Your Majesty, please do not disturb, the empress only wants to engage in business

Chapter 172 Desire to Divide Power

Have a good night's sleep.

When Yao Jinse opened her eyes, the sun had already been up for a while.

Since they don't have to go to the Empress's palace for morning and evening greetings, they can naturally sleep a little longer in their own palace—of course, not too long, otherwise if someone comes looking for them and they're still asleep in bed, it won't be good for their reputation.

Moreover, there were rules in the harem. Even if you were not feeling well and wanted to sleep in, you still had to get up and have breakfast before going back to sleep.

Times have changed. People nowadays generally get up earlier and believe in working at sunrise and resting at sunset, which Yao Jinse can accept.

Bai Tan and the others got up even earlier. When it was dawn and everyone was up, the eunuchs on night duty could go back to sleep for a while. In places like Yuxiu Palace, where the rules were relatively relaxed, it was not unacceptable for eunuchs to delay breakfast time if they were very tired from their night watch.

The small kitchen was used to cook and heat up meals. The food boxes sent from the imperial kitchen were usually washed and returned to the palace after the guests had finished eating. So as long as they were returned before lunch, there was no rush. So it didn't matter if they waited a little longer.

The people in Yuxiu Palace have always had a good relationship. They don't have any conflicts of interest with each other. They all work under the same master. If the master is kind, they will naturally live better. There is no need for them to scheme against each other in private and cause trouble for the master.

In Bai Tao's words, such a person puts all their energy into external things, while fighting amongst themselves within their own family. Yu Xiu Palace would never dare to employ someone like that.

"Actually, these things in the palace are already considered few. If it were outside, there would be much more social interaction. It's just that we can't handle these things in the inner palace."

While having breakfast, Yao Jinse chatted with Bai Tan and the others, mentioning that it seemed Consort Zhao's birthday was approaching and they were discussing what kind of gift to give. Bai Tao, who was racking her brains for her mistress, stood aside and sighed, "You're working so hard!" This immediately caused a burst of laughter in the room.

"If you were outside, you would eventually have to be the mistress of a household, responsible for social interactions, entertaining guests, and handling many household affairs. It's actually much easier to stay in the palace now."

Bai Tan offered a suggestion, and Yao Jinse nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Leaving aside the matriarchs of prominent families, even ordinary women in charge of the household have to deal with social obligations and occasional social interactions.

There are so many things to worry about. In the harem, apart from the excessive risks, these things are really nothing.

Not to mention the many hidden benefits of wealth and status within the imperial harem. Everyone desires the riches and honors of the imperial family, and there are reasons for that.

"Alright, it's fine to say these things within our own home, but don't go outside and talk about them. Especially Bai Tao, you've always been quick to speak, so you should be more careful when you talk to other people."

Bai Tao nodded readily, having served Yao Jinse for so long, she knew what to do: "Don't worry, Your Highness, I understand."

After having breakfast, Yao Jinse began to think about today's activities. She didn't plan to go back to sleep for a while, as it was too bright to sleep well even with the curtains drawn.

People say that spring brings drowsiness and autumn brings fatigue, but Yao Jinse is a bit different. She does want to go out for a stroll in the spring, but she just visited the Imperial Garden and the Empress Dowager's Palace yesterday, so it wouldn't be appropriate to go out again today.

Since that's the case, we might as well close the door and start picking out a birthday gift for Consort Zhao in a few days.

She was thinking this way, and naturally, others were thinking the same thing.

Consort Chen arrived around 9:45 AM. She first sent her maid He Xiang to announce her arrival. Yao Jinse had just prepared tea and snacks when she arrived.

The last time we prepared a gift for the Empress Dowager, it was Consort Chen and Yao Jinse who made it together. They've gotten used to it, and besides, the two of them have a pretty good relationship with Consort Zhao, so this birthday gift naturally needs to be prepared properly.

Consort Chen didn't visit Yuxiu Palace very often, since after the Emperor ascended the throne, the head consort of Yuxiu Palace was Consort Yi.

Their relationship was merely superficial; they weren't really close in private. A sudden visit would only cause inconvenience for Yao Jinse. It was only after Consort Yi's incident that Consort Chen started visiting more often.

After Yao Jinse became the mistress of Yuxiu Palace, she added some seasonal flowers and trees to the palace. As a result, when Consort Chen entered, she truly felt what it meant to be bathed in the bright sunshine of spring.

The shadows of the trees swayed in the courtyard. Yao Jinse set out tea and snacks on the stone table in the pavilion. After Chen Meiren sat down, she exclaimed in amazement, "You really know how to enjoy yourself. The wind is neither too hot nor too cold, and it even carries a hint of floral fragrance. It's so pleasant."

Consort Chen lived in Changchun Palace, where the principal consort was Consort Zhuang.

Consort Zhuang always followed the Empress's lead. In addition, she was exhausted from raising her son over the years and had little interest in managing her own palace. She usually just had her servants tidy it up.

Living with such a powerful empress, Consort Chen naturally couldn't enjoy any beautiful scenery. Apart from strolling in the Imperial Garden, she had to be somewhat restrained by Consort Zhuang in everything else, so her life wasn't particularly comfortable.

Fortunately, life was tough, but she was able to take it easy. It's also thanks to Chen Meiren's cheerful personality that she was able to cope; otherwise, who knows what kind of dark and gloomy character she might have developed.

"To be honest, it's not as good as when I was in the Prince's Mansion after entering the palace. At least I had my own little courtyard. Now, living under Consort Zhuang's watchful eye, it's really inconvenient for everything."

"Her Majesty the Empress has arranged the residences for each palace. What can we do? Are we supposed to go and ask Her Majesty the Empress to allow us to move? Since Consort Zhuang is relatively easy to get along with, Sister, you don't need to worry about this."

The more you say, the more mistakes you make. Yao Jinse said a couple of things and then stopped asking. On such a beautiful day, talking about these things would only make people feel bad. It was better to just enjoy the good weather for now.

"To be honest, I went to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager yesterday. Her Majesty seems to be much better now, but her mood is just so-so. Dongyang played with the Empress Dowager for a while, and I noticed that although the Empress Dowager liked Dongyang's cuteness, she didn't seem very interested."

"These next two days, you should refrain from going to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager. Wait until she's in a better mood before going."

As one of the most honored people in the harem, the Empress Dowager's illness, though not a major event, still drew waves of people from the harem to pay their respects after she recovered.

Many of the newly entered concubines were of low status and rarely saw the Empress Dowager, but Consort Chen was, after all, an old maid who had followed the Emperor from his princely residence, and it would be inappropriate not to pay her respects. "I know, you don't need to tell me. The other day, Consort Zhuang went to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, and she didn't look too good when she came back. Perhaps the Empress Dowager nagged her a bit, so I knew it wouldn't be convenient for her to go these next few days."

As Chen Meiren spoke, she reached into a box she carried with her and took out something. The box naturally contained gifts for Consort Zhao's birthday, mostly jewelry. She hadn't saved up any rewards over the years, so if she wanted to give something novel, she would naturally have to take some out of her personal funds.

The situation was much the same for Yao Jinse. After all, this was Consort Zhao's first birthday after her rank was determined. Whether the gifts were valuable or not was secondary. The most important thing was the sentiment between the sisters.

This is absolutely crucial.

……

Kunning Palace.

Shen Qingyin sat in front of the dressing table with her eyes closed, while Ren Xiazhu used a powder puff to apply another layer of powder to her face.

While Yao Jinse and Consort Chen could enjoy the warm breeze and chat in Yuxiu Palace, Empress Yao Jinse was far from having such leisure and happiness. With the Empress Dowager ill, she, as the daughter-in-law, naturally had to serve her three meals a day.

The Empress Dowager was a little better a couple of days ago when she couldn't get up, as she had her personal maids attending to her. But these past two days, she's been able to get up and move around, and her health and spirits have improved. So her daughter-in-law can no longer take a break.

It's no wonder that everyone usually hopes their masters are healthy. When things are peaceful, everyone can close their doors and live their own lives. But once something happens, even if they have to put on a show of filial piety for others, they have to make the act convincing.

The thought of going to Cining Palace to serve the Empress Dowager gave Shen Qingyin a headache.

Even after having breakfast and resting for a while, the fatigue accumulated over the years cannot be recovered by sleeping for an extra hour or two.
Moreover, going to Cining Palace inevitably meant being nagged and lectured by the Empress Dowager. Even as the Empress, dealing with her mother-in-law was a real headache.

When an elderly person falls ill, their mood is not good. Shen Qingyin naturally knew this. Yesterday, Yao Jinse took the child to Cining Palace, which made the Empress Dowager very happy—after all, she served her at dinner.

People are ultimately different. Ordinary concubines and empress dowagers would show more of the kindness and gentleness of elders, especially the younger ones. Sometimes, the empress dowager would even show some affection.

But when it came to her, the proper daughter-in-law, even though the Empress Dowager spoke with a smile, it wasn't easy to actually get a good word from her.

Moreover, Princess Dongyang is only at the age where she can crawl and can't say anything yet, so of course she's cute. If it were my own Princess Gaoyang, a six-year-old girl at her noisiest age, it would be a blessing if it didn't have the opposite effect.

So she could only force herself to get through it.

Fortunately, Empress Dowager Xu's mood wasn't too bad these past two days. Although she had Shen Qingyin stand and serve her meals, there was no more torment.

"As people get older, they are indeed not as good as before. I have caught a cold before, but I didn't take it seriously back then. But look at me this time, I have to lie in bed for several days."

The Empress Dowager drank half a bowl of black chicken soup and then stopped drinking. Instead, she stared at Shen Qingyin and spoke, first talking about her own health, and then turning the topic to Shen Qingyin: "Over the years, you have been suffering from various ailments. You should take good care of yourself. In the end, the Emperor still wants a legitimate crown prince."

Back when you were in the Prince's mansion, the place wasn't big and there weren't many things to deal with. Managing everything from top to bottom wasn't as troublesome as managing the harem.

You are good too. I have always valued your wisdom and propriety. What is most commendable is that you do not cling to the power you hold in your hands, but are willing to let the people below manage it for you.

However, I must remind you that you should take better care of your health when you have time. Have the imperial physicians give you proper treatment. Look at Consort Rong, who is a few years younger than you, she takes all sorts of tonics and ginseng soups every day. You, on the other hand, are being a little too frugal.

"Your Majesty is right. I understand. I was just thinking that since His Majesty has only recently ascended the throne, we should cut back on expenses in the harem as much as possible. It's a small token of our appreciation for His Majesty."

"What's the use of all this? This palace is so big, every little thing costs a lot of money. Do you think you can save a lot by having less of these things?"

Empress Dowager Xu took another sip of the soup in the bowl, and finding it a little cold, she casually placed it aside for a palace maid to move.

"No matter what, you must remember that you are the Empress. The regulations and things that an Empress should have are absolutely essential and cannot be skimped on. The palace will not lack the little things you try to save. Even if you save a lot, the Emperor can easily add two new concubines and it will still not be enough to cover the expenses. In that case, you might as well do what you should do, so that outsiders will not gossip and look down on you as the Empress."

—Apart from you and your son, no one in this harem would underestimate the Empress.

Shen Qingyin naturally only dared to mutter these words to herself and could not say them out loud. On the surface, she could only continue to respond. When she finally finished the meal and walked out of Cining Palace, she felt sore in her back and legs.

"Fortunately, this old servant believes that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is almost fully recovered, and she probably won't need to come tomorrow."

Because of the occasion, Granny Hua didn't speak to comfort Shen Qingyin until they were quite far from Cining Palace.

It was originally a minor illness, and after a few days of rest in bed, I recovered.

Granny Hua's words struck a chord with Shen Qingyin, making her realize that Empress Dowager Xu's words today were essentially twofold: first, to urge her to take good care of her health and have another child; and second, to warn her that she shouldn't control everything in the harem and should delegate some responsibilities.

Although what I said might be a bit harsh, it's actually the right thing to do.

The problem is, in this harem, where are there so many people who can share her burdens?
“Consort Zhuang and the others are already managing quite a few things, and we can’t add to their burdens. Granny Hua, what do you think the Empress Dowager means by this?”

Granny Hua pondered for a while, but she couldn't quite figure it out. However, Empress Dowager Xu's words had been rather vague at the time, and now, thinking about it carefully, it just felt...

"Could it be that the Empress Dowager also wants to share some of the palace power?"