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

Chapter 113 Secondary Empress
Secondary Empress!

When Consort Xian heard these two words, her eyes suddenly lit up.

"I am all alone in the palace, with no one to rely on. Compared to Your Majesty's General's Mansion, my maternal family is insignificant. I do not have Your Majesty's good fortune. I have suffered cold looks and bullying in the harem." As Consort Chun spoke, she slowly stood up and couldn't help but wipe away the tears that were about to overflow from the corners of her eyes with a silk handkerchief.

"What's wrong with Consort Chun? Why is she suddenly so sad during the New Year?"

"I just suddenly feel a little homesick," Jun-no-jin said, her voice choked with emotion.

Consort Xian was in a good mood at the moment. If it were any other time, if any concubine cried in front of her, she would only think it was pretentious and there was nothing to sympathize with.

But Consort Chun's words had won the heart of Consort Xian, and her tears aroused Consort Xian's pity: "It's so cold, sister, don't stand here. If you have nothing to do in the palace, why don't you come and sit in Jingyang Palace?"

Consort Chun's eyes lit up with joy, and she hurriedly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "I am fine. It is my honor to be able to visit the Imperial Concubine's palace."

"Alright, come with me." Consort Xian flicked the handkerchief in her hand.

"Your Majesty is now a Noble Consort, and should rightfully refer to yourself as 'this palace.' Your Majesty has always been low-key, but even if you are low-key, you are now a Noble Consort, the head of all the consorts in the harem," Consort Chun flattered.

Hearing her words, Consort Xian couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Sister, you're exaggerating. The head of all the consorts should be the Empress. Between the Noble Consort and the Empress, there is also the Imperial Noble Consort. If we're talking about the most prestigious status, it has to be the Imperial Noble Consort."

"Your Highness is the only Noble Consort in this palace. It's only a matter of time before you become the Imperial Noble Consort. Your Highness is still so young. Once you give birth to another son or daughter for the Emperor, the position of Imperial Noble Consort will surely belong to you."

The late Consort Xian suddenly stopped in her tracks. She raised her hand and pointed at Consort Chun: "Why didn't I realize before that my little sister's words were so sweet?"

"Your Highness used to speak little to me. I'm just straightforward and say whatever comes to mind without thinking. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been punished by the Empress not long ago for a few words." Consort Chun's smile faded. "If Your Highness doesn't find me annoying, I'd be happy to visit Jingyang Palace to keep you company."

Consort Xian was just wondering why Noble Lady Chun was suddenly showing her kindness when she suddenly remembered that Consort Rou had been punished by the Empress some time ago.

Her fall caused a huge upheaval in Jingyang Palace, and it was naturally a good thing that someone was willing to submit to her at this time.

Consort Shu and Consort De had just reached the entrance to Cining Palace when they saw Consort Xian and Consort Chun walking one after the other from afar.

"Sister, isn't this someone from your palace?" Consort Shu asked curiously, staring at Consort Chun's figure.

Consort De's eyes darkened, and she scoffed coldly: "I didn't expect that Consort Chun would also be so restless. I really have been blind to her all this time."

"Sister, it's the New Year, there's no need to get angry with her," Consort Shu comforted her.

"Who would be angry with a lowly, unfavored woman like her? I'm just furious. Of all the people she could fawn over, she had to choose that Consort Xian—ugh, Noble Consort Xian! Everyone in the palace knows her. If it weren't for her father's military achievements, she wouldn't even have the title of Noble Consort; she would have lost it long ago." Consort De said indignantly.

At this point, Consort Shu sighed inwardly, "We women in the harem all hope that our maternal families can share the Emperor's burdens in the court, so that our lives in the harem will be a little easier. Sometimes I really envy Consort Xian." "Why do you envy her?" Consort De rolled her eyes, "Her title of Consort Xian was only bestowed by the Empress Dowager because of the General. The Emperor personally issues the decrees for other consorts' appointments, but Consort Xian's decree was issued by the Empress Dowager. Anyone with eyes can see the trickery involved. Even if she is only a Consort now, it's just an empty shell. If the Empress Dowager values ​​her, since she has already been conferred the title, why doesn't she directly restore her right to assist in managing the six palaces? Wouldn't that be putting her in a powerless position?"

Consort Shu listened and slowly nodded: "That seems to make sense, but I am more worried that if Consort Xian were to hold a high position, she might one day take the Third Prince back, since she is the Third Prince's birth mother."

"My sister is truly blinded by maternal affection. Since ancient times, what has the Emperor worried about most? Generals who hold too much power and women in the harem who become arrogant because of the Emperor's favor. I have a feeling that Consort Xian is about to have both of those things." Consort De said, then inexplicably gagged.

"What's wrong, sister?" Consort Shu reached out and supported her arm.

"It's too cold. Perhaps it's from being exposed to the cold wind for too long, but I feel a bit nauseous." Consort De covered her chest with one hand and swallowed deeply.

"Sister, you don't look well. When you summoned the imperial physician last time, didn't you say your period was late? Has it come now?" Consort Shu asked worriedly, "Could it be that you're pregnant?"

"Sister, please don't mention this again. It was because of my irregular periods that I thought I was pregnant, only to be disappointed. I've lost face in the entire harem." Consort De patted her chest and straightened up. "It was wishful thinking on my part. Even when I was favored by the Emperor, I never had a child. Now, the Emperor doesn't even visit Yanxi Palace twice a month. How could I possibly have a child? Not only do people in the palace laugh at me, but I find it ridiculous when I think about it afterward."

Consort Shu's expression was somewhat complicated. She had only said it casually, but she hadn't expected to bring up Consort De's embarrassing incident.

She gave an awkward laugh and said, "It's getting chilly, and my sister isn't feeling well. Let's go pay our respects to the Empress Dowager, go back to the palace to rest, and then send a royal physician over to take a look."

Consort De suppressed her nausea, straightened up, and took a moment to catch her breath: "Sister, please don't mention the imperial physician to me."

When Shen Qingwan returned to Kunning Palace, the Eldest Princess was playing in the courtyard with her two children.

Upon seeing Shen Qingwan enter, Mo Ganbin and Mo Ganyao knelt on the ground and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress! Long live the Empress!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress." The eldest princess also bowed in greeting.

Shen Qingwan hurriedly helped the two children up from the ground: "Princess, please bring the children inside and sit down. It's so cold, how can we let the prince and princess kneel on the ground to pay their respects?"

"Her Majesty the Empress is kind and benevolent. If it weren't for Her Majesty's care upon our return to the palace, I'm afraid the three of us would still be lost."

"Princess, there's no need to be so polite. It's just that the Empress Dowager cherishes our past relationship, and the Emperor is fond of you. I'm just doing this on your behalf."

Shen Qingwan had some food from the palace brought out, and also had someone brew a cup of osmanthus tea for the princess.

"The two children loved the pastries Her Majesty the Empress bestowed upon them last time. They were all new and exciting things they had never tried before, and they've been nagging me to bring them here to pay their respects to Her Majesty the Empress ever since," the Princess said shyly.

In truth, the greeting was a pretense; Shen Qingwan knew better than anyone else what the Princess's true intentions were.

(End of this chapter)