Tong Wanyan turned and left. Her good mood had been ruined for no reason. If she didn't complain to the Empress Dowager, she would be letting down Kangxi and the Empress Dowager for their obvious favoritism towards her.
The Eighth Prince's wife watched helplessly as Tong Wanyan walked past her, wanting to chase after her to continue arguing.
Chunque and Xiazhu looked at her with smiles, standing on the left and right, blocking her way.
"Eighth Prince Consort, the Secondary Prince Consort has promised the Empress Dowager that she will go to Ning Shou Palace to pay her respects as soon as possible. If you are reluctant to part with her, you can go to Ning Shou Palace with her." Chun Que's words, though seemingly gentle, firmly stopped the Eighth Prince Consort from her entanglement.
The Eighth Prince's wife was furious: "We're all sisters-in-law. I only said a few words, so why did she go and complain? She's so narrow-minded. I really don't know what the Empress Dowager likes about her."
"You need not trouble yourself with the Empress Dowager's preferences," Chunque said softly. "My mistress is not worthy of being called your own sister-in-law."
When he's looking for trouble, he keeps referring to her as "concubine," sounding distant and arrogant.
When she begged for mercy, she changed her address to "Second Sister-in-law," but I've never seen anyone so shameless.
"Sister Chunque, Sister Xiazhu, the master wants you two to hurry up," a young eunuch called out as he turned back from the front.
The Eighth Prince's wife watched Tong Wanyan walk away, her teeth nearly grinding to powder.
"Raised in a humble family, all he knows is how to please others," the Eighth Prince's wife said angrily, spitting on the ground.
Tong Wanyan arrived at Ning Shou Palace carrying a large bouquet of red plum blossoms. Seeing brightly colored things in winter always instantly lifts one's spirits.
When the Empress Dowager saw Tong Wanyan coming over, she was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling.
"Didn't I tell you to rest at home these few days? You've been keeping me company every day recently, and it must have been really tiring for you." The Empress Dowager looked at the red plum blossoms with admiration: "These red plum blossoms are beautifully picked, and the flowers are blooming brightly and freely, much more delicate and pretty than those with branches full of buds."
Tong Wanyan handed the red plum blossoms to the maids in Ning Shou Palace, who then chose a vase to place them in.
"I've come to complain!" Tong Wanyan said frankly to the Empress Dowager in a sweet voice.
The Empress Dowager frowned: "Who is this blind fool? When did the palace start keeping such an arrogant person!"
“It’s the Eighth Prince’s wife,” Xia Zhu said impatiently.
Tong Wanyan turned around and glared at her: "How dare you interfere in the affairs of the master?"
The Empress Dowager patted her hand and gave Xia Zhu a reassuring look: "Let her speak. A loyal servant protects his master. You are gentle by nature. I feel at ease with such a servant protecting me."
"Tell me the whole story in detail, and I will reward you when you finish," the Empress Dowager said protectively.
Tong Wanyan smiled happily and shook the Empress Dowager's arm: "I should say this myself. What's the point of having someone else complain for me? I have to do it myself."
"Alright, alright, I'll listen to you." The Empress Dowager's affection for Tong Wanyan was almost boundless.
Although she was her granddaughter-in-law, the Empress Dowager treated her like her own daughter. When the old lady was being particularly fond of someone, she could be incredibly stubborn.
Tong Wanyan recounted everything that the Eighth Prince's wife had said to the Empress Dowager, without embellishment or exaggeration, not a single word more or less.
While speaking, Tong Wanyan boasted, "Your Majesty, I have a very good memory. I remember everything after hearing it only once."
The Empress Dowager, who was so angry she was about to smash her cup, couldn't help but burst out laughing after hearing this: "You little rascal."
"It's one thing for concubines in ordinary families, but how can the concubines of the royal family who are listed in the imperial genealogy be the same? Leaving aside your generation, just look at Consort Gui and Consort Yi. Which of them came from a lowly background? If the Emperor hadn't taken a liking to them, they would have been more than qualified to be imperial wives outside the palace. But once they entered the palace, they all had to start as Noble Ladies."
"Even her proper mother-in-law, Consort Liang, is still only a concubine," the Empress Dowager said.
"You shouldn't have suffered this injustice. I'll have Consort Liang teach her a lesson. And the Eighth Prince, he didn't observe a vegetarian diet when Consort Min passed away. Princess Guren Shuhui is indeed an elder, but what time is it? It's the New Year, and the Emperor said we should be happy. He really went too far!"
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