Chapter 8
[What else?]
System: [Host, I need more time to investigate.]
Sheng Yanhuan narrowed her round eyes slightly.
The Emperor’s women were all part of the imperial harem.
In her previous life, she had been confined as soon as she entered the palace. After the wedding ceremony, the Emperor suddenly collapsed and fell into a coma, so she never had a chance to interact with the women of the harem.
[Was Chunwan poisoned?]
[Yes. The system has an antidote pill. The poison won’t take effect for three days, so you can make a big deal out of this.]
Sheng Yanhuan narrowed her eyes. The harem.
She hadn’t wanted to fight with these women, but they were courting death.
“Your Highness, Your Highness...”
“All right.” A slight smile tugged at Sheng Yanhuan’s lips. She picked up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth, chewing slowly.
Chunwan: “Your Highness, how does it taste? The Empress Dowager personally chose this imperial chef for you.”
“Mm, it’s not bad. Sit down and eat too.”
Chunwan’s eyes lit up, and she didn’t refuse.
“Yes.”
The palace maids exchanged glances, but none of them dared to speak.
Chunwan was a servant from the Sheng family, whom the Empress had brought into the palace before her own arrival. The two shared a close bond as mistress and servant, unlike anything the Empress shared with the other palace maids.
Just as she set down her chopsticks, Steward Zhao walked in and bowed, her expression composed.
“Your Highness, the consorts have come to pay their respects.”
Sheng Yanhuan’s eyes flickered. She casually picked up a teacup and took a small sip.
Seeing how leisurely she was, Steward Zhao couldn’t help growing anxious.
“Let them wait.” As soon as she finished speaking, Sheng Yanhuan picked up her chopsticks and continued eating.
Steward Zhao knitted her brows and opened her mouth as if to say something.
Sheng Yanhuan narrowed her eyes. “What are you standing there for? Go on.”
Steward Zhao froze and looked up.
The young woman’s expression was cool, and her beautiful, glass-like eyes fixed on her. At first glance, she looked rather intimidating.
Once she had calmed down, she felt she must have been overthinking it. Wasn’t she just a little girl?
The Empress Dowager had sent her to help the Empress manage the harem.
She had planned to “teach” her a good lesson.
Steward Zhao bowed again. “Your Highness, you are the Empress, the ‘future’ head of the harem. It would be best for you to get along with the consorts in the various palaces.”
Those two words—“in the future”—were rather pointed.
It meant the Empress Dowager was still the one in charge of the harem, and the Empress wasn’t yet in a position to look down on others.
Sheng Yanhuan’s lips curled slightly.
Her little face was as lovely as a peach blossom, and when she smiled, it was like a spring breeze—simply breathtaking.
A trace of disdain passed through Steward Zhao’s eyes. With a face like a wanton hussy’s, it was no wonder the Empress Dowager disliked her.
“Steward Zhao, there’s no need for you to worry about that.”
Sheng Yanhuan knew what she was doing; she didn’t need anyone else to criticize her.
Besides, this was one of the dogs most loyal to the Empress Dowager.
She hated anything connected to the Empress Dowager.
“You!” Steward Zhao’s temper flared, and she opened her mouth to reprimand Sheng Yanhuan. But as a veteran of the palace, she ultimately held back.
She had served the Empress Dowager since childhood; even the Empress Dowager had to show her some respect, let alone this newly installed Empress! She wouldn’t listen? Just wait and see how much longer she could keep swaggering around!
“Since the Empress won’t heed my advice, this old servant will go attend to the consorts in the various palaces.”
Before Sheng Yanhuan could say a word, Steward Zhao turned and walked out, completely unafraid of making her angry.
The others exchanged glances, then all followed Steward Zhao out to attend to the consorts in the various palaces.
They had all been assigned from the Empress Dowager’s palace, so naturally they listened to Steward Zhao.
The few who stayed behind weren’t so foolish.
The Empress was carrying the Emperor’s child. If she gave birth to a prince, she would rise to the very top. What place would there be for the Empress Dowager then?
They might as well curry favor with the Empress.
Sheng Yanhuan raised a brow and set down her chopsticks.
“Come help me get dressed. We can’t keep them waiting too long, either.”
“Yes.”
Though she’d said that, the palace robes were complicated, and Sheng Yanhuan took her time choosing one. After she was dressed, she still needed makeup and a new hairstyle.
Half an hour later, the consorts outside had grown tired of sitting.
“Your Highness, do you think the Empress is doing this on purpose?”
Lady Liu was impatient. After waiting half an hour, she finally couldn’t hold back any longer.
As the saying went, a new official had three fires to light—not to mention a newly installed Empress.
“Younger Sister Liu, don’t say that. The Empress is carrying the Emperor’s child, so naturally she has to be careful.”
Noble Consort Meng was gentle and refined, with a lovely, delicate face. She wasn’t the most beautiful among the palace consorts, but she was very eloquent. As the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter, she had been greatly favored by the Emperor over the years.
The consorts in the harem all respected her and were eager to befriend her.
“Hmph, the Emperor’s child? Who knows whose it is.”