Chapter 76 Consort Hui's Unyielding Determination to Protect Qing
It was past noon, and Yun Jun, unusually, had an appetite and wanted to eat roast meat: "Find out the grill in the storeroom, clean it, and have the kitchen cut some lamb tenderloin."
The grill was a small, silver-edged grill specially made by the kitchen many years ago, with the iron bars arranged in a fine and neat pattern. However, because she had been eating less oily food in recent years, it had long been shelved and the edges were covered with a thin layer of dust.
Before the hotpot was even wiped clean, the people trying to curry favor came.
First, the head eunuch of the kitchen led two junior eunuchs, carrying a black lacquered and gold-painted food box, and bowed as they entered, their faces beaming with smiles: "Greetings, Your Highness. We heard you wanted some roasted meat, so this servant brought it with us. It's all beef and mutton from the grasslands, absolutely fresh."
As they spoke, the two eunuchs took various side dishes out of the food box.
Although it's called a side dish, it's actually a proper dish. Putting everything else aside, the crab roe tofu served on the jade plate in the middle has a texture as tender as solidified fat. It's cut into small half-inch square pieces without breaking the edges. It's clearly the work of a master chef in the kitchen.
The head eunuch chimed in, "These dishes are all light and refreshing, perfect for cutting through the greasiness of the roasted meat. I specifically asked the chef to use less salt and less spice, to suit Your Majesty's taste."
Yunyun and the head eunuch were acquaintances; she used to call him Xiao Dezi, but now she should call him Eunuch De.
Therefore, without saying much nonsense, he showed Fuling the reward, and the head eunuch led two junior eunuchs to respectfully retreat.
They didn't come for any particular reason. They just estimated that many people would come to Yanxi Palace to curry favor and give gifts. Although he had some affection for Yanxi Palace, doing so might not show his goodness, while not doing so would definitely show his badness. In any case, it was just a trip to express his stance, so it didn't matter.
Just as the kitchen staff left, two more palace maids entered carrying brocade boxes. They were the treasurers in charge of jewelry. The maid on the left had a pleasant smile and spoke softly: "Greetings, Consort Hui. The headdress you had previously ordered to be re-fried in pure gold and inlaid with pearls has been polished. Would Your Highness like to take a look?"
As she spoke, the palace maid on the right opened the box and bent down slightly to let Yunyun admire it.
The center of this headdress originally featured a single layer of red gold with a lotus scroll pattern, which was somewhat monotonous. Now that it has been returned, the color has become brighter, and the edges of the lotus scroll pattern have been decorated with scrolling grass patterns made using filigree. Additionally, four round and full South Sea pearls have been added to each side.
After this renovation, the wages she had sent along with the jewelry were not only insufficient, but probably not even as good as the gold thread with the scroll pattern, let alone the high-quality South Sea pearls.
Thinking that the people who did the work should not lose money, Yun Jun wanted to make up for the extra costs, but was earnestly refused.
The two palace maids explained that their treasurer had simply re-fried the jewelry sent by the Empress, and that the previous wages had been sufficient; they absolutely could not allow their mistress to spend any more money.
Yunyun: ······
Well, some people are eager to be taken advantage of.
The limited-time event hadn't ended yet, and just as we left, the Imperial Household Department brought in another small and exquisite ice chest.
With brass edging, a mahogany frame, and cloisonné enamel decoration, it looks exquisite.
The head eunuch smiled obsequiously: "Greetings, Your Highness Consort Hui. The weather has been getting increasingly hot lately, and I was thinking that the ice chests in Yanxi Palace might not be enough, so I specially sent over a small one to help Your Highness cool some fruits."
According to the rules, only one ice chest can be used for a concubine.
However, when it comes to exploiting loopholes, no one can compare to the people in the Imperial Household Department. There can only be one properly made ice chest, but it doesn't matter if it's not properly made. Even if you bring up palace rules, they can still come up with a reason.
The Imperial Household Department not only sent an ice chest, but also upgraded the grade of her ice, sending only natural ice.
The natural ice used in summer was transported back from beyond the Great Wall. It was clean, odorless, and melted slowly. Generally, it was reserved for imperial concubines and above.
However, no one is likely to come to the palace specifically to see what kind of ice you are using. Once it melts, it's gone. As long as you use silver, it's not impossible to use it even if you are a concubine.
Although Yunyun had never wasted money like this.
After the people from the Imperial Household Department left, Yun Yun smiled gently as she looked at the various 'gifts'.
The last time she received such attentiveness was when she had just been promoted from a concubine to Consort Hui and was ordered to take charge of the affairs of the inner palace.
That's true, who doesn't want to climb the ladder?
The round sandalwood table was filled to the brim. Yun Yun prepared a chili dipping sauce and told Fu Ling and Ling Zhi to eat first: "Everything spoils quickly in this weather. Besides, how can I use so much by myself? Leave the roast meat and vegetables, and you can take the rest and divide it up. I want to eat the roast meat slowly by myself."
Although she enjoys good food, she is not a glutton who can eat indefinitely.
As for other benefits, forget about them. Don't think too highly of yourself, and it's impossible for you to get carried away.
The barbecue took about an hour. In recent years, Yunyun has been following Emperor Kangxi's health regimen of eating until she is 80% full, but today she ate until she was 100% full, which is quite rare.
However, when Yunyun looked up and saw the small ice chest in the corner, she couldn't help but want to laugh again.
When she was Consort Hui, she used an ice chest; when she held a quarter of the power in the harem, she still used an ice chest; but because of the unclear outcome of the selection of the crown prince, she actually got a small ice chest.
Power.
After sighing to herself for a while, Yun Jun remembered Bao Qing outside the palace: "Please ask Prince Zhi to come to my palace after his shift."
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The court has been quite heated these past few days. Although Prince Zhi and Prince Lian are the most popular candidates, one being the eldest and the other the most virtuous, other princes are not without ministerial recommendations as well.
Prince Cheng received third place in the votes, Prince Yong received fourth place, and Prince Heng received fifth place.
However, all of Prince Heng's votes came from the Mongol nobles. Their thinking was clear: they were not familiar with the other princes, but Prince Heng was personally raised by the Empress Dowager. It didn't matter if he was uneducated or incompetent; they were just casting their votes for fun and didn't want to embarrass the Mongols too much.
Even the Ninth Prince and Prince Li received some votes.
The former was given by an official from the Ministry of Revenue, who said that the Ninth Prince had some excellent ways to make money that could enrich the national treasury.
The latter's supporters also argued that Prince Li was both a scholar and a warrior, and had done a good job in governing the country over the years. They were pragmatic, so what was wrong with supporting Prince Li?
In the Qianqing Palace, stacks of memorials were piled up in one place.
Emperor Kangxi sat leisurely on the dragon throne, took a sip of tea, and said with a kind expression: "Since you don't want to be the crown prince, then you must choose a successor who can win people's hearts. The country is not a child's game. You two have caused me to lose the crown prince, so you must compensate me with one."
He also realized that Baocheng was someone he had raised with great difficulty, and he was also heartbroken about the falling out between father and son.
As for Baoqing, he has spent a lot of effort on Baoqing over the years. Whether it's confinement or other things, it's all too easy for Baoqing. So let's worry about the next one together with Baocheng.
After all, if Baoqing hadn't led Baocheng to do the foolish thing of spying on the imperial tent at night, he wouldn't have made up his mind, and he wouldn't have lost the crown prince.
Feeling relieved after successfully transferring the pressure, Kangxi couldn't help but urge, "Baoqing, your speed in processing memorials is far behind that of the Crown Prince."
As he spoke, Kangxi sighed in a rather serious manner.
Below him, Bao Cheng and Bao Qing each received a rosewood desk, piled high with memorials. Kangxi cleverly arranged for the two to face each other so he could observe each other's progress at any time.
Baoqing, annoyed by Kangxi's teasing, opened a memorial to the throne with a frustrated expression.
Tsk, another bunch of irrelevant, pedantic nonsense. If you're going to nominate someone, can't you just write it clearly? Good ink doesn't cost money.
But he still had to look at it carefully.
Because the names of every prince appeared in the memorial, the minister first sang praises and flattered the emperor, then began to praise each prince and give specific examples, much like an old lady's foot-binding cloth, long and tedious.
Baoqing, please read on.
It was another long string of empty praise and flattery, followed by more eulogies for each of the princes.
Bao Qing, impatient, skipped straight to the end, wanting to see who he would ultimately recommend.
The ending was a long string of platitudes thanking the emperor for his trust and emphasizing his own incorruptibility and diligence.
Bao Qing's face was as black as the bottom of a pot: ...
So, Minister, who do you recommend?
He had to patiently continue reading from where he had skipped over the previous sections. The characters were densely packed, and he scanned each line until he finally found the sentence in the latter half: "The eldest son of the Emperor, Prince Zhi, is of noble character… I believe he is capable of undertaking great responsibilities…"
Although it was a self-praise, Baoqing didn't feel happy at all.
He hates dealing with paperwork!
Frustrated, Bao Qing casually glanced at the progress on the other side.
The pile of memorials on my second brother's desk was already shorter, a full third less than the pile on his side.
Looking at the second brother's expression, he was calm and composed.
Baoqing:!
I will absolutely not lose to my second brother!
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