Chapter 12: What is love? My grandson was still confused a few years ago...
Although Xuanye felt a little uncomfortable when he was told by his ancestor at this time, he was a filial child. Generally speaking, he would never disagree with what his nanny said.
"Tell me, why does the ancestor want me to do this at this time? I came to pay my respects early in the morning, right?" In front of the Cining Gate, Xuanye suddenly stopped and almost bumped into Liang Jiugong when he turned around.
"I deserve to die." Liang Jiugong apologized hurriedly.
Xuanye waved his hands, rubbing them, which were a little cold, and said, "Old Ancestor, don't you think you know that I want to leave the palace today?" He raised his eyebrows and looked at Liang Jiugong with a questioning look. This servant was indeed loyal to him, but if the old ancestor asked, Liang Jiugong would not dare to hide anything.
Liang Jiugong replied: "Logically, the ancestor should not know, but... this servant can't say for sure."
"Forget it." Xuanye didn't want to think about it anymore. After all, the Cining Palace was right in front of him, and he would know once he entered. "If I am trapped in the palace today and can't leave, I will find a way to find someone to inform Yu Gege. I will have to try her cooking next time."
Liang Jiugong bowed and replied, "I understand, Your Majesty, rest assured."
The Cining Palace was filled with the scent of sandalwood. Empress Xiaozhuang sat upright on the couch, holding a hand warmer in her hand.
After entering, Xuanye greeted her directly, saying, "Grandson pays his respects to the Imperial Madam. I wonder if Madam is so anxious to find me. Is there something important?"
"Madam, you want to see your grandson. Is there something important?" Xiaozhuang gestured for Xuanye to come closer and sit beside her. Then she handed him the small stove in her hand and said, "It's cold. Be careful."
"Thank you, Mama." Xuanye was indeed feeling cold at that time. After picking up the hand warmer, he shivered.
Seeing Xuanye's absent-minded look, Xiaozhuang deliberately put on a stern face and said, "You are not talkative today, which is a bit abnormal."
Xuanye found an excuse: "My grandson was just reading the battle report. Once the remaining battle is cleaned up, the Three Feudatories War will be completely over. My grandson thought that after the war, we should give the people a rest and reward the troops."
"That's right." Empress Xiaozhuang nodded. "But you're already very adept at these things. I hope you won't be disturbed by them."
Looking at the old ancestor's expression, Xuanye knew that he wanted to leave the palace. The old ancestor must have known about it. If he continued to pretend, it would be bad. "Madam, since you have seen it, I can't hide anything from you anymore. I shouldn't have kept anything from you." He smiled and said, "I sent Yu'er out of the palace that day to fulfill her promise."
"You want to see her again before the selection?" "No one knows a grandson better than Mama." Empress Xiaozhuang knew all too well what was going on in Xuanye's heart. "Xuanye, you'll have six concubines in the harem in the future. To love and favor only one woman, Mama thinks that's not a good thing."
"Grandson knows this." Xuanye had been educated as a 'king' since childhood. Nothing in the world was more important than being a good emperor. From a young age, Empress Xiaozhuang taught him that the former dynasty required a balance to maintain a steady course. Similarly, the harem required a balance to avoid major disturbances. He had once thought this made sense, but now, he had other thoughts: "Madam, I think I should treat Yu'er with sincerity. Perhaps, just as you did with Emperor Taizong?"
"That's a bit presumptuous." Xiaozhuang's face was completely stern this time: "That Guoluo Luoshi Xiuyu is still a concubine waiting to be selected. If you treat her like this, even if Mama thinks this girl is not bad..."
"Madam." Xuanye simply stood up, lifted his robe, and knelt on the ground. "My grandson understands the way of balance very well, and my harem will also be 'balanced' in the future. However, people are ultimately sentimental. I didn't understand what love was a few years ago, but after meeting Yu'er, I have some understanding."
"You..." Xiaozhuang pointed at Xuanye, and was so angry that she didn't know what to say. She originally thought that this grandson was different from Fulin. Over the years, Xuanye had never let her down. However, Xuanye was the blood of Huang Taiji and Fulin after all. His behavior could be corrected, but how could he change the "deep affection" flowing in his bones? She closed her eyes, moved a few Buddhist beads, and said, "Forget it! The blood flowing in your bones cannot be changed. Xuanye, Mama can only hope that you can always be sober and not lose your mind because of a woman, or even give up the country in your hands. The princess sent to Beijing by Guo Luoluo is not a foxy existence. I hope that she will know when to advance and retreat and know her limits in the future."
"Don't worry, Mama." Xuanye straightened his body and made a promise: "My grandson will definitely be a good emperor of the Qing Dynasty, worthy of the people and worthy of the blood and sweat shed by our ancestors in conquering the world."
Although she said so, Xiaozhuang still felt uneasy when things did not develop further and did not reach the end. After Xuanye left the Cining Palace, Xiaozhuang asked Su Moer, who was massaging her shoulders, "What do you think about Guo Luoluo Xiuyu..."
"From my perspective, this Princess Yu is blessed." Su Moer knew her own Princess was truly terrified, afraid that this grandson, whom she had painstakingly raised from childhood, would follow in the footsteps of Tamafah and his father. "From my perspective, this Princess Guoluo is not like your sister, and even less like Dong E. She has more than just love in her heart, and she's not a woman who only clings to men."
"Oh?" Empress Xiaozhuang raised her head slightly and looked at Su Moer. "You figured that out? I'm afraid you're trying to speak well of that little princess from the Guoluo clan for Xuanye's sake, right?"
"Princess!" Su Moer brought a cup of tea to Xiaozhuang and said with a smile, "Didn't you see the chess moves of Princess Yu on New Year's Eve? I can't play chess, nor can I watch chess, but I can see from your eyes that you admire Princess Yu. How could someone who is admired by you be a flatterer who brings disaster to the master? I don't believe it." As she spoke, she shook her head deliberately, which made her princess laugh.
"You!" Xiaozhuang said, "That's quite true. The quality of a chess player reveals the character of a person. Most chess players in this world cannot escape this law. I believe it for now."
Su Moer nodded, and seeing Xiaozhuang take a sip of tea, she continued, "Actually, I'm actually worried that this Princess Yu is too outstanding. While being outstanding isn't a bad thing, it's not necessarily a good thing in the harem."
"That depends on Xuanye's ability." Xiaozhuang stood up with the help of Su Moer. "He was able to handle the government affairs of the previous dynasty with ease, but this harem..."
"This harem may be more difficult to balance than the previous one." Su Moer supported Xiaozhuang as she walked towards the flower room. "But you, Princess, are far-sighted. The concubines don't have strong maternal family support. Perhaps this can save the emperor a lot of trouble."
"Let's take it one step at a time." Empress Xiaozhuang picked up the kettle and began watering her beloved flowers. "Xuanye is old enough after all. Let him do whatever he wants. Honestly, I've lived for the Qing dynasty for decades. It's time to let go and let the descendants of the Aisin-Gioro family manage it on their own." She paused, looked sideways at Su Moer, and asked, "Have I done my duty to our ancestors?"
"You deserve it! You deserve it!" Su Moer said sincerely, "You have spent most of your life to protect the Aisin-Gioro family's country. Our ancestors should be grateful to you."
After Xuanye left the Cining Palace and returned to the Qianqing Palace, he was confronted with more political matters. Although he was anxious and glared at the ministers countless times, he still had to get things done. He couldn't put off the decisions he needed to make at that hour until the next. He was so busy that he even passed lunchtime. By the time he changed into an ordinary civilian's long gown and rode out of the Meridian Gate, the sun was almost setting.
In the inn, Xiu Yu experienced for the first time how agonizing waiting was. She could neither sit nor stand, and even her favorite book was difficult to read.
"Princess, aren't you planning on making dumplings today? Everything's ready for you, are you going to make them or not?" Lihua looked at Xiu Yu with a hint of teasing in her eyes: "If I really can't wait today, you can't not eat, right?"
Xiu Yu had been sitting at the desk in a daze. When he heard Li Hua say that, he raised his head and glared at her: "Are you really getting married? Are you becoming even more unruly? Are you even taking advantage of your princess?"
"I dare not." Lihua lowered her head and smiled: "But, aren't you hungry? To be honest, I am a little hungry."
Xiu Yu put her hands on the table and stood up, saying, "You're right. If we can't wait, we still have to eat what we need." As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves and said, "I'll make some stuffing and knead the dough to satisfy your craving."
"Gege, let me help you."
Just as he was saying this, the door to the guest room finally opened. This time, it was no longer Liang Jiugong standing outside, but Xuanye. "Something happened today that delayed me for a while. Did you miss dinner?"
Xiu Yu looked at Xuanye's somewhat embarrassed appearance, smiled and shook his head, saying: "You came at the right time, if you were a little later..."
"You haven't started yet, have you?" Xuanye walked in, approaching Xiuyu, and said with a smile, "This place is too small. I'm afraid it won't affect Princess Yu's performance. Should we go to the west garden? I just asked Xiaotao to go over and prepare."
Xiu Yu saw Xuanye holding her wrist again. She was no longer as shy as before, but seemed to be used to it. She raised her head slightly and said, "Okay, then I will ask my maid to take something with me."
The selection was imminent, and no mistakes could be made at this time. Xuanye understood this very well, and even left the inn through a side door that few people used, rather than the main gate. Liang Jiugong had already arrived in his carriage, but saw that his master's horse was not tied up, and was just wandering outside the inn. Liang Jiugong shook his head. Seeing that his master had not come out yet, he got off the carriage and tied up his master's horse first, thinking to himself: This is the most urgent way to be anxious! If the horse is lost later, he will blame it on me, a servant!
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