Qian Shengyan's eyes widened: "Folgochun is only twelve years old?!"
No, after Hongli's birthday was changed, Foerguochun was also forced to be half a year younger. So, the little girl is not even twelve years old!
What are you talking about marriage with a kid who's only in middle school?!
“Hmm, the families we chose for her before now seem a bit lacking…” Yinzhen and Qian Shengyan sat side by side, retrieving all the important officials from their minds, and then considering whether each family had a prince of suitable age. He couldn’t be the eldest son of the legitimate wife, nor could he be a son of an illegitimate wife. He had to be of good character and well-read…
After much deliberation, no suitable candidate came along. Yinzhen sighed and buried his head in Qian Shengyan's neck: "Let's continue having princes next time. Choosing a consort is too difficult."
Qian Shengyan: ...
She nudged Yinzhen's big head: "Can't we let Fuerguochun choose for herself?" After saying that, she paused for a moment, "I don't expect Fuerguochun to find a very prominent consort. I just hope that she can live a peaceful, smooth, happy life."
Yinzhen seemed somewhat moved: "Very well... then let it be as you wish, let Folgochun choose for himself."
"I'd better postpone her marriage... Hongshan will be moving to the Southern Third Palace when he's three, and I'll only have Fuerguochun left by my side..." Qian Shengyan thought, her eyes welling up with tears. "Look, Hongli won't even let me hold him anymore..."
Yinzhen: ...
Yinzhen was both amused and exasperated: "Hongli is already fourteen, how can he still..." Hearing Qian Shengyan cry out, Yinzhen quickly said, "Alright, alright, since I only have this one princess waiting to be married off, let her marry later." After a pause, he added, "How about I choose a place near the palace gate for Fuerguochun to build her princess's residence?"
"Mmm." This time, Qian Shengyan buried her face in Yinzhen's arms and rubbed against him.
After a moment, Yinzhen sighed again, "Tell Foerguochun to eat less..."
Qian Shengyan: ? ? ?
“Folguochun isn’t fat! She’s still growing!” Qian Shengyan complained, whining in his arms, “Is the Emperor so incapable of even providing a meal for us, mother and daughter…”
Yinzhen chuckled, rolled over and pinned her down: "Mind your own business, how about that? Tomorrow I'll send someone skilled in making pastries to your small kitchen. Don't move, let me have a bite first..."
The next day, Yinzhen took advantage of his free time to take out a map of the capital and carefully selected a place far from the Forbidden City. He then ordered Hongli to supervise the construction of the princess's residence.
This imperial decree left the officials somewhat bewildered. At first, some thought it was intended to build a mansion for the Third Prince Hongshi, but upon hearing that it was built to the specifications of a Princess Gulun's mansion, they became even more uncertain.
It seems the Emperor doesn't want the Third Prince to live outside the palace.
So... there has always only been one adult prince who could live in the palace, and his residence was the Eastern Palace...
But Hongshi is still under house arrest, and he can't see anyone except his tutor. Even if some officials want to curry favor with him, they can't do it.
Pian Hongshi completely misunderstood Yinzhen's thoughts. He couldn't get out, which annoyed him greatly. When he lost his temper, he smashed the entire study. But when the eunuch Jinzhong, who was serving him, mentioned the emperor, he knelt down and cried loudly, no longer daring to cause trouble.
Hongli stood in his courtyard, listening to the daily commotion from next door, and couldn't help but shake his head.
"Fourth Brother, are you going out of the palace today? Take me with you, I want to go see it too!" Ferguchun skipped in. "Did you see the map Father Emperor drew for my residence? Hahaha, did you see that garden? Isn't it bigger than the Imperial Garden?"
"Hmph, so eager to leave the palace? Should I go and tell Father Emperor that you should get married soon?" Hongli said, feigning anger.
Fuerguochun didn't care. She grinned and made a face: "My mother told me that I can choose my own husband in the future. I'm not in a hurry. I want to live in the mansion by myself for a few years after it's built!"
"..." Hongli was speechless, and even felt a little envious. He simply reached out and pinched Foerguochun's cheek. "Dream on."
In Hongli's eyes, Fuerguochun was a princess who was truly pampered and raised. Because of her mother's protection, Fuerguochun had never suffered any grievances. In addition, after her fourth sister got married, Fuerguochun became the only princess in the mansion. She was also young, so no one would really hold anything against her. Even her father, the Emperor, did not have any demands on her.
She was lucky, but wasn't I lucky too?
"Fourth Brother, shall we go?" Foerguochun pleaded, shaking Hongli's sleeve. Hongli smiled and said, "If I leave the palace, I will definitely take you with me."
Fuerguochun's eyes lit up, and Hongli added, "It's a pity I won't leave the palace today."
Folgochun's smile vanished instantly; she was furious, stomping her foot and yelling, "Fourth Brother!!!"
"I'm not trying to fool you..." Hongli thought for a moment and then told her the truth, "Nian Gengyao is probably returning to the capital today, so I probably won't be leaving the palace anytime soon."
"Nian Gengyao?" Foerguchun was taken aback. "I feel like I've heard that name before?"
"...You..." Hongli sighed helplessly and explained to her in detail, "He is Consort Hua's brother, General Nian. He pacified Qinghai and is returning to the capital to receive his reward."
"Consort Hua's brother? I see!" Foerguochun wasn't really stupid. She said unhappily, "Then Mother will definitely tell me to be careful and not to leave Yongshou Palace casually, hmph!"
"You stay with your mother and don't go out unless necessary." Hongli was thoughtful. He could tell that although his father, the Emperor, had a special affection for his mother, the Empress, Consort Hua, and the mothers of the other two princes were also on his father's list.
Now that his father needs Nian Gengyao, he will naturally favor Consort Hua. His mother is already favored and has a son, and there is still a long time ahead of her. There is really no need to confront her head-on at this time.
"Why can't we go out! This palace isn't hers!" the little princess protested. "She's a Noble Consort, and so is her mother. We can go out, we can go out!"
Hongli sighed, "Don't be ridiculous, don't pester your mother. Consort Hua is very powerful right now, your mother can give way first..."
Folgochun angrily interrupted him, "How could you say that! That's our mother! How could you not side with her? Humph!"
After saying that, the little girl ran away angrily. Hongli chased after her for a few steps, wanting to explain, but Foerguchun ran too fast, and he really had other things to do, so he could only let it go and thought he would explain when he went to pay his respects to his mother in the evening.
Foerguochun ran back to Yongshou Palace in one breath. When she saw Qian Shengyan, her eyes reddened. She said aggrievedly, "Fourth Brother is too bad! Mother will never talk to Fourth Brother again!"
Qian Shengyan: ?
Before she could even ask what was wrong, Hongshan slowly walked over, glanced at Foerguochun's heartbroken expression, and immediately frowned, saying, "Fourth Brother is bad!"
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