Chapter 58 Entering the Community
After the New Year's Eve banquet, Yixiu seemed to have learned her lesson. Whenever she entered the palace to pay her respects, she would always bring Rouze with her. After sending Rouze to Yonghe Palace, she would then go to visit other places.
No matter how disappointed the elders or sisters-in-law were, Yixiu said, "After all, we are family sisters, and she is the niece of Consort Wuya," but her expression was particularly helpless, making a perfect impression of being gentle, weak, and manipulated by the family.
Clan and filial piety were two heavy burdens weighing on everyone. Therefore, while the concubines and wives of the princes in the palace didn't say anything about this, their impressions of the Uya and Ulanara clans steadily declined.
Although they won't actively do anything to them, some subconscious obstacles are enough to hinder the development of both races.
Meanwhile, Consort Wuya, who had lost many of her ears to the outside world due to being ostracized, remained oblivious and instead felt smug about controlling Yixiu. Because she hadn't received any news from the Prince Yong's residence, she only assumed Qi Yuebin was weak and incompetent. Thus, displeased with her failed schemes, Consort Wuya showed particular favoritism towards Rouze.
Every time Rouze entered the palace, she would receive many precious gifts, so much so that the news spread beyond the palace and reached the ears of lower-ranking officials and common people. Rouze inexplicably became the most favored concubine of the Prince of Yong's mansion, and even nobles in the palace liked her.
As a result, Rouze's reputation for "captivating beauty with a single dance" suddenly spread, and the rumor became that Prince Yong and Princess Rouze, the eldest daughter of the Ulanara clan, fell in love after a dance.
Upon receiving this news, Yinzhen couldn't help but chuckle. Was this a twist in the plot? Was the insistence on spreading Rouze's good name to create an image of Rouze as a "true love," or was it setting the stage for Zhen Huan's later appearance?
There were many banquets held in various households after the New Year, and Yinzhen couldn't miss them. This often led to Yintang frequently teasing him about it. Yinzhen was always puzzled: didn't his ninth brother dislike his fourth brother? Why was he always the first to know about his fourth brother's news?
As the festive atmosphere of the New Year gradually fades, the people who have returned to their jobs are still not free from the holiday spirit and are feeling lazy. And now they've overheard some gossip about the Prince Yong's mansion.
"These are my three new sisters. It's a good day for us to pay our respects, so let's all meet them," Yixiu said with a smile as she sat at the head of the table, looking at the three people standing below.
"Niohuru Yuyao pays respects to the Fujin (wife)."
"Geng Shanyun pays respects to the Fujin (wife)."
"Li Jingyan pays respects to the Princess Consort."
Three beautiful, delicate women bowed respectfully to Yi Xiu, offering him tea with impeccable manners. However, the presence of three more rivals displeased everyone present. Rou Ze, especially, who had been favored by Lady Wuya, was smug but knew that without the Prince's affection, everything was meaningless. Before she could even vie for his favor, three more women had entered her household; how could she possibly be happy?
Yixiu, adopting the demeanor of a kind and benevolent wife, drank the tea offered by the three men. After introducing them and bestowing upon them generous gifts, she concluded her greetings.
After everyone had left, Yixiu's face darkened. Previously, she had been preoccupied with scheming against the Wuya clan. Bringing Rouze into the palace was intended to lower the Wuya clan's guard, and at the same time, it was part of a strategy to provoke the Wuya clan.
However, her actions were so successful that Consort Tongjia truly believed she was being manipulated by Lady Wuya. Even though the relationship between Consort Tongjia and Prince Yong's residence was somewhat strained due to the previous incident at the Tongjia residence, the sensible and perceptive Consort Tongjia quickly adjusted her mindset and continued to get along well with Yixiu.
After all, Yinzhen was right to tell the truth, especially considering the dire state of the Tongjia clan. Even if her father didn't write to her, Consort Tongjia knew that she absolutely could not give up on establishing a relationship with Yinzhen at this moment.
Therefore, the more she valued Yinzhen, the more displeased she became with Yixiu's repeated "concessions" to Uya. In order to prevent Yinzhen from being won over by Uya again, and to prevent his harem from becoming the domain of the Ulanara sisters, Consort Tongjia, taking advantage of the fact that Yinzhen had too few women in his harem and few children, bestowed three more women upon him.
Niohuru Yuyao, a member of the Bordered Yellow Banner, was the daughter of Lingzhu, a fourth-rank official in charge of ceremonies. She was the only Manchu woman in Yinzhen's harem besides the Ulanara sisters.
Geng Shanyun, daughter of Geng Dejin, a steward of the Imperial Household Department, came from a very similar background to Wuya Shi—both were bondservant (bondservants) and their elders all worked in the Imperial Household Department. Although their status was ordinary, they had a considerable number of people at their disposal.
Li Jingyan, daughter of Prefect Li Wenye, was not as noble in birth as Niohuru, nor as powerful as Geng. However, Li Jingyan was the most outstanding in appearance, charming and lovely, with a face like a peach blossom, and was the most feared by the women in the inner court.
Yi Xiu considered the identities and appearances of the three people and felt that Consort Tongjia had really set a big problem for her. The people she had chosen each had their own advantages, and they might really be able to stir up some trouble in the backyard.
Yixiu understood that this was a warning from Consort Tongjia, but she was still very unhappy when she thought that she was forced into this situation by Uya and Rouze.
"Jianqiu".
"This servant is here."
"Tell the news of the Prince's residence bringing in a new person to the eldest daughter of the Uya clan, so that she can see how her own aunt treats her."
"Yes, this servant will go right away."
Seeing Jianqiu leave, Yixiu sneered. Ever since deciding to take action against the Wuya clan at the New Year's Eve banquet, Yixiu had sent people to investigate the Wuya family. This investigation led them to the eldest daughter of the main branch of the family, Wuya Fangning, who was "ambitious beyond measure."
As the only legitimate daughter of the Uya clan, Uya Fangning always took her aunt Uya Chengbi as her role model. She was very proud and her conversations with her close friends revealed that she would like to enter the residence of her "cousin" prince.
The Fourteenth Prince had not yet left the palace to establish his own residence, and he was also two years younger than Uya Fangning. Therefore, Uya Fangning's goal had always been the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen.
Even though the Fourth Prince changed his imperial genealogy and his aunt was demoted, the Wuya family was still in a state of panic for a while, ultimately believing that blood is thicker than water.
Unexpectedly, Uya Chengbi's bizarre actions kept coming one after another, leaving even her relatives baffled. They were especially uncomfortable seeing her constantly making things difficult for the Fourth Prince for the sake of her niece, Ulanara Rouze, from the Eighth Route Army.
Especially Uya Fangning, when she saw her aunt holding her niece from the Eighth Route Army but not remembering her, felt even more jealous and resentful.
Especially today, she learned that Consort Tongjia had bestowed three princesses upon the Prince Yong's mansion. She heard her former buddies, who used to fawn over her, mocking her for not having entered the mansion yet, and asking her directly if she was disliked by her own aunt.
Enraged, Uya Fangning rushed home, tears streaming down her face. Ignoring whether her family was discussing business, she threw herself into her wife's arms.
"Waaaaah..."
"What's wrong, Ning'er? Tell Madam, and Madam will stand up for you." Madam Zeng hugged Wuya Fangning tightly. Compared to her grandson, she always doted on this most outstanding granddaughter.
“Madam, everyone outside says that my aunt doesn’t like me and only likes Ulanara. My aunt would rather support a niece who is not related to me by blood than let me enter my cousin’s mansion…”
Uya Fangning cried out, and this time no one reprimanded him. Even his usually stern father remained silent. They were also discussing the matter, wondering why Chengbi was so eager to help the Ulanara clan; had she forgotten her own surname?
"Fangning, be good, go back and rest first. Your eyes will be swollen from crying, and you won't look pretty. Your mother will take care of it for you..." After seeing off her heartbroken granddaughter, Madam Zeng's face darkened, and she said to her eldest son, "Send a letter to your sister. I want to ask her if she, Uya Chengbi, is the daughter I raised for Ulanara."
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