Li'an Palace.

"Waste! Concubine Shu is such a waste!" The angry Zhaoyi Wang Lin couldn't help but smash the porcelain in her hand, cursing Concubine Zhao Shu.

"The imperial concubine is also a waste!" Wang Zhaoyi scolded all three people above the rank of concubine. She always felt that these three people were obviously concubines, but they had no ability at all.

"Hmph, it's all because of your family background!" Wang Zhaoyi cursed.

Imperial Concubine Li Xia was the daughter of the Grand Tutor. Because her father was a Grand Tutor, she became an Imperial Concubine as soon as she entered the palace because of her family background.

As for the virtuous concubine Liu Xue, her father was a general. Of course, it was not an exaggerated statement that he controlled half of the military power of the Qin Dynasty, but it was almost the same.

The virtuous concubine's father was a great general who had made many military achievements, and her brothers were also very capable, so she was named the virtuous concubine.

The Shufei relied even more on her family background. Just because she was the empress dowager's niece, she was directly given the title of Shufei.

If Concubine Li's family background had not been more prominent, the Empress Dowager would have been able to suppress Li and let her niece become the Concubine.

Now Li Xia can become a noble concubine and the head of the concubines in the palace, all thanks to her better family background than other concubines.

Wang Zhaoyi also relied on her family background, but she became Zhaoyi, the head of the nine concubines, and could not become Defei, one of the four concubines.

There were four concubines: Gui, Shu, Xian and De. As a result, Qin Mu left the position of "De Concubine" vacant and did not let Wang Lin occupy the concubine position.

"Someone come here." After Wang Zhaoyi had gone crazy enough, she called her trusted palace maid over.

"Your Majesty." The trusted palace maid bowed and waited for instructions.

"Go tell Concubine Wang about the family background of the new Concubine Shu." Wang Zhaoyi tried to calm herself down.

Concubine Wang was from the Wang family of Langya, and was of the same clan as their Taiyuan Wang family, but she did not have a very good relationship with them.

The main reason is that she is a second-rank Zhaoyi, while Concubine Wang is only a fourth-rank beauty. Concubine Wang feels psychologically unbalanced when facing Concubine Wang.

But now Wang Zhaoyi has given Concubine Wang a new target of disgust.

She was also a fourth-rank beauty, but turned out to be a merchant's daughter, and an ordinary tofu-making woman at that.

With such a background, she is on par with the daughter of Langya Wang family. Wang Zhaoyi believes that Concubine Wang will not let this beautiful lady go easily.

"Also, try to sow discord between Concubine Shu and Concubine Shu." Wang Zhaoyi said.

On the first day of Lady Shu's entry into the palace, His Majesty hadn't even asked her to sleep with him when she was snatched away by Concubine Shu. She believed Lady Shu must have some grudge against Concubine Shu, and she was trying to sow discord between them, hoping to sit back and watch the fight unfold...

The trusted palace maid obeyed the order and she would definitely complete the master's instructions.

…

Cining Palace.

"Your son pays his respects to the Queen Mother. May your mother be blessed with good health." After Qin Mu arrived at the Cining Palace, he respectfully saluted the Queen Mother.

Empress Dowager Zhao was a low-profile figure in the late emperor's harem, but she managed to ascend the throne of Empress Dowager, which shows that she was not incompetent.

The reason why Qin Mu was able to succeed to the throne was also due to the Queen Mother’s ability.

Qin Mu was still somewhat indulgent towards the Queen Mother. Even though he didn't like Concubine Shu, he still fulfilled the Queen Mother's wish and let Zhao Yin enter the palace and named her Concubine Shu.

In fact, according to the status of the Zhao family, it was Wang Lin, the girl from the Taiyuan Wang family, who could sit on the throne of concubine. It was only because Zhao Yin was the niece of the empress dowager that she surpassed Wang Lin.

"The emperor is here." The empress dowager looked up at the tall man in front of her with a dazed expression, but she quickly calmed down.

"I haven't seen the emperor for a long time. Today I hope you can accompany me for dinner. I hope I won't disturb you," said the empress dowager.

"Don't bother me," Qin Mu said. "I have neglected my mother. From now on, I will come to pay my respects to her every day."

"No need." The Queen Mother refused without thinking.

When she was still a concubine, she got up early every day to pay her respects to the Queen and the Queen Mother. She had long been tired of such a life.

Now that she has finally become the empress dowager, she doesn't want people to come and pay their respects to her every day.

She had set the rules for the concubines in the harem to pay their respects to the Cining Palace on the first and fifteenth day of each month, and that they had to come to pay their respects at half past the hour of Chen (7:00-8:59).

The emperor needs to attend court. If he has to pay his respects to her every day, then he has to get up early to pay his respects to her before going back to court, right?

How early should the emperor come to pay his respects to her?

She doesn't want to get up so early.

The Queen Mother said "No need" neatly, and after seeing Qin Mu's expression, she quickly explained, "The Emperor is so busy dealing with so many state affairs every day, how could he waste his time on me?"

"How can being filial to your mother be a waste of time?" Qin Mu said seriously.

The Queen Mother: "...Your Majesty, I just don't want anyone to disturb my rest."

"If you come to pay your respects every day, do you have to pay your respects to me during the Mao hour (5:00-6:59)? Or during the Yin hour (3:00-4:59)?"

The Queen Mother felt very uncomfortable at the thought of having to get up so early.

She didn't feel old at all. She had been living a life of luxury for so many years. She was only in her forties and still very young and healthy. It was not the time for her to sleep less, so she didn't want to get up so early.

Qin Mu nodded as if he had just understood what the Queen Mother meant, "I understand."

Since he couldn't come early to pay his respects, he would find time to come from time to time to have lunch or dinner with the Queen Mother.

"Okay, I've asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite chestnut crisps and roasted lamb legs for you. Please eat more." The Queen Mother greeted Qin Mu with a smile.

When Qin Mu sat down, he saw Concubine Shu sitting next to the Queen Mother, with her expression unchanged.

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "Yinyin saw that I was lonely in the Cining Palace, so she came to keep me company. She is such a filial child."

"Empress Dowager, I also want to show my filial piety to Your Majesty." Concubine Shu smiled and said, "Empress Dowager, may I serve you some food?"

In front of Qin Mu, Concubine Shu did not often call the Queen Mother "Aunt" casually. After all, she was Qin Mu's concubine, so of course she had to call her in the way Qin Mu did.

The Queen Mother was not only her aunt, but also her mother-in-law. In order to give Qin Mu a good impression, she certainly couldn't call her "Aunt". She had to call her "Queen Mother" or "Queen Mother".

Of course, only the emperor and the empress can call her "Mother". Concubine Shu wants to call her that, but she is not qualified now.

"Your Majesty, try this chestnut pastry. I supervised the kitchen to make it. See if you like the taste." Concubine Shu picked up a piece of chestnut pastry and put it in Qin Mu's bowl and said.

Before Qin Mu could move, a young eunuch behind him stood up and tasted the chestnut crisp first.

This is the poison-testing eunuch beside the emperor.

The expressions of the Empress Dowager and Concubine Shu did not change. After all, the Emperor always ate like this, even when he was in his own Qinzheng Hall. How could they ask him not to use eunuchs to test for poison in the Cining Palace?

Fortunately, they didn't tamper with today's meal.