The Virtuous Concubine

The prince also had some feelings for this famous "Empress Defei". She was also... quite smart! She could quickly master Gu Yi's teachings and was also very considerate in her words and deeds.

Yinreng thought so while munching on snacks and listening to Concubine De playing the piano, and he felt a rare sense of envy for the fourth brother.

After the little prince's guidance, Malu suddenly understood many things she didn't understand before. She decided to find a way to learn Russian by herself, otherwise she would always talk nonsense with Sofia, which would affect her learning progress!

You can't expect the prince to come every now and then, Kangxi would be the first one who doesn't want to. As she said this, she became playful and waved to the prince: "Your Highness, can you play this song?"

As he was talking, he started to play "Two Tigers", and he couldn't help laughing while playing. The prince was naturally unwilling to be outdone, so he took a silk handkerchief, wiped his hands, sat next to Malu, and directly reproduced it exactly.

Malu also clapped out of courtesy, and the two of them sat next to each other on the piano stool, and the sense of distance disappeared.

Later, the two of them simply played a simple song together, and the prince himself did not notice a smile on his face.

The prince now believed that Concubine De was really unwilling to adopt the Fourth Prince, and the mother and son were separated. Ma Lu finished her class today, and took the prince around the Yonghe Palace.

The prince first looked at the books that Malu read and the words that he wrote every day, and couldn't help asking Malu: "Why does Empress Defei read so many classics?"

Malu touched the spine of a book with a smile: "Some of them are because Xiao Si'er, when he just started to learn and went to the study room, he couldn't understand it, but he was embarrassed to ask the teacher, so he came back to ask me. I can only read it first and then explain it to him."

The prince curled his lips after hearing this. He felt a little sad, but he didn't say it.

Malu didn't take it seriously. He took out a book and said mysteriously, "There are some others. Your Highness, please take a look."

The prince leaned over and flipped the book. Wow! What is this?

It is full of pictures and little figures, with an occasional line or two of dialogue and narration.

Seeing that the prince was engrossed in reading, Malu smiled and asked him to keep it a secret for her. She really wanted to read something else, but was afraid that the Fourth Prince would read with her, so she had to wrap it in a proper book cover.

The prince was also somewhat amused: "Fourth Prince doesn't know yet?"

Malu imitated the man and bowed: "Don't tell me, Your Highness, or I will lose my dignity in front of Xiao Si."

The prince nodded and agreed: "That's fine, but I want to see this too."

Ma Lu was shocked: "Then the prince should tell the fourth prince!"

The prince was a little furious: "Empress Defei!"

Malu smiled and patted the prince's head: "Compared to the Fourth Prince, I am more afraid that your Royal Father will say that I have led you astray. How can you come to play with me in the future?"

Without waiting for the prince to say anything, he took the comic book back from him and put it on the bookshelf, then took his hand and said he would take him to see the twins. The twins were now learning to talk, which was very interesting.

The prince followed angrily. After all, he was being led by Concubine De, and it would be difficult to get rid of her!

That's too rude, the prince thought to himself.

Malu didn't seem to notice the prince's little mood. She led him enthusiastically through the corridors of the palace and walked towards the residence of the twins.

The prince followed behind Malu, and he would secretly glance at her from time to time. He was also very curious about the twins, and wanted to see if they were as smart and cute as the rumors in the palace.

Suo Etu also told him that the name of the Seventh Prince Yin Zuo was a threat to him and he needed to make plans early. However, because Concubine De managed the Yonghe Palace like an iron barrel, Suo Etu had not found an opportunity yet.

When Malu brought the prince in, they saw a thick Persian carpet on the floor, and the two little guys were walking and crawling barefoot. The two delicate little guys saw their mother and rushed towards Malu with babbling voices.

Malu hugged Wenxian and pushed Yinzuo into the prince's arms: "Come, Yinzuo, go to your brother's arms."

Before Yinzuo could react, Malu began to lead Wenxian and Yinzuo to recognize people: "This is your second brother, the crown prince. Call him brother and say hello to him."

Wen Xian could only say one word, and he kept repeating: "Brother, brother, brother, brother, brother."

When put together, it sounds like a rooster crowing.

Yinzuo would say more, but only a little more: "Brother Tai! Brother Tai!"

What is this? The prince was angry, but he didn't dare to push the child away for fear that he would get hurt.

Soetu was really overthinking it. What was there to be wary of when he couldn't even speak fluently?

The four of them made a fuss for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, Ma Lu asked the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, are you going to have dinner at Yonghe Palace today? If so, I'll send someone to report it."

The prince then remembered the purpose of his visit to Yonghe Palace today. Why did he start playing?!

As for who to report to, there was no need to say more. However, the prince and Malu had some affection for each other. He noticed that Malu didn't even want to say the emperor's name, and he felt a little embarrassed.

He didn't know what the emperor was thinking. No one agreed with his idea, but he never gave up.

He shook his head: "I still have to go back to do my homework. Today... I am very happy today. Thank you, Madam Defei, for your hospitality."

Malu smiled and nodded: "Thank you for the piano. I am sorry for not thanking you yet."

The prince took advantage of the situation and asked for a comic book as a thank you gift. The two argued for a long time and finally agreed that the prince would come to Yonghe Palace once every seven days to teach Concubine De how to play the zither and speak Russian. When she was learning and practicing, the prince could read the comic book.

With the little secret shared by the two of them, the prince returned in high spirits. He also needed to practice the piano more so that he could teach Concubine De! Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived at the gate of Yuqing Palace, Wei Zhu invited him to the Qianqing Palace.

When the crown prince first went to Yonghe Palace, Kangxi knew the news. But when he finished reviewing the memorials and wanted to call the crown prince to ask him why he went to Yonghe Palace, Liang Jiugong said tremblingly: "Your Highness... Your Highness seems to be having a good chat with Concubine De, and is still in Yonghe Palace."

Kangxi raised his eyebrows slightly, and couldn't help asking out of curiosity, "Oh? Did you have a pleasant conversation? That's new. Can you tell me more about it?"

Liang Jiugong answered cautiously: "Your Majesty, as far as I know, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince taught Consort De how to play the zither in Yonghe Palace, and they even played the Western iron zither together. The two of them got along very well."

Kangxi nodded with satisfaction: "So that's how it is. This is the prince's character, he is always eager to learn. It's just that these two people are so compatible."

Liang Jiugong didn't dare to respond. He just said that Wei Zhu had gone to pick up the prince, and then the emperor could ask the prince himself, which would give much more details than listening to the servants' message.

Kangxi stretched his muscles for a while, then picked up a book and read it while waiting for the prince. The prince came soon. Unlike other princes, he never had to pay respect to Kangxi. But when he came in, he saw the book in the hands of the emperor, which happened to be the cover of the comic book that Concubine De had shown him today, and he couldn't help laughing.