From being determined to marry the Crown Prince to suddenly becoming interested in the Crown Prince's concubine, the change was too dramatic. The old nanny, who had been in the harem for decades and had seen a lot, was still a little overwhelmed.
Yinreng looked at Wulan warily. The little girl had rosy cheeks and her smile was full of vitality, like the bright morning sun.
He was truly afraid that his sweetheart was too naive and genuinely wanted to be friends with her.
There's Jia Rong outside the palace, a Fourth Prince Consort inside, and two clingy little babies at home. Any more than that, and the Crown Prince's darlings will truly belong to someone else.
Tong Wanyan lived up to Yinreng's expectations, and said to Wulan in a somewhat awkward but polite manner, "Princess, Yuqing Palace does not belong to the inner palace, you should not have come here."
She didn't say another word.
Ulan, who had just been full of energy, suddenly looked dejected, like an eggplant that had been hit by frost.
"Then I'm leaving," Ulan said dejectedly.
Ulan stood there, waiting for Tong Wanyan to ask her to stay.
But Tong Wanyan never followed the script: "Princess, please take care, don't let the Empress Dowager worry about you."
Having said all that, even if Ulan has a thick skin, she can't bring herself to pester him relentlessly.
Moreover, she is still a young girl from a respectable background, pampered and spoiled since childhood. It is already quite remarkable that she could say such humble words.
Ulan followed the old woman back home, and there was no more trouble with her trying to go here or there.
After she turned the corner of the palace wall and walked out of Yinreng and the others' sight, Yinreng held Tong Wanyan's face with satisfaction and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
With no one around, he had to give his darling a proper compliment.
Unexpectedly, Ulan impulsively turned back and happened to see this scene.
The old woman beside her was ready to pull her back.
"Granny, the Crown Prince and Consort Tong have such a good relationship. I heard that Consort Tong gave birth to twins for the Crown Prince, a boy and a girl. The Crown Prince must dote on her very much." Ulan took two steps back, not doing anything to stop the nanny.
The old nanny carefully said, "Consort Tong is gentle and virtuous, comes from a prestigious family, and has contributed to the royal family by bearing children. Naturally, the Crown Prince dotes on her."
“I understand what you’re saying, Granny. Everyone would adore someone as beautiful as Consort Tong. Granny, could you please not tell the Empress Dowager what happened earlier? I will behave myself from now on and not embarrass the Empress Dowager and the Khorchin,” Ulan said.
Knowing that the old woman was from the Khorchin, she cleverly linked her actions with the Khorchin and the Empress Dowager. In this way, even if the Empress Dowager was angry with her, she wouldn't treat her too badly.
The old woman smiled gently, reached out and lifted Ulan's arm, helping her step over the threshold and onto the stone steps.
"The Empress Dowager is most pleased that the princess is so sensible." As for what happened just now, the nanny will surely tell the Empress Dowager everything truthfully.
Ulan returned to Ning Shou Palace in silence, hid in her room, and stayed quietly without going out.
After seeing that she had rested, the nanny went to the main hall to report to the Empress Dowager.
After listening, the Empress Dowager remained silent for a while, then said, "She is intelligent, but unfortunately she was born at the wrong time. Even during the reign of the late Emperor, she might have gained some favor. Now that she knows her place, I will find her a good marriage in the capital."
When Emperor Kangxi visited the Empress Dowager in the evening, she spoke to him.
Kangxi said, "Since the Empress Dowager has pleaded on her behalf, I will choose a member of the imperial clan with a gentle temperament for her. However, he can only be below the rank of a prince."
"That's enough, I understand. The most important thing is good character and the ability to understand and care for others." The Empress Dowager saw through it all.
The Empress Dowager would never put Kangxi in a difficult position, and Kangxi was inevitably moved once again.
Moved by his thoughts, he thought of Yinqi, who had been raised by the Empress Dowager.
"In this year's general election, I will choose a consort for Yinqi from a good family. I will bestow a marriage upon him first, and then hold the grand wedding in two years." Kangxi calculated Yinqi's age; he was currently twelve years old. The general election was held every three years, and this year was the most suitable time to find him a consort.
By the time the next election comes, time will be too short.
The Empress Dowager poured Kangxi a bowl of hot goat milk: "Autumn days are hot and nights are cool. It's only evening now, but I already feel a chill. Your Majesty, please drink the hot goat milk first to remove the fishy smell and warm your stomach. You always like to drink strong tea, which is not good for your stomach."
Emperor Kangxi was deeply moved and drank the wine in one gulp: "After my maternal grandmother passed away, I was extremely grieved. Fortunately, I had my imperial mother by my side, which helped me get through that period. Over the years, my imperial mother has always been the most concerned about my health, which has given me the greatest peace of mind."
"I am your Empress Dowager, and as a mother, I care for my son; this is only natural. Yinqi was raised by me personally. He is kind-hearted by nature and not obsessed with power. Choosing him the daughter of a high-ranking official would not be good. I think a woman from a respectable family, with a calm mind, and who can speak Mongolian would be most suitable," the Empress Dowager said slowly.
The Empress Dowager's idea was the same one that Emperor Kangxi had previously held.
Of course, what the Empress Dowager considered for Yinqi was indeed the most suitable for him.
Yinqi's birth mother was Consort Yi, the most favored concubine in the harem, and he also had a younger brother. In a few years, when Yintang grows up, if both brothers have wives from prominent families, how will the other princes and noblemen feel?
Seeing that the Empress Dowager's expression was serious and not a deliberate concession, Kangxi agreed.
"Your Majesty understands Yinqi better than I do. I will listen to you. There are always some young ladies from less privileged backgrounds but of excellent character. I will absolutely not mistreat Yinqi," Kangxi said.
"You are Yinqi's father, even without me, how could you treat him badly?" the Empress Dowager said with a smile.
Emperor Kangxi laughed heartily, for the Empress Dowager's words pleased him greatly.
Emperor Kangxi was in a good mood with the Empress Dowager. After returning to the Qianqing Palace, he began to select people for Ulan.
Before Ulan got married, she would probably live in Ning Shou Palace.
To avoid further trouble, it's better to get married sooner rather than later and have peace of mind.
Emperor Kangxi wouldn't hold a grudge against a young girl and deliberately choose a bad husband for her.
As a king who possesses the wealth of the world, he must have a broad mind.
However, as he examined the members of the Aisin Gioro clan, he suddenly realized that there were very few who were truly outstanding.
How can this be allowed? The Aisin Gioro clan, the golden family of the grasslands, cannot allow their descendants to become spoiled brats after entering the Central Plains.
If he continues to live such a life of idleness and waiting for death, what manpower will he have left to employ when his children and grandchildren become emperors?
Even as an emperor, he still had to work tirelessly to raise his children. Why did those idle princes and nobles live more comfortably than him, without having to raise their children?
Feeling unbalanced, Emperor Kangxi secretly decided to give the imperial clan members a good workout.
The relatives who were still walking their birds and playing with their dogs in the Eight Great Hutongs suddenly felt a chill and sneezed several times in a daze.
It's getting cold. Did they catch a cold from the wind? No, we need to go home and put on more clothes.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
