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

Chapter 78 Appearances are in harmony but minds are separate
"There is only one Imperial Noble Consort position. I heard that His Majesty has already chosen someone. In the entire palace, only Consort Xian is worthy of the title of Imperial Noble Consort," Consort Dong flattered.

This silly kid's team shouldn't be too obvious.

Consort Dong was only thinking about how to flatter Consort Xian, but she didn't realize that when she said those words, she offended everyone in the room, especially Consort De and Consort Shu. The moment Consort Dong finished speaking, they unconsciously glanced in her direction.

Shen Qingwan sat on the high seat, watching the people below bickering. She felt bored. What was the use of Emperor Yuanwu's favor? It wasn't like he had actually issued an imperial edict. Even if Consort Xian was promoted to the position of Imperial Noble Consort, she was still just a concubine. She still had to come and pay her respects to the Empress every day.

Shen Qingwan ate little for breakfast, and her mind was full of thoughts about what to eat for lunch. However, many of the things she craved could not be made in this era. She tried to make some, but they all ended in failure. In this cold weather, if she really couldn't make them, some noodles with soybean paste and a few Laba garlic would be fine.

However, if she ate Laba garlic for lunch, the smell in her mouth would probably not dissipate until tomorrow morning. Fortunately, Emperor Yuanwu would not come to her palace unless necessary, so she did not have to worry about this or that all day long in order to gain Emperor Yuanwu's favor, and she could not enjoy eating.

When Shen Qingwan had decided what to have for lunch, she noticed that the people sitting below seemed to be mostly silent.

She added a couple more sentences and then decided to call it a day.

"The weather in the palace is getting colder and colder, and the cost of charcoal is increasing. The best charcoal is only being sent to the palaces of a few pregnant concubines, as well as those with princes and princesses. Of course, we shouldn't forget the eldest prince's side. As for how to distribute the rest, Consort Shu and Consort De can decide. If there's nothing else, let's call it a day. The roads are slippery in the snow, so all of you sisters, please be careful on your way back and don't slip."

After giving her instructions, Shen Qingwan got up.

In the past, when she finished speaking, the concubines would all rush to get up. What's wrong with them today? They all just sat there motionless.

Just as Shen Qingwan was wondering, Consort Xian was the first to stand up: "Seeing that Your Majesty the Empress is also tired, then I will go back first and come to pay my respects to Your Majesty the Empress again tomorrow."

After Consort Xian finished speaking, the other concubines also stood up and said, "This concubine takes her leave."

Shen Qingwan sat on the stool, watching their departing figures one after another: "What's going on today?"

"Your Majesty," Zhen'er's expression instantly became somewhat complicated, "Do you really not know, or...?"

Zhen'er didn't dare to say the word "pretend".

"What?" Shen Qingwan was even more puzzled.

Zhen'er said with difficulty, "Just now, several concubines were talking about how the Emperor intended to promote Consort Xian to Imperial Noble Consort. Suddenly, you brought up the pregnant concubines, princes, and princesses. Isn't this a slap in the face to Consort Xian and those who flatter her? Your Highness, aren't you afraid they will hold a grudge against you?"

“Hold a grudge?” Shen Qingwan sneered: “Do you think that if I don’t say or do anything, those people won’t hold a grudge against me? They want more than just the Imperial Noble Consort or the Noble Consort; they want my position as Empress. How many of those sitting below are truly sincere? They are all scheming and hypocritical.”

“Your Majesty is right.” Zhen’er nodded in agreement.

She was just wondering to herself when her mistress had become so insightful.

“Unless I decide to step down as Empress, they’ll all be hoping I kick the bucket every single day.” Shen Qingwan couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

Rather than listening to their nonsense, it's better to eat and drink well. As long as Emperor Yuanwu is around, no one will dare to mistreat her, the empress. Since ancient times, no empress has ever committed a serious crime, nor has she been deposed without cause.

Even if the emperor dotes on his concubines, if one of them is deposed, it will cause a huge uproar in the court.

The ministers would not agree to depose the empress without cause.

If Emperor Yuanwu had died before him, that would have been even better; wouldn't he have become the esteemed Empress Dowager? No matter which new emperor ascended the throne, as long as he remained peaceful and untroubled in the harem, he would live a life of plenty.

In any case, instead of constantly bickering and fighting with those concubines, it's better to eat and drink well and take good care of your health.

With good health, one can enjoy even greater blessings.

The words may be rough, but the meaning is sound; it's just that it sounds a bit awkward.

"Oh, right, tell the imperial kitchen later that I want to have zha jiang mian (noodles with minced meat sauce) for lunch, with extra fried sauce, and also bring me some Laba garlic."

Zhen'er: ...

How does their mistress manage to eat even at a time like this?

While listening to the concubines' chatter, when their mistress was lost in thought, could she have been thinking about what to have for lunch?

Zhen'er was on the verge of tears. Ever since her mistress recovered from her illness, she really only had a heart for eating.

At lunchtime, just as the imperial kitchen had delivered the Laba garlic and fried sauce noodles, Emperor Yuanwu arrived.

Shen Qingwan put down her chopsticks and curtsied: "Your Majesty, why have you come at this hour?"

Emperor Yuanwu was taken aback: "What? Can't I even come to the Empress's Kunning Palace?"

Shen Qingwan: ...

"No, that's not it. You are the Emperor, this entire harem belongs to you, so Your Majesty can go wherever you want." Shen Qingwan paused, then asked, "Your Majesty, have you had lunch yet?"

Emperor Yuanwu glanced at her, assuming she was still angry from that day, and considering her young age, he didn't bother to argue with her.

After the morning court session, the Empress Dowager summoned him and spoke highly of the Empress, especially regarding the handling of Consort Qi's affairs. Consort Qi's relatives even submitted a memorial to express their gratitude.

The Empress Dowager's previous discord with Consort Qi was largely due to the late Emperor.

Now that the late emperor is gone and Consort Qi has also passed away, if it were anyone else, they would only try to please the Empress Dowager and would naturally not care about Consort Qi's family.

Shen Qingwan not only handled the matter well, but she handled it beautifully. The Empress Dowager gained a good reputation for not holding grudges, and Consort Qi's relatives also had to thank the Emperor for his great favor. Most importantly, the things she bestowed were indeed impeccable to outsiders, and Consort Qi's family did not gain any advantage.

This matter was handled brilliantly, pleasing the Empress Dowager and saving face for Emperor Yuanwu.

Having just left Cining Palace, he came straight here. When Emperor Yuanwu's gaze swept across the table, his eyes darkened: "Why is this all the Empress has for lunch? The Imperial Kitchen is really getting better and better at its job, even the Empress's lunch is so perfunctory. Someone, Wu Jixiang!"

Seeing that Emperor Yuanwu was about to lose his temper, Shen Qingwan hurriedly stopped her: "Your Majesty, it was I who asked the Imperial Kitchen to send over the noodles with soybean paste, it has nothing to do with them."

(End of this chapter)