But it was clear that Yinzhen had his own thoughts. He patted Qian Shengyan's shoulder lightly and didn't say anything more.
Qian Shengyan had no choice. She couldn't just shake Yinzhen's shoulder and tell him that Consort De was very dissatisfied after his ascension to the throne. She refused to accept the position of Empress Dowager and refused to move the palace, causing him all sorts of embarrassment. She was only concerned about her youngest son. She should wake up and stop feeling sorry for her!
But Yinzhen was such a contradictory person. He knew that he was raised under the care of the Tongjia family because of Consort De's decision when he was young, but he still felt guilty about it. He also knew that Consort De favored Yinti, but he still held onto the hope that if he was good enough, his birth mother would value him more.
Qian Shengyan had also considered whether she could help ease the tension between Yinzhen and his mother, but after only a few visits to the palace, she understood Consort De's intentions and gave up on the idea.
At this moment, Qian Shengyan looked at Yinzhen again and felt that this prince was quite pitiful. He was not loved by his father or mother. Although he was chosen to succeed to the throne, he was questioned by millions of people for many years. In the end, he worked himself to death and did not get any good results. He might as well think more positively and live a few more years.
Yinzhen probably had some ideas of his own. After working for several days, in April, Kangxi took several princes to Rehe. Yinzhen stayed in the capital because he had to farm. This time, Kangxi finally took the thirteenth prince, Yinxiang, with him.
Before leaving, Yinxiang came to Yuanmingyuan to see Yinzhen. The two drank heavily and eventually Yinxiang got so drunk that he was unconscious. He just held Yinzhen's hand and kept crying, saying that he was incompetent, talking about his mother, his sister, and the Zhaojia clan in the mansion. Yinzhen was moved by what he heard. After having someone serve Yinxiang to stay overnight, he went to Taohuawu.
It was late at night, and Qian Shengyan was half asleep when she suddenly felt someone sitting next to her. She barely opened her eyes and glanced at them, only to find a familiar figure before falling back asleep.
She didn't know what Yinzhen was thinking, only that after he came to see her, he went to see Lady Li in the morning and then had a meal at Lady Ulanara's place.
A few days later, Yinzhen arrived at Peach Blossom Village drunk and pounced on Qian Shengyan as soon as he entered.
At that time, she was still helping Fuerguochun make knots. Unexpectedly, Yinzhen didn't see the child at all and came up so intimately. The little girl giggled and led Qingxue and the others out. Qian Shengyan carried the huge Prince Yong and settled him on the bed.
Qian Shengyan was sweating profusely as she wiped his face, changed his clothes, washed his hands, and fed him tea. Just as she sat down, Yinzhen grabbed her hand and mumbled, "Your Majesty... has written a memorial... requesting the establishment of an heir..."
Qian Shengyan's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't ask anything, only saying, "It's only right."
“Hongshi…is about to get married…after all, he is the eldest son and has done nothing wrong…” Yinzhen said slowly with his eyes closed, “If we don’t petition for his succession, I’m afraid others will think…”
He didn't say what he thought it was because.
Qian Shengyan understood.
There are now three princes in total. The other two have submitted memorials together requesting that their children be designated as heirs, but Yinzhen has not made any move. In the eyes of others, this might lead them to say that he has ulterior motives, or that... Hongshi is not worthy.
After all, Hongshi is already seventeen this year and will be getting married soon. Even so, just to give him face, Yinzhen will also submit a memorial.
Perhaps Yinzhen didn't spend the most time with his son Hongshi, but Hongshi was, after all, the eldest son who had grown up. Yinzhen's behavior shouldn't be left to others to judge. Indeed, as Yinzhen said, Hongshi's behavior wasn't particularly wrong, and he was qualified to be a prince's heir.
Because Qian Shengyan knew that Yinzhen's future was not limited to this Yongqin Prince's Mansion, and she had no hope for becoming the heir apparent, she still felt somewhat...uncomfortable after hearing what Yinzhen said.
The main problem was that she didn't know how to bring it up with Hongli.
Although the two children were brothers, they had not grown up together since childhood and were quite far apart in age. She had never talked to Hongli about this older brother, and because she assumed that Hongli would become the emperor in the future, Qian Shengyan always felt that Hongshi and Hongli were not comparable.
You always think your own child is the best, but suddenly, someone else's child is a grade higher than your own. Anyone would feel uncomfortable that way.
Qian Shengyan lowered her eyes. She didn't know how this matter would end. Although according to later records, no heir was established in the Yong Prince's Mansion that year, what if something changed? Moreover, in later speculations, there was a theory that Hongshi was originally the heir, but this record was deleted after Hongli ascended the throne.
She couldn't tell right from wrong, truth from falsehood, but at that moment she decisively let go of the scoundrel's hand and ignored him.
This damned feudal society, why did it have to divide people into first, second, and third classes? Bah!
"Yan Yan..." Yinzhen couldn't catch her, so he started calling her with his eyes closed. Qian Shengyan snorted and stood by the bed, looking down at him.
He touched the hem of her skirt, but wasn't angry; he just held it in his hand and said, "Master...I'm not reconciled..."
He mumbled incoherently, clearly drunk, yet still insisted on keeping nine parts of his drink. Qian Shengyan listened without replying.
This is the trust Prince Yong has shown you. He will tell you in advance if there is anything to say, and he will come to you when he is drunk, but no matter how confused he is, he will not say a word to you about things he shouldn't say.
Qian Shengyan chuckled softly and looked up at the moon outside the window.
Summer of the 59th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign was approaching.
On May 25th, after struggling for two days, "Ms. Nian" gave birth to a baby boy, but because she was too weak, she did not bring him out to show everyone.
However, Yinzhen personally visited Lady Nian and her child in the delivery room and named the child "Fuyi," expressing his deep hopes for the child.
Before everyone's eyes could leave the fragrant orchids reflected in the water, in early June, Yinzhen submitted a memorial requesting that his eldest son, Hongshi, be made heir apparent.
Before the memorial could even leave the capital, everyone's attention was drawn to Ri Tian Lin Yu.
Recently, Li has been walking with a brisk pace, no longer crying or making a fuss, and her voice has even become louder. Just a few days ago she was criticizing Nian, but now she is beaming with joy and extremely energetic.
When Qian Shengyan saw her again, she vaguely felt as if she were seeing Li Shi from the year she first entered the Prince's Mansion. She was hypocritical and proud, smug and arrogant. When she sat there talking to Ulanara, her tone was high-pitched, obviously very happy.
In comparison, Peach Blossom Village has been much more low-key lately. Qian Shengyan has almost never left her room, and even Hongli spends his days either reading in his study or practicing his archery skills, rarely seeing the women in the backyard. Even if Li wanted to show off, she couldn't find an opportunity. After holding back for a few times, she managed to suppress her feelings.
At this time, Ulanara was not concerned about establishing an heir. Since she had no son, it didn't matter to her who she chose.
Her only worry now is that if Qian Shengyan truly falls out of favor, and the Nian family gains absolute power, things will become troublesome.
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