Emperor Yongjia first went to Jiaofang Palace, then to Shouning Palace. Immediately afterward, Concubine Qin and Fourth Prince, mother and son, were sentenced to go back to the palace to confine themselves to self-examination.

   Those who were a little more informed in the palace know that Emperor Yongjia was furious because of the dowry.

  The Eldest Prince was quite filial and immediately entered the palace, wanting to comfort Emperor Yongjia. But he was stopped by Concubine Meng.

   Concubine Meng was idle and had nothing to do, so she ordered the palace staff to pound some brightly colored hibiscus flowers and painted her nails bright red.

While admiring her slender hands, Concubine Meng said slowly: “It’s none of your business, what are you anxious about? Besides, your father is so angry that no one can persuade him. You will get scolded and sprayed in vain. Why bother coming forward.”

The Eldest Prince frowned, and his expression was very similar to that of Emperor Yongjia: “My father is angry and unhappy, as a son, I should share his worries and let father show vent his anger. It could be good for him.”

   After saying that, he turned around to leave.

   Concubine Meng glanced over and said, “Stop!”

   The Eldest Prince paused.

Concubine Meng Gui’s voice showed coldness: “Your grandmother is biased to the point of absurdity. That’s why she can do such ridiculous things. Concubine Qin and her son have benefited greatly from her. Usually, your father looks at your grandmother’s face and doesn’t care about it. “

   “Your father is angry today because your grandmother’s actions annoyed the Lu family and the Meng family in one fell swoop.”

“King Xingyang loves his daughter like his life, so how could he not enter the palace to support his daughter? Your uncle also cherishes Yunluo very much, and the Meng family got the least betrothal gift. The Meng family has lost face, and you, a nephew, don’t feel bad for your  jiùjiù and biǎomèi?”^[1]Mother’s brother and his daughter who is younger than you.

   Concubine Meng was actually full of anger, and most of her previous leisurely appearance was faked. Speaking excitedly, she slammed the table.

   Concubine Meng, who was born in Jiangmen, also had some martial arts skills when she was young. Over the years, she has been pampered, and her martial arts have been abandoned, but the foundation was still there.

 When she slapped down, the coffee table was shaken.

Concubine Meng stood up suddenly, with anger flashing in her eyes: “That grandmother of yours has no one else in her eyes except her natal family. Back then when you were engaged, she didn’t care about you. When it came to the Fourth Prince, she was willing to give the money from her private treasury. Good things have been moved out!”

  How many things didn’t matter!

   It was just that the tone in her heart was really hard to calm down!

   They are all the princes of the Royal family. It was really irritating that Empress Dowager Zhao lifted up the Fourth Prince like this!

When Concubine Meng was angry, the Eldest Prince immediately walked to his mother’s side and comforted her in a low voice, “Don’t be annoyed, concubine mother. The Royal Grandmother has always had such a temper, and I am used to it. Anyway, the Royal father loves me the most. Even if she lifts up the fourth brother, he won’t be able to get past me.”

   Not to mention the Fourth Prince, even the Second Prince and the Third Prince, were not as popular with his father as him.

   A son who was favored by his father, his confidence was at a different level.

   Concubine Meng’s anger calmed down a little, and she stretched out her hand to straighten the collar of the Eldest Prince: “What you said makes sense, but I just can’t swallow this breath.”

After a pause, she said, “If you want to go to the Wenhua Palace, wait until it gets dark before you go there. When you get there, don’t mention the dowry. Let alone your grandmother or the Empress. Just accompany your father and gossip about things.”

  Being favored for more than 20 years was not just due to affection from their youth.  Concubine Meng had a thorough understanding of Emperor Yongjia’s temperament and gave the Eldest Prince a detailed guide.

   The Eldest Prince nodded in response.

   Concubine Meng said, “Since you are here, you will accompany your concubine mother to dinner tonight.”

   The Eldest Prince deserved to be very refreshing: “Okay. I’ll send someone out of the palace and bring Liang Shi into the palace to dine together.”

   Concubine Meng: “…”

   Concubine Meng felt a little pain in her head, and said angrily, “Our mother and son have dinner together, let her do what. You don’t need to call her.”

“Concubine Mother,” the Eldest Prince was also a little helpless: “Liang Shi is your son’s wife. As soon as the Royal father goes to the army, the son will accompany him on the expedition. Why don’t you like her?”

   Why was this?

   Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were natural enemies. It’s normal to see each other differently.

What’s more, Concubine Meng looked down on Liang Shi from the bottom of her heart, and she also criticized Liang Shi. She opened her mouth and said, “Liang Shi will put on a show in front of you. If she is really filial and considerate, why would I not like her? Pretending to be respectful and close, I don’t know what she thinks of me in her heart.”

   The Eldest Prince wanted to persuade her to make peace, but Concubine Meng glared at him again: “If you mention Liang Shi again, leave immediately. I don’t care if you dine with me or not.”

   The Eldest Prince touched his nose and remained silent.

   Concubine Meng smiled again and took her son’s hand affectionately and went to the dining room. After dinner, the Eeldest Prince went to the Wenhua Hall and, following the instructions of Concubine Meng, carefully accompanied Emperor Yongjia without bringing up any sensitive topic.

  …

  In the Yihua Palace, two brothers, Li Hao, and Li Chang were dining with Su Zhaorong.

  Her son’s engagement was a happy event, but the dowry needed to be better. Su Zhaorong took a few bites at will, then put down her chopsticks and sighed.

   Li Chang asked with concern: “Why doesn’t my mother eat it? Is the food tonight unappetizing?”

  Su Zhaorong sighed: “When I think about today’s events, I don’t have the mood to eat.”

  Li Chang was about to open his mouth to comfort his mother when Li Hao’s voice faintly entered his ears: “Today’s events are good for me.”

   How can it be a good thing to be ignored and humiliated?

  Li Chang was stunned and looked at Li Hao together with Su Zhaorong.

Under the bright candlelight, Li Hao’s face was calm and his eyes were deep: “It’s not a matter of a day or two that grandmother is partial to the fourth brother. In the past, Royal Father turned a blind eye to it and pretended not to know. No one can fabricate accusations against grandmother.”

“This time, Royal Grandmother did something wrong and sent an extra betrothal gift to the Marquis of Puyang Mansion. Royal Grandmother thought that this was to support the fourth brother and give the Zhao family face, which made the Empress look ugly. But it was the Lu family and the Meng family who were angered, which in turn irritated Father.”

“Royal father went to the Jiaofang Palace and had a bad fight with the Empress. Then he went to the Shouning Palace and punished Concubine Qin mother and son. In the future, if Royal Grandmother wants to favor the fourth brother, she will have to weigh it. For me, it is a good thing.”

   “Furthermore, the grievances you have suffered are seen in the eyes of the Royal Father who will pity you even more in the future. Isn’t this a good thing?”

   It turns out, you can still think so!

   Wasn’t this…..self-deception!

  Li Chang opened his mouth, but he closed it and said nothing.

Su Zhaorong was not so easy to fool, and her eyes blushed quickly: “Ah Hao, it doesn’t matter how they humiliate me. But with today’s betrothal gift, you are already inferior to the Second Prince. When your grandmother made a move, even the Fourth Prince outranked you. All of them are bullying us mother and son, who have no power and support in the palace.

   As she spoke, tears fell.

  Li Hao handed the handkerchief to his mother to wipe her tears, and said lightly: “This is also a fact, isn’t my mother used to it long ago?”

  Su Zhaorong: “…”