Since Emperor Yuanwu ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager had been enjoying her retirement in the Cining Palace and rarely interfered in the affairs of the inner palace.
Why was she suddenly summoned today?
Consort Shu had a vague sense of unease.
"Bin'er, keep an eye on the Seventh Princess. I'll be right back," Consort Shu instructed Bin'er with concern.
"Your Majesty, don't you want me to come with you?" Bin'er asked, her brow furrowed.
"You stay here to take care of the princess, and let Xiao Shunzi come with me."
Standing in front of the gate of Yikun Palace.
Consort Shu took a deep breath.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects. May Your Majesty live a thousand years!"
"Consort Shu has arrived." The Empress Dowager, who was drinking her medicine, looked up at Consort Shu and said, "Get up quickly."
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Consort Shu glanced at the medicine bowl in Wang Mama's hand and hurriedly went over: "Your Majesty, let me serve you your medicine."
The Empress Dowager nodded: "This medicine is very bitter, it's better not to take it."
"Your Majesty, good medicine tastes bitter. After you finish this medicine, may I find you some candied fruit?" Consort Shu coaxed patiently.
At this moment, she became even more panicked.
The Empress Dowager's sudden summons of her was definitely not just to tell her whether the medicine was bitter or not.
"No wonder the Emperor dotes on you." The Empress Dowager took the medicine bowl and couldn't help but sigh, "It's Consort Shu who knows how to care for people."
Consort Shu paused, her smile momentarily freezing: "Your Majesty, I also wanted to please the Empress Dowager."
"I know you are cautious, but..."
The Empress Dowager paused, holding her hand, and continued, "I am getting old, and the Emperor is preoccupied with state affairs every day. The palace can't just have a few children. You still need to take care of things in the harem."
Consort Shu turned pale with fright and hurriedly knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, I am only temporarily in charge of the affairs of the inner palace. Now that Her Majesty the Empress is in good health, the affairs of the inner palace should still be handled by Her Majesty the Empress. Otherwise, I will be truly terrified."
The Empress Dowager reached out to pull Consort Shu: "Don't be afraid, I didn't mean anything by it."
Consort Shu knelt on the ground, not daring to get up.
At that time, Emperor Yuanwu had just ascended the throne.
He didn't like the empress at all, only to consolidate his power.
As an emperor, one may be fond of something for a while, but governing the country is another matter entirely.
"I know how the Emperor has treated the Empress all these years." The Empress Dowager helped Consort Shu up from the ground. "Of course, I have also seen how the Emperor has treated you. Although there were some misunderstandings between you and the Emperor before, the Emperor was only thinking of the bigger picture. Please do not blame the Emperor in your heart."
Consort Shu, who had just stood up, trembled and knelt on the ground again: "Your Majesty, I dare not."
"I still want to entrust this selection of concubines to you," the Empress Dowager said with a sigh. "Looking at the entire harem, only by entrusting it to you can I feel at ease."
Why were there so few children in the imperial harem?
Consort Shu lowered her head, unable to figure out what the Empress Dowager meant.
"As the Empress's concubine, you must consider the Emperor's interests in everything you do." The Empress Dowager sat up straight.
"Yes," Consort Shu said softly, "Your Majesty's teachings will be followed."
"The royal family is not like an ordinary family. Promoting offspring is also part of the government's affairs." The Empress Dowager said leisurely, "Once the young ladies enter the palace, you should naturally remind them to produce more offspring for the royal family. They should not compete for the emperor's favor in the harem, but should persuade the emperor to bestow his favor equally on them."
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