The Virtuous Concubine

The anger at being blocked outside, the worry before coming, and the sadness were all dispelled by the magical movements of this little life.

Malu covered her mouth and laughed: "This is your sister greeting you."

The prince calmed himself down and couldn't help but touch his belly before withdrawing his hand awkwardly: "It looks quite healthy and energetic, just like Wen Xian."

Malu wanted to laugh even more, and was glad that Wen Xian was not here, otherwise she would really fight with the prince. The two of them often practiced martial arts with each other, and it was common for them to fight over a disagreement.

Ma Lu looked at the prince's appearance and teased, "Why don't you say he looks like His Royal Highness? Aren't His Royal Highness and Wen Xian's temperaments and martial arts similar?"

The prince's face turned red.

They are not orphans, so how can they look like orphans? But they are all the emperor's children, so how can a sister look like her brother?

He muttered back, "Don't talk nonsense. This child naturally looks like the Emperor and the Empress. Wen Xian would be unhappy if he heard that. But would he not be unhappy if the child is still in the belly?"

Malu couldn't help laughing when he saw the prince's embarrassed look.

"Your Highness, are you shy? I was just joking."

The prince coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment, and then looked at Malu carefully.

Malu had a plain face, but because she was pregnant with a daughter, her estrogen level surged, her skin became as white as jade, and after she put on some powder, she even looked transparent.

The prince looked at Malu like this and felt a slight movement in his heart.

"The child is healthy, but you look very pale. Didn't you use the blood swallows and deer antlers that I sent you?"

Malu smiled and nodded: "Yes, I use it. I use it every day. I stew it with angelica and donkey-hide gelatin every day."

The prince frowned slightly, "If that's the case, why are you still so pale? Could it be that these things don't work on you? And why did you suddenly have a miscarriage?"

Malu shook her head gently. "Pregnant women tend to be weak. This is normal. My baby is fine. It's just stimulated."

Seeing that the prince was quite persistent, Malu simply told him that the Fourth Prince had been stripped of his title, but the Emperor had not issued an official decree and she had only received the news from the Fourth Prince's letter.

Anyway, the prince will know about it sooner or later. She even felt that the letter from Kangxi to the prince about this matter was probably on the way.

Malu was actually half right. The prince did know, and he knew before he came that the fourth prince had his corpse whipped and then his title was taken away. But when the prince heard that this was the reason for Malu's fetal movement, he was shocked, and then angry.

The fourth one is really a piece of shit!

The prince also loves to whip corpses. When he first saw the battle report, he even thought that the fourth brother was imitating him. If he just wanted to break through Galdan's mental defenses and make him collapse, there were many ways to do it, and there was no need to whip corpses.

But what made him angry was why the fourth brother told his mother about such a thing, and why he spoke without restraint and caused her to have a miscarriage!

The Emperor had told himself in the letter not to let De'niang know about this, as she was pregnant and could not stand the shock.

The Crown Prince also realized that the Emperor had no intention of actually taking away the Fourth Prince's title, and would not do so even for the sake of Concubine De.

I must teach him a lesson when I get back.

But the prince did not get angry. He just muttered a few words to Malu, thinking about what Wen Xian said. Seeing that she was in good condition, he had to leave reluctantly.

Malu nodded: "Bai Fu, see the prince off."

She was afraid that the prince would go outside and quarrel with Wen Xian and Yin Zuo, so she asked Bai Fu to follow him.

When the prince came out, Wen Xian and Yin Zuo had disappeared. They must have gone back to the prince's residence and the princess' residence. Before the prince got on the sedan chair, he turned back to look at Bai Fu and said, "Please take good care of Concubine De. If there is anything, send someone to Yuqing Palace. I know you."

The thin autumn sunlight shone on the prince. His eyes and the prince's clothes woven with gold thread sparkled, as if a god had descended, making people unable to take their eyes off him.

Bai Fu's heart was moved by his burning gaze. She stared at the prince blankly, not knowing what to say for a moment.

The prince did not pay any attention to it. Seeing that the maid had no intention of replying, he jumped nimbly onto the sedan chair and left.

Bai Fu returned to Ma Lu and conveyed the prince's instructions to Ma Lu. Ma Lu noticed that Bai Fu was different and asked directly, "What's wrong?"

Bai Fu quickly lowered her head, trying to hide her panic. "Nothing, Madam."

Malu knew Bai Fu's personality and knew that she must be hiding something from her.

"Bai Fu, you and I have been master and servant for many years. Is there anything we can't talk about?" Bai Fu bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and said softly: "Your Majesty, is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince too close to our Yonghe Palace?"

Malu chuckled: "Do you think he has some ulterior motive?"

Bai Fu hurriedly shook her head, "My Lady, that's not what I meant. It's just that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is so close to Yonghe Palace, which is really more harmful than beneficial."

Ma Lu took the handkerchief and wiped her face with a smile. After wiping, she said, "The prince definitely has no ill intentions. He is already the prince, so he doesn't have to, and he won't, put himself in a difficult position to get something from me. If anyone really has ulterior motives, it's me and the Fourth Prince."

"Although the prince never mentioned this, if it weren't for him, how could Yonghe Palace be so peaceful during this period of time?"

Bai Fu thought of the prince's instructions before he left, and she agreed with them deeply. Many people said nice things, but the prince's silent efforts were probably not noticed by the queen if she was not careful.

"Your Majesty is right. But I still think there is no such thing as a free lunch."

Bai Fu thought about it again and again, and decided to remind the queen again. From what the queen said, it seemed that the flowers were willing, but the water was ruthless.

Malu sighed slightly, "Yeah, I'm always worried too. They say that one should return a favor, but I don't even know how to repay the prince."

After a moment of silence, Malu continued, "Now the matter of the Fourth Prince has not been resolved, and I don't know what to do with the baby in my belly... I really have the will but not the strength."

After saying that, he smiled and said, "Why don't you help him pick a good wife? When the Fourth Prince comes back, he won't have to mourn for many months. By then, I'll have my own child, and we can discuss marriages for both children together."

Bai Fu was helping Malu lie down. When she heard her say this, she unconsciously exerted force and almost hurt Malu.

My Queen! If you were to personally arrange a marriage for His Royal Highness, I don’t know what kind of quarrels would arise!

It seemed that the two of them had not broken the window paper. Bai Fu felt relieved, but was afraid that the two of them would really quarrel over the marriage proposal, which would make their feelings clear, so she carefully suggested:

"Your Majesty, the Emperor has always paid close attention to the Crown Prince and has the final say on all matters concerning His Highness. The selection of His Highness's wife will surely attract the attention and competition of many people. If you intervene in this matter, you will inevitably be involved, so it is better not to get involved."