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

Chapter 422 Extra (Establishing a Lifetime 8)

Shen Qingwan was stunned for a while before she came to her senses and said, "Okay."

Just before getting into the carriage, she couldn't help but raise her eyes and glance in the direction Jiang Yuyan and Jiang Yuxian had left.

The two entered the palace and headed straight for the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

With a "Yoo!"

Jiang Yuyan tightened the reins and jumped off the horse.

Before entering the palace, he couldn't help but glance towards the palace gate.

The main hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation was filled with the concubines of the palace. When Consort Ying saw him walk in, she walked around the crowd with a gloomy expression and quietly pulled him aside.

"You child, I'm not trying to be mean, but I've already told you that your father hasn't been feeling well these days and that you should try not to leave the palace. Why are you still so disobedient?" Consort Ying said, shoving him.

“Mother, Wanwan has now moved from Rongcheng to the capital. Today is the Lantern Festival. I told you a few days ago that I want to take Wanwan to the main street on this day…”

Before Jiang Yuxian could finish speaking, Consort Ying ruthlessly interrupted him, "Wanwan, Wanwan, all you ever think about is Wanwan. Do you know that your imperial father's health is deteriorating day by day, and he's about to pass away? Every prince in the palace is trying to curry favor with him, hoping to catch his eye. But you, instead of staying by his side, are always running off outside the palace. Your mother really wants to see what kind of vixen that daughter of the Shen family is, so good at seducing people."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuxian's face turned noticeably pale. "Mother, what are you trying to do?"

Consort Ying raised a slight anger in her deep eyes, "I don't want to do anything. I just want to make sure your father loves you the most. You mustn't disappoint him at a time like this."

"Mother, I didn't mean to be unfilial, I just..."

Jiang Yuxian dared not continue speaking.

He knew his mother to some extent; after all, in this vast harem, let alone favor, even just surviving peacefully required cunning and scheming.

Moreover, her current status in the harem is second only to the Empress. Not only did she give birth to him, but she has also enjoyed the Emperor's favor for many years...

only……

"Mother, I'll go see Father Emperor first."

Upon hearing this, Consort Ying's solemn expression softened slightly, and she nodded gently.

Watching Jiang Yuxian's departing figure, the anger on her face gradually faded, replaced by a faint trace of sorrow.

Jiang Wenying is now unconscious, and even if she opens her eyes, she doesn't recognize the people around her.

The Empress stayed by his side the entire time, giving the concubines almost no chance to get close. Meanwhile, some court officials, seeing this, entered the palace that very night and waited outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Consort Ying sat outside her bedchamber in the Hall of Mental Cultivation until late into the night before leaving.

Upon returning to the palace, he saw Jiang Yuxian, who looked hurried and was dressed neatly.

"What are you doing?"

Consort Ying's expression suddenly darkened.

Jiang Yuxian suddenly stopped in his tracks, "Mother."

Seeing the fleeting look of panic in his eyes, Consort Ying's already gloomy face darkened even further. "Don't tell me you're going to leave the palace at a time like this?"

"Mother." Jiang Yuyan was speechless for a long while before finally speaking, "Tonight, Wanwan left the palace with me. I picked her up from the Shen family but didn't send her back, and it was still at night. I just asked my third brother, and he said that the servants who were supposed to take Wanwan home haven't returned yet. But several hours have passed, and I'm really worried. Mother, I promise I'll be back very soon, I promise I'll be back in less than an hour..."

Before Jiang Yuxian could finish speaking, Consort Ying slapped him across the face.

"Are you really that clueless? Or do you just not understand anything? Your Imperial Father is clearly on his deathbed. The Empress's people have surrounded the Hall of Mental Cultivation like an iron barrel. Your mother sat outside the palace of the Hall of Mental Cultivation all night and still couldn't see your Imperial Father. And you're telling me you're going to leave the palace for a woman?" Consort Ying became more and more agitated as she spoke, her voice rising higher and higher. "Are you trying to anger me to death?"

"Mother..."

Jiang Yuxian was completely stunned by the attack.

This was the first time Consort Ying had ever hit him since he was a child.

"Have you ever wondered why the Third Prince's attendants haven't returned yet? Is it possible that the Third Prince is deliberately keeping them away so that you won't be in the palace at a time like this?" Consort Ying trembled with anger. "There's only one throne, and so many people are eyeing it. How could you be so spineless?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuxian's expression relaxed slightly. "Mother, I have never wanted to fight for the throne. I originally said I wanted to stay in the palace because I wanted to be with Father Emperor. If one day Father Emperor is gone, I would like to be a carefree prince with a fief in Jiangnan, living a leisurely life with you. If Father Emperor is really gone, Mother, would you still want to stay in this palace?"

Consort Ying shook her head helplessly. "Your imperial father has spoiled you for so many years, indulging you into such a naive idea. Given your imperial father's current affection for you, and your mother's status in the palace, if this throne is not yours, think about it, which prince who ascends the throne would leave a way out for us, mother and son?"

“Mother.” Jiang Yuxian was unusually calm. “Is it you who is not clear-headed, or is it your son who is not clear-headed? This throne belongs to Third Brother. We cannot take it.”

Consort Ying's face was deathly pale, and she clutched her chest with one hand. "Do you even know what you're saying?"

"Mother, have you ever thought about what Father meant by betrothing General Pang's daughter or Lord Song's daughter to Third Brother as a secondary consort? One holds military power, and the other is an important official in the court. Mother and Father have known each other for so many years, do you think I don't understand Father at all?"

Jiang Yuxian paused, "If Father Emperor didn't intend to pass the throne to Third Brother, he naturally wouldn't have made such an arrangement. Now, in the entire court, is there anyone whose military power can rival that of General Pang Da?"

"But...aren't there still General Rong and General Hao?" Consort Ying swayed suddenly.

“Even if General Rong and General Hao join forces and can contend with General Pang Da, who would they be willing to submit to?” Jiang Yuxian smiled with relief. “Moreover, I heard a few days ago that Father Emperor intends to betroth General Hao’s second daughter to Third Brother as a secondary consort. Mother Emperor has always believed that as long as you have Father Emperor’s favor, I will also be favored by Father Emperor, and this throne will definitely be mine…”