The Fourth Prince Hongli, who suffered repeated defeats but never gave up, was once again taken care of by his own father.
He held back his tears, for Lady Yu had said that a man should not easily shed tears; he was a young man and should not cry.
Granny Tu, holding an umbrella, returned to her quarters with the Fourth Prince. After closing the door, she couldn't help but sigh. Then she turned and poured herself a cup of chilled tea.
"Fourth Prince, you've been out for a while now, don't catch a chill in the heat. Have a cup of cool tea to soothe your throat."
"When it's time for dinner, I'll have the kitchen send over a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed porridge."
The Fourth Prince said dejectedly, "Granny, don't bother with all this. Who knows how nasty the people in the kitchen will say behind your back."
He was born here, and he never received his full monthly allowance. His food was just so-so, a little better than the nannies'.
If it weren't for Consort Yu's visit to the Yuanmingyuan last year, he wouldn't have known that the princes had so many delicious meals every day.
If it weren't for Consort Yu's favor with the emperor and her pity for him, and the fact that she frequently sent him things after he returned to the palace, he wouldn't even be able to live the life he has now.
Although they were brothers, his older and younger brothers were both raised in the palace and lived a life of being loved and pampered.
He had no mother, so whether he caught a cold or suffered from heatstroke, he was only cared for by his nanny.
She wasn't one of those heartless people who had held a child she'd raised since they were a baby. Granny Tu truly loved them.
"Then this servant will pick out some of the bird's nest that Consort Yu sent and stew it for you, and add a few more rock sugar pieces."
The Fourth Prince smiled and nodded.
Then, Granny Tu smiled and said, "Fortunately, Consort Yu still remembers the prince and sent over quite a few things."
"In my opinion, Consort Yu is truly devoted to the prince. Why don't you try to plead with her? With her help, perhaps he can return to the palace?"
The Fourth Prince said, "Consort Yu has been very good to me. Father Emperor doesn't like me. If he were willing to take me back to the palace, would he have kept me in the Yuanmingyuan for so many years?"
"It would be too much of a loss if Consort Yu offended Father Emperor because of me."
Granny Tu was still unwilling to accept it; the Fourth Prince was, after all, the Emperor's own son.
As the prince's closest wet nurse, she should have been very influential in the palace.
However, the Emperor disliked the Fourth Prince, and as a result, they all felt ashamed.
Princess Shuhe's birth mother was originally just an unfavored concubine. It was only through the help of someone from Consort Cheng's palace that she was able to take the child back to her side and raise her.
Although Consort Yu is favored by the emperor, she has no children. If she could raise the Fourth Prince, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?
"With Consort Yu being so favored, the Emperor won't really be angry with her."
"Besides, everyone in the palace knows that Consort Cheng has the most influence in front of the Emperor. Consort Yu and Consort Cheng are on good terms, and as long as the Consort agrees, the Emperor will definitely give them face."
"Consort Yu has no children, and you, Fourth Prince, are the most filial son/daughter. If..."
"Granny, please stop. Consort Yu has been so good to me, I can't let her be in a difficult position. I consider her my mother in my heart, and things will be fine once I establish my own residence in a few years."
Hongli interrupted Granny Tu, explaining that it wasn't that he didn't want to be Consort Yu's son. He believed that Consort Yu was truly good to him and would certainly want to be his mother.
Just as Granny Tu said, Consort Yu had no children of her own, yet she truly loved him.
But what about the concubines in the palace who don't have children? If they could, why wouldn't they want a prince?
However, he had paid his respects to the Empress, recited his lessons in front of Consort Hua, encountered Consort Jing on the road, and was also taken by Consort Wan, so he had seen the Emperor from afar.
But in the end, only Consort Yu treated him the best, and she kept thinking of him even after returning to the palace.
He's no longer a little kid; he understands things perfectly well.
It was all because the emperor disliked him that no one else dared to accept him, for fear of offending the emperor.
Otherwise, given how well-behaved and sensible he is, why wouldn't Consort Yu mention raising him? It's just that she didn't dare to.
Things have finally gotten a little better. What if he mentions too much and Lady Yu doesn't want him anymore?
If that's the case, it might be even harder than before.
An Lingrong heard that Hongli had been kneeling at the entrance of Jiuzhou Qingyan for a long time without seeing the emperor, so she thought of coming over to offer some words of comfort.
I'll also bring him the summer clothes I just finished making so he can try them on. If there's anything that doesn't fit, I can make some alterations.
Then, as soon as I reached the door, I heard a conversation inside.
Looking down at the clothes in her hands, An Lingrong smiled brightly.
She hadn't done all that work for these clothes in vain. She hadn't really expected them to be like a real mother and son; she just hoped that Hongli would be grateful and repay her kindness.
Since arriving, no one else had been seen walking around the courtyard. An Lingrong couldn't help but think of her and her mother's situation at home before entering the palace, and felt even more pity for Hongli.
Silently carrying the things back, Juqing followed half a step behind with the food box, feeling sorry for the Fourth Prince.
She could see clearly that the Empress wanted to raise the Fourth Prince.
"Your Majesty, are we heading back to Xinghua Spring Pavilion now?"
An Lingrong nodded, "Let's go back and put our things down first, then go to Changchun Immortal Pavilion."
Juqing asked, "Do you intend to raise the Fourth Prince?"
An Lingrong said, "I have no sons, and Hongli's mother passed away early, so it's just right."
Juqing was happy for the two of them, but she couldn't help but worry. "But I'm worried that the Emperor might hold a grudge against the Empress because of the Fourth Prince's matter."
An Lingrong said, "If things cannot be done in both ways, then one must make a choice. Besides, don't I know the Emperor well enough?"
"He'll be unhappy for a few days at most, but he'll still come to Yanxi Palace after that."
She didn't care about this son before because she felt she was still young and wanted to have more children so she could go to the harem a few more times.
Her health is not what it used to be. Even if she doesn't like the Fourth Prince, he hasn't done anything wrong. Even if it's for the sake of face, she still has to bring him back to the palace.
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