With the arrival of spring, Yin became busy again. The Qing Dynasty had entered the busy season of spring plowing. Emperor Kangxi issued an edict ordering the princes to begin spring plowing activities in the fields of their respective villas.
Qingyan and her child were packed up by Yin and moved to Beiyuan Mountain Village, while the Third Princess Consort was left at the mansion by Yin Zhi. Yin Zhi's most beloved concubine gave birth, and the Third Princess Consort was extremely jealous when she learned that Qingyan had gone to the garden with Yin. It seemed that her sisters-in-law were all better off than her. The Third Princess Consort's youngest son, born in the same year as the twins, looked sickly.
Among the children born in the same year, only these twins were the healthiest. The Third Princess Consort repeatedly asked the Imperial Hospital to examine the infant's pulse, but the Imperial Hospital's explanations were always the same.
"Your Highness, what do you think? Should we take the concubine's son?" the nanny asked the Third Princess Consort from the side.
The Third Princess Consort sneered: "Why do you think the Master promoted that lowly maid to a secondary consort? Ulanara's luck is just too good."
The old woman quickly shook her head. This imperial decree promoting the prince to concubine was too coincidental. Furthermore, the fourth prince's twins were gradually recovering. If it were truly confirmed that the prince's health would not improve, it would be acceptable for the prince's wife to take the concubine's child away, but...
"Madam, you should cultivate a good relationship with Fourth Madam. After all, the prince's health is similar to that of the twins; they were both premature. However, their current physical conditions are quite different." The nanny hoped that Third Madam would put aside her jealousy and have a proper discussion with Fourth Madam about child-rearing.
"Granny, the master has been very angry ever since he saw the birth of the twins. He doesn't want to lose to the fourth prince, and he keeps bringing this up with me. I was pregnant with the children of the fourth prince's wife, and the other two were pregnant with the same child. After the children of the fourth prince's wife were born, the master always hoped that the twins I gave birth to would be a boy and a girl!" The princess smiled bitterly.
What?!
The old woman looked at the Fujin in surprise. In her opinion, the Fujin was diligently helping the Third Master manage the mansion and was very kind to the concubines. Other princes' courtyards would have some sordid things, and if they were exposed, their mansions would be ruined.
"Granny, isn't it ridiculous? I am the primary consort, yet I have to tolerate concubines, while the fourth consort doesn't have to worry about any of this and can just focus on taking care of the children. How can I not be jealous?" the consort sneered, especially since the secondary consort was her half-sister, who had directly climbed into the third master's bed.
Previously, the nanny had given the Fujin a heads-up. At that time, the Fujin thought that her half-sister posed no threat at all. Now it seems that she was indeed not a threat. She was promoted to the rank of Consort and even gave birth to the Prince Kang.
"Your Highness... this servant will step in..." The nanny noticed the slight flicker in the Fujin's eyes and quickly offered a solution. If she could exchange her life for the prince's, it would definitely be worth it.
“No, Father values her brother very much, so we can’t touch my half-sister. Besides, she climbed into Third Master’s bed herself, so her reputation is already bad. I can only tolerate it now. If something happens now, everyone will think I’m very unvirtuous. I just wish I could have it as easy as Qingyan.” Third Princess Consort had to consider the women of her maternal family, and Lady Dong’e would always bring up this matter.
The Third Princess Consort was resentful. Qingyan was the last of the sisters-in-law to enter the royal family, and now it seemed that her life was the best.
Inside the main house of Beiyuan Mountain Village, two cradles were placed side by side in the inner bedroom, inside which two fair-skinned babies were fast asleep. Qingyan stood beside the cradles, covered the two babies with blankets, and gently massaged their backs.
Since the twins arrived in Beiyuan Mountain Village, Yin Qingyan has been personally taking care of them. The nannies only take the twins to the side room at night when they go to sleep.
"Suhua, you stay here to take care of the two masters. Suzhu, is the lunch I asked you to prepare ready?" Qingyan had been busy coaxing the two children, leaving all the cooking to Suzhu.
"Everything is ready, Master. Shall we go to the fields now?" Su Zhu had specially arranged for all the food to be packed, all of which was prepared for Fourth Master.
Qingyan nodded, dressed in cotton clothes, and walked towards the fields.
Once inside the village, Yin had to consider herself a village woman, and live the way ordinary people did.
As they approached the fields, Qingyan saw Yin bending over, planting rice seedlings, with many servants helping him.
"Fourth Brother, it's time for lunch!" Qingyan walked up the earthen slope, looked at Yin's serious expression, put her hands to her mouth, and called out softly.
Yin rolled up his trousers and stepped into the mud. Qingyan quickly looked at Suzhu first.
She took the wooden kettle from Su Zhu's hand, poured some warm water into it, and washed Yin's legs and feet clean. Yin put on the cloth shoes placed aside and sat on the stone bench on the earthen slope. Various dishes were laid out on the stone table.
"You've prepared so much today?" Yin was somewhat surprised. In the past, he would have prepared enough for two people.
"Sisi, you've been busy all morning, so you should eat more. I specifically asked the lady next to me, and everyone's appetite increases during spring planting and autumn harvest," Qingyan said directly.
Yin was very surprised to hear Shu Yun's words. Qing Yan rarely got involved in these matters, but today was an exception.
"My dear, you've gone to so much trouble!" Yin looked at Qingyan across from him. After giving birth to twins, she had just completed two months of postpartum confinement and her body had only just recovered. If she were to overwork herself, it would be a loss for her.
"Fourth Prince, you brought me out because you wanted the whole family to be together, right?" Qingyan could understand why Yin had only brought her and the children out. Her sisters-in-law were very jealous, especially the Third Prince's wife, who had made things difficult for her quite a bit.
Although the twins were registered before Emperor Kangxi, they were both very nervous and afraid that something might happen.
Yin brought them out, and his sisters-in-law couldn't stand it. They were sure someone would try to harm them. Having the children with them would better protect them from danger.
"Yes, do the two children make a ruckus during the day?" Yin looked at the twins, feeling extremely happy.
"Well, during the day, he just eats and sleeps. After the prince wakes up, he just plays by himself. He only hums a little when he's eating or using the restroom!" Qingyan said.
Upon hearing the second half of Qingyan's sentence, Yin glared at her. In private, Qingyan would always say that her son was like a pig. If her son was like a pig, then what were the two of them?
However, Yin really liked the way the two of them got along now, and didn't want Qingyan to become like the women in the harem, always focused on the interests behind her.
"Alright, don't do that next time," Yin quickly stopped him.
"Sisi, what did you plant today?" Although Qingyan knew how to grow some vegetables, she knew nothing about crops in the field.
“It’s rice!” Yin explained to Qingyan. “Every autumn, Father Emperor uses the harvest from our fields to provide disaster relief.”
Qingyan proposed raising fish in the fields, which indeed gave Yin two sources of income.
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