According to what I heard, it was already late when Yinzhen left the main courtyard last night. Geng Shi, dressed in a beautiful manner, was waiting on the only way from the main courtyard to the front courtyard. What else could she be planning if not to intercept Yinzhen's favor?
But how could Geng's timing be so precise?
Green Smoke understood the key to this situation and realized: "It's the concubine..."
"The concubine has long wanted to promote Consort Geng and share the Consort's favor," Green Willow chimed in.
Qian Shengyan remained noncommittal, and she didn't feel particularly favored. Perhaps it was because Yinzhen wasn't interested in women, and the so-called "favor" he showed was really minimal.
As long as Qian Shengyan is open-minded, Qingxue is not worried. Geng has been in the Prince's mansion for nearly ten years. Because of her youth, she has been favored several times, but the Prince is not warm towards her.
Of course, the prince himself is not a very warm person. Even with Qian Shengyan, he only interacts with her normally, but it is already quite rare.
Dongyou Courtyard remained unaffected by the turmoil, and everyone continued their peaceful lives as usual. Because of the harsh winter, Qian Shengyan rarely went out, spending her time either indoors playing with the chubby boy, reading plays, or preparing delicious food and drinks for herself and the boy, filling the entire Dongyou Courtyard with a sweet aroma every day.
Unfortunately, no matter how sweet and fragrant it was, only a few maids followed to smell it. For more than half a month, Yinzhen did not set foot in the backyard, and even the children did not come to see him.
Qingxue was eager to inquire, but Qian Shengyan stopped her.
As she peeled the roasted chestnuts, she said slowly, "Our prince is a man of great things; he can't be confined to the backyard every day. It's almost the New Year, so the palace must be very busy."
“What Princess says is true,” Qingxue replied, but she still couldn’t sit still. However, the news quickly reached everyone’s ears without her having to ask.
The crown prince was subjected to a large-scale impeachment.
At this time, the Crown Prince, the Second Prince Yinreng, had already been deposed once and then reinstated by Kangxi. He was already in a weak position, and this time he was accused of forming a clique for personal gain. Although Kangxi did not say anything, he ordered a thorough investigation of several ministers who had formed a clique with Yinreng for personal gain.
Because of the constant comings and goings of the Imperial Guards, the entire capital city had a rather bleak and desolate atmosphere. In addition, the weather was not cooperating. On the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, the eve of the Little New Year, a heavy snow fell at the end of the fiftieth year of Kangxi's reign.
On the day before the Lunar New Year following the snowfall, Yinzhen finally arrived at the backyard after a month's absence. However, he was abruptly interrupted before he could even sit down and have a cup of tea with Qian Shengyan.
News came from Fuluyuan that Princess Geng was pregnant, just over a month along.
The usually arrogant Chief Eunuch Su was now kneeling on the ground, not daring to look at Yinzhen's face. The little eunuch who came to deliver the news was even more trembling, lying prostrate at the doorway, not daring to take another step closer.
Standing behind Qian Shengyan, Qingxue wished she could curse in her heart—the prince had finally come, and they even got such "good" news. If the prince lost his temper, wouldn't it be Dongyou Courtyard that would suffer the consequences?
The protagonist of the accident, Yinzhen, was drinking tea. The steam made it even harder to see the expression on his face.
Qian Shengyan covered her mouth in surprise, then her eyes darted around. After calculating the number of Yongzheng's children, she realized that this child... would probably be difficult to conceive.
She didn't say anything casually, but took the teacup that Yinzhen had used, handed him a pastry, and changed the subject with a smile: "It's a good thing, Your Highness can try this wedding cake, it's quite fitting."
Everyone knows how this child came to be. Originally, a pregnancy in the inner palace would be a joyous occasion, but because of Yinzhen's aversion, it's likely that neither Lady Geng nor the child will be favored.
But he's still just a child.
Because of the many preferential treatments that little chubby Yuan Shou received, Qian Shengyan understood even more what the child meant to Yinzhen. She also knew that even if Yinzhen disliked Geng Gege, having another child was still a happy event.
Sure enough, Yinzhen took the round, sweet red bean paste cake, took a bite, glanced at her sideways, and said in a tone that was neither happy nor angry: "You know how to be clever."
"Hehe." Qian Shengyan smiled and handed over the milk tea she had been researching recently—it was actually just milk, black tea, honey, and a little brown sugar. She said, "Your Highness, try this tea. It's fragrant and sweet, and it's delicious."
Su Peisheng stiffened slightly. He really, really wanted to tell this Princess Qian that the Prince truly didn't like sweets...
But Yinzhen took it, tasted it, and said, "It's acceptable." He then drank two more sips, and only after finishing most of the cup of milk tea did he say, "Please ask Doctor Zhou to go to Fuluyuan to take a look."
"Yes!" Su Peisheng quickly replied, got up, and backed out the door.
He wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and kicked the little eunuch who was still lying at the door: "Didn't you hear what the prince said? Hurry up and go!"
As for him? He won't go; he'll stay at the Dongyou Temple.
What does it matter if Geng Gege has a child? Even if the child is born, it probably won't be as valuable as a single hair on Qian Gege's head.
Yinzhen spent the whole day at Qian Shengyan's place, sitting in the warm and cozy room watching his chubby son perform fancy wrestling, and even tasting the new dishes she had developed recently—although most of them were sweet, Yinzhen still ate them to show his respect.
After dinner, Qian Shengyan saw him still lazily lying on the couch reading a book and couldn't help but ask, "Isn't Your Highness going to see the Third Prince?"
“I went to see him this morning,” Yinzhen said, then added, “I’ve found a tutor for Hongshi, and he will come to the manor after the New Year.”
Qian Shengyan responded, but unexpectedly, Yinzhen suddenly sat up, took her hand and pondered for a long time before saying, "The First Lady is not well, and the Second Lady has to take care of Lady Geng. If you have time, you can go and see the Third Prince."
Qian Shengyan: Huh??
What the heck? Why are they sending her to see the Third Prince?
Qian Shengyan's puzzled expression amused Yinzhen, who then smiled and called out to Su Peisheng. He had someone bring over a sandalwood box and handed it to Qian Shengyan, saying, "There are many things to do during the New Year holidays. The other day, my wife told me that she wanted to ask you to help with some of the arrangements."
Qian Shengyan: ? ? ? ?
Did she hear that right? The Princess Consort wants her to help manage the affairs of the household??
Which woman would willingly relinquish such power as a housekeeper?!
And don't think she doesn't know that in the past month, the Prince and his wife have had absolutely no contact!
Qian Shengyan grasped Yinzhen's hand in return, solemnly reminding him, "Your Highness, this servant... is just a princess!"
She's just a little princess, yet she wants to interfere in teaching the princes and managing the affairs of the household?
No way!
"Yuanshou is still young, and this servant doesn't understand these things..." Qian Shengyan really didn't want to get her hands on this hot potato. Whether she could manage it well or not was another matter. If she really dared to touch it, Ulanara and Li would tear her apart.
Yinzhen, however, had already made up his mind: "Yuanshou is being raised very well, and with a wet nurse, it won't take too much effort; as for anything else... if there's anything you don't understand, you can ask Granny Lin."
Qian Shengyan knew about Granny Lin; that old lady was Yinzhen's wet nurse, having served him from the prince's residence to the Fourth Prince's residence, and now she was a powerful figure in the Yong Prince's residence. She had no desire to associate with her.
She desperately tried to push the box back, pleading pitifully, "Master..."
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