Chapter 105: Chapter 105

In fact, the Empress Dowager in Shoukang Palace reacted similarly to Imperial Consort Yi.

Stealing a glance at her nominal grandson nearby, the old Empress Dowager who had always disliked the Donggo clan showed an uncharacteristically warm attitude toward this granddaughter-in-law.

From start to finish, her tone remained full of concern. When the couple left, the gifts bestowed upon An Ning were nearly the most lavish ever given to any imperial princess consort—with the sole exceptions being the Crown Princess and the Fifth Princess Consort.

Imperial Consort Yi was even more demonstrative. Before their departure, she grasped her unlucky son's hand tightly:

"This princess consort of yours is clearly exceptional. Don't you dare act foolishly again—you must treat her with care and live properly together."

Finally turning a doting gaze toward An Ning:

"A-Ning, if this reckless boy ever misbehaves or wrongs you, just come to the palace. Your mother-in-law will surely stand up for you..."

Ah, such a beautiful princess consort... why did she have to marry Little Ninth...

The Fifth Princess Consort nearby: "..."

This visit not only lacked any anticipated difficulties but saw the palace's most influential figures being exceptionally generous and friendly.

Only her nominal husband's dark expression throughout suggested someone might think An Ning had desecrated his ancestral graves!

The moment their carriage stopped, he stormed off angrily without a trace, remaining absent for several days until the customary post-wedding home visit.

But did An Ning care?

Certainly not. In truth, as an imperial princess consort—the principal wife no less—her life couldn't be more comfortable.

The manor had no high-ranking concubines, only extremely docile ones. No in-laws to serve above her, no troublesome stepchildren below to worry about. The vast Beizi Manor required minimal management.

With layered rules established, daily household affairs took less than fifteen minutes.

Even sleeping until midday drew no criticism from the household.

Even without her predecessor's daughter, An Ning wouldn't have bothered changing this marriage arrangement.

Why? She enjoyed respectable status without needing to grovel, faced no vexing mother-in-law daily, possessed a grand residence and ample assets for enjoyment, and currently maintained decent looks—these alone were rare privileges in this era.

As for the rest... in this place, forget it!

Sipping fruit nectar handed by a maid, An Ning lounged leisurely on a small boat amidst expansive lotus ponds.

With deft brushstrokes, she soon completed an exquisite Summer Lotus Harvest painting—azure skies, white clouds, gentle breezes, lotus leaves, fishing boats, and occasionally leaping koi carps. What tranquility!

Yin Tang arriving to witness this scene: "......"

So all this time, only he'd been stewing in anger?

As if this weren't enough, the tactless Tenth Prince whispered behind him:

"Damn, this is Ninth Sister-in-law?"

So beautiful—even celestial maidens couldn't compare! Especially now, she looked many times lovelier than during their palace meeting.

"Ninth Brother's truly blessed!"

"Ninth Sister-in-law clearly resembles an extraordinarily gentle celestial maiden—she must pamper you daily, right?"

The Tenth Prince murmured enviously.

Days passed uneventfully. Apart from her nominal husband's occasional inexplicable rages and subsequent returns for more frustration, An Ning's life remained blissfully peaceful.

Given her husband's openly speculated physical issues, fellow princess consorts treated her exceptionally kindly. Even the usually domineering Eighth Princess Consort, suspecting the truth alongside her husband, behaved rather sheepishly toward An Ning as a perceived victim.

After two years without pregnancy news from Ninth Prince's manor—mirroring the Eighth Prince's situation several streets away—they became the odd ones out.

Even the last-married Fourteenth Prince had recently hosted a celebratory full-month banquet!

Among all brothers, these two stood most conspicuously apart.

But unlike the previous life, with Ninth Prince's precedent, even though Yin Si dearly loved his princess consort and rarely visited concubines, infertility suspicions now fell mostly upon the Eighth Prince himself.

Some even speculated privately that years ago's epidemic might have affected more than just the unfortunate Ninth Prince—perhaps the Eighth Prince's robust childhood health masked symptoms or detection.

This theory gained surprising traction.

Even Emperor Kangxi harbored such suspicions, once summoning the Eighth Prince to Qianqing Palace for a full medical examination by assembled imperial physicians.

That day saw every notable white-bearded imperial doctor present, heads bowed low.

The verdict was naturally clean, but such humiliation would wound any man of this era profoundly.

Though Emperor Kangxi ordered secrecy to preserve his son's dignity, for a long time afterward, Yin Si sensed peculiar glances everywhere.

Now the Eighth Prince finally understood why years of effort yielded no reconciliation with Ninth Prince.

Such dignity-stripping matters would haunt any man forever.

Considering recent misfortunes, the Eighth Prince wearily massaged his temples.

But the gravest concern wasn't these—it was his imperial father's perception. Once the Emperor deemed him inadequate, certain ambitions would...

After lengthy contemplation, the Eighth Prince knocked heavily on his princess consort's door.

Whatever transpired between them, from that day forward, the Eighth Prince's manor reeked of medicinal herbs.

Breaking from his usual devotion, Yin Si now spent most nights with concubines—especially robust ones.

An Ning only noticed something amiss when, during gatherings, the heavily made-up Eighth Princess Consort Guo Luoluo still couldn't conceal her haggardness.

Did the Eighth Prince's methods work?

After a year's concerted efforts, his manor finally announced two concubines' simultaneous pregnancies.

Instantly, all eyes turned toward the still-barren Ninth Prince's residence.

Meanwhile, An Ning lounged idly on her daybed reviewing annual accounts. Hearing the news, she glanced at her nominal husband in feigned surprise:

"Oh~ no wonder Eighth Sister-in-law seemed so happy lately! With this timing, we'll need extra festival gifts by year's end!"

Truthfully, An Ning was genuinely astonished—children originally born in the forty-seventh year had arrived years early. But considering recent Eighth Prince maneuvers...

Well... not entirely surprising.

Making a light checkmark in her ledger, An Ning sighed:

Tsk! The downside of vast properties—such financial drains!

Especially with only outflows, no income.

Before she finished speaking, her husband's expression had already darkened completely.

Only after he disappeared did An Ning click her tongue:

Tsk! The legendary moving brotherly affection indeed!