However, Ulanara breathed a sigh of relief.
The reason is simple: the Nian family's background is just too good. Nian Gengyao is already the first-rank governor of Sichuan. After the expulsion of the Dzungars and the preservation of Tibet, who knows how much higher his position will rise...
Compared to Nian, Qian Shengyan was quite ordinary.
Qian Shengyan's background was what it was. Although the prince had elevated her status, Qian was foolish and had not been very close to the Niohuru family over the years, focusing only on her two children.
Hongli is a good man, but he is neither the eldest son nor the legitimate heir, and he has no maternal family to support him. What will his future hold?
Once Lady Nian gives birth to a son, what will Hongli be then?
After regaining her senses, Lady Ulanara now hoped that Yinzhen would favor Qian Shengyan more. Favoring Qian Shengyan was better than favoring Lady Nian!
In fact, Ulanara had considered intervening when Lady Nian became pregnant this time, but Lady Nian had probably been on guard due to her previous miscarriages, making it difficult for Ulanara to intervene this time. Now that Yinzhen was also interested in that pregnancy, Ulanara had no choice.
But now, she has a better idea.
On this day, Qian Shengyan coldly watched as Ulanara praised Hongli and Foerguochun to the point of adoration in front of Consort De. However, Consort De was clearly not in the mood to care about the two children. She focused almost all her attention on the children brought by the Fourteenth Prince's wife. Even towards Lady Nian, she showed more affection than towards Ulanara.
Qian Shengyan stood at the very edge, watching Ulanara's expression change several times, and couldn't help but sigh.
It seems that Nian Gengyao and Yinzhen's relationship was not as irreconcilable as he wrote in his letter; on the contrary, it was probably quite good.
Otherwise, Consort De wouldn't have shown such a kind face to one of Yinzhen's concubines.
"Fourth Sister-in-law." Madam Zhao approached cautiously, looking at Qian Shengyan with some concern. "How is Fourth Sister-in-law?"
"Everything is fine." Qian Shengyan knew what she was worried about and said with a smile, "I have Hongli, and that's enough."
"The Fourth Prince is indeed intelligent and quick-witted," Zhao Jia praised, without offering any further advice, and simply stood with Qian Shengyan in the most inconspicuous corner.
The fifty-ninth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign has arrived.
In March, Yinzhen once again invited Kangxi to a banquet at the Yuanmingyuan Garden and set the farming plan for this year; subsequently, Yinzhi also intensified his banquets for Kangxi.
Yinzhen was still somewhat displeased, but with the eldest and second princes both under house arrest, the eldest prince now being Yinzhi, it would be strange if he didn't have any thoughts about it.
Seeing that he was still somewhat agitated, and recalling Li Shi's tearful complaints over the past few days, coupled with her own curiosity, Qian Shengyan asked, "Is Prince Cheng hosting a banquet for the Emperor to discuss the matter of establishing an heir?"
Upon hearing this, Yinzhen strangely calmed down. After a moment of thought, he said, "It should be. Since last year, Third Brother has been very anxious."
Speaking of this, Yinzhen also had something to say, but...
He looked at Qian Shengyan: "What do you think?"
Qian Shengyan: ?
She didn't think much of it.
Yinzhen waited a moment without answering, then suddenly, perhaps thinking of himself or something else, he asked, "If a crown prince were to be chosen for the household, would you hope it would be Hongli?"
As soon as he asked the question clearly, Qian Shengyan immediately knelt down.
Yinzhen pulled her up and made her sit beside him, showing no displeasure: "I have no plans to establish an heir for the time being. Hongshi is mischievous, and Hongli is too young, so there's no rush. However, I'd like to ask you what you think?"
First, I said there was no rush, then I asked her what she thought.
Qian Shengyan didn't understand for a moment: "This, the Third Prince is the eldest son in the family..."
"Hmph." Yinzhen snorted lightly.
Qian Shengyan was taken aback, suddenly remembering how agitated Yinzhen had been earlier that day.
She paused for a moment, then chuckled. After thinking for a second, she said indirectly, "Your Highness just asked me if you hoped it would be Hongli."
"Hmm?" Yinzhen looked up at her.
"To be honest, Hongli is my son, so naturally I hope he gets better and better. But the Third Prince is filial and the Fifth Prince is intelligent, so I think they are both good." Qian Shengyan said with a smile, while feeling a pang of emotion in her heart.
How similar they are! Yinzhen's first two children were gone, and now Hongshi is the eldest son, just as Kangxi's first two princes were gone, and Yinzhi has also become the eldest son.
Yinzhen gave a soft "hmm" but did not reply.
"I think Hongli is good, but others may think the Third Prince is good, and there's nothing I can do about it." Qian Shengyan tried to remind him, "After all, the Third Prince is very filial to the Prince's wife, and he is also quite polite to his stepmothers like me. Moreover, the Third Prince was raised by the Prince's wife for the past few years, which added to his prestige."
Yinzhen was taken aback, then looked at her with amusement: "Hongshi is considered polite to his stepmother?"
“Childhood mischief doesn’t count. Now that we’re older and understand things, we shouldn’t do anything rude,” Qian Shengyan continued to imply.
Before Yinzhen could react, Qian Shengyan directly stated: "In previous years, the anniversary of the death of the Thirteenth Prince's mother was not properly celebrated. This year, I heard from Lady Zhaojia that she also wants to hold a proper celebration."
Suddenly, Yinzhen felt as if he had been enlightened.
Yes, less than 100 days after the death of Consort Min, the mother of the Thirteenth Prince, Yinzhi shaved his head and was caught red-handed by the Thirteenth Prince. The two got into a fight and the matter went all the way to Emperor Kangxi. Yinzhi's unfilial and disrespectful behavior was recorded in the Emperor's eyes.
This matter may seem trivial, since Consort Min, being a mere concubine, shouldn't have made all the princes observe mourning for her. However, the fact that Yinzhi shaved his head and was seen by the Thirteenth Prince back then is something many people know about. If we single it out, it's an indelible stain on his reputation.
How could someone who wants to be emperor have any blemishes that are out in the open?
Yinzhen's eyes lit up, and he smiled as he looked at Qian Shengyan. He pinched her chin: "You're so clever."
Qian Shengyan snorted, thinking about what Consort De had done, and decided not to give her any face at all, and added another bargaining chip for Yinzhen: "Let alone the Third Prince, in my opinion, even the Fifth Prince is noble."
"The fifth prince's birth mother is merely a princess; what is so noble about her?" Yinzhen found it amusing.
“After all, the Fifth Prince was raised by his stepmother when he was born. Even though he was not named, he still received the grace of being raised. Didn’t you see, now the Princess Consort shows more pity and care for the Fifth Prince?” Qian Shengyan continued.
Yinzhen raised an eyebrow slightly, about to be pleased, but then frowned again.
Qian Shengyan knew that he had been raised by Consort Tongjia since childhood. Although he was not officially registered under the Tongjia family name, she was still his adoptive mother. This was also the reason why Yinzhen and Consort De could not be close for so many years.
However, now that Consort Tongjia has been posthumously honored as Empress Xiaoyi, in terms of birth, it can be said that Yinzhen was of higher birth than his other brothers.
In particular, Longkodo, the brother of Lady Tongjia, is now very willing to acknowledge Yinzhen as his nephew. With such a good relationship, why doesn't Consort De, as his birth mother, take advantage of it? What is she worried about?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
