Chapter 56

Chapter 56

◎Merged Chapters◎

"Zhan'er, your brother is so generous; he's willing to give you his favorite toy." Huiyin shook a rattle and spoke to her young son in the cradle.

Next to her, Jing'er stood on his tippy-toes and said, "Mother, why is my brother so small? All he does is sleep."

Huiyin smiled and said, "You were once this small too. Come to think of it, you're already three years old. I’ve talked to your father about getting you a tutor. In the future, you won’t need to stay by my side all day; just focus on your studies."

Despite his young age, Jing'er was quite eloquent and replied, "I'm not three years old yet."

"Alright, then stay by my side and play. Later, I'll take you to the garden for a walk, but you're not allowed to catch bees and insects anymore. If you get bitten, your father will blame me." Huiyin gently tapped her son's little nose.

Needless to say, Jing'er ran around picking flowers in the garden, and by the end of it, Huiyin was exhausted, and the child was finally tired. The nanny quickly took Jing'er away, and Huiyin rubbed her waist, saying, "I'm not as energetic as I used to be. I used to ride horses and run laps without any problem, but I really can't do it anymore."

After saying this, she looked at Nanny Nan and said, "Nanny, you don't have to follow me out so often now that you're older."

Nanny Nan smiled and replied, "Don't worry about me. I'm a person who can't sit still. If you make me sit all day, I'll be miserable."

Huiyin thoughtfully said, "I used to move around a lot, but now I've settled in Huaiyin. The prince treats me very well, and the heir has been born, along with the second young master. However, some of the maids who have been with me haven’t found their own futures yet. Mama, if I ask them, they'll all say they want to stay by my side, but girls eventually need to marry. Please ask them what kind of person they want to marry. Then I'll call the matchmaker, or maybe you can help too."

In any case, their happiness shouldn't be delayed. Of course, if there are those who really don't want to marry, they can stay by her side, and the mansion will take care of them for life and even their final rites. It all depends on their personal wishes.

Nanny Nan praised Huiyin for her kind-heartedness, but Huiyin replied, "It's not about being kind-hearted; I just want to treat them the way I’d want to be treated."

Regarding marriage, the four senior maids had completely different thoughts. They had all followed Huiyin from Jizhou and usually performed their respective duties well, maintaining a good relationship. When Nanny Nan asked them, they gathered together to discuss this matter.

Fugui spoke first, "I've been by the young miss's side since I was young. Now, I manage the household for her. Honestly, it's not that I'm better than others; it's just that the young miss trusts me. So, I don't want to leave or get married. Marriage isn't that great."

"Fugui, this is your lifelong decision." Even Le Yun, who rarely spoke, chimed in. She was the oldest among the four senior maids and seldom interfered in others' personal matters.

Fugui said earnestly, "Sister Le Yun, I'm speaking from the heart. We've never suffered from the hardships of war, and life has been good by following the princess. In the winter, we wear fur coats and cotton skirts, and in the summer, we wear light gauze and have ice. This kind of life can't be found outside. Besides, if we all leave, the new maids will come in. I'm not boasting, but I truly wish the best for the princess and am loyal to her."

She didn't want to leave because, being a non-hereditary servant, she had experienced poverty as a child and really didn't want to experience it again.

Le Yun sighed, "It's good that you've thought it through. Ever since Nanny Nan and I discussed this, my mother has found a match for me."

Le Yun was in her early twenties and, being a family servant, followed her master's orders. She had a gentle appearance and a calm personality, and as a senior maid by the princess's side, once the news was out, everyone was eager to meet her.

Everyone asked who it was, and Le Yun shyly said it was a certain Doctor Huang from the prince's mansion. He was young but had excellent medical skills. Most importantly, when her mother had been sick before, Doctor Huang had been very attentive and considerate.

Qiū Fēng laughed and said, "So it's him. I've heard he has quite some assets, and Sister, if you marry him, you'll be a proper young mistress."

The group teased her for a while, and Qiū Fēng said, "Like Fugui, I also want to stay in the mansion and marry within."

Dong Shun helped suggest, "Actually, marrying someone in the mansion is a good idea. Honestly, working by the princess's side, we've never been mistreated."

Qiū Fēng naturally had her own shrewdness. With Fugui above her, even if she became a housekeeper, she wouldn't be able to rise to prominence for a while. It was better to marry and become a stewardess. If she could end up with the heir, that would be ideal, but if not, going to the second young master's side would also be fine.

Staying in the mansion seemed like the safer choice. As Fugui said, merchants were profit-driven and lacked propriety, and soldiers were likely to die in battle. It was better to stay in the mansion.

Dong Shun was the youngest and the least in a hurry.

After hearing from Nanny Nan, Huiyin first called Le Yun's mother and rewarded her with two hundred taels of silver, eight bolts of colorful silk, a set of jewelry, a folding screen, and a red sandalwood treasure screen. Le Yun was extremely grateful, especially for the red sandalwood eight-treasure folding screen. It was something that could add luster when guests came over, and it was something money couldn't easily buy.

After Le Yun married off in grandeur, she became pregnant after just over a month. Huiyin rewarded her with a set of bathing tub, cradle, and walker that Jing'er had used before. Le Yun specially came to thank her again.

"The princess has been too kind to me." Le Yun knew the princess’s gifts were a way to show the Huang family that she supports Le Yun.

Huiyin smiled and said, "This is your family's home; you can come back whenever you want in the future, just let Nanny Nan know."

Now that Le Yun had become Madam Huang, it was difficult for her to enter the second gate. Especially since Huiyin managed the household strictly, without a token, no one was allowed to enter, and those caught were severely punished. Therefore, upon hearing Huiyin's words, she quickly knelt down and thanked her.

But she also thought of Huiyin, "Now that I'm married, are you still satisfied with the people serving you?"

Huiyin shook her head and said, "They can't compare to your thoughtfulness. You've been with me since childhood, and even a cough from me would let you know what I needed. Those young maids are far from that. However, I can't always delay your futures. Although Prince Li Cheng and I may not be deeply in love, we respect each other as a couple. You are all young girls with emotions and desires, and you can't always be confined here."

Le Yun was deeply moved.

Huiyin wasn't particularly good at emotionally moving others. Honestly, she did this just to show kindness to those working for her. Le Yun had served her since childhood, and she cared for her, but more importantly, she wished for her to have a good future. She wouldn't overly involve herself in other people's family matters.

Now, being too good to her might lead to future resentment if Le Yun asked for something unreasonable or against her principles. It would be better not to be too intimate and just let the Huang family know the connection.

As the mistress and servant were talking, they heard that Madame Miao had arrived, and Le Yun took her leave.

Madame Miao came to tell Huiyin the good news, "Last time you asked me to find someone for the pastries, I've found a cook who can prepare seasonal pastries and banquets, and even summer refreshments and drinks are done very authentically."

"Since you recommend her, I won't test her cooking skills, but do you know her background?" Huiyin asked.

Madame Miao then explained everything in detail.

These were all household matters, and after Huiyin finished handling them, she yawned. Just then, Li Cheng walked in, and she quickly covered her mouth, pointing at him, "Forget everything you just saw, alright?"

Li Cheng shook his head with a smile, "I heard you married off a maid, are you short of people now?"

"What? Do you have someone to recommend to me?" Huiyin asked.

Li Cheng put his hand on her shoulder and let her sit down, "I think that although you usually go out with guards, there's still a difference between men and women. If you're resting in your room and someone sneaks in to kidnap you, the guards outside can't enter the second gate, and it might be hard to notice. So, I want to send two skilled maids to your side. They can serve you daily and protect you if necessary."

"That sounds good. You've thought it through. But are they coming voluntarily?" Huiyin asked.

Li Cheng whispered, "They were originally my spies, but they got injured and had to step back. Still, they have martial skills, even if they can't perform higher tasks."

With that, Huiyin agreed to accept them, and Li Cheng mentioned they would come to the mansion in a couple of days.

The couple typically discussed business matters first before getting personal. Just like now, Li Cheng said, "I heard the Crown Prince is planning to take Weiduo's illegitimate daughter as a Liangdi, and whichever of Weiliangdi or your sister gives birth to the royal heir first will be made Crown Princess."

The Crown Prince had always wanted Zheng Fang to help him eliminate Lü Wei. Zheng Fang managed to escape unharmed, and now he was dominant on his own. Although he suffered a defeat in Xizhou, the Ji Prefecture headquarters and the capital were still firmly controlled.

It was difficult for Weiduo to enter the capital, and now he also wanted to take Jingzhou. Now, Prince of Wei, Weiduo, and Zhao Hong—in the previous life, it was after Li Heng ascended the throne that he deliberately sent Zheng Fang south and even planned to marry Weiduo's daughter as Crown Princess. In this life, Zheng Fang eliminated Lü Wei and distanced himself, secretly benefiting without letting Lü Wei's and He Guoguo's old troops seek revenge, thus retaining some strength.

"The Crown Prince is using his old tricks again," Huiyin understood clearly.

Li Cheng frowned, "What do you mean?"

Recalling the events of the past, she felt that military and state affairs were just tools for manipulation, "Actually, back then, the Crown Prince also went to great lengths to marry our Zheng family's daughter. He first saved my elder sister, then me, hoping to win our hearts. That way, no matter which daughter married him, he would form an alliance with the Zheng family. He deliberately said my sister would be Crown Princess, then pursued the Lü family's daughter, playing them off against each other, eliminating whoever was stronger through trickery."

"Do you mean he pursued you too?" Li Cheng couldn't believe Li Heng could be so shameless.

The marriage to the Zheng family's daughter was somewhat forced, and the Crown Prince really was...

Huiyin nodded, "Yes, do you think I'm joking? This time, it could spark another conflict."

It was unclear what kind of person Weiduo's daughter was. If she was intelligent, Zheng Deyin might face a strong rival. Li Heng was very good at creating imbalance among women, making them fight each other.

Li Cheng didn't quite understand, "What can women decide? Your father might not listen to your sister unless he acts according to circumstances. Weiduo is a brilliant military strategist; even my royal uncle wants to form a marriage alliance with him. Your father might not be his match. The Crown Prince's thinking seems too simplistic."

"This woman is just a trigger. Like how the Prince of Wei specially sent Yin Cifei, if you intended to fight, then her coming was just timely. If you didn't want to fight, her coming would be in vain." The story of "playing with fire beacons to amuse his concubine" might not even be real, let alone men's actions.

Li Heng looked disdainful. "I still find this tactic too beneath us."

**

Eastern Palace

De Yin's life had become increasingly difficult lately. She had been married for three years, but the favor she once enjoyed had faded. A pregnant concubine ranked above her, and soon another woman of similar status, Wei Liangdi, would join the household. Looking at herself in the mirror, she was twenty-two years old. It wasn't a particularly advanced age, but there was a nail-sized blemish on her cheekbone. Others might not see it, but she was very self-conscious about it.

"Bring me the powder that the Princess of Huaiyin sent from Jiangnan to cover it up." All of a sudden, nothing seemed to be following the script of her previous life anymore.

She had not conceived, and Li Heng's affection for her had gradually waned, unlike her sister, who was well taken care of by Li Heng until his last moments.

For a moment, she felt utterly lost.

Yunzhi brought in a cup of Pu'er tea. "Liangdi, you gave that powder to the newly arrived Qian Liangdi last time."

"I forgot. I shouldn't have given it to her. Now that I have, she probably thinks the things I give her are poisoned." De Yin had good reason to say that. This newly arrived woman in the Eastern Palace was excessively cautious. Just a slight approach, and Qian Liangdi would shiver all over. It was said that she even threw out the pastries De Yin had sent over.

Lianzhi was also very angry. "Who says otherwise? She thinks everyone harbors malicious intent. You are of higher birth than her, more favored. If you give birth to a son in the future, who would care about her child?"

Lianzhi had spoken out in a fit of frustration, not realizing that Li Heng had just appeared at the door. De Yin was startled and quickly composed herself, saying, "Your Highness, why did you come without a word?"

De Yin had learned to be tactful and manage the household after these years in the palace. Of course, she knew it was wrong to gossip about the master behind his back, but she relied on Li Heng's favor and believed he wouldn't mind for the sake of the Zheng family.

Unbeknownst to her, Li Heng was about to react differently this time. He said coldly, "Just now, who was gossiping about Zhao Liangdi behind her back? Step forward. According to the palace rules, servants cannot gossip about their masters."

Lianzhi felt a chill and a rush of blood. She had spoken out because she was De Yin's dowry attendant, standing united, but now that she was caught by the Crown Prince himself, she did not have the courage to admit it and remained silent with her head down.

Unexpectedly, Li Heng looked at De Yin. "Princess Zheng, you are well-versed in palace rules. You tell me, what should be done."

De Yin was frightened. She had never seen the Crown Prince with such an expression—imposing without anger, a natural sense of pressure. She stammered for a moment before saying, "Servants who gossip about their masters should be caned twenty times."

"Hmm, it seems you understand this rule well. You know what to do." Li Heng glanced at Lianzhi.

Before De Yin could plead for mercy, the attendant behind Li Heng silently covered Lianzhi's mouth and dragged her out. It all happened in the blink of an eye, leaving De Yin stunned.

When she managed the Eastern Palace, she would have disobedient servants punished, but those people were outsiders. Lianzhi, however, was her dowry attendant. She had always cared for her deeply, but now she was being dragged out like a dead dog.

Li Heng seemed to anticipate De Yin's plea and said with a smile, "Soon, Lady Wei will come into the household. She cannot compare to you and me in terms of affection and seniority. You are an old servant of my Eastern Palace, with deep seniority. If this kind of loose-lipped girl doesn't receive a lesson, she will cause trouble for you in the future. It's fortunate that I heard it this time. If someone else had heard it, it wouldn't have been good."

De Yin had just been complaining about Zhao Liangdi and was afraid that Li Heng would bring it up. Now that he only punished Lianzhi, she breathed a sigh of relief, planning to send the best wound-healing ointment to her after the caning.

Before she could send the ointment, Yunzhi came in with a tearful face. "Liangdi, Lianzhi has been beaten to death."

"What?" De Yin could not believe it.

Yunzhi said, "Lianzhi had been staying up several nights to make that hundred-flower skirt for you and caught a cold yesterday. But those damned people beat her too hard."

The usually lively Lianzhi was dead, and De Yin felt a chill. She even wondered if Li Heng had deliberately ordered such a severe beating; otherwise, it didn't make sense. When she had people beaten, no one had died.

De Yin’s voice was hoarse as she said, "Yunzhi, open my chest and use the money to arrange for her burial."

The death of a servant was a minor issue and wouldn’t reach the Zheng family. The Zheng family could do nothing about Wei Liangdi marrying Li Heng either. At this stage, Zheng Fang couldn't stand up to Wei Duo.

"Jizhou is a place that Wei Duo has been eyeing for a long time. He might attack it in the future." Zheng Fang was still somewhat worried. Jizhou was an area he had managed for ten years, and he would not give it up easily.

These important matters, he could only discuss with Madame Ji. Upon hearing this, Madame Ji looked at him and said, "Last time, at Jiahui Pass in Qingzhou, were you really unaware of what happened? Fortunately, it was your son-in-law who calmed it down, turning a big issue into a small one. If it had escalated, how would Huiyin have handled the situation?"

Zheng Fang felt a bit guilty. "It was a momentary lapse in judgment, and it's all because that place used to be under Lü Wei's command."

"Our daughter has written to us, saying that her husband is strict in military discipline and exceptional in leadership. If a real conflict breaks out, we may not be a match for them," Madame Ji said. Of course, she hoped Zheng Fang could unify the world, but they had to be realistic about their capabilities. Zheng Fang, though seemingly fierce, was all bark and no bite. If a formidable opponent were to attack, he might not be able to hold his ground.

The last time Zheng Fang managed to extricate himself and redirect the blame, it was thanks to Li Cheng's strategy. Countless times, Zheng Fang had wished that if his son-in-law weren't a member of the royal family, but instead his subordinate, he would have made an excellent strategist.

For now, all he could say was, "He's still a good man."

Madame Ji shot her husband a disapproving glance, concerned that with the Weis' daughter entering the Eastern Palace, De Yin's days might become harder. Previously, when De Yin was favored, the old lady could enter the Eastern Palace quickly after submitting her name. But now, no one had summoned her for months, and she was sulking in her room every day.

Li Cheng, who had been praised by Zheng Fang for being a good man, had gone off to battle. The Yuzhou region next to Xuzhou thought that the Prince of Wei was attacking Jingzhou and tried to send someone over to test the waters, so Li Cheng personally led his troops to battle.

Before leaving, he sent over two skilled maidservants. Huiyin noticed that they were dressed neatly, with slender but strong waists, and they responded with proper manners, not the type to be too loud or rude, which she silently approved of. Upon hearing their names, Lingju and Linglu, she found them pleasant and saw no need to change them. Both were assigned to Qiufeng for training.

Qiufeng was already betrothed. She still wanted to serve in the Huaiyin Mansion, so Nanny Nan had found her a good match. The son of Lady Liu, Huiyin's dowry companion, was of suitable age. That young master Liu managed Huiyin's daily outings and some of her business affairs, and after marrying Qiufeng, the couple would continue to serve in the Huaiyin Mansion.

For now, Qiufeng needed to train the new girls well before she could let them go to their new homes.

Unlike Le Yun, who had married the mansion's physician and appeared to be a respectable lady, but whose future might fall short compared to hers. In troubled times, even a well-off family like the Huangs could only afford some meat occasionally; their life wasn't truly comfortable.

But she kept these thoughts to herself, as everyone had their own pursuits, but the work still needed to be done properly.

Relying solely on loyalty wasn't enough; one also needed capability.

Lingju and Linglu were smart and alert, and within ten days, they had learned most of what they needed. Huiyin was pleased when they served her sparrow tongue tea. "This is my favorite tea," she said with a smile.

Lingju and Linglu thus became her personal maidservants.

On this day, it was the Mu family's wedding, and since Huiyin had a good relationship with Lady Mu, she had to give her face and attend the wedding. Unexpectedly, she encountered Xue Huanhuan at the event. Huiyin remembered her as Yin Liyi's close friend. Seeing Huiyin, Xue Huanhuan immediately came over to pay her respects and asked to speak privately, leaving Huiyin puzzled.

"Is there something on your mind?" Huiyin asked.

Xue Huanhuan said, "Young Princess, I heard that the Little Prince is currently at war with Yuzhou. You might not be aware that Yin Liyi, or rather, Lady Xie, went to Yuzhou with her mother, Lady Yin, to visit relatives. Lady Yin's family is in Yuzhou, and now with the war, I'm worried something might happen to them."

Ever since Xie Jiuyi took Cao Ping’s sister as a concubine, Huiyin had only been concerned with whether Xie Jiuyi or Zhao Hong won or lost battles and had not paid attention to Yin Liyi anymore, so she was unaware of these events. Xue Huanhuan was genuinely worried about Yin Liyi, showing how close they were.

Huiyin comforted her, "Don't worry, I'll write a letter and send it with the Little Prince's personal soldiers when they arrive."

In reality, she wouldn't casually send a letter. With a war going on, no one would care about the Yin family. They were taking a big risk. Even Huiyin herself, when returning to her parents' home, had to be escorted by several thousand troops led by Li Cheng. For these two to travel back to their family's home in a region not controlled by the Prince of Wei, they were really quite bold.

Xue Huanhuan was extremely grateful when Huiyin agreed.

However, Huiyin wondered about Xie Jiuyi, who had been poisoned during his last campaign. Regardless of the situation, Yin Liyi had been genuinely worried and had begged people to bring him back. Now that she was in trouble, where was Xie Jiuyi now? Moreover, if someone were to use the Yin family members to threaten Li Cheng, since they were related to the Prince of Wei and had known Li Cheng since childhood, how would he respond?