Regarding the matter of a secondary consort, Yinzhen had previously discussed it with Li Jingshu. Yinzhen was not interested in women; as far as he was concerned, as long as there were women he could take out and women who could handle the affairs of the household, that was enough.
Therefore, he will not add any more concubines to the list, lest he end up like the other princes, whose households are filled with unrest.
As Li Jingshu had promised, she went to Nian Yunrong's place the next morning.
"Little sister, are you feeling any better?"
"Thank you for your concern, sister. I am doing well."
"Where's the child? Could you bring him here so I can see him?"
When Li Jingshu mentioned the child, Nian Yunrong's expression stiffened.
"Qingyan, have the nanny bring the child over so that my sister can see him."
"yes."
This was, in fact, the first time Nian Yunrong had met her daughter.
Just then, the nanny finished feeding them.
"Oh, this child is so beautiful."
Nian Yunrong glanced at it and didn't think it was particularly beautiful.
"Seeing this child reminds me of my daughter."
Nian Yunrong had no idea that Li Jingshu had a daughter.
"Does your sister have a daughter?"
When Nian Yunrong asked about her daughter, Li Jingshu's smile warmed up.
“My first child was a daughter. She was very well-behaved and sensible from a young age. She loved reading and, like her father, loved chrysanthemums. Later, my wife acted as matchmaker and chose a young man from the Ulanara clan to be my husband. It's been several years now.”
Li Jingshu's tone was very calm, but you could hear the longing in her voice.
"My sister came today, surely she didn't just come to see me."
Seeing that Nian Yunrong had brought it up, Li Jingshu also simply stated her purpose for coming.
"Sister, do you know that the rumors about you disliking your own child have spread far and wide? If the Prince finds out, do you know what the consequences will be?"
"Sister, is this considered a threat?"
Li Jingshu stood up and smiled at Nian Yunrong, who was lying on the bed:
“I came to see you today only as a mother. You are a woman yourself, and you have no right to look down on children.”
After saying that, Li Jingshu left the room without paying any attention to Nian Yunrong's expression.
After returning home, Li Jingshu dismissed everyone and sat alone in front of her dressing table. She took out a handkerchief from a separate box to the right of the mirror; it was a handkerchief that her daughter had embroidered for her before her wedding.
Li Jingshu clutched her handkerchief tightly and buried her face in her arms on the dressing table, bursting into tears.
She misses her daughter and wonders how her daughter is doing.
After Li Jingshu left, Qingyan didn't dare to go forward, and Nian Yunrong's face turned pale and then red.
"Qingyan, I don't dislike this child. I just hope that I can give the prince a son."
After saying that, Nian Yunrong turned around and started to cry.
Qingyan quickly stepped forward to comfort him:
"Consort, it is said among the people that 'the older sister will bring her younger brother' when she comes. You will definitely have your own prince in the future."
After crying, Nian Yunrong wiped away her tears.
"Qingyan, tell my brother to make a fine gold lock for my daughter."
Qingyan was happy to see that her concubine had finally come to her senses, so she went out to deliver the message.
Just as Li Jingshu had promised, she kept the matter quiet and it did not reach Yinzhen's ears.
He's been very busy lately and rarely pays attention to matters in the manor.
In November of the fifty-fourth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the emperor issued an edict to suspend the salaries and stipends of the Eighth Prince Yinzhi and his officials, citing their laziness and refusal to perform their duties.
In fact, Yinzhi often stayed in his own residence, and no amount of persuasion from the Ninth and Tenth Princes could change his mind. His standing with Emperor Kangxi also declined further.
At the end of the year, news came from the palace that Emperor Kangxi was seriously ill.
That evening, Yinzhen arrived at Geng Youran's courtyard, feeling somewhat tired.
"Your Highness, you've been working too hard lately, you must get some rest."
Yinzhen sighed:
"Father has not been in good health lately, and has handed over many things to you and the other princes. He is quite tired."
Geng Youran was also somewhat worried.
As the time for Yinzhen's ascension to the throne drew ever closer, for some reason, her heart was in turmoil.
Yinzhen, however, assumed she was worried about her father, the Emperor, and patted his shoulder with relief.
“I know you’re worried about Father Emperor too. How about this, another day you can cook some food, and I’ll bring it in for you, as a way to show your filial piety.”
"good."
Geng Youran didn't know how to explain this matter, so she agreed.
The next day, Geng Youran specially asked Qianxue to get some of the best chestnuts and red dates.
"Qianxue, quickly wash the chestnuts and red dates, then steam them until cooked, and then mash them into a paste. If you don't have enough hands, call Xiao Anzi in to help you."
"yes."
Geng Youran was making the water-oil dough and oil-based dough for 'Jujube Blossom Pastry' on the side.
Combine flour, lard, powdered sugar, and warm water in a dry, clean bowl and mix until a dough forms. Then knead the dough on a work surface until smooth and elastic, cover with a cotton cloth, and let it rest for a while.
Sift the flour and lard into a bowl and knead into a dough. Cover with a cotton cloth and set aside.
After waiting for a while, divide the water-oil dough and the oil-based dough into several equal portions.
Take a water-oil dough ball, flatten it into a sheet, wrap a shortcrust pastry dough ball inside, pinch the opening closed, and roll it into a small round ball.
Roll out the wrapped dough into a long strip or an oval shape, then roll it up and let it rest for a while.
After resting, roll out the dough and roll it up again. Repeat this step once or twice to add layers.
At this time, Qianxue and Xiao Anzi had also finished grinding the chestnut paste and jujube paste.
"Xiao Anzi, go to the Prince's study and see if he has returned."
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