A Crossover of Film and Television: Miao Miao's Life Transmigration

Chapter 266 Fang Nanxi's Transmigration to the Qing Dynasty 20

In the Shuyu Courtyard, the candlelight flickered. Lady Nian lay on her side on the carved canopy bed, her meticulously drawn willow-leaf eyebrows slightly furrowed, one hand clutching her abdomen, feigning unbearable abdominal pain.

She held her breath, waiting quietly for Yanliu to return, hoping that the Fourth Master would rush over anxiously. However, as time passed, apart from the rustling of the candlelight, she never heard the Fourth Master's footsteps.

Finally, Nian Shi could no longer bear it and slowly opened her eyes, only to see Yan Liu returning alone with a flustered expression. Her eyebrows furrowed instantly, and a hint of anger flashed in her eyes.

Having failed to complete the task assigned by the concubine, Yanliu's legs went weak, and she knelt tremblingly before Madam Nian, her voice barely audible, "Concubine, the Fourth Prince hasn't come to Shuyu Courtyard... He ordered me to summon the royal physician to treat you..."

Upon hearing this, Ms. Nian's face turned pale and then green, and she clenched her teeth in anger, digging her nails deep into her palms.

Seeing this, Qingsi quickly stepped forward and gently comforted him: "Consort, the Fourth Prince went to Shaoguang Courtyard only because he was thinking of the princes. His feelings for you are genuine, and he definitely cherishes you. Once you give birth to a prince for the Fourth Prince, he will surely favor you even more."

These words attributed the Fourth Prince's visit to Shaoguang Courtyard to the child and emphasized the Fourth Prince's sincerity towards Lady Nian. After hearing this, Lady Nian's tense expression relaxed considerably.

Seemingly realizing something, Madam Nian urgently instructed Qingsi, "Yes, it must be because of the child. Quickly go and brew the fertility-enhancing medicine sent from home. I must give birth to a little prince for Fourth Master!"

"Yes, Consort." Qing Si secretly breathed a sigh of relief. In her opinion, although Consort had a bit of a temper, she was still easy to coax and usually had a gentle and kind demeanor.

The news that Lady Nian had failed to invite the Fourth Prince quickly spread throughout the inner courtyard, and the other princesses were all gloating. Fortunately, she didn't have to pay her respects the next day, otherwise Lady Nian would have been subjected to a barrage of sarcastic remarks.

Fang Nanxi had no interest in the intrigues and power struggles in the backyard, focusing all her attention on teaching the three princes. In her spare time, she would study medical books or tend to the flowers and plants in the courtyard, enjoying a leisurely life.

Before she knew it, New Year's Eve was approaching. Although Lady Nian had been taking fertility-enhancing medicine and was favored by the Fourth Prince, her belly still showed no signs of pregnancy.

Perhaps influenced by Lady Nian, the other princesses in the backyard also began taking fertility-enhancing drugs, and for a time, the entire backyard was filled with the smell of medicine.

The princesses longed for a child to bring them comfort in their lives. But if the Fourth Prince didn't visit their courtyard, no matter how much medicine they took, they couldn't have their wish fulfilled.

After being reprimanded by Consort De, the Fourth Prince still favored Lady Nian, but he no longer spent fifteen out of twenty days at the Shuyu Courtyard, at most ten. The rest of the time, he would visit other princesses.

In the previous dynasty, the crown prince became increasingly outrageous. Perhaps sensing that the emperor's attitude towards him had softened, the crown prince began to indulge himself recklessly. Strangely, however, the emperor, seeing the crown prince's behavior, not only did not punish him severely, but instead became even more lenient.

The New Year's Eve banquet is approaching, and Fang Nanxi, having become a concubine, attends the banquet every year. However, the twins are not yet three years old and are too young to be brought into the palace this time; only the Fourth Prince, Hongxu, can accompany them.

Xingluo stayed at Shaoguang Courtyard to take care of the twins, while Fang Nanxi took Qiuzhu and Qiushuang with the Fourth Prince and his entourage into the palace, and Hongxu followed the Fourth Prince.

The Fujin rode in the second carriage, Li Shi and the eldest princess sat in the third, Fang Nanxi sat in the fourth, and Nian Shi was naturally arranged to sit in the last carriage.

Lady Nian originally wanted to ride in the same carriage as the Fourth Prince, but since Hongshi and Hongxu were also with the Fourth Prince, it would be inconvenient for wives and concubines to sit with the men, so her idea had to be abandoned.

Inside the carriage, Fang Nanxi gently closed her eyes, conserving her energy. The other women in the household envied their chance to attend the New Year's Eve banquet at the palace, but Fang Nanxi felt it might be better to stay in the household. The palace was full of gossip, and the Fourth Prince, Hongxu, was still young; she couldn't bear to leave him there.

Upon arriving at the palace, Fang Nanxi alighted from the carriage and followed behind the Fujin, taking small, quick steps as they slowly made their way to Yonghe Palace, where Consort De resided.

Inside Yonghe Palace, the Fourteenth Prince's primary consort, Lady Wanyan, his secondary consorts, Lady Shushu Gioro and Lady Irgen Gioro, were already waiting there, along with several of the Fourteenth Prince's daughters.

The princess consort, with dignified bearing, led everyone into the hall to pay their respects: "Your subject greets Mother, may Mother be blessed."

"This humble servant, Fang (nian, Li), greets Your Highness Consort De. May Your Highness be blessed." The crowd bowed in turn.

The smile on Consort De's face faded slightly, and she nodded slightly to signal them to rise. Under the guidance of Consort De's nanny, Zhu, Fang Nanxi sat down on a chair to the side.

Opposite the Fujin was the Fourteenth Prince's primary wife, Lady Wanyan, and opposite Lady Wanyan was Lady Irgen Gioro, while Lady Li sat in front of Lady Irgen Gioro.

Once everyone was seated, Consort De spoke first: "Fourth Princess Consort, since the birth of the twins, there has been no more good news from the household. As the primary wife, you should be more magnanimous. No matter which of your younger sisters gives birth to a child, they will all respectfully call you their primary mother."

This was not the first time that the Princess Consort had faced such words from Consort De. She responded with composure and politeness: "Your subject also hopes for good news from the household. The Fourth Prince is usually very busy with official duties. When I return, I will arrange for the household physician to treat the sisters so that they can have children for the Fourth Prince."

Consort De was rebuffed and displeased. She turned her gaze to Lady Nian and scolded her sharply: "Lady Nian, I heard that you are very favored in the mansion, but all you do is cling to the master. Your belly is still not showing any signs of pregnancy."

Lady Nian hurriedly rose and bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, I am frail and have been unable to conceive since entering the manor. It is all my fault. I hope Your Majesty will be magnanimous and not blame me. I will serve Fourth Master diligently from now on."

Seeing Nian's appearance, Consort De grew increasingly annoyed. Nian appeared to be sincerely apologizing, but her words implied that if Consort De didn't forgive her, she would be considered narrow-minded. Looking at Nian's frail figure, Consort De thought to herself, "This is probably not a child who will bear children easily."

Consort De's proudest achievement in her life was bearing the emperor three sons and three daughters, something she always took great pride in.

She had always disliked the Fourth Prince's wife. Firstly, the Fourth Prince's wife was not very fertile, and secondly, the Fourth Prince's wife, Ulanara, was appointed by Empress Xiaoyiren and was not of one mind with her.

Previously, Consort De looked down on Fang Nanxi, but ever since Fang Nanxi gave birth to three princes, Consort De no longer paid any attention to her whenever she entered the palace.

Now, with the arrival of Lady Nian, who is not fertile, Consort De became increasingly impatient: "As a secondary consort, you should keep the matter of having offspring in mind and stop playing those useless tricks."

After speaking, Consort De gestured for Lady Nian to sit down, ignoring the others from the Fourth Prince's residence, and began chatting warmly with Lady Wanyan. Compared to the Fourth Prince's residence, which only had one daughter, the Fourteenth Prince's residence, which already had four daughters, was much more lively.