Chapter Sixty

  Letting Nalan Mingyue become a side Fu Jin was to tie down the soon-to-be-prominent Nalan Xiang, and also to balance out Ruyi, who was also a side Fu Jin. At first, Ruyi had to rely on Hongxiang to stand firm, so she must have been good to him, and under the protection of the Nara estate and Yinzhen, who still held some old feelings, Hongxiang could grow safely for several years. After several years, when Ruyi's wings were strong and Nalan Xiang had also achieved success, Nalan Mingyue's status rose with the tide, and Ruyi and Nalan Mingyue reached a point where they could counterbalance each other. At this time, Nalan Mingyue truly restrained Ruyi, and Hongxiang could be safe for several more years.

  Even if there are any changes in the future, Hong Kui, who has grown up, has the ability to protect himself and will not be easily hurt by others.

  Mr. Qing savored the Bi Luo Chun he brought back from Suzhou, couldn't help but feel emotional, for Hong Qian, Fu Jin this move was also a painstaking effort...

  Fourth Master wants to request a title of Ce Furen for Nalan Mingyue, so he asks him to write a memorial. He pauses for a moment, then picks up his brush and starts writing seriously again.

  Song led Da Gege to find Li Shi. In the June weather, without an ice bucket in the house, it was hard to sit still. Usually when Fu Jin was around, there were rules for their rooms, and even though Fu Jin was not currently in the mansion, everything was still done according to the rules from when she was around. The room was cool and comfortable, with a faint scent of fragrance wafting through. Er Gege was leaning over the desk painting, and upon seeing Da Gege enter, she jumped up excitedly: "Big sister is here!"

  Mrs. Li smiled and sent the two children out to play, then sat down on the couch with Mrs. Song to chat idly.

  "I wonder if the new concubine will be like the previous one?" Song Shi said with some melancholy.

  "It's hard to say..." Li thought of Fu Jin's sister, whom she had met before. Her appearance was ordinary and she didn't seem like a clever person, not comparable to Fu Jin.

  Song Shi said, "I heard that the king is going to grant Nalan's sister the title of Cefujin. Suddenly, the courtyard became lively. However, I feel sorry for you. Her family background is ordinary, and she only has one small prince, while you have two children. You are more favored than her, so it shouldn't be her turn yet!"

  What Mr. Song said is also reasonable.

  Li smiled and said: "What's the point of saying these things? The king naturally has his own plans."

  Song Shi just smiled and heard the laughter of two children in the yard, and the smile on his face became a few more real.

  Unexpected glory has descended upon Nalan Mingyue, leaving her overjoyed and caught off guard. She had thought she would have to work hard for a long time to become a side consort like her sister, but unexpectedly, everything came easily to her. It is said that the emperor has already approved the prince's request to bestow a title upon her, and the imperial edict will arrive soon. The servants are already preparing the main house of Ruiyuan, where she will move in at that time.

  Nalan Mingyue changed into a bright yellow silk cheongsam, added several more gemstone hairpins to her head, and carried the Fourth Prince to find Wu Ruoxue across from them.

  The king returned to the main courtyard of Fu Jin's residence for only two nights, and since then he has not entered the back house. The affairs of the back house are managed by Li Shen, the chief steward, and have nothing to do with them. Fu Jin is no longer cautious about everyone, actually because she knows that there will always be someone who will break the rules first, and she does not want to be the victim.

  Outside, Nalan Mingyue's loud laughter came in, Wu Ruoxi's eyes dimmed slightly, and then she saw Nalan Mingyue proudly walking in with the Fourth Prince: "Sister, what are you doing? Why don't I see you taking the Second Prince out for a walk?"

  Wu Ruoxi smiled and said: "Congratulations, sister is going to be a side concubine!"

  Nalan Mingyue couldn't help but laugh, her hairpin on her head shaking: "Then thank you, little sister!"

  It won't be long before another concubine enters the house, and I don't know what kind of situation will happen in the backyard...

  It wasn't long before all the rumors were settled. In July, Nalan Mingyue received the imperial edict and officially became the first concubine of the Yongguo Duke's manor. In August, Ruyi also entered the Yongguo Duke's manor as a concubine.

  As the secondary wife, Nalan Mingyue took over the affairs of the back house without hesitation. The matter of Ruyu's marriage was handled by her and Li Shen together, and the wedding invitations had already been sent out.

  Third Lady Fu did not want to come: "What's the point of saying that Quan Pei is not at home? It means that there's nothing good to see when Third Lady Fu enters!" Fifth Lady Fu, Consort Kang of Prince Gong and Ninth Princess also did not want to go, all feeling uneasy in their hearts.

  As a result, there were only a few main room ladies present that day, and the scene was somewhat deserted.

  Nalan Mingyue complained to her sister Nalan who had arrived early: "I'm in charge for the first time and no one is giving me face..."

  Nalan smiled and poked Nalan Mingyue's forehead: "Are you really confused or just pretending to be? The other consorts don't want to come, what does it have to do with you? In the end, it's because the new side consort isn't popular."

  Nalan Mingyue smiled and said: "I'm just saying..."

  A thick quilt was spread on the wide, carved bed, making Ruyi feel somewhat uncomfortable as she sat on it. Outside the canopy, there were children's laughter and playful voices, mostly Yongzheng's kids. The noise outside grew louder, and she tensed up, knowing that Yongzheng was coming.

  The suddenly lifted veil made all the light gather in her eyes, and she was slightly unaccustomed to it. It took a moment for her to see clearly the man in front of her. Although she had seen him long ago, she hadn't gotten a good look at his appearance, and didn't know that Yongzheng was this kind of man:

  A face with sharp angles had a pair of slender eyes, hiding all emotions in the depths of darkness, knife-cut eyebrows slanted upwards, thin lips like a sharp sword, slightly pursed, exuding an icy indifference that kept people at bay. The prince's dragon robe made him look even more aloof and intimidating, striking fear into those who gazed upon him.

  Her face didn't show any of the emotions she had imagined, making her feel flustered. She hastily lowered her head and amidst the noisy children, someone said, "The bride doesn't look good!" which made Ruyi's face suddenly flush bright red, but she could only pretend not to have heard it.

  This was a scene completely different from what she had imagined, and even at night the two of them just slept side by side without any movement. She couldn't bring herself to do anything in front of this cold man, no matter how hard she tried, and could only lie there with her eyes wide open until dawn.

  The family banquet in the morning was lively because of the many children. Ruyi and Nalan Mingyue sat at the lower table next to Yongzheng.

  The women in the backyard hadn't seen Yongzheng for several days, and without Guo'er to keep them in check, they made an unusually loud racket at breakfast.

  Nalan Mingyue didn't stay and handed a dish to Yongzheng: "Try some, sir. This is something I asked the kitchen to specially make for you..."

  Wu Ruoxi smiled brightly and said: "Second Brother's writing has improved again, when did Father give him guidance?"

  Li used a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth, looking like a gentle and charming flower: "I've specially dried some freshly picked tea leaves these past few days. If you feel tired, come try some."

  It was Song who didn't say much.

  Ru Yi glanced at these beautiful women, suddenly lowered her eyes and trembled slightly: "Sister and Hong Qian are outside, I don't know how they are..."

  Yuan Zhen's chopsticks suddenly fell, and he hadn't seen them for two months. Only occasionally would Hong Qian send letters saying that Quan Pei was still stable, but she slept more during the day and less at night, and her belly had already risen. The imperial physician still didn't dare to make a diagnosis of life or death. With this thought, Yuan Zhen couldn't eat another bite, put down his chopsticks, stood up, and walked out in big strides.

  Never knew having more women would be so troublesome and noisy, why didn't he feel this way when Quan Pei was around?

  Although the family banquet was interrupted by Yongzheng's sudden departure, Ruyi successfully prevented someone from eloping with Yongzheng three days before her wedding.

  Everyone was looking down on this unremarkable new concubine, but suddenly they didn't dare to underestimate her too much. Although this concubine wasn't well-liked, because she had a connection with the previous concubine, sometimes she would have privileges that others didn't have.

  Yin Zan didn't say much and left, but later he still ordered Li Shen to pass on the message, asking Ruyi and Nalan Mingyue to manage the household together.

  The newly arrived Cai Fu Jin knew something, after all it was because of Fu Jin.

  Jueluo Shi said to Fei Yanggu: "...Quan Pei's child is born in December, the month is also heavy, and there is only one Hongqian in front of me who can't even take care of myself. I'll go back and take care of it, if there's anything...I'll bring Hongqian with me, if I can give birth to the child safely, I'll continue to take care of it until mother and child are safe. My daughter-in-law has also been trained, managing the household is not a problem, but when I'm not around, you must pay attention to your own body..."

  She said, tears falling again: "My poor Quan Pei, I don't know how much suffering she has endured. I haven't slept soundly all night, always dreaming of her calling out to me, saying it hurts in the heart and mouth... as soon as I reach out my hand, she's gone..."

  Lian Feiyang's eyes became sour: "You can rest assured to go, it is you who are going out, take good care of yourself, and come back safely with Quan Pei!"

  Then, as if by coincidence, she returned home on the third day and did not see Empress Dowager Chongqing. It was said that she had already left for Suzhou. She followed Anda Ruo into the second gate, and it wasn't until she turned her head unintentionally that she saw a few extra emotions on Yongzheng's face, seemingly a mix of gratitude, sadness, and helplessness. Was he grateful because his birth mother was going to Suzhou to take care of his sister? Or was he sad and helpless because he couldn't go himself?

  When Guan Shi controlled the household finances, she also had control over all the family's wealth. If there was any surplus, it was up to her to dispose of it. She wasn't strict with people, so she would often give the servants in the back house a few new clothes or a set of new jewelry.

  After Nalan Mingyue and Ruyi took over the household, Yongzheng did not inform them of other family assets, nor was there any mention of excess silver that could be freely distributed. Every month, according to convention, he would withdraw silver from the eunuchs in charge of the imperial household department and then distribute it to each person, resulting in rumors gradually spreading among the lower ranks that the two were strict and stingy.

  The weather is getting colder, and the amount of coal is limited. The Li family has two children in front, although they have more coal than usual, but compared to before, it's still much less. I don't know if it's because the night is not warm enough, but San Gege caught a cold. She didn't go find Nalan Mingyue or Ruyi, and directly went to Yongzheng instead.

  "When the mistress was here, everyone's coal supply never ran out. This year, however, it's less than in previous years. At night, we don't dare use too much, fearing there won't be enough later on. As a result, Third Brother has fallen ill from the cold. I myself can bear some hardship, but what about the young masters? Can't even provide them with enough coal?"

  Ru Yi was settled in the side house of Yanxi Palace, when Yongzheng entered, she was quietly wiping away tears. Seeing Yongzheng, she quickly stood up: "Your Majesty has arrived."

  Yongzheng sat down in silence, and Yihuan called for the maid to serve tea. Without seeing Yongzheng ask her why she was crying, she had no choice but to fall silent again for a moment before speaking up herself: "The monthly silver, money, and coal are all fixed amounts, it's always been that way, I use them myself too, they're old rules, not something I want to cheat or bully anyone with... yet I didn't expect the lower-ranking people to say so many idle words..."

  All these trivial matters were brought before him, making him extremely annoyed. In the past, when he entered the back house, he felt that the atmosphere was particularly relaxed and it was a place where he wanted to come and relax. Now, as soon as he enters, there are endless lawsuits, and they all dare to come up to him and talk, why wasn't it like this when Quan Pei was around?

  Take this time, where is the use of making everyone unhappy in the end? Guan Pei must have handled it properly long ago, so that no one can complain. Before, I only saw her being relaxed and thought that there were not many things to do in the back house, but now I know that the reason why there are fewer things to do is because Guan Pei is in charge of the back house.

  He felt suffocated and got up: "Add coal to all places in the future, don't let the children freeze."

  After all, there's something strange about her, so she can only respectfully lower her eyes and nod in agreement.