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

Chapter 335 Falling out of favor
As for the engagement.

From what just happened, it's clear that the relationship between Prince Rui and the Empress is far from simple.

People can pretend at any time, but when faced with danger, some instinctive reactions cannot be faked. For example, when he saw that she was in danger, he would stand up without hesitation, and she would instinctively stand behind her.

Her maid had just come over and hugged her. If Prince Rui had just given a shout, the guards patrolling the palace would have rushed over. But she still took a step behind Prince Rui. It was just a small step, but it was precisely this small step that made her take that small step away from the person she trusted. All the panic in her eyes vanished.

Prince Rui did not alert any of the guards, presumably because he wanted to protect those he wanted to protect, and also to preserve the Empress's reputation.

A woman's reputation is more important than anything else.

Now that he's established a reputation, he feels there's no point in continuing to say anything here.

"I swear that I will absolutely give way to the Empress from now on, and I hope that Prince Rui will keep his promise." Mo Ganjunyi clasped his hands in front of his chest and bowed.

Prince Rui remained silent, but a cold glint appeared in his eyes, and then he smiled.

"who?"

A rustling sound of footsteps came from afar.

Mo Ganjunyi glanced at the approaching lights and leaped onto one side of the palace wall.

"It's me." Prince Rui's bright, star-like eyes instantly became slightly intoxicated as he sat down on the rock.

"Prince Rui." The leading guard stopped abruptly, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Prince Rui, it's so late. Why don't you go to Qiujiang Pavilion to rest? Would you like me to escort you back?"

Prince Rui waved his hand, "I had dinner at Cining Palace tonight and got a little drunk. I was planning to go back to my residence, but I ended up feeling really unwell here, so I'll rest for a while."

"Would you like me to summon the imperial physician?" the head guard asked.

Prince Rui waved his hand, "You all go about your business. I sat here for a while and enjoyed the cool breeze. I feel much better now."

"Then this humble subject will take his leave. Your Highness is not feeling well, so it would be best to have the imperial physician examine you before I feel at ease."

Prince Rui nodded.

Once the guards had gone far away, Prince Rui straightened up. In the moonlight, his narrow eyes were slightly lowered, and a hint of coldness seeped into them.

Shen Qingwan returned to the palace, her mind filled with what had just happened.

Although she knew that the small Chang Le Palace could no longer contain him, she could not simply let him roam freely in the inner palace.

Although she didn't know what Mo Ganjunyi was up to, the events of tonight left her feeling uneasy for a long time.

She admitted that she was indeed startled, but she was more curious about what Prince Rui wanted to do by dragging her there if he hadn't shown up.
No matter what you do?
Ultimately, it won't be a good thing.

And his true identity—she had always thought that only she and Emperor Yuanwu knew this, but unexpectedly, Prince Rui also knew about it.

When she discussed this matter with Emperor Yuanwu, it seemed that Emperor Yuanwu did not know who the hostage's family was in the northern desert. She did not know whether Emperor Yuanwu investigated later, after all, the harem could not interfere in politics, and she only knew a little about it.

If Emperor Yuanwu didn't tell him about this, why did he order someone to investigate it? And what was his purpose in doing so?
Shen Qingwan felt that she could understand Prince Rui less and less. Her mind was in turmoil. When she looked down, she smelled the ambergris on her sleeve.

The scent was left from when Mo Gan Junyi pulled her earlier. She had also smelled this scent when she met Mo Gan Junyi in the Imperial Garden last time.

For some reason, she particularly disliked this scent.

She herself couldn't explain whether it was because the fragrance was unique to Mo Gan Junyi and she disliked it, or simply because she didn't like the fragrance. "Zhen'er, have someone prepare bath water. I wish to take a bath."

The next morning.

When Emperor Yuanwu came out of Consort Yan's palace, he issued an imperial edict promoting Consort Yan to the rank of Consort Yan.

"what?"

Consort Rou, who lived in the same palace, was the first person in the harem, besides Consort Yan, to know about this.

Consort Rou, who hadn't slept well all night because Emperor Yuanwu favored Consort Yan, turned even paler. She felt a wave of dizziness and almost fainted.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you alright?" Jun'er took her arm and helped her sit down.

"Jun'er, did I just mishear? What did His Majesty's decree say?" Consort Rou tugged at the corner of her mouth, and there seemed to be tears in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, please don't be like this. It's the rule of the harem that the Emperor favors her and promotes her. Even if she is promoted to the rank of Consort, she can't compare to Your Majesty. Your Majesty has a title and the Fourth Prince. Even if you are a Consort, you are still more noble than a Consort." Jun'er advised.

rule?

It was customary to be promoted after serving the emperor, to be promoted after becoming pregnant, and to be promoted after giving birth to a prince.

But why? These are all rules, after all.

Unfortunately, after giving birth to the Fourth Prince and becoming pregnant again, the Emperor still did not promote her. Not only did he not promote her, but his favor towards her was also much less than before.

Is she really going to fall out of favor?

The promotion of a concubine to the rank of Noble Lady is different from that of a concubine; it requires a formal investiture ceremony.

Even if Consort Yan was ignorant of the rules, the palace maids serving her in this matter still reminded her of the proper etiquette.

Early in the morning, before Shen Qingwan had even gotten out of bed, she had already dressed and arrived at Kunning Palace.

"Your Majesty, wake up, don't sleep, Consort Yan is here." Zhen'er stood by the bed and called softly.

Shen Qingwan didn't sleep well last night and didn't fall asleep until dawn. She had only slept for an hour when she was woken up like this, and she felt dizzy.

"The concubines in the harem are not required to come and pay their respects today, so why wake me up so early?"

After Shen Qingwan finished speaking, she couldn't help but yawn. "Who are you talking about? Who's here?"

"Your Majesty, it's Consort Yan. Yesterday, His Majesty favored Noble Lady Yan, and this morning he issued an imperial decree promoting Noble Lady Yan to Consort Yan. Consort Yan has already arrived at Kunning Palace and wishes to pay her respects to Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingwan felt as if her head had exploded.

Which governess taught Consort Yan such manners? After entering the palace, she not only failed to pay her respects at Kunning Palace, but she didn't even go to Cining Palace. Now that she has been promoted, she doesn't care whether others are up or not, and comes directly over.

"Has she undergone the investiture ceremony?" Shen Qingwan asked curiously.

"This..." Zhen'er hesitated, "Your Majesty, this servant does not know, but judging from the time, the Imperial Household Department should not be able to prepare so quickly, and I estimate that it has not been completed yet."

He came to listen to her admonition without even having the investiture ceremony performed?
Did Consort Yan really have no one to teach her manners, or was she deliberately pretending not to know them?