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

Chapter 23 Uninvited
Xia Fuchuan didn't move, but glanced at Consort Xian.

"Do not summon the imperial physician!" Consort Xian said decisively.

"Your Majesty, Mother's face is completely drained of color from the pain. I'm afraid if we wait any longer, she might die."

Hearing Sun Jiabi's painful groans, Consort Xian hesitated for a long time: "No, if we call the imperial physician, he will definitely find out that there is a problem with the lunch. Don't forget, today's food is exactly the same as that night's. Once this gets out, if Her Majesty the Empress investigates, it won't just be a matter of reprimand. To plot against the Empress is a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!"

"What? What? A capital offense that would exterminate nine generations of one's family?" Sun Jiabi felt like she was hallucinating from the pain: "Consort Xian, Da'er, what are you talking about?"

Upon hearing Consort Xian's words, Gao Da's expression instantly panicked: "Your Majesty, what should we do now?"

"Xia Fuchuan, have the carriage that just brought my aunt here come over. Tell her that my aunt has other matters to attend to and needs to leave the palace."

After a pause, Consort Xian turned to Xia Fuchuan and said, "While you're at it, find out who was on duty at the Imperial Hospital the night Her Majesty the Empress had a stomachache."

"Yes, Consort Xian."

Shen Qingwan knew there was something wrong with the food on that table, so she only ate the black carp and drank the chicken soup.

After Consort Xian left.

She had a wonderful sleep.

She only ate a couple of bites for lunch, and she was already hungry before dinner was served.

I'm thinking about what to have for dinner.

Zhen'er walked in from outside.

"Your Majesty, we just returned from Jingyang Palace and sent Madam Sun out of the palace."

Shen Qingwan yawned lazily: "Okay."

"Your Highness, do you think Consort Xian knows or not?" Zhen'er asked curiously.

"Anyway, seeing how delicious it looked to Madam Sun, she probably doesn't know anything about it," Shen Qingwan said calmly.

Sun Jiabi ate so many eggplants and black carp.

I'm afraid his hasty departure from the palace wasn't due to any urgent matter, but rather because he was in a hurry to find a doctor.

If Consort Xian is innocent.

I'm afraid that by now, he'll be lying in the palace writhing in pain, lodging a complaint with the emperor.

She can now sit safely in the palace.

Consort Xian already knew there was something wrong with the dishes, so she did the same as me: she ate the black carp but not the eggplant, and she ate the banana but not the pan-fried taro cake.

She's making it so obvious now.

If Consort Xian does anything outrageous again in the future, then don't blame her for being impolite.

She can choose not to compete or fight.

But that doesn't mean she can be treated like royalty and act recklessly.

What happened with Xiao Shunzi last time.

In any case, Zhen'er was not really hurt. Even if the Emperor blamed her, he wouldn't do anything to Consort Xian because of a palace maid.

The Empress Dowager stripped her of her power to assist in managing the six palaces.

Now that her father has rendered meritorious service to the court, it is likely that in the near future, Consort Xian's power to assist the six palaces will be restored.

You can mess with her, but mess with her people...

Consort Xian has crossed her bottom line.

at dusk.

Shen Qingwan served crabs again for dinner. In a few days, the crab roe will not be as plump, so she should eat them a few more times while they are still delicious.

Emperor Yuanwu, who hadn't seen anyone for a week, came uninvited.

"His Majesty has arrived..."

Shen Qingwan hurriedly put down her chopsticks and curtsied, saying, "Greetings to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

"Get up." Emperor Yuanwu sat down opposite her.

"Would Your Majesty like to dine with us?" Shen Qingwan invited warmly.

Emperor Yuanwu glanced at the crabs on the plate, his expression somewhat indescribable.

Zhen'er secretly grumbled to herself.

This year is really unlucky.

Emperor Yuanwu rarely visits Kunning Palace, and every time he does, he finds his master eating crabs. Could it be that his master is truly destined to be unfavored?

Shen Qingwan seemed to realize this as well, and coughed lightly: "How about I ask the imperial kitchen to add a few more dishes?"

"No need, let's just eat like this," Emperor Yuanwu said, picking up his chopsticks.

The two ate facing each other without saying a word.

The atmosphere inexplicably became somewhat awkward.

Shen Qingwan was so focused on the crabs that she didn't notice.

On the contrary, Emperor Yuanwu felt extremely uncomfortable.

Even though the Empress was his wife, he ate with her, which could be considered a meal for husband and wife.

The more I eat, the more I feel like an outsider.

Emperor Yuanwu raised his eyes and glanced at Shen Qingwan: "I have heard about what happened at noon today. It was wrong of Consort Xian's aunt not to come to Kunning Palace to pay her respects as soon as she entered the palace. I have already reprimanded Consort Xian, but... Sun Jiabi was admitted to the palace as an award, so it is not appropriate to punish her. I am very pleased that you can put aside past grievances, be virtuous and polite, and serve lunch to Consort Xian's aunt."

Shen Qingwan paused in peeling the crab.

Just as she expected.

Consort Xian did not dare to tell Emperor Yuanwu about the lunch.

She looked up at Emperor Yuanwu, and the two gazed at each other for a long while.

Shen Qingwan coughed slightly, a little embarrassed: "Your Majesty, there's no need to be so polite. This is what I, as Empress, should do."

Emperor Yuanwu:? ? ?

The Empress's words sounded reasonable at first glance, but upon closer examination, they sounded like those of a minister who attends court every day, speaking in a businesslike tone.

Aren't he and the Empress married?
When did we become ruler and subject?

Could it be that the Empress is still worried about the fact that they haven't consummated their marriage?

Emperor Yuanwu stared at Shen Qingwan.

She was beautiful with delicate features, her beauty surpassing even that of an immortal. She wore a light blue dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, tied with a light blue silk ribbon and gently held in place by a jade hairpin. In the candlelight, she exuded elegance and gentleness, her warm expression revealing a hint of indifference.

It seems that the arrogant, domineering, and willful empress of the past is no more.

After finishing his dinner, Emperor Yuanwu sat in his bedroom in the Kunning Palace and drank tea.

Shen Qingwan was a little confused.

What exactly did Emperor Yuanwu mean?
Could it be that they want to stay overnight?

isn't it...

Shen Qingwan's facial features were almost contorted together.

"What's wrong with the Empress? Is she feeling unwell?" Although Emperor Yuanwu was reading a book, his eyes never left Shen Qingwan for even a second.

Emperor Yuanwu noticed her making that exaggerated expression immediately.

Shen Qingwan: ...

Emperor Yuanwu must have three eyes.

"No, no..."

Shen Qingwan simply didn't want him to stay overnight, so how could she dare to say it directly?

Just now.

Wu Jixiang walked in from outside.

"emperor."

When Emperor Yuanwu saw him enter, he seemed to have thought of something, glanced at Shen Qingwan, and slowly said, "Go and tell the people in the Imperial Household Department that we will not be choosing a consort today. I will stay with the Empress."

Shen Qingwan: ...

What are you afraid of?

She needs to think of a way to have another heart-to-heart talk with Emperor Yuanwu later.

Shen Qingwan moved her lips, just about to say that she was feeling unwell and not fit to serve the emperor.

Wu Jixiang said with a troubled expression, "Your Majesty, someone from Zhongcui Palace said that Consort Rou is not feeling well and would like to ask you to come and take a look."

(End of this chapter)