Chapter 107: Chapter 107

Perhaps stimulated by that day's events, for several months until the end of the year, the Ninth Prince was so preoccupied that he even neglected his outside business ventures. Aside from his obligatory attendance at the Ministry of Works, he spent his days constantly studying various chess manuals.

Truly, this lord's temper was quite impressive...

After a brief moment of surprise, An Ning didn't pay it much mind.

The daily schedule for Qing Dynasty princes was terrifyingly rigorous - they had to attend morning study sessions at the imperial study before dawn, learning in Manchu, Han, and Mongolian languages, plus horsemanship, archery, martial arts, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and even natural sciences. Their total annual vacation amounted to a pitiful six days.

Even on New Year's Eve, they had to miserably continue their studies. To make matters worse, their imperial father was an absolute "tiger dad" who frequently tested his sons. Falling short meant being scolded until one's head spun.

Under such an education system, these princes naturally became exceptional individuals. Take her current husband for example - he was fluent in seven or eight languages, with excellent skills in calligraphy, painting, and chess.

How could someone like him not be proud and arrogant?

An Ning listened to such comments with half an ear. Whether he immersed himself in chess or other pursuits mattered little. With the great upheaval of the forty-seventh year approaching in just a few years, the situation was already growing tense. Staying quietly at home was better than causing trouble outside.

In this lifetime, perhaps because they had no children and didn't need vast sums to support his dear Eighth Brother, her husband's business activities remained small-scale hobbies rather than crossing lines that might invite censure from imperial censors.

Wasn't this perfectly fine?

Biting into freshly baked crab roe pastries, An Ning comfortably reclined on her daybed, letting her maids carefully apply freshly extracted rose essence to her hands...

As the new year began, aside from occasional palace visits to see her mother-in-law, An Ning's comfortable life remained unchanged. In contrast, Imperial Consort Yi couldn't help sighing whenever she saw her daughter-in-law, who always appeared full of vitality and in excellent health.

If she had held some hope earlier - after all, difficult didn't mean completely impossible - these past few years had brought Guo Luoluo to utter despair.

If even her robust daughter-in-law couldn't conceive, then her Ninth Son... ah!

Remembering how happy Consort Liang had looked at yesterday's festival banquet made Imperial Consort Yi's expression darken further.

Fortunately, her Ninth Son had come to his senses in recent years and stopped associating with that jinx. Otherwise... hmph!

Thinking this didn't prevent her from affectionately chatting with her daughter-in-law. Without needing any orders, palace attendants automatically served tea and snacks - all prepared according to An Ning's preferences.

Seeing this preferential treatment, the Fifth Princess Consort nearby couldn't hide her jealousy. Both childless, compared to her sister-in-law's carefree life... For a moment, she secretly wished misfortune had befallen her own husband instead!

The forty-third year of Kangxi's reign arrived quietly. If there was any major event this year...

In June, an unexpected high fever took the life of eight-year-old Honghui at the Fourth Beile's residence.

When Honghui first fell ill, An Ning and other sisters-in-law had visited. Perhaps because his parents were too young and closely related at his birth, the child had never been particularly healthy. That he survived this long was entirely due to the Fourth Princess Consort's constant care.

Watching the small figure on the sickbed gradually lose all signs of life, Ula Nara cried heartrendingly while the Fourth Prince barely contained his grief beside her.

Clearly, losing his hoped-for eldest son struck hard at the Fourth Beile, who already had few children.

Yet within two months, the palace sent two new concubines, citing his lack of heirs.

Throughout the funeral, only the Fourth Princess Consort suffered true heartbreak.

Right after burying her only son, she had to brace herself to accommodate the two new ladies bestowed by the palace.

Within months, the usually dignified and gentle Fourth Princess Consort became several times more haggard, her qipao hanging loosely on her frame.

Seeing this, even sisters-in-law who often quarreled couldn't help but sympathize.

On the return journey, An Ning leaned lazily against the carriage wall, silent for a long time, even abandoning her favorite warm jade chess pieces. She couldn't be bothered with her husband's attempts at conversation.

After numerous failed attempts to engage her, Yin Tang finally lost patience:

"Donggo Clan, be reasonable! If you're angry about Fourth Brother's disgraceful behavior, why take it out on me?"

Clicking his tongue, he twirled his teacup, his normally arrogant eyes filled with disdain:

"Only someone as spineless as Fourth Brother would accept this. If it were me, whether sent by palace ladies or even the Emperor himself, I'd kick them out!"

Only a fool would believe such nonsense.

An Ning couldn't help rolling her eyes before lowering them again.

Truthfully, watching a sweet child who often softly called her "auntie" pass away did sadden her. But given ten thousand chances, she knew she still wouldn't intervene.

With so many imperial physicians and attendants around during Honghui's critical illness, and with the Fourth Princess Consort's meticulous care ensuring everything was checked, even with confidence in her medical skills, An Ning would never risk herself for an unrelated person.

As for using supposedly inherited or fortuitously obtained miraculous medicines - human greed was endless. One act of kindness would invite endless expectations.

Have one pill, and people assume you have countless more.

Unless Honghui and future children never faced life-threatening situations, this would eventually become a disaster.

All to befriend a future empress dowager?

Gratitude was the least valuable thing to those in power.

Most importantly - why should she?

Remembering her original self's helpless daughter in her previous life, An Ning felt cold. Hadn't that girl been sweet? Knowing her family's precarious situation, the teenager had smiled at all these elders to avoid causing trouble. Had even one person extended a helping hand then...

Perhaps because the time for her own daughter's arrival drew near, An Ning found her emotions unusually disturbed.