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

Chapter 76 Collision
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager, may the Empress Dowager be blessed."

Shen Qingwan brought some pastries she had just made. The Empress Dowager hadn't had breakfast yet, and when she opened the package, she was surprised to find that the pastries were green.

"Your Majesty, what new tricks have you come up with this time? In the past, the palace pastries were either pink or yellow. A couple of years ago, the Imperial Kitchen came up with a new style and made a purple one. Green is the first time I've ever seen it."

"Mother, please try it and see if your daughter-in-law's cooking is good." Shen Qingwan picked up a piece and placed it in the Empress Dowager's bowl.

The Empress Dowager did not have anyone taste the food or insert silver needles into it; she picked it up and took a small bite.

The aroma of tea filled the air, its freshness perfectly complementing the sweetness of the cake. The Empress Dowager's eyes lit up: "This cake is made with tea leaves? Let me guess what kind of tea it is?"

The Empress Dowager thought seriously for a while: "If I'm not mistaken, it should be Tieguanyin tea, right? When you put the pastry in your mouth, a faint orchid fragrance lingers."

"Mother's guess is correct. Your daughter-in-law did indeed mix Tieguanyin tea and some tea leaves into the pastry. But the green color is from spinach juice that your daughter-in-law added."

The Empress Dowager picked up another dish and examined it closely: "Why can't I taste any spinach flavor at all?"

Shen Qingwan smiled gently: "That's because of Mother. The aroma of tea outweighs the smell of spinach. From the beginning, Mother was convinced that the pastries were made of tea. And since tea itself is green, she naturally wouldn't think of anything else."

The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded: "Empress, you've come so early today, is there anything else you need?"

"Mother." Shen Qingwan paused, "Since you asked, I will speak frankly. It concerns Consort Qi."

Indeed, the hatred between women is not so easily forgiven.

Before Shen Qingwan could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager's face darkened.

Seeing the Empress Dowager's grim expression, Zhang Mama hurriedly spoke up, "Your Majesty, why bring up a deceased person so early in the morning?"

Shen Qingwan naturally understood what Zhang Mama meant. She walked slowly to the stool next to the Empress Dowager and sat down, taking the Empress Dowager's hand with one hand: "What Zhang Mama said is indeed right. Why should Mother keep a dead person in her heart? The fact that she was not posthumously honored is already the greatest disgrace to her maternal family. If she is not given any reward, who knows how much gossip will follow in the future. Mother does not want to give people something to talk about for the sake of a dead person."

Hearing Shen Qingwan's words, the Empress Dowager's expression finally softened a bit: "According to the Empress, what do you want to do about this?"

"If you don't want to upset Consort Qi's family and don't want to be the subject of gossip, then you don't need to reward them with gold, silver, or jade. You can just reward them with some vases and porcelain. These are imperial gifts, which cannot be pawned or worn. You have to find a proper place to display them. Anyway, we've already given them what we should have. As for what they are, no one will care. If these things are sent to Consort Qi's family's residence, I wonder who will be the one who suffers the most."

Shen Qingwan's words were straightforward, which pleased the Empress Dowager.

"Since the Empress has already made up her mind, then let the Ministry of Rites do as the Empress says." A faint smile slowly bloomed on the Empress Dowager's face: "Now that the Empress is in charge of the harem, I am very relieved."

Shen Qingwan chatted with the Empress Dowager for a while longer before leaving Cining Palace.

As she passed by the Imperial Garden, she glanced at the spot where Jiang Wenlan usually liked to catch fish.

After a long while, she walked over there.

The railings over the lake in the Imperial Garden were quite high; they reached almost to Shen Qingwan's chest when she stood upright.

Although a young eunuch saw that the eldest prince jumped down on his own, and Jiang Wenlan also said that he jumped down, the railing was so high.

Jiang Wenlan was only seven years old, and her height should be about the same as the guardrail.

How could someone easily climb over a railing that's as tall as themselves? There's probably something fishy going on here.

Shen Qingwan carefully examined each railing to see if there were any signs of it being dismantled.

She heard rustling footsteps behind her. The instant she turned her head, she heard a woman gasp.

Shen Qingwan was a bit far from them, and her view was blocked by a tree branch in front of her, so she couldn't see very clearly.

At this hour, Emperor Yuanwu should have just finished his morning court session. He doesn't need to get up early today to pay his respects at Kunning Palace. So who exactly is that woman in the Imperial Garden?
Judging from their clothes and appearance, they don't seem to be palace maids.

"Your Majesty?" Ruan Changzai hurriedly broke free from Emperor Yuanwu and knelt on the ground in great fear: "I did not know Your Majesty was here. I have offended Your Majesty. Please forgive me."

She referred to herself as a concubine.

Emperor Yuanwu lowered his eyes and looked at the woman kneeling on the ground, but for a moment he couldn't remember who she was.

"You are……"

"Your Majesty, I am Consort Ruan from Jingyang Palace. I have only recently entered the palace, and Your Majesty has not yet met me," Consort Ruan said, kneeling on the ground with her head bowed.

Jingyang Palace?
Nguyen clan?

Although Emperor Yuanwu had no recollection of this person, there was only one minister in the court with that surname, Ruan, so he knew who it was without even having to guess.

He was one of the ministers who actively offered advice during the last smallpox outbreak.

This Lady Ruan was probably one of the three concubines selected by the Empress Dowager to enter the palace.

"Get up."

Emperor Yuanwu's face was expressionless, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Ruan Changzai stood up from the ground with great joy, barely able to suppress the smile on his lips.

However, just as she stood up, she saw a group of people following behind Emperor Yuanwu sweep past her.

She didn't even get a clear look at Emperor Yuanwu's back before the group disappeared from her sight.

Ruan Changzai stomped his foot in anger and turned to leave, but his face was pricked by a tree branch behind him.

Zhen'er, who was standing behind Shen Qingwan, couldn't help but laugh out loud: "This Consort Ruan is really quite interesting. In order to attract the Emperor's attention, I wonder how long she has been freezing here since early morning. However, isn't her method of seducing the Emperor a bit old-fashioned? Even palace maids don't know how to use it anymore."

Hearing Zhen'er's words, Shen Qingwan found it amusing and couldn't help but ask, "Do palace maids usually use this method to try and get close to the Emperor?"

Zhen'er's smile suddenly froze. Realizing she had said the wrong thing, she turned pale with fright: "Your Majesty, this servant wouldn't dare. This servant has never had such wicked thoughts."

Shen Qingwan was speechless: "When did I say anything about you? I was just curious."

"Your Majesty, aren't you angry?" Zhen'er quickly followed and asked, puzzled.

"What's there to be angry about? To me, it's all the same whether a newly arrived concubine is favored or a palace maid catches the Emperor's eye," Shen Qingwan said calmly.

"How could these be the same? The imperial concubines were all princesses from the families of high-ranking officials, while the palace maids were of lowly status..."

(End of this chapter)