"What? Do you want me to get you an imperial decree to make you a concubine before you'll accept?"
Yinzhen raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone rising a few decibels, as if he were not joking.
Startled, Qian Shengyan went from pushing to pulling, clutching the box to her chest, then hurriedly stood up and bowed, saying, "Then, thank you, sir...?"
Yinzhen was amused by her uncertain tone. He helped her sit back on the couch before continuing, "It's nothing serious. Starting tomorrow, the gatekeeper will send over some invitations. You can sort them and reply to them. I just saw your calligraphy practiced. It's very good. You haven't fallen behind during this time. Replying to invitations is not shameful."
Qian Shengyan was numb, and simply said with a blank face, "Yes."
"In addition, there are some gifts to prepare for the New Year's festivals. You and Granny Lin can discuss and compile a gift list, and the rest can be handed over to Su Peisheng." As he spoke, Yinzhen took out a piece of paper from his bosom. "This is the list. Please draft it."
Qian Shengyan was almost in tears: "Master..."
Yinzhen was also helpless, so he simply stuffed the paper into her hand and went back to lying down to read his book.
Qian Shengyan sat there with a bitter face for a while, then remembered to check what was in the box. When she opened it, she found it was a token of the Yong Prince's Mansion, used by servants to enter and exit. With this, not only could they enter and exit the front and back courtyards, they could practically run around the Yong Prince's Mansion at will.
When she realized what had happened, she was so frightened that her hand trembled and the box crashed onto the tatami mat.
Yinzhen glanced at her, and Qian Shengyan, ignoring him, got up and snuggled into his arms: "These won't do, really won't do, this servant can't... Master..."
Yinzhen was both amused and exasperated. This kind of power would have been given to any of the princesses, whether it was the pregnant Geng, the timid Song, or even the frail Wu, and they would have jumped for joy. But this one, whom he had taken a liking to, was being pushed back by him with all her might.
However, he also knew Qian Shengyan's concerns, and after hesitating for a moment, he said, "How about this, I will have Zhang Defu come to Dongyou Courtyard to be at your beck and call. You have to keep this pair of tokens... Do you want me to leave them in the front yard? But if there is anything, you can have Zhang Defu find someone in the front yard to handle it."
Qian Shengyan nodded hurriedly: "Okay, okay."
Yinzhen laughed again, raised his hand and patted her on the forehead: "Always causing trouble for your master."
“Master, Granny Lin is so experienced, perhaps…” Qian Shengyan wanted to push the matter away completely, but seeing the displeasure in Yinzhen’s eyes, she stopped herself and snuggled into his arms, “This servant is afraid that the list won’t be compiled well and will ruin things for you again…”
"Then you should learn from Granny Lin properly," Yinzhen sighed.
Originally, all these matters were handled by the Fujin (wife of the emperor), and he had no objections. However, the events of the previous period of time had indeed enraged him. The Fujin had actually dared to put medicine sent by the Ulanara family into his food.
Today's drugs are just stimulants; who knows what tomorrow's might be?
Yinzhen felt that he would never dare to eat anything from his wife's quarters again. What if one day she was tricked by the Ulanara family and poisoned to death, and the Fifth Prince took over as the prince? He would have nowhere to cry then.
Therefore, this time Yinzhen simply stripped his wife of her power, making her realize and understand which side she was on.
And the Li family...
To be honest, Yinzhen somewhat regretted asking for her to be made a secondary consort.
On that day, her rank was promoted out of consideration for Hongfen and Hongshi, to save face for the two princes. However, over the years, Li Shi has become increasingly foolish and arrogant, and Yinzhen has never dared to entrust her with any power of managing the household.
She can make a mess of a mere brothel like Fuluyuan, and now she's expected to manage the Prince's mansion?
He's not crazy.
Among the remaining princesses, only Qian Shengyan, who entered the mansion the latest, was considered a good one.
Yinzhen knew he was asking too much of her. Qian Shengyan had only been in the manor for a little over half a year, and probably hadn't even gotten to know everyone there yet. But there was nothing he could do. He was very busy before the New Year, and he couldn't possibly handle all the social duties with the women who came and went.
This year has been somewhat difficult for Qian Shengyan, but if she studies hard, she can be of great help in the future.
Moreover, because of Yuan Shou, Yinzhen couldn't let her remain just a minor princess forever...
Yinzhen thought a lot, but he didn't say anything. He just put his arm around Qian Shengyan's waist. He wanted to say "Thank you for your hard work", but when he felt the slenderness and softness under his hand, the man who hadn't been to the backyard for a month changed his tone and blurted out "You smell so good".
Qian Shengyan: ?
The whole thing, like a daytime announcement, is... kind of exciting.
Midway through, Qian Shengyan seemed to hear Yuan Shou calling her. She was still half asleep and tried to run away, but was pulled back by his waist...
When she woke up again, it was already completely dark. Yinzhen had one arm across her shoulder and was sitting next to her with his eyes closed, it was hard to tell whether he was awake or asleep.
She tried to move, and felt okay. Apart from some soreness, it wasn't too unbearable. But when she tried to call out for someone, she found her throat was a little hoarse. She coughed lightly, feeling a little embarrassed, and then heard Yinzhen's clear voice: "Awake?"
"Hmm..." Qian Shengyan coughed twice more. Yinzhen casually picked up the teacup from the bedside and fed her half a bowl of warm tea: "Are you still feeling unwell?"
"No, I don't feel uncomfortable?" Qian Shengyan said softly, her voice slightly hoarse.
Yinzhen seemed unable to bear her voice like that. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he couldn't help but pinch her full breast again, laughing, "So when you said you couldn't stand it and were dying, begging me to let you go... wasn't it because you were in pain?"
Qian Shengyan was taken aback by his words and blushed deeply. She angrily and hastily slapped away Yinzhen's hand, but when she tried to get up, she realized she wasn't wearing her undergarments, so she turned back to look for her undergarment.
Qingxue, who was guarding outside, must have heard their voices and called out "Gege". Qian Shengyan responded, and then saw several people enter in an orderly manner. They all lowered their heads and eyes to help her and Yinzhen get out of bed and change all the bedding.
Qian Shengyan's face remained flushed. After standing there for a while, she felt embarrassed and turned to go next door to see her son.
Unfortunately, it was getting late, and Yuan Shou was already asleep. Qian Shengyan simply sat down by his bedside, gently touching the little fat boy's slightly undulating belly, and couldn't help but smile.
After dinner, Yinzhen still showed no sign of leaving. Qian Shengyan, who had taken a nap in the afternoon, was not sleepy and began practicing calligraphy beside him.
She is someone who doesn't have many ambitions, but once she starts doing something, she will stick with it. This was true when she studied history, and it's true now when she practices calligraphy.
After finishing writing several pages of large characters, Qian Shengyan sat back down to rest. Yinzhen then took her place and stood in front of the desk, lit a small red cigarette and drew circles on her writing, commenting, "You've persevered, not bad, and you've made great progress."
Qian Shengyan: ...
She rose and curtsied slightly, saying, "Thank you, Master."
Yinzhen: ?
He put down his pen, stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and gently slapped it, feeling both annoyed and amused: "You... naughty!"
The result of their playful antics was that the two fought again in bed, leaving Qian Shengyan exhausted. She fell into a deep sleep without even having time for a midnight snack.
When Qian Shengyan woke up the next day, she thought she was still half asleep. She rubbed her eyes, then rubbed them again, before confirming that there was indeed someone sitting on the bed: "Your Highness? You haven't left yet?"
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