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

Chapter 329 Empress Dowager

Consort Liang's smile became even more awkward. "It's been a long time since I've seen the First Prince. He's not only grown taller, but he's also become more mature."

"The Empress deserves much credit for how this child has become," the Empress Dowager said approvingly.

Queen?

Consort Liang was taken aback and looked at Shen Qingwan with great surprise. "I know that the First Prince is alone in the Prince's Residence. The Empress has put in a lot of effort. Now that he is so sensible, the Empress must have put in a lot of effort as well."

"Your Majesty flatters me. As the Empress, the Emperor's children are my children. This is what I should do."

As soon as Shen Qingwan finished speaking, the Second Prince, holding a piece of candy, stretched out his hand, stood on tiptoe, and tried to put the peeled candy into her mouth. "Your Majesty, have some candy! This candy Your Majesty gave me is so delicious! Your Majesty, please have some too..."

Consort Liang looked at the drool on his hands, her expression indescribable. "Your hands are too..." dirty!

Consort Liang only managed to utter half a syllable of the word "dirty" before watching as Shen Qingwan took the piece of candy from the Second Prince's hand and put it in her mouth without any disgust, her face still bearing a gentle smile, without even a frown. "Alright, then Your Majesty the Empress thanks our Second Prince. When the Second Prince wants to eat candy, he can come to the Empress's Palace. There are many delicious things in Your Majesty's Palace. However, children shouldn't eat too much candy. If they ruin their teeth and their teeth hurt, they won't be able to eat delicious things."

The Second Prince stared at Shen Qingwan for a long while, seemingly understanding but not quite, before nodding heavily.

Consort Liang felt as if her heart was being gripped by something tonight, sometimes tightly, sometimes loosely. Originally, the Empress Dowager's banquet was a great honor for the harem, but she felt her heart was caught in a rut.

Whose fault is this?

It wasn't her second prince, who was frail and sickly from childhood and never properly learned manners. He was raised in the palace all day and was timid and shy.

Now that even the eldest prince who has no mother is so outstanding, she knows that her rank is low and that her maternal family cannot compare with the maternal families of the other princes' mothers. She has never had any improper thoughts, she only hopes that one day her son can be like Prince Rui, a leisurely prince, traveling around and living freely.

But she was also afraid, afraid that she had trusted the wrong person and that instead of giving the Second Prince a carefree life, she had harmed him.

Of the late emperor's many sons, only three princes remain besides the current emperor.

"Your Majesty the Empress?" The Empress Dowager suddenly said this, causing everyone to look in her direction, even Emperor Yuanwu and Prince Rui, who were playing chess, looked over.

She could call Shen Qingwan Empress, but she wouldn't call her Your Majesty the Empress.

Therefore, this phrase "Your Majesty the Empress" seems to be more like a repetition of what the Second Prince just said.

Consort Liang's heart, which had just calmed down, clenched again in an instant. She was so shocked that she stood up from the stool. She moved her lips, but before she could speak, she saw the Empress Dowager frown with what seemed to be great dissatisfaction. "Alas, how can you call her Your Majesty the Empress? You should call her Imperial Mother."

Queen Mother?
Upon hearing those three words, Jiang Wenlan's eyes trembled violently, and he abruptly turned his head. Long ago, he had asked the Empress if he could address her as "Empress Mother." He remembered the Empress explaining things to him back then. In truth, he understood that the Empress didn't want him to call her "Empress Mother" simply because she feared gossip in the inner palace and worried that others might have other thoughts about the Empress, who had no children.

Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager has brought up this matter now.

Emperor Yuanwu held a chess piece in his hand and turned his head.

"All of you, come here. Your grandmother is telling you that the Empress is the mother of the nation, and naturally she is also your mother. From now on, when you see the Empress, don't call her 'Your Majesty the Empress' all the time. You should call her 'Imperial Mother.' Do you understand?" the Empress Dowager said kindly.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wenlan took two steps toward the Empress Dowager and said, "Yes, grandson remembers."

After he finished speaking, the eldest princess and the second prince echoed, "Yes, Grandmother, your grandsons will remember."

The three of them turned to look at Shen Qingwan at the same time. "Your Majesty, please accept my bow. May Your Majesty live a thousand years!"

This left Shen Qingwan completely bewildered.

She touched her clothes with a somewhat unnatural expression, only to realize that the clothes didn't have any pockets!

She truly became a mother without any pain. It wouldn't be appropriate not to give the child a gift, but she came in such a hurry that she didn't bring anything!
"Um..." Shen Qingwan was a little embarrassed and at a loss for words, "When we come back, when the Empress Dowager returns to the palace, she will personally deliver the things she prepared for you to you. Get up quickly."

Consort Zhen smiled broadly, "Your Majesty is too kind. The fabric for making clothes for the child was sent over by Your Majesty and is still in the palace. Your Majesty dotes on the child, and the child is also close to Your Majesty. From now on, the child will call Your Majesty 'Imperial Mother' and become even closer."

The Empress Dowager nodded with great satisfaction. "Alright, alright. It's rare to have all three children here. There are only five children in the palace, and two of them are too young. The Fourth Prince can't speak, and the Third Prince can't even express himself clearly with his babbling. From today onwards, no matter how many more children are added to the harem, they must all respectfully address the Empress as Imperial Mother. This is a rule set by our ancestors, and we can't just change it here casually!"

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager is absolutely right." Consort Zhen and Consort Liang bowed together.

As they were talking, the main hall of Cining Palace was filled with the aroma of meat. Today, because the banquet was being held in Cining Palace, the head of the imperial kitchen had specially sent several people over. This was quite unlike when Shen Qingwan was in Kunning Palace, where she would roll up her sleeves and cook by herself.

Children are quick to make friends, especially when three children are together. In no time, they were all gathered around Emperor Yuanwu. Consort Liang and Consort Zhen sat on either side of Shen Qingwan, chatting about trivial matters.

Consort Zhen's gratitude towards Shen Qingwan was heartfelt. Without Shen Qingwan, who knows what her life would be like in the harem?

She was not favored by the emperor, and in terms of beauty, she could not compare with the young concubines who had just entered the palace. However, the empress gave her the power to assist in managing the six palaces. Even if it was just helping Consort Shu with some trivial matters, that was enough for her to keep her position as the head of a palace. Although the princess and the prince were both children of Emperor Yuanwu, the difference between boys and girls in the palace was not insignificant.

Now, all she wants to do is fight for a better future for Jiang Wanying, to find a good husband, and to live a peaceful life together.

Currently, there is only one princess in the harem, Jiang Wanying. If there is any change in the court, she will inevitably be sent to marry a foreign ruler. Once mother and daughter are separated, they may never have the chance to see each other again in this life.