On his fourteenth birthday, Yinzhen experienced something different from before. His relationship with his mother improved, shedding their previous awkwardness and seemingly returning to his childhood self.
Besides his improved relationship with his mother, he also got along very well with his wife.
Ulanara was like a little sun, warming his cold heart.
Somehow, the gift Yunyi gave to Yinzhen on his birthday came to the attention of Consort De.
Yonghe Palace
Upon hearing this news from the nanny, Consort De, who usually presented a gentle and polite image, surprisingly smashed her teacup.
"Ha, Ulanara is truly a good daughter-in-law of mine. She, Yinzhen, and Tongjia are all so loving and affectionate, like a family. What am I then? An outsider?"
Granny Li had followed Consort De, Uya, from a young age, rising through the ranks. She witnessed Consort De's darkest moments and her current glory.
Having served Consort De for so many years, Granny Li is no ordinary nanny. In fact, her understanding of Consort De surpasses even that of Consort De herself.
Seeing that her mistress was angry, she remained calm and even gently comforted Consort De.
"Your Highness, please don't be angry. That Fourth Prince's wife is a sycophant. She tries her best to please the Imperial Noble Consort because of her high position. But no matter what, you are still the Fourth Prince's birth mother. In my opinion, it would be very easy for you to deal with her. Why get angry?"
After saying this, Granny Li whispered a few words to Consort De.
"Now that the Fourth Prince is fourteen, it is perfectly legitimate for you, as his birth mother, to bestow one or two maids to serve him. With your people in the inner court, the Fourth Prince's life will not be easy."
Consort De's eyes lit up when she heard what Li Mama said. Li Mama's words made sense. Without thinking, she ordered, "Then I'll leave this matter to you. Select a few beautiful and fertile girls and send them over to the Fourth Prince to be his tutors."
Li Mama understood Consort De's meaning: only by being beautiful could she win the favor of the Fourth Prince, have a voice in the inner courtyard, and suppress the Fujin (Prince's wife).
If she could give birth, she could gain more favor and status through her offspring, and Consort De would also be happy to have a grandson who was her own.
According to Granny Li, although the Fourth Prince and his wife have a good relationship, it's because the Fourth Prince hasn't matured yet. Once he understands the ways of the world, he won't continue to dote on his immature wife.
If one were to send one of their palace maids to gain the favor of the Fourth Prince and give birth to a son born out of wedlock, the benefits would be numerous.
Furthermore, since the Fourth Prince's wife had offended Consort De, Consort De was willing to do anything to displease her.
After his birthday, Yinzhen would be fourteen years old. In ancient times, he should be old enough to understand human affairs and be able to take women into his harem to serve him.
Recently, Tongjia has been troubled by this matter. In recent days, she has completely treated her daughter-in-law, Ulanara, as her own daughter.
Now that she has to find a partner for her son, she has to consider her daughter-in-law's feelings.
She's been through it all; with so many women around her cousin, it's impossible for her not to feel jealous and heartbroken.
Now that she has chosen someone for Yinzhen, she has become the villain between her son and daughter-in-law, which is why Lady Tongjia has been very troubled by this recently.
But while she was still hesitating, Consort De made the first move.
When the person was sent to the prince's residence, Yunyi was still in Chengqian Palace talking with Tongjia. Although Zhong Mama was Tongjia's person, she was ultimately a servant. The Consort De bestowed a palace maid upon her with such a high-sounding reason, so she could not refuse.
But after receiving the person, Granny Zhong immediately sent someone to inform the Fourth Prince's wife, giving her a heads-up so she wouldn't be too surprised when she returned.
Tongjia Shi stayed with Yunyi, so when the news reached her, she naturally found out as well.
She didn't think too much about it, and immediately looked at Yunyi with a hint of heartache in her eyes.
She knew how good the young couple's relationship had been during this time, and now that Consort De, a proper mother-in-law, had intervened, even she couldn't stop them.
I wonder how heartbroken Yunyi will be when she hears this news.
Yunyi, who was worried about by Lady Tongjia, didn't feel much at this moment. She had long known that this day would come. Yinzhen was a prince, and she couldn't be the only one.
So when she heard that Consort De had sent someone over, she wasn't as heartbroken as Lady Tongjia had imagined. However, she still pretended to be somewhat distraught and told Lady Tongjia that she had to go back to deal with some matters.
In Tongjia's eyes, this meant that Yunyi was too heartbroken and in a hurry to go back to hide her emotions.
After Yunyi left, Madam Tongjia couldn't help but sigh.
She adopted Yinzhen back then, which made her enemies with Uya, putting Yinzhen in a difficult position between his birth mother and adoptive mother. Now, Ulanara has also been dragged into this mess.
If it weren't for my serious illness that forced her to marry into the family, she would still be at home enjoying the company of her parents. Instead, she's only eleven years old and has to deal with all this.
When Yunyi returned to the prince's residence, she met the two maids sent by Consort De to teach her. They were old acquaintances; Consort De had sent them, and they were none other than Lady Li and Lady Song.
Needless to say, Song Shi was the one who issued one of her previous tasks, and she herself had been Song Shi.
Li was also an old acquaintance. She had given birth to the most children of Yinzhen, but only one son grew up safely and was even adopted out by his own father.
She is also the famous Consort Qi in history. In Yunyi's world, there is a famous TV series with a very popular line about Consort Qi, which later became a popular internet meme.
But this Li woman is different from the Li Wanrou that Yunyi met before.
This woman surnamed Li is named Li Yuhua. Granny Zhong has already investigated her; she is the niece of Granny Li, who served Consort De.
Based on this identity alone, Yun Yi dared not underestimate Li Yuhua.
She had also heard of Granny Li; she was a resourceful person who had served Consort De for so many years. As her niece, Li Yuhua was probably no simple woman either.
Moreover, Yunyi also saw burning ambition and desire in Li's eyes. Although she tried her best to hide it, she still could not escape Yunyi's discerning eyes.
Compared to Lady Li, Lady Song was much more ordinary. She was pretty, but her personality was rather timid. It was hard to know how Consort De had chosen her.
In fact, Consort De didn't even consider these two candidates. It was all arranged by Granny Li. She chose Song Shi, who posed no threat, in order to promote her niece to the position.
She watched Consort De rise to power step by step, from a bondservant maid to a concubine. From then on, the Wuya family changed its social standing and became an official family.
She now wants to use her niece to gradually change the status of her Li family.
She never married and had no husband or children, so she could only hope that her maternal family would change its status.
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