However, she could suppress her feelings, but Yue Er could not.
When Yue Er was passing through this street with a few guards on horseback, she instantly recognized The Eldest Princess.
At that moment, The Eldest Princess was being bossed around by Maternal Aunt Tao, carrying things.
That woman dressed as a concubine not only shoved bundles and packages into The Eldest Princess’s arms.
But her words were filled with subtle and obvious barbs.
Old Madam Tao turned a blind eye, and even the surrounding servant boys and maid looked on with an icy ’serves you right’ expression.
No one stepped forward to seek justice from beginning to end.
Yue Er was immediately infuriated and stepped forward to argue without a second thought.
Sadly enough...
The unfortunate Tao Family did not recognize her as the current Emperor’s most favored Fourth Princess.
Not only did they not show respect, but they also responded with harsh words, fists, and kicks.
As a result, Yue Er was injured.
...
At the time, The Eldest Princess did not recognize that it was the Fourth Princess; it wasn’t until later when she thought about it carefully that she realized it, feeling deep regret.
Three days after the incident.
Upon hearing about the Emperor and Empress’s return to the palace, she immediately went to the palace to seek an audience.
In Duanning Palace.
The Eldest Princess was filled with guilt and remorse.
"I never expected Fourth Sister would still recognize me! She’s also been hurt!"
"It’s my fault!"
Although Xia Ruqing felt distressed, as The Eldest Princess had already said so.
She could not say much in response.
"Her injuries are not severe; you need not feel guilty!"
"Go see her later!"
The Eldest Princess nodded her head.
"Thank you, Mother Empress!"
Xia Ruqing waved her hand: "No need to thank!"
After she finished speaking, silence enveloped the room.
The Eldest Princess was not good with words, nor did Xia Ruqing have much to say, making the atmosphere a tad awkward.
After a half quarter of silence, Xia Ruqing finally spoke up.
"I’ve heard about the Tao Family matters!"
"It hasn’t been easy for you either!"
"Though your birth mother is no longer around, Consort Zheng is your foster mother; visit her in the palace sometimes!"
The implication being: You still have the Consort Zheng to rely on.
The Eldest Princess felt a bit timid.
Clutching a somewhat worn handkerchief, she appeared quite conflicted.
"Can I...?"
Xia Ruqing smiled.
"Why not, she is your Mother Consort!"
The Eldest Princess thanked her again before falling silent for a moment and then getting up to leave.
Watching her departing figure, Xia Ruqing felt some sentiment.
"It’s my first time seeing her after such a long time!"
"She looks much more haggard than just after getting married!"
"It seems the Tao Family truly hasn’t treated her well!"
Zi Yue nodded.
"Indeed!"
"The fabric of her dress doesn’t seem new; doesn’t the princess have estates and a stipend? How come The Eldest Princess is so..." poor?
Xia Ruqing faintly smiled.
"I recall her estates only account for three hundred households, and her stipend is moderate, not abundant."
"Moreover, the Tao Family are civil officials without real power and can’t seize much advantage!"
"Supporting such a large family solely on Old Master Tao and Tao Prince Consort’s salaries must be hard! She has to make up for it quite a bit!"
Zi Yue opened her eyes wide in surprise.
"So, that means..."
"The Princess not only has to support the Tao Family, but also Tao Prince Consort’s concubines?"
This is indeed...
Even for a dignified princess of the realm, she felt aggrieved.
Xia Ruqing sighed.
"Indeed it’s frustrating! But what can be done?"
The Eldest Princess has a gentle nature, deeply entrenched in the feudal ideology of the three obediences and four virtues, always believing her husband and mother-in-law were her heavens!
She cannot stand up for herself, and no one else can help her.
"Forget it! Have Consort Zheng notified to come over!"
Even if not to divorce, they can’t let them get away with such absurdity.
A princess of the country shouldn’t be at the mercy of an official’s family.
"Yes!"
Zi Yue complied.
Xia Ruqing smiled again.
"Nonetheless, I find it quite unexpected!"
"Yue Er didn’t get along with The Eldest Princess before, yet she stepped in to help this time; I am indeed gratified!"
It shows her daughter has an open mind, a broad perspective, aiming high and seeing far, not someone petty and narrow-minded.
"Fourth Princess indeed is a well-read and sensible person, straightforward and kind-hearted from a young age, and remarkably generous!"
Xia Ruqing nodded with satisfaction.
"I hope she stays like this!"
"May she find someone who truly loves her in the future!"
"She definitely will!"
Zi Yue, smiling, offered a cup of tea.
...
Over at Fengyu Pavilion.
Yue Er was still recuperating, and upon hearing that The Eldest Princess had come, she quickly asked someone to invite her in.
"Big Sister! Why have you come?"
The Eldest Princess seemed a bit uneasy.
In the past, even before she got married, she didn’t like Yue Er much, and the two had clashed before.
She harbored a slight jealousy toward Yue Er in her heart.
After their mother’s death, she had put the Empress and her children on a blacklist, intending to have no interaction with them.