After Consort Jia Jin began her pregnancy, Yunyi suddenly felt that life was a bit boring.
Previously, Jin loved to travel around and engage in verbal sparring with people. Yunyi could hear a lot about her from Xiange every day.
This was supposed to be the most interesting thing to do in Yunyi's boring life, but after Consort Jia got pregnant, she rarely went out, and she couldn't hear any more news about it, which made Yunyi feel even more bored.
Perhaps sensing that her mother was a little bored, Xuan Ning has been spending less time visiting her best friends lately, and often stays in the palace to keep her mother company and amuse her.
Emperor Qianlong had three sons and three daughters. His second daughter, Xuan Ning, was born to his mother, while his empress had two daughters, Shuning and Zhaoning.
There are only three princesses in the palace right now, and Yunyi has a very good relationship with the Empress, so the three sisters often get together to play.
After noticing that Yunyi was a bit bored, Xuanning declined several gatherings with her girlfriends and chose to stay in the palace to keep Yunyi company.
Yunyi was touched, but also found it funny. Her daughter was so sensible, and she was really moved, but there was really no need for that. She could always find something to do to pass the time.
So after having a serious talk with her daughter, Xuan Ning returned to her previous life.
Looking at her beloved daughter, Yunyi really didn't know which family she would marry into when she grew up.
Xuan Ning is different from her previous daughters. She is an exceptionally well-behaved and sensible child with a delicate and gentle personality, unlike her older and younger sisters who are more lively.
With her personality, Yunyi was really worried that she would be bullied after she got married.
However, with Yonghuang around, Yunyi felt more at ease knowing that her older brother would protect her.
Moreover, times have changed. There are not as many princesses sent to marry Mongolian princes as before, and Emperor Qianlong was fond of daughters.
Most of the princesses during the Qianlong era married into the capital. Even if they married into Mongolia, they were allowed to settle in the capital and not live permanently in Mongolia.
Patting her head, Yunyi found it amusing. Xuan Ning was still young, and there was still a long time before she got married, so there was no need to rush.
Yonghuang is about the same age as the eldest princess. They are both eleven years old this year, which is twelve years old in the traditional Chinese age reckoning. After two more talent shows, they can be betrothed and start a family.
So time really flies. More than ten years have passed in Yunyi's life in this world.
In the brother's quarters, the two brothers, Yonghuang and Yonglian, lived in different courtyards, but they had a good relationship. It was common for them to sleep in each other's courtyards, and everyone was used to it.
It was late at night when Yonghuang finally finished his homework for the day. He was not good at studying and had no talent in literature. Every time he had to do the homework assigned by the teacher, he would come to his second brother to ask him to teach him.
After finishing his homework, he looked up at his younger brother, shocked and moved. He couldn't help but advise, "You're working too hard! You've already finished your homework, why are you still writing? Go home and rest!"
Without stopping his hands, Yonglian earnestly explained, "Brother, as the saying goes, 'Reviewing the old helps us to learn the new.' Learning is always new and constantly evolving. The lessons are just what the teacher assigns to help us solidify what we have learned today. But we should also review the knowledge we have learned before from time to time so that we can remember it firmly."
Yonghuang didn't care about his second brother's talk of reviewing the old to learn the new. He snatched the pen from his brother and then forcefully dragged Yonglian away.
Yonglian was indeed very smart, but he was not as strong as Yonghuang. When he was dragged away, he couldn't break free no matter how hard he tried, and could only helplessly tell Yonghuang.
"Brother, please don't hit me! I understand what you mean. I won't go back to write, but at least let me go back and pack my things. Those pens and ink can't just be left lying around like that, it's not good."
Yonghuang wouldn't listen to Yonglian's words. His mother had said that he had to take good care of his younger brother and not let him get too tired.
"Oh dear, don't worry about it. The eunuchs will take care of those things. You don't need to worry. It's so late, go back to sleep. Be careful not to get sick and make your stepmother worry."
The reason Yonghuang said this is mainly because Yonglian had a prior record. At the beginning of the year, he worked too hard and stayed up late studying, which caused him to catch a cold and he was sick for a long time.
It's already autumn. The days are fine, but the nights are quite chilly. Yonghuang is strong and healthy and not afraid of the cold, but looking at his younger brother's rather thin frame, he decided to let him go back and rest.
Seeing that his bargaining had failed, Yonglian gave up and followed his older brother back with a wry smile.
Fearing that his younger brother might secretly study, Yonghuang followed him around the whole time while he washed up, afraid that he would run away, which made Yonglian even more helpless.
When they finally went to bed, Yonghuang let his younger brother sleep on the inside and covered him with a blanket: "Second brother, go to sleep quickly. Your older brother is outside to protect you from the cold wind."
After saying this, he patted Yonglian's blanket as if taking care of a child, very... lovingly.
In the darkness, neither of them could see the other's expression. Yonglian responded softly, but a warm feeling welled up inside him.
Although he said he felt helpless, Yonglian was actually touched by his brother's care.
Yonglian fell asleep with a smile on his face and slept soundly through the night, waking up the next morning full of energy.
With Yonghuang's occasional supervision and interruptions, Yonglian rarely stayed up late to study anymore. He would usually be urged to rest by his older brother when it was time to go.
On occasional days off, Yonghuang would also drag his younger brother to practice martial arts, ostensibly to improve his physique.
Yonglian remained in excellent health until the fourth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign when Consort Jia gave birth to the fourth prince. He did not fall ill at all.
After giving birth to the fourth prince, Consort Jia (née Jin) was promoted in rank and became Consort Jia.
Because Yonglian was safe and the Empress's position was secure, and no concubines caused trouble, the palace remained quiet for two years. Then came the selection of consorts in the sixth year of Qianlong's reign.
Of the concubines who entered the palace through the imperial concubine selection three years ago, only one, Yehenara, was favored and is now Consort Shu.
The other concubines all faded into obscurity and did not cause any trouble.
This year's imperial concubine selection saw Emperor Qianlong choose quite a few concubines to enter the palace.
The main reason was that the Empress Dowager was somewhat dissatisfied, feeling that her son only had four sons, which was a bit too few. Therefore, she asked Emperor Qianlong to select more concubines to fill the harem so as to continue the imperial line.
Therefore, there were many more concubines among those who entered the palace this time. Among them, Niohuru, who was granted the title of Noble Lady Jing, Dong'e, Consort Wen, and Consort Li were the most favored.
According to the Empress Dowager's wishes, most of the newly entered concubines were Manchu girls, and only a few were from the Han Banner Army.
The arrival of these concubines did indeed bring a sense of crisis to the elders. With more concubines than available favors, each person could receive less affection. Since none of them had any children yet, they were naturally anxious.
Now, Madam Jin is completely content with her son. With the Fourth Prince around, she spends all her time tending to him and has less time to argue with others.
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