Chapter 44 Using a Son to Gain Favor Recently, the maids and eunuchs who did menial tasks were carrying things...
Lately, maids and eunuchs carrying things have been frequently going in and out of the inner courtyard along the paths between the main courtyard and the west courtyard. Before long, the news that a new concubine was to be brought into the Xiefang Palace spread far and wide. When Li Jia, who lived in the west inner courtyard, heard this news, she was furious.
Ever since the Second Prince was reinstated as Crown Prince last year, Lady Li's heart immediately stirred again. At this time, she wanted to jump out and curry favor with him once more. However, things were not as she wished, because the Crown Prince only went to the main courtyard or the west front courtyard, and he seemed to ignore the people in the other courtyards.
Li Jia thought to herself, in terms of rank, she couldn't compare to the Crown Princess, but if we disregarded the Crown Princess, she should at least be ranked first in the Xie Fang Palace. Who knew that in terms of favor, someone would surpass her to become the most favored person in the Xie Fang Palace? What was Cheng Jia compared to that!
Pearl had been comforting her, saying, "Don't worry, Your Highness. You know the Crown Prince's temperament. He always stays with any pregnant woman for the full three months until the pregnancy is stable. Even Lin Gege, who was so unfavored back then, still had the Crown Prince frequently visiting and inquiring about her during the early stages of her pregnancy, didn't he?"
That's true, but Li Jia was still deeply distressed. She thought that even if it wasn't for her own sake but for Hongxi's, she had to regain the Crown Prince's favor.
She waited and waited, counting down the days, until Cheng Jia's pregnancy finally stabilized, but the Crown Prince still wouldn't go anywhere else. She waited anxiously and impatiently, but unfortunately, it coincided with the New Year, and the Crown Prince was rarely seen. Finally, the New Year festivities were over, but unexpectedly, at this crucial moment, a new concubine was to be brought into the Xie Fang Palace! What was she to do?
Lady Li was extremely frustrated. Finally, she bit her lip in resentment and said, "I have to think of a way." As long as the Crown Prince was willing to come to her, she was sure she could make him remember her kindness again.
A few days later, Yinreng finally had some free time to visit Xiefang Palace. However, instead of going to the main courtyard or the west side, he went to the east courtyard to see his two sons.
Logically, Hongxi and Hongjin, aged eight and seven respectively, should have moved to the fifth residence in the north. However, Yinreng couldn't bear to let his sons live so far away, so he specially requested an imperial decree that since the two princes had been living in the east front courtyard of Xiefang Palace, they should not be moved and could continue living there. This way, it would be convenient for them to study in the Imperial Study or practice martial arts at the Arrow Pavilion.
When the Crown Princess learned of this, she wondered if the Crown Prince intended to use the two eastern courtyards as the princes' quarters. So she decided to separate the eastern courtyard from the women's quarters. As a result, the side gates of both the front and back courtyards on the east side were locked and not allowed to be opened under normal circumstances. The eastern courtyard thus became the independent territory of the two princes, Hongxi and Hongjin.
Yinreng went to the main room in the east front courtyard and summoned the two princes for questioning. He first inquired about their archery and martial arts practice, and then asked them about their studies. He praised Hongxi with satisfaction, saying, "You answered fluently, not bad." Then he looked at Hongjin and said, "Your memorization of your lessons is not as smooth as Hongxi's. Go back and read them a few more times."
Hongxi raised his head proudly upon hearing this. Ever since the Prince Zhi was stripped of his title and imprisoned, his status in the Imperial Study had been steadily rising. Even during breaks, no one dared to ask him questions, which made Hongxi feel extremely pleased. He glanced at Hongjin beside him and heard Hongjin say with a smile, "Yes, Father, I'll go back to my room and study."
Although Hongjin's talent was only average, he was still his son. Yinreng said gently to Hongjin, "Reading at night is hard on your eyes. Read again tomorrow morning. Remember to balance work and rest, and maintain a proper pace."
After asking the two princes about their studies, he prepared to go to the west front courtyard. However, as soon as he stepped out of the main house, he saw Li Jiashi leading a group of people towards him.
Lady Li immediately bowed and said, "Greetings to the Crown Prince."
Yinreng hummed in agreement and asked, "Why did you come here?"
Lady Li said, "I was worried that the prince would be too tired from studying, so I specially asked someone to prepare some soup and send it over."
Hong Jin glanced at Hong Xi beside him, then at Li Jia, who was looking over. He then tactfully called out to Li Jia, "Mother Li," before making an excuse to return to the west wing.
In front of Hongxi, Yinreng had to give his mother some face, so he went to Hongxi's room in the east wing, sat down and said, "I just asked Hongxi about his studies, so tell me what you want to tell him."
Li Jia hurriedly ordered someone to place the ginseng soup on the table, and asked with concern how Hongxi was eating and staying, and whether he was listening to his master and Anda. Finally, she instructed Hongxi: "Study hard, so that you can share your father's burdens in the future."
Hongxi was overjoyed, thinking that Hongjin was not as good as him, and he would be counting on him to become successful so that he could share his father's burdens in the future. He nodded heavily in agreement.
Looking at the scene of motherly love and filial piety in the room, Yinreng's expression softened considerably. He said to Hongxi, "It's getting late. Tell someone to go to the kitchen to get the meal. After you finish eating, get some rest. You still have to go to the Imperial Study tomorrow."
Hongxi said yes, and Li Jiashi quickly shut up as well.
Yinreng stood up and said to Li Jia, "Let's go." Then he went out of the house before Li Jia, crossed the outer courtyard and then the path to the west, and went to Li Jia's courtyard at the back.
Hongxi had barely sat down when he heard the news, and a joyful smile immediately spread across his face. He knew as far back as he could remember that his mother, Lady Li Jia, was highly favored, but after his father was deposed two years ago and reinstated as crown prince this year, he had heard that his father had never visited his mother's quarters again. He didn't know what had happened between his father and mother at Xian'an Palace, but he hoped that they could be as close as before.
Just as Hongxi was thinking this, the eunuchs brought in the food. One of the younger eunuchs was quick and snatched the soup that Li Jia had brought from the table.
Hongxi's eyebrows twitched, revealing a hint of displeasure. Delu, who was standing nearby, saw this and immediately scolded, "You long-armed, clueless brat, get out and kneel down!" As he spoke, he brought the soup to Hongxi.
The soup had been sitting for a while and had gotten a little cold, but Hongxi still ate it spoonful by spoonful. After drinking several mouthfuls, he said, "Today, I'm in a good mood, so I'll only punish him by making him kneel for an hour. Otherwise, I'll definitely have someone give him a beating."
Li Jia left the East Courtyard, nervously following behind Yinreng. Once the group passed through the gate of the West Front Courtyard, Li Jia's heart immediately calmed, and she even felt a touch of pride. After arriving at her room in the back courtyard, she hurriedly ordered someone to bring her meal. After finishing her meal with the Crown Prince, the sky outside darkened.
Li Jia wondered if the Crown Prince would stay at this hour, so she secretly raised her head to observe his expression. Then she saw the Crown Prince sitting in a chair at the dining table, slowly sipping a cup of tea.
She racked her brains to find a way to start a conversation, saying, "Your Highness has been very busy lately, and I am truly ashamed that I cannot share your burdens."
After finishing his meal, Yinreng's displeasure at Li Jia's attempt to curry favor by having a son returned. He lowered his eyes and said indifferently, "You don't need to worry about things outside. Just stay safe in Xiefang Palace."
Li Jia said "yes," then smiled and said, "I heard that Hongxi has recently received praise from His Majesty and his tutors. I was thinking that since the prince is getting older, shouldn't we prepare a study companion and some lucky beads for him?" She tentatively added, "Actually, my nephew is about the same age..."
Yinreng had already made arrangements. He did not intend to choose the children for his sons himself, but instead prepared to submit a memorial to the emperor asking him to choose for him. So he said, "Hongxi and Hongjin are the emperor's grandsons. The emperor must have already made a decision about their study companions and Hahazhuzi."
Li Jia said yes, and was just about to talk about something else when she saw the Crown Prince stand up. She couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Your Highness?"
Yinreng said, "Alright, it's getting late, you should rest." With that, he turned and left.
Lady Li Jia froze on the spot. They had just been talking so well, why was the Crown Prince leaving all of a sudden? She wanted to stop him, but she was too timid to speak, and in the blink of an eye, the Crown Prince was gone. After a while, she came to her senses, frowned, and said, "Quickly, send someone to check where the Crown Prince has gone so late."
A moment later, Amber came in from outside the door and said with her head down, "Reporting to Your Highness, the Crown Prince has gone to the front."
Ahead...
Li Jia suddenly turned fierce, sweeping the teacup off the table with a swift motion. The name Cheng Jia felt like a heavy stone lodged in her chest.
That evening, Pearl tried to comfort Li Jia again, repeating the same few phrases over and over, always bringing up Prince Hongxi. Li Jia's eyes were bloodshot from crying, and she finally murmured, "Hongxi..." She only managed to say two words before bursting into tears again.
After a while, Pearl finally managed to coax Li Jia to sleep. As soon as she came out of the room, Amber came up to her and asked, "Sister Pearl, the little eunuch just said that the kitchen staff came to ask how the princess and the prince ate tonight."
Pearl rolled her eyes upon hearing this. Today's meal was specially ordered by their princess, remembering the Crown Prince's usual tastes, but who knew they couldn't keep him here? She snorted and said, "Their cooking is subpar, yet they dare to openly and secretly ask for rewards!" With that, she flicked her sleeves and went back to her room to change.
Before long, Yinreng arrived at the west front courtyard. The little eunuch Quanfu, who was guarding the gate, had just watched the Crown Prince and Consort Li go to the back. He never expected that the Crown Prince would return in such a short time. He immediately knelt down to pay his respects, and only after the Crown Prince entered the courtyard did he happily scramble to his feet.
Cheng Qianyue was sitting on the edge of the bed soaking her feet in a rosewood basin filled with ginger soup. Her feet warmed up quickly, and after a while, a thin layer of sweat appeared on her skin. Just as she was about to wipe herself off and go to sleep, she looked up and saw that Yinreng had arrived.
Oh dear, she doesn't seem to have heard that Yinreng entered the Xiefang Palace today?
Yinreng walked up to her and said, "I heard from people outside that you were getting ready to sleep, so I didn't disturb them." As he said this, he asked someone to bring in water so he could wash his face and feet. After they had both washed and were lying in bed, Yinreng embraced her tightly.
Cheng Qianyue felt he seemed unusually clingy today, and whispered, "Master, what's wrong?" Was he being so clingy because he wanted to? Hmm, she was already four months pregnant, so it shouldn't be a problem to do it. She smiled and kissed the corner of his mouth, her hand slipping under his clothes.
Yinreng grasped her hand through his robe and said, "Don't tease me, okay?" He gently stroked her hair and said, "I'm waiting for you to give birth to the child properly."
Oh, so he doesn't want it. Cheng Qianyue felt quite embarrassed and slowly took her hand out, obediently lying on her side with her back to him.
Yinreng hugged her from behind, gently placing his hand on her stomach.
He didn't care, whether they hid from him during his low points or offered themselves to him during his comeback, he didn't care about any of them. He only needed one person who was truly sincere to him.
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