In Yu Cui Palace, Consort Wen saw the lotus seeds as soon as she returned. She heard Qing say, "It was Consort Chen who sent them. She said... that the Second Princess is suffering from internal heat and that eating more lotus seeds is good for her."
Wen Guiyi gripped Qing Shuang's hand tightly and waved for Qing Ye to leave.
"Your Excellency, please don't be anxious. This is just a coincidence." Qing Shuang sensed Wen Guiyi's nervousness.
“She must have found out something…” Wen Guiyi said with a grim expression.
"Calm down. Even if she knows, it's alright." Qing Shuang helped her sit down. "Presumably, she doesn't have any evidence. If she did, she wouldn't have tested you so casually."
"Testing me? You think she's testing me?" Wen Guiyi asked.
"This servant sees it this way. Please don't be nervous." Qing Shuang poured her some tea and handed it to her.
Holding her teacup, Wen Guiyi finally calmed down: "You're right, she was testing me. She's too perceptive."
“But what you said is quite right. Even if she really knows it was me, and she didn’t hurt me, it’s still…it’s still manageable. If she really catches me, it won’t do her any good.” Wen Guiyi took a deep breath.
“Yes, the Seventh Prince… it was an accident. After all, Consort Jincong is a bit too hot-tempered,” Qing Shuang said.
"You're right." Wen Guiyi took a few more sips of water and calmed down.
“When new people enter the palace, there will always be those who can stand out. Although the Seventh Prince is gone, His Majesty does not favor Consort Jin. So this matter is not a big deal.”
“Yes, as long as you… are polite to Consort Chen,” Qing Shuang said.
Wen Guiyi didn't respond, but she understood Qing Shuang's meaning.
This is to force her to bow down to Consort Chen.
In the past, she had often bowed her head to Consort Jing, but Consort Jing didn't take her seriously.
So, what kind of person was Consort Chen?
In Zhaochun Palace, the Seventh Princess, who had just woken up, was held in her mother's arms. She yawned widely, looking a little silly.
Shu Chengfeng reached out and pinched her chubby little hand: "These little hands are chubby. And quite strong. Let me hug them."
This is absolutely rare; His Majesty has never held a child before.
When the wild geese returned south, they handed the child to him.
Shu Chengfeng didn't feel too uncomfortable holding her; although he didn't know how, he learned by watching.
Holding the chubby seventh princess, Shu Chengfeng smiled and said, "So good. Father will give you a nickname. Let's call her Bao'er."
Geese fly south...
Your skill in choosing a nickname is truly awful.
"Father's little darling."
The little one didn't want to cooperate and even wanted to cry.
The whimpering baby was snatched away by its mother and given to the wet nurse.
His Majesty objected: "It was just a hug!"
“Your daughter has a big appetite, is she hungry?” Yan Nangui said.
Sure enough, the baby started looking for food as soon as it was placed in the wet nurse's arms.
The wet nurse hurriedly took him to the next room to breastfeed.
His Majesty's mood improved after seeing the little one. Although he was still unhappy about losing the Seventh Prince, there was nothing he could do about it now.
After eating and urinating, the seventh princess was brought over and became energetic.
They love to laugh; they laugh easily.
It did make her father laugh a few times.
His Majesty spent a pleasant half-day and night here.
At night, they bullied the child's mother until she cried; it had been a long time since they had such a fierce fight.
Yan Nangui's back ached terribly this morning, but the Empress Dowager sent word that everyone had to go.
I realized that the Empress Dowager couldn't possibly ignore such a big matter.
Yan Nangui then bit Shu Chengfeng resentfully, and had no choice but to leave.
In Ruining Palace, apart from Consort Jin Cong who was in confinement after childbirth and Consort Lu who was heavily pregnant, everyone else was present.
The Empress Dowager looked displeased, and after everyone paid their respects, she simply waved her hand.
After a while, she said, "Consort Chen, the Seventh Prince is gone just like that. I am heartbroken. Now that you are in charge of palace affairs, such a thing has happened. That palace maid has made an innocent accusation and slandered Consort Jincong. What do you have to say about this?"
This is an attempt to label someone.
Yan Nangui stood up: "The investigation is still ongoing. I don't believe what that palace maid said either. Your Majesty feels the same way. Consort Jincong is too hot-tempered; she even went into premature labor because of it. Now that she has harmed the Seventh Prince for no reason, this matter cannot be left unresolved."
"It is true that Consort Mei was also unjustly harmed, and the Sixth Prince almost got into trouble as well. Naturally, I am very worried."
"Since you've taken charge of palace affairs, you should be responsible. If anything happens to anyone in the harem, you're responsible," the Empress Dowager said, bringing the conversation back to the palace.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager makes a lot of sense. Then, I wonder how I should take responsibility?" Yan Nangui asked.
"If you can't manage it, someone else can. Consort Ning and Consort Ke are both from prominent families, so they are naturally no less capable than you," the Empress Dowager said.
Consort Xiangxian rose and said, "Your Majesty, is this also my fault? I managed palace affairs with Consort Chen. If we're talking about responsibility, then we both share it."
Bringing up two concubines who have princes for no reason would only put her in a difficult position.
The Empress Dowager snorted: "Of course you are also at fault. Such a big matter, and a perfectly good prince is gone. However, I will not be too harsh on you because you are all new to managing affairs. But Consort Chen, you only know how to fight and are too strong-willed. You still need to change."
Yan Nangui had no intention of arguing with her; after all, whether she was assertive or not was not up to the Empress Dowager.
Change my ass.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will follow your instructions."
Perhaps because her attitude had improved, the Empress Dowager didn't want to nitpick all the way through.
After saying a few more words, he told everyone to disperse.
Upon leaving Ruining Palace, Consort He stepped forward and said, "I haven't had a proper look at the Seventh Princess yet. May I go and see her?"
She wasn't nearby during the Seventh Princess's full-month celebration, so naturally she couldn't see it.
“If my sister wants to see it, of course she can.” Yan Nangui knew she had something to say, so he told her to come along.
Inside Zhaochun Palace, the Seventh Princess was playing, laughing heartily while hugging a small tiger made by her wet nurse.
Consort He didn't dare to hug her, but just squeezed her little hand. She seemed to really like her, but it was a pity that she could never have her own child.
After a while, the wet nurse was asked to take the seventh princess back.
“Sister, if you have something to say, please speak frankly,” Yan Nangui said.
"Your Highness Consort Chen has always been outspoken, and I will not beat around the bush either." Consort He rose and curtsied: "I still only ask for your care, just as I have always done."
"Sit down and let's talk," Yan Nangui said.
Consort He sat down and said, "Your Majesty and I are not lying. His Majesty has no affection for me whatsoever. Although we are cousins, there is no affection between us compared to my elder cousin. The Fourth Princess and the Fifth Prince are born to the Noble Consort, and I will always be just their foster mother."
"My cousin repeatedly instructed me before she passed away that the Fifth Prince must never be made Crown Prince. I dare not disobey her. If the Fifth Prince is good, the Empress Dowager will inevitably have this idea in the future. If the Fifth Prince is not good... I will still be helpless if he does not grow up. As for the Ye family, it is good as long as my grandfather is alive. Once my grandfather is gone, my father and brother will not be able to support us."
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