Luo Yu gave birth to dragon-phoenix twins in the forty-fifth year of Kangxi’s reign. It was now the forty-eighth year of Kangxi.

Three years had passed since her last childbirth, and the vitality she’d lost then had been restored. However, if it could be controlled, Yun Shuyao felt it wouldn’t be too late to have another child after the two grandchildren turned five or six.

Not having more would be fine too—her daughter already had both a son and daughter. This mindset was rather unconventional in the present day, as people believed that many sons brought many blessings. Luo Yu herself also wanted to have another child.

Old Madam, Yun Shuyao, and Tang Wanxin—the three of them went together to see her. Compared to before, Luo Yu had become somewhat plumper, her complexion excellent. She touched her belly that hadn’t yet begun to show: “This is an obedient child.”

“While I’m still young, I’ll give them another sibling.” After giving birth to this one, she didn’t want to have more—this would be enough.

She glanced at her aunt and smiled with pursed lips. This thought couldn’t be shared with grandmother, who held the standard belief that many sons brought many blessings—as long as the body was fine, why not give birth?

But her aunt would agree. Each childbirth damaged one’s vitality. After Luo Yu had given birth to her first child, her aunt had begun researching medicines in this area, striving to leave no traces.

Yun Shuyao: “No morning sickness?”

Luo Yu: “No morning sickness.” Not only was there no morning sickness, her appetite was particularly good. The fishy smell she couldn’t tolerate during her previous pregnancy was now perfectly acceptable. Now every meal had to include fish and shrimp.

The Old Madam smiled so broadly her mouth wouldn’t close: “Good, that’s good! Being able to eat is a blessing.”

Her gaze moved downward to rest on the two children beside her granddaughter. The tiny little figures standing there were extremely eye-catching.

“They’ve both grown taller.”

“Growing so well.”

“Both good children.” The two children were exquisitely carved like jade, bringing joy to anyone who saw them.

Knowing the Fourth Prince’s future position, the Old Madam inevitably had some pragmatic considerations, but her hope for their wellbeing was completely genuine. The gifts she brought this time were extremely generous, with half of them for these two children.

“Don’t you like these embroidered balls? There’s a whole chest of them, you can play with them slowly.” These were specially made by craftsmen invited from the south, using good materials for the children.

Both children smiled sweetly. Seeing the rosy flush on their faces and their vigorous vitality, Yun Shuyao felt very gratified. In this era, many children died young. Even among the nobility and powerful, the number of children who died young was considerable. These two children had excellent physical constitutions. Barring any accidents, the likelihood of them growing up safely was very high.

Yun Shuyao walked to her granddaughter’s side and extended her hand. The girl very naturally extended hers as well, not shy at all. She knew this was her maternal grandmother.

Holding the fragrant, soft little darling, Yun Shuyao spoke with her grandson: “Do you know what it means that your mother is pregnant?”

The little prince straightened his face, looking very serious, but when he spoke it was in a childish voice: “I know. Little brother is in mother’s belly now. In half a year he’ll come. I’m the older brother. I need to take care of mother, take care of little sister, take care of little brother.” As he spoke, he puffed out his little chest, putting on an “I’m a man” and “I’m a brave warrior” appearance.

The Old Madam smiled warmly. Seeing him like this, she loved him terribly: “How do you know it’s a little brother?”

It was said that young children had good eyes and could guess the gender accurately.

The little prince blinked his eyes, puzzled as he turned his head to look at his mother: “Isn’t it a little brother?”

…

While they were enjoying themselves harmoniously over there, in the main courtyard, the Fourth Fujin was offering incense to Buddha in the small prayer hall. Watching the faint wisps of smoke, when she came back to herself, she had already heaved a deep sigh.

Her Hong Hui had been gone for so long, yet there was still no good news in her belly. The times the master stayed overnight in her quarters were becoming fewer and fewer… She had no choice but to take the second path.

With a biological son, the heir apparent would naturally be her legitimate son.

But without a biological son, following the order of age, the eldest son was born to Li Shi. If the master requested an official title for her, she too would become a Ce Fujin, no different from Lin Shi.

In that case, the heir apparent would most likely be Li Shi’s son. Could she accept this?

She couldn’t accept it, unless she adopted a child under her care and recorded him as a legitimate son.

But currently only Lin Shi in the rear courtyard was expecting. It wasn’t that she hadn’t supported other concubines, but none of them had conceived.

If Lin Shi’s child was a son, would she be willing to give her child to herself? The Fourth Fujin didn’t hold much hope, but adopting the Second Prince was too late—he was already nine years old, sensible. He knew who his birth mother was and had feelings for her.

If he was adopted, would he be closer to herself or to his birth mother?

No need to ask. Perhaps he would respect her on the surface, but the one he’d naturally be closer to would be Li Shi.

The Fourth Fujin couldn’t help but think of the manor’s eldest daughter Yahui. She was born in the thirty-fourth year of Kangxi and was now fourteen years old, also at a marriageable age. Although raised under the care of Concubine Song, blood ties couldn’t be severed.

Thinking of this, the Fourth Fujin had an idea.

If the master could obtain imperial grace so that the eldest daughter could remain in the capital without having to marry into Mongolia, she could discuss with Li Shi—she had a nephew whose age was similar to the eldest daughter’s…

As soon as the Fourth Fujin brought up this topic, Concubine Li immediately agreed.

Having her daughter marry into the Fujin’s natal family was better than going to Mongolia. Once she went to Mongolia, she would never see her daughter again. Moreover, with a closer relationship with the Fujin, it would be more advantageous for her son to be appointed heir apparent in the future. Although her son held the title of eldest son, in terms of rank, Ce Fujin Lin was higher than her.

With this relationship with the Fujin, she wouldn’t choose Lin Shi’s son.

The Fourth Fujin and Concubine Li reached a tacit understanding. Soon she brought this matter up with the Fourth Prince: “Master, in the blink of an eye Yahui has become an adult. I wonder what master’s thoughts are regarding her marriage? We should make plans early.”

If they didn’t want her to marry into Mongolia, they needed to request imperial grace in advance.

The Fourth Prince nodded: “I have this matter in mind.”

He had long been planning, but the timing wasn’t yet ripe.

He smiled at the Fourth Fujin. She was a competent legitimate mother.

Receiving the Fourth Master’s affirmation, the Fourth Fujin also smiled: “This concubine is her mother. Yahui herself is also a good child—I couldn’t love her more if she were my own. Master, if we receive imperial grace from the Emperor and Yahui can remain in the capital, this concubine’s natal family has a nephew…”

After hearing her words, the Fourth Prince nodded thoughtfully. The Ulanara family? He noted it down first but didn’t say anything more.

The candidate was secondary. First, they needed to obtain imperial grace to keep their daughter from marrying into Mongolia.

In April, the Emperor took everyone to the frontier. The Crown Prince attended him. Additionally, the Third, Seventh, Eighth, Tenth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Princes were all named to accompany the imperial procession.

The Thirteenth Prince had previously been neglected, but this time being named, he was extremely happy.

The Fourth Prince was also happy for Thirteenth Brother. This time, he didn’t go. He was entrusted with an important responsibility—left behind to supervise the state.

Without question, he now held great power.

Among these princes left behind, excluding the First Prince who was under house arrest, he was the eldest.

The Fifth Prince was honest, didn’t participate in matters between brothers, but was someone who could get practical things done. The Ninth Prince was one of the core members of the Eighth Prince’s faction. He remained to monitor the situation in the capital.

Kangxi wouldn’t let only one faction’s people remain in the capital. There was always mutual restraint.

Yun Shuyao watched as the Fourth Prince, busy with supervising the state to the point of living directly at his workplace, still found time to circle out some locations for Chen Yu to choose from.

Chen Yu could naturally choose to serve in some prosperous counties, but he wanted to go to impoverished places. Such places made it easier to achieve results and were more tempering.

The Lin family had already received several guests. These were all advisors Lin Ruhai had hired for his son. One came from the Lin family clan and specialized in agricultural matters. One was a scholar who had been an advisor for decades and specialized in legal matters. The others each had their own specialties.

Among these locations the Fourth Prince had circled, after father and son discussed, they ultimately chose a county in the northwest.

He would go to take up the post. Tang Wanxin and the child would remain.

The child was too young to go. For Tang Wanxin to go, she’d have to wait until the child was older.

However, this involved a question. After tossing and turning, Tang Wanxin tentatively suggested beside the pillow that one of her dowry maids be elevated to concubine to take care of him.

She had worried about this issue when she was pregnant, but since no one mentioned it, she pretended not to know and quietly gave birth to the child. But now her husband was going far away, and she had to stay behind to care for the child. How could he manage there without someone attentive to care for him?

As the legitimate wife, she needed to be virtuous and should take the initiative to suggest this. So Tang Wanxin suppressed the discomfort in her heart and brought up this topic. However, Chen Yu refused. He embraced his wife: “Wanxin, I’ve said this before. It’s not necessary. You should trust me.”

Did he lack the ability to take a concubine? He had it.

He simply didn’t want to.

With a concubine, there would be illegitimate sons.

He had seen too many conflicts between legitimate and illegitimate children. How many sources of family chaos stemmed from this distinction between legitimate and illegitimate?

With a wife he was very satisfied with and also having a son, Chen Yu didn’t plan to make things difficult for his wife and son. With only legitimate children, the problem could be avoided at its root.

“I have people around me who can take care of things. You don’t need to worry.”

“I’ll write to you frequently.”

“When I’m not here, if you encounter something at home and don’t know what to do, go ask your aunt.”

“Your aunt prefers quiet, so you don’t need to always carry the child to see her.”

…

He said many things. Tang Wanxin listened, burying herself deeper and deeper in his embrace, her eyes uncontrollably heating up.

She also knew her husband’s external appointment was for long-term career considerations and that he should go, but her mood was stifled. He hadn’t even departed yet, and she already felt such reluctance.

When he left, what would she do?

Because of this anxiety, Tang Wanxin suffered from insomnia. Then she repeatedly checked the luggage she packed for him, covering every detail. When Yun Shuyao looked at the list, there was nothing that needed supplementing. She only added some medicines.

This time he was also taking a physician with him—a disciple trained by Doctor Zhou.

Without a trusted physician by her grandson’s side, the Old Madam couldn’t sleep peacefully.

Moreover, although the grandson’s wife had prepared things very thoroughly, the Old Madam still felt it wasn’t enough. She wished she could have him take the entire household, making Chen Yu both laugh and cry: “Grandmother, it’s really enough. It’s already extremely complete.”

Grandmother had even prepared many of those daily necessities he didn’t use often. No matter how poor or remote that place was, these things would still be available. There was no need to bring everything from home over thousands of miles.

The Old Madam wouldn’t listen: “It’s not the same. You won’t be comfortable using those things!”

The Old Madam argued emphatically: “You don’t need to do anything. The steward will take them. You don’t need to worry!”

With great difficulty, Chen Yu finally persuaded grandmother to reduce some unnecessary baggage, but the convoy remained enormous.

Tang Wanxin, along with the maids by her side, worked through the night again to make many undershirts.

Before he departed, Yun Shuyao gave him a list: “That area is close to the Western Regions with many Western Region merchants. Help me keep an eye out. If you encounter any rare and unusual seeds, send them back.”

Besides having him help collect seeds, Yun Shuyao also gave him many seeds: “Circle out a place to try planting them. The place doesn’t need to be large, but the people doing the planting must be reliable with tight lips.”

Yun Shuyao herself wasn’t certain what these seeds would produce when planted there. If unsuccessful, so be it. But if they succeeded and news leaked prematurely, that would be unfortunate.

Chen Yu solemnly agreed. He didn’t delay. As soon as he finished handing over matters, he departed.

Before he set out, the steward had already taken people and most of the luggage ahead. When the time was about right, they would also disguise themselves as traveling merchants to scout ahead for their master.

With Chen Yu’s departure, everyone in the household felt unaccustomed, as if the household’s spirit had left with him. If not for the child remaining, the Old Madam and Tang Wanxin couldn’t muster any energy.

Before they had emerged from this reluctant mood, another incident occurred in the capital.

Chen Yu had just left when the Thirteenth Prince returned alone. Upon entering the capital, he went straight to his residence and closed his doors, not venturing out.

He was a forgotten prince. He wasn’t among those enfeoffed, and was still a bald prince. This time being named by the Emperor to accompany the procession had made him very happy. Unfortunately, judging from his current state, he remained in a position of being out of favor and ignored.

Then the Ninth Prince surfaced to compete for power. As soon as he emerged, the Fourth Prince put down his work and took his family to an estate in the suburbs to farm, relinquishing power extremely decisively.

It was as if he had no attachment to power. When there was work for him to do, he would do his best. When he wasn’t needed, he’d return to farm and worship Buddha, desiring nothing.

Yun Shuyao: “…”

An illusion.

If he truly had no ambition, he wouldn’t be the one who ultimately ascended to the throne.

However, since they had gone to the suburban estate, coincidentally, their family also had an estate nearby.

The Old Madam and the others had nothing to do at home anyway. It would be better to also go to the estate to relax. It would be more convenient to visit neighbors at the estate.

As soon as she suggested it, the Old Madam agreed: “Let’s go.”

The Old Madam, Yun Shuyao, Lin Daiyu, Tang Wanxin, and the little one whose childhood name was Yuan Geer all went. Lin Ruhai couldn’t—he had no time.

Lin Ruhai, “abandoned” to face official documents: “…”

He was beginning to think about retirement.