Chapter 3, Chapter 3: Naming Old Ten's Salty Fish Name
As December arrived, the capital city grew colder day by day.
But no matter how cold the weather outside was, it couldn't freeze the masters inside the palace.
The charcoal fire burned continuously in the warm pavilion of Yongshou Palace, keeping it warm as spring even in the dead of winter. The severe cold outside could not penetrate it at all, nor disturb the little baby living in the warm pavilion.
Putting aside all those miscellaneous concerns, not thinking about how many princes and princesses in the Qing palace died in infancy, and not worrying about the inhumane three-seven-week mourning period they would have to endure after starting their education, Yin E's life as an infant was actually quite happy, and he lived a very comfortable life every day.
Besides eating and sleeping, Yin E spends his days interacting with his mother in this life. When Consort Niohuru comes to visit him, he tries his best to act cute towards her, both to cultivate the bond between mother and son and to show a healthy and lively side to comfort the consort and reassure her not to worry too much.
Perhaps because it was her first time being a mother, the Imperial Concubine had the common problem of new mothers: she was overly concerned about Yin E's condition, constantly worried about Yin E's safety, and even a little too cautious about Yin E's health.
Even though Yin E knew that the palace was not absolutely safe, and that it was not uncommon for princes and princesses to die young in the Qing palace, he still felt that the Consort was being too cautious.
The prince had one wet nurse, eight wet nurses, eight nannies, and several servants for sewing, lighting, washing, and cooking.
After these palace servants were assigned to their shifts, he was always accompanied by at least two wet nurses and four palace maids. There were people looking after him for twelve hours a day, and any abnormalities in his body would be reported to them in time. There was really no need for the Imperial Concubine to personally keep an eye on his body.
However, Yin E later understood why the Imperial Concubine was so wary of the outside world, like a frightened bird, and was extremely concerned about his safety.
Originally, it was rare for high-ranking concubines in the palace to conceive, so it was truly remarkable that the Imperial Concubine had given birth to the imperial heir. Secondly, during her pregnancy, the Imperial Concubine witnessed the early death of the eighth princess born to the Imperial Noble Consort Tong, and she inevitably felt the pain deeply, so she was anxious and restless all day long.
Despite being treated with the utmost care by the Imperial Concubine, who treated him like a fragile treasure, Yin E showed no impatience.
Having had little kinship in his past life, he cherishes his loving and protective mother in this life. He cooperates 100% with the Consort's arrangements, never crying, making a fuss, or causing trouble. He only acts cute and never acts up, so as not to cause any trouble for the Consort and save her a lot of worry. Recently, he has been in a more relaxed mood, and his eyebrows and eyes have become more relaxed, making him look more and more dignified.
On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the imperial kitchen delivered Laba porridge cooked in a large stove to Yongshou Palace.
The Imperial Concubine did not give Yin E any to drink. Instead, she had Lü Yi find a small silver bowl about the size of a palm and had Lan Zhi fill it with just enough to cover the bottom. She showed it to Yin E, let him smell it, and went through the motions, which was considered to be the end of the Laba Festival custom.
To be honest, Yin E thought the Laba porridge sent by the imperial kitchen was quite ordinary. Not only did it look dark yellow, but it also had a musty smell mixed with earthiness, which was obviously made from stale rice that had been sitting for who knows how many years.
Even if Yin E can only drink milk now and is not old enough to eat complementary foods, he still wouldn't be able to drink Laba porridge with such an appearance when he grows up.
As the saying goes, "Once the Laba Festival is over, the New Year is just around the corner."
As the Laba Festival approached, the festive atmosphere in the palace suddenly intensified.
With the New Year fast approaching, Emperor Kangxi naturally returned to the palace to celebrate. Yin E, who was comfortably and contentedly spending his days eating and sleeping in his warm chamber, heard that Emperor Kangxi had already set off from Nanjing to return to the capital with the Crown Prince.
When Emperor Kangxi's imperial carriage passed by Jingling on his way back from Nanjing, he did not rush back to the palace. Instead, he stopped and, together with the Crown Prince, paid tribute to the deceased Empress Renxiao and Empress Xiaozhao.
When the news reached Yongshou Palace, Consort Niohuru was both overjoyed and saddened. For the first time, she shed tears in front of Yin E, startling Yin E, who was being held in the consort's arms. It took him a while to react, and he tried to raise his small hand to wipe away the glistening tears rolling down the consort's face.
"His Majesty still cares about my sister..." The Consort's eyes were slightly red, and tears slid down her cheeks, wetting her fair and jade-like face.
Seemingly not wanting to lose her composure, the Imperial Concubine turned her head away to cover her tearful face. Only her thin shoulders trembled slightly, and a few faint sighs, tinged with sobs, could be heard.
Consort Niohuru and Empress Xiaozhao were sisters born of the same mother, and the two sisters had an extremely deep and intimate relationship.
The Emperor personally offered sacrifices at Jingling Mausoleum, and the Consort was happy that the Emperor still remembered her sister.
But the Imperial Concubine also knew rationally that her sister was actually benefiting from the Emperor's and the Crown Prince's presence at the memorial service for the two Empresses.
Empress Renxiao was the emperor's childhood sweetheart and first wife. As the first empress, she was also cared for by her son, the crown prince, and there was never a time when she was not honored with sacrifices.
But her sister was only the empress consort, and her reign lasted only half a year. Her sister did not leave any children. In a few years, when the emperor's feelings for her sister faded, who would remember her sister, Empress Xiaozhao?
Gently grasping Yin E's hand, which was trying to wipe away her tears, and tucking it back into the swaddling clothes, the Consort embraced Yin E's warm little body with her left hand and gently pinched his rosy and delicate little face with her right: "Fortunately, Heaven bestowed you upon me."
Seeing Yin E's bewildered expression, the Imperial Concubine seemed lost in thought for a long while before sighing sadly, "When you grow up, remember to visit your aunt's grave every year. Your aunt can only rely on you."
It wasn't that the Consort hoped Yin E would amount to anything or achieve anything great in the future; she simply hoped that Yin E could grow up safely. She was merely being reminded of the past, wishing that in the future, someone would share her concern for her elder sister, Empress Xiaoren.
The Imperial Concubine knew her own situation. Neither her sister nor she could rely on the Niohuru family. Her father, Ebilun, had passed away when she was twelve, and her mother, Shushu Gioro, was only a secondary consort who died even earlier than her father. She and her sister had long since lost their parents to rely on.
Although her brother Faka inherited the title after her father's death, Aling'a, the son of the second wife, always harbored resentment towards this. However, he remained silent and did not compete with Faka for the title of Duke Guoyi and the position of head of the Niohuru clan, only because he was wary of his sister and her high positions in the palace.
Although Aling'a did not inherit the title, he still gained the support of some clan elders as the eldest son. Three years ago, when the Imperial Concubine entered the palace, Aling'a had proposed that his elder sister enter the palace, but it did not come to fruition. In the end, the clan elders chose the Imperial Concubine, the younger sister of Empress Xiaoren, to enter the palace.
One of the reasons the Imperial Concubine entered the palace was to protect her brothers. Once Faka was taken away by Alingala, the future of her mother, Consort Shushu Jueluo, and her entire lineage would be shrouded in gloom.
Yin E was naturally unaware of the Consort's worries. He simply reached out his little hand, grasped the Consort's index finger, and gently shook it. He opened his large, bright eyes and looked at the Consort earnestly, babbling a few words in response to her earlier words: "Don't worry, when I grow up, I will not only remember to pay respects to my aunt, but I will also become the Consort's support."
He will definitely not let the Imperial Concubine die young like she did in history!
Consort Niohuru was concerned about Yin E's health and worried about his well-being, and Yin E was in the same boat.
In his previous life, he had few relatives and grew up without parents. In this life, he has a mother who loves him wholeheartedly and is even more unwilling to lose her. He does not want to lose his mother at a young age like Yin'e in history. He hopes that the Consort will be healthy and can accompany him for a long time.
As the baby's soft little hand gently shook her fingers, and she felt the strength coming from her fingertips, the Imperial Concubine couldn't help but laugh through her tears: "You seem to understand what I'm saying."
Jingling was not far from Beijing. Just a few days after the Laba Festival, Kangxi returned to the palace with the Crown Prince.
After returning to the palace, Kangxi first went to Cining Palace to pay his respects to the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. The next day, he also comforted Consort Tong, who had been bedridden for several months due to the loss of her daughter.
Immediately afterwards, Kangxi had no time to attend to the inner palace and became busy with many matters for the New Year.
Although Emperor Kangxi did not visit Yongshou Palace after returning to the palace, Liang Jiugong, the chief eunuch of Qianqing Palace, personally delivered an imperial edict written by Emperor Kangxi.
Nearly two months after his birth, Yin E was finally given a name: Emperor Kangxi personally circled the character "礻我" (Yin Wo), and according to the generational naming system established in the twentieth year of Kangxi's reign, his name in this life was Yin Wo.
Although Emperor Kangxi only took the time to bestow a name upon the prince born this year, Yin E was still very happy. Having a name meant having an identity, and it also meant that he had truly taken root in this era and in this world.
Not only was Yin E happy, but the Imperial Concubine was even happier, beaming with joy as she hugged Yin E and gently teased him, "Yin E, Mother's Yin E..."
Yin E grasped the Consort's slender jade fingers with his little hand, babbled twice in his childish voice, and a bright smile bloomed on his fair face: From now on, there will be no more Yin E, only Aisin Gioro Yin'e, the son of Consort Niohuru.
A note from the author:
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