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

Chapter 195 A Night of Tossing and Turning

"Your Majesty, people in the palace are saying that although His Majesty stayed overnight in Consort Ruan's palace yesterday, he did not bring her any water all night. It seems that His Majesty did not touch Consort Ruan at all."

"Nonsense!" Shen Qingwan's eyes darkened.

Although she and Emperor Yuanwu did not consummate their marriage, she knew from her many years in the palace that after serving the concubines, they would be given water to wash themselves clean before going to sleep.

However, if Emperor Yuanwu was too tired, or there were other reasons, the fact that he did not send water to clean her does not mean that Emperor Yuanwu did not favor Consort Ruan.

Besides, such private matters between the emperor and his concubines are not something that the servants in the harem should discuss behind their backs.

"Which servants said it, and what did they say?" Shen Qingwan pressed.

“Your Majesty, it’s not just one or two, it’s many. When I heard it just now, I already reprimanded them and punished them by making them do hard labor in the Censorate for a week. But there are too many people involved. If we really investigate further, I’m afraid that most of the maids and servants in the palace will be implicated. I’m afraid that if this matter blows up, Consort Ruan will lose face and also anger the Emperor.” Zhen’er looked troubled.

This matter is indeed not that simple.

Whether to punish or not, there are problems.

If she is punished, then this matter will be brought to light, and everyone in the harem will know about it. At that time, I'm afraid that Consort Ruan might do something she shouldn't to save face.

For concubines in the imperial harem to commit suicide was a grave crime that implicated their entire families.

If we ignore it and let them talk, the rumors will only get worse. Although everyone knows the truth and won't say it openly, it will probably still reach the ears of the Emperor and Consort Ruan behind their backs. If this matter alarms the Empress Dowager...

Even she, as the empress, will be implicated.

This is not a good situation!

However, this matter is not without reason. Since the servants in the palace know so many details, it must have originated from Jingyang Palace.

If we take all the servants from Jingyang Palace away and interrogate them, the truth of the matter will come to light.

only……

We can't do it openly!
"Su Tianhe".

"Miss."

Shen Qingwan waved to him, "Go there later..."

"Yes, ma'am."

After Su Tianhe left, Zhen'er massaged her legs. "But Your Highness, I found it quite interesting to hear Consort Wen talk about her hometown. I always feel that the northern desert is different from what I've heard."

"What's different?" Shen Qingwan asked curiously.

"I've always heard people say that the barbarians of the northern desert are savage and unreasonable, only knowing how to fight and kill, bully the people, and plunder their wealth. I always thought that the people from the northern desert were all unkempt and unkempt. But after seeing the hostage before and Consort Wen today, they both seem to be very refined and reasonable people," Zhen'er said, puzzled.

"The so-called barbarity and savagery of the northern deserts, their unreasonable behavior, fighting and killing, bullying the people, and plundering their wealth, are all due to the policies of war between the two countries..."

Shen Qingwan spoke slowly, "Every country has its own people, and every country has its own emperor. Although there are many tyrants, there are also many wise rulers. Which wise ruler wouldn't love his people..."

Before Shen Qingwan could finish speaking, a hearty laugh came from the direction of the doorway. "Then, in the Empress's eyes, am I a wise ruler or a foolish one?" Emperor Yuanwu?
Why is he here again?
Is he born in the Year of the Dog? Every time it's mealtime, he comes running because of the smell.

No wonder people have always loved to curse emperors as "dog emperors" when they want to criticize them.

Emperor Yuanwu's nose is just like a dog's nose.

Shen Qingwan hurriedly got off the chaise longue and curtsied, "Your Majesty."

"When the Empress saw my expression..." Emperor Yuanwu couldn't help but frown.

Shen Qingwan's expression relaxed slightly. "You didn't expect the Emperor to come so suddenly, you're just... a little... surprised?"

"A surprise?" Emperor Yuanwu shook his head, seemingly unconvinced. "Why does the Empress appear to be frightened?"

Shen Qingwan's expression flashed by like a revolving lantern. "Even from this distance, the Emperor can clearly see the expression on my face? Perhaps the Emperor is trying to trick me into revealing information?"

"Oh?" Emperor Yuanwu drawled, "Could it be that the Empress was really talking about me behind my back with the maid just now?"

"If it were truly done secretly, the Emperor wouldn't have found out. It's just that there's been a lot of gossip in the palace today, leaving me unsure of what to do."

"Is there anything in this harem that troubles the Empress? Tell me about it." Emperor Yuanwu sat down, lifting his robe.

Shen Qingwan had someone pour her a cup of tea.

Emperor Yuanwu took a sip and asked curiously, "The Empress usually likes to drink osmanthus tea, so why is she drinking jasmine tea today? Could it be that the osmanthus in the Empress's palace has run out? Prince Rui has planted an osmanthus tree at his private residence in Huguo Temple. Every year when the osmanthus blooms, he has some flowers collected and sent to the palace. If there are none left in Kunning Palace, we'll have someone go to the storeroom to get some. I'm sure there are plenty in the storeroom."

“Your Majesty, I still have osmanthus in my palace. I’ll get more when we’ve finished drinking it. But osmanthus isn’t Your Majesty’s favorite. I’m afraid Your Majesty comes to Kunning Palace every day and drinks osmanthus tea. You might get tired of it. That’s why I had this servant replace it with jasmine tea so Your Majesty can have something new to drink,” Shen Qingwan said softly.

Emperor Yuanwu chuckled, "Why does the Empress's statement sound like it's implying something, as if she's deliberately trying to give me a hint?"

"I wouldn't dare," Shen Qingwan said, lowering her eyes.

Just then, Gao Da, the head eunuch of the imperial kitchen, led a group of people to deliver the meal ordered by the Empress.

Perhaps not expecting Emperor Yuanwu to be there, Gao Da's eyes widened in surprise, and he knelt on the ground. "This servant greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress. This servant deserves to die. This servant did not know that Your Majesty was here. This servant will have someone prepare a few more dishes and send them over."

Emperor Yuanwu remained silent, but Shen Qingwan spoke up, "It's alright."

Anyway, Emperor Yuanwu didn't come to her palace for the imperial kitchen's dishes. Instead of having several dishes prepared and sent over, it would be better for her to have the small kitchen in Kunning Palace stir-fry a few refreshing side dishes so that Emperor Yuanwu could eat comfortably.

Gao Da withdrew, and the Emperor and Shen Qingwan sat facing each other in front of the food platters.

Seeing that Shen Qingwan hadn't touched her chopsticks, Emperor Yuanwu couldn't help but ask, "These dishes were all chosen by the Empress herself, why aren't you eating?"

"Eat." Shen Qingwan picked up her chopsticks.

Just as she was thinking about how to tell Emperor Yuanwu about these rumors circulating in the palace, she felt that such a trivial matter was not worth mentioning in front of him.

After much deliberation, Shen Qingwan couldn't help but speak up, "This morning, when the concubines came to pay their respects, I noticed that Consort Ruan looked very tired. How could His Majesty be so inconsiderate? Consort Ruan is still young. Even if His Majesty is eager for an heir, there's no reason to keep her up all night..."

(End of this chapter)