hospital immediately to convey Your Majesty's decree."

When the Empress Dowager and Shen Qingwan arrived at the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, many concubines had already arrived.

The Empress Dowager's seat was in the very center of the stage, and Shen Qingwan sat next to her, while the seat on the other side of the Empress Dowager remained empty.

Not long after, Consort Rou arrived, and the Empress Dowager invited her to sit down on her other side. "This concubine thanks Your Majesty the Empress Dowager for your kindness," Consort Rou said, overjoyed.

"It's been a long time since there's been such a joyous occasion in the palace. Consort Rou must take good care of herself and give birth to a prince for the Emperor as soon as possible." The Empress Dowager held Consort Rou's hand and said, "I just discussed with the Empress and we've decided to have Physician Zhang from the Imperial Hospital help you with your pregnancy. I trust Physician Zhang's medical skills. You must follow his advice and take good care of yourself."

Consort Rou was startled and hurriedly knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, I am terrified. I am just a lowly concubine, how could I be worthy of being Your Majesty's imperial physician?"

The Empress Dowager pulled Consort Rou up from the ground: "Pregnant women should not kneel so easily. If you can give birth to a prince or princess for the Emperor in the future, that will be the greatest filial piety you can show to me."

"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager," said Consort Rou.

The Consort Xian, Consort De, and Consort Shu, who had always been outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds, were surprisingly in sync this time.

They exchanged a glance upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words.

The eunuch delivered the playbill.

The Empress presented it to the Empress Dowager: "Mother, what would you like to hear?"

"I've lived in this palace my whole life, heard the same things over and over again. You guys can have some of it."

The Empress Dowager glanced at the playbill casually, then handed it to the Empress.

Since the Empress Dowager allowed her to order.

Shen Qingwan didn't stand on ceremony and directly requested the song "Mu Guiying Takes Command".

The drama depicts a battle of wits and strength between the loyal minister Kou Zhun and the Yang family generals on one side, and the treacherous ministers Wang Qiang and Wang Lun on the other. The story ends with Mu Guiying leading the army to victory.

The singing was expressive and powerful.

The Empress Dowager was overjoyed: "Reward me!"

Consort Xian took the playbill and looked at it: "I really don't know what to listen to. Why don't you let Consort Rou choose?"

Consort Rou looked troubled: "Your Highness Consort Xian, what should we do? Let Consort De and Consort Shu order first."

Consort Shu had no objection: "It's alright, Consort Xian. Since Consort Xian let you order first, it's fine for us to order after you've ordered."

“Yes, since Consort Xian asked you to order, then you should order first, sister. We’re all family, there’s no need for so much formality,” Consort De chimed in.

Consort Xian: ? ? ?
Consort Rou took the playbill and looked at it again and again.

"How about I request a song from 'The Peony Pavilion'? The most alluring lip color this year is the pink painted wall, which is missing from the low. Let's all have some fun."

"How can you say it's just for fun? I remember there's a line in 'The Peony Pavilion': 'The flowers were in full bloom, but now they're all gone, leaving only broken wells and crumbling walls. What a waste of such a beautiful day! Whose courtyard is this after all this time?' I'm afraid that's what you wanted to hear, sister." Consort Xian said sullenly, "Sister, are you trying to say that good times don't last?"

Consort Rou turned pale with fright and hurriedly knelt on the ground: "Empress Dowager, Empress, Consort Xian, I absolutely did not mean that."

The Empress Dowager was originally in a good mood, but at this moment, Consort Xian's words made her face darken.

“Just listen to the opera lyrics. Consort Xian, you are an old hand in the palace. Why do you have to take it so seriously with Consort Rou?”

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, that's not what I meant."

The atmosphere froze instantly.

Shen Qingwan took the playbill and said, "Mother, how about we listen to another song, 'A Dream of Yellow Millet'? Whether it's spring flowers or broken wells and crumbling walls, life is just a dream."

(End of this chapter)