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

Chapter 263 It’s useless to talk more
Not to mention the triennial imperial concubine selection, daughters of meritorious officials and those presented by various princely mansions were also constantly being chosen by the Empress Dowager.

Which one of them wasn't a beauty of unparalleled grace? Which one couldn't bear children for Emperor Yuanwu?

Therefore, it is far more terrifying that the emperor was willing to listen to a woman's opinions and suggestions, rather than simply wanting to have sexual relations with her.

Moreover, there has always been an even more terrifying rumor in the palace: that Prince Rui is still unmarried because he is in love with the Empress.

A woman who can manipulate two princes would find it as easy as crushing an ant to deal with any of the concubines in the palace.

She increasingly felt that the more indifferent the Empress seemed to be, the more frightening she became.

If she and the Empress could be bound by a prince, wouldn't they share both glory and misfortune in the future? She didn't believe that the Empress, who was indifferent to worldly affairs, would remain unmoved by the child she had raised.

In the evening, after having dinner, Shen Qingwan lay on the chaise lounge reading a book.

However, she clearly seemed somewhat distracted at this moment.

She usually didn't like to be disturbed when she was reading, so the palace maids would stand outside the hall waiting for her.

She glanced towards the palace gate, and was about to call Zhen'er in, but Zhen'er entered first.

"Your Majesty, I have just received news that Xiao Cui is dead," Zhen'er said solemnly.

what?
died?

Shen Qingwan's pupils dilated sharply. "When did this happen?"

"It seems he was gone the day after he left the palace." Zhen'er didn't know what to say.

They all knew perfectly well who did it.

Xiao Cui was caught between Consort Xian and the entire Kunning Palace. Regardless of whether she did what Consort Xian asked her to do or not, she had already stepped out of the palace and could never come back in this lifetime. Why did Consort Xian have to kill her?

"Your Majesty, perhaps Consort Xian felt that she had approached Xiao Cui, wanting Xiao Cui to keep an eye on your every word and action in Kunning Palace, fearing that her secret would be exposed. But she didn't know that you already knew about this all along," Zhen'er said with a smile.

"That's just how Consort Xian is. She's always too clever for her own good. Even if she finds something to hold against her, so what?" Shen Qingwan picked up the tea that Zhen'er brought her and took a small sip.

“That’s right. Even if she really found out something from Xiao Cui and brought it up to the Emperor, the Emperor wouldn’t listen to a palace maid’s words and punish the Empress,” Zhen’er replied.

Zhen'er is right.

Emperor Yuanwu was not incapable, but rather dared not.

When a concubine, accompanied by her palace maids, goes to Emperor Yuanwu to lodge a complaint, it is no longer a simple matter within the harem; it may even affect the imperial court.

Furthermore, once such a thing happens, I'm afraid the Empress Dowager will be the first to step forward and will deal with Consort Xian before things even get to that point.

Consort Xian was unaware that General Pang Da, with his powerful army, had long been a source of fear for Emperor Yuanwu. The moment the Rong family rose to prominence, General Pang Da was no longer someone who could threaten Emperor Yuanwu. However, Consort Xian never truly understood her own position and was still waiting for her father to achieve military merit so that her status in the harem could be secure forever.

She really doesn't understand anything!

Shen Qingwan glanced out the window, then looked at Zhen'er. With just a look, Zhen'er understood her meaning and, with a casual excuse, sent everyone standing in the palace away.

"Go and find me a palace maid's outfit. I want to take a walk in the Imperial Garden."

The palace maid's clothes?
Royal Garden?
When Zhen'er heard these two sentences, she almost cried out in surprise if she hadn't quickly covered her mouth. "Your Highness, are you crazy? Even if you want to go to the Imperial Garden, you can't wear a palace maid's clothes. If someone recognizes you, who knows how much gossip and trouble will arise." Zhen'er looked troubled and waved her hands several times.

"I will be careful." Shen Qingwan's eyes were indifferent, and she spoke casually, as if she were just going out for a stroll in broad daylight.

But it was nighttime!

They even had to wear palace maid's clothes!!!
Zhen'er guessed that Shen Qingwan's trip out like this was definitely not just a simple stroll in the Imperial Garden.

What's in the Imperial Garden?

The Imperial Garden not only has flowers, but also Prince Rui's boat, and coincidentally, Prince Rui also entered the palace today.

But when exactly did she make the appointment with Prince Rui?

Even her personal maid didn't know?
“It’s fine if Your Highness wants to go, but Zhen’er wants to go with you!” Zhen’er said firmly.

"You should stay in the palace. If someone comes, you can help cover for them," Shen Qingwan said, already starting to remove her earrings.

“Your Majesty, if someone from the palace comes, you can just say you're asleep and that should be enough to cover it up. But if you meet with Prince Rui without keeping watch, and someone finds out, that's a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family!” Zhen’er said solemnly, and at the end, she even gestured with her hand across her neck.

Shen Qingwan: ...

She really has been serving the original character since childhood; nothing can be hidden from her.

However, Zhen'er overheard her talking in her sleep and calling out Prince Rui's name.

If this matter were still deliberately kept hidden at this point, it would seem pretentious.

Shen Qingwan thought for a moment, "That's fine then, go and call Su Tianhe over."

“Okay.” Zhen’er curtsied and went out.

When Su Tianhe entered the palace, Shen Qingwan had already changed into a palace maid's clothes.

I thought that calling him over at this hour must mean something was wrong, but it seems that it's not just something, it's something big.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Su Tianhe asked, his face full of shock.

"Zhen'er and I are going out for a while and should be back soon. Keep an eye on everyone in the palace. If anyone comes over, just tell them I've already gone to bed and ask them to come back tomorrow," Shen Qingwan said casually while adjusting her belt.

It's not my own clothes, so it just doesn't feel right no matter how I wear them, especially around the waist. It always seems wrinkled and awkward.

"Your Majesty..." Su Tianhe moved his lips, wanting to say a few more words of advice, but then he saw Zhen'er standing next to the Empress glaring at him fiercely, and he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

The Empress has already changed her clothes, so it's probably pointless for him to say anything more. Zhen'er must have already given all the advice she could when she brought her own clothes for the Empress to wear, so there's no point in saying anything more.

The best thing he could do at that moment was to keep the people in the palace from knowing that the Empress was not in the palace.

They watched as the Queen and Zhen'er climbed out of the window.

Su Tianhe turned off the lights in the palace and swaggered out of it. "Her Majesty the Empress has retired for the night. You may all leave now. I will keep watch tonight."

"Ah?" The palace maid standing at the palace gate was startled. "But..."