Chapter 56

  The crown princess fondled a basin of bright red gemstones, smiling and chatting with the crown prince: "......I see that news is *not far from ten, you don't know how those concubines treated me when I came out of the empress dowager's palace, it was completely different from before, it can be seen.......”

  She paused, as if that was enough, and stroked her belly with a loving and joyful expression: "This child is a blessing..."

  The crown prince's eyes also had an additional layer of joy: "You must take care of yourself, and from now on, don't go to the empress dowager and the noble consort in the morning. As for other things..." He paused and said: "In short, we can't be careless, I'll discuss it with Suo Etu."

  The crown princess nodded: "You're right, be extremely careful."

  After longing for a thousand times and ten thousand times, the Crown Prince's consort finally had her own child. She was extra careful, and when the Crown Prince got up to go out, she also stood up to watch him leave, but didn't follow him to send him off like usual. The door curtain swayed slightly as she caught a glimpse of the blue-clad figure outside. The Crown Prince's consort didn't feel her usual disgust either... having children made it difficult for her to serve the Crown Prince properly, and the Crown Prince being tied down by Wang Lan and others wasn't necessarily a bad thing...

  Li Shen met Nalan Mingyue's three brothers who were on their way to the capital for the imperial examination outside the city, and also greeted the people from the Anjunwang Fu in front. The courtyard was tidy, everything was complete, and after changing clothes and drinking a few mouthfuls of hot tea, they followed the eunuch into the backyard to pay respects to Quan Pei.

  Ink painting white silk screen behind vaguely visible a large red figure, on both sides of the goose wing arrangement two rows of maids and servants, slightly raised head can see sitting aside somewhat excited Nalan Mingyue.

  They just chatted for a few words and then asked the three to withdraw and rest. Nalan Mingyue saw Quan Pei about to get up, hurriedly stepped forward and slightly supported her, hearing Quan Pei ask: "Among your three brothers, is it that your eldest brother Yan Cheng has the best learning?"

  "I've heard from my grandfather that Eldest Brother is clever and adaptable, and his studies are also quite impressive; perhaps he'll have a good future."

  Quan Pei nodded slightly: "After all, it's your brothers, if you want to see them, go ahead and take a look, if there's anything missing, go to the office to collect it, don't be slow."

  "Cheers!"

  Nalan Mingyue's excitement didn't last long before she bumped into a flustered maid, making Nalan Mingyue feel chilled to the bone once again.

  "The empress is about to give birth! Wu Guo Guo is going into labor!"

  It's just these few days, but somehow it coincides with her several brothers entering the mansion, taking away all her attention. Nalan Mingyue was unhappy, but could only lower her head to cover up, following Quan Pei into Ruiyuan Hall.

  The midwife had everything ready, and with the mistress of the house present, nothing seemed to be out of order. Wu Ruoxue was in a state of anxious distress, but when she heard that Quan Pei had arrived, her breathing gradually became more stable. The early spring plum blossoms were blooming beautifully on the branches, and Quan Pei did not enter the house, instead having someone move a formal chair to the corridor, where she sat with a foot warmer at her feet and wrapped in a large cloak. The plum blossoms bursting forth among the green bamboo had a unique charm.

  Li and Song, upon hearing the news, also rushed over, paid their respects to Quan Pei, and quietly waited on either side. The only sound was Wu Ruoxue's occasional groans from inside the delivery room, which were not loud or clear. Wu Ruoxue was also someone who could endure pain and did not loudly cry out.

  Xiao Rong brought over a small steamer basket of freshly made, piping hot five-color dumplings. Quan Pei took a small bowl and also gave one to each of the Song family members. Li Shi smiled and said: "Miss Xiao Rong's skills are getting better and better, just looking at them is making people drool."

  Xiao Rong smiled and said, "It's all thanks to Fu Jin's training."

  A bowl of wontons warmed her up instantly, and Guan Pei picked up a book to read at leisure.

  Next to the green bamboo and red plum blossoms, the woman sitting idly seemed like a quiet flower reflecting in the water, elegant and beautiful, as if worldly matters couldn't disturb her at all. Li looked at Quan Pei, then lowered her head again after a while. She couldn't be as carefree as Furen, wondering what Wu Ruoxue's situation was like, whether she would give birth to a boy or girl. If it were true that she gave birth to a boy, then from now on, she would become the number one person in the Gege household. As for wanting to take action against Wu Ruoxue, it seemed even more difficult than before.

  Nalan Mingyue almost twisted the handkerchief to shreds, while Song Shi, sitting quietly, unnaturally rotated the tea cup in her hand. In fact, everyone's heart was burning with anxiety, unable to do anything, and could only stare blankly...

  Everyone who was dozing off suddenly woke up, and the sky also gradually darkened. The lamps in the delivery room under the corridor were all lit up. Suddenly, a child's cry was heard, and Quan Pei seemed to wake up from her book. The other few people involuntarily looked towards the delivery room, listening to the happy voice of the midwife: "A six-pound little brother is born!"

  Quan Pei's mouth curled up into a smile as she slowly stood up: "Reward!" The attendant, Xiaoyue, who was standing by the side, hastily responded with an "Yes!".

  Nalan Mingyue couldn't even get up for half a response, Li wanted to show a smile but instead looked somewhat mournful, Song's long exhaled a mouthful of air, and took the lead in following Quan Pei to take a look at the little brother who was hugged out.

  Wu Ruoxue in the delivery room was exhausted but her eyes showed relief and gratitude, heaven had indeed been kind to her...

  Under the dim light, Jueluo sat on the kang with Andala and sighed: "A gege has given birth to a small aga, it's really..."

  Andala comforted Jueluo in a soft voice: "The Fu Jin already has a strong little A Ge, and the Ge Ge born is also good, but it's a concubine-born child, can't compare..."

  Jueluo waved her hand and didn't seem to want to say more. Yu Yi, who was sitting beside her doing needlework, pricked herself with a needle by mistake... The difference between legitimate and illegitimate children cannot be compared...

  Wu Ruoxi's second brother, Wu San, took the exam after washing and dressing. Nalan Yongchu and his brothers entered the examination hall, and several days later, they came out. Only Nalan Yongchu looked like he still had some energy left, while the other two were almost carried back on stretchers. After that, they fell ill for several days. Nalan Yongchu slept for a day and then often went out to attend literary gatherings and receive invitations. Occasionally, when he had free time, Nalan Yongchu would take his younger brother Bao Ge'er to read books for several days. According to the servants, he got along well with Bao Ge'er.

  Xiao Yue took the new account book that Jing Xiang had just brought over and flipped through it, Quan Pei put down the book in her hand and took the account book to glance at it. Bao Ge'er sat beside her, leaning on the kang and looking at the book Quan Pei had put down, his small hands drawing a few strokes on top: "small, day, month".

  It was actually a phrase with a familiar tone, Quan Pei turned her head in surprise: "Do you recognize the characters on this?"

  Baoyu pointed to the book and read: "Small, day, month." He read whatever he pointed to. Guan Yun had never taught Baoyu to read before, but Baoyu could recognize characters because he had been following Nalan Rongyu to school during this time.

  Quan Ai stroked Bao Ge's head and instructed Xiao Yue: "Wrap up a few pieces of good ink cakes and have Nalan Yan deliver them."

  It just so happened that Nalan Mingyue was looking at several of her cousins, and couldn't help but say a few more words to Nalan Yan: "...... Eldest brother is the treasured darling of Fourth Master and Madame Fu, if you like him then hurry up and get married and have one yourself. It's better for you to stay away from Eldest brother, even a tiny bit of misbehavior would be an enormous crime..."

  The maid came in from outside and brought the ink given by Quan Pei, Nalan Yan smiled and took it in her hand. After the maid left, she turned around and spoke to Nalan Mingyue: "I have a sense of propriety, see, your lady didn't send over the ink?"

  Nalan Mingyue snorted, "Don't think you're the only clever one. When dealing with us Fu, be more careful, or you'll lose both your wife and soldiers, and still be foolishly happy!"

  Cousins who grew up together since childhood, they don't have many taboos when talking to each other.

  Nalan Yan exclaimed in surprise: "I've never seen you truly submit to anyone, how come when it comes to Fu Jin, your tone has changed?"

  Nalan Mingyue lowered her eyes: "I've told you, but you won't understand. All you need to know is that you mustn't offend our Madame Fu, and don't even think about trying to be clever. You can't outsmart..."

  By the end of February, it was heard that Saiwai had won a great victory and Gerdan's main force had been almost completely eliminated. It is expected that the Holy Gate will return to Beijing soon. At this time, the Imperial Academy also posted an imperial edict. Unexpectedly, Nalan Xiangyue really had true talent and learning, ranking third in the first class. The other two were both high-ranking officials but only reached the second class, their results were not bad either, but compared to Nalan Xiangyue, they seemed much duller.

  The girls all rushed to congratulate Nalan Mingyue, and Nalan Mingyue was also unprecedentedly pleased.

  It was a good thing that someone had made the crown prince a dragon robe, and even some imperial objects were presented to him, trying to get him to wear them. The crown prince just casually put it on for a try, but was seen by someone with ulterior motives, who quietly spread the word.

  "...His Majesty was unwell for some time, but has recovered a lot now. He will return to the capital in a few days and is said to personally announce the top three winners of the imperial examination..."

  The crown prince clenched his fists as he recalled some of his actions in the court not long ago, and beads of sweat gradually seeped out on his forehead: "Really......!"

  He slammed his hand on the table and heard Suo E Tuo say, "Fortunately, we didn't make any big moves, so nothing serious will happen. The prince is still busy preparing to welcome the emperor back to the palace!"

  "What about the matter of sending someone to poison the horse? It just so happens that it's in the hands of Big Brother, and he won't easily let go of the chance to get back at me."

  "Those people don't know anything either, no matter how they're interrogated, nothing can be gotten out of them. Without any evidence, even if Da A Ge says something, the Emperor won't believe it."

  Xiao E Tuo said so, the crown prince's back relaxed, and he sighed again: "I don't know how long I will be a prince..."

  "I heard that the Crown Prince was in the capital city wearing a yellow robe, with a joyful expression on his face, as if......" Kangxi frowned at Da A Ge: "As if what?"

  "It's as if he is about to ascend to the throne himself."

  Kangxi let out a cold hum, and the eldest prince didn't know what this hum meant, so he didn't dare to speak more. He could only hate those rebels who couldn't get any reliable news, and couldn't give the crown prince a fatal blow.

  The great army won and returned, the whole country celebrated, and it was reported that Galdan had taken poison and died. Kangxi immediately went to offer sacrifices to heaven, which shows that Galdan was indeed a major threat to Kangxi's heart.

  The crown prince carefully attended to Kangxi, but even Li Dequan, who was usually by his side, was not there. The crown prince became even more cautious and didn't dare breathe loudly.

  It wasn't until he finished reading the memorial in his hand that Kangxi asked, "I heard that during those few days when I was ill, you wore a yellow robe and had a joyful expression?"

  The crown prince was startled, not expecting Kangxi to ask about this matter which seemed trivial to him. But now that Kangxi knew about it, it had become a huge deal. He knelt down with a thud: "Absolutely not! Your son is innocent!"

  Even the eunuch Kangxi, who had personally helped the crown prince put on his dragon robe, was investigated by him. The crown prince said such words, and Kangxi frowned and looked at the crown prince for a long time, feeling that the crown prince in front of him was completely different from the clever and obedient child he used to be. A cold intent gradually appeared in his eyes: "You still don't tell the truth in front of me? If I ask you, it's not without reason!"

  The crown prince was frightened and took a deep breath: "Your son, your son dare not speak! It was done by the good people below, your son originally did not know, the people below deceived him for a few sentences and he became dizzy and made a big mistake. Your son is wrong, please punish me, Emperor!"

  After a long silence, sweat kept breaking out all over the Crown Prince's body before Kangxi finally heard him ask: "You really didn't do it on purpose?"

  "I swear, I really didn't mean to!"

  The Crown Prince came out of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, wiped the sweat from his forehead, thinking that this matter might be over. However, it wasn't long before Kangxi issued an edict to grant titles to all the princes who had followed him in the campaign against Galdan. Normally, such grand enfeoffments would only occur when a new emperor ascended the throne as a form of benevolence. First, the princes were called out of the palace to live separately, and now they had all been granted titles, each with their own power and influence. The Crown Prince was surrounded by a group of fiercely watching wolves, making it increasingly difficult for him to act in the future. In the end, the Emperor's anger still prevailed.

  In this battle, the prince lost but everyone else won...