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

Chapter 434 (Extra Chapter 7: The Grand Wedding)

Shen Qingwan shook her head, her eyes already red. "Your Majesty, please don't say that. It is I who have wronged Your Majesty and the Seventh Prince."

Consort Ying reached out and patted her head. "Silly child, this is not your fault."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingwan's tears, which had been welling up in her eyes, suddenly fell. "Your Majesty, you must hate Wanwan to death."

Consort Ying seemed to have little energy; she had used up all her strength just by getting up.

She slowly lay back down, turning her head to look at her. "No wonder Xian'er likes you so much. You are even more beautiful than in the portrait."

Shen Qingwan shook her head, her vision already blurred with tears. "Your Highness, if anything happens to the Seventh Prince, I will not live on."

"Cough cough..."

Consort Ying coughed violently twice, then grabbed a silk handkerchief from beside her and covered her mouth.

Bright red blood flowed down the corner of her lips.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong? I'll go and summon the imperial physician right away."

Shen Qingwan turned pale with fright. Just as she turned around, Consort Ying suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist. "No need."

"Why not? Your Majesty, you vomited blood, why didn't you call the imperial physician?" Shen Qingwan seemed to suddenly remember something, her lips trembling slightly. "Did someone poison you? Did someone? Was it the Emperor?"

"No." Consort Ying's voice was weak, but still gentle. "No one poisoned me. The Emperor is very good to me. After he learned that I was ill, he gave me many precious medicinal herbs."

Shen Qingwan nodded with some skepticism.

"Your Majesty, please sit down. Let's talk." Consort Ying smiled. "I used to think we would become... but I never imagined that our fate was ultimately too shallow."

"Your Majesty, please don't say that. Now that I'm in the palace, I will definitely have someone cure you. I will take good care of you in the future." Shen Qingwan said, her eyes reddening again.

"Silly child, you are now the Empress, the Empress who rules the world. You can't talk about me anymore. If you want to talk about me, the Empress Dowager is the one you should be filial to. Show your filial piety to her properly. I think you are a straightforward child without any scheming. You don't understand the dangers of this palace. It's not as simple as you see it."

As Consort Ying spoke, she couldn't help but cough again.

"My lady..."

Shen Qingwan helped her up.

Consort Ying simply waved her hand, "This is the first time Your Majesty the Empress has come to Yikun Palace. You should not come again in the future. Although not many people know about your affair with Xian'er, it will eventually become a handle that holds your life in its hands. Neither I nor Xian'er should mention it to anyone from now on. Just pretend that you have never met us, mother and daughter. Do you understand?"

Shen Qingwan shook her head desperately, "Your Highness the Empress Dowager..."

"The women in the harem are the most idle. The more idle they are, the more worries they have. And the more worries they have, the more dirty things they do. You must learn to protect yourself in the harem from now on."

Shen Qingwan nodded and took Ying Taifei's hand. "Your Highness, you will be alright too."

“Silly child, from the day I learned that the late Emperor had betrayed me, I no longer wanted to live. The only reason I’ve lingered on until today is because I couldn’t bear to leave Xian’er. Now…” Consort Ying paused, “The Emperor came last night. He told me that he would definitely protect Xian’er’s life. This is what he owes Xian’er. And now that I’ve seen you again, I have no more worries…”

"Your Majesty, what do you want to do?" Shen Qingwan's already pale face turned even paler.

“There is a eunuch named Su Tianhe. Xian’er once saved his family’s life. He is a trustworthy person. I have already made arrangements. When the Imperial Household Department sends you the chief eunuch to choose from, keep him. He will definitely be loyal to you.”

After saying these words, Consort Ying let out a long sigh, as if she had no more worries, and slowly closed her eyes.

"My lady..."

Shen Qingwan was stunned for a moment. "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

Startled, she fell to the ground, her hand accidentally brushing against a stool placed to the side. The mahogany carved stool crashed over with a loud thud, and the princess, who was guarding the door, pushed it open and came in.

Zhen'er quickly helped Shen Qingwan up. The head maid who had led the way seemed much calmer.

"Your Majesty, this servant is helping the Imperial Concubine Tai change her clothes. Would you please excuse us for a moment?"

Changing clothes?

Everyone's dead?

Shouldn't it be...?

Seeing the two women's pale faces, the head palace maid pulled Zhen'er aside and whispered, "Quickly take Her Majesty the Empress away. Just pretend you know nothing and nothing happened. Don't cause Her Majesty any unnecessary trouble."

Zhen'er then came to her senses. She nodded repeatedly, took Shen Qingwan's hand, and left Yikun Palace.

The news of Consort Ying's death didn't reach the Emperor until late at night. Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuyan was stunned for a long time before slowly saying, "Keep the news a secret."

He picked up a memorial, wrote a string of words, and handed it to Wu Jixiang.

"Once Prince Rui recovers, he will be buried with the rites due to an empress, in the imperial mausoleum, to be buried with Father Emperor."

"Yes," Wu Jixiang replied. "His Majesty has truly been kind to Consort Ying."

Jiang Yuyan remained silent for a while, then said, "I heard that the Empress visited Consort Ying?"

Wu Jixiang was taken aback: "The people from Yikun Palace said that the Empress did not even enter her palace before being scolded out by Consort Ying. They said the scolding was very harsh, perhaps because she was so angry... However, the imperial physician said that Consort Ying's lifespan is over, and she only has two days left."

After Wu Jixiang finished speaking, he secretly glanced at Jiang Yuyan and said, "Her Majesty the Empress not only attacked Yikun Palace, but also went to see the other concubines and the Empress Dowager who remained in the palace."

Jiang Yuyan's expression finally softened a bit.

The next morning.

The Imperial Household Department officials, accompanied by seven eunuchs, arrived at Kunning Palace.

"Your Majesty, these are the chief eunuchs who used to serve in the palace. I brought them here so that you can choose first."

"Oh."

Shen Qingwan fiddled with the armor in her hand, then looked up at the seven people.

"Let's hear who barks like a dog. Whoever barks the best, we'll choose them."

Everyone:...

The expression on the face of the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Department was indescribable.

I had long heard that the Empress was arrogant and domineering when she was still in the palace, but who would have thought that she would be so arrogant?

The Kunning Palace became so quiet that a pin drop could be seen in an instant.

After a while, one of the seven eunuchs standing in a row stepped forward.

"Woof woof." He knelt on the ground with obsequious groaning and barked like a dog. "Your Majesty, does this servant like my barking?"

"Not bad." Shen Qingwan nodded with satisfaction. Instead of answering him directly, she asked the remaining six people, "And you?"