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

Chapter 4 Contraceptive Soup

Emperor Yuanwu remained silent, feeling a dull ache in his heart and an indescribable sense of unease.

Could it be that the Empress has really changed her personality after her serious illness? If it were before, she would have tried every means to keep him here.

For a long time afterward, he dared not have dinner in her palace.

After finishing lunch, I made up an excuse and left.

Not only did they not keep him, but they are also driving him away?

One trip won't do!
They even had to rush twice!
Just as Emperor Yuanwu turned to look in the direction of the Kunning Palace's sleeping quarters, the candlelight went out.

asleep?

Could it be that, as the Empress said, he is indeed not yet fully recovered?

Emperor Yuanwu felt a little better. "Tomorrow morning, send some of the best tonics to the Empress's palace to help her recover."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I haven't seen Consort Yu for quite some time. Let's go see Consort Yu."

"Prepare the carriage for Chuxiu Palace..."

The next morning.

Shen Qingwan was having breakfast when Zhen'er helped her with her hair and makeup.

"Your Majesty, Consort Yu served the Emperor yesterday. Her medicine has been prepared. Shall we send it over after the Emperor leaves?"

Herbal decoction?

Shen Qingwan moved her lips, about to ask what kind of medicine it was, when she suddenly realized.

The medicine given to her after she had been with the emperor was probably a contraceptive decoction.

The original owner never consummated her marriage with Emperor Yuanwu, and she still had to be wary of Emperor Yuanwu even among those favored concubines.

Even a minor noble like Consort Yu is bound to be bullied.

It seems that Consort Yu was a pitiful person. She entered the palace to serve Emperor Yuanwu when he was still a prince. She was too honest and not good at vying for favor. Even after giving birth to the second prince, she was still just a minor consort.

The Second Prince has been sickly since birth, and Consort Yu has devoted all her heart to him, so she has no time to care about any favors.

He only sees the emperor twice a year, and yet he still needs a contraceptive soup? It's going to drive him crazy.

The original owner of this body was incredibly restless; she never seemed to tire herself out.

"That's enough, no need to bestow it upon me."

"Huh?" Zhen'er thought she had misheard and exclaimed in surprise.

Shen Qingwan repeated what she had just said, "There's no need to give out contraceptive soup anymore. From now on, there's no need to prepare contraceptive soup for the other concubines in the palace after they've served the emperor."

Although Zhen'er was puzzled, she didn't ask any further questions. After all, she had served her since she was a child and knew that Zhen'er had her reasons for doing so.

But then Zhen'er remembered something else.

“Your Majesty, last night I saw that His Majesty wanted to rest in our palace after dinner, but why did you keep turning him away? You don’t know, His Majesty hasn’t consummated his marriage with you yet, and there’s so much gossip going on in the palace…”

"Really? How come I didn't know?"

"Your Majesty, are you referring to...?"

"How could I not see that His Majesty intends to stay the night?"

Zhen'er: ...

Shen Qingwan frowned, playing with her hair with one hand, lost in thought.

If Emperor Yuanwu really had this intention, she would really have to think of a way to deal with it.

The two were talking.

Su Jixiang, the chief eunuch serving Emperor Yuanwu, brought a large amount of tonics with eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department, including top-quality wild ginseng, deer antler, he shou wu (Polygonum multiflorum), and a thousand-year-old ginseng.

Yesterday, the Empress Dowager bestowed a phoenix hairpin upon me, and today the Emperor has sent so many nourishing tonics.

Shen Qingwan couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile. Now she was also thanks to the original owner of the body. It seemed that she and her son had really been scared by the original owner's antics over the years, fearing that she might cause some trouble in the election in seven days. So they had to appease her in advance.

The ninth day of the eighth lunar month is the day of the talent show.

With the Empress Dowager's permission, Consort Xian and Consort De were released from their confinement. Shen Qingwan got up very early and sat in front of her dressing table, where Zhen'er helped her comb her hair.

"Your Majesty, I cleaned your three favorite hairpins early this morning. Would you like to wear gold, pearl, or jade? You must dress up beautifully today and outshine all the other ladies-in-waiting."

Shen Qingwan frowned as she stared at the three sets of jewelry that Zhen'er handed over.

This jewelry looks exactly like the original owner.

"Go and bring me that set of purple jade."

"Ah?" Zhen'er's eyes widened in surprise: "Your Majesty, today is the day of the imperial concubine selection. If you wear a purple jade hairpin, won't others steal your thunder? I heard that Consort Xian will also be attending the selection ceremony."

Shen Qingwan remained silent.

She stared at herself in the bronze mirror, dressed in a pale pink gown, with a light gauze shawl over her shoulders and pleats in her skirt. Her skin was as smooth as jade, and her breath was as delicate as an orchid. She held up her long black hair with a purple jade hairpin, which looked just right.

"Since it's a talent show, the focus should be on the contestants; there's no need for them to dress too flamboyantly."

Shen Qingwan took a tissue and dabbed her lips with it.

What exactly is wrong with their master?
Is he delirious from illness?

Although Zhen'er didn't understand why she did this, she still did as she was told.

Shen Qingwan and Emperor Yuanwu arrived at the main hall for the imperial concubine selection one after the other.

The Empress Dowager and Consort Xian were already seated and talking.

According to palace rules, only the Imperial Concubine could attend the palace selection. Since the departure of Imperial Concubine Li, the position of Imperial Concubine has been vacant. Consort Xian, who assists in managing the six palaces and has a prince by her side, is of noble status and thus has this honor.

Shen Qingwan noticed that there was an empty seat next to the Empress Dowager, so she curtsied and sat down.

Consort Xian was dressed in gorgeous clothes, her head adorned with kingfisher feathers and gold ornaments, making her look stunning and beautiful.

She seemed quite surprised that Shen Qingwan, who always wanted to outshine others, was dressed so plainly at the talent show, making her seem somewhat like the one stealing the show.

"May Your Majesty be well, Your Majesty. This humble servant wishes Your Majesty peace..."

"Get up."

Shen Qingwan waved her hand casually, which only made Consort Xian more uncomfortable.

"I have been reflecting on my mistakes in Jingyang Palace these past few days and have not yet had a chance to thank Her Majesty the Empress. I hope Her Majesty will not blame me."

"Thank you?" Shen Qingwan asked, puzzled.

"Your Majesty the Empress may not have taken the matter of Consort De's slander against me last time to heart, but I have always remembered it. I truly do not know how to thank Your Majesty the Empress for protecting me back then," Consort Xian said radiantly.

Shen Qingwan smiled gently: "On that day, Consort De was also instigated by others. I believe you are not such a despicable person."

Consort Xian: ? ? ?
The Empress Dowager was quite surprised to hear her say such a thing.

"The Empress is very sensible. The harmony of the six palaces is a blessing for the Emperor and me. When new sisters are added to the palace, they should also get along well. Once the Empress is fully recovered, the affairs of the harem should still be managed by the Empress herself."

Consort Xian was somewhat embarrassed. "Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Shen Qingwan had no desire to get involved; matters of the harem were neither too big nor too small, and were far too complicated.

Despite Emperor Yuanwu and the Empress Dowager's care for her, she still had to do what needed to be done, but she still wanted to avoid it as long as possible.

Shen Qingwan knew the answer.

Consort Xian was very willing to manage the affairs of the inner palace.

"Mother, your daughter-in-law still needs some time to recuperate, and I will have to trouble my sister for a while longer."

"Your Majesty, there's no need for you to be so polite. I am very willing to share your burdens."

The Empress Dowager didn't say anything, but felt that Shen Qingwan was faking it.

"The auspicious time has arrived..."

The talent show began, with eight contestants walking in as a group.

Shen Qingwan originally only wanted to be a quiet decoration and did not intend to express any opinions. The women who could be selected by the palace had to go through layers of screening in terms of appearance and background, so they must be good.

(End of this chapter)