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

Chapter 62 Internal Troubles
Since marrying Emperor Yuanwu, the Empress has managed to seize the palace from the Prince's residence. However, she not only failed to win his favor but also incurred his displeasure, while he became more attentive to several of her concubines.

Now that the Empress is no longer vying for power, Emperor Yuanwu is visiting her more often. Even the concubines who had never clashed with her before are benefiting from her influence, some getting promoted, some getting pregnant. Thinking about it carefully, instead of fighting tooth and nail with those concubines every day, it would be better to learn from the Empress.

After the greetings were over, Shen Qingwan kept Consort Shu behind to discuss the preparations for the Lunar New Year.

"Your Majesty, if you don't let me stay today, I also have something I want to tell you." Consort Shu's face was full of worry: "I heard that Consort Xian is much better now, and the Emperor even went to see her a few days ago. Your Majesty, do you think he won't take the Third Prince back?"

“Since His Majesty said when he entrusted you with raising the Third Prince that no matter what happens to Consort Xian in the future, the Third Prince would be raised by you, His Majesty’s word is law. As long as you raise the Third Prince well, I trust His Majesty; he is not the kind of person to go back on his word,” Shen Qingwan comforted him.

"With Your Majesty's words, I am at ease." Consort Shu said softly, "What are Your Majesty's thoughts on the Little New Year? Should we, as in previous years, invite some opera troupes, singing and dancing performances to the palace?"

"You can handle these matters as you see fit. I trust you. If you are too busy, you can ask Consort De for help."

Now that Consort De has regained favor, she has not yet been restored to the power to manage the six palaces.

Judging from her appearance this morning, she was eager to impress the Emperor.

If Consort Shu goes to her now, she will surely do her best to prepare for the Lunar New Year.

As for the Third Prince, the reason she was certain that the Emperor would not take him back from Consort Shu was because even if the Emperor liked Consort Xian very much, he had to plan for the future. Consort Xian's father was too powerful, and now that the world was peaceful and prosperous, there were no external threats, so only internal troubles remained.

If he had only wanted to find a temporary foster mother for the Third Prince, he could have easily found a concubine of a lower rank, or taken the Third Prince to the Empress Dowager's side to raise him temporarily.

Consort Shu's rank was the same as Consort Xian's. By handing over the Third Prince to Consort Shu, he also became a pawn in controlling Consort Xian. The Emperor was indeed the Emperor; it was a double kill.

After leaving Kunning Palace, Consort Shu went directly to Consort De's residence. Just as Shen Qingwan had expected, Consort De rushed forward, looking for an opportunity to make a good impression on the Empress Dowager and beg for her forgiveness.

According to custom, on the Little New Year, relatives would bring their families to the palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. Many things were sent to the palace in advance. On the day of the Little New Year, one only needed to enter the palace to attend the banquet. The things sent back and forth were nothing more than some valuable and rare items, or some calligraphy and paintings that Emperor Yuanwu liked.

This year, Prince Yao deviated from the norm and directly sent a woman to Emperor Yuanwu's palace.

Emperor Yuanwu, who spent his days confined to the Hall of Mental Cultivation reviewing memorials, seemed quite interested in the woman sent to the palace by Prince Yao. On the same day, he bestowed upon her the title of Noble Lady Yao and granted her residence in Qixiang Palace, where she lived with Consort Liang.

Shen Qingwan met this Consort Yao the day after she had served the emperor.

"This concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty live a thousand years! I failed to come to pay my respects to Your Majesty immediately, and I beg Your Majesty's punishment." Consort Yao knelt on the ground and performed a grand salute.

"It's alright." Shen Qingwan said calmly, "Now that we've entered the palace, we're all sisters, so there's no need for so many rules. But you must serve the Emperor well in the future and have many children for him."

"Your Majesty, I will remember your teachings."

"Alright, get up." Shen Qingwan didn't deliberately make things difficult for the newcomer. The fact that she was able to serve the emperor on her first day in the palace shows that Emperor Yuanwu was satisfied with this Consort Yao, and she would likely be favored in the future.

Shen Qingwan carefully examined Consort Yao. She was indeed beautiful, but the harem was full of beautiful women. How could Emperor Yuanwu have fallen for her at first sight?

The emperor's heart is truly unfathomable. Shen Qingwan chatted with her for a few moments, and the concubines from various palaces arrived at Kunning Palace one after another to pay their respects.

The first to arrive were several concubines who had just entered the palace a few days prior, followed by Consort Chun and Consort An.

Everyone seemed quite interested in this Consort Yao; every time a concubine entered, she would inadvertently glance in her direction.

When Consort Liang and Consort Jin entered, they exchanged a glance upon seeing Noble Lady Yao's face, and their expressions changed.

"What's wrong?" Shen Qingwan asked curiously.

"Your Majesty, it's nothing. It's just that Consort Yao looks a bit familiar, like..." Consort Liang's eyes showed a hint of hesitation as she looked up at Consort Jin.

Although Consort Jin did not speak, she slowly shook her head.

This made Consort Yao feel extremely uncomfortable: "Sisters, please speak frankly. Is there something on my face?"

“Sister, you’re overthinking it. There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s just that you look a lot like a concubine from the palace. She’s no longer here,” Consort Jin said, a rare moment of unease.

Shen Qingwan glanced at Consort Yao again, wondering if she was right. Could it be that Consort Yao looked like the late Consort Li?
Before Shen Qingwan could make up her mind about this guess, Consort De's voice came from afar at the door.

Yesterday, Consort De sent the coral that her maternal family had brought to the palace to the Empress Dowager's residence. Although coral is not a rare item, it is indeed rare to find a coral that is completely intact and so large, especially since the coral looks just like a blooming peony.

The Empress Dowager loved flowers, but due to her health, she could not get close to them. Having this coral plant in her palace to enjoy was truly a delightful surprise for her.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty be blessed. When I arrived at the gate of Yikun Palace, I thought I was late. But when I checked the time, I found that all my sisters were already here. What's going on..."

Before Consort De could finish speaking, her gaze inadvertently fell on Noble Lady Yao, and the words that were about to come out stuck in her throat.

"This concubine greets Consort De. May Consort De be blessed." Consort Yao hurriedly rose and bowed to Consort De.

"Consort Yao, could you please raise your head so I can get a better look?" Consort De's expression was extremely solemn, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

“It’s so similar, it really is so similar, Consort Liang, do you think it looks like her?” Consort De turned her head.

Consort Liang's expression became somewhat indescribable. Under everyone's gaze, she could only nod reluctantly.

After Consort Li left, no one dared to mention her in front of Emperor Yuanwu.

Not to mention Consort Li, even the eldest prince she left behind was ignored by Emperor Yuanwu, who held a grudge against him. If it weren't for him, Consort Li wouldn't have died.

No matter how favored Consort Xian and Consort De were, even after Consort Xian gave birth to the Third Prince, Emperor Yuanwu did not promote her to the rank of Noble Consort. It seemed that in his heart, the position of Noble Consort would forever belong only to Noble Consort Li.

(End of this chapter)