The Second World in Ancient Times

I stood in the courtyard of the harem, gazing at the towering palaces, my mind racing with thoughts. Although I had endured countless hardships along the way, I had never once considered retreating.

"Empress, what are you thinking about?" Wanqing's voice sounded behind me, interrupting my thoughts.

I turned slightly, looked at her, and sighed softly: "Wanqing, I've been thinking that the road to the harem is really too bumpy. But now that I've come this far, I won't give up easily."

Wanqing stepped forward and looked at me firmly. "Your Majesty is right. You have come this far, relying on your wisdom and courage to resolve crises time and time again. You are no longer the naive woman who first entered the palace."

I nodded slightly. "Yes, looking back at when I first entered the palace, I was often overwhelmed by the complex etiquette and intrigues. But now, I can handle it with ease. This is all thanks to the ideas and knowledge I have gained from modern times. Take managing servants, for example. Before, I only knew how to follow the old rules, but it didn't work well. Later, I applied modern management knowledge, which made things much smoother in the palace."

I paused and continued, "It's like managing the new batch of palace maids. The old way was simply assigning tasks and leaving them to the maids to supervise. As a result, problems always arose. Some maids were dissatisfied with their assignments, while others shirked their responsibilities. The maids were also exhausted, yet it was difficult to effectively manage them."

"Then what did the Queen do later?" Wanqing asked curiously.

"I borrowed modern management-by-target concepts. First, I gathered all the maids for a meeting similar to a modern team meeting. I told them that our common goal was to keep the harem running smoothly, and that everyone's work was related to the order and harmony of the entire harem. I listed all the tasks in detail, from cleaning the palace to serving the masters, and set clear standards and completion deadlines for each task."

"Just like managing a project, I assigned leaders to each team. These leaders are like project managers in modern companies. They are responsible for their team's tasks, ensuring not only that they are completed on time but also that the quality is guaranteed. For example, the team responsible for cleaning the garden has a leader who checks that every corner of the garden is clean and tidy and that the flowers and plants are properly trimmed."

"To motivate them, I also set up a reward system. If the team completes the task quickly and accurately without any mistakes within a month, then the team members can receive additional rewards, such as fine fabrics, jewelry, or vacation time. This is like the performance bonuses in modern companies and can greatly motivate employees."

"I no longer blindly punish palace maids who make mistakes. Instead, I adopt a modern, coaching-style management approach. For example, if a palace maid accidentally breaks a teacup while serving tea, according to traditional rules, she might be severely punished. But I will first understand why she broke the cup, whether it was due to nervousness or careless distraction. Then, I will arrange for an experienced palace maid to provide her with special training, teaching her the correct etiquette and techniques for serving tea, and give her some time to correct her mistake. If she performs well in subsequent work, the previous mistake will be waived."

"Also, in managing the eunuchs, I used modern communication skills. In the past, the eunuchs were always afraid of making mistakes, trembling in fear in my presence, and often did not dare to report things truthfully. I changed my communication style to be more like modern equal communication, letting them know that I am not a harsh and ruthless master. I encourage them to express their ideas and suggestions, and I reward eunuchs who come up with good ideas."

"Once, a young eunuch suggested improving the palace's lighting system. He discovered that some corners were too dimly lit during night patrols, making it easy for filth and dirt to hide. I took his advice and adjusted and added more lighting to the palace. Afterwards, I not only rewarded him but also praised him in front of the other eunuchs. This made the eunuchs realize that as long as they work hard and consider the harem, they will be recognized and rewarded."

"Your Majesty, your methods are truly wonderful. This harem will definitely get better and better under your management." Wanqing exclaimed.

I shook my head slightly. "This is just the beginning. There are still many areas in this harem that need improvement. I want everyone here to be able to realize their own value, rather than living in endless oppression and fear."

At this time, a young eunuch hurried over, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, the new concubine Jingshu wishes to see you."

I was moved. Jingshu had always been quite low-key. She came to see me now, so there must be something. "Let her in."

Jing Shu walked into the courtyard, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that you are highly respected and wise in the harem, and I admire you deeply. I came here today to ask you for some advice on how to behave in the palace."

I looked at her and smiled, saying, "Sister Jingshu, you're too kind. In this palace, the most important things are caution and wisdom. Never trust others easily. Every action you take could be exploited."

Jing Shu nodded thoughtfully, "I've taken note of your Majesty's words. However, I sometimes feel lost. In this palace, everyone is vying for favor, and the expectations of my family weigh heavily on me. I don't know how to make a decision."

I patted her shoulder gently. "Sister, vying for favor is certainly important, but it's more important to stick to your heart. Don't be blinded by interests and desires. In modern times, women pursue independence and equality. We have our own thoughts and values, and we shouldn't live just to please others."

Jingshu's eyes lit up: "Your Majesty's words are like enlightenment to me. I understand."

After talking with Jingshu, I said to Wanqing, "There are many women like Jingshu in the harem. If I can pass on the ideas of modern women to them, perhaps I can change some of the customs in this palace."

Wanqing said with some concern, "Your Majesty, this may not be easy. Traditional ideas are deeply rooted in the palace, and your actions may cause dissatisfaction among some people."

I said firmly, "I know there will be resistance, but I'm not afraid. I want this harem to no longer be just a place of intrigue and vying for favor. I want women here to find their own value and dignity."

A few days later, news came from the palace that the king intended to hold a grand banquet to improve harmony in the harem. I knew this was another test.

While preparing for the banquet, one of the concubines deliberately made things difficult for me with the seating arrangements, hoping to embarrass me. She sneered, "Sister Yu, you've always been so clever. I'll leave the seating arrangements to you. But please don't make any mistakes, or the king will blame you, which would be disastrous."

I looked at her and said calmly, "Don't worry, sister. I will make all the arrangements. In modern times, when we hold large-scale events, we always have detailed plans and arrangements. I will formulate a reasonable plan based on the status, preferences, and court etiquette of each sister."

I quickly drew a seating plan, allocating the important seats in a way that would not only respect the high-ranking concubines but also take into account the feelings of the newly arrived concubines. When I presented the plan, everyone was amazed.

On the evening of the feast, there was singing and dancing. The king sat on his high throne, watching over the crowd with a smile on his face. Suddenly, a dancer pretended to fall during her dance, and the ribbon in her hand flew towards the king's wine glass, threatening to overturn it. Everyone was shocked, thinking this was another conspiracy.

I quickly stood up and gently used my fan to deflect the ribbon from its path. I smiled and said, "The dancer must have been too nervous to make this small mistake. Your Majesty, please don't blame her; let her continue her performance."

The king looked at me with admiration in his eyes: "Concubine Yu, you always resolve crises at critical moments."

I bowed slightly. "Your Majesty, this is only what I should do. In modern times, we value teamwork and emergency response capabilities. In the harem, we are all family. We should support each other and share your worries together."

My words plunged many of the concubines present into deep thought. This banquet, which could have been a stage for conspiracy and strife, was transformed, through my efforts, into a venue displaying harmony and wisdom.

But I know that this is only a temporary calm. The struggles in the harem will never stop, and new challenges will continue to emerge.