As for the position of Crown Prince, Consort De originally had no intention of vying for it, only wanting her son to grow up happily. However, given the current situation, even if they didn't want to compete, they had probably already been pushed onto the battlefield.

"Hey, if any new faces appear in the palace in the future, tell me immediately, especially since Shu'er loves to eat these things, so we must pay more attention to what she eats in the future."

Consort De's chest heaved rapidly. After a while, she slowly calmed herself down and remembered the reason why her son had been granted the title of prince and received rewards.

It all started because of the little princess. She's been born for a while now, and it's time for her to go see her.

The little girl, who was only a few days old, has turned the entire palace upside down. She's really something else!

"I heard the little princess loves to eat honey?" Consort De stared absently out the window.

"Yes, Your Majesty, that is true. I heard that even the Empress Dowager took out her very precious safflower and gave the little princess some petals and honey."

Consort De nodded. "Yes, Chunhua, take two pots of gardenias. Let's go to Shouchang Palace to see the little princess."

Chunhua, the head palace maid beside Consort De, paused for a moment, then hesitated. "Your Highness, gardenias are your favorite flowers. These flowers were carefully tended by you and barely survived most of the winter!"

Chunhua was very worried. She was risking being scolded to persuade her mistress because she was afraid that her mistress might regret it in the future and take her anger out on her.

Gardenias are already precious and extremely rare.

Consort De frowned, gritted her teeth, and forced out a few words through gritted teeth, "Take the flowers and go to Shouchang Palace!"

She heard that the little princess loved to eat nectar, so she took her favorite flowers to visit the little princess, which was also a way of showing her respect to His Majesty.

...

Inside Shouchang Palace, the Empress Dowager is pruning the branches of a potted plant.

"Where is Duoduo?"

“She’s playing on the bed!” Granny Zhang said with a loving expression when she mentioned Yun Duoduo.

"When you have some free time tomorrow, go to the storeroom and see if there are any interesting or fun little gadgets. Bring them over for Duoduo to play with."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

At that moment, Yun Duoduo was lying in bed, idly sucking her fingers.

Being cooped up in the palace every day is so boring! So dull and boring!

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Consort Chen is requesting an audience outside the palace," a palace maid reported from the entrance of Shouchang Palace.

Hearing a noise outside, Yun Duoduo pricked up her ears and listened carefully.

"Oh? My Shouchang Palace is always deserted. What, you have time to come here today?"

"This morning at court, His Majesty bestowed the title of Five-Bead Prince upon the First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince. I presume it was for this matter."

"Yes, it's because they saved Duoduo from Yun Luoxue that day."

"Exactly."

"The little princess has been born for so long, and none of these concubines have come to visit. Humph, they finally have time now."

"Let her in then, and see if she has anything to say."

"Let Ah Xiang bring Duo Duo out, so that Duo Duo can see the struggle between women in advance and be mentally prepared to see these wolves and tigers."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager straightened her clothes and sat down in a chair.

Granny Zhang lifted the curtain and went to the adjacent bedroom, asking Ah Xiang to carry the little princess to the front hall.

Listening to their conversation, Yun Duoduo was very curious. So, it seems that the mother of the second and third princes is coming over?

She was genuinely curious about what her father's wives looked like.

Ah Xiang stood behind the Empress Dowager, holding Yun Duoduo in her arms.

Consort Chen entered with a palace maid carrying a food box.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" Consort Chen knelt on the ground and bowed.

"Get up!" The Empress Dowager said expressionlessly, her tone indifferent.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Consort Chen stood up and noticed Yun Duoduo being held by A Xiang behind the Empress Dowager.

"Oh, this must be the little princess. I am your mother, Consort Chen!"

"This is the Second Prince's birth mother," Zhang Mama whispered to Yun Duoduo, as if she thought Yun Duoduo could understand.

So this is the Second Prince's mother? Why does she have such a different aura from the Second Prince?

Consort Chen smiled and approached Yun Duoduo, reaching out to pinch Yun Duoduo's soft, chubby, and fair face. Ah Xiang slightly turned away to avoid it.

"Your Majesty, the little princess is weak. The imperial physician said she needs to rest and recuperate. Your Majesty just came in from outside, and your hands are very cold."

“Yes, you must wash your hands before holding the little princess.” Ah Xiang said softly with her head down, implying that Consort Chen should not touch the little princess carelessly, and if the little princess fell ill, she would be one of the culprits.

[Why is this brat so troublesome? He's really a bully who relies on his master's power! Now even a lowly palace maid like him dares to disobey me?!]

Listening to Consort Chen's thoughts, Yun Duoduo thought to herself, "Good! Aunt Xiang hid well!"

The Consort Chen had a strong, pungent scent of perfume on her, which made her sneeze.

"Achoo!" Yun Duoduo sneezed loudly, her saliva flying everywhere.

Consort Chen happened to be looking down at her and couldn't dodge, so saliva and spittle sprayed all over Consort Chen's face.

Consort Chen was furious, but with the Empress Dowager right beside her, she couldn't lash out. She could only wipe her cheeks gently with a handkerchief, looking disgusted.

Ah Xiang tightened the blanket wrapped around Yun Duoduo, then wiped the snot from under her nose.

[Sorry, sorry, it's because you smell so good that I sneezed so suddenly!]

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