Consort Yu had a bad feeling.
"I don't understand what you're saying, sister."
Jia Yue's face showed three parts sorrow and seven parts resentment, but these emotions only flashed by: "Sister, you don't know, before Hongzhao's first birthday celebration, I found out that someone had given his wet nurse a secret medicine. Luckily, I found out early, otherwise, the first birthday celebration might have displeased the Emperor."
"Does that secret medicine really have such effects?"
"These are harmful things left over from the previous dynasty's palace, specifically for wet nurses. They're not exactly deadly, but long-term consumption can affect one's temperament. If a royal child's temperament doesn't please the emperor, not only will their future be bleak, but they'll also live a muddled and aimless life."
Consort Yu fell silent; she was certain that Consort Xi had done it.
She just hadn't expected Consort Xi to use such methods. It wasn't surprising, but it reminded her of Hong Zhou.
Actually, Hongzhou was very well-behaved when he was first born. When did he start to become disobedient?
It seems to have started a month or two ago. At that time, she was raising Hongli, and Consort Xi was raising her Hongzhou. For the sake of the children, they were together during the day. Although it was a matter of switching between the children, it was more like they were raising them together.
"...Consort Yu? Why aren't you saying anything?"
Consort Yu came to her senses: "I was thinking, how could there be such a cruel person in the harem who would use such methods against a child?"
Jia Yue sighed, "Who says otherwise! People like that are simply a menace."
"I've never heard of the secret medicine my sister mentioned, but I'll keep an eye out for it."
Jia Yue smiled and said, "Then thank you very much, sister."
The banquet was lively and grand. The son of the Imperial Concubine was always of high status, and Yinzhen was good at extending his affection to those around him.
However, after speaking with Jia Yue, Consort Yu became distracted.
The banquet ended smoothly, and Consort Yu floated back to her residence.
"Where is Hongzhou?"
"Your Majesty, there's no school today. The Fifth Prince has gone out to play. Don't worry, Your Majesty, I've sent someone to look after him!"
Consort Yu nodded, her expression dazed: "It's normal that Hongzhou doesn't like to study and prefers to play..."
Normal my foot! Even if royal children don't like studying, they wouldn't be so fond of playing around. Especially since Hongzhou has a rather bad temper, often making the palace servants who serve him suffer.
Consort Yu knew all of this.
I used to think that my son might be like that, but what if it really was Consort Xi's scheme back then?
At that time, she and Consort Xi were both princesses in the Prince's Mansion. They became pregnant one after the other, supported each other, and gave birth to sons one after the other.
However, her son was not as studious or sensible as the Fourth Prince, so she gradually got used to it and even intentionally cultivated the brotherly relationship between Hongzhou and Hongli.
Her alliance with Consort Xi was also aimed at overthrowing the Third Prince, so that Hongli could inherit the Prince's mansion and she and her son could have a better life.
Unexpectedly, Yinzhen became the emperor and she became Consort Yu. Even so, she knew that Hongzhou had no chance to compete, so she continued to support Consort Xi and Hongli as always.
Could it be that Consort Xi was responsible for Hongzhou's unruly behavior?
Is she really willing to help the person who harmed her son rise to power?
Also, were Jia Yue's questions really just inquiries?
Or perhaps Jia Yue has already traced the matter back to Consort Xi, and even uncovered Hong Zhou's affair.
This is not impossible; she never underestimates anyone.
Along the way, almost no one has managed to escape Consort Xi's schemes time and again, but Jia Yue did it, which speaks volumes.
After thinking about it for a long time, she decided to investigate. She had to investigate. If it was really Consort Xi who did it, she would avenge her son. Hongli was indeed smart and sensible, but that was compared to the Third Prince and Hongzhou. She had met the Sixth Prince many times, and he was much more clever than Hongli when he was young.
Actually, Hongli's chances of winning weren't that great.
Upon hearing Consort Yu's words in her earpiece that she wanted to thoroughly investigate Consort Xi, Jia Yue immediately packed up her equipment and then summoned Granny Chen.
"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
"Consort Yu should be investigating Consort Xi. I would like to trouble you, Granny, to help Consort Yu and distract Consort Xi."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant understands."
"Then thank you very much, Granny."
"It's all what this servant should do."
In fact, even if Consort Yu investigates, she is destined not to find concrete evidence. But that doesn't matter. As long as there is suspicion, even if it's not evidence, it can prove a lot of things.
The imperial harem never needs concrete evidence.
Suspicion leads to action; it's better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free.
Consort Xi is not to be trifled with; she is cunning and scheming. Consort Yu is no less capable than Consort Xi, but she is restrained by Hongzhou and has no opportunity to use her talents.
Jia Yue secretly stirred things up, and Consort Yu quickly became convinced that Consort Xi had harmed Hong Zhou, which was not surprising at all.
"Consort Xi, I am no match for her ruthlessness."
"Your Majesty? This servant has discovered that Consort Jing has been making quite a stir recently, attracting the attention of Consort Xi."
That's why their investigation went so smoothly.
Consort Yu scoffed, "It seems I was right. Consort Jing is no pushover either. She did it on purpose. She's just messing with Consort Xi because of this person. Consort Xi is finished!"
"What does Your Majesty mean?"
"No matter how bad Hongzhou's temper is, he is still my son, the apple of my eye. Consort Xi has harmed him so much, I will not let Consort Xi off the hook. In the past, I could form an alliance with Consort Xi, but now, there are naturally better choices. Consort Jing and the Sixth Prince are a better mother and son."
"But wouldn't it be a bad idea to just break ties with Consort Xi like this? After all, we've had such a deep entanglement with her over the years."
Consort Yu laughed: "Who said I was going to break ties with Consort Xi? Even though Consort Xi is dead, she is still my good sister."
The confidant lowered his head: "Your Majesty is right."
After that, every time Jia Yue finished paying her respects, she would "coincidentally" run into Consort Yu. The two would chat about many things, such as things that happened in the Prince's residence before Jia Yue entered the Prince's residence, and some things about Consort Xi.
She phrased it rather subtly, but Jia Yue understood what she meant.
She wouldn't mind forming an alliance with Consort Yu. In the harem, one always needs some friends, and Consort Yu is very suitable to be a "friend"—a friend with shared interests.
Just as their "friendship" was beginning to warm up, the weather grew colder, and Yinzhen ordered them to return to the palace.
As soon as Jia Yue returned to Chuxiu Palace, she looked up and saw snowflakes falling.
"It's snowing!"
Bao Chun smiled and draped a coat over Jia Yue: "The snow came relatively late this year, but it's terribly cold. We can't keep the charcoal fire burning in the house. Fortunately, the Imperial Household Department sent enough charcoal, otherwise we probably wouldn't have had a good time."
Jia Yue received the allowance for a concubine, and Hong Zhao also received the allowance for an imperial prince. However, there were many palace servants, and it would be disheartening if the masters enjoyed themselves without caring about their servants.
"It's cold, and everyone's having a hard time. You and Granny Chen should be careful about how the charcoal is distributed. Don't let the little palace maids and eunuchs get cold. If word gets out, Hongzhao and I will be ashamed."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will personally keep an eye on things."
The palace is full of bullying, which is unavoidable, but Jia Yue still tries her best to make the winter easier for the people in her palace.
Jia Yue smiled and stepped into the house: "I have complete confidence in your work."
Inside the house, the charcoal fire had been burning for a while, making it very warm, but it was indeed just waste charcoal.
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