"Well then, I'll favor Yan Yan today," Yinzhen said casually.
Qian Shengyan raised an eyebrow: "What about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, let's go to Consort Qian's place," Yinzhen said with a smile.
Qian Shengyan: ...
"As for the day after tomorrow, Niohuru, who lives in the courtyard, is quite to my liking, so let's go to her place."
Qian Shengyan: ...
"After that, it's time to visit Hongli's mother and Fuerguochun's mother... After that, it'll be your turn again, Yanyan," Yinzhen said with a slight smile.
Qian Shengyan: ...
Good grief, are you trying to play shadow clones with her here?
She gave a disgruntled "humph," and waved her slender fingers in front of Yinzhen: "At this rate, Your Highness can only come to my place once every five or six days. Your Highness must spend some quality time with me!"
Yinzhen grasped her fingers and chuckled softly, "Alright, I'll keep you company today~"
Qian Shengyan glared at him, but before she could say anything, her waist was suddenly grabbed. The next moment, the bed curtains fell, and a woman's exclamation and coquettish reproach came...
Before they knew it, the Golden Festival had passed, and it was the end of the year again. The 55th year of Kangxi's reign was drawing to a close. On New Year's Eve of that year, the 13th Prince Yinxiang was finally able to enter the palace for a banquet after many years. The 13th Lady Zhaojia, since there was no mother concubine to see in the harem, discussed with Yinxiang and waited for Yinzhen and his entourage not far from the Yongqin Prince's Mansion to enter the palace together.
The women who entered the palace this time were still from the Ulanara clan and Qian Shengyan. As for the Nian clan, well, it was said to be that she was pregnant again.
Yinzhen rode a horse, with twelve-year-old Hongshi following behind on horseback. Ulanara's carriage was at the front, while Hongli and Hongzhou rode in a separate carriage. Qian Shengyan was with her daughter, Fuerguochun.
Upon seeing Yinxiang riding on horseback, Yinzhen waved slightly, and the caravan stopped. Yinxiang dismounted and came over to greet him, saying, "Greetings, Prince Yong."
“We are brothers, there’s no need for such formalities.” Yinzhen dismounted and helped Yinxiang up, and Hongshi also dismounted to greet Yinxiang.
“Is this Hongshi? He’s really grown up.” Yinxiang said with a smile, then said to Yinzhen, “Fourth Brother, let Zhaojia go with Fourth Sister-in-law today.”
"Alright, don't worry. Where's Hongchang?" Yinzhen asked, looking at Yinxiang.
Yinxiang smiled awkwardly: "This time, only my younger brother and Lady Zhaojia are coming to the palace..." He didn't dare bring any of the children. Firstly, he was still unsure of Kangxi's attitude towards him, and secondly, there was nowhere to go in the harem, but the children were too young and might cause trouble.
Yinzhen couldn't help but sigh again: "You used to..." Before he could finish speaking, he patted Yinxiang's shoulder again, "Let's go together."
Yinxiang cupped his hands in response, watched Yinzhen mount his horse, and then mounted his own horse and followed.
The two prefectural caravans were combined into one. Qian Shengyan nodded after Qingxue told her about this, and couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Yinxiang.
He was once a favorite son of Emperor Kangxi, a spirited young man who had led troops and was a rough and careless prince. Now, however, he has learned to be cautious and meticulous, considering all aspects.
Due to the circumstances, Emperor Kangxi was indeed not qualified to be a father.
Qian Shengyan sighed and then asked Qingxue, "After we get off the train, call Hongzhou over."
Qingxue replied, "Don't worry, Master, everything is ready."
Hongshi and Hongli were to accompany Yinzhen to the front to pay New Year's respects to Emperor Kangxi. As the Fujin (consort of the emperor), Ulanara had many social obligations, so the two children were mainly cared for by Qian Shengyan.
She sighed inwardly, thankful that there were only a few children; otherwise, she really wouldn't be able to take care of them all.
However, Yinzhen doesn't seem to care much about having children. It seems that having three sons is enough. Perhaps he was heartbroken by Kangxi's attitude and felt that having too many children was not a good thing.
Qian Shengyan recalled that Yinzhen once casually mentioned that "the eldest son and the eldest daughter are only good in the eyes of the world, but they are not necessarily good in the true sense." He probably learned this lesson from his eldest and second eldest brothers.
Emperor Kangxi was probably a good emperor and a good monarch, but he certainly wasn't a good father...
Along the long palace road and through the winding corridors, Qian Shengyan, accompanied by Fuerguochun and Hongzhou, and with Qingxue by her side, walked step by step into Yonghe Palace.
Time flies. In the winter of the fifty-sixth year of Kangxi's reign, the Empress Dowager fell seriously ill. Kangxi was anxious day and night, which caused him to suffer from dizziness and foot pain, making it difficult for him to move. On the fourth day of the twelfth month, the Empress Dowager's condition worsened. Kangxi wrapped his feet in a handkerchief and rode in a soft palanquin to the Ning Shou Palace to attend to her. The princes also entered the palace to pay their respects as usual. On the evening of the sixth day of the twelfth month, the palace bell tolled, and the Empress Dowager passed away at the age of 77.
Qian Shengyan leaned on the threshold, counting the palace's death knells, turned back and sighed, saying to Qingxue, "Change everything prepared in the mansion and garden."
Qingxue replied that the Empress Dowager's health had been poor this year, and she was also quite old. All the residences had made preparations, so white banners were hung on the gates and servants changed their clothes. Soon, the entire Prince Yong's residence was transformed into a sea of white.
Qian Shengyan changed the children's clothes and slowly explained to them what birth, aging, sickness and death were, and that the old lady they had only met a few times had passed away.
Four-year-old Foerguchun was still somewhat bewildered, but six-year-old Hongli already understood quite well. He grasped Qian Shengyan's hand in return, pursing his lips: "Mother..."
"Don't be afraid." Qian Shengyan touched his face and whispered in his ear, "Mother will stay with Hongli for a very, very long time."
Hongli pursed his lips and nodded.
That evening, Yinzhen had Hongli sent to the palace. Because of the Empress Dowager's death, Emperor Kangxi was overwhelmed with grief and was also ill. For some reason, he suddenly thought of his grandson Hongli and wanted to see him.
Who knew that Hongli would stay in the palace until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month?
Qian Shengyan only met Hongli a few times when she went to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. She only knew that Hongli spent most of his time by Kangxi's side, standing with Hongli's twenty-first uncle, who was Kangxi's twenty-first son, Yinxi.
Qian Shengyan missed her son, but she dared not speak freely in the palace. She could only glance at him a few more times. Fortunately, Yinzhen was still able to contact his son and told Qian Shengyan about Hongli's situation several times, which made Qian Shengyan feel a little relieved.
Qian Shengyan still felt that Yinzhen had exaggerated a bit. According to him, Yinxi was only called to accompany the emperor because he was about the same age as Hongli. If he and Hongli hadn't been the closest in age, Kangxi might not have remembered him.
This must be the father trying to glorify his son! Right?
Fortunately, on the night of the Lantern Festival, Yinzhen returned to the mansion with Hongli. Qian Shengyan held her son, whom she hadn't seen for a month, and noticed how thin he looked.
During the month he spent accompanying the emperor, Hongli seemed to have matured quite a bit. He patted Qian Shengyan's arm and whispered about the various things happening in the palace.
After that day, Hongli accompanied Yinzhen to the palace every few days to attend to Kangxi during his illness. However, Kangxi's foot pain persisted until April, when the coffin of Empress Xiaohui was to be placed in the underground palace. Since Emperor Kangxi was unable to walk, he planned to send a prince to read the sacrificial proclamation on his behalf.
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