Consort De gave a cold laugh: "Well, so you've been hunting geese all day, only to have them peck at your eye! You've actually been outmaneuvered by your future daughter-in-law!!!"

Consort De was furious. If it were Consort Yi, Consort Hui, or Consort Rong who schemed against her, she wouldn't be so angry. They were old rivals, and they had been competing for many years, with both wins and losses. It wasn't shameful to be schemed against unintentionally once in a while.

But what gave Dong Eshi the right to do so?

Consort De: Do you perhaps think that I am truly a good-natured person?

Consort De: "Go and investigate Dong E for me. Investigate thoroughly. I need evidence that she favors the Fourth Prince. Also, use Dong E's connections to investigate Consort Shu's drowning. I refuse to believe that we can't find out the truth."

"Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will immediately have the people outside the palace mobilize."

After Mo Zhu left, Consort De summoned her trusted nanny.

"Granny, the fourth prince only has one concubine, Song, in his backyard. She is a Han Chinese bondservant, of poor birth, and her appearance is only pretty. I feel that this is too unfair to her. Go and find out if there is a Manchu bondservant maid of suitable age who is more outstanding in appearance."

"The fourth prince is studying hard, and I also hope that he can relax a bit in the inner palace. Remember, find two smart girls, whose family backgrounds can't be too high, but they should be about the same."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Song Gege was left to Yinzhen by Empress Xiaoyi. Consort De had always been wary of this and had not frequently tried to give Yinzhen other women.

Her plan was that if Anning was chosen as the fourth prince's wife, she would arrange for Yinzhen to marry a beautiful Han Chinese concubine before Anning entered the palace. However, by a twist of fate, the fourth prince's wife became Dong E Shi, which pleased Consort De, and the concubine disappeared without a trace.

Now that we know the truth, the first step is to make things difficult for Lady Dong'e.

The two were from well-off families, and Consort De, who herself came from a bondservant background, knew best the capabilities of these bondservantes.

She's good at serving people and has extensive connections within the Imperial Household Department. Dong E's family will probably have a hard time dealing with her!