In August of the eighth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, the same year Prince Yi was supposed to pass away.
Yinzhen and Qian Shengyan both began to pay attention to Yinxiang's health. At the same time, Qian Shengyan remembered that Yinzhen had also fallen seriously ill that year, and his health had not fully recovered since. It was because of this illness that he began to believe in Taoist priests and used more elixirs.
Thirteen was quite bewildered by the attention from his elder brother and younger sister-in-law. He went back and told his wife, Lady Zhaojia, "The Emperor examines my legs every day and has the imperial physician come to take my pulse daily..."
"His Majesty is just concerned about you, don't be ungrateful." Lady Zhaojia rolled her eyes at him, then asked, "Is Your Majesty really alright? When I went to see the Imperial Noble Consort this time, she also asked about it."
Thirteen smacked his lips. Although it was nice to be remembered like this, he couldn't just keep remembering him without giving him his medicine. It tasted awful!
Yinzhen spent the eighth year of Yongzheng's reign without any major incidents, but he did fall ill when the winter turned cold.
Fortunately, Qian Shengyan was on tenterhooks and noticed something was wrong, so she restrained Yinzhen. He skipped the morning court session, was forced to drink three bowls of bitter medicine and a large pot of ginger soup. Yinzhen was so fed that even the sweetest desserts didn't taste sweet to him.
After a day of rest, he was almost fully recovered. The next day, Qian Shengyan supervised Yinzhen to rest after court, and to hand over all memorials, unless they were important, to the Grand Council. He was also advised to drink more water and sleep more.
After resting for five days, Yinzhen's illness subsided before it even flared up again. He felt so well that he could go out and practice boxing in the dead of winter wearing only a thin shirt. However, Qian Shengyan still wouldn't let him go, keeping an eye on him until he had rested for another two days and was sure there were no problems before allowing him to read a few more memorials.
Yinzhen later told the Thirteenth Prince that he found it funny: "She really is... sigh, I felt better myself, and the imperial physician also said I was better, but she still wouldn't let me get up."
Thirteen only looked at him wistfully: "Your Majesty, am I not the same..."
Yinzhen: ...
Okay, okay.
The Qing Dynasty revised its maritime prohibition policy, intending to open five ports in the east and south; the northern border was stable, and the small southern countries, under the leadership of Annam, submitted to its rule. Tibet was also pacified, and there was no war in the north. The entire Qing Dynasty was disciplined, yet within this discipline, it revealed a vibrant and prosperous spirit.
Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba are now two years old. According to their agreement, they will change their names when they turn one year old. Qian Shengyan originally wanted to give them cute nicknames to call them first, but Yinzhen directly gave them their formal names. The lively and active Xiao Qi is called Hongzhao, and the more composed Xiao Ba is called Honghan.
The two two-year-olds can already run and jump. Xiao Qi started talking early and has a sweet tongue. Qian Shengyan said that this child is somewhat like Fu Erguochun, always making people happy.
Xiao Ba walks steadily, rarely runs or jumps, and can talk, but he speaks very little. It's not like Hong Shan was completely silent when he was a child, but... he's somewhat like the early Yin Zhen, who would rather not speak than speak, and is very taciturn.
The two kids have different personalities, but they like the same thing—they both enjoy fighting with each other.
It seems that from the time they were just a few months old, when they started to fight in their parents' laps, the two children found joy in life and fought almost every day. Usually, the little one would win, and then the little one would burst into tears. The little one would sit next to the little one with a stern face, looking at the little one with furrowed brows, showing great disdain.
If Xiaoqi wins, she will giggle and sway her body towards Xiaoba while laughing, then Xiaoba will unexpectedly slap her, and she will start wailing again...
Qian Shengyan even doubted whether Xiao Qi was not very bright, but the child was really quick-witted, had a sweet tongue, and was very good at reading people's expressions. Even Hongli, who was becoming more and more serious, was coaxed by him to send away many good things.
Empress Fucha also adored the twins. Every time she came to Yongshou Palace to pay her respects, she would bring Yaliqi to play with Xiaoqi and Xiaoba for half a day before going back. Qian Shengyan was also happy to see such a lively scene. She would watch as the three little ones played and then the two children would fight. Yaliqi would watch from the side without any surprise, and sometimes she would even clap and cheer, which she found quite amusing.
In March of the ninth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, the empress's mourning period ended after twenty-seven months, and the mourning period was officially lifted in the palace. The wedding dates of the three princesses were also put on the agenda.
Yinzhen then chose an auspicious day to bestow a marriage upon Ferguchun and Errongan. At this time, Ertai was already the head of the Grand Council, and by associating with the Imperial Noble Consort's faction, he became even more powerful. His mansion was almost overwhelmed by the crowds of people who came to offer their congratulations.
In May of the ninth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, Princess Hehui got married; in June, Duanrou got married; and in August, Minghui got married.
Qian Shengyan saw off the young girls who had grown up one by one. Fortunately, after two years of coordination, Minghui's husband, Jisebutengdorji, has now moved to the capital to reside permanently. Although the three princesses are still married to the Khorchin, they do not need to leave their homes to marry into the grasslands. The princess residences in the capital have also been built together, and daily contact has not been interrupted.
The tenth day of the ninth month is the day of Folgochun's wedding.
Qian Shengyan couldn't sleep the night before and tossed and turned in the middle of the night, waking Yinzhen. He groggily pressed down on her shoulder, his voice hoarse with sleep: "What are you doing?"
"Your Majesty..." Qian Shengyan didn't care whether he was awake or half-asleep, and started chatting with him directly, "Tell me, how did Foerguochun suddenly grow up?"
Yinzhen was a beat slow to reply: "He's nineteen already, it's not sudden."
Qian Shengyan was still very sad: "How about we get married next year?"
Yinzhen: ...
Once Yinzhen was fully awake, he hugged Qian Shengyan with a wry smile: "She's almost twenty years old, we can't keep putting it off any longer."
Previously, it could be said that he was observing mourning for the Empress, but now that half a year of mourning has passed, what are we waiting for?
Even princesses who married late never married past the age of twenty.
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