“Greetings, Your Highness, Noble Consort.”
Everyone bowed.
As Tongjia approached, her gaze lingered on Shulan for a moment before shifting to the wet nurse holding Yinzhen.
A faint smile curved her lips.
“Take the Fourth Prince back.”
“Mo… Mother…”
Yinzhen stretched out his little face toward her, wanting to be held.
“Little Fourth, go back first. Mother will come see you later.”
Tongjia watched him coldly and signaled for the wet nurse to take him away.
“Mother…”
Yinzhen looked confused.
Why wasn’t Mother holding him?
Twisting in the wet nurse’s arms, his little mouth puckered. He looked ready to burst into tears.
Shulan’s heart tightened.
Silently, she lowered her head.
The wet nurse was already preparing to carry him away by force when Tongjia suddenly stepped forward.
She pinched his cheek lightly, though her tone remained cool.
“Be good. Go back and wait.”
The unexpected gesture immediately stopped Yinzhen’s tears.
He obediently nodded and allowed the wet nurse to carry him away.
Only after they had gone some distance did Tongjia turn her attention back to Shulan.
“What is it? Isn’t one Sixth Prince enough to occupy your attention? You still have the leisure to concern yourself with the Fourth Prince?”
Her lips curved into a smile.
“Did you enjoy playing with him today, Sister?”
Shulan lowered herself in a respectful bow.
“It was merely a chance encounter. The Fourth Prince is adorable. I couldn’t help looking at him a few extra times.”
Tongjia sneered.
“You certainly seem carefree. Raising the Sixth Prince isn’t enough, and you still find time to care about the Fourth Prince.”
She paused.
“Though the Fourth Prince is my adopted son, he does carry your blood. It’s understandable that you’d look at him a little longer.”
Then her voice sharpened.
“But don’t forget your place.
In the harem, a mother’s status rising through her son is perfectly normal.
Still, some rules cannot be broken.”
Shulan felt her heart tighten.
“Please rest assured, Elder Sister. I know my boundaries.
I merely found the Fourth Prince lively and lovable. My affection was momentary.
I would never overstep.”
Tongjia scrutinized her face.
Taking two steps closer, she lowered her voice so only the two of them could hear.
“Now that you have a prince at your side, have you forgotten the days when you did menial labor in the palace?”
A cold smile appeared on her lips.
“A foot-washing maid is still a foot-washing maid.
A lowly thing that can never truly stand in the light.
Even if you climbed into the Dragon Bed and bore children, you bore them for me.
And no matter how much you wish otherwise, you’ll never be allowed to raise them yourself.”
Seeing Uya Shulan’s body stiffen, Tongjia smiled.
Then her voice rose dramatically.
“Sister, I’m only saying this for your own good.
You’re still young. There are things you may not understand.
In the future, think carefully before you act.
Don’t do something you’ll regret.”
Shulan bit her lower lip.
Her fingernails dug into her palms.
Yet she still forced a smile.
“Thank you for your guidance, Elder Sister.
I will remember it well.”
Tongjia gave a satisfied hum and turned away with her entourage of maids and eunuchs.
Only after everyone had left did Shulan finally relax.
She straightened and looked toward Tongjia’s departing figure.
Then she suddenly laughed.
A maid beside her cautiously asked,
“Your Ladyship, Noble Consort Tongjia…”
“It’s nothing. Let’s return to the palace.”
Still smiling, Shulan turned away.
A foot-washing maid?
So what?
The capital was full of lowly palace maids.
Yet it was often those same insignificant women who dealt fatal blows to those standing high above them.
Though Shulan smiled, her eyes were cold.
If others don’t provoke me, I won’t provoke them.
But if they do…
She wondered how far things had progressed by now.
“Looks like it’s time for Grandfather to speed things up.”
Her voice was so soft that even the maid beside her failed to hear it.
“Mo… Mother…”
Wrapped in a little padded jacket, Yinzhen stumbled forward on unsteady legs and threw himself against Tongjia’s knees.
His soft cheeks rubbed against her robe.
Clutching her clothing, he whimpered in a babyish voice.
“Mother… hold Little Fourth…”
Tongjia looked down at the wrinkled fabric where he had rubbed against it.
Then she asked softly,
“Little Fourth, who am I?”
“Mo… Mother.”
Yinzhen didn’t understand why she was asking.
Tongjia continued,
“Then who was that woman just now?”
Yinzhen tilted his head and thought hard.
“Um… Mo… Mother…”
“Wrong.”
Tongjia’s expression immediately cooled.
“That woman is not your mother.”
“Wrong… wrong…”
The little boy nodded and repeated the words in his childish voice.
Tongjia finally smiled in satisfaction.
Picking him up, she said,
“Good boy.
From now on, only I am your mother.
You should stay away from that woman.”
Yinzhen nodded uncertainly.
His small hands clutched her collar.
“Someone come.”
Tongjia’s voice suddenly turned cold.
“Take the prince away.
If you can’t teach him who his mother is today, I don’t mind replacing all of you.”
“Mo… Mother…”
Yinzhen looked at her, frightened.
His mother suddenly seemed like a different person.
He no longer dared speak loudly.
“Little Fourth, you must study hard.
Don’t disappoint Mother.
Understand?”
Tongjia’s jeweled fingernails brushed across his cheek.
In the wet nurse’s arms, the little boy shivered involuntarily.
“I… I understand…”
Only then did Tongjia wave her hand and allow the wet nurse to take him away.
Afterward, she reclined alone in her chair.
The nanny stepped forward, pouring tea while offering gentle advice.
“The Fourth Prince is only two years old. How could he possibly distinguish between people so clearly?”
“If he can’t distinguish them, then teach him.”
Tongjia’s answer was immediate.
“If he doesn’t learn the first time, teach him a second.
If he doesn’t learn the second, teach him a third.
Eventually he’ll understand.”
She took a sip of tea before continuing.
“The Fourth Prince may be young now, but he must learn from childhood who he should truly be close to.
As for Uya…
I will never allow her the opportunity to get close to him.”
The nanny nodded.
“Your Highness is wise.
That Uya woman comes from a lowly background. If she becomes close to the Fourth Prince, who knows what trouble might arise?
Still, the Fourth Prince is very young and easily influenced.
If Your Highness treats him too harshly, he may grow fearful.
In the future, he might become distant from you instead.”
Seeing Tongjia considering her words, the nanny continued.
“The Fourth Prince is still young. It’s natural that he cannot distinguish titles and forms of address.
Besides, Uya now has the Sixth Prince to occupy her attention.
She likely has little time to concern herself with the Fourth Prince.
When he grows older, he’ll naturally understand who truly treats him best.”
Tongjia took another sip of tea and snorted.
“She is nothing more than a foot-washing maid.
I don’t regard her as a threat at all.
But the son entrusted to me is not someone she can casually approach.”
Setting down the teacup, she added,
“Nanny, pay closer attention to Little Fourth.
I don’t want to hear him calling anyone else ‘Mother’ ever again.”
“Please rest assured, Your Highness.
This servant will make certain he is properly taught.”
The nanny bowed and withdrew.
The room fell silent.
Tongjia lowered her gaze to the tea in her cup.
For some reason, she suddenly lost all desire to drink it.