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

Chapter 55 Quarrel
"Oh, Consort Liang is really generous in her words. We newcomers to the palace can't compare to Consort Liang. With a prince by her side, Consort Liang has nothing to worry about." Consort Ruan clicked her tongue in amazement.

"Could it be that Consort Ruan is thinking of competing with the Empress for favor?" Consort Liang retorted without backing down.

Ruan Changzai's face turned pale after being rebuked, and she was speechless for a long time: "Consort Liang, don't be unreasonable."

"I think you're the one here who's always stirring up trouble and causing chaos!" Consort Liang's eyes flashed coldly.

Just then, Consort Shu walked in from the doorway: "What's all this commotion about so early in the morning? I've been standing at the entrance of Yikun Palace and I can hear you all shouting. Aren't you afraid of disturbing Her Majesty the Empress?"

"May the Consort Shu be blessed."

Ruan Changzai stood up: "It is Consort Liang who is reprimanding me here."

Consort Shu glanced at Consort Liang, then slowly turned her gaze back to Consort Ruan: "Is the Empress someone you can all gossip about behind her back? A mere Consort Ruan dares to argue with Consort Liang? Which nanny taught you manners? Drag her out and give her twenty strokes of the cane!"

Ruan Changzai was so frightened that her legs went weak and she knelt on the ground: "Your Highness, please calm down. I know I was wrong. Please punish me."

"Consort Ruan, there is a distinction between superiors and inferiors in the palace. You first gossiped about Her Majesty the Empress behind her back, and then disrespected Consort Liang. Considering that you are new to the palace and unfamiliar with its rules, the palace has its own regulations. You are hereby fined three months' salary and confined to Jingyang Palace to copy Buddhist scriptures and reflect on your mistakes." After Consort Shu finished speaking, she looked up at the others and said, "And all of you, if there is a next time, I will definitely report to the Empress and punish you severely."

"This concubine dares not, this concubine will humbly follow the teachings of Consort Shu."

Zhen'er came out to deliver a message: the Empress has finished washing and dressing and may go in to pay her respects.

Shen Qingwan still asked the princes how they were doing, as was customary.

Before they came in to pay their respects, Su Tianhe had already told her about Consort Shu punishing Consort Ruan.

The Consort Shu handled this matter to her liking.

"I will be going to the Sansheng Temple to burn incense these days. If there is anything else in the palace, please go to Consort Shu. Is there anything else? If not, you may leave."

After the concubines left.

The carriage was already waiting at the palace gate. Emperor Yuanwu arranged for thirty imperial guards to accompany them. Shen Qingwan, along with Zhen'er and eight palace maids, arrived at the Sansheng Temple just in time for lunch.

The Empress herself went to the Sansheng Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings.

Abbess Wuxin of the Sansheng Temple also arrived early at the temple gate with the nuns.

The original owner's mother, father Shen Wenqian, and uncle.
"See the Queen, may the Queen be blessed and safe."

Shen Qingwan helped Master Wuxin up from the ground with both hands: "Master Wuxin, there is no need for such formalities. I came here today for two reasons: first, to burn incense and pray for blessings, and second, because my cousin is practicing in seclusion at your nunnery, and I am sorry to have bothered you."

"Your Majesty is too kind. This is a pure Buddhist place. Everything is empty, there is no pain, no worry, no greed, no evil thoughts. It's just that Miss Liu's worldly ties are not yet severed, her worldly desires are not yet extinguished, and her attachment and obsession with the world are too deep."

Master Wuxin led Shen Qingwan to the meditation room. After exchanging a few more words, Liu Ruyan ran in from outside, crying.

Now, he was more sensible than when he went to the palace, and upon seeing Shen Qingwan, he knelt on both knees.

"Cousin, I really know I was wrong. Please, cousin, let me out. I really can't spend my whole life eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist prayers in a nunnery. Cousin, I beg you." Liu Ruyan waved her clothes with both hands.

Liu Shi and Liu Wei seemed afraid that Liu Ruyan would anger Shen Qingwan, so they hurriedly stepped forward and pulled her down.

Shen Qingwan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her uncle and mother's attitude. She thought that the two of them would start arguing again today, and that she would never be able to have a peaceful day again. However, she did not expect that the two of them would suddenly change their ways.

To Shen Qingwan's surprise, Liu Wei, who had always spoiled his daughter, was the one who started scolding her.

"Ruyan, don't lose your manners. Your cousin is now the Empress. What kind of behavior is it for you to tug at the Empress's clothes like this?" As soon as Liu Wei finished speaking, Liu Ruyan let go, and Shen Qingwan walked to the chair opposite and sat down.

Shen Wenqian sat on her other side: "Is the Empress feeling better than before? Has she fully recovered?"

"Thank you for your concern, Father. I'm all better now," Shen Qingwan said softly.

Although the original owner's mother was a "brother-supporting demon," the original owner's father still cared about her.

It was originally just a small matter, and Shen Qingwan never took it to heart. However, she did not expect Liu Wei to give Liu Ruyan a hard time.

"What's wrong with you, child? Her Majesty the Empress sent you to the temple to cultivate yourself, which was for your own good. And that young master Zhao, if he didn't know you were Her Majesty the Empress's cousin, why would he keep pestering you? You really can't distinguish right from wrong, and you insist on making the Emperor and the Rong family investigate your disobedience, which has caused you to lose your head and implicate your whole family."

Liu Ruyan was crying so hard that it was clear she had been crying for a long time before Shen Qingwan arrived; her eyes were so swollen she could barely open them.

"From now on, you should stay here at the Sansheng Nunnery and follow Abbess Wuxin to meditate and chant Buddhist scriptures. If you cause any more trouble in the future, we will sever our father-daughter relationship and will never come to the nunnery to see you again."

The reason my uncle was able to say these things today is largely because Shen Wenqian is here.

Liu Wei was wary because he knew in his heart that everything he ate and wore was provided by the Shen family.

Even though the Shen and Liu families didn't have any titles, they were still able to make a decent living because they had an empress in their families. Before, Shen Qingwan was not favored by Emperor Yuanwu, so the Shen and Liu families naturally didn't have an easy time. Now that the Empress Dowager values ​​Shen Qingwan, Emperor Yuanwu's relationship with her has improved a lot, and the Shen family's life has become better. Naturally, the Liu family has also benefited a lot from the Shen family.

This family is truly wise to be pragmatic.

"Father, but Young Master Zhao promised me. Cousin, Aunt, Uncle, please let me out. Or just pretend I'm dead and let me change my name and go far away with Young Master Zhao."

Madam Liu had remained silent until now, when her expression became somewhat complicated: "That Young Master Zhao, he..."

Liu Ruyan's expression instantly tensed up: "What's wrong with him?"

"He heard that the Emperor had betrothed you to Rong Jingxuan, and that you disobeyed the imperial decree by having your half-sister marry in your place. Fearing that the Emperor would blame you in the future and implicate you, he has already arranged a marriage with Miss Luo overnight, and the wedding will be held at the end of the month."

Liu Ru collapsed to the ground, speechless.

"Ruyan, stop making a fuss. If it weren't for the Empress, the Rong family would have told the Emperor long ago that our whole family would be dead. From now on, you should stay in the Sansheng Nunnery and cultivate in peace, so as not to become a laughing stock," Liu said helplessly.

(End of this chapter)