"Wan'er, do you like this palace?" Fu Lin held Wan'er's hand. "This palace is the closest to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, so I won't have to travel so far to find you."
That's one reason. More importantly, he didn't want to step into Yongshou Palace again. Whenever he saw that bed, he couldn't help but think of Yu Yan's scheming face.
However, he did not tell Wan'er about this reason.
"I like it." Wan'er nodded in satisfaction. Chengqian Palace was indeed better than Yongshou Palace. Although it was a bit smaller, it had a more pleasant scenery.
"If you like it, that's good." Fu Lin took her hand and slowly walked into Chengqian Palace.
Subsequently, the palace maids and eunuchs who were originally in Yongshou Palace also moved their belongings over and placed them in various parts of the room.
It must be said that Fulin doted on Wan'er. Chengqian Palace had everything he could want, even the floor tiles were decorated with jade.
Wan'er felt it was too extravagant, but since Fu Lin had already done so, and she had already agreed, she had no choice but to move in.
However, this inevitably incurred the resentment of those in the palace, and sure enough, not two days later, another problem arose.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to Consort Xian. May Consort Xian enjoy boundless blessings and peace." The newcomer was a young woman in her early twenties, exquisitely dressed, with a captivating figure and mesmerizing eyes. She knelt before Wan'er, a smile on her face, but her gaze towards Wan'er was filled with hostility.
Despite her excellent disguise, Wan'er still noticed.
She really didn't understand what the women in the harem were thinking, why they always treated her like a thorn in their side. Wasn't it the emperor's fault? Why did they put all their hatred on a weak woman?
Only after Qi Lan informed her did she learn the identity of the woman before her. She was the birth mother of the current Second Prince, Fuquan, and her surname was also Dong'e. Her given name was Songdan, and she was her cousin, so they were related by blood.
"No need for formalities, please take a seat, sister!" Wan'er casually pointed to a seat and said. Although she disliked the person in front of her at first sight, she still had to show proper etiquette, especially since this Songdan was Consort Ning, only one rank below her.
Seeing that Wan'er's attitude was lukewarm, Songdan was also a little unhappy. After all, Wan'er had been very enthusiastic towards her in the past, but she was not so stupid as to show it. Moreover, the main purpose of her coming here today was to dig a pit for Wan'er to fall into.
She believed that Wan'er would definitely listen to whatever she said.
Therefore, she maintained her smile and sat in the spot Wan'er pointed out. "It seems that Your Highness is in much better condition. I thought you would be saddened by Yu Yan's departure, so I came to comfort you." She paused and then added, "However, it is all the better that you can take it easy."
Although these words sounded like words of comfort, there was a hint of sarcasm in the tone, which was nothing more than an accusation that Wan'er was heartless and would not feel any sadness even when her younger sister, whom she had grown up with, died.
But how could Wan'er not understand? She smiled and said, "The dead cannot be brought back to life. People must look forward. I have already gotten over this sadness, but Consort Ning, you are still sad. It is clear that your feelings for Yu Yan are even deeper than mine."
Is this still Dong E Wan'er? When did she become so sharp-tongued? Song Dan was shocked. She thought Dong E Wan'er would feel guilty for her words, but she didn't expect her to refute her like this.
But she was too confident. The thought flashed through her mind, and she still believed that Wan'er was still the same Wan'er who was bad at talking, and that it was just a coincidence.
So she replied, "Your Highness is right. One should look forward; this is an age-old truth. But Yu Yan is, after all, surnamed Dong'e, and she was usually well-behaved. For her to truly disappear like this, and even beheaded, I... I truly..."
She couldn't go on any longer, and finally sighed to end the conversation, shedding two fake tears as if she were genuinely heartbroken.
Seeing this, Wan'er also sighed, "I am naturally saddened by this, but Father still refuses to admit it and cruelly throws Yu Yan's remains into the mass grave. I am truly heartbroken."
She deliberately went along with Songdan's words, just to see how Songdan would react to being so happy for nothing.
Sure enough, Songdan was taken aback, then her eyes lit up, "Since Your Majesty thinks so too, perhaps..."
Wan'er could easily guess what she wanted to say; she simply wanted her to force Dong E Shuo to acknowledge Yu Yan in the name of Consort Xian.
This would make Dong Eshuo a laughingstock throughout the capital, since having such a daughter was a disgrace.
So before Songdan could finish speaking, Wan'er interrupted her, "Why don't you do me this favor, Consort Ning, and make Yuyan your uncle's daughter and bury her in the Dong'e Mausoleum?"
The uncle Wan'er mentioned was Songdan's father.
"What?" Upon hearing this, Songdan was so angry that her eyes almost popped out. She wanted to shout back at Wan'er, but seeing that the room was full of palace maids and eunuchs, she knew that if Wan'er accused her of disrespect, she would not escape punishment.
Thinking of this, she could only take a deep breath and try to keep her tone calm as she said, "How can this be?"
Wan'er calmly replied, "Why not? Doesn't Yu Yan have Dong E's blood in her veins?"
"This..." Songdan was speechless. These were the words she herself had said earlier, and she had truly shot herself in the foot.
"Does that mean you don't agree, sister?" Wan'er asked, raising an eyebrow with a hint of displeasure on her face. "And yet you keep saying you feel sorry for Yu Yan's death."
"No, I didn't," Songdan shook her head frantically. "I just..."
Wan'er didn't give her a chance to explain and continued, "It seems that what you just said was all a lie, even your concern and greetings to me were fake."
Songdan's expression changed. Fearing that Wan'er would notice something amiss, she hurriedly denied it, "No, that's not what I meant. What I meant was how to inform Father about this matter."
"Don't worry, His Majesty will grant my request," Wan'er said confidently.
Now that things had come to this point, Songdan knew she couldn't refuse under any circumstances, so she could only bite the bullet and agree, "Since Your Majesty says so, I will respectfully comply."
"In that case, I thank you in advance, sister," Wan'er said with a smile.
Songdan gritted her teeth. If looks could kill, Wan'er would have died a thousand times over. But what could she do? She had to endure it. "No, don't be so polite. It's all what I should do. Your Majesty need not worry about it."
She couldn't stay a moment longer and quickly curtsied, saying, "If there are no other instructions, I will take my leave now."
"Okay, go down!"
Watching Songdan's departing figure, Wan'er's smile vanished instantly, and a chilling glint flashed in her eyes.
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