The setting shifts to a palace banquet, everyone changes clothes.
Consort Fan sat on a beauty couch, so furious she wanted to sweep away the teacup offered by the palace attendant, but was quickly protected by her trusted nanny Rong.
"Lady, this place is not far from the Cining Palace. If you break the teacup here, won’t it lead to gossip among the palaces?"
Consort Fan’s phoenix eyes glared, "Do you think I would fear them? Now I can’t even smash a teacup without considering the consequences first?"
Her status was noble, born from the Pri Minister’s Mansion. Among the concubines in the palace, aside from the Empress Dowager, and apart from the Empress, she held the highest rank. Whose face did she need to consider?
"A coarse peasant woman dares to challenge ! Does she really think she’s noble now? Bah! Arrogant, vulgar, and disrespectful, it’s just that the Empress Dowager... boo hoo."
Consort Fan’s face turned pale as Nanny Rong covered her mouth, leaving her glaring with anger.
"Lady, mind your words, think of the Third Prince."
Consort Fan patted her hand, signaling her to let go. When her hand withdrew, she exhaled and said, "Nanny, are you trying to smother to death?"
"My good lady, this servant only fears there are ears behind the walls. It’s the Emperor’s birthday. If any scandalous words spread and the Emperor finds out, what shall we do?" Nanny Rong said helplessly.
Consort Fan’s face flashed with fierceness, "We’ll see who dares."
But her tone ultimately revealed an elent of bravado despite fear.
Nanny Rong saw through it but didn’t expose her, rely said, "Lady, forgive this servant’s rudeness, but you really shouldn’t stoop to the level of the Song Family’s old matriarch. First, it lowers your dignity, and second, she is the Pri Minister Song’s mother."
"I can’t stand her arrogant deanor." Why is she more favored than my mother?
Nanny Rong sighed, "Lady, this servant knows you support the Fan Family, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But you also need to consider the Third Prince."
Consort Fan pursed her lips.
"That Madam Song holds the Empress Dowager’s deep affection, born from their shared hardships when she was exiled among the common folk, and such bonds are rare and hard to break. Even Pri Minister Song is deeply trusted by the Emperor. How is it beneficial to the Third Prince if you don’t establish good relations with the Song Family but offend it instead?" Nanny Rong earnestly analyzed the situation, "Just by looking at the object of that marriage grant, Lady should understand the Emperor’s intention. The most awkward position now is the Third Prince’s, you must garner more support for him, not alienate it!"
Consort Fan’s heart tightened, grasping a kerchief in silence.
Nanny Rong saw this and applied further persuasion, "Lady, if the Third Prince’s Imperial Concubine were from the Fan Family, this servant wouldn’t say much, but alas it’s not. Miss Fan was bestowed to the Fourth Prince instead. Lady, now the Fan Family does not only have the Third Prince to invest in!"
The Fan Family has more than just the Third Prince, there is also the Fourth Prince, and besides her, there is also her niece.
Consort Fan’s face paled slightly, "No way, I am Father’s legitimate daughter, Min’er is rely a granddaughter."
"Then why hasn’t the Pri Minister let the old matriarch enter the palace to pay respects to you?"
Consort Fan was sowhat flustered, trying to find excuses, but knowing deep down, all those excuses were flimsy. How could she not realize that with the bestowal of marriage, the rift had already been born?
She just wasn’t willing to believe it.
"Lady, the most important thing now is to let the Fan Family see the potential for success in the Third Prince. You shouldn’t rely solely on the Fan Family anymore!"
Nanny Rong handed over the tea, feeling bitter inside. Though she was given to Consort Fan by the Fan Family, having stayed with her for so many years, sharing honor and favor together, she had to consider on her behalf because it ant thinking for herself, too.
Consort Fan quietly accepted the tea and took a sip, only to find it bitter and astringent.
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