The next day, news of Nan Xiaoyuan's return to favor naturally spread to every corner of the inner quarters. Those who had hoped to finally receive some of Lanqin's affections after her fall from grace were once again disappointed.
Days passed by like this, and the Fujin and the others seemed to be dormant animals, remaining silent for the time being.
On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, Princess Wenyi's imperial carriage had arrived outside Yanjiao. Emperor Kangxi specially dispatched the Fifth Prince to welcome this eldest princess. Although she was the second in line, she became the eldest princess because Emperor Kangxi's eldest daughter had died young.
The Fifth Prince was also born to Consort Rong. He was originally more favored by Emperor Kangxi than the Third Prince. However, when the Fifth Prince was twenty years old, he went on a military campaign with Prince Zhi, but unexpectedly fell from his horse on the battlefield, injuring his back and even disfiguring himself. From then on, the Fifth Prince was devastated, losing both Emperor Kangxi's favor and his own pride.
This time, Kangxi actually sent him to welcome his elder sister, mostly out of consideration for their blood ties as siblings, and also because he saw that his son had been depressed for many years and it was time to give him something to do, since the Fifth Prince's fate was not what he wanted.
"Fifth Brother!!" Princess Wenyi lifted the curtain and saw her own younger brother. She couldn't help but blurt out the words, and crystal tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.
"Eldest sister." The Fifth Prince remained calm, perhaps because years of being out of favor had made him somewhat indifferent to family ties.
The Fifth Prince, accompanied by Princess Wenyi and her son and daughter, entered the city in a grand procession. The people of BJ City all knew that the princess was visiting her family, and they all took their positions, craning their necks along the route of the princess's return to the capital, eager to witness the grandeur of the imperial family.
After the princess entered the palace, Emperor Kangxi decreed that she should reside in Consort Rong's Yanxi Palace, along with her two grandsons who had accompanied her. Consort Rong had long since fallen out of favor, and there were hardly any minor noble ladies left even in the side halls, so Princess Wenyi and her entourage had enough room.
Since the princess's return, people from the inner palace have been constantly sending gifts to visit her. In no time, Yanxi Palace, which used to be so quiet that only a few birds could pass through, became bustling with activity.
Consort De, Consort Hui, and Consort Yi all sent gifts to Princess Wenyi and Kangxi's two grandsons, but they themselves would not come.
Consort Rong had not seen her daughter for many years, so she naturally pulled Wenyi aside and asked her all sorts of questions. She also looked at her two grandsons from head to toe, tears streaming down her face.
"Mother, it's good news that my elder sister is back, but you've been crying the whole time, which makes us sons sad too." The Third Prince and his wife had entered the palace early that morning and were waiting in Consort Rong's palace. At this moment, they, along with the Fifth Prince and his wife, were all there with them.
"Of course, Mother is overjoyed and sheds tears. Wenyi has been gone for more than ten years. Mother thought she would never see her again in this life. I never thought I would see her children again." Consort Rong held two children in her arms, one a boy and the other a girl, both dressed as foreigners.
“My eldest sister’s visit home this time will last until the beginning of the new year. Mother, there’s no need to be sad. Just stay and keep her company,” said the Fifth Prince.
Consort Rong's expression calmed down slightly, and she said to Wen Yi, "How did the Han King of the Dzungar Khanate treat you? Back then, when you married him, he was a whole twelve years older than you."
Princess Wenyi was also in tears. She quickly wiped away her tears and said softly, "The Khan is very good to his daughter. He even built a palace for her there. The palace is very similar to our Forbidden City, but much smaller. Mother, you seem to have aged a lot. Has Father not come to visit you for a long time?"
Consort Rong's expression was slightly unnatural as she said, "Your mother is old, and there are young concubines to serve your father."
Wen Yi frowned and said, "Father Emperor broke his promise. Wen Yi wants to see him."
Although she is already a mother of two and thirty years old, Wenyi still speaks with the same spoiled manner she did more than ten years ago, which shows that the Dzungar Khan truly loves her.
A hint of relief appeared at the corners of Consort Rong's eyes, which were already etched with fine lines. She had borne six children for Emperor Kangxi, but now only three remained. Perhaps the pain of losing her children one after another had long since eroded her attachment to the Emperor's favor.
“Your father is busy with state affairs, so you should avoid bothering him,” Consort Rong said.
"No matter how busy you are with state affairs, you still have time to receive me, the Princess Consort of the Dzungar Khan," Princess Wenyi said, abandoning her arrogant demeanor. After all, she was thirty years old; how could she still be as naive and innocent as a teenage girl?
Consort Rong was startled. She exchanged a glance with the Third Prince and asked, "Wen Yi, what do you mean by this?"
Princess Wenyi smiled gently and said, "Mother, I have come back to visit you and Father Emperor this time. Firstly, I want to see you and Father Emperor, and secondly, I want to bring a letter from my husband to Father Emperor."
Upon hearing this, the Third Prince hurriedly asked, "What letter? What did it say?"
Wen Yi ignored his question and rebuked him, "This is a letter from one country to another, how can it be opened so easily? Third brother's question is reasonable."
The Third Prince was angered by Wen Yi's words. He was currently favored by Emperor Kangxi, but he was surprised to be reprimanded by his own sister. Displeased, he stood up and said to Consort Rong, "Since you do not wish to say anything to me, then I will take my leave."
Consort Rong had no choice but to let him go. Fifth Prince also got up to take his leave, as he seemed to have nothing to say to Consort Rong and Princess Wenyi.
After the two princes had left, Wenyi instructed the maids who had accompanied her to take the two children away to rest, while she sat down next to Consort Rong, leaning against her silently.
"Tell your mother the truth, what is the purpose of your return this time?" Consort Rong sensed the deeper meaning in Wen Yi's words and couldn't help but ask.
"Mother, please stay by your side. Please beg Father Emperor to let me stay. As for the two children, let my son return to the Khan's side, and I'll stay." Tears welled in Wenyi's eyes. In public, she was the proud Princess of the Qing Dynasty and the Princess Consort of the Dzungar Khan, yet she had to face the torment and pain of her husband's impending attack on her father. No matter who won, she wouldn't be happy; she would weep.
"What exactly happened, Wenyi? Tell your mother the truth quickly." Consort Rong sensed that Wenyi's return to the capital this time was not so simple.
"Mother, I'm tired. I want to sleep first. Will you stay with Wenyi?" Wenyi looked away, not wanting to say anything more.
Consort Rong knew that Wen Yi did not want to talk about it, so she did not force her and quickly summoned a maid to help Wen Yi take a bath.
Kangxi finally arrived, but Wenyi was already asleep. When he entered Yanxi Palace, which he hadn't visited in a long time, Consort Rong could hardly believe her eyes.
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