Yinzhen's face grew increasingly dark, and Yinreng, seeing this, couldn't help but worry that he was aging prematurely.
The Imperial Noble Consort even mentioned this to Emperor Kangxi, who was quite helpless about it.
According to his original intention, Tong Wanle should have been executed long ago. If it weren't for Consort De praising Tong Wanle, if it weren't for...
After much thought, Kangxi attributed his dazed state to Consort De.
Tong Wanle was bestowed upon her by Consort De; whoever bestowed her upon her is responsible for her fate.
After her wounds healed, Tong Wanle was forcibly sent to Yonghe Palace.
Her innocent, timid appearance in front of Consort De drew another round of snickers from the entire room.
Among the concubines watching the play, Consort Yi was the most daring.
Her head was adorned with jewels, which did not conceal her radiant beauty: "Consort De, do you perhaps have a grudge against the Fourth Prince? How could you bestow such a woman, who is hardly fit for refined manners, upon the Fourth Prince? I'm not trying to be mean, but this time I must stand up for the Fourth Prince."
“She is from the Tongjia clan,” Consort De said with a gloomy face.
"The Tongjia clan? So what! Every good family has its bad shoots, and every big family has its useless ones. But it must have been hard for Consort De to pick out such a thing from the Tongjia clan, which has such a good family tradition." Consort Yi was determined to smear Consort De to death.
The two were natural enemies. Consort Yi looked down on Consort De for her humble origins, yet she insisted on acting like a dignified and gentle first wife. Consort De despised the arrogant and domineering Consort Yi, who flaunted her riding whip all day long, as if afraid others wouldn't know about Kangxi's favoritism towards her.
Consort De truly had unspeakable grievances regarding Tong Wanle's matter.
When Tong Wanle was in front of her, she was exceptionally well-behaved and clever.
She thought that Yinzhen would like such a gentle and considerate person, and with the surname Tongjia, Tong Wanle might become the apple of Yinzhen's eye.
At that time, Tong Wanle became her most useful insider in Yinzhen's courtyard, allowing her to keep Yinzhen firmly under her control.
Consort De had high hopes, but things didn't always go as planned.
She suppressed her anger and smiled gently at Consort Yi, saying, "Consort Yi is always so sharp-tongued. Since His Majesty has asked me to discipline her, I won't shirk my responsibilities here. Children will always have their moments of ignorance; they can be taught a little."
Consort Yi sneered. So what if she was sharp-tongued? The Emperor liked her straightforwardness.
"Then I'll wait and see. I wonder what kind of person you, Consort De, will raise with such a wicked child!" Consort Yi mocked.
After a while, the concubines who had been watching the spectacle gradually left.
With no outsiders left in Yonghe Palace, Consort De no longer needed to suppress her temper.
Upon seeing Tong Wanle kneeling on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, Consort De finally found an outlet for her pent-up anger.
"Slap him!" Consort De said.
The palace maid was taken aback: "Your Highness, isn't this going a bit too far? After all, Consort Tong is the Fourth Prince's concubine..."
"She's done all those shameful things, what right does she have? She's not even as good as an ordinary palace maid." Consort De was panting with anger.
There's an unwritten rule in the imperial harem: never hit someone in the face.
Even the lowest of servants can be beaten until their skin is torn and bleeding, but they cannot be slapped in the face.
Tong Wanle was obviously aware of the rules. She thought that Consort De would hug her and comfort her with kind words, and then she would cry and complain. But she never expected this scene.
"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me!" Tong Wanle grabbed Consort De's leg.
Perhaps it's a matter of practice makes perfect; she's now exceptionally skilled at clinging to someone's leg, and she can grab them every time.
Consort De was so frightened she almost fainted: "Is this how you behave in front of the Fourth Prince?"
Tong Wanle sobbed, "Your Highness, Consort De, this servant only wishes for the Fourth Prince to show me more pity. It has been half a year since I entered the Fourth Prince's harem, and he has not touched me once. Your Highness, could it be the Fourth Prince?"
Tong Wanle wanted to ask, "Is the Fourth Prince impotent?"
Consort De was truly enraged this time. She could tolerate disliking her own son, but she wouldn't allow others to speak ill of Yinzhen in that way.
Furthermore, since they are siblings from the same mother, what if something happens to Yinzhen, and outsiders assume that Yinzhen is the same?
Without the need for the palace maids to lift a finger, Consort De personally slapped Tong Wanle across the face.
"No matter where you are, you should be careful with your words and actions. What can you say, and what can't you say? Are you still a three-year-old child?" Consort De's eyebrows shot up in anger, displaying the majesty of one of the four consorts.
Tong Wanle covered her face, not daring to complain in her heart: "You are the Fourth Prince's mother!"
"So I can tell you, the Fourth Prince is only twelve years old!" Consort De said.
Tong Wanle looked innocently at Consort De: "There are quite a few sons of noble families who have lost their virginity at the age of twelve, let alone the Fourth Prince who is a prince. Your Majesty, does the Fourth Prince not like me? What's wrong with me? You praised me for my beautiful appearance and said I was a lovely girl."
In her panic, Tong Wanle even forgot how to address herself normally.
Looking at Tong Wanle's innocent appearance, Consort De thought her life was over.
The most feared people in the harem are fools, especially the fools under one's command.
"You don't need to serve the Fourth Prince for the time being." Consort De didn't want to offer any explanation.
Seeing this, Tong Wanle was about to burst into tears again; tears seemed to be her greatest weapon.
Consort De raised an eyebrow slightly, and her trusted maid stepped forward and swiftly slapped Tong Wanle across the face again.
Once someone starts, it becomes easier for others.
Look at how decisive the palace maid's movements were; who knew she had hesitated just now?
With her left and right palm prints aligned, Tong Wanle has finally behaved herself.
"I will personally teach you. For the next six months, you are not allowed to leave Yonghe Palace, nor are you allowed to see the Fourth Prince. Once this matter is over, you can go back to serve him." Consort De made her decision decisively, leaving no room for argument.
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