"Mother, do you mean that I shouldn't defend my concubine and let the Empress Dowager criticize her like that?" the Fourth Prince asked. Although he had just quarreled with that little woman again, he still had to protect Lanqin in front of others.

“In this palace, that’s how you say things for show. What is your status now? Don’t you even understand that?” Consort De said, her eyes closed, as she slowly rubbed the rice in her hands.

"Mother, I think the Empress Dowager might have ulterior motives in trying to establish a marriage alliance with the Tibetan chieftain this time?" the Fourth Prince asked.

"Our Empress Dowager's thoughts are entirely focused on her maternal family. She's not on the same page as the Emperor. To be honest, the Sixteenth Prince and that Indar aren't even from the same generation," Consort De said.

“The Tibetan Tusi Princess is the Empress Dowager’s youngest sister, and there is a difference of more than ten years between them. Indal is, in name, the Emperor’s cousin,” the Fourth Prince said.

“That’s exactly right. I don’t think the Sixteenth Prince is suitable for this prince; the generational gap is just awkward. However, that Indal seems to have no respect for the Empress Dowager, actually refusing to her face.” Consort De said, “The Empress Dowager wants to get closer to the Tus. In my opinion, if a marriage is really to be arranged, it can be done by publicly choosing a woman of the same generation from the imperial clan. Your father has so many cousins, many of whom are around the same age as Indal.”

“Mother is right. I wonder what the Empress Dowager wanted you and Lanqin to do at Cining Palace. Is it just to watch this farce?” the Fourth Prince asked.

"I'm sure it's not that. There must be something else going on, but they just didn't say it because Indal publicly refused the marriage proposal," said Consort De.

"I have a favor to ask of my mother," said the Fourth Prince.

"This is the first time you've used the word 'beg' in front of your mother. Tell me, what is it?" Consort De said.

"Your son wants Mother to speak to Father Emperor and suggest that after all the nations pay tribute, Lanqin and Hongli return to their residence," the Fourth Prince said. "Your subject begs Mother to say a few more words to Father Emperor, otherwise I am worried that she will continue to live like this."

Consort De remained silent for a few moments, then coughed a few times and said, "It's true that every creature has its nemesis. Your mother has never heard you plead for any woman. Even when your mother disapproved of your relationship with Wanru, you didn't utter a single 'plead'!"

Fourth Master smiled slightly and said, "It's truly a pity that Wu Yawanru has become such a vicious woman. Mother, she's doing very well in Zhanghuatai now, so you don't need to worry."

Consort De sighed, "What a tragedy! Why did they have to cause such trouble instead of living a peaceful life?"

Meanwhile, inside the Cining Palace, there was also a chorus of weeping. It turned out that the Sixteenth Princess had not left the Cining Palace, but had instead gone outside to avoid the humiliation. Being rejected in public by a man like that had utterly disgraced the Sixteenth Princess, and it would affect her chances of finding a husband in the future.

"Don't cry anymore. No matter how hard you cry, it won't change anything." The Empress Dowager was somewhat annoyed by the Sixteenth Princess's crying. She hadn't expected Indal to refuse the marriage in public. Even if she had agreed first and then argued about it later, it wouldn't have been more embarrassing than it is now.

"Grandmother, you must stand up for Ruishu! He rejected the marriage to her face, what will become of Ruishu in the future?" the Sixteenth Princess cried.

"Don't cry. I never expected him to refuse the marriage so openly. I will definitely go and ask him again," the Empress Dowager said. Her makeup was still slightly applied, and her dark cheongsam with five bats and longevity symbols accentuated her noble appearance. She had once been the most beautiful woman on the grasslands, but since marrying into this deep palace, she had become like a dried flower, slowly aging and withering away with time.

“Grandmother, Rui Shu likes Prince Indal very much. As long as you help Rui Shu achieve her wish, Rui Shu will definitely listen to Grandmother and be a good daughter to her.” The Sixteenth Princess said.

"I know you're a good child. Ruishu, he's already refused to my face. Even if I write to the Princess Consort of Tusi and try to force him, it might not work. You can't have such high expectations." Seeing the Sixteenth Princess's eager expression, the Empress Dowager had no choice but to say this.

“Grandmother, as long as you are willing to help, Ruishu believes she can definitely succeed,” said the Sixteenth Princess.

"Oh, you silly girl, I'll give it a try. It's really strange. My sister never said that Indar had anyone in mind. How come he started saying he had someone in mind as soon as he got to the palace? Could it be that this person in mind is in the palace?" the Empress Dowager said.

“Prince Indal has only been here for a few days. How could he have found someone he likes as soon as he entered the palace? Of course, it is that Minrou County. She is the only one who has had contact with Prince Indal,” said the Sixteenth Princess.

"Don't talk nonsense. Indal should have already learned that Minrou County is not a girl. She is your fourth brother's concubine, a woman who has already been married," the Empress Dowager said.

“Rui Shu wasn’t talking nonsense. Rui Zhu had been watching his every move from the beginning. Rui Zhu felt that he must know that Niu Gulu clanswoman, otherwise his gaze would have been fixed on her the moment she entered the room,” said the Sixteenth Princess. In fact, she was jealous of Lan Qin and the others, but she was just a nobody and her words carried no weight. How could she compare to the Fourth Prince’s concubine?