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

Chapter 98 A small witch meets a big witch

Shen Qingwan remained silent, staring intently at her with a perfectly timed smile that sent chills down Chun Guiren's spine.

"Your Majesty the Empress..." Consort Chun slowly raised her eyes and glanced at her, then quickly lowered her head again: "This concubine thanks Your Majesty the Empress for your grace."

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Qingwan stood up. The punishment that needed to be given had already been given. Since such a thing had happened so early in the morning, there was no need for the morning greeting.

The moment she turned around, Consort De stood up from the stool: "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. When I return, I will definitely discipline the people in my palace strictly and will not allow them to gossip behind my back anymore. However, even if Consort Dong is not good enough, thirty slaps to the face might affect her ability to serve the Emperor. Your Majesty, could you please have mercy..."

Upon hearing her words, Shen Qingwan suddenly stopped in her tracks: "Since Consort De said that Dong Changzai slapping herself would affect her ability to serve the Emperor, then let the Imperial Household Department remove her green plaque for now."

Concubine De: ...

What exactly does the Empress mean today?

The Empress had overheard their gossip about other concubines before, but she always pretended not to hear it. Why is she taking it so seriously and punishing them now?

The Empress has torn down Consort Dong's green plaque, and she hasn't said when it can be put back up. Isn't that the same as being banished to the Cold Palace?

Dong Changzai has no chance of turning things around.

After being beaten, Dong Changzai, whose mouth was bleeding, learned that his green plaque had also been removed, and the sky seemed to have fallen.

I just thought being slapped thirty times was unbearable, but compared to the green card, it's nothing.

She wasn't a favored concubine.

Even when she had the green plaque, the emperor never chose her. Without the green plaque, wouldn't she be confined to the cold palace no matter which palace she was in?

Shen Qingwan left, leaving behind a room full of concubines who dared not leave. They looked at each other, and when they spoke again, they were cautious and hesitant.

"If you ask me, Consort Dong brought this on herself. I always thought she was too gossipy, but I never expected her to gossip to the Empress herself," Consort De said with an awkward smile.

"Now that Her Majesty the Empress has left, let's all leave as well." Consort Shu stood up. "Those with princes, go back and take good care of them. The ladies of the palace, when you return, also tell your sisters in the palace about the rules of the palace, and make sure that such a breach of the rules never happens again."

"Your Highness Consort Shu's words do have some of the Empress's air about them." Consort Xian stood up, adjusted the hairpin in her hair, and sneered.

"Your Highness Consort Xian is mistaken. I assist Her Majesty the Empress in managing the six palaces, and it is only right that I do my best. If Your Highness Consort Xian finds anything objectionable, you may go to Her Majesty the Empress to reason with her. Consort Dong has just been punished with a beating; is that not enough to make an example of her? If everyone in the harem were like Consort Dong, I'm afraid there would never be a day of peace in the harem."

Consort Xian: ? ? ?
Consort Xian was stunned by what she said. Usually, Consort Shu was very timid and submissive, but today she was able to say something veiled and sarcastic.

Seeing that Consort Shu was about to leave, Consort De hurriedly stood up and followed her. As she passed Consort Xian, she muttered under her breath, "So ill-mannered."

Consort Xian: ...

good good!
Now everyone's taking advantage of her.

It's just assisting the six houses.

Consort Shu's nose has grown up to her eyebrows, what's she so proud of?
Consort Xian glanced irritably at the concubines who hadn't left: "What are you all standing here for? Don't you have anything else to do in your own palace?"

Everyone said in unison, "This concubine will take her leave now!"

Consort Xian: ...

Watching the departing figures, Consort Xian's gaze gradually darkened. Previously, with Emperor Yuanwu's favor and her maternal family's support, she had never taken the Empress seriously.

Now the Empress has not only changed her personality, but also seems to have become more dignified.

When Consort Dong was punished, his stern words and harsh demeanor made her feel the majesty that an empress should possess.

She and the Empress were never on good terms.

If things continue like this, she may no longer have a place in the harem.

And then there's that sycophantic Consort De, who tries every possible way to contradict her.

Nowadays, even the Empress doesn't pay much attention to her anymore, and no one knows what she's trying to prove all day long.

After everyone left, Shen Qingwan went back to catch up on her sleep. Around lunchtime, she summoned Consort De and Consort Shu to Kunning Palace.

"The Princess is about to return to the capital. How are her accommodations arranged?" Shen Qingwan asked.

"Your Majesty," Consort Shu said, "Currently, all twelve palaces in the east and west are occupied by concubines. The Chang Le Palace and He Huan Palace are also empty. The Chang Le Palace is located in the north and is in a remote area, while the He Huan Palace is located in the south and receives plenty of sunshine in winter. I heard that the Princess returned to the palace this time with her two children. Staying in a sunny place would also make it easier for the princes and princesses to play. I think the He Huan Palace is better. What does Your Majesty think?"

Shen Qingwan thought about it for a while.

"Hehuan Palace is indeed a good place to stay. The name Hehuan Palace is derived from the poem 'On a clear night, the sun shines brightly, and ten thousand branches of incense waft and red silk flutter.' The two characters Hehuan symbolize harmony and love. Now that the Princess's husband has been taken away by the Emperor, and the Princess is returning to the capital with her children, if such a place is arranged for her, I'm afraid the Princess will have some reservations."

Consort Shu and Consort De exchanged a glance, momentarily at a loss for words.

"How about we arrange it in Chang Le Palace?" Consort De suggested.

“Chang Le Palace isn’t good either. It’s in such a remote location that it never sees the sun. His Majesty already feels he has wronged the Princess. If we let her live in Chang Le Palace, some people might think we’re deliberately neglecting her, right?” Consort Shu was troubled.

"To be honest, this princess is really pitiful. She was sent to marry a foreign ruler at a young age. Moganbu is more than twenty years older than her, and it is said that he is even a year older than the late emperor. Now that the two countries are at war, she is also..." Consort De sighed.

"When the Princess's birth mother, Consort Xiang, passed away, the Princess wanted to come back to see Consort Xiang one last time, but because of the tense relationship, she was unable to return," Consort Shu sighed.

"At that time, how could Moganbu allow her to return? She was the only bargaining chip in the northern desert against us," Consort De said resentfully.

Shen Qingwan sighed inwardly, "Therefore, we must make careful arrangements for her accommodations when she returns to the palace this time."

This put them in a dilemma.

Although the eldest princess is of noble status, she is not a concubine in the harem, so it would be inappropriate for her to live in the East and West Twelve Palaces.

This place is unsuitable, that place is also unsuitable, where should I stay?
"How about we change the name of Hehuan Palace to Xingshuang Pavilion?" Shen Qingwan said calmly.

"Star Frost Pavilion?" Consort De asked, puzzled. "Your Majesty, does Star Frost Pavilion have any special meaning?"

“Through the changing seasons and the passage of time, the past remains unforgettable. I think the Princess will like this name,” Shen Qingwan said calmly.

Consort De was taken aback: "Your Majesty is truly learned and talented. I will have someone change the plaque immediately."

Shen Qingwan frowned. She felt that Consort De was sometimes a bit dim-witted.

(End of this chapter)