It is said that the Fourth Prince likes it, but isn't the Fourth Prince's preference also influenced by his mother, Qian Shengyan?
Having spent the past six months alone with Qian Shengyan, Yinzhen was influenced by her and she figured him out, inevitably leading to a mixture of their preferences.
The porridge they drank for dinner was the yam and goji berry porridge that Qian Shengyan loved most in the spring. Influenced by her, Hongli also liked it.
Yinzhen himself originally disliked these sticky porridges, but Qian Shengyan insisted that yams were good for the spleen and stomach at this time of year and were suitable to eat more of, so she often urged him to drink some as well. Gradually, Yinzhen got used to being fed them.
Habits are truly terrifying things; in less than a year, they can change what he had persisted in for over thirty years.
But he was actually quite happy with it.
Yinzhen shook his head and slowly finished the food on the table. When Su Peisheng had someone clean up the table and came to ask him if he had gone to bed, Yinzhen realized that Lady Nian had not left yet.
He shook his head slightly, a hint of annoyance in his voice: "I'll stay in the study tonight."
The study naturally had a bed for a short rest, and Su Peisheng immediately had someone make up the bed. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly heard Yinzhen say, "Send someone to Pianyun Shujuan Hall to inform them."
say what?
Su Peisheng didn't understand at first, but seeing that Yinzhen didn't intend to explain, he shut his mouth and went to prepare the prince's toiletries.
The commotion in the study naturally did not escape the notice of the main hall. The moment Madam Nian learned that Yinzhen had already called for water to wash up in the study, her face turned deathly pale.
She looked at Granny Wei, trembling, her lips shaking, unsure of what to say. Granny Wei felt a pang of sympathy for her, but dared not speak ill of the Prince. She could only hold her mistress tightly, saying, "Wait...wait and send a letter to the Second Master, so he can have a proper talk with the Prince..."
"Granny...Does the Prince hate me that much...?" Before Nian could finish her sentence, tears streamed down her face.
Even though it was disrespectful, Granny Wei began to have some complaints about Prince Yong in her heart, but she couldn't say it. She only said, "Perhaps the prince is worried that the epidemic has not passed and the young lady is still weak. The prince is thinking of the young lady."
The idea that Wei Mama came up with in a moment of inspiration seemed reasonable to her, and she continued to persuade her, "Miss, didn't you see that the Prince didn't go to see the Fourth Prince and the Little Princess? It's obvious that he's afraid of bringing his illness with him. Miss, you've been suffering in the winter, and you're only getting a little better because the Prince is considerate of you."
"Really..." Lady Nian murmured. She wasn't completely oblivious; she could sense whether Yinzhen was being considerate or indifferent towards her. But sometimes, people have to deceive themselves to survive.
She took a few deep breaths: "Wouldn't it be very inappropriate for me to stay here like this?"
"The prince hasn't said anything, so he must be worried about Miss. Miss can stay here." Granny Wei had other plans in mind.
If the prince doesn't come today, and doesn't come tomorrow, does he think he won't come the day after tomorrow or the day after that? As long as Lady Nian lives at Dongshan Academy, she will be able to consummate her marriage with the prince one day.
Since the prince hasn't given any orders, it's only natural for Lady Nian, as a secondary consort, to live with him. What does it matter if the servants in the garden gossip about her? It's better than returning to the capital still being a virgin.
That would be truly shameful.
After being persuaded to go to sleep, Lady Nian was quiet in the study. Su Peisheng stood guard outside the study door, still thinking about what Yinzhen had just said.
Tell him to go to Pianyun Shujuan Palace and say something. What should he say?
Did he say he'd finished his midnight snack? Or, to be even bolder, did he say the prince missed Master Qian, the Fourth Prince, and the little princess?
But someone will report back when the food box is taken back. As for missing someone... what is there to be confused about looking across the stream this afternoon?
Su Peisheng couldn't figure it out, but since the prince had given the order, he had to go. He summoned Zhang Qilin and Zhang Defu to temporarily guard the entrance for him, while he headed towards the Pianyun Shujuan Palace, still deep in thought.
As for why no one else was allowed to come...
Su Peisheng himself didn't know what to say, so how could he explain it to others?
I'll have to make the trip myself.
Fortunately, Qian Shengyan had not yet rested. Upon hearing the report, she went to the corridor of the main hall, lit a lantern, and spoke to Su Peisheng from a distance of three steps.
“Master Qian, His Highness has sent me to inform you that His Highness has eaten the porridge for dinner and also had the midnight snack. Please rest assured, Master Qian.” Su Peisheng decided to start with this matter.
Qian Shengyan had already received her reward, so she was a little puzzled. She thanked him politely and asked, "Why would such a small matter require Steward Su to make a trip in the middle of the night?"
Su Peisheng thought to himself, "I don't know either. If I knew, I wouldn't have come." But he still said respectfully, "It is my honor to be able to relay a message for Master Qian on behalf of the Prince."
Qian Shengyan didn't dare to reward Su Peisheng with gold or silver—she wasn't even qualified to do so. She simply said, "I made a fresh dessert here today. If Steward Su doesn't mind, please take it and have a taste."
Two plates of fresh pastries were served. Qingxue personally packed them, handed them to Su Peisheng, and gave him a slight bow.
Su Peisheng bowed his head and smiled as he thanked him for the reward.
Qian Shengyan was bewildered, and Su Peisheng seemed equally confused. However, Qingxue, having come from the inner palace, knew more about its intricacies. Seeing that the two had been chatting for a while without getting to the point, she took the opportunity of handing over some snacks to casually ask, "I happened to see Consort Nian when I went to Dongshan Academy this afternoon. I wonder what kind of snacks she likes?"
These words left Qian Shengyan both puzzled and heartbroken, wondering if she had to prepare food for Nian Shi as well.
Su Peisheng, however, suddenly understood what the prince had asked him to say!
So that's what it is! The prince is trying to... show his loyalty to Master Qian!
Although he couldn't understand the prince's intentions, Su Peisheng finally got it. He gave Qingxue a grateful look, otherwise, if the matter wasn't explained clearly, his trip would have been in vain, and he would be blamed for not doing a good job if the prince asked about it later.
He immediately smiled and said, "It seems that Consort Nian has already gone to sleep. When I came, I saw that the lights in the main hall were all off. I will take this snack to the study for His Highness. His Highness still has official business to attend to and I don't know when he will be able to rest. It's good that Master Qian thought of this, so that His Highness can have something to eat when he gets hungry."
Qian Shengyan was taken aback: "Huh...?"
Lady Nian was asleep in the main hall, while Yinzhen was still busy in the study.
What does this mean? How come these two people are living separately even though they're in the same palace?
Or should we wait until Yinzhen is finished with his work before going to see Lady Nian? That... isn't a good idea...
She saw Su Peisheng off, puzzled, then turned to see Qingxue looking quite pleased. She asked, "...What does Your Highness mean by this?"
Qingxue was stunned at first, then she was both amused and exasperated. It seemed that the prince rarely cared about her mistress. He was afraid that she would be jealous if she stayed in the palace, so he had to send someone to tell her. But her mistress just didn't get it.
“My good mistress…” Qingxue said helplessly. She had seen concubines who were favored for a time, but such favor did not last long. After thinking about it, she talked to Qian Shengyan for a while and then said, “But in my opinion, mistress should take a step back and let the concubine consummate the marriage.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
