Wang Qingyao possessed the Emperor's bestowed Dragon's Slumber Jade Token, granting her unfettered access to the imperial palace. Nevertheless, she adhered to protocol and submitted her token to Consort Wei's Huayang Palace.
Consort Wei, fond of her, readily granted an audience.
Wang Qingyao had come to champion Han Suqin's cause. To neglect such a useful mother-in-law, Han Suqin had been bullied into a state of foolishness.
As Wang Qingyao was pregnant, the conversation naturally turned to Han Suqin, who was also with child.
Han Suqin carried Consort Wei's first grandchild, and Consort Wei naturally doted on her, frequently bestowing tonics, medicinal herbs, and fabrics upon the Qi King's manor.
Though Wang Qingyao had been in this era for over a year, she had yet to master the art of indirect speech. As she spoke, she plainly laid out her grievances.
"...She's still carrying the child, yet she's lost weight and her complexion is haggard. There's nothing else she could do, so she came to me for help."
"Why didn't this child come to me?" Consort Wei asked, a hint of urgency in her voice.
Wang Qingyao replied, "Alas, it's not easy for her to leave the manor. It just so happened that my elder uncle was getting married, allowing me to see her. How could Princess Yinyue allow her to enter the palace to lodge a complaint with Your Ladyship so easily?"
Consort Wei grew indignant. Han Suqin and the Qi King were, in her eyes, a truly loving couple. Even if they wouldn't live in perfect harmony forever, their married life should at least be filled with affection and tenderness.
Despite being their mother, Consort Wei now felt the Qi King was heartless, loving one after another.
Wang Qingyao only spoke of Princess Yinyue's transgressions, resolutely refraining from slandering the Qi King. After all, they were mother and son. Consort Wei could criticize him, but Wang Qingyao could not.
"The Qi King is busy with state affairs; he hardly has the time to concern himself with the inner chambers. He must surely care for the Qi King's Consort, which is why he allowed Princess Yinyue to temporarily manage the household. Furthermore, the Qi King's Consort's background is not as distinguished as Princess Yinyue's. Perhaps her legitimate mother did not teach her how to manage a household. Who would have thought that Princess Yinyue, as a secondary consort, would be so arrogant?"
Han Suqin, a mere daughter of a concubine, might have been valued by her legitimate mother, but she would never have been taught the intricacies of household management hands-on. For Han Suqin to have reached her current standing was already a considerable achievement.
Consort Wei pondered for a moment, then sneered, "If Princess Yinyue is preventing Han Suqin from entering the palace, then I shall summon Princess Yinyue and give her a stern lecture."
Wang Qingyao shook her head. "Your Ladyship, that Princess Yinyue is exceedingly arrogant. Even if she is respectful and obedient in Huayang Palace, I guarantee that once she returns to the Qi King's manor, she will revert to her old ways, or even escalate her behavior."
"Then what should we do?"
"Perhaps Your Ladyship could send a female official to reside permanently at the Qi King's manor to look after the Qi King's Consort?" Wang Qingyao tentatively suggested.
Consort Wei's eyes lit up without a moment's hesitation. "That's an excellent idea."
Han Suqin was pregnant, and as her mother-in-law, Consort Wei worried about her and cared for her. Sending her personal female official to attend to her was perfectly justifiable and would arouse no suspicion.
Immediately, Consort Wei summoned Aunt Luocheng, a first-rank female official of Huayang Palace, and gave her these instructions before telling her to prepare and depart for the Qi King's manor.
The next day, Wang Qingyao also paid a visit to the Qi King's manor.
This was Princess Yinyue's domain, and she dared not be careless. She brought a sufficient number of maids and instructed that no food from the Qi King's manor be consumed.
She was exceedingly cautious.
The gatekeepers dared not stop Wang Qingyao. They sent someone to inform Princess Yinyue, but Wang Qingyao had already swaggered into Han Suqin's courtyard.
Princess Yinyue was also present, being forced by Aunt Luocheng to do embroidery along with the maids.
Technically, a secondary consort held a noble title and was different from an ordinary concubine; she was not required to take embroidery assignments from the primary consort.
However, Aunt Luocheng, acting on Consort Wei's orders and intending to make things difficult for Princess Yinyue, forced her to embroider for an hour. The quality of her work was of no consequence.
Han Suqin's complexion had not yet fully recovered, but her eyes now held a spark, and a smile graced her lips.
She was even happier when Wang Qingyao arrived.
Not wanting Princess Yinyue to overhear their conversation, she magnanimously dismissed her.
With Aunt Luocheng present, Princess Yinyue dared not speak and retreated with her head bowed.
Wang Qingyao found it strange. Aunt Luocheng had only arrived yesterday, and today she had already subdued Princess Yinyue? Princess Yinyue was not easily managed; could she so readily yield to Consort Wei's "oppressive might"?
Wang Qingyao followed Princess Yinyue's retreating figure with her gaze, watching her leave the courtyard and disappear around a corner out of sight.
Wang Qingyao maintained her gaze, unmoving. Though others could no longer see Princess Yinyue, she, with her clairvoyant eyes, still could.
Princess Yinyue stopped and glanced towards the direction of the wall, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.
Wang Qingyao frowned, sensing something was amiss.
It was almost certain that Princess Yinyue would be defiant, but this smile was too peculiar.
Why would she be triumphant? What was there to be triumphant about?
If it were resentment, unwillingness, or coldness, it would have been understandable. But this triumph...
Wang Qingyao couldn't understand.
"Princess Ding'an, what is it?"
Her prolonged gaze had drawn attention. Han Suqin glanced in the direction of Wang Qingyao's stare and asked.