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

The Cining Palace is always peaceful and quiet in the afternoon. The Empress Dowager usually likes to take a short nap after lunch, a fact that is well known to everyone from the Empress and the Dowager Consorts down to the ordinary concubines.

Therefore, from noon onwards, apart from the eunuchs who deliver lunch from the imperial kitchen, almost no one visits the Cining Palace.

No one wanted to disturb the Empress Dowager's afternoon nap, as disturbing someone's peaceful sleep is always extremely annoying.

In the inner palace, if you offend the Empress or the Emperor, you might still be able to get back on your feet by the Empress Dowager. But if you offend the Empress Dowager, your life is over.

The emperor ruled the country with benevolence and filial piety. If the emperor insisted on favoring someone the empress dowager disliked, he would inevitably be branded as unfilial. However, if the person was not his biological mother or son, the accusation would be accepted, and it wouldn't be a big deal.

However, today was a bit different; Empress Dowager Xu did not take a nap.

Today's lunch was for the Emperor at the Cining Palace. Xie Yun'an was unable to appear during the morning greetings due to his busy schedule with state affairs, but to demonstrate his filial piety as Emperor, this matter would eventually be made up for.

Although they were biological mother and son, unlike adoptive mothers and sons who need to frequently put on a show, the relationship between Empress Dowager Xu and Xie Yun'an could not be described as particularly close. When Xie Yun'an was still young, he left the palace to establish his own residence, and Empress Dowager Xu did not offer much help in the many years that followed.

Even in the matter of seizing the throne, neither Empress Dowager Xu nor the Xu family behind her could offer Xie Yun'an any help.

When Empress Dowager Xu was in the palace, she was not a very favored concubine. Among the many concubines who had children, she was the least dazzling. In the turbulent struggles of the previous reign, she did not learn how to kill in secret, but rather how to see through other people's methods and protect herself wisely.

Over the years, Empress Dowager Xu has developed a keen eye for talent. So, although she enjoys the liveliness of the palace, the concubines' rivalry, and the children running around, she doesn't like these problems to come to her.

Empress Dowager Xu viewed these palace affairs with a detached, spectator's attitude. She knew what the young ladies were arguing about, but she couldn't speak directly, since they were all girls from prominent families, each with connections outside the palace.

Empress Dowager Xu, being of noble status, naturally cherished her reputation. She was too lazy to get involved in such matters, so she would at most give the Empress a nudge and ask her to keep a closer eye on things. In this way, she could simply enjoy watching the drama unfold in Cining Palace, listening to the flattery of the imperial concubines and consorts, and seeing the smiling faces of innocent children who could barely speak. Her days were naturally comfortable and pleasant.

However, in the past year, although two more children have been born in the palace, including a prince, the liveliness has not yet met Empress Dowager Xu's expectations.

"I am aware of what Your Majesty cares about, but I am currently preoccupied with many affairs of the court and simply do not have the time to spend with the concubines in the harem. I suppose the Empress is managing them quite well now, so let the Empress teach them the rules again."

Xie Yun'an's words were mostly perfunctory, and Empress Dowager Xu naturally understood that her own flesh and blood, no matter how distant the relationship between mother and son might be, was still much closer than the relationship with outsiders.

"You are well aware of the affairs of the court, and I cannot ask too many questions. Although the women of the inner palace are not allowed to interfere in politics, I have heard the old ministers of the previous dynasty praising you these days. However, since the Consort became pregnant, you have not stopped managing the Duke's mansion and have ensured that the Consort gave birth to the child safely. I would like to ask you, what are you thinking?"

As a ruler, one cannot easily allow others to guess one's thoughts. One must not show one's joy or anger, nor reveal one's innermost feelings; this is what a ruler should do. Now that the emperor is keeping Consort Rong and that child alive, it's practically a blatant declaration that Consort Rong is his beloved. As a result, the flattery and sycophancy from those below will likely be even more intense than before. In the past, when the emperor favored Consort Rong, everyone could excuse it as being due to her maternal relatives; with the Duke's mansion possessing such great power, Consort Rong's arrogance and domineering nature were considered reasonable.

At that time, at least the Empress and the Empress Dowager could keep Consort Rong in check, preventing her from completely losing her composure and ensuring that people below respected her too much, to the point that they forgot about the Empress.

Now that the Duke's mansion no longer provides external support, Xie Yun'an's favoritism makes everyone feel that Consort Rong is the emperor's most beloved person. This favoritism will become the trend in the harem, and from now on, countless people will try to climb the social ladder and curry favor with Consort Rong.

Although Empress Dowager Xu would not be one of them, she did not want such a thing to happen. No matter how chaotic the harem was, the hierarchy of rank and status could not be disrupted. When the Empress was present, the Empress should be the one to be respected.

With the central government secure, there will be no criticism from the court, which is a great blessing for the country.

"I know what Mother is worried about. Everyone hopes for harmony between the Emperor and Empress, and for the dragon and phoenix to sing in harmony. I think so too. As the Son of Heaven, I should be a role model for all the people under Heaven."

Besides, there's really no irreconcilable rift between my son and Qingyin. It's just that the child she lost in the past has caused her some resentment over the years. But I can't bring these things up in front of her, because it would only upset her. I'll think of another way to deal with this. I'll send some imperial physicians to check the Empress's pulse and let her take good care of herself.

As for Miao'er, her son has always doted on her over the years, but it's not entirely because of the old Duke. Her health has been poor all these years, and ultimately, it's her son who has wronged her.

Now that things have stabilized outside, even if the palace adds to Miao'er's glory, her status as a Noble Consort has reached its limit.

He left half of his last sentence unsaid, but Empress Dowager Xu had already understood.

Ultimately, it was his doing that Consort Rong had no children before, and now that Consort Rong has given birth to a daughter, it's probably because she stopped taking that medicine a long time ago.

As for the outside world, his biggest worry has been eliminated. Consort Rong and he have not fallen apart because of this incident. On the contrary, she has been quite affectionate towards him lately because he has shown leniency.

Since the emperor himself is so sincere, then his favoritism towards Consort Rong is not excessive.

In any case, as the emperor said, the Imperial Concubine was already second only to the emperor and had no need for further promotion. So naturally, she should be treated more favorably in other aspects. As for whether she would surpass the Empress, that was not a question he needed to consider.

If the Empress doesn't even have this much ability to maintain balance, she might as well abdicate and pass the throne to a more worthy successor! (End of Chapter)