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

Chapter 269 Waiting for opportunity
Consort Xian's sobs paused. Through her teary eyes, she looked up at Xia Mei and asked, "Are you telling the truth? You're not just saying this to comfort me because you see me sad, are you?"

“Of course not,” Xia Mei said firmly. “The Emperor has already ordered the Imperial Household Department to draft the decree; how could it be false?”

Consort Xian wiped away her tears and glanced towards the direction outside the palace. "But why hasn't the Emperor come?"

"Your Majesty, His Majesty went to Kunning Palace tonight. He learned of this matter as soon as he reached the palace gate. He only walked into the courtyard and did not even enter the main hall of Kunning Palace before rushing back to Yangxin Hall to deal with General Pang's matter."

Consort Xian's expression finally softened a bit after hearing Xia Fuchuan's words.

"Indeed, Your Majesty. It seems that General Pang's position in the Emperor's heart is unmatched. Although General Pang is no longer here, his fame will surely be remembered for eternity."

After Xia Mei finished speaking, she gave Xia Fuchuan a wink.

“Yes, Your Majesty, this servant also thinks Xia Mei’s words make sense. Although we servants know that Your Majesty is sad at this moment, this servant feels that this is not the time for Your Majesty to be sad.” Xia Fuchuan said with an air of seriousness.

Not a time for sadness?
Consort Xian was taken aback, a feeling she couldn't quite describe welled up inside her.

Her father is gone, so now is not the time to be sad. When is the time to be sad?
Consort Xian was furious when she heard what he said. If she hadn't been so weak from crying, she would have slapped him across the face long ago.

"Xia Fuchuan, according to you, my father is gone, and I shouldn't be sad, but should instead go out and celebrate with gongs and drums?"

Xia Fuchuan's expression instantly became somewhat indescribable, and he hurriedly knelt on the ground, "This servant deserves to die, this servant deserves to die."

After he finished speaking, he hurriedly slapped himself twice before slowly raising his eyes to look at Consort Xian.

She had witnessed Consort Xian's methods firsthand. She never showed mercy to any of the palace servants, whether they were the lowest lowly servants or her personal maids, once she was angry.

It wasn't that he was making a mountain out of a molehill, but compared to the punishments in the palace, slapping himself twice was a matter of principle and nothing to worry about.

Xia Fuchuan only stopped when he saw that Consort Xian's expression had completely softened.

"Your Majesty, you have misunderstood what I meant. What I was trying to say was..."

As Xia Fuchuan spoke, he cautiously glanced at Consort Xian, making sure he hadn't angered her, before slowly saying, "This servant was thinking that although Your Highness is grieving, why not take this opportunity to show His Majesty some compassion? Perhaps His Majesty, out of consideration for General Pang, will directly restore Your Highness's rank. After all, posthumous conferment is only to comfort the deceased. If His Majesty were to show His Majesty favor now, wouldn't that also reassure the ministers in court? As long as they serve the country, even if something unfortunate happens to them one day, their blessings will still extend to their families!"

Consort Xian slowly sat up straight, tears still glistening in the corners of her eyes, but the corners of her lips had already turned up in a smile. "I really didn't expect you to know these things."

"Having served Your Highness for so long, I have naturally learned a lot through observation and exposure."

As Xia Fuchuan spoke, he walked to Consort Xian's bedside and stretched out an arm towards her. Consort Xian happened to be holding onto that arm and got off the bed.

"Then tell me, what should we do now?" Consort Xian glanced at him, puzzled. "Should I go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to see the Emperor in person? The Emperor is probably busy with Father's affairs right now. If I go now, wouldn't I be causing trouble for the Emperor? I'm afraid Father's spirit in heaven won't be able to rest in peace." "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you right now?" Xia Fuchuan couldn't help but frown. "Bring out that same coquettishness you used to use when you were with the Emperor. Men all like that."

"You like it?" Consort Xian's expression was somewhat indescribable. "Now, let alone having the Emperor come in person, even if I went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation myself, I'm afraid the Emperor might not be willing to come out and see me. How could I possibly have a chance to throw a tantrum at the Emperor!"

"How will Your Majesty know it's impossible if you don't try?" Xia Fuchuan's lips curled into a sly smile. "General Pang is gone, and His Majesty is grieving over this matter. If Your Majesty were to faint from excessive grief at this time, wouldn't His Majesty..."

Shen Qingwan had just finished washing up and was about to go to bed when Zhen'er came in from outside. "Your Majesty, after His Majesty left Kunning Palace, he went to Yangxin Hall. Just now, someone from Jingyang Palace said that Consort Xian fainted because she was too saddened by General Pang's matter. They asked His Majesty to go and see her. His Majesty has already gone there."

Shen Qingwan picked up a wooden comb, tidying her disheveled black hair, and casually asked, "Has the imperial physician been summoned?"

Zhen'er shook her head. "Perhaps it's because several of the better imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital are not in the palace. I haven't heard of summoning any imperial physicians yet."

Shen Qingwan paused in combing her hair, a cold smile creeping onto her face.

Consort Xian wanted to put on an act, but she didn't bother to properly instruct her subordinates. If you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way. She fainted, but instead of rushing to call the imperial physician, she went to call the emperor.

If the emperor couldn't cure all diseases, then he was faking it.

"Your Majesty, you said..." Zhen'er hesitated, "Will Consort Xian benefit from this misfortune? Will the Emperor, like before, make up for all the debts he owed to General Pang by restoring Consort Xian's rank, or even bestowing upon her the title of Imperial Noble Consort?"

"No," Shen Qingwan said firmly.

Seeing that Shen Qingwan was still stubbornly clinging to her delusions, Zhen'er stomped her foot in anger. "Your Majesty, there's something I've been afraid to tell you, for fear of upsetting you. But... but I just can't hold it in anymore! His Majesty has just issued an edict posthumously conferring upon General Pang the title of Duke of Zhenguo and allowing him to be buried in the imperial mausoleum. Such an honor is unprecedented among all the court officials!"

Shen Qingwan didn't speak, but she was certain in her heart that the Emperor would never do such a thing.

If the Empress Dowager hadn't been feigning illness, things might have turned out the same way. But from the moment she discovered that the Empress Dowager was faking illness, she became certain that the one who truly wanted to kill General Pang was not an assassin, nor a spy of the empire, but Emperor Yuanwu himself!

Yes!

He was an emperor, and with the heart of an emperor, how could he allow anyone to be above him?

General Pang held immense power and influence, and had long been a thorn in the side of Emperor Yuanwu.

All the rewards and honors are only temporary. Is Emperor Yuanwu so easily deceived?

She doesn't believe it.

General Pang was arrogant and domineering, relying on Consort Xian's favor in the harem and his own status as a general. He had made many enemies, and Consort Xian was even more arrogant and domineering in the harem. Now that General Pang is dead, those court officials and concubines' families who were bullied by them will probably seize the opportunity to make their move...