"What did you say? The Emperor wants to see me?"
Why did the Emperor suddenly think of her?
"Your Highness, you must have misheard. Why would the Emperor want to see a concubine from a prince's household like me?"
Yinzhen deliberately put on a stern face:
Do you think I would misunderstand what Father Emperor instructed?
Geng Youran was also afraid that Yinzhen would really be angry, so she quickly apologized:
"Your Highness, please don't be angry. I just can't understand it. I'm just a princess, and I don't even have the right to congratulate him on holidays. Why would he suddenly want to see me?"
Yinzhen tugged at the cheek of the young woman in front of him, ignoring her cries of pain, and said:
"You woman, how many times do I have to remind you? Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. Since Father Emperor wants to see you, he must have his reasons. You just need to be prepared."
Geng Youran finally managed to break free from Yinzhen's grasp and quickly rubbed her face:
"I understand!"
Yinzhen smiled, then picked Geng Youran up in his arms:
"In that case, let's make arrangements as soon as possible."
The next morning, Yinzhen got up early according to his biological clock. About half an hour later, Qianxue brought a basin of water into the room.
"Master, it's time for you to get up."
Geng Youran was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open, her mind was blank, but her mouth responded as if on cue:
"No rush, it's still early, it's not even dawn yet."
Qianxue said with a smile:
"Princess, it will be too late if you don't get up now. Don't forget, you have to go to the palace to see the Emperor today."
Geng Youran sat up abruptly. Yes, she still had to go to the palace today.
So she quickly put on her shoes and went to the shelf to wash and dress, while Qianxue helped her choose the clothes she would wear to the palace that day.
"Qianxue, just pick something that won't catch your eye, nothing too flashy."
“Princess, you should say that. Although the Prince would specially arrange for someone to make new clothes for you every year, the patterns are all the same and the colors are not bright.”
Geng Youran retorted after hearing Qianxue's complaint:
"Wearing something too bright will attract bees. Okay, are you done adjusting it yet?"
"alright."
Geng Youran was dressed in a peach blossom and green mountain embroidered jasmine dress, green jasmine embroidered shoes, pearl-trimmed hair ornaments, and a two-tone jasmine silk bracelet around her wrist, exuding elegance.
"Princess, you look so beautiful dressed like this. You should dress like this more often."
"Stop flattering me. I usually go to the small kitchen. Do you expect me to dress like this and cook in the small kitchen?"
Qianxue chuckled, thinking that what Gege said did make some sense.
"Alright, let's go tell Consort Li, then wait at the entrance. The Prince will probably send someone to fetch us soon."
"Princess, let's just wait at the entrance. Why go to Consort Li's place?"
Geng Youran bent her right index finger and tapped Qianxue's forehead:
"Qianxue, you should eat more walnuts to nourish yourself. Consort Li is now in charge of the entire Prince's Mansion, so naturally I have to inform her about my trip to the palace. That's the rule."
Qianxue covered her forehead:
"But Princess, the Prince personally instructed us to go to the palace. What if Consort Li has any ulterior motives if you tell her?"
"That's her business. We've done our job properly, and that's our right."
"yes."
After getting dressed, Geng Youran went to Li Jingshu's place.
"Consort, the Princess has arrived."
"Hmm? Why is she here? Didn't the Prince ask her to help out with the concubine last year?"
"This servant is not sure either, but it seems something is wrong, as her attire is completely different from usual."
Li Jingshu put down her calligraphy brush.
"Then please come in quickly."
"yes."
Geng Youran and Qianxue followed the person leading the way into the house, and quickly bowed and greeted him.
"This humble servant greets Consort, may Consort be blessed."
"Little sister, get up quickly. You're acting very differently today. Are you going out?"
Li Jingshu asked tentatively.
"The prince said the emperor wanted to see me, so I dressed a little more elegantly today. I thought I'd let you know before I left."
"I see. It's almost time for the court to adjourn. You'd better hurry to the entrance so Gao Wuyong can find you."
"Then I'll take my leave."
Geng Youran turned and left. Tao An, the maidservant beside Li Jingshu, said:
"Consort, is this Lady Geng deliberately showing off?"
Li Jingshu glared at her:
"Do you think just any woman puts winning favor first? Obviously, she came to tell me this because she was worried I would overthink it."
Li Jingshu then pondered for a moment:
"Go and find the box that Consort Nian sent yesterday. I'll write a letter, and you can send it to Consort Nian along with the letter."
"Consort, what brings you here?"
Li Jingshu smiled calmly:
"She thought I would use these past few months to seize power in the Prince's mansion and prevent it from going to her, so she sent me nice things in an attempt to negotiate. She thinks I'm far too greedy. If you return the things, she'll see the contents of the note and understand what I mean."
"This servant will take care of it immediately."
Li Jingshu returned to her seat and picked up her brush again, only to find that the ink on it had dried slightly. So she licked the brush again and continued copying the book.
Not long after Geng Youran arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion, Gao Wuyong had someone carry a sedan chair over quickly.
"Gege, this servant is late!"
“Eunuch Gao, I just arrived too. In that case, let’s go.”
"Yes, sir."
When Geng Youran arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yinzhen was already waiting at the entrance.
"I am late, Your Highness, please forgive me."
"It's nothing. Father is changing inside. Let's wait a moment."
Because he wore court robes when attending court, the first thing Emperor Kangxi did after court was to change into everyday clothes.
Not long after, Liang Jiugong came out and called the two of them inside.
"Your subject (servant) greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"
"Rise."
"Thank you, Father Emperor."
Kangxi glanced at Geng Youran and nodded. This outfit was neither flashy nor impolite; she had thought it through and knew her manners.
"Yinzhen, go to the Southern Study and wait for me. I have something to discuss with you later. Geng Youran, please stay here."
"Your subject obeys the decree."
Yinzhen followed Wei Zhu to the Southern Study, while Liang Jiugong stood at a distance.
"Geng Youran, do you know why I summoned you today?"
"Your Majesty, this servant does not know."
Kangxi smiled, stood up, and walked over to Geng Youran.
"I already know about the commotion at the Fourth Prince's residence some time ago. Princess Niohuru miscarried, Consort Li discovered the truth, Consort Nian was confined to her quarters, and the Prince's wife is still under house arrest. Only you, caught in the middle, have no goals or results. I am very curious about this. Can you answer my question?"
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