Chapter 8

  Fei Yanggu sat on the kang, puffing on his dry pipe, filling the room with the smell of tobacco. Jueluo Shi was long accustomed to this smell and didn't notice it at all. She leaned forward slightly and spoke to Fei Yanggu: "Old master, you see, Quan Pei hasn't spoken much either. It's probably because life in the palace is really tough for her. The other princes all have someone to rely on, but the fourth prince doesn't."

  She said and fell into tears, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief: "Five hundred taels of silver will be spent, as you can imagine..."

  Fei Yang frowned and said: "I didn't say I wouldn't help you, why are you crying? I just want to think of a way to help that won't hurt the Fourth Prince's face."

  Jueluo said hastily: "I didn't cry, I'm just a little heartbroken."

  Fei Yanggu didn't bother with the Jueluo family anymore, and puffed a few mouthfuls of dry smoke, saying to the servant girl: "Call your master over."

  Wugesi and Quan Pei were both born of the Giocangga clan, and had just been married. Wugesi's wife was the eldest daughter of Anda Lai, a junior minister in the Board of Rites, and he was fairly satisfied with the marriage, so the couple got along well.

  "......You have some free time in the next few days, go out and take a look around, find a shop that can do spice business, it's best to settle with the owner and employees, don't make any decisions on your own, ask Fourth Brother for instructions on everything. We'll advance the silver first, I estimate it won't cost much, this silver won't come from public funds either, just deduct it from my own silver."

  " What are you talking about? Qian Bai's affairs are my affairs. Seeing them struggling, how can I not lend a hand? To speak selfishly, the Fourth Prince is now in difficulties, but later when he leaves the palace and establishes his own estate, things will gradually improve, it's not like we can help just because we want to."

  Fei Yang Gu looked at Wu Ge with a comforting expression: "You can see that this is also worth it, just do as I say. With many people in the household, don't give anyone an excuse to gossip. You should understand yourself, grasp this opportunity well. After all, Rong Ba might not be able to take out so much silver, it's just for us to build a bridge with Fourth Brother."

  Wu Ge nodded and said: "What you said is right, sister also did her best."

  Because of the many people in this house, Jueluo Shi disdainfully snorted and waited for Wu Ge to leave. She then glared at Fei Yanggu: "Why do so many people always have to be at my place?"

  Feyang furrowed his brow and said: "How did you get so worked up over this? I just like being with you like this."

  Jueluo shot a glance at Fei Yanggu and said with suppressed pride: "Glib-tongued!" She turned her head away, but still couldn't help but laugh.

  The wind rolled up the willow catkins and danced in the sky, like snowflakes. The palace maids lowered the light silk curtains around the pavilion to block out this pleasant spring breeze. De Fei finally lost at chess again, and somewhat uncomfortably said to Quan Pei: "You child, don't you know how to give in a little? Always making me feel displeased."

  "Are you unhappy even if I let you?"

  De Fei burst out laughing: "You want to pretend that there's no trace, it's not difficult, but you just let me see through it, dare you say you're not doing it on purpose?"

  Ruan Pei peeled an orange and handed it to De Fei, looking at the wet nurse holding the 15th prince: "She really has skills."

  De Fei didn't catch this remark and whispered to Gong Yu: "I heard that the Empress Dowager hasn't been feeling well these past few days..."

  "Could it be that she's pregnant?"

  "This is hard to say, roughly speaking, it's not that the days are shallow, but rather people don't talk about it, they just look at it and think it's not quite right, covering it up."

  Quan Ai pulled down one by one the white silk threads on the tangerine: "What about Concubine Hui?"

  "There were still some small movements a few days ago, but it has been calm for the past few days."

  The tangerine is sweet and juicy, with plenty of juice. Guan Pei likes it so much that she peels another one with her white fingers: "I think it's not a good omen, you'd better not get involved, just take care of the people around you."

  De Fei laughed: "You're just a child, always comparing yourself with adults, what can you possibly know?"

  Quan Ai didn't say much about this matter, glanced at the sun and got up: "Our grandfather will be back soon."

  De Fei nodded and had someone send a basket of tangerines to Quan Pei: "I see you rarely have food that you like."

  Yongzheng returned from the government office, changed his clothes and saw a plate of tangerines on the table. He picked one up with his hand: "Who gave this again?"

  "My mother gave it to me."

  He hesitated for a moment, and his eyes became complicated. In the end, he still put the tangerine back on the plate.

  Quan Pei put down the book in her hand and looked at Yongzheng: "What's going on again?"

  "It's nothing, you like eating then eat a few more, it's rare to have something you like."

  The story of the mother and son was incomprehensible to her, so she didn't say much. After eating lunch, Yongzheng didn't even take a break, changed his clothes and wanted to go out: "Big brother is waiting for me outside, I didn't expect it to be done so quickly, I have to go out and discuss with him."

  Fei Yang Gu didn't worry about it at all, but hoped that this time he could closely connect his maternal family with the imperial family.

  As soon as he came out of the Shenwu Gate, he saw a man in a green robe with a young servant holding two horses waiting outside. He quickened his pace: "Big Uncle!"

  Wu Ge laughed and clasped his fists: "Fourth Master!"

  The two men didn't say much and directly got on their horses. On the horse, Wu Ge briefly explained the situation: "I saw a shop on Chessboard Street, surrounded by two spice shops and several silk shops. Since there are more women going there, the location is considered good. It's five rooms in size, with a small courtyard at the back, suitable for living or storing spices. I've also found a few partners, Fourth Master can take a look first, if you don't think it's good, I'll find another one. Today's main purpose is to introduce you to some of the big shots in Beijing's spice industry. To enter this line of business, we need to meet the people in the industry, can't break the rules."

  Although Wu Ge was not very old, he was indeed experienced and skilled. He helped Yongzheng, who seemed to be using him as a comfortable and paid helper. As the prince, he had little experience going out and practicing, so this kind of thing made him feel fresh and full of challenges. He also felt grateful to Wu Ge for his sincerity.

  The palace gates were about to close when Yongzheng returned, reeking of wine. Li Shi and the maidservants helped him clean up, brought some snacks, and then retreated. Yongzheng squeezed in beside Guan Pei, his eyes shining like bright stars: ".... That group of old guys still underestimated me, saying what do I know about perfumery at such a young age? I didn't bother to argue with them, just asked one question - how was the jasmine fragrance during the Tang Wu Emperor's time? They were all stunned, and I immediately recited three of the ingredients. Although I didn't mention the fourth ingredient, people in the trade would understand. The whole table fell silent for half a beat, and when I stood up to leave, someone grabbed me and said, even if we're fellow practitioners, why take it so seriously? It was just a joke..."

  He said he wasn't drunk, but the fact was that he had been drinking a lot: "...... Wu Ge is really capable, and in just a few days, everything has been arranged properly. I've seen that everything is going well!" As he spoke, he pulled out a stack of papers from his pocket: "These are contracts, keep them safe. Tomorrow I'll go out to check on the procurement situation, and it will all be settled in no time!"

  He excitedly hugged Quan Pei: "Quan Pei, you're so good, so fragrant!"

  She smiled softly to herself, stroking his back, listening to his breathing gradually slow down, probably really tired, and fell asleep so quickly. She didn't expect that watching a young man grow up would bring so many warm feelings, she knew that Yongzheng would one day become a towering tree, but she witnessed his most warm and tender years.

  Xiao Gege's full moon banquet can only be held in A Ge's residence, the place is not big, and only a few extremely close relatives and a few ladies from next door came. Andala Shi was nervous because it was her first time entering the palace, and asked Wu Ge what to wear and what to bring. Wu Ge got annoyed: "Even if you make a mistake, my sister will help you cover it up."

  An Da La said with a hint of grievance: "I'm afraid of offending the young lady."

  Wu Ge let out a sigh and looked up: "This is very good." Andala smiled at this.

  Several madams and ladies of the Aro clan sat with Quan Pei in the inner room, while outside were several younger daughters-in-law and children. The male guests were in the courtyard of the fifth prince next door. Although the scene was not grand, it was lively. Xiaoge's face had opened up a lot, looking like Songshi. San Furen asked Quan Pei in a low voice: "Don't you raise your child by your side?"

  "Doesn't it all depend on the nanny?"

  San Fu Jin glared at her with a "iron that cannot be made into steel" expression: "Putting it in front of you, isn't this being close to you? Isn't this good?"

  The fifth lady-in-waiting couldn't help but interrupt: "Isn't it a great honor for the princess's daughter to be raised by you, and yet you still want to consider whether she is worthy or not?"

  In short, both of them made sense, San Fu Jin glared at Wu Fu Jin unhappily, and then asked Quan Pei to make a final decision on which idea was better. Just as Quan Pei stood up, an eunuch came in from outside, bringing gifts from the Crown Prince's consort and De Fei. However, a daughter born to a gege (a noble title) would not normally receive such treatment; it was all because of Quan Pei's face.

  Several concubines were accompanying Song Shi in his house, while Liu Gege, the most favored one in the fifth prince's mansion, looked at Song Shi's house with a cold and deserted appearance. She hated to poke her forehead: "You don't care about anything else, can't you even care about your own child? So many people are begging for blessings from your mistress, can't you just take a few more glances at the child?"

  Song said with a pout: "I'm no better off than you, I've got your grandfather's favor, why would I go out of my way to offend people at this time."

  Liu sat down next to Song and whispered, "The madams would rather raise the children so that we don't recognize them. You shouldn't let others bully you just because someone is making a fuss. Otherwise, in the future, the child won't even know who you are, can you bear it?"

  Song Shi opened her mouth, she was not reconciled, and said with a shallow smile: "You'd better not say such things, you don't know what's going on in our yard, Fu Jin won't make it difficult for the children, whether they know each other or not, it doesn't matter, if Fu Jin can raise Xiao Gege by her side, that would be a blessing, why bother doing this unnecessary thing."

  Asakusa's words made Liu smile coldly, and just as she was about to scold Asakusa, Song said: "I appreciate your kindness, but I also know what I should do."

  Liu saw that nothing was happening and felt bored, so she sat for a moment before leaving the house. Outside, there were several young maids and eunuchs standing around. She looked around and adjusted her hair, putting on an elegant and dignified air, but after taking only two steps, she suddenly tripped on the stairs and fell face down. The children in the courtyard burst out laughing at the sight, and someone came out of the house to see what was happening. They saw that Liu's mouth was bleeding from the fall, and they couldn't help but laugh. Madame Wu came out and almost clapped her hands with laughter, exclaiming "Instant karma! Instant karma!"

  Liu had never suffered such a great loss, and tears immediately flowed down. Fortunately, Li came over and called her to her own room, otherwise it would have been too embarrassing. It was obviously someone in this courtyard who had played a trick on her, but she hadn't seen which maid was outside, and it wasn't good to say so in front of Li. She just thought that no matter what, she wanted Fifth Brother to give her justice!