“Clack!”
“I win!”
In the small reception hall of Yonghe Palace, Shulan and her guests—Noble Lady Daijia and Noble Lady Wanliuha, who had braved the snow to visit—were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Because gambling for money was forbidden in the palace, they had strictly enforced a different punishment: the loser had to stick paper slips on their face.
Since there weren’t enough players, even Jinhua, Shulan’s personal maid, had been dragged into the game.
The mahjong set on the table had been specially commissioned by Shulan through the Imperial Household Department some time ago.
She had originally thought simple bamboo tiles would suffice.
Instead, the Imperial Household Department had given her quite a surprise.
The mahjong tiles were exquisitely carved from ivory.
Even as their owner, Shulan couldn’t help thinking that if this set survived for a few hundred years, her descendants would probably become wealthy just by inheriting it.
“Daijia, you’re hopeless at this game. Five of Myriads!”
Shulan tossed out a tile while gleefully taunting her opponent.
Three paper slips were stuck to Daijia’s face, making her look as though she had grown a pair of ridiculous little mustaches. She frowned deeply at the tiles in her hand, hesitating over her next move.
“This game is so difficult,” she muttered.
Noble Lady Wanliuha sat beside her, giggling and occasionally throwing out teasing remarks to disrupt everyone’s concentration.
Jinhua was so nervous that her palms had begun to sweat. She played each tile cautiously, terrified of making a mistake.
“Jinhua, stop being so tense. It’s not like you’ll lose part of your monthly stipend if you lose the game.”
Watching the three of them agonize over their hands, Shulan shook her head and leaned back in her chair, casually picking up a cup of milk tea from beside her.
At present, salty milk tea was the standard beverage in the palace, but Shulan—accustomed to modern sweet milk tea—simply couldn’t get used to it.
So she had ordered the kitchen to make a sweet version instead.
A gilded brazier burned warmly beside the table, with several sweet potatoes roasting inside.
Each player also had a food box nearby containing warm milk custard and candied hawthorn skewers.
After agonizing for quite some time, Daijia finally played a Red Dragon tile.
Shulan’s eyes lit up instantly.
I’ve been waiting for that!
Just as she was about to lay down her hand and announce her victory, a small figure suddenly appeared from nowhere and tugged at her sleeve.
Half her tiles scattered across the table.
Even the crucial Red Dragon tile ended up in the little troublemaker’s hand.
Holding the tile against his cheek, the child burst into delighted giggles.
Shulan couldn’t decide whether to laugh or scold him.
“Where did you come from, you little rascal? Every day, you ruin your mother’s winning hand!”
“Hehe… M-Mother.”
Little Six might have been young, but he was already remarkably good at reading expressions.
Clutching the tile, he pushed off with his tiny feet, and his baby walker carried him several steps away.
“This child…”
Shulan shook her head helplessly and spread her hands toward the others.
“The tiles are all mixed up now. I guess we can’t continue.”
Daijia had clearly been waiting for those words.
“What a pity,” she said quickly, sweeping her tiles together.
Despite her words, her actions were suspiciously swift.
Wanliuha laughed.
“You’ve been waiting for her to say that all along. You should thank Sixth Prince for rescuing you.”
“Exactly! Besides, I brought a gift today.”
Turning to her maid, Daijia said, “Zhilan, bring over the present for Sixth Prince.”
Curious, Shulan looked over as Zhilan stepped forward carrying a box.
Opening it with a smile, Daijia revealed a set of children’s undergarments.
“I don’t have anything particularly valuable,” she said modestly. “I made this little outfit in my spare time. I hope Sixth Prince can wear it.”
Shulan admired the tiny clothes.
“Everyone in the palace knows your needlework is second to none. Just look at these fine stitches—they’re perfect for a little boy who loves to run around.”
Wanliuha leaned over to admire them as well, clicking her tongue in appreciation.
She certainly didn’t possess such skill herself.
Without waiting for instructions, Jinhua quickly took the gift and carried it into the inner chambers.
Meanwhile, Little Six sat nearby, keeping a wary eye on Shulan.
He was clearly worried she might suddenly swoop in and take away his new toy.
Shulan shook her head helplessly.
Perhaps it was time to prepare some proper toys for him. If he could entertain himself so thoroughly with a single mahjong tile, he must be terribly bored.
Eventually, Little Six lost interest in the tile.
He casually tossed aside the Red Dragon and pushed himself back toward Shulan in his walker.
Ever since getting the walker, his range of movement had expanded dramatically. Catching him had become increasingly difficult.
Now that he had come back on his own, there was no way she was letting him escape.
Shulan lifted him onto her lap and caught hold of his constantly moving hands.
Unfortunately, when she restrained his hands, his feet started kicking. When she caught his feet, his hands became mischievous again.
Sure enough, he seized his chance.
Grabbing one of the punishment slips, he immediately stuck it onto his own face.
When it went on crooked, he pouted unhappily, making everyone in the room burst into laughter.
Chuckling, Daijia reached out to straighten the paper slip.
“Our Sixth Prince lost the game! We couldn’t get the better of Consort De, but we’ve managed to get our revenge through Sixth Prince.”
Wanliuha peeled one of the paper slips from her own face and handed it to him.
“Come on, Sixth Prince. Put this on me properly, and I’ll give you some candy.”
Little Six played with the slip for a moment before turning around and pressing it onto Shulan’s cheek instead.
Shulan tilted her head slightly but didn’t avoid him, allowing the peach-pink paper to stick to her face.
“Hehe! Mother… pretty!”
Clapping his hands, Little Six happily continued plastering more paper slips onto her face.
The more he did it, the more amusing he found it.
Soon, he began reaching for the slips stuck to everyone else’s faces.
Alarmed, Jinhua quickly handed him another piece of paper instead.
Clutching it tightly, he toddled straight back to Shulan.
Laughing, she dodged him while lightly patting his bottom.
“Little Six, if you keep causing trouble, Mother really will have to punish you.”
“N-No punish!”
Before he could finish speaking, he sprayed a mouthful of milk-scented drool across her cheek.
Shulan froze.
Looking at the drool smeared all over her face, she was momentarily speechless.
In the end, she could only laugh helplessly and pinch his soft cheek.
“You little debt collector.”
Turning to Jinhua, she said, “Take him away. This child is officially beyond saving.”
Laughing, Jinhua stepped forward and lifted Sixth Prince from Shulan’s lap.
“Be good, Sixth Prince. Let’s go play elsewhere and stop disturbing the ladies.”
Even in Jinhua’s arms, Little Six refused to settle down. He kicked his legs and babbled insistently that he wanted to keep playing with his mother.
Once Jinhua carried him away, Shulan wiped her face with a handkerchief and sighed.
“He’s getting more mischievous every day.”
Daijia and Wanliuha laughed.
“Sixth Prince is lively and adorable. And he’s talking more and more every day.”
“Exactly. He chatters all day long like a little sparrow. His voice fills the entire palace.”
“Sparrow!”
At the doorway, Little Six suddenly turned around and echoed the word.
“This child…”
Shulan shook her head, unable to hide her smile.
“Sixth Prince is wonderful like this—healthy and full of energy,” Daijia said softly.
The moment she finished speaking, she thought of her own Seventh Prince and couldn’t help sighing.
Seeing her expression, Wanliuha sighed as well.
At least Daijia already had a son.
Who knew when she would have a child of her own?
Still, imperial princes were not something they could openly discuss.
Changing the subject, Wanliuha asked, “There are rumors in the palace that His Majesty plans to promote the women of the harem this year. Has Your Ladyship heard anything?”
Shulan smiled and shook her head.
“I’ve only heard vague rumors myself. I don’t know any details.”
Although she already knew who would benefit from the upcoming promotions, she could only pretend ignorance.
After all, Kangxi had privately hinted at it when Little Six turned one. She hadn’t expected the news to spread so much later.
Seeing the anticipation on their faces, Shulan decided to offer a small reassurance.
“Though I don’t know the specifics, His Majesty has his own plans.”
Daijia’s eyes brightened immediately.
“Do you think we might have a chance this time?”
It was no wonder she was anxious.
Although Seventh Prince was currently being raised by her, she could not truly relax until an official decree confirmed her status.
“Don’t worry. You’ll know when the time comes.”
Shulan patted her hand gently.
This round of promotions would include both of them.
After chatting a little longer about new embroidery patterns making their way through the palace, Daijia and Wanliuha tactfully rose to leave.
Curtsying, they said, “Your Ladyship should spend time with Sixth Prince. We’ll arrange another mahjong game another day.”
“Of course.”
Shulan smiled.
“Next time, I definitely won’t let Little Six, our little troublemaker, ruin everyone’s fun.”