"Princess, the Emperor has arrived." Sumalagu saw that Bumbutai had stopped and quickly stepped forward to help her.
"But you've been here for a long time. Why didn't you interrupt me? I don't think the Buddhists will blame me." After all, she prays to Buddha every day, so stopping in the middle wouldn't hurt.
She was a little tired today, so she slept for an extra half hour, which is why she left the Buddha statue a little late.
"I just arrived. Granny He is serving outside, and Consort Borjigit is also here. I originally planned to come and say hello to you before going back, but I happened to run into the Emperor, so I stayed."
Borjigit Consort was also pitiful. Because she was a concubine sent by the Khorchin, the emperor only visited her occasionally and never had any other interaction with her. She never served the emperor in bed. Even when she was persuaded by the Empress Dowager to go to Jingren Palace, she just covered herself with a blanket and slept.
"Guozhen is here too. Hmm, let's go out slowly. I don't know whether it's good or bad to bring Guozhen into the palace."
Bumbutai felt bad seeing the noble lady from Khorchin whom he had brought in being treated so coldly by Emperor Kangxi, but the harem had to have a noble lady from Khorchin, even if she was not favored.
Even though Bumbutai walked slowly, the road was short, and she soon entered the main hall. Kangxi was drinking tea on one side, while the Borjigit concubine, sitting on an embroidered stool below, was playing with her handkerchief out of sheer boredom. She had been left behind by Sumalagu.
"Grandson wishes His Majesty eternal happiness and peace."
"This humble servant, Guozhen, greets the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
"Get up, everyone!" Bumbutai gently helped Kangxi up, and Kangxi helped Bumbutai to sit down to the side.
"Thank you, Empress Dowager." After rising, Consort Borjigit sat back down in her embroidered squatting position, which was actually against the rules, but the grandson above wasn't paying attention to her.
"Why is Xuan Ye here? Is he on official business?"
Bumbutai Xinhui looked at Xuan Ye. Although she often told Kangxi not to come to Cining Palace, she always smiled broadly whenever Kangxi came.
"It's all taken care of. I didn't want to eat at my mother's place, so I came here. I hope my mother wouldn't be reluctant to let her grandson eat here!"
Kangxi spoke in a half-joking, half-coquettish tone, leaving the Borjigit concubine dumbfounded. Was this really the same naked Aisin Gioro Xuan Ye who stood before her? He had so many faces; how hypocritical!
"How could that be? I'll make sure you're well-fed." It was like a scene of maternal love and filial piety, and no one else could get a word in edgewise.
"Then I won't be polite."
Unaware that the Borjigit concubine already perceived him as hypocritical, Emperor Kangxi continued chatting with Bumbutai.
"Sumalagu, tell the kitchen to prepare some dishes that the Emperor likes, so that our Emperor will have a good meal!" Bumbutai turned and instructed Sumalagu.
"Yes, this servant will give the order immediately." Sumalagu bowed and left.
"Your Majesty, it's already May, and I plan to make a trip to Yuquan Mountain." Kangxi put away his jokes and said seriously.
"I have heard that you had Liang Jiugong pack his things early this morning. You came here merely to inform me, is that right or wrong?"
"My father is so wise. There's nothing that can be hidden from him."
Kangxi smiled knowingly. After all, he hadn't deliberately hidden it, otherwise they wouldn't have known. However, he had set the departure time himself.
“Okay, but you can’t go alone without someone to take care of you. How about this, you take Guozhen with you too! At least that way you’ll have someone to look after you.”
Bumbutai wondered if Guozhen and Kangxi would develop feelings for each other if they went to Yuquan Mountain together and spent a month together.
"Grandfather, I'm going on official business. The summer rice will be ready for the autumn harvest soon, and I plan to go and check on the harvest. I'll be back in a month or two at most, so there's no need to take the concubines with me."
Emperor Kangxi was extremely unwilling. It was one thing for him to take other concubines with him, but what was the meaning of taking a noble lady from Khorchin with him?
"Your Majesty, may I go?"
This wasn't what the concubine Borjigit was interested in; she wanted to go out and have fun. After all, she was a skilled horseman on the grasslands. She didn't like Emperor Kangxi; she had entered the palace for the sake of the Khorchin. Now that she heard she could go out and have fun, her wild nature couldn't be suppressed.
"Xuan Ye, take Guo Zhen with you! Firstly, it will put my mind at ease, and secondly, it will broaden Guo Zhen's horizons."
Looking at Guozhen's expectant face, Bumbutai swallowed the words she had just wanted to say to refuse.
"Very well, but I'll bring another concubine along, so she'll have company." Kangxi didn't want to take just one concubine; he wanted to bring one he was satisfied with!
"Xuan Ye wants to bring that one, but there are so many concubines in the harem, it wouldn't be appropriate to bring that one."
After all, if a concubine doesn't have a capable family member or clansman in the court, it's even more difficult for her to maintain her position with those bondservant concubines.
"Let's bring Consort Suo Zhuolun from Yongshou Palace! She can make pastries, and I found them quite delicious." Kangxi looked at a plate of hibiscus pastries on the tea table.
"She's a good person too; the pastries are indeed better than those from the imperial kitchen."
Although Wanyi did not send Bumbutai and the Empress Dowager any prepared pastries, she did send them the recipes for the pastries.
"Emperor Madam has also eaten it, and I think it tastes much better than what's served in the Imperial Kitchen." Kangxi assumed that Wanyi had also sent some to Cining Palace, and he was quite pleased with her.
"I did receive some, but I didn't eat any. Later, Consort Suo Zhuolun sent me the recipe, and Su Mala Gu tried making some. I can only say it was quite good."
Seeing Kangxi's expression, Bumbutai suddenly regretted not trying Wanyi's pastries, but since she didn't particularly like them, she stopped thinking about it.
"Hmm, Liang Jiugong, go to Yongshou Palace and fetch some snacks for the imperial fathers to try as well." Kangxi directly ordered Liang Jiugong to fetch them. He knew that Yongshou Palace always had snacks on hand, since Wanyi loved snacks, especially the good ones. However, what Kangxi didn't know was that Wanyi preferred light snacks. Because the tea service was limited, she could only make do with snacks to satisfy her cravings.
"Yes, sir!" Liang Jiugong replied and quickly left.
"Alas! Actually, it's not necessary. I don't really like these things. Besides, if Consort Suo Zhuolun doesn't have them, wouldn't that be making things difficult for her?"
Bumbutai wasn't showing pity for Wanyi, but rather because if she ate Wanyi's pastries, wouldn't that be elevating her status as a member of the Suozhuolun clan?
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Liang Jiugong will find other excuses to cover it up. No one will know that he went to Yongshou Palace to get some snacks."
Emperor Kangxi also considered Bumbutai's concerns. In the past, when Liang Jiugong went to Yongshou Palace to get snacks, he always found other reasons to do so. Since he didn't go there often, no one knew about it.
"That's good!" Bumbutai was relieved.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
