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On the second day, the two newlywed couples went to the palace to pay their respects to the elders.
When the decree from the Qianqing Palace was passed on to the Yonghe Palace yesterday, Yunsu was taking off Li Qingping's hairpins and rings. Upon hearing this, she paused, and both she and Li Qingping looked at Fu'an.
"Say that again?"
Fu'an had already sent the eunuch who had come to deliver the decree away. Fu'an was now moved: "The Emperor has given a verbal order - at noon tomorrow, the gates of Yonghe Palace will be opened. The Emperor and the Master will be greeted by His Highnesses Shun and Kang and their bride."
The hall was so quiet that you could hear the sound of burning candles.
Li Qingping stared at himself in the mirror for a moment, then chuckled softly, "That's fine. It's my children's big day, and I'll regret it until I die if I have to accept gifts through the window."
She waved her hand to signal the palace maids to leave, leaving Yunsu and Yunzao alone.
"Turn out my imperial concubine's dress."
Yun Su and Yun Zao took out the imperial concubine's dress and hung it on the rack, while the other took out all the jewelry that matched the dress, such as the phoenix crown.
Li Qingping looked calmly at the intricate and gorgeous dresses on the shelf.
She had never worn this dress again except for the ceremony on the day of her canonization as Imperial Noble Consort. But tomorrow was the big day for the bride to enter the palace, and besides the formal makeup according to her rank, Li Qingping couldn't think of any other way to show her respect for them.
"Go, open the warehouse and show me the warehouse booklet. Give the two princesses a more generous gift." Li Qingping instructed Yun Su and Yun Zao.
The next day, it was Emperor Yongping who arrived at Yonghe Palace earlier than the two newlywed couples.
This was also the first time Li Qingping met Emperor Yongping in the past few years after she was canonized as Imperial Noble Consort.
Emperor Yongping wore a bright yellow robe with a dragon pattern and a thirteen-ring belt with a dragon pattern and pearls around his waist.
Li Qingping's eyes flickered. This belt was the gift she had given to Emperor Yongping on his fortieth birthday. It had taken her quite a while to make. Sadly, Li Qingping hadn't made another belt for Emperor Yongping since Empress Renque passed away. It had been four years now.
Li Qingping glanced at his waist again. The sachet made by Empress Renque and the cord made by Concubine Ke were both hung there.
These items are old and seem out of place with the other things on Emperor Yongping's body.
Li Qingping suddenly wanted to laugh.
What does this mean?
Li Qingping didn't laugh at all. He just shifted his gaze away from the thirteen-ring belt and saluted properly.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully wish you the best of health."
Emperor Yongping stretched out his hand to help her, and his fingertips just touched her sleeve, but when he thought of Li Qingping's indifferent expression just now, he retracted his hand.
"Please get up, my dear."
His voice was low and hoarse, but his eyes fell on her face without any hesitation. After nearly four years of confinement, Li Qingping had fine lines at the corners of his eyes, but his eyes were still very clear, and his demeanor was still as dignified and majestic as before, and his spirit was not at all shaken by confinement.
Did he simply not care, or was he simply devoid of affection? Otherwise, why would he have simply followed the imperial decree and locked the gates of Yonghe Palace without a second thought? And why had he remained submissive and submissive all these years?
Li Qingping turned her head, and the beads on the imperial concubine's phoenix crown swayed slightly with her movements.
"But are the palace servants not careful enough? Or are the two imperial concubines not managing the emperor well? Why is the emperor still wearing these old things?" Li Qingping couldn't turn a blind eye, or perhaps Emperor Yongping wore them specifically for her to see, but her tone was calm, without any ripples.
Emperor Yongping's expression froze, and he cleared his throat and said, "Today is a good day for He Zheng and He Chang. The Empress has gone, and Concubine Ke is not in the palace. I thought of wearing their things so that I can see them with my own eyes."
"But I'm still standing here. What's with the belt?" Li Qingping lowered her eyelashes. "Your Majesty wears my sister's sachet and Qingyan's necklace. Is he thinking of them, or is he using these old things to ease his conscience?"
These words were like a fine needle, gently piercing Emperor Yongping's sore spot. He opened his mouth, but was momentarily speechless. Liang Pei'an and Yun Su and Yun Zao stood by, not daring to breathe, hoping that the two newlyweds would arrive soon to ease the tense atmosphere in Yonghe Palace.
Yunsu and the others were so anxious that they didn't know what to do. If the master spoke like this, what if, what if the emperor got angry...
But their worries seemed unnecessary.
Emperor Yongping smiled.
People outside say I'm cold and hard-hearted, but in fact, the coldest and hardest-hearted person is right here. After not seeing each other for a few years, the first topic of conversation is poking at my soft spots.
Emperor Yongping said softly, "I remember that you haven't embroidered a belt for me for four years. Today—"
He paused, "Today my bride is coming to see me, I don't want to wear old clothes."
In a word, the word "old things" is spoken very lightly, yet very heavily.
Li Qingping lowered her eyes and said after a while, "I have been living in seclusion for a long time, and my hands are not very good at embroidery. I am afraid that I will not be able to embroider well. Your Majesty, please find someone else who can do it."
"No problem."
Emperor Yongping turned his head to look at Liang Pei'an, who immediately presented him with a box containing a black satin with a dragon and cloud pattern, and a jade coiled dragon hook.
He smiled, a smile that held a hint of concession, "It's just a belt, my dear. Please consider it as daily practice."
The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Yun Su took the box from Liang Pei'an and held it in her hands, neither moving forward nor backward.
Li Qingping scoffed, "If Your Majesty wants a belt, there are so many sisters in the palace who would be happy to make it for you. I remember that Concubine Rong and Concubine Wan are both good embroiderers. Even Concubine Jia, Concubine Qi, and Concubine Le are all skilled hands. Why would Your Majesty come to me to ask for it?"
Emperor Yongping didn't care: "After so many years, I'm only used to wearing the belt you made."
Everyone in the hall was waiting for her. Li Qingping finally reached out her hand, her fingertips brushing the satin, and said softly, "I obey your order. Your Majesty, please don't blame me if the embroidery is not done well."
Emperor Yongping seemed to be relieved. He took a step back and looked at her: "Does the dress fit me?"
"Does Your Majesty think the size four years ago is loose or tight?"
"It's loose. You've lost weight." Emperor Yongping answered quickly, as if he had been waiting for this question. "The people from the Imperial Clothing Department are outside, ready to help."
Li Qingping suddenly raised his eyes and looked directly at him for the first time: "Your Majesty, did you come here today just for a belt?"
Emperor Yongping was silent for a moment, his eyes swept across her imperial concubine's dress, across the two heavy gifts prepared on the table, and finally fell on her eyes.
"Not just for the belt," he said hoarsely, "but also for—"
Before he could finish his words, the eunuch outside announced loudly: "Prince Shun and Prince Kang have arrived with their princess consorts——"
Emperor Yongping suddenly stopped talking.
Li Qingping took a deep breath and sat in the main hall with Emperor Yongping.
The palace door opened wide and two newlywed couples walked in on the red carpet.
When the palace door opened, the drums and music suddenly stopped.
Prince Shun Hezheng and Prince Kang Hechang each brought their new wives into the hall and were stunned to see Emperor Yongping and the Imperial Noble Consort sitting side by side at the top.
Although I had received news yesterday that the Yonghe Palace was open, I hadn't expected the Yongping Emperor to be there. No wonder the eunuchs from the Qianqing Palace told me to just go directly to the Yonghe Palace when I first entered the palace. But only the Empress was qualified to sit with the Emperor and receive ceremonies. Although the Imperial Noble Consort was the Vice Empress, she wasn't a legitimate wife. How could she...
The two princes both wore crimson gauze dragon robes, with golden cicada wings fluttering on their crowns; the wives of Prince Shun and Prince Kang both wore phoenix robes and shawls, shimmering with pearls and jade.
The awkward atmosphere between Emperor Yongping and Li Qingping no longer existed, and they both looked at the children with gentle smiles.
The palace maid placed the cushion on the ground, indicating that the ceremony could begin.
The two newlyweds first knelt three times and kowtowed nine times to Emperor Yongping, then turned to Li Qingping and knelt three times and kowtowed three times: "Your son greets your majesty, ...
The voice was clear and echoed in the main hall of Yonghe Palace.
Li Qingping sat upright to receive the gift, the phoenix crown with twelve tassels swaying gently at her temples, covering her slightly red eyes.
After the kneeling ceremony, tea was served. After drinking the tea, Emperor Yongping and Li Qingping raised their hands to help their sons and daughters-in-law up.
Emperor Yongping admonished Prince Shun and Prince Kang: "I have waited for many years, and I have finally seen you two get married. The princess is your legitimate wife, the irreplaceable legitimacy in the harem. I hope you will treat her well in the future, support each other as husband and wife, and do not act foolishly."
Then he turned to his two daughters-in-law and said, "In the future, you must treat the two highnesses well in the palace. Don't let me and the Royal Concubine down."
The four of them responded in unison.
Li Qingping didn't say much, just asked them to live in harmony, and then asked Yunsu and Yunzao to bring two plates of gifts that had been prepared long ago.
The Princess of Shun received a pair of royal blue and emerald peacock pearl hairpins, a pair of red gold pomegranate bracelets, a pair of eight-treasure necklaces, and a tourmaline Ruyi crown; the Princess of Kang received a pair of ruby and gold filigree hairpins, a pair of purple jade hibiscus earrings, a set of five-phoenix hairpins inlaid with kingfisher feathers and jewels, and a pair of white jade lotus jade pendants with concentric circles on both ears.
Emperor Yongping watched in silence.
These jewelries are of course the best of the best. Some were awarded to Li Qingping by Emperor Yongping, and some were old belongings of Empress Renque.
Li Qingping smiled at the two brides and said, "You are new to the palace, so you may not be familiar with the affairs here. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can either ask your sisters and sisters-in-law for advice, or send someone to Yonghe Palace to let them know. Although it is inconvenient for me to leave the palace, I can still offer you some advice."
The two brides quickly agreed, feeling even more grateful. They had long heard that the Imperial Noble Consort was in a delicate position within the palace, but they had never expected her to be so considerate of the younger generation. For a moment, they felt a little closer to this elder.
They had to pay a visit to the Empress Dowager later, and Prince Shun and his wife had to rush to the imperial farm to see Concubine Ke, so Li Qingping didn't keep them for long.
He Chang looked back before walking out of the palace gate, and was not surprised to see Li Qingping lowering his head with red eyes.
Unlike his brothers and sisters, he grew up in the palace. He didn't know what life was like for his elders in the Qiandi Residence, but he knew the undercurrents swirling within. His father's suspicion and ruthlessness, the Empress's passing, the oppressed Li family, his third and fifth brothers' departure from the capital, and his aunt, Concubine Ke—the pressures of these events all weighed heavily on Yonghe Palace. The contrast with the favoritism he had shown in earlier years was even more devastating.
He Chang knew that his mother was depressed and not as calm as she seemed on the surface.
I wonder if my mother will feel better now that my father has softened his stance and allowed the Yonghe Palace to open.
After the two newlyweds left Yonghe Palace, Li Qingping wiped her tears and said indifferently, "I will have the belt that the emperor requested sent to Qianqing Palace after it is made."
"You..." Emperor Yongping gave a short laugh, but it was self-deprecating: "You are still the same. It is I who has changed."
Of the three Li sisters, Empress Renque is dignified and dignified, a model for mothers; Concubine Ke is pure and straightforward, daring to love and hate; and Li Qingping handles things calmly, but in fact, she is tougher than anyone else. None of them have changed.
But Emperor Yongping was no longer the Prince Xuan of the past. What he had to consider had changed from the palace to the country. So he changed.
Li Qingping looked at him and said calmly, "I have only ever done what a mother and a Royal Concubine should do. As for the love or hatred between us..." She paused, as if saying goodbye to the past, "Your Majesty is the Emperor, and I am the Royal Concubine. From now on, we will each perform our duties, and that's all."
Emperor Yongping remained silent for a long time.
"That's all we can do," he said.
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