On the first day of the Lunar New Year, a day for family celebration, Emperor Kangxi took all his princes to the Fengxian Hall early in the morning, while the Empress Dowager and Consort Tong led the concubines and the princes' primary wives to the Kunning Palace, where men and women performed the sacrificial rites separately.
While kneeling to pray for blessings, Qingyan looked up at the portraits and memorial tablets enshrined in Kunning Palace. From Huang Taiji's primary consort, Borjigit Zhe Zhe, to Empress Xiaozhuang who had passed away a few years ago, Hailanzhu's memorial tablet had not been removed. Could this be related to the Borjigit family's love?
Her little mind was filled with all sorts of little dramas. Could it be that the royal family really had something they had to tell?
There was no memorial tablet for the Empress beside Emperor Shunzhi. It was said that Dong E was the one who presented the memorial tablet to Empress Xiaoxianzhang. The Empress Dowager had never liked Dong E, so perhaps after Emperor Shunzhi left, she simply had her memorial tablet disposed of.
She lowered her head, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Consort Dong'e looking up. In fact, Consort Dong'e was probably the most glorious time for the Dong'e clan.
After the two-hour blessing ceremony, Qingyan stood up and noticed that Dong'e was looking back at her every step of the way. She smiled and thought, "Sure enough, this Third Princess still needs to be taught a lesson."
"Madam, just bear with it a little longer and you'll be able to go back and rest!" Su Lan encouraged her from the side.
The princesses who went out earlier were mostly married off to the royal family by their servants. They could rest at their residences for a while, but in the afternoon, they would have to participate in the royal banquet.
Qingyan nodded, watching her sedan chair stop near the door, each step feeling like walking on a knife's edge.
Once inside the sedan chair, she wanted nothing more than to sprawl out on the backrest. Su Lan squatted beside her, applying a warm towel to her knees. During this time, Yin had instructed Su Lan to keep some towels in the sedan chair and carriage so that Xiao Guai could properly treat her knees.
"No need for now, let's talk about it when we get back." Qingyan didn't want anyone to say that she was pampered and spoiled. Although he often threw tantrums in front of Yin, he was a man who knew his limits.
With her eyes closed, she leaned against the cushion, waiting to return to the place where the prince alighted. Every time she stepped into Kunning Palace, Qingyan was not in a good mood. In the future, when Yin became the Yongzheng Emperor, she would probably be enshrined there by future generations, an empty memorial tablet placed there for future generations to admire.
Inside the Prince's quarters, Yinzhi was already sitting upright in the main hall. During the ancestral worship ceremony, Kangxi personally issued an edict, saying it was the late Empress Dowager's will, to remove the portrait and memorial tablet of Empress Xiaojing Xianzhang from the Kunning Palace.
He was somewhat confused by this. In his previous life, it was only during the reign of Hong that the curse was removed, and the final infamy was borne by Yin. In this life, Kangxi actually took action himself. The Empress Dowager had passed away, and no one could figure out whether it was Kangxi's intention or the Empress Dowager's.
"Your Majesty, the Fujin is back!" Su Peisheng stood outside the door and saw the Fujin's sedan chair arrive. He quickly went forward to inform Yin.
Yin got up and walked quickly to the sedan chair that had stopped. Su Lan lifted the curtain, and Yin bent down and picked Qing Yan up from the sedan chair, carrying him directly into the room. The servants around him all lowered their heads, not daring to say a word, for fear of being remembered by their master.
"How are your knees?" Yin personally helped Qingyan take off his court robes and rolled up his trouser legs.
As he expected, Qingyan's knees became red and swollen. The marks from kneeling on the mat yesterday had not yet faded, and today the situation was even worse.
"Hehe, I can rest tomorrow. Physician Yuan left me a lot of ointment. Sisi, I'll just apply it!" Physician Yuan had prepared a lot of ointment, saying that it would definitely be needed during the New Year.
Yin sighed helplessly. The rules for ancestor worship during the New Year in the Kangxi era were the strictest. Although the reign was shorter than that of the late emperor, it was still shorter than the reign of the Kangxi Emperor.
"Alright, sit here!" Yin took out four ointments from the box, handed two to Qingyan, took off his boots, and rolled up his trousers. Yin was a man after all, and the marks were much lighter than Qingyan's.
After applying the ointment to Yin, she placed her two fair and tender legs on his lap. Yin applied the ointment and massaged her legs. Fortunately, the floor heating in the inner chamber was scorching hot, so the room wasn't as cold as the outer room.
“You know, that person isn’t happy!” Qingyan held up three fingers on her left hand.
Yin shook his head and pinched her little nose. She just loved watching the drama unfold.
"Is that so?" Yin pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "Don't touch on this matter. Father Emperor personally issued an edict, saying it was Angguma's last wish."
Filial piety is the most important thing in all things, and Kangxi was not wrong to do so. After all, Kangxi was raised by the Empress Dowager, and it was only reasonable to follow her wishes.
She covered her mouth. So that's how it is. No wonder Dong Eshi held back her anger and didn't dare to show even a hint of dissatisfaction.
"I glanced at her a couple more times, but she didn't say a word. I could tell she was smiling, but there was no smile in her eyes, no sign of her wife or children." Qingyan chuckled, thinking that this woman was definitely not a good one.
Yin hummed in response, looking at her as if he didn't care.
During this period, the two of them were busy preparing for the New Year and rarely had time to spend together.
"That's for sure. Dong E's greatest glory is gone just like that. Besides, Father Emperor hates Consort Dong E the most!" Kangxi had heard a lot from his mother about how Empress Dowager Tong was bullied, and how even Father Emperor was almost changed to Consort Dong E's son.
Qingyan blinked her big eyes, wondering what was going on.
"We'll talk about the story tonight!"
"Fourth Prince, why is Consort Chen's memorial tablet also here? Wasn't it said that her relationship with the Empress Dowager was not good?" Huang Taiji and Hailanzhu are recorded as having a rather deep affection for each other, while the Empress Dowager is portrayed as the woman who saved the Qing Dynasty.
Yin smiled coldly. If the Empress Dowager didn't act this way, how would outsiders view her?
Back then, the marriage of the Empress Dowager to Dorgon was no joke. At that time, the Qing Dynasty had just been established, and many Han people expressed their dissatisfaction with it.
"It's not that it's bad. We're all from the same family. When someone dies, it's like a lamp going out. We still have to maintain appearances!" Yin only explained.
Nowadays, the Mongolian princes have a more harmonious relationship with Consort Chen. If it weren't for the fact that the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager are the only female relatives of Mongolian origin who also hold high positions, they would probably never speak to each other again.
ah?!
Qingyan was stunned. Could you really say that?
"Emperor Taizong and Consort Chen were buried together. Do you think the Empress Dowager would be happy to be buried with them?" Yin kissed her little face, satisfying her curiosity.
Her little hands gripped his tightly, her lips pressed into a straight line, forcing back her surprise. (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
