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

Chapter 333 Got it
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Consort Rou is pregnant!"

Are you happy?
Shen Qingwan's gaze swept over her slightly smug lips and landed on her lower abdomen.

The Fourth Prince had only been born a short time ago, and Emperor Yuanwu hadn't visited the harem for quite some time.

Shen Qingwan thought about it carefully for a while before she remembered that the last time Consort Rou received the Emperor's favor was shortly after she had finished her confinement period.

To win the emperor's favor, Consort Rou really didn't care about her health. When she gave birth to the Fourth Prince, she wasn't promoted. But no matter what happens with this pregnancy, her position as a consort should be secure.

A mere young lady-in-waiting, in just over a year since entering the palace, has actually risen to the rank of imperial concubine.

For a moment, Shen Qingwan was dumbfounded. Had she misjudged her back then, or was she just too good at pretending? It seemed that her gentle, obedient, and sensible side was all an act.

"Consort Rou is truly blessed to have conceived so quickly. Congratulations, Your Majesty." Shen Qingwan's face wore a perfectly timed smile.

Emperor Yuanwu was always happy to have more children in the harem. Tonight in Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager seemed to be in a bad mood, finding fault with everything he said and did. Shen Qingwan felt a little sorry for him.

"Consort Rou has just been diagnosed with pregnancy and must rest well. Your Majesty, please stay and keep her company. I will return now." After saying this, Shen Qingwan did not wait for Emperor Yuanwu to speak. She curtsied and turned to walk towards the outside of Zhongcui Palace.

As Consort Rou watched her departing figure, she snuggled closer to Emperor Yuanwu's chest and asked, "Your Majesty, is the Empress unhappy?"

"How could that be?" Emperor Yuanwu blurted out without any hesitation, "Tonight, the Empress Dowager hosted a banquet at Cining Palace. The Empress and her three children were busy all night, perhaps she was tired."

"The Empress has three children with her?" Consort Rou asked, drawing out her words as if she already knew the answer.

“It’s the eldest prince, the second prince, and the eldest princess.” Emperor Yuanwu helped Consort Rou walk towards the bedside.

"So the Empress Dowager is hosting a banquet for all the princes and princesses tonight." After saying this, Consort Rou glanced sadly at the place where the Fourth Prince was sleeping.

"The Third Prince and the Fourth Prince are still young. Tonight, they ate roasted meat in the Empress Dowager's palace. If they wait a few more years until they are older, they can dine in the Empress Dowager's palace with their older brothers and sisters."

Emperor Yuanwu was unimpressed and did not notice the change in Consort Rou's expression at all.

"When you gave birth to the Fourth Prince, your health was severely compromised. Now that you're pregnant again before you've fully recovered, you must listen to the imperial physician's advice and not act recklessly."

"Yes." Consort Rou nestled sweetly in Emperor Yuanwu's arms. "I will obey Your Majesty."

"Alright." Emperor Yuanwu placed his hands on her shoulders, making sure she had some distance between them. "Since you have nothing to do here, you should rest well. Leave the Fourth Prince to the wet nurse to take care of him, and don't overwork yourself."

Consort Rou nodded obediently and said shyly, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I will definitely take care of my health and give birth to a few more princes for Your Majesty."

"Alright, then you should get some rest. I'll be leaving now." Emperor Yuanwu patted her shoulder twice.

Consort Rou: ...

The color drained from Consort Rou's face, leaving her visibly pale. She quickened her pace, asking, "Your Majesty, where are you going?"

Emperor Yuanwu suddenly stopped in his tracks. "I have chosen Consort Yan tonight. You should get some rest too."

Consort Yan?
When Consort Rou heard these words, her vision blurred and she almost fainted. Fortunately, Jun'er, who was standing beside her, reached out and pulled her up. "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Consort Rou stood there for a while before slowly shaking her head. She looked towards the place where Consort Yan lived, tears streaming down her face. As the tears flowed, she couldn't help but laugh.

"Your Majesty, please don't do this. You are pregnant now and cannot serve the Emperor."

Jun'er was at a loss, but still racked her brains to persuade her, "The Emperor has already chosen Consort Yan tonight. Your Highness, you are a concubine, and you are not only pregnant with the Fourth Prince, but also with a child. If you give birth to a prince or a princess in the future, your status will be extremely noble. The imperial physician just said that your pregnancy is not stable. Let me help you go back to rest. No matter how important this matter is, we can talk about it after you have recovered."

Yes!

She's having another baby, what wonderful news!

In this harem, she was the first concubine to have two children. If this child was also a son, then she would have two princes in her hands, and who could possibly compete with her for the future crown prince?

On the way back, Zhen'er couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, do you think the Emperor will stay in Consort Rou's palace tonight? If so, won't Consort Yan become the talk of the town in the harem tomorrow morning?"

Shen Qingwan shook her head. "Not necessarily."

Zhen'er asked, puzzled, "Why?"

why?
Naturally, this is because Consort Yan's service in the palace was not merely a matter of simply entering the palace to serve.

Since this matter was strongly promoted by Consort Xian and Emperor Yuanwu tacitly approved it, it was by no means out of lust for beauty. However, no matter how beautiful Consort Yan was, the harem was never short of beauties.

Emperor Yuanwu wanted to use her, to make her the fuse to strike at the remnants of the Pang clan. So he would definitely not neglect her. Not only would he not neglect her, but it was very likely that Consort Yan's favor would become the exclusive favor that the harem had not seen for a long time.

He wanted everyone in the previous dynasty to believe that he was bewitched by Consort Yan's beauty and that he was an utterly incompetent ruler. Only in this way could he completely lower the guard of those who were eager to take action.

Shen Qingwan stopped where she was and lazily stretched.

Comfortable!

Despite feeling comfortable, she still had to quicken her pace. When she went to Zhongcui Palace, she only took Zhen'er with her.

Returning to the palace at this time, it was already late. On the dark cobblestone road, there were only the two of them, which was indeed a bit eerie. Everyone said that the harem was too gloomy. Wasn't it because in such a large harem, killing a servant was easier than crushing an ant? With so many wronged souls, how could the resentment not be heavy?

Thinking of this, Shen Qingwan's hair stood on end. But thankfully, there were only a dozen or so steps left to Kunning Palace. Once inside Kunning Palace, she wouldn't be afraid.

Just as Shen Qingwan was distracted, a dark figure suddenly darted out from beside her, and with something tugging at her arm, Shen Qingwan was pulled to the corner of the wall.

She was so frightened that she turned pale, and before she could even scream, a hand covered her mouth.

Shen Qingwan seemed to want to break free from this person's grasp, but another dark shadow flashed past her side. She felt a sudden emptiness in front of her, and her whole body relaxed.

"Prince, what are you trying to do to Her Majesty the Empress in the middle of the night?" Prince Rui's eyes were bloodshot, and his pupils were as cold and obscure as a deep, dark pool.