Su Yushan had already given instructions that if Hai Changzai and Chen Changzai were to visit, they did not need to announce their arrival and could simply enter.

They had both stepped across the threshold, and it was inconvenient for them to back out now.

Lan Rong followed closely behind, entering with them without any hesitation. The eunuchs guarding the gate did not dare to stop them and had no choice but to let them pass.

Before she even entered the room, Su Yushan heard Xilan's voice. Whenever Xilan came here, Yushan was always delighted and would get up to greet him personally.

To her surprise, not only Xi Lan and Chen Lanxu came today, but there was also someone following behind them.

Upon seeing Lan Rong's figure, Su Yushan's smile faded, but she still managed a forced smile as she invited them in.

As soon as she entered, Lan Rong stared intently at Su Yushan's legs. "I heard that you were injured, so I came to visit you."

Seeing that the mistress and servant were empty-handed, Xi Lan sneered, "Your Highness, Consort Xian, did you decide to do this on a whim? You came to visit a patient without even bringing a tonic. Where is your sincerity?"

Lan Rong felt rather embarrassed and tried to save face, saying, "Look how concerned I am, I actually forgot to bring any tonics while rushing to Jingren Palace. I'll definitely bring them next time."

No matter how precious the things Lan Rong brought were, Su Yushan dared not use them. However, whether she used them or not was her business. For both reason and sentiment, Lan Rong had to give her some small gifts to show his appreciation.

Coming empty-handed like this doesn't seem like a visit; it's clearly to monitor her situation.

Su Yushan saw through it but didn't say it outright, responding with a forced smile, "It's good that you have the thought; the tonics aren't important."

"Thank you for your understanding, sister," Lan Rong asked with a worried expression, "Is your leg injury still not healed? This imperial physician is truly an incompetent doctor. Should we find another imperial physician to treat you?"

"I'm much better now, but I can only walk a few steps and not for too long, otherwise my knees will hurt. The imperial physician told me to rest for a while longer."

As everyone was talking, the cotton curtain was lifted by a palace maid, and Rong Yu skipped in, calling out "Mother." Upon seeing Consort Hai and Consort Chen, she respectfully addressed them as "Auntie."

Noticing a strange woman sitting inside, whom Rong Yu didn't recognize, she blinked her curious eyes and looked her over, "Who is this...?"

A palace attendant reminded her, "This is Consort Xian."

Previously at the Prince's residence, Hongli forbade Lan Rong from entering Huatang Pavilion, so Rong Yu had never seen Lan Rong much and had no impression of her.

Lan Rong smiled and looked at Rong Yu, "It seems I need to come and visit more often, otherwise the Second Princess won't recognize me anymore. I am your mother too!"

Rong Yu pouted and snuggled into her mother's arms, saying, "You're not my mother, this is my mother."

Lan Rong looked embarrassed and chuckled awkwardly, "Sister spoils the princess too much, she's so pampered, she doesn't even teach her manners! All the women in the harem are your mother."

The implication is that Rong Yu is immature and that Yu Shan failed to teach her daughter properly. In reality, Yu Shan understands these rules, but how her daughter addresses others was taught by Hongli.

“I did teach Rongyu, but the Emperor forbids her to call her that. If you think it’s unreasonable, you can discuss it with the Emperor.”

Lan Rong was quite surprised. "The Emperor forbids Rong Yu from calling other concubines 'Mother'? What about the Empress? Doesn't she call the Empress 'Mother' when she sees her?"

Rong Yu answered truthfully, "Father Emperor said that when you see the Empress, you should call her Imperial Mother, and when you see other concubines, you should call them Auntie."

Xi Lan knew about this and had no objection. "Yu Shan is Rong Yu's birth mother. We were originally the Emperor's concubines, and so was Consort Xian. Concubines should be called 'Auntie'!"

Xi Lan actually dared to mock her for not being the principal wife! But in Consort Xian's eyes, her status was far more noble than theirs.

“I was personally appointed as the Emperor’s concubine by the late Emperor, and I have been officially recognized by the court. I am different from you maids!”

Lan Rong's words were meant to be sarcastic towards Xi Lan. Su Yushan couldn't stand it and compared herself to Xi Lan, saying, "I also entered the manor as a maid, but my status is lowly, so I naturally dare not compare myself to Consort Xian."

Although Lan Rong disliked Su Yushan, he only dared to be indirect and not openly quarrel with her. He then gave a dry laugh:

"Sister, you're too kind. That's not what I meant."

Chen Lanxu disliked conflict and sat silently to the side without uttering a sound. Xi Lan, unable to bear Lan Rong stirring up trouble, retorted:

"Regardless of status, what matters is the Emperor's favor. What good is a noble status if the Emperor doesn't love you? Isn't that right, Consort Xian?"

Lan Rong was furious at those words, but she was powerless to refute them, simply because she was indeed out of favor. At least the Empress had her legitimate son to rely on, and Gao Xiuwen had Yongcheng to depend on, but she, the concubine, had nothing. She hadn't even consummated her marriage with Hongli yet. Wouldn't she be ridiculed if she said that?

Suppressing her anger, Lan Rong refused to admit defeat and stubbornly replied, "There is plenty of time in the future, and your heart is hard to fathom."

Su Yushan ignored her, told her daughter to have some tea, and then continued talking to Chen Lanxu and Xilan, completely ignoring Lan Rong.

Lan Rong felt awkward, but remembering the purpose of her trip, she took the initiative to strike up a conversation.

"If your injury isn't too serious, sister, go sit in Cining Palace. It'll be more lively for us sisters to chat together."

Su Yushan didn't care about all that excitement. "It's not that I don't want to go, it's just that the imperial physician said I can't go for too long."

"Sister, you can ride in a carriage! Those who know you'll think you're injured, but those who don't will think you're arguing with the Empress Dowager! People are already gossiping behind your back."

Yu Shan had already said we couldn't go, but she kept giving him bad advice. Xi Lan couldn't stand it anymore and gave her an impatient glance.

"I haven't heard anyone gossiping, I've only heard you speculating."

Disturbed by the interruption, Lan Rong was still annoyed. She turned and glared at Xi Lan, "I was having a serious talk with my sister. You're just a lowly concubine. How dare you speak to me so presumptuously? Don't forget your place!"

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