"Princess Wu?" Qian Shengyan paused in packing her clothes, somewhat puzzled. "What's she doing here?"
There were originally three concubines in Prince Yong's harem: Geng, Song, and Wu. Qian Shengyan knew all of this, but she also knew that Song and Wu were old women around the same time as Consort Li. Song had given birth to two concubines in her early years, but neither of them had made it into the imperial family. Wu had never been favored and was said to be "weak and sickly." In the past, when Qian Shengyan went to pay her respects to the Prince Consort, she rarely saw her. She was sick for seven or eight days out of ten. Why was she suddenly visiting her now?
"Please come in first." Qian Shengyan glanced at the bronze mirror and felt that there was nothing wrong with her attire, so she helped Qingxue to the front hall.
Wu was nearly thirty years old and looked thin and frail, indeed appearing to be in poor health. Upon seeing Qian Shengyan arrive, she politely rose to greet her. Qian Shengyan, naturally not wanting to give anyone cause for criticism, stepped forward and smiled, saying, "Sister has arrived."
"I apologize for disturbing you so abruptly..." Madam Wu looked delicate, but her complexion was healthy, with a rosy glow. She turned her eyes slightly and smiled again, "I just happened to witness something and didn't know what to do, so I came to tell you, my sister."
"Please tell me, sister." Qian Shengyan was genuinely curious.
Wu coughed twice, took a sip of water, and continued, "The Third Prince was sick a few days ago, and we were all very worried about him. Fortunately, we heard that his illness was not serious and that he would be running around in the small garden in a few days. However, a eunuch who serves the Third Prince personally heard that he had been infected by the illness and was moved to the servants' courtyard by the concubine's orders."
This is a common occurrence. Those who get sick certainly cannot continue to serve their masters. If they infect their masters, the servants will be doomed.
I just don't know what Wu meant by bringing this up with her.
Qian Shengyan didn't ask, and waited patiently.
Madam Wu glanced at Qingxue, knowing that she was Qian Shengyan's personal attendant, and continued, "This matter is actually nothing, it's just that not two days later, the concubine suddenly said that the Third Prince's previous illness had not yet healed, and that a doctor had been called to the door every day, but..."
Qian Shengyan blinked, waiting for her to say "but".
“But… when my little fish went to fetch the meal, she accidentally saw that the doctor wasn’t going to take the Third Prince’s pulse, but rather taking the pulses of each of the people serving him.” Wu Shi said softly, then added, “The little eunuch who had been infected with the disease was also brought back by the concubine. She said he was a loyal protector of his master, and specially granted him a side room in the backyard of the Fulu Courtyard to recuperate.”
That's strange?
Qian Shengyan and Qingxue exchanged a glance, both of them having some questions. But that was all Wu knew. After sharing all the information she had, she quickly took her leave.
"Since Princess Wu has such a kind heart, what do you think, Princess?" Qingxue asked Qian Shengyan softly.
Qian Shengyan understood what she meant. Wu Shi came over and said a lot of things out of the blue, and then left without saying that she would wait to analyze the results with them, nor did she want to know why Li Shi did these things.
Clearly, Wu felt that these matters were none of her own business, and bringing them up to Qian Shengyan was merely a way of expressing her allegiance.
Qian Shengyan had a headache: "But I don't know what I can give her?"
In terms of rank, they were all junior princesses; in terms of favor… it wasn't that Qian Shengyan was disdainful, but rather that, given the current traditions, even if Yinzhen were to actually go, given Wu Shi's age and health, he might not be able to do anything…
"Perhaps Princess Wu just wants some security," Qingxue sighed, having nothing more to say to Wu Shi. She then asked Qian Shengyan, "In your opinion, what is the matter with the concubine...?"
"Go and find out what illness the sick eunuch has," Qian Shengyan said in a low voice.
According to Wu, since Li was willing to spend money and effort to find doctors to treat the servants every day, the little eunuch must have contracted an infectious disease.
But it's strange that Lady Li took the young eunuch back to live in her courtyard—knowing the disease was contagious, why did she keep him there? Shouldn't she have sent him far away?
Moreover, there's young Hongshi in the courtyard. What if he gets infected? Wouldn't that be even more troublesome? Li Shi could pretend that Hongshi is sick to prevent him from moving to another courtyard, but she wouldn't want him to actually get sick!
Willing to take such a great risk, Li's ambition is not small.
Qian Shengyan guessed a few directions, but she couldn't be sure what Li Shi was up to. She could only tell Qingxue to keep an eye on Fuluyuan and guard Dongyouyuan, making sure no one took advantage of the situation.
With the Emperor not in the capital and the atmosphere outside tense, the gathering on the fifteenth of August was just a small affair and not very lively. On the morning of the sixteenth of August, Yinzhen took Qian Shengyan and Yuanshou back to the Yuanmingyuan.
This time, however, Qian Shengyan specifically left Green Willow behind to guard Dongyou Courtyard. Not only was she to lock the gate and ignore everything else, but she was also to carefully observe the situation in the main courtyard and Fulu Courtyard, especially the side concubine's place, to see if there was any movement.
She initially felt a little bad for Green Willow, having kept someone in the palace instead of letting them play in the garden. However, Green Willow was incredibly excited upon receiving the task, patting her chest and promising to guard the courtyard well so that the princess could rest assured.
Seeing Qian Shengyan's confusion, Qingxue smiled and explained, "Being trusted by the princess makes Miss Lüliu very happy. If the princess feels that she is lonely guarding the courtyard, she can just give her some gifts when she returns."
"Alright then," Qian Shengyan could only say.
Since only Qingxue and Lüyan were left by her side, Yinzhen arranged for two maids from the garden to serve her closely. Qian Shengyan renamed the two maids Lüshui and Lüyun, but only allowed them to serve in the outer room for the time being.
Peach Blossom Valley was a vast place, and there were many palace servants serving in the garden. Hiding in such a paradise-like place, Qian Shengyan did nothing but raise her son and sleep with men. The carefree time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was mid-September. With Kangxi about to return to the capital, Yinzhen was also preparing to return to his palace.
They got along well for the past month, and the two were surprisingly compatible in all aspects. Qian Shengyan had just upgraded his relationship from casual sex to that of a potential boyfriend in her mind when she suddenly heard that she had to go back to the Prince's Mansion. Then she thought of the women in the backyard and suddenly felt disheartened.
If her boyfriend dared to act like that in modern times, she'd beat his head to a pulp!
Unfortunately, living in this era, Qian Shengyan is only a minor princess, unable to do anything, and can't even say a few words. If she wants to vent her anger, she can only tickle him a few times on the bed. Only when she tickles Yinzhen until he gasps for breath does she feel a little better.
Hmph, what a scoundrel of a man, he doesn't deserve love.
Her heart turned cold again, but Yinzhen clearly valued her much more than before.
On her first night back at the Prince's residence, Qian Shengyan assumed that Yinzhen would at least visit his primary wife and youngest son in the main courtyard, or his secondary wife and third son in the Fulu Courtyard. So she took her seven-month-old chubby son into her bed, intending to sleep together and relive the joys of motherhood.
Before the lights were even turned off, Yinzhen braved the cold wind and came in.
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