Chapter Five

The distance from Chuxiu Palace to Cining Palace is quite far. Wearing these flowerpot-shaped high heels and needing a maid to help her, Chen Jialuo could only think... these high heels are not easy to walk in.

Fortunately, she was woken up just before dawn, otherwise she would have had to get dressed and walk such a long distance.

By the time they arrived outside the Cining Palace to wait, it was already dawn.

The Empress Dowager is getting old and doesn't sleep much anymore. When she got up to wash and prepare for breakfast, Princess Fucha was already waiting outside the palace.

The Empress Dowager then remembered, oh right, she almost forgot, "Hmm, please ask her to wait in the main hall first."

Chen Jialuo had never been to the Forbidden City. Even if she was curious, she wouldn't look around. She was secretly wondering to herself: What does the Empress Dowager want with her?

Because of her father and mother's repeated admonitions, fearing that she would worry about the matter of becoming the Crown Princess, they told her early on that she had no chance of becoming the Crown Princess.

Just as she was lost in thought for some time, the Empress Dowager emerged from the inner palace. Chen Jialuo quickly snapped back to reality and greeted the Empress Dowager and the Empress.

The Empress Dowager sat above, looking at the young girl before her, innocent and clear-headed. She nodded inwardly and smiled kindly. "No need for formalities. Come forward and let me see you."

Chen Jialuo: ? ? ?

Beside her, the Empress Dowager sat in the lower left seat, looking at the young and pretty girl and sizing her up.

"What do you usually like to do?" the Empress Dowager asked.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, this servant usually enjoys reading, playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football)..." Hmm, those are all things the original owner liked. She also liked watching videos online... She couldn't very well say that, could she?

The Empress Dowager nodded. "Cuju (ancient Chinese football)... it's alright. It's much better than those Manchu noblewomen who are obsessed with embroidery and traditional virtues. Now that the Eight Banners have entered the pass, the emperor is promoting Han culture, which has caused Manchu noblewomen who used to ride horses to learn embroidery and foot binding. They've become so delicate and gentle that it's hard to tell if they're still Manchu noblewomen or have turned into Han girls..."

She had the utmost contempt for women like Hailanzhu and Dong'e, one of whom stole her husband and the other of her son.

"What kind of books do you like to read?" The Empress Dowager chatted with the younger generation like a kind old grandmother, and her gentle attitude made Chen Jialuo feel less nervous.

She revealed a hint of shyness and embarrassment, saying, "I usually like to read storybooks. My father said that we Manchu noblewomen are heroic, bright, and flamboyant. I haven't studied other books much."

I'm just that pathetic. If you have any thoughts about me, please don't target me. I don't deserve it. Thank you!

"Hehe, your father is right." The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile. "However, there are some things that are appropriate that we still need to learn."

An illiterate person can't be the Crown Princess.

"I've also heard about what happened to Princess Wanyan. I'm so sorry you had to go through all this." The Empress Dowager suddenly brought up this matter, which made Chen Jialuo look at her with some surprise.

Her clear, bright eyes were pure. She gently shook her head, her eyes sparkling. "Your Majesty, this servant does not feel wronged. His Highness the Crown Prince is of exceptional talent and beauty, and if only..."

As she spoke, her ears turned red again. "This can only be blamed on my own impatience and naivety. I failed to notice Princess Wanyan's wicked intentions."

The Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were amused by Chen Jialuo. She dared to express her feelings and was as generous and open as the girls from the grasslands, which was much better than those pretentious and affected women.

This specifically refers to Hailanzhu, the favorite concubine of Huang Taiji, and Dong'e, the favorite concubine of Emperor Shunzhi.

Although she was reserved and occasionally shy when the Crown Prince was mentioned, her other answers were bright and poised, which pleased the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager.

The key is...

The Fucha clan may have truly had foresight, as they specifically hired someone to teach them Mongolian, enabling them to communicate with the Empress Dowager without any obstacles.

Not long after, the Empress Dowager grew tired, and Chen Jialuo took her leave.

After Princess Fucha left, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager chatted about her. The Empress Dowager said that she was kind and gentle, and had a good sense of discipline, so a tutor should be assigned to her...

Xuan Ye's tutors mainly taught him palace rules and etiquette, but made no mention of household management or power struggles within the inner quarters. This is unacceptable.

In response, Emperor Kangxi was summoned again. Actually, initially, she favored the princess from the Guarjia clan, but unfortunately...

Wanyan was too vicious. She ruined Guarjia's position as Crown Princess and plotted against Fucha. If she had become Crown Princess, Baocheng would probably have been estranged from both the Guarjia and Fucha clans.

Dong Eshi could never be!

She hated Dong E Shi even more than she hated Hailanzhu.

Women from other clans were either underage or of even lower character! Even more unacceptable than a carefree nature. The Empress Dowager, seeing her mother-in-law lost in thought, closed her eyes slightly and didn't disturb her, instead going to gnaw on her own dried meat.

Anyway, she didn't offer any opinions; just following the Empress Dowager's lead was the right thing to do.

Although the Empress Dowager had seen it, Emperor Kangxi was still not at ease. How could he not vet Bao Cheng's Crown Princess?

So, the day after being summoned by the Empress Dowager, the Emperor summoned Princess Fucha again.

At the same time, Yinreng was also summoned. The old father had no choice but to worry about his son's marriage.

It wouldn't be difficult for Kangxi to find out what happened at Chuxiu Palace. The fact that Consort Fucha admired her husband Baocheng had been confirmed by her maid.

"Your Majesty, Princess Fucha is waiting for an audience outside the palace."

"Announce."

Then, when Princess Fucha came in, she looked at the Crown Prince with deep affection and smiled sweetly. It was clear that she was very fond of her Crown Prince.

It's a pity that he's not mature and steady enough. How can he manage Yuqing Palace and put the Crown Prince at ease?

After hearing Lady Fucha's greetings, Emperor Kangxi simply said "Rise," displaying his composed and inscrutable imperial demeanor. "Princess Fucha, are you alright?"

Sigh, anyone with a bit of sense wouldn't have listened to Wanyan's urging. It's just that she heard the Crown Prince liked lotus flowers, so she thought of getting close to his hobby so that she could have something to talk about in the future.

It's all his fault for teaching his crown prince too well!

"Your Majesty, I am fine. I am grateful to His Highness the Crown Prince for saving my life. If it weren't for His Highness, I might have perished in that lake."

Chen Jialuo quickly spoke up, her first words being to express her gratitude to the Crown Prince for saving her life, flattering him beforehand, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is of noble character and saved me from dire straits. I truly do not know how to thank Your Highness enough."

You can't blame me for the fact that the Crown Prince saved my life!

When she referred to herself as "this servant," Chen Jialuo felt a little strange, but there was nothing she could do. According to the original owner's memories, this was a way of addressing herself in a way that showed closeness to the emperor. Your servant is your person, and those Han officials were not qualified to call you that.

Emperor Kangxi certainly wouldn't blame Empress Fucha for this; how could his crown prince be the kind of person who disregards human life? He would even have to praise him!

Of course, this was only in the case that the Crown Prince did not go into the water to save people. If he had gone into the water and disregarded his precious life, Kangxi would have taken his anger out on others.

"Yes, this whole thing was caused by Wanyan. But you'll have to be more careful in the future and not trust others so easily. Alright, if there's nothing serious, then you can..." Kangxi was only checking on her for the sake of the Fucha clan. If she was alright, then she could leave.

He is re-appointing the Crown Princess...

Chen Jialuo, who hadn't yet straightened up, had her legs bent; she had just fallen into the water and wasn't fully recovered yet.

Chen Jialuo: My back can't take it anymore. Would it be very rude of me to collapse on the spot? It wouldn't be good to punish her for being disrespectful in front of the emperor.

As this thought was uttered, the Crown Prince looked over.

Emperor Kangxi gave Princess Fucha a gentle reminder, telling her to be more careful. Then, he noticed his beloved son staring at Princess Fucha with a smile in his eyes...

this……

Then his gaze fell on Chen Jialuo, who was still bowing with her legs half bent. Apart from her unsteady nature, she was good-looking and from a good family. But one's temperament can be taught. Wasn't his crown prince taught very well?

Moreover, she has long harbored feelings for the Crown Prince, and with this 'life-saving grace,' her affections for him have likely taken root. It wouldn't be easy to bestow him upon another member of the imperial family...

On the days following the selection of concubines, Chen Jialuo was not summoned again. On the day of the selection, Kangxi looked at Fucha below, whose makeup was slightly heavy, making her appear dignified and elegant.

Could it be that she thought she had no hope of becoming Baocheng's Crown Princess and was so heartbroken that she could only cover her tears with makeup?

Remembering her grandmother's words, it still wouldn't work. As the Crown Princess and the future mother of the nation, how could she be worthy if she wasn't properly guided?

After much deliberation, Emperor Kangxi decided to leave the position of Crown Princess undecided for the time being and continue to instruct Fucha for another two or three years. As for the possibility that Fucha might become too old to marry in two or three years, Kangxi did not care.

His only beloved son was the crown prince.

Also, regarding Bao Cheng's side, I don't know if the two princesses bestowed upon him weren't pretty enough, but they were simply thrown into the backyard, and we need to choose two more attractive ones.

We can't let Baocheng suffer.

As for the Dong E clan, whom the Empress Dowager and Empress Mother disliked, let them be given to Dong E, the son of Prince Yu, E Zha. I remember that when he first ascended the throne and began to rule in his own right, he gave him a lot of obstacles.

It is said that a virtuous wife brings less trouble. If Dong E were to leave such a flamboyant and arrogant wife, he would have a reason and excuse to demote Prince Yu if she made any mistakes.

Guarjia bestowed upon the Fourth Prince the title of Fourth Princess Consort.

Lady Fucha only kept the nameplate, but did not give any imperial edict. She simply sent it back home and sent four tutors with her.

Many other young women also contributed to the marriages of the imperial relatives. Of course, many of the beautiful young women were taken into Emperor Kangxi's harem.

The Guarjia and Dong'e clans were most surprised by this imperial edict, as they never expected it to turn out this way.

After the young ladies-in-waiting left the palace and returned home, news spread that it was all Wanyan Gege's fault. The three clans then turned their anger towards the Wanyan clan's officials at court. The Wanyan clan members were furious and went directly to Wanyan's father to demand an explanation: "How did you raise a daughter?"...

The Fucha family wasn't truly so foolish as to be completely oblivious to the Emperor's 'hints'; among the daughters of prominent families, only hers hadn't found a match, but...

Looking at the four nannies who had come with them, Mi Sihan and his wife, Lady Wuya, roughly understood that this was to train their daughter; if she didn't succeed, things might change in the future…

We have to force them to learn! If they don't die from studying, they'll study like crazy!

(End of this chapter)