Chapter 140 Xuanye must agree to Xiuyu's request, no choice

Before the affair between Yinreng and Zheng Ying'er could become widespread, Xuanye nipped it in the bud, demonstrating the emperor's ruthless approach. However, the Crown Prince's sudden illness and death was a devastating event for both the former court and the harem.

On the surface, everyone mourned the loss of a brilliant heir apparent to the Qing dynasty. However, behind closed doors, differing opinions emerged. The most active among them were the eldest prince, his mother, Consort Hui, and, of course, the daughter of a prominent figure behind them. After all, Yinzhi had just returned from Dzungar Khanate, having captured Galdan's head, a feat of military distinction unmatched by any other prince. With the crown prince gone, and him being the eldest prince, and having achieved such significant military success, his future was truly limitless.

As for the Third and Fourth Princes, they were naturally much more low-key than Yinzhi. Firstly, they didn't have the luxury of publicity like the First Prince. Secondly, some things could be kept to oneself, but speaking them out loud, even to those closest to one, would be a completely different matter.

Of course, after Yinreng's departure, besides Concubine Hui and the eldest prince, the Yikun Palace became the focus of attention within the imperial court. After all, the crown prince's early appointment as heir was due to the influence of his mother's family; after all, a mother's status is determined by her son. Currently, within the harem, although Imperial Noble Concubine Tong Jia Zi Fu is Xuanye's cousin and raises the fourth prince, the Yikun Palace still holds the highest honors and favors. Therefore, if another crown prince were to be appointed, the three princes of the Yikun Palace would naturally be ranked close to the top.

"It's really a headache." In Changchun Garden, Xiu Yu sat in the pavilion and enjoyed the scenery, but he really didn't have any particular interest in enjoying the scenery.

Xiao Tao also knew what her master was worried about. She smiled and said, "Since the master doesn't have that intention, and the brothers don't have that intention either, in my opinion, you don't have to worry about it either."

"An innocent man is guilty of possessing a treasure." Xiu Yu's expression was somewhat melancholic. "I said I didn't want to, I said they didn't want to, I wish I could stick the word 'I don't want' on my forehead, but do they believe it? If they did, I wouldn't have to run to Changchun Garden for peace and quiet."

"About..." Xiao Tao was actually a little worried: "I really don't want to, but nothing will happen, right?"

"I don't want anything to happen to me either." Xiu Yu looked at Yinzhen, Yinqi, and Yin'er approaching from a distance, feeling worried. She had a good relationship with Tong Jia Zifu, so Yinzhen was willing to be close to her. However, Yin'er and Yinzhen were probably born at incompatible times. Even if they were forced to play together, they would never get along.

"Mother Yifei." Yinzhen bowed to Xiuyu and said, "I came to pay my respects to Father and tell him about the task I just completed."

Xiu Yu sat up straight and said, "The Emperor is in the study. You and Lao Wu should go together."

After Yinzhen and Yinqi walked away, Xiuyu looked at Old Nine, who was sitting with his legs crossed and not sitting properly, and her face immediately fell: "You are so unhappy about riding in a carriage with your fourth brother?"

"Fourth brother is too serious. He has a stern face every day and never smiles. It's like someone owes him a lot of money." Speaking of Yinzhen's black spots, Yin'er asked himself if he could talk for three days and three nights and still not be able to finish.

Xiu Yu pondered over it and realized that what Yinzhen said was true. "Your fourth brother's gloomy face isn't just directed at you."

"Mother, you feel the same way, right?" Yinzhen sat up straight and moved closer to Xiuyu. "That's what I feel. Eighth brother is always as gentle as jade, while Fourth brother is a piece of jade, but it's a cold piece of jade, the kind that you can never warm up no matter how hard you try."

Xiu Yu frowned slightly. "Why, Old Nine, have you been hanging out with the Eighth Prince lately?"

"Mother, what's wrong with you? My Eighth Brother and I have the same master." Yinzhen naturally didn't get Xiuyu's point. "My Eighth Brother is very kind to everyone. He has a good temper and a good personality. He has no shortcomings."

"That's great." Xiu Yu's eyelids drooped slightly. She didn't want her Ninth Prince to have too much contact with Yinsi at all. "Yin'er, are you interested in my mother's shops?"

Sure enough, Yin'er's eyes lit up, then dimmed again. "Didn't Father say that as a prince, I must learn everything the master teaches me? Before I learn it well, you forbid me to hang around Mother's shop all the time."

"Mother can ask your father for mercy." Xiu Yu touched the back of Yin'er's head. "You can learn how to do business and make money, but you also need a master in the shop, and you can't abandon your studies. Is it possible?"

"My son will definitely do it!" Yinzhen was really excited. "Mother, although my son has no shortage of money, he likes to use an abacus and look at accounts, and doesn't like reading the Four Books and Five Classics. You should go and ask Father for mercy as soon as possible."

"Okay." Xiu Yu knew Yin'er's temperament very well. She actually just hoped that her ninth prince and eighth prince could be kept as far away from each other as possible. So even if they were raised outside the palace, it didn't matter. She just needed to find a few reliable masters to follow them.

At night, Xuanye sat in the study reading a book, and Xiu Yu also sat beside him reading a book. While reading, she was thinking about how to start talking about Yin'er.

Unexpectedly, Xuanye spoke first: "You have been reading all night and haven't turned a page. If you have something to say, don't keep it in your heart."

Xiu Yu stopped pretending and simply closed the book, saying, "If you let me speak, I'll speak."

"Go ahead." Xuanye stood up and sat across from Xiuyu. "Is it difficult to start?"

Xiu Yu pursed her lips and said, "I think I should put Yinzhen in the shops I own in the capital to train him."

"Ah?" Xuanye knew that what Xiuyu found difficult to say must be something that troubled him, but he didn't expect it to be this: "Yu'er, those shops you opened were just for fun."

"But Yinzhen likes this." Xiuyu looked into Xuanye's eyes, "You don't know, he is a calculating person and is quite interested in business."

"But he is the ninth prince of the Qing Dynasty." Xuanye found it difficult to accept Xiu Yu's request. "He hasn't even mastered the rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics yet."

Seeing that Xuanye had no intention of giving in, Xiu Yu kept silent and didn't say another word.

After a while, Xuanye finally broke the silence: "Are you angry? You could have taken him with you when you left the palace, not to mention sending him directly to the capital to gain experience. As a mother, are you really willing to let him go? He grew up in a honey pot."

"If I'm willing to give it up, then you're willing to give it up too?" Xiu Yu caught the conversation, "I've also thought it over carefully, otherwise I wouldn't have said this."

Xuanye pondered over the recent events and eventually connected Yinreng's affairs with Xiuyu's request. "Are you worried that the former court and the harem will affect Old Nine? No!"

"In short, there is a reason." Xiu Yu certainly couldn't say what she was thinking. "You have many right-hand men, and you don't need Lao Jiu. I just want Lao Jiu to be mine. Besides, letting him go doesn't mean we won't hire him a master. You can do your best to arrange a master for him. He can also learn rituals, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. Just don't give up on that."

Xuanye disagreed: "Once you leave the palace, the world is vast and boundless. Yinzhen is a reckless person. It would be difficult for me to control him, let alone you."

"He's not a bad person, that's all." Xiu Yu had her own reasons. "You should trust Yinzhen and the master you chose for him. Besides, he's in the capital, so he can go back to the palace every day or every day. It doesn't matter."

Xuanye finally sensed something else in Xiuyu's words. "You, don't want Yinzhen to study with the other princes, right? So you came up with this excuse?"

'After all, she's the one sleeping next to me, there's no way I can hide it from her,' Xiu Yu couldn't help but sigh in her heart: "Even if that's the case, just agree to it."

Looking into Xiu Yu's eyes, Xuanye found it difficult to say "no". He sighed, his words revealing a hint of helplessness: "Letting Yinzhen help you is a good idea. Later, I will choose a few teachers that suit his taste for him. He doesn't have to be an expert in ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. He can learn whatever he likes, that's all."