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

Chapter 302 Tired
Emperor Yuanwu took a bite of the white meat. Perhaps it was his first time trying this way of eating, but he found the taste quite unique and delicious. He ate several pieces in a row. He looked up at Shen Qingwan and noticed that the sauce in the bowl in front of him seemed to be different from the sauce in front of Shen Qingwan.

He asked curiously, "Why is the dipping sauce that the Empress prepared for me different from my own?"

“The Emperor’s dipping sauce was prepared according to traditional recipes, with salt, sugar, pepper, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, chopped green onions, cilantro, ginger, and so on. I added some minced garlic and chili to my bowl. I thought it would be good for the Emperor to try the traditional flavor first since it’s his first time eating it. If he likes it and is used to it, we can change the seasoning next time,” Shen Qingwan said softly.

Emperor Yuanwu seemed to think there was nothing seriously wrong, and ate a few more bites. He couldn't help but rub his eyes.

"Why do I find the candlelight in your palace so dim? It's making me sleepy." Emperor Yuanwu pinched the bridge of his nose. "What time is it?"

"Your Majesty, it is the hour of You (5-7 PM)." Shen Qingwan put down her chopsticks and walked to Emperor Yuanwu's side. "Your Majesty has been busy with the affairs of the court these days. Perhaps you are tired. If Your Majesty is feeling weary, I will have someone prepare your toiletries. Your Majesty should rest early."

You Shi (5-7 PM)?

He usually doesn't fall asleep until after 9 PM, and even if he's really tired one day, he won't go to bed until 7 PM. Today it's already 5 PM.

Although Emperor Yuanwu thought this way, he was indeed so sleepy that he could barely keep his eyes open.

"I am truly exhausted."

"Zhen'er, go and have someone prepare for the Emperor to wash up; he needs to rest."

"Yes."

Shen Qingwan helped Emperor Yuanwu into the palace. As soon as she helped him lie down on the bed, Emperor Yuanwu turned over and fell asleep. All she could hear was the sound of his long, even breathing.

She turned off the last lamp in the bedroom and then came out.

Shen Qingwan looked around the brightly lit main hall, then sat back down in the spot where she had been eating, picked up her chopsticks, and continued eating.

She really couldn't bear to see all that food on the table go to waste.

Shen Qingwan pointed to the dishes on the table that hadn't been touched at all and gave them directly to the palace servants. The little palace maid who came in to serve the dishes was so happy that she could hardly contain her joy. When she saw that Shen Qingwan was still eating, she was surprised and said, "Your Highness, please wait until you finish your meal before I clean up."

Although she knew that the palace maids and eunuchs would not simply throw away the leftovers, but would secretly hide some of the good food to eat, she still said, "His Majesty went to bed early today, and apart from this pot, none of the dishes on this table have been touched. If you don't mind, please take them down and eat them."

This table of dishes was more than they had ever eaten during the New Year. Moreover, today's dishes were specially prepared by the Imperial Kitchen to curry favor with the Emperor. Not only were they plentiful, but they were also all delicacies such as abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and fish maw.

Let alone something that hasn't been touched, what does it matter if it's leftovers?

In particular, Emperor Yuanwu actually stayed in Kunning Palace today.

They had served in Kunning Palace for so long, and this was the first time that the Emperor was willing to stay, and the Empress was also willing to let the Emperor stay.

Does this mean that the Empress will soon have a legitimate son?
Although they are living a very good life in Kunning Palace now, the Empress is very generous. She never withholds their salaries and will reward them with all the good food, clothes, and things she can use when she is in a good mood. She even takes care of things for them, such as charcoal fires in winter, quilts, and cotton clothes.

Compared to other palace servants, they lived a life like gods.

They dared not imagine what kind of good life they would have if the Empress were pregnant and gave birth to a legitimate son. Now that Shen Qingwan had spoken, the servants took the dishes away one after another, leaving only a pot of boiled pork on the huge food platter.

She was eating the pork belly in the pot with great care, but there was a bit too much garlic in the dipping sauce, which made her chest feel hot and uncomfortable.

Su Tianhe poured her a bowl of tea and placed it in front of her. This tea bowl should be a set with the one later used for Emperor Yuanwu.

"Your Majesty, I have smashed the teacup set that you didn't like and thrown it into the stove to burn. From now on, Your Majesty will use this new teacup set to drink tea."

Shen Qingwan nodded without speaking. After finishing her tea, she ate a couple more bites. She wasn't sure if she was full or not, but she just didn't want to eat anymore, so she put down her chopsticks.

Zhen'er came over and said, "Your Highness, if you don't like this sauce, I'll make you a new one."

"No need." Shen Qingwan wasn't in a good mood. She rinsed her mouth and walked towards her bedchamber.

If Emperor Yuanwu was not present, she would usually lie on the chaise longue in her bedchamber after dinner and read a book, thinking about the last banquet when Emperor Yuanwu drank too much in the Baohe Hall. In order for them to consummate their marriage as soon as possible, the Empress Dowager sent the drunken Emperor Yuanwu directly to the Kunning Palace. She spent that night on this chaise longue.

Tonight...

When she woke up that day, Emperor Yuanwu was nowhere to be found. He had been drunk that time, and coming to Kunning Palace was not his intention. Moreover, Emperor Yuanwu's impression of him was still limited to the things the original owner had done.

Things are different now. She can treat Emperor Yuanwu with the utmost respect, but what he really thinks remains unknown.

Shen Qingwan glanced towards the bed. If she were to change into her nightgown and lie down right now, she really couldn't do it. But if she didn't lie down, she was afraid that Emperor Yuanwu might suddenly wake up and find that she wasn't there...

She just wanted to live a quiet, uneventful life in the harem, without seeking favor or having children.

However, in such a feudal society, it seems that there are some things that are beyond her control.

Shen Qingwan sat on the chaise lounge, holding a book in her hands, but her mind was not on the book at all. She stared at a tree outside the window, counting the newly sprouted buds on the branches over and over again.

289?

298?

Where exactly was she counting to?

She couldn't remember, she couldn't recall, and she was too lazy to keep counting...

Shen Qingwan had never felt this palace so stifling. She glanced at the bed again and saw that Emperor Yuanwu was sleeping soundly. She decided to put on a cloak and go out for a walk.

"Your Majesty." Zhen'er, who was guarding outside the palace, hurriedly stood up from the ground, seemingly quite surprised that she would come out from inside at this time. "Does Your Majesty have any instructions?"

But when I looked back and saw that she was dressed neatly, except that she had removed the oath on her head and was wearing a cloak, something seemed off.

"I'd like to go out for a walk..."