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

Chapter 25: Having evil intentions
The next morning.

All the concubines in the palace gathered in the main hall of Kunning Palace.

Everyone had their own ulterior motives, and most of them wanted to see Shen Qingwan make a fool of herself.

The newly arrived concubines are all pregnant, yet she, the empress, has not yet consummated her marriage with Emperor Yuanwu.

Is she really not worried at all?
I'm afraid even she herself wouldn't believe it if she told the truth.

He had gone to great lengths to gain Emperor Yuanwu's favor.

The one laughing the most was Consort Xian.

Shen Qingwan changed the accommodations that Roupin had arranged for her when she entered the palace, just so that it would be more convenient for Emperor Yuanwu to go to Roupin's place.

This convenience led to the birth of a child.

She wanted to see if the Empress would feel any pain after hoisting herself up by throwing a stone at her own foot.

Shen Qingwan, who had just been persuaded out of bed by Zhen'er, did not have the same kind of ruthlessness as the women in the harem.

She sat in front of the bronze mirror, feeling a little sleepy and yawning lazily: "Why do I have to get up so early? I'm the Empress now, can't I even sleep in?"

Zhen'er: ...

"Your Majesty really can't sleep anymore. The news of His Majesty's promotion of Consort Rou to the rank of Consort Rou spread throughout the palace early this morning. All the consorts in the palace have come here early and are waiting outside the palace hall," Zhen'er said helplessly.

"Isn't it not time to pay respects yet? Aren't they all a bit too eager? It's Consort Rou who's being promoted, not them. They're all so energetic this early in the morning. Aren't they sleepy?"

Shen Qingwan yawned.

too early!
It's way too early!
Shen Qingwan, familiar with the place, changed her clothes and walked to the main hall.

The concubines who were waiting outside the palace came in to pay their respects.

"Get up, everyone." Shen Qingwan fought off her sleepiness.

Just then, Consort Xian suddenly spoke.

"Isn't Consort Rou usually the most respectful to Her Majesty the Empress? Why didn't we see her come to pay her respects to Her Majesty today? Could it be because..."

Shen Qingwan explained, "It's like this: last night, the imperial physician took her pulse and said that Consort Rou is pregnant. So I exempted her from getting up early to pay her respects every day, since pregnant women need rest. However, this is not a special favor for her. In the future, any of the sisters in the palace who become pregnant can be exempted from getting up early to pay their respects."

Consort Xian was taken aback, and swallowed back the words that were about to come out, finally just giving an awkward laugh.

"This Consort Rou is truly blessed. She has only been in the palace for a few days and has already been promoted three ranks. Now she is even pregnant. It is clear that Zhongcui Palace is a place of great fortune. Your Majesty, don't you think so?" Consort Xian said resentfully.

"If you ask me, it's Consort Rou who is gentle and beautiful, so naturally she pleases the Emperor," Consort An added.

"Oh, what are you saying, Sister An?" Consort Xian glanced at the Empress: "It's inappropriate to praise Consort Rou like this in front of the Empress, and even say that Consort Rou is beautiful. No matter how beautiful Consort Rou is, she is not as beautiful as Her Majesty the Empress. Her Majesty the Empress is graceful and elegant, with a magnificent presence."

Empress An was embarrassed by the rebuke and knelt down on the ground: "Your Majesty, that's not what I meant."

Just then, Consort Xian raised her eyes and glanced at Shen Qingwan.

"Your Majesty, am I right?"

"Consort An, please rise." Shen Qingwan smiled faintly. "Consort Xian, you are beautiful too. Consort De is charming and beautiful, and Consort Xian is bright and flamboyant. All the sisters in the palace entered the palace through the selection process. After being selected layer by layer, how could they not be beautiful? Consort An has only been in the palace for a short time, while Consort Xian, you are a senior member of the palace. You should set a good example for the new sisters."

Consort Xian's smile instantly crumbled.

Consort De and Consort Shu, who were suddenly praised, stood up to express their gratitude: "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty the Empress."

Consort Xian: ...

It's one thing for the empress to praise others.

She insisted on saying that all the women in the palace had entered through the imperial concubine selection process, undergoing rigorous screening; how could they not be beautiful? Was the Empress deliberately reminding her that she was the only one who had married Emperor Yuanwu because of her father's military achievements?
"It is Roupin’s good fortune that she was able to conceive the Emperor’s child so quickly among the newly arrived concubines. Sisters who have not yet served the Emperor should not be anxious. When the Emperor is less busy, he will summon you one by one."

After Shen Qingwan finished speaking, she glanced at Consort Yu and asked, "Consort Yu, how is the Second Prince's health lately? Is he feeling any better?"

Consort Yu, who was suddenly called out, was stunned and thought she was hallucinating.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The Second Prince is much better and went to the study early this morning."

"That's good. If there's any shortage, just let me know, or go directly to Consort De and Consort Shu. They're also in charge of things in the inner palace now."

"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress," Consort De and Consort Shu replied in unison.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress," said Consort Yu.

"Consort Zhen, is the princess alright?"

"Your Majesty, the princess is well." Consort Zhen rose and bowed.

"Since the prince and princess are both well, is there anything else? If not, everyone can leave now!"

Before the concubines could react, Shen Qingwan stood up and said, "Everyone, please go back to your palaces and rest. This afternoon, the Empress Dowager has invited an opera troupe to perform. Sisters who like to listen are welcome to come. If you have something to do in the palace, it's fine if you don't come. Please feel free to do as you please."

Concubines:...

"Your Majesty, is it permissible to go anywhere? Then I..." Consort Rong asked cautiously.

“If Consort Rong likes listening to opera, then come along. Since we all serve the Emperor in the palace, we are all sisters,” Shen Qingwan said.

"Thank you, Queen."

Consort Rong was overjoyed, thanked the emperor, and then went out with the other concubines.

As soon as Consort Xian stepped out, Noble Lady Bai followed.

"Your Highness, let me accompany you for a stroll in the Imperial Garden. The flowers there are truly beautiful."

Consort Bai and Consort Xian had already been serving Emperor Yuanwu since they were in the Prince's residence.

After Emperor Yuanwu ascended the throne, the two moved into Jingyang Palace together.

Unfortunately, so many years have passed, and Consort Xian has already reached the rank of Consort, while Noble Lady Bai is still just a minor Noble Lady.

In addition, when Emperor Yuanwu first ascended the throne, Consort Xian was his exclusive favorite.

Consort Bai naturally became the most inconspicuous one in Jingyang Palace.

The two didn't have a particularly good relationship, nor did they have a bad one.

Previously, when the Empress made trouble for Consort Bai, Consort Xian felt that it was embarrassing for someone in her palace to be punished by the Empress, so she would also speak up for Consort Bai.

"Let's go." Consort Xian wasn't in the mood, and felt that returning to the palace would be cold and impersonal, so a stroll in the Imperial Garden would be a good idea.

"Your Highness, what do you think is wrong with the Empress lately? After recovering from her serious illness, she seems like a different person. Even the Second Prince and the Eldest Princess have started to care about her."

"Perhaps it's because she found out that Consort Rou was pregnant and was stimulated by something, who knows?" Consort Xian said absentmindedly.

She no longer has the leisure to worry about which prince or brother the Empress cares about.

She felt like she was having the worst luck ever, and nothing was going right for her.

The two were talking.

I heard the sound of reading aloud in the distance...

(End of this chapter)