Summer Days (Part 1)

  "Can you give me a nourishing Yulan fruit?" Hongyou's face was pale and his eyes were pleading as he looked at Yunzhu.

  Yunzhu sighed: "Fifth brother, Yulan fruit only has nourishing effects, it's not a spiritual medicine." As she spoke, she glanced at Suwen behind her, and Suwen handed over a small pouch with five bats embroidered on it. Yunzhu took it and pulled out three fruits from inside, putting them in his hand.

  "I know," Hong Duan said in a low voice, "thank you Fourth Brother and Sister-in-law." He turned around and let the small eunuch and a palace maid go to cook porridge to feed Yongying.

  "What did the imperial physician say?"

  The five blessings bring tears of joy.

  Hong Yu said, "If the fever doesn't break, even if he survives, his brain will be damaged... Surviving, his body will also... Yong Ying was originally weak-bodied." In the imperial family, it's not uncommon for children to die young before the age of ten, but when it happens to one's own son, Hong Yu still feels a sharp pain in his heart. It wasn't an accident that Yong Ying caught a cold, it was man-made, unfortunately, before he could investigate, the palace maid who took care of Yong Ying had already taken her own life, and even if he were to kill all the wet nurses and other servants, he couldn't bring back his son's life.

  Looking at Yongying's small face, which was red from the burn, Yunzhu reached out to touch his forehead and palm, and was startled by the scorching temperature. Seeing Wufu Jin constantly changing the ice-cooled wet towel for him, she thought for a moment and said: "I heard that strong liquor can lower body temperature, hmm, it's best to use white wine... but using this method on such a small child is also very dangerous."

  "Danger? Will it be more dangerous than now?" Wu Fu Jin muttered to herself, turning her head to Wu Ayi beside her: "Ayi, go quickly—" Yunzhu was famous for taking care of the sick. She was really muddled, only hating that she had been busy dealing with those foxy women and forgot that her son was her foundation, people around her son were bribed and she didn't know at all... Regretting endlessly, self-blaming, suffering, and desperately taking care of her son, but again forgetting that Qian Xi's second aunt might have a way to save her son. She was really... stupid!

  "Alas." Wu's nanny was also red-eyed, wiping away tears, and unexpectedly forgot her manners, turning around to rush out the door, followed by a chaotic shouting.

  Hongli slightly furrowed his brow.

  "Imperial Physician Zhao?" Imperial Physician Zhao's face also looked somewhat unpleasant. Yong Ying, the young prince, originally had a weak body and he didn't dare to use overly potent medicine on him... This fever just wouldn't break... He had already made the worst preparations. Hearing the Fourth Prince call out, he replied: "Your servant is here."

  "Does liquor cooling have any harm to the human body?" Hongli asked directly. Zhao Taai furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before saying, "The young prince has no other choice now, using liquor to cool down should be fine, but we must be careful not to lower the temperature too quickly..."

  Yunzhu looked around and saw that the windows were not open, and the curtains at the door were hanging down. Fresh air was coming in through the gaps between the curtains and the floor, so she said: "Don't let too many people crowd around the bed. When the wine comes, Brother and Sister-in-law Wu will use it to apply to Yongying's neck, armpits, chest, back, thighs, knees, and elbows. Then they'll cover him with a quilt and let him sweat."

  "You sit down first." Hongli didn't know where he had brought a chair from, looking at her standing there with a big belly, he felt sorry for her. Yunzhu smiled at him and sat down.

  At this time, Wu Ayi brought wine and came, Wufu Jin and Hongyu personally used a towel to wipe Yongying's body... After a while, Yongying's forehead and body were sweating profusely, but the expression on his face seemed less painful.

  "Thank you, Fourth Aunt." Hong Yu let out a sigh of relief. Zhao Taishi's heart also felt greatly relieved.

  "This is right, Dr. Zhao's words make sense. When Yongying has finished sweating, don't move him out of the quilt immediately, but gradually expose his limbs, or simply hold him to change to other pillows. When he wakes up a bit more, you can give him a warm water bath, which helps lower the temperature and also let him drink some warm boiled water to replenish lost fluids."

  After sitting for a while, looking at Yongying who was indeed better, Hongli finally took Yünzhū and bid farewell.

  Farewell to Dong Sansuo, Yunzhu is indeed moved by something in her heart. Wu Fu Jin is once again deeply immersed in her love for Hong Yu, and Yong Ying's situation is very dangerous. In the harem with many women, it was not easy for the eldest son to survive, let alone having a mother who is absent-minded.

  But Wu Fu Jin is like this, it's an experience and life that a young woman should have, after all, her mentality is different.

  Hongli was deeply moved in her heart. Comparing the methods of her biological mother and stepmother, as well as Yunzhu and Wu Zaku's attitudes towards the inner house, it can be seen that women from noble families are more dignified, calm, and elegant in their treatment of people and handling of crises. Those from humble backgrounds may have good personalities or be beautiful and talented, but their vision and temperament are still inferior.

  If it weren't for Wu Zha Ku's infatuation with eating vinegar and dealing with other women of Hong Yu, how would Yong Ying suffer this injustice?

  The women in the back house are indeed not considerate, and Hong Yu's concubine Zhang Jia and that princess Wu Su Li are vying for favor without regard for the young children's lives; as for the women in their own back house, they are even more ruthless... If it weren't for Yunzhu's precautions and good luck, they would have fallen into the trap.

  He glanced at Yunzhu beside him and found that her small face was tense, losing its usual calmness, and he couldn't help but feel a little anxious: "What's wrong, is something uncomfortable? Is it too hot?" Hopefully she didn't catch some kind of illness from the East Third Dormitory, or else he would think it wasn't worth staying there.

  Yunzhu gently stroked her belly and said, "I hope Yongying will get better." After becoming pregnant, she had become more sentimental. This Yongying was originally short-lived in history at this time... She suddenly thought of the second son and daughter born to Empress Xiaoxian in history, but in the end, only one Princess Jing lived on.

  "Don't worry, our son will be born safely, grow up, get married and have children, and live a life free of disasters and illnesses until old age." He smoothed the hair at her temples and said softly, "Don't think too much, huh?"

  It's not right to think too much, her fate is in her own hands. She nodded and thought of his words again, losing her smile: "No disaster or illness? This life is also too good."

  "It's all because of the good fortune of giving birth to our children." He said matter-of-factly, seeing her nodding and shaking her head from time to time, feeling that her thoughts were as changeable as the clouds in the sky, couldn't help but smile, remembering what Dr. Su had said before, that it was normal for pregnant women's emotions to be volatile, as long as they weren't too intense, they wouldn't harm the fetus.

  He sent Yunzhu back to Qianxi's second residence and said, "I'm going out of the palace for a trip. I'll discuss with Chun and Shang about inspecting and renovating the straight river course. Is there anything you want me to bring for him?"

  Yunzhu shook her head, "Wait until you leave and I'll give you the things I've prepared. Can you come back by the end of July? If not, I'll go to Ama's 54th birthday party myself."

  Hongli glanced at her surprisingly big belly and hid his concern, "I'll try to rush back to accompany you together."

  "It's official business." She smiled slightly, and under the bright sunshine, she was as elegant and white as a branch of white orchid, so much so that one would hate not to pluck it off and tuck it into their bosom.

  "Go ahead." He hadn't even left yet, but he was already reluctant to part with her, feeling uneasy about not being by her side. Turning his head, he instructed Suwen and Mingxin standing beside her, "Take good care of Furen."

  "It is." Suwen and Ming Xin Fu Shen Dao.

  Yunzhu summoned Guo Mama, "Mama, send someone to tidy up the houses next to Liu's and Zhang's. The Imperial Concubine has bestowed a serving maid on Fourth Brother."

  It must be the Jin family, and they actually followed the rules of a concubine. Gu Yini looked at her calm master and happily turned to arrange people. Ling Huan followed her out, although she was just a concubine, but considering the master's previous attention, the nails that should be hammered in still need to be placed, it's better to put a low-key little palace girl in second place, as for the close ones, use Gao Shi and Fu Ling'a's people, one has no good feelings towards the package clothes who climbed onto the master's bed, and the other is deeply wary of women who come to compete for favor.

  Gao's family had found an excuse to summon Dongmei, who was known for her honesty and diligence, a few days ago. They planned to have her take care of the child in Gao's wife's womb... Ling Xiu felt delighted.

  The next day

  Yunzhu wore a pale pink cloud-patterned jacket with gold and silver thread embroidery, double-layer peony flowers on the front, and a pair of butterfly-shaped hairpins made entirely of precious stones on her head. Her ears were adorned with gilded silver earrings hanging with red gemstones that sparkled like her lip color. Suwen helped her put on a long, jade-inlaid, beaded, and gemstone-encrusted fingernail guard, saying: "Master is truly beautiful!"

  Soft and delicate, charming and elegant, refined and warm, enough to surpass that fox spirit.

  Yunzhu knew what she was thinking, smiled and said: "Let's go." A woman's beauty is only for herself, but she wouldn't say it out loud to discourage the positivity of those around her. In this palace, without some fun to pass the time, life would be dull.

  Upon arriving at the main hall, with a voice of "The mistress has arrived", everyone including Gao's family stood up. Only when Yunzhu sat down on the central throne did she walk into the hall and pay her respects: "I, your servant, wish you good health, Mistress, may you have good fortune."

  "Sit down." After they returned to their seats, Yonghui, who was already six years old, came forward and paid respects to Yunzhu: "Your son greets you, Stepmother, wishing you good fortune."

  "Alright, come here." Yunzhu had Yonghuan walk over to her side and asked him if he had been eating and sleeping well these past few days. After receiving a serious response from the little servant, she turned to Fuchun and said: "Yonghuan's body is not very robust, on days when the weather changes, one must pay extra attention to his attire and sleep. If the attendants are careless, send someone to inform Guo Mama and have them take care of it."

  "Yes." Fu Cha replied respectfully.

  "In a while, I'll get some soft and thin fabric for you to make some cool undergarments and robes for Yongheng. It's getting hotter and hotter, and he's growing up, and now he has to go to the upper study room to read books, don't let him get heatstroke." Yunzhu smiled and stroked Yongheng's head, and handed him some fresh pastries to eat.

  "The Empress Dowager is kind and generous to the concubines, and also loving towards Little A'ge. " Su Bao Rou said, stroking her belly which had already started moving, thinking that having such a legitimate empress dowager wasn't bad after all. When she entered the palace, she couldn't bring anything with her, let alone a dowry; apart from what Xi Guifei had given her in the past, she only had the monthly allowance and the various brocades, satins and fabrics that Yunzhu had bestowed upon the people of the inner palace since summer, which had really helped alleviate many difficulties for her.

  It also solved the problem of having materials in Gao Lü Weiwu's house that couldn't be used.

  Yunzhu and Hongli were still thinking about how to get rid of her harmful things without alarming her, but unexpectedly, a fire broke out and burned most of them.

  Gaolü Weichao didn't know how the fire started after several days, but Yunzhu was very clear that this was the first stumbling block set by Fucha Fulina for Gaolü Weichao. Gaolü Weichao, who was more than four months pregnant, was so frightened by the big fire that she almost fell down in a flurry.

  As for why Yunzhu was so clear, it was because when he sensed Fuling's movements, the Lingzhu arranged for people in the Gaolouweixuan courtyard to give the executioner a lot of convenience.

  Gaoluo Wei realized what had happened under Fulinga's mockery, and knew she had been calculated. She was so angry that she almost vomited blood. Even if it was the Gao family, sending such a large number of tribute gifts with "extra ingredients" to the palace, and ensuring they arrived safely in her hands was not easy, okay? Now they've been burned?!

  It's just a matter of time, but for now, she can't do anything to Fu Lingya. Firstly, there is no evidence, and secondly, she is still pregnant herself, so it would be foolish to provoke Fu Lingya now. Who made her use all sorts of tricks when Fu Lingya was pregnant? She should endure it! Moreover, she glanced at Su Bao Rou who was quietly calm, feeling that there was another threat, and couldn't let her guard down...

  Yunzhu told Hongli the "truth" she had investigated, and he was speechless! After a long time, he said to Yunzhu: "Don't bother with the remaining materials, anyway they were lightly poisoned, they still have decades of life left, as long as we can handle things without stirring up trouble, it's fine."

  For palace women who survive by vying for favor, competing in beauty and charm is the focus of their lives. Having new fabrics to make the latest fashions is not something they would think about wearing old clothes to show off their concern for the country and its people, especially when the men they serve are not those who mistreat themselves.

  This point, Hong Li was also well aware of it.

  "Fu Jin is naturally good." Korieute's smile carried a different meaning. Yunzhu's eyes narrowed, and suddenly an idea emerged in her mind - could it be that this Korieute knew about the Yuegencao, or was she just aware of the difference in fabrics?

  Putting down her guess, Yunzhu put down the white orchid tea in her hand and said: "Today, I will introduce another person to you all, Guo Yatou, is she here?"

  The news of Jin's arrival had been known to everyone a few days ago. When Yunzhu said this, their eyes all lit up, especially Coriander. In the dark eye sockets, a sharp light flashed, and she thought that in the eyes of Xi Guifei, she was still okay. Unexpectedly, others didn't think highly of her at all. She wanted to see how Jin was "warm and considerate, good at serving people".

  "Waiting outside." Gu's mother replied.

  "Let her in."

  "Hmm."

  Jinli, dressed in a lotus-colored soft satin cheongsam with a jade clasp, wore a pearl-embroidered flower on her head and pearl earrings. She walked gently into the hall and paid respects to Yunque: "Servant Jinli greets Fourth Mistress, wishing Fourth Mistress great fortune."

  "Come on. Come, let's get to know the ladies present. This is Jinzhai, a concubine given to me by the Imperial Concubine, everyone say hello and we'll get along well from now on."

  "Yes." The crowd responded, their eyes shooting towards the new concubine like arrows. Liu and Zhang were particularly resentful, as they were already two years older than Emperor Qianlong and not exactly stunning beauties. They had finally managed to get pregnant after serving the emperor for half a year, and now Gao was trying to win him over with their help, preventing him from favoring Fuca and Keliyete. This was their best chance to get pregnant and secure their future... And then this delicate and charming Jin appeared out of nowhere, snatching food from their mouths? How infuriating!

  Gao Lu Wei couldn't help but stare at Jin Shi, and had to admit that this Jin Shi was indeed a unique beauty. Setting aside her tender age, Jin Shi's figure was slender and proportionate, with hair as black as a raven's feathers, skin as white as snow, eyebrows like the finest ink, eyes of extreme beauty, exuding an air of elegance and refinement, a nose that was straight and elegant, and lips that were clearly defined, making them even more alluring in their innocence. Although her facial features had not yet fully developed, it was clear that she possessed a deeper, more refined beauty than other women, giving off an aura of purity and loveliness.

  This is absolutely a formidable opponent! She told herself in her heart, she must take advantage of the situation before she gains a foothold, otherwise when she grows up, she will be in danger!

  Gao Lü Mi, who was proud of her beauty and considered herself unmatched except by the eldest imperial concubine, disliked seeing women more beautiful than herself appear in Qian Xi's second residence, especially those with unique charm.

  Yunzhu previously only knew through materials that Jinshi looked okay, now looking at her, she indeed has the characteristics of a Korean beauty, but that's about it. In this era of advanced information, I've seen too many natural beauties, plastic surgery beauties and made-up beauties, so Jinshi can only be considered above average.

  "Afterwards, you will live in the left wing of the second courtyard with Liu and Zhang. If there's anything or if you need something, just look for Gu. She'll take care of it if she can. Remember, once you enter the West Wing, you must follow its rules: respect your superiors, be polite, and get along harmoniously with your sisters... However, if someone bullies me, I won't let them off easily either. Did you all hear clearly?"

  "Yes." Yun Zhu's eyes lightly swept across the crowd, and everyone involuntarily shuddered in their hearts, bowing their heads to respond.