The Empress Dowager raised her head, glanced at Sixteen, and frowned slightly, saying, "Why are you back so soon?"
"Your Majesty, you must do justice for Ruishu!" The Sixteenth Princess ran to the Empress Dowager's side, tugged at her sleeve, and said coquettishly.
"What's wrong? Why didn't Indal go with you?" The Empress Dowager asked the Sixteenth Princess with a puzzled look.
"His Highness was perhaps a little tired from the fall, so he went back to rest. Ruier didn't come because of the prince; Ruier knows why the prince fell," Sixteen said.
"Why did you fall?" the Empress Dowager asked.
“Rui’er found out from that little roadside acquaintance that it was from Minrou County. She climbed up a peach tree to pick some pears, and accidentally fell. Prince Indar bumped into her and fell while trying to save her,” the Sixteenth Princess said with dissatisfaction.
"Minrou? The Minrou County from Consort De's side?" The Empress Dowager frowned. She had never liked Consort De much, simply because the latter was too stubborn and, in addition, was in cahoots with the Emperor, so she would never be of any use to her.
"That's right, it's her. Before, she frequently came and went from the Qianqing Palace, and was even caught by Consort Yi chatting and laughing with Father Emperor in the Imperial Garden. Grandmother, this concubine is simply filthy, and now she's seen Prince Indal in the Imperial Garden." The Sixteenth Princess pouted and said, "I don't know what she's up to. She's already Fourth Brother's concubine, yet she's so restless."
The Sixteenth Princess's words were nothing short of sowing discord and malicious speculation. Her aim was naturally to incite the Empress Dowager to develop a dislike for Lanqin, and then summon her to interrogate her.
"Rui Shu, don't talk nonsense. Min Rou was personally appointed as a county magistrate by your father, and she is also your fourth brother's concubine. She is serving your father as a daughter-in-law. As for Ying Da'er, your grandmother will ask about it. Perhaps it was just an accidental encounter. Don't talk nonsense!" The Empress Dowager scolded the Sixteenth Princess.
"Grandmother~" Sixteen said in surprise when she saw that the Empress Dowager did not respond to her request. "Rui'er knows, why don't I go and bring some bird's nest for Grandmother?" She knew that it was almost time for the Empress Dowager to have afternoon tea. The Empress Dowager usually ate a bowl of bird's nest to maintain her appearance and health.
Meanwhile, after returning to his room, Indar didn't rest but changed his clothes with the help of eunuchs. He really disliked the sixteenth princess, but the Empress Dowager had already spoken to his mother, wanting to arrange a marriage between the sixteenth princess and himself, thus forging a marriage alliance between the Tibetan Tusi Royal Court and the Qing Dynasty. Indar already had his own ideas. He, on the other hand, found the woman from Minrou County whom he had met in the Imperial Garden quite appealing.
After much deliberation, Indal decided to go to the Empress Dowager again and tell her directly that he had taken a liking to a noblewoman from the Qing court. If she wanted him to marry a woman from the Qing court, then the woman from Minrou County was worth considering.
Meanwhile, our Comrade Lanqin secretly slipped into Yonghe Palace. She had no idea that she had become an innocent victim, a thorn in the side of the Sixteenth Princess, and the beloved of Prince Indal.
"Consort, you're finally back!" Si Hua greeted Lan Qin as soon as she saw her return.
"What's wrong?" Lanqin asked casually.
"Aunt An just came over to ask you. She said that the master has arrived and is currently with the empress. She sent someone to fetch you, but I really can't find anyone to go with," Si Hua said, bowing her head.
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