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

Chapter 331 Confederation
For example, tonight, Emperor Yuanwu thought of Consort Yan, who had just entered the palace, and summoned her tonight. But tonight might not be the day Consort Yan was pregnant, so it was as if he had gone for nothing.

Some concubines could only see Emperor Yuanwu once every six months. It was already very difficult to see him even once. Who could guarantee that they would get pregnant on the first try? Only those favored concubines who served the emperor more often had a better chance.

If the menstrual cycles of all the concubines in the harem could be arranged in a table, Emperor Yuanwu could favor a concubine every time she was pregnant, and the harem would never have to worry about not having offspring.

In this way, the Empress Dowager won't always have to focus her attention on her, right? She is still very willing to share the burden for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor in this matter.

Shen Qingwan groaned inwardly.

Prince Rui paused in his chewing, then slowly raised his eyes to look at Shen Qingwan, his gaze filled with an indescribable sadness.

That sadness was fleeting, so fleeting that it vanished before anyone could even grasp it.

"Mother, it's not that I don't listen to you, it's just that today..." Emperor Yuanwu paused here, looked up at Shen Qingwan, and seemed to be explaining something with a hint of apology.

"But tonight, I have already chosen Consort Yan. Consort Yan is the daughter of a military family, and it is not appropriate for her to remain neglected in Zhongcui Palace. I will visit the Empress's palace another day."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingwan breathed a long sigh of relief. "Mother, since the Emperor has already chosen a concubine, it is naturally inappropriate for him to come to Kunning Palace again. Maintaining harmony within the palace is also my duty as a daughter-in-law."

"The Empress is very sensible. Since that's the case, then I won't say anything more." The Empress Dowager's gaze towards Shen Qingwan was still gentle, but when she looked at Emperor Yuanwu again, her expression suddenly changed. "Speaking of this Consort Yan, she also comes from a military family. I really don't understand. General Qiu is so skilled in battle, how come he is so incompetent in educating his children... Consort Yan has been in the palace for so many days, and it's one thing that she hasn't come to pay her respects to me, but how can she not even pay her respects to the Empress? What does she take the harem for?"

When this was mentioned, Consort Zhen and Consort Liang exchanged a glance and remained silent.

Although Shen Qingwan was dissatisfied, when she heard the Empress Dowager say that Consort Yan had never gone to Cining Palace to pay her respects, she guessed that perhaps it wasn't that Consort Yan was unruly, but rather that her governess had simply not taught her manners properly.

Since the Empress Dowager brought up this matter and expressed some dissatisfaction, it means that this was not what she wanted.

It wasn't the Empress Dowager, and it wasn't her either...

Shen Qingwan's gaze turned deep as she looked at Emperor Yuanwu.

"Empress Mother, why are you staring at Father Emperor? Is it because you also think Father Emperor is handsome?" The Second Prince approached Shen Qingwan and asked curiously.

Shen Qingwan snapped out of her reverie, and with a touch of affection, reached out and patted the Second Prince's head. "Does Wen Yuan think Father Emperor is handsome?"

"So handsome, so handsome! Father Emperor is the most handsome man!" The Second Prince clapped his hands, broke free from Shen Qingwan's embrace, and ran to Emperor Yuanwu's side.

"It's a rare treat for the whole family to get together. I haven't seen the children so happy in a long time. The Emperor is always so serious in front of the children, which makes them all afraid of you. You don't act like a father at all."

Shen Qingwan couldn't help but laugh as she listened to the Empress Dowager's words. Sometimes she felt sorry for Emperor Yuanwu. Whenever things came to this, the Empress Dowager would always scold him.

Who can be blamed for this? He's the only one to blame. There are only a few children in the harem. That's why people say things are valued for their rarity. It's because there are so few children in the harem that they are precious. If there were more children, dozens of them running around the harem, who would care about his attitude towards them?

I'm afraid that when that time comes, the thing the whole palace will care about most will be which prince has caused trouble today, and who has gotten into a fight with whom.

Emperor Yuanwu was speechless after being scolded. "The Empress Dowager is right." After the two children had finished eating, Consort Liang and Consort Xian huddled together, chatting about everyday things while they ate.

Prince Rui seemed to have a good appetite. Seeing that everyone else had stopped eating, he simply sat down next to the barbecue grill and started eating by himself.

Behind him sat Shen Qingwan and the Empress Dowager side by side. She took out some recipes for health-preserving teas that she had written and carefully instructed Zhang Mama on how to nourish the Empress Dowager's body on a daily basis.

"Mother, remember to add red dates to the apple and hawthorn water I told you about. Apples are cooling in nature, and adding some red dates will neutralize the cooling effect. It would be best for you to drink a pot of this when you don't have a good appetite... And this..."

Shen Qingwan explained each document to Zhang Mama one by one, and Prince Rui couldn't help but turn around and glance in the direction of the Empress Dowager.

Just then, Emperor Yuanwu also looked over. He raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but say, "The Empress really cares about Mother."

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

Shen Qingwan’s next words were abruptly cut off. What on earth was wrong with Emperor Yuanwu today?
It was a perfectly good sentence, but when he said it, it sounded somewhat sarcastic and unpleasant.

It really proves the saying: if you can't speak, then don't speak.

The instant his voice fell, Prince Rui's gaze, which had been fixed on the Empress Dowager, also fell upon Emperor Yuanwu.

Emperor Yuanwu:...

He picked up the teacup in front of him with a slightly embarrassed expression, as if trying to hide something, and took a big gulp.

"Well... it's getting late..." Emperor Yuanwu said, standing up and bowing to the Empress Dowager. "Your subject will now go to Zhongcui Palace."

"Early? How is it early? How is it early?" The Empress Dowager's eyes darkened. "Your Majesty, stop right there! I haven't even said we should leave yet, and you're already rushing off to that ill-mannered noblewoman's palace?"

The Empress Dowager's tone was clearly angry, and everyone lowered their eyes.

Emperor Yuanwu pursed his lips deeply and sat back down on the stool.

Meanwhile, at Zhongcui Palace.

After the Imperial Household Department informed Consort Yan that Emperor Yuanwu had chosen her tonight, she ate dinner early, bathed, changed clothes, and waited in the palace.

Two hours passed, and still no sign of Emperor Yuanwu appeared. Consort Yan seemed to be getting anxious.

She paced back and forth in the bedchamber, walking around countless times, before finally reaching the doorway. She stood with one foot inside and one foot outside, gazing longingly outwards.

"Heh." Consort Rou sat in the main hall and couldn't help but sneer when she saw this scene. "So what if she's a beauty of unparalleled grace? She's still pitifully waiting for the Emperor. The Emperor is really something, he doesn't know how to cherish women at all. Since he chose her, why didn't he come over sooner? By the way, where did the Emperor go today?"