"No!" the Crown Prince said with absolute certainty. "I don't know when it started, but my feelings for He Xue are no longer just those of a simple brother and sister!"
I want to cherish her, pamper her, love her, and keep her by my side forever!
"Baocheng, I watched you grow up, and I trust your character, but your status means that there are some things you can't do as you please."
He Xue is simple-minded; she doesn't understand those treacherous power struggles. You grew up in the palace; you should know that the infighting among women in the harem is no less intense than that in the imperial court. Do you think He Xue could survive under such circumstances?
"Mother Tong, I will protect He Xue and won't let her face these things!"
The Imperial Noble Consort simply smiled when she heard the Crown Prince's words. How many vows of eternal love have been defeated by time? How many men can truly remain faithful to one another?
She could also see that He Xue had feelings for the Crown Prince, and that the Crown Prince's illness might be a good thing for He Xue. "I hope you can always help He Xue retain her pure and kind nature!"
"Thank you so much, Mother Tong!" the Crown Prince said gratefully.
"This matter is not a question of whether I can grant it or not; it mainly depends on He Xue's wishes!" the Imperial Noble Consort said.
However, she also understood that once Emperor Kangxi issued his decree, He Xue had no choice but to comply, even if she didn't want to.
The Crown Prince returned to Yuqing Palace, while the Fourth Prince remained in Chengqian Palace.
"Mother, do you know what Second Brother is thinking?" Fourth Prince asked.
“I had my suspicions before, and your father also told me that he wanted to betroth He Xue to the Crown Prince!”
"No wonder you weren't shocked at all!" The Fourth Prince looked at the Imperial Noble Consort and asked, "Mother, will He Xue become my second sister-in-law from now on?"
The Fourth Prince found it hard to accept; his sister had become his sister-in-law, something that probably wouldn't be easy for anyone to accept.
The Imperial Noble Consort smiled and said, "You can think of it that way too. The Crown Prince is your brother-in-law, and you are his brother-in-law. Being the Crown Prince's brother-in-law is much better than being his younger brother!"
The Fourth Prince's eyes lit up. How come he hadn't thought of that? If his Second Brother oppressed him again in the future, could he use this identity to refute him?
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has sent someone to request that you go to Cining Palace!" Ren Dong said as she entered.
The Imperial Noble Consort was quite surprised to hear this. The Empress Dowager did not particularly like her, so why did she suddenly want to see her today?
"Mother, let me go with you!" The Fourth Prince was also a little worried.
"No need, Mother can go by herself!" The Imperial Noble Consort knew that the Empress Dowager must have something to discuss with her, and she didn't want the Fourth Prince to get involved.
“Mother, I will escort you to Cining Palace!” the Fourth Prince said, leaving no room for refusal.
"Alright then!" Seeing that the Fourth Prince insisted, the Imperial Noble Consort did not refuse.
When the Empress Dowager saw that the incident at Yuqing Palace was related to the palace maids around the Ninth Princess, she worried that the Imperial Noble Consort or someone from the Tongjia clan might have been involved, so she summoned Emperor Kangxi.
"Your Majesty, what do you think of this matter? How did it get involved with the palace maids around Xiao Jiu?"
"Grand Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince is still interrogating Li Zhong about this matter. Perhaps he will discover something!" Kangxi had already anticipated that the Empress Dowager would also send people to investigate.
"Your Majesty, Xiao Jiu is Yinzhen's younger sister, and Yinzhen has registered her under the name of the Imperial Noble Consort. It's hard to say that this matter might be related to the Imperial Noble Consort!" the Empress Dowager said directly.
"Grandmother, Qingyao would never do such a thing. You know how she treats the Crown Prince!" Kangxi was puzzled as to why the Empress Dowager still disliked the Imperial Noble Consort after all these years.
Rather than saying that the Empress Dowager disliked the Imperial Noble Consort, it would be more accurate to say that the Empress Dowager disliked the Tongjia clan behind the Imperial Noble Consort.
"Your Majesty, this matter cannot be taken lightly. I have decided to personally interrogate that palace maid!"
"I've already sent someone to fetch Li Zhong! I've also summoned all those of the rank of concubine and above to Cining Palace. I want them to know that the Crown Prince's position is unshakeable!" the Empress Dowager said sternly.
Seeing this, Kangxi could only let the Empress Dowager decide. He didn't believe his cousin would do such a thing and thought the Empress Dowager was making unfounded accusations!
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