Chapter 119 Departure for the Capital The article that Yinreng had just submitted was immediately...
The article that Yinreng had just submitted was immediately put on display and publicized by the Emperor. Within a few days, his writings had spread widely, even including details of his recent care for the Emperor during his illness, praising his filial piety as a model for all, and explaining that his confinement at the separate residence was due to the exhaustion from caring for the Emperor. Yinreng's reputation soared to unprecedented heights.
When Yinreng heard the rumors, he was initially relieved, but then became restless. However, since the matter had already occurred, there was nothing he could do; after all, people's mouths were their own, and he couldn't sew them shut. Fortunately, a few days later, the Emperor announced that he would soon depart for the capital.
"It's good to be back in the capital. Let's get away from this troublesome place as soon as possible," Yinreng thought to himself. After a while, he decided to go and tell Cheng Qianyue the news.
Cheng Qianyue was immediately excited when she heard she was going back. Oh my goodness, traveling in ancient times is so time-consuming and exhausting! And she'd been away for almost two months; she missed the children. But then she exclaimed, "Oh no! I forgot to buy them souvenirs!"
Souvenirs? Yinreng didn't react for a moment.
Cheng Qianyue lightly spat and said, "It's a gift. I promised Moyaqi and the others that I would bring them something." She was a little anxious. There are always differences between the North and the South, and their aesthetics are different too. She had originally planned to buy some southern items here to take back for the children to see and enjoy, but she had been too busy these past few days to get around to it. Now that the Emperor was about to return to the capital, was it too late for her to send someone to buy them? She looked up and hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, when will the Emperor depart?"
Seeing her frustrated expression, Yinreng felt a pang of sympathy. Since arriving in Jiangning, she hadn't left the house or seen anyone. He had initially intended to have someone arrange it, but remembering her fondness for lively shopping trips, he softly said, "Leaving in three days is fine." He paused, then continued, "I've noticed that the attire of women in Jiangnan is quite different from that in the capital. If you like, I'll have someone make you some Han Chinese clothes, okay?"
"Making clothes is too much trouble, three days definitely won't be enough," Cheng Qianyue quickly refused. Unexpectedly, Yinreng smiled and said, "Of course, we won't have the embroiderers here make clothes for you right now, but rather we'll bring you to the capital as well."
Cheng Qianyue murmured, "Isn't this a bad idea? Who would willingly leave their hometown?"
Yinreng stroked her hair and said, "Where there's a will, there's a way. Besides, you're the master; plenty of people want to serve you. It's decided then." He made the final decision and looked at Chen He, saying, "Send word to select two skilled embroiderers who are willing to go to the capital to serve you, and take their entire families with them. When we get back, register them under the name of the East Palace's needlework department."
Hearing him say that, Cheng Qianyue thought it was alright? At least it didn't separate the embroiderer from her family; it was essentially a family relocation. She then began to look forward to the new clothes, because the styles of clothing worn by the girls here were indeed beautiful, different from the Manchu-style dresses in the capital!
Cheng Qianyue went shopping for the next two days.
If you ask what the happiest thing in the world is, it's definitely shopping! And she doesn't have to worry about decision paralysis because she's not spending her own money. Yinreng has given the order that the money for her purchases shouldn't come from her private funds, but should all be recorded in his account. Oh yeah, that's fantastic! So, whatever the servants bring in a catalog, whether it's jewelry, ornaments, or stationery, if she likes it, she buys it without even comparing prices.
After buying most of the souvenirs and packing everything, it was time to set off. Cheng Qianyue, beaming with joy, headed north along the river in a grand display, laden with her abundant spoils.
As Yinreng said, the journey there was slow, but the return trip was quick. Because the Emperor no longer needed to spend time inspecting the waterways and summoning officials for questioning as he had on the way there, there was no more delay, only the journey itself, so how could they not travel fast? Therefore, in less than a month, the group returned to the capital. However, the Emperor didn't return to the Forbidden City, but went directly to Changchun Garden. Cheng Qianyue understood this; they had gone south at the end of March, and wouldn't be returning until the end of June. What if they suffered heatstroke in such hot weather? So, it was a good opportunity to escape the heat in the garden. But, the child is still in the Forbidden City!
Yinreng had just returned from Changchun Garden when he heard Cheng Qianyue ask when they would bring the children over. He replied, "Tomorrow or the day after. I reckon the Emperor will also be bringing people from the palace. We'll just follow suit."
Cheng Qianyue nodded, but after a while she asked again, "Are you only bringing the children over?"
Yinreng smiled and said, "Are you jealous?"
Cheng Qianyue: ......
She was speechless: "What kind of jealousy am I getting?" From the moment Yinreng left until his return, he was either with the Emperor or with her, so what could she possibly be jealous of? Besides, who else could he be picking up from the palace? The Crown Princess, the eldest princess, the two princes Hongxi and Hongjin, and her three children—she could name them all without even thinking.
Yinreng grunted, looking completely unconvinced: "Just pick up whoever was originally in the garden. You can rest assured now."
Cheng Qianyue sighed helplessly and said, "Your Majesty, I'm really not jealous. I'm asking this because I want to ask for your favor." Yinreng nodded, signaling her to continue. Cheng Qianyue then said, "Actually, I just wanted to ask you if it would be possible to bring Consort Fan over this time as well."
Previously, she didn't speak up for three reasons: first, her relationship with Madam Fan wasn't close enough; second, she was afraid Madam Fan would think she was trying to win her over; and third, the Crown Princess was in charge of these household affairs, and it would seem presumptuous for her to speak up.
But now she doesn't think that way anymore. Because Madam Fan helped her, she feels guilty if she doesn't think of Madam Fan in a way.
Yinreng was surprised that she would make such a request, and said with a hint of confusion and displeasure, "You really aren't jealous?"
Cheng Qianyue explained to him, "Before heading south, I thought it wouldn't be good for Moyaqi to live alone in the courtyard, so I asked Madam Fan to look after her. I was planning to thank her in person when we got back, but we didn't go back to the Forbidden City and ended up in the garden, and we don't know when we'll be able to go back. It's not easy to thank her or reward her, so I was thinking of bringing her along. Besides, Moyaqi might get tired of her after spending so much time with her."
After a while, she noticed the somewhat dejected look on Yinreng's face and seemed to understand. She took his hand and said, "Your Highness, it's not that I'm not jealous, but I know how you treat me."
She genuinely felt that Yinreng was treating her better and better. He had always been tolerant of her, and now he seemed to be intentionally indulging her temper. So as long as he treated her as before, she had nothing to worry about. Besides, no matter what happened, he was still the father of her children. Children were an unbreakable bond between husband and wife.
Yinreng was initially a little unhappy, but after hearing Cheng Qianyue's words, all his slight sourness and bitterness vanished. He smiled gently, thinking that it was good that she knew how he treated her.
With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?
Yinreng then said, "Then let's bring Lady Fan over. If she takes good care of Moyaqi, I will reward her as well."
Two days later, the children were brought over. Cheng Qianyue missed them terribly. As soon as they came in from outside, she hurriedly called them to her side and touched their faces and shoulders one by one.
Unexpectedly, Hongyan had become shy. When she reached out to touch his cheek, he dodged and blushed, saying, "Mother, I'm all grown up now, I'm not a child anymore."
Cheng Qianyue sighed inwardly that the child was no longer the same as before, rushing into her arms. She said, "Mother hasn't seen you in a long time, and I've missed you." However, she didn't touch his face again, but instead gently squeezed his shoulders and arms, observing whether he had gained or lost weight since she left. Upon touching him, she thought, "Hmm, it seems he's gotten to know me better."
Then she let go of Hongyan and started pinching Hongchao. Just like his brother, the boy smiled and said that he was also very strong. Finally, Cheng Qianyue opened her arms and asked Moya curiously, "Quickly let your mother hug you. Neither of your brothers will let their mother hug them."
Moyaqi ran over in a few steps and jumped into her arms with a grin.
As soon as her sweet and soft daughter was in her arms, Cheng Qianyue felt at ease. Then she asked someone to bring over the things she had bought in Jiangnan. When the two large boxes were brought over, she picked and chose items from them and stuffed them into their arms one by one.
Cheng Qianyue first opened the left box, taking things out as she spoke: "This box mostly contains the Four Treasures of the Study, such as writing brushes from Huzhou, ink from Huizhou, inkstones carved with the Four Gentlemen, and bookmarks with landscape paintings. There are also local oil-paper umbrellas, folding fans, sachets, and the like."
After the items in this box were almost completely divided, she opened another box and said, "This box is mostly jewelry and ornaments." She looked at Moyaqi and smiled, "Many of these were specially bought for you; they're all things that young girls in Jiangnan are currently wearing."
She always bought things in sets, except for jewelry which Hongyan and Hongchao didn't get any of; she gave each of the three children one of everything else.
As Cheng Qianyue was sorting things out, she opened another box and suddenly exclaimed, "This one must have been put in the wrong place." Inside the box was a flat piece of gold-inlaid jade beads, which was used for tying up hair buns.
From the moment she opened the box, Moyaqi exclaimed, "Wow, Mother, it's so beautiful!"
Cheng Qianyue smiled and said, "Isn't it beautiful? But it's not for you, it's for your mother, Fan." She had also prepared a thank-you gift for Fan, and perhaps the servants had put it in the wrong place when they were packing it up.
Moyaqi said "Oh" and "Fan Eniang didn't come."
Huh? Cheng Qianyue was a little surprised. Didn't the Fan family come? Why?
Moyaqi said worriedly, "Fan Eniang is sick and needs to recuperate, so she couldn't come. Fan Eniang asked me to give her regards to Eniang."
Is that so? That's really the worst time to fall ill; you could have been relaxing in the garden.
Cheng Qianyue sighed and said, "It's such a pity." She then looked up at the children and saw that they were carrying things in their arms like human bundles, so she laughed and said, "Alright, take your things back."
After the child left, Cheng Qianyue instructed Lin Quan'an to return to the Forbidden City the next day and take back the things given to Madam Fan. She added, "Tell Madam Fan to take good care of herself and that I will invite her to speak in the West Front Courtyard when I return."
Lin Quan'an immediately knelt down and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, this servant obeys."
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