Seeing that his words of comfort had no effect, the prince shouted loudly, "Fourth brother!"
Yinzhen hiccuped and looked at him with tearful eyes.
"Isn't it good to have two mothers? Look at me, my mother passed away early!" The prince vaguely understood the dispute between the Imperial Noble Consort and the Virtuous Consort. He regretted his suggestion and wiped his face. He looked straight into Yinzhen's eyes and said word by word: "You are much better than my second brother."
Yinzhen stood there in a daze.
The prince sighed, and his handsome face was full of seriousness.
He said quietly, "Sometimes, don't just listen to one side and believe it. It's only right to be ignorant."
He didn't expect his six-year-old brother to understand, just memorize it. He was so serious at such a young age. If he had to argue about right and wrong in everything, wouldn't he be the one who got hurt in the end
Yinzhen stopped crying and looked at the prince blankly, "Second brother..."
The prince's heart softened and he touched Yinzhen's bald head.
Caught between his adoptive mother and his biological mother, the fourth brother's life will not be easy.
The more he thought about it, the more distressed he felt. The prince made up his mind to go to the Qianqing Palace to ask for an audience with his father.
***
Qianqing Palace, West Warm Pavilion.
"Father." The prince was unusually shy, and after a long pause he said, "My son has something to ask of you."
Teenagers always think of themselves as adults and are very mature in daily life, but it is rare to see them behave like this.
Kangxi was reviewing the memorial, hiding his smile, and glanced at him calmly, "Speak."
The prince gritted his teeth and told Yinzhen everything that worried him. After that, he lowered his head and said listlessly, "Fourth brother has no appetite recently. I can't help it, so I... I reported this to the emperor, hoping to make fourth brother happy."
The warm room suddenly became quiet.
Liang Jiugong was shocked, "Oh my prince!"
Why do you have to get involved in the affairs between the concubines and the concubine mothers
This matter is neither big nor small, but you shouldn't be the one to take the lead. What if the emperor thinks you are being sly
Kangxi put down his pen and looked at the prince calmly for a long while, which made Yinreng even more nervous. He clenched his palms and called out "Emperor Father" in a low voice.
To Liang Jiugong's surprise, after a moment, Kangxi raised the corner of his mouth, stood up, patted the prince on the shoulder, and said with a sigh: "Bao Chang has grown up."
His words were full of relief.
Because he ascended the throne at a young age and lacked the care of his royal father, his biological mother left him after a few years. Kangxi was determined to be a good father, and what he most wanted to see was a scene of brothers being friendly and respectful to each other.
He favored the Crown Prince the most, but he also had a fatherly heart towards the other princes and princesses.
Now Bao Cheng has become Yinzhen, and he impulsively seeks help from his emperor father. He knows that he shouldn't care, but he still cares about it.
How could he not be moved by such love and care for his brother
well.
"The Emperor knows." Thinking back to Yinzhen's sad story, Kangxi's eyes darkened, but when he looked at the prince, they regained their warmth, "Baocheng, it's not your turn to worry about these. Studying is more important. Do you understand?"
After saying this, he began to test the prince's academic performance.
The prince breathed a sigh of relief and felt a little happy. The nervousness he had felt when answering questions before disappeared, and he recited fluently and explained clearly.
While reciting, he thought, this was the first time that the Emperor praised him for growing up!
Is it because you helped your fourth brother
Vaguely, the little prince realized something and a light flashed across his mind.
In the future, I will be better to my younger brothers.
***
“Look, Your Majesty, how could His Majesty forget you? He said that dinner tonight will be served in Yonghe Palace…” Madam Wu’s face was wrinkled with laughter, and she hurriedly urged the palace servants to put makeup on Concubine De.
De Fei smiled happily, touched her belly, and said softly, "Have you told the imperial kitchen? Don't neglect it."
She hasn't been having a very good time these days.
When paying respects at Chengqian Palace, Concubine De was very regretful because Concubine Yi was angry and made a mistake. In addition, Kangxi had not come to Yonghe Palace for four or five days, and she was worried that the emperor would displease her. Now she is finally relieved.
"Relax, Your Majesty. Who dares to neglect you?" Nanny Wu was busy cleaning up the bedroom and said with a smile, "Just considering the Sixth Prince and the baby in the belly, everyone would respect Your Majesty."
These words touched the heart of Concubine De.
Yinzuo was smart and clever, and was very much liked by the emperor. Didn't the word "Zuo" reflect the emperor's expectations? Thinking of her youngest son who had just come to pay her respects, Concubine De's smile deepened, with complete kindness on her face.
As the sky gradually darkened, Kangxi's sedan chair stopped in front of Yonghe Palace.
Concubine De was dressed in a light green dress and wore light makeup, which made her look even more beautiful. Although she was not as beautiful as Concubine Yi, her appearance was also one of the best in the harem.
As soon as she saw Kangxi, Concubine De bowed and apologized, her eyes reddened, "Your Majesty, I made a mistake a few days ago. Looking at the jade ruyi you gave me, I have been reflecting on myself for a long time..."
Kangxi stood with his hands behind his back, looking at her calmly. After a few breaths, his expression softened, "Get up."
After all, she is his concubine, has two sons with her, and is now pregnant, so it would be enough to give her a small lesson.
Concubine De looked up and responded with gratitude.
After entering the inner room, she stood aside and served Kangxi his meal, as if she had become the gentle and considerate Concubine Wu Ya again.
When Wu Ya was a noble lady, she always stood in this position when serving meals. So many years have passed!
Kangxi's expression softened as he recalled the past.
Concubine De was delighted that the emperor still remembered the past...
The atmosphere was just right. She smiled and was about to say something when she saw Kangxi pointing at the dining table, putting down his bowl and chopsticks and casually saying, "This eight-treasure duck tastes better from the Yikun Palace."
Defei's smile froze on the corners of her mouth.
Does Yikun Palace taste better
You are used to eating the tribute dishes from the imperial kitchen. After eating them for so many years, you suddenly say they are not good... Is the small kitchen in Concubine Yi's palace much more delicious than other places? !
Concubine Yi, Guoluo Luo! She is really haunting.
De Fei took a deep breath, forced a smile, and agreed in a gentle voice: "Your Majesty is right. Next time, I will ask the chef in the imperial kitchen to improve it."
Kangxi paused in turning the jade ring and looked up. Defei was smiling gently, without seeming to be forced at all.
He hummed and felt uncomfortable.
If this is too docile, it will seem fake.
If it were Xiu Xiu, wouldn’t she be angry with me
With this in mind, Kangxi knocked on the dining table, impatient with the random talk, and got straight to the point, "The Imperial Noble Consort is already pregnant, and I'm afraid she is unable to take care of Yinzhen. I'm thinking of letting Yinzhen go back to Yonghe Palace to live..."
Concubine De never expected that the Emperor would tell her about this!
Because she was completely unprepared and shocked, her face did not show joy, but instead a hint of rejection.
How could that be
How could the Imperial Concubine agree
This was a subconscious reaction, and Kangxi saw it all.
Even though De Fei quickly turned around and smiled in surprise, her expression soon became flawless...
But it cannot cover up the reality of that moment.
Kangxi closed his eyes and turned the ring faster and faster. There was a coldness in his eyes and a smile in his words: "I was just joking with you. My cousin loves Yinzhen, and she will never agree."
Because one was standing and the other was sitting, no one noticed the coldness in the emperor's eyes.
Defei was uneasy for a few breaths, but was soon distracted by the title of "cousin".
The nails dug deep into the palms, concealing the resentment and hatred.
Yes, the emperor and Tong Jia are cousins, and their relationship is naturally different from that of others. If Tong Jia does not give in, the emperor will never give Yinzhen back to himself to raise.
In this case, what is the emperor's intention in saying this? Is he trying to test her
Could it be that the spy she had planted was discovered by the Imperial Noble Consort, who then reported her, accusing her of coveting Yinzhen
"Since Yinzhen has been given to the Imperial Noble Consort to raise, how can I disregard the rules and snatch him away?" De Fei thought again and again, and smiled softly, "It's just that I miss him often, and occasionally send people to Chengqian Palace to inquire about it... It's all my fault, please forgive me, Your Majesty..."
Listen! They've come to this point.
Kangxi waved his hand to stop her from speaking, left Concubine De there, and immediately stood up and left.
The palace maids knelt on the ground, and before Concubine De could pay her respects, the emperor disappeared.
She was startled and her face suddenly turned pale.
When Nanny Wu hurried into the palace, Concubine De held her hand and asked anxiously, "Has the emperor returned to the Qianqing Palace?"
Nanny Wu opened her mouth and spoke with difficulty: "I heard that he was going to... Chengqian Palace."
Chengqian Palace! The residence of the Imperial Concubine!
Defei suddenly felt dizzy...
***
Since returning from the Cining Palace, Concubine Yi has been in a good mood. She lives a peaceful life, takes care of her pregnancy, and occasionally teases the fourth princess Yierha and talks with Le Guiren. The Yikun Palace is peaceful.
As night fell, candles were lit in the bedroom. In front of the bronze mirror, Yun Xiu took off her pearl hairpin, and her black hair fell straight down, bringing with it a faint fragrance. A strand of hair brushed across her rosy cheeks and finally stopped on her red lips.
Yunxiu pushed aside her hair and looked at herself in the mirror. She suddenly realized that she seemed to have gained some weight from eating and drinking well recently... Except for her bulging belly, everything else had grown where it should have.
Nanny Dong smiled and said, "When the queen was first pregnant, she often had morning sickness and ate less, so she lost some weight. Now she is just fine!"
She is telling the truth.
Nanny Dong had been in the palace for so many years. What kind of beauties had she not seen? Only Concubine Yi could be called the most beautiful among beauties.
Apart from her stunning appearance, her slender and graceful figure is second to none. Even when she is pregnant, her grace remains unchanged.
Yunxiu nodded at her and smiled. Just as she was about to reply, Ruizhu lifted the curtain and came in. She bowed and said softly, "Your Majesty had dinner at Yonghe Palace first... In less than half an hour, he went to Chengqian Palace instead."
"Less than half an hour?" Nanny Dong was surprised. "Did Concubine De anger the Emperor?"
This was a slap in the face. It was enough to make the concubines lose face!
"Yonghe Palace, Chengqian Palace." Yun Xiu's focus was completely different from that of Nanny Dong.
She thought thoughtfully: "…The Emperor did it for the Fourth Prince."
The only matter that could involve the two palaces was that of the Fourth Prince Yinzhen.
Speaking of the Fourth Prince, Yunxiu recalled the dream in which Yinzhen ascended the throne and became the emperor, and then...
Xiaowu, Xiaojiu, and she, all ended up badly.
Yunxiu closed her eyes and said nothing, with her fingers slightly curled up.
Do you blame me? Of course I do.
But she blamed the new emperor in her dream, not the six-year-old Fourth Prince. She was not so ungentlemanly as to deal with a child of Yinqi's age.
Moreover, if he were the new emperor... Xiaojiu was indeed guilty of treason, there was nothing to wash away. At most, his methods were a bit cruel!
The victors take the cake; it has always been like this since ancient times.
Well, out of sight, out of mind.
She had already said that Wu Ya could not be her queen mother. Yun Xiu smiled slightly, touched her belly, and whispered softly: "If mother helps the prince to ascend the throne..."
After much thought, the possibility of her becoming the empress dowager is extremely small.
Yinqi had already given up the throne, but what about Yinzhen
According to his character in the dream, if he became the new emperor, the Qing Dynasty would be finished.
The Eleventh Prince Yinzhen had been in poor health since childhood. Even if he could be kept healthy in this life, he might not succeed in his bid for the throne. Which of his brothers was not a shrewd person
The safest way is to support the prince.
Let him be free from the constraints of his mother's family, from being held hostage by party disputes, and from the rift between father and son...
In the new dynasty, she would be able to become a concubine safely. If she was lucky, she could even be promoted to a noble concubine!
Yunxiu held her chin and smiled softly.