Chapter 155: Contempt Honghui returned to the study room with deep thoughts.
Honghui returned to the study room with deep thoughts.
Yinzhen came back and asked her, "What did you do with Honghui?"
Qi Buchen told him about his trip to the orphanage.
"So many different ways." Yinzhen tapped her forehead and sighed, "It's only in the capital. There are no other orphanages in other places, even if there are families who share your ideas about raising their children."
Qi Buchen leaned against him and said, "It's not possible that not a single one was built, right?"
"Not built? There was no thought of building it at all." Yinzhen sneered. "But there are endless petitions for money and grain."
Qi Buchen patted him on the shoulder and said, "Actually, I've thought about this. We could fund some orphanages ourselves and only take in baby girls. I didn't mention it before because I felt my status wasn't right and it looked like I was buying people's hearts. But now that the Emperor has issued the decree, wouldn't it be a sign of understanding if we did it?"
Yinzhen sighed: "I understand what you mean, but... now is not the right time."
The battle for the throne is becoming more and more intense. It is better to keep a low profile and be an invisible person, just like Yinqi and Yinyou.
"Okay." Qi Buchen agreed sullenly and brought up something else. "In a few days, there's the 14th family's Hongming's first birthday party. Do you want to go?"
Yinzhen said quickly, "I'm too busy at the yamen, so I won't go."
"Hmph." Qi Buchen rolled his eyes. He clearly didn't want to go, but he was trying to fool her.
Yinzhen chuckled softly and said coaxingly, "Thank you for making this trip, Princess."
Although Hongming was the second son, he was the legitimate son of the fourteenth wife, Wanyan. Therefore, his first birthday banquet was held with great grandeur, and many court officials came.
Not many of the imperial princes came. Yinzhi, Yinreng, Yinzhi and Yinzhen all did not come on the pretext of being busy with official duties. Yinyou was said to be unwell, so he also did not come.
The female members of the family were relatively present, with everyone except the Crown Princess coming.
Qi Buchen sat with several sisters-in-law who arrived earlier, but there was no one to entertain them. Wanyan was very busy and could not take care of them. Normally, Fourteenth's backyard would be arranged to entertain them at such times, but unfortunately Fourteenth had few concubines, and the two most favored ones were now pregnant. The rest were not qualified to entertain this table of princes' wives.
"How is Seventh Brother?" Qi Buchen chatted with Seventh Lady.
The Seventh Lady said, "She said her legs hurt, an old ailment. The doctor told her to stay in bed and rest."
"Fifth Princess is almost six years old now, do you have any plans for her enlightenment?" Qi Buchen was just making small talk.
Speaking of her daughter, the smile on Lady Qi's face became more genuine. "I haven't decided yet. She doesn't like reading. Her father is so impatient when he tries to teach her to recite a few lines of poetry."
The Seventh Lady has only given birth to two daughters over the years. The eldest died at the age of four. Now this one is also very pampered and is always obeyed.
"It doesn't matter if a girl doesn't like studying. Just teach her what she likes." Qi Buchen lied with his eyes open.
The Seventh Lady complained with a smile, "I thought so too, but I just can't tell what she really likes. She's only interested in things for a short while, and then loses interest the next moment. It's really a headache."
"That's how children are. They'll be fine when they grow up." He continued to make up nonsense.
The Fifth Lady, who was sitting between the two of them, smiled and didn't interrupt. At the beginning, Qi Buchen was also worried that she couldn't have children, so he tried not to talk about children. But as time went on, there was really nothing he could do. At this age, everyone likes to talk about children when they sit together. If you don't say anything, others will. How can you not respond when they say it to you?
Fortunately, the Fifth Lady had a pretty good attitude. She didn't think that people talking about children in front of her were secretly mocking her. Although she didn't interrupt most of the time, she would occasionally join in the conversation, and the atmosphere between them was still very harmonious.
Unfortunately, there is someone with a bad attitude at the table today, Baya next to the Seventh Lady.
Unlike the Fifth Lady, who had at least been pregnant before but couldn't give birth due to a miscarriage, Baya had been married for eight years without any news.
In order to have a child, she believed that she had begged many people, and the one she had begged the most was Qi Buchen, but there was never a good result. Now the people she had begged talked about children in front of her, how could she not feel angry.
This is mocking her!
"I know you can give birth, but stop showing off. It makes you look cheap." Baya stared at the cup in his hand with a cold tone.
The table quickly fell silent. Although she didn't look at anyone, everyone knew who she was talking about.
Qi Buchen's expression turned cold. I never provoked you from the beginning to the end. How come, just because you didn't give birth, I can't even talk to people?
The Seventh Lady looked at her worriedly, wanting to say something but stopping herself, not knowing what to say to smooth things over.
Qi Buchen smiled at her and said, "Seventh sister-in-law, let me tell you, although humility is a virtue, excessive humility is equivalent to pride. Since we have the ability, we should seek truth from facts. Take your Fifth Princess for example. She is obviously smart and clever. You should praise her when you should. Sometimes children just need encouragement to become more sensible."
"Don't be afraid if others think you're showing off. We're just sharing what we have. She doesn't have it, so she thinks we're showing off. Just ignore people like that and let them be jealous."
Everyone at the table wiped their mouths with handkerchiefs, their eyes darting around like they were twitching. The Seventh Lady turned her head away, not wanting Baya to see her expression, and managed to hold back a few words: "Thank you, Fourth Sister-in-law, for your guidance."
Baya's face turned completely black, the fingers holding the cup turned white, and he looked at Qi Buchen with lightning eyes: "What do you mean!"
"Eh?" Qi Buchen looked at her in surprise, puzzled, "Is what I said so difficult to understand? My eighth sister-in-law didn't understand?"
"You!" Baya was so angry that she wanted to get up.
Borjigit said, "I don't understand you, Sister-in-law! Manchu is too difficult. You are talking so excitedly. Sister-in-law, please explain it to me in Mongolian."
"Oh, sorry, I forgot about you, Tenth Brother's wife." Qi Buchen said apologetically, "Actually, I didn't say anything, it's just..."
He deliberately explained it again in Mongolian: "...My Mongolian isn't very good either, but this is roughly what I meant. Don't mind, Tenth Brother and Sister-in-law."
"It's okay, it's okay. I understand." Borjigit waved her hand to indicate that it was nothing. "Isn't it just some people with red eyes? I've encountered many of them on the grasslands. They even tried to steal my things, but I always dealt with them. Fourth sister-in-law, will people in the capital also steal my things out of jealousy? If you can't beat them, call me. I'm very skilled!"
Borjigit patted his chest, looking very proud.
Qi Buchen couldn't help laughing out loud. "Thank you, Tenth Sister-in-law. However, the people in the capital aren't as brave as you people on the grassland. They only dare to show off their courage with words, so I'm afraid there's no need to trouble Tenth Sister-in-law."
"Is that so?" Borjigit complained with a look of regret on her face. "I thought I'd have a chance to practice. I've been in the capital for so long, my body is almost rusty!"
"Really?" Qi Buchen invited tentatively, "I also learn some martial arts on a daily basis, but they are all fancy moves. If Tenth Brother's wife doesn't mind, could you teach me a few moves?"
Borjigit agreed quickly: "Of course!"
The two of them discussed the time as if they were not around anymore, completely ignoring Baya. Others also started to whisper to each other, saying things that could not be heard, but their smiles were obvious.
Baya felt that everyone at the table was laughing at her, so she threw her wine glass on the table and turned away.
After she left, the noise at the table became louder. Qi Buchen also agreed on a time with Borjigit and turned to talk to the Fifth Lady.
Although what she said just now was directed at Baya, it also had an impact on the Fifth Lady, so she had to make amends.
Borjigit looked at the Ninth Lady, who was sitting there with a calm expression, and prodded her, "Why don't you go and take a look?"
"What are you looking at?" The Ninth Lady was puzzled.
Borjigit said casually, "Isn't your master good friends with the Eighth Prince?"
The Ninth Lady curled her lips and said, "What does it have to do with me? My master is still good friends with the Tenth Prince." Do you think I have ever paid attention to you?
Borjigit didn't mind being turned down. She poured herself a glass of wine and smacked her lips after drinking it. "Tsk, the capital is quite interesting, but this wine is too tasteless."
It was not until the banquet started that Baya was called back by the Fourteenth Concubine. She sat there with a cold face throughout the meal and ignored everyone.
Of course, no one paid any attention to her.
This matter is over with Qi Buchen. She has never cared about those who are looking for trouble and just wants to live her own life well.
But in other places, this matter has further developments.
Yinzhen walked into the main courtyard angrily: "What's wrong with you?"
The Ninth Lady looked at the man who had lost his temper upon returning in bewilderment: "What's wrong with me?"
"That day at Fourteenth Lady's Mansion, Fourth Lady was making things difficult for Eighth Lady. Why didn't you speak up for Eighth Lady?" Yinzhen glared at Ninth Lady.
The Ninth Lady was stunned for a moment and sneered, "Why should I speak up for her? Who is she to me?"
"She's your Eighth Sister-in-law!" Yinzhen slammed the table in anger, "Don't you know the relationship between me and Eighth Brother?"
"Stop slamming the table and kicking the bench at me!" The Ninth Lady was also angry and stood up. "What does your good relationship with your brother have to do with me? You want to be someone's lackey, but I'm not interested in that! I, Dong E, am no less lowly than Guo Luoluo!"
"I'd like to ask you, my Lord, how is Concubine Yi inferior to Concubine Liang? Why is it that the son of the Fourth Concubine is so eager to take the initiative?"
"You!" Yin'er's finger was shaking as he pointed at her. "Foolish woman! You have long hair but little knowledge. What do you know? My brother is smart and capable, honest and sincere, and possesses both talent and virtue. How can his birthplace hold him back?"
"I don't understand! I don't want to understand!" The Ninth Lady said bluntly, "Anyway, if you want to praise your brother, go ahead and do it yourself. Don't even think about asking me to praise the Guo Luoluo family! If you use this as an excuse to find fault again, I don't mind going to the palace to ask Mother why my Dong'e family is inferior to the Guo Luoluo family!"
Hearing that she was going to the palace to find Concubine Yi, Yin'er's pupils shrank and he said in embarrassment: "I won't waste my time talking to you. It's just that villains and women are difficult to raise!" After that, he flicked his sleeves and left.
The Ninth Lady stood there, her expression uncertain for a long time before she called someone over: "Go and ask where the master came from."
Servants hurried back and forth: "Master, you are back from the Eighth Prince's residence."
"Heh." The Ninth Concubine sneered and looked down upon Yinsi and his wife even more.
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