"Moreover, Lady Nian... should be the one with the best family background among us." Lady Ulanara gave a bitter smile, "My lord begged the Emperor to appoint her as a secondary consort..."
Having said all that, Qian Shengyan realized that Ulanara's recent restraint was not entirely due to her confinement.
I suppose I was still hurt by the Nian family's actions.
The concubine was similar to the secondary wife in Han Chinese society. Although she dared not be on equal footing with the principal wife, she was not much different from her.
Lady Nian was young and beautiful, and had two capable older brothers. It was the prince who personally sought her out. Lady Ulanara probably felt a great threat, which is why she changed her personality.
The reason he came to Qian Shengyan to say these things is probably to try and get some support from her, hoping to put Qian Shengyan against the Nian family.
Qian Shengyan smiled but didn't reply.
Speaking of the Nian family, she felt a little uncomfortable, but... who that bastard likes is none of her business.
Her son is Emperor Qianlong!
...That's all she can tell herself now.
However, Qian Shengyan felt that Lady Nian was not without flaws. Her family background could be her advantage or her fatal weakness. Today, Yinzhen would value her because he needed help, but would he still treat her so well in the future if he felt that his power was being challenged?
Qian Shengyan wasn't in a hurry to deal with Nian Shi; she wanted to get rid of Li Shi right now.
There are two spots for a concubine, so why can't Qian Shengyan have one? Why should a fool like Li Shi ride roughshod over her, even bullying her son?
Yuan Shou is still young and raised in the courtyard, so she hasn't met Hong Shi yet. If she grows up and Yin Zhen becomes interested in having the brothers study together, what will happen if she is still a princess and Hong Shi bullies her?
Qian Shengyan had no hope whatsoever for that brat.
Ulanara said, "If we're talking about beauty, I think you're already stunningly beautiful."
Qian Shengyan: ...
They're still not giving up.
Her eyes darted around, and she sighed softly, saying with a hint of grievance, "It's a pity that I can only ever be a servant, unlike Consort Nian, who became a consort the moment she entered the manor..."
We're not on equal footing! Do you understand, Madam?
If you want to use me as a pawn against the Nian family, at least give me some benefits, right?
Ulanara smiled and said, "Now that you're in charge of such a large palace, why would you care about those empty titles? In my opinion, in a few days, we'll have another concubine in our household."
Qian Shengyan: ...
To think that a mere concubine could get rid of her, Ulanara really dared to think that way.
However, Qian Shengyan knew that it was a pipe dream to bring down the Li family and take their place, so she just smiled and said nothing more.
Ahead, Yinzhen seemed to have guessed several riddles, and Yuanshou was clapping his hands happily, while Hongshi on the other side clearly didn't want to see Yinzhen and had already run around in circles.
Qian Shengyan suddenly remembered someone. She looked around but couldn't find her, so she asked Ulanara, "Where is the Third Princess?"
"She prefers quiet, so she probably went back just now." Ulanara didn't care about Li's daughter, and indeed, there was no need for her to.
Even princesses in the palace were destined to be sent to Mongolia. Whether there was one more or one less was just a matter of seniority, it didn't matter.
Qian Shengyan responded, but Ulanara nudged her, saying, "Aren't you going to see your son?"
Qian Shengyan: ...
Okay, so this is to make her compete for the emperor's favor.
Qian Shengyan didn't care. Geng Shi was pregnant and didn't come. Wu Shi and Song Shi were like invisible people. Li Shi went to chase after Hong Shi. So she walked quickly to Yinzhen's side without hesitation and reached out to take Yuan Shou: "Your Majesty, Yuan Shou is quite heavy now. Let me carry him."
"Don't refer to yourself as a slave anymore." But Yinzhen blurted out something completely irrelevant. "Just call yourself a concubine."
Qian Shengyan didn't react for a moment: "Ah..."
"How could you be so stupid!" Yinzhen blurted out again, looking at her with an expression of utter disappointment. "Does it have to be so...realistic?"
Qian Shengyan: ?
"Even if you change your self-reference, can I say anything to you? You have to keep calling yourself a servant." Yinzhen was both angry and heartbroken. Hongshi's words still hit him where it hurt.
He could plead for Li Shi to be made a secondary consort for his son's sake, so naturally he couldn't let Yuan Shou suffer any injustice.
If it weren't for the fact that there was no precedent in the court, and even the Crown Prince only had two concubines, Yinzhen would have wanted to request a title for Qian Shengyan.
Qian Shengyan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled somewhat shyly, "It is my great fortune to be able to serve you, Master..."
"Return me a servant?" Yinzhen glared at her. Qian Shengyan bit her lip and whispered, "Then, then this concubine thanks Your Highness."
"Hmm." Yinzhen glanced around and saw that everyone was probably looking at the lanterns or the ice sculptures and no one was paying attention to them. He quickly raised his hand and pinched Qian Shengyan's cheek, then casually withdrew his hand and continued walking forward with Yuanshou in his arms. "I have guessed three riddles. You will personally move the tiger, the horse and the rooster to the front yard later."
Qian Shengyan: ?
She immediately rushed over and hugged Yinzhen's arm, shaking it: "This concubine doesn't have that ability, this ice sculpture is heavier than me..."
"Really?" Yinzhen suddenly seemed to remember something and smiled slightly. "Then I'll try it out later and see who's heavier."
Qian Shengyan: ?
For some reason, she felt a little embarrassed, but she didn't know what to say. She just gave Yinzhen a reproachful look, but he grabbed her hand and gave it a light pinch.
Soon, everyone was about to disperse. Qian Shengyan carried Yuanshou back, and Yinzhen nodded to her before returning to the main courtyard with Ulanara.
Qian Shengyan wasn't in a hurry. She first had someone send the three animal ice sculptures chosen by Yinzhen to the front courtyard. She also specifically asked the eunuch who made the ice sculptures to guard them so they wouldn't get bumped or damaged. Then she arranged a series of cleanup matters before taking Yuanshou, who was almost asleep, back to Dongyou Courtyard.
Yinzhen, after leaving the main courtyard, went straight to the Fulu Courtyard.
Li, who had been having a bad night, was scolding the chickens and dogs when she suddenly heard that the prince had arrived. She was overjoyed and went out to greet him: "Your Highness!"
"Hmm." Yinzhen was taken aback when he saw that she was still wearing that light blue cheongsam. "Why haven't you changed your clothes after being back for so long?"
"Ah, Your Highness, would Your Highness like to change your clothes?" Li was overjoyed and immediately called for someone to fetch the pajamas that Yinzhen had left there, but Yinzhen waved his hand and said, "No need."
Lady Li was taken aback, and then heard Yinzhen continue, "Before the New Year, I invited a famous teacher for Hongshi. He came a few days ago and tested Hongshi's knowledge."
As he spoke, he pulled a thick letter from his pocket: "Hongshi is already seven years old, but his knowledge is so shallow. What do you teach your son every day?"
Yinzhen's tone wasn't harsh, but Li Shi blushed immediately. Remembering what Hongshi had said about Yuanshou, she quickly retorted, "Your Highness, I'm just a woman confined to the inner quarters; how could I possibly know anything about learning? If Your Highness is truly so inclined, you should spend more time teaching Hongshi!"
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