jdhmnovel Chapter 264 Fang Nanxi's Transmigration to the Qing Dynasty 18
Chapter 264 Fang Nanxi's Transmigration to the Qing Dynasty 18
The wheels of history did not deviate from their predetermined course, and the Fourth Prince smoothly became the banner lord of the Plain White Banner. As the Fourth Prince's subordinates, the Nian family, in order to show their loyalty and for various other reasons, received an imperial decree from the emperor ordering their daughter to enter the Fourth Prince's residence and be made a secondary consort.
Fang Nanxi wasn't too surprised when she heard the news. However, the other women in the household were quite astonished. They knew that a prince was only allowed two concubines by custom, and now another one had been added.
Moreover, the Nian family held immense power in the previous dynasty, and Nian Gengyao was highly regarded by the emperor. This young lady from the Nian family was clearly no ordinary person.
Because it was a marriage bestowed by the Emperor, unlike the promotion from a princess to a secondary consort, Lady Nian's entry into the mansion was accompanied by a grand wedding. A day in advance, the Fourth Prince's mansion was decorated with lanterns and streamers, bustling with activity. Red lanterns hung throughout the courtyard, and servants bustled about, creating a lively scene.
Fang Nanxi sat quietly in Shaoguang Courtyard, enjoying this rare tranquility. Unexpectedly, Princess Niohuru, Princess Geng, and Princess Wu, who rarely visited Shaoguang Courtyard, came together.
Fang Nanxi instructed Xingluo and Qiuzhu to serve tea and some snacks. The group sat down together and began to chat.
"Sister Fang, just look at how festively decorated the mansion is; you can tell how much Fourth Master values this marriage." Wu Gege said casually, but her eyes were fixed on Fang Nanxi.
The current Princess Wu is no longer the arrogant and domineering woman she was when she first entered the manor. Having been out of favor for many years, her temperament has become much calmer.
Fang Nanxi smiled but did not reply.
Seeing this, Geng Gege quickly chimed in, "Indeed, no concubine in the manor has ever had such a grand wedding. Even the weddings of some princes' primary wives are probably not as grand. It seems that Lady Nian is highly respected by the Fourth Prince."
Geng Gege was filled with resentment. She had thought that at most a few more princesses would be brought in this year, but she never expected that the emperor would directly bestow a marriage upon her, sending her a concubine. She had been in the household for many years, but now she was being overshadowed by a concubine who was younger than her. How could she swallow this insult?
“Gege Geng, watch your words! This is the Emperor’s decree. Are you going to object? I’m no longer a young girl and can’t compete with the newcomers. Now, I’m content to take care of the children in peace at Shaoguang Courtyard.”
Fang Nanxi knew perfectly well that these three men clearly wanted to use her as a weapon, but she wasn't that stupid.
Geng Gege was surprised that Fang Nanxi would say that. But then she thought about it. Fang Nanxi had three sons, the most in the mansion. And the Fourth Prince often came to Shaoguang Courtyard to visit the sons. So there was no need for her to worry about these trivial matters.
"Sister, don't be angry. We were just worried about you," Wu Gege quickly tried to smooth things over.
"Worried?" Fang Nanxi looked at Wu Gege with a puzzled expression.
"You should worry about yourselves more. I have to take care of the Fifth Prince and the Sixth Prince, so I won't keep you any longer." Fang Nanxi gave them the order to leave without any politeness.
The three princesses were all intelligent, and seeing this, they got up to take their leave. As soon as they left Shaoguang Courtyard, Princess Wu glanced disdainfully at Princess Niohuru and Princess Geng, then turned and went back to Qingfeng Courtyard.
Geng Gege was furious because she didn't achieve her goal. This time, it was Niu Hulu Gege who suggested coming to find Fang Nanxi. However, at the crucial moment, Niu Hulu Gege remained silent, which made Geng Gege resent her.
A few days after the three visited Fang Nanxi, Madam Nian entered the mansion.
The next day, when paying respects, although it was not yet the usual time for paying respects, according to custom, when a new bride enters the mansion, the wife will summon everyone in the mansion to pay their respects.
Fang Nanxi arrived at the main courtyard and found that everyone in the mansion, except for the Fujin (principal wife), was already there. Even Li Shi, who always liked to arrive early, had arrived early as well. Fang Nanxi glanced at Li Shi in surprise, thinking to herself that she would soon meet Nian Shi, the "true love" of the Fourth Prince in history.
The appointed time arrived, and the Fujin emerged from the inner chamber expressionlessly. Unexpectedly, Nian Shi was late; was she trying to intimidate them, the "older" women?
The princess glanced at everyone and said in a calm tone, "Fourth Master just sent someone to say that Lady Nian will come over later."
"Hmph, everyone has to work their way up step by step, why should she be late?" Li said sourly, her eyes full of jealousy.
When Li entered the mansion, she was just a concubine. Because she served the Fourth Prince with all her heart, she was first promoted to Gege (a high-ranking concubine), and then she gave birth to three sons and one daughter for the Fourth Prince, and was then promoted to the rank of Consort.
Because it was a promotion, not that she was a secondary consort from the beginning, she did not have a wedding ceremony. Fang Nanxi was in the same situation, so Lady Li had no jealousy towards them.
But as soon as Lady Nian arrived, she possessed something that Lady Li lacked, and Lady Li harbored deep hatred for Lady Nian from the very beginning. However, now that she had fallen out of favor, she lacked confidence and dared not easily engage in a struggle.
"Li, watch your manners!" the Fujin scolded sternly. She also disliked Nian, after all, the Fourth Prince had made an exception for Nian from the beginning, which was undoubtedly a challenge to the authority of the primary Fujin.
Without the Fourth Prince's favor, Lady Li dared not challenge the authority of the Princess Consort. After all, the Third Prince was not yet an adult, and she worried that the Princess Consort might harm her son, so she remained silent. Fang Nanxi paid no attention to these disputes, and the other princesses dared not utter a sound.
Seeing the somewhat awkward atmosphere, the Fujin, as usual, inquired about the household's offspring. Half an hour later, Nian Shi finally arrived at the main courtyard, accompanied by the Fourth Prince. The Fourth Prince, as was customary, had a three-day holiday to marry a concubine.
Everyone saw Fourth Master enter, with Madam Nian following behind.
Fang Nanxi carefully examined Nian Shi and saw that she had a graceful figure, like a willow swaying in the wind. She was indeed a beauty, but it was not entirely true that she was much prettier than Li Shi when she was young. The two were about the same.
Fang Nanxi couldn't help but wonder why the Fourth Prince favored Lady Nian so much.
"Greetings to Fourth Master! May Fourth Master be blessed!" Everyone stood up and bowed.
"Rise. Fourth Master, sit at the head of the table, and your wife sit to your right."
"My lady, I didn't mean to be late. You've always been kind, so you certainly won't hold it against a mere concubine like me, right?" Lady Nian suddenly spoke, her voice soft and sweet, while also giving the Fourth Prince a flirtatious look.
Fang Nanxi couldn't help but think to herself, "No wonder Fourth Master likes Nian Shi, it turns out he's falling for this green tea's tricks."
She turned her head away, unwilling to look at Nian's affected manner any longer. She thought to herself, "Could it be that the Nian family had long planned to 'send their daughter' to rely on the prince, which is why they raised Nian to be like this? She doesn't look like she's being groomed to be the principal wife."
What could the Princess Consort say? She turned to the Fourth Prince and said, feigning magnanimity, "In that case, let's begin the tea ceremony."
Then, Lady Nian knelt on the prayer mat and respectfully served tea to the Fujin (the wife of the deceased).
Seeing that the matter was settled, the Fourth Prince got up to take his leave. Although the Emperor had exempted him from a three-day holiday, the Fourth Prince couldn't stay idle and still had to go to the front courtyard to handle some affairs.
The Fujin's reaction just now made Lady Nian even more disgusted. Not wanting to waste any more words, she asked Lanxin to introduce Lady Nian to everyone in the mansion. When Fang Nanxi was introduced, Lady Nian deliberately glanced at Fang Nanxi a few more times, which puzzled Fang Nanxi.
"I've long heard of Sister Fang's great name. You've been in the household for many years and have given birth to twin princes for the Fourth Prince. You are truly blessed. I also hope to have such good fortune as you," said Madam Nian with a smile.
"Since Consort Nian has just entered the manor, she will surely conceive soon," Fang Nanxi said perfunctorily.
As for whether the child can be raised successfully, that's another matter. In Fang Nanxi's opinion, Nian Shi was thin and frail, like a premature baby, and probably not in good health.
After the men bowed, the princess dismissed them.