In a daze, Wan Anran seemed to see Wan Fu... No! A flag had just broken off above Yinzhuo's head, and then another flag was erected, exactly the same as the previous one, with only one large character written on it: Death.

No, no, no!

Wan Anran quickly shook her head, trying to banish these ominous premonitions from her mind.

But... how could there be such a coincidence? Wan Anran was very worried, but she couldn't talk to anyone about it. Wan Anran's heart was in turmoil and she couldn't find peace.

After a long while, she comforted herself: Wan Fu in history did not survive the beginning of the eighteenth year of Kangxi's reign, but now more than half a year has passed. Surely he will be able to overcome the difficulties even if he becomes Yinzhuo.

Wan Anran steadied herself.

She quickly withdrew her attention from Yinzhuo and turned her gaze to Xiao Maotao...Yinzhen.

There's another thing troubling me now.

Wan Anran cradled the young Yinzhen in her hands, her eyes filled with complex emotions. She hadn't thought of it before, but now she remembered something—as long as she became the most powerful woman in the harem, she could go back. If, like in history, Yinzhen ascended the throne, wouldn't she, as the Empress Dowager, be the undisputed most powerful woman in the harem?

only……

Wan Anran pressed her hand against Yinzhen's smooth, soft cheek, her voice as gentle as honey: "Yinzhen, you must grow up happily."

Being an emperor is so tiring.

It's better to be an ordinary prince.

Yinzhen made a gurgling sound.

Is it agreement or denial? Wan Anran will just take it as agreement! She lowered her head and buried it in the milky-smelling little bun, her heart blooming with joy.

Because Yinzhen was so adorable, Wan Anran temporarily forgot about everything else. She happily changed Yinzhen's little clothes, while also nagging, "How about we take Yinzhen to see the pandas tomorrow? We can also see other little creatures. I remember that babies start imitating and can mimic animal sounds when they're six months old!"

That's a bamboo bear, a bamboo bear!

Yinzhen yawned boredly, thinking his mother was making a big fuss. It was just a bamboo bear, yet his mother acted as if she had seen an auspicious dragon and phoenix.

Zisu suggested from the side, "Master, perhaps you could teach the young prince."

"Why?"

"For example, teach the young princes to say 'father,' 'mother,' or 'grandmother.'"

Why make the young prince learn about animals?

Wan Anran knew this, of course, but... she poked Yinzhen's cheek: "Yinzhen is a bit dull, always seems indifferent to everything, and doesn't react at all when you teach him."

This is also a source of great distress for Wan Anran.

Perhaps Yinzhen preferred something novel to something dull and boring?

Zisu looked at the young prince.

Listening to her mistress's words... it seemed to make some sense? She looked enlightened: "What you say makes sense, mistress. It was just that I hadn't thought it through."

As for Yinzhen: ...

He felt that being a baby was really difficult. If being obedient made him doubt if he was too slow-witted, then should he be more fussy? But wouldn't that be too shameless? Yinzhen pretended not to hear; he... was a sleepy little baby.

Sure enough, they saw Yinzhen close his eyes and start snoring softly, and Qi Pin and Hai Tao's voices also quickly became softer.

You can escape for a while, but you can't escape forever.

The next day, Wan Anran took Yinzhen to Zhaoxiang Garden to see the animals and let him hear their calls. She also gently encouraged Yinzhen to give it a try.

Life was tough, so Yinzhen learned a trade.

Facing Wan Anran's expectant gaze, Yinzhen tearfully repeated himself. After reluctantly admitting that he had learned how to say "meow," "meow," and "woof," he declared that he would resolutely refuse to learn any more.

But do you think that's all?

Of course not! Seeing that Yinzhen had learned the sounds of three small animals, Wan Anran was very proud and quickly took Yinzhen to the Empress Dowager to boast about it.

The Empress Dowager was in high spirits.

She waved a small toy in front of Yinzhen and said, "Meow?"

"……Meow."

"Oh my! It looks exactly like a kitten." The Empress Dowager beamed with delight, and Wan Anran was also very pleased with herself.

Where did this kitten come from that meow?

The Empress Dowager, sitting to the side, sighed and rubbed her forehead, unsure whether to praise Yinzhen for his good imitation or criticize her for mimicking a cat's meow. Looking at the pitiful little Yinzhen, she felt no sympathy but instead picked him up and teased him, saying, "Come on, meow again for Granny Wukuma?"

Yinzhen was in unbearable pain.

That's when he realized that the scariest thing for a baby is performing talents!

From the Grand Empress Dowager to the Empress Dowager, from Emperor Kangxi to the Empress, and then to Crown Prince Yinreng, Yinzuo, the eldest princess and the second princess, Yinzhen's meowing has become the most eye-catching sight in the West Garden.

Yinzhen: Despair.jpg

Unaware of Yinzhen's sorrow, the others found it a pleasure to tease the adorable little Yinzhen.

Even Consort Tong, contrary to her previous indifference, became very enthusiastic towards Wan Anran from the moment she arrived at the West Garden, teasing Yinzhen from time to time, which made the Empress Dowager and the Empress look at her with new respect.

Wan Anran had to be much more cautious.

The present is not comparable to the future. She had heard in her later life that 60% of babies in the Qing Dynasty died in infancy, and less than one or two out of ten survived to adulthood.

The biggest problem is hygiene habits.

Therefore, after each time they played outside, she would wash Yinzhen's little hands and feet—including the wet nurses and palace maids who served Yinzhen—to prevent any illness from getting close.

At first, the palace servants found it troublesome, but as the eleventh prince visibly gained weight and grew healthy and strong, Consort Hui and Consort Rong also started to follow suit.

The chubby little bun was naturally adored by his grandparents. The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, who doted on Yinzhen, also thought that what Consort Qi said made sense. In the past, washing hands was just a habit of the people around Consort Qi, but after the Empress Dowager praised it, it gradually became popular in the palace.

While it's good to pamper someone, it can also cause some trouble.

Yinzhen learned to call out "Father" and "Mother" at the perfect moment, thus escaping the miserable situation of having to meow like a cat.

As Yinzhen learned to sit up and speak, Consort Guo's due date drew ever closer, and the day to return to the Forbidden City was also fast approaching.

The concubines in the palace were quite melancholy as they paid their respects to the emperor morning and evening.

Leaving the leisurely and comfortable West Garden, who knows when they will be able to live outside the Forbidden City again? The atmosphere inside the palace gradually became stagnant.

Just then, a palace maid rushed in: "Empress Dowager, news has come from Consort Guo."

Consort Guo's due date is in the next two days.

The entire Xiyuan was already prepared. Upon hearing the news, the Empress Dowager's eyes lit up, and a joyful smile appeared on her lips: "Has it started?"

"Yes, Empress Dowager."

"Very well, have the midwives and imperial physicians get ready. I must see a healthy baby."

The palace maid smiled and agreed.

Empress Niohuru immediately stood up: "Grandma Empress, shall Consort Yi and I go and take a look first?"

"Go ahead, Consort Yi is pregnant, so she should rest here first to avoid any further stress," the Empress Dowager said gently. As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at Consort Qi, fearing that some people might think all first-time mothers were as innocent as Consort Qi.

The Empress smiled and agreed.

Consort Hui also stood up and said, "This concubine will also go with Her Majesty the Empress."

The Empress had never given birth, so bringing Consort Hui along was indeed a good idea, just in case. The Empress did not refuse, and the two hurriedly left one after the other.

As for the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, they went there at night.

Wan Anran didn't take it to heart.

The next day, during the morning and evening greetings, as soon as she sat down, Consort Xuan came over and said, "You've really done well this time! You've made something of yourself!"

"ha?"

"What are you 'ha ha' for? Just wait and see, Consort Yi's face will definitely not look good." Consort Xuan thought Wan Anran was faking it, and nudged her with her elbow in annoyance.

Wan Anran slowly typed out a question mark.

Consort Xuan raised her eyebrows, then asked in surprise, "Didn't you make this?"

What did I do? How come I don't know?

Wan Anran looked completely bewildered, her expression growing increasingly confused, which left Consort Xuan bewildered as well. She widened her eyes and whispered, "Consort Guo gave birth to a daughter yesterday."

Wan Anran nodded: "Mm..."

She was not only a princess, but also a princess who left her mark on history.

But so what?

Wan Anran's doubts did not diminish in the slightest, her sparkling eyes fixed quietly on Consort Xuan.

Consort Qi really knew nothing.

Consort Xuan was dumbfounded, and it took her a long time to come to her senses. Consort Xuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Yesterday, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager went to Consort Yi's courtyard and said that the little princess was healthy, chubby, and very pleasing to the eye, so they immediately took her away!"

Goodness.

This time, Wan Anran was genuinely surprised. She asked in a low voice, "Wasn't it said that Consort Yi was pregnant with that one?"

"Right?" Consort Xuan said gleefully, "Now the Empress Dowager says she took the princess away to raise because she was attracted to her. What do you think about the one in Consort Yi's belly? Should she give it to the Empress Dowager to raise or not?"

Not only was Consort Yi caught in a dilemma, but the other concubines were also exchanging glances and gossiping. Having finally witnessed Consort Yi's embarrassment, the concubines looked at Consort Qi with much more affection.

Wan Anran, on the other hand, complained bitterly.

This really had nothing to do with her! But all the concubines in the palace were convinced that she was the one who did it, and they all marveled at it.

Consort Qi is mighty!

Of course, Consort An and others also became more vigilant: at first they thought she was a coward, but it turns out she is also a cunning person.

Consort Tong let out a long sigh.

It was her own foolishness that led her to the rank of concubine; how could anyone be an ordinary person?

You really can't judge a book by its cover.

Who would have thought! Look at Consort Qi's thick eyebrows and big eyes, she's actually a wolf in sheep's clothing, cunning and treacherous inside.

Wan Anran: ...I'm so wronged, really.

Especially Consort Yi's sharp gaze felt like a blade, piercing straight into her. In the end, Wan Anran simply gave up on herself, resigning herself to her fate—yes! That's just who I am, so what?

Ironically, her behavior actually reduced the amount of gossip behind her back. In Zisu's words, it was because her mistress had seemed too gentle and easy to talk to these past two years, making her appear vulnerable to being bullied. It was a good thing for her to occasionally show her strength.

Wan Anran: ...Alright then.

At least this matter is a done deal, and no matter how unwilling or resentful Consort Yi may be, she can only grit her teeth and accept her bad luck.

Early June.

The group finally set off back to the Forbidden City.

Upon entering Chuxiu Palace, Wan Anran was drawn to the fruits that were partially hidden among the green leaves in the flowerbeds.

Her eyes lit up.

The melancholy of returning to the Forbidden City vanished in an instant, and Wan Anran's lips curled into a slight smile: she had almost forgotten that her own tomatoes were almost ripe.