The Shi Family's Daughter Grows Up

The Crown Princess' birthday was a major event, even in a place where the powerful and influential gathered. Even if the Emperor had brought the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince, the Thirteenth Prince, and the Third Prince of Yuqing Palace out of the palace, and even if it wasn't a full birthday, it was still a huge gathering.

Even though the palace's mistresses hadn't arrived yet, they had already sent their gifts. All the women from the palaces outside the palace who had any connection came. Princes like the Ninth and Tenth Princes, who lived in the palace, also sent their birthday gifts early. The princesses who lived in the palace also prepared birthday gifts for their sister-in-law, and the princesses who had married hadn't forgotten about it either.

The so-called exchanges are a give-and-take. The Crown Princess usually spends a lot of time and effort on these relatives, and everything goes quite smoothly.

For Shujia, looking forward to her birthday now has another meaning: it means her classmate Xiaopang will have half a day off to visit her. After finally waiting for her birthday, her son was forced to work as a child laborer and accompany the patrol.

The Crown Princess was so angry that she almost asked the Imperial Physician to prescribe some medicine. Fortunately, she remembered that it was best not to let the Imperial Physician take her pulse, so she swallowed her anger.

Hongxiu was the Crown Princess's confidante. Upon hearing Shujia sigh, she softly consoled her, "Counting the days, His Majesty will be back soon. Didn't the Crown Prince say that our Third Prince would come to see you as soon as he returned?"

When the situation is stronger than you, it's best not to complain. Saying less shows you're understanding the bigger picture and might even earn you compensation later. Talking too much nonsense won't even earn you compensation. Shujia said, "I know this. You can't act on impulse—how are you getting on with the information I asked you to find out?"

Hongxiu said, "There are now ninety-six people left in Qixiang Palace and Changchun Palace. The girls of the Fucha, Zhaojia, and Dong'e clans are the ones most often called in for talks by the palace masters, followed by the Wanyan clan..." She paused, "Which princess does the Empress Dowager like to talk to the most?"

Shujia nodded. "These are all girls from wealthy families. Even if you only look at their fathers, you can tell this is the case. What about the others?"

Hongxiu said, "It's hard to say. There's also a girl from the Guarjia clan, a girl from the Shushujueluo clan, and another girl from the Zhaojia clan who's not bad looking either. The master wants to—"

Shujia rubbed her solar plexus, unable to think of any solution. With imperial power in her grasp, she had no solution at all and could only blame Kangxi for being too kind to Yinreng. This matter didn't depend on Yinreng or Shujia. As long as Kangxi felt his precious prince needed it, he would definitely give him the best. She just wanted to understand the situation first, to put her mind at ease.

Hongxiu comforted her, "Things haven't been decided yet, so you might as well think about something happy. You already have two princes, and there's another one... What's there to worry about? As our mistress said, it's the right thing to do to educate the young princes well. Ah, it's the master's birthday, and this year the mistress is going to bring the grandmothers and the girls to celebrate."

As the Crown Princess's status became increasingly solid, after moving to a new house this year, Xiluo Te was finally able to bring all the female members of her family to visit her daughter.

Thinking of this, Shujia felt better. She smiled slightly and said, "When I get married, my third sister will have her hair cut off, and my fourth sister won't be able to speak yet. I'm afraid she won't recognize me."

Seeing that her frown had subsided, Hongxiu continued, "Now that we've met, you'll recognize me again, won't you?" As far as seeing her family was concerned, the Crown Princess lived even worse than the palace maids. Hongxiu could only see her parents once a month, while the Crown Princess could only wait for major holidays. The so-called major holidays included Chinese New Year and the Crown Princess's birthday, and nothing else.

If the Crown Princess was ill or pregnant, Xiluo Te could come to see her. Even during festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival, she was not allowed to go out freely.

He clapped his hands and said, "I have prepared all the clothes that the master will wear. Would you like to take a look?"

Knowing that Hongxiu was trying to comfort her, Shujia went along with her. Why be so sad when you can just have a good birthday? It wouldn't sound good if it got out.

She wore a wedding dress for her birthday, and she also had four different cheongsams to wear. Each one was paired with jewelry and embroidered shoes, all laid out in complete sets. Hongxiu had been around for a long time, so the things she prepared were naturally to Shujia's liking. Shujia asked, "Have you prepared the gifts for the sisters?"

Hongxiu smiled and said, "I have prepared some for you. Master, would you like to take a look at them?"

The third sister, Shuyi, was born at the end of the 28th year of the Kangxi reign and had not yet reached her thirteenth birthday, so she did not participate in the election. The fourth sister, Shuhui, was born at the end of the 33rd year of the Kangxi reign and was only six years old. Shujia began to think about her sisters' marriages; this was a good way to distract herself.

The third sister was born out of wedlock, and her situation was different from that of her eldest sister Shuxian. At the time of Shuxian, the Shi family had not yet produced a future queen mother, Shuyi...

Seeing that the Crown Princess was daydreaming, but didn't look like she was missing her son or worried about whether her husband would take a concubine, Hongxiu put down what she was holding and slowly helped Shujia sit down.

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On her birthday, Shujia sat in the brand new Duanjing Hall to receive congratulations. Her gaze slowly passed over the ladies, and she suddenly understood the mindset of someone desperately vying for the throne. Her current posture alone was incredibly alluring. She smiled and asked everyone to stand.

Although Xiluo Te was the Crown Princess's biological mother, her position wasn't very close, and she wasn't noticeable among the other women. Shujia recognized her immediately, looking towards the door. Qingjin was hunched over there, making a clear gesture. She had already taken the two girls aside and settled them.

Shujia smiled and asked everyone to take their seats. The wives of the concubines naturally sat in the front. Xiluo Te's position wasn't low either, sitting with several duchesses. The two sisters-in-law and Shuxian, all of whom held imperial titles, sat further back. After the birthday congratulations, they began discussing the concubines. It was so hard to get so many people together, it would be a waste not to gossip!

Every three years at this time, the wives would burn incense and pray for their daughters to be married to the prince's palace, while the wives would burn incense and pray for other women to be married to their concubines. Fortunately, the current situation was that the daughters of wealthy families would not be assigned to the prince's palace as concubines, so there would be no conflict between the mother-in-law and the principal wife in the Duanjing Palace.

Among this year's selected beauties, the Dong E family undoubtedly stood out. Praised for their "good upbringing" and implicitly praised for their fertility, the Third Lady caressed her slightly protruding belly and said with a smile, "Oh, my! I don't deserve your praise. Our birthday girl is the true illustrious family. I heard—" turning a questioning look at the Xiluo family, "How old is the Third Lady of the Shi family? Everyone in the capital says that the Third Lady of the Shi family is a quiet, well-mannered, and good girl."

The topic drifted off. Xiluotai was also somewhat proud. Her daughter's good upbringing was definitely her credit. Regardless of whether the daughter was legitimate or illegitimate, she had taught them all very well. She said modestly, "How old is she? She just can't make any mistakes."

The Fourth Lady said, "The difficulty lies in not making any mistakes."

Everyone agreed, and someone, remembering Shuxian was also a daughter of the Shi family, singled her out for praise, using the Shi family's upbringing to curry favor with the Crown Princess. Shujia knew the situation, but kept silent. Family matters were understood by family members, and with her parents' abilities, raising her to be a proper lady was no problem.

However, the usually lively Eighth Lady was surprisingly quiet today, which made Shujia look at her a few more times.

The Eighth Lady, however, was worried. Of all the sisters-in-law, only she and the Fifth Lady were still pregnant. The Fifth Lady looked like a wooden block, but she was different. She... well, she had a fighting spirit. What if she was assigned a concubine this year? Her delicate brows furrowed at the thought.

Noticing the Crown Princess's gaze on her, and others gradually realizing that something was amiss with her expression, Eighth Lady quickly composed herself, still frowning as she said, "Alas! Such a good girl! Any lesser son-in-law in the future would be ashamed of himself. What should I do?"

The Seventh Lady patted her shoulder and said, "I have a good son-in-law waiting for you."

For a moment the room was filled with a happy atmosphere.

Ning Hui said slowly, "Just now I seemed to see Madam bringing two girls in? Are they the third and fourth girls of the mansion?"

Xiluo Te smiled and said, "That's right."

All the girls turned their gazes towards the host, and the meaning was clear: take it out and put it on display.

The older generation of wives had a thought. Everyone knew the girl was a concubine, but if she was as good as the legend said, they might as well marry her to their son who wasn't inheriting the title. Firstly, they trusted the Shi family's upbringing, and secondly... how could the future emperor's sister-in-law not be looked after by the Crown Princess?

The other ladies-in-waiting probably had similar ideas to the old wives: those with sons would look for wives for their younger sons. The younger ones could also look for wives for their brothers from their natal families, right?

The younger ones were there simply to watch the fun, build relationships, and consider their families' interests. The Emperor wouldn't give the Crown Princess's sister to anyone as a concubine, so they were happy to chat with her sisters and build closer ties.

When Shuyi and Shuhui entered, the gazes they received were evaluative and critical, but not particularly malicious. Seeing the two figures, one tall and one short, the women suddenly realized they were wrong! So what if there was a legitimate eldest son? The younger one was the Crown Princess's biological sister!

The older one was wearing a pale pink cheongsam, a short bun, a velvet lotus flower on her head, and a handkerchief in her hand. The younger one was not tall enough, with just enough hair, a lotus-colored cheongsam, and a large, shiny collar around her neck.

The two young girls were truly graceful and unrestrained, but Shujia keenly sensed the difference. Just as she and Shuxian had experienced back then, the younger one was more composed than the older one. Her gaze swirled around Xiluotai, and Shujia said to the two sisters who were bowing, "Stand up." With a glance, they both took their places behind Xiluotai.

They were all people who had seen them before, and those who came to celebrate the birthday could basically give the two girls a general assessment after just one look: They are worthy of being from the Guarjia clan! If there is a chance, it would be a great deal to get them as daughters-in-law.

They all praised her, until Shuyi and Shuhui's ears were red with praise. Despite this, they still stood there with dignity. When they heard the praise, they slightly bent their knees to show their gratitude.

Shujia's lips twitched. These two sisters definitely met Kangxi's "daughter-in-law standards" and would probably not be put on the shelf. While an arranged marriage to a prince might not be possible, getting her a royal wife was definitely possible. However... with such a "standard appearance," her husband probably wouldn't be too fond of her.

In the eyes of the emperor, the imperial family, and indeed the entire nation, had one overriding mission: reproduction! All males, if able, were required to have concubines before marrying, and some had more than one. They also had illegitimate sons, and of course, more than one. One example was her husband, who was currently on a business trip!

Shujia felt melancholy.

Everyone was discerning, not just surrounding the two little girls, which would have made them seem low-brow. After a brief moment of praise, the conversation gradually died down, and someone started talking about Dong E. Shujia said, "What a pity! They're staying in Qixiang Palace now, so I'm afraid we won't be able to see them." With a wink, she had Hongxiu lead the two sisters to the side hall to rest.

The Third Lady said, "It's a blessing for them to stay the night, so let them stay. They've met the other ladies and wives outside the palace, and you've seen them inside Ningshou Palace, too. It's just that we haven't been able to get together and talk."

Shujia said, "You have such a clever tongue."

The banquet was held as usual, and everyone ate in an orderly manner. The Eighth Lady, now in a good mood, urged, "Where are the two girls? How can a sister celebrate her birthday while a younger sister avoids it? It's all women here."

This statement was exactly what those who wanted to find a daughter-in-law wanted, and they all agreed.

Shuyi and Shuhui were truly not to be outraged by the Shi family, their childishness still present but their generosity earned everyone's unanimous nod of approval. Even the most demanding old lady couldn't find fault with them.

Shujia felt tired watching them like this. She had also walked step by step in this way. Maybe she didn't realize it at the time, but looking back, she found that it was really hard.

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After dinner, it was still early and time to leave, so Xiluo's mother, daughter, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were kept to talk.

The family of seven moved to the Duanyi Palace, where Shujia lived. Shujia once again took the seat of honor, with Xiluo Te seated to her left. Her sisters and sisters-in-law sat on either side, their faces beaming with joy.

Xiluo Te first asked Shujia if she was doing well recently. Actually, she wasn't feeling well, but Shujia still said, "Not bad."

Xiluo Te smiled and said, "I heard that the Third Prince has been taken in by His Majesty to be raised. This is truly a great joy." As soon as she finished speaking, everyone in the room smiled knowingly. Shu Jia nodded, "It's his good fortune," and turned to order, "Bring Hongtong here to meet his grandmother, aunt, and uncle."

The expressions of everyone present immediately became excited, and the two little girls even twisted their handkerchiefs unconsciously.

Hongtong was feeling suffocated. It was his mother's birthday. After celebrating in the morning, he was dressed up like a red envelope and then locked in his room! When he learned he was allowed to go out for some free time, he was so excited that he rushed over with his still clumsy legs.

The maids didn't dare to argue with him. Oddly enough, according to the maids' private conversations, the Crown Princess's two sons didn't want to be held once they could walk. If you dared to disobey them, they would always find a way to make you compromise.

I had no choice but to chase him with my arms outstretched and my waist bent.

He rolled into the main room like a ball and found someone else inside. Erpang immediately slammed on the brakes, imitating his father's example by rolling his paws into a meatball. He coughed into his lips and struggled to climb over the threshold. Seeing this, his aunt and uncle were terrified and almost stood up from their chairs, staring at the calm Crown Princess with shocked eyes.

Xiluo Te smiled and said, "The threshold of my house is neither that high nor that wide."

Shujia raised her eyebrows and said, "I must have climbed better than him back then."

Everyone: ...So it looks like you!

Calmly patting his knees and clapping his hands, he stepped forward like a penguin: "Son greets mother~"

After getting permission to stand up, she said, "Mother, I miss you so much! It feels like a long time since I last saw you."

Damn! From now on, you can’t put your son aside when your husband and wife are talking!

"Meet your grandmother." Shujia stretched out her hand and slapped Xiluo Te with the tip of her finger.

Hongtong slowly moved over and saw an old lady with sparkling eyes looking at him excitedly. That look... so familiar! The old ladies in Ningshou Palace had pinched his face like that before. He wanted to run away... but his mother was watching from above, silently praying, "Don't pinch, don't pinch!" while slowly bowing three steps away from Xiluo.

He had been taught early on that few in the palace could tolerate his kneeling. For him, bowing was like bowing a thousand dollars.

Xiluo Te quickly stood up from the chair and moved half of her body away.

Shujia said, "Mother, please sit down!"

Mother?! Hongtong raised his head and looked at the old lady with wide eyes. He had always thought that "Mother" was his mother...

Then came the chaotic process of recognizing relatives. The fat kid was afraid of the old lady, but was very happy to get close to the two pretty aunts, smiling so hard that his teeth showed: "Auntie!"

Shujia said helplessly, "You only care about the pretty girl. In that case, you two should go play with him."

The maids were guarding the gate. Zichang led the two little girls and watched Hongtong having fun in the yard with them.

The area has been cleared and we can talk now.

Shujia asked about the family situation. She asked about Huashan, Shi Wenbing, and others, and it was Xiluo who answered. She asked about her nephews, and it was their mothers who answered. She then asked about Shuxian, and Shuxian said, "Everything is fine."

This is when Xiluo Te asked Shujia, "This year's selection is coming up. I wonder if... the higher-ups have any plans to come forward. The Crown Prince currently only has two concubines, and both were appointed in advance."

Shujia's stomach sank, and Shuxian smiled and said, "Mother, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are living well, why bring up these things? Could it be that... His Majesty is so busy with affairs that he wouldn't--" He keeps an eye on what's happening in the Crown Prince's backyard every day.

Shujia thought to herself that he didn't need to keep an eye on him every day. If he just thought of it on a whim, it would be enough to make me suffer.

Xiluo Te warned: "If there is, don't lose your composure. You and the child are important."

Jueluo whispered, "Prince Zhi and his first wife have been married for over ten years and have one son and five daughters, no illegitimate sons or daughters. What has His Majesty done to his first wife?"

Wendu, who had been with Shujia longer than Jueluo, spoke first, and immediately followed up, saying, "As long as you take good care of the Crown Prince and the young prince... and the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess live in harmony, His Majesty will be happy." If Xiluo hadn't been there, she would have said, "You, my little wife, can't stop me, and you're strangling the Crown Prince at the source." Even if there were ten or eight newcomers, it would be useless if the Crown Prince didn't like them.

After hearing what they said, Xiluo Te also became optimistic: "That's right. Parents only want the best for their children, not to make them live in peace."

The reminder turned into comfort, and Shujia felt much better. She was also in the mood to talk about Shuyi's problem: "My third sister will be choosing a husband next year. Are there any rules at home?"

Of course, Xiluo Te said, drinking, "Since our families have produced a Crown Princess, the girls won't have to worry about finding a husband. It's a pity that the third girl is a concubine's daughter, so she will probably be the principal wife of the imperial clan, the Jurchen clan." She paused, "Although it depends on His Majesty's decision, I'll definitely need your input when the time comes."

Shujia smiled bitterly inwardly, "Mother, you've taught us well, but... the fun is a little lacking." She couldn't say this in public, but fortunately her younger sisters were more demanding, so they would definitely be able to stay overnight, and then she would have the opportunity to teach them bad things.

"If my family has any ideas, just tell me. But... given our situation, it's best not to discuss marriage with outsiders first. If anyone brings it up, just say: It's all up to His Majesty."

Xiluo Te took careful note. But she had a different thought in mind: the Crown Princess had always been a strong-willed person. She seemed easygoing, but once she spoke, she was always trying to persuade others to do her bidding. No woman wanted to share her husband, and the Crown Princess's feelings were self-evident. If the Crown Prince was truly accused of having a concubine, she'd better send a sign to the palace immediately, using both persuasive tactics and even threats, even at the cost of her life, to force the Crown Princess to compromise. The greater good was paramount.

Before he could say anything, someone arrived from Ningshou Palace: "The Empress Dowager heard that the Crown Princess's sisters have also arrived, and she wants to see the two girls. Since the Madam and Young Ladies are here, please come over as well."

The Empress Dowager intervened again.

Take everyone with you, pack up Erpang, and go to Ningshou Palace together.

Since Kangxi hadn't returned yet, the concubines were all lonely and chatting. Shujia noticed that Concubine Wang, with her growing belly, had also been given a chair to sit on. If this one was a prince, he would be the Eighteenth Prince. If this one was a princess, she would be the Eighteenth Princess.

What a coincidence!

The Empress Dowager liked girls whose looks met her standards, that is, they should not be too subtle, but a little rounder. If they were not rounder, they should not be timid either, as she would not have the energy to coax such girls.

Coincidentally, both of these met her requirements. She fell in love with them at first sight!

Shujia secretly groaned inwardly. Any young woman favored by the Empress Dowager would ultimately have one path: becoming the wife of her grandson or nephew. The Empress Dowager might be a bit dull, but when it came to choosing a daughter-in-law, her aesthetic was surprisingly consistent with Kangxi's.

With the Shi family at this stage, it would be surprising if they didn't have several concubines. However...if her sister was given to Yinreng's political enemies—how much influence can a woman have on a man? That would be another confusing matter. If she could just leave the name, she would naturally choose carefully when she returned home, avoiding such a dilemma.

It’s a pity that the title of the Crown Princess’s sister is probably only worthy of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

The author has something to say:

There was a lucky draw at the company's New Year dinner. I won the encouragement prize.

I returned to the dormitory at 8:30 and started writing, thinking about my encouragement award = =

Coming to Miss Shuhui, I suddenly felt that the Fifteenth Consort in history was even more unfortunate. Her husband was born in the 32nd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign. When the Crown Prince was deposed, he was 15 years old, almost marrying age. And then... the Crown Prince's indifference to the death of the Eighteenth Prince (the Fifteenth's half-brother) became the fuse for his dethronement.

Soon after, the fifteenth wife got married. Would the fifteenth wife feel uncomfortable?

Instantly, the encouragement award was healed.