The Virtuous Concubine

Malu held her daughter in her arms and slowly took off the hairpins on her head.

After finishing, she looked at Wen Xian's head, which was only black hair left, smiled and tapped her forehead, and said softly: "Anything else?"

Wen Xian stuck out his tongue and said, "Fourth brother, it's not that I don't help you keep it a secret!"

She jumped down from Malu's arms, took out the imperial purple jade bracelet and gave it to her mother: "This is a token from the Cao family to Fourth Brother. When the Emperor was ill during his southern tour, he was almost poisoned."

She looked at her mother carefully and saw that she looked calm, not surprised or nervous. She was also worried for the emperor, and then she continued, "Fortunately, the fourth brother discovered something was wrong in time and tested the poison himself, so the emperor escaped. The eldest and third princes were present at the time, and it was they who served the medicine..."

Malu suddenly realized: "No wonder Concubine Hui and Concubine Rong were scolded so badly."

Kangxi only said that the eldest and third princes behaved improperly in front of the emperor and were punished to reflect on their mistakes behind closed doors, but he did not explain the specific reasons to the public.

Wen Xian was like a chirping little newsbird, recounting many details of what had happened during the southern tour.

Regarding the Fourth Prince's physical condition, Malu decided to ask Rong Ji when it was convenient another day, as he should be the one who knew the most.

"Later, I took Yinzuo to take care of the sick, and stayed with the emperor for a long time with my fourth brother. Later... it was said that the crown prince touched the Cao family during the investigation, which made the emperor very unhappy."

Malu pinched the bracelet in his hand and smiled: "No wonder he gave the fourth brother such a big gift, it turns out he was afraid that the prince would kill him in a rage."

Wen Xian nodded, and then found out that the Fourth Prince was a member of the White Lotus Sect who had infiltrated the Jiangnan officialdom and was waiting for an opportunity to poison Kangxi. The First Prince and the Third Prince just thought it was the same Western medicine and did not think much about it.

Ma Lu laughed: "He was smart enough to protect the eldest and third princes and not add insult to injury."

Wen Xian smiled softly: "Yes, because of this incident, as well as some miscellaneous merits before, Fourth Brother was directly conferred the title of Beile. Alas~"

Malu smiled and covered her daughter with the quilt. She wanted to sleep with her daughter today. "What's wrong? Your fourth brother became a prince and you're still sighing?"

Wen Xian hugged her mother and buried her head in Malu's arms. She said in a muffled voice, "Fourth brother is also very glorious, but everyone only sees me, the Princess Gulun, and forgets about him. I wonder if he will be jealous."

Malu shook his head: "No, although your fourth brother is not very open-minded, he likes to keep a low profile. He is very happy to have you in front to attract everyone's attention. What's more, you are...his sister."

Malu held the second half of the sentence "The princess will not threaten him" between his tongue and finally swallowed it down, then changed the subject.

Wen Xian seemed unaware and continued to talk about Jiangnan. She said that her fourth brother asked her to read the letter from her mother and then asked her to choose between the Tong family and Korqin.

Malu was quite surprised that the Fourth Prince could think this way: "Your Fourth Brother is really devoted to you. Mother also wants you to stay in Beijing, but it's not easy."

Wen Xian nodded: "I know, but I haven't made a career for myself yet, and I haven't left my name in history yet, so I don't want to get married."

Malu smiled and patted Wen Xian: "Okay, when you want to get married, you can get married. Mother will support you and make it difficult for all the talented people who come to ask for marriage to go away."

Facing her daughter at this moment, all the difficulties, threats and suspicions from Kangxi that she had considered before were no longer important.

Wen Xian's nose was sore when she heard Malu's words, and she shed tears. She hugged Malu tightly and said, "Mother, I am so glad to have you."

Malu gently stroked Wen Xian's hair without saying a word. Wen Xian then went on to tell how Yin Zuo used Mozi's method to get black oil on the mountain and set it on fire to create momentum for himself near the Confucius Temple.

Wen Xian was crying as he spoke, and his words were intermittent. Malu listened carefully and understood how difficult it was for the two children.

Wen Xian was still terrified as he explained: "Fortunately, the secret guards around my fourth brother were there and took away all the items in time. Otherwise, when I came back, I might have been sent to the grassland."

Malu frowned slightly: "Does he already have his own people around him now?"

Wen Xian nodded gently: "Fourth brother is really powerful. He has people in the guards and the palace. There are people in Shandong, Zhili, Huaiyin, Hangzhou..."

She told him about many things she had observed the Fourth Prince's men doing along the way. Malu felt heavier in her heart as she listened to Wen Xian's story.

Was Yinzhen's path to succession so quick?

Fortunately, he was still attentive to Wen Xian, but... there was still no guarantee that he would show mercy to Yin Zuo and the Fourteenth Prince.

"Wen Xian, although your fourth brother's move is profitable for himself, you should remember his friendship towards you. If you have the opportunity in the future, you should repay him." Malu said softly.

Wen Xian nodded with tears in her eyes. She understood her mother's worries. Ma Lu wiped her tears and asked, "Why are you still crying?"

When Wen Xian heard Malu ask her this, it was as if a tear switch had been pressed, and she cried even harder than before: "Mother—Mother—"

Malu put Madam Fengsheng's bracelet on Wen Xian's hand.

The jade bracelet is in front of me, but I am hesitant to say anything.

She felt that Yinzuo had sacrificed a lot for her this time.

She noticed that her fourth brother was wary of Yinzuo, and Yinzuo cooperated silently, hiding his abilities many times, indulging himself, and deliberately avoiding showing off.

This time, in order to convince his fourth brother, Yinzuo even promised to fully support his fourth brother in his bid for the throne.

But she couldn't say it.

Even if I say it, it won't change my fourth brother, let alone Yinzuo. What does my mother think? Who will she prefer?

It's no wonder that the royal children matured early. Even children from the same mother have so many troubles, let alone other people.

Ma Lu looked at Wen Xian's tangled look and covered her eyes: "Don't think about it, go to sleep."

Gradually, Wen Xian's tears dried up between Malu's fingers. When Malu heard Wen Xian's even breathing, she let go of her numb hands, lay down on her back, and stared at the purple magnolias embroidered on the ceiling of the bed. She stayed awake all night.

Malu could guess most of what Wen Xian hadn't said.

This child has the best relationship with Yinzuo, so she must be feeling sorry for him. However, Malu felt that Wenxian thought too much and took on many responsibilities that did not belong to her.

Even if Yinzuo didn't do this, Kangxi himself wanted to send the Empress Dowager to death, and with Ming Xiang and herself, the probability of keeping Wen Xian was not small. It was just that the children were willing to use their own brains in the face of difficulties, and she encouraged them very much, so she didn't mention what she did.

What's more, his own child knew that Yinzuo did not like the constraints of responsibility and had no desire for power.

His temperament, as a son, as a husband, or as a friend and brother, is indeed much better than that of Yinzhen.

Because he is loyal and righteous.

But when being an emperor, it seems that being loyal and righteous is the most undesirable thing.

If you don't let down the people around you, you can only let down the whole world.

Just as Malu was thinking this, she recalled Kangxi's coldness... She shook her head and thought, forget it, the position of emperor seemed to be unsuitable for being affectionate, unfeeling, sentimental, or cold-hearted.

What matters is whose political tactics can ensure that he can reach this position.

Then she should at least teach Yinzuo and the Fourteenth Prince how to protect themselves in the face of imperial power.