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

Chapter 88 Foresight
Zhen'er listened and understood.

"In that case, it is also because of Eunuch Xia that you have been kind to him."

“Eunuch Xia did indeed do me a favor. Later, because I was from the same hometown as Eunuch Xia, he originally wanted me to serve at Yonghe Palace. But somehow, by some twist of fate, I ended up at Kunning Palace,” Xiao Cui said truthfully.

A coincidence?

It's likely that this was a premeditated plan.

Consort Xian had always been Emperor Yuanwu's most favored concubine. For the eunuch in charge of her affairs, getting a palace maid from the laundry department was as simple as saying a word. It's likely that Xia Fuchuan had planned for Xiao Cui to come to Kunning Palace to serve her.

Why would a head eunuch like him just happen to pass by the laundry department, which is quite far from Jingyang Palace? Or was he from the same hometown?
"What is your purpose in telling me all this now?" Zhen'er asked resentfully.

"Aunt Zhen'er, I really dare not deceive you, nor dare I betray Her Majesty the Empress. I know how good Her Majesty the Empress has been to everyone in Kunning Palace. Even if Eunuch Xia has been kind to me, I would never do anything to betray Her Majesty the Empress." Xiao Cui knelt on the ground, clutching the silver pouch in her hands, and kowtowed repeatedly, almost crying.

"Alright, since you have such loyalty, then come in with me and tell Her Majesty the Empress about this matter, so that Her Majesty can make a decision."

Xiao Cui stood up from the ground and followed Zhen'er into Shen Qingwan's bedroom.

“Your Majesty…” Zhen’er walked to Shen Qingwan’s side and told her exactly what Xiao Cui had just told her.

Xiao Cui was terrified, her face turning deathly pale. Large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead as she knelt on the ground, trembling. "Your Majesty, this servant truly dares not betray Your Majesty. This servant has already told Eunuch Xia that this servant is merely a lowly maid in Kunning Palace, unable to get close to the Empress, and unaware of Her Majesty's usual preferences. Yet Eunuch Xia still stuffed this bag of money into this servant's hand... this servant..."

Shen Qingwan listened to Zhen'er and Xiao Cui's words, her face remaining calm and showing no emotion: "Since the people from Jingyang Palace have given you money, you can accept it."

"Your Majesty." Xiao Cui held the silver bag above her head with both hands and kept kowtowing: "This servant serves in Kunning Palace every day. Your Majesty has treated this servant very well. This servant would never dare to accept this silver money. This servant entrusts this bag of silver money to Your Majesty for safekeeping."

Shen Qingwan remained silent, simply watching her kowtow.

Zhen'er glanced at her sideways and said, "Since Her Majesty has told you to get up, then get up."

“But…” Xiao Cui paused, then looked up at Shen Qingwan: “Your Highness, this servant…”

"Since you have such loyalty, I will naturally not treat you unfairly. You can take the money that Jingyang Palace gave you, but I will not only let you take it, I will also give you double."

Xiao Cui's eyes lit up when she heard Shen Qingwan's words: "Your Highness."

“However, I have one request: if Jingyang Palace asks you to do anything, you must inform me immediately,” Shen Qingwan said.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will do as Your Majesty says and will never betray Your Majesty." Xiao Cui knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, her eyes glistening with tears of emotion.

“However, I have one request.” Shen Qingwan’s expression turned serious: “From now on, no matter what Jingyang Palace asks you to do, you must inform me immediately. Can you do that?”

"Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant can definitely do it." Xiao Cui knelt on the ground and kowtowed several times.

Shen Qingwan gave Zhen'er a wink, and Zhen'er took Xiao Cui to collect the reward money.

When Zhen'er returned, the imperial kitchen had already delivered breakfast, and Shen Qingwan was drinking yam soup from her bowl.

"Your Majesty is truly surprised. This Xiao Cui is quite loyal. I've never seen her have much contact with Your Majesty before," Zhen'er couldn't help but sigh.

Shen Qingwan sneered: "I don't know whether she's loyal or not, but find a reliable person to keep an eye on her for me."

Zhen'er's eyes flickered, slightly puzzled: "Your Majesty, if she wanted to betray you, she wouldn't have told you about this. Since she told you, why did you do this?" "Just as you said, she hasn't had any contact with me before. Why would she choose me over someone who has been kind to her?" Shen Qingwan countered.

"Huh?" Zhen'er looked bewildered.

“If she told me this just to lower my guard, and if one day she really does contact someone from Jingyang Palace and gets caught by the people from Kunning Palace, then telling me this today will be her best bargaining chip for self-preservation,” Shen Qingwan said.

Zhen'er couldn't help but swallow hard: "Your Majesty is truly farsighted."

Shen Qingwan didn't speak, but lowered her eyes to look at the soup in her bowl, her brows furrowing deeply.

She doesn't fight or compete, but that doesn't mean she lets anyone climb on her head and shit on her.

Since Jingyang Palace is so restless, it has harbored this intention towards her.

If she does something in the future, we can't blame her.

Breakfast had just been finished and the room hadn't been cleared yet when someone from Zhongcui Palace came to report that Consort Rou had experienced a miscarriage.

Shen Qingwan quickly tidied herself up and hurried to Zhongcui Palace.

When she arrived, Emperor Yuanwu was already there, along with Consort Shu, Consort Xian, and Consort De.

It's true, this pregnancy was tough for Consort Rou. While other pregnant women get fatter and fatter, she suffered from severe morning sickness, couldn't eat anything early on, and kept vomiting, even vomiting blood. Instead of gaining weight, she looked thinner than usual, and her complexion wasn't very good.

When Emperor Yuanwu came out of Consort Rou's palace, his face was even more unpleasant: "How did she suddenly have a miscarriage? Didn't I repeatedly tell you to take good care of Consort Rou's pregnancy? What exactly is the Imperial Hospital doing?"

The imperial physicians were so frightened that they knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Consort Rou's spleen and stomach are too weak. Your humble servants have done their best to help her regulate her body and protect her pregnancy," said Imperial Physician Zhao.

"Doctor Zhao means that it's all Roupin's own problem, and we should just leave everything to fate?" Emperor Yuanwu said, emphasizing each word.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, that's not what I meant," said Physician Zhao, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Then tell me what exactly you mean?" Emperor Yuanwu sneered.

Shen Qingwan glanced at the kneeling Physician Zhao and felt helpless.

It seems that this Physician Zhao is a straightforward person.

When replying to the emperor, one cannot simply say whatever comes to mind.

Even though Consort Rou was unwell, the Emperor was in a fit of anger at the moment, so she had to be tactful in her reply.

This is just asking for trouble, like walking into the line of fire.

"Your Majesty, now is not the time to dwell on this. Preserving Consort Rou's pregnancy is of paramount importance," Shen Qingwan advised. "Your Majesty..."

(End of this chapter)