Consort Rong was dressed in a sandalwood-colored qipao today, with kingfisher feather hairpins in her hair. She looked very dignified and solemn, but also quite old-fashioned.

Her words were aggressive, but Dong'e Hailan responded with a smile. Her fair and delicate face, with rosy cheeks, was truly radiant and youthful.

"Mother, you are overthinking it. Everyone in your palace is tight-lipped. How could they be so ignorant as to spread rumors? If that were true, they should be dragged out and beaten to death." Dong'e Hailan bowed respectfully, her words sharp and barbed.

Consort Rong was so angry she nearly fell over: "Yin Zhi has spoiled you rotten!"

"A virtuous wife brings fewer troubles to her husband. My father often praises his daughter-in-law for her virtue, saying she is a blessed wife who has accumulated good fortune for eight generations." Dong'e Hailan lowered her head shyly, a sight that made Consort Rong's teeth ache with envy.

As long as Dong'e Hailan doesn't lower herself, Consort Rong can neither hit nor scold her.

The usual tactics of a mother-in-law sending a concubine to her son were nothing to Dong E Hailan.

Consort Rong picked up her teacup and took several large gulps of tea to suppress her inner rage.

"If I had known you were so eloquent, I would never have asked the Emperor to betroth you to Yinzhi," Consort Rong said indignantly.

Dong E Hailan sat upright, her demeanor impeccable from head to toe.

“Mother is right,” Dong E Hailan said calmly.

"What a spineless wretch! If your belly were as smooth as your tongue, I wouldn't treat you like this." Consort Rong stared at Dong E Hailan's flat belly, her anger rising.

"Do you know how smug Consort Yi was just now? Yinqi is two years younger than Yinzhi, and now that the eldest son of a concubine has been born, there's not a single word from you. Have I mistreated you? There's been no news from any of you, not even a daughter. But you, especially you, made such a fool of yourself last time, disgracing both me and Yinzhi!"

Consort Rong became increasingly aggrieved as she spoke, until her eyes turned red.

Dong E Hailan had no choice but to get up. If she really angered her mother-in-law to tears, she would be committing a grave crime of filial impiety.

"Mother, your daughter-in-law hasn't had her period for two months," Dong E Hailan said softly.

"Didn't you do the same thing last time? What did they diagnose in the end? Indigestion, weakness, no signs of pregnancy." Consort Rong's eyes lit up with surprise at first, then she curled her lips in a disdainful sarcasm.

He looked as if he and Dong E Hailan were mortal enemies who had killed each other.

Although she didn't have much hope for Consort Rong, Dong'e Hailan couldn't help but feel angry seeing Consort Rong's reaction.

"Mother, my daughter-in-law had her pulse checked by the Imperial Hospital before being betrothed. No one can say for sure about the fate of having children. Does she not want to have any? She and her concubines in the back courtyard have drunk plenty of bitter medicine as well," Dong E Hailan said with great momentum.

“Every wife has had her share of bitter medicine, what are you so smug about?” Consort Rong said.

"Your daughter-in-law wouldn't dare, but Mother, you've been through this age too, please understand," Dong E Hailan softened her tone.

If Consort Rong is truly angered, she will be committing a grave offense.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were locked in a battle of wits, while the palace maids trembled in fear, terrified of becoming the targets of their mistresses' anger.

The palace maid who had just gone to fetch Dong E Hailan was bumped out by the young ladies next to her, breaking the tense atmosphere.

She was always valued by Consort Rong, and Consort Rong listened to what she said: "Your Highness, today Physician Zheng is here to take your pulse. He will arrive in about half an hour. Since the Third Princess Consort is not feeling well, why don't you ask Physician Zheng to take a look at her as well?"