Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Palace Banquet
"Master, Fu Jin has allowed Song Gege to return to her parents' home between New Year's Eve and New Year's Day..."
Su Peisheng's tone was trembling, "Also, the wife gave all the New Year gifts given by the master and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to Song Gege and Li Gege."
It’s okay to give away the New Year gifts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but the New Year gifts that I send to the main courtyard of the concubine are all gifts that I have carefully selected for a long time.
As expected, the Fourth Master became even more silent.
"Destroy those items."
Yinzhen was furious. He would never allow irrelevant people to touch or desecrate something he had made with his own hands.
"Yes." Su Peisheng turned around and ordered the Blood Dropper to steal the items made by the Fourth Master from Song Gege and Li Gege and burn them overnight.
"Go back home."
The cold moon is silent, and the snow is falling densely and sparsely, all over the sky and flying to the ground.
Yinzhen walked alone, and the sparse footprints left by his wife were hard to find. He sighed helplessly, as he couldn't even keep her footprints.
Looking up, the wind is blowing hard, and I feel lonely all over.
......
On New Year's Eve, Chu Xian sat sleepily in front of the dressing mirror, squinting her eyes as she was dragged around by Nanny Chun and Sui Qing to tidy up her attire for entering the palace.
Suddenly, a five-finger mountain pressed down on her head. Chu Xian struggled to straighten her neck and said, "Hiss... My neck is broken."
She was no longer sleepy and suddenly opened her eyes wide, looking at the bright and beautiful makeup in the mirror, her face instantly darkened.
"This lip balm is as red as if it had just been eaten by a child. It's too eye-catching. I'll try the lotus petal red tender Wuxiang that I usually use."
"Fujin, today the Forbidden City is filled with beauties. If you don't dress up carefully, you'll be ridiculed for the shabby appearance of the Fourth Prince's residence."
After Sui Qing finished speaking, she took out a gold hairpin inlaid with gems, kingfisher feathers, and burnt blue peony to show it to him.
Chu Xian grabbed the golden hairpin and casually threw it in front of the dressing table. She said solemnly, "Why are all the beauties competing for beauty? What good will I get if I win?"
"Suiqing, tell me about it."
"That will certainly bring honor to our Fourth Prince." Sui Qing said with a smile.
Chu Xian shook her head. "That's outrageous. The only ones who can compete for attention in the Forbidden City are the concubines of the six palaces and the Crown Princess. I'm just the prince's wife, a guest in the Forbidden City. Are you trying to make me take over?"
"What good can I gain by suppressing the concubines in the harem and the Crown Princess of Yuqing Palace? I will only be envied."
"Change my makeup and make sure I stand out among all the noble ladies and royal wives." Chu Xian took off the rings on her hands.
"Just follow the attire appropriate for the prince's wife, don't add unnecessary details."
"Yes, I know I was wrong." Sui Qing was sweating profusely.
"This lip makeup is wrong." Chu Xian wiped the lipstick off her lips with a wet handkerchief.
"Madam, this is the lip makeup you usually use. I am stupid, what's wrong with it?" Sui Qing was puzzled.
Chu Xian patiently explained, "The Forbidden City is not like the palace. There are even rules for which leg to lift when crossing the threshold. You can't be careless."
"Sui Qing, tell me, after entering the Forbidden City, which leg should you step over the threshold first?"
Sui Qing replied timidly, "Men step on the left, women on the right. In the Forbidden City, men step over the threshold with their left foot first, while women step over with their right foot first."
"Yes, even the Forbidden City has rules about which leg should be used to cross the threshold. If you make a mistake, a beating is the least of your worries, but some mistakes can cost you your life."
"Tell me more, what kinds of palace lip makeup are there?" Chu Xian continued to ask.
"To my Lady, the palace lip makeup is crimson lip makeup. There are only two styles of crimson lip makeup. One is to leave the upper lip unpainted and only paint the middle of the lower lip. The other is to paint the entire upper lip and only dot the middle of the lower lip, shaped like a petal."
"Fujin, there's no need to be so picky. No one would make a fuss about lip balm." Nanny Chun comforted her gently.
It was the first time that Fu Jin attended a palace banquet, and she was quite nervous.
"Mammy, there is no order without rules. If I don't point out the details, others will correct them."
Nanny Chun lowered her head and dared not persuade her any further.
Chu Xian took out the lip balm petals, painted them all over her upper lip, painted the middle of her lower lip red, and rubbed them lightly with her fingertips to shape them into petal shapes.
The bright makeup is changed to light, soft, simple and elegant.
"Fujin is naturally beautiful. Even with her fair face, she is still beautiful without makeup." Xianrong grinned. After changing her makeup, she had a different kind of elegant and graceful beauty.
Chu Xian bit her lip and said anxiously, "Change it again. Change Madam Zhaochun's makeup."
Sui Qing looked at Aunt Chun's old-fashioned makeup in surprise and nodded with difficulty: "Yeah."
When a rather old-fashioned, stiff, and formal face suddenly appeared in the mirror, Chu Xian nodded in satisfaction: "From now on, when you enter the Forbidden City, dress like this."
"Yes." Nanny Chun and Sui Qing pressed a ceremonial crown made of Zhang velvet satin on her bun.
Xianrong put a heavy gold necklace around her neck.
The crown was made of several layers, inlaid with gold and jade, interspersed with lapis lazuli, lined with red flakes and gold, tied with a string of beads at the back, and decorated with complicated and luxurious oriental pearls and coral ornaments. No wonder it made my neck sore.
At this time, Xianrong took out another plate of court beads.
Chu Xian was so scared that she stretched out her hand to push him away: "No, your waist will break."
"Fujin, you can't bear the ceremonial robes and court beads, what are you going to do if you wear court robes in the future?"
"With court robes, one must wear three sets of court beads: one set of coral and two sets of amber. One set of court beads has 108 beads, so three sets require 324 beads."
Xianrong hung the heavy court beads on Fu Jin's slender neck without saying a word, and then turned around to get three pairs of golden cloud-shaped and oriental pearl earrings.
Not only did she put on the earrings, she also took out the moon-white scarf and the eighteen-beaded silk veil.
After finishing her makeup, Chu Xian stood up tremblingly and moved slowly with the support of Xianrong.
The shoes with flower-pot soles on her feet made her look like she was walking on stilts and she couldn't stand steadily.
"Fujin, the Fourth Prince has ordered the threshold removed and the carriage driven to the front of Fujin's main courtyard. I am already waiting outside the door."
Nanny Chun's eyes were full of joy as she supported Lady Fu Jin as she walked towards the red-wheeled carriage.
"Hey, hey, hey, walk slower, be careful with my crown." Chu Xian straightened her neck, held her head high and chest out, walked properly, not daring to look down at the road for fear that her crown would fall off.
The carriage curtain was opened, and the Fourth Prince, wearing a dark blue auspicious robe, sat upright in the carriage.
Her makeup look today...
Yinzhen didn't really care about her makeup, he just felt sorry for her because she had to walk on thin ice when entering the Forbidden City and lived such a depressing life.
After all, it was his fault that he failed to protect her well.
Suppressing his heartache, Yinzhen extended his hand and looked at her with a smile: "Fujin, come here."
Chu Xian was stunned for a moment, then immediately immersed in the role. With affectionate eyes, she placed her hand on the Fourth Prince's palm. He had superb acting skills and pretended to be affectionate. With a gentle and loving pull, she sat in the Fourth Prince's arms.
The moment the carriage curtain was lowered, Chu Xian's smile froze and she quickly moved away from the Fourth Prince's arms.
"Forgive me, sir. I was overstepping my bounds just now."
Yinzhen felt empty in his arms. He lowered his eyes to suppress his disappointment and said in a hoarse voice, "No need to be so polite. After entering the Forbidden City, Fu Jin will need to cooperate with me in many aspects. We will act according to the circumstances."
"Relax, sir. I understand."
Chu Xian was depressed. After entering the Forbidden City, no matter how uncomfortable she felt, she had to hold her nose and pretend to be deeply in love with the Fourth Prince.
Chu Xian held the crown with both hands, and suddenly saw that the Fourth Prince had taken off the Zhu Wei auspicious crown and casually placed the heavy crown on the hat stand.
Chu Xian was secretly delighted. She calmly took off her ceremonial crown and followed suit, carefully placing it on the hat stand.
The Fourth Prince remained silent, and she was happy to have some peace and quiet. After two cups of tea, Chai Yu quietly reminded her from outside the carriage, "Master, Concubine, the carriage has arrived at Cangzhen Gate."
When royal wives entered the Forbidden City to attend royal family banquets, they could only enter the palace on foot through the Cangzhen Gate.
So what if she is the prince’s wife?
She still had to part ways with the Fourth Prince in front of the Cang Zhen Gate, and enter the Cang Zhen Gate together with the palace maids, eunuchs, and the two pigs that were sent from the Cang Zhen Gate to the Kunning Palace for sacrifice every morning.
How ridiculous, she became a sacrifice and a walking tombstone.
Since the Fourth Prince was a prince, he did not need to pay attention to the dismounting stone tablets for civil officials to get off their sedan chairs and military officials to get off their horses. He could ride his horse directly into the palace from Donghua Gate and go to Jianting, where he had to dismount and walk into the inner court.
Chu Xian reached out to take the crown, but the Fourth Prince pressed the back of her hand and said, "I will go with you."
"Ah? Absolutely not. How can I leave the Cang Zhen Sect?"
"It's okay." Yinzhen responded gently. Since she couldn't go through Donghua Gate, why not let him accompany her through Cangzhen Gate?
She was not familiar with the inner court. If she got lost and couldn't be found, he would be the one who got anxious and angry. It would be better to keep her under his watch and protect her.
"Then I'll trouble you, sir." Chu Xian no longer refused. The Fourth Prince was really smart. He actually used the Cang Zhen Sect to make a fuss, letting outsiders see how deeply he loved his wife.
The two got off the carriage outside the gate of Cang Town. When Pu Yi got off the carriage, the Fourth Prince couldn't wait to hold her hand tightly.
Chu Xian subconsciously wanted to struggle, but then she remembered that the two of them were just pretending. His acting was superb, and she couldn't lose, so she quickly lowered her head and pretended to be shy.
"Fourth brother, fourth sister-in-law, why are you also joining the Cang Zhen Sect?"
A clear and loud voice came from behind. Chu Xian turned around and saw the eldest prince and his wife, who were also wearing dark blue auspicious clothes, coming hand in hand.
The first wife, Irgen Jueluo, gave birth to her eldest son, Hongyu, at the end of September this year. Less than two months after she came out of confinement, her baby is plump and beautiful, with elegant eyebrows and eyes. The look in her eyes when she looks at the eldest prince is full of tenderness and affection.
Although the eldest prince had a straightforward and tough personality, the look he gave the first wife was full of tenderness and doting.
Among the princes' wives, Chu Xian envied the eldest wife the most, as she had been favored by the eldest prince for a full ten years.
The eldest prince has four daughters and one son, all of whom are legitimate.
It’s a pity that the eldest prince lost his beloved forever in the 37th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign.
Chu Xian stole a glance at the kind, gentle and radiant First Lady, feeling sorry for her.
"Fourth sister-in-law, I haven't seen you in the palace for a long time. You look even more beautiful and charming today."
It is not an exaggeration to say that the eldest wife, Irgen Jueluo, is the most beautiful among the sisters-in-law. It is hard not to be impressed by her.
"I haven't congratulated you on the birth of your son yet. I wanted to go to your house to celebrate in person, but the epidemic has been rampant in the capital these past few months, so I didn't dare to bother you. Please forgive me."
"Hey, when you were sick, I was in confinement and didn't visit you. There's no need for us to be so polite to each other."
As they were talking, the two of them had already walked around the alley of the Yanx Palace and were walking towards three women dressed in the same auspicious attire.
The Third, Fifth and Seventh Fujins came walking slowly towards them.
Chu Xian hurriedly raised her silk handkerchief and stroked her temples three times politely: "Third sister-in-law, may your hair be well. Fifth sister-in-law, and seventh sister-in-law, may your hair be well."
The Fifth and Seventh Concubine opposite returned the greeting by stroking her temples.
After the Fifth and Seventh Concubines put down their silk handkerchiefs, the Third Concubine raised her hand and stroked her temples, saying, "Greetings to my eldest sister-in-law and my fourth brother's wife."
Finally, the eldest wife raised her sleeves and said, "Greetings, my brothers and sisters."
The sisters-in-law followed the eldest wife one by one and walked slowly towards Yuqing Palace.
Along the way, he met several princes, wives of beile and beizi, and several ladies with imperial decrees.
The dull queue was like a greedy snake, growing longer and longer.
All the noble ladies and clan women who were swallowed into the team bowed their heads, their expressions becoming more and more solemn and dignified.
Chu Xian lowered her head and bent her waist, following behind the third lady Dong E, moving forward cautiously.
When they arrived at the front hall of Yuqing Palace, they saw seventeen or eighteen ladies from the royal family and officials crowding the hall.
Fortunately, Chu Xian was the prince's wife, so she could barely get a seat.
Amidst the commotion, the Crown Princess, supported by her servants, came in gracefully.
Her makeup today was heavier, but it still couldn't hide her tiredness.
The Crown Princess was busy fighting with the four concubines, and she had a miscarriage last month.
The four concubines Hui, Rong, De and Yi followed Concubine Wenxi to assist in managing the harem. They have been entangled in the harem for many years. If the Crown Princess wants to take over the power of the inner court and establish her foothold, she will have to continue fighting for a few more years.
After exchanging a few words with everyone, the Crown Princess naturally stood at the head of the clan wives and led the huge team to Ningshou Palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager.
Empress Dowager Borjigit was the successor of the previous emperor. The Mongolian forces in the harem had been eliminated by Emperor Kangxi long ago, leaving only a few decorations.
The Empress Dowager was the last dignity and the most honorable decoration of the 49 banners of the Mongolian army in the Forbidden City.
After the wives of the side branches of the clan and the wives of the outsiders had left, only a few wives of the princes remained.
The Crown Princess sat at the bottom, chatting and laughing with the Queen Mother. The other sisters-in-law stood behind her, occasionally chiming in.
Chu Xian kept her mouth shut the entire time, listening to the First Lady and the Crown Princess singing the same tune.
The Crown Prince and the eldest prince were fighting in the court, while the Crown Princess and the eldest wife were competing with each other in the harem.
No wonder the first wife died early. She talked too much and stole the spotlight from the Crown Princess several times.
"Empress Dowager, the banquet for the court officials in Baohe Hall has begun."
The old nanny of Ningshou Palace bowed and brought a cup of Sanqing tea: "Your Majesty has specially ordered Liang Jiugong to deliver Sanqing tea, please taste it, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
The female members of the royal family were not eligible to attend the banquet for court officials in the Baohe Hall. Although several older princes attended the banquet, they did not attend as princes, but as officials.
This Sanqing tea is also quite particular. It is stored in cellars with the previous year's snow water, and then cooked with plum petals, Buddha's hand slices and pine nuts. Female members of the family are not allowed to drink it.
After the banquet for court officials in Baohe Hall is over, the Emperor will return to the Qianqing Palace and the family banquet in the Forbidden City will begin.
However, Chu Xian still did not qualify to sit at the table, and even the Fourth Prince, who was a prince, did not qualify to sit at the table.
Tonight's family dinner at the Palace of Heavenly Purity is for His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the concubines in the harem.
The princes and grandchildren of the emperor had to wait until the first day of the Lunar New Year to attend the banquet, and men and women had to attend separately. The royal family members ate in the Qianqing Palace, while the female family members ate in the Baohe Hall.
The Queen Mother began to drink tea, and the Crown Princess stood up to take her leave.
Chu Xian and her sisters-in-law followed the Crown Princess to Yuqing Palace, where the Crown Princess entertained the princes and their wives.
After wandering around the Forbidden City for half a day, Chu Xian's heels were rubbed red by her flower-pot shoes. After the banquet, she returned to the residence where the Fourth Prince lived in the Forbidden City to change clothes.
As soon as she stepped into the inner room, Chu Xian was so tired that she took off her ceremonial robes and crown and lay down on the chaise longue.
"Xianrong, please help me rub my calves, it hurts."
Xianrong silently rolled up her trouser legs and carefully massaged her legs.
"Give me another massage on your shoulders."
Chu Xian narrowed her eyes and enjoyed Xianrong's service comfortably.
"Give me a massage on your neck, too."
The warm and powerful palm roamed freely on the neck, and the burning touch was both familiar and abrupt.
Chu Xian opened her eyes wide in shock and sat up suddenly.
"Master, why are you back..."
Chu Xian was so scared that she moved half of her body away and kept some distance from the Fourth Prince.
He must have gotten drunk in Baohe Hall. At this moment, his eyes were blurry, his cheeks were slightly red, and a strong smell of alcohol was emanating from him.
"Come back and change your clothes. You should rest for a while. You still need to go to Ningshou Palace to observe the New Year's Eve."
"Fujin, don't forget, this is in the Forbidden City."
Yinzhen reached out, gently stroked her messy hair, and leaned closer to her.
Chu Xian's whole body stiffened, and she immediately put on a charming smile.
She almost forgot about the main thing. From the moment she stepped into the Forbidden City, she had to cooperate with the Fourth Prince at all times.
She mustered up the courage to approach the Fourth Prince and rubbed her cheek against his palm like an obedient cat.
The first ambiguous touch made her feel inexplicably familiar.
This was clearly the first time she was so intimate with the Fourth Prince, so why did it feel so strangely familiar?
This familiar feeling was like a bolt from the blue, and she became increasingly uneasy.
Why is this happening?
She did not resist getting close to the Fourth Prince at all, and even showed a hint of joy against her will.
She didn't realize that her body recognized her beloved faster than her heart.
She suddenly escaped from his grasp, becoming more and more frightened and confused.
"Someone, help the Fourth Prince change his clothes." Chu Xian retreated to the door, her tone flustered.
Chai Yu hesitated at the door. Xian Rong frowned, turned around and pushed the door open.
Chai Yu shook his head and followed him in slowly.
After the Fourth Prince changed his clothes and left, Chu Xian hurriedly took off her handkerchief and frantically wiped the skin he had just rubbed until it turned a shocking red. She threw the handkerchief into the spittoon in disgust.
This was not enough. It was not until she took a shower and changed her clothes that she was able to suppress the inexplicable panic and palpitations.
Near midnight, the Fourth Prince came to pick up Chu Xian and take her to Ningshou Palace to celebrate the New Year's Eve.
Magnificent fireworks bloomed brilliantly in the night sky of the Forbidden City. In front of the Ningshou Palace, all the princes and princesses gathered.
Brilliant fireworks ignited one after another in the low sky of Ningshou Palace. The eldest prince subconsciously hugged his wife in his arms and hid her under his cloak.
The Third Prince also hid his wife behind him to protect her.
Chu Xian saw that the Fifth Lady beside her had shyly hugged the Fifth Master's arm. She was thinking about whether to hold the Fourth Prince's hand and pretend to be serious, but she was suddenly hugged by the Fourth Prince's waist.
"Fujin, I wish to share the joy of spring with you year after year, morning after morning, and evening after evening."
He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, his hot breath spraying on her ear.
Chu Xian's smile froze for a moment, and she forced herself to calm down: "I wish you all the best, peace and happiness every year, and good health."
After saying that, she handed the prepared New Year gift to the Fourth Prince. It was a standard purse that Nanny Chun had painstakingly embroidered for seven or eight days.
Chu Xian felt a sinking sensation on her wrist, and a warm and moist touch came over her. She lowered her head and saw a pair of twisted white jade bracelets on her wrist.
This guy! Even the gifts he gave were so infuriating.
Even if he gave her a pair of carved jade bracelets, she wouldn't feel so upset.
Twisted jade bracelets are usually carved from green jade. When a man gives a twisted green jade bracelet to a woman, it symbolizes the gift of long hair and love.
She knew that she didn't deserve the green silk jade bracelet, but he couldn't curse her so cruelly.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, he actually gave her an unlucky white twisted wire bracelet. Was he cursing her to grow old and gray early?
The smile on Chu Xian's face could hardly be suppressed. She clenched her teeth and wished she could take off the bracelet immediately and smash him to death.
After staying up all night to celebrate the New Year, Chu Xian returned to the prince's residence. She didn't even bother to look at the bracelet. She took it off and threw it to Xianrong. She felt it was unlucky to look at it any longer.
"Put it away."
"Wow, Fu Jin, these mutton-fat jade twisted wire bracelets are so soft and moist to the touch."
"Better than the one Chi Zheng gave me..."
After Xianrong said this, her face turned pale with fear and she covered her mouth tightly.
"Chi Zheng gave a gift?"
Chu Xian rushed to Xian Rong barefoot, eyes full of joy: "When did you send it? Why didn't you tell me? If it happens again, go find Madam Zheng and receive your punishment."
"What gift did he give? Where is it? Why didn't I see it?" Chu Xian looked around anxiously.
"It was in the secret compartment of the dressing mirror in the main courtyard. When Sui Qing brought it to you, you were sitting in the carriage with the Fourth Prince, so I didn't dare give it to you."
As Xianrong spoke, she took out a small and simple brocade box from her sleeve.
"Chi Zheng said that he was willing to... I forgot the details, but anyway he wanted to grow old with you." Xian Rong lowered her voice and did not dare to elaborate, fearing that there might be eavesdroppers in the Forbidden City.
Chu Xian couldn't wait to open the brocade box, and a pair of exquisite white jade twisted wire bracelets came into view.
With a smile on her face, she put the twisted jade bracelet on her wrist and rubbed it tenderly.
Xianrong frowned and stared at the twisted jade bracelet of excellent quality in her hand.
They are both twisted jade bracelets, but they are given to different people with completely opposite attitudes.
The jade bracelet that the poor scholar Chi Zheng gave was of average jade color, and the jade even had some clear cotton wool in it. It was worth at most two taels of silver.
"Bring the soft gold thread and red silk thread immediately." Chu Xian carefully took off the bracelet.
Xianrong put away the jade bracelet given by the Fourth Prince, turned around to get the red silk thread and soft gold thread, watched Fu Jin staying up late under the lamp, and personally wrapped the jade bracelet given by Chi Zheng tightly.
The good jade bracelet turned into a gold-wire inlaid jade bracelet, which was both vulgar and ugly. However, Fu Jin wore the bracelet on her wrist with a smile on her face, as if it were a treasure, and was reluctant to take it off even before going to bed.
After bathing and changing his clothes, Yinzhen walked into the inner room in the middle of the night, and his wife was already fast asleep.
Suddenly, his eyes fell on the pair of jade bracelets on Fu Jin's wrists, which were held close to her heart.
He recognized it at a glance; it was the New Year's gift from Chi Zheng.
He felt bitter in his heart. She actually treated such a humble and ordinary bracelet as a treasure. The bracelet he gave her was obviously a white jade twisted wire bracelet, and it was made by a famous craftsman at a high price, but she ignored it.
A feeling of helplessness and frustration arose in his heart. He was completely defeated by Chi Zheng and was completely defeated.
That night, Yinzhen sat awake all night in his study.
The next morning, Chu Xian was urged to get up by Xian Rong.
Today, I need to pay New Year's greetings to the Empress Dowager's palace, to the Qianqing Palace, to the Yuqing Palace, and to the palaces of the mothers of several older princes. Finally, I will have dinner at the palace of the Fourth Prince's mother, Concubine De.
Chu Xian was so sleepy that she couldn't open her eyes, so she asked Xianrong to go outside and grab a handful of clean snow and rub her face with the snow water. After rubbing the cool snow water on her cheeks, she woke up completely.
The heavy auspicious clothes weighed down her shoulders. Chu Xian felt lazy today, so she changed into a pair of light embroidered shoes with Yuanbao soles.
It was not for any other reason, but because the Fourth Prince never cared about the lives of others and never slowed down for anyone. I still remember that after the two of them got married, when they went to pay their respects to each other in the palaces, his feet were so fast that they left afterimages.
She was wearing high-heeled shoes and had to jog to barely keep up with him.
When she returned to Nanxun Palace that night, her feet were swollen with seven or eight blisters.
Having learned a painful lesson, she has become wiser and refuses to wear clogs today.
Chu Xian nervously followed the Fourth Prince half a step behind him, and the two of them walked one in front and the other behind on the Forbidden City palace road.
Eh...is he still hungover from last night?
Her steps were slow, and she almost got ahead of him several times, but luckily she stopped.
He walked slowly, so she could only slow down her pace. Her tense emotions gradually relaxed. She looked up comfortably, seeing a flock of pigeons flying by in the clear blue sky.
When they arrived at the gate of Ningshou Palace, the eldest prince, the third prince, the fifth prince, the seventh prince, the eighth prince, the ninth prince, the tenth prince, the twelfth prince, the thirteenth prince, and the fourteenth prince were already waiting outside.
The younger princes after the Fourteenth Prince were too young to come, but were brought by their mothers to pay New Year's greetings.
Several older princes who had married and moved out of the palace to set up their own residences had already met yesterday.
The eighth prince, who had not yet married, led a group of younger brothers to greet his fourth brother and his wife.
Chu Xian gave the snuff bottles and New Year's money she had prepared to the little princes.
A little prince about twelve or thirteen years old followed the Fourth Prince intimately, and the two brothers chatted in low voices.
The prince had delicate features, a clear complexion like jade, and spoke in a gentle and soft voice. If he wasn't the future Executive Vice Emperor, Xiao Shisan, then who else could he be?
"Fujin, that's the Thirteenth Master, he's just eleven years old this year." Xianrong reminded in a low voice.
Chu Xian knew the Ninth Master and the Tenth Master. Whenever she and Wan Ning met the Eighth Master, they would meet these two Masters five out of ten times.
The Twelfth Prince was a mild-mannered and taciturn person, while the most boisterous person in the room was her younger brother-in-law, the Fourteenth Prince.
He has some similarities with the Fourth Prince in his eyes and eyebrows, but he has a cheerful personality. He is very well taken care of by Concubine De. He is strong and talkative, and calm.
The Fourteenth Prince was chatting and laughing with the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince. When he saw her looking at him, he turned his head away and didn't look at her.
What a rude little brat! He rolled his eyes at her. Humph.
At this time, an old maid came out from the hall and said, "The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess have paid their respects. Please invite the eldest prince and the eldest wife to see you."
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess walked out hand in hand.
Chu Xian followed the Fourth Prince and wished the Crown Prince and his wife a happy new year.
The prince glanced around, and after everyone had saluted, he smiled and said, "We are brothers, there is no need to be so polite. Happy New Year! Let's all come to Yuqing Palace for lunch today and enjoy the New Year's wine."
"Brother, if you want to have some wine, I will definitely drink a few more cups."
The Fourth Prince was the first to agree, followed by the Thirteenth Prince, and then the Third and Fifth Princes responded.
"Then I'll trouble you, Second Brother." The Eighth Prince bowed politely, followed by the Ninth Prince, the Tenth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince.
The lame Seventh Prince and the Twelfth Prince are simply two breaths of fresh air.
These two people can be described as being as quiet as chrysanthemums, not competing with the world, and never fighting or competing in history, and have never been involved in the fight for the throne.
"Twelfth brother, old lady Su Malagu has been in poor health recently. Please take good care of her and don't bother coming here." The prince took the initiative to remind him.
"Crown Princess, you will go visit her in person with my twelfth brother later."
"Thank you, second brother and sister-in-law, for your concern for her." The twelfth prince was raised by Su Malagu and had a gentle personality. At this time, he expressed his gratitude politely.
"Fujin, you go with me."
"Yes." Chu Xian responded obediently.
The Fourth Prince was really a follower of the Crown Prince, and he immediately asked her to go with him.
"Fujin, you go too." The Third Master looked at Fujin behind him.
The Fifth and Seventh Concubine also responded one after another.
The crown prince's smile widened, and the crown princess's eyes showed a faint smile.
How can one not be proud of the fact that hundreds of people respond to one's call and the honor of being in a high position?
Everyone respectfully saw the prince and his wife off.
A young eunuch stepped out of Ningshou Palace and said, "My dear princes, the Empress Dowager is a little tired. She ordered you all to come into the palace to pay New Year's greetings."
Chu Xian was stunned. It had been less than a cup of tea since the eldest prince and his wife entered Ningshou Palace.
She was happy to be free, and stole a glance at her sisters-in-law opposite her. They all seemed to be thinking about something, with their heads down and silent.
In the eyes of the Queen Mother, legitimate grandsons and eldest grandsons are far more precious than other grandchildren.
At this time, the eldest wife followed the eldest prince and came out of Ningshou Palace. Her eyes were red, and it was obvious that she had just cried.
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