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

Chapter 43 I don’t know how high the sky is and how high it is
Although Consort Bai was not favored in the past, she was not someone that Emperor Yuanwu disliked so much.

However, how did the Empress Dowager find out about his visits to Jingyang Palace these days? Consort Bai is the first one who cannot escape responsibility.

The palace maids and eunuchs of Jingyang Palace, even if they had the desire, did not have the courage, and had no chance to easily see the Empress Dowager.

Therefore, the most suspicious person who revealed this matter to the Empress Dowager is Consort Bai.

Shen Qingwan couldn't help but feel sorry for Consort Bai, fearing that her days in the palace would be difficult from now on.

Regardless of whether it was Consort Bai who informed on him, the fact that Emperor Yuanwu had aroused suspicion meant that he would naturally avoid Consort Bai.

The palace is never short of new faces, so it's practically impossible for Consort Bai to regain the Emperor's trust and favor.

"Your Majesty need not worry so much." Shen Qingwan turned to look at Emperor Yuanwu and said, "Your Majesty, would you like to have lunch at Kunning Palace and try the meat cooked in the hot pot that you bestowed upon me?"

Emperor Yuanwu did not speak, but nodded, which was taken as tacit approval.

When Consort Bai returned to Jingyang Palace, Lan Cui came out of the palace carrying a basin of clothes that Consort Xian had just changed out of.

Bai Guiren, who was full of grievances, slapped Lan Cui across the face without asking any questions.

"You slut, where did you learn your seductive tricks to seduce the Emperor!"

Hearing the commotion, Xia Fuchuan walked over and reached out to stop Bai Guiren from delivering the second slap to Lan Cui's face: "Bai Guiren, please calm down."

Enraged, Bai Guiren kicked Xia Fuchuan in the groin: "You dog slave, what do you think you are, daring to disrespect me? Today I'm going to beat her to death, and I'll see who dares to stop me."

Xia Fuchuan, wincing in pain, took a half step back and knelt on both knees: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger, this servant dares not."

"Ha!" Consort Bai sneered, "You're smart enough to know what's good for you. Men, pin Lan Cui to the ground and beat her."

Lan Cui moved her lips but before she could speak, her arms were pinned down by two eunuchs, and someone kicked her in the knee from behind, causing her to lean forward uncontrollably and be pushed to the ground.

"Your Majesty, I don't know what crime I have committed that you have struck me for no reason and are now punishing me like this?"

"Lan Cui, you really are a girl trained by the General's Mansion. Just like Consort Xian, you don't know your place. When you entered the palace, didn't the maid who taught you manners tell you that there is a difference between superiors and inferiors in the harem, and that the master's words are the will of heaven? You are just a lowly maid. Today, I said you did something wrong, so you did something wrong. What? Do I need a reason to hit you?" Consort Bai said disdainfully.

Lan Cui's lips trembled with anger.

“Consort Bai, although Lan Cui is only a maidservant now, she is already the Emperor’s woman. If you lay a hand on her like this, I’m afraid Your Highness will be in deep trouble if the Emperor blames you in the future.”

"Can't afford to suffer the consequences? Then I'll see if you really can!"

At Consort Bai's command, the two maids in her room each slapped Lan Cui's face once, their blows swift and brutal. After only three slaps, blood began to flow uncontrollably from the corner of Lan Cui's mouth.

"Your Majesty, you really can't fight anymore. If this continues, someone will die. What will you do if the Emperor blames you?" Xia Fuchuan advised.

"His Majesty? If His Majesty was scolded by the Empress Dowager for quite a while this morning because of Lan Cui, and if he really cared about that wretched woman, the imperial edict for bestowing the title would have arrived at Jingyang Palace by now." A sly smile curved Bai Guiren's lips. "Lan Cui, let me tell you something else. His Majesty is currently having hot pot in the Empress's palace. In this harem, not every woman who climbs into the Emperor's bed is bestowed the title of Consort. Do you want to guess where those women who weren't bestowed the title went afterward?"

Lan Cui's face was swollen. She looked up at Consort Bai and said, "Consort Bai, so what if the Emperor has made you a Lady? If you weren't in Consort Xian's palace, you probably wouldn't see the Emperor even once a year."

"What did you say?" Bai Guiren's eyes turned bloodshot and unfocused as she listened to Lan Cui's words, and the color drained from her face in an instant, turning her face pale. "What are you all standing there for? Beat her! Beat her to death, and see if I don't beat this bitch to death today!" Emperor Yuanwu had no appetite. The pot of food that the imperial kitchen had carefully prepared was very delicious, but he only ate a few bites and then lost his appetite.

After he left, Shen Qingwan ate a simple meal and went directly to Jingyang Palace.

She originally just wanted to see how Consort Xian was doing lately, but unexpectedly, when she stepped into the gates of Jingyang Palace...

In the courtyard of Jingyang Palace, palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, you really can't hit her anymore. If you keep hitting her, you'll kill Lan Cui." Xia Fuchuan knelt on the ground, kowtowing until his head bled.

"What are you doing?"

As Shen Qingwan's voice faded, the crying in Jingyang Palace abruptly ceased.

Consort Bai slowly stood up from the stool, turning her head in disbelief: "Your Majesty... Empress."

Shen Qingwan glanced in her direction and walked over to Lan Cui's side.

The two servants supporting Lan Cui hurriedly let go when they saw the Empress approaching.

The moment the servant let go, Lan Cui collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale.

I'm afraid if she had arrived any later, Lan Cui would have really been beaten to death by Consort Bai.

Shen Qingwan frowned deeply, turned around and asked Consort Bai, "What did she do wrong? Why did you hit her like that?"

"Yes..." Consort Bai was so frightened that she shuddered: "It was this servant girl... who was disrespectful to her superiors. I was so angry that I had her beaten a few times."

"Insubordination?" Shen Qingwan repeated Bai Guiren's words: "Then tell me, how did she commit insubordination?"

"This……"

Bai Guiren stammered for a long time but couldn't come up with a coherent explanation.

With so many servants watching, she dared not speak carelessly, since she was hitting a maidservant from Consort Xian's side, not one from her own palace.

Judging from the Empress's expression, she seemed determined to get to the bottom of things. If she made up some excuse, once the truth was uncovered, she might be accused of deceiving the emperor.

Consort Bai dared not speak recklessly.

Shen Qingwan was perfectly capable of seeing through this; she was simply waiting for Consort Bai to say it herself before she could take any action.

Since Consort Xian fell and was bedridden, Consort Bai, who was usually not very noticeable, has been busy everywhere.

"Then you speak," Shen Qingwan said, turning to Lan Cui, who was kneeling on the ground, when she saw that Consort Bai was hesitant to speak.

"Your Majesty, I have no idea what I did wrong. This morning, I had just finished helping Consort Xian wash up when Consort Bai slapped me to the ground. I really don't know what happened," Lan Cui said aggrievedly.

(End of this chapter)