The 59th Door (Up)

  Added a touch of cool fragrance to the warm and cozy room.

  Gao Luomi held the spoon and chopsticks box askew on the edge of the kang, fiddling with it for a while, feeling bored, then picked up the Tang poetry book beside her and started reading.

  "Mother, how many days has it been since Father's big wedding?" Irritated, she threw the book in her hand onto the kang, her beautiful neck stretching out frequently to look towards the courtyard outside, but the figure she had longed for countless times still hadn't appeared.

  "Master, today is the day of the fourth prince and Fu Jin's wedding ceremony." Song Niangniang handed her a cup of red dates tea.

  She sighed secretly. The master was just a concubine who hadn't been promoted to the rank of imperial noble, and her status wasn't even comparable to that of the one in the west wing of Yuqing Palace. Compared to the legitimate Fu Jin, it was even more worlds apart. If she couldn't even gain favor, how could she survive in the harem in the future? It's not like the legitimate Fu Jin was so noble that she could stop other concubines from serving the emperor just because she had given birth to a prince! It seemed that the Fourth Prince really had abandoned Yuqing Palace.

  The prince's wedding is on the ninth day, and he will accompany his wife back to her parents' home.

  "She can have a grand wedding, she can be with her husband openly and properly, she can let him accompany her back to her parents' home... I'm so jealous of her." Gao Lu lowered her eyelashes and pursed her lips tightly. "Nanny, do you think Master has forgotten about us?" Except for the day they served tea, in the following days when she went to pay respects, she was sent away by the nanny beside Madame Fu without even seeing him.

  This feeling of being suspended in mid-air...

  The old lady was afraid that she would come up with some bad ideas, and hurriedly said: "Master, you also know that the emperor attaches great importance to the Fourth Imperial Concubine..."

  "Yes." Gao Lu smiled wryly, pointing to the new house that Qian Xi had prepared for their wedding, and all the furniture was arranged inside.

  The imperial court has made new arrangements, and the grandeur of the wedding ceremony is said to be comparable to that of the Holy Ancestor's (Emperor Kangxi) arrangement for his crown prince and princess. Moreover, he personally presided over the grand wedding ceremony... It's truly a daughter-in-law who is cherished by the Emperor! In those days, even the three consorts didn't receive such treatment!

  She didn't dare to compare herself with her, but Fu Jin was the legitimate wife and first wife, she was also a woman who was named by the master, it's reasonable to give them some hope, what's the difference between this and being imprisoned in the cold palace?! It's hateful that Fucha had already become pregnant, her own hopes would have to wait several years... Fucha could afford to wait, she had children, didn't worry about the master forgetting her, but herself couldn't, without favor or pregnancy, waiting for more new people to enter the house, her advantages were all gone... Absolutely cannot let the master forget her!

  She can't just sit there and wait for death.

  What can be done? She straightened her back, and for the time being, she couldn't get involved in the affairs of Qian Xi's second branch. External help... apart from her natal family, what else could be her own support? The only ones who could support her were Empress Dowager and Consort Xi, one was her stepmother who had raised her, and the other was her birth mother who had given birth to her, which one should she look for?

  With her own identity, she can't climb up even if she wants to... She felt a bit discouraged, but suddenly her eyes lit up. In more than ten days, it would be Empress Xi's birthday. Why not prepare a thoughtful gift for her? At least leave a good impression on the old lady's heart. If managed well, she wouldn't mind speaking a few good words for herself in the future.

  Gao Lüwei got more and more excited, even if the Di Fu Jun was perfect again, if she really occupied the master's heart, Xi Fei would be the first to dislike it, but as long as she had her support, she could enter the master's eyes...

  "Qing'e, go and get those few pieces of grey squirrel fur for me. I remember there's still a piece of Baibian brocade in the box, bring that over too."

  "Master, what's this——"

  Gao Lu's mouth corners curved upwards: "What was it that Mother reminded me of the other day?"

  Reminder? Shu's nanny tilted her head and thought for a moment, then suddenly lit up: "The birthday of Xi Fei? If we can take this opportunity to gain the favor of the princess, in the future, our master will also have a backing in the palace. Even if it doesn't work out, at least the princess won't have any opinions about our master... What does our master want to do?" She turned around and said to Qing E, "You go and find out what kind of birthday gift the West Wing has prepared, don't let anyone notice."

  "Yes." Qing Miao responded and left.

  Qing'e brought in a few pieces of gray squirrel fur and a piece of hundred-butterfly brocade satin, the fur was rewarded by Hongli, and the satin was reluctantly allowed to be brought into the palace by Gao Bin, otherwise, how could she, a princess who rose from a palace maid, own such good things? At this time, for Xi Fei's gift, she couldn't care about her reputation anymore.

  "Grandma, I want to use these to make a cloak, what do you think?"

  The materials are all good, mainly because there is not much time, just this hundred butterfly brocade satin has saved a lot of embroidery work. Song Niangniang agreed: "I think it's fine."

  "I'll draw the pattern and style, Qing'e will help me cut it out..."

  As he came out of the imperial study, Hong Zhen habitually looked in the direction of Qian Xi's residence, thinking to himself that today was her day to return home, and wondering how she was doing... The Fourth Prince should be treating her well, shouldn't he? He slowly exited the palace gates, but found himself involuntarily walking in the direction of the Fu Cha estate.

  "Master?" Little eunuch Lin Gui looked in the direction that was not towards the return of the mansion and called out softly, his face somewhat uneasy. He was one of Hong Zhen's personal attendant eunuchs and naturally understood his thoughts, but he had also been instructed by Third Master to keep an eye on the master.

  "Let's go." Hong Jin hesitated for a moment, then continued walking forward. Even if they couldn't meet in person, being closer to her was still good. Lin Gui followed with a bitter face, it was hard to disobey Master San's orders, when had he ever been able to defy his master?!

  "Hong Jin?" Fu Heng walked over, glanced at his own front door not far away, and asked him: "What a coincidence? Where are you going?"

  "My mother likes to eat Hui Shun Da's candied fruit, it's closer this way." Hong Chen replied calmly, "Isn't today the day your sister returns home? What are you doing out here?"

  I still remember it very clearly. Fu Heng picked up a few large boxes in his hand: "It's the candied fruit I bought at Hui Shun Da, my sisters and sisters-in-law love to eat it, I'll prepare more, and let her take it back later..."

  Hong Jing nodded, it turned out she liked to eat Hui Shun Da's honey cake. Fu Heng was really good to his sister, even buying her favorite honey cake in person.

  Because of his sister's wedding, Fu Heng had not entered the palace for a while, and now he couldn't help but take a few more glances at Hong Zhen.

  At the same time, in the upper study room reading books, Hong Zhen spent a lot of time on horseback riding and archery over the past six months, often competing with others, gradually becoming somewhat stern and cold, his temper also became somewhat bigger, offending many guards, but it didn't seem particularly targeted at him. However, he himself also gradually reduced contact with him, the Fuca family had to avoid suspicion, the power in their hands was unmatched among the imperial relatives, the Yi Qin Wangfu had to be even more cautious... being on opposite sides was a mutually beneficial thing.

  Looking at Hongzhen, I don't know if it's because he grew taller, but he looks a bit thinner and darker. His cold demeanor has covered up his youthful innocence, making him look like a 16 or 17-year-old. Fu Heng also didn't know what to feel in his heart. If his sister hadn't pointed out the Fourth Prince, he would have liked Hongzhen quite a bit. Among the imperial clan children studying together in the Shangshu House, Hongzhen's conditions were all pretty good... unfortunately, it was just not meant to be. Thinking about this is useless anyway. Fu Heng said: "You should go quickly, or everything will be sold out."

  It's not suitable for him to stay here anymore. The Fourth Prince is confident and proud, but not stupid. He should have had some feeling about Hong Zhen's concerns on the Lantern Festival night. If he sees him again here, it's inevitable that he will be calculating in his heart.

  Fu Cha's mansion is going to hold a banquet, right? Even standing outside, one can feel the joyful atmosphere inside. Hong Zhen took a step forward, then stopped and asked: "Fourth Prince has already gotten married, what are your plans?" Now that the prince is married, the Imperial Study will no longer be attended, and more formal duties will begin; Fu Heng's role as a study companion will not last much longer either.

  Fu Heng hesitated for a moment: "My elder brothers in my family all entered the palace to serve as guards. Do you have any plans?"

  "Me?" Although Ama's body has improved somewhat in recent years, the damage from his early years was too great and he needs to take good care of himself. Recently, the Emperor has started to use other uncles, and Ama also said that he can hand over some of his duties... This way, his brothers can take on some real responsibilities and make a name for themselves, and Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law won't have to worry about Ama's title all day. Third Brother is in poor health, Seventh Brother (Hongxiao) and Eighth Brother (Xun'en) are still young, and currently the only one who can hold up the Yicong Prince Manor is himself. "I want to go into the military." His gaze became firm.

  To the army? His gaze swept across Hongzheng's face, and if it were in the past, he would have thought that Hongzheng was joking. As a member of the imperial clan, no matter what, he would be able to inherit a title as a Town Country Duke, so his other brothers in the Shangshu House had always been dismissive of his serious attitude towards his studies - this was why Fu Heng had a good impression of him. However, over the past half year, his persistence and progress in horsemanship and archery had made people reevaluate him, and considering the current situation at court, it's possible that he would truly be able to achieve something in the future.

  "Alright, at least you won't offend everyone in the palace." Fu Heng hummed, compared to being a guard, he would rather go into the army for training, but this still depends on the elders' decision. "When are we leaving?"

  "After the New Year, I've already bid farewell to Master Xu (Xu Shilin)." Hong Zhen's lips curled slightly upwards. Under the thin sunlight, the boy who used to smile warmly with a hint of cunning had long gone, replaced by a young man with a refined and elegant demeanor, exuding an air of intelligence, his eyes deep and introspective, his mind full of plans. "Hong Ye and Hong Xuan said they'd come see me off when the time comes, but I refused."

  Is this letting oneself off the hook or telling oneself that there is something unusual about Prince Li's side? A deep thought flashed through Fu Heng's eyes, and he said solemnly, "Be careful."

  He has been close to the Fourth Prince in recent years, and Hongxi's mentality and some small actions against the Fourth Prince are even more personally experienced. However, like Hongli, he cannot put it on the table. Firstly, after Hongxi was demoted as the crown prince by the previous emperor, the previous emperor and the current one have always been lenient towards them, which is also a symbol of the easing of relations between the current emperor and the imperial clan in recent years. Secondly, Hongxi's plot would never succeed, the era of the Holy Ancestor has passed, and the current emperor's position is gradually becoming more stable, making a big fuss about it would only lose face; thirdly, given the current emperor's crackdown on the imperial clan, he must be aware of the situation with Prince Li - in fact, if another purge were to happen without solid evidence, it would only intensify the conflict between the emperor and the imperial clan.

  In just half a year, the situation has changed greatly, with the emperor still vigorously promoting new policies and eliminating corruption and stagnation, but his governance style has gradually become more moderate, with harmony between top and bottom. The leniency towards the imperial family does not mean that the emperor will let his guard down, it's just "one tolerance can control a hundred bravery, one calmness can control a hundred movements".

  Hongying gazed at him, knowing he understood her meaning. A hint of a smile escaped her eyes. She had always admired Fu Heng, aware that he was skilled in both literature and martial arts, with a quick mind and a low-key yet stable personality - someone who knew what they were doing. With the rich Fu family having him as Yunzhu's support, she could rest assured... Considering all this, the Fourth Prince wouldn't treat her poorly either, especially since she was such a wonderful woman worthy of love.

  He waved his hand and walked away with Lin Gui without looking back, taking away the thoughts of seeing each other again that had been lingering before.

  Hong Zhen has changed a lot.

  Fu Heng watched his back for a while, then turned and walked towards the mansion. With every step he took, his gaze became more determined, for his sister, for the Fu family, he also had to work harder.