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

Chapter 185 Position
The Empress Dowager has already made her stance clear regarding the demotion of Consort Xian, and Emperor Yuanwu doesn't seem to have any intention of interfering.

Does this mean that her position as empress is now more secure than before?

Ultimately, it's a good thing.

I will not offend others unless they offend me.

But if someone offends her, she should also have the ability to protect herself and fight back.

"How is things at Zhongcui Palace?" Shen Qingwan asked as Zhen'er approached with a bowl of tea.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. I have been keeping an eye on Zhongcui Palace. Consort Rou's pregnancy is stable and her due date is approaching. Please don't worry."

For some reason, she felt uneasy whenever the topic of Consort Rou's pregnancy came up.

Although several concubines in the harem became pregnant one after another, none of them gave birth.

Unfortunately, Consort Rou's pregnancy was unusually uneventful.

"The closer we get to the due date, the less we can relax. Send a few more trustworthy people over there and tell everyone that Consort Rou is about to give birth and there aren't enough people to take care of her, so we need to add a few more people. If there is anything suspicious or anyone suspicious in Zhongcui Palace, you must report it to me immediately, no matter what it is."

Shen Qingwan's instructions were so earnest that Zhen'er's expression turned serious.

As the two were talking, Consort Jin walked in from outside.

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed."

The morning greetings had just been completed, and Consort Jin was coming at this hour, so she must have something to discuss. Zhen'er curtsied and withdrew.

"What brings Consort Jin here at this hour?"

"Your Majesty, the Third Prince caught a chill while bathing yesterday, and this morning he woke up feeling hot. Consort Shu accompanied him, and the matter of the beautiful woman sent from the Northern Desert fell to me. I've only just begun learning how to manage the affairs of the six palaces from Consort Shu, and I'm still quite unfamiliar with many things. Handling daily matters is fine, but this princess from the Northern Desert is related to the diplomatic relations between our two countries, and it's made me quite flustered." Consort Jin said apologetically, "I had just arrived at the palace when the Imperial Household Department sent word that the beautiful woman has arrived at the post station and will be able to enter the palace tomorrow. As for her accommodation and rank, I really don't know where to start, and I would appreciate Your Majesty's guidance."

So fast?
Although the northern desert is not far away, a princess has to be prepared for marriage.

Shen Qingwan originally thought that this matter would be resolved once Consort Rou gave birth to a child, but she did not expect it to happen so quickly.

Sending a princess from the northern desert is clearly meant to annoy Emperor Yuanwu. Even though he knows Moganxie has no good intentions, he still has to do what he should do on the surface.

“After Consort Lan left, her residence has remained empty. Although Consort Xian and Consort Ruan both live in Jingyang Palace, after yesterday’s commotion, there must have been some discord between them. I’m afraid that with only the two of them living there, Jingyang Palace will always be lifeless. It would be better to let the new lady move in. With a princess from the frontier, perhaps the atmosphere in Jingyang Palace will change.” Shen Qingwan said calmly.

It's better to bring troublesome people together and let them make a mess of things than to turn a peaceful palace into a chaotic mess.

One fly can spoil a whole pot of porridge, so it's better to have a swarm of flies stewed together into a pot of porridge.

"That person's status..." "Generally, women who have just entered the palace start as palace maids. Only those whose maternal families have made contributions to the palace are granted the title of Changzai or even Guiren. Throughout history, no one in our dynasty has ever been granted the title of Pin upon entering the palace. Since she is a princess from the northern desert, we naturally cannot treat her unfairly. Let's grant her the title of Guiren."

"Noble Lady..." Consort Jin hesitated, "Your Majesty, there are some things I'm not sure if I should say. Normally, being granted the title of Noble Lady upon entering the palace would be a great favor. But just a few days ago, the three beauties sent to the palace by the Prince's Mansion were also granted the title of Noble Lady. Although the Northern Desert is not as powerful as our dynasty, if a princess is made to sit on equal footing with them, I'm afraid that when this matter reaches Mo Ganxie, he might have other ideas." After Consort Jin finished speaking, she cautiously raised her eyes and glanced at Shen Qingwan.

“This is also my concern,” Shen Qingwan continued. “Then let the Imperial Household Department devise a title for this princess from the northern desert. Although she is a noblewoman, it will make her stand out from others and prevent people from thinking that we are mistreating her.”

"Yes, ma'am."

After talking with the Empress, Consort Jin had a better understanding of the situation.

Actually, this matter is not difficult to do, and she knows how to do it in accordance with the rules. However, as a concubine, she does not have the right to grant titles or promote ranks to other concubines. Even if she assists in managing the six palaces, she cannot overstep her bounds. Such matters require the Empress to speak up personally before she can proceed.

The Third Prince caught a cold. Children are weak, so minor illnesses are not a big deal. If it were an ordinary family, a dose of medicine and some sweating would probably make him better the next day.

But the children in the harem are difficult to raise; there have been cases before where a fever has caused one to die.

After thinking about it, Shen Qingwan decided that she would only feel at ease if she went to see for herself.

When Consort Shu came out, it was almost lunchtime.

Yonghe Palace and Kunning Palace are some distance apart. Shen Qingwan was too lazy to move, so she went there in a sedan chair, and naturally she would go back in the same sedan chair.

The carriage carried by eight people gave her a much wider view, allowing her to see the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation clearly from afar.

Wu Jixiang followed several ministers from the court out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Although they were far apart, he could not see their expressions or hear what they were saying, but that was the general feeling.

The matter that these court officials were discussing with Emperor Yuanwu in the Hall of Mental Cultivation should not be a bad thing.

Since it's not a bad thing, Emperor Yuanwu should be in a good mood.

These days, there are many rumors circulating in the palace, most of which say that Emperor Yuanwu treats his empress much better than before.

But only she knew in her heart that on that day, because of Consort Ruan's appearance, she and Emperor Yuanwu parted on bad terms, and in addition, she had demoted Consort Xian's rank yesterday.

Although Emperor Yuanwu did not intervene in or inquire about this matter, it is unknown whether he harbored any resentment.

Thinking of Prince Rui's repeated reminders that Emperor Yuanwu was not as easy to get along with as he appeared on the surface, and that a person who could take the throne from someone else without making a sound and still win over the late emperor must be extremely shrewd and not someone she could easily fathom.

To live a peaceful life in the harem, it's best not to have any apparent grudges against Emperor Yuanwu. Whether in the harem or under heaven, whose life or death is not in his hands? With just a casual word from him, someone can easily lose their head.

Shen Qingwan raised her hand, and the chariot stopped.
"Let's not go back to Kunning Palace yet, let's go to Yangxin Hall..."

(End of this chapter)