Geng Youran spent several months living a peaceful life in her own courtyard. She wasn't busy, and she didn't need to take care of the children. She usually just played with the children for a while, or took Hongli and Hongzhou for a walk in the garden with Wanru, or went to the small kitchen to cook something.
Of course, there were a few minor hiccups along the way.
For example, the chance encounter between Consort Nian and the others in the garden.
Or, when inviting Geng Youran over, you could casually mention the gift the prince gave her.
For example, on this particular day, Geng Youran was already unbearably hot and didn't want to move an inch. But then, Consort Nian sent someone to invite her over for tea.
"Why drink tea in the middle of summer?"
While muttering to himself, Geng Youran gulped down a large bowl of chilled plum juice.
“Princess, we still have some plum juice left. Why don’t we take it with us? You’re most afraid of the heat in the summer.”
Geng Youran shook her head. Putting aside the fact that this action would displease Consort Nian, given Consort Nian's health, if she were to get sick from drinking plum juice, she would be in deep trouble.
Now that Nian Gengyao is the governor of Sichuan, she has no desire to provoke Nian Yunrong.
"Let's go. I guess the prince has rewarded her with something nice and wants us to go and admire it."
Qianxue pouted:
"As if anyone cares. If we're talking about good things, nothing beats the directness of the master's favor."
Her words hit the nail on the head. Although rewards are one way to show favor, the most direct way is to see whose courtyard you visit the most.
"You need to watch your mouth, or I won't be able to save you if you get into trouble one day."
Qianxue stuck out her tongue to indicate that she had heard.
When the two arrived at Nian Yunrong's courtyard, they saw her lying on a recliner in the yard, sunbathing, with several pots of brightly colored roses beside her.
"The concubine has a refined taste."
Nian Yunrong, who was resting with her eyes closed, quickly opened them upon hearing Geng Youran's voice, and then got up to greet her:
"Sister, you've arrived. Someone, bring tea!"
Geng Youran stiffened as Nian Yunrong grasped her hand, wondering when they had become so close.
"My lady-in-waiting, you seem to be in a good mood. Is there something you wish to do for me?"
Consort Nian led Geng Youran into the main room by the hand.
"Sister, please try this. This is Wuyi rock tea that the Prince had Gao Wuyong personally deliver yesterday. I thought it was quite good and thought you might like it, so I had someone invite you over to have some tea and chat."
Geng Youran and Qianxue exchanged a glance, thinking to themselves, "This is where it begins."
She took a sip; it was indeed good tea, with a very rich aroma.
"When I came in, I saw several pots of roses in the concubine's courtyard."
"Yes. The prince said I always stay cooped up in my room, so he had some potted plants sent over to brighten my eyes. If you like them, you can take a few back with you."
Geng Youran felt a lump in her throat. If she took it back and made it into food, she wondered what Consort Nian would think.
"Wait a minute, did she invite me here today just to show off her tea and flowers?"
She put down her teacup and said:
"If Consort has something to say, she should speak frankly."
Consort Nian's upturned lips paused for a moment as she continued to twist the handkerchief in her hand.
"Sister, I'd like to ask if the Prince has mentioned my brother to you?"
"Lord Nian? What happened to him?"
Yinzhen was an extremely meticulous and cautious person, and he rarely discussed political matters in the inner quarters.
But in the past few days, Nian Yunrong noticed that the prince's attitude towards her was somewhat different.
She didn't stay overnight, only occasionally coming to visit. On the surface, it seemed that the prince sent her things almost every day, but he never gave her what she truly wanted.
That's why she thought of Geng Youran, hoping to get some information from him.
However, Geng Youran shook his head in response.
“Consort, when the Prince comes to my courtyard, he only eats something and rests. He doesn’t discuss matters of state with me.”
Geng Youran knew that Nian Yunrong was aware of her trip to Sichuan with Yinzhen, and she also knew that Nian Yunrong would not mention it in front of her.
So he simply pushed everything onto Yinzhen.
Next, Nian Yunrong kept testing Geng Youran, but Geng Youran remained unmoved.
Seeing that Geng Youran remained unyielding, Nian Yunrong became somewhat annoyed, and her tone grew increasingly cold.
Geng Youran was a person who survived by observing people's expressions and moods. She quickly noticed the change in Nian Yunrong's attitude, so she used the excuse of feeling unwell to hurriedly return to her own courtyard.
"Granny, what exactly does this Lady Geng mean? Does she really know nothing about my brother being neglected by the Prince?"
The old woman earnestly comforted him:
“Consort, in my opinion, this Lady Geng is indeed unaware of Lord Nian’s affairs. Even if she is favored, she is still just a Lady. How could the Prince discuss such matters with a Lady?”
Nian Yunrong closed her eyes wearily.
She has been married into the Prince's mansion for several years, but has yet to give birth to a son for the Prince.
She knew that her favor with the emperor was largely due to her brother.
A few days ago, she received a letter from her family by chance, saying that her brother's work in Sichuan was being hindered and that the prince's attitude was sometimes cold and sometimes warm, which made her family uneasy, so they asked her to try to find out more.
However, the prince didn't show up at all during this time, except to send people to deliver things. That's why she could only find Geng Youran and try to find out more from the side.
Seeing that Nian Yunrong was sullen, the old woman beside her comforted her:
"Consort, please forgive my impoliteness. Now that you are married to the Fourth Prince, you must serve him as your master. It's best to stay out of your family's affairs, lest the Prince find out and become angry with you."
Upon hearing this, Consort Nian finally understood why the Prince had been neglecting her lately.
She's been inquiring about her brother's whereabouts, and the prince probably already knows. Perhaps the reason he sent her the gifts was to remind her.
Nian Yunrong got up and looked at the roses in the courtyard outside. So what if they're pretty? They're just empty shells.
She sighed.
"Granny, tell our people to stay put for now."
"yes."
On the other side, after returning to her courtyard, Geng Youran gulped down a large glass of water.
"Qianxue, what do you think Consort Nian meant by calling me over today? Why would she think that the Prince would talk to me about Lord Nian's affairs?"
Qianxue didn't understand either; her mistress usually only did things related to food, besides teasing the little prince.
That evening, Yinzhen came to Geng Youran's courtyard.
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