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

Chapter 264 is exciting enough.
"But what?" Su Tianhe's eyes darkened.

The palace maid was momentarily speechless with fright. Her voice grew softer and softer until she could barely hear herself.

"But... Her Majesty the Empress hasn't washed up yet..."

Su Tianhe: ...

Su Tianhe rubbed his temples somewhat awkwardly.

The Empress would not go to bed without bathing and washing herself at night. This habit had been well known to the servants in Kunning Palace ever since the Empress recovered from her serious illness.

But how was he supposed to explain this to them now...?

"Her Majesty the Empress manages so many affairs in the inner palace every day; she must be tired at times. Does Her Majesty expect us servants to know when she goes to bed, whether she needs to wash up, or not?"

"The slaves dare not!"

Su Tianhe's face darkened. "You lot, keep a close eye on her. If you disturb Her Majesty the Empress's rest, you'll be punished!"

As Su Tianhe spoke, he called over all the servants guarding the palace gate.

"And you lot, Her Majesty is tired today and went to bed early. You all better keep a close watch on the gates of Kunning Palace. If anyone disturbs Her Majesty, you will all be punished first thing tomorrow morning."

"Yes." The crowd bowed. "Eunuch Su's advice is correct!"

Su Tianhe watched the two familiar figures from afar. Taking advantage of the brief moment he was disciplining the servant, they quietly slipped out of the palace gate. Only then did he turn his back and let out a long sigh of relief.

Having served in the palace for so many years, this was the first time he had ever done something like this!
They actually helped the Empress cover up the truth.

Seriously, that's thrilling enough, and enough to get you killed!
Shen Qingwan carefully slipped away through the dark areas outside the palace walls.

Once outside the Imperial Garden, she didn't take Zhen'er inside. Instead, she had her hide in a secluded spot outside the garden so that if anyone happened to be there, they could come and tell her immediately.

Having arranged everything, Shen Qingwan walked towards the other side of the lake, stealthily inching forward step by step.

Now that spring has arrived, the withered branches in the Imperial Garden have been pruned. In the past, there were always a few branches that would accidentally brush against his face.

Having spent so long in the harem, this was the first time she had been so bold, as if she were about to do something underhanded.

No, it's not exactly stealing or petty theft, it's more like having an affair.

Actually, she didn't know why she did this, but a strange curiosity drove her to come to the Imperial Garden today to try her luck and see Prince Rui.

Aside from the matter of General Pang, she was actually more curious about what had happened between Prince Rui and the original owner of this body.

She couldn't very well pretend to have amnesia, so she could only try to learn something from talking to him.

Shen Qingwan has been sleeping restlessly lately. She always has a vague premonition that something big is about to happen.

Shen Qingwan carefully moved towards the lakeside, but accidentally got her clothes caught on a branch. She tugged at it twice, but instead of getting the clothes off the branch, she lost her balance and fell uncontrollably to one side.

She dared not make a sound, afraid that making too much noise would attract the attention of the people on patrol at night.

If she were dressed as a palace maid and appeared here alone, it would be far worse than falling flat on her face!
Shen Qingwan resignedly closed her eyes. She had mentally prepared herself, but the expected pain didn't come. Instead, one of her arms was tightly gripped, and her entire body instantly regained its balance. Shen Qingwan grabbed a dry branch and steadied herself.

who?

That force...!
Shen Qingwan felt a sudden, inexplicable panic.

After all, in the harem, the one who could support her entire body weight with just one hand was certainly not one of the concubines.

Whether it's a concubine or a servant, seeing her like this will surely cause a stir first thing tomorrow morning.

Shen Qingwan even regretted it for a moment. She should have just come out openly and honestly. Even if she encountered someone, she could have just lied and said that she couldn't sleep at night and came to the Imperial Garden for a walk. Surely no one would dare to say anything.

Why would she deliberately conceal something like that by dressing up as a palace maid?

I felt guilty at the time!
Just as Shen Qingwan was feeling annoyed, a faint scent of ambergris instantly spread to her nostrils.

Ambergris?
This fragrance was very rare in the palace, and Shen Qingwan had never smelled such a fragrance on Prince Rui before.

Shen Qingwan's heart began to pound involuntarily.

I am really afraid of what will happen.

Aside from the guards, there are very few men in the harem. The guards don't use incense. Besides the Emperor and Prince Rui who remains in the palace today, there's only…

Almost instantly, Shen Qingwan was certain in her mind who had just pulled her. She abruptly raised her head and said, feigning composure, "Stop hiding, come out! Mo Gan Junyi."

Why is he here?

"The Empress didn't even see my face, yet she already guessed who I am. This shows that the rumors about the Empress are untrue!" Mo Ganjunyi poked his body out from the withered grass.

Shen Qingwan glanced down at the fingertips that were still gripping her wrist, and Mo Ganjunyi awkwardly withdrew his hand.

Shen Qingwan's expression relaxed slightly as she straightened her clothes. "What rumors are circulating about me?"

Hearing this, Mo Ganjunyi couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Since it's just a rumor, it's probably not anything good. By asking this, does the Empress want me to repeat all those things that are said about her behind her back to her face? I never imagined that Her Majesty would have such a refined taste, enjoying hearing people criticize her to her face?"

Shen Qingwan: ...

After Mo Ganjunyi was sent to the palace as a hostage, she only saw him a few times. It was really hard to imagine that a fourteen-year-old child could speak so sharply and eloquently.

"The guards at the entrance of Chang Le Palace really deserve a beating. They didn't even know that people from the palace had left." Shen Qingwan said sullenly. "Tomorrow morning, I will go and report to the Emperor and ask him to send more guards to keep a close watch on Chang Le Palace."

Mo Ganjunyi chuckled and shook his head. "Don't even mention sending a few more guards, even if you send dozens more, as long as I want to come out, no one can stop me."

"What a loud tone!"

Shen Qingwan looked the person in front of her up and down.

Moonlight shone on his fair face, his thick eyebrows were slightly raised, and beneath his long, slightly curled eyelashes were a pair of eyes as clear as morning dew. He had a straight nose, lips as pink as rose petals, and a delicate face with a touch of childishness.

In Shen Qingwan's eyes, the seven-foot-tall man in front of her was still just a child!
"Your Majesty, you don't actually think I came out through the main gate, do you? Emperor Yuanwu must have sent his trusted confidants to guard the gate, otherwise how could he feel at ease letting me come and go in his harem? If those guards really could stop me, no matter how many or how few, they wouldn't be able to stop me!" Mo Gan Junyi sneered.