Thanks for simplifying it
Thanks for explaining. Now I know that there's three 'idiots' not just one and that, for that reason, I shouldn't read this. The ex emperor for not only believing that secretly sending his other son to investigate wouldn't cause complications with the ML son, who was basically forced into the Emperor position because of it and into a marriage with someone he believes loves his brother, but also thinking that the FL wanted to get involved in these schemes in the first place, when clearly she doesn't. The FL because she's completely fine with her maids believing they will have to take a reduction in their pay, so she's actually acting more UNkind than anything. And the ML for obvious reasons, since he's treating someone who has nothing to do with his problems like garbage.
From what i understand. The empress dovnguars is the previous empress and mother of White haired older brother. Current emperor is thought to be the son of a consort (tho may also be the former empresses child) Noone knows because the former mepress has been "asleep/ uncouncious" for years. Emperor looked up to his brother, but the brother gave up his right to the throne and left. Emperor despises him for that, but also because brother had a prety close relationship with FL( gifted her the bed she uses). Emperor is most likely jelous of his brotehr / wifes relationship and acts out by being distant... and hench letting his consort run amock, hoping the FL will get jelous.
Emperor dosn't seem to know that FL is a smart and skeaming woman, he just thinks shes weak and powerless.
Empress acts weak and powerless because she knows the politics of the palace and that high nobels support the consort.. and belives the emperor favors the consort.
Ex emperor knows FL is a skeemer, hench why he chose her. He seems to know that the consorts family is in cahoots with some other nobels... and i have the feeling that the empress dovnguard "ilness" may be the results of him failing to stop their skeem. So he sent away the targeted son to work from the shadows / investigate. And instated the Emperor, but has come to realize... the emperor may be a stubborn idiot. Even gives his son hints about keeping the consort under controle and to trust his empress.. yet the son slashes the budget used to keep the empress dovngard better.
The EMperor is ignoring that they have limited funds jet wanted to use them for the "emporess"..while also slashing the empresses budget and spending a fortune on the consort..
Emperor is a complete idiot, wanting the Empress to "get better" but cuts the budget for her place, dosnt keep his consort under controle (letting her spend as she sees fit and run around as she sees fit). Yet he is shocked that the Empress.. the Mother of the nation is putting the ppl first.. He is an idiot who is in love with the Empress, but jelous because he belives she favors his older brother.. so he acts like a prick, hoping she will run to him begging. But everytime she comes pleading it dosnt go his way.