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

Chapter 292 Warning
Seeing that she didn't move, Zhang Mama smiled and tugged at her arm, lowering her voice to say, "Your Highness, if you insist on arguing with the Empress and offend her, no one will have a good time in the future. Although the Empress Dowager is the Emperor's birth mother, don't forget that the harem is the Empress's domain."

Her words, though seemingly intended to flatter, were actually full of warning.

Even though Consort Xi was unhappy, she dared not continue to keep a straight face. Granny Zhang was an old nanny by the Empress Dowager's side, and she could guess almost 90% of the Empress Dowager's thoughts. What she said was basically the Empress Dowager's meaning.

She already received little favor from the emperor, and after becoming pregnant, Emperor Yuanwu never visited her palace even once. If she displeased the Empress Dowager, then her unborn child...

When the imperial physician came to take her pulse yesterday, she specifically asked him whether the baby in her womb was a boy or a girl. The physician said that the fetus was still too small and he could not be sure yet.

Before she entered the palace, the village doctor could tell whether a woman was a boy or a girl as soon as she became pregnant.

The imperial physician's words clearly indicated that he did not want to tell her the truth, so it was very likely that she was having a girl.

What use is a princess? If she is sent away for a political marriage, what hope will she have in the future? Moreover, other concubines in the palace are promoted to the rank of concubine once they become pregnant, while she is still just a minor noblewoman. Now she has been sent to Lingxiang Pavilion alone. What difference is there between her and being banished to the cold palace?

Consort Xi felt increasingly aggrieved, but since Zhang Mama had already spoken, she dared not show any more displeasure to the Empress Dowager. The next second, a deep smile appeared on her lips, and she quickly walked up to the Empress Dowager, curtsied, and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

Shen Qingwan's face remained as always with a faint smile. She was somewhat puzzled by Consort Xi's sudden change of expression, but the only thing she was certain of was that Consort Xi had spies in Cining Palace. Shen Qingwan didn't believe that there would be so many chance encounters like this; it seemed that she had run into Consort Xi in Cining Palace more than once.

"Since Your Excellency is pregnant, there's no need for further formalities."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Consort Xi walked to the Empress Dowager's side and sat down close to her, as if asserting her dominance. She glanced at Shen Qingwan with a slightly provocative look in her eyes.

"Your arrival is just in time, Consort Xi. I was just talking to the Empress about the many birthdays of the Empress. I'm getting old and don't know what you young people like. It's good that you've come to help and give me some ideas," the Empress Dowager said kindly.

"Mother, your daughter-in-law doesn't like crowds, so a simple celebration is fine. Besides, the Emperor spends money in many places in the court, so there's really no need to make a big fuss for your birthday," Shen Qingwan said calmly.

She wasn't pretending or putting on an act in front of Consort Xi; she was genuinely moved, touched that in the treacherous harem, there was still a glimmer of warmth.

Although she usually acts like she doesn't care about anything and is indifferent to everything, she is still touched when someone suddenly shows her concern.

Just like Prince Rui in the past...

However, she knew herself very well. Prince Rui's feelings for her, or perhaps for the original owner of this body—perhaps for the original owner—were love, but for her, they were only gratitude.

However, for Shen Qingwan, this kind of gratitude is a debt she needs to repay.

"Sigh~" The Empress Dowager turned her head and pursed her lips. "The Empress's birthday is naturally a major event in the palace. Even if the harem tries to cut expenses, there is still room for this. The Empress need not worry too much. I will take care of this matter. If the Empress thinks of anything she likes, just say so. Leave the rest to me, and I will have people take care of it."

Seeing the Empress Dowager's expectant look, Shen Qingwan couldn't refuse any longer, so she readily agreed: "Thank you, Mother."

When Consort Xi saw the two of them interacting so sweetly, she couldn't hold back her smile any longer.

Daughter-in-law?

Empress Dowager? So, this cousin of the Empress Dowager, and a concubine of Emperor Yuanwu, is actually a complete outsider?

The Empress Dowager and Shen Qingwan chatted idly behind them, and Consort Xi couldn't get a word in edgewise. She couldn't stand it anymore and wanted to leave, but she was unwilling to just walk away like that.

She really couldn't understand why the Empress Dowager liked the Empress so much. She had been married to Emperor Yuanwu for so long and had never served him in bed. Why did the Empress Dowager waste so much breath on her and act so ingratiatingly when even the Emperor didn't like her? It disgusted her.

Thinking this, Consort Xi actually felt nauseous.

She couldn't help but cover her mouth with her hand and gag.

Shen Qingwan and the Empress Dowager suddenly fell silent and looked in her direction at the same time.

"What's wrong?" Shen Qingwan asked anxiously. "Zhang Mama, go and fetch Physician Li."

Zhang Mama curtsied and said, "It is Her Majesty the Empress."

Xi Guiren covered her mouth with one hand and her chest with the other, and it took her a while to suppress the nausea she felt.

She waved her hand and swallowed hard twice. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I'm fine. Your Majesty has never given birth, so you may not know. This is just normal morning sickness during pregnancy. It will pass in a little while."

She has never given birth.

Seeing that Consort Xi spoke casually, yet deliberately emphasized the words "never had children,"

Shen Qingwan could easily understand the hidden meaning in those words.

She subtly withdrew her hand, which had been resting on Consort Xi's back, and her face remained expressionless, still bearing her usual smile. "It's good that you're alright. His Majesty has few children to begin with, and now that you're pregnant, both His Majesty and I are eagerly awaiting this child. I was a little nervous because I hoped nothing would go wrong. Since Consort Xi says everything is alright..."

Shen Qingwan paused here, her smile slightly awkward as she looked up at the Empress Dowager, "I think we should still have the imperial physician examine her to put our minds at ease. What do you think, Mother?"

The Empress Dowager was taken aback, then laughed. "The Empress is right. Consort Xi is pregnant with her first child, so we should be careful."

After she finished speaking, she took Consort Xi's hand, her face still appearing kind, but the subtle gesture in her hand was full of warning, "The Empress is only doing this out of concern for you..."

Consort Xi didn't speak, but she pursed her lips deeply, somewhat unconvinced.

Shen Qingwan thought that the Empress Dowager had summoned her to discuss her birthday, and now that they had finished, there shouldn't be anything else. So she stood up and said, "Mother, if there's nothing else, I'll return to the palace."

"I'm not leaving." The Empress Dowager turned her head. "I have already sent someone to invite the Emperor. He will come to my palace for lunch later. The Empress will also stay and have lunch with me and the Emperor before returning to her palace."

Shen Qingwan: ...

Shen Qingwan pursed her lips deeply. Having lunch with Emperor Yuanwu and the Empress Dowager was fine, but…