"Ruoshu, have the kitchen make more ginger soup. It's so cold today, let's warm them up and prevent them from catching a cold."
Ruoshu smiled and replied, "Your Majesty is kind-hearted. I thank you on their behalf. Please rest assured, I will make the arrangements."
Yunyi nodded. "Yes, I trust you the most when it comes to handling things."
After finishing their chatter, Yunyi boarded the sedan chair. When they arrived at their destination, most people had already arrived. They found their seats according to their rank, and soon after sitting down, they heard the eunuchs loudly announcing their names from outside.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Empress Dowager has arrived! The Emperor has arrived! The Empress has arrived!"
Outside the main hall, Emperor Kangxi was seen affectionately supporting Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang as they walked, chatting and laughing. Empress Niohuru, on the other hand, was respectfully supporting the Empress Dowager. Although their relationship was not as intimate, it was still gentle and loving.
This was the first time Yunyi had seen Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and Empress Dowager Xiaohui in real life.
It must be said that Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was indeed a remarkable woman who served through several dynasties and helped two young emperors ascend the throne. She is now 64 years old, which is quite advanced in ancient times.
But she still looked energetic, with clear eyes that sparkled with wisdom, and her face had the kindness of an elder, as well as the dignity befitting her status.
Empress Dowager Xiaohui was a completely different woman from Empress Xiaozhuang. She was Empress Xiaozhuang's grandniece and married Emperor Shunzhi at the age of thirteen, but she was not loved by her husband and was almost deposed several times. If it weren't for Empress Xiaozhuang's constant protection, she would have followed in her aunt's footsteps and become the second deposed empress of the Qing Dynasty.
When Emperor Shunzhi died and Emperor Kangxi ascended the throne, she became Empress Dowager at a young age and remained a widow for more than a decade. She went from a teenage girl to an elderly Empress Dowager in the deep palace, nearing forty years old.
Empress Dowager Xiaohui's life was a tragedy. Except for her carefree youth, after entering the palace, she was trapped in that cage and could not escape for the rest of her life.
According to protocol, imperial concubines were required to pay their respects to the Empress and Empress Dowager every day. However, Empress Niohuru was in poor health, so after she was made Empress, the custom of paying respects was changed to once every five days.
As for Empress Xiaozhuang, because she was old and preferred quiet and disliked noise, she had always paid her respects once every two weeks. Empress Dowager Xiaohui followed Empress Xiaozhuang, just as Empress Xiaozhuang had arranged.
Yunyi has been in this world for so long without ever seeing Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, entirely because she missed the last time she went to pay her respects to her mother when she was ill.
Today is a major festival for the Manchu people, so tonight's banquet will not only be attended by the imperial concubines, but also by the ministers of the previous dynasty.
Upon hearing the eunuch's announcement, everyone in the hall bowed to the four highest-ranking women in the harem, and only sat down after being granted permission by Emperor Kangxi to dispense with the formalities.
Emperor Kangxi and the Empress helped the two elders to their seats before returning to their own seats, thus beginning the banquet.
Yunyi was the second-highest-ranking person in the harem, after the Empress, and held an excellent position, sitting in the first seat to the left of Emperor Kangxi.
This is a very good location. It's very close to Emperor Kangxi and also high up, so she can see very clearly from both above and below.
Under such circumstances, the Tong family, to which the original owner belonged, naturally sent people as well. Thanks to her position, she was able to sit up and see everything clearly.
Among the people from the Tong family was the original owner's mother, Hesheli. Ever since Yunyi entered the palace, Hesheli had been looking at her from time to time with a loving expression.
Yunyi's gaze turned to Hesheli, her eyes filled with a smile. Hesheli was taken aback, then nodded with a smile and looked away.
Yunyi's position was rather special, as behind her were important figures such as the Kangxi Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and others. Although Empress Hesheli loved her daughter dearly, her frequent glances in this direction were somewhat disrespectful.
Yunyi had just looked at Hesheli and realized what she had done. She would be more careful in the future.
The banquet was actually quite boring. With all the concubines, ministers, and noblewomen present, one had to be very careful about every move and not break the rules. The entertainment at the banquet was very interesting for ancient people who lacked entertainment, but it was very boring for Yunyi, who had been bombarded with modern entertainment programs.
The dishes on the table were indeed cold and greasy, and Yunyi had no appetite. She endured the entire banquet with forced boredom, just waiting for it to end.
After finally making it to the end of the banquet, there was still an activity arranged by Consort Yi: to go to the entrance of the main hall to watch fireworks together.
Originally, Consort Yi was only there to assist in managing affairs, but she had her own ideas and wanted to show off more in front of Emperor Kangxi. She secretly found fireworks craftsmen and ordered them to make a lot of celebratory fireworks, hoping that Emperor Kangxi and the other women in the harem could see them on the day of the Golden Banquet, so that Consort Yi could also appear capable.
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