Chapter 37 Confrontation Between Consort Hui and Her Son
It's unclear when it started, but Emperor Kangxi increasingly enjoyed making surprise visits to the Imperial Study.
It was said that they were concerned about Baoqing's studies.
However, Baoqing said that he did not want such intense concern from his father, the Emperor, and he did not want to memorize more long and tedious Confucian classics.
Knowing that her father, the Emperor, was giving his younger brother, the Crown Prince, his education, Bao Qing felt no envy whatsoever, only pity for the younger brother.
Having an emperor father who is always concerned about your studies and has high standards is such a terrifying thing.
Not only did he think that, he also turned and whispered to Yunrui.
"Fortunately, my early education took place outside the palace, which made things much more comfortable."
It's break time now. After an hour of Chinese lessons, the instructor needs some tea to soothe his throat.
That's why Baoqing and the others like this Chinese master so much. He's so considerate. He automatically goes out to exercise during their rest time, giving them plenty of freedom.
Yunrui hurriedly nodded and stuffed spiced pork jerky into his mouth, as if he would starve to death if he slowed down even a second.
Seeing that Yunrui was eating with relish, Baoqing also started chewing.
Today, Emperor Kangxi was dressed in a bright yellow gauze court robe with cloud and gold dragon patterns, and his court hat was also firmly placed on his head. It was clear that he had just finished court and had come to the study by chance.
Baoqing has developed the skill of distinguishing footsteps.
Hearing familiar footsteps approaching, Baoqing turned around and looked up, "Father?"
There was still a small piece of red chili flakes stuck to the corner of his mouth.
His upper front tooth had just fallen out a few days ago, and his gums were still bare, so he spoke with a slight lisp. He relied entirely on his two canine teeth to chew on the jerky, and after half a day, the jerky was covered in saliva, but he couldn't even bite off a single piece of skin.
Seeing how much effort he was putting in, Emperor Kangxi sighed.
Looking at the perfectly preserved, drool-covered jerky with no residue, he could hardly bear to look at it. "Baoqing, if you really can't chew it, then don't eat it."
I don't know when this son started getting into the habit of eating dried meat.
It's quite unrefined to neither eat it nor put it down, just hold it in your mouth and chew it.
Although he couldn't stand it, Kangxi didn't take it all away for him.
Firstly, he knew that this food was given to Baoqing by Consort Hui as a token of her affection.
Secondly, Emperor Kangxi had nothing to say about the children eating snacks. Although he was a strict father, he wouldn't take away his children's food.
Baoqing argued vehemently, "I just like this feeling of chewing hard yet still having flavor. My mouth isn't empty, and it doesn't take up my stomach for a proper meal."
He's not stupid.
My mother said that I need to eat more to grow taller and faster.
Seeing that her father was still looking at the dried meat in her hand, Baoqing, being very generous, asked, "Father, would you like some?"
"I've already had lunch," Kangxi said with obvious disgust, looking at the dried meat that was covered in his son's saliva. "You can eat it yourself."
"Oh," Baoqing continued chewing the dried meat in his mouth, and very naturally asked Kangxi to do something, "Father, could you please pass on a message to Mother? Next time you send some dried meat, please make sure it's spicy. I like that kind of meat."
He has no problem making requests of his father and mother.
Kangxi's expression was somewhat strange. His son was instructing him to do something?
Although it was just a small thing that conveyed a message.
However, whether it was a concubine or a court official, if they wanted to do something, they would first flatter him to make him happy, and then make their request in a roundabout and tentative way.
Who else would so bluntly 'instruct' him to deliver a message like Baoqing?
But looking into Bao Qing's clear eyes, Kangxi couldn't help but smile.
"Want me to pass on a message to Consort Hui for you?" Under Bao Qing's expectant gaze, Kangxi deliberately dragged out his words, "Then write a couple more pieces in Tang Dynasty calligraphy."
Baoqing thought that his father was really taking advantage of his predicament, so he quickly changed his tune, saying, "Your subject doesn't really want to eat it either."
Emperor Kangxi frowned, feigning seriousness: "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. How can Baoqing go back on his word?"
Baoqing wasn't intimidated by Kangxi. He blinked and reasoned with Kangxi in a crisp voice, "But Father Emperor, you didn't agree to it. Besides, when I make a request, you give me conditions, and I'm not satisfied with those conditions, I withdraw my request. That's called negotiation."
Yunrui nodded repeatedly from the side.
Baoqing is right.
Kangxi was amused by Baoqing's earnestness and put it another way, "Since Baoqing wants me to do something, he has to give me some benefits, right? There's no such thing as getting something for nothing."
Baoqing thought about it carefully and realized that what her father said seemed to make sense; her mother and nanny would give the eunuchs who ran errands a reward.
So he took out the purse his mother had embroidered for him, pulled out two golden peanuts, and handed them to Kangxi, saying, "May I use these as payment?"
Kangxi shook his head, "Your golden peanuts were given to you by me during the New Year. It is inappropriate to use my things as a reward."
Baoqing, having been led astray by Kangxi, completely forgot about the option of not letting Kangxi relay the message. He racked his brains for a suitable reward for his father, and reluctantly said, "Then, shall we give one-tenth of the dried meat that Mother sent to Father?"
The dried meat was specially made by my mother, so it couldn't possibly be my father's, could it?
Kangxi continued to shake his head, "I don't like dried meat. Besides, the dried meat comes from Consort Hui's palace. What does it have to do with Baoqing? I want Baoqing to earn his reward entirely through his own hard work."
The reward you earn through your own hard work?
Bao Qing had a sudden inspiration, "How about I sing a song for Father Emperor?"
When celebrating his mother's birthday, he and his younger brother, the Crown Prince, sang a song together. His mother laughed so hard her eyes were almost closed, and his father was also very happy, liking it at first sight.
Kangxi shook his head again, his tone gentle and persuasive, "Singing isn't enough of a reward. How about we add something more for Baoqing? Like something related to her studies?"
This won't do, that's not enough.
Bao Qing's fighting spirit was ignited; he was determined to deliver a reward that would satisfy his father.
With a wave of his hand and in high spirits, he declared, "Your subject will copy two, no, three pieces of Tang Dynasty calligraphy."
“Very good, I will take on this task of delivering the message,” Kangxi readily agreed.
Kangxi agreed too quickly, and Baoqing felt a little deceived.
However, he proposed this reward himself, and the sense of accomplishment from successfully impressing the Emperor made Baoqing a little smug. This was the result of his own hard work!
"Then I'll leave it to Father Emperor."
Unlike Baoqing, Yunrui didn't get carried away and hesitated to speak.
He remembered that the emperor initially only requested two pieces of Tang calligraphy, but how did it turn into three pieces as they talked?
He remembered the new Chinese idiom his teacher had taught him: treacherous, cunning, and full of tricks.
Watching Kangxi's receding figure, Yunrui silently tried to understand the implications of Kangxi's earlier actions.
So that's what these two idioms mean.
-
Consort Guo Luoluo is pregnant, and as one of the managers of the harem, Yun Yun cannot help but visit her and express her concern.
One should not go to offer congratulations empty-handed.
There were many rules to follow when giving gifts to pregnant concubines.
Medicinal herbs are the first thing to rule out. Not only are they easily used as tools in palace intrigues, but any concubine with a modicum of caution would not use medicinal herbs sent by others.
Even the incense and perfumes commonly used in the palace cannot be sent as gifts, in case they contain musk without anyone knowing, both sides will be ruined.
The best gift would be some fancy but impractical decorative items, or baby products that show your thoughtfulness. If all else fails, you could send fabric that can be used as a form of hard currency.
In short, you must choose something that is not easily manipulated.
This is all based on years of experience and tacit understanding among everyone when it comes to gift-giving.
Yunyun asked Fuling to prepare a pair of shallow, celadon porcelain vases with lotus-shaped designs and a two-ounce gold longevity lock.
One is good-looking, and the other is affordable.
As the residence of the current favored concubine, Yikun Palace is filled with exquisite and luxurious furnishings.
Consort Yi and Yunyun sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) on either side of each other, while Consort Guoluo, though the main character of the trip, could only sit on the embroidered stool.
Yunyun first chatted with Consort Yi about everyday matters before bringing up the news of Consort Guoluo's pregnancy, and then asked Fuling to present the congratulatory gifts she had brought.
Consort Guo Luoluo wanted to get up to express her gratitude, but Yun Jun pressed her down, saying, "You now have two bodies, so just sit there and don't bother with these formalities."
Consort Guo Luoluo was timid but good-natured, and said gently, "Your Majesty has come all this way to offer your congratulations, and I cannot be ignorant of etiquette."
Today she wore a jade-green cheongsam embroidered with magnolia flowers, a simple and elegant style. She only had a touch of lip rouge on her face, and her eyebrows and eyes were gentle and soft, but perhaps too soft.
Yunyun and this concubine Guoluo had little interaction before; this was the first time they had spoken face to face.
If it weren't for the resemblance between her and Consort Yi in their eyes and brows, she wouldn't have believed that the fiery-tempered Consort Yi was her sister.
The difference is too big.
Even those few similarities were diminished considerably because Consort Guo Luoluo always kept her eyes down.
Consort Yi knew that her sister was somewhat introverted and didn't like to talk, so she took the initiative to chat with her, smiling and saying, "The pattern on your clothes is exquisite. I've never seen it before. Is it a new idea from the Imperial Wardrobe?"
“There’s an embroiderer from Jiangnan in the Imperial Wardrobe, who says she’s showing us some new styles from there,” Yunyun said. “There’s no conflict between Yunyun and Consort Yi at the moment, and they’re not on the same page in the harem, so they’re having a pleasant conversation. If you like any of these, I have a booklet with you. Just choose a pattern and send it to the Imperial Wardrobe.”
Who doesn't love new, beautiful clothes?
Consort Yi, in particular, was a great beauty and loved to dress herself up.
She smiled and said, "Then I won't stand on ceremony. You know I like these kinds of things."
As she spoke, Consort Yi had a palace maid bring over an exquisite sandalwood box. “I won’t take your things for nothing. This Wen Gong ink is fine and even, with a warm luster. It’s a tribute from the two lakes. I’m not good at calligraphy, so giving it to the Fifth Prince won’t be a waste of this fine ink.”
Yunyun was just about to speak.
Consort Yi stuffed it directly into her arms, saying, "It's not for you to use. You can give it to the Fifth Prince to keep."
This method of gift-giving is very characteristic of Consort Yi.
She dislikes taking advantage of others; if someone treats her with respect, she wants to return fivefold.
Yunyun finally accepted it, thanked Baoqing on his behalf, nodded to Consort Yi in farewell, and led Fuling back to Yanxi Palace.
——
Consort Tong also sent a reward to Consort Guo Luoluo, but she did not go in person; instead, she sent her head maid.
She's busy.
After discovering that the Eleventh Prince could fake crying, Consort Tong became interested in him.
Such a young child, yet so cunning!
She's so rare!
The longer she spent with the child, the more Consort Tong grew to like him.
She discovered that the child was also a little stubborn.
"Ah! Ah!" The eleventh prince couldn't stop crying out in his swaddling clothes, his little hands gripping the rattle drum tightly.
As soon as the wet nurse took the rattle away from her hand, the eleventh prince burst into tears.
Until it was stuffed back into his hands.
Moreover, he only stared at the rattle drum that Consort Tong had brought to amuse him; he didn't recognize any of the others, and he would cry if he picked up the wrong style or color.
I really don't know how a baby could tell the difference.
When Emperor Kangxi heard Consort Tong say this, he found it quite interesting and even went up on stage to amuse her a few times.
And that's exactly what happened.
Kangxi told this story to the Crown Prince, who immediately became interested in his younger brother and tugged at Kangxi's sleeve, saying, "Father, I want to see my brother."
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