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

Chapter 6 To prevent future troubles
At the same time, Su Jixiang and Zhang Mama also relayed the same message to Emperor Yuanwu and the Empress Dowager.

At this time, Emperor Yuanwu was in the Empress Dowager's palace.

"If these young ladies truly have no connection with the Empress, then let Consort Xian decide where to assign them accommodations," the Empress Dowager said calmly.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Emperor Yuanwu replied. "This time, nearly twenty young ladies were selected. I felt that was too many, so I sent some to the imperial relatives. There are still a few princes among the imperial relatives who have not yet married and had children."

"That's fine too." The Empress Dowager nodded in approval. "Although I don't know what the Empress is thinking, since she has selected so many young ladies for the imperial concubine selection, we should also consider her feelings. I heard that you have conferred the title of Noble Lady Wen, so let's also confer the title of Noble Lady on one of the few that the Empress favors."

When the list of conferments was sent to Jingyang Palace, Consort Xian was in a dilemma.

After much deliberation, she decided to keep the woman chosen by the Empress. Emperor Yuanwu bestowed the title of Chun Guiren upon her, and she was assigned to Yanxi Palace to live with Consort De.

Regardless of whether this young lady has any relationship with the Empress, since the Empress wants to keep her, sending her to live with the Empress's confidants is perfectly reasonable.

Consort An went to Yonghe Palace to stay with Consort Shu.

Consort Xi moved into Consort Jin's Xianfu Palace.

Ji Changzai lived in Zhenpin's Changchun Palace.

Consort Rong moved into Consort Li's Chuxiu Palace.

Consort Wen was the one Emperor Yuanwu was most interested in during the selection of concubines, so naturally he wanted to keep her in his palace. Consort Wen was bound to be favored in the future, and if she remembered the care he had given her when she entered the palace, he could speak up for her if anything happened. Keeping her by his side would also be a precaution against future troubles.

After the accommodations for the imperial concubines were arranged, they were first sent to the Empress Dowager's residence.

The Empress Dowager is getting old now. She has been fighting all her life and now she doesn't want to get involved in some things if she can avoid it. The newly entered concubines have low ranks and can only live with the former principal concubines. They will move out after they are promoted and given palaces.

The temporary residence was not particularly interesting to the Empress Dowager. After a brief glance, she had it sent to the Empress's palace. In any case, it was just a formality. Consort Xian had already been settled in, and the Empress Dowager had seen it. She figured that even if the Empress had any complaints, she wouldn't make any major adjustments.

Shen Qingwan checked and found no problems. She said to the head of the Imperial Household Department, "This Consort Wen seems to be very popular with the Emperor. She has only just entered the palace and is already a Consort. She will be promoted to the rank of Consort soon. If she is promoted again, she will be a Lady. Why not let her live in a separate courtyard? It would be much more convenient for the Emperor to move again after she has just settled in. Moreover, it would be more convenient for the Emperor to visit her if she lives alone."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Just tell the Emperor these things truthfully. As for whether or not Consort Wen should live alone, that's up to the Emperor to decide."

"Yes!"

Emperor Yuanwu looked at the list presented by the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department and listened to the chief steward's message, his brow furrowing deeply.

"Did the Empress really say that?"

"Your Majesty, this servant dares not conceal anything; these are the Empress's exact words."

Did she say where Consort Wen should stay?

"Your Majesty, the Empress said that Zhongcui Palace has been empty for a long time and is the closest to Your Majesty's Hall of Mental Cultivation, so it is a good place to live."

The Emperor closed the register and handed it back to the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Household Department: "Then let's do as the Empress says."

The moment the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department read out the imperial edict.

Consort Xian was furious and went mad in Jingyang Palace.

After the Empress fell seriously ill, she always put on an image of being unassuming, virtuous, and gentle. It turns out that this was what she was waiting for.

She simply wanted to keep one of Emperor Yuanwu's favorite concubines in her palace, but this was also an eyesore to her. She couldn't make a scene; if she did, it would make her seem immature.

Shen Qingwan, we'll see.

After the young ladies-in-waiting entered the palace and settled in...

The days when Shen Qingwan could sleep until noon were over.

The Empress had been ill for so long that the concubines in the harem had all become lazy and no longer needed to get up early to pay their respects to her.

When a new bride enters the palace, she must perform a grand ceremony for the Empress.

Early in the morning.

All the concubines in the palace gathered in the main hall of Kunning Palace, except for Consort Xian.

First, some of the older palace staff paid their respects, and then the newlyweds did.

"Now that you've entered the palace, you must be respectful and observe proper etiquette. Always remember that you are imperial concubines. Harmony in the harem is beneficial to the Emperor's court. In the future, you must get along well in the palace and help the Emperor have more princes and princesses. Currently, Consort Xian is in charge of all matters, big and small, in the harem. If any new concubines have any needs, they can go directly to Consort Xian..."

As soon as Shen Qingwan finished speaking, Consort Xian hurriedly walked in: "This concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress. Please forgive me for being late."

"It's alright," Shen Qingwan said calmly.

"Oh, Consort Xian, you really have quite the airs. All the concubines in the palace know that today is the day the new concubines pay their respects to the Empress, and they have all arrived at Kunning Palace early. Why are you so late, Consort Xian?" Consort De said sullenly.

Since the incident with the mandarin duck bibs, Emperor Yuanwu had not visited her Yanxi Palace again. He was furious and had nowhere to vent his anger, but he never expected that Consort Xian would be so tactless.

"Your Majesty, it was the Third Prince who caused trouble last night. His Majesty, being considerate of me not having slept all night, graciously allowed me to get up a little later, which is why I am late. It was my fault." Consort Xian curtsied and apologized.

"It's alright. Since Consort Xian is here, please have a seat." Shen Qingwan had originally intended to leave, but Consort Xian's sudden arrival meant she had to say a few more words.

"Even if it were the Emperor's permission, he wouldn't allow Consort Xian to disrespect the Empress, would he? Besides, so many of my sisters are entering the palace today to pay their respects to the Empress for the first time. As the head of the palace, is this how Consort Xian is setting an example for all of you?"

"Your Highness, the Empress has not said anything to me, so why are you getting so worked up? You have never been a mother, so you naturally do not know the hardships of raising a child. The Emperor and the Empress are both considerate of me, so aren't you overstepping your bounds?"

"Ha, Consort Yu also has a prince, so how come she can come to pay her respects to the Empress so early, but you can't..."

Shen Qingwan stared at the two people below who were engaged in a heated argument, and her head ached.

Originally, the two were only openly competing, but ever since the incident with the mandarin duck bibs, they no longer bother to hide it.

"Alright." Shen Qingwan frowned: "Consort Xian has to take care of the Third Prince and manage the six palaces, which is already hard work. It's inevitable that she would sleep in late in the morning."

Consort Xian's smile froze. She felt that Shen Qingwan's words were implied. Could it be that now that she was better, she wanted to take back the power to assist in managing the six palaces?

Isn't she just making things difficult for herself?
Consort Xian's face turned pale, and she immediately knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I am not tired. It is all my fault. I should not have been late when I first came to pay my respects to Your Majesty after entering the palace."

(End of this chapter)