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

Chapter 42 Sharing worries
"As Empress, how exactly do you manage the harem every day? And Your Majesty, how could you commit such filthy acts with Consort Xian's maid in her palace? I am too ashamed to say it at my age."

Shen Qingwan: ……

Emperor Yuanwu was playing such exciting games!

How did the Empress Dowager discover this matter?

Could it be that someone witnessed the incident and went to the Empress Dowager to complain?
If she had known yesterday that Su Tianhe had told her the Emperor had gone to Jingyang Palace, she should have gone to join in the fun. It wouldn't have been in vain if she had accompanied Emperor Yuanwu in being punished today!
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, did you hear what I said?"

The Empress Dowager's words brought Shen Qingwan back to her senses.

"Mother, I will definitely teach her well when I get back..." Shen Qingwan paused for a moment, turned to give Emperor Yuanwu a wink, and deliberately lowered her voice to ask, "What is the name of the woman you slept with?"

Emperor Yuanwu:...

Although Shen Qingwan's voice was not loud, the Empress Dowager could hear it clearly.

The Empress Dowager, who was already angry, became even angrier after hearing her words. Her chest heaved and her fingertips trembled: "You two, get out of here!"

Emperor Yuanwu: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Your son takes his leave."

Shen Qingwan: "Mother, please calm down. Your daughter-in-law takes her leave."

As the two walked out of Cining Palace one after the other, Shen Qingwan paused for a moment, then said, “Your Majesty, there’s no need to thank me. If you really want to thank me, if Your Majesty really wants to reward me, why not give me that cloisonné enamel pot with floral patterns? It’s getting cold, so I can have hot pot with mutton in the palace.”

Emperor Yuanwu:? ? ?

"If you want me to reward you, you must give me a reason, right? Why should I thank you?" Emperor Yuanwu asked, puzzled.

"Your Majesty, before I arrived, the Empress Dowager must have been scolding you for a long time. Now that I'm here, I only used three sentences to rescue you from Cining Palace. It's not too much to ask Your Majesty to reward me with a pot, is it?"

As Shen Qingwan spoke, she raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Emperor Yuanwu.

Emperor Yuanwu frowned speechlessly. "Reward me!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Shen Qingwan curtsied, her smile almost impossible to contain.
Emperor Yuanwu:...

"Your Majesty, what do you plan to do with that palace maid in Consort Xian's palace? Will you give her a title? Or what?" Shen Qingwan asked tentatively.

"The Empress doesn't know everything. It must be hard for her to pretend in front of the Empress Dowager," Emperor Yuanwu said sullenly.

"It's my duty as Empress to help the Emperor share his burdens. As for the Empress Dowager, I'll bring some good food over tomorrow to try and appease her. I hope she won't be angry for too long." Shen Qingwan sighed helplessly.

"Then I really must thank the Empress." Emperor Yuanwu's expression was somewhat complicated.

"Your Majesty, there's no need to be so polite. You've already rewarded me with a pot with cloisonné enamel floral patterns, so we're even."

Emperor Yuanwu:? ? ?

Emperor Yuanwu glanced at Shen Qingwan's resentful expression.

"Among the pots that were brought to the palace this time, there was also a silver-gilt longevity character hot pot. That one seems to be of better quality. I'll have someone send it to Kunning Palace for you later," Emperor Yuanwu said calmly.

"Your Majesty, you should save that silver-gilt longevity character hot pot for someone else. I only need one."

Emperor Yuanwu:...

The other ladies in the palace were interested in jewelry, ornaments, and rare and precious items.

This empress actually likes hot pot in winter. They offered her two, but she only wanted one; she's quite easily satisfied.

He simply gives things to people.

Regardless of who it is or whether they like it or not, they would happily accept it, as if being rejected was a first for them.

Emperor Yuanwu couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

Shen Qingwan frowned and thought seriously for a while: "I think the silver-plated gold longevity character hot pot, just from the name, doesn't look as good as the pot with cloisonné enamel floral patterns."

Emperor Yuanwu:...

The two walked and talked.

Suddenly, a figure appeared beside Emperor Yuanwu. "This concubine greets Your Majesty and Empress. This concubine pays respects to Your Majesty and Empress."

Consort Bai appeared beside them without them noticing. Her sudden jump startled not only Shen Qingwan but also Emperor Yuanwu.

Having just been reprimanded by the Empress Dowager, Emperor Yuanwu's irritability hadn't even subsided when Consort Bai's outburst only exacerbated his already agitated mood.

"Bai Guiren, what are you trying to do with all this sudden outburst?"

Emperor Yuanwu's tone revealed a hint of impatience.

"Your Majesty, I just happened to be passing by and saw Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress talking, so I thought I would come over to pay my respects. I hope I haven't disturbed Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress's conversation?" Consort Bai lowered her head, raised an eyebrow, glanced at Emperor Yuanwu, and smiled sweetly, slightly shy.

Shen Qingwan remained silent, simply watching her quietly. In her mind, she was already pondering whether to have clear broth or spicy broth later, using the cloisonné enamel pot with floral patterns that Emperor Yuanwu had bestowed upon her.

"The aroma of the clear broth is irresistible. Thin slices of mutton are quickly swished in the broth. Dip them in the sauce and enjoy them with pure bliss."

To enjoy tender and juicy lamb, you should definitely have it in a clear broth.

"If you feel you are disturbing the peace, then go back to the palace. What kind of behavior is it for a noble person to be jumping around like this?" Emperor Yuanwu said directly.

Consort Bai's face paled at Emperor Yuanwu's words, especially with Shen Qingwan standing beside her. She was indeed embarrassed. Just then, Emperor Yuanwu spoke again: "You've finished paying your respects. If there's nothing else, go back to your palace. Isn't Jingyang Palace chaotic enough already?"

"Your Majesty." Consort Bai's eyes were red and she seemed about to cry. She bit her lip and glanced at Shen Qingwan, as if waiting for Shen Qingwan to say something on her behalf.

"Since His Majesty wants you to go back, then go back first. You and Consort Xian have lived in the same palace since you entered the palace. Over the years, Consort Xian has taken good care of you. Now that she has fallen and is bedridden, it is time for you to repay her kindness. Visit Consort Xian's palace more often when you have time. After all, you are the mistress of Jingyang Palace, and you can't be too idle."

Shen Qingwan was speechless. This Consort Bai was too oblivious. Even though she didn't know that Emperor Yuanwu had just been scolded by the Empress Dowager and was in a bad mood.

However, it would be truly foolish not to be able to deduce the emperor's intentions from his tone of voice and expression.

No wonder she served Emperor Yuanwu in the palace and remained a minor noblewoman all these years.

Even Emperor Yuanwu couldn't see that she was upset, so why was she vying for his favor?

"Your Majesty, I will follow your instructions." Consort Bai curtsied and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I will take my leave now."

Seeing that Emperor Yuanwu remained silent, Shen Qingwan could only nod to Consort Bai, signaling her to leave first.

Unfortunately, Consort Bai had no sense of perception whatsoever. She didn't seem to notice that Emperor Yuanwu was annoyed with her at all. She walked around, stopping occasionally and glancing back every now and then.

(End of this chapter)