Chapter 25 Consort Hui's Companion
It's a rare good day.
After Baoqing finished writing the large characters, he sat with Yunyun under the eaves to bask in the sun. The warm winter sun felt wonderful on their skin, as if the harsh winter chill had been driven away.
Baoqing felt warm all over.
Until he saw a familiar figure.
"Yunrui!" Baoqing practically jumped up from the bench.
He felt as if he had been hit by a windfall; he was dizzy and almost went crazy with joy.
Bao Qing never expected that his friend from outside the palace was inside the Haha Beads!
"Hehe," Yunrui chuckled at Baoqing, revealing two small tiger teeth.
However, he still remembered his mother and nanny's earnest teachings before he left, so he first bowed to Yun Jun and said, "Greetings to Consort Hui, may Consort Hui be blessed."
Yun Jun had already abandoned her languid demeanor upon seeing the children, reverting to the dignified bearing of a concubine in the palace. At this moment, she smiled warmly and offered a helping hand.
"Get up."
Her gaze swept over the children, and she gradually came to a conclusion.
With a wave of his hand, Emperor Kangxi selected four boys for Baoqing. Apart from Yunrui, the other three boys were three or four years older than Baoqing and appeared to be more mature.
According to palace rules, older companions were chosen to help the princes with their studies and set a good example.
Only Yunrui, who was the same age as Baoqing, still had a childlike liveliness in his eyes and brows, as if he had been specially found as a playmate for Baoqing.
He still has some fatherly heart.
Seeing that Yunrui was clearly familiar with Baoqing, the other three Haha Beads were not to be outdone. After bowing to Yunyun, they introduced themselves to Baoqing.
If a prince does not do well in his studies or is negligent, his study companion will sometimes take the punishment in his place.
Therefore, it is very important to maintain a good relationship with the princes.
Knowing that they would be reserved with her here, Yun Jun said softly to Bao Qing, "Bao Qing, take them to the side hall. You will be studying together in the Imperial Study from now on, so get to know each other better now."
"Yes, Mother."
Baoqing readily agreed. He was excited to see his friend and had so much to say to Yunrui.
The five children went to the side hall together.
Watching their retreating figures, and remembering that there were only two nannies looking after things in the side hall, Yunyun worried that they wouldn't be able to handle it all, so she gave instructions to Fuling beside her.
"Go to the side hall and keep an eye on things. Serve the children some of their favorite sweet drinks and pastries, and make sure they don't make too much of a fuss."
"Yes, Master."
Fu Ling respectfully agreed and quickly followed the children.
Because of the Fifth Prince, the Yanxi Palace always had a supply of pastries. The pea and jujube paste cakes were served one by one on gilded plates, still steaming hot.
Thinking that eating only pastries might cause them to choke, Fuling also served each of them a bowl of warm almond milk.
Baoqing pulled Yunrui to sit on the heated kang. The low table on the kang had been removed, so the three children didn't feel crowded. The other two older children sat on the embroidered stools, and the five children formed a circle.
Yunrui loves sweets, so Baoqing specially brought out a plate of jujube paste cake and handed it directly to him, saying, "Eat up."
He still remembered Yunrui's declaration that they would share both good and bad fortune. Now that he had the freedom to make pastries, it was time for Yunrui to enjoy the good life too.
Yunrui's gaze fell on the jujube paste cake, and he couldn't help but swallow hard.
My mother said that life in the palace is not as carefree as at home; you have to be careful and cautious.
But this jujube paste cake is really delicious.
Yunrui continued to swallow.
Seeing that Yunrui wouldn't take it, Baoqing simply stuffed it into his arms, saying, "Why are you being so polite with me? Eat it."
It exudes a sense of boldness.
Yunrui lacked the willpower to refuse a second time and accepted.
Anyway, Mother doesn't know.
Perhaps it was the act of giving him the pastries that reminded Yunrui of the feeling they had when they were together outside the palace. He was no longer reserved and suddenly started talking non-stop, chattering away like beans.
“Baoqing, you have no idea. On the day you left, I wanted to see you off! But you left too early. Your mother called me several times, but I didn’t wake up. By the time I changed my clothes, I couldn’t even see the back of your carriage anymore.”
As he spoke, he puffed out his cheeks, looking a little aggrieved.
"Moreover, I later suspected that it was Granny Sun who complained to my mother. Otherwise, why would my mother suddenly restrict my snacks for a month? During that time, I thought about all kinds of pastries every day, and I couldn't sleep at night because of it!"
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Granny Sun's face as she stood to the side, and she quickly lowered her head, pretending to tidy her clothes.
I didn't expect that this little rascal would still remember this after half a year.
She only mentioned it briefly when she was saying goodbye to the lady.
However, Yunrui was a child who was quite good at comforting herself, and she cheered up again, "But now it's all good! I can be your laughing bead, and I can come to the palace to keep you company every day from now on!"
Yunrui spoke animatedly, gesturing wildly as he spoke.
However, Baoqing still wanted to ask the question that had popped into her mind the moment she saw Yunrui, "Yunrui, what brings you here?"
It's not that he doesn't miss Yunrui, but his mother said that Haha Zhuzi is there to accompany him in his studies, so he has to be smart and studious.
But Yunrui.
Baoqing recalled how Yunrui would often run out to play with him instead of writing calligraphy when they were outside the palace, and then get beaten by his father until he cried out in pain.
Yunrui doesn't seem to fit the description of being smart and studious at all.
“I don’t know either. One day a person with a high-pitched voice came to our house, and my mother said that I would be your laughing bead, so I came.”
At that moment, my mother was both happy and a little... well, I can't quite put my finger on it, her expression was like she had just taken some bitter medicine.
I do know a little about Poria cocos.
The person the emperor could entrust with his heir was naturally a trusted high-ranking official. Yunrui's family was also a noble family of the Eight Banners, and he happened to be about the same age as the Fifth Prince.
After the Fifth Prince returned to the palace, he mentioned this playmate from outside the palace to his master and the emperor. He had made an impression on the emperor, so it was not surprising that he was chosen.
Yunrui had already rattled off his entire story, and the other three were forced to listen, which gave them a little understanding of the prince they were about to follow.
At least from Yunrui's words, it can be inferred that the Fifth Prince is easy-going and knows how to share, so he is not someone who dislikes learning or is difficult to please.
In this way, even if they are punished in the future, they will be beaten less.
Children naturally get to know each other easily, especially with someone as sociable as Yun-rui acting as a go-getter.
In just one morning, the five children had become quite familiar with each other, chatting happily.
Before long, it was lunchtime. Yunyun thought that the five children were at the age when they were growing, and it was rare for them to get together, so she paid out of her own pocket to have the kitchen prepare a small feast.
They even had a eunuch escort them to a side hall so they could dine together in a lively atmosphere.
In fact, she knew in her heart that the main reason for bringing these children into the palace this time was to let them get to know Baoqing.
After all, the Imperial Study was the most important place for princes to study. If Baoqing was really dissatisfied with a particular study companion, he could change them before the formal start of his studies, so as to avoid any unpleasantness in the Imperial Study later.
After lunch, the children played in the side hall for half an hour before the eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department came to take them out of the palace.
Before leaving, Yunyun also prepared a set of writing implements for each of them.
Whether the item is valuable or not is not important; what matters is her act of expressing goodwill.
Remembering her promise to go play with the Crown Prince today, Baoqing went straight to the Qianqing Palace after seeing Haha Zhuzi off from Yanxi Palace.
The Crown Prince's wet nurse was coaxing him to take a nap. "Oh, Your Highness, please take a nap. The Fifth Prince will be here when you wake up."
Even the wet nurses dared not utter the word "perhaps".
The Crown Prince was very stubborn at this time, insisting on waiting for the Fifth Prince.
It's because Emperor Kangxi came back last night to visit the Crown Prince and told him that the Fifth Prince would come to play with him in the afternoon.
The young prince knew nothing but that after lunch it was afternoon.
So she refused to take a nap and waited for her fifth brother to come and play.
Unfortunately, the wet nurse couldn't do anything with the prince. She couldn't hit him, scold him, or even say a harsh word to him. What could she do but coax him softly?
The wet nurse was about to try a different approach when a young eunuch announced in a low voice from outside the hall, "The Fifth Prince has arrived—"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Bao Qing lifted the curtain and walked in. His gaze swept around the warm chamber and he quickly spotted the Crown Prince on the bed. "Crown Prince, what are you doing?"
Upon hearing Baoqing's voice, the Crown Prince, who had been coaxed into lying on the bed by the nanny, jumped up again, his eyes sparkling as he called out to him, "Fifth Brother!"
The Crown Prince's attitude towards him remained unchanged, and Bao Qing, for once, reflected on himself.
What was he arguing about with his three-year-old brother, the crown prince?
I am already six years old, and I am now the oldest child to enter the Imperial Study.
Baoqing also has a habit of taking a midday nap, which she picked up from spending too much time with her mother.
He kicked off his shoes and had Granny Sun help him take off his fur coat, leaving him only in his undergarments. He then scurried onto the Crown Prince's bed. "Is the Crown Prince preparing for his afternoon nap?"
The crown prince nodded.
The wet nurse was trying to coax him to take a nap.
He just wanted to play with his fifth brother and didn't want to sleep.
Baoqing gently patted the prince's back, just like her mother had done. The two lay down together, and the heated kang bed was cozy and warm.
Lying in a warm bed on a winter's day is pure bliss, so Baoqing suggested, "Let's take a nap together."
Before he could finish speaking, the crown prince had already closed his eyes and fallen asleep.
His biological clock told him he should close his eyes and go to sleep, but he didn't see Baoqing forcing himself to stay awake.
Once Baoqing got into bed with him and lay down next to him, knowing that Fifth Brother wouldn't leave, the Crown Prince suddenly felt sleepy.
Falling asleep is incredibly smooth.
All right.
Looking at the Crown Prince's chubby cheeks, Bao Qing reached out and poked them; they were soft.
Then he closed his eyes.
Let's play together after lunch break.
Although she didn't know exactly what Baoqing and the Crown Prince had done that afternoon, Yunyun understood when she saw Baoqing's slightly upturned lips before dinner.
They've made up.
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