"Sister Geng, I heard that you are very good at making pastries when I was in Aunt's palace. Even the Emperor praised you. Now that I have tasted them, I can confirm that they are indeed well-deserved."
"aunt?"
Uya Huixue raised her head.
"Yes, Consort De in the palace is my aunt. Don't you two sisters know that?"
Geng Youran and Wanru shook their heads, indicating they didn't know.
On the day of the greeting, the Fujin only said that this Princess Wuya was Consort De's cousin and the Prince's cousin, but did not specify which cousin.
Uya Huixue smiled wryly:
"I am a concubine's daughter. Because I was the only one old enough to be selected for the imperial concubine selection, my family had my aunt bring me to the palace." Then she raised her head:
"Don't worry, my two elder sisters. I have no improper thoughts about the prince. For someone like me, just being alive is a luxury."
Geng Youran and Wanru didn't ask for details, but they could tell from Wuya Huixue's voice and expression that she was telling the truth.
Meanwhile, after court, Yinzhen returned to his study in his palace, his mind replaying the words Uya Huixue had spoken to him the previous night:
"Your Highness, before Consort De bestowed me upon you as a princess, she instructed me to keep an eye on you. But I am unwilling to do so, and I beg Your Highness to help me."
"How can I trust you?"
“Your Highness, my younger brother is currently in the hands of the Fujin (consort). You are free to investigate. The Consort De is using my brother as leverage; I have no other choice.”
With that said, Yinzhen knew pretty much everything.
"I will investigate your matter thoroughly. If your brother is indeed being used as a hostage to threaten you, I will find a way to deal with it. However, since I have agreed to help you, you should know how to behave in front of Mother."
"I understand."
Yinzhen then ordered an investigation into what Wuya Huixue had said, and he received the results after court today.
Uya Huixue was telling the truth. Her younger brother was not favored because of his poor health, and that was precisely why he was being manipulated. Otherwise, they would have cut off his medication.
After considering it for a moment, Yinzhen then sent Gao Wuyong with some gifts to Wuya Huixue's family home as a reward.
When Consort De in Uya's own palace learned of this, she thought that Uya Huixue had gained favor.
After that, Yinzhen would visit Wuya Huixue every few days.
On this day, a banquet for the elderly was held in the palace, and Yinzhen did not return to his residence until very late.
He originally intended to go straight back to his study, but remembering what his mother had said that day, he changed his mind and went to Wuya Huixue's courtyard instead.
The two slept fully clothed, and Yinzhen even got up before dawn.
"Consort, the Prince was indeed with Princess Wuya last night."
Upon hearing this, Nian Yunrong gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly and said:
"This little girl is really good at this. I never realized she would be this good when she first entered the manor."
The wisp of smoke trembled, unsure whether it should reveal the next piece of news.
Granny Zhou, who was standing to the side, gave Qingyan a look, signaling her not to continue.
Unfortunately, Nian Yunrong saw this action.
"Granny Zhou, Qingyan, are you two hiding something from me?"
...
Neither of them spoke.
"Granny Zhou, what exactly happened?"
Granny Zhou sighed:
"Consort, our people say that the Prince seems to be considering promoting Princess Wuya to the rank of Consort, probably within the next day or two."
Nian Yunrong stood up abruptly in surprise:
"What did you say? A concubine? This Wuya Huixue just entered the manor and hasn't even given birth to a child yet. Why should she be called a concubine?"
"I heard it was said by the empress in the palace that Princess Wuya's current rank is a bit low, and if she has a little prince in the future, she will need a respectable mother."
"The Uya family certainly knows how to scheme!"
In a fit of anger, Nian Yunrong swept everything on the table onto the floor.
"Please calm down, Consort. Now is not the time to be angry."
"They're trying to bully me, how can I not be angry?"
"Consort, the Prince may not have given his approval yet. Our people only overheard the gist of it outside, so please don't overthink it."
After careful consideration, Nian Yunrong felt that she could not let things continue to develop.
"Qingyan, go grind the ink. I need to write a letter to my mother."
"yes."
The prince had promised her that when she was about to give birth, she would be allowed to invite her maternal family members to accompany her during childbirth.
She secretly calculated in her mind and felt that the time was about right.
In March of the 61st year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the flowers in Yinzhen's residence were in full bloom, so the Emperor was specially invited to the residence to admire them.
Because he was very satisfied with the chrysanthemum banquet at his son's residence last year, Emperor Kangxi readily agreed to this event as well.
"Fourth brother, it seems you spend all your free time on these flowers. The scenery is different every season, it's truly a hidden paradise."
"Thank you for the compliment, Father. I originally just wanted to give it a try, but I never expected the result to be so unexpected."
The group walked to the pavilion in the garden. Hongli and Hongzhou happened to have returned to the mansion at that time. Hearing that their grandfather was there, they hurriedly came over to pay their respects.
"Hongli (Hongzhou) pays his respects to the Emperor."
"Oh, it's you two. What brings you back at this hour?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your grandson planned to go to the horse farm with Hongzhou this afternoon to practice riding and archery. Since I happened to have some time at noon, I thought I would come back to pay my respects to you."
Looking at the two handsome children in front of him, Kangxi nodded, and then suddenly began to ask questions.
The performances of Hongli and Hongzhou also surprised Yinzhen. Hongli's correct answers were as he expected, but Hongzhou's progress was unexpected.
"Fourth brother, I didn't expect you to be so good at raising children."
"Father, you flatter me. These two children are quite diligent, and your love for them has not been in vain."
Emperor Kangxi nodded. He had met his other grandsons before, but none of them had performed as well as these two.
Hongli, in particular, believed that this child would surely achieve great things in the future.
In the afternoon, just as Emperor Kangxi returned to the palace, a servant came to report that Consort Nian had begun labor.
Yinzhen frowned. He clearly remembered the imperial physician saying that he should wait a few more days, so why did it start now?
"Has the Princess Consort gone there yet?"
"Your Highness, the Fujin (principal wife) has arrived. Consort Li is also there."
Yinzhen nodded, thinking that there shouldn't be any major problems.
He immediately rushed over.
Whether by coincidence or not, he heard a child crying inside the house as soon as he entered the courtyard.
"It's born! It's born!"
Lady Nian personally carried the child out to see Yinzhen:
"Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations! Your concubine has given birth to a little prince!"
Upon hearing that it was a prince, Yinzhen was overjoyed:
“Gao Wuyong, just say that the master said that everyone in the mansion should receive three months’ allowance, and those in the concubine’s quarters should receive half a year’s allowance.”
"Yes, sir!"
When Yinzhen's performance reached the room, Nian Yunrong also showed a satisfied smile.
Finally, it got as she wished.
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