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

Chapter 295 The Eldest Son
"The braised pork in the Empress Dowager's palace is delicious, but I remember that the Empress also promised to make me a braised pork with hawthorn. I wonder if the Empress has figured it out yet? I've been waiting for it."

Shen Qingwan, who was lost in thought, was suddenly called out, and she snapped back to reality.

"What? Hawthorn can be used to make braised pork?" the Empress Dowager asked curiously.

Shen Qingwan: ...

Shen Qingwan glanced awkwardly at Emperor Yuanwu.

It's just a dish, why do you need to go to the Empress Dowager to say that?
A dignified monarch, yet he resembles a gluttonous beggar!
Shen Qingwan's expression was somewhat complicated. "My daughter-in-law and I felt that if braised pork were only made sweet, it would be a little too greasy if we ate too much. Adding some hawthorn would be a good idea. Hawthorn is naturally sour, which would combine the sweetness of the braised pork with the sourness of the hawthorn, making it a sweet and sour dish."

"That is indeed a good idea." The Empress Dowager nodded in approval. "Then once the Empress has finished her research, she should send some over for me to try."

Before the braised pork with hawthorn was even finished, the Empress Dowager wanted to try it. Emperor Yuanwu was tired of the bland food prepared by the imperial kitchen, and when he heard that the Empress Dowager wanted to eat it too, he became inexplicably possessive of his food. "Then the Empress must make more when the time comes, so that there won't be enough to go around."

Shen Qingwan: ...

Shen Qingwan was speechless. She had only said she would try to make it, and it was uncertain whether she would succeed. After all, before this, she had only used hawthorn to make some desserts, such as candied hawthorn, and had never used hawthorn to cook.

The way Emperor Yuanwu said it made it sound like the food was about to be served.

"Does the Emperor often dine in the Empress's palace and discuss food with her?" the Empress Dowager asked curiously.

"It's not often. The Imperial Kitchen only serves the same few dishes over and over again. I've been eating them for over twenty years and I'm already tired of them. But the Empress always comes up with something unique and original. When I have time, I go to the Empress's palace to dine with her." After Emperor Yuanwu finished speaking, he nodded to the Empress Dowager with great certainty.

The Empress Dowager often said that he didn't care enough about the Empress and didn't visit her palace.

Unexpectedly, today, a dish of braised pork helped me clear up this misunderstanding for her.

He also frequently visited the Empress's palace, but he was simply too busy with state affairs to spare the time.

"The Emperor does remember the rules of our ancestors; he doesn't forget to dine at Kunning Palace on the first and fifteenth of the month." The Empress Dowager was unsure whether she hadn't grasped Emperor Yuanwu's implied meaning or had misunderstood.

Emperor Yuanwu thought the Empress Dowager would be pleased after hearing his words, but to his surprise, she frowned.

He hurriedly explained, "Mother, you have misunderstood. Apart from the first and fifteenth of the month, I also go to Kunning Palace to dine with the Empress whenever I have time."

Meal, meal?
"Does the Emperor go to the Empress's palace just to have a meal?" The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened. "Emperor, don't forget that the Empress is your first wife. Is this how you treat your wife? You go to her palace for a meal when you're bored and have nothing better to do, as if it's a great favor?"

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

No!

Why did the Empress Dowager suddenly lose her temper?

Shen Qingwan felt that she was living a pretty good life with Emperor Yuanwu, where they treated each other with respect.
When Emperor Yuanwu had a craving, he would come to her palace for a meal. This improved the relationship between her and Emperor Yuanwu, and made things much easier for her in the harem. What's wrong with that?
Just as bewildered as she was, Emperor Yuanwu was also caught off guard by the Empress Dowager's shout. He hurriedly put down his chopsticks, lifted his robe, and knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. I know I was wrong."

Know your mistake?

Then tell me exactly where you went wrong? As soon as Emperor Yuanwu knelt down, all the servants in the room followed suit and knelt down as well.

Shen Qingwan could no longer remain seated in front of the food platter, so she hurriedly rose and knelt beside Emperor Yuanwu.

"This……"

Emperor Yuanwu was speechless for a moment. He glanced at Shen Qingwan and gave her a look, signaling her to speak.

Shen Qingwan: ...

Emperor Yuanwu is really ridiculous. He angered the Empress Dowager himself, yet he didn't even know what he did wrong. Did she know?
Shen Qingwan lowered her head and remained silent. It wasn't that she didn't want to help, but she really didn't know why the Empress Dowager had suddenly lost her temper.

Emperor Yuanwu:...

"Your Majesty, I'm asking you a question! Why are you looking at the Empress?" The Empress Dowager seemed even angrier.

"Mother, I really don't know what I did wrong to upset you, but you were unhappy because you were dining with me and the Empress, so it's all my and the Empress's fault," Emperor Yuanwu said sincerely.

Shen Qingwan: ...

good good!
You want to drag her down with you, huh?
He was the one who angered the Empress Dowager, so why did he have to apologize to her as well?

The Empress Dowager sighed, speechless. "Since the Emperor doesn't know where he went wrong, then let me tell you. The Empress has been married to you for so many years. Since you have time to dine in the Empress's palace, why can't you stay overnight there after you've finished your business? The legitimate son, the legitimate son, do you even know what it means? Only the sons born to the Empress are legitimate sons. The Emperor is always preoccupied with matters of the court, but does he know that the legitimate son is also the foundation of the nation?"

Shen Qingwan and Emperor Yuanwu exchanged a glance, their expressions both somewhat complicated.

No!

Which link went wrong?

Is her memory distorted?
We weren't just making braised pork.

How did this suddenly become a topic of having children?
Isn't the Empress Dowager's thinking jumping around a bit too fast?

It wouldn't have been wrong to drag him into this when Emperor Yuanwu had just admitted his mistake.

After all, he really couldn't do childbirth alone!
"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I have been keeping this matter in mind. However, the Empress has just recovered from a serious illness, and Physician Zhang said that her body is not yet suitable for having a child. I was thinking that the Empress is still young and there is plenty of time, so there is no rush. Since it is a legitimate son, I think it is better to wait until the Empress has recovered before having a child."

Hearing Emperor Yuanwu's words, the Empress Dowager's expression finally softened a bit. She seemed somewhat distrustful of Emperor Yuanwu and turned to the Empress to ask, "Is it true?"

Shen Qingwan was taken aback, then nodded firmly, "Your daughter-in-law would not dare to deceive Your Majesty. Your daughter-in-law has indeed been diligently taking care of her health according to Physician Zhang's prescription."

The Empress Dowager's expression finally softened completely.

In the past, there were few children in the harem, and he always hoped that more offspring could be added to the harem, which would also make it easier to select a crown prince in the future.

Now, one after another, the concubines in the harem are pregnant, and with more princes, there will be more disputes. The princes all come from the palaces of the concubines, and no matter whether their mothers are concubines, consorts, or noble consorts, there is not much difference in the selection of the crown prince.

But what if the emperor has a legitimate son...?