Chapter 15 Consort Hui's Double Ninth Festival
Baoqing's eyes lit up immediately, and she nodded, her little face covered in ink marks: "Yes!"
He had wondered who his father was when he was outside the palace.
After all, Yunrui has his father and mother, but he only has Granny Sun and Granny Liu, plus Xiao Dezi.
Granny Sun told him that his father was the emperor, the most honorable person in the world, and everyone had to listen to him.
Everyone.
Does that include Yun-seo's father?
Baoqing remembered asking that question back then.
Granny Sun would definitely tell him that yes, they all had to listen to the Emperor.
Therefore, his father is more powerful than Yunrui's father.
And it's better than Yunrui's father!
Yunrui said that his father always scolded him, sometimes even reprimanding him and punishing him by making him write large characters.
But my dad plays with me!
Baoqing was secretly delighted, and his eyes looked at his imperial father with even more admiration.
Kangxi was so charmed by the clingy little boy that his heart softened. Although he didn't know what was going on in the boy's little head, he enjoyed the dependence on him very much. So he simply reached out and picked him up, placing him steadily on his lap.
Yun Jun was pleased to see the father and son getting closer, so he moved the inkstone closer and took out a clean sheet of Xuan paper to lay out.
Baoqing clutched the little wooden horse, carefully dipped it in ink, and was about to print it on the paper when he looked up at Kangxi.
It looks like they're confirming the location.
Emperor Kangxi kindly reached out and held his little hand, saying, "Take your time, you can print it wherever you want."
So a horse appeared on the Xuan paper.
The two of them played like this for a while, one holding the little hand and the other carefully printing pictures. Several sheets of Xuan paper with wooden horses printed on them were already laid out on the table.
Lingzhi came in and asked, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, it's getting late. Shall we order dinner?"
Emperor Kangxi was having a good time playing with his son when he waved his hand and decided that dinner would be served at Yanxi Palace.
After dinner, Kangxi looked at Baoqing, who was clinging to his side and refusing to leave, and pondered in his heart.
Now everyone in the palace knows he has come to Yanxi Palace. If he leaves now, people will inevitably say that he doesn't care about the Fifth Prince or that he is dissatisfied with Consort Hui.
So it was only natural that I stayed overnight.
The next morning, as was customary, the concubines went to the Empress's palace to pay their respects. As soon as Yunyun entered, she became the focus of everyone's attention.
"I heard that the Fifth Prince returned to the palace yesterday, and Yanxi Palace was quite lively," Consort Xi said sourly. "The Emperor also stayed at Yanxi Palace yesterday."
She can't stand Consort Hui no matter what she does now.
A few days ago, the Emperor promised her that they would admire the osmanthus flowers together. If Consort Hui hadn't used the Fifth Prince to curry favor, the Emperor should have accompanied her to stroll in the Imperial Garden yesterday.
Consort Yi, adhering to the principle of helping whoever Consort Xi blocked, spoke with a venomous tongue, "The Fifth Prince is the heir to the throne, so of course the Emperor values him. Otherwise, would he want to see your resentful face at the Chuxiu Palace?"
As she spoke, Consort Yi shook her head with an air of seriousness.
"Speaking of which, why does Consort Xi look so pale? She's even wearing a mask. Didn't you sleep well last night? If you need pearl powder for your face, just go to Yikun Palace and ask me for some. Don't let others laugh at you."
Even though Consort Xi knew that Consort Yi was probably talking nonsense, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous when it came to appearance.
As her beauty faded, so did her favor; she knew exactly what made her so beloved.
In the palace, anyone with an ordinary appearance would never get ahead.
If she weren't worried about being laughed at by the other concubines, Consort Xi would really like to take out a peephole and look at her own face right now.
In this round, Consort Xi was completely defeated.
"Alright, it's a joyous occasion that the Fifth Prince has returned to the palace. Consort Hui should take good care of him and not bring up these idle matters again," the Empress stepped in to smooth things over.
She held considerable prestige in the harem, and the concubines would not offend her by skipping over the matter.
"In a few days it will be the Double Ninth Festival, the first festival after a concubine is promoted. According to past customs, the palace will hold a Double Ninth banquet, which will be attended by noblewomen from outside the palace and wives of princes from various households. You should dress up nicely and not disgrace the imperial dignity."
When the Empress spoke of serious matters, her expression was solemn. "At that time, all the principal concubines of each palace must restrain the people in their own palaces. Whether they are maids or eunuchs, no one is allowed to make the slightest mistake at the banquet. If anyone dares to break the rules and disgrace the royal family, I will not let them off lightly."
The Double Ninth Festival is an important custom.
On the morning of festivals, Emperor Kangxi would lead members of the royal family and princes and ministers to the royal gardens to climb to a high place, symbolizing rising step by step and the eternal stability of the country.
After ascending the mountain, there is the Double Ninth Festival banquet, where the emperor and his officials enjoy themselves together, and the empress, concubines, and ladies of the court participate.
This was her first public appearance since becoming empress, and she absolutely could not afford any mistakes.
The concubines all knew what was important and what was urgent, and they wouldn't show their dislike for each other in public.
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