This action was originally inappropriate, but since His Majesty found it acceptable, no one would dare to question it.
Thus, Princess Ke and the Imperial Grandson remained in the side hall of Changle Palace. Not only did Prince Ke visit daily, but Emperor Qi also visited his grandson two out of every three days after court. For a time, the area around Changle Palace was more lively than usual.
As the Empress was playing with Yongzong, she heard a palace servant outside announce, "Consort Wei has arrived!"
The smile on her face gradually faded. She glanced at the wet nurse beside her and said, "Zong'er needs to nurse. Take him down to feed him."
He had just finished nursing and was brought to the Empress, and now he needed to eat again. However, the wet nurse dared not question the order. She could only curtsy and carry the Imperial Grandson away before Consort Wei entered.
"Oh, where is our precious Imperial Grandson? Empress, please bring him out for me to see. I heard he greatly resembles His Majesty. He is truly a fortunate child."
Her words sounded polite, but to the Empress, they were a provocation.
Maintaining her usual gentle demeanor, she said to Consort Wei, "Consort, you've arrived at an inconvenient time. Zong'er has been taken down to nurse. The child hasn't finished eating and is about to fall asleep, so I'm afraid you won't be able to see him today."
Consort Wei's arrival made the Empress very wary. Regardless of whether she harbored ill intentions, the Empress did not want her near the Imperial Grandson. After all, he was just a child born a few days ago and was utterly defenseless.
Consort Wei raised an eyebrow and looked at the Empress. Their eyes exchanged probing glances. After a moment, Consort Wei smiled gently and said slowly, "Very well. It is only right for the Empress to cherish her grandson. Next time, I will accompany His Majesty to see him."
With a wave of her hand, the gifts prepared by Yue Shi were presented.
"These are all for the Imperial Grandson. Your Highness, you know that Yunli is away at war, and His Majesty's rewards are arriving one after another. My Hanzhang Hall is almost full, so I picked some good ones to send to Your Highness. I heard that Prince Ke's manor is being renovated, and some auspicious items would be beneficial."
The items were indeed good, but unfortunately, after hearing these words, even if the Empress wanted to accept them, she couldn't refuse them openly.
"Consort's thoughtfulness is appreciated. I thank you on behalf of the Imperial Grandson. When Yunli marries in the future, I will surely present a generous gift in return."
It is impolite not to reciprocate. The Empress was not someone to be trifled with.
Upon hearing her words, Consort Wei laughed instead of getting angry. "Then I shall borrow Your Highness's good wishes. When Yunli returns victorious, it will indeed be time to discuss his marriage. I have considered several families, but none were satisfactory. However, Princess Qianling of Zhongzhou looks quite suitable. Her appearance and background are both top-notch. What does Your Highness think?"
The Empress remained outwardly calm, but her hands under her sleeves tightened.
Zhongzhou was a fertile fiefdom, rich in grain, money, and soldiers, and many coveted it. Consort Wei's mentioned Princess Qianling was the only daughter of Prince Yi. Since Prince Yi's death, the entire Zhongzhou had been under her control, making her the undisputed ruler of Zhongzhou.
If Xiao Yunli were to form an alliance with her, his power would become even more formidable, making it incredibly difficult to deal with them then.
"Princess Qianling. Wasn't it said years ago that she intended to remain single and guard Zhongzhou? Is Consort confused?"
Consort Wei covered her mouth and chuckled softly. "That was when she was young and impulsive, speaking carelessly. Your Highness actually took it seriously? She has had some affection for Yunli since childhood. Now that they are mutually inclined, they will ask His Majesty for a marriage decree upon his triumphant return. At that time, I hope Your Highness will speak well of Yunli, as such a good match for Princess Qianling is not something ordinary people can attain."
The triumphant expression made the Empress wish she could tear her face apart, but her imperial dignity forced her to endure.
"If that is the case, then I congratulate my sister on achieving her wish here."
Secretly, however, she was contemplating how to sabotage this marriage.
After a few more exchanges, they both retreated, as the Grand Princess Fulin arrived.
Consort Wei had been at odds with her for many years. However, as she was also His Majesty's elder sister, it was difficult to offend or appease her. Rather than be targeted by Grand Princess Fulin here, it was better to leave early. Thus, she made an excuse about having matters to attend to in the palace and slipped away.
After she left, the Empress, who had been holding herself in, finally relaxed. She looked at Grand Princess Fulin with a bitter smile. "It's a good thing Eldest Sister arrived. Otherwise, I don't know how she would have mocked me again."
Grand Princess Fulin and the Empress had been close friends in their youth. Although their ages were not far apart, ever since she married Qi Di, who was then a prince, their relationship had become more like that of an elder and a junior.
"If she comes to upset you again, just curse her back. You are the Empress of a nation. Why have you endured her for so many years?"
Grand Princess Fulin detested people who judged others by their appearance and were arrogant due to favor, especially when they were from the Wei family. Therefore, she was very displeased.
The Empress smiled bitterly. If her background were as strong as Grand Princess Fulin's, would she be willing to endure in silence?
When her father, Grand Tutor Pang, was still alive, everyone envied her. But now, such days had become a distant, unattainable dream.
"Eldest Sister, what brings you here today?"
Finding a topic to change the subject, Grand Princess Fulin said with a smile, "Naturally, I've come to see Yongzong. I saw him for a while last time and liked him very much. So, I've come again to bring him a treasure." She then instructed the accompanying nanny to present a brocade box. Upon opening it, a jade collar made of Hetian jade was revealed, carved with lotus and cloud patterns. The jade was fine and the craftsmanship exquisite, clearly of great value.
"This was carved from a single piece of jade. It took nearly a year to complete. I originally intended to keep it for my third son's child. But since Yongzong was born first, I'm giving it to him to celebrate."
The Empress smiled as she looked at the jade collar. It was indeed an excellent item.
Understanding Grand Princess Fulin's intentions, she ordered someone to quickly bring the Imperial Grandson to show his grand-aunt.
The child changed day by day. Clearly, he had been small and swaddled in blankets last time, but now he seemed much bigger.
"Looking at them, I truly feel that we are getting old. I wonder how many years we will be able to enjoy the company of our children and grandchildren."
"Eldest Sister, you say that. You will live a long life."
Grand Princess Fulin was now nearly sixty. She desired longevity but did not force it. However, there was one matter she needed to discuss with the Empress, otherwise, she would not be at peace even if she closed her eyes.
"I have another matter to discuss with you today. I wonder if it is possible."
"Eldest Sister, why are you being so polite with me? Just say it."
Grand Princess Fulin smiled.
"The First Prince now has both sons and daughters, and the Ninth Prince will be getting married upon his return. However, the Sixth Prince still has no prospects. For so many years, he and his mother, Consort Liu, have been quiet. I think he is a good match. You also know that I recently took the maid from Elder Grand Secretary Xu's family as my goddaughter. I was thinking of arranging a marriage between them. What do you think?"