The forty-eight year of Kangxi, Autumn.
After the grand wedding of the Nine Princess, Yin Hui and Muhua, who were born the same year, also turned eighteen, and at the end of August, their marriage ceremony was hosted by the Ministry of Rites and held at Prince Rui’s Manor.
Just as when Jiujiu got married, Fang He and Kangxi personally arrived at Prince Rui’s Manor and received the couple’s kowtow.
Though Fang He and Kangxi were worried it might affect Yinhui’s relationship with his siblings, so they left early as before, yet during the ceremony, Fang He had Cui Wei personally help Muhua up.
This gesture was immediately understood by the two side princess consorts of the Tongjia and Fuchashi clans, who had already entered the manor.
No matter what their own lord might think, the favor of Imperial Consort Zhen for this daughter-in-law was obvious—a clear sign of giving face to the Fifteenth Prince’s Consort.
So, although Muhua’s father’s status was rather low, her dowry, aside from what the Ministry of Rites organized and the extra trousseau gifts from Fang He, Jiujiu, and Minbao, had nothing particularly noteworthy.
Yet the imperial princess consorts in charge of guiding the bride through the family introductions in the bridal chamber were all especially gracious.
Not to mention anything else, as long as My Lord didn’t suddenly lose his senses again, with the Imperial Noble Consort’s favor, Prince Rui was the obvious next Emperor.
The Fifteenth Prince’s Consort favored by Imperial Consort Zhen would surely be the future Empress.
Who cared about Muhua’s background?
Once married into the imperial family, she was an Aisin Gioro woman.
At most, Muhua might not be greatly favored in the future—but really, what Empress is ever especially favored?
Otherwise, what need is there for concubines?
Now, there were rumors outside saying that Fang He refused to become Empress simply because she didn’t want the responsibility of advising the Emperor to “share his grace” equally, nor did she want to act the virtuous woman.
How amusing.
Clearly, everyone understood that the Empress was really just the chief housekeeper of the harem—so long as she had the respect of her lord, that was enough.
Yinhui understood this too.
That night in the bridal chamber, thanks to Yinhui’s experience, though Muhua had it a bit rough, his gentleness made everything much smoother.
The next morning, the two side princess consorts came to offer their greetings, and Yinhui should have accompanied Muhua.
However, early that morning, an official from the Lifan Yuan arrived, saying there was urgent news from Beimeng that required his attention in the Shufangzhai.
Yinhui looked at Muhua with some concern and asked, “How about I ask them to come offer tea again after I return?”
Muhua sat carefully at her dressing table, suppressing the urge to gasp, and cautiously raised her head.
“My Lord… will the side princess consorts eat people?!”
Yinhui: “……ABETET.”
But Yinhui had always been a good judge of character; after meeting the two side princess consorts, he figured out their personalities within just over a month.
The Tongjia’s daughter, Erlundai’s child, though once admonished by Lady Tong Guowei, didn’t really take it to heart since they were only distantly related.
She didn’t meddle in outside affairs, but in the inner courtyard, she was prideful and competitive, with a stubbornly aloof streak.
Who knows how Erlundai’s side princess consort raised her, but she simply couldn’t speak properly and had already provoked Fuchashi’s temper several times.
As for Fuchashi, her strict family upbringing made her disciplined and fairly upright, but not without cunning—she once even secretly poured out the contraceptive soup brought by Zheng Yusheng, hoping to bear a little imperial prince before Muhua entered the household.
Since then, Yinhui hadn’t visited Fuchashi’s quarters for a long time.
Now she was playing the victim, but since Yinhui planned to hand the inner courtyard over to Muhua, he intended to explain things clearly to her, lest Fuchashi end up tricking her.
Muhua, however, didn’t care much about his worries.
She quietly let out a sigh of relief and smiled at Yinhui.
Her smile was less polite than before, and her words more direct.
“As long as they don’t drug my tea, I can handle anything. My Lord, you go take care of business, I’ll wait for you to take me into the palace to pay respects.”
Yinhui: “…………”
‘Where did she get this much confidence?’
Was it because no one dared go barefoot and dig their toes into the floor with such determination?
But Yinhui didn’t want to interfere too much with his princess consort; trusting your people means not suspecting them.
If Muhua had to walk a few winding roads in the inner courtyard, it was nothing he couldn’t resolve.
He smiled, nodded, and prepared to leave.
Muhua quickly stood up to stop him but she paused in place, gritting her teeth for a while, looking particularly troubled.
Yinhui asked considerately, “Is there something you want to tell me? We’re husband and wife now, just say what’s on your mind.”
The truth was, Muhua was simply in pain somewhere, not really hesitating.
What could she do?
Mother and the Imperial Noble Consort had both warned during the Nine Princess’s enlightenment: men inside the bed curtains tend to lose track of themselves, and this needed gradual correction.
Once her wave of soreness passed, she smiled and asked Yinhui, “Did I serve My Lord well last night?”
As soon as she said this, the four chief maids arranged by Fang He all froze, then immediately bowed their heads, blushing bright red.
Even Yinhui couldn’t help but flush.
Was his princess consort really saying such indecorous words in broad daylight?
But it was their wedding night, after all.
He didn’t want to embarrass her, so he put on a serious face and nodded.
Muhua carefully observed Yinhui’s expression: ‘hmm… face a bit red, gaze wandering, lips slightly upturned—no trace of displeasure.’
Clearly, she did quite well.
So she could speak freely.
“My Lord, don’t forget to have Zheng Yusheng send rewards to the Main Courtyard. I don’t mean anything else, just afraid you’ll get busy later and Zheng Yusheng won’t be around. If not, I can send someone to move things myself.”
Yinhui: “….”
The Main Courtyard servants: “……”
Zheng Yusheng struggled to bite his tongue to hold back laughter, not daring to look at his master’s slightly green face, and hurriedly stepped in.
“Princess Consort must be joking! How could we trouble your people! I’ll have everything sent over right away, it won’t delay you at all.”
Muhua gave Zheng Yusheng an approving look.
She wasn’t greedy for money, after all the things at Prince Rui’s Manor would eventually… at least partially… be hers.
She just didn’t trust these unfamiliar maids to handle her property carefully, so she wanted to supervise a bit, but was worried about delaying her trip to the palace.
Hearing Zheng Yusheng’s words, her smile grew even brighter.
Enduring the discomfort between her legs, she stepped forward to lift the curtain for Yinhui by saying, “My Lord, walk slowly, come back soon, I’ll be waiting.”
Yinhui, both amused and helpless, left the Main Courtyard, and Muhua went back to rest on the soft couch.
But she’d barely reclined for a moment when someone came to report that the two side princess consorts had arrived.
Muhua didn’t bother with making people wait or asserting authority.
She adjusted her scarlet flag robe embroidered with a hundred butterflies fluttering among flowers, gritted her teeth through the pain, and walked out gracefully… though extremely slowly.
Tongjia and Fuchashi had thought they’d have to wait, but after only a moment, Muhua emerged.
Both hurriedly stood to greet her, but all the while watched their new principal princess consort out of the corners of their eyes.
Any girl chosen as a court lady was never ugly—at least delicate and pretty.
Muhua wasn’t a stunning beauty at first glance, but her features were particularly refined and more attractive the longer you looked, her face exudes an elegant tranquility.
Tongjia and Fuchashi were beauties themselves, so they weren’t intimidated by Muhua’s looks, but instead focused more on the way she walked.
‘So slow… She must have been dearly favored by His Highness last night!’
As the two grew increasingly jealous, Muhua turned sideways, moving even slower to the seat of honor.
Her posture made both Tongjia and Fuchashi’s eyes suddenly light up.
Muhua’s flag robe was made of the most popular Cloud Rosy Brocade among the powerful, and the embroidery on her dress actually moved!
It wasn’t obvious from the front, but from the side, as the pleats unfolded while walking, the butterflies seemed to really flutter among the flowers.
Once Muhua sat down, the butterflies on her skirt shimmered faintly, drawing all eyes to her.
Muhua let the two unconsciously size her up for a while, then smiled and had them helped up.
“I heard your names long ago at the Women’s Academy, sisters Tongjia and Fuchashi. Just yesterday, My Lord mentioned you, saying that before there was a principal princess consort, it wasn’t proper for the side princess consorts to go out freely, but he didn’t object to us going to the Women’s Academy to give lectures.”
She smiled, having tea served, as if chatting casually.
“I hear the Fourth Princess Consort and Eighth Princess Consort have been competing at the Women’s Academy these days, and their riding skills have won much praise.”
“Even the Imperial Mother has given extra compliments, saying they have not disgraced the elegance of noble Manchu women. Especially their riding outfits—the Imperial Mother herself was so taken that she asked me to make her a few, and soon we’ll all be going hunting at the Southern Garden with the Emperor.”
Tongjia and Fuchashi listened in stunned silence, their earlier little schemes completely dispelled.
Any thought of undermining the princess consort to win favor was gone.
For them, Yinhui’s favor was of course something to compete for, but everyone knew that the Fifteenth Prince was most filial—anything his mother or sisters liked, he would also like.
Before marrying into Prince Rui’s Manor, they had their share of romantic fantasies.
Add to that Yinhui’s gentle nature and good looks, both women couldn’t help feeling some budding affection.
But his affection for them was mediocre.
Without the principal princess consort to lead them, they hadn’t even had the chance to go into the palace to pay respects, let alone win over the Imperial Noble Consort.
Muhua’s words truly inspired them.
Whether in literature or riding, Tongjia and Fuchashi weren’t lacking and didn’t see themselves as inferior to the Fourth or Eighth Princess Consorts.
Just as the two raised their heads to speak, Muhua smiled and cut them off, “Oh, look at me—today is your first visit to pay respects and offer tea, what am I going on about?”
“As long as we serve the prince well, there’s nothing else to worry about in the inner courtyard. There will be plenty of time for us to chat in the future.”
Tongjia quickly stood, her smile bright and sweet as she said, “Princess Consort is so considerate, we can’t be ignorant. I’ve heard of your exquisite embroidery. I still have some Water Moon Gauze from Jiangnan, perfect for making bed curtains. It’s not only light and lets in the light, but also warm in winter and cool in summer. Please, don’t be polite with your sister.”
Fuchashi, unwilling to be outdone, immediately had a stack of account books presented, smiling dignified and gently, “Though you’ve just entered the household, rules are necessary. Earlier, I was fortunate to be instructed by the prince to oversee the flower and herb rooms in the rear courtyard. All the account books are here. Please have a look, and if anything’s amiss, just instruct your sister at any time.”
Muhua said nothing more, just smiled and accepted the tea from both.
When Yinhui returned, Muhua had just sent the two away, lounging on the couch admiring that fine Water Moon Gauze.
The pale moon-white silk shimmered silver-blue under the sun, hinting at green in the shade—a top-quality fabric.
Muhua caressed it fondly and thought, ‘To sell it would fetch at least a hundred taels per foot, and the whole bolt was a hundred feet—Tongjia’s family was truly rich!’