Consort Hui recited the sutra for a full hour, and Consort Liang's maid stood at the door for the entire hour.

When Consort Hui's nanny came over and said that she could go in, the palace maid's legs were so stiff that she couldn't move them.

The palace maid entered Consort Hui's small Buddhist hall with great difficulty. When Consort Hui saw her, she smiled and said, "I was so engrossed in chanting the sutras that I didn't expect it to take more than an hour. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

The palace maid understood that Consort Hui was deliberately making things difficult for her, but what could she do even if she knew?

Could a mere servant possibly point at Consort Hui's nose and accuse her of lying? She dared not do anything, and even said, "Your Highness, what are you saying? This servant hasn't been waiting for long."

Consort Hui smiled and said, "The cloak is finished. Bring it over so I can take a look."

The palace maid handed the cloak to the nanny, who then presented it to Consort Hui. Consort Hui touched the cloak with her fingers; the stitches were fine and dense, showing that it had been made with great care.

Consort Hui's expression suddenly changed, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Oh dear, this cloak looks familiar to me. It seems that the eldest princess gave me a similar one. This one is also nice, but it's a pity that I can't use it."

The old nanny standing nearby said, "Now that Your Highness has mentioned it, I can see it too. The First Princess Consort did indeed send over a similar cloak."

Consort Hui said with great regret, "Since I don't need it, it can't just sit in the storeroom collecting dust. His Majesty advocates thrift, so let's give this dress to the old nanny!"

The old nanny standing nearby immediately beamed with joy, saying, "This servant is so grateful for Your Highness's reward. It's such a privilege to have such excellent skills from Consort Liang."

Consort Hui then spoke up, "Granny has served me for so many years, she deserves it."

The conversation between Consort Hui and her maid made the maid of Noble Lady Liang, who was waiting nearby, very uncomfortable. Noble Lady Liang was not of high status, but she was still a woman in Kangxi's harem and a proper mistress.

Consort Liang made clothes for Consort Hui. As the head of the palace, Consort Hui was entitled to receive such treatment. However, the nanny beside Consort Hui was just a servant. To make a servant wear a cloak made by Consort Liang herself was an insult.

As a palace maid of Consort Liang, her face was flushed with embarrassment.

Consort Hui's actions were utterly disrespectful to Consort Liang!

The young palace maid was filled with anger, but dared not speak out. In the end, she left Consort Hui's place, seething with rage.

After she left, Consort Hui said in an icy tone, "He schemed against my son, so I'll make his mother live in misery. This is just the beginning. Nanny, take good care of Consort Liang these days. Her son has become successful, and I can't mistreat her."

The old nanny was startled by her words. She hadn't seen the Empress so angry in many years. It seemed that the Eighth Prince had really offended the Empress. "Yes, this servant will take good care of Consort Liang."

The maidservant of Consort Liang recounted what had happened at Consort Hui's place. Consort Liang remained silent. She knew that Consort Hui was deliberately making things difficult for her. The clothes she had made were given to a nanny by Consort Hui. How could she not feel humiliated? But there was nothing she could do.

“Your Majesty, perhaps this servant should tell the Eighth Prince about this matter. The Eighth Prince is currently favored by His Majesty. Although Consort Hui has a high rank, Prince Zhi has already been imprisoned. There is really no need for you to wrong yourself.”

Consort Liang shook her head and refused: "I cannot tell him about this. I have my own plans."

Consort Liang knew perfectly well why Consort Hui had suddenly launched her attack. She could have told her son about it, but given the Eighth Prince's personality, he would naturally have confronted Consort Hui.

Consort Hui is the Eighth Prince's adoptive mother, and her influence in the palace over the years is extraordinary. If Consort Hui is truly angered, she fears that Consort Hui might lose her temper and do something that could lead to mutual destruction.

Consort Liang felt it didn't matter if she suffered some injustice, but she was afraid it would affect her son.

That's why she didn't dare let her son know that she was being bullied.

...

In the days that followed, under Consort Hui's special "care," Consort Liang lived a life of misery. Her originally beautiful appearance diminished somewhat, and she became somewhat pitiful and charming.

When the Eighth Prince came to pay his respects to Consort Liang, he sensed something was amiss.

"Mother, your complexion doesn't look quite right. Is something wrong with you?"

Consort Liang smiled and shook her head gently, saying, "It's nothing, but the weather is a bit hot, and I can't eat much. I'll be fine in a couple of days, so don't worry."

The Eighth Prince frowned, thinking that the weather had been rather hot lately: "I'll have the Imperial Household Department send Mother some more ice later, so you won't be stingy with it."

Consort Liang was very happy that her son knew how to be filial: "Good, your mother will not mistreat herself. You should also take good care of yourself. Your job is important, but your health is even more important. Your wife is cheerful and generous, and she is not fussy about details. Sometimes she may not pay attention to small things. You should be careful."

"Don't worry, Mother, your son will take good care of himself."

The two men spent some time together, showing their motherly love and filial piety, before leaving.

No sooner had the Eighth Prince left than a palace maid noticed a jade pendant lying where he had been sitting. She quickly asked, "Master, why did the Eighth Prince leave his jade pendant behind?"

Consort Liang, who had just been somewhat naive, came to her senses upon hearing this. Seeing that there was indeed a jade pendant there, the one her son often wore, she quickly said, "They shouldn't have gone far. You should take it there quickly; they should be able to catch it."

The palace maid replied, "Yes, mistress." With that, she picked up the jade pendant and ran off to catch up with the Eighth Prince.

The palace maid, panting, caught up with the Eighth Prince: "Eighth Prince, please wait a moment."

When the Eighth Prince heard someone calling him, he stopped and turned around. It was a palace maid who served his mother.

The palace maid walked up to the Eighth Prince, curtsied, and said, "Eighth Prince, you left your jade pendant behind. The master asked me to bring it to you."

He then presented the jade pendant.

The Eighth Prince gave a gentle smile and said, "Thank you for making this trip."

The Eighth Prince's handsome appearance instantly captivated the young palace maid. Thinking of Consort Liang's fate, she felt indignant and a hint of grievance appeared on her face.

The Eighth Prince asked curiously, "What's wrong with you?"

At this moment, the young palace maid had completely forgotten Consort Liang's instructions. Having served Consort Liang for a long time, she knew that the Eighth Prince was extremely filial to his master, so she couldn't help but say, "Eighth Prince, you don't know, the master's face looks haggard, not because of the summer heat, but because Consort Hui has been making things difficult for him for some time. The master didn't want us to tell you the truth, but Consort Hui has gone even further. The master's rations are always shortchanged, and inferior items are given to him instead. Consort Hui also always makes the master do embroidery work. A few days ago, Consort Hui made the master embroider a cloak, and the master put a lot of effort into it, but Consort Hui just casually gave it to the nanny beside him..."

The little palace maid chattered on and on, making the Eighth Prince's eyebrows and eyes bulge with anger.

The Eighth Prince was truly deep in thought, but he was also genuinely filial to Consort Liang. All he did was to ensure that Consort Liang could live a life of respect.