Rong Fei is not honored

"Where did you get this anger from? It turns out it's because of this. I really don't understand why you're arguing with a child."

Consort Tong and Consort Shen looked at Consort Rong with sarcasm. A child? That's the child of their enemy, born with the sins of his mother. As long as he's alive, he can't be associated with the word "innocent".

“Yinreng is His Majesty’s son. Even if it weren’t for the Crown Prince’s reputation, His Majesty would protect his child. Besides, he is only five years old. Even if he makes a mistake, it won’t be the child’s fault. The fault will only lie with others.”

"Moreover, regarding today's incident, at most the child lost his temper when he heard his mother and maternal relatives being scolded and pushed them down. The word 'nonsense' can easily turn a big problem into a small one."

He neither stabbed anyone with a knife nor knew that Nara was pregnant. Who could have imagined that an adult would be injured by a child, and who could have imagined that such a fall would have such serious consequences?

Even if it wasn't Yinreng, but another prince or princess, the outcome would have been the same.

Believe it or not, even if His Majesty were to lay a hand on Yinreng in a fit of rage, he would still cover for him. Perhaps, upon seeing the injured child, His Majesty would even feel pity for him.

"So, you're just going to let such a good opportunity slip by?"

Even if what Consort Rong said is true, it is still despicable to fawn over the son of one's enemy just because one cannot change the outcome.

"Where would such an opportunity come from?"

Consort Tong and Consort Shen remained silent. Even if Lady Nara had only narrowly escaped miscarriage, or even if both mother and child had perished, and Wan Fu had been taken into custody, His Majesty would not allow his son to pay with his life, nor would he depose Yinreng from his position as Crown Prince.

Even if the goal isn't achieved, it's good if the relationship between the father and son is strained.

Ji Nai saw their resentment but didn't care. Did he think that because he had intervened and prevented the worst-case scenario from happening, Kangxi wouldn't harbor any resentment about this matter?

Are you really willing to accept this?

Ji Nai sighed and said, "Why bother arguing with a child?"

Consort Tong and Consort Shen quickly parted ways with Consort Rong, as they couldn't agree on anything. However, since they shared the same destination, they still traveled together despite their outwardly friendly but inwardly hostile relationship.

Consort Tong asked, "Do you believe what she said?"

"Half truth, half lie."

It's true that one shouldn't hold a grudge against a child, but it's also a lie. Consort Rong did not "hold a grudge" against Yinreng, but not because Yinreng was a child.

Where in this palace can one find a truly virtuous person?

Suddenly, Consort Shen stopped in her tracks. Consort Tong frowned at her, not understanding what kind of trouble she was causing.

"Consort Rong said, if we don't argue with the children, then who should we argue with?"

Consort Tong's eyelids twitched, and she waved away the servants following behind her. The servants around Consort Tong quickly retreated, and Consort Shen's servants followed suit with their mistress's nod of approval.

"What did you say?"

Consort Shen repeated herself, saying, "If we don't argue with the child, then who should we argue with?"

"Heseri clan." The Hesheli clan that Consort Tong referred to was not the current Consort Xi in the palace, but the late Empress who had already passed away.

"But she's already dead."

"Then only... the Hershey family remains."

The two suddenly realized that Consort Rong had taken a step back and given up using this excellent opportunity to deal with Crown Prince Yinreng, all for the sake of the Hesheli family.

But is it possible?

It's not impossible. The Emperor might not hold a grudge against his young son, but that doesn't mean he won't hold a grudge against others. If he can't vent his anger, he'll naturally seek revenge on someone.

The servants around the Crown Prince have already been beaten to death and cannot bear such a heavy responsibility; while Consort Xi has already taken the blame for the Crown Prince, so His Majesty cannot do anything to her anymore.

That leaves only the Hesheri family.

The only servants around the Crown Prince were those appointed by His Majesty and members of the Hesheli family. They failed to keep a close watch on the Crown Prince, allowing the accident to occur, and afterwards encouraged him to hide, shifting the blame onto others. They truly deserve to die.

But His Majesty wouldn't blame himself for misjudging people, and the Crown Prince couldn't be at fault either, so the only one at fault must be the Hesheli family.

"The Crown Prince is young and has been spoiled by those around him."

“Sister is right. The Crown Prince is good, but the upbringing of the Hesheli family is really worrying. If he gets too close to the Hesheli family, who knows what the Crown Prince will become in the future.”

The two looked at each other and understood what the other meant.

Since the Crown Prince cannot be touched for the time being, weakening the Crown Prince's faction by attacking the Hesheli family is just as effective.

"This concubine has forgotten that she has not yet paid her respects to the Empress Dowager today, so I shall take my leave now."

Consort Tong glanced at Consort Shen and sighed. Borjigit could go to the Empress Dowager, but she had to keep it a secret from her family. Otherwise, given her father's personality, he would definitely spread the truth.

Relying on their bloodline, even if they knew there were roundabout ways, they disregarded them and only tried to pull the crown prince down in the most brutal way, without caring about the emperor's wishes at all, just like they had done back then.

"Granny, you must not tell the family about what happened today."

Granny Tong was taken aback, then asked in confusion, "But isn't this a good opportunity?"

"That was what I originally thought too, but now it seems that Consort Rong's method is better." Consort Tong was also worried that Granny Tong would act on her own to help her, so she explained Consort Rong's implication and His Majesty's intentions to her.

“Granny, today’s events are enough to show that Consort Rong’s favor is not only due to her alluring face, nor to how powerful her seductive skills are, but also because she puts His Majesty first in everything.”

But this is something we haven't been able to do before.

Because they felt confident, they acted somewhat recklessly, and as we predicted, the Emperor still cared for his aunt and the Tong family. But the loss of his favor was also very real.

“Princess…” Granny Tong felt a little guilty. It was all her fault for not stopping the princess from doing something wrong.

Consort Tong waved her hand dismissively and said, "The past is history, and we can't change it. But there's a long road ahead. With the Tong family here, I might be able to win back His Majesty's heart."

"Don't worry, Princess, I will always help you."

“I naturally trust you, Granny. My only worry is my family. I know they mean well, but they are outside the palace and don’t know what’s going on inside. Besides, my father is just like I used to be—too eager for quick success.”

Having spent most of her life in the palace, Granny Tong naturally understood what Consort Tong meant. She wanted to say something, but upon further reflection, she realized that the princess was right.

She understood the principle that a general in the field should obey some orders from the emperor and not others, and there was no need for him to follow the orders of his family in everything.