Chapter 65 Consort Hui's Wrath

Emperor Kangxi was a restless man who always wanted to go out and see his beautiful land. So, right after the New Year, he took his eldest son to inspect the Yongding River project.

I reckon he won't be back until March or April.

The high-ranking concubines were already used to the emperor's occasional tours. Since they no longer relied on the emperor's favor and had their own power and offspring, why should they compete with the younger concubines for such an opportunity? So none of them went with him this time.

However, two of their children went with Emperor Kangxi.

It refers to the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince.

Consort Yi rarely came to Yanxi Palace to sit, and she complained to Yunyun: "It would have been fine if His Majesty had brought the Fourth Prince along, but why did he have to bring the Fifth Prince as well? The Empress Dowager was just telling me a few days ago that she didn't enjoy her meals without the Fifth Prince."

The Fifth Prince was pampered by the Empress Dowager and grew up in a carefree manner; no prince in the harem lived a more leisurely life than him.

The Empress Dowager had no demands on him. Occasionally, when Kangxi was strict with him, he would receive complaints from the Empress Dowager. As her elder and stepmother, Kangxi had no choice but to listen obediently and turn a blind eye to the Fifth Prince's studies.

In short, I'll never have to worry about food and drink again; that's settled for me for life.

Yunyun knew what was going on; although Consort Yi said she was complaining, she was actually happy.

They say they have no worries about food and drink, but who doesn't want their child to be successful?

Yunyun sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) by the south window and slowly changed the subject, "Speaking of which, this year is your full birthday. Should we have a grand celebration for the Emperor's birthday?"

Time flies, and the Empress Dowager is now in her sixties.

Consort Yi was successfully distracted and began to talk: "It's going to be a grand celebration. The Imperial Household Department is already making preparations, and there are birthday gifts from various places. I heard that many people are racking their brains to try to impress the Empress Dowager."

"However, I am also troubled by the birthday gift. The Empress Dowager lacks nothing and is always cheerful like a kind old lady. It is difficult to truly satisfy her."

After saying this, Consort Yi sighed and shook her head in a very serious manner.

Yunyun decided to follow the crowd and send something that wouldn't go wrong. She didn't have any special relationship with the Empress Dowager, so the item would just end up in the storeroom anyway.

He suggested to Consort Yi: "When it comes to understanding someone, who can compare to the Fifth Prince, who was raised by the Empress Dowager? Just write a letter and ask him."

The Empress Dowager was delighted even if her grandson, whom she had raised herself, presented her with a single flower.

"That's what I was thinking too, but it's still early, let's take our time choosing," Consort Yi said, putting aside that matter and starting to gossip with great interest, "Guess what I saw when I first arrived?"

At their level and age, they can say whatever they want with much more freedom.

Especially now that the Emperor is not here, who can stop them from gossiping?

Yun Jun feigned curiosity and asked, "What did you see?"

Consort Yi didn't keep them in suspense. "The Fourth Princess Consort is paying her respects to Consort De. I wonder how long she's been standing there this time. Her little face is so pale, tsk tsk."

They're old rivals; everyone knows each other.

Consort De is biased and unwilling to even pretend. She openly dislikes the Fourth Prince. It's only because the Emperor doesn't care about such trivial matters that she can't maintain her facade of a loving mother.

It was just a pity for the Fourth Prince's wife. Even Consort De didn't treat her well. Now that she was a mother herself, she still had to stand in front of Consort De with proper etiquette. Only when the Fourteenth Prince was around could she be exempted for a while.

Consort De did not want outsiders to disturb the time she spent with her son.

She was always a gentle and loving mother in front of the Fourteenth Prince.

After seeing Consort Yi off and having lunch and a short rest, Yun Yun really had nothing to do. In the afternoon, she sent a message to Consort Rong, saying that she was going to Zhongcui Palace for tea.

Of course, when it came to tea, Consort Rong prepared more than just tea; all kinds of fruits, snacks, and tea refreshments were also prepared and arranged beautifully.

“It’s rare for you to come all the way here,” Consort Rong pushed a bowl of soy milk over. “Try it, it’s sweetened with sugar.”

The fact that the Third Prince was stripped of his title seemed to have no effect on Consort Rong. She sat in a somewhat languid posture, but her rosy complexion showed that she was doing well and was not bothered by it at all.

In her words, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. The children have grown up, and she can't control what they will do in the future. So she might as well relax and think about food and drink.

This soy milk is what she's been working on lately.

Yunyun had tried this famous Beijing specialty a long time ago, but she had a really bad impression of it and almost died from one bite.

It tastes like sour, rancid rice that's been sitting out for too long, with a strange spiciness that seems to come from nowhere. The flavor is so bizarre it's practically torture for the tongue.

She shook her head, declining without a word, "I don't like drinking this, you can have it yourself."

Consort Rong actually picked up the Ru kiln porcelain bowl and took a sip, her face seemingly savoring the taste. "Too much sugar, it's a bit too sweet."

She took another slurp, then wondered to herself, "Why does it still taste like scallions?"

Yunyun looked at Consort Rong with the eyes one would use to look at a warrior.

That's a real tough guy! He dares to eat the culinary disaster he made himself, and not just one bite.

Consort Rong couldn't understand why the soy milk, which only had sugar added, tasted like scallions. Instead of making things difficult for herself, she recommended the activity to Yun Jun, saying, "Every time you add something to it, it tastes different. You get used to it after a while. Why don't you give it a try?"

"If you really don't like douzhi, you can use soy milk instead. I've tried both, but douzhi still has the most unique flavor."

Yunyun shook her head again.

Consort Rong, her face showing some resentment after her failed attempt to persuade him, said, "You're really boring. I don't know what you do all day in Yanxi Palace. I heard that Prince Zhi only returned to the capital once or twice last year?"

The Third Prince edited books mostly in the capital and rarely went out on official business. Consort Rong felt that she saw her son more often after he left the palace to establish his own residence.

After all, the princes had a heavy workload while studying in the Imperial Study, and they didn't have much time to go back to their mother's palace.

After leaving the palace, I suddenly had a lot of free time, which I could control entirely.

There's nothing wrong with saying that, Yun Yun said frankly: "Yes, the Emperor values ​​him and gives him more responsibilities, keeping him busy all day long. This is also his own ambition, and I won't interfere."

Just as the Third Prince withdrew from the struggle between his elder brother and the Crown Prince by disgracing himself, Baoqing chose to continue his official duties and career.

We're all adults; we should take responsibility for our own choices.

Consort Rong shared the same view: "Yes, the children have grown up and have their own ideas. What can a mother change?"

The two fell silent for a moment, as if by unspoken agreement.

Yun Yun casually picked up a steaming hot roasted chestnut, broke it open, and ate it, remarking, "This doesn't taste like something from the kitchen."

Every winter, roasted chestnuts are a regular on the table. The taste of the kitchen is consistent with the whole family. After eating them for so many years, she is extremely familiar with the taste of the kitchen.

This flavor either wasn't made by the people of Zhongcui Palace themselves, or it was brought from outside the palace.

“I knew you had a silver tongue,” Consort Rong laughed, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes clearly visible. “Around noon, Consort Yinzhi came to the palace and said that there was a place at the entrance of the alley where the sugar-roasted chestnuts tasted different from the others. Since I’ve been researching food recently, she brought me a portion, saying that she would kindly give her a portion once she figured out the recipe, so that she could also broaden her horizons.”

Since the birth of her legitimate son, Consort Rong's attitude towards the Third Prince's wife has undergone a complete transformation, becoming exceptionally kind.

Although the relationship between the couple was just so-so.

The Third Prince valued Confucianism and preferred gentle and tender women. Unfortunately, his wife was completely different from that. After leaving the palace and having her own territory, she became even more unrestrained, engaging in swordplay and other frivolous activities.

As for the Third Prince...

She already has a legitimate son, why would she need a prince? Let her go wherever she wants, just don't try to lecture her.

The Third Princess Consort was grateful and reciprocated the kindness shown to her by Consort Rong. She frequently visited the palace to pay her respects, always bringing small gifts to keep Consort Rong happy.

Sometimes when the couple had conflicts, Consort Rong would help the Third Prince's wife criticize him, telling him to treat his wife better and not to act like a schoolteacher all day, as it was annoying to look at him.

“The Third Princess Consort is filial,” Yunyun said, saying what Consort Rong wanted to hear, and also praised her daughter-in-law. “The First Princess Consort is the same, she often thinks of me. We are both blessed that our son and daughter-in-law are both filial.”

The two talked about their child and his wife, praising each other and enjoying themselves immensely.

-

October is the Empress Dowager's birthday.

The Imperial Household Department held a grand celebration, and Emperor Kangxi even personally inscribed the "Ode to Longevity" on a screen to congratulate the Empress Dowager on her birthday.

Emperor Kangxi attached great importance to this, and the princes, understanding his intentions, presented him with valuable birthday gifts to express their filial piety.

The Empress Dowager was impartial and praised each of the princes' gifts, especially the Crown Prince. However, Yun Jun noticed that the Empress Dowager only showed genuine smiles when she received the Fifth Prince's birthday gift; otherwise, her smile remained unchanged, a kind and benevolent one.

It is evident that theatrics are everywhere, and even the Empress Dowager was not immune to them.

After holding the birthday banquet for the Emperor's birthday, Emperor Kangxi set off again two days later to inspect the Yongding River, which shows how much he valued this project.

Baoqing carried out this mission for three years, until the Yongding River project was completely completed in the 40th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, when the River God was enfeoffed and a temple was built. Only then did Baoqing finish his mission and return to Beijing.

This time, saying he's gotten darker and thinner is no exaggeration.

Even the Crown Prince was startled when he saw Baoqing in the Qianqing Palace, and teased him: "Anyone who doesn't know better would think that you have been exiled by Father Emperor. No official who has returned from Lingnan is like you."

Baoqing was a conscientious man. Once he took on a task, he worked diligently. He even accompanied the ministers to survey the river course under the blazing sun, and that's how it turned out the way it is today.

Unable to accept that her face had become rough and inferior to the Crown Prince's due to the wind and sun, Baoqing raised her fist, which was the size of a sandbag, and threatened the Crown Prince: "Watch your mouth, you were the one who was exiled by Father Emperor."

Kangxi watched as his two sons clashed.

In the past, he would have said many words about brotherly love and harmony, but now...

Kangxi simply watched.

The Crown Prince has recently been corrupted by someone, speaking in a sly and uncouth manner, completely lacking the demeanor of a crown prince in front of outsiders. "Brother, be careful not to hurt your back. Look how thin you are. Forget about sparring with me, you probably can't even draw a bow and shoot an arrow now."

Upon hearing this, Baoqing really wanted to beat up the Crown Prince.

Look at the Crown Prince, whom the Emperor raised so well, and look what he's become! The father is not doing a good job; let the elder brother, the Emperor, educate him.

Caught off guard, Bao Qing squatted down to brace himself, and with a swift and ruthless sweeping kick, delivered a powerful blow to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was already on guard against Bao Qing's attack and had prepared to raise his hand to defend himself, but he did not expect Bao Qing to be so uncivilized and to attack his lower body right away. Caught off guard, the Crown Prince was tripped and fell to the floor.

Everything happened very quickly.

Before Kangxi could even react, the crown prince collapsed to the ground.

Bao Qing said smugly, "Second Brother Crown Prince, you've been living in the palace for too long and lack experience in handling affairs. According to the fighting style, I should have pressed down or captured you again, but since you are my brother, I'll skip the next move."

Emperor Kangxi originally thought that at his age, nothing could shake his spirit anymore.

But now...

"Baoqing!" Kangxi roared, "What are you doing!"

Clearly, Kangxi could accept his brothers fighting each other, or even instigating them to become enemies, but what he hoped to see was a covert back-and-forth, a system of checks and balances, while on the surface, the brothers remained close and friendly.

Instead of what we're doing now, fighting right in front of him.

Even his favorite Bao Cheng was the one who got beaten up.

What does it mean that he has to be wary of the Crown Prince's growing power and suppress him? Right now, all Kangxi cares about is his two most valued sons fighting each other, like the back of his hand hitting the palm of his hand.

A familiar, heartbreaking feeling for a father.