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

Chapter 153 Criticism
"Your Majesties, Her Majesty the Empress has asked you to wait in the main hall. She will come over after she has finished washing up." Zhen'er curtsied.

"Aunt Zhen'er, please tell Her Majesty the Empress that we should stand here in this courtyard for a while, so that Her Majesty will not be in a hurry," Consort Xian said.

Zhen'er bowed again and returned to her bedchamber. "Your Majesty, I have already told the ladies what you instructed, but they said they need to stand in the courtyard for a while, so please don't worry."

Shen Qingwan frowned slightly.

It's so cold, and everyone's come so early, yet they don't want to go inside to warm up. She felt this was all very strange.

"What do you think is wrong with the Emperor these days? Why is he staying in Consort Jin's palace all day long?" Consort Chun couldn't help but ask.

She had been preparing for the method that Consort Xian had given her for so long. Tomorrow was the anniversary of Consort Li's death. If the Emperor still stayed in Consort Jin's palace, wouldn't everything she had done before be in vain? Did she have to wait until next year?
"Consort Chun, your words are illogical. His Majesty has his reasons for choosing which of his sisters' palaces he prefers to visit. How can we discuss such matters behind his back?" Consort Shu's eyes turned cold.

"Your Highness is right to reprimand me. I was outspoken and said the wrong thing." Noble Lady Chun lowered her eyes and took half a step back.

"Why did Consort Shu throw such a tantrum? Noble Lady Chun was just making a few idle remarks. The Emperor hasn't visited Consort Jin's palace in a long time, but now that he has, he's been staying there every day. Not only Noble Lady Chun, but I'm afraid every sister here has had their own thoughts about this," Consort Xian sneered.

"I may think it in my heart, but to say it in front of so many sisters would break the rules of the palace," said Consort Shu.

"According to what Consort Shu said, among the sisters in our harem, no matter if they have any dissatisfaction with the Emperor or any of the principal consorts, as long as they don't say it out loud, even if they curse in their hearts, it won't break the rules of the palace. So, Consort Shu, in your daily life..." Consort Xian took two steps around Consort Shu's forehead, looking her up and down at her clothes, her eyes seemingly pointing out something: "Has Consort Shu ever cursed the Emperor in her heart?"

Consort Shu raised a slight anger in her deep eyes: "I help Her Majesty the Empress manage the six palaces. I have to keep an eye on the expenses of the harem and the trivial matters of each palace every day. I have no time to do anything else. Naturally, I am not as free as Consort Xian, who has time to think about things."

"You!" Consort Xian's face turned ashen.

Just moments ago, Consort Chun was secretly pleased that she had spoken up for Consort Xian and protected herself, but now she was so frightened that she couldn't help but shudder.

When did Consort Shu become so eloquent, leaving Consort Xian speechless after being rebuked?

It's really over now.

She only made a few casual complaints, but she ended up offending Consort Xian as well.

Just then, Consort Jin hurriedly walked in from outside.

Consort Xian, who was holding back her anger, said in a drawn-out tone, "Oh, who do we have here? It's our beloved Consort Jin! Why is Consort Jin so late today? Is she trying to disrespect Her Majesty the Empress? Consort Jin should thank Her Majesty the Empress properly for her current position. She really shouldn't have come so late."

Consort Jin suddenly stopped in her tracks, and looked up at Consort Shu with some surprise.

Although she arrived a little later than usual today, it wasn't too late. She rarely spoke to Consort Xian, so why was Consort Xian so hostile towards her the moment she entered?

"Your Highness, I am late today. I will apologize to the Empress later. His Majesty stayed up late reading memorials in my palace yesterday and slept in a bit this morning."

As soon as Consort Jin finished speaking, no one spoke again. The mockery and smugness on Consort Xian's face vanished instantly.

"Your Majesties, Her Majesty the Empress has finished dressing and is ready to enter." Zhen'er lifted the curtain of the main hall and came out to report.

Shen Qingwan stared blankly at the people sitting below. They had all come early this morning, but now they were sitting here without saying a word.

It seems she overslept today and missed a major show.

"Sisters, is there anything else you want to say? If not, let's call it a day."

Everyone quickly rose, bowed, and took their leave. Shen Qingwan: ...

What did she miss?
I should have known better than to stay in bed.

As soon as Consort Xian stepped out of the gate of Kunning Palace, she couldn't help but curse, "I'm so angry, so angry, I'm really going to die of anger!"

Consort Chun followed behind her, her expression somewhat complicated. "Your Majesty, please don't take that vixen to heart. If the Emperor truly loved her so much, why would he have ignored her for so many years? In a few days, when she gets her period, the Emperor will stop visiting her and forget about her."

Consort Xian ignored her and quickened her pace, not wanting her to catch up, nor did she want to listen to her continue.

If she has her period, she cannot serve the emperor in bed.

Could it be that her period will be continuous and never end?
When she had her period, Emperor Yuanwu would not visit her palace anymore, but after her period ended, wouldn't he visit her even more frequently?

but……

Consort Shu suddenly stopped in her tracks.

The greetings today were quick; before an incense stick could burn, all the concubines had left.

Shen Qingwan was still a little uncomfortable. She sat in the main hall and drank half a cup of tea before getting up. "Have you prepared everything I asked you to prepare the other day?"

"Your Majesty, everything is prepared. But why is Your Majesty suddenly looking for so many things?" Zhen'er asked, puzzled.

"Tomorrow is Jiang Wenlan's birthday, and I'd like to steam a cake for him," Shen Qingwan said, looking at the things on the table.

"What?" Zhen'er almost exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty, perhaps we shouldn't. Aren't you afraid of displeasing the Emperor? What if he blames us...?"

"That's why I asked you to prepare more." Shen Qingwan tapped Zhen'er on the forehead with a walnut.

What kind of image did the original owner have in front of the servants around her?

It feels like even though Zhen'er has been by her side for more than half a year, she still seems to be worried about her losing her head all day long.

"Go get a pot and steam this flour." Shen Qingwan pointed to a bowl of white flour on the plate.

"What?" Zhen'er's eyes widened instantly. "Your Majesty, I'm not quite thinking clearly today. Do you mean I should steam this flour? Just put it in the pot and steam it like steamed buns?"

"Hmm." Shen Qingwan didn't notice her surprise. She just lowered her eyes and looked at the other things on the food plate. She then called a few palace maids in from outside the hall and asked them to peel the shells off the melon seeds and peanuts that had been prepared in advance, wash them, and dry them.

She was busy until evening. Shen Qingwan stretched and asked Zhen'er to reward the servants in the palace.

Anyway, money is something you can't take with you when you die, so she was never stingy with the people around her.

Only when they are full will they not go out to find food.

"My lady..."

(End of this chapter)