Chapter 43 The facts of the New Year's Eve celebrations were indeed as Yinreng had said…
Indeed, as Yinreng said, although the emperor had chosen a day to put down his pen after the middle of December and the court officials had taken a holiday, there was still a lot to do.
First of all, there are the New Year's gifts. In fact, Yinreng had already sent people out of the palace to purchase things last month, including gifts for the New Year, the Lantern Festival, and the Emperor's birthday next year, so as to save trouble by purchasing them all at once.
He usually entrusted the purchasing to the Imperial Household Department, but this year he did not do so, instead instructing Hai Qing, the Minister of the Imperial Guards of the Eastern Palace, to handle the matter.
As for why the imperial guards were instructed to bypass the Imperial Household Department, it all started with the matter of the Imperial Household Department changing its chief minister.
Previously, the head of the Imperial Household Department was Ling Pu, the husband of his wet nurse. After Ling Pu was executed, the position of head of the Imperial Household Department was concurrently held by the Eighth Prince. However, now that he has been made crown prince, the Eighth Prince has stepped down and He Yi has taken over the position.
He Yi was born into a collateral branch of the Hesheli clan.
Hesheli.
Although their kinship was distant, they were still considered distant relatives. However, because he, as the crown prince, had already harmed his maternal great-uncle's family, he did not want to have any further involvement with anyone from the Hesheli clan.
As for Hai Qing, the head of the Eastern Palace guards, he was a close advisor appointed by the Emperor. Before the first deposition, his close associates, such as Haha Zhuzi and his study companions, had either died or scattered. Even now, after being deposed and reinstated, most of the vacant positions of his subordinates remained unfilled. Later, the Emperor appointed Hai Qing, the former first-class guard, as an official in the Eastern Palace, also in charge of the ceremonial guards and the security of the Eastern Palace.
Speaking of Haiqing, that's interesting. He was born into the Daijia clan and was the son of Gallu, the former Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Department. As for Gallu, well, he used to raise Prince Zhi outside the palace.
Previously, when Haiqing served the Crown Prince, Yinreng felt uncomfortable. Why choose someone related to Prince Zhi to be an official in the Crown Prince's palace? But now he understood. It was precisely because of this relationship that Haiqing was more loyal to the Emperor than he was. However, even if Haiqing was a two-faced scoundrel, he would still use him, and use him without any reservations. The more he used Haiqing, the more the Emperor would know and the more at ease he would feel.
Hai Qing has come to report back to him. The various gifts purchased have been sent into the palace after being inspected by the palace guards.
Yinreng quickly glanced at the list of congratulatory gifts presented to him, and after getting a general idea of what was going on, he smiled with satisfaction and said, "Well done."
Hai Qing quickly knelt down and bowed, saying, "This servant thanks Your Majesty for the compliment."
"Hmm." Yinreng nodded and waved to him. After Haiqing left, he instructed Chen He, "Reward him with one hundred taels of silver, and also select two swords from the treasury and send them over."
Yinreng then picked up a pen and wrote down many auspicious items from the purchase list. He also asked someone to bring over the list of New Year's gifts presented by court officials, and wrote down the most valuable ones. After carefully selecting and writing down all the gifts to be presented to the Emperor for the New Year, half a day had passed.
Yinreng stretched his wrists, breathed a sigh of relief, and asked, "How is your Master Cheng doing lately?"
Chen He hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, I heard from Lin Quan'an of the West Courtyard that Consort Cheng has been eating well and sleeping well lately. He also said that Consort Cheng has been leading the palace maids in cutting paper-cuts for the windows these past few days."
Thinking of Cheng Qianyue's happy face, Yinreng felt relieved and stood up from his chair to look in the direction of Xiefang Palace.
After a while, he muttered to himself, "We have to hold an ancestral worship ceremony in two days, and we must observe a vegetarian fast starting tomorrow." Then he ordered, "Send someone to the Crown Princess's residence to inquire. If she hasn't eaten yet, invite her to eat at Yuqing Palace."
The Crown Princess came over in the evening, and the couple sat facing each other. After dinner, they started talking about serious matters.
Speaking of which, the Crown Princess has been quite busy lately. While the Crown Prince manages external affairs, she takes care of the home front. For example, she has to send New Year's gifts to the Empress Dowager, the Imperial Concubine, and others, and then prepare gifts for the imperial relatives and nobles. In addition, there are silver ingots and various jewelry and headdresses to be prepared as gifts for the ladies of the inner court who will attend the grand banquet at the palace during the New Year.
As Yinreng listened to the Crown Princess explain things in an orderly manner, he inwardly praised her. Although her personality didn't align with his, she was very capable in handling matters. He then said, "Your younger brother also serves in the palace. If you wish to see him, I will invite him over."
The Crown Princess was taken aback. Although she was the Crown Princess, the Guarjia family had always been loyal to the Emperor and never formed cliques or engaged in private affairs. Even after the Crown Prince was deposed, their family had never submitted a memorial pleading for his life. The Crown Princess wondered if the Crown Prince was trying to win them over by doing so.
She lowered her eyes and slowly declined, saying, "The Emperor's grace is so great that only members of the Guarjia clan can serve in the palace. If we were to leave our posts without permission, wouldn't we be betraying the Emperor's grace? Besides, the Guarjia clan has a title, and they will definitely have a seat at the annual banquet. There will always be an opportunity to reminisce."
Hearing her say this, Yinreng did not insist, but simply said, "Then let's bestow more gifts."
"Yes," the Crown Princess replied, finally feeling a sense of relief.
——
The most important thing about Chinese New Year is the atmosphere. From before the New Year to the end of the year, Cheng Qianyue's courtyard was always bustling with activity.
Before New Year's Eve, Ruoyun and Lin Quan'an directed people to clean and sweep the palace, hang lanterns on the porch, and paste Spring Festival couplets and door gods on the doors.
Cheng Qianyue listened to their chattering outside while she sat inside filling a basket with silver coins to be given out for the New Year. After Ruoyun and the others finished their work, she led them to cut paper-cuts and make tassels.
Cheng Qianyue's craftsmanship wasn't up to par; she could make simple things, but she couldn't do anything fancy. However, Ruoyun and the others were skillful, especially Ruoxia, whose fingers were so nimble they could create anything. Whether it was cutting paper snowflakes or tying auspicious knots, everything she made was incredibly beautiful.
On New Year's Eve, Cheng Qianyue gave everyone lucky money, including those who served her closely in the small courtyard, as well as the maids and eunuchs who carried out tasks in the outer courtyard. Then, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, everyone came to her small courtyard to pay their respects, lining up one by one to kowtow to her, saying auspicious and wishful words.
Lin Quan'an and Ruoyun took the lead, beaming at her. After bowing, they said loudly, "Wishing the young mistress and the little mistress a year filled with good fortune and happiness."
Cheng Qianyue was amused by these words. She was the young mistress, and the baby in her belly was the little mistress. She was overjoyed and generously distributed money again. Who could blame her when their words were so sweet and congratulated her so perfectly?
The first day of the Lunar New Year is the highlight of the holiday, and the busyness gradually subsides after that day. However, things get busy again on the Lantern Festival (the fifteenth day of the first lunar month), when in addition to eating glutinous rice balls, people hang lanterns all over the courtyard.
Looking at the brightly lit palace lanterns in the room, Cheng Qianyue couldn't help but think of Yinreng. She hadn't seen him for almost a month. Occasionally, when she inquired, Lin Quan'an would say that the Crown Prince was busy—fasting, ancestral worship, and sending off the gods before the New Year; welcoming the gods, paying New Year's respects to the Emperor, and attending various grand banquets afterward. Cheng Qianyue thought it made sense; Yinreng was now the Crown Prince, and whether it was a banquet for civil and military officials or for foreign vassal states like Mongolia, he had to be present.
Of course, Yinreng wasn't always away from home. He returned to Xiefang Palace on New Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival, but only sent someone to inquire about her well-being; he didn't come to the West Courtyard. It's said that he rested after receiving everyone's toasts in the main courtyard. As for Cheng Qianyue, she was pregnant and it was cold outside, so neither the Crown Princess nor Yinreng summoned her to the main courtyard.
Cheng Qianyue could understand why Yinreng had been coming back less often lately. After all, he didn't live in the same place as them. Besides, Yuqing Palace was far from Xiefang Palace, and Yinreng was exhausted after a long day and certainly didn't want to move. It was just that she hadn't seen him for a while while heavily pregnant in the courtyard, so she missed him a little.
Two days later, on the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, Cheng Qianyue finally met Yinreng.
That evening, he came over with his men and immediately lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed). Not wanting to sigh or complain at the start of the new year, she heard Yinreng's shallow, long breaths with his eyes half-closed.
She was originally sitting opposite him, but seeing him like this, she went over to his side to massage his shoulders. As soon as she touched them, Cheng Qianyue realized that his shoulders were incredibly stiff.
"The princes and nobles from all over Mongolia have set off to return home," Yinreng said in a deep voice, letting out a long breath.
Oh my, after being busy for over a month, we can finally have some peace and quiet. Cheng Qianyue said, "That's great!"
Yinreng smiled, took her hand and placed it beside his forehead. Cheng Qianyue dutifully rubbed his temples. After a while, he suddenly straightened up and gently asked her how she had been feeling these past few days, whether she had been eating well and sleeping well.
Cheng Qianyue answered very decisively: "It's all good, it's all good. I just like it lively and bustling."
Yinreng smiled, then lowered his eyes and said, "Liveliness is good, but I'm afraid you might not like some of it."
"What does that mean?" Cheng Qianyue couldn't understand, so she tilted her head and looked at him.
"That's enough." Yinreng touched her face and gently stroked her protruding belly, saying softly, "You just need to know that I treat you differently from others."
Cheng Qianyue was quite certain of this, and said gently, "I know exactly how you treat me."
The next morning, after Yinreng got up, he walked outside and said as he walked, "There are some things you shouldn't let your mistress Cheng know beforehand. Even though it's the end of the year, don't upset her."
Chen He sighed and gave Jing Shun a look, signaling him to remind Lin Quan'an and the others when he had a chance.
At this moment, the Crown Princess in the main courtyard also instructed her subordinates, "His Majesty is kind; please tidy up the house in the next few days."
Granny Shuang agreed and then asked, "Which courtyard should we arrange for the new princess to live in?"
The Crown Princess thought for a moment and said, "Arrange for her to stay in the back courtyard, in the side rooms on either side of Lady Lin." After all, Lady Li was the birth mother of the eldest son of the Crown Prince, so she had to be given some respect. As for Lady Cheng, she was currently pregnant and the Crown Prince had personally instructed her not to be disturbed, so the new princess could only be arranged to live with Lady Lin. However, this was for the best; Lady Lin was gentle and would probably not cause any trouble.
“Yes, then this servant will immediately instruct someone to do so,” said Granny Shuang.
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