Then, Lady Uya followed the Fujin and Lady Nian all the way to Yonghe Palace. As usual, Consort De exchanged a few words with Fujin and Lady Nian, and then instructed them to go and visit various places, leaving Lady Uya behind to talk.
"Aunt, Wanru greets you again!" Wuya Wanru was dressed as a maid, and her whole person was elegant and beautiful. Even when the Fourth Prince saw her standing with the Fujin when he went out, his eyes lingered for a few moments.
"Get up and sit next to your aunt!" Consort De looked at Wuya Wanru with affection, unaware that her own niece was no longer as innocent and kind as she had been back then.
Wu Yawan walked up to Consort De with her head bowed and eyes downcast, then sat down on one side of her body with her body slightly bent.
"Wanru, your father handed your letter to me. How are you doing? Are you having a hard time in the Fourth Prince's inner quarters?" Consort De asked.
Wu Yawan was startled. She went through the words she had prepared in her mind again, and then squeezed out some tears and said, "Aunt, it's all because Wanru is useless and can't bear children for Master."
Seeing her cry, Consort De felt even more guilty and quickly asked, "Has someone been making things difficult for you?"
Wu Ya Wanru was waiting for these words, so she said, "No one has ever made things difficult for Wanru. It's just that Wanru is determined to have children for Master. Although Wanru's status is such that even if she had children, she wouldn't be able to raise them herself, Wanru dares not forget her aunt's instructions. So Wanru often drinks some medicines that help with pregnancy, but without Master's help, Wanru can't possibly conceive on her own."
When Consort De heard this, she roughly understood that this meant the Fourth Prince rarely visited her.
"So how many times a month can the fourth prince visit you?" Consort De asked, frowning.
“He used to come a few times a week, but ever since Consort Niu gave birth to twins, he hasn’t come much. Wanru was feeling down for a while, so her period became irregular. I don’t know who told Master about it, but he’s been even less likely to come,” Wuya Wanru said, bowing her head.
Consort De sighed, her fingers moving faster through the sesame seeds in her hand. Logically, she shouldn't interfere in these matters of the inner quarters, but Wuya Wanru was different from others; she was, after all, her own niece. No one is perfect, and everyone has selfish motives. Moreover, Consort De had always felt guilty about separating Wuya Wanru and Yinzhen back then.
"You will stay in the palace for a while. I know some remedies for regulating a woman's menstrual cycle and aiding fertility. I will also have the imperial physicians take good care of you for some time. Once you have recovered, I will have the Fourth Prince come and fetch you back," said Consort De. Personally, she hoped that Wuya Wanru and the Fourth Prince could have several children, which would be a way of giving them both closure. With offspring to rely on in the future, the Fourth Prince would surely treat her well.
With trembling, tearful eyes, Wu Ya Wanru quickly said, "Wanru dares not disturb Aunt here. If people find out, they will say that Wanru is relying on Aunt."
"Who dares to say that! You are my own niece, and it's only natural that you rely on me. Who dares to gossip?" Consort De roared. Although Lady Uya didn't mention any names, Consort De was already convinced that Lanqin was the one gossiping. Because the Fourth Prince currently only favored Lady Niohuru, even Lady Nian was not as favored. Consort De didn't want Lanqin to dominate the Fourth Prince's harem publicly, nor did she want her niece to be wronged privately.
“Yes, Wanru hasn’t served her aunt for a long time, so this is a good opportunity to show her more filial piety.” Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Wuya smiled through her tears.
"Yes, it's been a long time since I've eaten the little gold ingots you made yourself," Consort De said, taking her hand.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince's wife and Lady Nian went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. The two women, each supported by their maids, walked side by side along the long palace path, which had already been cleared of snow.
"Isn't Consort Nian in a hurry?" the Fourth Consort suddenly asked.
"I don't know what the Fujin means?" Madam Nian was walking along, thinking about the affairs of the Nian family, when Fujin's words interrupted her thoughts.
"Now that the twins in the South Courtyard are attracting so much attention, it seems no one remembers your Fifth Prince. Is that all you're willing to do, Sister Nian?" the Fujin asked with a smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Madam. As long as Hongsheng is healthy, I will ask for nothing more." Madam Nian naturally knew that Madam Nian was trying to sow discord between her and the South Courtyard. Although she did not like Lanqin, Madam Nian was not a kind person either.
"I've heard that Hongli might be the heir to the title in the future, but Sister Daonian doesn't even care about that?" the princess said.
"Where did you hear that, Madam? The Sixth Prince is still a baby. It's hard to say what his aptitude is. Isn't it too early to make such a judgment?" Madam Nian said, her heart clenching.
A glint of shrewdness flashed in the Fujin's eyes as she said, "Hongli is being raised by the Emperor, do you think our Master will value him?"
Madam Nian's expression immediately turned grim. Although she wasn't unaware of these thoughts, hearing them from someone else's mouth was still very hurtful. Why couldn't her Hongsheng receive such attention? Just because she gave birth to twins?
The Fujin (principal wife) took in the expression on Nian's face and said with a mocking smile, "Sister Nian, how about we make a deal?"
"Didn't you just tell Mother that you wanted to be a good helpmate to the master? Why are you making a deal with me now?" Madam Nian suppressed her discomfort and retorted sarcastically.
“Those words were just formalities. In truth, we all know that we’ve long been locked in a life-or-death struggle. However, I believe that Niohuru is our common enemy right now, so why not join forces to eliminate this formidable foe? If the South Courtyard is gone, Nian’s sister will be the only concubine. I have no sons, so wouldn’t your fifth son stand out?” the princess said.
It must be said that these words are very tempting.
"I wonder what kind of deal the Princess Consort wishes to make?" Lady Nian asked after pondering for a moment.
“Didn’t I just say that we should join forces to get rid of that one in the South Courtyard? Of course, it would be best to get rid of her twins first,” the Fujin said.
"You make it sound so easy, Madam. The South Courtyard is like an impregnable fortress; not even a fly can get in. Besides, there's another one in the palace," said Madam Nian.
“Even an egg has a crack, and we have a long future ahead of us. What I really want to know right now is what Nian-mei is thinking,” the princess said.
"Given the current situation of the Fujin, how can I, the Fujin, cooperate?" Lady Nian said sarcastically.
“Sister, you’re being too short-sighted. I’m still the Fourth Prince’s wife! And our master’s future is uncertain. If he ever rises to prominence, think about it, we have a long life ahead of us.” The Princess glanced at Madam Nian and said.
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