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

Chapter 9 Salted Fish
Consort Xian did not speak, but paused for a moment in her hand that was holding the teacup.

"Has the Empress found out?"

"You probably already know, right? It was the Empress who arranged for Consort Wen to live in Zhongcui Palace. Now, Consort Wen is the first among all the young ladies to gain favor, which just happens to suit the Empress's wishes."

"It would be best if they were truly compatible. I'm afraid she's trying to please the Emperor, and in the end, she'll only end up hurting herself."

"I heard that today Her Majesty the Empress took me to the Imperial Garden and picked a lot of flowers."

Consort Xian scoffed, "What's the use of decorating the palace so beautifully? If the Emperor doesn't go, he can only see it by himself. If the whole palace knows, wouldn't it become a laughing stock?"

Xiang'er couldn't help but laugh out loud: "I thought that after the Empress recovered from her illness, she really changed her personality. I didn't expect her to use such a trick as attracting bees and butterflies to win favor."

"If she had just used some underhanded tactics to win favor, that would have been fine. It would have been much better than her uprooting all the flowers and plants in my back garden." Consort Xian's eyes darkened.

The thought of this made her furious, because she was pregnant with the third prince, and the empress had nowhere to vent her anger, so she uprooted all the flowers and plants in her palace.

If the Empress Dowager and the Emperor don't speak up, who would dare risk offending the Empress and restore the courtyard to its former state?

Even if an empress is not favored, she is still an empress.

Whenever she saw the bare yard, she felt suffocated.

Does His Majesty know about this?

"This slave doesn't know."

Consort Xian focused her mind. Tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Emperor was going to the Empress's palace on the fifteenth.

The next morning.

Shen Qingwan was woken up early in the morning by Zhen'er.

"Your Majesty, you really can't sleep anymore. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. The relatives of the Prince's Mansion will come to pay their respects to you later. It's really inappropriate for you not to get up yet."

Mid-Autumn Festival is already here?
Consort Xian manages the harem, so she doesn't need to worry about palace banquets and such; she almost forgot about it.

Shen Qingwan sat in front of the bronze mirror, while Zhen'er helped her with her makeup.

Su Tianhe walked in: "Your Majesty, Consort Rou has arrived."

"Consort Rou?"

Shen Qingwan repeated, puzzled.

"It is Consort Wen. After serving the Emperor last night, this morning the Emperor bestowed upon her the title of Rou."

When Zhen'er said these words, her fingertips trembled slightly as she combed her hair, because she was completely unsure how the Empress would react.

Previously, when Consort Bai in the palace was granted a title, the Empress found a random fault and punished her by making her kneel for an entire afternoon.

He stopped all rewards and half a year's salary, and still found ways to cause trouble for Consort Bai.

Throughout the palace, everyone knew that she was just jealous of Consort Bai's favor and was deliberately picking a fight.

Later, for some reason, the Emperor gradually stopped going to Consort Bai's palace, and the Empress finally calmed down.

"Graceful, gentle as jade and as soft as water, with a shy smile. Her gentle and graceful personality is the kind of temperament the Emperor likes."

Zhen'er: ...

It's hard for her to understand why the Empress doesn't spend all her time focusing on the Emperor these days.

How come they can even praise the titles of other empresses now?

She just couldn't understand any of it.

It's over! It's over!

The Empress must have lost her mind due to illness.

"Let her in."

"This concubine greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed." Consort Rou performed the deepest bow with utmost sincerity.

"Get up. Now that we're all sisters in the palace, make yourself at home. I heard the Emperor stayed in your palace last night. Why didn't you sleep a little longer before coming over so early?"

"I'm here to comb Your Highness's hair."

As she spoke, Consort Rou walked behind Shen Qingwan and took the wooden comb from Zhen'er's hand.

"I have just entered the palace and am still unfamiliar with the rules and etiquette. If I have done anything wrong, please do not take offense. It is Your Majesty's grace that I was able to live alone in Zhongcui Palace as soon as I entered the palace. I have always kept this in mind. These days, I have been learning etiquette from the palace matrons. I have not yet had a chance to thank Your Majesty. Please do not take offense."

Shen Qingwan smiled in relief; so that's what it was. "These are all minor matters; I'm just glad you're comfortable here, sister. If you need anything else, just tell Consort Xian, and she'll take care of it for you."

"I have nothing to lack. When I first entered the palace, Her Majesty the Empress bestowed upon me many gifts. I have nothing to lack."

Speaking of rewards, those things were all prepared by the Imperial Household Department.

The gifts given to the ladies-in-waiting who entered the palace were exactly the same, so there was nothing to thank them for. Consort Rou was really too polite.

However, Consort Rou is quite gentle in nature.

"Your Majesty, it's all done. Please take a look."

Consort Rou stood behind Shen Qingwan, holding a bronze mirror.

"Your Majesty, this is the 'Stunning Swan' hairstyle."

"I never expected that Consort Rou would have such skills."

Shen Qingwan looked at herself in the bronze mirror, turned her head, and indeed looked much more energetic than usual.

Her hair was styled in a bun that resembled a bird or crane about to take flight, incredibly graceful and lively.

The celestial maidens who scatter flowers all wear this hairstyle.

"Your Majesty flatters me. I'm glad Your Majesty is pleased."

As the two were talking, the imperial kitchen delivered breakfast.

"Has Consort Rou had breakfast yet?"

Consort Rou shook her head.

"Then stay and have a meal with us."

Shen Qingwan greeted them warmly.

The two chatted as they ate their breakfast.

"Your Majesty, after getting to know you, I've realized that you seem to be different from the rumors."

Shen Qingwan was taken aback and asked curiously, "What are people saying about me outside?"

Roupin's smile froze. Suddenly realizing something, she hurriedly put down her chopsticks and knelt on the ground.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty, I misspoke."

Shen Qingwan was completely stunned by her kneeling.

She paused for a second, then hurriedly helped the person up from the ground: "We were just chatting, you don't need to be so nervous, get up and eat."

Noble Lady Rou wiped the fine sweat from her forehead. She felt as if she were in a dream, having just narrowly escaped death and inexplicably returned.

However, the Empress seemed to be very approachable and easy to get along with. Even when she said something wrong, the Empress did not blame her.

Shen Qingwan had a completely different mindset. Even though she was giving up like this, why did people outside still have such a deep misunderstanding of her?

No.

It needs to be even more salty.

After having breakfast, Consort Rou left. Before leaving, Shen Qingwan rewarded her with some jewelry.

Shen Qingwan spent the whole day entertaining relatives of the imperial clan, including this princess and that princess, and her throat was dry from talking all day.

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager sent Granny Zhang over; otherwise, she was afraid she would have confused everyone and made a mistake, thus losing face for the royal family.

The Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet was considered one of the larger banquets held in the palace.

It's not good to dress too casually.

Shen Qingwan chose a yellow gown.

When Shen Qingwan's arrogant carriage arrived at the entrance of the Hall of Preserving Harmony.

The relatives of the clan were chatting in small groups.

From afar, I heard someone say, "Prince Rui will be here today too."

(End of this chapter)