The next morning, Qingyan was woken up early by Yin to prepare to go to Changchun Garden to pay his respects to Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong.
This time, Emperor Kangxi only brought Consort Tong with him. The other concubines stayed in the palace, and in the sweltering heat, they could only envy Consort Tong.
"Fourth Brother, are we going over so early?" Qingyan changed into his summer court robes, holding a handkerchief in his hand.
Yin nodded. The twins are with their mother, so there shouldn't be any major problems.
Between sisters-in-law...
"I'm prepared. I must give an explanation for Songgriya's actions. My mother's health is poor, and the Jueluo clan claimed to be poor, which is why they handed over their jewelry to her." Qingyan only briefly stated his excuse.
The ministers have probably heard something about Songgriya's outburst at the Yuanmingyuan yesterday.
With Songgriya making a scene, she no longer needed to come up with a grand excuse.
"Let's walk over there." Yin stretched out his right hand, took her small hand, and prepared to walk together towards Changchun Garden.
Between Changchun Garden and Yuanmingyuan Garden, there is a hidden side gate. Yin took Qingyan there to familiarize themselves with the way. If he was not in Yuanmingyuan Garden and danger occurred here, this side gate would be their last resort.
"Little darling, remember this carefully. On ordinary days, when you go to pay your respects to your mother, you should use the main gate. Only use this gate in truly unavoidable situations," Yin said in a low voice.
Qingyan was slightly taken aback. Of the princes' villas, Yuanmingyuan should be the safest. Why did Yin say that?
She was also aware of the distance between Changchun Garden and Yuanmingyuan. In modern times, she studied at No. 101 Middle School and stayed here for six years. Every winter, they would run in the ruins of Yuanmingyuan, so she was quite familiar with this place.
"I understand!" Qingyan followed Yin into the courtyard, and couldn't help but think of the Yuanmingyuan, which she had both loved and hated.
"Why aren't you leaving?" Yin asked, puzzled. Didn't Qingyan really like the courtyard? Why doesn't she like it now?
He kept glancing at her expression out of the corner of his eye, noticing it change several times, as if she were recalling something.
This has always been a royal garden. I don't think Fei Yanggu ever brought her here.
"Little darling, calm down, we're almost there." They all entered Changchun Garden. Yin deliberately took a detour, trying to enter Kangxi's courtyard at the same time as when he left through the main gate. Qingyan looked up and saw that Changchun Garden could not compare with the Changchun Garden in the Yuanmingyuan during its heyday, but it was still very luxurious.
Every plant and tree reflected Emperor Kangxi's preferences, even the flowerbeds in the courtyard were a blend of Chinese and Western styles. It is said that there was a rose planted by Emperor Kangxi himself for Consort Tong in the Imperial Garden.
In the courtyard in front of her, the flowerbeds had been renovated, filled with fiery red roses. A slight smile played on her lips. Kangxi was someone who had been somewhat influenced by Western thought.
"You like roses?" Yin didn't like such a fiery color. Seeing the joy in Qingyan's eyes, he couldn't help but wonder if he should also offer roses to Qingyan again when he was at the Yuanmingyuan.
Qingyan nodded. Who wouldn't like a flower that symbolizes love?
Despite having many concubines, Emperor Kangxi's favor towards Consort Tong was unparalleled, which explains why the other concubines were filled with envy.
"Sisi, do you know that the number of roses also has a meaning?" Qingyan said to Yin, looking at the fiery red before her.
Yin was slightly taken aback. Did Xiao Guai like roses so much?
"There are a total of roses in this flowerbed." Yin had heard the servants of the Imperial Household Department complain that roses were extremely difficult to grow, so he specially imported a lot from the West and planted them here and in the flower and bird room. If any of the flowers in this flowerbed were not blooming well, he would quickly replace them with new ones.
"These words are eternal!" Qingyan felt a surge of envy. Kangxi didn't say it aloud, but he gave Consort Tong a promise.
Emperor Kangxi was the emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He had experienced too many difficulties, and under the guidance of the Empress Dowager, he was still able to subtly hint at his feelings to Consort Tong.
Forever and ever?!
These four words churned in Kangxi's heart. He had overheard Kangxi and Consort Tong whispering to each other before being sent to the Ulanara residence, promising to hold hands and grow old together.
As Consort Tong's health improved, Yin felt that it was Kangxi's promise that completely resolved the knot in Consort Tong's heart.
He felt conflicted because the Uya clan could not achieve anything significant. Once, he was favored by Emperor Kangxi and the Uya clan, but now he was just a concubine.
Thirteen grew up under the tutelage of Consort Min, and was significantly different from his previous life. At least, Yin had no regrets. In this life, Yinxiang was much more cheerful and was no longer the little nanny by Yin's side.
"Fourth Prince, what are you doing standing at the door? Come in!" Yin Zhi appeared at the door with Dong E Shi. Dong E Shi saw Qing Yan's happy smile and felt even more jealous.
Dong Eshi had to admit that among the sisters-in-law, Qingyan was the weakest in terms of methods and had to rely on Yin for everything, while she lived a more comfortable life.
"Third Brother, why didn't you go in?" Yin asked, somewhat puzzled.
Whenever Emperor Kangxi summoned him, Yinzhi would not easily let go of any opportunity to show his abilities.
Yin and Qingyan exchanged a glance, a strange thought rising in their minds.
Abnormal behavior is demonic!
These four words appeared in their minds. They merely smiled, politely bypassed Yin, and entered the hall.
At this moment, Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong sat side by side. Yinzhi and the Crown Prince had also come over. The Crown Princess was dressed in a golden Crown Princess's everyday dress, with a phoenix hairpin in her hair and six pearl earrings in her ears. This was the only special treatment among the princes' primary consorts.
"Your son/daughter-in-law greets Father Emperor and Mother Emperor!" After Yin and Qingyan entered, they respectfully greeted Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong.
After paying her respects, Consort Tong showed the first genuine smile on her face.
When the Crown Princess saw this, she couldn't help but purse her lips. Consort Tong was not exactly Kangxi's principal wife, yet she was being asked to perform the full ceremony. This excessive honor made her grumble.
Yin Genjue Luo Shi had a good relationship with Qing Yan and wouldn't gossip, but Dong E Shi was different. A few days ago, Dong E Shi had heard the Crown Princess nagging quite a bit.
"Sit down quickly." Consort Tong pointed to the chair next to Lady Yin Genjue Luo, and Yin Zhi, who was following behind the two, also came in.
After everyone exchanged greetings, Kangxi inquired about the princes' duties. Yinzhi had only arrived in Beijing two days before the Golden Award Ceremony, and Kangxi had been busy with the ceremony and hadn't had a chance to properly ask him about it.
The Crown Prince felt resentful. Even Yinzhi was attending court and carrying out official duties, while he, as the Crown Prince, could only oversee his younger brothers' studies in the Imperial Study.
Now that even the young Yin and Yinyi have entered the Imperial Study, he feels even more uneasy looking at the princes who are not much older than Hongxi.
Qingyan noticed that Yin's gaze was fixed on him, and couldn't help but mutter to herself. (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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