Prince Cheng's Mansion
Concubine Tian listened to the commotion outside, twisting her handkerchief as her anger grew. A few months ago, her son had caught a cold and died in her arms at a young age.
Why is it that Dong Eshi's children keep coming in one after another, and all of them are healthy, while other people's children either can't be born or can't be raised?
The man was a fool; he was completely fooled by Dong Eshi and never suspected that she was a beautiful snake woman.
Seeing that Madam Tian's expression was not right, her personal maid Shuiping quickly closed the window: "Consort, you are not feeling well and should not be exposed to the wind. Please rest."
Tian looked outside with a cold gaze and suddenly said, "It's a bit stuffy in the room. I want to go out for a walk and get me dressed."
Shuiping wanted to persuade her not to go out and make things worse for herself, but seeing that her mistress was very determined, she could only help her out of the courtyard with a heavy heart.
Sometimes things just happen by chance. Just as Ms. Tian reached the garden gate, she was bumped into by Hong Qing, who rushed out like a cannonball.
Shuiping reacted quickly, squatting down and hugging Hongqing first.
"Ouch!" Madam Tian's eyes darted around, and she immediately lay down on the ground, clutching her back and groaning, "Who dares to barge around like this in the mansion?!"
Shuiping released Hongqing, making sure she hadn't hurt him, and looked at her master with some confusion. Prince Hongqing shouldn't have encountered the concubine yet, right?
Tian secretly squeezed Shuiping's palm. Shuiping understood that this was an opportunity to cause trouble, and immediately began to wail loudly: "Consort, you are suffering so much! If the young prince were still here, how could you be bullied? Eldest prince, is it right for a son to disrespect his stepmother?"
Seeing someone fall, Hongqing was somewhat at a loss. Looking around at the people, she kept explaining, "I didn't do it on purpose. Hongqing didn't bump into anyone on purpose!"
Tian kept sobbing with her head down, while Shuiping shouted loudly to call the royal physician. The commotion quickly attracted the livid Prince Cheng.
Prince Cheng was very displeased to see his own family causing trouble at what should have been a joyous occasion: "Tian, what are you doing?"
Tian cried so pitifully that I could hardly bear it. She twisted her body slightly, trying to make her movements more graceful: "It's all my fault. I upset Prince Hongqing. He only bumped into me a little. I just couldn't take it because I've been sick lately. It has nothing to do with Prince Hongqing."
Shuiping interjected, "Master, why are you still covering up for the First Prince?"
Madam Tian slapped Shui Ping across the face: "You dare interrupt when your masters are speaking?! And you dare to disrespect the First Prince? Go back and kneel down until you know you're wrong."
Shuiping lowered her head and agreed, looking wronged.
Prince Cheng reached out and helped Lady Tian up. His anger had long since dissipated. He looked down at Hong Qing and said, "What else do you have to say? You're so young and you're already harboring thoughts of harming others. What will you be like when you grow up?"
Frightened by her father's angry reprimand, Hongqing burst into tears, crying, "Hongqing didn't! My son didn't hit anyone on purpose!"
Prince Cheng was even more displeased by this rebuttal: "To know one's mistakes and correct them is of utmost importance. Don't you even have the courage to admit your mistakes?"
When Lady Dong'e, still recovering from childbirth, rushed over, she heard Prince Cheng's words and felt as if the sky were falling.
With so many guests today, and Hongqing receiving such a comment from her own father, will she have any reputation left?
Lady Tian was trying to ruin her eldest son. Lady Dong'e looked at Lady Tian's frail and boneless body with eyes that seemed to be filled with poison.
Prince Cheng felt his beloved concubine flinch, and just then he saw Dong E's unfriendly gaze: "Dong E, it's all your fault for not raising your son properly. He's already gone astray at such a young age."
Seeing that her mother was also scolded by her father, Hongqing became even more frightened, and her cries grew louder.
Yi Hua followed Dong E Shi and learned most of the details. She felt that Prince Cheng was really confused.
Such things are usually kept secret by other families, but for Prince Cheng to personally declare that he wants to depose his eldest son is utterly absurd.
Hongqing was the first friend Honghui could call a close friend.
Honghui suddenly walked up to Prince Cheng and looked up to say, "Third Uncle, Hongqing ran a little too fast just now, but that older sister caught him in time and didn't touch this pretty auntie. Did the pretty auntie slip and fall?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Tian's expression became somewhat unnatural. She lowered her head and said in a slightly aggrieved voice, "Yes, I fell on my own."
Prince Cheng had already believed what Lady Tian said, but since Honghui was his nephew, he softened his attitude: "Third Uncle knows that you and Hongqing are good friends, but covering it up is not a good thing. Honghui should be an honest child."
Honghui couldn't understand some of the words, but he understood the general meaning. He said loudly, "Honghui didn't lie. Mother said that if you lie, you'll get a spanking. What Honghui saw is all true."
Seeing that the little guy was quite bold, Prince Cheng decided to tease him: "Are you sure you didn't see wrong?"
Honghui raised his hand: "Honghui can swear an oath."
At this moment, Yi Hua called out to Hong Hui: "Prince Cheng, please don't be offended. Hong Hui's temperament is just like his father's. We should quickly have the royal physician examine Consort Tian. If she is alright, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Prince Cheng then realized that there were many foreign guests watching today. He cleared his throat and led Honghui and Hongqing to the front yard.
***
When Yihua returned, she told Yinzhen what had happened in the backyard. Yinzhen had nothing to say about the way Prince Cheng had handled the situation.
"Father is going on a southern tour," Yinzhen said, getting down to business.
"Does Your Highness wish to accompany you?" Yi Hua asked. The prince would be gone for several months, so the things he needed to take and the preparations needed to be made in advance.
Yinzhen nodded: "You can arrange the personnel as you see fit."
This means that there should also be people accompanying them in the backyard.
Now, with only a handful of people in the household, Song Shi has ruined herself, and the only one who can be considered respectable is Li Shi.
Yi Hua turned her head: "Now, only Consort Li is to your liking in the manor, so naturally she should go and serve you."
Yinzhen found it rather strange to see Yihua looking unhappy. Was his wife... jealous?
Yinzhen felt inexplicably relieved: "I will think of you and Honghui."
A man's words are deceitful.
Yi Hua rolled her eyes inwardly. As long as he didn't bring back a few beauties from Jiangnan, he would be considered to have kept himself pure.
"Honghui is doing very well today." Yinzhen held Yihua's hand with some pride. "He dared to express his opinions to Third Brother and was able to persist even when questioned. This is quite remarkable for someone his age."
"You are very well-mannered." This was Yinzhen's true feeling.
Yi Hua sighed: "I think he is too upright. Too much rigidity is easy to break. He is still young and no one will argue with him. But when he gets older, he will suffer."
Yinzhen looked at the woman's furrowed brows and gently smoothed them out. If his son didn't even have this much spirit, how could he shoulder heavy responsibilities!
Raising a child means worrying for ninety-nine years of your life, even if you live to be a hundred.
Yi Hua's overflowing maternal love warmed Yin Zhen's heart. The two embraced, their silhouettes silhouetted against the candlelight through the gauze window.
They blend together, inseparable.
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