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

Chapter 145 The Death Sin of Exterminating Nine Generations
Shen Qingwan nodded worriedly. She moved her lips, wanting to ask Prince Rui about his martial arts skills, but the words caught in her throat.

Because she discovered that, apart from Zhen'er and herself, all the guards who had left the palace with her had died in the battle just now.

Shen Qingwan's face was a little pale.

The rustling sound coming from halfway up the mountain was Master Wuchen seeing the messenger from Prince Rui and personally leading his men down the mountain.

Although monks are not concerned with the affairs of the previous dynasty, if the current empress were to have an accident at the foot of his mountain, they fear that even the entire Huguo Temple would be liable for the consequences.

"What happened today..." Shen Qingwan raised her eyes and looked at Prince Rui.

Just then, he looked at her with a complicated expression. She could clearly see a trace of pain and unease in his dark eyes, and even a trace of love mixed in.

"Don't worry about today's matter. I will arrange everything. Just tell your brother what I said. If you don't know how to say it, just say that you were frightened and don't remember anything." After a pause, Prince Rui took half a step closer to her: "Shen Qingwan, the palace is dangerous. Nothing is more important than a safe place to live."

Shen Qingwan's eyes flickered, and when she looked at Prince Rui again, he had already taken a big step away from her.

Meanwhile, Master Wuchen had already arrived.

"Amitabha, it was all due to my negligence that Her Majesty the Empress suffered so much."

"Master Wuchen, there is no need to blame yourself. It was all just an accident."

Master Wuchen clasped his hands together and bowed deeply, saying, "It is Your Majesty's magnanimity that has brought this opportunity. This humble monk will have someone escort Your Majesty back to the palace."

Shen Qingwan curtsied in return, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Master Wuchen."

On the way back, she rode in a carriage belonging to Huguo Temple. The carriage was decorated with Buddhist beads and wind chimes, and the curtains were embroidered with lotus flowers. Even though these things were meant to calm the mind, Shen Qingwan still felt like her head was about to explode.

In her mind, the words that Prince Rui had told her kept repeating: "The palace is dangerous; nothing is more important than finding a safe place to live."

Moreover, he addressed her directly as Shen Qingwan, not as "Empress Sister-in-law," "Empress," or even her given name.

She tried hard to recall the original owner's memories, to find out what exactly happened between her and Prince Rui before her marriage to Emperor Yuanwu.
Could it be that the original owner and Prince Rui's relationship was not just about being betrothed by the late emperor, but something else?
What else has happened?

Shen Qingwan rubbed her temples, unable to recall anything at all.

Today, Prince Rui is willing to do anything to save him.

What made him risk his life so recklessly, even going so far as to reveal his skills in front of so many people?

Once word gets out that he knows martial arts, he might not be the only one in danger; it could cost the lives of everyone in the Prince Rui's mansion, or even more.

Shen Qingwan dared not think any further, only feeling her head throbbing even more.

The assassination attempt happened even faster than her return to the palace. When the carriage stopped at the entrance of Kunning Palace, Consort Shu, Consort Jin, Consort Zhen, Noble Lady Rong, and the imperial physician were already waiting at the entrance of Kunning Palace.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

"I heard that Her Majesty the Empress encountered bandits outside the palace. I hope Her Majesty was not injured."

"Your Majesty the Empress..." Zhen'er said solemnly as she helped Shen Qingwan down from the carriage. "Your Majesties, our lady has been frightened today. We should let her return to her palace and have the imperial physician examine her before we feel at ease."

Consort Shu nodded, took Shen Qingwan's other arm, and together they walked towards the palace.

The imperial physician examined her pulse and said she was just frightened, and prescribed some calming medicine.

When Emperor Yuanwu finished dealing with the affairs of the previous dynasty and arrived at Kunning Palace, it was already 11 PM. Just then, Shen Qingwan woke up.

"Your Majesty, although the Empress has woken up, she was frightened by today's events. Although she is awake, she is still not in good spirits. Your Majesty, why don't you wait until she is feeling better before you go to see her?"

Zhen'er stood in the way of the palace. Emperor Yuanwu hesitated for a moment. Just then, Wu Jixiang walked in from outside: "Your Majesty, someone from Yanxi Palace has come to say that Consort De is feeling unwell. Would Your Majesty like to go and see her?"

"Very well." Emperor Yuanwu pondered for a moment and said, "Then I will go and see Consort De first. When the Empress is feeling better, remember to have someone inform me."

"Yes." Zhen'er curtsied.

Emperor Yuanwu took two steps, then paused, turning back as if in a daze: "When you encountered that group of bandits at Huguo Temple today, did they say anything?"

"Your Majesty," Zhen'er knelt on the ground, "Your Highness's carriage encountered bandits at the foot of the mountain. At the time, Your Highness and I were in the carriage, and we only heard the sounds of fighting outside. We didn't hear clearly whether they were demanding money from the guards."

"I remember that Prince Rui's residence is at the foot of the mountain. With such a commotion, didn't the guards from Prince Rui's residence come to help?"

"Your Majesty, I was unaware of this. I was protecting Your Highness in the carriage and never left your side for a second. It was only when the monks from Huguo Temple heard the noise and rushed over that they opened the carriage curtain and helped Your Highness out of the carriage. It was then that I learned that so many people had died outside."

Zhen'er wasn't sure if Emperor Yuanwu believed her words. After a long while, Emperor Yuanwu spoke again: "Take good care of your empress."

"Yes."

Only when the voice of "Respectfully seeing off the Emperor" came from the doorway did Zhen'er stand up from the ground.

Watching Emperor Yuanwu's departing figure, Zhen'er slowly breathed a sigh of relief. She was almost scared to death. Just now, when their empress was unconscious, she actually called out the name of Prince Rui in a daze.

Has their mistress gone mad? Even if Prince Rui saved her life, she can't just spout nonsense in her sleep. Besides, if others hear her, it's a capital offense punishable by the extermination of her entire family.

Zhen'er was so frightened that she dared not let anyone into the Empress's palace and served her by herself.

This time, Consort De was not deliberately trying to win favor by summoning Emperor Yuanwu; she had genuinely started bleeding.

Having served Emperor Yuanwu for so many years, it was not easy to finally have this child. Consort De was extremely careful, but perhaps she was too careful and became spoiled.

Although less than three months is the most unstable time, it shouldn't be enough to have bleeding twice in one month.

Consort De was terrified. Upon seeing Emperor Yuanwu, she threw herself into his arms and cried, "Your Majesty, it's all my fault. I failed to protect the princes in the palace. But I did nothing wrong. Ever since the imperial physician told me to rest in bed, I haven't dared to get out of bed except for meals. I just took a bath, and I never expected this to happen. I should have known better than to take a bath."

"Consort De, please don't worry. This may not be related to your bath. Let the imperial physician examine you first."

(End of this chapter)