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

Chapter 175 Promotion Points

"I have come here today to discuss with Your Majesty the matter of promoting Consort Rong to a higher rank."

Promotion rank?
Shen Qingwan was puzzled. In the past, promotions were always granted with just a word from Emperor Yuanwu. Why did it take the Empress Dowager's personal consultation for a noblewoman to be promoted?

"Now that Consort Rong is pregnant, it's only right that she be promoted. However, if she's already a concubine due to pregnancy, and if she gives birth to a prince, she'll be promoted to Imperial Concubine. Rong Yuze now holds military power, and the harem cannot afford to have another Consort Xian." The Empress Dowager's smile faded. "What does the Empress think?"

“Actually, there’s nothing wrong with being promoted. Other concubines who are pregnant have all been promoted. If Consort Rong is pregnant but not promoted, it might make people suspicious and seem deliberate. Consort Xian’s dominance is because in the past, there were only three consorts: Consort Xian, Consort De, and Consort Shu. Consort Shu couldn’t get pregnant and was never really favored. Consort De was domineering, so people in the harem naturally favored Consort Xian. But things are different now. Consort Rou will be giving birth soon, and the imperial physician said that Consort Rou’s baby is a boy. So if Consort Rou is promoted and Consort Rong is also promoted, there will be three favored consorts. As long as Your Majesty can distribute your favors evenly, Consort Xian’s dominance will naturally disappear.” After Shen Qingwan finished speaking, she turned to Emperor Yuanwu and asked, “Your Majesty, am I right?”

Emperor Yuanwu:...

As if deliberately concealing something, he clenched his fists, covered his mouth, and coughed lightly, "That's natural."

The Empress Dowager looked at her son, who was arrogant and disdainful of everyone, and saw him being subdued by a little maid. Her expression, which had just darkened, softened a bit.

"With the Empress overseeing things in the harem, I can rest assured. The Emperor is also aware of the situation, and I don't think any one person will become too powerful in the harem in the future. Since you're already here, the Emperor and Empress should have their meal at Cining Palace before heading back," the Empress Dowager instructed Zhang Mama. "Have the Imperial Kitchen prepare a few dishes that the Empress likes and send them over."

Shen Qingwan is not picky about food, and she likes to cook for herself. Basically, the meals served to her every day are rarely the same.

As a result, she herself was a little curious about what the imperial kitchen would send over, and what she liked to eat. However, the fact that the Empress Dowager could give such an order clearly showed the entire harem the Empress Dowager's favoritism towards her.

Even without any instructions, the imperial kitchen would prepare food according to each person's taste. But now, when food was served to three people, the only instruction was to prepare a few more of her favorite dishes. Shen Qingwan felt a warm feeling in her heart.

Although it's unclear what the imperial kitchen was thinking, on the food plate, besides the vegetarian dishes that the Empress Dowager usually ate, some common dishes, there were also sweet and sour pork ribs and bird's nest duck.

It's clear that these two dishes were prepared specifically for her.

However, it seems that Emperor Yuanwu preferred this bird's nest duck soup, although it was indeed a dish he had ordered for his palace.

After the meal, the Empress Dowager said she wanted to rest, and Emperor Yuanwu and Shen Qingwan left Cining Palace side by side.

"Your Majesty, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now." Shen Qingwan curtsied.

"Is there anything amiss in the Empress's palace?"

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

There was nothing going on in the palace, but she wanted to go back and rest.

"If the Empress has nothing else to do, please accompany me for a walk in the Imperial Garden." After saying this, Emperor Yuanwu turned around and started walking without waiting for Shen Qingwan's consent.

Shen Qingwan: ...It's freezing cold, and the trees in the Imperial Garden are all bare. I don't know where Emperor Yuanwu got the idea to go for a stroll there.

However, since he had already said that, Shen Qingwan couldn't very well turn back to the palace. Helpless, she could only follow behind him and walk towards the Imperial Garden.

Emperor Yuanwu took a few steps and, realizing that Shen Qingwan hadn't followed, subconsciously slowed his pace.

When the two were walking side by side, Emperor Yuanwu slowly spoke, "What does the Empress think about my intention to promote Consort Rong?"

"Consort Rong is currently pregnant, and her brother is also reporting continuous victories at the front. A promotion is entirely reasonable. Consort Rong has also been well-behaved in the harem, and she deserves this rank of Consort." Shen Qingwan paused and continued, "If she is to be promoted to the rank of Consort, then naturally she can no longer be addressed by her surname. Has His Majesty considered what title to bestow upon Consort Rong?"

title?

Thinking of this, Emperor Yuanwu was truly at a loss for words.

Although Consort Rong was gentle, it was hard to find anything particularly outstanding about her. Her appearance was not outstanding, but it was pleasing to the eye. Her talent was not exceptional, but she seemed to know a little about music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Although she could do needlework, she was not very good at it.

When she was selected for the imperial concubine selection, she was kept in the palace simply because her father had sacrificed himself for the country, and she and her brother were left to depend on each other. The general's mansion had fallen into decline, and even if she were to marry, she would probably only live a short and miserable life. It would be better to let her enter the palace and treat her well. This would not only comfort the spirit of General Rong in heaven, but also let the court officials know that even though they had sacrificed themselves for the country, Emperor Yuanwu would take good care of their families and children.

But who could have predicted that Rong Yuze would turn out to be a capable and resolute military general?

"I don't have any ideas right now. I'll have the Imperial Household Department draft a few suggestions and then we'll choose one." As they spoke, the two of them walked to the lake in the center of the Imperial Garden. The lake was covered with a thick layer of ice, and apart from some remnants of blood, there was really nothing to see around it.

Shen Qingwan remained silent, listening quietly to Emperor Yuanwu speak. She held the hot water bottle tightly in her arms, secretly wondering to herself, "Where did Emperor Yuanwu find such a pleasant mood on such a cold day?"
"What does the Empress think?"

Shen Qingwan was taken aback. It took her a while to realize that Emperor Yuanwu was asking her about the matter of bestowing a title upon Consort Rong.

She felt as if her mind had been frozen by the cold weather, and her reactions were slow to react.

"How can I offer advice on such a matter? Your Majesty should let the Imperial Household Department make the choice. They will definitely pick from the best options." Shen Qingwan gave an awkward laugh.

"Your Majesty, please speak. If I find it inappropriate, I will pretend I didn't hear it. There's no one else here, just the two of us. Even if we're just having a casual chat, it won't hurt." Emperor Yuanwu stopped and turned to look at Shen Qingwan.

"Although Consort Rong is a young lady from a noble family, her father is a mighty general with many military achievements, and her brother is also a brave and skilled warrior. What does Your Majesty think of the character 'Ying'? 'Ying' means bright and clear, symbolizing the wisdom and brilliance of a female general, and also implies perseverance. Although Consort Rong is not a female general, she comes from a military family. Using this character as her title will let her know that Your Majesty always remembers the contributions her father made to the country."

Emperor Yuanwu nodded in agreement, "The Empress is quite right. Wu Jixiang, issue the decree: Consort Jinrong is to be promoted to the rank of Consort, and bestowed with the title Ying."

As the sound faded, a person walked over from not far away...

(End of this chapter)