"Master, Granny Ma has arrived."
Changning was gazing out the window at a rose bush, its large blossoms clustered together, looking exceptionally charming in the sunlight.
"Let her in."
"yes."
The maid bowed and retreated, her head bowed, not daring to speak, the hem of her skirt tracing a beautiful arc.
Watching her retreating figure, Changning sighed inwardly.
Chuixue was a first-class maid whom Changning had only met yesterday when she entered the Fourth Prince's residence. She was pretty but not particularly eye-catching, yet she possessed a certain steadiness.
She looks like a modern, reliable executive assistant; her name might be Lisa, or it might be Nancy.
No matter what, she could be called an independent woman, but here, she's just a servant.
When she first transmigrated, she was secretly relieved that her phone and air conditioner were gone, but at least she was a master and didn't have to start from the bottom of serving others. She could also enjoy the corrupt bourgeois treatment.
Just as she was spacing out, Granny Ma came in.
Granny Ma has the appearance of a traditional Manchu old nanny, with a slightly dark complexion and a downturned mouth, but her eyes are very sharp. No wonder she is the head nanny who can manage all the affairs of the Fourth Prince's inner court.
Granny Ma first bowed slightly, and only spoke after Changning called her to rise.
"Consort Fucha, you entered the manor yesterday. By custom, it is your turn to serve the Prince tonight. You shall pay your respects to the Prince in the main courtyard the next day."
Changning was taken aback when he heard the name "Prince". Yes, just yesterday, he was betrothed to Emperor Kangxi's fourth son, Aisin Gioro Yinzhen.
After Granny Ma left, Changning was still immersed in the excitement of sleeping with Yongzheng.
I don't know what he looked like, or whether he was handsome. It is said that Emperor Yongzheng had excellent taste, but his health didn't seem to be very good. He had far fewer sons than his father, and he eventually died from overwork.
However, thinking about herself, Changning felt exhausted.
They were all dressed like sieves during the Qing Dynasty; I don't know how those women managed to survive.
All she remembered was Consort Li in Yongzheng's harem, the birth mother of the giant Third Prince Hongshi who only grew taller, and the future Consort Qi.
There is indeed a concubine named Li now. Hongshi has not yet been born, and the second prince Hongfen is just one year old. He is said to be healthy and lively. Compared with the premature and weak first prince, she is naturally favored by Yinzhen, which is why she was promoted to concubine.
Then there's the War Goddess of Yongshou Palace, Niohuru clan, the birth mother of the victor Hongli, the famous Consort Xi. Currently, there's no one in the palace with her name, and it's unknown whether her name is Zhen Huan.
Then there's Little Rice Cake, who later became a favored concubine, but now she's nowhere to be found.
Apart from that, she knew nothing. Fubuki, however, did give a brief introduction to the situation in the manor.
Currently, Si Si has two sons and one daughter.
Besides the First Prince Honghui born to the First Princess Consort and the Second Prince Hongfen born to Consort Li, Consort Song also had a daughter, but it is said that she was very weak and had to take medicine every day to stay alive, and could not be exposed to the slightest breeze.
The others had no children, such as Geng Gege, Wu Gege, and several maids who were taken in but had no official status.
Changning rubbed her temples. She racked her brains but couldn't remember having a concubine from the Fucha clan during the Yongzheng Emperor's reign. Could she have been cannon fodder?
But looking at the situation in this mansion, a prince with only one wife and no other Manchu women in the backyard, it is indeed not a good sight. Perhaps that is why he was assigned here.
Yonghe Palace
"Has the concubine of the fourth prince already gone?" Consort De gently fiddled with her prayer beads, her face expressionless.
Granny Xie nodded first, then whispered, "He entered the manor yesterday, and the Emperor already knows about it."
Consort De squinted her eyes: "Was it Consort Tong who went to say it?" Although it was a question, the tone was one of certainty.
"Yes. Your Highness, please rest assured, the Emperor will not misunderstand your love for your son. Consort Tong is just trying to curry favor," Xie Mama comforted her.
Consort De paused slightly, but continued to move her hands through the prayer beads without stopping, though her voice became low.
"Everyone says I'm biased. The fourth prince is a prince, and his inner court is full of Han Chinese, while the fourteenth prince's concubines are all Manchu bannermen. But their situations are inherently different."
"The fourth prince is of the highest order of seniority and has just been granted the title of Beile. He is gaining experience in the Six Ministries, and now is the time for him to conceal his brilliance. If he is too sharp, the other two will inevitably set their sights on him."
"That Lady Fuca is top-notch in terms of background, character, and appearance. She is suitable to be the Crown Princess. How could the Emperor allow her to marry a prince? He intends to betroth her to a member of the imperial family."
At this point, Consort De sighed, and Granny Xie, observing Consort De's expression, said, "This servant doesn't understand, how come the Emperor agreed when Consort Tong spoke up?"
"It's for the sake of Empress Xiaoyiren, who passed away. She loved Yinzhen the most, and the Emperor already felt guilty towards Tongjia."
Consort De's expression darkened slightly.
"But Consort Tong is not Empress Xiaoyiren now; she's using her position to gain power."
"Well, Lady Fucha is a good one. The Fourth Prince's household has never had a suitable wife. Let's see if she has the good fortune."
Granny Xie smiled and flattered, "Having a caring mother-in-law like you is a great blessing."
Consort De laughed: "You cunning servant, all you know how to say is sweet talk. That Fourteenth Prince is not satisfied with his wife. That child has never been easy to deal with. If we don't help him marry a few more Manchu women with a distinguished background, he'll be devoured in the future, and not even his bones will be left."
"Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them. Your Highness's good intentions will surely be understood by the two princes." Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Granny Xie smiled and handed over a teacup.
Consort De took the teacup, took a small sip, and said leisurely, "Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise."
Fourth Prince's Mansion
"Su Peisheng, has Lady Fucha arrived?"
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