Chapter 2 Concubine Yi made a vague decision, Mu Xue held...

After making a vague decision, Muxue hugged her knees and curled up in the bed curtains.

When the first rays of morning light shone on her thick and hard hair, she had already taken stock of the past and the future.

For a princess, getting married brings both blessings and disasters.

The disaster was naturally that she went to the frontier far away from Beijing and married a complete stranger.

The good news is that this may also be her release from prison.

In the Qing Dynasty, a princess' marriage was equivalent to adulthood, and she could have a certain degree of financial security. Since she traveled here, Mu Xue's monthly salary was 40 taels of silver, and it had never increased. At the same time, the monthly salary of the Fifth Prince, who was about the same age as her, increased from 50 taels to 100 taels, and then to 300 taels.

But when Mu Xue got married, as a princess of Fumeng, she could receive a monthly salary of 400 taels. Although it was far from the 2,500 taels of silver that the princes were given as beile, it was at least ten times the income when she was not married.

With financial security, she also has her own territory. Since she is married, she must have a princess's mansion, right? With money and a place to live, the only problem is that prince consort. However, she is a princess, and in terms of patriarchal system, she is an extension of the imperial power. As long as she handles it properly, it is not impossible to isolate the prince consort politely in a corner of the princess's mansion and keep him out of sight.

After going over these trivial matters in my mind one by one, if I want to handle them properly, I have to ask someone for help - Concubine Yi.

However, when Mu Xue actually stood at the door of Concubine Yi's bedroom, she felt a little embarrassed.

You rarely flatter others on normal days, but now that something has happened, you are bothering others again. Isn’t it a little... Muxue pinched the corner of her clothes, feeling quite hesitant.

"The fourth princess is here."

Under the eaves of the corridor, several palace maids with long braids stood with their hands hanging down. When they saw her from afar, they all came forward with a smile, shouting "Good luck to the Fourth Princess" and inviting her to sit in the side hall.

As soon as you enter the hall, a cool breeze hits you in the face. It turns out that there is an ice sculpture in the hall.

There was also an enamel ice jar behind the screen. When Muxue sat down, the palace maids hurriedly removed the lid of the ice jar and brought out a double-layer food box. When they opened it, they saw white porcelain plum soup and iced melon in it.

Two other eunuchs quietly brought in a fruit table, which was filled with various snacks and cakes.

Mu Xue first picked up the sour plum soup. The white porcelain cup was slightly watery and cool, which made people calm down in this hot summer.

"I remember that you don't like sweet things, so I asked them to put less sugar. Is it still to your taste?"

The pearl curtain swayed gently, and a beauty in palace dress walked out slowly. She was dressed in purple and a thin silk cloak. She wore a jadeite with eighteen beads as a collar. When the sunlight shone on it, it sparkled brightly. It was Concubine Yi, Guo Luoluo Nalanzhu.

Mu Xue quickly put down the bowl and knelt down to pay her respects: "Greetings to Concubine Yi, thank you for your concern. The food is indeed delicious."

"If you think it's good, use more. Your Khan Ama even sent some melons here, saying they were tribute from Hami. Try them too."

Concubine Yi glanced at the palace maids, and they understood and retreated quietly, closing the palace door.

Concubine Yi came over and sat down next to the Fourth Princess. She looked at her carefully with her sharp eyes: "You look a little different today."

"Will it?"

"I can't explain it specifically, but I seem to be more energetic."

Concubine Yi had raised the Fourth Princess for many years and had some understanding of her niece's temper. She lived like a person who lived apart from the world at such a young age. She didn't even dare to let the child pick beans, for fear that it would aggravate her indifferent and distant temperament.

However, no matter how calm she was, she was only an eighteen-year-old girl, and it was impossible for her to be calm about marriage. Ever since she received the news that the fourth princess had been f**ked up, Concubine Yi had been waiting for her to come to her.

It would be hard not to be sad to be arranged to be married to such a faraway place, right? Concubine Yi was prepared for the Fourth Princess to cry, and as soon as she entered the palace, she signaled for all the palace maids to leave.

However, the Fourth Princess in front of him did not show any signs of emotion from her expression.

Mu Xue just said softly as usual: "I can't say I'm in high spirits, I just figured out some things."

"Oh?" Concubine Yi asked, "What's the matter?"

Mu Xue was in no hurry to speak, but picked up a piece of melon and said, "When my daughter was bored, she read some books about the Western Regions. It seems that the origin of Hami melon is near the Junggar tribe. A few days ago, people in the palace said that Khan Ama won a great victory. Today, I saw the unprecedented Hami tribute, and I know that Khan Ama's kindness has been shining like the sun on the Junggar tribe."

"My daughter also thought of the Khalkha mutton that was sent along. Since it was sent along, it means that most of the Khalkha people were with Khan Ama and the leader Nahami. So, probably, the Khalkha tribe contributed to this war and was closely involved. In this way, the reason why my daughter was betrothed to the Khalkha tribe is also very clear."

It was a very long speech. Mu Xue seldom spoke such long speeches in front of others. At first, her voice was a little trembling, like ripples on the water. But the more she spoke, the more fluent she became. Although her voice was still soft and gentle, it was as broad as the moon shining on the eastward flowing river.

Concubine Yi was a little nonchalant at first, but after hearing this, she sat up straight and looked at her intently: "Did you think of this yourself?"

Mu Xue nodded.

The hall suddenly became quiet, with dust floating in the beams of light.

Concubine Yi suddenly smiled, and this smile was filled with some relief: "You are indeed a person with inner talent."

She knew that few of the maids around the fourth princess had the ability and courage to explain to the princess in detail the many considerations behind a marriage and the court. Most people only had a general impression - to maintain the relationship between Manchuria and Mongolia. And why did this tribe grant the marriage at this time? Few people cared.

However, the eighteen-year-old girl before her, after learning that she was granted marriage, did not show the shyness of a newlywed, nor did she look forward to a husband and married life. Instead, she immediately stood in the perspective of the ruler, thinking about what the emperor and the empress dowager were thinking, analyzing and guessing the real logic behind the marriage.

She is worthy of being the niece of Guo Luoluo Nalanzhu!

Concubine Yi reached out and gently held Muxue's hand: "You have such insight and courage, and my sister will be pleased if she is still alive. But if you still have any doubts, just tell me."

Mu Xue looked up and met her eyes. Her concerned expression was real. She was moved. She cleared her throat and said, "I didn't know much about managing things before. When I go out, I will be far away from my mother. I am afraid that people will scare me. I beg you to teach me."

"Don't worry," Concubine Yi patted the back of her hand, "I will personally watch over matters that are closely related to you. As for teaching you..."

Concubine Yi pondered for a moment and said, "If you ask me, you can learn to manage household servants slowly. The most important thing is your Khan Ama."

Muxue was a little surprised by this answer, but after thinking about it, she realized it was true.

In this era when feudal imperial power was at its peak, whether as a daughter or as a subject, the attitude of the emperor and father always came first.

Mu Xue always kept her distance from Emperor Kangxi. Although he was her father here, Mu Xue did not have much father-daughter affection.

Before she crossed over, she was the only daughter in the family. It is said that when she was born, her father's relatives suggested sending this daughter to the countryside to have another son. The usually gentle father flew into a rage and drove the people out with a broom. He turned around and negotiated with his mother, "We only have this daughter in this life. What if we have another child and don't love her as much? As a father, I must be loyal to my children. I will not marry a second wife, nor will I raise a second child."

Having witnessed such "faithful" fatherly love, Mu Xue didn't care at all about finding any love from Emperor Kangxi, who had a large number of children and concubines.

Is it a problem caused by the abundant love? If it is not the best, then it doesn't matter, it is better not to have it.

But given the current situation, we have to make some plans.

Mu Xue pursed her lips and looked up at Concubine Yi: "Aunt, can you... teach me."

Having been favored for so many years, Concubine Yi naturally has her own methods.

Concubine Yi was stirring the sour plum soup slowly, the spoon hitting the white porcelain wall, making a lonely sound. Hearing this, she smiled softly: "You are already learning, didn't you say it very well just now?"

What did you say just now? Mu Xue thought for a moment and said, "Just now I was just guessing the reason for this marriage."

"That's it."

Concubine Yi put down the porcelain bowl in her hand and said word by word: "I think of what you think and understand what you worry about."

Mu Xue nodded thoughtfully: "Thank you, aunt. I'll remember it." Then she sat quietly, looking down, thinking about something.

Concubine Yi stopped talking and drank a bowl of sour plum soup quietly. Then they chatted with each other for a while, and when a palace maid came to ask something, Mu Xue stood up and left.

The emperor was about to return to the palace, and there were many trivial matters to attend to. By the time he had finished, the day had grown longer. When dinner was served, a large blue-and-white bowl filled with soup was seen on a small red lacquered table, and mutton and rice noodles were placed on a tray, which looked quite fresh.

Eunuch Zhang Qiyong replied with a smile: "The fourth princess sent it specially for the master to taste."

Concubine Yi nodded and said with emotion: "She is also a grateful person. She finally has some spirit now."

Ever since she was raised in her palace, the Fourth Princess has always been quiet and easy-going. Having this princess in the Yikun Palace is no different from not having her there. Unlike the Ninth Prince and the Eleventh Prince, who are so lively, she never causes trouble for her and is well-behaved, staying in her room all day.

It was a good thing that the child was well-behaved and worry-free, but occasionally, Concubine Yi would worry about it.

The girl liked to stare at the square sky above the palace.

Concubine Yi was very familiar with this look. Because she was familiar with it, she was afraid.

Concubine Guo Luoluo Buyinzhu was the biological mother of Muxue and the elder sister of Concubine Yi Nalanzhu. In the 16th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, the two sisters entered the palace together.

Twenty years have passed, but her sister has long since become a ghost in the Forbidden City. Nalanzhu remembers clearly that Buyinzhu was smiling when she passed away.

"Sister, don't cry." Bu Yinzhu held her hand with great effort, and there was a little smile on her face that was pale due to illness. "It's a good thing. I'm going to become the wind and blow wherever I want."

Nalanzhu cried bitterly, without any manners at all, and held her sister's hand tightly, "Don't go."

"I'm sorry," Buyinzhu raised her hand with great effort and touched her hair, just like when she was a child, "My daughter, I'm sorry to trouble you."

She burst into tears and could only nod.

Time flies. My sister's only child, the daughter she raised with her own hands, has now grown up.

The fourth princess is luckier than her sister, as she still has the opportunity to leave the palace.

The curtains were drawn, candlelight was dim, and in the waft of incense in the small Buddhist hall, Concubine Yi offered the Buddhist scriptures she had copied by hand.

"Sister, if you are in heaven, please bless our daughter to be safe and sound."