Chapter 51 Consort Hui's Filial Piety and Local Specialties
It has to be said that the outside world is still much wider.
Wherever she went, someone would arrange the route in advance, check for potential hazards, and offer her local delicacies. She didn't have to think for a second; countless delicious and interesting things were presented to her. It was practically the pinnacle of publicly funded travel.
The group departed from Beijing on the eighth day of the first lunar month, passing through Hejian, Xianxian, Fucheng, Dezhou and other places, and arrived in Jinan on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. Surrounded by crowds, they visited Baotu Spring and Pearl Spring. Afterwards, they traveled south to several places and arrived in Hangzhou on the ninth day of the second lunar month.
The Hangzhou Imperial Palace was close to West Lake, which made it convenient for Emperor Kangxi to visit the Yu Mausoleum for worship, and also made it easier for Yunyun to enjoy the beautiful scenery of West Lake and go fishing.
The fishing gear was presented by Baoqing after the last blunder; it was supposedly used to extort the Fourth Prince.
However, Yunyun found it very easy to use.
Perhaps there really was a beginner's bonus, because she caught quite a few fish in a lake near the palace these past two days, much to the envy of Bao Qing, who was fishing with her.
Why can't I catch anything?
It's clearly the same bait.
Feeling that the location was inconvenient, Bao Qing shamelessly switched places with Yun Jun under her ambiguous gaze.
Still not a single one uploaded.
Admit it, some people are just born with the innate talent of the Air Force.
However, Baoqing was not someone to be trifled with. Seeing that he couldn't catch any fish no matter what he tried, he jumped into the water himself and caught several with a net.
He even casually hooked a big fish onto Yunyun's fishing hook.
Yun Jun, who had initially thought Bao Qing had scared the fish away, smiled again. "It's still cold outside. Come on up and change your clothes so you don't catch a cold."
“Your subject is quite strong,” Baoqing said, a thin strand of seaweed still clinging to his face as he dragged the fishing net toward the shore. “Your subject will have the kitchen steam these fish for Father Emperor to enjoy.”
He never showed favoritism.
Just like when I was a child, I wanted both a father and a mother.
During his lunch, Emperor Kangxi received a token of his filial piety from his eldest son. A young eunuch even added, "This was caught by the eldest prince himself in the lake. He said he wanted Your Majesty to have a taste of its freshness."
Even when his son was eating a fish, he was thinking of his father, the Emperor. Kangxi was very pleased and gave Baoqing a few more dishes to enjoy.
He even mentioned this matter in a letter to Bao Cheng that same day.
It is worth mentioning that along with the letter came a fish that Emperor Kangxi had personally caught.
Emperor Kangxi was content with his kind father and filial son, while officials racked their brains to climb the ranks.
There will always be opportunists in this world, especially when dealing with your top boss. If the proper way is not easy, crooked ways are inevitable.
On her third day in Hangzhou, Yunyun received many visiting cards. She picked out a few and sat down to wait for someone to visit her.
The wives of the first two officials who came were quite nice; they were well-mannered, polite, and witty. They seemed to have done some research and talked about Hangzhou's specialty foods and some interesting folk tales.
Yunyun was very pleased to be coaxed.
The next one wasn't quite right.
First, she praised Yun Yun's appearance, then her extraordinary demeanor, and then changed the subject, saying that the palace was inevitably short-staffed, so she brought two servants for the Empress.
As he spoke, he pushed out two pretty young girls.
At this point, Yunyun naturally understood that they wanted to present a beautiful woman to the Emperor.
But she just couldn't understand whether these people were stupid or evil.
How could she, a concubine in the harem, recommend beauties to the emperor?
That's ridiculous. Who would want to actively add competitors?
They probably don't really think she's some kind of legal wife, and that it's her duty to let her husband take concubines.
Feeling that getting too close to the fool might infect her, Yun Yun said calmly, "Thank you for your trouble, Madam, but I have enough staff in my palace. Since you said they are here to serve me, then they can stay and serve me tea and water."
The lady's face froze instantly. She wanted to say something but dared not, so she could only awkwardly take her leave.
After dismissing the people with a few words, Yun Jun didn't take a close look at the beauties presented. She simply told Fu Ling, "Go and make arrangements. From now on, they will be palace maids of the Hangzhou Imperial Palace. They don't need to come near me."
Fuling responded.
During dinner, she casually mentioned this matter to Emperor Kangxi.
Emperor Kangxi frowned, put down his chopsticks, and said, "Since you've accepted, you can be a palace maid."
He always maintained a self-disciplined monarch image when he was out in public. He refused all the beauties offered to him by local officials, and even scolded someone a few days ago in Suzhou.
Unexpectedly, those people changed their tactics and set their sights on the concubines.
"There's no need to bring them back to the capital in the future," Kangxi concluded.
Yunyun nodded, indicating that she understood.
The harem was not lacking in beauties, nor in concubines, but these things held little weight in his heart. What he wanted was the awe of officials, not these opportunistic things.
Hangzhou was the final destination of this southern tour. After spending about ten leisurely days in Hangzhou, Emperor Kangxi had finished dealing with important matters, and the group set off back to Beijing.
It took me a month and a half to get to Hangzhou, and I estimate it will take about the same amount of time to get back.
Yunyun, whose heart had already wandered off, was reluctant to leave. She could only ask Baoqing, who was often out and about, to bring her some local specialties so that she could share them with Consort Nara and Consort Wei when she got back.
It was a rare opportunity to receive a task from her mother, so Baoqing was full of energy and went out to do a big shopping spree, carrying boxes of things onto the ship.
In the end, Emperor Kangxi learned of his actions and summoned him for a reprimand: "Did I lack you food or clothing? Why do you act like you've never seen anything like this before? Is this the first time you've ever seen these things?"
Bao Qing knelt down skillfully, his voice loud and clear, defending himself with righteous indignation, "But Father Emperor, this is the first time I've ever seen these things!"
Seeing that Kangxi did not tell him to get up, Baoqing knelt down and moved two steps toward him, placing some of the little trinkets he carried with him on the table one by one.
"Look, this nesting doll is a specialty of Jiangning. I bought it from a street stall."
"And these painted sculptures and clay figurines are so lifelike that even the Imperial Household Department couldn't produce them to this level."
Baoqing's sleeves were like treasure bags, containing all sorts of things.
He was still taking things out, saying, "This Dingsheng cake is also good. It has a soft and glutinous texture, is sweet but not greasy, and has a good meaning, signifying certain victory."
"besides······"
In just a few minutes, the items Baoqing had taken out were crowded together on the table, densely packed.
Moreover, there are many varieties.
From toys to snacks, from rice to walnuts, Emperor Kangxi was astonished that Baoqing carried so many things with him.
Kangxi stopped him helplessly, "Alright, alright, if you keep putting them down, they'll pile up like memorials. Take this pile of junk back."
He also began to doubt his methods of raising children.
How can you make it look like you've never seen anything before?
Does the Imperial Household Department usually shortchange him on supplies?
Emperor Kangxi was completely baffled.
He didn't understand the appeal of the local specialties.
Even if Hangzhou's specialties actually come from Beijing, Baoqing would still buy some to take back with him since he was already there.
Kangxi was furious when he saw Baoqing's grinning face. He threw an unimportant memorial of greeting at him and, in a fit of anger, yelled, "Get out of here!"
Baoqing was not afraid of Kangxi's appearance.
How many times has he angered his father, the Emperor, since he was a child? Just the two pebbles he gave to his father alone, he has knelt down countless times.
He deftly put the memorial that had been thrown on his shoulder back into its original place, and respectfully kowtowed, saying, "Your subject takes his leave."
Then Baoqing not only bought some himself, but also encouraged the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince to buy some as well.
The reasons are quite valid.
Neither the Imperial Noble Consort nor the Consort Rong had ever left the Forbidden City, let alone visited these places. Shouldn't they, as dutiful children, bring their mother some things she had never seen before?
Don't they want to make their mother happy?
The Third Prince was a bit older and more composed than the Fourth Prince. He only bought a small box of pearl and jade ornaments to give to Consort Rong when he returned.
The Fourth Prince bought a variety of things, from strangely styled masks to colorful feathers, and a wooden statue of Guanyin for protection.
Its carving is not top-notch, but it has a warm and gentle quality that is pleasing to the eye.
The Fourth Prince clutched the wooden statue somewhat embarrassedly, saying, "I hope Mother will be happier and recover her health."
Baoqing now greatly admires this younger brother. He pats him hard on the shoulder and praises him, "The Imperial Noble Consort will surely feel your filial piety."
However, what ultimately stopped Bao Qing from making a big purchase was his lack of money.
There was nothing he could do; he only had that little monthly allowance, and his daily needs were taken care of by the Imperial Household Department, so Baoqing really didn't have much money on him when he went out.
He later apologized to Yun Jun, looking quite annoyed, "This is my first time traveling far from home, and I lack experience. I didn't bring much silver with me."
As for asking his mother for it, that thought never even crossed his mind.
How can I ask my mother for money to give me as a token of my filial piety?
After reflecting on his actions, Baoqing actively corrected his mistakes, saying, "Mother, don't worry. When I leave the palace to establish my own residence, Father will definitely give me a large sum of money. When I go out on official business, I will bring back a lot of local specialties for you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
