"Aunt, I'm back!" Upon returning to Chengqian Palace, He Xue flew to Consort Tongjia's side like a fledgling swallow.

"You're back! Auntie thought you were reluctant to come back! Have you almost forgotten about Auntie?"

"How could that be! I love my aunt the most, and I would never forget her!"

"Your little mouth is as sweet as honey!" Consort Tongjia said, gently pinching He Xue's nose.

Looking at Consort Tongjia, He Xue thought that Consort Tongjia looked radiant today. "Auntie looks so beautiful today!"

Upon hearing He Xue's words, Consort Tongjia's face immediately turned red. "You're teasing your aunt too!"

"No! I'm telling the truth!" He Xue said.

Consort Tongjia felt it necessary to change the subject, "Your aunt asked if you ran into Consort De yesterday?"

“Yes!” He Xue nodded. “Aunt, do you know? Consort De was waiting on the way to Chengqian Palace. I think she was waiting specifically for her uncle, the Emperor!”

He Xue felt she should remind Consort Tongjia whether someone in Chengqian Palace had informed Consort De about Emperor Kangxi's upcoming visit to Chengqian Palace.

Consort De may not have received the news from Emperor Kangxi; it's possible she received it from Chengqian Palace.

"Aunt, how did Consort De know that the Emperor was coming to see you? Does she have super hearing?" He Xue asked, feigning innocence.

After hearing He Xue's words, Consort Tongjia understood what was going on. "Whether she has clairvoyance or not, I don't know, but her reach is far too far!"

Consort Tongjia felt that her Chengqian Palace needed a thorough overhaul, otherwise who knew what kind of things might have infiltrated it?

Consort De is a cunning person, and she comes from a family of bondservantes. She is not worried that Consort De will scheme against her, but she is worried that Consort De will set her sights on He Xue and the Fourth Prince.

"He Xue, stay away from Consort De in the future, and don't provoke her! But if she does anything to you, you must tell your aunt!" Consort Tongjia said to He Xue with concern.

"I understand, Aunt!" He Xue replied. "Aunt, will Consort De take Fourth Brother away?"

"Why would He Xue ask such a question?" Consort Tongjia immediately became wary, for Consort De had promised never to take Xiao Si back.

But now that Consort De is a principal wife, she has the right to raise her own child, and the Sixth Prince is gone. It's hard to guarantee that Consort De won't have such thoughts.

"Yesterday, Consort De told her uncle, the Emperor, that she missed Fourth Brother and wanted to see him, but you wouldn't let her see him!" He Xue briefly told Consort Tongjia what had happened yesterday.

"Bang!" Consort Tongjia slammed her hand on the table in anger. Consort De was quite the actress! When had Consort De ever visited Xiao Si? When had she ever stopped Consort De from seeing Xiao Si? Wasn't this blatantly trying to sow discord between her and her cousin?

"Aunt, please don't be angry. Uncle Emperor didn't believe Consort De's words and even put her in confinement!" He Xue held Consort Tongjia's hand and carefully checked it to see if there were any injuries.

Seeing He Xue's actions, Consort Tongjia felt very relieved. "Aunt, it's alright!"

"Aunt, yesterday my eldest brother asked why we didn't change Fourth Prince's imperial genealogy to your name?" He Xue felt that if the connection between Fourth Prince and Consort De was severed, Consort De would no longer be able to use Fourth Prince!

"This matter is not so easy!" Consort Tongjia sighed. The Emperor would not allow anyone who threatened the Crown Prince's position to appear.

If Xiao Si is registered under her name, it would give hope to the Tongjia clan and would definitely pose a threat to the Crown Prince's position.

The court is now roughly divided into three factions: the Crown Prince's faction, led by Suo'etu; the First Prince's faction, led by Mingzhu; and the Tongjia clan.

Now that Suo'etu and Mingzhu are at loggerheads, if the Tongjia clan were to join in, the Emperor would be in a real bind.

At the same time, she was also very fortunate that no matter how much Suo'etu and Mingzhu fought, it did not affect the brotherhood between the eldest prince and the crown prince. She had watched both children grow up, and she did not want to see the brothers fighting each other.

"Aunt, the Crown Prince said that Fourth Brother can do whatever he wants and shouldn't worry too much!" He Xue told Consort Tongjia about the Crown Prince's attitude.

Upon hearing this, Consort Tongjia was overjoyed, exclaiming, "The Crown Prince is indeed a man of great wisdom and righteousness!"

If what she didn't want to see was the Crown Prince and the First Prince fighting each other, then what she was most worried about was a rift between the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince.

Xiao Si grew up following the Crown Prince and greatly respects him as her older brother. If Xiao Si's change in status causes a rift between the brothers, this is not what she wants to see, nor is it something Xiao Si wants to happen.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince dispelled her concerns. Now, could she consider registering Xiao Si under her name?