After breakfast, the Empress Dowager helped Su Mo'er into the main hall. The Crown Princess had been sitting there for a long time, and the Empress Dowager noticed that the Crown Princess's expression was particularly unpleasant. The Empress Dowager felt increasingly uneasy. How dare the Crown Princess show such a demeanor in front of her when the Grand Empress Dowager was still alive?
"Princess Consort, you can come to pay your respects at this time from now on!" The Empress Dowager was really having a headache. If the Princess Consort came, she would definitely have to get up earlier.
Qingyan pretended to drink tea, but out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that the Crown Princess's face was very unpleasant, yet she couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal. She smiled wryly, thinking that the Empress Dowager was also very cryptic in her words; judging from her appearance, she was probably truly having a headache.
"Grandma Empress, your granddaughter-in-law has only come here. It's fine to wait for your younger siblings to arrive." The Crown Princess did not want the Empress Dowager to refuse. The Crown Prince had always looked down on Consort Tong's lineage. If it weren't for the fact that he needed Yin, he probably wouldn't have allowed Yin to do as he pleased.
Yin once wanted to leave this circle, but as he grew older and tasted the power, how could he possibly let go?
Under the instigation of Suo'etu and others, Yin was completely trapped in a vicious cycle of power struggles, and she actually supported Yin's actions.
Qingyan sat quietly to the side, serving as a backdrop. She hated fighting and would never take action unless absolutely necessary.
"Your Majesty, Consort Tong and the others have arrived!" Upon hearing the maid's words, Su Mo'er quickly consulted the Empress Dowager.
"They may all come in." The Empress Dowager straightened her clothes and sat down with an air of authority.
Previously, the Empress Dowager rarely appeared during greetings; it was usually the Grand Empress Dowager who appeared on the 5th and 10th of each month.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!" Consort Tong and the others entered. The Crown Princess, the First Princess, and Xiao Guai stood up and stood aside. After Consort Tong and the others paid their respects, they paid their respects to the palace concubines.
After exchanging greetings, Consort Tong sat down with the other concubines. Qingyan stood behind Consort Tong. The Empress Dowager smiled as she watched the First Princess and Xiao Guai fall silent. The two of them were laughing heartily on her side.
"Lanya, the Crown Princess's greetings are a bit early. In the future, let her go to you first to pay her respects, and then you can bring everyone over!" The Empress Dowager said as she saw Consort Tong approaching.
Qingyan couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. The Crown Princess was stubborn and looked down on Consort Tong's background, believing that the Crown Prince's primary wife shouldn't have to pay respects to Kangxi's concubines. Even the primary wife and Qingyan had to give the Crown Princess a half-bow.
The hall immediately fell silent. Consort Ping felt her face burning. Since the Crown Princess's wedding, her arrogant attitude had become increasingly obvious. Originally, the nannies were trying to cultivate the Crown Princess's superior temperament because they were worried that she would embarrass the royal family in formal occasions, not because they wanted her to impose these rules on her own people.
"Your Highness, from now on, you can come from Yuqing Palace at this time. You won't need to go to Chenggan Palace to pay your respects!" Consort Tong came up with this idea. It was clear that the Crown Princess disliked the palace concubines.
After the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the Crown Princess's actions will probably not be criticized by anyone. The Empress Dowager is quite pleased with this, and Xiao Guai thinks that the Empress Dowager should make the Crown Princess reflect on her actions.
The Empress Dowager couldn't say much. She had no children, and Emperor Kangxi was getting old and could pass away at any time. For the sake of the future, the Empress Dowager had to relax her requirements for the Crown Princess.
"Yes!" The Crown Princess was very pleased with Consort Tong's understanding and became even happier.
Even though the concubines discovered that the Crown Princess was disrespectful to Consort Tong, none of them dared to complain to Emperor Kangxi and the Crown Prince. Qingyan saw this and secretly kept it in mind, preparing to say something to Yinzhen.
"I need to recite scriptures for the Empress Dowager. You may all return home." The Empress Dowager saw everyone off.
Qingyan and Consort Tong returned to Chenggan Palace. Qingyan sat to the side with a tense expression, and Consort Tong patted her little hand.
The Crown Princess's actions have been going on for a while now, and Consort Tong has long since stopped caring.
"My little darling, the inner palace has its own rules of conduct that no one can change," Consort Tong advised, hoping that her little darling wouldn't cross Kangxi's bottom line.
Qingyan was sullen all day, and it wasn't until almost dinner time that she slowly returned to the prince's quarters.
"Master, Fourth Master is in the study!" Su Lan said as she approached Qing Yan.
She pouted and walked towards the study.
Today, Yin was harassed by his henchmen quite a bit. He gave a bitter smile. Power had slowly corrupted his second brother. If he continued to be misled by Suo'etu, he would probably follow the same path as in his previous life.
"Fourth!" Qingyan snuggled into Yin's arms, burying her face in his chest, and the disappointment in her heart slowly subsided.
"What's wrong?" Yin noticed that Xiao Guai's emotions were very unusual, so he hugged her tightly.
"Fourth Prince, does the Crown Princess have more power than her mother?" Yin was stunned when he heard her words. The little guy was standing up for someone again.
She pouted. The palace had a strict hierarchy, and after entering it, she understood why Granny Liao had lectured her in that way.
If she is not careful, she will bring disaster to the whole family. Isn't that the case with the Third Princess next door?
"No!" Yin shook his head. In her previous life, Consort Tong did not live to see the Crown Prince's wedding. There was no high-ranking concubine above the Crown Princess to suppress her.
Now, Consort Tong is still alive, and the Crown Princess has been taught to be exceptionally arrogant by the governesses sent by Emperor Kangxi, making her remarkably similar to Yinzhi.
"I only saw the Crown Princess when I went to Cining Palace." Qingyan had learned the rules well, but the Crown Princess was clearly challenging the palace rules.
"Hehe, Mother is the Imperial Noble Consort, which is equivalent to the Empress Dowager. The Crown Princess is the Crown Prince's primary consort. Since it's a matter of future generations, outsiders certainly won't say anything!" Yin kept this matter firmly in his heart, and when the time was right, he would definitely avenge his mother.
Qingyan sneered. Now that the Crown Prince's position is secure, everyone has to give way. Once the Crown Prince is pulled down from his pedestal by the princes, what arrogance will the Crown Princess still have?
She leaned against Yin's chest, thinking about the Empress Dowager's insincere words. The old lady, in order to survive, had to compromise with the younger generation.
"Master, dinner is ready!" Su Lan's voice rang out from outside. Qing Yan was picked up by Yin and the two walked towards the dining hall.
She rested her chin on his shoulder, watching the servants carrying dinner, their heads bowed as they walked into the dining room.
There were many delicious dishes on the table. She held a small bowl of rice and ate the vegetables on the table.
She used to love meat, but now, not only can she not eat meat, she can't even eat much seafood, which makes her extremely upset.
"Eat more, you've lost weight lately." Yin noticed that Qingyan didn't like the food, but he couldn't find a way to prepare something for her privately.
“Perfect for losing weight!” Qingyan said.
Yin was exasperated. None of the women in the palace loved meat as much as this little guy; it took ages to coax him into eating vegetables. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
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