Qian Shengyan naturally knew who her future daughter-in-law was, and judging by the time, they should meet in a little over a year.
But seeing that her son was having such thoughts, Qian Shengyan wanted to tease him: "So what about you? What kind of wife do you want?"
“Someone who’s sensible,” Hongli said without hesitation. “Just don’t cause trouble.”
Qian Shengyan: ...
Forget it, what's with all this talk about getting to the bottom of things? She rolled her eyes at Hongli, annoyed. "A wife is meant to be pampered, what do you mean by 'don't cause trouble'?"
But then she thought about it again. Her son, Hongli, would one day become the Qianlong Emperor. Not to mention the many romantic entanglements he left behind during his three trips to the south, just looking at the concubines and children in the harem, this child didn't seem like someone who was pure and indifferent to worldly desires.
It's completely different from how he is now, with limited curiosity about even the Fujin (wife of the emperor).
Forget it, don't be fooled by this kid's stubbornness now, we'll see when we meet.
The two exchanged a few more words, and Hongli brought up Foerguochun: "I just saw Foerguochun come back from outside. Why did he go out so early in the morning?"
Qian Shengyan was unaware of this matter. She glanced at Qingxue, who then bowed and explained, "The Emperor had not yet risen this morning when the Princess came to find you, saying she wanted to go outside to watch the sunrise. I was afraid of disturbing the Emperor, so I did not dare to agree to the Princess's request."
"Why did you run off without saying goodbye? Go and call Ferguchun over." Qian Shengyan was a little angry.
Hongli felt that he had harmed his sister by complaining, so he quickly took his leave. However, before leaving, he remembered the "liveliness" that his brother had experienced that day and didn't want to go back. So he asked Qian Shengyan for permission to take Hongshan to play in the Imperial Garden.
Foerguochun arrived late, and upon arrival, she avoided Qian Shengyan's gaze: "Mother..."
"What did you do this morning?" Qian Shengyan asked directly, without beating around the bush.
Foergochun picked at his fingers and said, "Let's go...go see the sunrise."
"Where did you go?" Qian Shengyan continued to ask.
Folgochun opened her mouth, but didn't say anything. Instead, she snuggled closer to her and acted coquettishly, "Mother~~~"
"Hmm?" Qian Shengyan wasn't having any fun with her obedient behavior. She pinched and tugged at her ear a couple of times before saying, "His Majesty has been in a bad mood lately, and things aren't peaceful in the harem or the princes' quarters either. Why do you keep running around like this? Are you trying to make your mother worry to death?"
"Pah, pah, pah, what are you saying about dying so early in the morning, Mother?" Folgochun moved closer and smiled as she rubbed against Qian Shengyan, saying, "Mother, I want to leave the palace."
"no."
"Let's go and take a look at the princess's residence."
"That won't work either."
"Mother~~~"
"Go see Zhang Qinglan?" Qian Shengyan asked abruptly.
Fuerguochun nodded halfway before realizing something was wrong, and stared blankly at Qian Shengyan: "Mother... how did Mother know..."
"Hmph, you think you can hide your little schemes from your mother?" Qian Shengyan found it both amusing and hilarious.
What terrible things has she done to deserve this? Her eldest son is clueless about love, while her daughter is already dating at only thirteen. She really is…
That's way too early!
Qian Shengyan slammed her hand on the table in anger: "What's wrong with that kid? How old are you? How could he lure you out of the palace to play? I'll definitely ask Zhang Tingyu about how his family raises their children one of these days!"
"Mother!" Folgochun was both amused and exasperated, but she knew that her mother was mostly saying things in anger—how could a concubine possibly see her subjects?
But fearing that his mother would get really angry and take this to his father, the Emperor, Foerguchun quickly said, "Actually, he doesn't know..."
"What do you mean?" Qian Shengyan frowned.
“My daughter does think he’s a good man, but…” Folgochun’s face was flushed. “Oh dear, my daughter is still young, let’s wait a little longer.”
"So you went out so early in the morning?"
"I heard... I heard that he loves poetry and is good at painting, so I wanted to paint a picture of the sunrise over the Forbidden City. Next time, next time we meet..." Foerguchun was so embarrassed that she couldn't continue. She stamped her foot and was about to run away, "Oh, Mother! Don't ask anymore!"
"Come back!" Now that this door has been opened, Qian Shengyan is determined to get to the bottom of it. However, Fuerguochun is probably really shy and runs away very fast. Qian Shengyan chases after him for a few steps but fails to catch up. Instead, she encounters Su Peisheng, who says that the Emperor invites Consort Xi to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Hall of Mental Cultivation! He's such a grown man, what can't he handle himself? It's only when Folgochun is just beginning to experience love that he needs his mother's guidance!
Qian Shengyan, burning with anger, hurried towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation. She always entered through the north side gate, and this time was no exception. As soon as she entered, she heard Yinzhen's unhurried voice: "...order the Third Prince to sincerely reflect on his mistakes and pray for the ancestors in the Hall of Ancestral Worship..."
Is this drafting an imperial edict?
Qian Shengyan paused, glancing at Su Peisheng, who remained silent, seemingly lost in thought, neither advancing nor retreating.
"Let's leave it at that for now." Yinzhen's voice was very tired, followed by an unfamiliar voice: "Your Majesty, please reconsider. After all, the Third Prince is the eldest son of the Emperor. Isn't this punishment a bit too harsh?"
"My mind is made up," Yinzhen said calmly, then sighed. "Hongshi is young and unruly, and has acted recklessly. I have given him several chances, but he has not repented. This time, ordering him to repent in the Fengxian Hall is after much deliberation..."
"Father, I request an audience with you!"
Before Yinzhen could finish speaking, a commotion arose outside. Interspersed among the noise were the cries of children, which startled Qian Shengyan, who was waiting behind him.
It was Hongli's voice, and Hongxu's crying!
She instinctively moved a few steps closer, and the next moment, the outer door was opened as well.
"Hongli?" Yinzhen was surprised. Hongli, who was holding the wailing Hongshan, walked in and knelt on the ground as soon as he entered.
He was always mature and composed, his baby face always calm and expressionless, but now his eyes were red and his expression was full of grief and indignation. There was also a gray mark on his face, and Hongshan, whom he was holding, was crying fiercely. There was also a wound on his fat forehead, and tears mixed with blood flowed down, making him look very pitiful.
Yinzhen was so frightened he couldn't sit still. He went over to take Hongshan and examine him, asking, "What's wrong?" He then looked at Su Peisheng, "Summon the imperial physician!"
"Father, please forgive me. I... I hit my third brother." Hongli's eyes were filled with tears, but he stubbornly refused to cry. "My third brother is still lying on the ground in front of his courtyard. Father, please send someone to check on him."
"What happened? How did Hongshan get hurt?" Qian Shengyan could no longer hold back and came out from the inner room. As soon as Hongshan saw her, he cried even harder, stretching out his two little hands, stained with blood and dirt, wanting her to hug him: "Mother, waaaaah, Mother..."
Qian Shengyan took the chubby baby with a pained expression. After hugging him, she first looked at the wound. Seeing that the cut was quite deep and mixed with mud and dirt, she frowned.
On the other side, Hongli, with tears in his eyes, recounted the whole story to Yinzhen: "Your Majesty, I took Hongshan to play in the Imperial Garden. Because Hongshan was very curious about the princes' quarters and said he wanted to go see them, I took him back to my own courtyard. Who knew that when we passed by my third brother's courtyard, we happened to run into him coming out..."
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