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Translator: Jalyss
Editor: Odyssey
Chapter 12
As soon as he finished speaking, Consort Hui was startled. She ignored the eighth prince. Her delicate face changed and she was surprised and delighted all of a sudden. “Really? My son really surpassed the crown prince?”
Yinti nodded.
Boundless pride filled Consort Hui’s heart. She praised him and couldn’t wait to speak. “…Tell mother about the competition.”
In the early years, the palace established a rule that when a prince reaches the age of six, he would go to the study room to study. He would study in the morning to educate himself, and practice horseback riding and archery in the afternoon.
Because Kangxi cared a lot about his sons’ studies, he often came to watch the exams in person. None of the princes dared to slack off.
Every school test, whether it was reading or riding and archery, the crown prince always came out on top. In addition to the crown prince’s own intelligence and diligence, of course, there were also the subjective wishes of the teachers…
Yinti had been unconvinced for a long time.
He liked to practice martial arts, and he didn’t think he was suitable to be a great Confucian scholar. His level of writing was not as good as that of the crown prince.
He lost in the aspect of ‘text’, but in terms of riding and shooting, he was on par with the crown prince’s accuracy, and even sometimes surpassed him!
When the father emperor asked about it that day, the masters said that the crown prince’s riding and shooting should be the first.
Relying on his status as the crown prince, Yinreng overwhelmed him everywhere. Even now, the masters’ judgment was unfair. How could Yinti feel content after seeing father emperor’s eyes of approval towards the crown prince?
In order to win the undisputed first place, Yinti gritted his teeth and practiced desperately. Finally, in today’s competition, he defeated the crown prince so much that they could no longer announce the result “against his will”.
Recalling the bluish complexion of the little crown prince, Yinti smiled and hugged the little eighth prince even tighter. He rushed to Consort Hui’s side, sat down on the seat, and said happily, “Mother, during today’s competition…”
Yinti spoke excitedly, and casually held the eighth prince in his arms beside the table. However, where he could not see, the sharp corner of the table dug into Yinsi’s waist.
Although it was early spring, the weather had not yet warmed up. Yinsi wore thicker clothes, but the baby’s skin was delicate. How could it withstand such continuous friction?
Two-year-old children can already express their emotions. The eighth prince wrinkled his face slightly. His complexion was pale and he wanted to say that it hurt. But, he carefully looked at his happy older brother, and the proud Mother Hui… He ended up holding back and silently lowered his head.
No one noticed this. Only the wet nurse noticed.
The people around eighth prince were all Consort Hui’s people. She put her hands into her sleeves and hesitated to speak. She thought for a while, but still did not make a sound to remind either of them.
Because of the eldest prince’s happy event, the consort was very interested. If she disturbed her, it would not be as simple as being punished!
Besides, the eighth prince wore three or four layers of clothes, so it shouldn’t be a problem. At most, he would just get a small bruise and it would be fine within two days…
***
The next day, in the top room of the side hall of Yanxi Palace.
Noble Lady Liang sat facing the mirror. She touched the hairpin in her hair, pursed her lips and smiled. She said to the maidservant, Xiang Ling, “How about this outfit? Will Yinsi like it after seeing it?”
If the beauty of Consort Yi was bright and magnificent, the beauty of Noble Lady Liang was pure and graceful.
She had arched eyebrows and apricot eyes, which were bright and clear. She also had the misty temperament of a Jiangnan woman. There was a hint of timidity in her soft beauty, which made people feel pity for her.
“The eighth prince will definitely like it,” Xiang Ling replied with a sigh in her heart.
Her master was good everywhere. She had a kind personality. She had a stunning appearance despite her low background.
It didn’t matter if one was born to a low background. Didn’t Consort De have a lowly background, but she was one of the four consorts?
If the emperor loved you, no one would care about your origin.
With a heavenly appearance, if Noble Lady was willing to compete for favour, how could she not win? She was such a beauty. She was tempted to see it!
Noble Lady just didn’t want to fight.
Since the birth of the eighth prince, the noble lady had become more secluded. She looked like she was only focussed on her son. She embroidered clothes, shoes, and socks for him… Obviously, she can’t raise him herself, but she was very satisfied.
Your Majesty has already forgotten about the noble lady.
The noble lady didn’t care at all… Look, even dressing up carefully was for the eighth prince.
Last night, Consort Hui’s eldest maid, Ying’er, came to spread the word, saying that the consort was kind, and that the eighth prince was allowed to stay in the side hall for the day. The noble lady was so happy that she didn’t know what to do. She tossed and turned at night and couldn’t sleep. Today, she woke up early, looking forward to the arrival of the eighth prince.
Seeing this, Xiang Ling felt a little sad.
Her master and the eighth prince didn’t spend much time together. They always had to act according to Consort Hui’s face, and suffered a lot of grievances.
And those diabolical servants! Deceiving their superiors and deluding their subordinates, neglecting their duties… She was the only servant who served in the side hall all day.
If her master was favoured, then with regards to the eighth prince, when her master wanted to see him, wouldn’t she be able to see him whenever she wanted? If only she could be favoured half as much as Consort Yi…
Xiang Ling was full of thoughts, and soon, the wet nurse came to the side hall holding the eighth prince.
Presumably because of Consort Hui’s order, the wet nurse withdrew after handing the child over to Noble Lady Liang.
Noble Lady Liang hugged Yinsi like a rare treasure. She was overjoyed and said softly, “Yinsi, call mother…”
Yinsi vaguely knew that Mother Hui was just his adoptive mother, but mother was different. She was extremely beautiful and had a pleasant smell on her body.
It’s just that mother was hard to see.
He raised his head obediently, and called out softly, “Mother.”
Noble Lady Liang replied with a smile. Her eyes suddenly turned red, as if she was about to shed tears.
Yinsi immediately became anxious, raised his tender little hand, put it on Noble Lady Liang’s white jade-like face, and quickly said, “Mother, don’t cry!”
Noble Lady Liang’s heart warmed up, and she quickly said, “Okay, mother won’t cry. Mother will take you to play.”
The mother and son talked a lot, which dispelled the strangeness in Yinsi’s heart and he gradually relaxed.
The side hall was full of laughter and joy. When Xiang Ling saw this, she was both happy and bitter. “This servant will go get a cup of fruit juice.” After saying that, she quickly lifted the curtain and went out.
When she came back, the laughter was gone.
Noble Lady Liang hugged the eighth prince and wept silently. Xiang Ling was shocked and dropped the teapot in her arms: “Master, what’s wrong?!”
Noble Lady Liang wept silently, beckoning her to come forward. She then lifted the clothes around Yinsi’s waist, revealing the large patch of bruises, which was shocking in comparison with his white and tender complexion.
Xiang Ling gasped, her hands shaking. “This, this…”
Noble Lady Liang closed her eyes. A stream of tears rolled down, and she choked up, incoherent. “Such a big injury… It’s okay to be injured, but… They didn’t even apply medicine and turned a blind eye… Yinsi is only two years old!”
“Don’t worry! This servant will go to the Imperial Hospital right now.” After being shocked, Xiang Ling turned around and was about to go out.
Noble Lady Liang shook her head, and called out hoarsely, “Come back.”
“Master!” Xiang Ling said anxiously, “Then when? Such an injury cannot be ignored!”
Noble Lady Liang continued to shake her head.
She wiped her tears indiscriminately, lowered her head, and asked her son gently, “Why does it hurt there? Can Yinsi say it again?”
Yinsi’s dark eyes were filled with uneasiness. He hesitated for a moment, and whispered, “Eldest brother hugged me. Mother, don’t cry.”
“…” Xiang Ling fell silent.
Noble Lady Liang smiled bitterly. “Eldest elder brother is a child, how can he know how to take care of children? But Consort Hui doesn’t care, and the wet nurse doesn’t care. Xiang Ling, if we get the imperial doctor, there would be no place for us in Yanxi Palace!”
Xiang Ling opened her mouth. What she said was quite correct.
If an imperial physician was invited and then there were rumors that ‘Consort Hui was unkind to the eighth prince’ or ‘the eldest brother was unkind to the younger brother’, Consort Hui would be furious. She didn’t know what Consort Hui would do then.
Unless her master moved out of Yanxi Palace, then the eighth prince would not be raised by Consort Hui.
But how was that possible?
“Under the box next to the dowry, there is a plaster that was bestowed by the emperor…” Noble Lady Liang wiped away her tears, and said softly, “Go and get it.”
Xiang Ling forced a smile and said in a low voice, “Master, things from two or three years ago are no longer usable.”
Noble Lady Liang was startled, smiled wryly, and slowly clenched her hands. “You’re right…”
After a while, she seemed to have made up her mind, and said, “Xiang Ling, quietly, go to Yongshou Palace to see the noble consort.”
Yesterday, after paying her respects to Consort Hui, when she was leaving, she vaguely heard Consort Hui say, “She is a member of Niu Gulu’s family. She is worthless. How dare she hurt Kuixu…”
Kuixu was the second son of Nalan Mingzhu and the cousin of Consort Hui. Niu Gulu’s family name. In the harem, only the noble consort had this surname.
Noble Lady Liang repeated, “Go quietly. I was lucky enough to meet the noble consort. Just tell the truth and ask her to give you a bottle of good medicine…”
After, the tears gathered and rolled down her cheeks again.
***
Chengqian Palace.
The imperial noble consort looked at the woman in front of her with an unreadable expression. Gorgeous in appearance, graceful in figure, and still in her youth. She made people feel ashamed.
Her gaze was cold, as if looking at an object, which made Noble Lady Yuan grit her teeth and become more uneasy.
Mrs. Yuan was a bannerman of the Han army. She entered the palace when she was 19, and it had been three years since then.
Because her grandfather and father served in the Green Camp, they made great contributions when they were fighting in the Revolt of the Three Feudatories. She had an outstanding appearance. When she was drafted, she was granted the title of Noble Lady for the first time, and she was bestowed with living in the side hall of Chengqian Palace.
On the second day after entering the palace, the emperor turned over her signboard. Noble Lady Yuan was overjoyed, but she was stopped halfway by the imperial noble consort. Until now, she still hadn’t slept with him.
In addition, the imperial noble consort suppressed them everywhere, making people feel like they couldn’t speak up.
What could she do?
Chengqian Palace was run by the imperial noble consort with an iron fist, so she had to be calm and honest in the morning and evening. Even when paying her respects, she did not dare to show any resentment.
Noble Lady Yuan knew very well that she would not have a bright future.
Gradually, she accepted her fate and got used to the lifeless and boring life in the side hall.
But today, the imperial noble consort suddenly called her to go to the main hall. The expression in the imperial noble consort’s eyes made her feel nervous and uneasy.
The imperial noble consort caressed her belly, and suddenly laughed. “It’s a rare beauty. What’s even rarer is that she has a 30% resemblance to that vixen… Wet Nurse, what do you think?”
Wet Nurse Zhen suppressed her surprise and nodded slightly. “Imperial Noble Consort is correct.”
Why didn’t she find out before?
This Mrs. Yuan had a good appearance and temperament. She was unexpectedly similar to Consort Yi. Although she was not as good as Consort Yi, no matter what, Consort Yi was pregnant and couldn’t sleep with him…
Noble Lady Yuan was from Chengqian Palace, so she was enough to help the Consort.
“Let someone teach her Consort Yi’s daily words, deeds, and manners carefully!” The imperial noble consort put away her smile and turned to look at the terrified Noble Lady Yuan. She said calmly, “The Longevity Festival banquet, We will push you to the front of the stage. At that time, don’t disappoint Us.”
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