In fact, this is true. When things don't happen to them, everyone is good at talking, one thing after another, but once it happens to them, they just get angry.
This unexpected pregnancy made Yao Niang feel very lazy, so she took this opportunity to rest.
Furthermore, the weather was getting hot, especially in July, when cicadas were chirping non-stop, and pregnant women felt hot, so after putting ice in the house, Yao Niang was completely unwilling to go out.
It was not until the eighth month that she became pregnant and the fetus was stable. Because it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, Yao Niang started to visit Empress Hong.
It was here that she first met Li Guifei's niece Shen Xiyin. She was about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a full and smooth forehead and a small widow's peak. Her skin was as white as snow and as delicate as porcelain. Her eyebrows were curved and her eyes were bright and charming. She wore a white tube top with pink lotus embroidery, a light gauze pleated skirt tied around her waist, and a dress in the color of Xiangfei, just like a flower condensed in the morning dew.
It is true that seeing is worse than hearing about it. Yao Niang praised: "Miss Shen is really a great beauty."
This was also the first time that Shen Xiyin met the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace. When she entered the palace, she heard that Luo had gone to the border to visit a patient, and when Luo came back, she was pregnant again and was recuperating in the palace.
This was also the first time she saw the Crown Princess. She was secretly very surprised. This was already her fourth pregnancy. Although she was more than ten years older than herself, her eyes were still clear and her figure was absolutely beautiful. Even though she was pregnant, her beauty did not diminish in the slightest. Instead, she looked as graceful as a peony.
"Your servant pays her respects to the Crown Princess." Shen Xiyin saluted quickly.
The Shen family had become wealthy since the generation of Concubine Li, and by the time of Shen Xiyin, they had become an official family. Concubine Li's brother was in charge of the weaving bureau and lived in a house in the capital, and Concubine Li's father also held an official position, so Shen Xiyin already looked like the daughter of an official, and her behavior was better than that of Huang Rushuang, the granddaughter of the Duke of Xian's mansion and the daughter of the second place in the imperial examination.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "Get up, you're welcome."
After a while, Concubine Li Guifei, Concubine Duan and others came over. Concubine Duan gave birth to a little princess who was very much loved by the emperor. The emperor now lingered at Concubine Li Guifei and Concubine Duan's place.
These concubines were favored by the emperor not only because of their looks, but also because Concubine Li Guifei was very considerate.
When Yao Niang was praising Shen Xiyin, Concubine Li Gui smiled and said, "Speaking of learning, she can't compare with you, the Crown Princess. I hope you can give her some pointers in the future, and she will benefit a lot."
Shen Xiyin was not angry at all after being told this by her aunt, and she looked very docile. Even Yao Niang couldn't help but nod her head when she saw her. She was indeed a good girl.
At this time, Empress Hong glanced at Shen Xiyin, and felt that Yao Niang was too unvigilant and too stupid. The sudden appearance of such a young woman in the harem must be targeting Xuan Ce.
In fact, Yao Niang was not unaware, but she was unwilling to use those bad words to describe a young girl. Moreover, she firmly believed that if this person was easily seduced and stolen away, it meant that this person did not belong to you in the first place.
If there is no one, there will be that one.
It must be Gao Xuance who taught her what it feels like to love someone wholeheartedly.
Even Concubine Li Gui couldn't help but say to her niece privately when she saw Yao Niang like this: "You see, it's no wonder that the Crown Prince loves the Crown Princess so much. If it were someone else, they would probably have different ideas, but she didn't. Instead, she was very calm."
Shen Xiyin also knew that she was able to study in the palace thanks to her aunt, and of course she also wanted to plan a future for herself.
Of all the young men in the palace, the crown prince was the most senior, but she was also educated, so how could she be willing to be someone's concubine? With her status, she could be a concubine, even if she became a concubine, or even a concubine like my aunt.
But in the end, she was trapped in the palace for her whole life.
But this kind of thing is not whether she is willing or not. As her father said, if it were not for her aunt, the Shen family would not be what it is today. If she did not work hard, what would happen to the next generation of the Shen family?
This is their pain. Who doesn't want to be the principal wife? Who doesn't want to be open and aboveboard? But what about the family?
Yao Niang didn't think too much about it. She was talking to Queen Hong about Gao Xuance: "I don't know when the prince will come back."
"Don't worry, if he comes back, the emperor will definitely tell me what happened." said Queen Hong.
Yao Niang nodded: "Yes, my daughter-in-law is just worried."
The last time I missed Brother Xun, he went to Mount Tai to practice meditation, luckily he managed to come back in the end. I wonder if he can come back this time?
The mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law chatted for a few more words when Wanwan and Huang Rushuang came in holding bottles. Seeing this, Yao Niang looked at Huang Rushuang. To be fair, this girl was smart and flexible, much better than her mother.
It's not that Yao Niang is broad-minded, but that she is an adult and cannot be too harsh on a child.
And now Huang Rushuang has not done anything to offend me.
She had also been targeted by Zhuang Lingyi and even Tang Huijun. Tang Huijun even wanted to disfigure her. And Hong Shuyi was always trying to use a knife to kill her. If she did the same and murdered others, then what was the difference between her and these people?
It is normal to be on guard and not let others hurt you, but if you treat a beautiful woman as a powerful enemy and even want to strike first, or even go to the point of framing and killing others, it only shows that you are no different from them.
People should seek to improve themselves rather than harm others.
"Crown Princess." Huang Rushuang was very close to Yao Niang.
"Hello, Miss Huang. I haven't seen you for these days. I wonder how your studies are going?" Yao Niang asked them leisurely while touching her belly.
Huang Rushuang said, "We are in the library, and the teacher is lecturing on the Book of Songs."
Yao Niang investigated again and found that Huang Rushuang had learned too many things. She seemed to know a little about everything, but she was not proficient in anything. This was not good.
But she was not the kind of person who liked to teach others, so she just said a few words in a tactful way, and Huang Rushuang seemed not to hear what she said.
Instead, it was Wanwan who asked Yao Niang: "Aunt, is it a boy or a girl in your belly?"
Yao Niang shook her head: "I don't know either. It would be nice if it was a little girl, as cute as our Wanwan."
"Aunt, I really like the green tangerine and mung bean cake you sent me the other day." Wanwan licked her lips.
She really wanted to eat this, and heard that it was made by her aunt.
Yao Niang usually sends a portion to Wan Wan whenever she goes to the kitchen. Now, hearing her say this, she scratched her nose and said, "Little greedy cat, next time your aunt goes to the kitchen, please send someone over, okay?"
"Okay, aunt is the best." Wanwan smiled.
Sometimes, Wanwan thinks that since her aunt is so nice, will her uncle be even better?
She discussed with Huang Rushuang in private: "Sister Huang, have you met my uncle? My aunt is so kind to me, maybe when my uncle comes back, he will treat me even better. I just don't know what my uncle likes."
Huang Rushuang smiled and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is wise and brave. He has annihilated the Western Rong, conquered the Eastern Hu, and entered the Taishan Mountain for meditation. This must be a good thing."
In the minds of the little girls, the prince is a great hero and the princess is a beauty. Since ancient times, beauties have been paired with heroes.
With the expectation that my uncle would treat me better when he returned, Gao Xuance came back a little late but before the Double Ninth Festival.
With him around, the Donghu people did not dare to act recklessly, especially in battles against the Donghu. Although they lost a few battles, they also won some victories. Winter was approaching, and the Donghu people had already run out of food and food, so they dared not continue.
However, where Gao Xuance was located, easy-to-grow staple foods were grown on a large scale, which made the soldiers very motivated.
Even Gao Xuance's army was eclectic. There were black people from Lu Song, Koreans, and even red-haired people. As long as they were useful, he put them in. I heard that these people made great contributions this time.
Emperor Jianzhang went out of the city in person to pick up his son. Unlike many men who held real power when they got old, he did not seem to have such a strong desire to control power. He was even incapable of doing things like hiding the good bows after all the birds were used up and cooking the running dogs after the cunning rabbit died.
Even Luo Zhizheng was vaguely worried that the prince was young and strong, while the emperor was beginning to grow old, and whether he would become jealous of him.
Little did he know that when Emperor Jianzhang saw his son returning on horseback, he rushed forward and held Gao Xuance tightly all the way.
"Baby, ahem, Prince, you've worked hard on the journey."
Gao Xuance's image of being wise and brave was ruined by the word "baby", but he still had to force himself to smile and say, "I failed my father's trust. We were defeated by the Donghu people in Zaha, so I decided to make up for it later."
In fact, the previous battle was because Gao Xuance was still on the road and had nothing to do with him. Instead, it was he who successfully frightened off the Donghu.
Moreover, his military genius is unmatched.
He was tall and strong, and Emperor Jianzhang was delighted to introduce his eldest son to the cabinet.
Even Gao Xuance, who was a relatively thick-skinned man, was very embarrassed.
You are already so old, why do you still need an introduction? But Gao Xuance was stunned, and he was polite and courteous, his eyes were bright, and his words were meaningful and insightful.
He is indeed a smart and capable person, no one dares to underestimate him.
Gao Xuance only wanted to see Yao Niang, and after they parted at the border, he didn't know what had happened to her.
Yao Niang also held her head up, waiting for her husband to come back. Xun Ge'er could see that his mother was a little uneasy, and asked, "Mother, did you hear what I just said?"
"I heard it. I'm sorry, mother was distracted just now." Yao Niang touched her son's head.
The younger son is very quiet and likes to play games. Besides, she lives in the East Palace, far away from the Yu Garden, and cannot take the child with her as before. This is why Yao Niang is looking forward to Gao Xuance's return.
It's always good to have a father around.
"Mother, I don't blame you. I love you the most." Xun Ge'er suddenly raised his head from a pile of machinery and equipment and said this.
Yao Niang didn't know why, but tears suddenly filled her eyes: "Thank you."
She was really happy. Her children were very kind to him, both in her past life and in this life.
Her husband came back in the evening. Gao Xuance had a lot to say to Yao Niang. He even walked very fast when he reached the East Palace. But when he saw Yao Niang's belly, he was stunned.
"This... When was this..."
Yao Niang shook off his hand and glanced at him. Gao Xuance was afraid that Yao Niang would lock him out, so he hurried inside. He seemed to realize something and said quickly, "Yes, it's my fault. Really, it's all my fault."
After saying this, Gao Xuance felt very upset.
He really didn't want Yao Niang to do this again. He didn't expect that she would get pregnant after one night of negligence. He must not be so reckless in the future.
Seeing his attitude, Yao Niang softened a bit: "This is the last one. I really don't want to be pregnant again. Let's hope to have a daughter this time, okay?"
"Okay, I'll do whatever you say. But sister Yao, are you going to suffer again?" Gao Xuance's eyes were full of heartache.
"Hush, don't let the baby in your belly hear it."
…
When they returned home at night, Yao Niang fell asleep and Gao Xuance held her in his arms. He was very satisfied and actually did not dream all night until dawn.
However, the couple did not know that Xiaoxun was making a fuss at night and refused to rest. On weekdays, he slept with his mother. This was because his two older brothers were older and had their own courtyards, but he was still young and did not have to go to school, so he slept with his mother every day.
Now that his father has returned, he wants to sleep alone. Xun Ge'er is inevitably a little angry. He said to the wet nurse: "Mammy, I want to go to my mother's place. I don't want to stay here."
"My dear Third Master, your father is back and he is inside. How can you go?" The wet nurse was also very anxious.
Originally, there was no such thing as a Crown Princess in the palace for raising children. She almost did all the work of a wet nurse, and the children were more dependent on her as their biological mother, but it was not very good for the wet nurses.
Because the child was too dependent on the Crown Princess, and the Crown Prince had no other concubines but the Crown Princess, and even when she was pregnant, he still slept with her in his arms.
The wet nurse coaxed Xun Ge'er in many ways, but he only fell asleep after sobbing.
Early in the morning, when Gao Xuance opened the door, he was startled to see a little ball sitting on the door sill outside.
The wet nurse hurriedly said, "Prince, this is Third Master Xun, who has been clamoring for a Crown Princess early in the morning. Is there nothing I can do?"
It turned out that this was the third child. Gao Xuance picked him up, but he was very stubborn: "I want to see my mother."
"Your mother is still sleeping. Father will take you out to play, okay?" Gao Xuance couldn't let his son disturb his wife.
He didn't know that Yao Niang called "Xun Ge'er" from behind him, and Xun Ge'er immediately got out of Gao Xuance's arms and ran to Yao Niang. Yao Niang knew that her little son was always smart and insightful, but he also had his own opinions and persistence.
"Mother, I miss you." Xun'er held onto Yao's hand and refused to let go.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "Mother misses you too. But now there is someone to accompany you. Why didn't I hear you call father just now? Your father is also very powerful."
Xun'er is very good at crawling. He uses his hands and feet to climb onto the bed, nestles in Yao Niang's arms, and looks at Gao Xuance curiously.
Only then did Gao Xuance understand how Xiao Yao Niang raised the child. Even though Empress Hong loved him so much, she never slept with him because the palace had its own rules. In fact, it was a gift to let people of higher status take care of the child.
Only Yao Niang is like this, raising children sincerely and without expecting any reward.
However, when the son grew up, he was still profit-driven. If his mother was not favored, he would still try to climb up the social ladder. His second brother was such a person.
Gao Xuance realized that he was overthinking, and walked over as Yao Niang instructed and squatted in front of Xun Ge'er.
Yao Niang talked about her son's strengths: "He is very good at all kinds of machines. I play with him every day. Now adults are not as good as him in playing magic squares."
"Really?" Gao Xuance also liked to watch some Qimen Dunjia techniques, but he never thought that his son was actually good at it.
Yao Niang kissed Xun Ge'er and then said with a smile: "Let's show Xun Ge'er to our father, okay?"
The clever Baizhi had already brought the magic square. Xunger fiddled with it a few times and threw it aside. He even acted coquettishly with Yao Niang and asked for camel milk. Gao Xuance was stunned.
"Oh my God, how can you be so awesome?" He still couldn't believe it.
Yao Niang thought Gao Xuance was deliberately praising her son like this, so she just shook her son and said with a smile, "Our Xun Ge'er is amazing."
Gao Xuance has a sharp eye. Even though this baby is still looking for a mother, with such powerful mysterious skills, he will probably have a difficult future.
You should know that this so-called "magic square" is also called "Hetu", "Luoshu", or "vertical and horizontal diagram".
Seeing that his father the Crown Prince was so surprised, Xun Ge'er said nonchalantly, "It's just following the rules of nine pieces arranged diagonally, swapping top and bottom, alternating left and right, with the four directions sticking out, wearing nine and wearing one, three on the left and seven on the right, two and four as shoulders, and six and eight as feet."
It is true that you cannot judge a book by its cover, and you cannot judge the ocean by its depth. It is amazing that such a baby knows so much.
Bai Ying said quickly: "Although our Third Master is smart, the Crown Princess has been playing with him for a few hours every day in the past few years, and has collected all the mechanical toys in the world."
Gao Xuance then realized that children are not simple. They are not born that way, and acquired training is also very important.
Along the way, Yao Niang brought Xun Ge'er sitting in the back on a sedan chair, and Gao Xuance sat in the front on a sedan chair, and the family prepared to pay their respects to Kunning Palace.
After getting off the sedan chair, Gao Xuance wanted to get closer to his son, but Yao Niang snorted, "You are so snobbish. Now that you see that our Xun Ge'er is extraordinary, you want to get close to him."
Gao Xuance didn't defend himself and just laughed.
This is because he is a bachelor, otherwise, Yao Niang would not even want him to touch her.
In fact, he is not snobbish, he just finds it amazing that a baby can be so powerful.
It's just that this baby is too attached to his mother and stays by Yao Niang's side all the time.
But Wanwan came here today specifically to pay her respects to her uncle the Crown Prince. In the little girl's mind, her uncle would definitely treat her well.
Queen Hong was very excited to see her son. She pulled him aside to ask about his well-being. Gao Xuance was used to it and kept saying, "It's not good, but it has to be good. At least I have fulfilled my mission. I eat the same food as the soldiers at the front. I eat what they eat. I was originally a vegetarian, but I can't eat meat. Fortunately, my father had a banquet yesterday and I ate well."
This is what makes Gao Xuance so likable. He speaks very humorously. Yao Niang couldn't help laughing when she looked at him.
"No way, mother, you have prepared these red sand steamed buns. I like them, but do I want to change the taste? Yao Niang makes this and you make it too. You really want me to eat it and then go out with the help of the wall. Why don't you two just fight and then decide whose one I get to eat." Gao Xuance complained coquettishly.
Queen Hong hit him and said, "You unfilial son, you are still picking on others."
Queen Hong once heard Gao Xuance trying to sow discord between her and her daughter-in-law, so she quickly beat him up, while Yao Niang covered her mouth and laughed.
After they chatted for a while, Queen Hong asked Wanwan to come and meet Gao Xuance. Gao Xuance seemed warm and said, "I didn't expect my second sister's daughter to have grown up so much."
"Yes, her personality is not like Zhenyang. She is well-behaved and sensible." Queen Hong also spoke well of her granddaughter, hoping that Gao Xuance could help get a title of princess for Zhenyang's daughter.
The main reason is that Queen Hong's words are not as effective as before, and there is no opportunity. Princess Xing'an's daughter is also in the palace.
Although the eldest prince of the Lin family had committed a crime, Emperor Jianzhang had always been sympathetic to the poor and the weak, and felt very guilty towards Princess Xing'an, so her daughter did not receive any title while in the palace.
Gao Xuance just smiled after hearing this. He thought that it was only a matter of time before Zhenyang's daughter was honored, so he didn't say anything.
Zhen Yang's daughter was Wan Wan's companion. After he told her about Huang Rushuang's life story, he said bluntly, "I remember that the selection of companions was very strict back then. How come anyone can be a companion now? Huang Daobin sold out the secrets of the cabinet assistant and accepted bribes back then."
Yao Niang thought that he should be the one to say this, because if she said it herself, Zhen Yang would think she was nagging.
Queen Hong had never expected Gao Xuance to pay attention to such a small matter. She couldn't help but explain: "Although the child's father was banished, she is the granddaughter of Duke Xian after all, and her mother is also--"
"That's not a good thing either. He plotted against me behind my back." Gao Xuance put down the teacup.
Queen Hong was furious: "What? Is there such a thing?"
Gao Xuance nodded: "That's right."
He said that Zhuang Lingyi's plotting against Yao Niang was actually plotting against himself, and he also knew what Empress Hong cared about the most.
Yao Niang never thought that he would notice this on the first day of greeting. Fortunately, Wanwan and Huang Rushuang had gone out after greeting.
However, Gao Xuance suddenly thought of something and said, "Forget it. I am not targeting a child. Since she is already with Wanwan, then forget it."
Empress Hong nodded. After all, the most important thing for Wanwan now was the title. With the title of princess, she could legitimately replace her with a high-ranking official's daughter as her study partner.
Everything in the palace is governed by rules.
For example, when Yao Niang and her companions were selected, the princess was selected as a companion first, and the remaining people were then assigned to the princesses.
If you don't have a title, it's impossible to assign a reading partner to you. For example, Huang Rushuang's current identity is Yehu Chan.
Shen Xiyin's current study partners are also two girls from the Shen family.
When they came out, Yao Niang couldn't help but ask Gao Xuance: "Why did you change your mind later? I thought you would chase her out and was about to plead for mercy. After all, she was recommended by Zhenyang."
Gao Xuance smiled and said, "I'm not that stupid. Zhenyang is just a fool. You don't know that cousins love to marry. This is how our Gao family is originally from. When the King of Heng married the daughter of a princess, it was considered a good thing. Even cousin Hong wanted to be a concubine."
"So, you don't want Chengyun to marry Wanwan?" Yao Niang said.
Gao Xuance admitted frankly: "Of course, Chengyun's marriage is not their bargaining chip, and you will have to check it when the time comes. So when the Huang family's daughter is like that, what do I have to do with her?"
Yao Niang thought to herself, he and I really have the same thoughts, we actually thought of the same thing.
Huang Rushuang asked Wanwan: "How is it, how does the prince treat you?"
Wanwan looked a little strange: "At the Empress' grandmother's place, the Crown Prince's uncle treated me normally, but when he was there, even the Crown Princess didn't say much."
She was young and didn't know how to describe it. It was like she thought adults should like children, but this uncle, the prince, seemed more like a child than her. Her grandmother doted on him so much that she even served him food with her own hands.
On the contrary, she usually stayed at her grandmother's place, coaxed by her aunt and the Crown Princess, and was treated like a treasure. Even Xun Ge'er was not as favored as she was. But today, her grandmother only paid verbal attention to her, not even one tenth of what she usually did.
This uncle did not come to love her, but to compete for her favor.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
