Qian Shengyan is even quite regretful lately, because this child wasn't part of her plan; it was just that one time, only that one time...
Who knew we'd win?
As far as she knew, a child was indeed born in May of the first year of Yongzheng's reign, but that was Prince Fupei, born to Consort Nian. However, Fupei died shortly after birth, and Qian Shengyan really didn't want to compare him to her own child.
She had originally planned to get pregnant around the time of the sixth prince Hongzhan's birth. She had a strange hope that the child she had miscarried before would come back to her, but that would be ten years later. Now, with this pregnancy...
Qian Shengyan placed her hand lightly on her stomach, her expression shifting between light and dark. However, the people sitting below did not associate her actions with pregnancy; instead, they all wore the same worried expressions.
After waiting for a day and a night at Wanfang Anhe, they actually caught a few petty thieves trying to escape at the garden gate. However, the martial law in the capital was very strict, and everything was in order, so there seemed to be no abnormalities.
On November 4th, Yinzhen ordered Prince Yinsi, the thirteenth prince Yinxiang, Grand Secretary Ma Qi, and Minister Longkodo to manage affairs. He summoned General Yinti, the Grand General of Pacification, back to the capital for the funeral.
In the evening, several carriages drove into the gate of Yuanmingyuan, and with them came Su Peisheng, whose status was now completely different.
Upon entering, Su Peisheng went straight to Wanfang Anhe. He first paid his respects to the masters and then said, "His Majesty ordered me to come and escort the masters back to the Prince's Mansion."
"Back to the Prince's residence? Not going to the palace?" Madam Geng asked instinctively, then realized her mistake. "No... that's not what I meant..."
“His Majesty is currently very busy with many affairs. I’m afraid you gentlemen will need to stay at your residence for a while longer. Once everything is arranged in the palace, we will invite you to come to the palace.” Su Peisheng was not angry. He just smiled and continued, “Gentlemen, please.”
Qian Shengyan nodded to Su Peisheng and took Fuerguochun to get into the carriage first. Shan Xiu also got into the second carriage with her child in her arms. Geng Shi and Guo Shi got in one after another. But when they arrived at the Yong Prince's Mansion and got off the carriage, they found that one was missing.
The carriage that Qian Shengyan was riding in did not stop at the entrance of the Prince's Mansion, but continued to travel towards the Forbidden City.
In an instant, everyone felt a mix of emotions. After entering the mansion and paying their respects to Lady Ulanara, Lady Ulanara learned that Qian Shengyan had already been brought into the palace by Yinzhen. She was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.
Sitting on the swaying carriage, Qian Shengyan, with a plum in her mouth, tried her best to answer Foerguochun's bizarre questions.
When Foerguchun asked what she was going to the palace for, whether it was to see Consort De, Qian Shengyan suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but sit up straight.
Consort De...
Yinzhen has another troublesome matter to deal with.
Historical records state that after Yinzhen ascended the throne, he wanted to honor his birth mother, Lady Uya, as Empress Dowager. However, Lady Uya not only expressed a negative attitude, saying, "I dare not hope for my son to be emperor, nor do I even dream of it," but she also firmly declined the title of Empress Dowager and refused to move to Shou Kang Palace to live out her old age according to the Qing Dynasty's ancestral system.
Because of Consort De's attitude, Yinzhen's throne has been criticized by later generations for many years, who believe that his throne was illegitimate, otherwise why would he not even acknowledge his birth mother?
Qian Shengyan gave a soft snort and began to think about how to deal with this Empress Dowager who refused to accept a title.
"Master Qian, we've arrived!"
Su Peisheng's voice rang out from outside the car. Qian Shengyan responded and stepped out of the car with Qingxue's hand, but was stunned.
This...this isn't Prince Yong's residence!
Red bricks and green tiles, winding paths—isn't this the Forbidden City?
"Master Qian, His Majesty is waiting for you!" Su Peisheng's voice was more obsequious than before. "Before I left, His Majesty repeatedly instructed me to make sure that Master Qian was properly brought into the palace!"
Qian Shengyan did not respond. She turned around and glanced back. There was only her own carriage parked beside the small gate of the Forbidden City.
It seems that Lady Geng and the others were sent back to the Prince's residence, but Yinzhen had her brought to the palace, though the reason is unknown.
It couldn't be that he misses her, could it?
Qian Shengyan gave a self-deprecating smile, took Qingxue's hand, and led Foerguochun step by step into the Forbidden City.
Su Peisheng led Qian Shengyan directly to a room in the West Warm Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and said with a smile, "The Fourth Prince will be here soon. What would you like for dinner, Your Highness? I will go and tell him."
"How could we trouble Eunuch Su? Little Shunzi, come along and familiarize yourself with the way." Qian Shengyan smiled politely as well.
Su Peisheng's smile became even more genuine. He bent down and led Xiao Shunzi out of the house. A moment later, Hongli strode in.
"Mother!"
However, after just one day apart, eleven-year-old Hongli seemed to have grown up a lot. But when he saw Qian Shengyan, he couldn't help but tug at her sleeve and act coquettishly, "Mother, your son missed you."
"Good boy." Qian Shengyan touched her son's forehead and asked him, "How have you been these past two days?"
"Your son is right, it's just that Father Emperor is so busy." After sitting down, Hongli recounted in detail what he had seen and heard in the past two days, and finally asked, "Mother, do you know why Father Emperor summoned you to the palace first?"
Qian Shengyan shook her head honestly; she truly didn't know.
Hongli sighed, knowing that no one would eavesdrop, but he still glanced at the door first, then leaned closer to Qian Shengyan and said, "Father Emperor is already very busy, and there are some difficult people to deal with. In the harem, Consort Yi, Consort Hui, and Consort Rong are all unwilling to move to another palace."
Qian Shengyan looked at Hongli with a head full of questions. This... the emperor has been replaced, and they are still staying in the new emperor's harem. Isn't that a bit awkward?
“The main problem is…” Hongli hesitated to say it, but it was even harder for Yinzhen to say it. Moreover, Qian Shengyan had come to resolve the issues in the harem. He scratched his face and said, “Empress De refuses to accept the title of Empress Dowager, refuses to move the palace, and… even wants to be buried alive with her grandfather…”
Qian Shengyan: ...
Good grief, it's starting already?
Hongli licked his lips, glanced at his younger sister's curious eyes, told her to cover her ears, and then lowered his voice to say, "Father Emperor asked Consort De, and she said... he needs to see Fourteenth Uncle before making a decision. Although Father Emperor has already issued an edict ordering Fourteenth Uncle to return to the capital for the funeral, it will take at least half a month to get here from Qinghai, and the New Year is just around the corner..."
Qian Shengyan understood. Yinzhen, with his impatient nature, probably wanted to get everything sorted out before the New Year, so that everything would be clear and orderly from the start of the first year of Yongzheng's reign, which was exactly what he liked.
Qian Shengyan sighed, about to say that there was nothing she could do, when she heard Hongli continue, sounding aggrieved, "I went to persuade Consort De, but not only did she not listen, she also slapped me..."
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