“Your daughter-in-law greets Your Highness. May Your Highness enjoy everlasting peace and blessings.”
Madam Tong curtsied with impeccable etiquette.
As soon as she finished speaking, Tongjia immediately gestured for the palace attendants to help her mother up.
“Mother, please rise. There’s no need for such formalities.”
“In the palace, one can never go wrong by observing proper etiquette.”
Madam Tong rose with a smile.
The attendants quickly helped her to her feet.
As Tongjia noticed the new streaks of white in her mother’s hair, she lowered her eyes silently.
“Quickly, bring a seat for Mother. Serve the finest pre-Qingming Dragon Well tea.”
After thanking her daughter and taking her seat, Madam Tong looked up at the woman sitting at the head of the hall.
Gone was the carefree and pampered girl who had once lived in the Tong household.
“You now govern the Six Palaces with dignity and authority. It seems these years have demanded much of you.”
Tongjia smiled and avoided her mother’s gaze.
“You flatter me, Mother. I’ve merely done my duty.”
Looking at the gray strands by her mother’s temples, a trace of bitterness welled up in her heart.
Back when she had decided to enter the palace, her father and brothers had been delighted.
Only her mother had privately urged her to think carefully.
But at the time, she had been completely consumed by her affection for her cousin—the Emperor.
Entering the palace had seemed like the fulfillment of her life’s greatest wish.
Now she sat as Imperial Noble Consort, commanding the Six Palaces with unquestioned authority.
Yet when she looked back, her parents had already grown old.
And she had scarcely spent any time by their side fulfilling her duties as a daughter.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
She personally offered her mother a cup of tea.
“Mother must be tired from the journey. Have some tea.
Is everything well at home?
How is Father’s health?”
Madam Tong accepted the cup and smiled.
“Everything is well.
Your brother handles most affairs now, so you needn’t worry about the family.
It’s you I’m concerned about.
Managing the Six Palaces is exhausting work. Don’t neglect your own health.”
“As Imperial Noble Consort, it’s difficult for me to suffer any real hardship.”
Tongjia knew from her mother’s expression that she had come with something specific to discuss.
She turned toward the attendants.
“Leave us.
Mother and I would like to speak privately.”
The attendants immediately bowed and withdrew.
The doors closed softly behind them, shutting out the rules and noise of palace life.
Only the mother and daughter remained.
Madam Tong looked directly at her daughter.
“You’ve lost weight.”
Those simple words instantly made Tongjia’s nose sting.
The exhaustion of managing the palace, the countless burdens she carried every day—
all of it surfaced because of that ordinary expression of maternal concern.
Her eyes grew warm.
“Mother must be mistaken.
When I had my ceremonial robes made recently, they actually had to add two extra inches.”
Madam Tong knew her daughter didn’t wish to discuss it.
So she changed the subject.
“I came today not only to see you.
Your father asked me to inquire…
Do you have any good news?”
Tongjia had known this topic would arise.
She simply hadn’t expected it so quickly.
Shaking her head helplessly, she answered,
“No.”
Madam Tong’s expression softened.
“You’ve spent so many years in the palace.
No matter how high your position, it’s still lonely.
I know the palace has strict rules.
But I still hope you’ll have a child of your own someday.
Someone to keep you company.
Someone you can rely on in the future.”
The words struck directly at the softest place in Tongjia’s heart.
Her throat tightened.
“Mother, don’t worry.
His Majesty treats me very well.
Besides, Little Fourth is being raised by my side now.
As for children…
Those matters are governed by fate.
They cannot be forced.”
“Since the Fourth Prince is already so grown, couldn’t you ask the Emperor to officially place him under your name?
Even if one day…”
Madam Tong hesitated.
“At least then you would have a son beside you.”
A bitter smile appeared on Tongjia’s lips.
How could she not have wished for exactly that?
Seeing her expression, Madam Tong glanced upward, indicating the Emperor.
“He won’t allow it?”
Tongjia nodded.
“It’s all right, Mother.
Cousin cares about me.
As long as Little Fourth remains in Chengqian Palace, he is my child.”
“My foolish daughter.”
Madam Tong sighed heavily.
“What nonsense are you saying?
A man’s heart is the most unreliable thing in the world.”
She continued softly:
“I’m not trying to pressure you.
But he wasn’t born from your womb.
How could he ever truly be of one heart with you?
And even if you don’t think about it…
Do you think your father doesn’t?
Do you think the entire Tong family doesn’t?”
As she spoke, bitterness surfaced in her own expression.
“The household has become increasingly unruly.
Ever since the imperial decree allowed me to visit you, people have been making inquiries openly and secretly.
And your father…”
Tongjia’s heart sank.
“What did Father do?”
Madam Tong lowered her head.
“Your father was persuaded by others in the clan.
He asked me…
to ask whether you’d be willing to let your Sixth Younger Sister enter the palace…”
Her voice grew quieter.
“To keep you company.”
Even she knew how absurd the request was.
Her daughter had spent years struggling through palace life.
She had finally reached the position of Imperial Noble Consort and now governed the Six Palaces.
Yet instead of supporting her, the Tong family wanted to send another daughter into the palace to seize even more favor.
Worse, her husband had been swayed by the flattering words of distant relatives and had forced her to raise the matter.
The color drained from Tongjia’s face.
The warmth in her eyes instantly froze into ice.
Her fingernails dug into her palms.
All because she could not bear children?
So they wanted to send in a woman who could?
Never in her wildest dreams had she expected her father to harbor such thoughts.
When she entered the palace years ago, it had not only been because of youthful affection.
It had also been because she represented an opportunity for the Tong family.
Now that she had finally achieved honor and prestige, they wanted to gamble once more by sending another daughter into the Emperor’s harem.
A wave of cold bitterness swept through her.
Seeing her mother’s awkward and guilty expression, she suppressed her anger.
But disappointment still colored her voice.
“How could Father think such a thing?
I’m not even dead yet, and he’s already eager to send someone else in.
What about you, Mother?
What do you think?”
Madam Tong met her daughter’s eyes and immediately saw the hurt within them.
Her throat tightened.
Grabbing Tongjia’s hand, she shook her head vigorously.
“How could I possibly agree?
I’ve watched you struggle through all these years.
I’ve seen your suffering and felt your pain.
How could I stand with anyone else?”
She looked away, unable to hide her helplessness.
“Your father was influenced by those clan members.
They kept saying that another daughter in the palace would provide another source of support for the family.
Most people ignored them.
But your father has always been soft-hearted.
Eventually he listened.
Then he forced me to ask you.”
After wiping her eyes, she hurriedly added:
“But don’t worry.
Mother brought you something good.”
She produced a small booklet.
“Your younger brother found this method in Jiangnan.
They say it increases the chances of conceiving.”
Tongjia frowned at the booklet.
“Mother, is this really reliable?”
Seeing her skepticism, Madam Tong quickly explained:
“Don’t worry.
I had people on our estate test it.
It truly worked.
There’s no medicine involved, and it won’t harm your body.
You’re now the Imperial Noble Consort.
You govern the Six Palaces.
If you could give birth to a prince, no one in this world would ever be able to stand in your way again.”
Outside, the winter wind drove snow against the windows.
The soft tapping sounded as though it were striking directly against Tongjia’s heart.
She remained silent.
Seeing this, Madam Tong sighed.
“You’ve always been stubborn.
Now you’re the Imperial Noble Consort and one of the most powerful women in the empire.
At present, you and the Emperor are deeply devoted to one another.
“But as someone who has lived longer, let me offer one piece of advice.”
Her voice softened.
“Never place all your hopes in a man.
The only strength that truly belongs to you is the strength you build yourself.
I only hope you won’t regret it one day.”
Tongjia lowered her eyes toward the booklet on the table.
Her eyes reddened.
“I understand.”
After a pause, she continued softly.
“I’m still young.
Mother… please don’t force me.”
Madam Tong’s heart ached.
She immediately covered her daughter’s hand with her own.
Tears filled her eyes as she shook her head.
“I won’t.
Mother won’t force you.”
She gently pushed the booklet aside, afraid it might upset her further.
“This is my fault.
I shouldn’t have brought this up.
I certainly shouldn’t have brought that thing here to trouble you.”
Tongjia shook her head.
Her gaze remained fixed on the booklet lying beside the table.
Slowly leaning back into her chair, she closed her eyes.
After a long silence, she spoke quietly.
“Let me try a little longer.”