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

Chapter 405 Love at first sight
"According to you, wouldn't this monk's words be a slap in the face to the Empress Dowager?"

"Whether it's slapping the Empress Dowager's face or not, so much time has passed. But the Empress Dowager has been able to tolerate all the absurd things the Empress did after marrying the Emperor. Isn't that because she believed that story about the auspicious clouds and phoenixes back then?"

"The Empress has no children to this day, so her days in the palace are going to be difficult..."

Everyone had their own thoughts. Emperor Yuanwu clasped his hands in front of him, his eyes dark and unfathomable, and asked with a puzzled look, "Since it was a misunderstanding, why didn't you explain it back then? Now, twenty years later, what is your purpose in bringing it up again?"

Facing Emperor Yuanwu's questioning, the monk showed no fear, but simply bowed and said, "Amitabha. A monk does not concern himself with worldly affairs. The Emperor and Empress's harmonious relationship is naturally their destiny. I have been away from the capital for many years, wandering the world. A few days ago, I met with an old friend and overheard him talking about what happened back then. The more I listened, the more I felt that the beautiful stories about the Empress circulating in the streets and alleys were related to me. A monk does not lie. Since it is a misunderstanding, it is better to clarify it sooner rather than later."

A slight displeasure flickered in Emperor Yuanwu's deep eyes.

Shen Qingwan turned her head and glanced in the direction of the Empress Dowager. Although her expression remained calm, based on Shen Qingwan's understanding of her, she knew in her heart that the Empress Dowager was suppressing her anger.

Being slapped in public like that would leave anyone feeling nothing.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, I have something to say." Consort Shu stood up from her seat. "I believe that, whether it is auspicious clouds riding phoenixes or auspicious clouds riding winds, Her Majesty the Empress is kind and impartial in the harem, and treats every child in the harem well. She is now a good Empress who embodies the virtues of a mother to the world. When this monk said those words, Her Majesty the Empress had just been born. Whether it was a misunderstanding or not, it seems to have nothing to do with Her Majesty the Empress."

As Consort Shu spoke, she glanced sideways at Consort Jin, who understood and rose, her expression exceptionally earnest. "Your Highness is absolutely right!"

Consort Liang stood up immediately afterward. "Your Majesty, judging from this monk's accent, he doesn't seem to be from the capital. The pronunciations of 'feng' and 'feng' are already similar, and if there's an accent involved, it will be even harder to tell them apart."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Consort Zhen said with a puzzled look. "If I remember correctly, the Shen family was not a particularly prominent family in the capital back then. If that's the case, why would the neighbors and common people be waiting at the Shen family's door when the Shen family had a child? The reason that so many people heard this was mostly because when the Empress was born, auspicious clouds filled the sky, which attracted everyone's attention. Whether the auspicious clouds were riding the wind or a phoenix, they were all auspicious."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanwu's expression softened somewhat. Seeing this, Consort Shu followed up, saying, "Today is the Empress's birthday. Since they are old friends, they must have come to offer their congratulations. I really don't understand how someone the Empress has never met could become a monk. Consort Rou is truly thoughtful to invite a wandering monk into the palace at this time."

Consort Rou: ...

"Your Majesty," Consort Rou said, her face turning pale with fright, "Your Majesty, I only meant well. I thought that Your Majesty and the Empress's marriage was more or less influenced by this monk, so I rashly brought him into the palace. I never expected him to say such things. I beg Your Majesty to take this man away and interrogate him thoroughly to clear my name."

"Consort Rou!" the monk shouted, interrupting her, "If it weren't for you, how could this humble monk have entered the palace to meet the Emperor? Could it be that you..."

"You monk, you keep saying that monks don't lie, so why are you slandering me!"

"you……"

"Enough!" Emperor Yuanwu shouted, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused, his face turning pale and cold in an instant. "Take this monk away and interrogate him thoroughly. Find out whether what happened back then is true or false, and make sure you get to the bottom of it for me."

After Emperor Yuanwu finished speaking, he turned to look at Shen Qingwan beside him, then got up and walked out of the hall.

Shen Qingwan couldn't suppress the sneer rising from the corners of her lips.

Emperor Yuanwu wanted to investigate the events of that year, not what Roupin's purpose was in bringing this person into the palace at her birthday banquet.

He really is a selfish person who only thinks of himself and doesn't care about the lives of others.

"Oh no."

With a scream from Wu Jixiang, the monk being supported by the two guards had bright red blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His eyes rolled back, and he stopped breathing. Dead?

Shen Qingwan jumped up from the stool.

Wu Jixiang reached out and touched the blood that had seeped from the corner of his lips. He turned to Shen Qingwan with a panicked expression and said, "Yes, poisoning."

Poisoning?

"Pass on the Imperial Physician!"

Shen Qingwan made a decisive decision.

This monk clearly came prepared. He kept saying that monks don't concern themselves with worldly affairs, yet he traveled thousands of miles to the palace. It was obvious that he was in cahoots with Consort Rou and they were doing the same evil deeds.

If he were to die like this, wouldn't that be letting Consort Rou off too easily?

I had long known that this Consort Rou was restless, but I only thought that she was trying to scheme for the Fourth Prince. I never expected that she was actually eyeing the Empress's position.

She really underestimated Consort Rou's ambition!

"Mother Empress Dowager." Shen Qingwan approached the Empress Dowager with a wronged expression. "If what this monk said is true, Mother Empress Dowager will definitely not like her daughter-in-law anymore."

Shen Qingwan managed to squeeze out a few tears, looking haggard and heartbroken.

Shen Qingwan didn't know what the Empress Dowager was thinking, but she said these words in front of so many people. If the Empress Dowager really lost her temper, wouldn't she seem shallow?

Regardless of whether what happened back then is true or false, Emperor Yuanwu was already the emperor, and she firmly held the position of empress dowager. As empress, she had not committed any unforgivable mistakes, so it was absolutely impossible for her to be deposed.

After all, deposing an empress is not a simple matter of divorcing a wife; it concerns the peace and stability of the previous dynasty. The court officials would not allow Emperor Yuanwu to divorce his wife for such a matter, nor would Emperor Yuanwu himself agree to it.

How could he possibly allow the word "absurd" to be recorded in history?

Therefore, Shen Qingwan could resolve everything by feigning weakness, but she would never let the concubine Rou, who wanted to frame her, get away with it.

"What are you saying, Empress? What auspicious clouds and phoenixes, auspicious clouds and winds? I have never heard such nonsense. It was indeed I who begged the late Emperor to grant me a marriage. That was when the Emperor was a child. He had met the Empress once at a palace banquet and fell in love with her at first sight."

Shen Qingwan: ...

No wonder she was the champion of the previous palace intrigue competition!

In that case, how can you just spout off like that?
Shen Qingwan truly admired him from the bottom of her heart!

The Empress Dowager held Shen Qingwan's hand, her face kind. "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will investigate this matter thoroughly and give you an explanation!"