Chapter 112 - Winter Solstice: Old Ten's Salted Fish Dumplings

As November arrived, winter drew ever closer, and the weather in Beijing grew increasingly cold.

As autumn transitioned into early winter, the palace servants in the Forbidden City began to don their winter attire.

Although she knew that the prince had no shortage of needlework, after the temperature in the capital dropped further, the Consort still sent someone to deliver brand-new winter clothes and cloaks to Yin'e at the Ganxi Third Palace, so that he could wear winter clothes and not suffer from the cold in the early winter weather.

On the winter solstice in November, after more than half a month of school, Yin'e, who had not caused any major disturbances in the Imperial Study and whose attitude towards learning was not very good, finally could not hold back any longer and stretched out his eager hand to try to challenge the rules of the Imperial Study.

Yin'e... he skipped class!

There is a custom of eating dumplings on the Winter Solstice. On the Winter Solstice, Yin'e skipped class and went to the Western Six Palaces. He returned to Yongshou Palace and ate dumplings with the Consort to celebrate the Winter Solstice.

Since enrolling, Yin'e, tormented by the strict schedule and overly rapid teaching pace of the Imperial Study, had only returned to Yongshou Palace to visit the Imperial Concubine on the day he enrolled.

For the next two weeks, Yin'e spent studying diligently in the Imperial Study, without seeing the Consort again or finding time to return to Yongshou Palace. This was the main reason that prompted Yin'e to skip class and run back to Yongshou Palace on the Winter Solstice, not simply to celebrate the Winter Solstice and eat dumplings.

Yin'e knew that after the prince entered school, he would be lucky to see his birth mother five or six times a year. The prince would only have three opportunities to be close to his birth mother in private: his own birthday, his birth mother's birthday, and the New Year.

However, it is clear that Yin'e could not accept this Qing court rule, and he was keen to challenge it.

Skipping class on the winter solstice was just the beginning; Yin'e didn't intend to skip it only this once.

In his plan, he would return to Yongshou Palace at least once a month to see the Consort—just like going to boarding school. Returning home once a month was barely within Yin'e's acceptable range.

Yin'e wasn't afraid that doing so would anger Emperor Kangxi, even though there was an ironclad rule in the palace that princes could not frequently see their biological mothers. But to be honest, this rule had been broken since the time of the Ninth Prince, as both the Ninth Prince and Yin'e were raised by their biological mothers until they were six years old.

Since this ironclad rule had already been broken, it meant that this rule did not touch Kangxi's bottom line. Yin'e felt that even if he jumped around on this rule a couple of times, it would not cause too bad consequences.

At worst, I'll get caught skipping class and get scolded by Emperor Kangxi, or be punished by copying books!

In any case, it didn't bother Yin'e at all; Kangxi could scold or punish him however he wanted.

Yin'e accepted the scolding and punishment, but—he would dare to do it again next time.

For other princes, Kangxi's reprimand and his apparent disapproval might have been a devastating blow, a major shock. But for Yin'e, it was nothing more than a drizzle, a trivial matter that he paid no heed to.

Anyway, Yin'e was thick-skinned, unafraid of being scolded, and didn't care what Kangxi thought of him. If Kangxi truly concluded that he was ignorant and posed no threat whatsoever, then Yin'e would be secretly delighted.

If Emperor Kangxi had seen through Yin'e and realized that scolding him or punishing him by making him copy books would be useless, and instead imprisoned Yin'e and restricted his movement, then Yin'e would have been the first to wholeheartedly support Emperor Kangxi.

Confined to one's quarters... Hilarious! As long as he's fed and clothed, Yin'e, this lazy bum, would be happy to stay confined in the prince's quarters forever.

This is simply a gift from heaven! Instead of having to endure the torment of studying in the Imperial Study, he can lie comfortably in the Prince's quarters. Yin'e couldn't be happier and would be willing to be "locked up" forever!

Before skipping class on the Winter Solstice, Yin'e hesitated for a moment, but still extended an invitation to the Ninth Prince. It wasn't that he wanted to drag the Ninth Prince down with him or find a companion to skip class with, but the Ninth Prince hadn't visited Consort Yi and Yin'e at Yikun Palace for more than half a month, and Yin'e felt that the Ninth Prince might miss his mother and younger brother.

The Ninth Prince, who was invited to skip class and go to the Western Six Palace, shook his head and refused Yin'e's suggestion.

He wasn't in a hurry to see Consort Yi, because he had only moved to the Prince's Residence in October. Besides, the New Year was just around the corner, and according to custom, he would go to Yikun Palace to pay his respects to Consort Yi then. It wouldn't be too late to see her then, which would only be a little over a month later.

Although the Ninth Prince was not interested in returning to Yikun Palace for the Winter Solstice Festival, he did instruct Yin'e to remember to bring some dumplings back to the Prince's Residence. The two brothers could get together there in the evening, which would be convenient for either the Ninth Prince to go to the Third Residence or Yin'e to go to the Fourth Residence.

The third and fourth residences of the Western Third Palace were very close to each other, and there was a moon gate on the side, between the two separate courtyards, connecting the two prince residences. After moving to the Western Third Palace, Yin'e and the Ninth Prince were still neighbors, but they were closer to each other, and it was easier to visit each other than when they were in the Western Sixth Palace.

The Ninth Prince did not plan to return to Yikun Palace, but the Fifth Prince, who had been listening to their conversation, was somewhat restless and had the idea of ​​skipping class to go to Cining Palace to celebrate the festival with the Empress Dowager. Ningshou Palace had been renovated, but the Empress Dowager was still living in Cining Palace and it was estimated that she would not move to another palace until the twelfth lunar month.

As for why the Fifth Prince skipped class, whether it was to spend the festival with the Empress Dowager who raised him, or to take the opportunity to escape studying hard in the Imperial Study, no one but the Fifth Prince himself could say for sure.

However, the Fifth Prince ultimately did not take the step of skipping class, nor did he make up his mind to directly violate the rules of the Imperial Study.

Skipping class and asking for leave are two different things. At least you can find an excuse to ask for leave, but skipping class is pure provocation. The Fifth Prince doesn't dare to be as reckless as Yin'e for the time being.

Yongshou Palace.

Seeing that Yin'e, who should have been studying in the Imperial Study, suddenly ran back, the Consort didn't even blink, showing no surprise whatsoever. She simply smiled gently and beckoned to Yin'e: "Come here and let your mother see if you've grown any taller since I last saw you."

Yin'e ran over and, like a little cannonball, plunged into the Consort's arms, snuggling against her and whining, "Mother~ I missed you so much!"

After the sticker was applied, Yin'e pouted and said, "Mother, I think I've grown a bit taller, but it's only been a short time, so it's not very noticeable."

Yin'e also wanted to grow taller, but after he entered the Imperial Study to study, he slept less than eight hours a day. Insufficient sleep has a great impact on a child's growth, so it was difficult for him to grow taller.

Although he was severely sleep-deprived, he got plenty of exercise. After more than half a month of learning, Yin'e had already mastered the basics of riding and archery. He could mount a horse and had started shooting at targets with a small bow and arrow. His daily physical education classes were very demanding, which greatly expended his energy and also helped him exercise.

The Imperial Concubine laughed at Yin'e's words. She gently stroked Yin'e's soft, black hair with her delicate hand and said softly, "Don't worry, Yin'e, you will grow taller and be as tall as your grandfather."

This wasn't just a consolation, because from a genetic point of view, Yin'e's height as an adult was guaranteed.

Among the women, the Imperial Concubine was relatively tall, around 1.7 meters, while Emperor Kangxi was also not short, his height being above average. Given his parents' heights, as long as Yin'e received sufficient nutrition, got enough sleep and exercise, and developed normally, his future height would likely satisfy him.

Today is the Winter Solstice, and the small kitchen in Yongshou Palace was busy early in the morning. After returning to Yongshou Palace, Yin'e quickly ate hot dumplings with the Consort. The Consort did not know in advance that Yin'e would be returning today, but half of the dumplings served by the small kitchen were Yin'e's favorites.

Even if Yin'e didn't skip class to go back to Yongshou Palace to celebrate the Winter Solstice with the Consort, the Consort would still send someone to deliver dumplings for the Winter Solstice to Yin'e.

As Lanzhi and Luyi were placing plates of dumplings from the food box onto the table, the Imperial Concubine suddenly remembered something and said, "Yin'e, starting tomorrow, you will be serving meals in the Imperial Kitchen. Your rations will also be moved to the Imperial Kitchen and can no longer be displayed in Yongshou Palace."

Yin'e opened his mouth wide and exclaimed "Ah!" He thought that Kangxi had discovered that the Consort Gui had been sending him meals every day, and was displeased with this and had reprimanded the Consort Gui.

For a moment, Yin'e felt somewhat annoyed that he had implicated the Imperial Concubine—he really hadn't expected Kangxi to make such a big deal out of nothing.

Moreover, it was clearly he who started this whole thing. Kangxi could have targeted him directly, scolded or punished him, but why did he have to cause trouble for the Imperial Concubine?

Because things didn't go as Yin'e had originally planned, and it seemed that the Consort was implicated and scolded by Emperor Kangxi, although Yin'e didn't want to eat the meals sent by the Imperial Kitchen anymore, he still nodded aggrievedly and said, "Alright, I'll start getting meals from the Imperial Kitchen tomorrow."

Although that's what he said, when he thought of the "greeting gift" sent by the Imperial Kitchen when he first entered the Imperial Study, Yin'e's little face still wrinkled up, his eyes and brows were filled with distress and frustration, and there was even a hidden resentment that wanted to burst out.

Seeing Yin'e's dejected appearance, the Consort smiled and said with a grin, "Don't worry, the Imperial Kitchen will not neglect you this time. From now on, the meals sent to the Imperial Study will no longer be leftovers."

"Huh? Really?" Yin'e stared wide-eyed in surprise.

Has the Imperial Kitchen changed its ways? Why is he so skeptical? After all, they have a history of misconduct, and Yin'e can no longer easily trust the Imperial Kitchen.

Nodding, the Imperial Concubine said casually, "The Imperial Kitchen has already been renovated."

After a moment of surprise, Yin'e suddenly understood.

With a conflicted look at the Imperial Concubine, Yin'e pursed his lips, a hint of opposition subtly showing in his handsome and refined features: "Mother, have you taken over the reins of the palace?"

Emperor Kangxi ascended the throne at a young age and began ruling in his youth, a journey fraught with difficulties and setbacks. His success was not only due to his exceptional talent but also to his tireless efforts, continuous self-improvement, and unwavering commitment to progress.

When it comes to examination papers, the princes in the Imperial Study were merely parroting others' work, far inferior to Kangxi's level. Kangxi was the greatest examination paper king in the palace, and working under him was no easy task.

Yin'e had always suspected that the three empresses, Renxiao, Xiaozhao, and Xiaoyi, who died young, were not killed by their husband Kangxi, but rather by the excessive palace duties he assigned them.

This has nothing to do with whether Kangxi was considerate or not, but rather that as a naturally energetic and playful man, Kangxi subconsciously assumed that others could be just as playful as him.

The Imperial Concubine knew what Yin'e was worried about, and gently comforted him, "Don't worry, your mother knows what she's doing and won't force herself."

After a pause, seeing that Yin'e still had a puffed-up face, the Consort smiled gently and said in a low voice, "There are people helping me share the burden, don't worry."

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Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2023-04-25 22:56:11 and 2023-04-26 19:32:10!

Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Tianwai Feixian (1 bottle);

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!