"Hua'er, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Hongshi quickly grasped Irgen's hand and asked.
"Master, you said you didn't like Ulanara, right?" Irgen was convinced that Hongshi had fallen for Ulanara Shuzhen, but when she opened her eyes and saw Hongshi arrive, she couldn't help but ask.
Chunqin sighed inwardly. How could her mistress, with her limited intelligence, possibly contend with the cunning and cunning Ulanara Shuzhen?
“Hua’er, Shuzhen is also my concubine. I can’t just ignore her completely. Besides, I went there for some business. Don’t overthink it,” Hongshi comforted her, but he was somewhat dissatisfied with Irgen’s intolerantness and willful ignorance.
"My lord, I cannot live without you!" Lady Irgen threw herself into Hongshi's arms, weeping. She was actually unable to accept it, and she knew in her heart that her actions would probably displease Hongshi, but she could not resist her own cowardice and fear, which caused her to lose her composure.
"Don't overthink it. I've come back to see you!" Hongshi gently patted Irgen's back.
Upon seeing this, Chunqin quickly told the maids in the room to leave.
From then on, Xueying stayed at Prince Yong's Mansion under the guise of accompanying her aunt. Hongzhou was very happy to learn of her arrival and often made excuses to look out from the main courtyard gate, hoping to meet Ulanara Xueying, but he never did.
That day, Hongli and Hongzhou were confined to their room to read. After reading for a while, Hongzhou began to get restless.
"You want to go see that Ulanara Xueying again, don't you?" Hongli teased, looking at Hongzhou's expression.
“You’ve gotten what you wanted, no matter what your brothers are going through!” Hongzhou said.
“She is the Fujin’s niece. If you are really interested in her, I’m afraid even your mother wouldn’t agree. You know what kind of relationship the Fujin has with us,” Hongli said.
"It's a pity she's the Fujin's niece. But does being the Fujin's niece mean it's not good enough?" Hongzhou said, his head lowered. From the first moment he saw that woman, his heart pounded; it was love at first sight, he thought.
“Well, seeing how much you care about her, I’ll lend you a hand. Tomorrow, the Princess Consort is going out to offer incense, and I think she’ll go with her,” Hongli said.
"The Princess Consort is going out?" Hongzhou asked in surprise. "How did you know?"
“Tomorrow, the Fujin (Prince Consort) will be taking Hongshi and his wives and concubines to Tantuo Temple to offer incense. The stables have already been prepared for the journey. I just happened to know that she needed horses, and then I asked my mother, who said that the Fujin goes out to offer incense at this time every year,” Hongli said.
"Thank you!" Hongzhou hugged Hongli's shoulder. Although he always teased him, he would still help him in crucial moments.
"You've taken a liking to someone, but has that person taken a liking to you?" Hongli asked. He would naturally help where he could, but he would also have to pour cold water on things as needed, otherwise things would only get worse later.
"I don't know. I just want to see her," Hongzhou said, looking down. Hongzhou wasn't like this before; now, Ulanara Xueying had completely captivated him.
“I see she has quite a few suitors, but my brother, your family background is excellent. It just depends on whether she and you are interested in each other. If you are, it’s better to settle things sooner rather than later, lest things get complicated. Although my mother and my wife have never gotten along, the Duke of Ying’s family is still a respectable one. Her family has produced many talented generals for generations, and it’s also an old and respected family name. I’m sure Father will agree,” Hongli said. Compared to the grudges of the previous generation, they didn’t want to get too entangled in them. Ulanara Xueying’s identity alone was enough to make Hongli object, but for his brother’s happiness, he was still happy to see it happen.
They were still just boys, but they already seemed quite mature. Perhaps it was because they were born into royalty that they had to realize at a young age that their marriages were not just about romantic love.
“You’re right. Then I’ll go and talk to her. If she doesn’t like me, at least I can give up on this idea sooner,” Hongzhou said.
In the evening, Lanqin invited Wuxiha, Bechuk, and Hongli to have dinner at her place. When the Fourth Prince didn't come, Lanqin usually invited her children to dine with her.
Hongli sat at the dining table, pondering whether or not to tell Lanqin about Hongzhou's feelings for the Fujin's niece. He felt that his mother would definitely not agree, but Hongzhou was Geng's son, and even if his mother disagreed, she could not interfere.
"Hongli, why aren't you eating? Is it not to your liking?" Lanqin asked as she ate, chatting with Wuxiha and Bechuk. She noticed her son looking preoccupied.
"No, Mother, there's something I want to tell you," Hongli said. He decided to tell her anyway; even if he didn't, she would find out eventually, so he might as well say it sooner rather than later.
"What is it?" Lanqin asked with a smile. She was quite satisfied with Hongli's marriage. Lanqin had met Fucha Mingyu before and remembered that she had a very dignified appearance, the kind of woman who looked like a mistress of the house. No wonder she became Qianlong's first empress. Her birth, appearance, and character were all a good match, so as parents, they naturally liked her.
“Hongzhou has taken a fancy to the Fujin’s niece,” Hongli said.
Ushiha and Bechuk stared at Hongli in surprise, while Lanqin was so shocked that she stopped holding her chopsticks.
"Ulanara Xueying is quite pretty. Hongzhou has pretty high standards, doesn't he?" Wuxiha joked.
“She is the wife’s niece!” Bechuk emphasized.
Lanqin had gone through the matter several times in her mind before she finally remembered who this Ulanara Xueying was! How come she only remembered that Qianlong's first empress was from the Fucha family, but for a moment she didn't think that Qianlong's second empress was from the Ulanara family!
She recalled historical records stating that during Emperor Qianlong's wedding, his primary consort and secondary consort were carried in together, and that secondary consort later became the Empress.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Hongli noticed Lanqin's slightly absent-minded look and asked.
Lanqin quickly snapped out of her hysteria and asked, "He's taken a liking to her, but has she taken a liking to him?"
Hongli smiled and said, "That's exactly what my son told Hongzhou. He plans to go to Tantuo Temple tomorrow to ask Miss Ulanara for clarification."
“Hongzhou is quite bold, actually taking the initiative to ask that girl,” Wuxiha said.
“It’s better than blindly longing for him,” Lanqin said. She was certain that this Ulanara woman would never marry Hongzhou. Although the details of history were impossible to verify, Lanqin had come to understand, in the fifteen years since she transmigrated, that the general trend of history could not be changed.
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