Chapter 14 First Birthday Banquet (Part 2)
Why isn't Consort Hui wearing the hairpin bestowed upon her by the Empress Dowager?
One after another, Prince Dun wasn't the only one excited at this first birthday banquet. Suddenly, Consort Qi jumped out and spoke.
Upon hearing this, Shen Meizhuang's heart skipped a beat. She restrained herself from turning her head to look at the prince's seat, lowered her head, and replied humbly and reservedly, "I will naturally cherish the Empress Dowager's gift."
Consort Qi couldn't say she was wrong, but feeling a pang of resentment, her words came out somewhat sarcastic: "The Empress Dowager knew Consort Hui was pregnant and specially ordered someone to send her this hairpin. The two immortals on the hairpin's head symbolize many children and abundant blessings, and double happiness. Such a wonderful thing, yet Consort Hui doesn't even wear it..."
"Consort Qi." Yi Xiu frowned and stopped her. If it weren't for Consort Qi's relatively respectful attitude towards her, she wouldn't have stepped in to save the day. What a brainless thing! How could she be so blunt and calculating? Did she think no one could see through her ill intentions?
Consort Hui, however, was not so shallow and ignorant after Yixiu looked at Chen Meizhuang.
"Consort Duan has arrived!"
The incident ended with the appearance of Consort Duan, a woman who had been ill for a long time and immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Relieved, Shen Meizhuang looked gratefully at the Fourth Prince Hongli in the princes' seat. If it weren't for the Fourth Prince's kindness in telling her the origin of the hairpin and explaining the relationship between the Emperor and the Fourteenth Prince, she would have put the hairpin on and wouldn't have gotten away with it today.
Unexpectedly, the first person to jump out would be the seemingly carefree Consort Qi.
"You're not feeling well, why did you come today?" Yongzheng still felt a sense of guilt towards Consort Duan, so his tone was relatively gentle.
"Wenyi's first birthday is a joyous occasion, and I must come to offer my congratulations."
Qi Yuebin's smile was gentle, but her face was pale and weary from a long illness. If it were before, Wen Yi would have been her target, but now... Qi Yuebin's gaze swept lightly over the prince's seat and landed on Hongli. For a moment, she was stunned. Was he really that outstanding?
"You still came all this way despite the blazing sun outside. It's just a kid's birthday celebration, nothing important."
As Yongzheng was trying to persuade him, he didn't notice, but the Empress and Consort Hua, who were staring intently at him, both noticed that Qi Yuebin's gaze lingered on Hongli for a long time.
Nian Shilan's gaze instantly turned even more ferocious. Qi Yuebin had harmed her child, yet he still wanted to compete with her for the Fourth Prince?
She immediately retorted, "Consort Duan said she came for Wenyi, so why has she been staring at the Fourth Prince?"
The words "Fourth Prince" acted like a radar, instantly attracting the attention of everyone present. Not only the concubines, but also the members of the imperial family looked on curiously. Prince Dun even looked up sharply, scrutinizing the sickly new concubine with suspicion.
Yongzheng also lowered the corners of his mouth, narrowed his eyes, and looked at Consort Duan.
Consort Duan remained composed. When Consort Hua noticed, she smiled openly at Hongli and said softly, "I have been ill and have not seen anyone for a long time. This is the first time I have seen the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince. The Fourth Prince resembles his father. I was momentarily distracted. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
At this moment, Yixiu and Nian Shilan were thinking the same thing: Qi Yuebin, that woman, would say anything to snatch her son!
When Qi Yuebin reaffirmed the "fact" that Hongli resembled him, Yongzheng was overjoyed. "Haha, it's alright. Since you're ill, it's not appropriate for the fourth and fifth princes to greet you. This is a good opportunity for them to recognize each other."
"Hongli, Hongzhou, come here."
When Emperor Yongzheng was in a good mood, he was happy to give face to others. So he summoned the two princes to the front of the palace and asked them to greet Qi Yuebin.
"Hongli (Hongzhou) greets Consort Duan."
"Good child, no need for such formalities."
Qi Yuebin smiled and helped the two up. Then he beckoned to Jixiang, who presented two exquisite boxes. The top box was opened, revealing two jade pendants neatly arranged inside.
"Since this is our first meeting, I have nothing of value to offer. I will give these two jade pendants to the princes, wishing them peace and prosperity in the future."
She personally handed the jade pendant to Hongli, who quickly expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Consort Duan."
On the other side, Hongzhou, who had just received the jade pendant from Jixiang, also expressed his gratitude.
"You're welcome."
Consort Duan smiled, then had Jixiang open the second box, revealing the silver necklace inside, and presented it to Consort Cao. "This cloud-patterned silver necklace is a first birthday gift for Wenyi. May Wenyi have good health and happiness in the future."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Cao Qinmo, holding little Wenyi, smiled and bowed to Qi Yuebin in gratitude.
Watching Consort Duan's actions, Nian Shilan rolled her eyes so hard they almost reached the sky. She felt that Consort Duan was indeed up to no good. Otherwise, why would she have handed the jade pendant to Hongli?
However, in Yongzheng's view, Consort Duan was showing her love for the house and her thoughtfulness, and he said with emotion, "I remember that this pair of mutton-fat jade pendants and necklaces were part of your dowry. They were just gifts from a child, why give such valuable things?"
"Your Majesty has a good memory. It's just a pity that I've been ill for many years. It would be a waste to keep me alive. The Fourth Prince Zhuoyi, the Fifth Prince Wenya, and the Wenyi are all lovely. They would be perfect for them."
Yongzheng smiled and nodded, saying nothing more, but simply asked the group to take their seats.
Yixiu kept her displeasure to herself, but Nian Shilan's displeasure was written all over her face. "She's the only one with a jade pendant. Songzhi, when you get back, send a plate of jade pendants to the Fourth Prince. Pick the most valuable and beautiful ones."
"Yes, I understand."
"What does Consort Duan mean by this? Why is she sending a jade pendant to the Fourth Prince?" Yun couldn't help but mutter.
After listening to him ramble on for a while, the Tenth Princess interrupted him impatiently, "Why do you care what she does? She's just giving it as a gift, what's the problem?"
“My lady,” Yun said, looking at his wife with exasperation, but not daring to say anything harsh. Instead, he explained, “Listen to her words. The Fourth Prince is outstanding, the Fifth Prince is gentle and refined, and Wenyi is lovely. Listen to the comparison. And think about how she singled out Hongli for the jade pendant. Don’t you understand? She has her eye on the Fourth Prince and wants him to be her son!”
The Tenth Princess was speechless. At this moment, the Prince became perceptive, but what did it have to do with him?
The Tenth Prince's wife thought this way and asked this question.
Yun sighed, "How can it be unrelated? If the Fourth Prince really is... then we can't let Consort Duan raise him. He looks sickly. It would be better to give him to Consort Hua, since the Nian family is powerful."
The Tenth Prince's wife sighed, realizing that his short sentence was full of shocks, leaving her unsure of which issue to address first.
Regardless of whether Yun's conjecture is true or false, let's put this crucial matter aside and have the Fourth Prince raised by Consort Hua. Ha, you said the Nian family is powerful now, yet you still want to raise the Fourth Prince. What, do you think the Fourth Prince isn't dying fast enough?
You don't want to investigate your background anymore, afraid it will cause trouble for your dear Ninth Brother. You're trying to shift the blame and just kill him, right?
Looking at her husband's honest yet excited face, the Tenth Prince's wife wavered for a moment. Could it be that he was just pretending to be stupid, but actually being wise and looking for a reason to get rid of the Fourth Prince?
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