Prevention is always better than cure.
Tong Wanyan sweetly and coquettishly listened to Tong Fujin talk about things outside the palace.
Don't underestimate the circle of noblewomen; the things they casually reveal can expose the thoughts and intentions of everyone in the court.
Tong Fujin told her all this so that Tong Wanyan could share Yinreng's burdens.
Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure.
Tong Fujin's unreserved teachings helped Tong Wanyan learn more and more.
As a result, managing the backyard of Yuqing Palace became much easier and more skillful.
Granny Ling was very pleased to see the old woman. She was getting old and would have to go back to raise her grandson in a few years. She could no longer live out her old age in Yuqing Palace.
Previously, she was worried about Yinreng. Now that Yinreng is doing well in both the court and the inner court, she has nothing to worry about, so she focuses her compassion on Tong Wanyan.
After Tong Fujin returned home, the Empress Dowager sent someone to deliver the reward.
It wasn't anything valuable, just a little gadget for eating, drinking, and having fun, meant to make Tong Wanyan happy.
Consort Rong has been incredibly envious these past few days. All she has is a baby in her belly, and before she even gives birth, she doesn't even know the gender, yet everyone in the palace is already fawning over her.
Thinking of Dong'e Hailan, who had been married for over a year but had not yet conceived, Consort Rong summoned her only daughter-in-law to her palace.
Dong'e Hailan was sitting peacefully in the courtyard admiring the flowers when she suddenly saw the nanny from Consort Rong's side coming over.
Without asking, she guessed what it was about.
"But does Mother need to see me?" Dong E Hailan asked proactively.
The old woman glanced at Dong E Hailan in surprise, then lowered her head with a serious face and said, "Yes, Third Princess Consort."
Dong'e Hailan curled her lips in a sarcastic smile. She must have been blinded by greed to have entered the palace and suffered this ordeal.
Fortunately, I realized it early, otherwise I would have been tricked by this mother and son countless times.
"Please wait a moment, Granny. I'll go change my clothes before I pay my respects to Mother," Dong E Hailan said gently with a smile.
The old woman scrutinized her incredibly slender waist and pointed chin, and said in a stern tone, "Your Majesty's attire is quite good. Her Highness is waiting for you in the palace, so you'd better hurry."
"Then I'll listen to Granny," Dong E Hailan said obediently.
When Consort Rong saw Dong E Hailan in her light blue Manchu dress and with her delicate face, she was furious.
Why did the Emperor choose such a thin and frail wife for Yinzhi? It's been over a year and there's still no sign of her getting pregnant.
She seemed to have forgotten how excited Dong E Hailan's family background had been at the time.
Dong E Hailan clearly saw the disgust and coldness in Consort Rong's eyes.
In a few years, when Yinzhi is to leave the palace to establish his own residence, her opportunities to enter the palace will decrease. As long as the Dong'e family doesn't come, and she doesn't do anything like plotting a rebellion or harming the imperial heir, her position as the primary consort will be secure.
With a calm mind, Dong E Hailan smiled shyly at Consort Rong: "Mother."
She knew that Consort Rong hated her delicate and weak manner, but she was determined to disgust her.
Consort Rong asked coldly, "Your belly still shows no signs of pregnancy?"
Listen to that question, it's like the mistress of the house questioning her concubine.
Dong E Hailan didn't take it to heart: "Your daughter-in-law has done her best. The imperial physician said that this matter cannot be rushed. Having children is a blessing, and they will come when the time is right. Your Highness has nearly ten concubines in the backyard. Your daughter-in-law often advises you to spread your favors evenly. Unfortunately, their bellies are still flat, and they haven't been able to produce offspring."
Consort Rong, already in a bad mood, became even more furious upon hearing this: "Don't let Yinzhi get involved with anything dirty or smelly. Giving birth to a legitimate son as soon as possible is the important thing. Look at the First Prince Consort and Consort Tong, whether they give birth to a boy or a girl, they can still have children. You and Yinzhi were so affectionate when you were newlyweds, why didn't you end up together?"
Dong'e Hailan served Rongfei a cup of tea: "Mother, have some tea to soothe your throat."
Consort Rong downed her tea in one gulp and continued angrily, "Don't always think that I'm making things difficult for you. A man marries to carry on the family line. As the primary consort, you should mind your own business and focus on getting better so you can bear children for Yinzhi."
Consort Rong's words were so harsh that Dong'e Hailan felt as if her ears had been scraped.
"Mother is right." Dong'e Hailan remained as gentle as ever, neither refuting nor getting angry.
She was easy to bully, and Consort Rong's mother-in-law became even more arrogant: "Alright. I've summoned the imperial physician to come and take your pulse in a bit. He'll see where you're lacking and you'll need to take good care of yourself. I'll give you another six months. If there's still no news, Yinzhi's harem will need to be expanded."
Dong E Hailan listened with her head down: "Daughters-in-law will listen to their mothers."
She couldn't utter a single word even after three blows, and Consort Rong ran out of breath while cursing.
After all, she was a prince's wife, and her name was officially registered in the Aisin Gioro family genealogy, so she couldn't say anything too outrageous.
When the imperial physician came to see Dong'e Hailan, she sat sideways in a chair, delicate as an orchid, yet possessing a unique resilience. His heart was already set on something else.
"Imperial Physician, please take the Third Princess's pulse and see if there is anything that could hinder her from having children," Consort Rong said directly.
The imperial physician was the one who frequently took Yinzhi's pulse, and he knew Yinzhi's health best.
He had spoken to Consort Rong and Yin Zhi, asking them to be more restrained in their sexual pursuits, but none of them listened.
The son is ignorant, and the mother spoils him. He is just a royal physician; how could he force-feed medicine to the prince?
The imperial physician examined Dong E Hailan's pulse with sympathy. Her pulse was strong and healthy. Noble ladies from prominent families usually take good care of their health and have no ailments.
"The Third Princess Consort is in good health," the imperial physician said.
Consort Rong asked anxiously, "Then why have the Third Prince and his wife been childless for so long?"
"Your Majesty, the matter of having offspring cannot be rushed. The more you rush it, the less likely you are to have children. The matter of having children should be left to fate. The Third Prince and the Third Princess are still young. It would be better for them to recuperate for the future of their offspring," the imperial physician said.
Consort Rong didn't want to hear the imperial physician say this. She wished he could prescribe a formula that would guarantee Dong E Hailan a boy and have her take it.
While Emperor Kangxi has few grandsons, the earlier one is born, the sooner one will be favored.
Look at Hongzhao, the Crown Prince's son. He's the only son, the only grandson of the emperor. The emperor dotes on him so much.
Consort Rong harbored delusions, but dared not speak them aloud, so she could only urge him on in a frantic and incoherent manner.
Dong E Hailan thought to herself that Consort Rong's position as one of the three consorts was probably entirely due to her early entry into the palace and the fact that she had given birth to many children, as well as having such a good daughter as Princess Rongxian.
Without one of them, she wouldn't have reached her current rank as a concubine.
The imperial physician remained silent, as did Dong'e Hailan, leaving Consort Rong to ramble on and on, which she found pointless.
Since the anger had subsided, Consort Rong sent Dong'e Hailan back and instructed the imperial physician to prescribe a tonic for her to take back to the princes' quarters.
The most common prescriptions in the Imperial Medical Academy were those that would cause no harm whether you took them or not.
He casually opened one and handed it to Dong E Hailan's maid, thus fulfilling Consort Rong's wish.
Dong E Hailan returned to the prince's residence and gave the prescription directly to Yin Zhi's other concubines.
They'll have children together, whether they're illegitimate sons or daughters, they'll all have to call her "Mother." She's not going to be a sow who only knows how to give birth to litters of piglets.
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