"What are your thoughts on the position of heir apparent that the Tenth Prince mentioned tonight?"
The Fujin was quite surprised that Yinzhen had brought up this issue with her.
"The tenth prince is just acting crazy because he's drunk. Your Highness doesn't need to take his words to heart."
Yinzhen didn't think so.
"Suppose that Hongshi has been an adult for many years and is married. Your father has submitted memorials many times, but Father has been slow to issue an imperial decree. Haven't you ever wondered what might have happened?"
"Since Your Highness already had suspicions, why bother asking me again?"
Both of them are intelligent people; it would be too tiring for them to be guessing each other's words.
"Your Highness, this is a crucial time for Father Emperor to make a decision. The position of heir apparent is probably not within Father Emperor's consideration."
"In the end, my grandfather and my fourteenth brother will never be able to sit together."
Having said all that, both of them understood perfectly well.
Nothing more was said that night. The next day, Yinzhen brought his wife to the palace to pay their respects, and the two went directly to Yonghe Palace.
"Your son (daughter-in-law) greets Mother."
"Get up."
Yinzhen and his wife arrived early and did not encounter the fourteenth prince.
"You've come in quite early. Fourth Prince, your concubine is already six months pregnant, isn't she?"
"Yes, Mother."
Consort De nodded as she fiddled with her nails:
"Yes, childbirth is like a life-or-death experience for a woman, so you must not be careless. Also, for so many years your household has been filled with old people serving you, it's time to choose a few new people to serve you."
"Mother is right, I will be careful."
The meaning of these words was quite clear: serving the prince was something she, as the princess consort, would handle herself, so there was no need to trouble her own mother.
"Your mother has already chosen someone for you. Her name is Wuya Huixue, and she is my cousin, so she is also your cousin. I have already spoken to your father in advance, and she will return to the manor with you later. Let her start as a princess."
The two of them were truly surprised by Consort De's move, especially after hearing that she had discussed it with their father beforehand. They were speechless.
"Since she is my cousin, I will certainly take good care of her."
As she spoke, the Fujin took the initiative to step forward and take Wuya Huixue's hand.
Consort De was also very satisfied with the Fujin's understanding of the bigger picture.
At this moment, the voice of a servant greeting someone came from the doorway.
"This servant greets the Fourteenth Prince. May the Fourteenth Prince be blessed."
"Get up, is your mother inside?"
"exist."
When the Fourteenth Prince entered the room and saw that Yinzhen was also there, he was taken aback for a moment, but quickly recovered:
"Your son greets Mother, may Mother be blessed!"
"Good child, get up quickly. Someone, brew another pot of tea."
"yes."
Yinzhen, upon hearing this, paid no attention.
"Since the Fourteenth Brother has arrived, then your son and wife will not disturb you any longer. Your son still has to prepare for Father's Thousand Elders Banquet."
Consort De raised her hand but said nothing. The three of them bowed deeply and then took their leave.
Yinzhen glanced at his fourth brother but said nothing.
Uya Huixue followed behind Yinzhen and his wife with her head down, not daring to speak.
After returning to the mansion, Yinzhen went to his study first, while Wuya Huixue followed the Fujin into her courtyard.
"Don't worry, Sister Wuya. Since you are the Prince's cousin, the Yong Prince's Mansion will certainly not mistreat you. Things happened so suddenly, so please stay with me for a few days. Firstly, to learn some manners, and secondly, I'll have someone prepare a courtyard for you. What do you think?"
Uya Huixue dared not disagree and naturally nodded in agreement.
A few days later, the holiday was over and the new year officially began. The concubines and princesses in the mansion gathered at the main wife's place, waiting to pay their respects to her.
When the princess came out, everyone noticed a young and beautiful girl standing behind her, and they all felt that she was a complete stranger.
"Oh, this must be the Princess Consort's sister."
“Sister Nian is too kind. I am not so fortunate. This is Sister Wuya, a cousin of Consort De in the palace and also the Prince’s cousin. She is now our sister.”
After the Fujin finished speaking, Wuya Huixue gracefully stepped forward and bowed to the Fujin and the two concubines.
Li Jingshu was fine; she had gotten used to it over the years. She casually took off the ring on her hand and put it on Wuya Huixue. In contrast, Nian Yunrong was not so natural.
With so many people around, and this girl being the prince's cousin, Nian Yunrong accepted the tea offered by Wuya Huixue with a stiff smile.
"The Princess Consort kept it a secret very well; my sister wasn't prepared at all."
Then Nian Yunrong casually took a hairpin off her head and put it on Wuya Huixue's head.
“Sister Wuya arrived in a hurry and wasn’t prepared, so she’s been staying with me for the past few days. Just yesterday, her courtyard was tidied up, so I had her come out to formally meet all of you sisters. From now on, you will all be serving the Prince together, and I hope you can get along well.”
"yes."
After the princess finished her speech, everyone else returned to their own courtyards chatting and laughing. Only Nian Yunrong returned to her courtyard and smashed everything in the house.
Qingyan, who was standing nearby, wanted to step forward, but was stopped by Granny Zhou.
"The concubine is pregnant now. Rather than letting her hold her anger in, it's better to let her vent it."
"But the concubine is already six months pregnant. If she gets too much internal heat, it will harm her health."
Nian Yunrong wasn't the kind of person who would completely lose her mind. Just as Granny Zhou said, she was just venting her frustrations in this way.
"Qingyan, have someone clean up these fragments."
"yes."
Qingyan quickly called for someone to come forward, and Granny Zhou came in carrying a soup that had been kept warm on the fire.
"My lady, this is a soup that I made according to Lady Geng's recipe. It's good for your health."
Nian Yunrong took the soup from Granny Zhou but did not drink it immediately.
She stared at the soup in her hand, paused for a moment, and then said:
"Granny, do you think any other woman in the manor would be as angry as I am?"
When Granny Zhou heard this question, she was also taken aback, but she quickly recovered:
"In my opinion, no one in this manor cares about the Prince more than you do."
"Is that one too?"
For some reason, Zhou Mama's first reaction upon hearing this was to think of Geng Gege.
"Consort, you are pregnant now, so please don't think such things."
"Answer me."
"Won't."
Hearing the answer she already knew, Nian Yunrong gave a self-deprecating laugh:
"I knew it. Everyone in this manor knows that the Prince treats her differently, and the Princess Consort knows it too, but I just don't believe it."
Granny Zhou took it as the concubine's soliloquy and didn't respond. After Nian Yunrong finished speaking, she also drank the soup in her bowl in one gulp.
"There's still plenty of time, I'm not in a hurry."
His words and eyes were full of unwavering conviction.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
