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

Chapter 400 Consort Shu

"what's up?"

Su Tianhe stood up from the ground and straightened his clothes.

The young eunuch then realized what was happening.

"Reporting to Eunuch Su, the First Prince saw that Her Majesty the Empress had sent people over to inquire if they needed any assistance."

"It's nothing, Her Majesty the Empress has already gone to sleep."

"Yes, Eunuch Su, this servant will go and report back to the First Prince immediately."

After the young eunuch left the main hall, Su Tianhe glanced at Zhen'er, who turned her head away awkwardly, creating an inexplicably awkward atmosphere.

She tiptoed toward the palace. Su Tianhe saw her struggling and wanted to help her, but remembering what had just happened, he stopped himself from taking another step.
-
The next morning.

Consort Shu and the Third Prince arrived at Kunning Palace early in the morning to express their gratitude.

Her hairstyle and clothing were no longer those of a concubine.

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

As soon as Consort Shu entered, she performed a full kneeling bow, her lips parted in an uncontrollable smile.

"Get up quickly. Now that you are a Noble Consort, your status is even more precious."

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu still did not get up. Her eyes were red and she became more and more agitated as she spoke, with hot tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Your Majesty, I truly do not know how to express my gratitude for Your Majesty's patronage. I thought that the best outcome would be to carefully preserve my position as a concubine, avoid bringing disaster to my maternal family, and live a life of quiet desperation in the harem."

At this point, Consort Shu couldn't hold back her tears. "Your Majesty the Empress, if it weren't for you, I would have lived like a ghost in the palace, never seeing the Emperor, and no one would have cared about my life or death..."

Perhaps seeing Consort Shu cry, the Third Prince also started to fuss in his wet nurse's arms, crying loudly.

Upon hearing the sound, Consort Shu turned around and hurriedly went over to hug the Third Prince and comfort him.

She stopped crying, and the Third Prince was quickly comforted as well.

Shen Qingwan was somewhat grateful to the Third Prince at this moment; otherwise, she really felt that, given Consort Shu's agitated state just now, she might have blurted out that he was hers in life and in death.

It's actually quite scary to think about.

However, it seems that Consort Shu was really good to the Third Prince. When a child cries, the person he most wants to find is definitely the person he is most familiar with.

"Today is the Third Prince's birthday. Is everything arranged?" Shen Qingwan asked.

"Your Majesty, everything is arranged. I originally planned to celebrate the first birthday in a grand way, but things have been unsettled in the palace lately. I don't want to attract too much attention, lest people think that I, having just been promoted to Noble Consort, am using the Third Prince's first birthday as an excuse to throw a lavish banquet and cause trouble," Consort Shu said hesitantly. "I thought of arranging a table in the palace and inviting a few close female friends, just to have a lively time. I had originally intended to invite Your Majesty the Empress, but I'm worried about Your Majesty's health..."

"The imperial physician said that I do need to rest for a while before I can leave the palace. Although I cannot go to your palace to celebrate the Third Prince's birthday in person today, I have been thinking about him all along." Shen Qingwan turned to the side. "Zhen'er, go and have someone bring over the birthday gift that I prepared for the Third Prince."

A rattle drum, a tiger-head hat, and a set of clothes.

They weren't made of gold or silver, nor were they particularly valuable, but each and every item was carefully prepared by Shen Qingwan.

Consort Shu came from a good family, and she had always held the rank of Consort. Now she has been promoted to Noble Consort.

She doesn't lack those things. "These days I've been saying that I wanted to have something made for the Third Prince to play with, but I never expected that Her Majesty the Empress would think of that before me."

Consort Shu picked up a rattle drum and shook it twice in front of the Third Prince.

Children are always easy to coax. The tears in the corners of his eyes hadn't even dried yet. Seeing the rattle drum spinning, he giggled and snatched it away, shaking it back and forth, extremely happy.

Consort Shu's tense expression eased a little. "Your Majesty, I heard this morning that Madam Shen entered the palace late last night. Has something happened at home?"

"Just some trivial matters," Shen Qingwan said calmly.

"I know that Your Highness is often in the palace and many things outside the palace are inconvenient, but my father and brothers also live in the capital, which makes things much more convenient. I can ask my father and brothers to take care of things outside." Consort Shu spoke sincerely and explained in detail.

She was afraid that the Empress didn't want to trouble her, and also afraid that the Empress might have other thoughts about her words.

But Shen Qingwan remained indifferent, leaving people somewhat puzzled.

"These are just some trivial matters concerning my maternal family, nothing to worry about." Shen Qingwan paused, "But there is one thing that I really need you to pay attention to."

"Your Majesty, please give your orders."

“The eldest prince is getting old, and someone will need to help him make arrangements in the future. I have been thinking about finding a suitable foster mother for him, but after much thought, I haven’t found a suitable candidate.” Shen Qingwan sighed and rubbed her forehead.

This matter is really troubling her.

"Your Majesty the Empress," Consort Shu's eyes flashed with panic, "The Third Prince is still so young. I've already exhausted myself taking care of him alone, it's truly..."

Shen Qingwan was stunned for a moment, then smiled knowingly.

"I only asked you to help me think of a suitable candidate, not to adopt another child."

Consort Shu then realized that she had misunderstood Shen Qingwan's meaning, and blushed with embarrassment. "This concubine... this concubine will definitely help the eldest prince keep an eye out, but at this time, it seems that the only concubine in the palace who holds the title is Consort Jin, and there is no one particularly suitable."

Consort Jin?

Shen Qingwan had thought about her.

In the past, it would have been a good choice to let the eldest prince live with Consort Jin, and then, when he reached a certain age and had his own residence, bring Consort Jin to live with him.

Consort Jin was gentle and kind, and having no children of her own, she would naturally regard the eldest prince as her own.

However, given the current situation, the eldest prince will likely be one of the candidates for the future crown prince position. Given that Consort Jin's father's past actions have implicated her as the daughter of a disgraced official, if the eldest prince were to be made crown prince one day, her maternal family would become an obstacle for him.

"Forget about Consort Jin," Shen Qingwan paused, "You should marry someone else."

"Yes, ma'am."

Consort Shu did not inquire about the reasons in detail, but presumably her worries were the same as Shen Qingwan's.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should," Consort Shu hesitated.

I don't know if I should say this or not, but I just want to.

"There are no outsiders here, so please speak frankly, Your Highness."

"Since Your Majesty wants to find a foster mother for the First Prince, why not consider yourself?" Consort Shu suggested. "Your Majesty currently has no children. Even if you have children in the future, as the Empress, what harm would it do to have another son? Moreover, the Emperor has taken the initiative to ask you to reserve a room for the First Prince in Kunning Palace. His intentions are so clear; he wants the First Prince to be raised in Kunning Palace. Why don't you go with the flow and keep the First Prince here?"