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

Chapter 260 Obsession
When Consort Xian returned to the palace, she learned that General Pang had been out of danger.

"Your Majesty, Physician Zhang is truly a miracle worker. He only arrived in one night, and General Pang's condition has been stabilized. It is likely that in a few days, General Pang will be completely recovered."

When Xia Fuchuan told Consort Xian the good news, the corners of his lips were turned up. It wasn't that he admired or respected General Pang so much, but he knew very well that although Consort Xian's current status in the harem was not entirely due to General Pang, the Emperor's favor and indulgence towards Consort Xian were definitely related to General Pang.

After all, only by appeasing General Pang's daughter could General Pang be willing to risk his life on the front lines. Only by giving his daughter enough honor would he not hoard troops and rebel, because he knew that if he did that, Consort Xian would be the first to die.

However, if General Pang gets into trouble, those in the court who have long disliked him, as well as the families of the concubines in the harem who have been bullied by Consort Xian, will surely join forces to impeach him. At that time, even if the emperor has Consort Xian in his heart and wants to protect her, he will certainly not lose the hearts of all the civil and military officials because of a woman.

Once Consort Xian falls from power, the first to suffer will inevitably be the servants who have served her for many years, especially servants like him. Those who have grudges against Consort Xian will vent their anger on him, subjecting him to all seventy-two punishments of the Imperial Prison. He will be condemned to a life of unimaginable suffering!
Consort Xian couldn't help but sneer at Xia Fuchuan's words. "What do you mean by Physician Zhang's miraculous healing? You're giving him far too much credit. My father's recovery only shows that he's blessed by the heavens. What does it have to do with that physician? If he really could bring the dead back to life as you say, how could so many children have been lost in the palace?"

Xia Fuchuan was speechless for a moment, and after a long while he managed to utter six words, "What Your Majesty says is indeed true."

Consort Xian stared at her hands, looking at them from left to right.

"But just thinking about how I slapped that bitch today makes me feel good. From the day she entered the Prince's mansion, she wanted to compete with me in everything, to fight for everything, for rewards, for favors. In the end, she actually became a mere noble lady."

Consort Xian couldn't help but cover her face and laugh as she said this, "In the harem, whoever has a low rank deserves to be bullied."

Hearing her words, Xia Fuchuan couldn't help but purse his lips deeply. He looked at Xia Mei beside him, but at this moment, Xia Mei seemed much calmer than him. Not only did she not find anything wrong with what Consort Xian said, but she didn't even frown.

Although Consort Song was pulled back by Pei'er and several accompanying servants.

Once she stepped into Yanxi Palace, she could no longer hold back her tears.

The palace maids and eunuchs of Yanxi Palace knelt on the ground.

Pei'er choked back tears as she said, "This servant knows that Your Highness has suffered a grievance today, and this servant also knows that Your Highness is not afraid of Consort Xian, but this servant dared not stand idly by. Ever since the anniversary of Consort Li's death, Your Highness has been frightened, lost your child, and been demoted. The Emperor has never come to our Yanxi Palace again."
Now that you've finally recovered and the rumors in the palace have subsided, Your Majesty mustn't create any trouble for yourself at this time, lest someone find fault with you. Although Your Majesty has suffered some injustice, I've heard that General Pang Da was seriously injured in the military camp and probably doesn't have long to live. If General Pang Da really dies, Consort Xian will likely have plenty of time to shine in the harem.

As the saying goes, "A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years." Your Majesty, please bear with it for now. If Your Majesty is truly enraged, then have someone give this servant dozens of lashes until Your Majesty calms down!

After Pei'er finished speaking, she knelt down and kowtowed.

Tolerate?
Hasn't she endured enough?

In what way is she inferior to Consort Xian? It's just because she has a father who is good at fighting, so from the day she entered the mansion, she had to tolerate her in everything and give in to her in everything.

dying?
Are you really going to die?

If she doesn't die, how long will she have to endure it?
Hit her? She actually hit her in front of so many people?

Consort Song stumbled to the bronze mirror, looked at her slightly reddened cheeks from the beating, and burst into laughter as she cried.

Look!
She hadn't paid her respects to the Empress for so long. When she went there this morning, she saw the surprised looks on the faces of the concubines who had been with her in the palace for so long. They probably didn't even remember her anymore.

Harem!
To be without favor is to be lowly!

She is now living a life worse than even a palace maid beside the Empress, able to be beaten and scolded at will.

"Niangniang, Niangniang..."

As Consort Song was weeping bitterly, a palace maid who was guarding the gate of Yanxi Palace rushed over from outside.

Seeing her flustered appearance, Consort Song turned her head and glanced at her, but she had been crying so hard that her eyes were swollen and her vision was blurry.

Pei'er knelt on the ground and gave the palace maid who ran in several winks, signaling her to leave quickly. She really had no sense of propriety. Couldn't she see that her master was in a bad mood? Running in at this time was like offering her face to be slapped.

Little Red Girl was out of breath from running. She understood Pei'er's hint, but showed no intention of leaving. She swallowed hard and, just as Consort Song was about to get angry, she said, "Your Majesty, Eunuch Jixiang is here. Please prepare to receive the imperial decree."

Imperial decree?

Why did an imperial edict suddenly arrive out of nowhere?

Consort Song could hardly believe her ears. She wiped away her tears, and the moment she stood up, her vision went black, and she almost fell down.

Pei'er quickly got up from the ground and helped her up. "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Consort Song composed herself, slowly shook her head, her eyes revealing a cold sharpness, but she smiled.

See? What was that saying again? Emperor Yuanwu is always like this. In the harem, no matter who has a dispute with Consort Xian, he will always side with Consort Xian without distinguishing right from wrong. Even if it was Consort Xian who deliberately provoked him and slapped him, she is still the one who gets punished in the end.

This idea wasn't just shared by Consort Song; everyone in Yanxi Palace thought the same way at that moment.

Pei'er's expression was solemn. Although she had complaints in her heart, she dared not show them on her face. She felt that she had really done her best. She had stopped her mistress like this, and her mistress had been wronged. But why did the emperor still protect Xianpin and not let it go? Did the emperor really not know how to distinguish right from wrong and only knew how to side with Xianpin just because she had a father who could guard the frontier?

Now that the country is peaceful and there is no war to fight, how long will the emperor continue to be so stubborn before he is satisfied?