Chapter 95 – Qing Transmigration Tale (4)
Yonghe Palace.
Because Si Ye had planned to come to Yonghe Palace before even entering the imperial palace, he had sent people to notify Yonghe Palace. Some noble persons and ladies lived in the palace. It would not be good if they met. Consort De got the news and naturally had people spread the news so no one would accidentally meet.
When Si Ye reached Yonghe Palace, one of Consort De’s personal grannies was waiting for him.
“Greetings, Fourth Prince.” Granny Ping bowed and said, “Niangniang is waiting for Fourth Prince.”
Si Ye nodded and said, “Has Niangniang been well recently? If anything is wrong, do not hide for Niangniang.”
“Us servants do not dare! Niangniang is fine, but worried about Eldest A-ge, and each day, she will recite four extra hours of scripture each day,” Granny Ping said as they walked.
Si Ye nodded and did not doubt her words.
Entering, Consort De said, “No need to be too polite. Come and sit.”
Si Ye still insisted on finishing the bow.
Consort De sighed inside. Four’s personality could not be corrected.
“You left for such a long time, was your journey well?” Consort De asked first.
“All good,” Si Ye said with a smile, “On the way, I bought many things for Eniang, and will send someone to deliver them to Eniang.”
“It is not important to buy things. How is your wife and Hong Hui?” Consort De asked.
Si Ye’s heart jumped. Had Princess Consort not entered the palace to pay her respects? His expression did not change but he said, “After Hong Hui’s matter, Ulanara-shi is keeping a tight watch on Hong Hui. This son thought she did not have an easy time, and told her not to go out.” He would first put the responsibility on himself and then deal with it later.
Consort De stilled and then said, “It is rare for you to be so considerate of her. All mothers are like this.” She wiped the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief and said, “Back when your sixth brother passed, if not for you sons, I would be the same…… Unable to live…… Especially when she only has the one child.”
Si Ye hurriedly said, “Eniang, do not be too sad. Hong Hui is better now. After a few days, this son and subject will bring him to pay respects to you.”
“As long as he is well.” Consort De opened her mouth. After thinking for a while, she said, “It is not very important if he comes.”
This was not wanting Hong Hui to come into the palace.
Si Ye sat there silently for a while and then said, “Then this son will bid farewell.”
Looking at Four’s back when he walked out, Consort De sighed. Granny Ping said, “You…… Why do this?”
“It is better to be more distant,” Consort De murmured softly. Granny Ping did not hear what she said.
She could not have both of her sons by her side.
When Six died, she had understood. That year, she had coincidentally been pregnant. They all said it was a son. But, Six died, and the child in her belly was not able to be born.
When giving birth to Fourteen, she was almost thirty. Fourteen was ten years younger than Four.
Consort Yi sent Five to the empress dowager, and Nine was able to be saved. But was not Eleven also prematurely dead? Who had ever seen Consort Yi interfere in the affairs of Five’s establishment?
No!
Did they not see that Consort Yi not interfere even when he was more than ten years old and still not able to speak the Han language?
Now, the one favored in the palace was Wang-shi. She had given birth to Fifteen, and Sixteen. Now, Eighteen was more than two years old. She likely could not keep all three sons. It just depended on which was the unlucky one.
Si Ye returned to the establishment and went to his study. What was the meaning in the emperor’s words? Truly praising him. Then what about the faint dissatisfaction towards the crown prince?
This was not the emperor’s style.
Was he not content with Commandery Prince Zhi the only one being at odds with the crown prince and wanted him to be the same?
Si Ye turned around the study for half a day. Even if the emperor had such intentions, he could not do this.
He was not challenging the crown prince, but the meaning contained in the crown prince’s status.
Then, after his death, what would people think of him?
Si Ye kept his hands behind his back and watched the fire in the brazier.
“Master, it is late,” Su Pei Sheng reminded in a whisper. “It is time for rest.”
Si Ye nodded and said, “To the main courtyard.”
Sue Pei Sheng immediately had a young eunuch go notify. The princess consort likely had went to sleep at this time.
Si Ye waved a hand to stop him and said, “Do not wake others.”
There were grannies and eunuchs guarding the door to the main courtyard. Seeing their master, they were shocked. Si Ye had not rested in the main courtyard at night for four or more years.
Because Lin Yu Tong had to keep Hong Hui company, she did not dare to enter the pocket space at night. In the night, she did not practice her skills, and had gone to sleep early.
Hearing a servant girl call outside her bed hanging, she learned that Si Ye had come.
She lifted the drape and saw Si Ye lift the curtain to enter.
“Do not get up,” Si Ye saw the blankets around Lin Yu Tong and waited for a servant girl to bring a cape. He said, “It is late, I am going to sleep.”
You are sleeping here today?
Lin Yu Tong saw him go behind the screen and glanced at Hong Hui who was sleeping well. She moved a set of blankets and arranged them on Hong Hui’s other side. “It is so late. Do you want to eat something?”
“No need.” As Si Ye spoke, Lin Yu Tong could hear the sound of clothing being taken off.
So she wrapped herself into her blanket and closed her eyes.
When Si Ye came out and looked on the bed, Hong Hui was sleeping next to Lin Yu Tong. He said, “How come you are sleeping with Hong Hui? Nonsense.”
Lin Yu Tong lifted her head and said, “It is so late in the night, do not wake the child. Tomorrow, I will clean out the side room. Let’s just do this tonight.” Seeing that Si Ye was frowning hard, she said, “How about Ye sleep in the east room first?”
Si Ye looked with exasperation at Lin Yu Tong and in the end, pulled the blanket over and laid down.
Lin Yu Tong rose and put down the drapes to block the light from outside.
After a while, when Lin Yu Tong heard that the man was asleep, she heard him say, “Ye knows that you are worried about Hong Hui. But because of worry, you cannot bring him up like this. A boy is this grown up, how can he sleep with his eniang like this? Which of Ye‘s brothers was not brought up by grannies in the A-ge residence? Even the crown prince was no exception. Do not move to the side room, move to Ye‘s courtyard.”
Lin Yu Tong turned around, thought and said, “Then it has to be spring. He just recovered, have him settle, it will not be too late to move.”
Si Ye snorted. “Move right after the new year, it cannot be delayed. Starting tomorrow, he shall not play, he should be going to class with teachers.”
Lin Yu Tong thought, it was cold now, and they could not spent all the time outside. This child’s health would not have any problems, but exercise or martial arts were not things done overnight. Two hours each day was enough. Going to class was a proper matter. She thought and said, “Yes! However, Ye, you have to prepare a room for the child to rest at noon.”
Rest at noon? She thought so well!
Si Ye wanted to say when he thought of Hong Hui on the bed so pale and suppressed his words. He said, “Will Ye treat him unfairly?”
Who would know? A person who did not have the care of his parents probably did not know how to care for his child.
The incense which helped with sleep swept through the room. Si Ye felt his eyelids were very heavy. His sleep was very good. When he opened his eyes, he was refreshed. Mother and son were missing from the bed.
Si Ye came out wearing a cloak and saw mother and son coming back, sweating heavily.
Hong Hui saw that Si Ye was awake and walked over. No one knew how happy he had been when he opened his eyes and saw A-ma by his side. “A-ma, you are up.”
Si Ye made a positive sound and said, “Go with the granny and change out of your sweaty clothes.”
Hong Hui responded. After two steps, he turned his head and said, “A-ma, Eniang, wait for me to start eating.”
Lin Yu Tong smiled and urged him to go, and then went in to wipe herself with a hot towel before changing clothes.
“Ye is not going out today?” Lin Yu Tong saw that Si Ye was wearing a two layered robe without any filling in between while on the couch and asked.
“Ye just finished working and will not go out recently.” Si Ye said inattentively. He had to hide a bit. He did not know the emperor’s thoughts and could not jump in without knowing. The emperor needed people, and there were people who would go to him. Even if they knew that the emperor were using them as spears, people were still eager for the job. If it was not him, other people would go. He just did not know who it was? Which of his brothers did not have their own thoughts? The young A-ge all had grown up, Thirteen and Fourteen had had their marriages. When Fourteen had free time, did he not go run to Eight? The saying that they had similar tempers was nonsense. They were all sons of the emperor, who was worse than the others?
Lin Yu Tong looked at his expression and knew that he said that while he was not doing anything, it did not delay anything. There were politicians like him for which even an illness contained hidden meaning.
She did not seriously treat Si Ye’s excuse and had them present the meal.
At the table, Si Ye said, “Yesterday, I went to the palace and saw Niangniang. Niangniang asked about Hong Hui.”
Lin Yu Tong stilled. “Hong Hui was ill. Do not bring the illness into the palace. If anything happens…… It will not be able to be explained? So, I have not entered the palace for some time to pay respects to Niangniang.”
This was reasonable.
Lin Yu Tong then said, “How about I go to the palace in a few days to chat with Niangniang?”
“No need. Niangniang means for you to take care of Hong Hui,” Si Ye started to focus on eating after saying this.
Lin Yu Tong did not know what this person meant.
Just after eating, Si Ye took Hong Hui to the front to find a teacher and start class. Lin Yu Tong grew bored.
Since she came here, she could be said to have been together with Hong Hui at every moment. Suddenly, she was not used to it.
She looked around and the room appeared very dark and heavy. She directed the servant girls to change all the furniture, and change the gold items to jade.
The cushions were changed to bright colors. She removed the incense, and just called for the flower rooms to deliver flowers.
Now it looked more carefree.
Just as she finished, a servant girl came to report that Eighth Princess Consort had come to visit.
Eighth Prince lived next door, but why did Eighth Princess Consort suddenly visit?
She had already come, so could she be blocked? Lin Yu Tong thought for a moment, and then called for the servant to invite her in. She stood at the door to the courtyard to welcome the other.
Eighth Princess Consort did not truly look like a beauty. The Manchu and Mongolian women looked mostly like that. Even if they took care, it was just their skin was better.
The two exchanged greetings. Lin Yu Tong politely invited her in, had her seated, and then had a servant girl serve tea before they talked.
In reality, these sisters-in-law were not very close, and did not dare to be close.
This distance was very measured. Based on their identity, they would act accordingly. Sometimes, the women of the inner courtyard would represent the attitude and leaning of the men.
They would not interact just because they had matching personalities.
“I should have come to visit Hong Hui early, but I thought that Fourth Sister-in-law will not have the attention to spare so I delay to now to come. Fourth Sister-in-law, forgive me.” Eighth Princess Consort took a sip of tea and said with a smile, “How is Hong Hui right now? Is he fine? Our ye has been very worried, and even sent someone south to find a physician. If he is better now, it is very good, truly the protection of the Buddha.”
She showed off the goodness of the eighth prince. She truly knew how to speak. But when one was too enthusiastic, it was false.
Lin Yu Tong gave a small smile and said, “Thank you, Eighth Prince, and Eighth Sister-in-law for thinking of him. This child had many calamities, and is good now. It may be because everyone thought of him.”
“Where is he now?” Eighth Princess Consort asked. “Even in my courtyard, I can hear the lively sound from Fourth Sister-in-law’s side.”
“Our ye has not been home for a while, and I do not bear to raise him strictly. He is wild. Today, his a-ma took him to class.” Lin Yu Tong said and then pointed at the pastries on the table. “Our ye bought them on the road, the taste is good, Sister-in-law, have a taste.”
Eighth Princess Consort pinched one in her fingers and asked, “Fourth Brother is at home?”
Lin Yu Tong’s mind paused. She said, “Yes! He took Hong Hui to class.”
Eighth Princess Consort smiled and said, “Our ye is the same, always with a book all day. If I have him talk for a bit to me, he gets impatient.”
The two talked for more than an hour. Then Eighth Princess Consort made her farewells.
Lin Yu Tong did not understand the Eighth Princess Consort’s intentions. She did not appear to have come to visit, but to ask about Si Ye’s matters.
Lin Yu Tong called the senior eunuch Su Zi Xu and ordered, “You go to the front court yard and say that Eighth Princess Consort is not staying for a meal. Ask Ye and Eldest A-ge whether they will come to eat?”
Su Zi Xu hurriedly responded and went to the front courtyard.
Su Pei Sheng saw it was Su Zi Xu who came and asked, “What did the princess consort say?”
Su Zi Xu hurriedly answered.
“I understand, you wait here for a moment, I will report to Ye,” Su Pei Sheng said and went in.
Si Ye was talking with Misters Dai and Wu. Seeing Su Pei Sheng leave and come back, he knew something had happened. He raised his head and asked, “What is it?”
“Princess Consort sent someone to say that Eighth Princess Consort is not staying for a meal in establishment and asks when Ye and Eldest A-ge will return to eat,” Su Pei Sheng responded.
Si Ye was shocked for a moment and looked at Dai Duo.
Dai Duo hurriedly said, “Eighth Prince likely called for Eighth Princess Consort to ask.
Si Ye nodded and said to Su Pei Sheng, “Say that Ye is keeping Eldest A-ge in the front courtyard to eat, and Princess Consort does not need to wait.
Su Pei Sheng left and thought, the princess consort is not the same once she was enlightened.
Lin Yu Tong was not surprised by this result. She ate alone, and then went into her inner room to practice her martial arts. When she entered meditation, the sky grew dark. When she heard the sound of running and jumping, she knew that Hong Hui had returned.
“Eniang……Eniang……” Hong Hui shouted after entering the courtyard.
They had just been apart for half a day, but it seemed like they had not met for many days.
Lin Yu Tong welcomed him and asked, “Done with class? Do you understand what the teacher taught you today?”
“Yes!” He shot onto the bed and ate pastries.
“Eat less, we will be eating soon.” Lin Yu Tong touched his hand. Feeling that it was not cold, she asked, “Were you not full after the noon meal?”
Hong Hui hesitated and then said, “Full, just got hungry very quickly.”
Nonsense! With Si Ye’s personality, he would just eat enough to fill his stomach and not more. This was correct, but if there were no extra meals in between, the child could not endure it, especially when Hong Hui was practicing martial arts now. He had a lot of exercise, and his appetite was bigger.
“Bring Eldest A-ge a bowl of wonton,” Lin Yu Tong ordered. Pastries could not be eaten like rice.
After eating, she saw Hong Hui order people to prepare brush, ink, stone, and paper. He was prepared to practice his homework.
In reality, being imperial sons and grandsons was not easy.
When Si Ye returned, Hong Hui had just put down his brush.
“Let me see. How much did you lag behind in your work?” Si Ye sat down and said.
Hong Hui properly got off the bed, and stood, waiting for Si Ye to finish checking.
For Lin Yu Tong, such a young child would not be able to see a picture and write sentences, much less start writing essays. This was torture.
But seeing that Hong Hui did not seem to have a hard time, she could not say much. All the imperial grandsons went through this. He could not be special.
Without even needing to ask, Si Ye would not agree.
Tell me something