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

Chapter 352 Expulsion Order

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Cao Wenya lost her mother at a young age and has always been raised by nannies in the mansion. She has been neglected in her upbringing. A few days ago, I heard that the mansion had a son and came to congratulate her. If she is punished for her mistake and left in the palace, I am really worried that the princess will worry too much during her postpartum period and harm her health. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy."

The Empress Dowager's eyes trembled slightly. "Fine, since that's the case, then Prince Yao can take her back himself. Punish her by copying 'Rules for Women' and 'Instructions for Women' one hundred times, and have them sent to Kunning Palace for the Empress to review."

Kunning Palace?
The Empress Dowager actually ordered it to be sent to Kunning Palace instead of Cining Palace.

Why does the Empress Dowager value Shen Qingwan so much?
"The eldest prince is injured and needs to rest properly. With so many people standing here, making the room smoky and stuffy, how can he rest properly? Everyone, please disperse."

The atmosphere was chaotic and foul.

Prince Yao's pupils contracted slightly. At this moment, besides the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Emperor, only he and Cao Wenya were outsiders in this room.

The Empress Dowager's words were clearly pointed, but she was simply issuing an order to leave.

When Prince Yao brought Cao Wenya out of the Prince's residence, he couldn't help but look back.

Queen!

The Empress Dowager and Emperor Yuanwu asked a few questions, and seeing that Jiang Wenlan seemed listless and sleepy, they left one after the other.

"Mother, I heard that you were ill. I was planning to go to Kunning Palace to visit you after leaving my study, but I didn't expect to encounter such a thing. Please go back and rest, Mother. I am really alright," Jiang Wenlan said worriedly.

Shen Qingwan took the medicine from the palace maid and fed it to Jiang Wenlan. Then she put a red date in his mouth. The red date filled his mouth with a sweet taste, which covered the bitter taste in his mouth.

He hadn't even thought of crying when he fell and his head was bleeding, but now, he felt a lump in his throat.

He wanted to remember the taste in his mouth. This was the first time in his life that someone had put a sweet date in his mouth after he had taken bitter medicine.

"Your mother has a question for you, and you must answer her truthfully."

Shen Qingwan's words brought Jiang Wenlan back to her senses. "Please speak, Mother."

"Your mother wants to ask you, if the Empress Dowager hadn't come over just now, would you have wanted to plead for Cao Wenya?"

Jiang Wenlan was taken aback, and after a long while, she slowly nodded. "Then can you tell Mother why you want to plead for her? Is it because you think that when you were playing, she really pushed you accidentally and hurt you?"

"No." Jiang Wenlan's expression hardened, and she seemed a little agitated, but then she seemed to remember something and quickly regained her composure.

"Do you trust your mother?" Shen Qingwan raised her hand and gently touched his forehead.

“Of course,” Jiang Wenlan said confidently.

"Could you tell Mother what exactly happened just now?"

"After returning from the study, I intended to review my lessons and then visit the Empress Dowager at Kunning Palace later, but unexpectedly she came over and said..."

Jiang Wenlan looked embarrassed and stammered, "She said that I am a wild child without a mother, and even Father Emperor does not like me. I was so angry that I talked back to her. As a result, she pushed me. She pushed me several times but could not move me. She almost fell over herself. When I tried to pull her back, I accidentally slipped. The eunuchs and nannies in the Prince's Palace can all witness this."

"If that's the case, then why did you try to plead for her just now?" Shen Qingwan asked gently.

“Yes…” Jiang Wenlan paused, “Your Majesty does not wish for me to clash with Prince Yao. In fact, what she said is not wrong. Your Majesty is indeed…” At this point, Jiang Wenlan could no longer continue…

Shen Qingwan felt a pang of pain in her heart upon hearing this, "Would you be willing to listen to your mother, the Empress Dowager?"

"Your subject is willing."

"If you suffer humiliation, remember it in your heart. Revenge is the only way to show your true colors. Blindly tolerating it will only make people think you're easy to bully, and will only embolden those who bully you to do so even more. Although your mother passed away early, you must always remember that you are a noble prince, your father's first son, the eldest son. Your status is precious. No matter when, no matter where you go, you need not be soft-hearted towards those who disrespect or belittle you. The sky won't fall; even if it does, your grandmother, father, and mother will support you." Shen Qingwan's gaze was firm. "Do you understand?"

Jiang Wenlan stared blankly at Shen Qingwan, moved his lips but ultimately didn't say anything.

Shen Qingwan patiently continued, "Then let me ask you, before I came to the Prince's residence, did those nannies who bullied you stop bullying you because of your forbearance?"

Jiang Wenlan's breath hitched. "Mother, I understand."

Shen Qingwan finally felt relieved and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

"But..." Shen Qingwan was relieved, but Jiang Wenlan still asked with concern, "Mother, the conflict between me and Prince Yao just now might cause trouble for Your Majesty?"

"No," Shen Qingwan replied without hesitation.

"But……"

Before Jiang Wenlan could finish speaking, Shen Qingwan felt a cold sweat break out all over her body. "No buts. Don't worry, he won't do anything to the Empress Dowager. He's a prince, and he can't enter the harem without being summoned. You've taken your medicine, so you should rest early. The Empress Dowager will come to see you again tomorrow."

"My son, I respectfully send you to the emperor's mother."

When Shen Qingwan came out of the Prince's residence, her face was sickly pale. The Prince's residence was not far from Kunning Palace, but Shen Qingwan still asked for a sedan chair.

Sitting in the chariot, her view was much wider, but she felt dizzy and supported her forehead with one hand, unable to appreciate the spring scenery of the harem.

Just as she was about to close her eyes and rest for a while, she saw Consort Jin and Noble Lady Xia talking in a secluded spot in the Imperial Garden.

Consort Jin and Noble Lady Xia?

Shen Qingwan vaguely recalled that when Consort Xia first entered the palace, she had also encountered Consort Jin and Consort Xia talking outside.

At that time, the weather was still quite cold. She was curious for a while. Consort Jin and Noble Lady Xia lived in the same palace. If they wanted to travel together, why didn't they use their own skills instead of coming out? Could it be that they wanted to avoid someone when they were talking, or that they didn't want a third person to hear what they were saying?

Could it be that they knew each other before they entered the palace?

Shen Qingwan was very curious, but her discomfort at the moment left her no time to care about such trivial matters. Upon returning to the palace, she didn't even have time to wash up before lying down on the bed and falling asleep. She slept until the next morning.

"Zhen'er, what time is it?"

"Your Majesty, it is three-quarters past Chen Shi (7:45 AM)."

Three-quarters of the hour of Chen?

She slept for such a long time?
"Your Highness, the servants from the flower room came over early this morning and delivered a lot of flowers to Kunning Palace. Would Your Highness like to go to the courtyard to take a look? I'll help you get up."