"What do you mean by this?" The Eighth Princess Consort looked at the Ninth Princess Consort in astonishment. She really couldn't understand why the Ninth Princess Consort, who was usually so mild-mannered and almost invisible, was so sharp-tongued.

"It's nothing, Eighth Sister-in-law, you'd better pray for yourself. I'm going to admire the lotus flowers, and I still hope to win the Emperor's reward." Ninth Princess Consort didn't want to say anything more to Eighth Princess Consort, so she left after saying this.

Even with her excellent self-control, the Eighth Prince's wife was no longer in the mood to offer any advice after being met with such cold words from the Ninth Prince's wife. She simply flung her handkerchief aside in anger and turned to find the Eighth Prince. It was the Eighth Prince who had sent him to find the Ninth Prince's wife and try to persuade her, but now, instead of getting any advice, he had only received a cold shoulder.

Meanwhile, the Eighth Prince stood under a willow tree, hands behind his back, gazing intently at the lotus flowers in the water. His wife, carrying a flowerpot, trudged in.

"Your Highness!" the Eighth Prince's wife called out in a wronged tone.

"How is it? She won't listen to your advice?" The Eighth Prince didn't turn around, but he had already heard the clues from the Eighth Princess's gait and tone of voice.

“It’s not just that he won’t listen to my advice. He’s even worse than last time. It’s like he’s become a completely different person,” said the Eighth Prince’s wife.

"I just asked Ninth Prince, but he didn't say anything. No matter how I asked, he wouldn't say anything," Eighth Prince said with a stern face.

"What? What's wrong with Ninth Prince? He used to be very open and honest with you," Eighth Prince's wife exclaimed in surprise.

"So, that's what's puzzling me. What are those two up to?" Eighth Prince said, staring at a fish in the water.

“Your Highness, do you think that Ninth Prince and his wife are trying to distance themselves from us?” Eighth Prince’s wife said. “Now he can’t even control his own mother. Last time, I kindly tried to talk to her about it, but Ninth Prince’s wife gave me that kind of answer.”

"Let's wait and see," said Eighth Master.

Meanwhile, Hongshi and Shuzhen walked over and saw the Eighth Prince and his wife standing under some willow trees, so they went over to them. The couple greeted the Eighth Prince and his wife with the courtesy due to uncle and nephew, and then stood together and chatted.

"Hongshi actually has connections with the master?" The Thirteenth Prince led his wife to a lotus viewing platform. They had just seen Hongshi talking to the Eighth Prince and his wife.

"In this situation, it's probably just a matter of exchanging greetings," Zhao Jia said.

"I don't think so. Sigh, the Emperor has never been close to the Eighth and Ninth Princes. I didn't expect Hongshi to be so familiar with the Eighth Prince," Thirteen said warily.

“Perhaps you are overthinking it. Hongshi is the Empress’s legitimate son, and the Emperor has always valued him highly,” said Lady Zhaojia.

"That's precisely why I'm shocked. If His Majesty knew, he would be furious," Thirteen said. "But he would also be uncomfortable. Hongshi is His Majesty's eldest son, yet he's getting close to the Eighth Prince. Isn't that a slap in His Majesty's face?"

"Now that Your Highness says so, I truly believe it. If the Emperor were to see this, I fear he would be saddened," said Lady Zhaojia.

"That's why I'm in a dilemma—should I report this to the Emperor?" Thirteen said.

“The Emperor should know, and he should know,” said Lady Zhaojia. She disliked Hongshi from the bottom of her heart because he was the Empress’s adopted son. Lady Zhaojia’s relationship with Lanqin was extraordinary, so she naturally wouldn’t care about the Empress. What she was thinking was that if Hongshi was disliked by the Fourth Prince, it would benefit Hongli.