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

Chapter 38 A Pitiful Person

Shen Qingwan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Empress Dowager: ? ? ?
Emperor Yuanwu:? ? ?

"Please forgive me, Mother." Shen Qingwan's eyes narrowed.

"The Empress is really carefree; she can still laugh at a time like this," the Empress Dowager couldn't help but lecture her.

It seems that from ancient times to the present, daughters-in-law have always had to listen to their elders urging them to have children.

The Empress Dowager didn't stop for a moment, but Shen Qingwan was already lost in thought.

The Qingyilu (Records of Strange Things) mentions in the section on delicacies that during the Tiancheng era, the emperor ordered the making of Tong'a cakes. The method involved mixing minced meat with flour, kneading the dough until it was the size of an arm, cutting each piece to be two inches thick, and then steaming them.

The meat in the Tong A Bing was once praised as dragon meat, which shows how delicious it was.

Or we can have Tong A Bing for lunch.

Shen Qingwan was pondering in her heart whether the production process was complicated or not, and whether the imperial kitchen could make it as delicious as the one described in "Qing Yi Lu: Cuisine".

"Your Majesty, what do you think?"

The Empress Dowager suddenly called her name, startling Shen Qingwan: "Your daughter-in-law thinks it's excellent!"

Empress Dowager: ? ? ?
Emperor Yuanwu hurriedly nudged her with his elbow: "What is the Empress thinking about? The Empress Dowager asked you about the Third Prince. What is it?"

Shen Qingwan: ...

She was just being urged to give birth, so why is the pace suddenly so fast? She can hardly keep up.

"Your Majesty, I think that Consort Xian's illness may last for some time. It would be better to find a concubine without children to take care of her temporarily, so that everyone in Jingyang Palace is busy with Consort Xian's affairs and may neglect her, so that some people with ulterior motives can take advantage of the situation. His Majesty already has few children."

Emperor Yuanwu:...

Emperor Yuanwu's face darkened, and he secretly wondered to himself, "Doesn't the Empress know why he has so few children?"
Since marrying the Empress, she has given many concubines who have slept with her to prevent pregnancy.

Having many offspring? That would be truly bizarre!

Shen Qingwan didn't think so. Seeing Emperor Yuanwu's dark face, she instantly felt wronged.

If it weren't for her diligent management of the concubines in the harem for Emperor Yuanwu, perhaps no one would know that Consort Li was pregnant.

What's so difficult about having children!
When she has free time, she will compile a list of the menstrual cycles of all the concubines in the harem. As long as Emperor Yuanwu favors them one by one according to their auspicious gestation dates, she can guarantee that the entire harem will be full of pregnant women within three to five months.

She's tried so hard to help Emperor Yuanwu have more children, but he won't cooperate at all. What can she, as the empress, do?

"The Empress is right. We should deal with the Third Prince's situation first. He is too young and needs to be cared for." After saying this, the Empress Dowager glanced at Shen Qingwan and said, "Now that Consort De and Consort Shu are in charge of the harem, and I don't think the Empress is too busy every day, why don't we keep the Third Prince in the Empress's palace for now, and send him back to Jingyang Palace after Consort Xian recovers?"

After Consort Xian was injured, Shen Qingwan also inquired about Consort Xian's condition at the Imperial Hospital.

Anyway, the outlook is not very optimistic. If Consort Xian is lucky enough to survive, she may find it difficult to recover to her previous state, and may even have trouble walking.

The Empress Dowager was in a hurry to find a foster mother for the Third Prince, partly because she feared that someone might take advantage of the situation to harm him, and partly because she had probably inquired about Consort Xian's recent situation.

"Mother, it's not that I don't want to get involved in this matter, but I feel that Consort Shu has served the Emperor for many years, and I've heard that she injured her health while at the residence, and may never be able to have children again. Perhaps it would be better to let Consort Shu take care of the Third Prince for now. Since she herself cannot have children, she will naturally rely on the Third Prince and treat him well. If Consort Xian recovers one day, both she and the Third Prince will remember this kindness." "The Empress's words are very sensible. Consort Shu is also a pitiful person." The Empress Dowager nodded, then asked Emperor Yuanwu, "What does Your Majesty think?"

"I also think that Consort Shu is gentle and mild-mannered, and is very suitable to raise the Third Prince."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, since the Third Prince has been given to Consort Shu to raise, then she should continue to raise him. If he is taken back after a few days, Consort Shu will feel uneasy and will naturally not be able to devote herself to the Third Prince," Shen Qingwan said.

"The Empress is quite right." Emperor Yuanwu nodded. "What does Mother Empress think?"

"It's not uncommon for children in the harem to be raised in other concubines' palaces. The late Emperor is a prime example. If it's for the Third Prince's good, Consort Shu should feel at ease so she can raise him wholeheartedly. Once he's taken there, there's no reason to send him back. If Consort Xian recovers in the future, she can visit him often. After all, living in the same palace isn't inconvenient," the Empress Dowager said.
Shen Qingwan thought for a moment and continued, "Mother, I have another matter. Whether Consort Shu is suitable to raise the Third Prince is up to us, but we need to hear Consort Shu's opinion on whether she is willing. After all, once the Third Prince is given to Consort Shu, she may have to raise him until he comes of age, is granted a title, and has his own residence before moving out."

"The Empress's considerations are thorough." The Empress Dowager approved, "Then let the Empress handle this matter."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Empress curtsied.

Back to Kunning Palace.

Seeing that there was still some time before lunch, Shen Qingwan sent Zhen'er to Yonghe Palace herself.

"Aunt Zhen'er, why did you come here in person?" Consort Shu's eyes widened in surprise.

"Your Highness, my lady sent me to ask if you have already ordered lunch. If not, would you be willing to come to Kunning Palace to dine with my lady?" Zhen'er said.

"Aunt Zhen'er, you're too kind. It's my honor that Her Majesty the Empress has summoned me for a meal." Consort Shu paused, "However... Aunt Zhen'er, could you please tell me if I did something wrong that displeased Her Majesty the Empress?"

"Your Highness, there's no need to be nervous." Zhen'er smiled and said, "It's a good thing."

"Then Aunt Zhen'er, please convey my message to Her Majesty the Empress. I'll change my clothes and go." After saying this, Consort Shu gave her personal maid Chun'er a wink.

"Your Highness, this is unacceptable. If our mistress finds out, she will reprimand me."

Zhen'er looked at the loose silver coins handed to her and waved them away repeatedly.

It's not that she didn't want to accept it, it's just that she gave too much!
"How can we let Aunt Zhen'er make such a long trip for nothing? Please don't think it's too little, Aunt Zhen'er."

Zhen'er had no choice but to reluctantly accept it.

When Zhen'er returned to Kunning Palace, the imperial kitchen staff brought her lunch.

"Your Majesty, when we went to Yonghe Palace just now, Consort Shu gave us a lot of reward money." Zhen'er didn't dare to hide it and directly spread the reward money out on the table.

Shen Qingwan glanced at it.

Consort Shu is truly generous: "Since you've given it to me, just take it. What does Consort Shu say?"

"Consort Shu said she would come over after changing her clothes." Zhen'er was so happy she could hardly contain her joy.

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

Looking at her pathetic state, Shen Qingwan couldn't help but laugh and said, "You're so happy over such a small amount of money, it makes me feel like I've been mistreating you."

(End of this chapter)