After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 492 Why didn't the Cen family mother and daughter bring them?

"Did the Second Prince's Consort bring the women of her household today?"

Zhao Wanyi was inexplicably called out by name. She stood up in a flustered manner, curtsied, and said, "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, I only brought Consort Sun."

The Empress Dowager frowned in displeasure. "Why didn't Consort Li and her daughter come? I remember that there was a concubine named Cen in the Second Prince's residence. It seems that she also gave birth to a daughter at the border. I haven't seen her even once!"

Zhao Wanyi's heart tightened, and her hands under the protective sleeve unconsciously clenched into fists. She lowered her head even further. "Your Majesty, it's not that your granddaughter-in-law is unwilling to bring them over, but Jing'er caught a cold recently, and Consort Li has been taking care of the child day and night. She looks haggard and dares not go out."

Concubine Cen is of low status, and Ru'er is too young. Without a summons from the palace, the granddaughter-in-law dares not take them out of the residence on her own. If the Empress Dowager wishes to see them, the granddaughter-in-law will send someone back to bring them here.”

The Fourth Prince's wife, standing to the side, was displeased. "Second sister-in-law, what are you saying! The New Year is a time for harmony and joy. What's wrong with bringing a couple more into the palace? You can bring your maids, so why can't you bring your concubines? No matter what, Cen Shi has contributed to the royal family by bearing children. How can she be compared to an ordinary concubine!"

The Third Prince's wife nodded solemnly, "Second sister-in-law, I'm not saying this to be mean, but you're really not as good as Fourth Sister-in-law in this respect. Look, which New Year's Eve banquet doesn't Fourth Sister-in-law bring Madam Gao and her son to the palace? They only get to enter the palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager on this one day a year. Why didn't you consider that?"

Zhao Wanyi was furious, but dared not show it.

The second prince withdrew his gaze from Shen Tian and coldly glanced at the third and fourth princes.

The third and fourth princes, however, returned a defiant glare, showing no fear whatsoever.

The Empress Dowager observed their every move and glanced at Granny Gui beside her, asking, "What time is it?"

"It was just past 9 AM."

The Empress Dowager slowly lowered her eyes and indifferently ordered, "Go to the Second Prince's residence and bring his concubine Li and his daughter Cen."

The Second Prince's expression changed slightly. Worried that Cen Mingxue and her daughter would be suspected, he kept giving Zhao Wanyi meaningful glances.

Zhao Wanyi was furious inside, but pretended not to notice the Second Prince's little trick.

Shen Tian and Murong Chen sat to the side holding their child, looking completely indifferent.

Princess Huai'an, eyeing the baby in Shen Tian's arms, came over and took the child without saying a word, holding him in her arms and kissing him sweetly for a long time. "Mother, look at Zuo Zuo, this child isn't shy at all, he laughs as soon as you tease him!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's expression indeed improved considerably. Looking at the child with loving eyes, she said, "He's so lovable! If it weren't for my lack of energy, I would have liked to take this child and raise him myself."

Half of the people in the hall looked at Murong Chen and his wife in astonishment.

But the two of them were quietly eating sunflower seeds and whispering to each other, completely out of place with them.

The Third Prince's wife was jealous, saying, "Consort Shen's life is much more comfortable than ours."

It's laughable that these principal wives live worse lives than a concubine!

Shen Tian blinked innocently, stood up and greeted the Third Prince's Consort, "Third Sister-in-law, look at your outfit, and then look at mine. You have what I have on my desk. What's bothering you? If you don't want to eat melon seeds, I can peel them for you!"

Princess Huai'an couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The Fourth Prince's wife looked at the Third Prince's wife in surprise, wondering what was wrong with the Third Prince's family, why they were targeting the Sixth Prince's concubine for no reason.
In her opinion, among all the women in the house, Consort Shen was the least threatening. Firstly, the sixth prince couldn't compete with her, and secondly, Consort Shen was just the sixth prince's concubine, of low birth and not presentable in any way. The only thing she could boast about was that she had given birth to two sons.

But so what? They are still young, and it's not like they can't have children. Besides, her concubine, Lady Gao, also has a son. If all else fails, she can adopt one.

The Third Prince's wife was so angry that she could only glare at him for a long time before turning to the Sixth Prince, Murong Chen. "Sixth Prince, if you ask me, you should marry a proper wife. Otherwise, when we sisters-in-law are discussing something, you can't even catch up!" Princess Huai'an was displeased and was about to speak.

Shen Tian immediately shook her head at her.

Murong Chen smiled faintly and said, "If you have any important matters to discuss, Third Sister-in-law, you can tell me. There's no need for you to worry about things in my household."

"you"

"Granny Gui, go see if the Second Prince's concubines and maids have arrived yet," the Empress Dowager interrupted the Third Prince's wife.

The Fourth Prince's wife quickly tugged at the Third Prince's wife, who looked resentful.

Once everyone changed the subject, the Fourth Prince's wife muttered a few words of complaint to the Third Prince's wife, "Why are you arguing with the Sixth Prince's concubine? Didn't you see how much the Sixth Prince cherishes Lady Shen? Besides, Lady Shen was chosen for the Sixth Prince by the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Were you trying to slap the Empress Dowager and the Empress in the face with what you just said?"

The Third Prince's wife's expression changed, and she belatedly realized that she was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

The Fourth Prince's wife shook her head at her expression. "Third Sister-in-law, what happened when Second Sister-in-law held a flower-viewing banquet to target the Shen family? She was punished by the Empress Dowager. Why don't you learn your lesson?"

"I...I was just so angry that I forgot!" The Third Prince's wife nervously twisted her handkerchief.

The Fourth Prince's wife sighed helplessly, "Find an excuse to say a few nice words to Madam Shen later, and we'll let this matter drop. If you want to help the Third Prince, you have to cultivate a good relationship with the Sixth Prince's concubine. You see?"

Following the gaze of the Fourth Prince's wife, the Third Prince's wife saw the Empress Dowager, Princess Huai'an, and the Sixth Prince's concubine chatting and laughing together.

It wasn't a polite, perfunctory smile, but a genuine one.

She admitted that she couldn't do it, and even if the Sixth Prince's concubine was faking it, she had to admire her excellent acting skills.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the Second Prince's Consort sitting quietly to the side.

A strange feeling flashed through the Third Prince's wife's mind. "What's wrong with the Second Prince's wife today? Doesn't she hate Shen the most? Why didn't she say anything to her just now?"

The Fourth Prince's wife also looked puzzled. "She's been absent-minded ever since the Empress Dowager questioned her. I don't know what she's thinking."

"Do you think it's possible that they're afraid Consort Li and Lady Cen will complain to them? I heard that the second son's wife is dissatisfied with Lady Cen. When she first returned to the capital, they even made things difficult for her. I wonder if they tormented her to the point of being unbearable!"

"No way! No matter what, the second son's wife wouldn't be that muddle-headed! Besides, I heard that Madam Cen is very favored, wouldn't the second son protect her?"

The two women looked at the Second Prince Murong Xu, only to see that he had a gloomy face, as if someone owed him a glance.

The Third Prince's wife shuddered, still shaken. "I feel like the Second Prince is acting strangely! My Highness hasn't provoked him recently! What about yours?"

The Fourth Prince's wife shook her head in agreement.

While the two women were wondering what was going on, Consort Li entered the main hall with her daughter Murong Jing, and Cen Mingxue entered with her daughter Murong Ru.

Murong Xu and his wife both changed their expressions when they saw them.

The Empress Dowager's smile vanished as she saw the four men clearly, causing her to spill the hot tea beside her.

Princess Huai'an exclaimed in surprise and hurriedly ordered the palace servants to tidy up. She then escorted the Empress Dowager aside and looked at Consort Li and her daughter with suspicion and uncertainty.