It was almost the end of the year again, and taking advantage of the opportunity to pay respects to the emperor during the New Year, the Fourth Prince brought Geng Youran into the palace as well.
Upon re-entering this place, Geng Youran's state of mind had undergone several changes.
Initially, this place was a tourist attraction. Later, it became a public place, and then it became the place where Geng Youran was sent to the Fourth Prince's Mansion.
Now, Geng Youran has come here again, and she really doesn't know what kind of fate she has with this place.
Because Geng Youran's rank was Gege, she did not wear formal attire for paying respects.
However, the Fujin still had a set of clothes made for her in advance, and also selected a set of headdresses from her private treasury for her.
"My lady, this is too precious, I cannot accept it."
Ulanara said solemnly:
“You’re coming to the palace with me this time. Although it’s a family banquet, it still represents the face of the royal family. Besides, you used to be the head maid by Father Emperor’s side, so you have to dress properly and not let people gossip about our Fourth Prince’s mansion.”
Upon hearing this, Geng Youran fell silent.
Before dawn, the head maidservant of the Fujin opened the gate to Geng Youran's courtyard.
The maidservant quickly opened the door.
"Sister Cuizhu, what brings you here?!"
"Where is your princess?"
The maidservant quickly responded:
"They're probably still asleep right now."
"Go and wake Xinyi up, and then prepare your mistress's toiletries. Today, Consort Geng will be going to the palace with the Fujin, so we must not neglect our etiquette."
"yes!"
The maidservant hurried off to prepare.
After everything was tidied up, Geng Youran followed the Fujin into the carriage, barely managing to hold back a yawn.
The consort in the main seat wore a dark blue court robe, with fur trim on the collar and cuffs for warmth. She also wore a matching court bead necklace.
Having grown accustomed to seeing the Princess Consort always dressed in ordinary clothes, Geng Youran thought to herself, "She is indeed someone who has seen a lot."
Although Geng Youran had been in the palace before, she was now entering the palace as the Fourth Prince's daughter-in-law, so the Fourth Prince's wife still emphasized the rules to her.
Because the emperor had to attend court first, the Fourth Princess Consort took Geng Youran to Yonghe Palace to pay her respects to Consort De.
"Your son greets Mother, may Mother be blessed!"
"This servant greets Consort De, may Your Highness be blessed."
Geng Youran was just a princess, which, to put it bluntly, was just a concubine of the lowest rank, so she could not refer to herself as "your subject".
"Get up."
Consort De sat on the throne and beckoned to the two children. At this moment, Hongshi was still in swaddling clothes being held by his wet nurse, while Hongyun quickly ran to Consort De, first respectfully paying his respects, and then walking up to Consort De.
Although Consort De did not have much maternal affection for the Fourth Prince, she still loved her grandchildren very much.
There were gifts and snacks being served; it was quite a lively scene.
After the grandmother and grandson had been chatting for a while, Consort De glanced to the side and said:
"Miss Geng has come too?"
When Geng Youran served in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she would occasionally deliver things to Consort De on Emperor Kangxi's orders, so Consort De had some impression of her.
"Your Highness still remembers me."
"I heard that the Fourth Prince dotes on you and even had a small kitchen set up just for you?"
Geng Youran knelt down tremblingly.
"Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince noticed that I don't usually have much contact with my sisters and was worried that a miscarriage would have a negative impact on me. That's why he opened a small kitchen in the courtyard so I could cook something to keep myself entertained."
Consort De waved her hand.
"Get up, you spineless coward. I'm not going to eat you. Speaking of which, it's been quite a while since I've had your cooking."
"If Your Highness doesn't mind, I brought some with me when I went to the palace this time."
Geng Youran had discussed this matter with the Fourth Prince's wife a day in advance. In any case, Consort De was her mother-in-law, so she should at least show some filial piety.
Of course, the Fourth Prince's wife also struggled with this decision.
Now that Consort Tongjia is still alive, as the fourth prince's adoptive mother and a consort, one should logically pay respects to her first.
But fearing that Consort De might object, since she was his birth mother, he went to Yonghe Palace first.
At the same time, a food box containing pea flour cake and plum blossom cake was delivered to Consort Tongjia's palace.
"Your Highness, these are pastries sent by the Fourth Prince's wife. She said that the Fourth Prince specifically instructed that these are your favorites."
Consort Tongjia, who was half-lying on the couch with her eyes closed, slightly opened her eyes, sat up with the help of a palace maid, and smiled gently when she saw the familiar pastries.
"This child is still so thoughtful."
The old nanny beside her smiled. Her mistress had never had any children of her own and had raised the Fourth Prince all along. Although he later returned to Consort De's side, the debt of gratitude for her upbringing still remained, and the Fourth Prince was still very filial to the Noble Consort.
Consort Tongjia knew that on this day, the Fourth Prince's wife would have to go to Consort De's Yonghe Palace first, so she didn't make a big deal out of it.
The nanny was worried that her master was overthinking things, so the master spoke up to comfort her:
"Your Majesty, please do not worry about such a small matter. His Majesty will be leaving court soon, and I presume that the Fourth Prince and his wife will come to pay their respects to you then."
Consort Tongjia picked up a piece of pea flour cake, took a bite, nodded, glanced at the nanny, and said with a smile:
"How could I possibly hold a grudge against that person from Yonghe Palace? Go and find the tea that the Emperor gave me the other day; the Fourth Prince will like it."
"yes."
To say she didn't care would be a lie, but having raised the Fourth Prince for so many years and fought openly and secretly with Consort De for so long, she naturally knew her character well.
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