A few days later, the imperial ship docked at Zhenjiang Wharf. As Kangxi looked at the scenery outside the window, the pressure in his heart increased. Upon arriving in Cao Yin's territory, the experience he had in that small county town made Kangxi even more cautious.
Yin, Yin and Yin changed into casual clothes and prepared to disembark with Kangxi. Consort Tong noticed that Qingyan did not have a straight hairstyle like Li Jia, but rather a double bun, with a pink and blue lotus flower on it. A cloisonné hair clip was attached to the back of the swallowtail. Yin Genjueluo's hair was also very simple.
"Li Jia, go back and remove your headdress. Just wear a velvet flower." Consort Tong didn't wear any extra jewelry on her head, just two velvet flowers and three red hairpins that Emperor Kangxi had personally purchased from a shop in the capital.
As soon as she finished speaking, Li Jia's face turned a deep shade of liver color. Under Yin's reproachful gaze, she quickly went back to redo her makeup.
"Father, it's my fault for not managing things properly!" Yin felt ashamed in front of his brothers and also harbored some resentment towards Li Jia.
"Never mind, she hasn't been out of the palace much, so she might lack some experience." Consort Tong made up an excuse. Since marrying into the royal family, Lady Li had never left the palace and was not familiar with the situation outside.
Qingyan stood behind Yin, pursing her lips. Sulan held up an oil-paper umbrella from behind, which Qingyan had specially bought.
"Mother, I bought several oil-paper umbrellas. The weather is so sunny, let's learn from the ladies of Jiangnan and stroll around with oil-paper umbrellas!" Qingyan noticed the awkward atmosphere and had Suzhu present three oil-paper umbrellas with different patterns on them. Consort Tong's umbrella was painted with a spring scene in Jiangnan, Qingyan's was painted with summer lotus flowers, Yingenjueluo's was painted with a dream of misty rain in Jiangnan, and Lijia's was painted with a broken bridge in Jiangnan.
"Little darling, this broken bridge..."
"Sister-in-law, that's the one I wanted to keep as a souvenir. We didn't have enough umbrellas, so I could only take my favorite one!" Qingyan pouted, her face full of grievance.
The Broken Bridge has an unlucky connotation, but the painting is indeed the best among the oil-paper umbrellas, representing the characteristics of Jiangnan. Now, Xiao Guai has brought it out, which can be considered a sign of sincerity.
Yin chuckled inwardly. How could the little one be so particular about the amount she was buying? There were also two or three oil-paper umbrellas, which were excellent in both craftsmanship and symbolism. She had another little scheme in mind.
When Lady Li returned, Emperor Kangxi frowned. She looked displeased. After all, a concubine was not the primary consort; she was too petty.
"Alright, no need for you to accompany me on a tour. Lunch will be at the Yuelai Inn at 11:45 noon." Kangxi gave the order directly.
"Yes!" everyone replied.
"Fourth brother, take your eldest brother for a stroll. Let Qingyan take care of Yierha!" Yin looked at Songkelierha with a headache. Songkelierha was wearing a Jiangnan Hanfu that Qingyan had specially made, with pink embroidered shoes of the same series. He held a specially made oil-paper umbrella with flowers in his little hands and was reluctantly carried onto the carriage by the nanny.
Looking at Yierha's adorable appearance, Yin recalled Qingyan's haughty and spoiled demeanor when they first arrived at the new residence.
"Alright!" Yin helped Qingyan into the carriage, and together they drove towards the commercial street.
Qingyan leaned against Yin, grinning with a small smile.
"You narrow-minded devil, aren't you afraid that Lady Li will report you?" Lady Li was too concerned about her status. The meaning of that oil-paper umbrella made her wary, and she couldn't control her emotions in front of Emperor Kangxi.
Broken bridge!
The most famous story in Jiangnan, the Legend of the White Snake, is about Xiao Guai, who seems to be cursing Li Jia.
"Hmph," Qingyan sneered, "She wears the blood jade on her hand, which is already an ominous sign. Having another Broken Bridge Umbrella won't make a difference! Besides, the painting is superb. If I didn't have to leave someone out, I wouldn't have given it to her!"
She pursed her lips. Everyone was waiting for Li Jia Shi alone; they were really giving her face.
"Do you think Father Emperor is like you? Saying he's waiting for Lady Li Jia, isn't Father Emperor just giving instructions to his father-in-law?" Yin tapped her forehead. "Don't be so obvious next time. Father Emperor will smooth things over for you once or twice, but it won't do too often."
In Kangxi's heart, Yin's status was still extremely high.
"I understand, the oil-paper umbrella can only be given once!" Qingyan waved her small handkerchief impatiently, telling the fourth person not to worry so much.
She nestled in his arms, her little head frantically trying to figure out what to buy.
"Sisi, I want to buy Zhenjiang vinegar!" Qingyan remembered that Zhenjiang vinegar was quite good, but it was not yet included in the list of tribute items.
ah?!
He was stunned. The Imperial Household Department had a special supply of vinegar from Ninghua Prefecture.
"Fragrant vinegar is different from aged vinegar, I want to buy it!" Qingyan waved her little paws and started to act spoiled.
"Buy, buy, buy!" Yin sighed, the little guy wanted to buy everything he wanted. Since it wasn't a tribute item, it shouldn't cost much.
Yay!
Qingyan cheered, and Sulan outside the carriage was relieved. Ever since Suxin was taken by Zhang Bihou, she had rarely heard Qingyan's cheerful shouts.
The atmosphere in the Crown Prince's carriage was different from that on Yin's side.
Li Jia's face turned pale. Looking at the oil-paper umbrella in her hand, a hint of malice appeared in her eyes. Was Qing Yan cursing her to be out of favor?
“My lord, this umbrella has a bad omen. Perhaps Fourth Princess Consort took the wrong one?” Li Jia finally managed to make Yin laugh and asked with relief.
Yin smiled. Li Jia was indeed petty and narrow-minded. Whether she had been out of the palace for a long time and made a fool of herself, even the Emperor Father did not say much. But this oil-paper umbrella was different.
Yin mentioned that Xiao Guai bought it as soon as they entered the Jiangnan region, before they had even arrived.
"If you don't like it, then don't use it!" It doesn't matter if the young woman has some resentment in her heart.
Li Jia smiled and said that when she arrived in Jiangnan, she was able to accompany the Crown Prince shopping alone, a privilege that her sisters had never enjoyed.
“Master, we should also buy some trinkets for the sisters. Even if the workmanship is a bit rough, it will still be a touch of rustic charm, not a proper gift!” Li Jia’s words were a veiled criticism of Qingyan’s crude gift-giving. Yin understood her implication but said nothing more.
Qingyan was not a princess consort cultivated through ordinary means. Each time, she would prepare a lot of things in advance, and these things would actually be lifesavers when faced with a crisis.
"Alright, go and choose." Yin nodded, closed his eyes to think about Kangxi's meaning, and before he came out, he directly told everyone to separate.
Li Jia was secretly pleased, finally managing to beat the Crown Princess once.
On the other hand, Consort Tong was not having it. She had mentioned to Emperor Kangxi that she wanted to see what Xiao Guai wanted to buy.
Emperor Kangxi sat cross-legged at the Kang table, looking at the small handicrafts displayed on it. He couldn't help but smile. The things Qingyan had prepared for Consort Tong were just worthless trinkets, but the workmanship was exquisite. Although they couldn't compare to the tribute items, they were more to Consort Tong's liking.
"I think these are quite nice. Look at this nut carving, it's even more exquisite than the tribute items. Xiao Guai said it's less than five taels of silver!" Consort Tong looked at the trinkets on the cabinet, in a very good mood.
"Li Dequan, when we get to the commercial street, make sure the fourth brother comes over before you get out of the car!" Kangxi pondered the new vocabulary Xiao Guai had used and couldn't help but agree. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)
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