Emperor Kangxi's Three Joys
Shujia's life was now very regular, clocking in and out every day. She reported to Ningshou Palace in the morning, chatting with the old lady and gossiping with the concubines. She continued walking, which was probably the only possible exercise in the palace. Radio calisthenics was unlikely to be practiced in the Shi family, let alone in the inner court. She did find an illustrated copy of "Eight-Section Brocade" in her library, but she hadn't been able to practice it successfully at home—some of the movements were unsightly.
This visit was particularly precious, and Shujia had truly gone through thick and thin. This year's rain had been particularly abundant, with long stretches of rain falling throughout April and May, so long that everyone worried the prince's wedding would be affected by the weather. Fortunately, the rain stopped, a sign of God's favor.
In late May, the rain began to fall again, and continued to fall until June. It seemed as if God wanted to make up for the debt owed in previous years, pouring basins of foot-washing water down whenever he had the chance.
Shujia loved rainy days. She donned her oilskin coat and slowly walked to Ningshou Palace. At this time, she could wear fewer hair accessories to relieve tension on her neck, and she could wear less. She relaxed and enjoyed a stroll in the rain. This was a tough time for the poor attendants; the Crown Princess walked in the rain, and everyone had to follow, keeping an eye on her to make sure she didn't stumble.
Shujia was also understanding. When Hongxiu advised her, "My lady, it's fine on sunny days, but be careful on rainy days..." Shujia said, "Wouldn't it be difficult to walk on sunny days and take a car or sedan chair on rainy days? Don't worry, I know what to do." Within two days, the followers received the rainy season subsidy. Hongxiu was helpless.
When the Empress Dowager first saw her wearing an oilskin coat, she was startled: "Child, the roads are slippery in the rain. What if you fall? Come, let me see you." The more she spoke, the wider her smile grew, until she couldn't close it. She reached out and brushed Shujia's wet hair off her forehead, then looked at the two-inch wet mark on the hem: "Why don't you change your clothes quickly?"
Shujia had no clothes to change into in Ningshou Palace, so she simply said, "It's okay, just let the hem of yours down a bit, and I'll change when I get back." It really was nothing, just a few splashes of rainwater. Her feet were on the bottom of the flowerpot, and not even the uppers of her shoes had touched the water directly.
The only drawback is that the heels are a bit high and heavy, making walking a bit tiring and straining on the ankles. The heels worn in the palace are higher and heavier than those worn outside. This is the norm in the palace, and young people wear high heels, while the elderly wear the lower, rounded heels.
Just bear with it!
The Empress Dowager was a simple person, and when she was happy, she would talk a lot. She cared about everything, from Shujia's breakfast to her midnight snack. She also said, "The third and fourth sons are getting married, and as their sister-in-law, you have to express your feelings. You are a newlywed, and it's a pity that our family hasn't saved up much yet. If there is anything you don't need, just come to me..."
Seeing her chattering so eagerly, Shujia couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth, and she couldn't stop curling up.
Just in time, the concubines arrived.
The concubines would usually arrive together at roughly the same time. This was customary; in the past, they would gather with the most senior person and then proceed in order. Now, with a multi-person political system, everyone tacitly agreed to depart at roughly the same time. This tacit agreement often delayed them significantly on their journeys. For example, if Concubine De was nearing her destination and someone announced, "Master Yi is behind," Concubine De would stop and wait for Concubine Yi's group to arrive. The two groups would then merge into one and continue on their way.
Those of third and fourth rank usually arrived later than Shujia. It was raining today, making the path difficult to navigate, especially when being carried and then walking at the end of the field. Everyone had become accustomed to this. "Crown Princess, she's here again." After a brief tidying up at the entrance, they entered together. They had experience paying respects in the rain, so they moved with greater ease.
Shujia sighed inwardly. She didn't know to bring a dry towel to wipe the rain at the door. It turned out that experience is very important.
The concubines entered, each greeting each other and chatting. Getting along with them wasn't that difficult, and no one was constantly calculating. Especially since the palace had several major events to attend to recently, it would draw everyone's attention to a certain extent.
Concubine De was about to marry her first daughter-in-law and her granddaughter was about to reach her full month old. The first granddaughter had died before her first month, making this the Fourth Prince's only surviving child. Regardless of her feelings for Yinzhen, Concubine De still had a natural concern for her grandchildren. Concubine Rong was also busy marrying her own daughter-in-law. The Fifth Prince, born to Concubine Yi, was also betrothed. After the Third and Fourth Princes' weddings, he would be engaged, and she too had to worry about that.
Among the four great kings of the harem, only Concubine Hui has no happy events recently, but she still has to pay attention to her daughter-in-law's health.
The concubines were impressed by the Crown Princess. She came through even on a rainy day, without cutting corners. She was like this for one rainy day, then two rainy days, and still looked so happy. You can't help but believe that she wanted to do this from the bottom of her heart. One can only say that the Crown Princess is truly filial.
Concubine Hui felt a little like she was putting it on display, but also that the Crown Prince was incredibly lucky to have such a wife to help him gain popularity. The First Lady was ill, and the gifts sent from Yuqing Palace were noticeably different from the usual, carefully prepared items, as opposed to the casually packed offerings. Her attitude towards Shujia had softened considerably.
Overall, the harem is very harmonious.
The people in her backyard were all confined to Xiefang Palace by Kangxi's stroke of a pen. It was initially estimated that they would not be able to come out until the Crown Princess's office was completed and she officially moved in.
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Life in the palace is so quiet, so peaceful that it makes people feel uncomfortable!
Shujia had plenty of time to take care of her own affairs. Every day after paying her respects to the Empress Dowager, she would return to the back hall of Yuqing Palace. Copying scriptures was one of her tasks. Anyway, she was given as much gold powder and other things as she needed. No one dared to withhold what Yuqing Palace wanted.
I only copy a few pages every day, and then take the time to sort out the relationships.
Currently, two things are of primary importance: first, the relationship between husband and wife, which, given the current situation, can already be rated 80 points; second, the selection and reorganization of the personnel of the two palaces. The legendary imperial palace is a place where strange events unfold daily. Although the harem is peaceful, one cannot be careless about the people around them.
Shujia rubbed her brows, watching the papers covered in scriptures on the table dry. She slowly put them away and straightened them one by one, her mind still racing. She looked relaxed, but her mind was incredibly busy. Anyone who could survive in this world was no pushover!
By this date, Yinreng had introduced everyone he could use in the palace to his wife. She had met eunuchs like Cui, and foreign ministers who had access to Yuqing Palace, such as Suo'etu and Dezhu.
Among them, Suo Etu was a newcomer the day before yesterday, and Shujia was deeply impressed by him. When Suo Etu bowed to her, Shujia was genuinely startled. She was also surprised that Suo Etu, now an old man, still looked so young and graceful, and even exuded a refined air, with almost no trace of a powerful official.
Almost. Perhaps because Soetu was older, or perhaps because he was considered a relative of the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess was meeting Soetu, a foreign minister. Shujia had to accept the greetings; this was the difference between the monarch and his subjects. But when she reached out her hand to support him from the seat of honor, she said, "Please stand."
Suo Etu, indeed, showed no signs of senility, and stood up swiftly. Then Yinreng spoke: "Sit down." His tone was casual, too familiar. This kind of greeting between acquaintances made Shujia feel a little uncomfortable. She and Yinreng were husband and wife, but they didn't seem to be getting along that naturally. Even if they were, she still felt uncomfortable. Yinreng and Suo Etu were so annoying!
I lowered my head slightly, afraid that my eyes would reveal my mood.
Such worries were unnecessary in this age where women were considered accessories. Even if she was the Crown Princess, as long as she behaved properly, no man would be overly concerned about what she was thinking. Also... no man would dare to look the Crown Princess in the eye and try to understand what she was thinking.
The old man looked at the prince and his wife with a kind gaze, a kind of admiration, as if to say, "Oh, my peonies are finally blooming." All that was left was to ask how everyone was doing and how the family was doing. After taking two sips of tea, Soetu took his leave.
Seeing him had invisibly increased Shujia's psychological pressure. It could be said that the new Crown Princess's current mood and feelings were complex and conflicting. On one hand, there was a comfortable and leisurely life, and on the other, there was a bleak and dreary future, both of which dangled before her.
Almost none of the threats to the couple came from women; they were all men. This was Shujia's biggest headache. If it were a woman, she could approach her, reason with her, and then deal with her. If she could win her over, she could win her over; if not, she could get rid of her. But men...how could she approach them?!
Aside from those whom Yinreng tacitly approved, such as Dezhu, eunuchs like Cui, and several others under her name, such as Lin Siwang Youde, she was not allowed to meet anyone else, even her biological father. All she could do was to influence Yinreng and indirectly stimulate him, hoping to see if he would be influenced by her views and do something external.
This feeling of powerlessness can drive you crazy. It's like you're online, you click on a page you want to see, and then... the network freezes! The progress bar at the bottom of the page won't budge, you walk around the room eight times, and it still remains there.
His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, has a deep affection for his great-uncle! Currently, Master Suo San is irreplaceable in His Royal Highness's heart. Shujia also knows that if Suo Etu is eliminated now, Prince Mingzhu will eat Yinreng alive!
This was the most difficult part—how to deal with Soetu without harming Yinreng? In other words, how could Soetu's resignation have the effect of "squeezing out the pus" rather than "cutting off Yinreng's limbs"?
It seemed that dealing with a man with henchmen throughout the government and the country was not something a mere woman like her could do. Especially since maternal relatives were very important to Yinreng.
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Anyone who could be classified as a "male" in Yuqing Palace was not much easier to deal with than Soetu.
Take Eunuch Cui, for example. Doesn't anyone know how much he's profited from this? Take Dezhu, for example. Everyone knows he's exploited the Crown Prince's influence to do a lot of shady things. But no one talks about it! If it doesn't get to me, I'll avoid making enemies. — That's what most people think.
Shujia thought expressionlessly, "Bullying is fine, but what workplace doesn't have unspoken rules?" The palace isn't a greenhouse, with someone watching over it, catching bugs and fertilizing when there's a nutrient deficiency. But there was one person in the palace who treated it like a greenhouse—Yinreng. His father was a true "catching bugs and fertilizing when there's a nutrient deficiency," and the result...he became disabled.
But people like Eunuch Cui and Dezhu shouldn't be adding to Yinreng's hatred! His hatred has already been raised to an extremely dangerous level by Kangxi! But no matter what Yinreng wants to do, these two people never once "stop" him, letting him do whatever he wants.
In her spare time, Shujia would chat with Xiuniu and other palace dwellers, all of which were gossip, such as what the prince liked and who was needed in front of Yinreng. She then discovered that the eunuchs who were needed by Yinreng were all in line with his wishes, and the eunuchs never dared to disobey the prince.
Xiuniu's words were very subtle: "Servants are here to serve their masters, so naturally we have to make them comfortable. Singing a different tune is not what a servant should do."
Well, you shouldn't have held out hope! Their professional code doesn't include persuasion; that's the job of court officials and censors. So, Your Highness, you should carry out this rule yourself!
Shujia shook her head and put the scripture she had written today back into the box where it was kept. She felt a tightness in her chest, a feeling of shortness of breath.
Yu Niu came over with tea that had been poured from the well. "The weather is getting hot and humid. It's going to rain again. Master, please take a rest."
Shujia sat down and sipped her cold tea. Besides the four maids who came with her as a dowry, she also employed Xiuniu, Yuniu, Qiao'er, and Xiaoman. Qiao'er was born on the Qiqiao Festival, and Xiaoman's birthday was on the same day—a perfect coincidence. She also had four eunuchs: Wang Youde, Lin Si'er, Li Zhongxing, and Wu Mingli.
Fortunately, these people were fine, just ordinary servants. She wasn't used to dealing with "useless" servants, so there was no need to add more. When the Imperial Household Department was selecting people, Kangxi also asked about it. No fool would do such a thing as inserting someone into the Crown Princess's service at such a critical moment. Kangxi was a meticulous person. When choosing a wet nurse for the Fourteenth Prince, Kangxi punished many people not long after, saying that the wet nurse was too low-born and he was afraid that it would have a bad influence on the prince.
She knew there was a stalker in Xiefang Palace, and the solution was simple. The Crown Princess didn't chat with people for nothing. At least she had analyzed some of the grudges. People in the same profession are enemies. Even if you don't want to make enemies, there will always be people who treat you as a stumbling block and want to kick you away, right? It's just right, those of you who have enemies, why don't you pair up first! Our Second Prince's wet nurse is here, so there must be changes in the personnel. Pair them up one by one, and emphasize at the same time: "I want this palace to be harmonious. No commotion is allowed. I won't tolerate the noise that reaches my ears!"
They could only complain about it behind his back. If they saw any strange behavior, the person who caught them would report it to Shujia first. At present, it seemed like just some small things, such as "He was lazy today", but I believe that in the future, there will be big gains.
As a newly appointed Crown Princess, she couldn't easily change staff at Yinreng's office. She was still newlywed, and the office wasn't ready yet. It would be rash to change people so hastily. However, the plan had been made, and being intimacy had its advantages: you could let the other person know what you wanted them to know.
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Even after making up my mind, I felt even more uncomfortable. My heart was beating so fast that I felt like my internal organs were about to spontaneously combust. I reached out and placed my hand on my chest, patting it slowly.
Hongxiu, instructed by the Xiluo family, had the primary mission of promoting harmony between the Crown Prince and his wife and ensuring the early announcement of the Crown Princess's pregnancy. Xiuniu, on the other hand, served in the palace, and pregnancy and childbirth were among the most common occurrences in the Kangxi harem.
The two of them calculated that the Crown Princess... seemed to have not had her period since entering the palace. They were both slightly concerned and hurried to summon the imperial physician. Shujia said, "It's probably the hot weather." A large part of the reason was that she was just tired from worrying and feeling sleepy.
But the two maids didn't think so. For the first time, they ignored the Crown Princess' words and sent someone to find the imperial physician. The imperial physician came to check and only prescribed some common medicines, without mentioning any pregnancy.
Shujia laughed and said, "I told you it was hot, but you refused to believe me and insisted on making me run all the way." She then demanded a reward. I was feeling very depressed. I could have just taken a nap, but the imperial physician's arrival ruined my nap...
The maidservant beside the Crown Princess was disappointed, thinking... there was good news! The imperial physician wiped his sweat, stood up to accept the reward and thanked him, thinking, "Don't be so stubborn! I know you look mysterious because you have high expectations, but it's only been less than two months since the Crown Prince's wedding. Even if there is, it may not be diagnosed! How dare I say it casually? The Crown Princess has a common problem among women in the palace. They move less and have a weak constitution, especially in the summer. They are listless. Moreover, the Crown Princess obviously doesn't look like she is pregnant!
While boiling some medicine, Shujia drank it and took a nap. When she opened her eyes, she found someone sitting by the bed.
Yinreng is here.
Yinreng felt somewhat guilty. Shujia's daily walk to Ningshou Palace earned him some respect; after all, having a filial wife was beneficial to the prince's reputation. The princess also cared about what he ate and wore, whether he was comfortable, and chatted with him. Yinreng enjoyed this kind of attention, but he didn't expect that in this hot and humid weather, his wife would actually become ill from exhaustion!
Shujia: I'm not sick. I'm just tired and need a good sleep.
Yinreng reached under the quilt and held Shujia's hand: "You have worked hard these days, don't torture yourself like this... Let me take care of any trivial matters. You are not in good health now, so don't walk to Ningshou Palace anymore... If you feel uncomfortable, tell me as soon as possible. I heard from Hongxiu that you don't want to summon the imperial physician? You can summon and use anything and everyone in this palace at will..."
The mention of "feel free to use" made Shujia's heart ache again. She could use it freely, but it wasn't hers; it belonged to the Imperial Household Department. The phrase "feel free to use" was a reminder that "you are poor." The financial power of Yuqing Palace had been taken into their hands, and the conclusion after taking inventory of the family property was that the couple was short of money!
Shujia rubbed her chest. She couldn't just live on extortion. She had to make money from her money. She had to elevate herself from a bandit gangster collecting protection fees to a young businessman who contributed to society. When it came to buying property and starting a business, it was only right to send someone with some experience to run it.
Yinreng was shocked and a little at a loss: "What do you think?" He had never taken care of a woman before - except for attending to the Empress Dowager's illness - and had no idea how to treat a sick woman.
Shujia forced a smile and said, "It's okay, just rest for a while." Yinreng clenched his hands and sat on the edge of the bed, completely losing his usual demeanor as a crown prince. He moved left and right as if the wedding bed would bite him.
Seeing him like this, Shujia smiled for no reason and felt much more relaxed. She struggled to get up. Yinreng finally had something to do. He got up and pressed her shoulders: "Don't get up. Rest for a while."
Shujia waved, and Yinreng leaned over to hear Shujia say, "I... just feel sleepy. My heart beats fast when I feel sleepy. I'll be fine after a while of sleep... You, don't tell anyone..."
Yinreng was stunned and looked up, only to see Shujia blinking embarrassedly.
Yinreng: ...I don’t believe it.
Believe it or not, it was only two o'clock, and there was no reason for him to stay in his wife's room all the time, especially since she wasn't seriously ill. He could only anxiously order the palace maids and eunuchs to "keep an eye on the Crown Princess" and hurried back to the front.
When he returned, he found Shujia was not lying in bed. Shujia explained, "My bones ached from lying down, and I felt like I was really sick. But after getting up and sitting up, I felt much better."
Yinreng frowned and raised an eyebrow: "Then what is that in front of you?"
Shujia: ...
She had indeed slept well and could no longer lie down. She wanted to get up, but Yinreng was not there and no one could stop her.
After getting up, she took inventory and hurriedly sent people out. She sent additional boxes of gifts to the Dong'e and Ulanara families. Being kind to others was what Yuqing Palace needed most. After that, she checked the wedding gifts for Yinzhi and Yinzhen. The one for Yinzhen was especially important, not because of his status as "Yongzheng," but because Shujia had seen the wedding gift Yinzhen had given them.
The Fourth Prince's taste was the best in the palace! The gifts he presented were simple and elegant, especially the color combination, absolutely simple and elegant, completely breaking away from the dynasty's flamboyant tastes, yet not so plain as to appear like funeral gifts to show off one's "purity." Giving gifts to such a person makes you unconsciously take them seriously.
Lacquerware was a good choice, and there were also the usual baby play porcelains. Before choosing anything, Shujia would take Yinzhen's gifts and look at them, choosing something of similar style. Even the ruyi for the couple was made of rich red sandalwood, inlaid with three pieces of jade, looking elegant and generous.
The gifts given to the third son were also in keeping with his style. Since when, the third son had always given people the impression of being a reader and a socializer. The gifts he received were mostly paintings and calligraphy, and over time, this became Yinzhi's style. However, since this was a wedding gift, besides paintings and calligraphy, something appropriate to the occasion was also necessary.
The Fifth and Seventh Princes have been engaged, and there are things to prepare in Yuqing Palace. At the same time, we must also start paying attention. The wedding date for these two is not far away, and their wedding gifts must also be prepared. The Fifth Prince is Concubine Yi's eldest son. Although his father-in-law is not of high rank, his clan Tara is also a prominent Manchu family, so he cannot be treated with disrespect. Although the Seventh Prince is disabled, he must also be treated equally and not neglected.
The orders were made one by one. They were placed in front of her, and she was caught by Yinreng!
Shujia smiled and stood up, but Yinreng turned his head away. Yinreng felt his wife was being disobedient. Why wouldn't she listen when he told her to rest? There were so many servants to command, but he insisted on doing everything himself. Isn't that tiring? His shoulders felt heavy, and a pair of slender, white hands gently massaged them, one on each side.
Yinreng hummed softly. He recognized those hands; his wife always removed her nail caps before starting. Well, it was quite pleasant. Her skills might not be as good as those of the eunuchs who gave him massages, but the fact that his wife was being submissive and coaxing him made him very happy.
Although he was happy, he still had to put on a stern face: "Do you know you are wrong?"
Shujia wanted to laugh when she heard his words, and she put more pressure on her hand: "Yes~" Then she lowered her head and whispered slowly in his ear, "I have to let people see that I'm putting in the effort. Otherwise, if they can't tell that the Crown Prince already has a Crown Princess to take care of the internal affairs, how embarrassing would it be for me? Besides, Ping'an's pulse is checked regularly, so what could be wrong? I can't be too pampered and delay your business."
Yinreng stretched out his hand to his shoulder, pulled it down, and placed it on his chest. He clasped his hands together again and said, "You don't have to tire yourself out." He was satisfied.
Shujia: "Okay." I really just didn't get enough sleep. At home, naps were normal, but here, if Yinreng didn't want to sleep and wanted to chat, she had to chat with him. She didn't get enough rest at night, and she had to run to Ningshou Palace early in the morning. After a day or two of rest, she was really tired.
Yinreng: So warm and touching.
Shujia: How long do I have to maintain this bent-over posture? It's so tiring!
She simply put all her weight on Yinreng, who showed no dissatisfaction and even tugged at her arm. Shujia thought, forget it, this is also good, it's finally my turn to press him down.
The couple played a childish game of pulling each other for a while before going to rest contentedly.
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The Crown Princess's first illness since entering the palace passed away like this. The next major event in the palace was the wedding of the third and fourth princes.
Of the five quarters in Gandong, the eldest prince lived in the first quarter, followed by the third prince Yinzhi, the fourth prince Yinzhen, the fifth prince Yinqi, and the seventh prince Yinyou. The last four had not yet married, but had already moved out of Zhaoxiang quarters. The reason was that they all had concubines, and the fourth prince had a child.
Shujia strongly suspected that Kangxi was obsessed with his sons, as he often tried to make his sons' families unhappy. For example, he would give his wife a concubine before the wedding, and it was impossible for his wife to be happy. Shujia could testify to this. However, the concubine was not happy either, as was the case now.
Because of the upcoming wedding, the house needed to be renovated, and the women were forbidden to enter and leave freely. The concubines were trembling with fear, knowing that the mistress was about to arrive. In order to welcome the mistress, they had to hide like rats while the house was being renovated. Only they knew how it felt. After finishing the houses for the third and fourth sons, the craftsmen moved directly to Xiefang Hall, and it was Yinreng's concubine's turn to be imprisoned.
Shujia had never seen these people before. Without a suitable master to bring them to her for formal greetings, she couldn't go and watch her brother-in-law's concubines on her own. Especially since Li was pregnant at the time. Of course, they were not within her scope of concern.
Shujia was busy taking the final inventory of the wedding gifts, then packing and boxing them, rushing them to the second and third labor houses before the wedding. The third and fourth princes' weddings were set for July, and Shujia attended as their sister-in-law, first at the third prince's wedding and then at the fourth. The weather was no longer too hot, and Shujia envied the two brides.
Newlyweds still had to meet their elders after their wedding. This time, there was an additional formality: meeting their second brother and his wife, the future boss. In fact, when they met the Empress Dowager, they had already met the Crown Princess who was there.
Before Yinzhi's wedding, the two couples met in Yuqing Palace. First, they performed the grand ceremony. Yinreng no longer acted like a crown prince, but rather acted like a brother. This made Shujia laugh, perhaps because her expression was a bit too obvious. Yinzhi looked over, glanced at her, and then immediately dropped his eyes. The corners of Yinzhi's mouth curled up. Why did he feel like his second sister-in-law was looking at him with a look that said, "This is a child pretending to be an adult?" His mood suddenly improved a lot.
Yinzhi told Yinreng that he was an adult and would do his job well: "Work for the prince." Then he thanked the prince and his wife for the wedding gift. Yinreng's brotherly heart was greatly satisfied: "As long as you like it." Yinzhi rolled his eyes in his heart. Looking at the exquisite packaging and thoughtful gift, he knew that this was not what you chose!
After the greetings, men and women chat separately.
Shujia and Dong E were acquaintances, and they got along well. Seeing Dong E's rosy complexion, Shujia decided not to tease her, as she was clearly doing well. She simply mentioned some palace precautions, concluding, "We already knew most of this when we held the imperial selection. I'm just giving you some advice."
Dong E smiled and said, "It's good to be able to listen to Bai's advice."
The two smiled at each other.
Yinzhen's wedding was a few days later, and the newlyweds had arrived too. It was truly... so moving! Everyone assumed the couple seated above were the future masters of the country, including the couple below. But who could have imagined that the true masters were the couple below, the man exuding affection, the woman with dignity?
Yinzhen clearly had a favorable impression of his second sister-in-law. Like Yinzhi, he had naturally guessed that the wedding gifts were solely arranged by the Crown Princess. Sometimes, inspecting gifts wasn't necessarily motivated by greed, but rather a desire to gauge others' attitudes toward themselves and assess the gift-giver. Shujia's selections were highly to Yinzhen's liking, which delighted him. Consequently, he also became particularly enthusiastic toward the Crown Prince and his wife.
The same sentence: "I, your humble brother, shall serve the Khan-Ama diligently and do good work for the Crown Prince." Yinzhen's eyes were particularly bright as he spoke it, his rhythm was rapid, and he spoke it almost without thinking. This caused Ulanara to look at him twice. Yinreng's mood was particularly good after hearing this, and he pulled his fourth brother to speak.
Shujia and Ulanara went to the back to talk. Shujia took Ulanara's hand and looked her over. She still looked very young, but she already had the air of a mistress. Her eyebrows and eyes had not yet fully grown, but she was a dignified person.
She sighed secretly. After all, she wasn't too young when she got married, but she was upset to have two sons. Ulanara, at such a young age...
Her tone softened several times. Regardless of whether this woman was the future queen or not, she was now just a young woman who would become a mother as soon as she got married. Shujia asked Ulanara if she was used to living here. Ulanara said calmly, "Everything is fine. My mother also gave me an aunt to guide me."
Shujia thought, "That's fine. Those close to my mother are trustworthy." The two of them didn't talk much, just casual pleasantries, which showed their skill. She spoke little, but her expressions and gestures were spot-on, her eyes gentle. Judging from Ulanara's reaction, Shujia thought she had done a good job.
Qiao'er saw that the conversation had lasted about ten minutes and was about to end, so she came up to remind them. The newlyweds still had to meet their eldest brother and his wife.
Shujia couldn't help but mourn for Yinzhi and his wife for three seconds. How strong must one be to not become perverted by being the perpetual second child? Obviously, he was the eldest!
Yinzhen and his wife had to meet their eldest brother and his wife. Yinreng knew it was a bit disappointing, but he was the crown prince, and the fact that his younger brother would come to see him first before Yinzhi was enough to offset the unpleasantness. He smiled and personally saw his younger brother and his sister-in-law off. But his wife was holding the hand of the fourth brother's wife as they walked forward. What could he do? He just held his younger brother's hand and followed his wife.
Shujia smiled and said, "Then I won't keep you here. Come visit often when you have time. I estimate that the east side will be completed soon. When that happens, I will need your help in the layout."
Ulanara readily agreed, thinking to herself, the Crown Prince and his wife are quite easy to get along with. The Crown Princess is just as amiable as the rumors say, and the Crown Prince isn't as arrogant as the rumors say.
After a busy day, the newlyweds returned home to talk. Ulanara could tell that Yinzhen treated the Crown Prince with respect and propriety, but he was quite respectful of the Crown Princess. She thought to herself, "I feel good about the Crown Princess too, but you don't have to be like this, do you?" She wanted to ask, but she remembered that she was newlywed and couldn't bring herself to ask.
Yinzhen on the other side had already spoken out all of them himself: "The things that the prince has rewarded us with in the past are valuable and substantial. But the things that the princess has given us are pleasant to the eyes." After saying that, he picked up a snuff bottle and showed it to Ulanara: "Look at this." It was a snuff bottle made of black enamel with a streamlined shape. Yinzhen talked about it from the shape, to the texture, to the craftsmanship.
Finally finished, Yinzhen was very proud and relieved. This wife was exactly what he wanted. She was calm and listened to him, which was exactly what Yinzhen needed. Moreover, this was the wife chosen by the Khan Ama, so she must be very good and should be treated seriously. When Yinzhen treated someone well, he was sincere and wanted to give them the best.
Ulanara was a little stunned. How could she describe this husband and this strange behavior?
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Elsewhere, there was also a wife who was stunned, and in front of her was a husband who was behaving strangely.
After seeing off Yinzhen and his wife, Yinreng felt inexplicably relieved. The fourth brother was still very close to his brother, the crown prince! Feeling better, he dragged his wife out to eat.
This eating habit caused problems. Shujia always felt that her appetite had increased recently and she was also sleepy. Today, she had a new problem: she was dozing off while eating.
Yinreng watched helplessly as his wife, clutching her rice bowl, nearly fell asleep, her face buried in the rice. Quick-eyed and quick-handed, he shifted position and scooped her up. A touch of embarrassment, a touch of pride: Yesterday, it seemed… thinking of his brother's wedding and the joy filling the palace, he'd also been a bit youthful and energetic. Now, had his wife been exhausted?
Shujia's face flushed. Yinreng hadn't allowed her to call the imperial physician this time. He felt he knew what was going on, and he was too embarrassed to let the imperial physician know that the couple's bedroom pleasures were too intense. Ahem. The couple hurriedly finished their meal and prepared to take a nap together. The servile eunuch Cui didn't know what had happened between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess last night. He had already secretly invited the imperial physician and was waiting to be praised!
First he was glared at by the prince, and then he received a huge reward!
The Crown Princess confirmed: she is pregnant.
Yinreng was overjoyed and generously rewarded the doctor, praising his medical skills. The doctor wiped his sweat and said, "I haven't written the prescription yet!" Looking up, he saw the prince rubbing his hands and circling around his wife, looking as servile and stupid as he could be.
Shujia was about to cry: "We can barely afford to raise a child on our own, and now we have to raise a child? Who's going to pay for the milk powder?!"
At first, she thought it was due to the change of environment and her irregular period, which was normal. She enjoyed the special health benefits of the palace, such as the safe pulse. The last time the imperial physician came, there was nothing wrong.
Seeing her two masters acting incoherently, both of them seemed to be in a state of daze, Hongxiu quickly winked at Eunuch Cui. Eunuch Cui stepped forward with a smile and said, "My Lord Crown Prince, should we report the good news to His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress Dowager?"
Yinreng suddenly woke up as if from a dream, and said loudly: "Yes, yes! Go quickly! No! I will go myself! Ah, no!" He helped his wife to the house to rest first, and then said, "Look after the Crown Princess!"
Shujia was laid flat on her back before she came to her senses. "I wasn't planning on having a baby right now!!! The safety risks haven't been resolved, the financial problems are still there, and I'm pregnant and having a baby now, and I haven't even finished cleaning up Yuqing Palace yet! God, are you really just trying to be so mean to me?"
Well, it seems like God has never been kind to her. What she wants, he doesn't give her! What she doesn't want, he forces her to have it, from her husband to her children.
Oh my God, can you be any more cruel to me?!
Distant Sky: Do you want to try it?
The author has something to say: Girl, you have to start earning money for milk powder = =
The child’s father cannot be relied upon in this regard!
PS: I felt awkward while writing about the fourth character in this chapter. I always thought he was so cute.
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