Yinzhen, who was being treated like a toy, was not happy at all.
He finally managed to break free from his mother's grasp and only breathed a sigh of relief when he was far away.
Wan Anran couldn't help but chuckle at the wary reaction of a small animal, which swept away her previous worries and anxieties.
Yinzhen still refused to give up.
He tried to get more information from his mother, but no matter how many times he asked Wan Anran, she didn't say anything about it.
Finally, somewhat impatiently, Wan Anran grabbed Yinzhen and patted his little bottom, saying, "You should go back and rest!"
Yinzhen was extremely depressed.
It was understandable that he was frustrated because he was only a six-year-old child and his mother didn't believe he was capable of handling the situation.
Indeed, he should grow up quickly and gain some power. Yinzhen had no choice but to pout and pretend to be depressed as he walked out, stopping and starting, turning back every three steps to secretly look at his mother's expression.
Wan Anran was almost amused by Yinzhen's appearance.
This was the first time she had ever known that her son was just like her, a gossip enthusiast with his own unique skill: a gossip-loving soul, and the kind with an exceptionally strong sense of curiosity.
Wan Anran thought for a moment and decided to tell Yinzhen some unimportant things: "Alright, Mother will tell you just a little bit!"
"...Mother, please tell me quickly!" With lightning speed, Yinzhen quickly returned to his mother's side, looking at her with his big, watery eyes, his face full of expectation.
"Hmm...maybe we should just forget about it."
"Mother!?" Even though he knew his mother was mostly teasing him, Yinzhen couldn't help but raise his voice.
Wan Anran was amused by his reaction, and then surrendered under Yinzhen's angry glare: "Yes, yes, it's all my fault."
Yinzhen stared at her.
Wan Anran's expression was serious. She lowered her head mysteriously and whispered in Yinzhen's ear, "Your father—"
Khan Ama?
Yinzhen's heart leaped into his throat, and he couldn't help but feel nervous.
"Your father is arranging a marriage for Zisu!"
"..." Yinzhen's mind went blank. He never expected to receive such an unbelievable answer, and he froze on the spot.
The palace servants, full of curiosity, were the same.
They froze, their master's words echoing in everyone's minds. After an eerie silence, Zisu's gasp shattered the silence. Her face flushed crimson, Zisu cried out, "Master!!!"
"Actually, now that I think about it, I regret it a little. After all, Guard Cao is tall and strong, handsome, and skilled in both literature and martial arts. He is the perfect choice to be my husband. If you regret it, Zisu, I will talk to the Emperor for you!" Wan Anran chattered on, winking at Zisu.
The perilla leaves look like they're about to explode!
Her eyes were red and brimming with tears: "My lady, I meant everything I said..."
Seeing that Zisu had actually cried, Wan Anran felt guilty. She hurriedly comforted Zisu, not noticing the sudden change in Yinzhen's expression.
Guard Cao?
The Guard Cao mentioned by the mother undoubtedly refers to only one person—Cao Yin.
For the next few decades, Cao Yin served as the Imperial Textile Commissioner of Jiangning. As the most loyal and closest minister to the Khan, he was always highly valued, and his paternal affection extended to his son.
It was precisely because of this that the Cao family became embroiled in the struggle for succession. Cao Yin and his son fared somewhat better, but the adopted son who was given to him not only stood directly behind his eighth brother in his previous life, cheering him on, but also secretly slandering him.
The wealth and power of the Jiangnan region were almost entirely concentrated in the hands of the Cao family, which gave Yinzhi and others considerable confidence. If Zisu were to marry Cao Yin, it would mean that her mother had an inextricable relationship with the Cao family, and the Cao family might place their bets on her.
Yinzhen's expression was serious.
What others see as sweet sugar is, in his eyes, deadly poison. It may not bring him much benefit, and may even make him a shield for some people.
This marriage is absolutely unacceptable!
Not only did Yinzhen look down on the Cao family, but he was also worried that his mother would become a thorn in the side of some people because of this.
Mother is still nagging Zisu.
Zisu's delicate cheeks were flushed, her eyebrows were raised high, and she was chatting endlessly with her mother.
Upon seeing this, Yinzhen came to his senses.
He bit his tongue, feigning ignorance.
Yinzhen decided to find a way to stop this.
He had a sudden inspiration, and then looked at Zisu with a pitiful expression. Yinzhen looked worried and secretly tugged at Zisu's sleeve: "Zisu, Zisu, are you leaving like Ju Bai?"
Ju Bai left the palace last year.
Before leaving the palace, a small banquet was held at Chuxiu Palace. Wan Anran even cried because of Ju Bai's departure. Yinzhen couldn't bear to watch at the time, but now he pretended to be uneasy.
Zisu, who had watched the Fifth Prince grow up, immediately felt sorry for him.
She quickly squatted down and gently comforted Yinzhen: "Fifth Prince, don't worry, I don't plan to get married. I will stay with you and the young master for the rest of my life."
Yinzhen asked with a hint of doubt, "Really?"
Wan Anran nodded with a smile: "Zisu just refuted the Emperor!"
The palace servants around couldn't help but gasp in disbelief.
They looked at Zisu with either shock or curiosity. Zisu blushed and Haitao nudged her with her elbow, saying, "I was so scared just now!"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
If they were there, they would definitely be scared by the perilla!
Yinzhen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
A wide smile spread across his face: "Really? Zisu! We made a promise—"
It was rare for the Fifth Prince to act so affectionately, and Zisu was so happy she almost couldn't stop smiling. She nodded emphatically, "Yes, Fifth Prince, you can rest assured!"
Wan Anran laughed it off, unaware that the matter had caused quite a stir. Yinzhen heard from the loose-lipped Yinzhi that his father had actually appointed Cao Yin to assist in the management of the Jiangning Textile Bureau almost a year earlier than in his previous life.
This also made Cao Yin a highly sought-after figure in everyone's eyes.
The Jiangning Textile Commissioner, though not a high-ranking official, was a close advisor to the Emperor. Moreover, Cao Yin himself had been the Emperor's study companion, so becoming related to Cao Yin by marriage would surely guarantee him a foothold in the Emperor's court.
Just thinking about a group of people makes me restless.
As for Suo'etu, Nalan Mingzhu and others, they had similar ideas. They all had one plan: this person must be brought to our side!
Therefore, people who indirectly introduced marriage proposals to Cao Yin were like leeks that kept sprouting up after being cut down.
Even Crown Prince Yinreng mentioned it.
Emperor Kangxi could easily see through the wicked schemes these people were plotting, and immediately gave them a severe scolding, especially Suo'etu.
The fact that the Crown Prince came up with such a thing must be a mistake by Suo'etu!
Back in his study, Kangxi couldn't calm down; he felt as if a fire was burning fiercely in his chest and abdomen.
In comparison, one can increasingly appreciate Consort Qi's indifference to fame and fortune, and her simple and unpretentious nature. If Consort Qi had been truly sincere, she would have spoken up to persuade the palace maid even if she refused, yet she chose to side with the maid. I used to think Consort Qi was foolish, but now I realize she was simply insightful and sophisticated.
Kangxi increasingly felt that Zisu was a good candidate.
Seeing Consort Qi's wary and cautious appearance, he eventually dismissed the idea from his mind. At the same time, Kangxi also gave up the idea of choosing from among the palace maids and instead chose the daughter of Grand Master of Ceremonies Li Yuegui as Cao Yin's second wife.
Li Yuegui was Li Shizhen's cousin and also Li Xu's uncle. Li Xu and Cao Yin were not only good friends but also fellow students. With such a close relationship, he would likely have support in the future and wouldn't be controlled by his younger siblings.
Yinzhen, who had been paying attention to this matter, breathed a slight sigh of relief.
He was both happy and regretful. He was happy that this matter was not related to his mother, but he was regretful that he was not yet capable of handling it and could only watch as things took a turn and returned to normal.
Yinzhen pressed his temples, feeling somewhat agitated.
Wan Anran was completely oblivious to her son's anxiety. She happily packed her bags, preparing to embark on her journey back to Beijing.
If she had known the Southern Tour was so boring, she wouldn't have come!
The new year arrived in the blink of an eye, and Chuxiu Palace was bustling with activity right from the start. Wan Anran had no time to care about the matter of Nara, who was pregnant, complaining to the Empress about Consort Ping, nor did she care about the big news that Consort Yi was pregnant again. All her attention was focused on the matter of Yinzhen moving to the Princes' Residence.
Wan Anran felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
Looking at the overflowing collection of items, she couldn't help but wipe her eyes. The more Wan Anran thought about it, the more her nose stung, and large tears welled up in her eyes. She gestured with her hands, saying, "This tiny little peach, now it has to move out..."
"Mother... please don't call your son Little Peach..."
"Little Peach has grown up and doesn't want her mother anymore, waaaaah!"
"Your subject didn't say that!" Yinzhen said, both amused and exasperated.
"Don't be sad, Master. It's a good thing that the young master is growing up!" Granny Zhao gently comforted her.
“That’s right, Master. The young master will definitely come to pay his respects every day,” Hai Tao replied with a smile.
"Then forget it." Wan Anran shook her head repeatedly.
She looked at Yinzhen gently and said, "Sleep in as much as you can in the morning. You can come every three to five days."
Yinzhen was both amused and exasperated: "How could you say that?"
Wan Anran said sternly, "If Mother says it's okay, then it's okay."
But perilla is wrong.
Now that she has combed her hair, she should be called Aunt Lang. Aunt Lang smiled and said, "If you ask me, it seems that you haven't been sleeping enough since you got up early."
On days when she didn't have to pay her respects at dawn and dusk, Consort Qi could sleep until noon. Upon hearing Aunt Lang's words, all the palace servants in the room burst into laughter, which also made Wan Anran's cheeks turn bright red.
Wan Anran rolled her eyes at Aunt Lang.
She covered her face and sobbed, "Alright, alright! I know how much you disliked me, your former mistress!"
As Zisu combed her hair, she officially became Yinzhen's head maid, and from today onwards she would follow Yinzhen to serve the princes. When Consort Qi mentioned this, a sense of parting filled the air. If Wan Anran was faking her tears, then Aunt Lang's eyes were genuinely red, and she turned her head and choked up, saying, "How could this servant forget her master?"
"Look at you all... it's like you're not coming back."
Wan Anran dared not cry anymore. Helpless, she reached out and poked Aunt Lang: "If Yinzhen makes a mistake, you can come and complain to me!"
Yinzhen sighed helplessly.
He glanced at the clock and couldn't help but urge her, "Mother, hurry up, or we'll be too late."
The Imperial Study granted him a one-day holiday.
Wan Anran looked back and realized she was running out of time. She quickly gathered a group of palace servants and rushed towards the prince's residence.
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