135. Chapter 135: Follow

As the campaign to round up the Heaven and Earth Society drew to a close, the Ninth Prince’s dealings with the foreigners also came to an end. In his capacity as a Beile of the Great Qing Dynasty, the Ninth Prince extended an invitation to the British Empire's delegation to visit the capital. Naturally, the itinerary was arranged by the Court of Colonial Affairs. The large vessels that had run aground were temporarily left at Yongping Prefecture, and all the foreigners were transferred to carriages for the journey to the capital.

It was now the beginning of the tenth lunar month in the forty-sixth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, and Yan Yan’s wounds had healed well. Just as she was busy packing, Madame He paid another visit, accompanied by her daughter, He Xuan’er.

Ever since He Xuan’er had saved Hongzhang, she had grown quite close to the children. In her spare time, she would often come to visit Yan Yan. Although Yan Yan was never particularly fond of He Xuan’er’s personality—always suspecting she had an ulterior motive—she had to admit that the girl was exceptionally talented. Whether it was poetry, prose, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, or embroidery, she was truly accomplished. Yan Yan had anticipated this visit; next year was the year of the imperial selection, and He Xuan’er was on the list of candidates. Before Madame He could even broach the subject, Yan Yan smiled and said, "Madame, Xuan’er, you have come at the perfect time. I was just about to send someone to invite you."

Madame He was startled, looking at Yan Yan with a glimmer of expectation. "I wonder what instructions the Secondary Consort has for me?" Yan Yan gestured for them to sit. Once Cui’er had served tea and withdrawn, Yan Yan spoke in a leisurely tone, "I am aware that Xuan’er is to participate in the grand selection next year. I was wondering if you have made any arrangements for her journey to the capital?"

Madame He’s face lit up with joyful surprise, though she feigned distress, saying, "The Secondary Consort might not know, but I have been anxious about this very matter. The selection is a momentous event for Xuan’er, but my husband cannot leave his post, and his health has been poor lately. I truly cannot bear to leave him here alone." As she spoke, she dabbed at her eyes with a sorrowful expression.

He Xuan’er seemed to feel that her mother’s performance was a bit too heavy-handed and quickly interrupted, "Mother, please do not worry. I can simply take my nursemaid to the capital. Once there, the Imperial Household Department will handle everything; it will not be a problem."

Madame He’s tears flowed even more freely, turning the scene into one of tragic separation. "You are just a young girl; how could I possibly be at ease?" He Xuan’er patted her mother’s back but remained silent.

Seeing that her mother had been weeping for some time while Yan Yan continued to sip her tea unhurriedly, Madame He could no longer hold back. She fell to her knees before Yan Yan. "Secondary Consort, I know you have a kind and merciful heart. Could I please ask you to..."

Yan Yan waved a hand, signaling for Cui’er to help Madame He up. She then smiled, "Madame, do not worry. Let Xuan’er travel to the capital with me. She can stay at the Beile’s residence. I trust this arrangement will put your mind at ease."

Madame He beamed with delight, showering Yan Yan with gratitude. "Thank you, Secondary Consort! Thank you! With such a kind heart, Heaven will surely bless you to bear several more little princes for the Ninth Prince."

Yan Yan offered a faint smile, showing no reaction to these words. She looked at He Xuan’er and caught a fleeting, smug expression on the girl’s face, causing her to narrow her eyes slightly.

"Xuan’er, go and pack your things. I am not well-versed in the details of the selection, but when we arrive, I will have the Prince find an experienced matron to guide you," Yan Yan said casually, making no effort to hide the fact that she herself had never undergone the selection process. He Xuan’er maintained her composure, showing no sign of disdain.

Once the news spread that Yan Yan had agreed to take He Xuan’er to the capital, several other Banner families in Yongping Prefecture hoped to entrust their own daughters to Yan Yan’s care, but she politely declined them all. Madame He was overjoyed by this, convinced that her daughter was more fortunate than the others and destined for an immeasurable future.

Consequently, she put extra care into selecting the matron and maidservants to accompany He Xuan’er. Yan Yan caught sight of these maids and noticed that, aside from He Xuan’er’s personal attendant, the rest had been replaced with exceptionally beautiful girls. Yan Yan was stunned for a moment, eventually grasping the motive behind Madame He’s actions. How tragic it was for women of this era, she thought, that even one’s own mother would prepare candidates for her daughter’s husband to commit adultery with.

A cold smile touched Yan Yan’s lips. Was she not brought into the Ninth Prince’s estate alongside the Wanyan woman for this very reason? There was no fundamental difference between her and these maids. Yan Yan’s thoughts drifted to her aunt in Sweet Well Village. She decided that after returning to the capital, she should thoroughly investigate that woman to understand what her own mother had truly been thinking all those years ago.

"What are you thinking about? I’ve been here for quite a while, and you’ve been in a daze!" The Ninth Prince’s voice interrupted her wandering thoughts. Yan Yan looked up in surprise and smiled, "Has the Prince finished his work so early today?"

The Ninth Prince grunted, picked up a book at random, and began to read. After a while, noticing Yan Yan still tilted her head, watching him, he chuckled. He set the book aside and gestured for her to come closer. Yan Yan walked over and sat beside him. He began to toy with her hand; her hands were small, even smaller than those of most women. Though she was thin, her hands were soft and fleshy, and holding them felt deeply comforting.

"What is on your mind? You’ve been acting strangely since I walked in," he asked casually. He didn't necessarily need the answer, but he enjoyed these conversations. He always felt that Yan Yan was like a treasure, constantly surprising him.

However, today, her topic seemed to lean toward the affairs of the inner chambers. "Prince, do you remember that I have an aunt?"

"The one who showed up uninvited?" The Ninth Prince raised an eyebrow. "What was the name of their village? Sweet Well Village?" He was clearly puzzled as to why she brought this up. He had sent men to investigate that village at the time and knew the woman, surnamed Zhang, had not arrived by chance; she had been prompted by someone else.

Though the Ninth Prince never discovered who that person was, he had his suspicions. Because of this, he had been reluctant to let Yan Yan have much contact with the Jin family, which is why he hadn't provided them with extra support. Yan Yan had not worried him, keeping her distance from them ever since. He wondered why she would suddenly bring it up now.