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

Chapter 322 I find you annoying

In the instant he turned his head, he saw Meng Anfu kneeling on the ground slapping himself in the face. He felt a surge of annoyance and found him an eyesore.

"If you want to fan yourself, go to the courtyard. I cannot bear to see such bloody things in my palace."

Meng Anfu was startled, his action of slapping himself paused, and he looked up at the Empress Dowager with a somewhat blank expression.

The Empress Dowager took the bowl of red date and longan tea from Zhang Mama's hands and was sipping it carefully. "It seems that the red date and longan tea brewed by the Empress is less sweet. Zhang Mama, did you put sugar in this longan tea?"

"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is indeed powerful. I thought there were too many unpleasant things in the palace, so I offered her something sweet to cheer her up." After saying this, Zhang Mama glanced down at Meng Anfu, who was kneeling on the ground. "You really have no sense of propriety. Can't you see that the Empress Dowager finds you annoying? Why don't you get out of here right now?"

Meng Anfu was stunned. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for not punishing me. Thank you, Your Majesty..."

The Empress Dowager frowned in annoyance. Two eunuchs who were guarding the door came in, dragged Meng Anfu out, and grabbed a piece of cloth from the table, stuffing it into his mouth.

When the main hall of Cining Palace returned to its usual tranquility, the Empress Dowager sighed deeply. "I have always felt that the Empress has changed a lot since her serious illness. I thought she had come to her senses and had become much more composed in her actions. In the past, the Emperor avoided her and never stayed overnight in her palace. Even on the first and fifteenth of the month, he would leave after having a meal. The Empress always gave the impression that she did not care at all how the Emperor treated her. Even when I forced the Emperor to go to Kunning Palace, he would only spend one night there. Now that the Emperor is favoring other concubines, the Empress cannot get over it."

"Your Majesty, there's no need to worry so much. Not only has the Empress changed her ways, but even the Emperor is not the same as before. Even though he doesn't stay overnight at Kunning Palace often, he's going there more and more often. Now that the Emperor and Empress have consummated their marriage, it's only a matter of time before they have a legitimate son," Zhang Mama comforted her.

"This marriage to the Empress was something I insisted on arranging back then. After the Empress entered the palace, I even wondered if I had made a mistake. If I hadn't believed the auspicious cloud and phoenix, and begged the late Emperor to betroth the Empress to the Emperor, I would have been in trouble. At first, the late Emperor disagreed, saying that the two were too far apart in age and intended to betroth her to Prince Rui. At that time, the Crown Prince was not yet decided. Regardless of whether the auspicious cloud and phoenix were true or not, since someone had said it, I dared not disbelieve it. I insisted on begging the late Emperor to betroth the Empress to the Emperor. Now I keep thinking that just a ridiculous statement not only harmed the Emperor but also the Empress." The Empress Dowager said sadly.

“Your Majesty, there’s no need to blame yourself so much. In my opinion, whether these two can be together is all a matter of fate. Now, not only has the Empress changed, but the Emperor has also changed. When the Empress first married the Emperor, they were both young and impetuous, and neither of them was willing to give in to the other. As time went by and they experienced more things, they gradually got along better,” said Zhang Mama.

"I hope so. I was just trying to help the Empress and prevent the Emperor from being too cold towards her, but who could have imagined..." The Empress Dowager sighed again, "The Emperor only spent one night with her, and she couldn't stand it when the Emperor went to other concubines. The Empress wasn't doing it on purpose for anyone; she was just feeling uncomfortable, like she was sick. I understand that feeling!"

The Empress Dowager looked solemn and remained silent for a while before speaking, "Go and call over the embroiderer who made my clothes before, and also invite the Empress over. Have that embroiderer make two sets of clothes for the Empress to wear on her birthday."

"Yes, Queen."

After leaving Cining Palace, Meng Anfu disregarded the injuries on his face and hurriedly headed towards Kunning Palace with the tribute fabrics from Lingnan.

He hadn't handled his duties with the Empress Dowager properly. If something went wrong with the Empress, he didn't know if he could keep his life, but he would definitely lose his position as the head of the Imperial Household Department.

He had just stepped into the courtyard of Kunning Palace and hadn't even had a chance to pay his respects to the Empress when he saw the concubines from various palaces, who had just finished paying their respects to the Empress, walking out of the main hall of Kunning Palace.

Consort De scrutinized him for a moment, her gaze falling on his swollen cheeks. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "What are you busy with so early in the morning, Eunuch Meng?" "Your Majesty, this servant is here on His Majesty's orders to deliver the tribute fabric from Lingnan to Her Majesty the Empress."

The material was presented as tribute from Lingnan.

Those are all rare and fine materials, especially the cloud-patterned brocade and the shimmering brocade.
Especially the Yunling brocade, which is so valuable that even an inch of it is worth its weight in gold. It is so rare that it is priceless and hard to find. Such fine material cannot be bought on the market, and even when it is presented as tribute to the palace each year, only a few bolts are ever made.

In previous years, the Emperor would distribute the spoils according to the rank of the concubines in the harem. As a concubine, she would also receive a share. But this year…

Could it be that the Imperial Household Department brought all the fabrics to Kunning Palace? Does the Emperor intend to bestow them all upon the Empress, and have the other concubines wait for fabrics from elsewhere to purchase new clothes?

Although Consort De didn't want to admit it, she had to admit it after looking at what was in the car behind Meng Anfu.

At this moment, all the concubines standing on the side changed their expressions, especially those who had initially been waiting to see a joke, they were now completely dumbfounded.

Although Emperor Yuanwu went to Consort Wen's palace last night, all the cloth in this cart was sent to Kunning Palace.

It was common for the emperor to favor his concubines in the harem. Even when Consort Xian was at the height of his favor, the emperor did not neglect the six palaces. However, the tribute of cloth from Lingnan was different; it only came once a year.

Amidst the gasps of the crowd, Shen Qingwan emerged from the main hall. She saw the cartload of cloth without any surprise and had it carried directly into the main hall.

Anyway, the Emperor said that she could keep them all if she wanted them. As for whether to give them away or distribute them to the six palaces, it was up to her. What woman doesn't like new clothes? Let alone wearing a different one every day, she could change ten sets a day and still be happy.

The concubines, who had initially wanted to see the spectacle and were filled with jealousy, were now itching with rage.

Just then, Granny Zhang walked in from outside the palace.

"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed." Zhang Mama bowed.

Shen Qingwan walked quickly to Zhang Mama. "Zhang Mama, no need for formalities. Does the Empress Dowager have something to discuss with me?"

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has instructed me to invite Your Majesty to the Cining Palace..."