The next day, the Eighth Prince entered the palace with his wife. According to custom, the Eighth Prince's wife should first go to Jingren Palace to pay her respects to the Empress. They used to be sisters-in-law, but now their statuses were vastly different. The Eighth Prince's wife felt a little resentful at the thought.
When the Eighth Prince's Consort arrived at Jingren Palace, the Empress was admiring flowers and playing with birds in the front courtyard. The bright peonies and azaleas were blooming in profusion, their beauty breathtaking. The Empress sat on a stone chair in the garden, waving a handkerchief at a myna bird in a cage, which made the myna bird stare intently at the Empress's hand, chirping and twittering.
The Eighth Prince's wife paused for a moment, then grinned and approached. She bowed to the Empress and said, "This humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
The Empress was taken aback and quickly helped her up, saying, "Eighth Princess Consort, there's no need for such formalities, please rise..."
The Empress pulled the Eighth Prince's wife to sit down, and had a palace maid bring tea and snacks. She smiled and said to the Eighth Prince's wife, "It's rare to see you in the palace, so please spend more time with me today..." As she spoke, the Empress pointed to the myna bird in the cage and said to the Eighth Prince's wife, "I'm bored all day long, and only this little thing keeps me company and makes me feel less lonely."
The Eighth Princess Consort curiously teased the myna bird and discovered that the bird was exceptionally intelligent and spirited. She couldn't help but praise it, saying, "It is said that animals understand human nature. Your Majesty the Empress is both beautiful and wise, and even your pet myna bird is clever and quick-witted..."
The Empress was overjoyed to hear this and took the Eighth Prince's wife's hand, saying, "Eighth Prince's wife has a sweet tongue and speaks very pleasantly. I have no idea how to train animals, but this myna is exceptionally clever."
The Eighth Prince's wife smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I am only telling the truth. There is not a word of flattery in my words. I am even envious of Your Majesty's eighth brother..."
The Empress smiled and said, "If the Eighth Prince's wife likes this myna bird, I'll give it to you..."
The Eighth Prince's wife waved her hands repeatedly, exclaiming, "Your Majesty the Empress is too kind! How could I possibly steal someone else's love? Besides, Eighth Prince is so intelligent thanks to Your Majesty's tutelage. I am truly unworthy to compare myself to Your Majesty..."
The Empress glanced at the Eighth Prince and murmured, "What love or not love? In the end, he's still a beast. It's just that the palace is so cold and lonely, which is why this beast is so favored..." The Eighth Prince's wife was speechless for a moment, embarrassed and not knowing how to answer.
Fortunately, the Empress herself laughed and said, "Please don't take offense, Eighth Princess Consort. I was just saying it casually..."
The Eighth Princess Consort smiled gently and said softly, "Your Majesty's words remind me of my aunt. She is often lonely in the palace. I wonder how she is doing lately?"
The Empress was taken aback, then asked with a smile, "Are you referring to Consort Yi?"
The Eighth Prince's wife nodded, and said uneasily, "My aunt has treated me very well since I was a child, and I was raised under her care. Now that my aunt has been living in the palace for a long time, I am unable to fulfill my filial duties. I am truly ashamed..."
The Empress put away her smile and said calmly, "The Eighth Princess Consort is kind-hearted and knows how to repay kindness. I imagine the Dowager Consort Yi must be very pleased."
The Eighth Prince's wife raised her head and looked at the Empress pleadingly, saying, "Your Majesty, I would like to request that you allow me to see my aunt, just to keep her company and have a word with her..."
After a moment's thought, the Empress realized it wasn't a big deal. With the Eighth Prince trapped, his wife was no longer a threat, so she reluctantly agreed.
The Eighth Prince's wife expressed her deepest gratitude and took her leave of the Empress, heading to a side hall of the Cining Palace.
After the Eighth Prince's wife left, the Empress thought it over and over again, and finally sent someone to inform the Fourth Prince of her whereabouts.
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