Consort Chen was dressed in a light pink pearl-embroidered bird dress, with an exquisite kingfisher-feather hairpin inlaid with pearls on her head, and a jade pendant with vine flowers tied around her waist.
Her jade-like fingers danced across the zither.
Hearing footsteps outside the door, Consort Chen stopped playing the zither, steadyed the strings, wiped her delicate fingers with a handkerchief from the corner of the table, stood up, walked to the warm pavilion, and sat down.
"Did you find out anything?" Consort Chen asked languidly.
"Your Majesty, I have learned that the little princess is indeed going to start treating the palace maids in the palace."
"Strange things happen every year, but this year there seem to be more than usual."
"Such a young girl, not even as tall as the leg of this stool, yet she can practice medicine and save lives?" Consort Chen said with a stern face, her phoenix eyes slightly narrowed.
That handsome face was slightly distorted by jealousy and anger.
"Your Majesty is right. Ever since this little princess was born, haven't there been quite a few strange things happening in the palace?"
"Hmph, because of her, my Yizhong, the First Prince and the Third Prince were all granted the title of Five-Bead Prince."
"It was supposed to be a good thing, but then, because of her, my dowry maid, Kodan, was sent to the Imperial Laundry and hasn't returned yet!"
"Now, His Majesty is allowing a girl to practice medicine; he's really showing favoritism!"
"Is there any news from His Majesty?" Consort Chen asked with a solemn expression, looking at her nails painted with henna.
"I heard that when the little princess went to the imperial kitchen to see His Majesty, she didn't even need to announce her arrival; she went straight in."
"Hmph, I knew it. His Majesty is biased. No matter how outstanding Zhong'er is, His Majesty can never see it."
Consort Chen looked at the Burmese red jade lace bracelet on her wrist, touched the gold-dipped rose quartz earrings on her ears, and let out a long sigh. She said with some self-pity, "Alas, I am so beautiful, yet His Majesty never even glances at me."
"How can a baby who only babble all day be as pleasing to the eye as I am? I really don't know what Your Majesty is thinking?" Consort Chen rolled her eyes, quite dissatisfied with her current situation.
Upon hearing this, the palace maid was so frightened that she quickly glanced around. Seeing that no one was around, she hurriedly reminded her, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words! Speaking ill of His Majesty is punishable by law!"
"Hmph, in my opinion, His Majesty just wants to bestow another title upon the little princess, and he's just looking for a reason. If word gets out that she's healing and saving lives, everyone will praise the little princess's kindness and righteousness. At that time, no matter how much His Majesty pampers the little princess, the ministers won't say anything!"
"Your Majesty has so many sons, but only one daughter, so it's no wonder you can't treat them all equally. However, you seem to be showing a bit too much favoritism towards this little princess!"
"You brat, you've got a good plan. You've stolen all of Yi Zhong's thunder."
The master and servant chatted back and forth about recent events in the palace, which disturbed Yun Yizhong's peace of mind.
Yun Yizhong was already twelve years old. He sat on the soft couch in the side hall, holding a book on military strategy and reading it with great interest.
He had clear features and an upright posture. Upon hearing the sounds coming from inside the Consort Chen's palace, he put down the book he was holding.
"Mother, please don't say that. My younger sister is my sister. There's no question of her being in the limelight," Yun Yizhong said solemnly to Consort Chen.
"It's best for a family to live in harmony."
“Royal sister, you have been pitiful since you lost your mother at a young age. Why must Mother be so cruel?” Yun Yizhong pursed his thin lips, his face showing displeasure.
"Hmph, family? Yizhong, have you gone mad from reading too much?" Consort Chen clenched the handkerchief in her hand.
"Born into royalty, how could I possibly have any family?"
"You say I'm mean?!"
"Whom have I been doing all this for? It's all for you! Are you out of your mind?!" Consort Chen pointed at Yun Yizhong and scolded.
“Normally, I don’t care what Mother says, but if Mother continues like this and things get out of control, then I really can’t let Mother continue to act recklessly!” Yun Yizhong said solemnly.
"Mother, don't have any more wicked thoughts, and don't even think about harming my younger sister. If anything happens to my younger sister, I will give my life rather than abandon her!"
After saying this, Yun Yizhong left the main hall, leaving behind Consort Chen, whose lips were trembling with anger.
...
Three days later, Fu Shuang Palace was already bustling with activity. The weather was gradually warming up, and Ah Xiang placed a table at the entrance of the main hall of Fu Shuang Palace, covered with a thick fleece blanket.
Lay down a soft blanket so your hands won't get cold.
Just as they were busy, Yun Yishu swaggered in, followed by several eunuchs, each carrying a large wooden box.
"Royal sister!"
"Where is my imperial sister?" Yun Yishu called out.
"Greetings, Third Prince." The palace maids in Fushuang Palace greeted him with their bows.
"Third Imperial Brother!"
"Open the boxes and arrange everything!" Yun Yishu stood proudly at the entrance of the main hall, pointing at the eunuchs beside him.
Under Yun Yishu's arrangement, the eunuchs and palace maids took out the contents of the box. Inside were items such as a veil needed for medical treatment, a pulse pillow to be placed on the wrist, a small pot for decocting herbs, and a small fan.
"Third brother, are these all for me?" Yun Duoduo ran to Yun Yishu's side, tugged at his sleeve, and looked up to ask.
"Yes, these were all personally picked out for you by my elder brother!"
Third brother, you're really generous!
[Third brother, this man is easy to get along with, and he really knows how to spend money!]
"Duoduo knows that Third Brother is the best!" Yun Yishu bent down and picked up Yun Duoduo in his arms.
"Third Prince, this..." A little eunuch held a beautiful rouge box in his hand, unsure of where to put it.
"Ah, this, Aunt Xiang, is some cosmetics and hair oil that I bought for my younger sister."
Ah Xiang walked over, saw the thing, and laughed, "Third Prince, could this be something from Lianxiang Pavilion? Our little princess is only three years old, she doesn't need these things yet!"
When Yun Duoduo heard that beauty tools had arrived, she immediately perked up.
"Third brother, put me down! I want to see the cosmetics!" Yun Duoduo waved her hands and pointed to the wooden box containing the rouge box.
"Haha, I knew you'd like that, Your Majesty!"
Seeing Yun Duoduo's happy expression, Yun Yishu was also very happy. He gently placed Yun Duoduo on the ground.
Yun Duoduo lay down beside the box and took out a pretty pink box. She opened the several boxes of cosmetics, and saw that the colors of the cosmetics inside were all different. [Wow, has the technology for making cosmetics become this advanced now?]
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