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

Chapter 96 Concubines
"Why is the Empress drinking chrysanthemum tea in her palace today? Usually, the Empress prefers osmanthus tea?"

When Emperor Yuanwu said this, he had another thought in mind. Could it be that the Empress was in a good mood and gave all the osmanthus tea to the concubines in the palace, leaving none of the spoils?

Osmanthus flowers bloom every autumn. If everyone has already enjoyed them all, then the best osmanthus tea will probably have to wait until next Mid-Autumn Festival.

As Emperor Yuanwu sighed inwardly, he heard Consort Rou's voice: "Your Majesty, did you bring the wrong cup? This is osmanthus tea."

The two opened their cups, and sure enough, one cup contained osmanthus tea and the other chrysanthemum tea.

“That’s right.” Shen Qingwan smiled faintly: “I only noticed that His Majesty’s lips were a little dry, so I had the servants replace the osmanthus with chrysanthemum when brewing the tea. Chrysanthemum is the best for clearing heat, calming liver yang, and improving eyesight.”

Emperor Yuanwu paused for a moment after hearing what Shen Qingwan said, then picked up his teacup and took a big gulp.

"Your Majesty the Empress is so perceptive, I..." Consort Rou lowered her eyes somewhat embarrassed, "I didn't even notice."

It wasn't that Shen Qingwan was particularly observant; it was just that when Emperor Yuanwu arrived and spoke to her, he clearly noticed an unusual odor in his breath.

Consort Rou was constantly bowing, either kneeling or with her head bowed, so it was naturally not easy to notice her.

However, even if she discovered it, she couldn't say it directly, as she still had to consider the emperor's reputation.

Since I can't say it's bad breath, I can only say it's dry lips.

“These are minor matters. His Majesty instructed the servants to add some honeysuckle to your tea. It’s cold today, and spending all day in a room heated by charcoal is making us feel parched,” Shen Qingwan said.

Emperor Yuanwu seemed to be in a good mood at this moment. He nodded in agreement and drank another bowl of chrysanthemum tea.

Everyone says that this hot pot meal is more fun when there are more people. The three of us sat together, eating and chatting, and it took us almost an hour to finish our dinner.

Emperor Yuanwu came to Kunning Palace for dinner, and presumably he also intended to rest there.

Consort Rou, not wanting to disturb them any longer, said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, I shall take my leave now. It is getting dark, Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress should rest early."

After Consort Rou finished speaking, she stood up, and Shen Qingwan also stood up.

"Su Tianhe, ask if the carriage is repaired yet? Why hasn't it been delivered yet?" Shen Qingwan asked.

She didn't dare let Consort Rou go back alone during the day, let alone at night.

It's so difficult for the Emperor to have an heir. He finally found a pregnant concubine, and according to Physician Zhang's report, it seems to be a prince. She should be even more careful.

"Your Majesty the Empress," Su Tianhe bowed and entered. He glanced at the Emperor out of the corner of his eye and cautiously replied, "The carriage has been repaired, but Consort Xian used it. Perhaps this servant should go and ask her if she has finished using it?"

There was more than just one imperial carriage in the palace; there were other imperial carriages as well.

However, due to the distinction between the empress and other concubines, the sedan chairs used in Kunning Palace, apart from those reserved for the empress herself, were naturally the best among the concubines.

Meanwhile, the imperial carriage that the Empress was supposed to use before dinner was taken by Consort Xian. Regardless of where Consort Xian wanted to go in the middle of the night, it was clearly a bit deliberate.

This put Consort Rou in a difficult position. "Your Majesty, it's alright. I will be extra careful on my way back. I won't disturb Your Majesty and His Majesty's rest any longer. I'll go back now."

As Consort Rou got up to walk towards the door, Shen Qingwan quickly stopped her: "If you don't want to ride in the sedan chair, then Your Majesty should accompany Consort Rou back. The child in Consort Rou's womb is the most important thing right now, and Your Majesty has also been tired all day. It's good for you to rest at Zhongcui Palace."

Consort Rou was not familiar with Shen Qingwan and did not know the meaning behind her words. She was so frightened that she shuddered and said, "How can I let Your Majesty accompany me back? I am pregnant now and it is not convenient for me to serve you in bed. Your Majesty, please let the Empress stay in her palace to rest. I will go back first."

Emperor Yuanwu:? ? ?

Could it be that in the eyes of the concubines in the harem, Emperor Yuanwu was a lecherous man?
Concubines who cannot serve the emperor will be kept at a distance, and the emperor will only visit the palaces of concubines who can serve the emperor.

The Imperial Household Department seems to have always arranged things this way, but this is not his true wish. He is an upright monarch, and the harem is also for the sake of the imperial heir.

"I will escort you back." After saying this, Emperor Yuanwu reached out his hand to Wu Jixiang beside him.

Wu Jixiang hurriedly draped Emperor Yuanwu's cloak over his shoulders.

Consort Rou was completely stunned. At this moment, she was not worried about Emperor Yuanwu, but rather about Shen Qingwan.

Although this twist of fate was not her intention, it was already quite reasonable for her to have shared a meal between the Emperor and the Empress. Now, by further vying for the Empress's favor, if the Empress were to hold a grudge, she feared that in the future...

Consort Rou naturally dared not say anything to stop Emperor Yuanwu from going. She was just a minor concubine, and if she disobeyed the emperor, she might be dragged into the Cold Palace.

She really couldn't understand what Emperor Yuanwu meant. She thought that when the Empress asked Emperor Yuanwu to accompany her back, it was just a polite gesture. He actually took it seriously. Since she couldn't serve the Emperor in bed, it would be better for her to stay in Kunning Palace instead of going back to Zhongcui Palace with her.

While Consort Rou was still lost in thought, Emperor Yuanwu had already taken a step and walked to the door.

Consort Rou glanced back at the Empress with some apprehension in her heart. Seeing that the Empress's expression was calm and that there was a faint smile on her lips, she slowly felt relieved.

After Emperor Yuanwu and Consort Rou left, Shen Qingwan had hot water prepared for her to take a bath.

The hot pot was delicious, but Shen Qingwan couldn't stand the smell on her body and hair every time she finished eating it.

Taking a bath in winter is the most relaxing thing. While soaking in the bathtub, Shen Qingwan almost fell asleep. After climbing out of the tub, she lay down on the bed.

Zhen'er took a handkerchief and helped her dry her hair. Although Shen Qingwan had told her many times before, she still couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, even if you really don't want to compete for favor, you can't turn away the favor that's already by your side."

Shen Qingwan slowly opened her eyes and glanced at Zhen'er. She naturally knew that Zhen'er was talking about how she had asked Emperor Yuanwu to accompany Consort Rou back tonight.

She wasn't refusing the emperor's favor; she simply didn't want to serve him in bed at all.

She felt that sharing a man with all the concubines in the palace was not a pleasant thing.

"Zhen'er, have you ever thought about what would happen if the man you marry one day had other concubines, and he slept in your room one day, in a concubine's room one day, and in yet another concubine's room the next? Would you be able to accept that?" Shen Qingwan turned over and asked, resting her chin on her hands.

“Your Highness, only sons from wealthy families can have three wives and four concubines, as you say. In ordinary families, even if there are concubines, most of them are maids who came with the main wife as part of her dowry. If the main wife can give birth to several sons, she will not send other women to her husband’s bed. Even if the family has some money, the man may not really dare to marry the woman he likes. The main wife will not agree to it,” Zhen’er said.

(End of this chapter)