"You two, how did you get here together!" De exclaimed, staring at the two of them in surprise.
“Aunt, Wanru and the Fourth Prince met at the door. Wanru didn’t know the Fourth Prince was coming to pay his respects to you today, otherwise Wanru would have come in another day.” Uya looked apologetic; she knew that Consort De had always wanted her to avoid seeing the Fourth Prince!
"Mother, I have something to discuss with you. I didn't expect my cousin to be back?" Fourth Prince said hastily, not wanting to see Consort De reprimand Uya.
"Well, since we've met, let it be! Wanru, go to the small Buddhist hall to calm your mind first. I'll speak with you after I've finished talking to the Fourth Prince!" said Consort De.
"Yes, Wanru will go and pray for her aunt now." Wuya bowed to Consort De, then turned to bow to the Fourth Prince before turning and following the palace maid toward Consort De's small Buddhist shrine!
Fourth Master refrained from pursuing her, but his heart was already in turmoil.
Consort De looked at the Fourth Prince and knew exactly what he was thinking!
"Please sit down!" Consort De sighed.
The Fourth Prince then relaxed and sat down on the chair to the left of Consort De.
"Are you wondering how she came in to pay her respects?" Consort De knew that if she didn't tell him, the Fourth Prince would only ask Wanru, so she might as well tell him herself.
"Is my cousin back to visit relatives?" Fourth Master asked.
"No, it's her! She couldn't stay widowed in her husband's house any longer! She's come back!" Consort De sighed. "Two years ago, her husband died of illness, and she never had a son. Her only daughter is also sickly. Her father-in-law wanted to elevate a concubine to the status of a secondary wife so that the concubine's son could have a better status! She couldn't stand it, so she came back!"
The Fourth Prince was deeply moved as he listened to Consort De recount the story of Wuya Wanru.
So, she was having such a hard time! For the past ten years, I've been trying so hard to restrain myself from finding out about him! But I never expected that when she reappeared before me, it would be like this!
"How dare the Xiao family! They don't know that if Mother wanted to harm them, it would be as easy as turning her hand!" Fourth Master said, suppressing his anger towards the Xiao family of Nanling.
"They're not trying to divorce her, and besides, it's perfectly reasonable for them to do so! Although I am the Emperor's concubine, I can't forcefully stop them from elevating the status of their descendants!" Consort De knew that the Fourth Prince had not forgotten his niece, so she was worried that he would act the same way he did in the past when she saw him meeting Wanru.
The Fourth Master's hand, hidden in his sleeve, unconsciously clenched: "Hmph, so what if it's just the Nanling family? Once I have power, I will uproot that so-called great family."
"Mother, are you aware that Father Emperor is now favoring a palace maid?" The Fourth Prince suppressed the matter of Uya Wanru, and he hadn't even mentioned his visit to Consort De today.
"That Mei'er? She's just a palace maid. Your Imperial Father is now favoring some young, lowly women, but he doesn't let them have children. So, I won't say anything about it, understand?" Consort De said dismissively.
The Fourth Prince had no interest in Mei'er anymore. He figured if the Emperor didn't favor her, he would favor other women. As her son, he had no right to interfere in Kangxi's affairs.
"Then I'll take my leave!" After thinking for a moment, Fourth Master finally held back and did not want to see Wu Yawanru again.
"Yes, you may leave the palace today. You haven't been back for several days, you should go back and visit!" Consort De instructed.
After the Fourth Prince left Yonghe Palace, Consort De stood up from her seat, took the hand of Granny De, and said, "How come she ran into the Fourth Prince as soon as she returned? Is it really fate?"
“Your Highness, please don’t worry too much. Miss Biao is no longer the same Wuya Wanru she once was, and the Fourth Prince is no longer the same Fourth Prince he once was. They have both experienced life and are now parents themselves. How could they still act the same way as before? Those were just mistakes made during the impetuous years of youth,” said Granny De.
"I hope so. The way I stopped them back then wasn't really my intention. Wanru is my own niece, and it would be wonderful if she could be my daughter-in-law. But the Wuya family is nothing more than bondservant families; how could they be worthy of a prince? They might not even be selected for the imperial concubine selection. And she refuses to be a concubine." Consort De sighed.
“Yes, it’s really no wonder, Your Highness. The selection of the Fourth Prince’s primary consort is decided by the Emperor, how could they treat it so lightly? Miss Biao later married into the Xiao family of Nanling, which is also a very good family. It’s a great family with hundreds of years of history, it’s just a pity that Miss Biao couldn’t give birth to a son,” said Granny De.
"Alas, now that the fourth prince has a favored concubine like Lady Niohuru, does he still want to marry a widow? What kind of behavior is this!" Consort De frowned.
“Your Highness is overthinking it. The Fourth Prince is extremely composed now; how could he possibly do such a thing?” said Granny De.
“But Wanru is different. Wanru was his first love, wasn’t she? If my family hadn’t been so lowly, I would have helped them get together back then. Even if she couldn’t be his primary consort, she might have been a secondary consort,” Consort De said.
“Alas, more than a decade has passed. Fourth Prince no longer resents Your Highness. And Miss Biao hasn’t said anything either. Your Highness, you’re overthinking it,” said Granny De.
By the time Consort De instructed the palace servants to summon Wuya Wanru for a talk, the Fourth Prince had already left the palace. As soon as he got into his carriage, he gave the carriage an address, but it wasn't the Fourth Prince's residence. Su Peisheng was completely baffled, but seeing the Fourth Prince's expression, he refused to go forward and ask.
The carriage traveled north, passing Xizhimen and heading towards Fragrant Hills. Su Peisheng observed the scene outside the carriage, wondering to himself, "Where is Fourth Master going?"
The carriage traveled all the way until it was pitch black before finally stopping in front of a gate. Su Peisheng, quick-witted as ever, got off the carriage first, and then helped the Fourth Master down. He secretly glanced at the horizontal plaque above the courtyard gate; it turned out that the Fourth Master had arrived at the home of Consort De, the family of Wuya.
Upon hearing the report, the servant at the gate immediately went to inform Consort De's brother, Uyaduomin, a minor official under the Bordered White Banner, who was in charge of the allocation of bondservants for the royal family.
In no time, the gate swung open. Uyadomin, dressed in court attire, ran out, followed by his male descendants.
"This humble official greets the Fourth Prince! May the Fourth Prince be blessed!" Duomin, his face flushed with excitement, bowed to the Fourth Prince. Those following him naturally followed suit. The Fourth Prince had never had much contact with Consort De's maternal relatives, as he had considered the Tongjia clan as his maternal grandparents until he was ten years old.
"I won't go in today, Uncle!" Fourth Master called out again.
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