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

Chapter 350 A bit interesting

Physician Zhang frowned awkwardly, "Your Highness, Consort De, you misunderstand. This is a reward I just received at Kunning Palace."

Consort De's eyes flashed with a cold sharpness, but she smiled and said, "Physician Zhang, don't be nervous. It's actually a gift from Her Majesty the Empress. Physician Zhang, you'd better keep up the act and don't let it slip out and be seen by others..."

As she spoke, Consort De stuffed the money pouch back into Physician Zhang's hand: "...Oh no!"

"Thank you so much, Your Highness." Physician Zhang held the money bag in both hands, his forehead covered in a fine layer of sweat.

"Alright, I'm tired too, I need to go back to the palace. Imperial Physician Zhang, you may also leave." Consort De said, then burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Thank you, Grandmother De."

Physician Zhang took two steps, then suddenly stopped. He turned to look at Consort De's back, a sly smile curving his lips.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, something terrible has happened! The First Prince has fallen and fainted..."

Zhen'er hurriedly ran into the bedchamber of Kunning Palace from outside.

"What?" Shen Qingwan sat bolt upright in bed. "What happened?"

"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" Zhen'er saw Shen Qingwan trying to get up, but the Emperor stepped forward and supported her arm. "Your Majesty, you are still ill. Please lie down. What are you doing?"

Shen Qingwan was in such a hurry that she hadn't even put her shoes on properly before one foot was already heading out of the palace.

The eldest prince had neither a birth mother nor an adoptive mother, and was usually cared for by servants.

Emperor Yuanwu's attitude towards this child had always been wavering. If she hadn't transmigrated into this palace, it would be hard to say whether Jiang Wenlan would be alive or dead at this moment.

"I ask you, how exactly did the First Prince get injured?"

Shen Qingwan was too anxious, and her tone was raised a notch higher than usual.

Zhen'er's eyes widened in fright. "Your Majesty, today Prince Yao came to the palace to deliver invitations to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor for the full moon celebration of the eldest son. Hearing that she was the niece of the Princess Consort, she came to the palace to play. When she passed by the Princes' quarters, the eldest prince had just come down from his study. But as they were playing, the two children started fighting. Prince Yao's niece accidentally pushed the eldest prince, and his head hit a flowerpot. He fainted on the spot..."

"Wasn't Prince Yao's wife just out of labor? How come she's already in the palace delivering an invitation so soon?" Shen Qingwan asked, puzzled.

"I heard that Prince Yao was afraid that the full moon celebration would coincide with the Empress's birthday, so he moved the date of the full moon celebration forward a while, so..."

Shen Qingwan: ...

She was lying in the Kunning Palace when disaster struck out of nowhere.

Who knows what Prince Yao was thinking, trying to drag her into this mess.

Even if the baby's full moon celebration coincides with her birthday, can't the celebration be postponed by a day instead of being held so far in advance?
While Shen Qingwan was speaking, she had already arrived at the prince's residence.

When Prince Yao saw her, his eyes widened in surprise, and he hurriedly bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

Shen Qingwan nodded lightly, glancing down at the girl standing beside him.

Although he was a child, he looked a few years older than Jiang Wenlan, and he was also taller than Jiang Wenlan.

Jiang Wenlan must have been pushed down by this girl.

When Shen Qingwan walked to the bedside, Physician Zhang had just given Jiang Wenlan acupuncture. Although he was still a little dazed, he had regained consciousness.

He opened his eyes groggily, staring at Shen Qingwan for a long while as if trying to recognize something, before slowly saying, "Empress Mother." Shen Qingwan gently stroked his forehead twice and said softly, "Do you feel any better? If there's any pain, don't hold it in, tell your Empress Mother."

Queen Mother?
When Prince Yao heard those three words, his eyes trembled slightly.

Previously, these princes and princesses always called the Empress "Empress". When did they change their address to "Empress Mother"?

Have all the princes changed their tune?

Or was it only the eldest prince who changed his address?
If only the eldest prince changed his mind, wouldn't the emperor and the empress dowager be implying that they wanted to hand Jiang Wenlan over to the empress to raise?

One was the eldest son, and the other was the empress, who held a high position and great power.

When Prince Yao first heard about this, he thought it was just children playing around. He was an unfavored prince, and even Emperor Yuanwu usually didn't want people to mention him, so why would he take it to heart?

But at this moment, the Empress...

Prince Yao hurriedly pulled his wife's daughter over, "Sister-in-law, this is my wife's niece, Cao Wenya."

After Prince Yao finished speaking, he reached out and touched Cao Wenya's arm, "Why don't you hurry up and pay your respects to Her Majesty the Empress?"

Shen Qingwan turned her head and looked at her unwilling appearance, and sneered in her heart, "There is no need for greetings. Since you have caused the First Prince to be injured, then kneel down first and apologize to the First Prince. If it is dealt with according to the palace rules, harming a prince is a serious crime."

“This…” Prince Yao’s eyes darkened.

"What? Does Prince Yao think there's something wrong with what I said?" Shen Qingwan asked with a smile.

Prince Yao gave an awkward smile, "No, it's just..."

He paused and continued, "The two children were playing together, and Wenya didn't do it on purpose. Isn't it a bit of an overreaction for the Empress to bring up palace rules like this? The Empress is so ignorant of right and wrong, yet she insists that Wenya apologize to the First Prince. Does the First Prince not care about right and wrong just because he is a prince?"

Making a fuss out of a molehill?

"Right and wrong." Shen Qingwan sneered. "Prince Yao, please be careful with your words. The two children are playing together. Regardless of who is right or wrong, the eldest prince was injured. Is it wrong of me to ask her to apologize to the eldest prince?"

Shen Qingwan stood up as soon as she finished speaking, but as soon as she straightened up, Jiang Wenlan grabbed her wrist. He shook his head at Shen Qingwan, telling her with his eyes that the matter was over and there was no need to pursue it any further.

Are you not going to pursue this further?

Shen Qingwan gave him a comforting look, but the moment she turned away, her gaze instantly turned cold, filled with a sharp edge.

"Since Prince Yao has said so, then I shall have a proper discussion with you about this matter."

Shen Qingwan took a step towards Prince Yao. "The eldest prince has practiced martial arts since childhood. Even though he is younger than Cao Wenya, the only difference between them is their height. Prince Yao is also a man and has practiced martial arts since childhood. Does Prince Yao think that the eldest prince cannot beat Cao Wenya?"

Prince Yao was speechless for a moment after being rebuked, and he looked somewhat unnatural, not daring to look Shen Qingwan in the eye.

The empress was renowned, but Emperor Yuanwu did not favor her, and he never paid any attention to this woman.

He had been curious about this more than once.

Back then, Prince Rui and Emperor Yuanwu fought tooth and nail over this woman, almost destroying their brotherly harmony. If Prince Rui hadn't fallen seriously ill and nearly died, they probably wouldn't have this superficial brotherly affection today.

Now he understands a little.

This woman is interesting...