When Tong Wanyan returned to Wuyizhai, she brought two boxes of food bestowed by the Empress Dowager.
Hong Sheng came attracted by the fragrance, and Shi Xiuzhu was pulled over as well.
Chunque and Xiazhu divided the snacks into plates and sent them to the masters of Wuyizhai to try.
"What does the Empress Dowager want with you?" Shi Xiuzhu sat casually on the bamboo couch, his posture quite elegant and dashing.
Tong Wanyan sat opposite him and, seeing that he was sitting improperly, scolded him, "You're just taking advantage of the fact that no one's here with me right now, don't you know better?"
Shi Xiuzhu laughed loudly, her tone relaxed and lazy: "Why bother with so much when you can steal half a day of leisure? Tell me, sister, who has displeased the Empress Dowager and is so eager to invite you over?"
Tong Wanyan took a bite of hawthorn cake; it was sour and chewy, and delicious.
"Didn't Consort Liang go to Changchun Garden with Father Emperor this time? As soon as she arrived, she went to Xianxie Cuncheng Hall to ask the Empress Dowager to give the Eighth Prince Consort a few words of praise." Tong Wanyan pushed the plate of snacks aside and said.
Shi Xiuzhu chuckled as if he'd heard a joke: "What is she thinking? The Empress Dowager may have a good temper, but she's known for being impartial and not interfering in affairs. She'd be better off asking Consort Yi for help than asking the Empress Dowager. Consort Yi is from the same clan as the Eighth Prince's wife, and she might be willing to lend her a hand for the sake of the Guo Luo Luo clan's reputation."
“Consort Yi isn’t stupid. Besides, with Consort Yi, the Fifth Prince, and the Ninth Prince, the Eighth Prince’s wife can’t influence Lady Guo Luo Luo.” Tong Wanyan and Consort Yi had been together for over ten years and had a good understanding on certain matters.
Shi Xiuzhu nodded: "That's true. Consort Liang has gone to great lengths for the Eighth Prince."
Tong Wanyan sneered, "What's the use? Who cares about her good intentions? Do you believe that when the Eighth Prince's wife finds out about this, she won't thank her, but will blame her for making a fool of herself?"
"I only found out what the Empress Dowager said to Consort Liang when she was angry after I went to Xianxie Cuncheng Hall."
"Born with a unique fragrance, she serves the emperor with her beauty, lacking any sense of propriety; she is truly of lowly birth."
Shi Xiuzhu sat up straight in surprise: "Consort Liang can understand?"
"So what if you don't understand? You'll eventually understand," Tong Wanyan said coolly.
Shi Xiuzhu said, "I envy the Crown Prince. You always take everything related to him to heart."
“If I don’t cherish my husband, who will? He protects me, and I cherish him too,” Tong Wanyan said.
"Consort Liang wants to make a show of support for the Eighth Prince's wife. If she's really capable, she should be promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine. She hasn't even left the palace to run her own household yet, and she's already thinking about taking the path of diplomacy as a lady. You can't get fat in one bite; she'll only end up choking herself." Tong Wanyan finished speaking with great pleasure.
Seeing that she was happy, Shi Xiuzhu's mood also improved.
Although Shi Xiuzhu and Yinreng were at odds and disliked each other, he was still working under Yinreng. If the Crown Prince were to fall ill, could the Crown Princess simply marry someone else?
Even if she could remarry, Shi Xiuzhu was unwilling. She had finally had a stroke of good luck, meeting someone like Yinreng who was willing to protect her; she might not have such luck again.
The matter of Consort Liang offending the Empress Dowager was reported to Emperor Kangxi as quickly as possible without any delay.
When Emperor Kangxi learned of this, his face darkened.
He didn't even go to Consort Liang to question her directly. He simply said to Liang Jiugong in a calm tone, "Let her go back."
It would be one thing if they didn't come to Changchun Garden, since only three or four concubines accompanied them. But to go and then be sent back to the Forbidden City is truly shameful.
Consort Liang was carried away in a small sedan chair, looking dejected and forlorn, along with the several trunks she had brought.
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