Yan Qing sat back down at the head of the table. Apart from the noise of Consort Xian, no one dared to utter a sound in the room. The title of illegitimate daughter was a taboo for Consort Yan, and they all knew it.

"Consort Xian has shown no respect for hierarchy, spoke rudely, and even fought with other concubines in the harem, which is extremely improper. She shall be given twenty strokes of the bamboo cane and twenty slaps as punishment. In accordance with His Majesty's wishes, she shall be confined to her own palace." Yan Qing toyed with her hands; anyone could tell she was angry.

Consort Xian was unwilling, but what could she do? She could only be dragged away. Consort De glanced at Wenxi beside her, and Wenxi immediately realized what was happening and followed her out.

"Are you unhappy?" Consort De secretly looked at Yan Qing.

"That's what made you angry. Everything was fine, but you had to cause trouble for me. Are you bored?" Yan Qing looked at her.

"I was just so bored. I finally got to see a joke, and I couldn't resist..." Consort De also felt a little guilty.

"You're not bored, you just want to vent your anger, right? You've been in a bad mood lately because of the eldest princess?" Yan Qing could easily tell. She knew Consort De better than anyone.

"...I didn't," Consort De continued to deny.

“The eldest princess is still young and inevitably doesn’t understand things. You don’t need to take it so seriously,” Yan Qing said.

“After all, she used to live with her biological mother, so it’s natural for a child to be closer to her mother. As time goes by, she’ll naturally forget. If you’re really good to her, she’ll remember it in the future,” Yan Qing added.

She knew that although Consort De didn't say it, she still harbored some resentment. The child she was raising now was completely devoted to his former biological mother, Consort De. Although Consort De was impulsive and straightforward, she was also someone who easily became emotionally attached.

Over the past two months, she had also developed feelings for the eldest princess, which is why she cared so much. Feeling uncomfortable but unable to vent her anger on the eldest princess, she turned to Consort Xian.

"I understand," Consort De said somewhat reluctantly, perhaps because her thoughts had been guessed, which made her feel awkward.

"You should tone down your temper a bit. If you really get into trouble in the future, I won't be able to protect you. You'll be grounded after you go back today," Yan Qing said.

Upon hearing this, Consort De objected: "No, why should I also be confined to my quarters? She's the one who's in the wrong."

Yan Qing glanced at him and said, "Didn't you provoke them first?"

"Yan Qing~" Consort De called her by her name directly.

"That's enough. The confinement is for your own good. It'll give you time to calm down and properly handle your relationship with the eldest princess." Yan Qing's words left no room for refusal.

Consort De: "..."

"So be it, I'm leaving. I can't be bothered to talk to you anymore. Why do you have so many rules? Just like my father." Consort De said and left. Yan Qing watched her departing figure with a sense of helplessness.

"Consort De's temperament hasn't changed at all." A palace maid came to add tea for Yan Qing.

"It's not easy for her to still have this personality after being in the palace for so long. But this may not be a good thing." Yan Qing's face was full of worry.

"With Your Highness here, what problem could Consort De possibly have? Your Highness need not worry too much," the palace maid advised.

“There are always places I can’t watch over. The imperial concubine selection is in a month. Once there are newcomers, I wonder how lively the harem will be.” Yan Qing took a sip of tea.

Now that the four positions of imperial consort are all filled, those below will likely resort to all sorts of underhanded tactics to climb the ranks. Moreover… His Majesty has yet to appoint an empress.

Thinking about all this...

"Does His Majesty still go to He'an Palace every day?" Yan Qing asked.

“His Majesty only goes to Consort Chenshu’s place once he enters the inner palace, and he has never gone anywhere else,” the palace maid replied.

"Stay away from He'an Palace these days and don't provoke anyone. Also, remind the people under Consort De to be careful not to offend anyone," Yan Qing instructed.

"yes"

"My head hurts. I'll rest for a while. Don't bother me unless it's something important." Yan Qing stood up with the help of the palace maids. There were many trivial matters in the harem, and she had been exhausted these days.