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

Chapter 357 is riddled with errors and omissions.
Consort Yan hurriedly gave Xia'er a wink.

Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, Xia'er slipped out and stopped Physician Zhang, who was rushing over with his medicine box, at the entrance of Zhongcui Palace.

"Imperial Physician Zhang." Xia'er approached Imperial Physician Zhang and curtsied. "Imperial Physician Zhang, you may not recognize me. I am Xia'er, a maidservant who accompanied Consort Yan of Zhongcui Palace."

Physician Zhang was slightly taken aback. "I wonder what business Aunt Xia'er has with me?"

"Physician Zhang, please don't be nervous." Xia'er took a step closer to Physician Zhang and stuffed a money pouch into his hand. "Actually, our lady didn't mean anything by it; she just wanted to trouble Physician Zhang to wait a moment..."

Before Xia'er could finish speaking, a soft cough came from behind her.

Consort Rou?

Physician Zhang hurriedly stuffed the money pouch Xia'er handed him back, took a step forward, and wanted to bow to Consort Rou.

Xia'er panicked too. Although both Roupin and Yanpin lived in Zhongcui Palace and were both consorts of the rank of concubine, they were equals. However, Roupin had a title, while Yanpin only used the character "Yan" from her family name.

In comparison, Consort Rou's status is naturally more prestigious than Consort Yan's.

Xia'er was already feeling guilty, and she didn't know when Consort Rou had appeared behind her, or how much she had overheard. What if she went to the Emperor and said something? Wouldn't that be...?

She never expected such a sudden situation, nor did she expect that Physician Zhang would not accept the money bag.

The moment the two turned around at the same time, the money bag that Xia'er had prepared for Doctor Zhang fell to the ground with a "thud".

Consort Rou glanced down at the ground, feigning ignorance, and asked, "What's that on the ground?"

“This…” Physician Zhang’s forehead was covered with a layer of fine sweat.

Consort Rou walked up to the two of them, bent down and picked up the money pouch from the ground. "I heard last night that Consort Yan was not feeling well. Could it be that she has contracted some incurable disease?"

"Your Highness Consort Rou, I am unaware. I have come to Zhongcui Palace by imperial decree. As for who I am to treat, the eunuch who delivered the message did not specify." Physician Zhang bowed.

Consort Rou stared blankly at Physician Zhang for a long while, then suddenly smiled. "Physician Zhang has served in the harem for so long and is a top doctor in the Imperial Medical Academy, so naturally he wouldn't care about such a small amount of money. But the maids in Consort Yan's palace took this opportunity to stop the Physician Zhang from going to Consort Yan's palace. What are they up to?"

Xia'er turned pale with fright, her knees buckled, and she knelt on the ground. "Your Highness, Consort Rou, I didn't, I didn't do anything. Please have mercy, Your Highness."

"Nothing, nothing done?" Consort Rou looked at Xia'er kneeling on the ground with a half-smile. "If it's really as you say, that you did everything, then tell me, what's the deal with this purse? Did you steal something from your mistress and just happen to be knocked over by Physician Zhang?"

Roupin's lips curled into a sneer, "You better not beg me. You are far more noble than your mistress. The Empress slapped you twice and you were confined to your quarters. If the Emperor knew that you were kneeling on the ground begging me for mercy, he would surely throw me into the Cold Palace. I can't bear that."

She dared not offend Physician Zhang. After all, in the harem, if one wanted to live a long life, one would inevitably have to deal with the Imperial Hospital. Moreover, Physician Zhang was the head of the Imperial Hospital, and even the Empress had to show him respect.

"Your Highness Consort Rou, I have come by imperial decree. His Majesty is still waiting for me inside. If Your Highness has nothing else to say, I will go in first to take His Majesty's pulse, and then I will go to apologize to Your Highness." Imperial Physician Zhang bowed with his arms crossed.

Consort Rou nodded in return, "Imperial Physician Zhang, please hurry over there, and don't delay His Majesty's business."

As soon as Physician Zhang stepped into Zhongcui Palace, Consort Rou gave a wink to the eunuch behind her.

Two eunuchs lifted Xia'er from the ground, one on each side, and stuffed a long handkerchief into her mouth. No matter how much she struggled, they dragged her into the palace. When Consort Rou dragged Xia'er into the side hall of Zhongcui Palace, Imperial Physician Zhang was taking Consort Rou's pulse.

"Your Majesty, I wish you good fortune."

Emperor Yuanwu glanced at her indifferently and said, "Get up."

He paused for a moment, then asked in confusion, "Is the Third Prince asleep? Why does he have time to come over now?"

"Your Majesty, the Third Prince is being looked after by his wet nurse and has just fallen asleep. This is my first time taking care of a child, and there are many things I don't know. I thought I'd take advantage of the Third Prince's nap to visit Consort Liang's palace and ask her for advice on how to raise a child well, but..."

Emperor Yuanwu seemed quite satisfied and nodded. What he liked most was harmony in the imperial harem and a large family.

Consort Rou said in a drawn-out tone, "...On the way back, I just happened to run into Physician Zhang and Xia'er."

Xia'er?

Consort Yan's eyes trembled. Ignoring the fact that Physician Zhang was still taking her pulse, she sat up directly from the bed, bringing the pulse pillow that was under her wrist to the ground.

Almost immediately, everyone turned to look at her. Consort Yan spoke with a somewhat unnatural expression, "I was wondering where that girl had gone. I was just looking for her. Turns out she went to the palace gate to collect something."

Packing things up...

Xia'er quickly replied, "Yes, yes, this servant just went to Zhongcui Palace to bring in the things that were drying for Your Highness, and happened to run into Consort Rou."

Watching the two of them, mistress and servant, working together in perfect harmony, Consort Rou couldn't help but sneer inwardly. "Excuse my bluntness, but may I ask Consort Yan, what did you send Xia'er to collect for you?"

what?
Consort Yan glanced in Xia'er's direction from afar, and the two spoke almost simultaneously.

Consort Yan: "Shoes."

Xia'er: "Clothes".

Consort Rou chuckled and took out the money pouch from her bosom. "Could this be the shoes and clothes you've been talking about?"

Consort Yan's gaze darkened. She had already suspected something, but now she was almost certain.

Just as Xia'er went to give money to Physician Zhang, she was caught in the act by Consort Rou.

With Emperor Yuanwu present, Physician Zhang didn't even accept the money; she was truly finished.

Emperor Yuanwu's last bit of patience was completely exhausted by the two women's flawed and inaccurate answers.

"Consort Rou, stop beating around the bush and tell me what really happened." Emperor Yuanwu snorted coldly.

"Your Majesty, when I returned from Consort Liang's palace just now, I saw with my own eyes Xia'er slip this money pouch into Physician Zhang's hand, hoping that Physician Zhang would give her permission when he examines Consort Yan later."

Consort Rou glanced at Consort Yan with a troubled expression. "I was wondering why, in the past, when any of the ladies in the palace invited the imperial physician to examine them, they would give him a reward of silver. How come Imperial Physician Zhang gave her silver before even examining Consort Yan, and even after giving it to her, he didn't dare to accept it..."