Chapter 149 Adolescence Cheng Qianyue recently felt that Hongyan was acting a little strange...
Cheng Qianyue recently sensed that something was off with Hongyan, because he hadn't come to Yongshou Palace to pay his respects for almost half a month. In recent years, Hongyan's main task had remained studying. Although he had moved from Xiefang Hall to Qiandong Fifth Palace, he would still come over every few days to chat with her.
Cheng Qianyue was a little puzzled. Although Hongchao had come to tell her a few days ago that Hongyan was busy with his studies, she hadn't seen him for almost half a month, and she was quite worried about him. She also suspected that the boy might have encountered some trouble outside. She thought about calling Hongyan over to ask him, but then felt that it might be making a fuss. Besides, if Hongyan was really hiding something from her, it wouldn't be appropriate to ask him directly. So when Hongchao came to pay his respects again, Cheng Qianyue asked him about it first.
"How have you been doing with your studies in the Imperial Study these past few days?" Cheng Qianyue asked Hongchao.
Hongchao has always had a smiling face since he was a child. Even when he does nothing, he always has a gentle expression. When he heard Cheng Qianyue ask about it, the corners of his mouth turned up even more. "Mother, don't worry, everything is fine in the Imperial Study." In previous years, he was the king of the kids in the Imperial Study. Now he is even more so, so there has never been a bad time for him.
Cheng Qianyue nodded in relief after hearing his words, and then said, "Is your third brother doing well? I haven't seen him for a long time."
Hongchao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he replied with a hint of schadenfreude in his smile, "It's good in some ways and bad in others. Mother, why don't you call Third Brother over and ask him? You'll know everything once you see him."
Cheng Qianyue was completely confused, wondering what kind of answer this was, that it was both good and bad. She asked suspiciously, "What's wrong? Did something really happen to your third brother?"
Hongchao remained silent, only saying, "I promised my third brother that if Mother asks, I will say that everything is fine."
Cheng Qianyue couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. "In my opinion, you've essentially sold out your third brother halfway through!" But after Hongchao said that, she also became suspicious. What exactly happened? It was truly agonizing. After thinking for less than three seconds, she made a decision: "Then let's call your third prince over." If she couldn't find out indirectly, she might as well ask him face to face.
"Okay, I'll go call him right now." Hong Chao immediately perked up, eager to see a good show, and ran out happily.
Before an incense stick could burn for a while, Hongyan came in from outside. Cheng Qianyue's first reaction upon seeing him was that Hongyan had grown up. Although she always said he had grown up, he still looked like a child. But now he already looked like an adult; he had really grown up quickly. As she was thinking this to herself, she heard Hongyan bow and say, "Your son greets Mother."
Cheng Qianyue: Oh dear, Hongyan's voice has turned into a hoarse croak. Looking at Hongchao next to her, he was already chuckling when he heard his brother's voice. Cheng Qianyue realized, Hongyan is entering puberty, which is why he feels a little "ashamed to be seen in public"?
Cheng Qianyue tried her best not to laugh out loud, and gently called Hongyan over, "It's been a while since I've seen you, and I miss you a little."
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Hongyan's face as he replied in his hoarse voice, "I'm sorry to have worried Mother, but it's nothing really." It's just that one day he woke up and his voice was gone, and ever since then he felt different. But he couldn't talk about this change with anyone, and he especially didn't want to speak with that voice, so these past few days he'd avoided everyone and kept quiet as much as possible. Fortunately, the people serving him were very perceptive; even if he didn't want to talk, they could guess what he wanted to do just by raising a hand or coughing.
Cheng Qianyue said to Hongyan, "I thought you had run into trouble outside. It turns out you've grown up and become a little adult." She reached out and patted his shoulder. "That's a good thing. Everyone has been your age. There's nothing to be ashamed of." She glanced at Hongchao, who was secretly amused, and said, "You'll be like this when you're your brother's age. Let's see if he laughs at you then."
Upon hearing this, Hongchao quickly stood up straight, looking like a well-behaved child.
Hongyan glared at his mischievous younger brother, who seemed to thrive on chaos, and said in a hoarse voice, "I'll teach you to laugh. I've been keeping track of what happened these past few days." Lately, Hongchao had been enjoying watching him pretend to be mute. He would laugh whenever he heard him speak, but after laughing, he would bring him some tea to soothe his throat. It was both infuriating and amusing.
Hongchao quickly said, "Brother, I didn't tell Mother what happened."
Hongyan rolled his eyes at him. "Well, it's the same whether you say it or not." He knew his younger brother well; Hongchao just needed to be taught a lesson.
Cheng Qianyue uttered a sound, interrupting the brothers' conversation, and said to Hongyan, "Your mother has a few words to tell you." She paused and said, "Twelve or thirteen years old is a time of change. You will definitely find that you have grown up, changed, and may even pay attention to other things, but this is all normal."
These words struck a chord with Hongyan, who unconsciously touched his nose.
Cheng Qianyue continued, "However, everything has its limits." She put on a stern face and said seriously, "There is one thing that Mother will absolutely not allow, and that is not to bully the little palace maids." After thinking for a moment, she added, "And not to bully the little eunuchs either." She stretched out her hand and repeatedly warned him, "If I find out, and your father finds out, you, Qing, can expect to be punished and scolded."
"Mother!" At first, Hongyan didn't think much of it, but after hearing this, her face turned red instantly, and she whispered a promise: "I didn't."
Cheng Qianyue hummed in agreement. "Alright, alright, I believe you won't do such a thing." She wanted to set a bottom line for him. Seeing that it was getting late, she immediately said, "Stay for dinner tonight. Mother, please have someone prepare some light dishes, otherwise strong flavors will hurt your throat."
When the evening meal was served, a row of steamed and stewed dishes were placed in front of Hongyan.
Upon seeing this on the table, Wu Linzhu asked softly, "What's wrong with Third Brother?" Usually, when Hongyan came over, the meals laid out in front of him were not as bland and watery as they were now.
Hongyan was no longer as shy as when she first arrived, and replied, "Elder sister, it's nothing."
"Nothing much, yet your voice is hoarse. Is it from reading too much?" Wu Linzhu was about to mention that she had some throat lozenges when Cheng Qianyue said, "He's just getting old and his voice has changed." Wu Linzhu immediately understood and then smiled, "Third brother has grown up. In two more years, he'll be able to share the burdens of Father Emperor."
Cheng Qianyue said, "It's still a long way off. Let's talk about it when he marries his wife." But that would have to wait until Hongyan is sixteen. Although people in ancient times married young, the youngest age she could accept for marriage was sixteen.
After dinner, before Hongyan left, she called him aside and reiterated: "Your most important thing right now is to study and practice martial arts. As for matters of love and relationships, it's too early now. You'll know everything in four or five years when you have a wife."
Hongyan: ...He really, really didn't think that much about it, really!
After the meal, the children had all left, and Cheng Qianyue sat by the couch, pondering how to treat Hongyan from now on. Did teenagers need guidance and respect? She thought she, as his mother, needed to change her approach. Soon, Cheng Qianyue made her decision: from now on, Hongyan would be completely in charge of his own territory. Before, when Hongyan lived in the Fifth Palace in the East, she had been somewhat worried and would frequently summon Jiang Zhong, Hongyan's chief eunuch, to question him. But now, doing so was inappropriate. After all, the child was older and had a sense of independence; for a mother to be too controlling would be interference.
So afterwards she told Hongyan that he could make the decisions, and she would not ask or inquire about matters concerning his residence unless he took the initiative to speak to her if he was unsure about something.
Hongyan seemed to accept these changes well. He didn't mind that his voice was hoarse. He spoke and acted as usual, and his manner of giving orders was more composed.
This put Cheng Qianyue at ease. However, her relief was short-lived, as the child was about to embark on a long journey. To be precise, all the princes, including their father, were to go on a long journey. Yinreng issued an edict stating that he would be taking the princes from the palace on a trip to offer sacrifices at Mount Tai.
Offering sacrifices at Mount Tai was something that emperors would do. Emperor Kangxi did it many times during his reign, for example, when he passed by Mount Tai during his southern tour and offered sacrifices at the Dai Temple.
Soon, Cheng Qianyue understood why Yinreng wanted to go to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices. Firstly, the frequent funerals in the palace in recent years were considered unlucky; secondly, offering sacrifices at Mount Tai could also pray for the new emperor's reign and demonstrate his power. However, matters outside were not her concern, so Cheng Qianyue prepared things for their journey. After all, how could they travel far without bringing anything?
After preparing two or three boxes, Yinreng summoned her to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. When she arrived, he said, "This is the first time I have traveled far since I ascended the throne, and it is also the first time I have been so far away from you."
Cheng Qianyue said, "I know, but the Forbidden City can't be without people. Don't worry, I'll wait here for you and the children to come back." There are so many people and so many things to do in the palace, including the imperial concubines of the Eastern Six Palaces, the concubines of the Western Six Palaces, and the princesses. She wouldn't feel at ease leaving all of that behind to go with Yinreng to offer sacrifices at Mount Tai.
Yinreng said, "I just can't bear to part with it."
Cheng Qianyue felt there was nothing to be reluctant about; it wasn't like she wasn't coming back, it would only be a month or two. Besides, there's a saying that goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and being together all the time gets boring! She said, "If you miss me, you can write to me." She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then added, "I've heard that the stones on Mount Tai have spirits. If you see any good ones on the mountain, you can bring them back so I can enshrine them to ward off evil."
Yinreng nodded and said okay. After a while, he added, "I've also thought of a way to ease my longing." He clapped his hands, and Jingshun immediately came over, carrying a box and bowing his head. Cheng Qianyue looked at it in confusion, wondering what the box was for. Was it empty, just waiting for her to put her personal belongings inside so Yinreng could take it away?
Cheng Qianyue suddenly recalled a scene from an ancient costume drama, where a lock of hair was used to express feelings. Was she supposed to cut off a small strand of hair and put it inside? But she banished the thought from her mind in less than a second. Cutting one's hair was a major taboo for Manchus; if she really did that, Yinreng probably wouldn't think she was being tender, but rather that she was crazy.
Under Cheng Qianyue's questioning gaze, Yinreng opened the box. It wasn't empty as Cheng Qianyue had guessed; instead, it contained a pair of phoenix hairpins.
Cheng Qianyue was even more confused: You want to ease my longing, but you're sending me gifts? Have you got it backwards? But Yinreng quickly cleared things up for her, ordering someone to redo her makeup.
“I have ordered a painter to paint your portrait, so I can take it with me wherever I go and look at it whenever I miss you,” he said.
Oh, I see. That's a good option.
Cheng Qianyue smiled immediately, but her smile slowly disappeared when she saw the phoenix hairpin for real.
Because this pair of phoenix hairpins has seven tails, and if she's not mistaken, the inlaid items on them should be pearls from the East.
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Author's Note: Update! Local writing is finished~ Time for a short break before I start brainstorming for the next book, hahaha!
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