Qian Shengyan was a little confused, but still obediently replied, "Yes, I just happened to run into the Fourteenth Prince."
"What did you say?" Yinzhen's aura grew stronger, and he moved even closer to Qian Shengyan.
Qian Shengyan was even more puzzled. She handed the bowl of porridge to Qingxue, then waved for everyone to leave before asking, "What's wrong, Master? It was just a few words..."
"A few words of idle chatter?" Yinzhen slammed his hand on the edge of the bed, making the entire canopy bed shake twice. He said angrily, "Why do you say that my son should look like the Fourteenth Prince?"
Qian Shengyan: ? ? ? ?
What kind of talk is that?
She was shocked and quickly sat up straight, asking, "Where did you hear this gossip, Your Highness? It's just that the Empress heard that I am pregnant again and was happy for you, so she gave me a white jade ruyi. She said that the ruyi was a gift from the Emperor when the Empress was pregnant with the Fourteenth Prince. She gave it to me in the hope that this child will be born safely and healthily, just like the Fourteenth Prince."
"Is that all?" Yinzhen gritted his teeth. "These are just what the Empress said. What about the Fourteenth Prince? Didn't that good-for-nothing dog take the opportunity to say anything?"
Qian Shengyan: ...
Qian Shengyan was very honest: "Of course the Fourteenth Prince also spoke, but I forgot." She grabbed Yinzhen's hand and shook it. "I really forgot. Anyway, it was just those nonsense words. I really didn't want to listen to them. I only said two sentences before I went to the side hall to accompany the children."
Yinzhen, however, still looked displeased, and after a long while asked, "What about Ruyi?"
Qian Shengyan: Uh…
What a coincidence!
She sighed, rubbing her forehead, "I...I felt it was unlucky, but...but it was quite valuable, so...I just casually stuffed it into Master's storeroom..."
Yinzhen: ? ?
He never expected this outcome, and his anger faltered for a moment, unsure whether to vent it. After a brief pause, he continued to rage, "Those things, if they're going to be smashed, so be it. Why put them in the storeroom and make a mess of everything there!"
Seeing that he was no longer so angry, Qian Shengyan quickly came up with a brilliant idea: "That's right, why don't we move the golden chamber pot back? It'll be perfect for holding Ruyi."
Yinzhen: ...
Seeing that Yinzhen's lips twitched slightly, clearly suppressing laughter, Qian Shengyan pressed on: "Anyway, I don't want to see that Ruyi anymore, how about we pawn it and exchange it for gold, then make me a spittoon?"
"You..." Yinzhen said helplessly, "Should I make you a gold mouthwash cup?"
Qian Shengyan laughed and swayed her arm around his: "Of course that would be great. That way, I'd be drinking gold and pulling gold around, how rich and noble!"
"You..." Yinzhen pinched her nose, his anger subsiding considerably, but he was still angry when he spoke of it. "I don't know who spread such rumors, it's outrageous! I've already reported this to the Empress. If even a casual chat between Yonghe and his mother in the palace can be exaggerated and spread, the Empress's place is far too unsafe!"
Qian Shengyan wholeheartedly agreed and nodded vigorously.
Either Consort De's Yonghe Palace is truly unsafe, or... these words were deliberately spread by someone with ulterior motives, perhaps even intended for Yinzhen to hear, naturally to annoy him and sow discord between him and Qian Shengyan.
Qian Shengyan herself didn't feel anything, but her potato planting and chicken manure fermentation fertilizer were indeed registered with the Emperor. And planting is not something that can be seen in a year or two. No one can say for sure whether she will develop something new next year.
If she could take advantage of her pregnancy to make Yinzhen dislike her, then even with the greatest luck and ability, Qian Shengyan would be powerless to do anything about it.
Qian Shengyan might not have thought of this yet, but Yinzhen already understood. He sighed slightly, "I'm afraid you'll still need to accompany me to Rehe this year..."
“If you’re going, sir, of course I’ll go too.” Qian Shengyan asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong with that?”
“You are now pregnant with twins. If Father Emperor leaves in February, you will not be three months along. How will you be able to keep up?” Yinzhen sighed. “But today Father Emperor summoned me to talk about the cultivation of taro. Some skilled farmers have suggested that we try planting these crops in the capital and Rehe to see if there are any differences in different places. Father Emperor means that he hopes you can personally oversee and manage them.”
“Okay.” Qian Shengyan nodded, not thinking there was any problem. Unfortunately, she felt nauseous as soon as she nodded and dry heaved for a while before feeling better.
Seeing her like this, Yinzhen felt even more heartache and hated those who spread those rumors even more.
Why should such a wonderful girl like Yan Yan have to bear such unbearable rumors?
Fortunately, Consort De was also very capable, and she found out the truth in just three days. When Qian Shengyan entered the palace to receive the banquet on the fifteenth, Consort De had already taken her hand and told her about the eunuch and the maid who had committed the crime.
"I had no idea that there were such things as 'couples' in Yonghe Palace..." Consort De sighed. "I'm sorry to have wronged you. You're a good child. It's all my fault for speaking too casually."
"Your Majesty speaks with me so freely and intimately. The fault lies with those petty people who spread rumors. If Your Majesty blames yourself, it will make me feel utterly ashamed," Qian Shengyan said, bowing her head.
Consort De patted her hand, seemingly very moved: "You are a sensible person. The fourth prince is truly blessed."
Qian Shengyan smiled gently on the surface, but in her heart she really wanted to laugh.
This is utter nonsense, this is utter nonsense...
Wasn't that bullshit he said on the 14th?
Even at a time like this, Consort De still says such things. How could she not understand the principle of adding fuel to the fire?
It seems that these so-called "casual" remarks are anything but casual.
Qian Shengyan understood that this was something she couldn't tell Yinzhen, at least not now. Yinzhen probably still had some expectations for Consort De, but his own mother was completely focused on her youngest son.
Perhaps the Eighth Prince, Yinzhi, has already made his move. Now that Yinzhi has no hope of succeeding to the throne, he has placed all his bets on the Fourteenth Prince. Consort De may have seen the Fourteenth Prince's hope of succeeding to the throne and wanted to remove all the obstacles in her son's way.
She didn't care whether her other son was among those obstacles.
That's hilarious.
Qian Shengyan sneered twice, then quickly put on a gentle smile again. This time, she spoke much less in the palace, mostly just listening to others chat and not interjecting much.
Even so, after a banquet, even Qingxue heard the news that Qian Shengyan and the Fourteenth Madam were not on good terms, and that they had even argued in Yonghe Palace.
Qian Shengyan: ...
Damn it, she couldn't even tell which of the fourteenth wife was in the room, and she was arguing with her? She might as well just take the other woman down with her!
This is outrageous! What's most important to a woman in this era? Her innocence! Her reputation!
In the past, Lady Nian and Granny Wei schemed against Lady Ulanara and Qian Shengyan on this point, but compared to Consort De's bloodless methods, Lady Nian's methods were really crude!
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