When Consort Yi saw her mother, she noticed that her mother looked older than before, and her eyes seemed to be telling Consort Yi that her mother was not doing well.
Seeing her mother's full head of white hair, Consort Yi couldn't bring herself to say anything that she had been complaining or resentful about. She knew that her mother was not having a good life, and that her mother's entry into the palace this time was probably not her wish, but rather something she was forced to do by her father.
Father had many concubines and was a lecherous man. Managing such a large harem, he still had to endure the ridicule and annoyance of those concubines. Mother's life was not easy at all.
Even so, she still refused to escape that sea of suffering, simply because she was unwilling to accept it, coupled with the lingering feelings she had for her father. Consort Yi couldn't understand what she was unwilling about. Did she really have to waste so many decades on such a man, rather than shut herself away and live her own quiet life?
Mother's background was actually not low. If she wanted to, although she might not be able to control Father's spending, she could ensure that the concubines would not dare to act recklessly in front of her. This was because the so-called annoyance was based on her concern. If she didn't care about this matter, those things would not be able to hurt her at all!
To her disappointment, her mother never understood this point. At first, Consort Yi tried to persuade her, but after many years in the palace, her mindset had completely changed, and she was no longer willing to care about this matter.
Even if she were to enter the palace now, and hold a high position with considerable influence, her mother would likely still be upset and unable to overcome this hurdle. Perhaps this is due to a deep-seated emotional knot in her heart…
The bond between the two of them as husband and wife... yet so many women stood between them, and Mother still couldn't let go.
"This must be Zhuzhu... She's grown so big already." Nale said, her smile bitter. Her second son died too soon. When the child was born, even though she argued her case, Prince An still brought her back.
This was one of the few times she stood up for herself. Although it didn't work, she still stubbornly argued with Lord Guo Luoluo for half a year... In the end, she was the first to give in because he couldn't stand those women swaggering around in front of him.
Although she had many grandchildren, she still hoped to see them during this trip to the palace. Now, seeing the clever little girl beside her, her nose tingled with emotion; her eyes truly resembled those of her second son…
But the way those eyes looked at her was somewhat unfamiliar and distant. Being looked at by such eyes caused Nalesh great heartache.
“When I heard that Zhuzhu could enter the palace, I was still happy... at least she had an aunt to take care of her at the door.”
Consort Yi smiled but remained silent. She should have known her mother was always like this; she had all sorts of inexplicable, overflowing emotions—her emotions were so abundant that sometimes Consort Yi didn't even know where they came from, yet her personality was fragile.
Even if they manage to stand up for a while, they still can't get anything done.
She had seen her mother like this since she was a child. Look, even though she felt guilty and fond of Zhuzhu, she still couldn't go against her father's wishes.
However, her personality is completely different from her mother's. If she likes someone, she will bring them to her side to take care of them; if she doesn't like someone, she will send them far away!
So that's how she's always done it.
Her personality has always been rebellious since childhood, which is why her father could manage all his other children but couldn't control her.
No one he dislikes can get the better of her, including his half-brothers or sisters.
Over time, no one dared to mess with her.
But my younger sister looks just like my mother.
“Grandmother…” Jingrou called out. Although the person in front of her was a complete stranger, her aunt had already told her beforehand that she wanted her to call her grandmother.
Looking at Nale's full head of white hair and the loving look in her eyes, Jingrou wasn't actually resistant, though she couldn't bring herself to do anything more intimate...
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the group finally got down to business.
“Yue’er…” Nale said, “I know you didn’t want your sister to go to the palace, but it was your father’s decision, and your mother really couldn’t do anything about it…” She shook her head, and the unpleasant life she had experienced over the years had given her many wrinkles.
But she couldn't let go of Lord Guo Luoluo. The two had grown up together as childhood sweethearts and had a passionate and sweet life together when they were young. However, the good times didn't last long. Consort Yi's father was a philanderer, so how could he not have his concubines?
Consort Yi was disappointed in her mother's lack of ambition, but she knew that her mother was like this even when she was still a young lady in her boudoir, and she was powerless to change it. At this moment, her eyes fell on her well-behaved younger sister sitting to the side.
Little Guo Luoluo was very excited when she saw her older sister. Before, at home, only her sister protected her. She was a little weak-willed. With so many brothers and sisters in the family, none of whom were her mother's biological children, she was sometimes bullied. But she was clumsy with words, and only her sister could protect her when she was at home.
Ever since her older sister entered the palace, she has become increasingly silent.
Seeing my sister at that moment filled me with immense excitement…
But thinking about what had happened this time, and fearing that her sister would be angry, she remained vulnerablely hidden to the side, wanting to get closer to her sister but hesitant to approach.
"Wen'er, come here." Consort Yi's feelings were very complicated, but she did not see her younger sister as someone who was there to compete for her favor, especially when she met Wen'er's eyes, which were filled with trepidation and joy.
Women in the palace are so unfree. Since entering the palace, she has only seen her mother and sister once, when the fifth prince was born. She was only able to enter the palace because of the Empress Dowager's grace. This time, however, it was because she had already become a concubine and had some power.
“Sister…” Little Guo Luo Luo’s tears fell instantly, and she threw herself into her sister’s arms. There was still a familiar scent, with a faint milky fragrance. Little Guo Luo Luo knew that it was because her sister had just given birth.
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