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

Chapter 192 Explanation
If she doesn't understand something, I'll explain it to her anytime...

This is exactly the perfect opportunity to use it.

Consort Wen remained silent, but Green Pine, one of her personal maids who had come from the northern desert with her, couldn't help but speak up.

“Our Lady is entering the palace for the first time today. Shouldn’t the Emperor choose our Lady? Since she has come to Jingyang Palace, it would be fine if he went to Consort Xian, who has a higher rank. But he chose to go to that Consort Chang, who is a rank lower than our Lady. How can the Emperor do this? Does he not respect us from the Northern Frontier?”

“Miss, you shouldn’t say that. In the inner palace, we servants are not allowed to talk about the Emperor behind his back. If others hear it and it reaches the ears of the head maid, we will be punished,” Cui’er kindly reminded her.

"Ha. So what if she gets a beating? Does that mean we have to swallow our anger just because we're afraid of being beaten? We people from the northern desert grow up on the grasslands, we're not afraid of anything, why would we be afraid of being beaten? If you ask me, that Consort Ruan is no good either. If it weren't for her seducing the Emperor, that vixen with her legs spread wide, that despicable woman!" Green Pine finished speaking and couldn't help but spit.

Cui'er moved her lips, wanting to say something more, but seeing how stubborn she was, she simply shut her mouth.

"Alright, that's enough." Consort Wen lifted the palace curtain and watched from afar as Emperor Yuanwu entered Consort Ruan's bedchamber.

Standing at the entrance of her palace, watching this scene unfold through the curtain, was Consort Xian. She leaned her head against the doorframe, letting the cold wind lash her tear-streaked face.

"Xia Fuchuan, why do you think the Emperor chose her today? I had a fight with Consort Ruan. Why did the Empress demote me, but no one demoted Consort Ruan? The Emperor not only didn't offer a word of comfort, but he also chose Consort Ruan today. Doesn't this tell the whole palace that I have fallen out of favor?"

"Your Majesty, why are you doing this?" Xia Fuchuan walked over and took her arm. "Your Majesty, it's too cold outside. Let me help you inside. How could His Majesty not care about you? Of all the people in the palace, Your Majesty dotes on you the most. Whatever good food or drink, His Majesty sends it to your palace first. This Consort Ruan, perhaps His Majesty is just acting on a whim. Your Majesty's injury hasn't healed yet. If you see His Majesty now, wouldn't it make His Majesty feel sorry for you? It's better to wait until Your Majesty's injury has healed before inviting His Majesty."

Consort Xian gave a cold laugh and wiped away her tears. "Yes, what am I afraid of? If we're talking about being anxious, isn't there someone in our palace who's even more anxious? On her first day in the palace, the Emperor not only didn't choose her, but also went to live in the same palace as her, in the palace of a lower-ranking concubine."

"Indeed, Your Highness. Consort Ruan is gossipy and frivolous. I guarantee that after tonight, there will be plenty of people in the palace who will dislike her. Consort Wen will be the first to dislike her. If you ask me, Your Highness, why get angry with her? Rest early tonight. When you go to pay your respects to Her Majesty the Empress tomorrow morning, there will be a good show to watch. Your Highness can just dress up beautifully and sit back and watch the tigers fight." Xia Fuchuan continued, following Consort Xian's words.

Consort Xian couldn't help but sigh, "I don't care whether they tease me or not. Right now, I'm just thinking about when the Emperor will restore my rank."

"Your Majesty, if you ask me about this matter, I'm afraid it will be some time before the Emperor bestows upon you a title," Xia Fuchuan said sullenly.

In a few days?

When Consort Xian heard those four words, her gaze involuntarily darkened. "Why?"

"Your Majesty, think about it. Your rank was demoted by the Empress. If the Emperor were to restore your rank immediately after the Empress demoted you, wouldn't that be a slap in the face to the Empress? Even if the Emperor misses Your Majesty and wants to restore your rank, he has to consider the opinions of the court officials and those who speak out. Even for the sake of the Emperor, Your Majesty must endure for a while longer. No matter how much the Emperor dislikes the Empress, she is still the Empress, the head of the palace, and the Emperor still has to give her some face. So even if the Emperor cares about Your Majesty, it may be inconvenient for him to visit you these days. Your Majesty must be patient. When the Emperor finds a suitable opportunity to restore Your Majesty's rank, won't Your Majesty have whatever you want? What can the Empress do? How can she compare to Your Majesty's favor? You must know that in this harem, we servants are all very clear-headed. Whoever the Emperor favors is noble. Even if the rank is high, without favor, no one will take her seriously."

Consort Xian was completely persuaded. Her tears dried, and she ordered someone to fill the bathtub with water. Just as she sat in the tub, she heard the sound of a pipa.

Consort Xian opened her eyes with a start and turned her head in the direction of the sound. "Who is playing the pipa?" The maid who was serving her bath asked with a somewhat embarrassed expression, "Your Majesty, it seems to be coming from the palace of the newly arrived Noble Lady Wen."

Consort Wen...

Consort Xian slowly turned her head. Before marriage, most women in the capital mainly engaged in needlework and embroidery. Their education was limited to female duties and teachings, and some were more literate.

In wealthy families in the capital, it was rare for young ladies to be allowed to play musical instruments. In the eyes of some, these were things that singers and dancers studied. Even if some young ladies from noble families were interested, they only knew the basics.

Although the sound of the pipa was not very clear.

But you can also tell that the person playing the pipa has skillful fingering and excellent pitch.

The sound was crisp and clear, like pearls of all sizes falling onto a jade plate, full and lustrous.

Don't have the sadness and hatred, silence is better than sound.

I'm afraid this pipa will touch Emperor Yuanwu's heart.

I really underestimated the princess of the northern desert; she's no pushover...

The lights in Ruan Changzai's palace had long been turned off, and the faint moonlight shone on Ruan Changzai's bed. Her heavy, uneven breathing was interrupted by the sound of a pipa.

Emperor Yuanwu turned over, lightly wiping the fine sweat from his forehead. He stared intently upwards, his gaze unfocused, savoring the sound of a pipa drifting from not far away.

He hadn't heard such melodious pipa music in a long time.

The musicians in the palace, though selected through rigorous processes, were all exceptionally skilled at playing the pipa, but their melodious tunes were not pleasing to the ear.

Now, after comparing them, Emperor Yuanwu finally understood the difference. The pipa music played by this person was mixed with the pipa player's feelings at that moment, which naturally gave the pipa music in her hands a touch of soul. On the other hand, the pieces played by the palace musicians were all requested by them. How could they be moving when they played them in a routine manner?

The pipa seems to be playing...

(End of this chapter)