I Became the Harem Intrigue Champion by Slacking Off

Song Yuanzhao entered the palace at eight to serve as a study companion to the Grand Princess. She thought she would simply muddle through life, but overnight her family was arrested and exiled, and she was separated from her father and brothers.

Consort Fu, a favored consort whom she had met only once, reached out to help her and placed her at the side of the Fifth Prince, Zhao Xu, to pave the way for her own son to ascend the throne.

Song Yuanzhao: Working for a favored consort is still just work in the end. But if my husband manages to become emperor, at least I can be a Noble Consort.

A wise bird chooses its tree, though being a Noble Consort isn't exactly a good tree either.

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From then on, Song Yuanzhao's motto was to lie flat and get by: slack off and give half-hearted answers, seeming diligent while being lazy every single day.

Consort Fu: Administer this poison once every three days. Make sure you don't miss a dose.

Song Yuanzhao instead did it once every three months, and, with a careless flick of her hand, spilled most of the packet outside, where the wind scattered it.

Consort Fu: Tell me everything about Zhao Xu, from major matters like changes in the household staff to little things like what he ate today and how many cups of tea he drank.

Song Yuanzhao: His Highness ate, took a walk, read, and slept today.

Consort Fu, at the end of her patience: You said the same thing yesterday, the day before, and every day before that.

Song Yuanzhao: The Fifth Prince really is that boring...

Consort Fu: That makes a lot of sense, but why do I feel like she's messing with me?

Living a double life was thrilling and exciting. She worked diligently and earnestly for the Noble Consort, while staying true to herself around the Fifth Prince. No one else could drag her into the rat race. If she just lay flat, she could surely survive to the end.

But why was the ending different from what she knew?

She coasted all the way until Zhao Xu successfully ascended the throne, then suddenly realized that lying flat could make her the champion of palace intrigue, too.

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This is a fictional Song Dynasty, though its institutions draw on various dynasties. I just like the name Zhao Xu; everything else is made up.

Theme: Freedom is worth more. Reject the rat race.