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

Chapter 54 The future is long
"In early winter, the lotus leaves stretched endlessly to the sky, a boundless expanse of green, and the lotus blossoms, bathed in sunlight, were a vibrant red. But now, the lotus leaves, stems, and seedpods have lost their summer brilliance, turning a somber, dark brown. Yet, the withered lotus leaves possess another kind of beauty." Shen Qingwan gazed at the pond full of withered lotus leaves and couldn't help but sigh.

"The Empress's insights are quite unique." Emperor Yuanwu stared intently at her, remaining silent for three seconds before suddenly lowering his head and laughing. His brows relaxed, and the dimples at the corners of his lips appeared faintly. "I didn't expect the Empress to have read so many books. It seems I still know too little about the Empress. I always thought..."

"You always thought I was just a jealous, trouble-making, and willful woman?" Shen Qingwan retorted.

At that moment, Emperor Yuanwu turned to look at her. Her hair was tied up, her thoughts were intertwined, and she seemed undaunted by life's storms. This was a side of her he had never seen before.

The two looked at each other for a long time, then Emperor Yuanwu suddenly lowered his eyes and smiled: "No, it's just that I feel like I've never really understood the Empress before."

Seeing Emperor Yuanwu smile, Shen Qingwan smiled as well: "There's plenty of time in the future."

Shen Qingwan picked some of her favorite flowers, and seeing that it was almost time for dinner, she decided to return to the palace for her meal.

Emperor Yuanwu showed no intention of going to another palace and went directly to Kunning Palace with Shen Qingwan.

All right.

Now she still had to arrange dinner, which would ultimately have to be prepared by the Imperial Kitchen. Shen Qingwan hadn't given any specific instructions. They might not remember which concubine in the harem liked what to eat, but they would definitely know exactly what the Emperor liked to eat.

During the meal, Shen Qingwan hesitated for a while before finally speaking: "Your Majesty, I have a small request, I don't know if it's convenient."

"Your Majesty, please feel free to speak your mind." Emperor Yuanwu put down his chopsticks and looked up.

"I want to go to the Sansheng Temple to burn incense and also to visit my cousin, so she won't stay there all day thinking about suicide. If something really happens to her, it will disturb the peace of the Buddhist temple." Shen Qingwan didn't hide anything and said what she wanted to say directly.

"You don't hide anything from me at all." Emperor Yuanwu found it amusing. If it were any other concubine in the palace, they would have to beat around the bush if there was anything going on. They would just keep quiet and wait for him to understand before telling him what they wanted to hear.

The Empress was different from others; she spoke her mind.

"Does it mean that we, husband and wife, have to beat around the bush when we talk? Aren't we troubled enough in the court? Do we have to play mind games with our wives when we get home?" Shen Qingwan finished speaking and continued eating.

It was just casual conversation, but it made Emperor Yuanwu's expression relax for a moment.

An emperor, respected and feared by his concubines in the harem, this was the first time he had ever heard anyone use the word "husband and wife" to address him.

Emperor Yuanwu was somewhat moved and didn't know what to say for a moment. He then blurted out, "Eat more."

Shen Qingwan paused, sat up slightly, and made sure she looked elegant while wolfing down her food: "Your Majesty, please eat more as well."

Emperor Yuanwu:...

"The Three Saints Temple is also a royal temple. You can go there whenever you want. I will send the Imperial Guards to escort you there." Emperor Yuanwu paused here: "The Shen family seems to be not far from the Three Saints Temple. The Empress seems to have not returned to her parents' home for a long time. Should we go back to her parents' home for a visit?"

Shen Qingwan initially wanted to nod in agreement, but after thinking about it carefully, she felt it wasn't a good idea.

The reason why the Shen and Liu families are so reckless now is because she has moved into the Eastern Palace as Empress. If she were to return home to visit her family again, no matter how low-key she tries, it would be impossible for an Empress to do so discreetly. I'm afraid that once the villagers find out, the relatives of the Shen and Liu families will take this opportunity to act recklessly. Wouldn't her trip only further encourage their unhealthy practices?

"No need. I will inform my mother, father, and uncle in advance. We can just meet and chat at the Sansheng Temple," Shen Qingwan said calmly.

“Since the Empress has made up her mind, then everything shall be done in accordance with her wishes,” Emperor Yuanwu said. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” Shen Qingwan put down her chopsticks and curtsied.

"Didn't the Empress just say that we are husband and wife? If we are husband and wife, why are you always so polite and formal?" Emperor Yuanwu's lips curled into a playful smile. He raised his eyes and stared at Shen Qingwan without blinking, which made Shen Qingwan's scalp tingle and her whole body feel uncomfortable.

Just now.

A eunuch came in from the gate to deliver a message, saying that the Emperor needed to go to Jingyang Palace.

"What's wrong with Consort Xian?" Emperor Yuanwu's eyes widened in confusion.

"Your Majesty, Consort Xian is fine. It's Lan Cui from her palace. Perhaps Your Majesty should go and see her personally." The young eunuch stammered, as if he had something difficult to say.

Seeing that Emperor Yuanwu seemed to have finished eating, Shen Qingwan said, "Since the people from Jingyang Palace have invited Your Majesty over, there must be something important. Your Majesty might as well go and take a look. If there is something, it can be dealt with in time. If not, just treat it as a way to digest your food."

Emperor Yuanwu thought for a moment and nodded.

"Prepare the carriage for Jingyang Palace..."

After Emperor Yuanwu left, Zhen'er came in.

"Your Majesty, the arrival of these people from Jingyang Palace is suspicious. I heard from them earlier today that Consort Xian is much better and can get up now. Why is someone coming to invite her tonight? Wasn't Consort Bai punished by being sent to the ancestral hall to copy Buddhist scriptures? And the newly arrived Consort Ruan has not yet served the Emperor. Why is Jingyang Palace suddenly inviting the Emperor over?"

Shen Qingwan picked up her teacup and took a small sip: "No rush, you'll know soon enough."

Not long after Emperor Yuanwu left Kunning Palace, an imperial edict arrived from Jingyang Palace, announcing that Lan Cui was pregnant and had been granted the title of Consort Lan.

Although Lan Cui was promoted, she still lived in Jingyang Palace, but now she was a mistress and no longer needed to serve anyone.

The Imperial Household Department prepared gifts for the promotion according to the rank of a concubine, and assigned her a personal maid, Xi'er, as well as several palace maids to serve her.

The next morning, Lan Cui arrived early at the entrance of Kunning Palace, afraid of breaking the rules.

The first person to dislike her was Consort Ruan, who shared a palace with her but had not yet been chosen to sleep with her.

"I really don't understand what the Emperor is thinking. A lowly maid can be promoted to the rank of Changzai. It makes me feel worthless myself."

“Ruan Chang is wrong about what she’s saying. She’s not a lowly servant. She has plenty of tricks and seductive skills. She’s carrying the emperor’s child!” Dong Chang said sullenly.

"The Emperor is becoming less and less interested in visiting the harem these days," Consort Tong remarked.

"Who said the Emperor doesn't like going to the harem? Wasn't he accompanying the Empress to stroll in the Imperial Garden yesterday?" Consort Ji said sullenly.

“The Empress is the head of the palace. The Emperor accompanies the Empress. What is there for us concubines to be jealous of? Even if the Emperor is with the Empress every day, they are still husband and wife.” Consort Liang couldn’t help but speak up.

(End of this chapter)