Chapter 204 204 Longevity Hope
Looking at Yin'e, who was beaming with joy, Kangxi sighed softly, his feelings a complex mix of emotions.
Considering various factors, he was happy to see Yin'e's "disobedience and lack of filial piety." However, Yin'e was not really that filial to his father, so he felt very uncomfortable, as if he didn't want it but couldn't refuse to give it to him.
Yin'e had no idea about the complex feelings of his father, Kangxi. Even if he did, he wouldn't think he was wrong, and would only mutter that Kangxi was really bored.
Besides his beloved crown prince, Emperor Kangxi had so many other children. He hadn't seemed to care much for him before, so why was he feeling conflicted now? Or is it just that people are inherently fickle, always finding it harder to let go of what they can't have?
Without even considering the time it took to guess Kangxi's thoughts, Yin'e received a promise from Kangxi that he would be taken along on a hunting trip to the borderlands two years later. He then took his leave and prepared to leave.
His schedule was really full today. He had to go to the Qianqing Palace to thank Emperor Kangxi, then to the Ningshou Palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, and only then could he enter the Western Six Palaces and go to the Yongshou Palace to see Consort Niohuru.
Emperor Kangxi, that heartless father, only gave his son one day off for his birthday, which was only once a year. He was extremely strict. Yin'e wanted to take advantage of the time to talk more with Consort Niohuru on his birthday.
Sensing Yin'e's eagerness to leave the Qianqing Palace, Kangxi became increasingly frustrated.
He knew that Yin'e was in such a hurry to leave not only because he didn't want to have too much contact or a close relationship with his father, the Khan, but also because he was in a hurry to visit Consort Niohuru.
Yin'e had a deep affection for Consort Niohuru. He was very filial to his mother. He was not cold-hearted or lacked filial piety towards his parents; he was simply not close to Emperor Kangxi.
In other words, the problem lies with Emperor Kangxi as the father, not with Yin'e as the son; otherwise, Yin'e's attitude towards his parents wouldn't be so drastically different.
After receiving Emperor Kangxi's permission, Yin'e walked briskly out of the Qianqing Palace and headed straight for the Ningshou Palace.
After the Empress Dowager moved from Cining Palace to Ningshou Palace, it was closer to the Fifth Prince's residence in the Gan Dong Wu Suo, making it easier for the Fifth Prince to pay his respects after school. However, Ningshou Palace was far from the Gan Xi Wu Suo, making it less convenient for the princes residing there to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.
Fortunately, the Empress Dowager was a kind and gentle old lady, unlike Emperor Kangxi who was fussy and demanding. Apart from the Fifth Prince who was raised by her, the Empress Dowager did not favor any of her grandchildren, but she never neglected or ignored them either. She was not a difficult person to get along with.
He went to the Qianqing Palace and Ningshou Palace to express his gratitude. By the time Yin'e arrived at Yongshou Palace, half of the morning had already passed, and if he delayed any longer, it would be noon.
As Yin'e stepped into the gate of Yongshou Palace and was walking through the courtyard toward the main hall, Consort Niohuru, who was pacing anxiously back and forth inside, came out to greet him, supported by her personal maid: "Yin'e!"
"Mother, I'm back!" Excitedly, Yin'e ran forward quickly, grasped the hand of Consort Niohuru, which was covered in nail guards, and looked up at her with a bright smile.
Consort Niohuru looked Yin'e up and down without missing a beat. Seeing that he was covered in sweat, she quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe him. While leading Yin'e into the house, she said with concern, "Look at you, you're covered in sweat. You must have been walking too fast."
It was now late autumn, and the weather in the capital had turned cold, the sweltering heat of summer long gone. If Yin'e hadn't been rushing all the way to Yongshou Palace, he wouldn't have ended up sweating profusely in the late autumn weather.
"I'm in a hurry to see my mother~" Yin'e said sweet words as he snuggled up to Consort Niohuru and acted coquettishly.
Consort Niohuru gently tapped his forehead with her index finger, her eyes brimming with undisguised affection and joy: "You~"
The mother and son entered the hall hand in hand. Without the Imperial Concubine giving any instructions, Lanzhi and Luyi brought out the longevity noodles.
The porcelain enamel bowl with famille rose and turquoise ground, about the size of an adult's palm, was served. The amount of noodles inside was not much; it was mostly milky white and delicate soup, just enough to support the longevity noodles that were as thin as hair and stretched out in one continuous strand.
The longevity noodles were placed in front of Yin'e. Consort Niohuru gazed at her son with gentle eyes and a tender expression, and said softly, "Yin'e, your mother asks for nothing else but that you grow up safely and peacefully."
She never asked Yin'e to be successful or make progress; she only wished for Yin'e to be safe, healthy, and for everything to go smoothly.
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