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

Chapter 97 Punishment

Shen Qingwan: ...

"I mean, if you were in that situation, could you accept it?"

Shen Qingwan felt that Zhen'er's answer was somewhat irrelevant, so she simply repeated what she had just asked.

"Your Highness." Zhen'er paused in wiping Shen Qingwan's hair. "Ning Gai isn't planning to marry Zhen'er off, is he?"

Zhen'er put down the comb in her hand and knelt up straight: "Your Majesty, this servant does not want to get married. This servant is willing to serve Your Majesty in the palace for the rest of her life. Please give up such thoughts."

Zhen'er was so frightened that her face turned pale. She knelt on the ground and kowtowed several times.

Shen Qingwan: ? ? ?

"Don't worry, if I really want to arrange a marriage for you, I will ask for your opinion first. I won't make decisions on my own, and I certainly won't let you become anyone's concubine." Shen Qingwan turned back, feeling resentful.

"Your Majesty, please don't go to sleep yet. If you don't dry your hair, you might have a headache when you wake up tomorrow. But Your Majesty, even if you were the principal wife, I wouldn't want to marry you. You are the Empress, and the Emperor is not..."

Zhen'er realized she had said the wrong thing after saying this.

The whole room fell silent instantly; even the sound of breathing was exceptionally clear.

Just as Zhen'er was wondering how Yao could apologize to Shen Qingwan, she carefully placed the comb in her hand and stood up, only to find that Shen Qingwan had already fallen asleep.

Zhen'er patted her pounding heart, still shaken.

so close.

The next morning, Shen Qingwan woke up exceptionally early. She hadn't slept so soundly in a long time. Taking a bath was not only comfortable, but also truly relaxing.

Zhen'er helped Shen Qingwan comb her hair and took out an exquisite wooden box.

"Your Majesty, didn't you lose your purple pearl earring when you went to Huguo Temple last time? Another one was sent from the South China Sea, made overnight, and delivered this morning. Would Your Majesty like to wear it today?"

As Zhen'er spoke, she brought over the entire set of jewelry that had previously been made of purple pearls.

Shen Qingwan took the two earrings out of the box.

At first glance, the two earrings do look exactly the same, but once placed side by side, it is obvious that the color of the replacement is much darker.

"Never mind, let's try something else."

Choosing the earrings took a while, so Shen Qingwan did indeed leave her palace quite late.

She hadn't even reached the entrance of the main hall when she heard Consort Ruan's voice.

"If we're talking about shrewd people in the harem, it has to be Consort Rou. We're all waiting anxiously for the Emperor, but he never shows up. Yet Consort Rou, knowing that the Emperor was going to the Empress's palace, didn't hesitate to go and express her gratitude, even if it meant walking on ice. In the end, she not only had dinner in the Empress's palace but also managed to abduct the Emperor." Consort Dong clicked her tongue in amazement.

Just as Zhen'er was about to help Shen Qingwan lift the curtain, she was stopped by Shen Qingwan raising her hand.

"I heard that Consort Rou entered the palace during the imperial concubine selection. She not only rose three ranks but also received a title. She must have some seductive skills," Consort Ruan said with a smile.

"Indeed, in all these years in the palace, apart from seeing the Emperor treat Consort Li so well, I've never seen him show such favor to any other concubine. But Consort Rou is lucky. She became pregnant not long after entering the palace. If she gives birth to a prince, she'll be promoted to a high-ranking concubine in no time," Consort Chun said with a smile. "Consort Rou is so cautious, hiding in her Zhongcui Palace all day long, never stepping out of the main gate. It makes all the sisters in our harem like fighting cocks. Do you think we can eat her alive?" Consort Dong rolled her eyes as she spoke.

"Whether she'll eat it or not? We don't know, but this Consort Rou is really precious. The Empress Dowager, who is currently pregnant, arranged for her to have her old imperial physician, whom she has used for decades, go to her." Consort Tong said.

"Hehe, I heard the other day that this Consort Rou was suffering from severe morning sickness and even vomited blood. Since she was feeling so unwell, she didn't stay obediently in Zhongcui Palace, but actually had the nerve to go to Kunning Palace to compete for the emperor's favor," said Consort Dong.

"It's strange today. Her Majesty the Empress is usually quite early every day, so why is she late today?" Consort De changed the subject.

Dong Changzai sneered, "If you ask me, the Empress must have been so angry last night that she couldn't sleep at all. But anyone would be angry in this situation. Her favor has been snatched away, and she's lost all face and dignity..."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingwan lifted the curtain and walked into the main hall.

Everyone turned pale with fright, especially Dong Changzai, who was talking enthusiastically, and he slumped onto the stool in a daze.

Shen Qingwan calmly walked to the chair in the center of the main hall and sat down.

"This humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty be blessed."

The crowd knelt and bowed, each with their own thoughts. Everyone looked around anxiously, afraid that this matter would implicate them, especially those who had been chatting happily just moments before, who were now covered in cold sweat.

Shen Qingwan remained silent, and no one dared to stand up; they remained polite and restrained.

“Dong Changzai, you shall be fined three months’ salary and slapped thirty times.”

Consort Dong, who had been kneeling, sat down on the ground immediately after hearing the Empress's words.

Su Tianhe was equally unceremonious, and the moment Shen Qingwan finished speaking, he led his men in.

"Your Majesty." Although Consort De knew she shouldn't speak at this time, Consort Dong was still a newcomer and someone from her palace.

Although she didn't mention Consort Rou just now, when someone in the palace makes a mistake, the principal wife will also be punished.

Shen Qingwan remained silent, staring intently at her.

But that look in her eyes sent a chill down Consort De's spine: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I know that Consort Dong was in the wrong. She shouldn't have talked about Consort Rou behind her back. But considering that Consort Dong has only been in the palace for a short time and is not familiar with the rules, please be lenient with her."

Shen Qingwan sneered: "She may not be familiar with the rules of the palace, but I can tell she knows everything about the trivial matters of the palace. Consort Dong did more than just talk about Consort Rou behind her back; the treasonous things she said were acts of insubordination. I only had her slapped thirty times, which is already a light punishment. Does Consort De have anything else to say?"

To avoid looking awkward, Consort De lowered her head even further.

"Consort Tong and Consort Ruan, your salaries will be reduced by three months." After Shen Qingwan finished speaking, she turned her gaze to Consort Chun: "Consort Chun, these women have only recently entered the palace and do not understand the rules of the palace. Don't you understand the rules of the palace either? As a senior member of the palace, you have not set any example. When they were talking about Consort Rou, you not only did not advise them, but you also fanned the flames. Your salaries will be reduced by half a year!"

The color drained from Consort Chun's face instantly, leaving her pale. A six-month salary deduction was a severe punishment. Although she was a consort, she was far from being favored. Her monthly allowance was barely enough to cover the palace's expenses. Without her salary for six months, wouldn't that be the death of her?

Consort Chun's tears streamed down her face uncontrollably: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me, Your Majesty?"

"Forgive me? Shouldn't I be thanking you?"

(End of this chapter)