Although Lady Li could see Lady Guarjia's smugness, for the sake of her son, she could only endure it and bow down to the Crown Princess who had been hostile to her for more than ten years.
There are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests.
"Very well, I'll go talk to my aunt. If we can find the source of that rumor and punish the four consorts, we should be able to stop it." The Crown Princess nodded kindly. Actually, even if Lady Li Jia hadn't come today, she would have gone to find Consort Shu to investigate this matter.
"Thank you, elder sister. From now on, you will be Hongxi's legal mother. I will make sure he is respectful and filial to you," Li Jia said earnestly. No matter how favored she was, Guarjia was still the principal wife. With her help, Hongxi's path would be easier.
Guarjia was surprised that Lijia would extend such a generous olive branch. Suppressing her surprise and sneer, she said kindly, "Sister, I am naturally Hongxi's legal mother, and the legal mother of all the children born to the women in this harem. No matter how many children they have, I am ultimately their legal mother, am I not?"
Li Jia suppressed her discomfort, stood up, and curtsied to the Crown Princess, saying, "Indeed, sister, I misspoke. Sister, you will always be the principal wife of the women in this inner quarters, and naturally, the legal mother of all the children."
Guarjia said with a smug smile, "Sister, why don't you stay and have dinner with me tonight? I heard that you used to be very good at cooking. The Crown Prince often praised your skills to me."
Li Jia immediately bowed and said, "That would be exactly what I wanted. It's my fault, sister, for I've never cooked a meal for you before. Why don't you let me do it today, and I'll just sit here and give you pointers?"
Lady Guarjia was pleased with Li Jia's understanding and said with a sly smile, "Then I'll have to trouble you, sister. Jade, go and tell the kitchen not to do anything today, so as not to spoil Consort Li's enjoyment!"
Suppressing her dissatisfaction, Li Jia forced herself to say to Emerald, "Aunt, you can just tell the kitchen to prepare some fresh seasonal vegetables. There's no need for them to do anything else."
After Fei Cui withdrew, Li Jia gave her maid Liu Su a wink before saying to Guarjia, "Sister, I have come today with the intention of standing with you through thick and thin. I have brought a small gift with me, and I hope you will not find it offensive."
After speaking, Liusu walked up to the Crown Princess, raised her hands above her head, and presented them to Guarjia.
Guarjia nodded to a palace maid standing to the side, and the maid took the brocade box from Liusu's hand, presented it to the Crown Princess, and opened the lid.
Inside was an exceptionally magnificent and grand set of ruby and sapphire gold jewelry, clearly made by the Imperial Household Department. The materials were luxurious and the workmanship was exquisite. Even the Crown Princess's possessions had few items that could compare to this jewelry.
"Sister, you're too kind. I really shouldn't accept such a valuable gift." Guarjia outwardly backed down, but inwardly she harbored resentment towards Lijia. Such an expensive headdress must have been a gift from the Crown Prince to her.
"Sister, please don't refuse. Actually, I've always felt that only you are worthy of this set of jewelry, so I've never worn it before. I'm giving it to you today as a token of my sincerity, and I hope you'll accept it with a smile," Li Jia said nervously.
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