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

Chapter 390 The drunkard doesn’t care about drinking

"Consort Xi has arrived."

Does he favor someone important?
Shen Qingwan's eyes trembled. She really was something else. Every time, she could appear here at the exact moment when Shen Qingwan came to Cining Palace.

"Auspicious person?"

The Empress Dowager seemed surprised by her arrival at this time, and her tone of voice clearly carried a hint of astonishment.

It seems that Consort Xi hasn't come over for a long time.

Clearly, the person she came over at this moment was not the Empress Dowager, but her!
Shen Qingwan stood up and stood to one side.

When Consort Xi walked in, Shen Qingwan was slightly taken aback.

It hadn't been that long since they last met, and she almost didn't recognize her.

The Empress Dowager continuously bestowed upon him various delicacies from land and sea, as well as lingzhi tonics.

Consort Xi did not disappoint her kindness, and ate herself until she was plump and round, as if she had been inflated.

If Zhang Mama hadn't announced her arrival, she might not have recognized her.

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed."

After Consort Xi entered, she first greeted Shen Qingwan.

Before Shen Qingwan could exchange any insincere pleasantries with her, she had already stood up straight and rushed into the Empress Dowager's arms.

"Aunt, what's wrong with you? You scared me to death."

Shen Qingwan: ...

So fake!

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but purse her lips, and took her hand, saying, "I'm fine."

Seeing her tearful face, Shen Qingwan curtsied and greeted the Empress Dowager, saying, "Mother, the First Prince is still in my palace. I will return now."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is the First Prince with you?"

“Yes.” Shen Qingwan said frankly, “The eldest prince has injured his leg, and it is not convenient for his daughter-in-law to run to both sides of Kunning Palace at this time, so I simply brought the eldest prince here. The child was frightened, so I need to stay with him to feel at ease.”

The Empress Dowager nodded with great satisfaction. "The eldest prince has a hard life. He lost his mother at birth. You are the Empress, and it is the Emperor's blessing that you have this concern."

Done.

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but sigh again, "It's just that the Emperor is born into good fortune but doesn't know it."

“Mother, your daughter-in-law is the Empress. All the children of the concubines in the harem are your daughter-in-law’s children. The eldest prince’s birth mother is no longer here, so it is only right for your daughter-in-law to take care of her. Once it is convenient for your daughter-in-law to leave the palace, she will send the eldest prince back to the prince’s residence. Anyway, Kunning Palace is quite close to the prince’s residence.”

"Since we've already taken them, let's wait until the eldest prince's leg injury has healed before sending them back. There's no rush," the Empress Dowager said kindly.

"Yes, Mother." Shen Qingwan curtsied and bowed again. "Then your daughter-in-law will take her leave now."

The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded.

After Shen Qingwan left the Empress Dowager's palace, Consort Xi sat up straight, her tears instantly gone, and a mocking smile appeared on her lips.

“Aunt, you don’t really believe that the Empress is so kind. The eldest prince is in the prince’s quarters, and he’s not without maids and eunuchs to take care of him. He has two governesses serving him all the time. Why would she need to bring him to Kunning Palace? It’s obviously just for the Emperor’s benefit.”

Thanks to Shen Qingwan's persuasion, the Empress Dowager's mood had finally improved a little. But upon hearing Consort Xi's words, her mood instantly plummeted.

She pulled her hand away from Consort Xi's. "Is there anything else? If not, go back and rest early. You're pregnant, so don't walk around all day."

Consort Xi was taken aback. "Aunt."

"Alright!" The Empress Dowager's tone was tinged with impatience. "Zhang Mama, go and get some deer antlers that the Emperor just sent over for Consort Xi."

Consort Xi's eyes lit up with joy, completely forgetting her displeasure. "Thank you, Aunt." Shen Qingwan had just returned to the palace from Cining Palace when Xia Fuchuan hurriedly walked in from outside.

"Your Majesty, Prince Rui requests an audience."

Shen Qingwan paused, her hand holding the teacup still.

Prince Rui?
Why is he here?

Did they say what it was about?

"Your Majesty, they said they came to see the First Prince after hearing that he was injured."

Shen Qingwan raised an eyebrow. "Let him in."

To see the eldest prince?

Why did she feel that Prince Rui's true intentions were not what they seemed?
Shen Qingwan straightened her clothes and walked out of the palace. Just as she stepped into the courtyard, Prince Rui walked in from outside the palace.

Upon seeing Shen Qingwan, he paused slightly, then clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, "Sister-in-law."

Shen Qingwan nodded in return, then turned to Zhen'er behind her and said, "Take Prince Rui to the side hall."

"Yes, ma'am."

Zhen'er curtsied, took two steps toward Prince Rui, and gestured for him to follow her.

Prince Rui glanced down at Zhen'er's hand, but instead of moving, he asked Shen Qingwan curiously, "Imperial sister-in-law, are you going out?"

Shen Qingwan was stunned for a moment, then realized that she was dressed neatly because she had just come from Cining Palace.

"No, I just came back from my mother's place."

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager?" Prince Rui asked, puzzled. "I heard that my sister-in-law is unwell. How can she go out at a time like this? She should rest properly in the palace."

He paused, then asked, "Is something wrong with the Empress Dowager?"

“It’s not that anything’s wrong, she’s just angry with the Emperor and refuses to eat.” Shen Qingwan’s eyes were indifferent.

Prince Rui pondered for a moment and said, "After I have seen the eldest prince, I will go to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

Shen Qingwan glanced around and said, "The eldest prince is currently sitting in the side hall. Prince Rui, please go with Zhen'er."

"You should also get some rest, Your Majesty's sister-in-law."

Shen Qingwan returned to the main hall. She sat at the table, sipping her osmanthus tea and casually flipping through the book in her hand, but her eyes would occasionally glance towards the side hall.

"Uncle? What brings you here?"

Jiang Wenlan seemed quite surprised. Just as he was about to get up, Prince Rui quickly raised his hand, signaling him not to get up.

"I heard your leg injury is quite serious. Rest well and be careful not to aggravate the wound."

A palace servant brought a chair, and Prince Rui sat down beside his bed.

Zhen'er led the palace servants who were serving in the hall away.

Once only he and Prince Rui remained in the side hall, Jiang Wenlan asked softly, "Has Imperial Uncle seen the Empress Dowager?"

Prince Rui paused slightly, seemingly surprised by the question, but still said in a calm tone, "I just saw your mother in the courtyard. It seems she just returned from Cining Palace."

Cining Palace?
Isn't that the Empress Dowager?

"Is it the Empress Dowager causing trouble for the Empress Mother?" Jiang Wenlan asked solemnly.

"Why would the eldest prince think that way?" Prince Rui asked with a complicated expression, his hands clasped in front of him, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

"My mother has just lost a child and has been busy taking care of me. If my grandmother wasn't looking for trouble for my mother, why would she have summoned her at this time? I just heard from a palace maid that it was Zhang Mama who came to invite her personally."