The First Lady remembered the family backgrounds of her sisters-in-law perfectly. In her opinion, the congratulatory gift that Tong Wanyan sent should be ordinary and unremarkable.

"Who sent this gift? What a generous gesture!" The eldest prince turned his head.

The First Princess handed the invitation to the First Prince: "It's from the Crown Prince. This gift is truly too generous."

Tong Wanyan presented a ruby ​​and gold longevity lock. The ruby ​​was of pure color and had a perfect facet hanging below the lock, almost blindingly bright.

Yinreng had no mother to honor, nor a younger sister, and the finest jewelry piled up in the storeroom had all become dull in color.

Tong Wanyan put in a lot of effort to pick out the best and most auspicious congratulatory gifts from Yinreng's storeroom.

The eldest prince pondered for a moment: "There will always be an opportunity to return the gift."

“You’re right, sir.”

The First Lady put away the lacquer box, summoned her personal maid, and solemnly conveyed a message of thanks to Tong Wanyan.

After receiving the reply, Tong Wanyan hummed in response and then forgot about it, continuing to draw her picture of the carp leaping over the dragon gate.

The inspiration for this painting of carp leaping over the dragon gate came from an afternoon when she and Yinreng strolled through the garden and threw food into the lake, causing the koi to jump out of the water and frolic.

Under the sunlight, the golden scales reflect on the water, creating a stunning scene.

Such an auspicious scene made her think she should share it with the ailing Imperial Noble Consort.

After the First Prince's second daughter's full-month celebration was completed, Kangxi's expectations were not met.

Not only that, the Imperial Noble Consort seemed to have offended something, and her illness worsened.

Her already thin cheeks became even more shockingly gaunt.

Emperor Kangxi was filled with anxiety, thinking that he was probably about to lose another person he loved dearly.

He wrote the imperial decree to elevate the Imperial Noble Consort to Empress again and again, destroying it one after another.

There is a folk legend that he was a jinx to his wives, as both of his empresses died young.

He wanted the Imperial Noble Consort to be posthumously granted the title of Empress, enjoying the honor of being the mother of the nation. Yet, he also feared that the position of Empress would become her death warrant.

Having spent a long time by the Emperor's side, Yinreng watched as Kangxi grew thinner and thinner along with the Imperial Noble Consort, and his heart began to waver.

"Father, the Tong family has been getting quite close to my elder brother lately," Yinreng subtly pointed out.

The imperial edict issued by Emperor Kangxi was destroyed once again.

"I understand. It is not appropriate for the Imperial Noble Consort to be made Empress," Kangxi said.

Yinreng felt no remorse for causing the Imperial Noble Consort to lose her position as Empress. That's how it is in the royal family; the outcome depends on how the struggle unfolds.

"Father, I've heard that the Imperial Noble Consort is very fond of my concubine." Yinreng served Kangxi a cup of tea and sat gently to Kangxi's right.

Kangxi leaned back wearily in his chair: "Continue."

"After the Consort recited scriptures for the Imperial Noble Consort last time, the Imperial Noble Consort seemed to have recovered much. I think it might be because the Consort and the Imperial Noble Consort's horoscopes are compatible," Yinreng said.

"The Master said, 'You should not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits.' Father, I was just worrying too much for a moment. Please pretend you didn't hear me!"

Kangxi ignored Yinreng's subsequent words of explanation, and his cloudy eyes slowly brightened.

"Summon Lady Tongjia of Yuqing Palace to serve the Imperial Noble Consort during her illness!" Kangxi said, full of energy.

Fortune and wealth are found in danger; one can either rise to the top in a day or fall to the bottom in a day.

Yinreng pushed Tong Wanyan in front of Kangxi, saying that if the Imperial Noble Consort recovered, Kangxi would remember her kindness for the rest of his life.

If the Imperial Noble Consort were to pass away, Emperor Kangxi would only harbor the deepest hatred for Tong Wanyan.

Rumors spread throughout the palace that the Crown Prince, for the sake of Kangxi's favor, was willing to sacrifice a concubine to her death, truly showing his cold-heartedness.

Upon hearing this news, both Tang and Fan breathed a sigh of relief.

Yuqing Palace and the inner palace were not far apart, and the servants often bumped into each other, whispering and gossiping about their masters.

Tong Wanyan was neither blind nor deaf; the rumors, though filtered through several layers, still reached her ears.

Tang and Fan secretly communicated with their maternal families, urging them to fuel the fire and ensure that Yinreng would develop a dislike for Tong Wanyan.

Unfortunately, their outstretched claws were immediately chopped off by Yinreng's men.

These two were purely men who used their beauty to please men; even the extinction of their families would have no impact on Yinreng.

Their lives and deaths were of no concern to Yinreng.

After court, Yinreng held Tong Wanyan in his arms and pinched her cheek: "Little Yan seems to have gained weight?"

Tong Wanyan's eyes widened, her almond-shaped eyes became round, and her small mouth pouted slightly, like a fish that had been poked.

"You're the one who's gained weight! You're the one who's gained weight! I'm suffering from summer heat, I'm eating less and less. I can barely swallow, my chin is so thin it could poke someone!" Tong Wanyan said aggrievedly, determined not to back down at this moment.

Yinreng stroked his head gently and said, "I like you even if you're chubby. You'll be plump and smooth, and feel good to the touch."

Tong Wanyan looked at Yinreng pinching her lower abdomen in despair. She shouldn't have met him wearing her undergarments.

Look at this guy, making a scene in broad daylight! Confucius must be turning in his grave.

Snap!

Tong Wanyan slapped Yinreng's hand away expressionlessly: "This is an illusion."

Yinreng laughed so hard he almost fell over: "How can my little face be so adorable? Come here, let me give you a kiss."

Tong Wanyan glared at him angrily and pushed his face away forcefully.

Yinreng went along with her, not forcing her: "Have you heard those rumors?"

Tong Wanyan rolled her eyes lazily: "I knew it all along, they're all so stupid. My husband treats me with all his heart, unlike them who are so heartless. What do you call that, seeing only the petty in the petty? With such a narrow perspective, how far can they possibly go?"

"Sir, I believe you!"

Tong Wanyan criticizes outsiders relentlessly, but her protective nature is incredibly endearing.

Yinreng nodded in satisfaction: "Xiao Yan is absolutely right. I never do anything without certainty! The Hesheli clan's branch in Shengjing recently unearthed a mature thousand-year-old ginseng. Suo'etu has ordered it to be sent over by fast horse, and it should arrive tomorrow. With it, the Imperial Noble Consort can at least stay alive for two more months."

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