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

Chapter 1 Raising troops to investigate crimes
"Your Majesty, I wish to accuse Consort Xian of having an affair with a guard. I have both witnesses and physical evidence. I beg Your Majesty to uphold the proper order and discipline the harem."

Consort De presented Shen Qingwan with a red mandarin duck-patterned bodice.

Consort Xian knelt on the ground, her face pale and trembling. "Your Majesty, I am innocent! This mandarin duck undergarment is mine, but I don't know how it ended up in the guard's room. I really did not have an affair with the guard!"

The Empress Dowager disliked her the most, and ever since she became pregnant, she has tried every means to get rid of her.

The Empress Dowager fell ill for several days. To show his filial piety, the Emperor left the palace to offer sacrifices to Heaven and pray to the gods, and did not return.

Consort De seized the opportunity to find fault with him.

Everyone in the harem knew that Consort De was a confidante of the Empress.

Dead.

I'm really dead this time.

Consort Xian resigned herself to her fate and closed her eyes.

Shen Qingwan yawned lazily.

All the concubines in the palace were troubled by love, but she was the only one more troubled than a dog.

He was incredibly wealthy, yet he only ate three meals a day.
Shen Qingwan was already thinking about what to eat after she woke up.

"The claws are full of tender jade, and the shells are bulging with fragrant red fat."

How about we eat crab?
Half a month ago.

She transmigrated into the original owner's body and was constantly ill. Although she was an empress, she could only keep company with bitter medicine and ginseng soup all day long.

My condition has just improved, and I haven't even had a chance to enjoy it yet.

The two most favored concubines started arguing.

The woman kneeling before her, weeping and dressed like a snake spirit, was Consort De, and also a confidante of the original owner of this body.

The original owner of this body listened to Consort De's slander and took advantage of the Emperor's sacrifice to pray to the gods to execute Consort Xian.

When Consort Xian's father, General Zhenyuan, learned that his daughter had died unjustly in the palace, he raised an army in rebellion, throwing the court into chaos.

Emperor Yuanwu was furious and banished the original owner of the body to the cold palace.

Those concubines who were bullied by the original owner.

One after another, they went to the Cold Palace to seek revenge on the original owner.

When the original owner died, his eyeballs were gouged out.

Too miserable.

When people are both tired and hungry, they are especially afraid of the cold.

Shen Qingwan couldn't help but shiver.

Zhen'er reached out to support her, "Your Majesty, are you alright? You've caught a cold, and the imperial physician advised you to rest more and not overexert yourself."

Consort Xian gave birth to the Third Prince last month and was granted the power to assist in managing the six palaces.

Consort De seized the opportunity to put on a grand show.

Zhen'er saw this and was very anxious.

She was merely a maidservant who accompanied the Empress in her dowry, and her voice carried little weight.

Their mistress was spoiled too much from a young age, which is why she was so naive and was repeatedly taken advantage of by Consort De.

I've talked myself hoarse.

Their mistress still firmly believes that everything Consort De did was for her own good!
Shen Qingwan forced herself to stay awake and sat up straight.

Zhen'er glanced at Consort Xian with a helpless expression.

Got it.

Another stunning beauty is about to pass away!
"Your Highness, Consort Xian is having an affair with a guard. That green hat is also for the Emperor. You're crying your heart out here. Anyone who doesn't know the situation would think you've been caught having an affair with a guard."

Concubine De: ...

Consort De's sobs stopped abruptly, and she raised her head in shock.

Since Consort Xian became pregnant.

The empress seemed to have gone mad, trying every possible way to make things difficult for her.

Fortunately, with the protection of Emperor Yuanwu and the Empress Dowager, Consort Xian was able to move into Cining Palace to rest and prepare for childbirth.

The Empress, having nowhere to vent her anger, pulled up all the grass in Consort Xian's palace.

Consort Xian gave birth to the Third Prince and was granted the power to assist in managing the six palaces. Now the Empress Dowager is ill, and the Emperor is not in the palace.

Isn't this the perfect opportunity to execute Consort Xian?

Why is the Empress behaving so strangely today?
"If Consort Xian really had an affair with a guard, it would only be a mistake that all women in the world would make. It's not like Consort Xian doesn't love the Emperor anymore, nor did she run away with a guard."

She's already working so hard managing the six palaces; as her sister, why can't you be more understanding?

Consort De, you should really reflect on whether you've been pestering the Emperor all day long, causing him to have no time to care about Consort Xian.

When the Emperor visits you next time, you should advise him to spend more time with Consort Xian and not to run to your palace all the time…

Consort De: ?
"Queen!"

Shen Qingwan didn't give her a chance to speak again and stood up.

"Alright, I'm tired. Lock up that guard first, and we'll investigate the rest after His Majesty returns."

Undeterred, Consort De called out again, "Your Majesty the Empress."

When she raised her head again.

The empress has long since disappeared.

Su Tianhe, the chief eunuch of Kunning Palace, had prepared white silk and poisoned wine and was waiting outside the palace.

Seeing Zhen'er come out, he hurriedly went to greet her.

"What did Her Majesty the Empress say? Which one should she bestow upon? I will send it over right now."

Zhen'er shook her head with a complicated expression: "Her Majesty the Empress has already gone to sleep."

"what?"

Go to sleep?
"And Her Majesty the Empress instructed me to tell the Imperial Kitchen that we want crab for dinner?"

"Crabs? His Majesty hates the smell of crabs the most, Your Majesty..."

Crabs, which Emperor Yuanwu hated the most, were Shen Qingwan's favorite.

Although crabs are available all year round, those that arrive in autumn are plump with roe and fat, something you can't usually enjoy.

In order to please Emperor Yuanwu, the original owner naturally did not allow crabs to appear in Kunning Palace.

Shen Qingwan really couldn't understand it.

Emperor Yuanwu could only visit Kunning Palace three times a year, yet she gave up such delicious food for him.

孽 孽!
Shen Qingwan had just opened the crab shell.

The voice of a eunuch announcing the news came from the doorway.

"The Emperor has arrived."

Has Emperor Yuanwu arrived?
Shouldn't he be offering sacrifices to the gods and not be able to return to the palace for several more days?
The sound of carriages and horses came from the entrance, and Emperor Yuanwu strode into the main hall of Kunning Palace.

Good guy!
Judging from their posture, they must have come straight from outside the palace to confront her!
Shen Qingwan reluctantly put down the crab in her hand.

"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

Before Shen Qingwan could finish speaking, Emperor Yuanwu ruthlessly interrupted her.

"Empress, I know you have never liked Consort Xian. I have only been away from the palace for a few days, and you have already had someone slander Consort Xian for having an affair with a guard. I am busy with state affairs, and the Empress Dowager is not in good health. When are you going to stop making trouble?"

Emperor Yuanwu suddenly roared, his crimson eyes burning hot.

The Kunning Palace fell into a deathly silence, with all the guards and servants kneeling on the ground.

"Your Majesty, rest your anger."

Shen Qingwan rose and bowed slowly.

“Your Majesty, it was Consort De who accused Consort Xian of having an affair. I have already had that guard imprisoned and have not taken any action against him. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can go to Jingyang Palace and ask Consort Xian to find out the truth.”

Emperor Yuanwu's eyes flickered as he looked at Shen Qingwan, who was kneeling on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I believe Consort Xian is innocent in this matter, and Consort De was also instigated by treacherous people. Adultery among concubines is a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of their family. Consort Xian enjoys the Emperor's favor and has the power to assist in managing the six palaces; she had no need to do such a thing. I fear someone is deliberately framing her, trying to kill two birds with one stone. I urge Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly, make a swift decision, and cleanse the harem. I am still recovering from my illness and am afraid I cannot share Your Majesty's burdens..."

This is a story about traveling from the present to the past. The entire story is fictional, and some parts differ from history for the sake of the plot. Please just treat it as an interesting story!
Shen Qingwan is focused solely on her career; it's not a 1v1 or 1v many relationship. Feel free to write down any questions you have. I can see all the messages in the comments section and will reply to each one. If I don't see them, there might be some I've missed, for which I sincerely apologize.

Thank you so much for your votes, everyone! I will correct any typos you pointed out as soon as possible. Thank you so much!!!
Qingqing has been able to write on the Yuewen platform for seven years thanks to the support and love of her readers.

Hope you enjoy watching! Love you all, muah!!!

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(End of this chapter)