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

Chapter 319 Dark Shadow
Emperor Yuanwu hesitated for a moment before nodding, "Then let's do as you say."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wu Jixiang took two steps back and watched Emperor Yuanwu enter the gates of Jingyang Palace before straightening up.

He had no intention of favoring Consort Wen, nor did he have any intention of deliberately preventing the Emperor from going to Kunning Palace.

However, he understood the Emperor better than anyone else. If the Emperor really wanted to go to Kunning Palace at this moment, given the Emperor's autocratic nature, he would not ask anyone's opinion and would directly order someone to turn back.

Now that he had asked, his purpose was obvious: he hoped that those around him would persuade him not to, so that they wouldn't accuse him of not caring about the Empress. Clearly, Emperor Yuanwu was very satisfied with what he said.

If he were to make a grand trip to Kunning Palace now, he could not only help the Emperor gain a good reputation, but also leave the Empress Dowager with nothing to say if she were to investigate the matter later. He would have done a good job and won the Emperor's favor, and the rewards he would receive later would naturally be plentiful.

"Why is the Emperor standing at the palace gate and not coming in? What is he saying to Wu Jixiang?"

Consort Xian was still under house arrest, but upon hearing the sound, she couldn't help but walk to the entrance of the main hall.

She watched from afar as Emperor Yuanwu arrived in a beam of light with his chariot, and felt an indescribable sense of loss.

"Your Majesty, perhaps the Emperor has other matters to attend to. It's getting late. Let me help you change your clothes," Xia Mei comforted her.

Consort Xian's head remained leaning against the door frame. "You know, the Emperor hasn't summoned any of the concubines in the harem except for those in Kunning Palace all this time. How come he chose Consort Wen the moment he turned the nameplates? If I remember correctly, Consort Wen has been in the palace for so long and has never served the Emperor. Do you think the Emperor summoned her because of the poisoning incident last time? It made the Emperor notice her. But I really didn't poison her."

Xia Mei was also helpless. Seeing that Consort Xian wouldn't shed a tear until she saw the coffin, she could only continue to persuade her, "Your Majesty, His Majesty is wise and will definitely find out the truth. He will not let Your Majesty suffer in vain. So what if Consort Wen served the Emperor once today? Consort Yan has already entered the palace. As long as Consort Yan is of one mind with Your Majesty, what is there to fear about not having a chance to turn things around?"

Hearing her words, Consort Xian's frozen expression finally eased a bit. Emperor Yuanwu's entourage, which had just stopped outside, also walked into the Jingyang Palace.

Xia Mei felt that she had said everything she needed to say and advised everyone she could. Even if she talked herself hoarse, Consort Xian would not listen to her stubborn nature, so she simply stopped talking.

She watched as Emperor Yuanwu's chariot stopped at the entrance of Consort Wen's palace. She watched as Consort Wen, dressed in a thin robe, emerged from the palace and took Emperor Yuanwu's arm. The two walked together into the palace. It was easy to imagine that Consort Wen was smiling more beautifully than any flower, and Emperor Yuanwu was completely captivated by her beauty.

Meanwhile, at Kunning Palace.

Physician Zhang has just taken Shen Qingwan's pulse.

“Your Majesty, your health has always been weak. If Your Majesty finds it difficult to sleep, I will have someone send you a bowl of calming soup every night to help you sleep.”

Shen Qingwan nodded slowly, "Then I'll have to trouble Physician Zhang."

"Your Majesty, you flatter me. I will go down immediately to prepare a calming soup for you." After saying this, Physician Zhang clasped his hands and bowed.

"Imperial Physician Zhang, please wait a moment." Shen Qingwan said, sitting up straight from the chaise lounge. "I have a favor to ask of you, Imperial Physician Zhang."

Physician Zhang suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Your Majesty, please feel free to give me any instructions."

Shen Qingwan spoke somewhat apologetically, "It's my personal maid, Zhen'er. She accidentally injured her knee while running errands for me today. Could Physician Zhang please prescribe some medicine for her to apply, so that her knee doesn't swell and delay my business?" Physician Zhang was taken aback, and the doubts in his heart instantly disappeared.

He had just been wondering why the Empress would not easily feign illness and pain. Since her serious illness, it seemed that apart from checking her pulse regularly, the only time the Empress had summoned him to the palace was when Consort Li was pregnant.

When he took her pulse, he became even more puzzled. The Empress's pulse was steady, and she was not suffering from insomnia, so why did she call him over for no reason?

Could it be that the Emperor favored Consort Wen today, and she was feeling down? But seeing her rosy complexion and lack of any worries, Physician Zhang was at a loss.

Now he understood that the empress's true intentions were not what they seemed.

When Zhen'er heard this, she was shocked. She didn't expect Shen Qingwan to have Physician Zhang treat her. She was stunned for a while, and then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she knelt down on the ground. Because she knelt down so hard and quickly, she gasped in pain and her face contorted in pain.

Zhen'er felt a lump in her throat. If Su Tianhe hadn't told her beforehand, she would never have imagined that just because she was punished by kneeling for an hour, the Empress would summon the chief physician of the Imperial Hospital and even have him take her pulse.

What good deeds must she have done in her past life to be fortunate enough to serve such a master in this life?

Doctor Zhang treated Zhen'er's swollen knee and prescribed two more doses of medicine. Before leaving, he left Zhen'er a box of his own concocted wound medicine, which was remarkably effective for treating swelling.

Su Tianhe escorted him all the way to the entrance of Kunning Palace. When Physician Zhang was about to leave, Su Tianhe slipped a money bag into Physician Zhang's hand, which contained a solid gold ingot.

Normally, Imperial Physician Zhang served the pregnant concubines in the palace and received many rewards, but only the Empress was so generous.

"This……"

Physician Zhang looked embarrassed and hesitated to accept the money, as it was really too much!

During the scuffle, the money bag fell to the ground and nearly hit his own foot. Doctor Zhang took a step back in a panic, saying, "Please wait, Eunuch Su. Wei Chen will take his leave now."

Su Tianhe quickly bent down, picked up the money bag from the ground, and stuffed it back into Doctor Zhang's arms, saying, "Doctor Zhang, you dropped your money bag."

After saying this, he took a step back, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty the Empress is unwell, and this servant must return to serve Your Majesty, so I will not see you off any further."

Physician Zhang returned the greeting on the spot, "Eunuch Su, there's no need to be so polite. If you need anything, just send someone to the Imperial Hospital to let them know. Also, please tell Aunt Zhen'er that it's best to take those two doses of medicine before breakfast, as the effect will be better if taken on an empty stomach."

"Thank you for your help, Physician Zhang. I will certainly pass on the message."

After taking a few steps, Physician Zhang couldn't help but glance in the direction of Kunning Palace again. The injury on Zhen'er's leg was clearly caused by kneeling.

In this harem, besides the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress, who would dare to touch the Empress's personal maid?

In that instant of confusion, a dark figure suddenly darted out from his side...