After handing over the remaining matters to his elder brother, Yinreng felt completely relieved.
That way, I can return to Yuqing Palace without any worries, and I can also go see the young lady.
Although this trip to Weihai was very fruitful, the journey was also very tiring. It even ruined his original skin condition. Yinreng still remembered the girl's incredulous expression when he first met her, and how she subconsciously took a step back.
This really hurt Yinreng. Humph, he still insists on getting his skin back to normal.
In fact, Jingrou had absolutely no malicious intent; she was just too shocked and a little caught off guard.
Because he hadn't written her a letter before he came, he didn't know he was back.
When you're traveling, your basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are guaranteed to the best of your ability, but it's certainly not as good as when you're in the capital or in the palace!
It's only after being away from the capital for so long that I truly miss life in the Forbidden City—it was a life of luxury and ease. If I hadn't left, I would never have known!
“Let’s go, I’m free now, I’ll take you to eat the vinegar-braised mandarin fish at Yuqing Palace…” Yinreng said.
Jingrou couldn't help but swallow hard. Putting everything else aside, the food at Yuqing Palace was truly excellent!
The head chef of Yuqing Palace now is the same person who served Empress Hesheli in the past! A chef who has served in the palace for so many years would not be in this position if he were not truly capable.
Originally, Yuqing Palace did not have a small kitchen. This was because the emperor wanted to let the princes experience hardship and did not intend to give them special treatment. Therefore, neither Yuqing Palace nor the Princes' Residence had a small kitchen.
They usually ate food provided by the imperial kitchen, which tasted good, but it certainly couldn't compare to the comfort of the small kitchen.
Two years ago, Yinreng contracted smallpox...
Jingrou recalled that after the outbreak of smallpox, the people in Yuqing Palace were temporarily dismissed by Emperor Kangxi. Only the old servant who brewed medicine, a few palace maids and nannies who had had smallpox, and Emperor Kangxi himself took care of them. Emperor Kangxi had also had smallpox before, so even if he stayed by Yinreng's side now, he would not be infected.
Jingrou used the system again to exchange for some pills, which improved Yinreng's condition. Then she found a way to let her maternal grandfather know about the smallpox vaccination, and that's how she got through the incident without any major problems. After this incident, Jingrou was also a little annoyed.
Having lived in the palace for several years, I never even thought of this!
It's important to know that in the early Qing Dynasty, the mortality rate among princes in the palace was extremely high, and a large portion of these deaths were due to smallpox! Her major was related to biology, and although she only had a bachelor's degree, she was familiar with the historical development of smallpox and how it was cured.
However, even someone with a bit of professional knowledge like Jingrou hadn't thought of this. This also reminded Jingrou not to rely too much on the system; she still needed to use her own brain!
However, after that, the princes in the palace also began to plant smallpox, and then it was gradually spread to the outside world.
After that incident, meals at Yuqing Palace needed to be prepared separately. So Emperor Kangxi ordered a small kitchen to be set up there. He also transferred cooks from the small kitchen of Qianqing Palace, who happened to be old men who had served Empress Hesheli before.
The cooking is superb!
So the two of them went to Yuqing Palace together.
It was a break time, and Jingrou was already quite familiar with coming to Yuqing Palace.
There's really no need to worry about things like maintaining strict separation between men and women.
In recent years, Emperor Kangxi has adopted a lenient policy towards the princesses, perhaps because he learned from the lesson of those nannies who raised princesses to be weak and timid. Emperor Kangxi advocated raising the princesses to be heroines who are no less capable than men.
Although the emperor still attached great importance to Confucianism and his policies were biased towards benevolent governance, the officials were wise enough not to mention to Emperor Kangxi the idea of women adhering to the three obediences and four virtues or staying at home—ultimately, those scholars or advocates of Confucianism did not think this was a big problem.
As long as the emperor can make concessions in governance and allow Confucianism to occupy a greater position, and retreat slightly on this issue, they will have no objections, let alone interfere with how Emperor Kangxi disciplines his daughters—after all, Confucian scholars are very flexible and adaptable.
As for other matters, we can let Comrade Xu handle them later. They are masters of playing the game of tai chi; you take a step back, and they give way, thus gradually achieving their goals.
Confucian scholars were very worried about their status after the Qing army entered the pass. They thought, "What kind of reasoning or culture can people from such a barbaric land talk about? They might have been eating raw meat and drinking blood just a few years ago!"
What if they all lose their official positions? It hasn't been easy for Confucianism to develop to this point!
As a result, both Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Shunzhi attached great importance to Confucianism, which ironically led to its development.
But we can't get too cocky, so it's best to give in a little!
Emperor Kangxi felt that the princesses of the Qing Dynasty would be going to Mongolia. Did they have to be so delicate and pampered there? That wouldn't do. If they couldn't adapt to the climate and manage the Mongolian men, how could they establish themselves in Mongolia?
The princesses of the Qing Dynasty were not meant to ensure the continuation of the Mongol lineage and make them last longer, but rather to subtly assimilate them into a part of the Qing Dynasty!
Therefore, in the past few years, Emperor Kangxi has been giving the princesses a tough education, which has quickly changed the gentle and quiet personalities that the concubines had developed.
Even Consort Ping, of the Borjigit clan (now Consort Ping), could only accept this fact with her head down in dejection after being unwilling to accept it.
After all, one can't fight city hall, and no matter what, she wouldn't dare to defy the Emperor's decision.
Mingxuan has transformed from a quiet and gentle girl into someone with a somewhat bold and forthright personality, which makes Jingrou happy.
Women should be radiant like this. Of course, some can be more demure, while others can be more unrestrained. As long as they stretch out in a way they like, that's perfectly fine! This made Jingrou very happy, and she secretly praised Emperor Kangxi. He truly deserves to be called a great ruler throughout the ages, with such ambition and foresight!
Moreover, they actually have Manchu genes, and most Manchu women are known for their generous and forthright personalities.
Previously, it was simply because this personality trait had been suppressed.
Now it's just a matter of expressing one's personality, rather than being suppressed.
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