Despite saying she didn't care, Consort Rong couldn't help but say a few more words.
"You're getting close to Consort Tong, won't the Crown Princess be unhappy? After all, the Crown Princess is the principal wife, and the Phoenix Seal is jointly managed by her and the Noble Consort. It's hard to say who will gain the glory in the future." Consort Rong was afraid that her son had chosen the wrong side.
The influence of concubines in the imperial harem was no less complex than that in the imperial court.
Dong'e Hailan's lips twitched. If it weren't for Consort Rong being Yinzhi's mother, she would have turned around and left immediately.
“Mother, even if my second sister-in-law is a pirate ship, I’m still on board,” Dong’e Hailan retorted.
However, as a daughter-in-law, it's really not appropriate for her to speak like that.
Before Consort Rong could react, she quickly explained, "The Crown Princess is broad-minded and not jealous at all. Moreover, the Crown Princess is in charge of palace affairs and the inner courtyard of Yuqing Palace, so her perspective is different from others. Mother, think about what kind of background my second sister-in-law has. With the Tong family around, Father Emperor will not let her suffer any grievances."
"A new emperor brings a new court; no maternal family can remain in power forever." Consort Rong thought her daughter-in-law was a bit naive.
Dong'e Hailan felt that Consort Rong was naive: "The Tong family is no ordinary maternal relative. Back then, the Tong family followed Emperor Taizu in conquering the country. Even without any Tong family daughters entering the palace, the Tong family was still exceptionally prominent. Now, the young men of the Tong family are also capable of holding their own. In another ten years or so, they will surely become another generation of pillars of the court. Mother, with such a maternal family, do you think my second sister-in-law will lose her glory in the palace?"
Consort Rong tapped the table lightly with the delicate nail guards on her fingers.
Dong E Hailan lowered her head respectfully, feeling a chill run down her spine as she listened to the thumping sound.
She was rash.
No matter how thoughtless Consort Rong may have been, she had ultimately weathered many storms and managed to protect her son and daughter in the harem until they survived.
"Mother, did I say something wrong?" Dong E Hailan asked softly.
Consort Rong chuckled lightly: "At this point, I should be happy that the Emperor has betrothed you to the Third Prince. The eldest daughter of a prominent family is indeed well-raised. Your father has probably put a lot of effort into you as well."
Dong E Hailan pursed her lips, looked down at her exquisite flowerpot-soled shoes, and remained silent, like a wooden doll.
“When Rongxian got married, she told me to mind my own business. Now it seems that you and the third prince both have your own ideas and are parents now. From now on, I will not interfere with you,” Consort Rong said.
Dong E Hailan panicked; this was not the reaction she wanted.
If Consort Rong didn't visit Dong E Hailan every day while her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law lived together in the palace, it wouldn't be long before rumors spread that the Third Princess Consort was disrespectful to her mother-in-law.
"Although I will no longer interfere with how you get along with the Crown Prince, you are my daughter-in-law, and you are obliged to come and pay your respects morning and evening without fail. When Hongqing is a little older, you must also bring him to see me more often," Consort Rong said.
This was the best outcome, and Dong E Hailan immediately stopped installing the pillars.
Her smile was bright and cheerful; her face, still somewhat plump from just finishing her postpartum period, looked especially joyful with that smile.
“Yes, daughter-in-law will listen to her mother,” Dong E Hailan said crisply.
Consort Rong didn't want to look at her face for too long; it annoyed her.
"Alright, today is Hongqing's full moon celebration, stop standing here," said Consort Rong.
When Dong E Hailan returned to her seat, Ulanara Fanghui and Tong Wanyan politely declined the other wives' attempts to strike up a conversation and quickly walked to her side.
Before the two could express their concern, Dong'e Hailan reassured them, "It's alright. Mother just wanted to ask how Hongqing is. She was crying loudly just now, and she was a little worried."
This was certainly not the truth, but it meant that Dong E Hailan was alright.
Since the sisters-in-law on the left, right, and back have more opportunities to meet, there are indeed some things that are not suitable to be discussed in detail at a banquet.
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