The year-end has finally arrived, but it seems even the heavens don't want people to have a peaceful and safe holiday. A blizzard raged, covering the entire city of Beijing with a thick blanket of snow.
The Fourth Prince asked the palace for leave from his wife and only brought his concubine to the palace to pay New Year's respects.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Lanqin will take the children and follow the Fourth Prince into the palace to pay New Year's respects to the Kangxi Emperor and her own mother in the palace.
Early in the morning, snowflakes the size of soybeans began to fall directly down. Lanqin was still lying in bed when she heard the roof tiles being struck with a loud thud.
Entering the palace was done according to a set time, so Lanqin was woken up by the Fourth Prince while she was still half asleep. Normally, the Fourth Prince would not have been willing to wake her, but this time was different, and he had to wake her up.
"Master, I'm sleepy!" Lanqin mumbled. It wasn't surprising she was so sleepy; yesterday, in preparation for entering the palace, Lanqin had given detailed instructions to everyone, from the Third Prince and Fourth Prince to the Second Princess and Bechuk, ensuring that each child's entourage was properly arranged. Otherwise, if any one of them made a mistake, it would be her fault as the head of the household. Moreover, last night was New Year's Eve, and the Fourth Prince had hosted a family banquet. As usual, the Princess Consort didn't appear; the whole family, including the children, ate and played all night, making quite a scene. Therefore, Lanqin had gone to bed very late yesterday.
"You ride in the carriage with me, and continue sleeping once you're on board. Now get up and get dressed," Fourth Master said.
The Fourth Prince was the first to get up. With the help of the maids, he changed his clothes. He wore a royal blue court robe, and various court beads or jade pendants that conformed to his status were hung around his neck and waist.
Lanqin's clothes were also court attire, a long robe embroidered in blue and black, and her hair was styled in a large, winged style, adorned with various glittering gold ornaments. To highlight her status, Si Hua also gave Lanqin a hair ornament strung with pearls and gemstones, which was pinned to her temple.
Lanqin mostly rested with her eyes closed, leaning on Cui Niang, like a puppet as Nianxue, Xicha, and Sihua served her. She couldn't stay awake; after entering the palace, she would have to serve Consort De and the other concubines, sisters-in-law, officials, and noblewomen—it was going to be a very busy day.
Before dawn, about ten carriages were lined up outside the Fourth Prince's mansion. All of them were covered with oilcloth and decorated with auspicious red lanterns or ruyi knots.
The three older princes, the third prince, the fourth prince, and the second princess, each rode in a carriage with their respective wet nurses and maids. Namin rode in a carriage alone with her wet nurse and maids. To ensure Lanqin's sleep, the fourth prince had Nianxue ride in a carriage with Wuxiha and Bechuk, and then the various maids and servants who accompanied them rode in several other carriages. Lanqin rode in a large carriage with the fourth prince, not the one reserved for the fourth prince and his primary wife, but it was about the same size. The fourth prince carried Lanqin out and put her directly into the carriage where she fell asleep, attended only by a court painter. Everyone else moved to other carriages. The children all came out wearing cotton cloaks, and the younger ones were wrapped up tightly and carried into the carriages by their wet nurses.
The snowflakes thudded on the ground, and the roads were icy. The carriages dared not drive fast, and the drivers, wrapped in fur coats and hats, slowly propelled the carriages forward.
Lanqin slept lightly in the carriage. Fourth Master sat beside her, also resting with his eyes closed. Sihua huddled in a corner by the carriage door, warming Lanqin with a hot water bottle.
"Have the snacks that Consort Fu's favorites been prepared?" the Fourth Prince asked with his eyes closed.
"Everything is prepared. The yam cake, osmanthus cake, and glutinous rice cake that Consort Si likes are all ready." Si Hua didn't expect the Fourth Prince to ask this, so she quickly explained in detail.
"Have her tea ready too. When she wakes up, give her some hot tea first," Fourth Master instructed.
"Yes, this servant has prepared everything." Si Hua was pleased to see that the Fourth Master cared for Lan Qin in such a meticulous way.
The snow outside showed no signs of stopping. When the snowflakes had accumulated to a thickness of half an inch, a heavy snowfall began. The horses were covered in snow, looking like white, moving snow horses. Since it was still dark, they moved even slower.
After the Fourth Prince's carriage convoy had traveled through several streets, it suddenly stopped. A messenger came to report that something had happened ahead and the road was blocked. The Fourth Prince ordered the guards leading the way to investigate.
During the brief respite when the carriages stopped, the servants got off to relieve themselves, nursed the babies, or helped the young masters urinate. Although they had only traveled a few miles, it had been almost an hour, and naturally, everyone needed to take care of their needs.
Fourth Master rolled down the car window a little and looked outside, only to see the wind and snow immediately rushing in. Afraid that Lanqin would get cold, he quickly lowered it.
After a while, the guards who had gone to check on the situation returned and told Su Peisheng what had happened outside the carriage. Su Peisheng had originally asked the Fourth Prince to go to the back and sit in the carriages for the servants, but he refused and insisted on serving the Fourth Prince. So he sat next to the coachman, and at that moment, his hat, eyebrows and lips were covered in snow, making him look exactly like Santa Claus.
"Master, we've encountered the Third Prince's caravan ahead. One of their horses slipped and fell, and they're getting it up. It'll probably cause a delay," Su Peisheng said from the carriage window.
Fourth Master was taken aback and said, "Send the guards to check again and see if we need any help. This awful weather is so bad that even the horses can't stand up."
When the Third Master's horse was involved in a "car accident," it was only natural for the Fourth Master, as his younger brother, to go and check on it—it was a matter of courtesy. Although the Fourth Master didn't like the Third Master, this brother who was only a few months older than him had the air of a charming and talented young man and seemed very capable, the Fourth Master thought that all his talents were just frivolous and useless.
Third Master naturally brought his own guards and didn't need Fourth Master's help, but since they came to ask, he naturally treated them with courtesy. In short, it was because Third Master's horse had a problem that Fourth Master's family's trip was delayed.
Once the horses were in motion, the Third Master's carriage began to move, and then the Fourth Master's carriage could also begin to move.
The journey was fraught with wind and snow. Each horse had a glass lantern hanging in front of it to help them see the road ahead. There were few people on the streets; everyone was staying home and dared not venture out to challenge the royal cavalry.
Lanqin woke up shakily in the carriage, only to find that they hadn't even arrived at Shenwu Gate yet.
"Where is Master?" Lanqin opened her eyes and saw only Sihua, so she blurted out.
“Master is getting a little tired of sitting, and says he wants to go for a ride.” Si Hua quickly helped Lan Qin up.
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