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

Chapter 388 Routine
Shen Qingwan understood, and a hint of unease flashed in her eyes.

"When the Empress Dowager heard about this, she punished Consort Xia with half a year's salary and gave her ten strokes of the cane."

Ten strokes of the cane, though not fatal, would certainly be enough to split open with the naked eye, and it's likely that Consort Xia wouldn't be able to serve the emperor for a while.

Ultimately, Consort Xia was truly wronged in this matter.

Can she say no to whatever the emperor wants to do?

If she really refuses, I'm afraid the Emperor himself will be the one to deliver those ten strokes of the cane.

Not only will they be beaten, but they will also lose favor and may even be banished to the cold palace.

This is the tragedy of women in the imperial harem.

Even if she wasn't willing at all, she was still blamed for doing something she was forced to do, even if it was wrong.

only……

Just as Shen Qingwan had guessed.

Upon hearing of this in the evening, Emperor Yuanwu went directly to Changchun Palace without any regard for the consequences.

Fortunately, the person who gave the beating was a sensible man. He knew that Consort Shen was in the Emperor's favor and that the Emperor was unaware of the situation. If he really did something wrong, she might lose her life. But this was the Empress Dowager's order, and he couldn't refuse to give her the beating.

He simply used only a third of his strength when carrying out the execution.

There was no serious injury or cuts, and I reckon with some rest, I'll be fine in three to five days.

But no matter what, those ten lashes will still hurt.

Emperor Yuanwu was still not fully recovered when he entered Consort Shen's palace, and did not come out until noon the next day.

This time, Consort Shen had completely offended the Empress Dowager.

Granny Zhang hurried to Kunning Palace. As soon as she entered, she knelt down and bowed deeply to Shen Qingwan.

Although Zhang Mama was just a servant, she was the Empress Dowager's dowry maid and had served in the palace for so long.

Normally, not only the concubines in the palace, but even Emperor Yuanwu had to show her respect.

Shen Qingwan was startled and quickly walked to Zhang Mama, helping her up from the ground. "Zhang Mama, just say what you have to say. Why bother with such a grand ceremony?"

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has not eaten for two meals because of Consort Xia's matter. Now, the Emperor has not attended the morning court in order to support Consort Xia, and he avoids seeing anyone. He stays in Consort Xia's palace. The Empress Dowager is so angry that she feels chest tightness and shortness of breath, and she refuses to let the imperial physician examine her. All the servants in the palace are kneeling on the ground, but the Empress Dowager has driven them all out."

As Zhang Mama spoke, tears streamed down her face. "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager always listens to you the most. I know it's inconvenient for you to leave the palace right now, but I really have no other choice."

Shen Qingwan was speechless.

The Empress Dowager listens to her the most?
She knew perfectly well that Zhang Mama was only flattering her so much in order to get her to persuade the Empress Dowager.

But her own son was angry with her because of a concubine, so why should she, as the legal wife, say anything?
Could it be that she's going to tell her mother-in-law, "Mother, please don't be angry. Your son's feelings for Consort Xia are just genuine love. He did this because he felt it was wrong of you to hit her. He doesn't dare to be disrespectful to you, so he can only try to appease Consort Xia. After all, if he has any conflict with you, the officials of the previous dynasty will impeach him. He's so infatuated with Consort Xia that he's deliberately going against you."

Shen Qingwan only thought about it for a moment, but she felt that if she really said these words in front of the Empress Dowager...

I reckon she must have been beaten even worse than Consort Xia!
“Granny Zhang, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help, it’s just that I really…”

Shen Qingwan hesitated, but she knew that someone as clever as Zhang Mama would surely understand her unspoken meaning.

But I didn't expect it.

Before she could finish speaking, Zhang Mama interrupted her, "Your Majesty, I understand your concerns, but given the Empress Dowager's health, if this continues, something bad might really happen..."

Shen Qingwan: !!

She felt like she'd been tricked by Granny Zhang.

If she hadn't come today...

So no matter what happens to the Empress Dowager, the only person who will be blamed in the end is Consort Xia. But at this moment, Granny Zhang came over and said so much.

If she hadn't gone to Cining Palace with Granny Zhang.

So in the end, if anything happens to the Empress Dowager, she will inevitably be implicated.

Whether the Empress Dowager was truly ill or feigning illness, no one could say for sure.

If she said she was feeling unwell, the imperial physicians, regardless of rank, could find a hundred reasons to explain.

after all……

It's not like she hasn't faked being sick before.

When General Pang was assassinated, all the most capable physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy went to the southern border.

The Empress Dowager is quite good at pretending, isn't she?
Shen Qingwan was speechless, but her face was full of worry. "Don't worry, Granny Zhang. I'll go with you to Cining Palace to see what's going on behind the scenes."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mama was delighted. "This servant knows that Her Majesty the Empress is in poor health, so I have already sent a maid to wait at the palace gate."

Shen Qingwan: ...

Granny Zhang is really determined to win, and she's thinking of her in every way!

Shen Qingwan took a deep breath, still wearing a polite smile. When she sat down on the carriage, she didn't sit upright as usual, but just slumped in the chair, a little tired, with one hand supporting her forehead.

"Mother."

Shen Qingwan stood at the entrance of the Cining Palace's sleeping quarters, took another deep breath, and then stepped inside.

She knew the Empress Dowager was in the hall, but when she called out, she was met with silence. Shen Qingwan raised her voice and called out again, "Mother."

Still, no one paid any attention to her.

Shen Qingwan frowned slightly, feeling even more strongly that she shouldn't have come, but she couldn't not come.

When she reached the bedside, she saw that the Empress Dowager was already asleep on the bed.

She stared at the Empress Dowager for a while, and just as she turned to leave, she suddenly felt something was wrong.

The Empress Dowager was furious. How could someone who couldn't even eat sleep so soundly in broad daylight?

"Mother Empress? Mother Empress!"

"Help! Help! The Empress Dowager has fainted..."

Shen Qingwan shouted while shaking the Empress Dowager's arm.

Oops!

This time, it seems the Empress Dowager really wasn't faking it!

I really fainted!
Physician Zhang arrived at Cining Palace quickly. After taking the Empress Dowager's pulse, he put medicine in her mouth and then inserted acupuncture needles.

The Empress Dowager finally woke up.

Shen Qingwan let out a long sigh of relief; thankfully, she was alright.

Although she also felt that the Empress Dowager had done something wrong in the matter of Consort Xia.

But Emperor Yuanwu was the Empress Dowager's biological son. Seeing her son vomit blood and faint because of fooling around with the concubines, no mother would not be angry.

She was furious, but her own son was acting like a rebellious child, deliberately going against her. It was infuriating.

"Your Majesty," Physician Zhang knelt beside her, earnestly advising, "please do not lose your temper again, or the consequences will be dire..."

After a pause, Physician Zhang continued, "Otherwise, if the qi and blood reverse, one will become delirious and fall into a coma."