Nian Yunrong lost her child after all. Even though her body recovered, the wound in her heart left a permanent scar.
On this day, Li Jingshu suddenly came to Nian Yunrong's place.
"Younger sister greets older sister."
"Sister Nian, you're too kind. I wonder if you're feeling better. Last year, the Prince gave me a ginseng root, but I didn't use it, and it's been thriving ever since. So, I brought it to you."
As soon as she finished speaking, the maid behind Li Jingshu handed over a box containing ginseng.
Nian Yunrong touched the surface of the box, then spoke:
"Did something come up for you today, sister?"
Li Jingshu smiled awkwardly; she had indeed come with a purpose.
"Since my sister has already exposed it, then I won't hide it anymore. I've come today to ask my sister for a favor."
"Please speak, sister."
"Is my sister aware that Hongshi has been confined to his quarters by the Prince?"
Nian Yunrong had heard a little about this matter.
"Don't laugh at me, sister. It's true that Hongshi is a good-for-nothing, but he is still my only son. I've come here today to ask for your help!"
After saying that, Li Jingshu immediately knelt down before Nian Yunrong.
"What are you doing, sister? Just tell me what you want me to do, why do this?"
Li Jingshu used to care most about her reputation, but now, for the sake of her only remaining son, she is willing to kneel down before Nian Yunrong.
"Sister, I beg you. The Prince values you the most right now. If you can plead with him, perhaps he will release Hongshi sooner."
Nian Yunrong was somewhat embarrassed.
It's true that Yinzhen doted on her, but if he interfered too much, that 'favor' would disappear in an instant.
She knew something about Hongshi's affairs, and confinement was the lightest punishment she could get.
"Sister, I don't understand. The Prince only punished Hongshi by confining him to his quarters for three months, and he will release him on his own after that. Why do you still want me to plead for him?"
Nian Yunrong is right.
Yinzhen did indeed only punish him with confinement, and he would naturally release him in due time.
But this is not the result Li Jingshu wanted.
If Hongshi were to emerge like this, his future would be completely ruined.
She no longer wanted the position of heir apparent, but she couldn't let the prince completely lose faith in Hongshi.
“Sister, Hongshi has made a grave mistake. I’m afraid that even if he’s released, the Prince will no longer trust him. But he is, after all, the Prince’s own son. The Prince can’t deny him even a chance to repent.”
Nian Yunrong then understood Li Jingshu's true intentions.
“Sister, if it’s about pleading for mercy, I really can’t help you. But if the prince is in a good mood, I can say a few words to him.”
Li Jingshu was overjoyed.
"As long as my younger sister is willing to say a few good words for Hongshi in front of the prince, I will be very satisfied."
After chatting for a while longer, Li Jingshu left Nian Yunrong's courtyard with satisfaction.
After Li Jingshu left, Qingyan brought in ginseng soup.
"Why did the concubine take on this task? The prince has always been annoyed by our meddling in politics."
"When did I ever get involved in politics? I just feel that Consort Li is indeed in a bad situation."
Qingyan didn't understand at first.
"No matter what, she is Hongshi's mother. Consider this favor my way of helping out of our mother-son bond."
“But my lord, it’s hard to guarantee that Consort Li doesn’t have other intentions. I’ve already investigated, and the matter with the account books was something she deliberately had Consort Geng and Consort Niu Hulu investigate, just to use someone else to do her dirty work.”
"I've got it. But it wouldn't be bad to make her owe me a favor."
“But she doesn’t have a deep relationship with us usually. If she did, why didn’t she mention this to Princess Geng or Princess Niohuru?”
"She was certain I would help her. As for the other two, she couldn't guarantee anything."
Li Jingshu was certain that Nian Yunrong would help her out of 'shared suffering'.
"Alright, it's just a few words, I've helped you. Go, find someone to find out which courtyard the Prince is going to tonight."
"yes."
About half an hour later, Qingyan returned:
“Princess, our people came back and said that the Prince will not be going to any of the courtyards tonight, saying that he has important business to attend to.”
After careful consideration, Nian Yunrong felt that there was indeed no need to rush.
"Then forget it, but have someone keep a close eye on things and let me know immediately if there are any developments."
"yes."
Yinzhen was alone in his study tonight because he was somewhat troubled by the events of the morning court session.
This morning at court, Wang Yan, taking advantage of the Emperor's sixtieth anniversary of his ascension to the throne, submitted another memorial requesting the establishment of an heir apparent. The Emperor did not take any significant action in response.
Besides Wang Yan, Yinzhi and others were also eager to make their own moves, attempting to expand their political influence by befriending court officials and creating momentum.
Yinzhen felt somewhat uneasy.
The following afternoon, Yinxiang came to the residence and brought good news to Yinzhen.
"Fourth Brother, you don't need to worry about Eighth Brother's matter."
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
“My younger brother secretly sent someone to inquire. For some reason, the Emperor intercepted the letter from the Eighth Prince to He Zhuo. The Emperor wrote on the letter, ‘The letter from the Eighth Prince to He Zhuo should be kept safe, lest it be lost.’ Moreover, he has already issued an edict to punish He Zhuo.”
Upon hearing this, Yinzhen breathed a sigh of relief.
"That eighth brother has really bad luck."
"That's right. Father is becoming more and more suspicious. Instead of trying to avoid him, he's deliberately walking right in front of Father."
In the evening, Yinxiang left the Yongqin Prince's Mansion, while Yinzhen went to Nian Yunrong's place.
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