Consort De in Yonghe Palace was listening to a young eunuch talk about things at Jingren Palace. He was talking about how filial Yinzhen was to Consort Tong.
Although Consort De's expression did not change upon hearing this, her grip on the teacup tightened noticeably, and her fingers turned slightly white.
After the eunuch finished speaking, Consort De immediately sent him away, leaving only a trusted confidant to serve her.
Consort De said with a hint of sarcasm, "I never expected that I would actually give birth to such a filial son. What a pity! He is not filial to his own mother, me."
The nanny waiting nearby could tell that her mistress was upset: "Your Highness, please calm down. The Fourth Prince was only attending to the Imperial Noble Consort out of courtesy. Besides, judging from the Imperial Noble Consort's condition, she probably won't be around for much longer. Why should Your Highness get angry with someone who is about to die?"
Consort De thought that there was indeed no need to get angry with a dying person, but she felt increasingly disliked the son who had been given to Consort Tong to raise since birth without her ever having seen him.
In her heart, Yinzhen's existence was proof of her weakness and powerlessness.
His presence constantly reminded her that she had exchanged her child for the title of a noblewoman, which led to her moving out of the rear quarters of Jingren Palace and subsequently giving birth to several more children and being promoted in rank.
All her glory began with the birth of Yinzhen. Logically, she should have been concerned about this child, but in fact, she always felt that Yinzhen was evidence of her shame.
That's why she disliked him, and when she heard how filial he was to Consort Tong, that once high and mighty woman, she couldn't help but feel resentment in her heart.
But she could only harbor resentment in her heart, because even though Consort Tong was now seriously ill and might not live much longer, she was still high above everyone else and someone that Consort De could never openly despise.
"I'm tired. From now on, don't let anyone report on how filial Yinzhen is to the Imperial Noble Consort. As for Jingren Palace, I'm waiting for 'good news' to come!"
The old woman said, "Judging from the situation at the Imperial Hospital, the 'good news' that Her Majesty mentioned will probably arrive soon."
Consort De chuckled, "That would be wonderful."
Only when Consort Tong died could Consort De forget the lowly and pitiful days she spent as a slave in Jingren Palace; otherwise, she could still smell the scent of her foot-washing water in her midnight dreams.
She once served Consort Tong water to wash her feet. Although the water didn't smell bad, the memory of it made her feel utterly disgusted.
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