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

Chapter 178 Fighting
Consort Xian's eyes flickered, and her arrogant and smug demeanor instantly diminished. "What?"

"Consort Xian, I advise you to refrain from inquiring about other people's marital affairs. After all, you are just a concubine like me," Ruan Chang laughed.

The news of her being reprimanded by Emperor Yuanwu in the Imperial Garden today had already spread throughout the inner palace. Since she had already lost face and dignity, she wasn't afraid to make a big fuss about it.

Although her background was not as good as Consort Xian's, her father was also an official in the court, and she grew up under her mother's love. Even though she entered the palace, it was by the Empress Dowager's decree, and she entered the palace to serve because of her mother's family's honor.

Consort Xian, old and faded, just because she's older, has been with Emperor Yuanwu for a longer time, and has a slightly higher rank, she dared to hit her.
She is not having a good time, and no one can have a good time.

"You..." Consort Xian pointed a finger at Consort Ruan's nose, "Say that again if you dare!"

"Consort Xian, weren't you so arrogant just now? Didn't you just raise your hand to hit people? If you're so capable, then hit me again!" Consort Ruan pointed to the slap mark on her face with one finger and took two steps toward Consort Xian, no matter how the maids behind her tried to stop her.

Consort Xian's chest heaved with anger. "Do you think I wouldn't dare hit you?"

"Ha, Consort Xian is the only one who matters in the harem. What is there that Consort Xian wouldn't dare to do? I'm afraid Consort Xian has forgotten that the power to assist in managing the six palaces has long been out of your hands. Not only that, but even the Third Prince is no longer by your side. The Emperor knows your personality, which is why he doesn't dare to let you raise the Third Prince personally, lest you, like a crooked beam, cause the whole palace to know. Consort Xian, you deceive yourself all day long, thinking that the Emperor loves you. Consort Xian, wake up!"

"Shut up!" Consort Xian swayed involuntarily, and Xia Mei hurriedly reached out to support her. "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Consort Xian lowered her head, one hand covering her chest, her face already devoid of color.

But at this moment, Consort Ruan still showed no sign of stopping. "You want me to stop talking? I won't. I'm going to talk anyway. Consort Xian, take a good look. Throughout the palace, whether they are newcomers or old servants who have served the Emperor, those who follow the Empress are either favored or powerful. But those who follow you, Consort Xian, are either dead or have been sent to the Cold Palace. Consort Xian, you really can't see things clearly at all!"

"I told you to shut up, didn't you understand?" Consort Xian raised her head abruptly, gritting her teeth as she spoke, word by word.

“I understand, that’s why I’m going to continue…” Ruan Changzai put his hands on his hips, his words showing no sign of backing down.

"Speak..." Consort Xian gasped for breath, "I'll tear your mouth apart and see what you'll say then!"

As Consort Xian spoke, she broke free from Xia Mei's hand that was supporting her arm and pounced directly on Consort Ruan.

Xia Mei was only momentarily distracted, and all she managed to grab was the hem of Consort Xian's robe.

The two started fighting, and all the servants in Jingyang Palace rushed over to break them up.

"Your Majesty, please stop hitting me! Let's talk this out, please stop... ah..."

"Niangniang, Niangniang..."

Xia Mei looked at the two people wrestling together, and the servants in complete disarray.

She struggled for a moment, then ran towards the direction of Kunning Palace.

"Consort Xian and Consort Ruan...fought?" Shen Qingwan put down the book in her hand, looked up at Su Tianhe, and asked incredulously.

"Your Majesty, Aunt Xia Mei, who serves Consort Xian, has come over and says this: Would Your Majesty like to go and take a look?"

Shen Qingwan slowly sat up straight.

Ruan Changzai is really a troublemaker. This afternoon, she not only failed to seduce the Emperor in the Imperial Garden, but was also reprimanded by Emperor Yuanwu. After returning to the palace, she got into a fight with Consort Xian.

How come she never noticed before that Consort Ruan was such an flamboyant person?

A fight between two palace ladies is no small matter. If the palace gates were closed and the fight took place in their own palaces, it would simply be a matter of discussion among the palace staff for a while before it was forgotten.

If this matter reaches the Empress, it will become a serious issue.

When Zhen'er heard Su Tianhe's words, she had already started preparing some hot water bottles and was about to go out.

However, Shen Qingwan remained calm and showed no intention of getting up. "Who won?"

Su Tianhe: !!!

Zhen'er: ...

Su Tianhe struggled to regain his composure. "Your Majesty, Aunt Xia Mei only said that a fight broke out, but she didn't say who won. However, judging from Aunt Xia Mei's anxious appearance, it seems that Consort Xian suffered a loss..."

Shen Qingwan then stood up slowly and steadily.

“Since Consort Xian was the one who suffered a loss, let them fight a little longer. I really caught a chill while accompanying His Majesty to stroll in the Imperial Garden today. If I hadn’t dressed warmly enough, I might have caught a cold.” Shen Qingwan paused and continued, “His Majesty said something very true today. The Imperial Hospital is quite busy. Try not to cause them any trouble if you don’t have to. Zhen’er, accompany me to change my clothes.”

Su Tianhe: ...

Zhen'er: ...

Zhen'er accompanied Shen Qingwan to the palace to change clothes, while Su Tianhe went outside the palace to report back to Xia Mei.

"Aunt Xia Mei, please go back first. Our mistress said she will go soon."

"Wait a minute? Eunuch Su, Jingyang Palace is in complete chaos. Please inform Her Majesty the Empress." Xia Mei said anxiously.

"Aunt Xia Mei." Su Tianhe's eyes darkened. "Could it be that you think Her Majesty the Empress is too slow? In this cold weather, you're making Her Majesty the Empress personally go all the way to mediate matters in your lady's palace, and you can't even change your clothes?"

"This servant wouldn't dare." Xia Mei's face turned pale, and she knelt on the ground.

Su Tianhe's face turned cold. "Go back and wait."

"Yes."

Shen Qingwan's chariot had just arrived at the gate of Jingyang Palace when she heard screams coming from inside.

"Stop the carriage!" Su Tianhe said, walking to the side of the carriage and helping Shen Qingwan down from it.

"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived..."

Queen?

Why is the Empress here?
Consort Xian and Consort Ruan, who were wrestling, were both startled. They looked at each other and quickly let go of each other's hands.

The servants who had been trying to break up the fight hurriedly knelt up straight on the ground.

"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress, may Her Majesty live a thousand years!"

Shen Qingwan walked to the side of Consort Xian and Consort Ruan, looking down at them.

"what's up?"

Consort Xian's eyes widened in surprise. Forgetting about her disheveled clothes or her lack of decorum, she hurriedly knelt up straight and said, "This concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed."

Ruan Changzai tugged at her blouse, which had been torn open, and said in a panic, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

"The harem is in complete chaos, how can I possibly have any good fortune?" Shen Qingwan rolled her eyes at the two of them, then walked to a chair brought over by a palace servant and sat down. "Tell me, what exactly happened?"

(End of this chapter)