After a broken heart, I traveled through time and space and became an abandoned concubine. My fate i

That day, she rose early and personally went to the imperial kitchen, meticulously instructing the chef to prepare several of His Majesty's favorite dishes. Then, she settled herself at her dressing table, allowing the palace maids to meticulously dress her. She chose a unique golden hairpin, its shimmering gems gleaming enchantingly in the sunlight; a pale pink lipstick accentuated her lips, resembling the delicate beauty of cherries; and a delicately embroidered silk dress accentuated her graceful figure with unparalleled elegance.

Everything was ready. Filled with anticipation and trepidation, Noble Concubine Su headed towards His Majesty's chambers. Arriving outside, she took a deep breath, calmed herself, and instructed a maid to pass on the message. Upon hearing Noble Concubine Su's arrival, a subtle smile crept across His Majesty's stern face, and he summoned her.

Concubine Su walked into the room gracefully, her figure as light as a flying swallow. She bowed gracefully, her voice as gentle as flowing water: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. I heard that you have been toiling day and night on state affairs recently. I am deeply concerned, and I have specially prepared some food, hoping to relieve your fatigue."

His Majesty put down the memorial in his hand, stood up and walked over, gently pulling Concubine Su to sit down, and said with a bit of tenderness in his eyes: "My beloved concubine is thoughtful, and I am very pleased."

Noticing His Majesty's good mood, Concubine Su raised her eyes slightly, a hint of caution in her eyes. While observing His Majesty's expression, she said, "Your Majesty, I have witnessed the many hardships my sisters have endured in this harem recently. I feel deeply moved and would like to offer you some advice. If Your Majesty would listen, I would be deeply grateful."

"Your Majesty, I've been in the palace recently and noticed that although my sisters have no worries about food and clothing, they often feel bored. Every day is just a repetition of tedious rituals. Even admiring flowers and watching the moon is bound by so many rules, which deprives them of the joy of nature." She paused, her fingers unconsciously twisting her handkerchief. Seeing His Majesty nod slightly as if listening, she continued, "Take the beautiful scenery in the Imperial Garden, for example. My sisters can only pass by it in a hurry, without the time to appreciate it carefully."

His Majesty nodded slightly, as if in agreement.

Concubine Su continued, "And the palace festivals are all based on routine, with little innovation. Even when the sisters get together, they're often restrained and rarely have genuine laughter."

His Majesty seemed to be lost in thought, his fingers gently stroking his chin.

Upon seeing this, Imperial Concubine Su changed the subject and looked at His Majesty sincerely, "I know Your Majesty prioritizes the country, but this harem is also Your Majesty's home. If it can be made more cozy and comfortable, it will surely make Your Majesty feel better when he returns to the palace."

His Majesty frowned slightly, a hint of thought flashed in his eyes, but he did not comment.

Concubine Su's heart tightened, fearing His Majesty would be displeased, but she mustered her courage and continued, "I think we could simplify the etiquette appropriately so that the sisters don't have to be constantly on edge. Furthermore, could we set up more gathering places in the palace so the sisters could gather frequently, discuss daily life, and strengthen their friendship? This way, perhaps the harem would be more warm and harmonious. Just like Concubine De, who was humiliated in public because she was slow to perform etiquette while pregnant, she suffered so much physical and mental torture that she couldn't even keep the child in her womb. It was truly a misfortune for the palace."

His Majesty was silent for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, his expression slightly solemn before he spoke, "My beloved concubine, what you said is not without reason. However, matters concerning the harem are interconnected, so this matter requires long-term consideration and should not be rushed."

"Then I will wait patiently for Your Majesty's decision. I hope Your Majesty can bring more freedom and happiness to the sisters in the harem."

After dinner, Concubine Su returned to the palace. She sat in front of the window with a frown on her face, carefully pondering the emperor's attitude and thinking about what to do next so that he would nod in agreement to her proposal.

However, before His Majesty's order could be received, a new wave of turmoil arose in the harem.

It turned out to be Huipin, who had accidentally trampled on a rare flower carefully cared for by Concubine Ning while admiring flowers in the Imperial Gardens, and was scolded by Concubine Ning for a long time. This incident spread like wildfire in the harem, and everyone was in a state of panic.

Upon hearing this, Concubine Su became even more determined to change the current situation in the harem. She hurried to visit Concubine Hui, only to find her lying on the bed, her face pale and her eyes filled with grievance. Concubine Su clenched her fists and vowed silently, "My sister has suffered so much. The rules of this harem are truly harsh. I will find a way to change this situation."

However, Concubine Ning crossed her arms in front of the other concubines, and said coldly with disdain: "Concubine Su is just pretentious and nosy."

One day, Concubine Su hosted a small harem gathering and invited His Majesty to attend. She meticulously arranged for the concubines to showcase their talents and engage in free exchange. The concubines recited poems, painted, sang, and danced, creating a harmonious and intimate atmosphere. His Majesty witnessed this scene firsthand, feeling the warmth brought about by simplifying rituals and increasing opportunities for social interaction, and was deeply moved.

At the same time, in the court, the ministers heard about the harem reform and expressed their opposition.

"Regarding matters concerning the harem, the laws passed by our ancestors cannot be changed. How can they be easily reformed?" an old minister said with deep sorrow.

"The etiquette of the harem is the foundation of maintaining the dignity of the royal family. How can it be simplified at will?" Another minister spoke fiercely.

Concubine Su knew very well that she could not confront the ministers head-on, so she privately looked for ministers who had a say in the court and supported the harem reforms.

In a secluded corner of the Imperial Garden, Concubine Su sent a message to a minister who supported the reform.

"My lord, if the current situation in the harem is not changed, there will be constant fighting in the inner court, and the royal descendants will have difficulty living in peace. This is also a hidden danger to the stability of the court." Concubine Su spoke earnestly.

The minister nodded slightly upon hearing this: "Your Majesty is absolutely right, but there are many obstacles to this matter."

The messenger from Concubine Su hurriedly said, "As long as Your Excellency helps us, Your Majesty will definitely remember your kindness."

Concubine Su also thoroughly investigated the origins and reasons for the establishment of these outdated and cumbersome rules, identifying any irregularities. She painstakingly compiled detailed information by reading ancient books and questioning the elders in the palace.

In the Emperor's study, Concubine Su respectfully presented the documents and said, "Your Majesty, I have thoroughly researched and discovered that many of the rules were established in ancient times under special circumstances. Times have changed and they are no longer relevant. Simplifying etiquette does not mean abandoning rules, but rather bringing greater harmony and order to the harem. For example, the morning and evening rituals of visiting relatives are overly complex, exhausting the concubines and hindering their ability to serve Your Majesty. I suggest appropriate adjustments to both clarify hierarchy and allow the sisters to have more energy to accompany Your Majesty. Furthermore, adding more gathering places will strengthen sisterhood, reduce conflict, and benefit the reproduction of royal offspring. I have developed detailed procedures and a timetable, and I hope Your Majesty will review them."

The emperor fell into deeper thought. On the one hand, he felt that Concubine Su's proposal was reasonable, but on the other hand, he faced pressure from his ministers. However, Concubine Su's efforts gave the emperor a new perspective on the harem reform.