If Consort Jin and Noble Lady Yi are not going, then the Empress Dowager, as their actual guardian, will certainly not go either, for the safety of the imperial heirs in their wombs.
Everyone in the inner palace knew exactly how much the Empress Dowager cared about the situation at Jingren Palace.
This time, the Empress or the Emperor chose to go to the Yuanmingyuan Garden to escape the summer heat, most likely to avoid the Empress Dowager.
But why avoid the Empress Dowager?
Chen Yuwei didn't understand. Although the Empress Dowager had been making trouble for the Empress lately, the Empress was very capable and easily resolved these minor difficulties.
There's no need to hide at a time like this, unless there's something she doesn't know about herself.
Touching her chin, Chen Yuwei asked Xia Yu what rumors were circulating in the palace recently.
Rumors?
Xia Yu and Xia He had subtle expressions; it seemed that things had been quite peaceful in the palace lately.
The only problem, Xia Yu suddenly realized, was that "there are quite a few rumors about the Empress."
“Master, these are all just rumors, without any real evidence,” Xia He added, then carefully pointed out the window with her finger.
Upon hearing this, Chen Yuwei exclaimed "Oh!" and understood. It was Cining Palace that was behind this, with the aim of ruining the Empress's reputation and dragging her down with them.
"The Empress manages palace affairs, but didn't send anyone to handle it?" Chen Yuwei asked rhetorically, then patted Fu Ling'a in her arms, urging the child to leave quickly.
Chen Yuwei was pregnant, and the burden was still too heavy, especially since Fu Ling'a was quite heavy and pressed down on her completely. After a while, she found it difficult to breathe.
As Fu Ling'a walked away, Chen Yuwei felt much more relaxed.
She stared intently at Xia He, waiting for her to answer.
Xia He didn't let Chen Yuwei's curiosity rest, patiently explaining, "Her Majesty the Empress intervened twice, but both times it only treated the symptoms, not the root cause."
Although the person was arrested, the rumors persisted. The Empress couldn't arrest everyone in the palace. Besides, the culprit was still there; what was the point of arresting more cannon fodder who spread rumors?
As long as the Empress cannot completely suppress that person in Cining Palace, these rumors will likely never stop.
Xia He's words made Chen Yuwei laugh. It wasn't that the Empress was indecisive, but rather that being a proper royal daughter-in-law like the Empress was not easy, especially with a mother-in-law who was equally selfish.
"Hmm, in that case, I can understand why the Empress wanted to go to the Yuanmingyuan."
By retreating in order to advance, the Empress Dowager was left to cause trouble in the palace. Even if the matter couldn't be contained in the end and it came to light, as long as the Emperor didn't intend to depose her, then the Empress Dowager's efforts would be in vain.
The empress also felt that she was not getting proper rewards for her hard work, so she turned around and took a different route.
"Go and get busy. Our Yikun Palace is definitely going to the Yuanmingyuan. Collect all the items that will be used, organize them, and hand the list to me."
Xia He and Xia Yu nodded in unison, "Yes."
...
Three days later, the women of the harem set off together with Hongli to the Yuanmingyuan Garden to escape the summer heat.
As Chen Yuwei said, the selection of people to go to the Yuanmingyuan this time can basically cover most of the concubines.
Apart from some unfavored concubines and ladies-in-waiting, there were only Consort Jin and Noble Lady Yi from Jingren Palace, and the Empress Dowager from Cining Palace.
It's really not surprising at all.
Sitting in the carriage leaving the capital, Chen Yuwei couldn't help but close her eyes to rest.
Beside them, the curious Hojo and Fuling were peering out the window.
Because they were leaving the Forbidden City, even though officials had temporarily cleared the main streets of Beijing, many Beijing residents still gathered around the procession to watch.
Hojo and Fulinga had never seen anything like this before. Everything was new and exciting to them. They were like two little birds released from their cage, chirping incessantly.
Chen Yuwei: ...
Chen Yuwei found it somewhat amusing. These two children, along with Yonghu who was born earlier, had all missed out on good times, and their chances of leaving the palace were extremely limited. However, considering that Hongli himself was a person who enjoyed eating, drinking, and having fun, well, as long as he grew up well, he wouldn't have to worry about not having a chance to leave the palace later.
"Come back and sit down. When we get to the Old Summer Palace, your mother will have someone take you out to play."
Yuanmingyuan was expanded by two emperors and became a veritable royal garden, with countless artificial hills and beautiful scenery.
Chen Yuwei had heard that even the most picky person could stay in the Yuanmingyuan Garden for months without getting tired of it.
He Zhuo and Fu Ling'a sat on the cushions and obediently replied, "Yes."
Both of them had been privately reminded not to pounce on Chen Yuwei as casually as before.
Chen Yuwei's belly is already protruding, and she is experiencing all the typical pregnancy symptoms.
Khoja and Fulina will be living with the princess next year, and they have already tried to learn some of the palace rules.
After all, as princesses of the Qing Dynasty, their survival pressure was much greater than that of the princes.
"Mother, what's in the Old Summer Palace? Can I ride a small boat there?"
He Zhuo couldn't forget the time he spent in the Imperial Garden pond this year, when he took a ride in a covered boat.
But the pond in the Imperial Garden was too small, and it was already half full of lotus flowers, so there was nowhere for her to make a boat to play in.
When visiting the Old Summer Palace today, what He Zhuo cares about most is the small boats on the pond.
Chen Yuwei reached out and rubbed Hezhuo's little face. "Don't worry, the Yuanmingyuan has everything, including a large lake that Hezhuo has never seen before."
If I remember correctly, Penglai Island is surrounded by water on all sides and was a famous place for quiet meditation in the Yuanmingyuan Garden.
She will have someone take Hojo and Fulinga around to play and explore, so the two children won't get bored.
"Mother, what else, what else?" Fu Ling'a also joined in the fun, her eyes blinking, her long eyelashes like a small brush, making people's hearts itch.
Chen Yuwei immediately described all the various sights that would appear in the Yuanmingyuan.
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