Chapter 59
Seeing He Rui pleading for Xiao Yanzi, Emperor Qianlong was somewhat puzzled, but he was willing to give He Rui face. However, someone else was ungrateful. Xiao Yanzi, who had been beaten, looked at He Rui and said, "I don't need your fuss."
Hearing Xiao Yanzi's words, Qianlong's expression darkened. He Rui didn't pay much attention, only noticing that Xiao Yanzi seemed a bit strange. "Xiao Yanzi, logically speaking, I'm your older sister, so it's only right that I plead for you. How can you say it's like a dog catching a mouse?"
Seeing the Emperor's displeasure, Xiao Yanzi knew her earlier words were inappropriate. Consort Ling had said that beautiful women weren't necessarily kind-hearted, and warned her to be wary of Princess He Rui, who remembered how He Rui had almost caused her miscarriage and might be outwardly helping her while secretly seeking revenge. She added that Princess He Rui, relying on the Emperor's favor, had often bullied Consort Ling. Although Xiao Yanzi thought the Empress was like a fairy, the Empress had only pleaded for her that one time and never seen her again; Consort Ling had always been the one who treated her best. Although Xiao Yanzi wanted to argue with He Rui further, seeing the Emperor's expression, she wisely kept quiet.
"Little Swallow, why don't you thank He Rui?" Qianlong said as if on purpose.
Upon hearing the Emperor's words, Xiao Yanzi stubbornly raised her head, "You want me to thank her?" Xiao Yanzi pointed to her own nose, then to He Rui's.
"What, didn't Consort Ling teach you the etiquette of saying thank you?"
When Xiao Yanzi heard that Consort Ling had been mentioned, she curled her lip, rolled her eyes, and reluctantly tossed her handkerchief at He Rui. "Thanks."
“Logically, Princess Huanzhu, being without rank or title, should perform the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows before me. However, I am soft-hearted and will not hold it against you. But I still advise Princess Huanzhu, once you enter the palace, you represent the royal family. Don't bring those unclean habits from outside the palace into the palace.” After He Rui finished speaking, he respectfully bowed to the Empress, “Your Majesty, He Rui has overstepped the bounds of propriety.”
"What He Rui said represents my opinion. Rong Momo, go to Yanxi Palace later and have Consort Ling carefully teach Princess Huanzhu the proper etiquette." The Empress helped He Rui up. "Your Majesty, the beating has already happened, so let's calm down! It's rare for He Rui to come to the palace, why don't we have lunch at Yongshou Palace?"
Emperor Qianlong snorted coldly at Xiao Yanzi, "Xiao Yanzi, starting tomorrow you will carefully learn the rules from Consort Ling. If you don't learn them well, you will not be allowed to leave Shufangzhai."
Having been in the palace for only a few days, she was beaten twice in a row, and with the arrow wound, Xiao Yanzi's recovery was very slow this time.
The palace was much quieter without Xiao Yanzi causing trouble. Yongqi only learned about Xiao Yanzi's beating in the afternoon. Originally, Yongqi had no intention of going to see Xiao Yanzi at all.
“It seems inappropriate for the Fifth Prince not to visit Princess Huanzhu,” Fu Ertai advised the Fifth Prince, acting as his strategist. Seeing the Fifth Prince raise his eyebrows, Fu Ertai continued, “The Emperor already knows that the Fifth Prince and Princess Huanzhu are getting close. If you don’t go to see her and send her some gifts, the Emperor might become suspicious.”
Fu Ertai's words made Fifth Father think there was some truth to them. "Here's what we'll do: you go and see Princess Huanzhu for me. I'll ask Madam Hu to prepare some things, and you can take them with you."
Hearing this, Voltaire was delighted and immediately nodded in agreement.
Wu Shulai, who was following the Fifth Prince, shook his head. The Fifth Prince was truly foolish; that was the inner palace! How could he let a mere servant go there? Wu Shulai followed behind the Fifth Prince, looking at Fu'ertai walking beside him, and sighed inwardly. He really couldn't judge people well.
Hu Shi's days have been difficult lately. Although the Fifth Prince cannot hold a wedding, he can still take a concubine. Consort Ling has made arrangements, and the Emperor has already chosen a concubine for the Fifth Prince—the daughter of Zuo Guanbao, Lady Suochuoluo, who will enter the palace at the beginning of next month. They will move out of the palace at the end of this month and have already separated into their own residences. Ever since she became involved with the Fifth Prince, Hu Shi has harbored a deep resentment towards him. She hates him, but she has accepted her fate. However, she never expected… Standing in the courtyard, Hu Shi glared in the direction of Shufangzhai. She had finally hoped to elevate her status through her son, thinking that if the Empress Dowager saw her great-grandson, she would be in a good mood and her rank would be elevated. But she never expected to be taken away by that person with no status… Fortunately, the Fifth Prince has always only had her as his woman and has treated her very well. But now that she has become a concubine, she has lost favor. What will she do? Thinking of this, Hu Shi's eyes reddened. If she had stayed away from the Fifth Prince, perhaps she would have had a glorious marriage.
"My lady, the Fifth Prince has asked us to prepare some wound ointment and send it to Shufangzhai."
"Did the Fifth Prince say what the reason was?"
"The master just said to prepare to go out and have Voltaire deliver it."
Hu's eyes flickered upon hearing this. Besides the Emperor and eunuchs, men could only enter and leave the inner palace by imperial decree or by order of the Emperor or their master. Hu remembered the Fu family—who was the first to harm her? Thinking of this, Hu had no intention of reminding the Fifth Prince, and the medicine she had prepared was of poor quality.
The people who served Madam Hu did not have a good impression of the mistress of Shufangzhai, and they would not say anything that was not good.
As the Emperor listened to the reports from the Imperial Guard about the Fifth Prince's movements, he wondered if Yongqi was unaware of the situation and had been instigated by the Fu brothers. Deep down, Qianlong still hoped his son would be a good man. "The Fu family is truly audacious!" Qianlong thought, recalling Fu Erkang's visit to the Cining Garden years ago. "Did you hear what they said?"
"Your Majesty, there is nowhere to hide in Shufangzhai, and this servant did not hear what was said."
"Keep a close eye on Xiao Yanzi," Qianlong thought. Next time Xiao Yanzi leaves the palace, he'd let her go out on her own; it would be a good opportunity to see who she's meeting outside. He waved for the servants to leave and paced back and forth in the room. He hoped Yongqi posed no threat, but many facts indicated that Yongqi was problematic. Why hadn't Yongzhang found out yet? Had he discovered something bad and didn't want him to know?
~~~
He Rui sat in the pavilion in the mansion, watching Yong Zhang. She was quite surprised that Yong Zhang had suddenly come. Seeing Yong Zhang's inscrutable expression, He Rui remained silent, waiting for Yong Zhang to speak.
"You know Xiao Yanzi's identity?"
"Is Third Brother asking about before or after Xiao Yanzi entered the palace?"
"You do know that."
"Third Brother, you're taking things out of context. I know very little about it." He Rui gestured for Baozhu to lead the servants away.
"Tell me what you know."
"What did Third Brother find out?"
“I heard from E Yue that Xiao Yanzi used to perform on the streets, but I searched all over Beijing and found that there were other performers, but no one knew who was named Xiao Yanzi.” Yongzhang sighed. “You’ve been in the palace for six years now. I’m wondering if He Ya misheard or mistook her.”
"That's easy. Baozhu is going somewhere this afternoon. Have someone go there with her and ask around to find out the details."
Yongzhang raised an eyebrow. "It seems I really came to the right person. I know about E Yue's investigation, but I haven't told Father Emperor."
He Rui simply looked at Yong Zhang, waiting for Yong Zhang to speak next.
"That matter was too shocking; I'm afraid Father Emperor wouldn't be able to accept it."
“Actually, I think Father Emperor knows the truth,” He Rui said calmly. “Third Brother, what will happen if we find someone who knows Xiao Yanzi?”
"If they are accomplices, they should be executed. If not, those who can be of use to me are welcome; those who cannot, I will find a way to save their lives." As for whether they will die far from home, that is not something he can decide; the royal family will not allow the slightest mishap. Yongzhang did not ask further about He Rui's change of topic; they could not speak ill of their father. "How did you know about that place, sister?"
"coincide."
~~~
There are hardly any coincidences in the world. As Yongzhang listened to his subordinates' report, a thought came to his mind: "Perhaps the Fifth Prince saw things clearly." "Did you go to the family they said took in Xiao Yanzi?"
"Your Majesty, after I went there, I searched inside and out, and it has been uninhabited for a long time."
Has no one lived here for a long time? "Have you asked the people in the neighborhood?"
"Reporting to Master, the people around here have seen the residents of the house. They say that a woman with a child used to live there. A few years ago, she took in a little girl who had been injured by a noble family's son. A few days ago, the girl left with her belongings, and before noon, the woman took her child and got into a carriage and left. That woman usually doesn't have any contact with the outside world, and they don't seem to have any way to make a living."
"Did you ask the car dealership?"
"Your Majesty, I have inquired at all the car dealerships, big and small, both those that sell and rent cars, but none of them recognize that family."
"What a scheming woman."
"My lord, I have something else to report."
"explain."
"This servant discovered that Fu'ertai, who serves the Fifth Prince, also visited that household this afternoon."
"Keep a close eye on things for me, lest something go wrong."
~~
After leaving the empty house, Fu'ertai didn't ask the people around him about anything. He was just thinking about how to tell Xiao Yanzi. On his way home, Fu'ertai decided that when he went to the palace the next day, he would tell them that they were all doing well and that he had even left them some money. Princess Huanzhu was truly kind; she was so grateful to those who had been kind to her. If he could marry Princess Huanzhu, it would truly be his blessing.
Back home, Fu'ertai told his father about the favor Princess Huanzhu had asked him to do, and asked his father to keep an eye out for it. Fu'ertai just listened and agreed without really thinking about doing anything about it. "Ertai, have you talked to Fifth Prince about Erkang?"
"I did mention it. The Fifth Prince said he'll ask the Emperor for a job for my elder brother after he moves out of the palace next month." Fu'ertai looked down on his elder brother; he couldn't even get married to a princess, he was really stupid.
"The Fifth Prince moving out of the palace is a big deal, so we need to prepare some generous gifts. I'll leave this matter to you."
"Son understands." Fu Ertai thought for a while, then asked, "What does Father think of Princess Huanzhu?"
"Princess Huanzhu? She seems to be quite favored by the Emperor, but not as much as Princess Herui."
"My son thinks that Princess Huanzhu has a good impression of him. If he can marry this princess, is there any hope that our family can be promoted to a higher social class?"
"This... are you sure you can handle it?"
“Take it slow. Father, don’t tell Mother about this, and definitely don’t tell Consort Ling. Let them ruin things for our elder brother.” Fu Ertai looked at his father. Fu Lun pondered for a moment and nodded.
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