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

Chapter 5 Draft
However, after several groups, Emperor Yuanwu didn't find a single one he liked.

The Empress Dowager was clearly anxious. "Your Majesty, I find all these young ladies outstanding, but not a single one to my liking?"

Emperor Yuanwu remained silent, only letting out a quiet sigh.

The Empress Dowager's expression was unpleasant, especially when she looked away and saw Consort Xian dressed like a radiant canary; her expression darkened even further.

With such a flamboyant concubine sitting here competing, how are the young ladies supposed to be chosen?
Consort Xian awkwardly reached out to adjust her hair ornaments. She had thought the Empress would be dressed up in her finest attire, which was why she was dressed like this. Who would have thought the Empress would be dressed so plainly?

"The emperor has few children, so he still has to think about the country and its people. If he really doesn't have any favorites, then he should pick a few well-behaved and quiet ones to serve in the palace."

Since ancient times, emperors have selected concubines to fill their harems, not only to appease ministers and consolidate the court, but also to ensure the continuation of their imperial lineage.

Of the next few groups that came in, Emperor Yuanwu only casually designated two to stay.

A woman like this entering the palace will certainly not gain favor.

The Empress Dowager's expression grew increasingly grim.

Shen Qingwan felt a little sleepy while sitting. She had gotten up too early in the morning, so she didn't have much of an appetite. She drank a couple of mouthfuls of porridge. Now that the palace selection had been going on for almost an hour, she was actually a little hungry.

"The perch is plump and the water chestnuts are crisp, making the soup delicious; the buckwheat is ripe and the oil is fresh, making the cakes fragrant."

Buckwheat pancakes with sea bass and water shield soup are indeed a delicious dish.

Are we having sea bass for lunch?

While Shen Qingwan was lost in thought, the Empress Dowager suddenly called her name: "What does the Empress think?"

It seems the Emperor doesn't have anyone he likes, so the Empress Dowager is going to make the decision herself, fearing that she might offend Emperor Yuanwu and be dragged down with him.

"Mother, your daughter-in-law thinks she is very good. This young lady has delicate features and is more beautiful than a fairy. She has a natural freshness that is not artificial. In particular, the charm between her eyebrows and lips is elegant and gentle. She is very approachable. Mother, your eyes are indeed very good."

Emperor Yuanwu was absent-minded and indifferent. Since the Empress Dowager said it was good to keep him, there was no need to upset her over such trivial matters.

But after Shen Qingwan's praise, when Emperor Yuanwu looked at the young lady again, he found that she was indeed quite pretty and dignified.

Emperor Yuanwu seemed to be deliberately concealing something, and coughed lightly, "Since both the Empress Dowager and the Empress like it, then let it stay."

"Mother, I think the one on the far left is also quite nice. Her skin is like jade, and her figure is plump and smooth. She looks like she's good at bearing children."

As Shen Qingwan's voice fell, the Empress Dowager was surprised, Emperor Yuanwu was shocked, and even Consort Xian looked in her direction.

Wasn't the Empress the one who couldn't stand any concubine being favored?
It should be noted that when Consort Xian was pregnant, if it weren't for the protection of Emperor Yuanwu and the Empress Dowager, she probably wouldn't have been able to keep the baby.

Apart from the Third Prince, the other princes and princesses were all born before the Empress entered the palace. She was not the one who most liked to give contraceptive soup to the concubines after they had finished serving her.

How can someone now say something about having a healthy baby?
"Hmm, that's good. Then let's keep this one too." Although the Empress Dowager didn't quite understand what Shen Qingwan was up to, since she had already spoken, she couldn't refuse her. Anyway, there were so many unfavored concubines in the harem, one more wouldn't make a difference.

Shen Qingwan then selected several more women for the imperial concubine selection.

She didn't understand anything about politics or court affairs.

Shen Qingwan's criteria for the talent show were very clear: pretty and with a big butt.

She always heard people say that having a big butt means you can have more children.

Emperor Yuanwu only had a few children. If he hadn't had more, he would have been recorded in history and remembered for generations. It's a pity that such a wise ruler couldn't have lived longer.

From then on, whether it was the Empress Dowager who favored them or Emperor Yuanwu who liked them, Shen Qingwan had no objections and nodded in agreement to stay.

This made Consort Xian quite uneasy. She now understood that she had originally thought the Empress had changed her ways, but after all this time she realized that no matter what she did, Emperor Yuanwu wouldn't even glance at her, so she simply shifted her attention to these young ladies-in-waiting.

The Empress brought so many outstanding and beautiful young women into the palace at once; she just wanted to make things difficult for her because she was favored.

Consort Xian thought of the names her father had given her yesterday. Among the remaining candidates, she saw these names and asked to stay.

She thought the Empress would deliberately find an excuse to decline, but to her surprise, Shen Qingwan not only kept them all, but also praised her for her good taste.

This completely baffled Consort Xian.

At this moment, it wasn't just Consort Xian who was panicking. The Empress Dowager and Emperor Yuanwu, looking at Shen Qingwan's attitude, felt that she was pretending, and that something might happen later.

The palace selection, which was originally scheduled to end at noon, ended early because everyone agreed that Shen Qingwan was good at this and that, and that was very good.

Shen Qingwan helped the Empress Dowager to her feet: "Your daughter-in-law will escort Mother back to the palace."

"No need. I see that the Empress doesn't look well. She's just recovered from a serious illness and needs to rest more. Go back and rest early."

"Then I'll take my leave." Shen Qingwan curtsied and returned to the palace without lingering for a second.

The Empress Dowager and Emperor Yuanwu exchanged a glance.
The empress left in such a hurry.

The Empress's behavior today is too unusual; I fear it will cause trouble once the young ladies enter the palace.

Consort Xian was the last to leave.

After giving birth to the third prince, she developed a back ailment. She could manage lying down, but after sitting for an entire afternoon, the pain became unbearable.

The Empress Dowager and the Empress both walked. Even though Jingyang Palace was the farthest from the main hall for the imperial concubine selection, she couldn't have her sedan chair carried over, as it would appear too ostentatious.

The maid Xiang'er supported her, and she followed the Empress with a limp.

Shen Qingwan walked too fast and disappeared in no time.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong with the Empress today? She usually hates it when the Emperor goes to other concubines' places, so why did she choose so many young ladies to enter the palace today?" Xiang'er asked, puzzled.

"Heh." Consort Xian sneered: "Having been in the palace for over a year, who in the entire palace doesn't know that the Emperor and Empress have not yet consummated their marriage? She's realized she can't cause any trouble, so she's simply starting to pretend to be virtuous and gentle. Who is she pretending for?"

"However, since the Empress fell ill, she has looked quite listless."

"Tell Father to investigate thoroughly what kind of dealings the women chosen by the Empress have with her maternal family." Consort Xian's eyes darkened.

"Yes, my dear, I will do it now."

at dusk.

After having dinner, Consort Xian was staring at the list of candidates for the imperial concubines sent by the Imperial Household Department, feeling troubled.

Xiang'er also replied.

"Your Majesty, we have investigated, and none of these young ladies have any relation to the Empress's maternal family."

"really."

"It's true."

Consort Xian fell into deep thought. The imperial concubine selection was such a good opportunity to win people's hearts, yet the Empress did not place a single one of her own confidants in the palace. What exactly was she up to?
(End of this chapter)