"Your Highness, the Fourth Prince requests an audience!" Granny De entered the side hall where Consort De was enjoying the cool evening air and addressed Consort De, who was reading a book.

"Let him come here. Why now?" Consort De put down her book and said with slight surprise. It was just after lunch, and shouldn't the Fourth Prince be in the Ministry of Revenue at this hour?

"Your son greets Mother!" The Fourth Prince strode in with firm steps.

"Sit down, Huirong, bring the Fourth Prince an ice bowl!" Consort De closed the book and gave the order.

"Mother, has Lady Niohuru come by?" The Fourth Prince asked directly after sitting for a while. He and Consort De could never be as intimate as he was with the Fourteenth Prince; he couldn't do it!

Consort De had already met the Fourteenth Prince and learned that the Fourth Prince had taken good care of him along the way, and had even mentioned to Emperor Kangxi that the Fourteenth Prince should go to the Ministry of War for training. She felt somewhat relieved for her eldest son, the Fourth Prince, who was usually quiet and reserved.

"Yes. She came to the palace. She talked about some things. I am also investigating the source of those things." Consort De knew that her son would not come to the palace without a reason, so she said this.

"Did Mother find anything out?" The Fourth Prince was still thinking about what Lanqin had told him. He was very unhappy. Who would dare to extend their reach into his mansion? They were really disrespecting him, the Fourth Prince.

Seeing the Fourth Prince's expression, Consort De knew he had come to seek justice for Lady Niohuru. Logically, it was only right that she should speak up when her daughter-in-law had been wronged. Consort De also felt somewhat guilty towards Lady Niohuru, but now that the Empress Dowager was involved, she had to be extremely careful!

"What, did Niohuru send you to ask Mother?" Consort De was used to being independent, and now that the Fourth Prince had come to ask her, she naturally assumed that Lanqin had been whispering in his ear, so she couldn't help but feel a little unhappy.

Upon hearing Consort De's words, the Fourth Prince naturally knew that she had misunderstood, and quickly said, "Niohuru was quite calm, and even almost got bitten by a poisonous snake. It's just that I think someone has gone too far."

Consort De asked in surprise, "Is she alright? She's eight months pregnant."

Fourth Prince said, "Luckily, she wasn't bitten. Song Gege in the manor was bitten and almost didn't make it. I haven't managed my household well, causing Mother worry. However, I think we still need to investigate the matter of the bewitching incense thoroughly, otherwise some people will act with impunity."

Consort De asked, "Wasn't the Fujin (princess) confined to her quarters by you? How dare she cause trouble again?"

The Fourth Prince said, "Ulanara has been under house arrest, but I can't imagine who would dare to be so presumptuous! There is no evidence yet, but once the evidence is complete, I will not tolerate it!"

The Fourth Prince also felt that this matter was inextricably linked to his wife, and his disgust for her grew even stronger. However, without evidence, he could not take any explicit action against her. Confinement was merely a punishment he imposed on her within the manor; she remained the Fourth Prince's wife.

Consort De lowered her eyes, the sandalwood prayer beads in her hand making a clattering sound. Yet another member of the Ulanara clan!

"Regardless, she is still Fei Yanggu's legitimate daughter, and the fourth consort personally chosen by your imperial father. At this critical juncture, you'd better not cause trouble in your own household!" Consort De sighed, then continued, "I think Niohuru is a sensible and lively person. You can explain the situation to her. The consort is not to be touched at the moment!"

The Fourth Prince's hands clenched unconsciously. He knew that Consort De's words were the truth. But how could he tolerate that woman now relentlessly harming his own children?

“Mother, without the support of the Ulanara family, can your son not do anything? I think if Father Emperor knew what she had done, he would certainly not tolerate it.” The Fourth Prince held back for a moment, but still couldn’t help but say this.

"She is, after all, the principal wife. Who cares when the principal wife deals with the concubines! As long as she doesn't commit treason or harm the imperial heir, your father won't think it's a big problem." Seeing that this was the first time the Fourth Prince had revealed his true nature in front of her, Consort De could only comfort him.

The Fourth Prince remained silent for a long while before asking, "Mother, have you found anything about the bewitching incense?"

Consort De nodded and said, "I have made a discovery, but Mother also needs to consider whether it is appropriate to tell your Father Emperor at this time."

"It's intolerable that the Imperial Household Department still harbors such harmful things. Mother, are there other people in the palace using such insidious methods to harm others?" The Fourth Prince couldn't help but ask, seeing that Consort De seemed to be holding back in her words.

"You don't know what happened back then. When you were still in your mother's womb, people were already plotting against you," Consort De said. Then, Consort De took the opportunity to tell the Fourth Prince about Consort Qi's affairs, all the way up to the time when Consort Qi suddenly died in the Cold Palace a few days ago.

As the Fourth Prince listened to Consort De's account, he felt increasingly uneasy. After all, Consort De came from a humble background, and it was truly remarkable that she had managed to get to where she was today.

"Mother, are you saying that someone instructed Consort Qi to do that?" the Fourth Prince asked.

Consort De nodded and said, "Consort Qi said that this person is someone Mother cannot afford to offend. Therefore, the matter of the bewitching incense in Niohuru can only end here. If we investigate further, Mother is afraid that we will uncover more unpredictable things. If we then cross your father's bottom line, it will be difficult to handle."

The Fourth Prince nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "Mother, this matter can only end here. Mother, I was wrong in the past, and I had many grudges against you. I will not do that again. Mother is my birth mother, and I will always put you first."

Hearing the Fourth Prince's words, the deepest maternal love in Consort De's heart melted away like an iceberg. The old nanny, De, who was serving nearby, was overjoyed to see the mother and son reconcile.

"Your son has matters to attend to at the Ministry of Revenue. Mother, please rest," said the Fourth Prince.

"Alright, go ahead and attend to your business. Your mother will investigate the matter thoroughly in the palace," Consort De said with satisfaction.

After the Fourth Prince left, Granny De said to Consort De, "Your Highness, the Fourth Prince has finally become close to you."

Consort De nodded and said, "Reward! Huirong, go open my storeroom and pick out some things for Niohuru, the best of everything! She's about to give birth, so let me first add some joy to my two grandchildren!"

Granny De readily agreed and happily led her people to Consort De's storeroom to select items. Consort De was happier than anyone else that her relationship with the Fourth Prince had improved.

Our Comrade Lanqin is currently resting in her southern courtyard, unaware that a large number of treasures have already been moved out of Consort De's storeroom and are being prepared to be sent to her.