Chapter 48 Consort Hui's Gift Arouses Kangxi's Vigilance

The Grand Consort's prayers were ineffective.

Baoqing's archery skills were not just boasts from his tutor in the Imperial Study; he truly possessed them. He was highly talented and worked hard enough that hitting a willow leaf from a hundred paces was no problem for him.

He specifically sought out large prey within the enclosure, and during his pursuit, he encountered a pack of wolves. In the end, he personally shot and killed a tiger, three wolves, and several smaller prey.

Under Kangxi's approving gaze, Baoqing, carrying a bow and arrows, looked extremely proud and said, "Father, I want to give this hunted prey to Mother."

Kangxi thought he was going to send Consort Hui some sable and silver rat fur, so he patted his shoulder hard, full of fatherly satisfaction, "Good, let your mother be happy too."

Baoqing felt he had the support of Emperor Kangxi, which fueled his enthusiasm.

Xiao Dezi was the only one who knew the whole story. When he saw his master send the whole wolf to the Imperial Household Department and ask it to be made into a complete specimen, he had a bad feeling. He tentatively stopped him, saying, "If Master intends to put the wolf carcass in the study, this servant will go and take care of it this time."

Baoqing felt that Xiaodezi lacked discernment. "This is what Master is going to send to Yanxi Palace for Mother. Tell them to be careful and make sure it shows the fierce demeanor of this wolf king in his lifetime."

Actually, he wanted to give his mother a tiger, but the tiger skin was damaged and not perfect, so he could only break it into small pieces to make a cushion or a purse.

However, this wolf king is no less formidable.

It looks robust, with strong claws; it's clearly a top-quality prey.

-

Summer sunlight streamed through the lattice window onto the rosewood octagonal table, casting dappled shadows. The clouds and Baturu, not wanting to move in this weather, were fast asleep beside the ice chest.

"Mother, look!" Baoqing's voice was clear and bright, typical of a young boy. Behind him were two eunuchs wearing blue gauze robes, their foreheads covered in sweat, with fine beads of sweat running down their foreheads and soaking their collars. They were still struggling to carry a large object covered with a red cloth, their steps faltering as they followed behind.

Bao Qing strode into the side room, his body covered in the dust of returning from a hunt, his neck and face tanned dark, but his eyes were surprisingly bright.

Seeing how sunburnt he was, Yunyun knew he had suffered a lot over the past month. Her first instinct was to feel sorry for him, and she quickly asked a palace maid to serve him tea. "Sit down and have some mung bean soup to cool off. Look at your face, you must have suffered a lot in the hunting grounds."

Then, the next second, she couldn't feel sorry for him anymore.

Two young eunuchs dressed in light blue gauze robes carefully and steadily placed a large object in the very center of the main room.

The First Princess Consort, who had initially been filled with heartache, now sensed something was amiss. She remembered the bold words her master had spoken before his passing.

Looking at her son's bright smile that revealed his white teeth, and at the red cloth covering what was hidden from view, Yun Jun felt a faint hope in her heart, "What is this?"

Baoqing had already slipped into the main room. "This is a gift from your son to Mother. Please open it, Mother."

Yunyun sincerely hoped this wasn't a fright.

Looking into her son's expectant eyes, she suppressed her worries and slowly walked into the main room.

Gently lift the red cloth.

Yunyun: !

A lifelike wolf specimen stands under a red cloth, its fur a deep gray mixed with jet black, full and glossy thanks to the Imperial Household Department's treatment. Its hind legs are deeply bent, its eyes are focused, its lips are pulled back to reveal its canine teeth, and its whole body is like an arrow about to be released from a bow—a clear hunting posture.

Baoqing chattered on and on, explaining everything.

“This is the arrow I shot myself on the southwest slope. At that time, it was leading three wolves around a herd of deer. I chased it for three miles before I shot it in the throat with one arrow.”

The First Princess stood beside Yun Jun, clutching her handkerchief, barely daring to breathe.

This specimen is so lifelike. Baoqing chose a very bad spot to lift the red cloth, right in front of the wolf's head. The wild and intimidating aura is overwhelming. She saw her mother's lips slowly flatten into a line.

“Mother, look at the wolf king’s claws again,” Baoqing said, still full of interest, completely unaware of the subtle atmosphere in the hall. “They are as sharp as hooks, clearly the work of a skilled hunter. But speaking of hunting, the tiger I hunted was even more formidable. It’s a pity its pelt was incomplete and somewhat damaged, otherwise I would have sent you a well-tanned tiger.”

It's a bit of a pity about Baoqing.

Sending a wolf is nowhere near as good as sending a tiger.

Yunyun, whose heart stopped for a second, took a deep breath and tried to keep her tone gentle. "Baoqing, your mother knows you've worked hard for a month while hunting. I'm naturally happy that you're thinking of your mother."

“However,” Yunyun gritted her teeth, “didn’t your mother tell you before you left that you only needed to bring her some silver fox fur that could be used to make a handcuff? Why did you send her a wolf instead?”

We can't wrongly accuse the child; what if someone else came up with a bad idea or encouraged them?

She refused to admit that her child was just a bit slow-witted.

Although Baoqing was somewhat straightforward, based on his years of experience with his mother, he subconsciously said, "Father Emperor also agreed, and said he wanted to make Mother happy."

Yun Jun looked doubtful.

Although the Emperor may be a bit eccentric at times, he is actually quite good to his concubines. He remembers their birthdays, is generous with sweet words to make them happy, and is also very generous. Although he is very fond of other people, he has the air of a playboy. How could he possibly send specimens to his concubines?

It's somewhat possible that they sent wolf or tiger skins hunted by the concubine's son, but what about sending the carcass of prey?

He's not that lacking in emotional intelligence.

This is the kind of thing only one's own son would do.

Recalling the horror of facing the wolf's eyes just now, Yun Jun was furious. She grabbed the feather duster stuck in the porcelain basin on the floor and hit Bao Qing's leg with it.

Baoqing was so badly beaten that he jumped up and down, circling his wife like a prince of Qin walking around a pillar, and complaining aggrievedly, "Your subject brought you a gift, why did you hit me!"

The commotion also woke up Yunduo and Baturu, who came out to see what was happening, one on each side.

Then came another flurry of activity.

The First Princess Consort is currently pregnant, so Yun Jun can't easily touch her. He can only threaten Bao Qing: "What kind of Batu Lu hides behind his own Princess Consort? You come here right now!"

Baoqing stood behind the First Princess Consort, head held high, face full of defiance, "I won't!"

The First Princess looked helpless as she was used as a cover; she had truly learned something new.

“Aisin Gioro Yinti,” Yun Jun said menacingly, “come here.”

Full name and surname.

Baoqing lowered her head and reluctantly walked up to Yunyun, knowing better than to say, "Mother, I was wrong."

Yunyun reached up with her right hand and twisted Baoqing's ear hard, saying irritably, "Your wife is pregnant, what are you doing hiding behind her? Where is your sense of responsibility and duty?"

Baoqing grimaced and cried out in pain, "You didn't even tell me that the Princess Consort was pregnant!"

Yunjun looked at the First Princess Consort.

The First Princess shook her head awkwardly.

"I was so angry with you that I lost my mind," Yun Jun said righteously, but she still let go of Bao Qing's ear. "If you hadn't suddenly come like this, I wouldn't have forgotten to tell you this good news."

The First Princess Consort said softly, "Your mother said she wanted to give you a surprise and planned to tell you in person."

Who knew that while preparing a surprise, they were also preparing a shock?

Baoqing felt that his mother was being a bit unreasonable, but he didn't dare to say anything. He simply helped his wife sit down.

Yun Jun was getting angry just looking at him. "Take this thing back to where it came from. You can put it anywhere you want, but you're not allowed to bring it into Yanxi Palace. If there's a next time, you'll be standing guard at the entrance of Yanxi Palace with it."

-

Mother didn't want it, but Father Emperor did. Baoqing then personally led people to deliver the wolf king specimen to the Qianqing Palace, and also told Emperor Kangxi the good news that he was about to have a grandchild.

Kangxi was a little skeptical that Baoqing would give him such a normal gift, thinking back to what Baoqing had given him on the Emperor's birthday in previous years.

There is a large tortoise, said to symbolize the hope that he will live as long as this tortoise. The tortoise is still kept in a large vat with lotus flowers on the east side of the Qianqing Palace.

He was probably scolded by Consort Hui when he returned home. The following year, she gave him a pair of smooth and round pebbles, saying they were the most beautiful ones he had ever found, and that she hoped he would be as sturdy and lasting as these pebbles.

Seeing that the symbolism was good, Emperor Kangxi had the warm stones inlaid on the stone path on the west side of the Qianqing Palace, intending to make Baoqing kneel down whenever he made a mistake, so that he could personally feel the sturdiness of the warm stones.

Later, I also gave him the straightest branches of a tree, and some green wintersweet I had personally cultivated...

The main message is that a small gift carries great meaning, and that it's all about sentiment without any monetary value.

Now, being caught off guard, and not on a holiday or birthday, receiving a gift that was reasonably pleasing to the eye immediately aroused Emperor Kangxi's suspicions.

Could this kid have gotten into some trouble and is coming to me for a favor?