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

Chapter 130 The person behind the scenes
When we arrived at Cining Palace.

Unexpectedly, Shen Qingwan saw Xi Changzai. Having not seen him for a long time, she almost couldn't remember who he was for a moment.

At this moment, Consort Xi was sitting next to the Empress Dowager, talking to her. When she saw the Empress coming over, she quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "This concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed with long life and good health."

"Get up." Shen Qingwan had come to tell the Empress Dowager about Consort De's pregnancy, but now it seemed she couldn't. She was wondering how to get back when the Empress Dowager spoke first: "I just heard that the Empress was coming. I had someone order dinner for her. It's not too late for the Empress to stay at Cining Palace for dinner before going back."

"Yes," Shen Qingwan replied.

The three sat around the food platter, feeling slightly awkward. Shen Qingwan didn't intend to bring up Consort De's matter, since Consort Xi was still around. It was the Empress Dowager who brought it up first.

"Consort De's personality is too flamboyant. She hasn't had a child for so many years, and she's already making a fuss as soon as she's pregnant. I'm afraid she'll cause a lot of trouble in the future." The Empress Dowager sighed calmly. "I heard that the Empress was busy all night at Yanxi Palace last night. She should go back and rest early after dinner. Even an iron body can't withstand such torment. The women in the harem are all troublesome."

"My daughter-in-law is fine," Shen Qingwan said calmly.

"And Consort Xi, the Emperor doesn't visit you. Can't you take the initiative and go to his side more often? Do you expect others to bring him favor? The Empress helped you once, but if you can't seize the opportunity, don't always come to me crying and wailing." The Empress Dowager complained.

Shen Qingwan frowned: "Mother is right to reprimand me. It was my negligence."

"I was talking about Consort Xi, what wrong has the Empress done?"

"It's my fault for not making proper arrangements. The Emperor cannot bestow his favors equally on all his subjects. As the Empress, my daughter-in-law has an inescapable responsibility."

Shen Qingwan's sincere attitude left the Empress Dowager speechless, unsure where to begin.

"In the end, it's all because Consort Xi is so disappointing. She was poorly raised from a young age and is very thin-skinned. At the Lantern Festival banquet, while other concubines rushed to the emperor's side to offer him wine, she sat firmly in her seat, as steady as Mount Tai," the Empress Dowager said.

"Aunt is right," Xi Changzai said, pursing her lips and lowering her head.

Shen Qingwan had little appetite for dinner. In short, the Empress Dowager's complaints were simply that Consort Xi had not been favored by Emperor Yuanwu because she hadn't taken the initiative enough.

Shen Qingwan sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. It wasn't that she didn't want to make arrangements, but Emperor Yuanwu seemed to be particularly averse to the concubines sent to the palace by the Empress Dowager. Not to mention Consort Xi, even Consort Ruan and the others who entered the palace later hadn't served the emperor yet.

Now that the Empress Dowager has spoken, if she does nothing, it would go against the Empress Dowager's wishes. If she is to make arrangements... how should she arrange them so that they will please the Empress Dowager and not be opposed by Emperor Yuanwu?

Shen Qingwan felt extremely overwhelmed.

Even bigger than her head was Consort Xian. After returning to Jingyang Palace, she wanted to catch up on some sleep, but she couldn't fall asleep no matter how much she tossed and turned in bed, so she simply went to Chang Le Palace.

The Chang Le Hall was cleaned, but it had been deserted for a long time and seemed rather desolate, with almost no furnishings inside.

Now that it's cold, if it were springtime with blooming flowers, just adding some flowers and plants would make the whole yard look vibrant. But in this icy and snowy weather, the grass is all bare, and there's not a trace of life left.

Consort Xian was worried, so she finally had the Imperial Household Department send over a lot of calligraphy, paintings, vases, and porcelain jars. Although they weren't anything particularly valuable, they still managed to fill the Chang Le Palace.

After leaving Cining Palace, Shen Qingwan did not take the sedan chair, but planned to walk back.

The road from Cining Palace to Kunning Palace is neither long nor short, but it was cold and already dark.

"Your Highness, perhaps I should have someone bring the sedan chair over. By the time we reach Kunning Palace, your shoes and socks will be soaked through," Zhen'er said worriedly.

"It's alright," Shen Qingwan replied absentmindedly.

She had only taken a few steps when a young eunuch suddenly appeared out of nowhere and bumped into Shen Qingwan. Luckily, Zhen'er was standing nearby; if Zhen'er hadn't blocked her, she might have actually tripped and fallen. "How dare you! Where did this little eunuch come from, bumping into Your Highness without apologizing?" Zhen'er shouted angrily as she helped Shen Qingwan up.

The little eunuch was not frightened by her roar; instead, he ran even faster.

Why is this little eunuch behaving so strangely?

Zhen'er raised her foot to stop the little eunuch who had offended the Empress, but Shen Qingwan pulled her down.

In her hand, at the moment the young eunuch bumped into her, a note appeared: "A gentleman is not the heir."

Is a virtuous man not the legitimate heir?

Could it be that the little eunuch was the one who tipped us off?

But what exactly do these four words mean?
Shen Qingwan thought of the hostage who was about to enter the palace, whose name contained the character "Jun".

Could it be that someone wants to tell her that Mo Gan Junyi is not Mo Gan Xie's legitimate son?
That means Mo Gan Junyi's identity is fake. If Mo Gan Xie just randomly found someone to impersonate Mo Gan Junyi and enter the palace, why would he care about his life or death?

If it's just about doting on the eldest son, that's fine.

What if he had other ideas in his mind? Wouldn't that be...?

Mo Ganjun Yi is scheduled to enter the palace in the next two days. If his identity is questionable, the consequences of him staying in the palace would be unimaginable.

Shen Qingwan clenched the note tightly in her hand: "Zhen'er, where is the Emperor tonight?"

"Your Majesty, tonight the Emperor dined at Consort De's palace in Yanxi Palace. He should still be here at this hour."

The imperial physician has just discovered that Consort De is pregnant, so it's normal for Emperor Yuanwu to go and keep her company. However, Consort De is currently unable to serve the emperor in bed, so it's uncertain whether Emperor Yuanwu will stay overnight in her palace.

If there was no overnight stay, that would be fine. She could simply go to Emperor Yuanwu's palace when he came out and tell him about it.

If they stay in Consort De's palace, they can only wait until Emperor Yuanwu finishes his morning court session tomorrow.

But what exactly was the purpose of this messenger?

If this is true, telling Emperor Yuanwu directly would be more direct and better preventative than telling her.

When Shen Qingwan returned to Kunning Palace, she dismissed everyone around her and carefully read the note in her hand again.

Although it consists of only four characters, one can still see that the person's calligraphy is vigorous and powerful, with rich and flowing ink, like clouds and water.

Normally, people who deliver messages will deliberately conceal their handwriting, using their left hand or writing in neat, straight lines to avoid being recognized by others.

This person's unreserved brushstrokes suggest they have no fear of her guessing who is behind the words.

The handwriting doesn't look like it was written by a woman. If it were a man, it wouldn't be Emperor Yuanwu's handwriting. Although it looks somewhat similar to Emperor Yuanwu's handwriting, it looks more unrestrained. It also couldn't be a guard. Firstly, she doesn't have much of a relationship with the palace guards. Unless someone wants to harm her, they would stay out of trouble and would definitely not help her.

(End of this chapter)