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

Chapter 268 He Died
Emperor Yuanwu's expression relaxed for a moment. "This is only temporary. Physician Zhang will be back in a couple of days. The Empress is not feeling well. Even if Physician Zhang is not in the palace, we should find another physician to take care of her. We can't just ignore her illness because Physician Zhang is not in the palace. Otherwise, we will only hurt our own health."

Shen Qingwan didn't insist and slowly nodded, "It's not a big deal, it's just that I'm on my period and feeling a little uncomfortable."

Gui Water.

When Emperor Yuanwu heard these two words, his expression stiffened slightly. "Since that's the case..."

Before he could finish speaking, the little eunuch rushed in from outside. He was running so fast that he almost fell to the ground when he was almost in front of Emperor Yuanwu.

"What's all the rush about?" A strange anger surged within Emperor Yuanwu.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty." The little eunuch kneeling on the ground was so frightened by Emperor Yuanwu's roar that he was completely at a loss. He subconsciously adjusted the hat that was about to fall off his head. "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened. General Pang Da has died."

what?
General Pang Da has died.

Almost instantly, everyone present turned to look at Emperor Yuanwu.

Shen Qingwan was taken aback and knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, please accept my condolences."

Immediately afterwards, everyone knelt down with the Empress, saying, "Your Majesty, please accept our condolences."

"Your Majesty, General Pang Da was a man of unwavering integrity throughout his life, and made outstanding contributions to the stability of the Yuan Kingdom. Even if Your Majesty is deeply saddened, you must preserve your health. Please accept my condolences." Shen Qingwan knelt on the ground with her eyes lowered. Her words were impassioned and resounding, causing Emperor Yuanwu to lower his head and glance at her.

He glanced at her briefly before quickly averting his gaze. "Does Consort Xian know?"

"Your Majesty, someone has already gone to inform them, and they should be arriving soon," the young eunuch replied.

Emperor Yuanwu nodded with a sorrowful expression. "Tell Consort Xian to take heart. I will give General Pang Da a proper burial."

"Yes," the little eunuch said solemnly.

"Return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation." After saying this, Emperor Yuanwu turned and walked towards the palace gate.

Only after Emperor Yuanwu's figure had completely disappeared from Kunning Palace did Shen Qingwan slowly straighten up.

Su Tianhe, covered in sweat, plopped down on the ground.

That really scared him to death; he thought his head was about to be ripped off.

Shen Qingwan stood up from the ground and walked towards the palace. As she passed by him, she reached out and patted his hat.

The other servants in the palace naturally didn't know what she meant by those two pats, but the two of them understood each other perfectly.

After watching Emperor Yuanwu walk away, Zhen'er quietly slipped into the palace. She had only taken two steps when she almost tripped over Su Tianhe, who was sitting on the ground.

"Ah!" Zhen'er's body involuntarily leaned forward, but luckily she reacted quickly and regained her balance. She had already been terrified all night, and this fright made her even more flustered. "Are you trying to kill me? What are you doing sitting here in the middle of the night?"

"Ouch, Aunt Zhen'er, you stepped on my leg!" Su Tianhe winced in pain and gasped for breath.

Zhen'er hurriedly withdrew her foot, awkwardly brushing aside the stray hairs in front of her eyes. "How long are you going to sit here, Eunuch Su? Doesn't Her Majesty the Empress need anyone to serve her anymore?" Su Tianhe rubbed the spot where Zhen'er had stepped on him, wincing in pain. He got up from the ground, dusted himself off, and asked curiously, "Didn't you just go out with Her Majesty the Empress? Why are you back so late?"

There was another sentence he was about to say, but he swallowed it back down.

When exactly did the Empress return?

He was incredibly curious.

But if he actually asked that question, it would make him seem negligent, as a grown man had slipped in right under his nose and he had no idea.

If he hadn't made such a big fuss in the palace saying that the Empress had already gone to sleep, he would have definitely asked for clarification.

Zhen'er didn't answer him directly. Instead, she looked at him limping and hurriedly reached out to support him. "It's all my fault. I was blind and caused my father-in-law to get injured. I'll bring the best ointment for bruises and sprains to your room later."

Su Tianhe walked with a limp, and when he heard what Zhen'er said, he suddenly stopped. "The Empress usually treats you so well. You get all the good food, clothes, and things. She wouldn't even hit you or scold you. How could you have such medicine in your room?"

Zhen'er paused, then couldn't help but sigh, "It's all because of the last time. I was taken away by two eunuchs in Consort Xian's palace and sprained my ankle. The medicine was personally prepared by Physician Zhang. Last time, a maid from the neighboring palace was punished by her master and wanted to get the medicine, but I couldn't bear to give it to her."

Su Tianhe paused slightly, "Now that General Pang is dead, Consort Xian's good days in the harem are probably over. Those in the palace who were bullied by Consort Xian will surely seek revenge and settle their scores, but..."

"What did you mean by that?" Zhen'er turned her head and glanced at Su Tianhe.

Su Tianhe looked around and said, "But our lady is so unassuming and doesn't fight for anything. Even if others make a move, she'll just applaud and not participate in the distribution."

"Then you still don't understand our lady at all." Zhen'er shook her head with a laugh. "Our lady is not so easy to bully."

Not only are they not easy to bully, but they must also be vengeful!

Su Tianhe looked at her in disbelief.

"Alright." Zhen'er helped him to the entrance of the palace. "Eunuch Su, your legs are not very strong, so go back and rest first. I will send the medicine to you after I have helped the Empress to bed."

Su Tianhe remained silent, simply watching her enter the palace.

When news of General Pang reached Jingyang Palace, it was just a little later than when Emperor Yuanwu learned of it.

In fact, Consort Xian had a premonition when she heard that her father had been injured by a hidden weapon.

My father has fought on the front lines for many years and has been injured countless times. He has seen all kinds of injuries, big and small. But if a mere scratch from a hidden weapon is enough to alarm the Emperor, it must be no small matter.

If that weren't the case, why would she kneel at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, kowtowing until her head bled, desperately pleading with Emperor Yuanwu to allow her to leave the palace to see her father? Yet, to this day, Emperor Yuanwu has not agreed, and her father is gone, gone forever.

Consort Xian lay on the bed, crying her heart out. Xia Mei and Xia Fuchuan stood on either side of her, trying to comfort her.

Xia Mei patted Consort Xian's arm. "Your Majesty, please don't be sad. His Majesty has already issued an edict posthumously conferring upon General Pang the title of Duke of Zhenguo and decreed that he be buried in the imperial mausoleum. Such an honor has never been bestowed upon anyone by our Emperor. Your Majesty, please relax, take good care of yourself, and trust in the Emperor and Consort Xian's loyalty to each other. After General Pang is buried, it will be your turn next!"