"Your Highness, what did you eat to grow up so beautiful?!"

Duan Rou rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Qian Shengyan with a somewhat infatuated expression. Even someone as composed as Qian Shengyan felt embarrassed by her gaze.

She subconsciously touched her cheek and laughed, "I'm getting old, how can I still look good?"

“Mother is not old!” Folgochun exclaimed first, while Duanrou said, “Your Highness is just as beautiful now, like a blooming flower, which is incomparable to young girls.”

This little princess has a knack for praising people, and Qian Shengyan was delighted by her flattery. She brought out some of the special snacks that she had ordered to be made for the three of them to eat.

Then she received another round of praise from Duanrou.

After getting to know her, Qian Shengyan discovered that Duanrou was not only eloquent and knowledgeable in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but also skilled in mathematics and physics. Qian Shengyan found it quite interesting to chat with her, and Fergu Chun listened with great interest.

He Hui, on the other hand, didn't talk much, but she took good care of everyone by pouring tea for one person and handing snacks to another. She did this so subtly and quietly that people accepted her without even realizing it.

Both were good children, and Qian Shengyan liked them both very much. She even couldn't help but start to worry about their marriage.

When Yinzhen came that evening, Qian Shengyan told him about the two princesses.

After all, they were all his younger brother's daughters, and Yinzhen had met them before. However, because he was closer to the thirteenth prince, he had a deeper impression of He Hui. He simply smiled and said, "I know He Hui. She is a quiet child. It's just that she is a bit weak. Back when she was in the Prince's residence, the thirteenth prince had asked the imperial physician to treat her several times. Now that she's in the garden, you should urge the imperial physician to take good care of her."

"Yes." Qian Shengyan thought for a moment. Now the princesses were all crammed into the back hall of the Lotus Pavilion with Ulanara, the three of them living in cramped quarters. She suggested, "Why don't we have the three princesses move over there and live with Folgochun in the Wutong Courtyard?"

"There's no need for Shushen. Let Hehui and Duanrou move over there," Yinzhen said.

Qian Shengyan somewhat understood what he meant: "Is Princess Shushen's marriage about to be settled?"

"Yes, Shushen is already seventeen. I plan to appoint Borjigit Guanyinbao, an additional vice minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs, as her husband." Yinzhen nodded. "The sixteenth prince volunteered to take on the construction of the princess's residence. I can't show favoritism to one over the other, so I can only wait until all three princesses' residences are completed before the wedding. Now it's just the right time for her to prepare for her marriage in front of the Empress."

Qian Shengyan nodded, knowing in her heart that the reason she couldn't come out to get married was actually due to her social status.

Needless to say, the relationship between Yinzhen and the thirteenth prince was excellent. The sixteenth prince, Yinlu, was also a younger brother who had followed in Yinzhen's footsteps long ago. Moreover, Yinlu had two brothers from the same mother. With him as an example, the fifteenth and eighteenth princes now followed Yinzhen's lead without question. In addition, there was the seventeenth prince, Yinli. These grown-up younger brothers had almost all become Yinzhen's right-hand men.

Since her younger brother is so sensible, the older brother should also show some respect. Shushen only entered the palace when she was about to get married. The daughters of the thirteenth and sixteenth brothers will truly be raised as princesses for a few years, which will also elevate their status.

Especially after what Yinzhen just said, Qian Shengyan had reason to suspect that Yinzhen brought the thirteenth princess's daughter into the palace and bestowed upon her a princess title so that he could find a nearby imperial physician to treat her health...

"How have you been feeling lately?" Yinzhen asked again.

Qian Shengyan came to her senses and couldn't help but laugh: "His Majesty has ordered Physician Liu to come and take my pulse every day, how could I possibly be unwell?"

"Hmph, I should have been more cautious a long time ago." Yinzhen glanced at her sideways. "You too, you should take better care of your health. Recently, I've been reading some books and have gained some insights."

As he spoke, he picked up a book with a slightly yellowed cover. Qian Shengyan curiously peered at it, and then... ???

The "Treasured Record of the Antarctic Splendor"?

Is this a Taoist book?

Immediately, alarm bells rang in Qian Shengyan's mind. Many historical records show that Emperor Yongzheng's early death was due to excessive consumption of elixirs. It should be noted that the minerals such as lead, mercury, sulfur, and arsenic used in the alchemy of Taoist elixirs are toxic and can cause considerable damage to the brain and internal organs.

The death of Yinzhen was also recorded as a sudden death in the Qing court archives, "Daily Records of the Yongzheng Reign." Although the cause of death was not recorded, with the excavation and research of the Yongzheng archives, the theory that Yongzheng died from taking elixirs has increasingly attracted the attention and recognition of some historians.

She immediately grabbed Yinzhen's arm, looking at him with great concern: "Your Majesty..."

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Yinzhen looked at her panicked and puzzled expression. "This is about incantation magic, not some ghost or supernatural phenomenon. Don't be afraid."

Qian Shengyan hugged him even tighter: "Your Majesty, you must be careful about what you eat."

"Oh? Yan Yan also knows about Taoist elixirs?" Yinzhen became even more interested. "I've also learned a bit about them. Elixirs are used to cure illnesses and exorcise evil spirits..."

"Your Majesty, I beg you, Your Majesty, please do not take those pills!" Qian Shengyan, disregarding the consequences, grasped Yinzhen's hand and pleaded, "I may not know about other things, but the lead in those pills is highly poisonous. Although the amount used each time is small, over time, I fear..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her eyes were full of pleading, and her eyes even reddened with anxiety. Her face was also filled with worry and fear.

Yinzhen was initially frowning slightly. Anyone would be displeased to be contradicted when excitedly sharing their recent favorite things, let alone the emperor. But seeing Qian Shengyan's expression, Yinzhen couldn't bring himself to say anything harsh, only saying, "You don't understand."

"Your Majesty!" Qian Shengyan felt a pang of pain in her heart upon seeing him like this. She immediately grabbed Yinzhen's arm and shook it, her voice trembling with sobs, "Your Majesty, I do not wish to put Your Majesty's health at all. I beg Your Majesty not to use those elixirs!"

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