Chapter 25 Analysis of Couples
"It still has to be my ninth brother..."
"Wandering around, are you suffering from foot ulcers? You've been loitering in front of me ever since you got back home? Tell me what's going on!"
The Tenth Princess Consort stared speechlessly at Yun, who was pacing around excitedly in front of her. She could no longer tolerate it and, after her outburst, Yun obediently sat down beside her.
"Please calm down, Madam," Yun said, looking at her ingratiatingly. "I was just too agitated."
The Tenth Princess frowned slightly, her expression grave as she asked, "Are you sure?"
"It's confirmed, there's no mistake."
Seeing Yun's confident assurance, why was the Tenth Prince's wife so skeptical? She continued to press, "How did you ask Ninth Brother? You weren't discovered, were you?"
"Of course not!" Yun looked at the Fujin with a wronged expression. "I'm not stupid. Of course I'll do it tactfully."
"Yes, yes, I'm not stupid." You just lack common sense.
Of course, to avoid making a scene, the Tenth Prince's wife didn't say the second half of the sentence.
"Don't worry, Madam. With my understanding with Ninth Brother, he understood my hint immediately." Yun said smugly, very confident that he had accomplished this important task.
The Tenth Prince's wife nodded. Indeed, while Yun might not be very bright, the Ninth Prince was; he should be able to understand. Thinking of this, the Tenth Prince's wife's heart skipped a beat. Was the Fourth Prince really the Ninth Prince's child?
Unable to contain her nervousness, she quickly asked, "What did you say? Are you sure Ninth Brother meant that?"
"Of course it's confirmed, my lady, don't panic, let me explain."
Although all the servants in the room had been driven out, Yun looked around carefully and then leaned close to the Fujin's ear, saying, "I asked him if he was trying to disgust someone by cuckolding that person and making that person raise his son. Of course, I asked him tactfully under the guise of something else. Don't worry, Fujin."
"I know, I know," the Tenth Princess urged, not having time to listen to his idle chatter. "And then, what did Ninth Brother say?"
"Ninth Brother admitted it, saying that this was a brilliant plan he devised to disgust people, and that the plan was flawless!"
As Yun spoke, she became quite excited, her admiration for Ninth Brother almost overflowing.
The Tenth Prince's wife was startled. Was he serious? She nudged Yun and continued, "And then? And then what? What else did Ninth Brother say?"
Yun looked moved and said to his wife, "My dear wife, it's no wonder that Ninth Brother and I are so close. Even now, he's still thinking of me. When he found out I knew, he told me that the inner palace is a dangerous place and that I shouldn't get involved. But that's Ninth Brother's child, how could I not help?"
Is it possible that Ninth Brother is afraid you'll make things worse?
The Tenth Prince's wife hesitated, thinking it best not to shatter his beautiful fantasy.
Yun continued, "To protect me, Ninth Brother even disregarded his child, comforting me by saying that everyone has their own destiny and telling me not to act impulsively. Although I know that Ninth Brother definitely cares more about me, his good younger brother, than his son whom he has never met before, as Ninth Brother's good younger brother, how can I pretend nothing happened now that I know about this?"
"Besides, as an uncle, I have to care for my nephew. His birth mother died early, and his nominal father doesn't really care about him. His birth father cares more about me, so it wouldn't be right for me not to help him..."
Seeing Yun immersed in brotherhood, trying hard to suppress his smile but unable to, the Tenth Prince's wife remained expressionless and silently endured.
But this guy was too talkative, rambling on and on, emphasizing things over and over. The Tenth Princess couldn't take it anymore, pinched the soft flesh around his waist, and gritted her teeth: "Shut up!"
"Hiss—My Ladyship, you can't take it out on me just because you're jealous! Ninth Brother is Ninth Brother, but I still love you—"
"Who are you saying is jealous?" The Tenth Princess smiled and twisted her arm again.
Yun cried out in pain and quickly begged for mercy: "I'm jealous, I'm jealous, okay? Please let go, Madam."
The Tenth Princess released his hand, glared at him, and coldly pressed, "This matter is of utmost importance. I'll ask you one more time, are you sure that's what Ninth Brother meant? Or did you misunderstand?"
"Of course not!" Yun protested vehemently. "Ninth Brother made it very clear. He even added at the end, 'A prince's identity is difficult to conceal; do not act rashly.' Do you understand what that means, Fujin?"
"What's the meaning?"
“Oh dear,” Yun said smugly, looking at her. “This is Ninth Brother telling me why he chose that person back then. That person was a palace maid, and one that Ninth Brother and Eighth Brother arranged for her to sleep with them. So that person didn’t like that person and kept her in the garden. That made it easy for Ninth Brother to switch her with someone else.”
"What a brilliant plan! Now no one will doubt my nephew's identity. But the fact that my nephew looks like Ninth Brother is a flaw, so Ninth Brother told me not to act rashly to avoid arousing suspicion."
The Tenth Prince's wife was speechless at Yun's inconsistent sense of secrecy. Actually, she didn't need to refer to "that person". You mentioned Ninth Brother and Eighth Brother in your words. Who could not understand it?
The Tenth Prince's wife suddenly realized that with her husband's almost blatantly subtle hints, it was no wonder that the Ninth Prince could understand.
So, the Fourth Prince really is the Ninth Prince's son!
Previously dismissing it as Yun's wild imagination, the Tenth Prince's wife suddenly felt a sense of reality. Excited yet apprehensive, she quickly grasped Yun's hand: "Ninth Brother is right. You shouldn't approach him so easily, lest the Emperor become suspicious. Let's observe him discreetly from the sidelines..."
"Don't worry, Madam, I definitely won't do anything reckless. Ninth Brother has arranged everything so well. I'll take it slow and first play along with Fourth Brother to dispel his suspicions."
“That’s right, then I’ll go to the palace more often, pay my respects to the Empress, and try to improve my relationships within the harem.”
"Thank you for your hard work, Madam."
"It's not hard work, it's all for our future."
"Yes, for the sake of the future, the fourth prince doesn't have many children. If he eventually ascends the throne..."
...
"I knew you'd be here."
Hongli walked up to the Tonghua Terrace and went to Yunli, who was looking at the moon.
"Why weren't you at the palace banquet?" Yunli turned his head to look at him, revealing a smile, but his eyes held a hint of sorrow.
"Uncle Seventeen isn't here either." Hongli casually waved his hand, sat down on the Tonghua Terrace, looked up at the night sky, and sighed softly, "The moonlight is really nice tonight."
"Tonight is Qixi Festival, and the moonlight is naturally even more beautiful. It would be a waste to spend this fine night drinking and feasting. We should instead have a pot of wine and enjoy ourselves under the moonlight."
Yunli picked up the wine pot, took a sip, glanced at Hongli, then at the moon, sat down beside him, sighed, and confessed, "I just thought of my mother. In the past, my mother was favored and would meet with Father Emperor at Tonghua Terrace every Qixi Festival. She didn't even want to bring me along, just enjoying their own private time."
“But now…” Yunli looked at the dilapidated Tonghua Terrace, “things have changed. Father Emperor has passed away, Mother Mother has gone into seclusion, and Tonghua Terrace has gone from being the most dazzling building in Changchun Garden to an inconspicuous and desolate corner in the expanded Yuanmingyuan Garden.”
“However,” Yunli put his arm around Hongli’s shoulder, “tonight we have the moonlight, the wine, and you by my side, which is a great blessing!”
"So, let's have a big toast?"
Without offering any comfort or advice, Hongli jokingly teased Yunli and reached out to take his wine jug.
Yunli snatched the wine pot away. He liked Hongli's attitude the most, without pity or mockery. But as much as he liked it, he still couldn't give him the wine.
"You're still young, you can't drink this wine."
"Uncle Seventeen praises the taste of the drinks to me every day, and I'm not even allowed to be curious?"
"My fault, my fault. I won't drink in front of you anymore, and I won't mention wine anymore, okay?" Yunli begged for forgiveness repeatedly, making a move to throw the wine pot in his hand.
Hongli quickly stopped him: "Why bother? I was just joking with Uncle Seventeen. I don't like people who get drunk and lose their minds."
"Okay, I get it now, they're targeting me—"
"Yes, Uncle Seventeen understands. He drinks less on weekdays, and he's practically been marinated in alcohol."
"Really? I can't smell it. Smell it."
"No, Uncle Seventeen likes this taste, but I don't."
Hongli waved his hand in refusal, but Yunli, with his mischievous nature, insisted that he smell it, and the two began to play around like children. Yunli's smile grew wider, and his mood improved considerably.
As they were chatting and laughing, Yunli suddenly heard footsteps. He turned around and saw a corner of an embroidered garment peeking out from under the trees. He shouted sharply, "Who's there?"
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