Chapter 54
I don't believe it.
Listening to Yinreng's nonsense, Jialuo expressed her disbelief three times in a row, her pretty and delicate face slightly wrinkled, looking very distressed.
If Yinreng were to be with another woman...
Just thinking about this topic makes her angry, so angry. She hooked her arm around Yinreng, her cheeks puffed out in anger, and insisted on bumping into him a couple of times to vent her frustration.
Yinreng's smile deepened after being bumped twice in the chest. "Having you around is enough to make me feel lonely."
Jia Luo: ? ? ?
Do you know what I'm thinking?
"Your thoughts are all written on your face." He pinched her cheek with his long, slender fingers, which had distinct joints, and held the soft, fragrant Crown Princess in his arms. Hmm... the Crown Princess's fighting power has been quite strong lately.
Thinking back to how my father could spend every night with different concubines in the harem, how could he still be so energetic?
Yinreng's thoughts drifted away, and he couldn't help but recall how his father had asked him if he was capable and given him a whole bunch of aphrodisiac supplements. He seemed to have guessed something, and clicked his tongue twice in his heart, thinking, "I never expected you to be like this, Father."
Jialuo was held in his arms, listening to his tender words. Her eyes flickered, but she did not answer. She leaned against Yinreng.
Yinreng: A lover.
After appeasing her spoiled and jealous Crown Princess and coaxing her chubby son, she continued her work on the matter of the opium. There were still some finishing touches to be done, and she also needed to urge her father, the Emperor, about the goods from those Western merchants. Did he want to ban them? Clearly, the merchants and officials below him wouldn't listen.
Some relevant regulations need to be introduced...
Jiangnan has always been the most affluent and luxurious region, and it is also close to the coast. The development of ginseng originated here. Many landlords and lords, in order to show off their nobility, would not dislike ginseng, which sounds very high-class.
Buy it for the master!
One puff and you feel like you're floating on air, as if the world is at your feet. Who wouldn't like that? Who wouldn't be addicted?
As for addiction, those landlords couldn't wait to carry it with them every day. This irresistible thing only made them feel itchy and restless in their own dreamlike fantasy.
So, I really didn't find many people, except for those who went bankrupt or couldn't afford or buy the products, who were locked up at home all day, convulsing and screaming in agony.
Someone might discover it, but it wouldn't attract much attention.
When the imperial envoy arrived with a troop, he immediately went to the local area and found the family that had bought the opium. He knocked on the door and first tried to persuade them before resorting to force.
In the Jiangzhe region, in Linzhen County, Sujia.
Grandpa Su started his business in the silk trade. Because of his good judgment and the opportune timing, he had four more sons, making his family very prosperous.
But who knew that one day the youngest son would sneak up and say that he had found a connection to Western goods. If they could make that connection, the Su family would definitely be able to surpass the Chen family and become the wealthiest family in Linzhen County.
Grandpa Su thought it was because his son had made something of himself and was very happy for him. He said that he was a good son and that his other three sons were all good, so how could his youngest son be bad?
For this reason, Old Master Su gave him over a thousand taels as a way out, but he used it all up in less than half a month. He came back with several boxes of longevity ointment and was so engrossed in it that he was completely intoxicated.
"Father, Su Xing is no longer doing well. I heard that the imperial court has banned opium and sent people to investigate. If they find our family, will they confiscate our property and exile us?" The second son, who was particularly dissatisfied with the fourth son, immediately went to his father. How much silver did the fourth son spend on opium?
While his parents are alive, they shouldn't separate the family. Otherwise, he really... no, right now he already wishes he could kick his fourth son out.
But the father was not happy. He felt that the fourth son was doing this because he hadn't taken good care of the Western goods the fourth son mentioned. Was it really necessary to kick him out? No way. If others found out, wouldn't it be a disgrace to the Su family?
Now, Old Master Su began to worry and hesitated, "Really? Fourth brother, fourth brother..."
Just as he was hesitating, someone had already given him advice. The imperial envoy knocked on the door and demanded that he be taken out. What could Old Master Su do? He couldn't fight city hall.
They secretly sent someone to keep an eye on things, wondering if the imperial envoy intended to execute their fourth son... or perhaps behead him?
As a result, the subordinates returned and reported that the imperial envoy had used the fourth young master as a negative example to educate the common people outside, and he had completely lost face!
Because of the court's extensive propaganda, everyone knew that opium was no good, and yet his fourth son was still using it. He simply had no face to face his ancestors.
The other three sons also felt extremely ashamed. "Dad, when the fourth son comes back, we must make him quit. Crying and shouting won't help. Don't ruin our whole family."
The eldest son was also dissatisfied, believing that the fourth son's current situation was all due to his parents' pampering; a few words of crying and shouting would cost most of the family's money.
The other two brothers agreed, saying, "If Dad and Mom continue to spoil the fourth brother like this, we'll split up the family."
"Yes, Dad, we don't want to be dragged down by the fourth brother." Who wants to be dragged down? That good-for-nothing fourth brother should be given a good beating until he's scared and won't dare to do such things again.
They had no idea that their father had arranged for Qian Laosi to buy some Western goods.
"What? Separate the family property??" Upon hearing this, Old Master Su slammed his fist on the table in anger. "Are you trying to drive your father to his death?"
"How can you be so heartless? That's your younger brother!" Old Madam Su cried out, refusing to accept the suggestion of dividing the family property. As the one who doted on her fourth son the most, she naturally hoped that her eldest, second, and third sons would help him.
"Yes, that's how ruthless we are." If we don't act ruthlessly, this family will fall into ruin. We should divide the family before it falls into ruin and try to salvage something.
Seeing the expressions on his three sons' faces, Old Master Su probably understood what was going on. He pursed his lips, feeling a little sad, but he also knew that his many favors towards his fourth son had made his three sons unhappy.
"Alright, we'll make sure the fourth son quits it from now on. You all keep an eye on him too." Old Master Su couldn't possibly abandon his other three sons for the sake of his fourth son. Besides, he also knew that the eldest son of the main branch was outstanding, and most of the family business would be handed over to the main branch.
"Master?" Upon hearing Master Su's words, Madam Su looked up at him in shock, as if questioning his earlier statement.
Grandpa Su ignored Grandma Su. This family cannot be broken up because of the fourth son. He should have thought that this would happen when the fourth son went to use opium.
Besides the Su family, countless other families have been torn apart by the drug, and even large families can fall apart once they become infected.
Emperor Kangxi discovered the Westerners' conspiracy and trickery in the case of the opium, which was used to corrupt the Qing Dynasty. He ordered that a layer of corruption be scraped off from top to bottom.
Even some of his relatives had been infected. He showed no mercy and had them paraded through the streets in front of the people of the capital to show them that even someone as corrupt as Huang Rizi was being tainted with opium.
Its frantic, convulsing, and grotesque appearance was truly frightening; even children who saw it would have nightmares that night.
As for those few from the West who had served as officials in the Qing Dynasty for many years, such as Ferdinand Verbiest, Kangxi also sent people to guard them and told them to stay in their residences and not to wander around.
It sounded nice, but in reality, they were imprisoned and forbidden from reporting. Kangxi didn't believe that Ferdinand Verbiest and his men had no contact with their own countrymen.
That day in the main hall, the words "We don't have" were spoken out, directly revealing that in their hearts, they still belonged to their own country and could never integrate into the Qing Dynasty.
In any case, Kangxi had already learned most of the Western learning that needed to be learned...
Because of the good results, Emperor Kangxi was happy for a short time, but then the Dzungar Khanate in the far north of the Gobi Desert became restless again.
This made Kangxi worry about that side again. They had just fought a battle two years ago, but unfortunately they hadn't been able to capture Galdan.
Thinking about the silver we got from confiscating property this year... I'll have people start stockpiling provisions, and we'll take them down next spring!
Kangxi's troubles first reached Liang Jiugong, who was by his side, and then spread to the court and the harem. The concubines in the harem did not want to get involved, so they used far fewer tricks to compete for favor.
To avoid accidentally saying the wrong thing when the emperor is in a bad mood, which would cause the emperor to dislike her and then there would be no hope for the future.
The court officials knew that the emperor was troubled by the Dzungar tribe in the northern desert, so they all acted cautiously to avoid the emperor's wrath from them. They also told their subordinates to be careful in their work. And so, the year drew to a close.
After bestowing the character "福" (fortune/blessing) upon his ministers and concubines, he ceased writing.
This year's New Year's Eve banquet was no different from usual. Jialuo was already quite adept at it, and her people could handle the tasks assigned to her perfectly.
The little chubby boy has grown another year older. According to the traditional Chinese age system (one year old at birth, two years old after the Lunar New Year, and now it's Lunar New Year again), he is already three years old, but he is only one and a half years old.
She was going to pay her respects to the Emperor. She was dressed in a fluffy, round outfit, with a little red hat on her head and a red outer garment that made her fair skin appear even whiter. She was as cute and chubby as a New Year's painting doll, with a combination of Yinreng and Jialuo's delicate little faces. She had a bright smile on her face, and her voice was sweet and childish.
"Grandpa, may the new year bring you peace, good fortune, health, and happiness..." Upon arriving at the Qianqing Palace, he imitated his father's bowing posture, but when he uttered the greeting, he mixed up several idioms.
Kangxi didn't mind. The moment he saw Hongyao, he smiled and said, "Hongyao is here? It's so cold. Just let Hongyao stay in Yuqing Palace. You don't care about your own son, but I care about my grandson."
The following sentence was directed at Yinreng, saying that he didn't care about his son at all. With such a cold wind blowing, wouldn't he get sick?
"Isn't this because Hongyao misses his imperial grandfather?" Yinreng didn't take Kangxi's reprimand to heart at all. Besides, he had wrapped his son up tightly when he came. Did he really think that he didn't care about anything?
"Is that so?" Upon hearing this, Kangxi's face immediately lit up with a smile as he looked at little Hongyao with affection. "Hongyao, come here to Grandfather. Are you cold? Liang Jiugong, bring up the milk cake. Remember to have the Imperial Kitchen heat it up."
"Grandpa, Hongyao isn't hungry." Little Hongyao, dressed in rather thick clothes, swayed his body. Well... it's not just a little thick, it's very thick. He was round and chubby like a little fat cat.
However, when his grandfather called him, he still took his short legs and went to his grandfather.
Occasionally, when he accompanied Yinreng to the Qianqing Palace to see Emperor Kangxi, little Hongyao was not shy at all. He immediately pounced on Kangxi's lap, looked up at him, and said in a sweet, childish voice, "Hongyao, I miss my Grandfather."
Immediately, Kangxi's loving smile deepened, "Grandpa also misses our Hongyao, come here, Grandpa, give me a hug."
How could Emperor Kangxi not like his only grandson, who looked like Bao Cheng but was a little bit better looking and had a sweet tongue?
Next, the other princes came to pay their respects to Emperor Kangxi. As soon as they entered, they saw the Crown Prince, who was greatly favored by his father, with his young grandson in the Qianqing Palace. The young grandson was being held in his father's arms...
Yinti: The Crown Prince is really cunning. He actually uses his own son to compete for favor. Is he just relying on having a son? My wife's baby this time is definitely a prince.
Yinzhi: It doesn't matter. Anyway, I don't have any children yet. Besides, even if I had a legitimate son, Father Emperor wouldn't necessarily favor my son.
Yinzhen: It's a pity that both Song and Li gave birth to a princess.
Yinqi and Yinyou: My little nephew is indeed good-looking, and he looks quite like the Crown Prince.
Yinzhi: When will Father Emperor pay some attention to me? That would be wonderful...
Yin Tang and Yin E: Damn it, we also want to hug Hong Yao. Hong Yao has gotten even rounder, haha, he must be quite heavy.
Yin Tao: Anyway, I've always been invisible, so it doesn't matter.
Yinxiang: I'm a little envious.
Yinzhen: Damn it, how can I hold other people in my father's arms?
Yinreng listened to the thoughts of his brothers, which were mixed together in a complex way. He couldn't hear them very clearly, but he could roughly guess what they were thinking.
Tsk, what can I do? Of all my brothers, I'm the only one with a son.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty." The princes greeted him in unison, attracting the attention of young Hongyao, whose big, dark eyes looked at them curiously.
Xiao Hongyao, who wasn't very familiar with his uncles, spotted his Ninth and Tenth Uncles at a glance, and then looked up at his grandfather.
"Hmm, get up." Kangxi noticed that Xiao Hongyao was struggling to get out of his arms, but he didn't stop him. He simply put him down, wanting to see what he was up to.
Little Hongyao climbed down from Kangxi's lap, then ran over to the Ninth Prince Yinzhen and the Tenth Prince Yin'e, grabbing the hem of their clothes with each hand. "Ninth Uncle, Tenth Uncle, why don't you come and play with Hongyao?"
His voice, though still childish, held a hint of confusion and concern. Hongyao was so bored at home; his mother wouldn't let him go out to play, saying it was too cold in winter.
He didn't say the rest of the sentence; he subconsciously swallowed it back.
When Yinzhen and Yin'e heard what Xiao Hongyao said, they were both moved and felt guilty. Yin'e, in particular, bent down and picked Xiao Hongyao up in his arms.
"Oh my, our Hongyao has gained weight again, so heavy and chubby, so cute." Seeing that his little nephew's face puffed up slightly as he spoke, Yin'e immediately changed his tone and started praising him.
After entering the Qianqing Palace, there was a charcoal heater in the room. It got a little hot in no time, so Xiao Hongyao took off his outer fur cloak and thick coat. His little arms could hug his tenth uncle. "Tenth uncle, you've gotten fatter too, all dark and chubby."
He grinned and returned the compliment, but the person being praised seemed reluctant to accept it, while the other brothers burst into laughter.
"Tenth brother, I didn't expect you to be so cute with your dark skin and chubby figure."
"Ha ha ha ha!!!"
Laughter filled the entire Qianqing Palace, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.
As the only grandson of the emperor, and in front of Emperor Kangxi, he became the most popular and beloved child.
Emperor Kangxi enjoyed watching his sons being all smiles and in harmony. Perhaps he wanted his sons to feel that they needed to show 'brotherly affection' and 'brotherly love' because of his smile.
At the palace banquet, since there were no princes of the same age at the men's table, Jialuo was not comfortable leaving them there with His Highness the Crown Prince, who had to attend to social engagements. So, she intercepted Hongyao at Cining Palace.
She will take good care of Hongyao, don't worry.
"Mother Uku." Little Hongyao, who had barely learned a couple of Mongolian phrases, could greet the Empress Dowager, but he couldn't have a proper conversation.
The Empress Dowager's cheerful smile made her look like an ordinary, kind old lady. When she said "come here" to Xiao Hongyao in Mongolian, she even waved her hand, just in case Xiao Hongyao didn't understand.
Little Hongyao ran over with his short legs and sat next to the Empress Dowager. He was given a piece of fragrant dried meat and milk tea, as if she was afraid that the little prince would go hungry.
"Mama Uku, you're so kind!" Little Hongyao, who had only learned a few words, thought for a moment, then smiled sweetly and praised Mama Uku.
The concubines who were also paying their respects to the Empress Dowager looked at the little prince with great envy, saying, "The little prince is so cute, and he speaks so cleverly."
"Isn't that right? I really envy the Crown Princess..."
Several concubines were praising him, but Xiao Hongyao, listening to their praise, did not apply the term "little imperial grandson" to himself, because no one had ever called him that before.
Jialu smiled gently and virtuously, looking at her own chubby little boy. "Hmph, of course, don't you even know whose child I am?"
At this time, Emperor Kangxi was still there, and Yinreng overheard many people's 'malicious' thoughts.
For example, Consort Hui hoped her son would die soon.
For example, Consort De was so ambitious that she even fantasized about dethroning him and putting her fourteenth son on the throne.
For example, Consort Rong coveted her son and hoped that the third prince would soon give her a grandson, whether he was a legitimate son or a son born out of wedlock.
The First Princess looked at Hongyao with envy and a hint of expectation, praying that the baby in her belly would be a little prince, preferably as clever and cute as Hongyao.
The Third Princess Consort hoped to hold Hongyao and share in his good fortune, so that she too could give birth to a son in the future.
The Fourth Princess Consort glanced at the young grandson and sneered inwardly. So what if he gave birth to a son? In the end, wasn't he still imprisoned in Xian'an Palace with you?
However, a hint of jealousy flickered in her eyes. She lowered her gaze to conceal her emotions, and when she looked up again, her face remained gentle and poised as she praised Xiao Hongyao, "He's so healthy and lively; I can't imagine how envious everyone is of him..."
Yinreng was used to the hypocrisy of these women in the harem; only his father, the Emperor, liked such a vicious woman.
Tsk, thinking about it this way, Father Emperor is indeed not as good as me. At least my Crown Princess is beautiful, gentle, innocent, friendly, and loves him.
At this moment, Kangxi was naturally unaware that Yinreng, who was standing next to him, was muttering such things to himself. After paying his respects to the Empress Dowager, he prepared to leave.
After leaving, Yinreng took little Hongyao with him. These vicious women were full of such wicked thoughts. If little Hongyao were left here, wouldn't something bad happen?
How could Yinreng, who treated Xiao Hongyao like his own precious darling, allow any accidents to happen? Of course, he wouldn't tell Jialuo about this, fearing that she would worry if she heard it.
In Yinreng's heart, both Jialuo and Xiao Hongyao were people who needed his care.
"It's cold outside, and Hongyao is quite heavy. I'm worried about leaving him in the wet nurse's arms." Yinreng gave this reason, which Jialuo couldn't refute. She could only nod in agreement.
At the palace banquet, many people were already waiting there, with ministers and members of the imperial family arriving even earlier.
Soetu was still thinking about when he could get His Highness the Crown Prince to plead for him. Although managing that workshop could indeed make a lot of money, what he needed in his position was not money!
She was eager to return to her former position, but she had hinted to His Highness the Crown Prince many times. She didn't know if His Highness hadn't understood or if he didn't intend to let her return to the court.
This made Suo'etu even more anxious.
Of course, besides Suo'etu, Mingzhu also did not want to be forever excluded from the court. He believed that his place should be in the court.
Unfortunately, Songgotu has now been abandoned by the Emperor, and it seems that His Highness the Crown Prince has no intention of letting Songgotu return to the court.
Mingzhu knew that his chances of returning to the imperial court were slim.
As a result, he's not really concerned about the factional struggle between the First Prince and the Crown Prince anymore; it doesn't seem to concern him much anymore.
The Fifteenth Prince was just born not long ago, which means the Emperor is still in excellent health and might even outlive him. After all, he doesn't have any pregnant concubines in his residence yet…
Besides Mingzhu and Suo'etu, there were many more officials who wanted to rise in rank and were even less willing to let Suo'etu and Mingzhu return, because if they came back, they would be suppressed.
Occasionally, they would socialize there, or try to curry favor with their superiors; in short, it was quite lively.
In the women's quarters, the wives were comparing whose clothes and jewelry were more beautiful and expensive, or chatting about the future of their husbands and sons.
The princes and their wives took their seats, and the concubines also arrived, clearly indicating that the Emperor and Empress Dowager would arrive soon.
The atmosphere suddenly became lively again.
After sitting down, Yinreng had someone bring little Hongyao over. Earlier in Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager and his mother were there, so he had no chance to get close.
Now, the First Princess Consort sat next to the Crown Princess, looking at the chubby little grandson with a smile on her face, sharing in the joy. She hoped that, in case her own child also turned into a prince… Pshaw, he was already a prince!
For example, the Third Prince's wife did the same, coaxing Xiao Hongyao with this intention, and Xiao Hongyao had a very happy time at the palace banquet.
After the New Year's Eve banquet, the next step was to pay respects to the ancestors at the Fengxian Hall, but Hongyao was not allowed to go with him.
The fourth day of the Lunar New Year.
Jialuo also took Hongyao to the Fucha residence. Hmm... could it be considered a visit to her parents' home?
His Highness the Crown Prince, having nothing particularly important to do, also went along. The people of the Fucha residence treated him with great respect and exceptional attentiveness.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please come inside." Although it wasn't their first time visiting, the fact that the Crown Prince was able to accompany the Crown Princess to the Fucha residence during the New Year showed how much the Crown Prince valued the Fucha family.
Xiao Hongyao was carried off the carriage and looked at the several unfamiliar people in front of him. Misihan had passed away a few years ago, and now the head of the family was the eldest son, Maska.
“Hongyao, this is Grandma Guo Luo, this is your uncle, your eldest uncle, your second uncle…” Jialuo introduced the Fucha family members to Hongyao with her head down, her voice soft and gentle.
Little Hongyao greeted everyone obediently, his soft, baby voice saying, "Guo Luo Ma Fa, eldest uncle, second uncle, third uncle, fourth uncle."
Looking at the little prince, the Fucha family's face was full of smiles, kind and gentle. Their Fucha family... oh, their little prince is so handsome, so cute, so intelligent, so polite...
Anyway, countless words of praise rippled through her mind. The Crown Prince was Hesheli's future, and the little grandson was the future of their Fucha family. The more intelligent he was, the better; the more the Crown Prince liked him, the better.
They quickly ushered them inside, saying, "It's cold outside, please come in, please come in..."
Because His Highness the Crown Prince held the highest status, he was the one sitting in the main seat. Little Hongyao ran around happily and even saw two children who were about the same age as him, only slightly older.
"Father?" After glancing at them curiously, she immediately ran back to her father's side, pointing at them with her short, chubby fingers and asking in a tone that was half puzzled.
"If you want to play, let's go play together." Yinreng hadn't expected his son to need playmates, because back then, he was the only child in the palace. He even hoped that Yinti wouldn't come back, because as soon as he did, he would steal his father's attention.
Moreover, he doesn't think he's sad or lonely living alone; he's always running around and there's never enough time.
Seeing this now, it suddenly dawned on me that my son needs someone to play with him.
"Namuju, Naltai, come here," Maska called out, waving in that direction.
Namuju and Nartai stood by, listening to their father's instructions, their eyes fixed on the young princes, one seven years old and the other six.
Normally, he would never come with his father to meet guests, but it was because his father thought that the little prince might need him to accompany him.
After being lectured by Yinreng, young Hongyao looked curiously at Namuzhu and Nartai. Unafraid of strangers, he actually strode over with his short legs.
Namuju and Nartai didn't know what to do with the little prince. They exchanged glances and wondered if they could play with toys together. Although they felt they were too old to play, the little prince was still young.
"Little, grandson of the emperor, do you want to play together?" They didn't know how to address the little grandson in front of them, hesitated for a moment, and called out vaguely. Nartai had already run off to get his toy box and have someone bring it over.
"Just call him Hongyao, we're all family." Jialuo smiled warmly. Calling him the little prince would be so awkward and uncomfortable.
"Prince Hongyao." Namuzhu nodded obediently and called out, but the others didn't react much, which made Jialuo feel a little... cough cough, well, let's just leave it at that.
"Take good care of Prince Hongyao, understand?" Maska was worried that his son was too young and didn't know how to be courteous. If something happened to the little prince in their Fucha family, it would be a serious crime.
"Understood, Father." Namuzhu naturally knew the importance of the little grandson. This was his uncle's child; how could he not take good care of him?
Namuzhu, who considered himself a little adult at seven, maturely took the young prince's hand and stayed within sight, introducing the toys and asking, "What can we play together?" "Prince Hongyao, what do you want to play?"
Yinreng was discussing state affairs with Ma Wu and the others, and these women had no say in the matter. After glancing at Xiao Hongyao and seeing that he was having a good time, Fucha Fujin wanted to take Jialuo to her former boudoir to properly inquire about Jialuo's recent situation.
With a daughter-in-law around, the little prince can always be kept in check; otherwise, he would really be too useless.
"Jialuo, are you doing well in Yuqing Palace now?" Fucha Fujin was most worried about how Jialuo was doing in Yuqing Palace and whether Prince Hongyao's position was secure.
"Mother, I'm doing quite well. But Mother, please take good care of yourself and don't make me worry while I'm in the palace." Jialuo was also quite concerned about Fucha Fujin and asked her about her well-being.
"Of course Mother is doing well, you don't need to worry about things at home." Fucha Fujin is a smart woman, how could she not know how to make herself comfortable? She has her daughter-in-law under her thumb, and her son is also filial.
The only thing I miss is the Crown Princess of Yuqing Palace. Her Jialuo should have been innocent and pampered. I had already thought about what kind of man to find for Jialuo, but who knew... Sigh, let's not talk about these old stories anymore.
"Now, the Crown Prince only has Prince Hongyao as his only son. You need to work harder, you know?" The Crown Prince's doting affection for his Crown Princess was not spread, and Emperor Kangxi would not gossip about his son and daughter-in-law.
People assumed that the princesses in Yuqing Palace might not be favored, or perhaps... the Crown Princess wouldn't tolerate them. However, the fact that no more princesses have entered Yuqing Palace in the last two or three years has caught people's attention.
"Should I try harder? Mother, Hongyao is only one and a half years old." Although she was said to be three years old outside, she knew that childbirth was very taxing on her life force. Besides, Hongyao was still so young, and she had to take good care of him as he grew up.
"If we have two more children, it's not that your mother is saying anything unlucky, but sometimes we have to think about the future. If something unexpected happens, at least we'll have something to look forward to." Aren't there enough young princes and princesses who have died in the palace?
One of the Fourth Prince's princesses also died.
“Mother! Our Hongyao will definitely be healthy, lively, and live a long life,” Jialuo immediately retorted to Fucha Fujin’s words, glaring at her unhappily. If she weren’t Fucha Fujin’s mother, she would have stormed off in a huff long ago.
Fucha Fujin took Jialuo's hand, "Alright, alright, Mother misspoke, Mother's fault, it's all Mother's fault for having such a sharp tongue, but Prince Hongyao can't stand alone, he needs a brother to lend a hand, right?"
Knowing her daughter's temperament, Fucha Fujin quickly tried to appease her. And rightly so, as a mother, how could she allow others to speak ill of her child?
"Your Highness, how have things been lately?" Consort Fucha asked secretly. The First Consort was pregnant with the Second Princess when Jialuo got married, then gave birth to the Third Princess, and now she was pregnant again. Consort Fucha was worried that Jialuo would only report the good news and not the bad.
"It's fine." Jialu blinked and nodded.
"And what about the princesses in the inner quarters? Which one is favored? Have any of them taken advantage of His Highness the Crown Prince's favor to throw tantrums at you? None of the princesses in the inner quarters have given birth to a son or daughter yet, you'd better hurry up and..."
Having given birth to the eldest and second legitimate sons, she has firmly grasped the Crown Prince's heart. This way, even if she falls out of favor in the future, she won't have to worry about the Crown Prince giving her the cold shoulder. At the very least, for the sake of the eldest and second legitimate sons, my Jialuo can live a fairly good life.
"Mother, don't worry about this. I... I have my own ideas." Jialuo was too embarrassed to tell Fucha Fujin that His Highness the Crown Prince had no other women; they were just for show. But she also knew that the Crown Prince doted on only the Crown Princess, and that if word got out, it might cause a sensation.
News of Yuqing Palace was tightly sealed off, mainly due to the Crown Prince's efforts, in addition to Jialuo's methods. Of course, the Crown Prince's mind-reading ability could not be exposed, and everyone thought... that the Crown Princess was very capable to be able to keep Yuqing Palace so well sealed off.
"How can your mother not worry? Ever since you married into Yuqing Palace, your mother has been worried about you all day long. I'm afraid you won't adapt to life in the palace. Knowing that you're doing well makes your mother feel more at ease. I'm just afraid that you'll only report the good news and not the bad..." Fucha Fujin was a little anxious and had already imagined many possibilities for her daughter's future.
She tried her best to pass on her experience to Jialuo. Men love beauty, and women are prone to aging and losing their looks. Relying on men is unreliable. Only by giving birth to a son can she secure her position as the wife of the emperor.
Jialuo nodded, not saying anything that would worry Fucha Fujin, such as "I don't want to have a baby yet"... Childbirth is really painful, and she loves her chubby baby right now. She doesn't want to miss Hongyao's growth.
But if she said such things to her mother, her mother would definitely start nagging again.
She didn't tell her mother that His Highness the Crown Prince hadn't visited the concubines in the inner courtyard for the past two years, because she knew that if she did, her mother would be even happier and would urge her to seize the time and opportunity to try to have more sons first...
I know it, but listening to it... I don't really like it.
"Your mother still has some remedies to help you recover. Childbirth does take a lot of energy. Although your mother always urges you, she knows that you can't rush it. Don't be like the First Princess Consort." Having one child a year is not good for your health.
“At the New Year’s Eve palace banquet, I noticed that the First Princess Consort didn’t look well; her face was covered in a thick layer of powder.” Princess Consort Fucha was also afraid that her words would make Jia Luo feel anxious, so she should take care of her health first. “Only if you are healthy can you give birth to a healthy little prince.”
“Prince Hongyao looks very healthy and lively, and he loves to laugh. He really looks like you when you were little…” Fucha Fujin didn’t keep talking about that topic, afraid that Jialuo would get impatient, so she changed the subject and prepared to leave.
Of course, the prescription was still hidden away in her room, and she hadn't even given it to her daughter-in-law.
It was specially reserved for her daughter; she'll have to go back to her room to get it later.
When Hongyao was mentioned, Jialuo's mood improved even more, and she had something to say. She nodded with a smile, almost as if she were showing off, "Of course! He can't stand staying in the palace and always wants to run out and play. You know, in the dead of winter..."
When Suo'etu learned that His Highness the Crown Prince had accompanied the Crown Princess and the young imperial grandson to the Fucha residence, he felt somewhat uneasy.
Even though Hesheli was the Crown Prince's maternal clan, now that she was no longer in court, the Crown Prince paid her much less attention.
(Crown Prince Yinreng: No, I simply feel that you need to retire.)
At the Fucha residence, Maska, Maqi, Mawu, and Li Rongbao are all straightforward military officers, much like the eldest brother, but without the eldest brother's ambition to betray him. They are loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and their abilities are not low. How could His Highness the Crown Prince not like them?
Although he had a slight thought that Hongyao was more important than himself, Yinreng didn't take it to heart. It's impossible for everyone to be completely selfless; it's normal to have some ulterior motives. As long as someone is capable and loyal to him, that's enough.
Besides the Crown Princess, oh, there's also Xiao Shunzi by her side. Xiao Shunzi has no family, so he can only rely on her and do things for her, and he is extremely loyal.
The Crown Princess no longer only thinks of herself; she also has Hongyao in her heart.
Looking at the little guy's round back as he sat on the blanket, he seemed to be having a lot of fun. Was he perhaps thinking about whether it was time to choose some lucky beads?
Regarding the selection of Haha Zhuzi, the Fucha family should indeed be given a spot. As for Hesheli... I wonder if they have any suitable candidates...
Thinking of Hesheli, since she and the Crown Princess had come to the Fucha family, they should also take Hongyao to visit their uncle. Suo'etu had earned quite a bit of money for him this year.
Should we take back the workshop and replace it with someone else? If one person holds onto a place for too long, it will give the other person the illusion that 'this belongs to me'. Uncle has never given up on matters of the court. Perhaps after a year or two of reflection, Uncle has become much more composed?
At Hesheli's residence, Suo'etu waited from the fourth to the sixth day of the new year, but the Crown Prince did not come, and he was somewhat disappointed.
Your Highness, have you forgotten about Suo'etu?
Just as he was feeling down, someone at the door announced that His Highness the Crown Prince had arrived. Startled, Suo'etu quickly dressed and, along with his wife and son, rushed out to greet him.
His smile was radiant; he knew it all along, how could His Highness the Crown Prince have forgotten him?
"Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness, Your Highness the Grandson, Your Highness, this servant greets you." Soetu smiled brightly. Hesheli Fujin Jueluo Shi had been imprisoned for more than a year, and many of her tempers had been suppressed. Now she also bowed respectfully to the Crown Prince and the others.
"Uncle, no need for formalities, please come inside. It's cold outside." Holding little Hongyao, Yinreng didn't want to be out in the wind. What should have been Suo'etu's words were taken away by Yinreng.
Yinreng was much more casual in front of Suo'etu, not holding back his status as the crown prince, while the servants behind him were still carrying New Year's gifts to Suo'etu.
Soetu didn't care about that; he only cared about the Crown Prince's personal arrival, which was an honor for him.
Seeing how lively the Crown Prince's next generation was, Soetu was even happier. After a round of pleasantries, Consort Hesheli invited Jialuo to tour the Hesheli residence, leaving the space to Soetu and the Crown Prince.
Before this, Suo'etu had already spoken with her. Now, after Consort Hesheli and the Crown Princess had left, he said, "Your Highness, I've been managing the workshop for so long, shouldn't it be time to replace you?"
For example, I could return to the imperial court to serve you.
The hinting tone was cautious and tentative: "This servant believes that the workshop is such a small place that it can operate without this servant watching over it. This servant can share more and heavier responsibilities for Your Highness."
He really didn't want to bother with any more workshops. Those were jobs for servants, and how could he, Suo'etu, waste his time on them?
However, they dared not speak directly to His Highness the Crown Prince, and could only offer subtle hints and suggestions. If that didn't work, they would... be a tiny bit more direct...
"Oh? Uncle is right. What worries can you share with me?" Yinreng didn't feel he had any worries at the moment. He was living quite comfortably, especially when he was messing with his eldest son. He was extremely happy.
Holding little Hongyao in his arms, the little boy was probably craving some meat jerky and was munching on it, his round eyes occasionally glancing curiously at Suo'etu.
“Your Highness, the First Prince is now aggressively vying for your position, and the other princes are gradually coming of age. We must be on guard. In order to make Your Highness’s position more secure, we can suggest that His Majesty establish a Crown Prince and a Crown Grandson…” Soetu thought for a long time and felt that if a Crown Prince and a Crown Grandson were established, the position of Yuqing Palace would be more secure.
The Emperor only has Prince Hongyao as his grandson. If he doesn't seize this opportunity now, it will be even more difficult to bring him up again in the future.
Yinreng: So, my incompetent teammate was right beside me. No wonder the other Yinreng (the one who didn't believe that Lady Guarjia was his past life) was deposed! You've made one blunder after another. Uncle, you'd better not go back to court and cause me any more trouble.
Soetu, unaware of Yinreng's thoughts, looked at the healthy and chubby little grandson in the Crown Prince's arms and thought he had come up with a particularly good idea. He looked at the Crown Prince expectantly and asked, "Your Highness, what do you think?"
(End of this chapter)
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