The grandfather clock in the main hall struck nine times, and Consort Tong and Consort Hui walked over from the direction of the flower hall. Both of them had stern faces, and Qingyan's heart immediately jumped.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, what's wrong?" Tatara was stunned; she had never seen Consort Tong angry before.
"Don't speak, just kneel." Qingyan followed the Crown Princess in bowing, and everyone knelt in the hall, not daring to utter a single word.
Consort Tong sat in the superior position, while Consort Hui sat diagonally in her seat, not daring to accept the greeting directly.
"Sit properly. They are all daughters-in-law, so it is only right that they accept your greetings!" Consort Tong said coldly.
The Crown Princess went too far, failing to restrain the Crown Prince's behavior and allowing him to directly make a move on the noblewoman betrothed to the Third Prince. This undoubtedly made them a laughingstock to the Mongols.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince truly knows his mistake!" The Crown Princess realized that things were serious. Emperor Kangxi was furious. Ever since the incident, the Crown Prince had been kneeling outside the palace, and Yinzhi looked particularly aggrieved, which was irritating to look at.
"My position is not high enough for me to interfere in the affairs of Yuqing Palace!" Consort Tong coldly refused. The Crown Prince, who had drunk too much the night before, refuted Consort Tong's offer of help in this way.
Consort Tong kept this firmly in mind, and her face became even more unpleasant.
Consort Hui was also stunned. Last night, Consort Tong did not let her go over, saying that she was afraid she would catch a cold.
"Your Highness, it was your daughter-in-law who was wrong. I beg you to let the other sisters-in-law get up first!" The Crown Princess quickly pleaded for forgiveness.
Before leaving, the Crown Prince also instructed that they must adopt a humble attitude today, otherwise Consort Tong would be even less likely to help.
Dong E looked at the Crown Princess with schadenfreude. Usually, the Crown Princess was always so arrogant and domineering, but now, wasn't she also looking dejected?
"Third son's wife, wasn't this also part of your scheme?" Consort Tong had overseen the power struggles in the inner court and was somewhat familiar with the methods of the Dong'e clan's women. In the past, Empress Dowager Tong had often spoken of Consort Dong'e's methods.
“My dear mother, I would never dare to lay a hand on your daughter. It was clearly my husband who suffered this time. You can’t just say things like that!” Dong Eshi quickly retorted.
The Crown Princess snorted coldly. The Crown Prince rarely got drunk outside. The people who hosted yesterday's banquet had some complicated connections with Lady Dong'e.
Qingyan knelt behind the two men and could see their expressions clearly. She became curious. The Crown Prince had always behaved very well on the surface, so why was he acting so strangely this time?
"Little darlings, all of you get up and kowtow, let them explain things clearly." Consort Tong rubbed her heart. Emperor Kangxi hadn't slept all night, thinking about how to make amends.
She also felt that this matter was a trap, and the trap was still ongoing. If the Mongol leader did not give in, they would have to make concessions, and all the princes would indeed be available for those people to choose from.
"Mother, my sisters-in-law are all kneeling on the ground. We, as their brothers' wives, cannot get up without permission!" Qingyan quickly refused, as they did not want to attract the attention of the Crown Princess.
"Alright, all of you may rise." Consort Hui nodded as well. Qingyan's concerns were valid. The Crown Princess's position was indeed very secure, and it would be easy for her to cause trouble for her brother's wife.
Qingyan rose with the Crown Princess. After everyone was seated, Dong Eshi took the initiative to shift all the blame onto the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, you should be aware of the seriousness of the Crown Prince's actions yesterday. His Majesty didn't sleep well all night, and the slightest carelessness could have disastrous consequences," Consort Tong said, staring intently at the Crown Princess.
"Your Highness, it wasn't the Crown Prince's fault yesterday. The people who hosted the banquet were desperately trying to get him drunk. It was obvious they were trying to frame him!" Upon hearing this, the Crown Princess, knowing that Consort Tong was giving her a chance to clear her name, quickly knelt in the middle and pleaded for the Crown Prince.
"Really?!" Consort Hui asked curiously.
“Empress Hui, you have all watched the Crown Prince grow up. When has he ever acted so absurdly outside? Someone must have framed him on purpose,” the Crown Princess cried out, vehemently protesting her innocence.
Qingyan paid close attention to the actions of the Third Princess Consort beside her. She rolled up her handkerchief and listened to the Crown Princess's pleas for justice. Her fingers tightened even more, so her fingers turned slightly white.
"Who wrote the invitation?" Consort Tong asked directly.
"That person had just arrived in Jiangnan. The Crown Prince didn't want to go, but the Third Prince kept urging him on, so he went in the end," the Crown Princess said, stating what she had seen.
Later, after thinking about it for a moment, the couple realized that Yinzhi definitely had ill intentions.
"Your Highness, you can't say that! The prince was just feeling sorry for the other party and kept asking the prince to come to the mansion to attend the banquet. How did that turn into the prince having ill intentions?" Dong Eshi immediately lost her temper, feeling that the princess was making things up.
Qingyan noticed that Dong Eshi was tense all over when she spoke, and her speech was much faster, which was obviously due to nervousness.
"Third sister-in-law, did you see what happened back then? How can you be so sure?" The Crown Princess stood up, walked up to Dong E Shi, and looked at her coldly.
Lady Dong'e trembled slightly. Yinzhi had said that no one could find any fault with her, and the other party also knew that it would be better if their daughter could enter Yuqing Palace.
"Your Highness, please don't frame me. I personally chose that girl and I've already given my consent. How could I possibly go back on my word?" Dong Eshi quickly retorted.
Qingyan always felt that Dong Eshi's rebuttal was too fast, as if she hadn't thought it through and just said it directly.
"Third sister-in-law, are you really willing to let that girl into the family? Even your own sister can't tolerate her, let alone a Mongolian noblewoman." The Crown Princess sneered.
The Third Princess's body stiffened, and the smile on her face vanished.
"Besides the Crown Princess and the Third Prince's wife, Xiao'ai, take the rest of your sisters-in-law to the flower hall." Consort Tong decided to resolve the matter privately, as there would be many problems if the other prince's wives overheard.
"Yes!" Qingyan stood up and replied.
After taking their seats in the flower hall, the Fifth Princess Consort started gossiping. The Crown Princess had always been very dignified, but unexpectedly, she was able to tear off her gentle mask in order to protect the Crown Prince.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, do you think this was orchestrated by Third Sister-in-law?!" Seventh Princess Consort asked curiously.
"Who knows? Listen to this, what happened today must not be spread outside. When you go back, you must not tell your master either!" Qingyan instructed.
"Sister-in-law, what if the master asks?" Ninth Prince Consort asked curiously.
The Ninth Prince's wife was from the Dong'e clan, and they were from the same family as the Third Prince's wife. She was quite pleased to see the Third Prince's wife suffering.
Ugh!
When Ninth Prince Consort asked the question, all the other consorts were embarrassed and began to speak ill of Third Prince Consort in front of her.
“Sisters-in-law, my family and the Third Princess’s family are not from the same lineage. In fact, the two families are rivals!” said the Ninth Princess.
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