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

Chapter 71 Abrupt
Emperor Yuanwu remained silent for a while without speaking.

"Let's go sit in Consort Rong's palace."

"Set up the carriage at Chuxiu Palace."

Consort Rong was quite surprised that Emperor Yuanwu would come: "Your Majesty, have you come to see Consort Li?"

Emperor Yuanwu, whose face was already pale, looked even more displeased upon hearing this: "What? Does Consort Rong really want me to go to someone else's place?"

Since entering the palace, Consort Rong has only served the emperor once. Not to mention the emperor's temperament, she probably hasn't even had a good look at his appearance. Hearing that Emperor Yuanwu's tone seemed somewhat displeased, she turned pale with fright and said, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty, that's not what I meant."

Consort Li and Noble Lady Rong lived together in Chuxiu Palace. Consort Li had just lost her child and was grieving when Noble Lady Rong suddenly gained the emperor's favor.

If Consort Rong had always been favored by Emperor Yuanwu, this matter might not have attracted so much attention. Unfortunately, she was not well-liked by Emperor Yuanwu.

When Shen Qingwan woke up the next day, she was surprised to hear that it was Consort Rong who had served her the night before.

However, the other people in the palace each had their own ideas.

Consort Rong's cousin married the daughter of Shen Qingwan's uncle's concubine. Although the relationship wasn't close, they were still related by blood. In any case, Consort Rong and Shen Qingwan were related in some way.

Yesterday, Emperor Yuanwu went to Consort Rong's place after leaving Kunning Palace.

Unaware of the unpleasant incident between the two in Kunning Palace, they simply assumed that Consort Rong's favor that night was arranged by Shen Qingwan.

They just didn't know that Emperor Yuanwu could not be controlled by others, nor could he decide which concubine he favored or where he liked to go.

It was fine before Emperor Yuanwu didn't come to the harem, but now he's been visiting it more often. Ironically, none of the three newly entered concubines have served him in bed, which inevitably leads to gossip.

After thinking it over, the three of them realized that they had entered the palace too late. The Empress had already cultivated many of her own people in the palace, and many of them were now in high positions. Consort Rou even had children.

They felt that it was unlikely they could make a living by following the Empress, since none of them had been able to serve the Emperor since they entered the palace, and the Empress had never said a word in their defense. So they turned their attention to Consort Xian.

Consort Xian was already favored by the Emperor, and her maternal family was of high status. Her health was also improving, and once she regained the Emperor's favor, she might be promoted to a Noble Consort or Imperial Noble Consort. It would be a good deal to follow her.

Ruan Changben lived in the same palace as Consort Xian, but Consort Xian had been recuperating for some time, and apart from occasionally meeting in the courtyard, they didn't talk much.

Taking advantage of the fine weather, Consort Tong and Consort Dong went to Jingyang Palace together.

Sure enough, when the sun was shining brightly, palace maids and eunuchs helped Consort Xian out of her palace and lay down in the courtyard to bask in the sun.

"This concubine, from the Dong and Tong families, greets Consort Xian. May Consort Xian be blessed."

Consort Dong and Consort Tong pretended to be leaving, and stopped by to pay their respects to Consort Xian.

Consort Xian, who had her eyes closed, looked up at the two of them upon hearing the sound.

Although she was recuperating from illness, Consort Xian had heard about the influx of so many new women into the palace, but she had never actually met them.

Consort Xian looked the two of them up and down and said, "Get up."

"Thank you, Consort Xian." The two rose, and Consort Dong spoke first: "Before I entered the palace, I had heard of Consort Xian's magnificent bearing and unparalleled favor among the six palaces. Now that I have seen you, even though you are still ill, your beauty is unmatched, and you are dignified and elegant." No woman dislikes being praised, especially by another woman. Consort Xian glanced at Consort Dong, her expression softening slightly: "Xia Fuchuan, go and bring a stool for Consort Dong and Consort Tong."

"This concubine thanks Consort Xian."

The two sat down next to Consort Xian, and Consort Tong asked, "Is Your Highness feeling any better?"

When this was mentioned, Consort Xian closed her eyes again.

Dong Changzai nudged Tong Changzai with his elbow.

Consort Tong realized she had said the wrong thing, and seeing that Consort Xian was ignoring her, she wished she could slap herself twice.

Upon hearing this, Consort Ruan came out of her palace: "Your Majesty looks quite well now. When one's complexion is good, one's health will recover quickly. I was wondering why I could still hear the voices of the two elder sisters in the courtyard, since they had already left, so I came out to check."

Consort Xian was annoyed by the three people's chatter. Ever since she injured her body, she had disliked talking to people, especially now that the three of them were sitting around her, chattering away and giving her a headache.

She was just about to ask someone to help her back.

Consort Dong spoke up: "Your Highness Consort Xian, yesterday when I passed by the Imperial Garden, I saw Consort Shu holding the Third Prince and admiring the flowers in the Imperial Garden."

Third Prince!
Upon hearing these three words, Consort Xian slowly turned her head and glanced at Consort Dong.

"Your Majesty, I entered the palace late, but I know that the Third Prince is Your Majesty's own son. No matter how good Consort Shu is to the Third Prince, he can't be as good as you, his birth mother, can he?"

"Since Your Majesty has put it this way, we will speak frankly as well." Consort Ruan glanced at Consort Tong and Consort Dong: "The three of us are willing to follow Your Majesty. In the future, if Your Majesty ever needs our help, please let us know, and we will do our best to assist you."

As soon as Consort Ruan finished speaking, Consort Xian suddenly laughed: "So, what do you want to do?"

Ruan Changzai glanced at the palace maids behind Consort Xian. When they saw Consort Xian nod, the maids consciously stepped aside.

“Your Majesty, His Majesty entrusted the Third Prince to Consort Shu because Your Majesty is unwell and fears that someone might take advantage of this to harm the Third Prince. If Consort Shu were to suffer any mishap one day, she would naturally be unable to raise the Third Prince. In that case… His Majesty would not be able to find another foster mother for the Third Prince.” Consort Ruan deliberately lowered her voice, speaking in a tone that only the four of them could hear.

By ruining Consort Shu, we can get the Third Prince back.

How could Consort Xian, who had been in the palace for so many years, possibly understand the reasons behind this?

“Your Majesty, we are speaking from the heart. We were indeed a bit presumptuous in saying these things to you today. Please consider it for a few days, and we will come to pay our respects to you another day.” Consort Dong stood up after speaking, and Consorts Tong and Ruan also stood up.

Although Consort Xian said nothing and responded to nothing, she had Xia Fuchuan escort the two of them to the gate of Jingyang Palace.

I reckon this deal is pretty much done.
-
Shen Qingwan was helpless. When she paid her respects to the Empress Dowager this morning, the Empress Dowager brought up the fact that the three new concubines had not yet served the Emperor.

Receiving a royal salary means being at the mercy of the royal family; even if she is the empress, it doesn't matter.

Emperor Yuanwu was unwilling to favor the new concubine, and she, as the empress, had no choice but to do so; she couldn't very well tie him up and send him to the new concubine's bed.

Not to mention the new concubines, even she, the empress, has not been able to serve the emperor. How is she supposed to manage this matter?

(End of this chapter)