The Female Psychology PhD Who Time Traveled to the Royal Harem

The saying "water that is too clear has no fish" is something everyone understands, so as long as things aren’t too excessive, the Emperor tends to turn a blind eye.

Consort Shu stretched lazily, saying, "I really hope this war ends tomorrow. Otherwise, we won’t even be able to play cards anymore."

The main concern was that if the censors found out, it would become public knowledge.

While the common people’s loved ones were shedding blood and sacrificing their lives on the frontlines, fighting for their stable lives, these pampered consorts were leisurely playing cards.

If she were one of the commoners, she would curse them too.

But they didn’t know how to fight—even if they were thrown onto the battlefield, it wouldn’t make a difference!

The Empress had already issued an order: until the war was over, no grand banquets, extravagant spending, or merrymaking were allowed in the palace.

In short, the message was clear: while people were risking their lives for us, we must not add salt to the wounds of their families.

If necessary, the consorts would also have to donate money and supplies to ensure that the soldiers of Great Yan did not suffer from lack of resources.

The Empress said, "The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‍common people themselves said that having an Empress with such vision and compassion was a blessing for them.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

As the end of the year approached, the weather grew colder.

The capital had already seen several heavy snowfalls, and the snow-covered world had become a playground for the children.

Although the atmosphere in the capital had become more solemn, no one could stop children from playing—it was their nature.

The Crown Prince listened as Grand Preceptor Jing analyzed the war situation between Great Yan and Goguryeo, presenting several response strategies. He couldn’t help but feel a little sorrowful.

Returning to Kunning Palace, the Crown Prince threw himself into Jiang Xinyue’s arms and cried, "Mother, is it because Great Yan isn’t strong enough that others dare to bully us and challenge us?"

"This question isn’t one I can answer fully. You should ask your father," Jiang Xinyue replied.

No matter how clever she was, she had never been an Emperor, nor had she raised one.

Even though the Emperor was a man of ancient, feudal thinking, he had been trained by the previous ruler and had been on the throne for so long. The cunning and tactics of a ruler should never be underestimated.

Jiang Xinyue didn’t want her little dumpling to become a fickle and promiscuous man, but she hoped he would be like his father—a diligent and benevolent ruler.

With her guidance, it would be even better if he could surpass his father.

Shen Mingye tilted his little head, wriggled out of Jiang Xinyue’s arms, and toddled off on his short legs, running back to the study in Kunning Palace.

Women often handled tasks with more care and attention to detail than men. The four maids in charge of the study—Xiazhi, Qiuhe, Dongxue—were exceptionally skilled at organizing, arranging the memorials in perfect order.

As a result, the Emperor’s efficiency in reviewing documents in Kunning Palace had increased severalfold.

In Chengqian Palace, Wang Dequan and Tang Shiliang had also assigned eunuchs to keep things in order, ensuring everything was meticulously arranged for the Emperor.

Except for the tea-serving maids, few palace maids were allowed to enter and serve when the Emperor was present.

Comparing the two, it was clear that while both were good, one was slightly better.

When it came to attention to detail, men still fell a little short.

"Father!"

A blur of yellow rushed in and climbed onto the Emperor.

Without even looking up, Tang Shiliang knew that the little whirlwind had to be the Crown Prince. No one else would dare to charge into the Emperor’s presence so boldly.

"Ouch!"

The Emperor caught the little monkey as he jumped up, pretending to be in pain as he clutched his chest. "You hurt your father!"

The Crown Prince looked startled and immediately began rubbing his father’s chest. "Huff, huff... I’ll blow on it, and it won’t hurt anymore."

The little boy’s expression was exactly how Jiang Xinyue used to comfort the Emperor.

The Emperor played along, smiling dotingly. "Wow! After my little dumpling blew on it, it really doesn’t hurt anymore!"

The Crown Prince grinned sheepishly. "Then, if Father hurts again, I’ll blow on it for you."

The Emperor radiated paternal warmth. "Of course."

The Crown Prince stuck out his tongue, remembering why he had come. "Father, Grand Preceptor Jing said that Goguryeo wants to attack us. Why are they so bad? Why do they want to fight us?"

The Grand Preceptor had said that wars would claim many lives, and many people of Great Yan would lose their loved ones.

He didn’t want his father’s people to suffer.

This question had no simple answer. Every ruler had ambitions and dreams of unifying the world.

Whether it was for their grand vision or to provide a better life for their people, they all wanted to seize the best and most suitable lands for survival.

Nowhere was more ideal for long-term settlement than the Central Plains of Great Yan.

This was why the Jin Kingdom to the north harbored ill intentions toward Great Yan, constantly sowing discord between Great Yan and its vassal states, hoping to eventually conquer Great Yan.

If they succeeded, the Jin Kingdom, as the strongest power, would inherit everything Great Yan once possessed.

Fusang and Goguryeo were shortsighted, never realizing that it was precisely because Great Yan and the Jin Kingdom were evenly matched that so many vassal states could survive.

If either Great Yan or the Jin Kingdom were destroyed, none of the smaller states would survive.

Not to mention the Jin Kingdom, which was known for its underhanded tactics and lack of principles.

Even the Xuanwu Emperor himself, if he achieved a decisive victory over Goguryeo in this war, would undoubtedly press the advantage and erase Fusang and Goguryeo from the map.

Then, using the Jin Kingdom’s interference in Great Yan’s internal affairs as a pretext, he would declare war on them.

If successful, Great Yan would unify the world. If not, it would simply return to the status quo, with Great Yan and the Jin Kingdom coexisting in the east and north, keeping their distance.

It would also serve as a wake-up call to the Jin Kingdom, reminding them that Great Yan was not powerless against their schemes.

The Emperor settled the Crown Prince on his knee. "It’s because they know that on your father’s land lies the most precious treasures in the world. They want to steal, destroy, and claim those treasures for themselves. That’s why you must grow strong. When you’re strong enough, you can protect everything you care about."

The little dumpling thought for a moment, then widened his eyes in anger. "How awful! They want to take Mother and my sister away!"

After all, weren’t Mother and his sister the most precious treasures to his father?

The Emperor was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. "Yes, you’re not wrong to think that way. So, to protect your mother and sister, we must grow strong and drive those bandits out of Great Yan."

The spies Ma Yiyang had captured had already confessed. They had sent word to Hui Yuan to have Noble Consort Jin killed.

During his interrogation in the Ministry of Punishment, Hui Yuan also admitted that their king had sent Princess Jin Lihua to kill Jiang Xinyue and her children.

However, the mission failed, and Jin Fengyu decided to kill Jin Lihua and frame Jiang Xinyue to justify starting a war.