The Virtuous Concubine

Ma Lu heard the hidden meaning in Fourteenth Prince's words, and she asked softly, "Why is he only second even though he beat the eldest prince? Is there anyone more outstanding among the princes?"

The Fourteenth Prince came close to Malu and whispered, "It seems that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will also participate in this horseback archery test. My horseback archery master said that other princes, no matter how capable they are, must give way to the Crown Prince. Otherwise, even if you win, the Emperor will find fault with you."

Malu's expression was somewhat complicated: "This is the ancestral rule, and it is also the rule."

The Fourteenth Prince looked unwilling: "But, mother, this is unfair to us. I practiced riding and archery hard just to prove myself in the assessment. If I can't get the ranking I deserve because of this reason, I will be unwilling to accept it."

Ma Lu touched the child's head and said, "Before your seventh brother leaves for Jiangnan, why don't you go ask him?"

She remembered that Yinzuo never showed himself off in the upper study, but when he made comments in the Qianqing Palace, he often surpassed the prince.

Malu could actually directly teach the Fourteenth Prince how to hide his shortcomings, but she knew that children have their own ideas and ways of doing things, and sometimes they might be more receptive to advice from their peers.

Besides, it is always a good thing for children to interact with each other more. It is not uncommon for brothers from the same mother to turn against each other in the palace.

The Fourth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince in history, as well as the Fifth Prince and the Ninth Prince today, are typical examples. Concubine Yi often shed tears for this matter - although she eventually chose the Ninth Prince who grew up by her side, it does not mean that her heart does not hurt.

The Fourteenth Prince listened to Malu's suggestion, nodded in agreement, then cleared away all the food on the table. Then he stood up contentedly and skipped away.

The days that followed passed by like flowing water. Nalan disguised himself as an imperial envoy and went to Jiangnan with Yinzuo in two groups.

Not long after Yinzuo left, Kangxi took the empress dowager, most of the children and some concubines in the palace to the Nanyuan Palace to take a bath.

To Kangxi, the high-ranking concubines were already old and ugly, and their children were grown up. They no longer needed his constant care, so he did not take any of them with him.

These high-ranking concubines stayed in the palace. Some of them were naturally filled with loneliness and resentment, while others focused all their thoughts on their children, and were able to find a bit of peace in the loneliness of the palace.

However, after Kangxi led everyone away, the entire palace seemed to have pressed the mute button and became much quieter.

The open and covert fighting and flattery that arose from the competition for favor in the past have disappeared. The noisy and bustling energy is gone, replaced by a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

Without the emperor, the concubines no longer competed for favor and lived a leisurely and relaxed life. The palace servants no longer needed to be as cautious and nervous as usual. Everyone seemed to be able to breathe a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere in the palace became relaxed.

Malu really liked such days. She could read quietly, drink tea, or chat with Bai Fu and Bai Xia in her own palace. Occasionally, she would call Jingyi and the children who stayed in the palace to have a lively party together.

When Kangxi was not around, she was relaxed. She used to worry about Kangxi turning over her name card every day, but now she no longer had to dress up carefully and wait for the summons that might come at any time, and could take a long nap.

She even started to get back to playing the piano, which she had put aside for a while.

She hadn't touched it since the complicated events with the prince.

Bai Fu smiled and said, "My lady, I feel that the recent days are really pleasant."

Malu smiled without saying anything, cherishing such time in his heart, and continued to practice the song.

After so many years in Qing Dynasty, many modern songs have become blurred in her mind. She can only try to piece them together based on some remaining impressions and re-compose a complete song.

But before she could practice the piece well, Chen Xin, who was by the prince's side, hurried to Yonghe Palace to ask for a meeting.

Chen Xin was followed by several young eunuchs, who were carrying three large boxes with great effort and moving them carefully.

Chen Xin was extremely cautious. He kept his eyes fixed on the steps of the young eunuchs and kept muttering to them to be more careful.

Bai Xia found this strange. In the past, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had sent many gifts, but most of them were precious and inexpensive items. If there were many gifts, he would ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs to send them, not Chen Xin himself.

Malu was also a little surprised. She stood up and walked to Chen Xin: "What's going on? Why is there such a big scene?"

Chen Xin bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, this is what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince specially ordered me to prepare. These are all carefully selected good things. I hope they will suit your Majesty's taste. I also hope that Your Majesty can dismiss the attendants and take a look at them in person."

Without waiting for Malu to speak, Chen Xin quickly continued, "If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has given the order, I will be waiting outside. If there is anything you are not satisfied with, just pick it up and let me take it back."

"Carry it in." said Malu.

The young eunuchs carefully carried the box into the house, put it down gently, and wiped the sweat from their foreheads.

Malu couldn't help but feel a little puzzled. Her prince's behavior was a little unreasonable, but since the prince had arranged it this way, she couldn't refuse.

So, she said to Bai Fu, Bai Xia and others, "You guys should leave first."

After everyone filed out and gently closed the door, she was the only one left in the room.

She carefully knocked on the box closest to her, opened it, and saw that it was filled with colorful and fine silks?

When she pulled it out and looked at it, she found that it was all spread out and then folded, not the rolls of silk as before.

Malu shook his head and looked through them carefully for a while, but he still couldn't understand what was so special about these silks other than their preciousness and softness.

She opened the second box and the scene inside made her eyes widen in shock.

Inside the box was the prince curled up!

The prince looked a little disheveled at this moment, and his usually neat clothes were somewhat deformed by the narrow space.

Moreover, he was tall, and the box was very big, so it was difficult for him to hide inside it, and he looked extremely cramped.

But those eyes were still bright and blazing, staring straight at Malu.

Malu's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, as if it was about to jump out of her throat. She subconsciously looked around to confirm whether the doors and windows were closed, then she lowered her voice and said with a tremor: "Your Highness, what are you doing?"

Perhaps because he had curled up in the box for too long, he stood up a little stiffly, with a grin on his face: "You heartless woman, why don't you help me out?"