After the Emperor's birthday celebration, Emperor Kangxi summoned Yinzhi to Changchun Garden for several days in a row, and then issued an imperial edict to arrange marriages. Both the thirteenth and fifteenth princes were betrothed. The Mongol princesses went to the Empress Dowager to complain several times, but the Empress Dowager simply pretended to be an old senile woman who didn't care about anything.
Qingyan, along with the twins and Hafeng, followed Consort Tong to the Empress Dowager's courtyard. The Empress Dowager smiled happily upon seeing the children.
"Mother, I've really caused you trouble this time!" Consort Tong looked apologetically at the Empress Dowager. If it weren't for the fact that Emperor Kangxi said it was inappropriate for her to intervene, Consort Tong would have preferred to face those Mongol consorts herself, as they were extremely malicious in their words.
"Lanya, it's inappropriate for you to step in. If we follow your aunt's side, they are all your elders. Even if we consider the royal family, they are your elders. No one listens to Xuan Ye when he speaks to you." The Empress Dowager naturally felt sorry for her child. Over the years, Kangxi and Consort Tong had treated her very well, and Qingyan often showed her respect.
At the same time, among the Mongolian noblewomen who married into the capital, few were content. Most were worried about their children and rarely had the leisure she enjoyed. Occasionally, she could gather a few old friends and chat with them.
"Little Darling, when are you going to the south?" the Empress Dowager asked, looking at Qingyan.
"We should set off early the day after tomorrow. We will leave after seeing off the Empress Dowager from the capital!" Qingyan knew that Kangxi was going to take the Empress Dowager to Qiumi in Mongolia, something the Empress Dowager had been looking forward to.
"Yes, you all leave together. Don't worry about the Crown Prince. If anyone suggests leaving the children in the capital to be cared for, don't agree." The Empress Dowager had a lot of opinions about the Crown Princess and had criticized her quite a bit lately.
Consort Tong lowered her head and said nothing more. The Empress Dowager informed Qingyan.
“Grandma, I know, she definitely won’t leave all the children here. I said I would take them with me!” Qingyan quickly agreed.
The fact that the Empress Dowager could say this directly proves that she was truly furious.
"Hmm, that's a good girl. If the Crown Princess dares to ask, just shift all the blame onto this old woman. I want to see what she can do to cause trouble!" the Empress Dowager sneered.
Qingyan tilted her head and looked at Consort Tong. What's wrong with the Empress Dowager? Why is she making such a fuss?
"My dear, Consort Hui complained that the Empress Dowager wanted to keep Songkri Yierha in the capital to take care of her. The eldest son's daughter came to the garden crying and complaining, as if the Crown Princess was plotting against her daughter!" Consort Tong had to admit that the Crown Prince's methods were somewhat frightening.
Emperor Kangxi had also heard rumors that if the Crown Prince were to inherit the throne, his brothers, including Yinzhi, would be left with no way out.
"No way..." Qingyan stared at Consort Tong in astonishment.
The Crown Princess has always been very tolerant. Could it be that the Crown Prince wants to use Shulu as a marriage alliance? Has the Crown Princess set her sights on Songkelieriha, who is close in age to Shulu?
"When the Empress Dowager heard Consort Hui's lament, she quickly summoned the Crown Princess. After inquiring, the Crown Princess said she hoped to leave Shulu a playmate." Consort Tong sneered. The Crown Princess's methods were becoming increasingly despicable. No wonder everyone was distancing themselves from the Crown Prince.
While Consort Tong was speaking, the Empress Dowager chatted with the twins. Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen listened to Consort Tong's words, and a hint of uncertainty flashed in his eyes.
"Mother, I know what to do. Don't worry. The Crown Princess sent someone over the other day to tell me, and I refused directly." Qingyan suddenly remembered that the Crown Princess seemed to have gone to the Yuanmingyuan Garden to tell her about taking the children to the capital.
Consort Tong frowned slightly; the Crown Princess's behavior was becoming increasingly strange.
The children played around in front of the Empress Dowager, who smiled and invited everyone to stay for lunch. Only then did Consort Tong and Qingyan leave with the children.
Before leaving, the Empress Dowager had the maids and children deliver a pile of things. Qingyan saw that most of these things were the Empress Dowager's dowry, so she quickly declined.
"It's my old woman's thing, and whoever she wants to give it to is my own preference. It has nothing to do with anyone else," the Empress Dowager said directly when she saw that Qingyan was about to refuse.
Ugh!
Qingyan was embarrassed. She wanted to refuse, but the Empress Dowager stopped her, so she could only silently agree.
Seeing that Qingyan didn't say anything, the twins smiled and cheered happily.
"Grandma Angguma, when we come back from the south, we'll bring you some little trinkets. You can't refuse them!" The twins noticed that the Empress Dowager was giving them all valuable gifts.
Everything they own was a gift from their elders. If they want to reciprocate, they can only use their saved allowance to buy small trinkets for their elders when they go out.
These items were not as exquisite as those made in the imperial workshops, but the Empress Dowager, Emperor Kangxi, Consort Tong, and their parents cherished them greatly and often placed them in the most conspicuous places.
The embroidered pouch by Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen was given to Kangxi, Yinzhi, and Feiyanggu. All three of them replaced their exquisite pouches with those with immature needlework.
Many court officials wondered if His Majesty lacked embroiderers.
After bidding farewell to the Empress Dowager's courtyard, Qingyan took the children and followed Consort Tong back. As soon as Qingyan sat down, Consort Tong had Shu take the children to a side hall to rest.
"Little darling, you may be gone for more than three months, which should be around the same time as our return to the capital!" Consort Tong felt she needed to remind Qingyan of some precautions before she could feel at ease.
Qingyan nodded. What Consort Tong said was correct. Although the two groups were from the south and the north, they arrived in the capital at roughly the same time.
"Mother...should we return early and meet you outside the capital?" Qingyan noticed that Consort Tong's speech was somewhat hesitant, and was afraid that something might be amiss.
Consort Tong shook her head directly: "Regardless of whether you return early or not, you must go directly to the Summer Palace! Before Qiu Mi returns to the capital, His Majesty will rest at the Summer Palace for a month."
Qingyan stared at Consort Tong in astonishment. If she had returned early... the Summer Palace would definitely not be open yet.
"Mother, let's go to the villa near the Summer Palace to rest first," Qingyan tentatively suggested.
"No need, just stay at the Summer Palace. The princes accompanying the emperor will stay there, so you don't need to prepare your villas!" Consort Tong hinted to Qingyan, "Go back and tell the Fourth Prince that he will arrange the time. Take more people to the south, and don't let anyone keep an eye on the twins!"
"Yes, Mother!" Qingyan listened to Consort Tong's instructions for a long time and realized that everything revolved around taking care of the twins.
Consort Tong explained in great detail, and Qingyan listened attentively. Time passed as the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law talked.
As evening approached, Kangxi took Yin back to the courtyard, where the family had dinner. Yin and Qingyan then took the children back to the Yuanmingyuan.
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