You're saying the Emperor went to Xianfu Palace!?
"Yes, yes, yes... Your Highness." The little palace maid who brought the news trembled, her face pale as she answered softly.
Consort Yi's face turned ashen.
With a sweep of her hand, the dressing table and its contents were knocked to the ground, the clattering sounds echoing throughout the palace.
The palace servants remained silent, trembling with fear.
The palace maids responsible for cleaning today stepped forward with small, careful steps, holding their breath as they swept up the broken pieces and debris on the ground, fearing that their mistress might vent her anger on them. The palace maids moved with utmost care.
"Your Majesty, if you ask me, perhaps the Empress said something nice to Consort Qi, which is why the Emperor went to Chuxiu Palace first!" The head palace maid, Caitang, tried to appease him.
That is indeed possible.
After all, everyone knew how good the Empress was to Consort Qi. Consort Yi adjusted her hair, feeling a growing unease: "Why do you think the Empress is so good to Consort Qi?"
The palace servants knew what was going on, but dared not say it.
Empress Niohuru was a fair and wise woman who managed the entire palace perfectly. But people always have their preferences, and who could have imagined that the Empress would have taken a liking to the lowly Consort Wanliuha back then, and who could have imagined that their relationship would last until now?
I really don't understand?
Is the Empress really that magnanimous? How could she have tolerated this for so long?
Consort Yi understood, yet she didn't quite grasp it.
She felt extremely aggrieved, and in the end, all she could do was resentfully say, "If I had known the Empress was so easy to please, I would have gone back then too."
Consort Yi sat there, lost in thought.
How can I win back the Emperor's heart? I don't want to become the laughingstock of the palace!
Consort Yi bit her lip, feeling very annoyed.
Just then, a gasp and the sound of cups shattering on the ground came from outside the palace, followed by shouts. Consort Yi raised an eyebrow: "Why is it so noisy outside?"
The words had barely left his mouth.
The sound of children crying came from outside the palace again. This time, Consort Yi didn't have time to think about the Emperor and hurriedly went outside.
That was clearly the Sixth Prince's crying!
Consort Yi rushed out and saw the Sixth Prince, Yinqi, sitting on the ground crying loudly. There were many palace servants around him trying to comfort him. Another palace maid was half-lying on the ground, struggling to lift her body. Her hands and cheeks were covered with scratches, and drops of bright red blood were falling.
The palace servants felt a chill run down their spines.
Consort Yi grew increasingly worried and hurriedly stepped forward to embrace the weeping Sixth Prince: "Yinqi, my good boy! Yinqi, my good boy! Mother is here, Mother is here! Who bullied Yinqi?"
"Yinqi, it hurts so much, I'm bleeding, waaaaah!" Sixth Prince Yinqi cried out in a sob.
Consort Yi was startled.
She quickly looked down at her son, scrutinizing him closely. But after a long while, she still couldn't see any wound. Yinqi sobbed and stretched out his finger, revealing a small cut on the tip, glistening with moisture.
As for the blood? You'd probably need a magnifying glass to see it.
The palace servants breathed a sigh of relief.
But Consort Yi didn't. She blew on the wound with concern, and while instructing the palace servants to quickly bring over the best wound medicine, she carried the Sixth Prince inside.
As for the injured palace maids on the ground...
It's already a favor that she wasn't punished; surely we shouldn't praise or reward her? The palace servants rushed over in a flurry, then retreated just as quickly. After a long while, one or two maids came running over, crying out softly, "Green Bamboo, are you alright?"
“It’s all—” one of them complained with a worried look on her face, but before she could finish, she was interrupted by another person: “There are other people watching here, let’s go back to the back room and talk about it.”
"Yes, yes, I was confused."
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" Some rushed off with the help of the palace maid Green Bamboo, while others stayed behind to clean up the dirt.
Soon, Yikun Palace returned to its usual state, as if nothing had happened.
The back room was a mess.
Although there was often bullying among the palace maids and eunuchs, there was also genuine affection among them. For example, at this moment, when they saw the obvious scars on Green Bamboo's cheek, the palace maids' expressions changed.
If the scars on her face were to remain, Green Bamboo would likely have no choice but to leave the palace and return home. Even worse, she wouldn't be able to find a good husband even if she did. With her face scarred, she might have offended the noble ladies' maids; what family would want her? Green Bamboo looked at herself in the mirror, large tears streaming down her cheeks.
The palace maids also wore worried expressions.
However, to remove the scars, one needs the best ointment. The rules in Yikun Palace are very strict. Consort Yi has never allowed palace servants to enter or leave at will, let alone ask a palace maid for any wound medicine.
Before long, someone suggested, "How about... we ask Consort Guo for help?"
The back room was silent again.
Master Yi and Consort Guo are sisters! Can this really help? No way…
But now there's no other way.
A palace maid who was close to Green Bamboo secretly asked another palace maid, Lampwick, to intercede on her behalf. Originally, she thought it would take some time to think it over, but before she could even finish half a cup of tea, Lampwick brought her a jar of ointment.
Not only was Green Bamboo moved to tears of gratitude, but the other palace maids were also grateful for Consort Guo's kindness.
Consort Guo has been very busy lately.
Having received Consort Yi's permission, she naturally rushed to Cining Palace.
He got a blow on the very first day.
The Fourth Princess didn't even remember that she was her mother. When Consort Guo called her not to come any closer, she turned her head and buried herself in Consort Qi's arms.
Consort Guo froze on the spot.
Her face was pale, her vision blurred, and she seemed to feel as if her breath had stopped for a moment.
Wan Anran quickly instructed Yinzhen to take the Fourth Princess to play, then turned back and pulled Consort Guo aside to carefully instruct her: "The Fourth Princess is still young, and she hasn't seen you, Consort Guo, for so long, so naturally she doesn't remember you very well."
"I know... but, but I..." Coming to her senses, Consort Guo naturally understood, but understanding didn't mean comprehending. Thinking of her daughter's bewildered, wary, and suspicious gaze, Consort Guo's eyes reddened, and tears dripped down her face.
Wan Anran sighed softly.
Children's memories are naturally shallow when they are young, but even if they remember clearly, it's still hard for them to accept it. She touched her chest, wondering what if Yinzhen didn't remember her?
Wan Anran felt like she was about to explode!
She perked up and explained carefully, "Later, you can prepare some toys to tease her, and come over every day to play and talk with her. The Fourth Princess is a clingy girl, and I guarantee that she will be able to get to know you in just a few days!"
Consort Guo nodded silently.
She lowered her head and carefully took notes, and then diligently reported on the news for the next few days.
The Fourth Princess, who had previously forgotten what her mother looked like, finally managed to vaguely recall Consort Guo. The pampered and adorable Fourth Princess was a clingy little darling, and within a few days she was affectionately close to Consort Guo again, making Consort Guo beam with joy.
Consort Guo made more than a dozen dolls, along with small clothes, shoes, and hats for the dolls to change into, all of which were exquisite and adorable.
This undoubtedly struck a chord with the Fourth Princess, who then pestered Consort Guo to play house with her.
Consort Guo looked at the Fourth Princess with a tender expression.
The fourth princess, holding a small doll, solemnly instructed another small doll: "Your mother will come to see you later, so you must be a good girl and go to sleep."
Guo Guiren felt a lump in her throat.
She lowered her head and composed herself, managing not to shed tears on the spot.
Unfortunately, the day of joy was so short. No matter how reluctant Consort Guo and the Fourth Princess were to part, they had no choice but to return to Yikun Palace early.
The mother and daughter were reluctant to part.
Seeing the Fourth Princess with tears in her eyes, even Sumala couldn't help but mutter as she saw her off from the palace, "Your Highness can visit Cining Palace more often in the future. The little princess cried several times when she returned to the palace last year."
Guo Guiren's eyes reddened.
Dengcao subconsciously explained to her mistress, "Auntie doesn't know, but my mistress also misses the little princess. The clothes on those dolls are for the little princess..."
The lamp wick also harbored countless sorrows.
The Consort Yi only gave her a little over an hour of free time. Besides that, she had to pay her respects to the Emperor morning and evening, talk to him, serve him meals, and then go back to her room to do some needlework. In the past, this would have been fine, but since she rushed to Cining Palace to play with the little princess, she hasn't had a proper night's sleep these past few days.
"Dengcao." Consort Guo interrupted Dengcao, her voice hoarse, "Thank you for the reminder, Granny. I will come to visit the little princess more often in the future."
Sumala's expression remained unchanged.
She curtsied and stood at the entrance of Cining Palace, watching Consort Guo and her entourage depart.
The conversation between the three quickly reached the ears of the two empress dowagers. The Grand Empress Dowager remained unmoved, observing the palace concubines' rivalry with indifference. What did it matter if they were biological sisters? Had the grudges and resentments between her and Hailanzhu lessened?
Two sisters encountered the same man...
In any case, someone will suffer.
The Empress Dowager lowered her head and composed herself, her calm gaze falling on the Buddhist prayer beads as she turned them one by one.
The Empress Dowager also frowned.
Soon her expression relaxed, and after thinking for a moment, she gave an order: "Send someone to tell Consort Yi to bring the Sixth Prince to Cining Palace for a visit tomorrow."
The palace maid smiled and agreed.
If Consort Yi stays, Consort Guo can naturally stay as well. This will allow Consort Guo and her daughter to spend time together, avoid displeasing Consort Yi, and also allow Consort Guo to tease the Sixth Prince.
The Empress Dowager thought her idea was brilliant.
Consort Yi was quite happy to receive the news, and she took the opportunity to have a good talk with Consort Guo – the gist of which was that sisters working together can overcome any obstacle.
Consort Guo listened gently.
Aside from saying things like "Yes," "Okay," and "I understand," Consort Guo said almost nothing else.
Consort Yi didn't pay any attention.
After all, ever since the Fourth Princess was taken to Cining Palace, Consort Guo had been absent-minded and taciturn. It makes sense; if her own beloved Yinqi were adopted into Cining Palace, she probably wouldn't be interested either.
Consort Yi carefully dressed and groomed herself.
The next day, after the morning and evening greetings, she was unusually allowed to stay behind by the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager's words drew attention from many people.
Wan Anran didn't pay any attention. She only instructed Yinzhen to take good care of the Fourth Princess before letting the two of them go off to play.
Consort Yi thought for a moment, then smiled and had someone carry the Sixth Prince to the backyard, while she stayed behind to talk with the Empress Dowager.
Yinqi was very bold.
He hopped and skipped around in the courtyard, fascinated by everything in the Cining Palace's backyard. He plucked a blade of grass, pushed a large tree, and kicked a bottle or jar in the corner, thoroughly enjoying himself by himself.
Yinzhen glanced at Yinqi.
He frowned slightly, feeling that the kind and gentle Yinqi from his previous life, who had been obedient and mild-mannered since childhood, now looked remarkably like Yintang for some reason.
Like, the kind that's particularly annoying.
Perhaps he was mistaken? Yinzhen lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then, urged by the Fourth Princess, picked up the doll and asked in a dry voice, "Princess Consort, what is for breakfast today?"
The two sat on a bamboo mat.
Scattered around them were various uniquely designed miniature furniture pieces, including wardrobes, desks, beds, display shelves, and even pots, pans, and stoves.
The fourth princess poured the stones and mud into a small plate, then pushed it in front of Yinzhen: "Master, we're out of money. We'll have to eat wontons today!"
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