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

Chapter 7 Cousin

Shen Qingwan: ?

What's wrong with Consort Xian?
Before Shen Qingwan could react, Consort De also knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"Your Majesty, it is all my fault. I should not have gossiped and made a fool of myself in front of the new ladies in the palace. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

Shen Qingwan: ...

Honestly, she was just telling the truth. She really didn't mean anything by it, and she didn't mean anything by implying anything about anyone. The greatest joy in life is waking up naturally, let alone waking up early in the morning and talking nonsense with a bunch of people who are only superficially friendly.

"Alright, get up, everyone. It's not a big deal. Consort De and Consort Xian are both veterans in the palace and should set a good example for the new sisters. You two are of noble status and both came from the Prince's Mansion, so you should get along well."

"Your Majesty the Empress is right, we are deeply humbled," Consort De and Consort Xian said in unison.

"If any of the newly arrived sisters have any shortages or questions, they can ask Consort Xian. They can also ask Consort Xian if they don't understand anything. Anyway, Consort Xian is in charge of the six palaces now. You may leave."

We're never going to break up again.

Shen Qingwan was about to say, "Don't bother me if there's nothing wrong."

Consort Xian: ...

She couldn't shake the feeling that the Empress's words, "If you have any questions, ask Consort Xian," were insincere.

But I can't quite put my finger on why it's not sincere.

Since recovering from her illness, the Empress has become even more enigmatic.

After the concubines left.

After lunch, Shen Qingwan slept for half an hour. Zhen'er brought tea and snacks. While eating osmanthus cake and drinking the newly presented Biluochun tea, Shen Qingwan thought to herself that green tea was the best way to cut through the richness of the tea.

"Your Majesty, are you really not worried at all? The Emperor chose Consort Wen tonight," Zhen'er said.

"No rush. Today it's Consort Wen, tomorrow it's Consort An, and the day after tomorrow it might be Lady Rong. If His Majesty is in good health, he can keep going, one after another."

Zhen'er: ...

However, we should exercise some restraint.

This really made Emperor Yuanwu's kidneys weak, and all the concubines in the palace would have to live like widows from now on.

"Your Majesty, that's not what Zhen'er meant. Zhen'er meant that with so many young ladies entering the palace, I'm afraid the Emperor will visit Kunning Palace even less often in the future. Your Majesty should think of a way to conceive a legitimate son as soon as possible, or even just a princess would be good..."

While listening to Zhen'er's words, Shen Qingwan's mind had already drifted to the ends of the earth.

I don't want to eat fish, I don't want to eat meat, and I especially don't want to eat chicken or duck.

"Go and ask the Imperial Kitchen if they still have any crabs. I still want to have crabs for dinner."

Zhen'er: ...

She now understood that ever since her serious illness, her mistress had only been interested in eating.

"Tell the imperial kitchen to serve the meal later."

"Does Your Highness have something to discuss later?" Zhen'er asked curiously.

Shen Qingwan shook her head seriously, "I just ate a plate of osmanthus cake and drank so much tea, I'm a little full."

Zhen'er: ...

Having eaten and drunk her fill and with nothing else to do, Shen Qingwan decided to go see the Empress Dowager.

I wonder if the Empress Dowager's condition improved after those chrysanthemums were moved away.

As the Empress, Shen Qingwan had unimpeded access to any part of the palace.

When she arrived at Cining Palace, she heard from a palace maid that the Empress Dowager was in her bedroom, so she went straight in.

Unexpectedly, I saw a somewhat unfamiliar face talking to the Empress Dowager. The two seemed to know each other quite well.

Shen Qingwan paused awkwardly, regretting that she hadn't asked anyone to announce her arrival before coming in.

The Empress Dowager kindly invited her to sit down with her. When the girl saw Shen Qingwan, she stood up from the stool and performed a very solemn bow.

"Greetings to Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years! I am happy to inquire after Your Majesty's well-being."

Is happiness ever-present?
No wonder she thought she looked familiar; she was one of the newly arrived palace ladies-in-waiting.

But how did she end up in the Empress Dowager's palace?

"Get up. Now that you've entered the palace, we're all sisters from now on, so there's no need for formalities."

"Your Majesty, Consort Xi is my cousin. She met the Emperor once when she was young and has always been fond of him. That's why she begged me to allow her to participate in the imperial concubine selection. I never expected that she would actually be chosen..."

Shen Qingwan smiled awkwardly, unsure of what to say.

This is something that should be expected.

"Consort Xi, you should go back now. I want to have a word with the Empress."

"Yes, aunt."

After paying her respects to Shen Qingwan, Xi Changzai left Cining Palace.

The atmosphere instantly became somewhat awkward as only the two of them remained in the bedroom.

The Empress Dowager also learned that Emperor Yuanwu had dined in her palace and then went to Consort Wen's residence, but did not stay overnight at Kunning Palace.

She must have come uninvited to talk about this matter; she's made a lot of noise about things like this before.

The Empress Dowager was pondering how to appease her.

Shen Qingwan spoke first: "Mother, is your cough any better?"

The Empress Dowager was taken aback, not expecting her to ask that.

Thinking about it carefully, ever since Shen Qingwan had the flowers in her palace moved to the courtyard, her cough has really gradually gotten better, and it seems like she hasn't coughed for several days.

"Much better, the Empress's method is really effective."

Shen Qingwan smiled, her suspicions growing stronger: "Mother, I stewed snow pear with fritillaria cirrhosa. It's good for the lungs. Although it can't be used as medicine, it's very effective for cough recovery."

"Your Majesty is too kind, Zhang Mama, please accept this."

The Empress Dowager was taken aback, and her unease deepened.

The Empress had been in the palace for three years. Every time she came to Cining Palace, she either complained or asked her to issue an edict forcing Emperor Yuanwu to go to her palace.

She didn't expect any filial piety or anything like that; she just hoped the woman could have a couple of days of peace so she could live a few more days.

"Mother, you can have the nanny add some honey to your water. Honey is very effective in stopping coughs, sometimes even better than some cough medicines. After all, medicine is three parts poison. Instead of always taking so many bitter medicines, why not try some medicinal cuisine?"

Shen Qingwan kept talking, and the Empress Dowager was at a loss for words.

"Mother, since your cough has improved a lot after those flowers were moved away, please do not bring them back. Even if you want to admire those flowers, you must keep them at a distance, and it is best to go to the Imperial Garden less often."

Shen Qingwan thought for a moment, and it seemed that she had nothing more to say, so she curtsied.

"Mother, your daughter-in-law has nothing else to say, so I'll head back now."

The Empress Dowager was stunned for a long time before she reacted. She then had Zhang Mama personally escort Shen Qingwan to the palace gate and bestowed upon her a box of snail-shell eyebrow pencil.

"The Empress went back? She didn't say anything?"

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Empress has already returned. This maid escorted Her Majesty to the palace gate, but Her Majesty did not say anything."

"Didn't say anything?"

"Yes, she didn't say anything. Your Majesty, do you think the Empress suddenly had a change of heart after her serious illness?"

"If she has really figured it out, that would be good. But I'm afraid she's just pretending. You should know that on the first night of the lunar new year, the emperor didn't stay overnight in her palace."

(End of this chapter)