The Empress Dowager was quite shocked when she heard that the unmarried Fourth Prince had moved out of the palace. She couldn't understand the Emperor's thoughts. Ever since the last time the Emperor threatened her with Zhen'er in order to marry Consort Xian, she had rarely asked about the Emperor's affairs.
The only thing was that the Empress had tried to harm Consort Xian last time, but she had covered up the traces to prevent the Emperor from finding out the truth.
Seeing the increasingly mad Empress, the Empress Dowager was genuinely worried that this madwoman would one day drag the Ulanara clan down with her. She also regretted letting Rouze (Empress Chun Yuan) into the fourth prince's palace. Before, the Ulanara clan's Yixiu wasn't this crazy. But since Rouze... well, the position of Empress can only belong to the Ulanara clan. No one can surpass her. The Empress Dowager's eyes grew increasingly deep.
— — — — — — — — — —
Looking at the Fourth Prince, who was no longer in the palace and could no longer help her, Zhen Huan thought, "No! I must win back Princess Longyue. I need to get my child to help me win the Emperor's favor."
"Jinxi, quickly have Sister Mei come over here."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Consort Hui, who had rushed from Xianfu Palace, was approached anxiously by Shen Meizhuang.
"Huan'er, has something happened?"
Zhen Huan shook her head, pulled the anxious Shen Meizhuang to sit down, and cried, "Sister Mei, I want my Longyue back."
Shen Meizhuang looked troubled. "But after all, Longyue was raised with great care by Consort Jing. They have a deep bond between mother and daughter, and Consort Jing's actions are also out of a loving mother's heart..."
"Sister Mei!"
Seeing Zhen Huan's pleading eyes, Shen Meizhuang's heart softened.
“I know that if I want Longyue to come back to my side, I will definitely offend Consort Jing. But Consort Xian is now all-powerful. I’m worried that one day, the Emperor will never come to Yongshou Palace again.”
"No way, Huan'er, you still have Lingxi and Hongzhan."
Meeting Zhen Huan's vulnerable gaze, Shen Meizhuang's tone gradually weakened. Although Consort Jing had treated her well, Consort Jing and Huan'er were not comparable. She changed her tone, "Does Huan'er know that Longyue has been with Consort Jing since childhood? It's not easy to win her back."
Zhen Huan nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "Sister Mei, I plan to hint to the Emperor directly. Isn't the Emperor acting this way because he's not close to the Empress Dowager? I think that by considering his own feelings, the Emperor will understand my maternal heart."
Shen Meizhuang hesitated, "Shouldn't we talk to Consort Jing again? This..."
Zhen Huan interrupted Shen Meizhuang, giving a bitter smile: "Sister Mei, it's inevitable that I'll become estranged from Consort Jing. As for Longyue, I can only apologize to Consort Jing later."
When Shen Meizhuang returned to Xianfu Palace, Consort Jing saw the hint of guilt Shen Meizhuang showed towards Princess Longyue after being called away. Her heart sank. It seemed that Zhen Huan had already made preparations.
"Mother, Mother, you have no idea how cute little brother Hongche is! His eyelashes are so long, they feel longer than Longyue's little finger joints..."
Consort Jing, not wanting to spoil the mood, responded, "Oh, really!"
"Yes, yes, Hongche is so cute!"
She held Longyue and coaxed her for a while until she fell asleep. Looking at Longyue's quiet and obedient sleeping face, the reluctance in Consort Jing's eyes turned into a firm determination.
She had been in the palace for so long and had witnessed the rise and fall of countless concubines. Empress Chun Yuan and Consort Hua had all enjoyed great favor before falling from grace. She didn't believe Zhen Huan would be one of them! And she wouldn't let Zhen Huan take her daughter away.
She raised Longyue from a tiny baby to the lively little girl she is today. In her heart, Longyue is already her own daughter, and she will never let go of her.
— — — — — — — —
The next day, Consort Jing led Princess Longyue to the Moon Palace.
Consort Jing: "This humble concubine greets Your Highness, the Virtuous Noble Consort."
Qingyin: "Sister Jingfei, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down."
Consort Jing sighed inwardly. No matter how many times she saw Consort Xian's face, she would always marvel at it. No wonder Zhen Huan lost her composure.
Looking at Consort Jing's troubled expression and the expectant Longyue beside her, Qingyin realized that Consort Jing had come to ask her for a favor.
She smiled and told Longyue to take Hongche to play in the side hall. Only Consort Jing, her head maid Ruyi, and Qingyin's people remained in the side hall.
Looking into the inner palace where there were no outsiders, Consort Jing pleaded, "Your Majesty, I know I am being abrupt, but I really have no other choice. Princess Longyue is Consort Xi's biological child, but I have treated her as my own flesh and blood. Please, Your Majesty, help me and don't let me and Princess Longyue be separated."
Qingyin sighed. Zhen Huan was truly formidable, personally handing over one talented person after another to her. However, she also understood the immense pressure her presence placed on Zhen Huan. The Emperor's favor had previously given her confidence, but that confidence had now vanished, forcing her to seek external assistance. Unfortunately, this step directly delivered her own people into Zhen Huan's hands.
Qingyin agreed to Consort Jing's request. When Yongzheng returned to Yuehua Palace, he saw Qingyin's worried face. Even so, Qingyin was still stunningly beautiful, and Yongzheng did not want to see any negative emotions on her face.
He sat down with Qingyin in his arms, then coaxed her, "What's wrong, Xian'er?"
Qingyin frowned slightly, "Your Majesty, which is greater, the kindness of giving birth or the kindness of raising?"
Yongzheng raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled, but still said to Qingyin, "It depends on the situation. Some people's birth mothers give birth to them but don't care about them, while they grow up under the careful care of their adoptive mothers. That is a great debt of gratitude. Everyone is different, but the one who is truly good to you and does good things for you is definitely the one with the greatest debt of gratitude."
Take him for example. His mother only had Consort Tong who was kind to him. When he thought of that gentle but short-lived beautiful woman, his eyes showed a slight sadness.
Qingyin nodded, "I think so too."
Looking at the charming and gentle Qingyin, Yongzheng felt a warmth in his heart. "After our children are born, how about Xian'er and I teach them together, and Che'er rides horses, shoots arrows, and studies together?"
Qingyin smiled and said, "Then Your Majesty will have to work very hard in the future. With so many children, it will probably be quite chaotic. I, your concubine, cannot bear it."
"Very well, I will teach them, and make them all outstanding Baturu and princesses of our Great Qing."
Recalling that scene, Yongzheng felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey, completely unaware of the love and sorrow he would later experience for these children.
After telling Qingyin his story and even dreaming of children's laughter, Yongzheng got up feeling refreshed and energetic. When he encountered Zhen Huan, who came to cry about her biological mother and adoptive mother, his face turned cold. He finally understood why Xian'er had specifically told him these things, looking at Zhen Huan, whose words implied that the biological mother was better for the child.
He sneered, "I remember that Princess Longyue is Zhen's child. Are you?"
"emperor?"
Zhen Huan looked at the indifferent Emperor in disbelief. She was deeply hurt. Despite the long period of coldness, she still felt that she was special. She thought that if she said this, the Emperor would agree.
Looking at the distraught Zhen Huan, Yongzheng grew increasingly annoyed and ignored her, walking past her directly.
After Yongzheng had walked far away, Zhen Huan raised her head. She stubbornly straightened her back, but her back view revealed a kind of disheveled state.
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