When Tong Wanyan woke up again, it was already dark.
The moon was high in the sky, and she was starving.
I raised my arm slightly and immediately felt sore all over.
"My darling, you're awake? I'll serve you some rice." Yinreng sat on the couch playing chess, still displaying the demeanor of a noble and virtuous gentleman.
Tong Wanyan glared at him, embarrassed and annoyed: "You scoundrel."
"I am a scoundrel, and you are a scoundrel's little wife," Yinreng said with a grin.
He felt completely at ease, and even when Tong Wanyan pointed her finger at him and called him a bastard, he felt it was the most beautiful love confession in the world.
Tong Wanyan spat at him, and he shamelessly leaned in, looking like a shameless rogue.
“I used to be so bad at dressing myself, but now I can not only change your clothes, but I’m also extremely skilled at drawing your eyebrows and lips. My darling, I cherish you so much that I’m afraid you’ll melt in my hands,” Yinreng said.
Tong Wanyan gave him a flirtatious wink and said sweetly, "Master, I want to eat garlic."
"Stop fooling around. Even if you have garlic stuffed in your mouth, I'll still kiss you tonight. Here, have a bite of rose meatballs. It's a new dish Wang Yan invented, and it suits your taste," Yinreng coaxed her.
As expected, Yinreng indulged in another bout of madness and debauchery that night.
All the servants who served in the south courtyard were sent outside, leaving only Deshun and Su Jixiang. The two of them faithfully kept watch for their masters at night and always remembered to add hot water to the side room.
The next day, Yinreng got up and went to court in a refreshed state, completely changing his restrained demeanor of the previous months, which had been characterized by a forced smile.
Seeing his rosy complexion, Yinti couldn't help but ask, "What good thing happened to the Crown Prince? You look so smug. If you have something good to share, tell me so I can share in your joy."
"It's nothing serious. It's just that yesterday, Father Emperor praised Hongzhao for being so young yet so intelligent, and I, as his father, am naturally pleased." Yinreng used Hongzhao as a shield.
Yinti shut his mouth, snorted coldly, and refused to walk with Yinreng.
The Crown Prince is so infuriating; he was much easier to get along with when he was first recovering from his illness.
Tong Ruita went ahead to pick up the young princess of Khorchin. Both of them were naive and innocent, unaware of Kangxi's hidden intentions.
Princess Wulan is a young girl, innocent, lively, and willful, without many hidden agendas.
She and Tong Ruita sparred frequently along the way, but she was always defeated by Tong Ruita within three moves, showing no signs of giving up.
Tong Ruita escorted the princess into the Forbidden City and said to Emperor Kangxi in a formal tone, "This servant has lived up to Your Majesty's expectations and safely escorted the princess into the palace."
The young princess blinked her innocent eyes and gave Emperor Kangxi a proper bow: "Borjigit Ulan greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be well."
Emperor Kangxi stood on the steps, looking down at the two young men.
The atmosphere between the two was clean and pure, without any of the awkwardness or ambiguity between young lovers.
Kangxi's heart sank.
Ulan came to the capital to find a husband, but Kangxi had no intention of giving up his son. He had initially chosen Tong Ruita, who was quite good, but now he didn't like her. Was he going to have to choose someone else?
Kangxi was a little tired. He said to Tong Ruita, "You've worked hard, my dear minister."
Tong Ruita said righteously, "It is my duty to relieve the Emperor's worries and troubles."
Emperor Kangxi waved his hand: "I trust you to handle things. You may leave."
"Ulan, you will come with me to see the Empress Dowager," Kangxi said to Ulan.
This was Kangxi's final test; he wanted to see if Ulan and Tong Ruita would feel reluctant to part ways.
However, reality always disappointed Kangxi.
Ulan waved to Tong Ruita, and the two parted ways cleanly and decisively, without the slightest hint of reluctance.
Ulan thought that this man was quite skilled in martial arts, and if she wanted to fight again, she could go to his residence to find him. Tong Ruita, on the other hand, didn't think about anything. He had rested outside for a night and still wanted to be more comfortable lying down at home.
When Kangxi led Wulan to the Ning Shou Palace to see the Empress Dowager, as expected, the Empress Dowager was very happy to see the little girl.
"She looks like a girl from the grasslands. Only under the protection of the Eternal Heaven could such a fine girl be raised. Free and pure, like the spring breeze on the grasslands," the Empress Dowager praised.
Ulan said sweetly, "Your Majesty, you are the most beloved daughter of the Eternal Heaven. My grandfather often told me that when you were on the grasslands, you were the most beautiful pearl of Khorchin. No girl from the surrounding tribes could compare to you. Your horsemanship, your whip, your singing voice, and your dancing were all unique and outstanding on the grasslands."
Ulan praised the Empress Dowager sincerely, her eyes filled with admiration and respect.
The Khorchin tribe held a special position on the grasslands not only because of their bravery and fighting prowess, but also because of their daughters who married into the Qing imperial family.
With the Qing Dynasty as its backing, the Khorchin had a much stronger voice on the grasslands.
"Would you be willing to live in my palace and keep me company for a while?" the Empress Dowager asked.
She respected the opinions of her juniors, and if Ulan wanted to live outside the palace and go out to play from time to time, she would allow it.
Ulan was curious about the splendor, nobility, and solemnity of the Forbidden City, and with the Empress Dowager present, she didn't want to go out and play.
These are all new places; it doesn't matter where you go.
Ulan said, "Ulan wants to talk to the Empress Dowager about Khorchin and the divine eagles of the grasslands."
"Good, good." The Empress Dowager said "good" twice, showing how delighted she was.
In the evening, Emperor Kangxi held a family banquet at the Palace of Tranquil Longevity.
Since it has been decided to let Ulan stay in the palace for a while, her identity should be revealed to everyone, and they should also meet each other to avoid any misunderstandings later.
Because Yinti did not live in the palace, he did not attend the family banquet.
The Palace of Tranquil Longevity was unusually lively, and the concubines, in accordance with the Empress Dowager's wishes, praised Ulan again and again.
Emperor Kangxi had already told Consort Gui that Ulan was not intended for the palace, nor was she being given to a prince. Therefore, the younger girl from the Empress Dowager's clan could be pampered.
Mongolian women and Eight Banner women are somewhat different. Compared to the bold and lively Mongolian women, Eight Banner women are more noble, spirited, and proud.
Both are vibrant colors, but Mongolia is like a blinding sun, while the Eight Banners are like scorching flames.
Ulan liked these concubines who were friendly to her very much. She chatted with the imperial concubine and others in Manchu, which she was not very fluent in.
The Imperial Concubine and the others had served the Empress Dowager for many years, and even the Empress Dowager, who was not good at Manchu, could understand their meanings. How much more so would Ulan, who could speak a complete sentence fluently.
It's simply a matter of speaking slower, so we don't have to talk to each other like chickens and ducks.
Yinreng was the last to arrive. Kangxi knew the reason for his lateness, so he didn't mind at all, but was worried that he had worked hard.
“Ulan, this is my son,” Kangxi said.
From the moment Yinreng stepped into the main hall, Wulan's eyes were glued to him.
She boldly asked Emperor Kangxi, "Your Majesty, can Ulan marry this prince? He is so handsome, like a god from the grasslands."
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