“Gege is right, Yulu, what are you standing there for? Go fetch water and help Gege bathe and change.” Yuhen nudged Yulu and said.
Yu Lu was stunned for a moment, then immediately came to her senses and said, "Yes, after bathing and changing, the princess should wear that blue-green cheongsam and the headdress that the old lady gave you. She will definitely outshine all the beauties."
The two maids immediately busied themselves. Yehe Shi was dressed in plain clothes, and her hair was simply tied into a bun. She looked even thinner, which made her appear quite charming.
Furthermore, after having his meal in the front courtyard, the Fourth Prince stayed in his room for a while before going to the main courtyard. He wanted his wife to finish her meal before he went over, so they could discuss matters there. The Fourth Prince did not want to linger in his wife's room or waste a single minute.
It was already well past dusk when the Fourth Prince stepped out of the front courtyard and headed towards the main courtyard. By then, Lady Yehe had already bathed and changed. She was wearing a turquoise qipao, her hair styled in a qitou (traditional Manchu hairstyle), and a set of fine jade hair ornaments. Adorned on her head, she appeared as fresh and elegant as a fairy among bamboo.
“Princess is so beautiful, she will surely catch the master’s eye.” Yu Lu said, looking at Ye He Shi who was dressed up in a new outfit.
"There are plenty of beauties in the inner quarters. In terms of looks, I am not as good as Lady Nian, so I cannot compete with her easily," Lady Yehe said calmly.
"How can the princess arouse the master's interest?" Yu Lu then took a rouge box and applied some rouge to Ye He Shi.
"It's all about intelligence and strategy. The Nian family is trying to use that kite to keep me confined to this house, preventing me from fighting them. To fight them, I can no longer be as weak and easily bullied as before," said Yehe. She was inherently intelligent; otherwise, she wouldn't have mastered so many musical instruments. But from her initial aloofness and composure to realizing that if she didn't fight back, she would be devoured without a trace, she truly transformed into a woman confined to the inner quarters of the household.
“Princess, I heard that the master’s favorite concubine is Niohuru, but she doesn’t live in this mansion; she lives in a separate courtyard. If the concubine were to return, Nian wouldn’t be so arrogant,” Yu Lu said resentfully.
"Regardless of what kind of person this concubine is, I, Yehe Clan, have no need to rely on others to suppress Nian Clan. Otherwise, I would still be in the same situation and would never have a chance to rise in the future," Yehe Clan said.
After the three of them finished getting ready, they went to the Fujin's place without hesitation.
The Fourth Prince was already sitting in the main room of his wife's house, discussing the marriage of the eldest princess with her. He had already arranged for Moyaqi to marry Xu Jun, the son of Xu Qianxue, the Minister of War. Now that Kangxi had suddenly issued this decree, it was uncertain whether a princess like Moyaqi could be spared the fate of being married off to a foreign land.
“My lord,” the concubine said, “I think we should get the Xu family to arrange the marriage as soon as possible. Once the betrothal is complete, Moyaqi will be a princess awaiting marriage, and anything else will not affect her.” Although the eldest princess had grown up under her care, the concubine didn’t really want to get involved with a concubine’s daughter who was no longer of much use to her. However, since the Fourth Prince had specifically brought up this matter, she was naturally happy to play the good guy.
“Exactly. Moyaqi is frail. If she goes to a place as cold as the northern desert, I’m afraid her body won’t be able to withstand it. Tomorrow, send a letter to Xu Jun to come to the mansion to discuss this matter. He is now a probationary official in the Hanlin Academy and has already achieved academic success. It is the time for him to get married,” said the Fourth Prince.
“However, at this time, the only ones who can go are probably those from the Third Master’s residence and those from our own residence. There are no other princesses of suitable age available,” the Fujin said.
"In short, Moyaqi is already engaged, it's not like she said it on the spur of the moment." Fourth Master understood that Moyaqi had a good chance this time, which was why he was so uneasy.
"Yes, Moyaqi has finally grown up to be this big. I will invite Madam Xu to the manor tomorrow to discuss the marriage of these two children." Although the Fujin felt uncomfortable seeing how much the Fourth Prince doted on Moyaqi, she would not object to the Fourth Prince's marriage regarding the eldest princess.
Just then, Yehe arrived.
"Reporting to Your Highness, Princess Yehe has come to pay her respects," Qiu Chan said from outside.
The princess was startled, and a smile froze on her lips as she said, "Since the master is here, let her in."
As Yehe stepped inside, she vaguely felt a gaze sweep over her before disappearing. She knew that gaze belonged to the Fourth Prince, and she was determined to win his favor today, or her future would be even more difficult.
"This concubine greets Your Highness and Your Highness's wife," Yeheshi said, bowing to the Fourth Prince and his wife.
"Get up, sister, why are you here at this hour?" the Fujin asked deliberately.
"I heard that Your Highness has not had a good appetite today, so I brought some pickled radishes that I made myself, hoping to cheer you up." Yehe Shi gestured for Yulu to step forward and hand over a jar of pickled radishes that she and her two maids usually made.
When the Fujin heard Yehe say this, she smiled inwardly, but said on the surface, "Sister, you are so thoughtful. I have been feeling unwell in my stomach and have not had a good appetite these past few days. This jar of radishes from you has come at just the right time."
The Fourth Prince then looked at Yehe Shi. She was clear-headed and elegant. Although she was not as beautiful as Nian Shi, she had her own unique charm.
Seeing that the Fourth Prince had glanced at Yehe Shi a few times, the Princess Consort went along with it and said, "Your Highness, Princess Yehe entered the manor at the same time as Princess Nian. She is still a virgin, which is really worrying."
Upon hearing this, Lady Yehe blushed and couldn't help but say in a coquettish voice, "I have been practicing some tunes in my spare time. I wonder if you and my husband would like to hear them?"
The Fourth Prince had nothing to say to his wife, but after hearing her words, he felt embarrassed, realizing that he had indeed forgotten about Yehe Clan.
"Very good. I was just about to hear you play the zither," Fourth Master replied.
The Princess Consort quickly gestured for Lingxiu to fetch the zither that had been played for Lady Yehe last time. Soon after, a melodious and lively zither tune flowed from the main courtyard. Lady Yehe played exceptionally well; she seemed completely absorbed in the performance, the person and the instrument becoming one.
As the Fourth Prince listened, the slight irritation in his heart subsided with the beautiful and moving music. The Princess Consort secretly observed the Fourth Prince's expression, then glanced at Yehe Shi's appearance, before quietly standing up and taking Lingxiu's book with her, heading towards the study.
Lady Nian originally intended to come to the main courtyard to pay her respects to the Fujin (the wife of the deceased), but upon discovering that Lady Yehe had beaten her to it, she angrily turned and went back.
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