Chapter 112 Xuanye's Dream How could Kejing marry Galdan

The food in the temple is naturally not as good as that in the palace. There is no chicken, duck, fish or meat. At first, Xiu Yu was a little bit troubled when she saw the ingredients such as tofu and vegetables. But fortunately, she was smart and had good cooking skills. She used tofu and bean skin to make delicious food, and put it on the table. It was delicious and fragrant.

Taoist Master Jiang had only heard that the Emperor's favorite Concubine Yi was good at kitchen work. This time, when he actually saw Xiu Yu's cooking skills, he used the four words "stunning" to describe her from the bottom of his heart. Of course, on the surface, he used some words that Xuanye could accept to praise her.

After dinner, Taoist Master Jiang took Xuanye and Xiuyu on a long tour of the Dongyue Temple, specifically explaining to Xiuyu which plaque was written by Xuanye himself. In short, the old Taoist charmed both the emperor and the empress, so much so that Xuanye, with a flourish, composed another fu in Taoist Master Jiang's study.

By the time Xuanye and Xiuyu left Dongyue Temple, the sun had already set.

In the carriage, Xiu Yu said, "I didn't expect that the Emperor and Taoist Jiang have such a close relationship."

Xuanye sighed softly, "It's all because of the Empress Dowager." He was silent for a moment, then looked at Xiuyu. "Why are you thinking of donating money to the Dongyue Temple? It seems your shop is really doing well."

Xiu Yu clasped her hands in her lap, her eyebrows raised slightly. "After all, I've earned enough money to donate. You didn't let me do it back then, and I'm afraid you don't even remember how long you were so mean to me."

Xuanye laughed heartily, pulled Xiuyu into his arms, and said, "Many people in this world are short-sighted, and few have long-term vision. Until you've made a name for yourself, how can anyone believe that your path, which differs from others, is the right one?"

"You understand this principle, don't you?" Xiu Yu narrowed his eyes slightly and said as he rested, "Now, my Yikun Palace is indeed not short of money. I actually didn't expect that you, a commoner of the Qing Dynasty, also love to eat so much."

"Food, clothing, housing, and transportation are the four things that ordinary people care about most in their daily lives. The food you make is hard to find on the market. Even if someone imitates your pastries, the taste is far inferior. It's only natural that you can make money."

When Xiu Yu heard Xuanye say this, she couldn't help but open her eyes and look at him again: "From what you said, it seems that you know everything? Even that someone is impersonating me?"

"Yes." Xuanye's lips curled slightly. "If I don't pay attention to your affairs, who will? Do you think that without my people's support, it would be so easy for that impostor to be brought to justice?"

Xiu Yu pursed her lips and said, "It's hard for me to believe that since I opened a shop under the name of Concubine Yi, no official in the government office would dare to disrespect me."

"That's certainly true." Xuanye affirmed Xiu Yu's status. "Your title, Concubine Yi, is truly immense! As soon as anyone knows it, everyone in the world will likely give you some respect. After all, the fact that you're my favorite concubine is already known to everyone, even without needing to be publicized."

Xiu Yu covered her face, not knowing what to say next.

After saying all these nonsense, Xuanye's eyebrows and eyes showed a hint of worry.

Xiu Yu was very perceptive and said, "You...are worried about something? Can I ask you something?"

"You know, it's still about Mongolia." Xuanye had no intention of hiding anything from Xiuyu. "The Junggar grasslands are not peaceful. Their Khan, wearing the skin of the Golden Family, is probably planning to invade the interior and seize my throne."

"I originally thought you didn't consider this a big deal." Xiu Yu pondered and said, "Actually, we have enough firearms and manpower, so we don't need to worry too much."

"You don't know that when I sent Soetu to negotiate with Tsarist Russia, I didn't satisfy them by giving up control of the land east of Lake Baikal." Xuanye couldn't help but recall that when Soetu sent someone back with the memorial about '30 square kilometers of land east of Lake Baikal for negotiation', he only wrote two words on the back: 'confused'. "So, this time, Tsarist Russia is secretly siding with Galdan, and I guess they're sending him a steady stream of firearms."

"Then there's nothing to be afraid of." Xiu Yu held Xuanye's hand and said, "This world was conquered on horseback. If Galdan wants to challenge the Eight Banners of the Manchus, the Eight Banners of the Han, and the entire Qing Dynasty, I'm afraid he'll be no match for them."

Xuanye looked at Xiuyu with curiosity in his eyes: "Are you so confident?"

"Yes." Xiu Yu nodded and promised, "Now the children are no longer old enough to need care. If the emperor wants to personally fight Galdan, Yu'er can be his vanguard."

"You? A pawn?" Xuanye thought Xiu Yu's words sounded a little funny. "I do want to lead the army in person, and I want to take you with me. However, you don't have to be a pawn. You can just be in charge of the firearms."

Xiu Yu's eyes lit up: "Are you really taking me with you? You won't break your promise?"

"Yes, I will take you with me. I won't break my promise." Xuanye held Xiuyu's hand tightly. "After all, no one can predict what will happen on the battlefield. If I lead the army in person and the crown prince is the regent, if I can't come back..."

"Are you already nervous before you even start the battle?" Xiu Yu couldn't bear to hear Xuanye say this. "If you really think so, it's better not to go out."

Xuanye laughed out loud: "Yu'er, anyway, I hope you can always be by my side, is that all?"

"That's about right." Xiu Yu looked at Xuanye. She didn't know when, but there were wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and there were a few white hairs among his black hair.

***

In the Prince's Palace in the Forbidden City, Yinreng was bending his bow, aiming at the bull's eye in the courtyard. He released his right hand, and the long arrow flew out, hitting the bull's eye!

Suo Etu had just entered the palace and stood aside, clapping his hands: "The Crown Prince is becoming more and more brave and courageous, and he has quite the demeanor of the Emperor when he was young."

Yinreng handed the longbow to the young eunuch who followed him, took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face, and then said to Suo Etu: "Uncle, please be careful with your words. My father is still young."

"Your Highness is truly cautious." Soetu walked over to Yinreng and walked with him into the warm room. "Right now, the Junggar grasslands are in turmoil, and Galdan is very ambitious. I see from the Emperor's intentions that he might want to lead the army himself."

"Uncle, are you trying to guess what my father is thinking again?" Yinreng sat down on the couch and asked Soetu to sit opposite him. He said, "If my father really leads the army in person, uncle thinks..." He dipped his right index finger in tea and wrote the word "Regent" on the table.

Suo Etu stroked his beard and said with a smile, "It must be the Crown Prince's job. You can't run away even if you want to."

"Regent..." Yinreng picked up the teacup, his eyelids slightly lowered, and smiled, "It's probably very interesting."

"The Crown Prince must be able to handle the affairs of the previous dynasty with ease. Moreover, he has servants here. Not to mention that the Emperor is going to lead the army in person, even if..."

"Uncle!" Yinreng spoke faster than Soetu: "Be careful with your words."

"I know." Suo Etu understood. "However, this is only a matter of time. The Crown Prince is now a man of both civil and military abilities, and his decisiveness is no less than that of the Emperor when he was your age. When the Emperor leads the army in person and you serve as regent, the outcome will naturally become clear."

"Yes." Yinreng took a sip of tea. "Father taught me wholeheartedly. Now that I have approved the memorials on his behalf, Father does not need to change a single word."

Looking at the pride revealed between Yinreng's eyebrows, Soetu couldn't help but sigh again: "Thinking back then, the late emperor and the emperor both ascended the throne at a young age, and the crown prince..." This was very disrespectful to say, and Soetu didn't dare to say it out loud after all.

Yinreng smiled and said, "Uncle, my father is the emperor and I am the crown prince. If I make any mistakes, I still have my father to take the blame. This is actually very good."

"My Lord Crown Prince, when the Emperor truly goes with the army, and you become regent and act on his behalf, you might not think the same way anymore." Soetu frowned. "Uncle should have made plans for you sooner, no matter what. Many things can't wait, and can't be delayed. Delays can lead to changes."

At this time, Yinreng felt that Soetu's words were indeed alarmist: "Uncle, the throne is there, and no one can shake my position as the crown prince. It doesn't matter whether it's too late or not."

"The Emperor doesn't seem like he's destined for a long life." Suo Etu expressed his biggest worry: "The Crown Prince became the Crown Prince at the age of two. If the Emperor sits on the throne for another thirty or forty years, then..."

Yinreng's brows also furrowed along with Soetu's, but thinking about it carefully, this matter was indeed somewhat horrifying. It was impossible for him, the crown prince, to die before his father, could it be?

Suo Etu stood up and patted Yinreng on the shoulder: "Prince, please think about it. I will also think about it. After all, the prosperity of our Hesheli family must continue."

Suo Etu had left the Crown Prince's Palace, but Yinreng felt a weight had been dropped on his heart. Before this, he hadn't really considered how long his father would live, or how long he himself would live. Now that he really thought about it, Suo Etu's words didn't seem entirely unreasonable. However, hoping for the throne was like hoping for his father's early death; it was truly unfilial!

***

In the Qingxi Book House in Changchun Garden, Xuanye was reading a book when he suddenly sneezed several times.

Xiu Yu brought the tea and asked with a smile, "Who is saying bad things about you behind your back?"

"Isn't it you?" Xuanye teased, picking up the teacup and taking a sip. "A few days ago, I talked about choosing a prince consort for Kejing. Have you taken it to heart?"

"Kejing is still young." Xiu Yu sat on the couch and flipped through the account book that was delivered today: "There is no rush to choose a prince consort. It will be done in a few years..."

"In a few years?" Xuanye was very dissatisfied with Xiuyu's attitude of not caring about his daughter's marriage. "Look at these domineering ladies in the Forbidden City. At Kejing's age, most of them were promised to be married."

Xiu Yu looked at Xuan Ye in confusion and said, "You weren't anxious about Ke Jing's marriage before. What's wrong with you lately? Who told you to marry Ke Jing?"

"That's not the case." Xuanye avoided Xiuyu's gaze: "It's just that I want to settle this matter as soon as possible so that I can feel at ease as soon as possible."

Xiu Yu observed Xuan Ye's expression and said, "Is there something on your mind that you're not comfortable telling me? If it's something important from the past dynasty, I won't ask if you don't tell me. However, if it concerns Ke Jing, I don't want you to hide anything."

Xuanye put down the book in his hand, looked at Xiuyu seriously, and said, "If I tell you, you are not allowed to laugh at me."

"Laugh at you? Do I dare?"

Xuanye smiled, then his face darkened again. "I had a dream. I dreamed that Kejing married Galdan. I don't know why I had such a dream, but I'm afraid it will come true."

Xiu Yu was speechless. "Of course dreams don't count. Under what circumstances would you marry Kejing to Junggar? Is it impossible?"

Xuanye thought about it and found himself a little amused. "Yes, under what circumstances would I marry Kejing to Galdan? It is indeed impossible."