Chapter 124: Chapter 124

With the Lantern Festival approaching, the streets were bustling with crowds everywhere, and all kinds of bright lanterns illuminated the entire avenue as if it were daytime. Among the crowds, golden-haired, blue-eyed foreigners in exotic attire could occasionally be seen bargaining with vendors in strange accents. The locals seemed already accustomed to this, with some quick-witted vendors even skillfully speaking a few words of "foreign tongue."

On a nearby pavilion, a mother and daughter with strikingly similar features were watching the dazzling fireworks display below with great interest. Between them sat an adorable little girl about eight or nine years old, wearing a rabbit fur hat, her bright eyes sparkling as she took in the lively scene on the street.

"It's so late already, why aren't Father and the others back yet!"

"Honestly, Father and the others! It's just a small lantern riddle, must they compete over it so fiercely!"

As if they weren't already old men! Holding her mother's hand, Yu Ludai couldn't help muttering under her breath. Beside her, An Ning chuckled and gave her daughter a sidelong glance.

"Just now, I don't know who it was who immediately took a fancy to that flower lantern at the neighboring stall."

As if the prince's mansion and princess's residence didn't already have countless beautiful styles - lavish, elegant, you name it... But that particular one, with its ship and ocean theme, even emitting faint sounds of waves upon closer listening, was indeed novel and interesting. No wonder her daughter liked it.

"Hehe, doesn't Mother like it too?"

As if she hadn't noticed Father glancing at Mother before going down earlier. Tugging at her mother's sleeve, Yu Ludai also couldn't help laughing.

Even at grandmother's age, the woman before her remained radiant and unrestrained, with hardly any traces of time on her face, her bright eyes as clear as ever. One look and you could tell she'd never suffered hardships in life, making her daughter-in-law Niohuru beside her gaze with envy, unconsciously hugging her four-year-old son tighter.

Downstairs, the lively riddle-guessing activities continued. When the father-in-law and son-in-law returned, it was already nearly half an hour later, holding precisely that lantern from across the street. But seeing the unconcealed dark expression on her husband's face, mother and daughter exchanged glances, realizing Father (her husband) must have lost.

Indeed, having lost to that unlucky son-in-law by a single character, and right in front of his wife and daughter, Yin Tang's face remained sour all evening. But this didn't stop mother and daughter from enjoying themselves. Though the crowds made it difficult to join the excitement below, it didn't prevent a constant stream of novel snacks and playthings from being delivered to their private booth.

On the way back, because the crowds were especially dense, their grandson E Lin, just off duty, specially brought twice the usual number of escorts.

In this era, childbirth was undoubtedly a life-threatening hurdle for women. When Yu Ludai gave birth, though much smoother than most, it still scared Yin Tang and Guwalgiya Zhaoshun half to death. Because of this, neither Yu Ludai nor her son-in-law had any thoughts of having a second child all these years.

The lively group returned to the mansion, after which mother and daughter continued their leisurely lives - sometimes boating and painting by the lake, discussing health recipes, other times admiring various interesting little trinkets sent from everywhere.

With increasing exchanges between the Qing Dynasty and foreign countries in recent years, all sorts of strange artifacts and ideas considered bizarre by contemporaries inevitably found their way over.

One day, Yin Tang suddenly said with profound eyes:

"Princess Consort, did you know? Today at the palace banquet, I saw a female countess. Turns out in those barbarian lands, women can inherit titles too..."

Yes, not only can they inherit titles, they can inherit thrones too! Giving him a meaningful glance, An Ning responded noncommittally:

"So what does my lord think?"

In the darkness, Yin Tang said nothing, as if he'd just mentioned it casually. But after so many years of marriage, just looking at his expression told An Ning he probably wouldn't let this go easily. After all, her husband had always been stubborn and relentless - what belonged to him, he'd rather destroy than let fall into others' hands.

Nephews? What did they have to do with Ninth Prince Yin Tang?

Especially in recent years, as elder brothers passed away one after another, few remaining princes were as capable yet lacking in ambition as Yin Tang. With the national treasury growing increasingly ample, his title had long been restored to Prince many years ago.

To let such substantial benefits go to others - with his personality, he'd probably die with eyes wide open.

Instructing servants to upgrade the most popular jade beauty creams at Zhenyan Pavilion, An Ning contentedly sipped her freshly brewed health tea. When guests come from afar, shouldn't we ensure these beauty enthusiasts aren't too disappointed?

"Host, after all your covert scheming over the years, was it just for this title?"

First promoting maritime trade through pillow talk, even secretly prompting Britain's early visit through trade years ago...

Well, a Prince title is indeed quite valuable.

"But host, how do you know seeing more advanced foreign technology won't make those above enforce stricter isolation?"

Like the original Qianlong Emperor did.

"Whether it succeeds or not, we must try, no?"

Moreover, An Ning chuckled: "System, do you know who in the original Qing Dynasty was most interested in Western technology until Qianlong's reign?"

Without waiting for the system's question, An Ning sighed softly.

"Why do you think a busy feudal emperor, usually so self-restrained, would be so obsessed with mathematics and science? Even including Western studies in the princes' education."

Purely out of interest? An Ning shook her head - don't be naive.

In truth, technological isolation was mainly aimed at commoners and Han Chinese. Kangxi himself valued these greatly, even spending untold silver on private "research centers." He understood better than most the power and potential dangers of Western technology.

While other princes might scoff at such concerns, Yinreng, raised under Kangxi's personal tutelage, certainly wouldn't. Especially in recent years, as Grand Emperor with time on his hands yet unwilling to meddle in politics and trouble his son, Yinreng had tinkered with these things constantly in his gardens, gaining deeper appreciation of their significance.

Temporary peace with endless future troubles, or striving for survival?

The current emperor's actions already made the choice clear, didn't they?

"System, haven't you noticed Han Army Banner women, even pure Han women, are increasingly appearing in princes' households recently?"

"Want to bet how soon the ban on Manchu-Han intermarriage will be completely abolished?"

Huh? What does that have to do with anything? The system scratched its head in confusion.

Anyway, after that day, An Ning continued her leisurely life with her daughter - eating, playing, occasionally making beauty products. Meanwhile, Yin Tang, who had just retired and begun enjoying his golden years, became busy again - not only frequently contacting heirless senior clansmen, but repeatedly petitioning to pass his title to his daughter, even willing to most of his wealth and princely privileges.

Most people just laughed it off, thinking Old Ninth (Ninth Uncle) had truly lost his mind. But seeing the elderly Ninth Uncle tirelessly campaigning year after year, even Hongxi softened somewhat. Finally, in the eighth year of continuous petitions, his attitude began to waver...