That night, Yin and Yin were summoned to the Imperial Study, where they stayed up all night discussing naval matters with the others. Consort Tong and the others sat in the Flower Hall, preparing to arrange the banquet for the next day.
"Little darling, the shopping for tomorrow has already gone to Yuelai Inn. The main ingredient is seafood. Try to let the ladies of the court discover that this place is quite nice!" Consort Tong followed Emperor Kangxi's arrangement that the families of the court should stay here.
Qingyan was somewhat confused. The menu for the banquet was drawn up by the servants, but the final decision was made by the principal wife.
Consort Tong's actions today were quite unusual; she actually gathered the two of them together and personally made all the details for tomorrow.
"Mother, why do it this way? Just do it the way we always do, isn't that enough?" Qingyan disliked changing the rules.
Consort Tong waved her hand, and all the maids in the flower hall withdrew, leaving only Shu and Shu Zhu to wait at the door.
"My dear, once families enter the harbor, the gates must be closed after everyone else has left," Consort Tong stated directly. "Furthermore, no one is allowed to leave the harbor during their leave!"
What?!
Qingyan and Yingenjueluo were both shocked. The rules of the harbor were so strict. Even when the new army was being trained, they were not this strict.
"Are you all shocked?" Consort Tong smiled and said that Yin and Yin were brought out because they would be living here for half a year.
"Mother, there must be other things." Qingyan calculated that the situation in the court might get even worse after they returned to the capital.
Consort Tong didn't say much, as Emperor Kangxi was still unsure whether the two of them had come to him.
“Little darling, you may stay here for half a year,” Consort Tong said directly. “For now, the departure date is not yet confirmed.”
Qingyan was taken aback. Consort Tong had summoned her here, and it turned out it was for this very reason.
When E Shuo accepted the Navy, she had a feeling that she would fight alongside E Shuo.
"Your Highness, is Yin also coming here?" Lady Yin Genjue Luo would rather stay here than return to the capital. Besides the harassment from her maternal family, the court officials would also not be at peace.
Consort Tong nodded and said, "Nothing is confirmed yet; everything needs His Majesty's confirmation."
Yin Genjueluo relaxed. Yin's decision to leave the capital was a good idea.
"Mother, what are your thoughts?" Qingyan held the menu brought by the kitchen, her expression somewhat unpleasant. To avoid mistakes, the imperial chefs only prepared the dishes they were capable of making.
Consort Tong sighed and handed all the prepared dishes to Qingyan.
She glanced down and saw that the dishes were exactly the same as those served at the Hall of Supreme Harmony every year.
"Mother, prepare some Cantonese dishes. If that's not possible, have the managers of Yuelai Inn keep things going for two days. Once the list of officials is finalized, everything will be handed over to their wives. If they need anything, they can directly contact the military camp's purchasing department to buy it for them, with each household independently bearing the cost of the purchases." Qingyan pondered. In some remote military camps, the wives of soldiers used this method to buy things.
As soon as she finished speaking, Lady Yin Genjue Luo also thought Qingyan's method was good, with a unified price for the military camp.
"Yes, that's a good idea," Consort Tong nodded in agreement.
"Little darling, wouldn't it be better if we split the cost?" Consort Tong was a little confused. When the concubines went out to shop, they usually bought things together in groups. After Xiao Sula brought the items back, they split the cost among themselves.
Qingyan shook his head and said, "This will make the officials' families feel resentful. Who uses more and who uses less is not something we can balance. If this goes on for a long time, there will be some unpleasantness among the officials' families, which will have some drawbacks to the development of the naval port."
In an instant, Consort Tong suddenly realized why Emperor Kangxi had told her to listen to Qingyan more.
Yin Genjue Luo smiled. Qingyan had many clever ideas and might be able to maintain a balance in the military port. Yin and Eshuo were very knowledgeable about military matters. Yin was in charge of managing the money, while Qingyan was in charge of maintaining peace in the backyard.
Only when everyone works together well can the naval port be more peaceful.
“Yes, Xiao Guai is absolutely right. We just need to manage the women well,” said Yin Genjue Luo Shi in agreement.
The three reached a consensus, and Kangxi issued an order for Yinzhi and Yinzhi to stay behind, so they would begin to manage the area.
"The women have also come with the ministers, and they will all arrive tomorrow," Consort Tong said in advance.
Qingyan and Yingenjueluo exchanged a glance; they were about to get busy again.
"Mother, prepare Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and a few more seafood dishes will do!" Qingyan thought for a moment and decided that Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was the best dish to entertain her.
Made with many precious ingredients, it must be admitted that the Qing banquet method is the best. Those officials did not hold high positions, so the women should not have been able to enjoy such fine dishes.
"Yes, Shu, prepare according to this list. The imperial chefs know how to make Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, although it won't taste as good as Qingyan's. But it'll be enough for those people," Consort Tong instructed.
Inside the courtyard, guards patrolled. Apart from the residences of Emperor Kangxi and the princes, the other courtyards were basically surrounded. Without an audience with Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong, the officials and their families could not come over.
"Come and prepare after breakfast tomorrow," Consort Tong instructed a few more times before letting the two maids leave.
Qingyan returned to the courtyard alone. As she approached the gate, she heard the twins' happy laughter, and a smile returned to her face.
“Mother…” Yiken’e and Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen found Qingyan standing at the door with a loving smile on her face.
She half-squatted down, opened her arms, and the twins ran straight towards her, both of them being embraced tightly in her arms at the same time.
"Yiken'e, Hutulifengshengzhalafen, have you two been good today?" Qingyan asked softly.
The twins nodded their little heads, looking up at each other with expressions that seemed to crave praise.
"Mother, can you play with us tomorrow?" Yiken asked with a frown. She had come to the military port, but hadn't been able to see her mother all day.
"Well, but not tomorrow. Mother has something to do. You two stay here obediently!" The twins are too conspicuous.
"Mother..." Yiken'e said coquettishly from the side, "My sister and I are so bored in the yard!"
Yiken discovered that there were other children of similar age in the other courtyards, but he couldn't go over to them because their status was not equal, and he absolutely could not risk playing with them.
"Mother, Ah Hun and I saw people coming from other courtyards, and we don't know any of them!" Hutu Lifengsheng Zhalafen said, sticking out her little mouth with a displeased expression.
Qingyan nodded slightly. The little girl had observed very carefully; those people were the vanguard.
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