Yunyi stayed in Nanjing with her daughter to recuperate, and they were living a very comfortable life.
Before leaving, she gave the medicine powder she had prepared to Wei Shuyan, instructing her to seize the opportunity and administer it to Emperor Qianlong.
After leaving Nanjing, Emperor Qianlong, accompanied by his concubines and mother, embarked on a southern tour and arrived in Suzhou.
At first, Emperor Qianlong was somewhat concerned and worried about the Empress, but Yunyi kept bringing good news, saying that her wounds were healing very well.
Emperor Qianlong then put aside his worries and began to indulge in philandering.
Moreover, without the empress present, Qianlong had no more concerns and didn't need to care about her feelings, so he couldn't suppress his lustful nature.
Suzhou has always been known as "paradise on earth" and "Suzhou and Hangzhou below." Now, as an ancient city, Suzhou's beauty is even more charming than its modern counterpart.
Suzhou is not only beautiful in its scenery, but also in its people. Women from Jiangnan have always been the most gentle, delicate and charming among Han girls, and their soft Wu dialect is so sweet that it makes people feel weak in the knees.
Emperor Qianlong's imperial boat was filled with revelry every night, with beautiful young women boarding the boat each evening and leaving only after dawn.
He had always been fond of beautiful women, so how could he stay quietly and do nothing in this place? Naturally, he sent his trusted confidants to search for beauties to serve him.
The local officials had long prepared beauties, but they dared not present them before because of the Empress's presence. Now that they heard that the Empress was staying in Nanjing to recuperate, they no longer had any concerns.
Emperor Qianlong didn't know what was going on. Despite indulging in revelry every night, he wasn't tired at all. On the contrary, he became more and more energetic.
He was always very confident in his health, and Qianlong thought it was just because he was too happy that he didn't feel tired.
Furthermore, with the imperial physicians also saying that there was nothing wrong with his health, Qianlong became even more obsessed with beautiful women.
The Empress Dowager was quite dissatisfied with this, feeling that Consort Ling was one of the higher-ranking concubines in the harem during this trip, and was usually very favored, so she should advise the Emperor.
She had originally planned to find time to reprimand Consort Ling, but unexpectedly, on the same day, she heard from the nanny beside her that Consort Ling had been slapped by the enraged Emperor for advising her to take care of her health and not to indulge in lust.
Because of the injury on her face, Wei Shuyan used this as an excuse to stay indoors and no longer pay attention to Qianlong's affairs.
This made it difficult for the Empress Dowager to speak up. Even the most favored Consort Ling was beaten for offering advice, so the other concubines dared not offer any further suggestions.
Helpless, she could only try to persuade her son herself, but her usually obedient and filial son was unusually unwilling to listen to her this time.
Fearing that this matter would damage the relationship between mother and son, the Empress Dowager had no choice but to give up and let her son indulge in sensual pleasures. She then instructed the imperial physicians to take care of the Emperor's health and prevent any problems from arising.
Thus, with no one to discipline or advise him, Qianlong became even more obsessed with women, and his health deteriorated further.
However, this was not apparent from his pulse or appearance. Emperor Qianlong himself did not feel particularly weak; on the contrary, he felt very strong and energetic.
After the southern tour ended, news of the emperor bringing several favored concubines and young ladies-in-waiting from outside the palace reached Yunyi, who was still recuperating from her injuries.
As the saying goes, it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone. Yunyi injured her left shoulder and was also poisoned. She will need to recuperate in Nanjing for at least a month before she can set off to return to Beijing.
Even if we go back, we can't rush on the way; we have to walk slowly so as not to aggravate her injuries.
So when Yunyi returned to the capital two months later, the palace had already been filled with a group of lowly but beautiful concubines, including Consort Zhang, Consort Wang, Consort Bai, Consort Bai, Consort Xiu, and so on.
Even the most favored concubines of the past, such as Consort Shu and Consort Ling, had to avoid her sharp edge, which shows how much they were favored.
Back in his Chengqian Palace, Emperor Qianlong still showed considerable favor to his empress, and came to visit Yunyi that very night.
This was the first time Yunyi had seen Emperor Qianlong since he left Nanjing more than two months ago.
Upon first meeting, Yunyi understood Qianlong's physical condition, but she was still not entirely sure.
After dinner, the two of them went to sleep under the covers, and only then did Yunyi have the opportunity to take Qianlong's pulse.
Because she had added a sedative to the incense, Qianlong was sleeping very soundly and would never wake up, which is why Yunyi was able to boldly take his pulse.
The moment her hand touched Qianlong's wrist, Yunyi was still shocked, even though she was prepared.
She looked Qianlong up and down, then clicked her tongue twice.
As expected of a lustful emperor. I only gave you a little bit of medicine, and you've already ruined your body like this. You're really something.
If Emperor Qianlong could have lived to eighty-nine years old before, given the extent of his physical decline, he might not even make it to sixty.
After taking Qianlong's pulse, Yunyi was in a great mood. After putting Qianlong's hand back, she fell asleep in a good mood.
In the days that followed, Yunyi did nothing but give Wei Shuyan some of the medicine powder she had prepared earlier, so that she could give Qianlong a little bit from time to time.
Another year has passed, and it is now the summer of the thirty-second year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign. The Forbidden City is unbearably hot.
As early as the beginning of May, Emperor Qianlong took his mother, the Empress Dowager, the concubines, and his sons and daughters to the Yuanmingyuan Garden to escape the summer heat.
Emperor Qianlong stayed at Jiuzhou Qingyan, Yunyi stayed at Wuling Chunse where she had stayed before, and the other concubines stayed at Tiandi Yijia Chun.
Wuling Spring Scenery, also known as Peach Blossom Valley, was built in imitation of Tao Yuanming's Peach Blossom Spring. It is planted with many peach trees, which is why Yunyi chose this place to live.
Yunyi only felt comfortable after arriving at the Old Summer Palace. The Forbidden City was oppressive and solemn, and living inside made her feel suffocated.
But when you arrive at the Old Summer Palace, the sky is open and the air is free, which is much better than in the Forbidden City.
Because it was in the courtyard, the rules here were not as strict as in the palace, and Yunyi could summon her mother, Langjia, to talk at any time.
Yunyi's good friend, Fuheng's wife, Yehenara Wanrou, also frequently came to the garden to visit Yunyi.
Yehenara Wanrou is five years younger than Yunyi, but she is very fertile and has given birth to three sons and one daughter for Fuheng. Her eldest son is already twenty-seven years old this year, while Yunyi's eldest son is only fifteen years old.
The mother was only five years younger than her son, but the son was more than ten years younger. However, there was nothing that could be done, as Yunyi was indeed a bit older when she gave birth.
Although her eldest son is quite old, Wanrou's youngest son, Fukang'an, is only nineteen years old this year and is still unmarried.
Emperor Qianlong intended for him to marry his daughter with Empress Nara, Princess Herui. Therefore, he gave Fuheng a heads-up in advance, telling him not to arrange a marriage for his son yet, but to wait for his imperial decree to bestow the marriage upon him.
Wanrou's youngest daughter is even younger; she was born when Wanrou was thirty years old, in the eighteenth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, and is only fourteen years old this year.
Emperor Qianlong was very pleased with the young girl, feeling that she had the same demeanor as his aunt, Empress Xiaoxian, and was already the designated future empress.
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