Chapter 13 Consort Hui Returns to the Palace
Today is the day the Fifth Prince returns to the palace, and Yanxi Palace was bustling with activity early in the morning.
Especially Xiao Fuzi.
"Your Majesty, the prince has arrived at the Qianqing Palace."
Two incense sticks burned.
"Your Majesty, the prince has come out of Cining Palace."
Another incense stick burned.
Xiao Fuzi's voice came through, slightly out of breath: "Master, the prince has left Kunning Palace and is heading to Yanxi Palace."
Yun Jun was also getting impatient, so she simply took Lingzhi and Fuling and stood at the entrance of Yanxi Palace. The three of them stared longingly at the palace road.
A small figure gradually approached from the distance along the palace road. It was clear that he had been well cared for outside the palace, with a chubby face and a robust appearance.
Her eyes were fixed on it.
A strange emotion, one she had never experienced before, gradually welled up within her.
joy?
Sour and astringent?
The emotion wasn't intense; it was a gentle, persistent feeling that lingered around her hands and feet, making her nose feel slightly warm, and she even felt an urge to immediately pull him into her arms.
Yunyun even felt a little dazed. She saw Baoqing from her memory, a thin, small bundle, a red-skinned monkey, just like when he was born.
But the child before me has long since shed his frail childhood appearance and grown into a sturdy little fellow.
Baoqing seemed to have spotted the people at the palace gate as well. He seemed to want to run a few steps, and his pace quickened. But then, as if he had thought of something, he straightened his back and walked up to Yunyun in a proper manner, calling out in a clear voice, "Son greets Mother."
Baoqing said similar things many times today.
Greetings to Father Emperor, Greetings to Grandmother Emperor, Greetings to Mother Emperor.
He didn't invite anyone from the previous five years, but now he's suddenly piling them all up today.
The previously clumsy movements became skillful.
But his mother is really beautiful.
Baoqing looked up and stared openly at her mother, making no attempt to hide her favoritism.
His mother was even prettier than Yunrui's mother.
Seeing Baoqing staring at him, he held his head high, like a curious yet dependent little animal.
Yunyun's heart melted instantly.
He squatted down directly, meeting Bao Qing's gaze at eye level.
“Baoqing,” she said, looking at the child she had been longing to tell. She wanted to ask him if he was doing well outside the palace, if anyone was bullying him, and if he had suffered any injustices while his mother was not by his side.
In the end, he only asked one question: "Are you hungry?"
Bao Qing nodded vigorously, a bright smile spreading across his face, revealing two small canine teeth.
Yunyun couldn't help but pat Baoqing's head.
He's only five years old, not old enough to have a new hairstyle yet. He still has a small tuft of "smart hair" on his head, which feels soft, smooth, and a little fluffy, like a dandelion.
It feels somewhat comfortable.
Touch it again.
After touching her twice more, Yunyun withdrew her hand and looked at Baoqing with a smile, "Would you like to hold your mother's hand and go inside together?"
Baoqing's ears turned red; he had never held his mother's hand before.
She hesitated for a moment before nodding gently.
The old woman behind her, Granny Sun, seemed to want to say something, nothing more than rules and regulations. But as soon as she opened her mouth, she met Fuling's ambiguous smile. She swallowed her words and obediently shut her mouth.
Yunyun led Baoqing into Yanxi Palace.
The child's palms were soft, so she deliberately slowed her pace and moved slowly in step with his small steps.
What does Baoqing like to eat?
Bao Qing tilted his head and thought for a moment.
With his mother holding his right hand, he counted the fingers on his left hand, saying, "I like to eat pea flour cakes, glutinous rice balls, mutton pies, as well as kidney bean rolls and lotus flower buns."
The old lady said that glutinous rice balls are hard to digest, so she doesn't let him eat too many.
The other snacks were what Yunrui liked to eat. He thought they were alright, so he started to enjoy them too.
Lingzhi carefully noted it down and decided that Yanxi Palace would always keep these snacks on hand from now on.
The master has been waiting for his child for five years to return, so we must make sure the young prince is comfortable here.
-
Everyone in the palace knows that the Fifth Prince is returning today.
In particular, Chengqian Palace, which is located in the same East Six Palaces as Yanxi Palace, is situated northwest of Yanxi Palace, and is the place one passes through on the way from Kunning Palace to Yanxi Palace.
"Granny, when do you think I will be able to have a child?"
Consort Tong was somewhat melancholy. She had been in the palace for over a year, and it wasn't that she was out of favor; in fact, the Emperor often visited her. But why was there still no news of her pregnancy?
Zhao Mama, who was standing to the side, was bowing her head and carefully cracking walnuts for her. "Children are all a matter of fate, and you can't rush it. When Madam first entered the Tong family, it was two or three years before she became pregnant with you. Your relationship with the Emperor is so deep, unlike others. Take care of your health first, and the child will come naturally."
Granny Zhao was not only Consort Tong's wet nurse, but also Madam Tong's dowry maid.
She grew up alongside Madam Tong.
Later, she married the steward of the Tong family, had a child, and then volunteered to become the wet nurse for the little princess.
Granny Zhao loved this child she had watched grow up from a young age.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have left her family to accompany Consort Tong into the palace.
She coaxed, "Look at Consort Hui and Consort Rong in the palace. They were originally from bondservant families. Even if they give birth to a prince, they can only hope to become a concubine at most. But you are different. You are a girl from the Tong family, with a noble status, and you are also a cousin of the Emperor. Good things are never too late. You are only eighteen this year, which is a good age. Take two or three years to take good care of your body, and the prince you give birth to will definitely be healthy and blessed."
Granny Zhao herself had given birth and had her own insights into the matter.
Consort Tong believed her words.
However, some doubts remain, after all, she has not only herself, but also her family.
The honor and disgrace of the family are closely linked to her position in the palace. If she can give birth to an heir as soon as possible, it will provide another layer of protection for the Tong family.
“Let’s send a message home,” Consort Tong said after a moment of silence, her brows furrowing slightly. “Tell them that now that I’ve been promoted to Consort, it’s time for Mother to send a message to the palace so we can meet and share the joy with our families.”
-
The meal at Yanxi Palace today is exceptionally lavish.
A table was laden with all sorts of dishes, including braised pork knuckle, roasted duck, large prawns, minced meat sesame cakes, stewed rabbit, and shiitake mushrooms, all prepared according to the children's favorite flavors.
Baoqing sat on a small stool, holding a silver spoon in her little hands, eating with exceptionally proper manners.
He first scooped a spoonful of white rice into his mouth, chewed it a few times, and then used a silver spoon to scoop up a mouthful of vegetables. His movements were slow and leisurely, and not a single drop of soup got on the corner of his mouth. He looked just like a little adult.
Granny Sun stood behind him, occasionally using serving chopsticks to put a piece of shiitake mushroom or rabbit on his plate.
Yun Jun sat opposite him, barely touching any of the dishes on the table, her gaze fixed on Bao Qing.
Granny Sun mostly served Bao Qing light dishes, taking a few bites of each, so it was impossible to tell what Bao Qing's specific preferences were.
As soon as Baoqing put down the silver spoon, Granny Sun immediately brought him warm tea and helped him rinse his mouth.
Yunyun frowned.
From small things, one can see the big picture.
This child is too well-behaved, almost abnormally so.
A five-year-old child will eat whatever is given to him; he has no favorite vegetables and no dislikes.
Which five-year-old doesn't have their own little quirks?
Even if she had never raised a child, she had heard of it.
What kind of child doesn't like to eat and you have to chase after them to feed them? They're picky eaters and won't eat radishes or greens. If you're not careful, they'll eat everything. They're always chattering away, full of energy like a demon king.
Is it because I'm not familiar with her yet?
Or is it because of something else?
Fuling had been paying close attention to her mistress's expression. Seeing her frown, she quickly stepped forward. "You two have had a long journey. The side hall has been tidied up. Why don't you come with me to see if the prince's things should be arranged according to the old custom?"
As he spoke, he led the two of them outside and gently closed the palace door behind them.
Only Baoqing and Yunyun remained in the room.
Yunyun pulled Baoqing in front of her, touched his chubby face, and spoke in an exceptionally gentle tone, "Baoqing, can you tell your mother what you usually do outside the palace? Your mother wants to know more about Baoqing."
Baoqing was enveloped by her gentle tone, and her initially somewhat reserved body gradually relaxed.
He lowered his head slightly, his ears turning a little red, and then slowly, very slowly, leaned into Yun Jun's arms.
The little head gently rested against her clothes. After thinking for a while, Baoqing spoke softly, "There are usually teachers who come to give lessons, teaching us to recognize and write characters, tell historical stories, and recite poems."
As he spoke, he suddenly looked up, his eyes sparkling, "The teacher even praised me, saying that I can memorize books quickly and that my handwriting is beautiful!"
"Our Baoqing is so amazing!" Yunyun praised him, gently ruffling his hair with her fingertips, and then asked softly, "Besides going to class, who else does Baoqing play with?"
“Yunrui is here,” Baoqing replied immediately, “Yunrui often comes to play with me, and we do tangram puzzles together!”
"So you only played in the room? Did you go outside for a run?" Yun Jun asked calmly.
Bao Qing shook his head, his voice lowering.
“I also went to play in the garden. Last time I chased butterflies in the garden. They flew so high and far. I ran after them, and in the end even my nanny couldn’t keep up with me.”
He paused for a moment, his little brows furrowing slightly. "Later, my nanny said that I was a prince, and I had to be dignified and proper. I couldn't run around and play like a normal child, and I couldn't speak loudly. From then on, I didn't go out much anymore."
Another reason is that when he goes out, there are no children to play with him; they all run away as soon as they see him approach.
But he didn't want his mother to know that he was an unwanted child.
He loves his mother.
Bao Qing leaned gently against Yun Jun's chest, yawned slightly, and a little water glistened in the corner of her eyes.
He thought his mother liked him too.
The nanny said that Mother likes obedient and well-behaved children.
Yunyun gently patted his back, her heart softening, and she lowered her voice even further, "Baoqing, are you sleepy? How about you take a nap with your mother for a while?"
Without instructing the palace servants to tidy up Baoqing's room, Yunyun directly took Baoqing's hand and led him to the mahogany carved canopy bed in the east wing.
The brocade quilt was soft, and she let Baoqing lie on the inside, then lay down next to him and gently tucked the corners of the quilt in.
Baoqing sleeps very properly, all very straight.
Yunyun's heart softened at the sight.
Is this the connection of blood? Or is it the lingering emotions of the original owner?
But no matter what, the mundane life in the palace finally gained a touch of fun.
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