Chapter 148: Brothers (Sixth Update)

Yan Yan felt that the household truly needed the Ninth Prince around. Seeing how effortlessly he had managed Lady Donggo, Lady Fuca, and Lady Janggiya with just a few brief remarks, she found herself admiring him all over again.

Although Yan Yan knew it was impossible for these women to genuinely accept the Ninth Prince's arrangements in their hearts, she had no desire to dwell on such complicated matters at the moment. As soon as Chen Dachan diagnosed that the Ninth Prince's epidemic had completely passed all danger, Yan Yan packed up his belongings and returned with him to the Qimeng Garden.

The Qimeng Garden was still in a state of semi-confinement. Although Yan Yan's departure from the garden signified that the confinement order had been lifted, Cui'er believed that such a secluded environment was much safer. Therefore, after consulting with Mama Song and Mother Chen, she had the garden gates shut once more.

Thus, it was only after the Ninth Prince and Yan Yan returned that the Qimeng Garden was truly and fully liberated. The three little ones were now over a year old and could run and jump all over the place. Seeing Yan Yan return, all three of them rushed toward her simultaneously. The impact made Yan Yan take a step back, which brought a wave of immense joy to the Ninth Prince.

Cui'er, Mother Chen, and Mama Song all hurried forward to pay their respects to the Ninth Prince and Yan Yan. Naturally, Mama He had also returned to the Qimeng Garden, and with the addition of wet nurses and maidservants for the three little ones, the household at the Qimeng Garden grew increasingly grand.

Looking at all these people, Yan Yan felt a touch of sentimentality. When on earth had she acquired her own faction? This scene practically looked like the prologue to a domestic inner-courtyard battle. Yet heaven knew how much she loathed scheming against other women. Firstly, she found it utterly meaningless, and secondly, she genuinely felt she lacked the cunning for it.

Case in point was He Xuan'er, who abruptly appeared before her now, a young lady she had completely cast to the back of her mind. Today, He Xuan'er wore a red-plum-colored Manchu gown with a standing collar, radiating youthful vitality. Yan Yan could not help sighing inwardly. Xuan'er was only thirteen years old, while she herself was not even nineteen at the absolute most. Why was it that the moment she saw Xuan'er, she felt so terribly old?

Seeing the Ninth Prince and Yan Yan arrive, He Xuan'er hurriedly stepped forward to curtsy. "Greetings, Ninth Master. Greetings, Secondary Consort. Is the Ninth Master feeling better? These past few days must have been terribly exhausting for the Secondary Consort." The Ninth Prince nodded and, supporting Yan Yan's hand, walked toward the main quarters of the Qimeng Garden.

Since Yan Yan had laid eyes on He Xuan'er, she naturally thought of Anna. Anna did not understand Chinese, and Yan Yan wondered how she had managed these past few days. Curious, Yan Yan looked at Cui'er and asked, "Where is Anna?"

Cui'er smiled and replied, "On the second day after the Secondary Consort left, Miss Anna returned to reside at the Lifan Yuan, saying she would come to visit once the Ninth Master's health was fully restored." Yan Yan burst into a giggle and said to the Ninth Prince, "Anna really is someone who refuses to let herself suffer any grievances."

The Ninth Prince also smiled faintly. Instead of letting Yan Yan help him upstairs, he leaned against the heated daybed downstairs, looking utterly relaxed. Tilting his head, the Ninth Prince noticed an embroidery hoop resting on the daybed. Curious, he picked it up to take a look.

He Xuan'er immediately offered an embarrassed smile from the side. "Ninth Master, I was just embroidering that to pass the time."

The Ninth Prince twirled the silk handkerchief in his hand and smiled. "Whom is this made for? I'd say it looks like it's meant for a sweetheart." Hearing the Ninth Prince say this, Yan Yan curiously leaned in as well, seeing that the embroidery depicted a lifelike pair of mandarin ducks.

Yan Yan praised, "Sister Xuan'er, your embroidery is truly exquisite. These mandarin ducks look as though they are completely alive." The Ninth Prince cast a sidelong glance at Yan Yan and smiled. "Indeed. Who else is like our Yan Yan, for whom picking up an embroidery needle is far more terrifying than anyone else picking up a knife?"

Yan Yan's face instantly burned hot, and she couldn't help but tap the Ninth Prince on the shoulder. "Oh? So the Master is looking down on me now. Don't ever expect me to sew anything for you again." Hearing Yan Yan use a word like 'sew', the Ninth Prince laughed uncontrollably.

He Xuan'er joined in with a smile on the side, before suddenly speaking up after a moment. "If the Ninth Master likes it, Xuan'er can gift one to you another day. Why bother troubling the Secondary Consort?" Yan Yan glanced at He Xuan'er. Although the smile on her face did not change, she felt a subtle stirring of discomfort in her heart.

Before the Ninth Prince could even settle comfortably into the Qimeng Garden, Wang Quan'er came to announce that the Eighth Prince and the Tenth Prince had arrived. It seemed the news that the Ninth Prince had regained consciousness had already spread to the outside world. Accompanying the Eighth and Tenth Princes were the Fourth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince. However, the latter two were merely there to inquire after his health on behalf of the Kangxi Emperor, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, they prepared to take their leave.

The Fourth Prince maintained his usual cold demeanor, but the Thirteenth Prince unexpectedly smiled and said, "Ninth Brother, once your health is completely recovered, this younger brother still has matters to consult you about. You must prepare some fine wine by then."

The Tenth Prince immediately protested with dissatisfaction, "Thirteenth Brother, do not take advantage of someone when they are down. Ninth Brother has only just begun to recover; how could he possibly drink alcohol?"

The Thirteenth Prince laughed heartily. "Is Tenth Brother not here as well? Surely Tenth Brother wouldn't let Ninth Brother suffer at a disadvantage."

The Tenth Prince raised his brows at once. "You rascal, just wait and see how I deal with you later."

The Thirteenth Prince laughed out loud. "Very well, Tenth Brother. Let us drink until we are thoroughly drunk then."

The Ninth Prince was left somewhat amused and exasperated by the two of them arranging a drinking match. Heaven only knew what sins these two had committed in their past lives; in this life, they were constantly at odds over everything. Back in the Imperial Study, the two of them had fought over writing brushes and exam scores. When they grew older, they wrangled over duties in the Ministry of War. The Ninth Prince was even convinced that the Tenth Prince understood the Thirteenth Prince better than he understood himself.

For instance, a few years ago during the New Year's Eve banquet, the Tenth Prince had insisted on tampering with a particular dish. At the time, the Ninth Prince had been quite dismissive, thinking the Tenth Prince was merely acting foolishly—how could he possibly know which platter the Thirteenth Prince would pick food from? Yet, to his surprise, during the banquet that night, the Thirteenth Prince indeed consumed a generous amount of the food specially treated by the Tenth Prince, sending the latter into fits of uncontrollable laughter afterward.

In light of this, the Ninth Prince had often wanted to ask the Tenth Prince what dishes he himself favored. Later, fearing he would make a complete fool of himself if the Tenth Prince didn't know either, the Ninth Prince reined in his curiosity and never asked the question.

Now, seeing the two of them challenging each other to a drinking contest, the Ninth Prince was once again reminded of their childhood days, and a wave of nostalgia washed over him. The Eighth Prince seemed to have thought of the same memory and smiled. "You two had better drop it. It's been a rare couple of years where we've managed to spend the New Year in peace; do stop making a fuss."

The Tenth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince sheepishly let out a chuckle, while the Fourth Prince wore a rare, faint smile. "Eighth Brother is quite right. The two of you should go about whatever business you have and stop disturbing Ninth Brother while he recuperates."

Only then did the Thirteenth Prince once again bid farewell to the Ninth Prince with a smile, departing alongside the Fourth Prince to report back to the Kangxi Emperor. Meanwhile, the Eighth Prince looked gravely at the Ninth Prince and asked with a hint of reproach, "Ninth Brother, shouldn't you explain to me and Tenth Brother what on earth happened with this illness of yours?"