Tong Cheng'er suddenly felt that arguing with Consort Wuya was beneath her dignity, mainly because she felt that her mother-in-law had some mental issues.

The daughter of a prominent family, in her words, was the kind of woman who could become a concubine for her beloved son.

No one with a sound mind would say something like that.

Consort Wuya asked Tong Cheng'er some more questions, which Tong Cheng'er answered very perfunctorily. Consort Wuya felt that her attitude was not proper enough and couldn't help but lose her temper, saying, "Consort Yinzhen, you are at least the Fourteenth Prince's sister-in-law. How can you be so perfunctory about his affairs?"

Tong Cheng'er couldn't stand it after hearing that.

“Mother, I’m just embarrassed to give you a fair evaluation. I’m doing this for your own good. If I told you the truth, I was afraid you would be unhappy.”

Consort Wuya's face turned ashen: "Tell me, and I won't be unhappy."

Tong Cheng'er: "This is what my mother said. You can't be angry if your daughter-in-law tells the truth."

Consort Wuya felt that what she said was definitely not what she wanted to hear, and might even make her angry, but she still said, "Tell me, I'm not angry with you."

Tong Cheng'er: "Daughter-in-law thanks Mother for her kindness."

It was kindness again.

Tong Cheng'er continued, "Just now, Mother mentioned so many names, all of them were princesses born to officials of the second or third rank. I am not very talented, but I do know a little about the rules. It is acceptable for princesses of such backgrounds to be the primary consorts of princes. Mother said that she wanted to make the fourteenth brother a secondary consort. If I say that Mother is right, it is really an insult to those princesses. I was also born to Father and Mother. Please forgive me, Mother, for not agreeing."

Tong Cheng'er's words were practically a blatant statement that Consort Wuya was overthinking things.

With so many good girls, you pick and choose, wanting them to be your precious son's concubines. Aren't you afraid they'll feel humiliated and kill themselves?

Consort Wuya trembled with anger upon hearing this.

The Fourteenth Prince, standing to the side, blushed deeply. Before he could think, Consort Wuya clutched her chest and exclaimed, "Consort Yinzhen, are you trying to drive me crazy?!"

Tong Cheng'er said with concern, "Mother, I'm innocent! I didn't mean that at all. You told me not to be angry, that's why I said it!"

They don't keep their word, really.

Fourteen, supporting Consort Wuya, looked at Tong Cheng'er with an angry expression: "Fourth Sister-in-law, Mother is an elder, how can you say such things?"

Tong Cheng'er looked at the Fourteenth Prince and couldn't help but find it amusing. This guy was really something. He had just said all of this, but did he not notice anything wrong with what Consort Wuya said? Probably not!

This person is really pretending to be ignorant when they know the truth!

"Fourteenth, you're being even more wronged. Your mother loves you, and I'm only saying this for your own good. I'm not hiding anything from people. If what I just said gets out, what will others think of me? What will they say about you?"

"Don't say that all you do is think that Mother's ambitions are too high. You only say that you look down on the court officials and humiliate them. Who but Father Emperor can make the legitimate daughters of second or third-rank officials into concubines? Yet Fourteenth Brother just lowered his head and didn't refute. If this gets out, Fourteenth Brother will probably have a hard time standing in the court in the future."

"Mother doesn't understand these things, but Fourteenth Brother is well-read and knowledgeable, so he should understand the reasons behind them. I'm really doing this for Fourteenth Brother's own good."

The Fourteenth Prince blushed at her words, unable to refute them, for he knew they were true.

It's just that the truth is hard to hear.

Upon hearing this, Consort Wuya looked at the Fourteenth Prince's expression and knew that Tong Cheng'er was indeed right.

Consort Wuya should understand such a simple truth, but her long confinement has made her lose track of time.

Fourteenth Prince: "Fourth Sister-in-law is right, but what she said was really too serious."

Tong Cheng'er apologized sincerely: "It was indeed my fault. Mother doesn't look well. Should we send someone to invite the imperial physician to take a look?"

She was really afraid that the man would faint from anger.

Before the Fourteenth Prince could say anything, Consort Wuya quickly said, "No need."

Wu Yapin said the word "no need" with great force, so it seems she really didn't need it.

Consort Wuya was indeed quite angry, but not as badly as she appeared. She dared not call the imperial physician, because if she did, people outside would inevitably inquire about what had happened inside the house.

Consort Wuya was afraid that what she had just said would really affect her precious son.

Tong Cheng'er looked at Consort Wuya with a closed-minded expression: "Mother, is it really not necessary? Your daughter-in-law thinks you don't look well. Why don't we have the imperial physician come and take a look at you?"

Consort Wuya was furious: "I said I don't need it, so I don't need it. Why are you talking so much nonsense?"

Tong Cheng'er looked at Wu Yapin with a sad expression: "It was my fault for speaking out of turn."

Seeing his mother's angry face and his sister-in-law's heartbroken expression, the Fourteenth Prince was at a loss for what to do.

He's a young man and doesn't understand the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

His understanding is limited to what he sees.

For example, he saw that his sister-in-law was genuinely concerned about his mother's health, but his mother did not appreciate it and even got angry and disgusted with his sister-in-law.

For a moment, the Fourteenth Prince was at a loss. He had always heard his mother say that his sister-in-law was not good in this way or that way. But when he thought about it carefully, it seemed that she was not so bad. In fact, because of his preconceived notions, he had been disrespectful to his sister-in-law in many ways.

Consort Wuya tried to calm her anger and frustration. Once she had calmed down, she said, "I don't want to hear any rumors about the selection of concubines."

The room was immediately filled with kneeling servants who said, "Yes."

Consort Wuya started chatting with the Fourteenth Prince again, but this time she didn't bring up Tong Cheng'er again.

It's clear they've learned their lesson.

Tong Cheng'er was bored and lost in thought when a young eunuch entered: "Your Majesty, Prince Yong has arrived."

Consort Wuya was taken aback upon hearing this, then looked at Tong Cheng'er and said calmly, "Yes, let him in!"

Compared to her behavior when the Fourteenth Prince came in, her favoritism was all too obvious.

The first thing Yinzhen saw when he stepped into the room was his little wife, Tong Cheng'er. She also looked at him, and the two looked at each other. Tong Cheng'er gave him a sincere smile, and Yinzhen couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth as well, but then he quickly composed himself.

Yinzhen respectfully greeted Consort Wuya, saying, "Your subject greets Mother."

"No need for such formalities."

"Thank you, Mother."

Both of them spoke in very stiff tones, which were far from polite.

Before Consort Wuya could speak, Yinzhen sat down next to Tong Cheng'er.

After sitting down, Yinzhen asked the two nannies beside Tong Cheng'er, "Are the Fujin (princess) all well?"

Granny Chun said, "The Princess Consort is well."

Yinzhen was finally relieved.

Upon hearing this, Consort Wuya, who was seated at the head of the table, said with displeasure, "This place is not a den of dragons or tigers. What problem could possibly arise for you, my lady?"

Yinzhen thought to himself, "This place is really like a den of dragons and tigers. I might as well be careful. Who knows what problems might arise?"

However, he could only think this way, but said aloud, "Mother, you're overthinking it. I didn't mean that. It was just a routine question."

Yinzhen looked calm, and even the Fourteenth Prince felt that his mother's reaction was indeed making a mountain out of a molehill.