Hua Qiao lowered her head listlessly, unable to understand why Jia Rong and Princess Shuo would interfere in the affairs of the inner court of Yuqing Palace.
Not only was Hua Qiao surprised, but Consort Li was also very astonished.
Regardless of what they thought of her, Jia Rong and Princess Shuo said, "Since Consort Li is unwell, just give her more bitter medicine. Simply taking more walks won't help. Good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the disease. She's an adult and can't avoid taking medicine."
Tong Wanyan smiled faintly: "Jiarong is right. I didn't think things through and made you work so hard. Since your body can't take it anymore, you should rest for a while. Fortunately, there's nothing much going on lately, so you can give the token and key to Granny Ling."
Consort Li's pupils dilated slightly in disbelief: "There's no illness, at most she's a little weak, but it's nothing serious."
Tong Wanyan shook her head and smiled, her voice incredibly gentle: "Were you talking to Consort Tang just now? Your courtyards are close together, it's good for the sisters to visit each other more often to relieve loneliness."
"Princess Tang is lively and loves to wander around, and I've been more tolerant of her because she's young. If Consort Li doesn't like it, I'll stay away from her," Consort Li said hastily, her eyes reddening with urgency.
“There’s nothing to like or dislike. If I were jealous because you are my women, that would be impossible. You were all chosen by the Emperor to serve him in Yuqing Palace. I don’t have that kind of domineering nature. You don’t need to overthink it.” Tong Wanyan’s tongue lingered on the word “overthink it.”
Consort Li's face turned pale. She knew she had made another wrong move and couldn't hold back.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Jia Rong. Tana and Hongzhao should be awake by now. I'll take you to see them." Tong Wanyan didn't listen to Li Cefujin's explanation anymore.
They all tested her, did they really think she was good-tempered, or were they just adorably naive?
"Alright. Actually, I didn't come here today to see you, I came to see our Tana." Jia Rong and Princess Shuo turned away, completely cutting off Consort Li's intention to continue the conversation.
Tong Wanyan tacitly approved of her little actions. There might be spies planted by Kangxi in the courtyard, so she wouldn't say anything reckless.
In the blink of an eye, Consort Li experienced the same sensations that Consort Tang had just suffered. Despite the bright sunshine, she felt cold from the inside out.
She wanted to call out to Tong Wanyan, but when she saw Tong Wanyan turn around and smile at her, so beautiful yet so indifferent, she shut her mouth.
"Consort Li, what should we do?" Hua Qiao supported the swaying Consort Li, blaming herself for giving such a bad idea.
Consort Li gave a self-deprecating laugh: "What can I do? I neither flattered the Crown Prince nor made things difficult for Consort Tong. Who can do anything to me? It's just a tiny bit of power, a mere sesame seed or grain of rice, nothing but a chicken rib. I don't believe that when she gets old and loses her beauty, she will still be like this."
"Let's go back and shut the door to refuse any guests." Consort Li gritted her teeth, straightened her body, and walked back with her head held high.
On the way to visit Tana and Hongzhao, Jiarong and Princess Shuo inevitably talked about this matter with Tong Wanyan.
She clicked her tongue in disbelief: "Now, besides you, she's the only one living the best life in the backyard of Yuqing Palace. Why is she so desperate to make a scene in front of you? Such a pathetic trick, how dare she show it off."
Tong Wanyan's raven-feather-like curled eyelashes made her bright eyes even more beautiful.
"Do you believe that there is such a thing as a lifelong, monogamous relationship in the royal family?" Tong Wanyan asked softly.
“Even Lord Nalan, who wrote this poem, couldn’t achieve this, let alone the royal family,” Princess Jiarong replied softly.
"Yes, so everyone is waiting for a new concubine to come and share the prince's favor. They don't believe the royal family is affectionate, and they don't believe the prince can only stay with me. They are waiting for an opportunity to make the prince favor other people and linger in the inner palace again. If they can provoke me to be jealous and throw a tantrum, that would be even better." Tong Wanyan saw through Consort Li's little tricks.
Besides loving her coquettishness and clinginess, Yinreng loved even more her unwavering heart, which never showed any impetuosity or madness.
She provided him with the strongest support and the most peaceful place to relax.
If her mind wavers, Yinreng might very well change his mind.
Once prompted, Jia Rong and Princess Shuo suddenly realized: "Then do you believe it?"
Tong Wanyan smiled gently: "Of course I believe you. People aren't plants or trees, how can they be without feelings? My husband is a sentimental person. Even if he finds a new love one day, I'll just step aside. All the good things we've done over the years are real. I never care about power struggles."
Jia Rong and Princess Shuo squeezed her hand and sighed, "You are unlike anyone I've ever met. No, you are just like Lord Tong, a person of unwavering resolve who would die without regret. No wonder the Emperor and my elder brother liked Lord Tong so much, and no wonder the Crown Prince and I liked you so much."
“So, Xiao Yan, don’t change, we will all protect you,” Jia Rong and Princess Shuo said.
"Okay," Tong Wanyan replied sweetly.
Tong Wanyan's fingers were soft, and Jia Rong and Shuo Gege couldn't bear to put them down once they touched them.
When Hongzhao woke up, he saw his mother holding someone else's hand, and his sleepy little eyes were filled with anger.
He howled at Jia Rong and Shuo Gege, patting the small blanket, his chubby, fair arms trembling.
Tana sat beside him, calmly playing with the toys that Yinzhen had made for her, ignoring her domineering and foolish younger brother.
Hongzhao howled a few times, but failed to attract anyone to comfort him, so he got bored and turned around and pinned Tana down.
He had done this many times before, and Tana hummed in response, as if it were nothing new. Then a wet nurse picked up Hongzhao and moved him to the other side.
Jia Rong and Princess Shuo rarely see twins, and each time they see them, they are even more curious.
"Tana certainly has the demeanor of an elder sister. If Hongzhao were this mischievous, I would have already given him a beating." Jia Rong and Princess Shuo were also a local tyrant in the Prince Su's mansion.
Tong Wanyan removed the hand armor and bent down to hug the chubby girl.
"Just wait a few years, when she grows up, she'll definitely beat Hongzhao to a pulp," Tong Wanyan said smugly.
“Hongzhao is the eldest son of the Crown Prince and the eldest grandson of the Emperor’s uncle. He’s not necessarily weak,” Princess Jiarong teased deliberately.
Tong Wanyan gestured with her lips, indicating that she should hug Hongzhao.
The wedding is in a few months, so I'd like to hold the twins in advance to share in the joy!
Jia Rong and Princess Shuo held the chubby boy in their arms, their arms trembling. They didn't forget to tell the wet nurse who had come with them, "Keep a close eye on him. If I do anything wrong, please remember to remind me. This is a precious baby, so we must treat him with utmost care."
The wet nurse responded obediently, standing quietly to the side, keeping a close eye on things.
"Luckily, I haven't forgotten to practice martial arts while I'm at home, otherwise I wouldn't dare to carry her." Jia Rong and Princess Shuo said to Tong Wanyan with a flustered heart.
The two sat together, so that Tana and Hongzhao could face each other head to head.
Hongzhao grinned, his chubby chin jutting out towards Tana.
Tong Wanyan then slowly replied to her earlier words: "You see, Hongzhao always gives in to Tana. When they grow up, and Tana uses a whip to hit people, Hongzhao will definitely be the first person to hand her the whip."
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