The Empress Dowager also had her own worries; she couldn't be sure whether this matter was related to Consort Jing.
So she softened her tone: "It is my anxiety, but the Second Prince's accident happened right next to you. Even if I don't investigate, you should investigate yourself. Those who serve the Second Prince should be the first to be investigated."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I should examine myself," the Empress said.
"Her Majesty the Empress has no children of her own, so she doesn't understand the feelings of a mother." Consort Jing was also present at this time, so she smiled and said, "Her Majesty doesn't know whether those wet nurses and maids are doing their best or not."
"I don't know, but do you? The Second Prince is being raised here. If something happens to him, the Fifth Prince will be the prince with the highest birth." The Empress said calmly.
"Yes, there are faint rumors circulating outside that a crown prince will be established," Yan Nangui added casually.
"Yan Shi!" the Empress Dowager called out.
"Your Majesty, I'm not targeting Consort Jing, but simply stating a fact. The Second Prince is merely being raised by Her Majesty the Empress; he is not officially recognized as the legitimate son. His Majesty currently has no legitimate son, but how can we be sure no one is eyeing the position of Crown Prince? When the late Emperor was in power, there was clearly a Crown Prince, yet the other princes also harbored treacherous ambitions," Yan Nangui said with a smile.
"I am merely infertile, so there is no need for me to worry about such things. In this harem, it is not hypocritical of me to say this."
“Consort Chen is too blunt. Although there are calls outside to establish a crown prince, His Majesty is still young,” said Consort Xiangxian.
"Your Majesty is young, but some of your ministers are not. If they don't choose sides early, how will they know where to serve in the future?" Yan Nangui added.
"Sister Chenfei, you're being too forward," Huo Congfei smiled. "Right now, the Second Prince is the most important thing."
"Yes, I did go too far afield," Yan Nangui shook his head.
"Alright, enough with the nonsense. Since the Empress wants to investigate herself, then start with your own investigation. I am the princes' grandmother, and naturally I cannot tolerate their mistakes. If the Empress cannot raise the Second Prince properly, she might as well find him a different mother as soon as possible." The Empress Dowager said, then stood up: "I will not see you off."
The Empress, filled with resentment, rose and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
"Consort Jing, please stay. You may all return." The Empress Dowager waved her hand.
After everyone left, the Empress Dowager asked directly, "Is this matter related to you?"
"Your Majesty, I did nothing," Consort Jing hurriedly said.
"Is it really none of your business?" The Empress Dowager was still puzzled.
“Indeed, I only have eyes for the Fifth Prince, how could I do such things?” Consort Jing said.
"That's good. You must also take good care of yourself and look after the Fifth Prince with all your heart. He is in poor health, so I will not see you for now. Take good care of yourself." As she spoke, the Empress Dowager ordered someone to send her some tonics.
Consort Jing thanked the Empress Dowager and then left.
After Yan Nan returned, he said, "Could a prince be murdered with just a needle?"
“This… I think this is not easy either,” Chanyi said.
"So who is it? Now that Consort Jing has a prince, the Empress will be the first to suspect her. But Consort Jing shouldn't have done such a thing, and the Empress Dowager's attitude is also clear: it's not her. So who is it?" Yan Nangui frowned.
"Your Majesty, perhaps it's Consort Ke? Or... Consort Ning?" These are all people with princes. Chanyi analyzed.
"Kill two birds with one stone?" Yan Nangui raised an eyebrow: "Theoretically it's correct, but it's not easy."
“I know Consort Ke is cunning, but firstly, she’s still in the palace. How can she extend her reach so far? Secondly, although she has a prince, he is not favored. It’s not safe for her to step forward now.” It would be better to wait until her child is older and rely on the child for security, since it’s impossible to get rid of all the princes.
"As for Consort Ning, she's also a woman who keeps a low profile. But what would she gain by plotting against the Second Prince? To pave a way for her son? And surely she wouldn't target the worst prince for a chance to pave a way for her son?"
"Yes, Your Majesty is wise. This servant could not have thought of so many things, but... who is it?" Chanyi asked sadly.
"Yes, who is it?" Yan Nangui took the hot tea that Jiangxiang handed over.
Although it's hot, sometimes drinking hot tea is more comfortable.
She took a few sips and then said, "You all think the Empress will immediately suspect Consort Jing. Now that Consort Jing has a prince, who would benefit most if the Empress confronted her?"
"Your Majesty, are you referring to... Consort Xiangxian?" Chanyi asked.
"The favor bestowed upon Consort Xiangxian has now faded." There will never again be a time when she could overpower a group of people in the mansion.
"But if she wants to show favor, then... then shouldn't she target you or Mei Lingyi?" Jiang Xiang asked, puzzled.
"Consort Xiang is a clever woman. She knows very well that being useful is worse than vying for favor." Yan Nangui looked at the incense: "Tell me, why has she enjoyed such favor for so many years? Because His Majesty has a principal wife from the Ning family and a concubine from the Ye family. These two cannot coexist. Now, the Empress is still the Empress, and the Noble Consort has a prince. What will it take to make Consort Xiang useful?"
“That will inevitably be the time when the Empress and Consort Jing start fighting,” Jiang Xiang said.
“Yes, that’s what I think. But there’s no basis for it. I just feel that Consort Xiangxian isn’t the kind of person who would sit idly by and wait for her fate. If she never has any children and her favor with the emperor gradually diminishes, would she be content with that? Even if she does nothing, as long as she behaves herself, she will remain in a high position forever, but would she be willing to do so?” Yan Nangui said.
Both Jiangxiang and Chanyi shook their heads.
Consort Xiangxian is not that kind of person.
"Consort Jia is sensible and generous, Consort Sang is gentle and beautiful, Consort Wan is clever and intelligent, and Consort Mei is as pure as ice and snow. Consort Wen is gentle and considerate. They don't need to be too favored. Even if each of them only takes a little bit away, Consort Xiangxian's favor will gradually diminish. In a few years, when she gets older, it will be even more so. Sooner or later, she will have to sit by the incense burner until dawn. Is she willing to accept that?" Yan Nangui laughed.
“Your Majesty is right, so this needle was just a test. We wouldn’t dare to actually hurt the Second Prince,” Jiangxiang said.
"The conflict between the Empress and the Empress Dowager will only escalate. The Empress, being childless, will be even more careful to protect herself. And because she is childless, the Empress Dowager will become increasingly unscrupulous. Tsk, the more this happens, the more dangerous it becomes for the Fifth Prince." If the Empress decides to intervene again, the child may not survive.
“At a time like this, Your Majesty cannot make a blanket decision,” Yan Nangui said.
“Yes, at times like this, His Majesty might try to mediate, and he might just do what he always does, praising Consort Xiang to a high position. And the more His Majesty does, the higher her chances of getting pregnant,” Jiang Xiang said with a smile.
“Perhaps she also wants to have a crown prince. If His Majesty doesn’t have a legitimate son, sooner or later a prince born of a concubine will become the crown prince.” Yan Nangui shook his head: “The royal family has to fight for that position generation after generation, fighting tooth and nail, fighting to the death.”
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