The orchard was laden with fruit in autumn; pomegranates, pears, and apples were all ripe. Consort Tong and her entourage had never been to the orchard before. In autumn, if it weren't for the lively banquet making jam...
Songkelierha followed them out. Seeing Qingyan happily directing the maids to start picking fruit, she couldn't resist and skipped off to pick apples with Sulan.
"Little darling, shall we make jam here?" Consort Tong had only ever used jam before and had no idea how it was made.
“Mother, it’s just for fun. Sulan and the others can handle the rest,” Qingyan said.
She did like these things. Both Consort Tong and Lady Yin Genjueluo were raised like noble ladies, so they should have had opportunities in these areas.
"It's good to treat it as a pastime. Eldest daughter, let's make it together with Xiao Guai." Consort Tong also prepared to get involved, so that she could show off to Emperor Kangxi when the jam was ready.
Qingyan told Consort Tong and Lady Yingenjueluo the steps for making jam. She clapped her hands in the air, and Suzhu quickly led people to bring up the utensils, along with several plain-colored jars.
"Mother, we can make apple jam, pear jam, and orange jam with these jars," Qingyan said to them.
“I’ll make more orange jam. Songkelierha always gets a sore throat in the winter, so the orange jam should be useful,” said Ingenjueluo quickly.
She often had people buy things from outside, but these things are never as good as what she makes herself.
The three of them spent the entire afternoon being disturbed by Songkelierha, and it wasn't until close to dinner time that they finally arrived at the courtyard.
Emperor Kangxi smiled. Consort Tong rarely went out. Imperial Physician Yuan had also said that Consort Tong should do more exercise, which would improve her appetite and make her healthier.
Xiao Guai once suggested taking a hundred steps after meals, and she has persisted in doing so ever since.
"Lanya, what did you do all afternoon?" Kangxi asked, puzzled as he watched Consort Tong directing the servants to place small, plain-colored jars in the living room outside the inner chamber.
“Hehe, we made the jam ourselves. Everyone—elderly daughter, little darling, and Yierha—made it themselves,” Consort Tong quickly said.
Yin and Yin sat at the head of the table, and couldn't help but steal a smile for their respective wives. It was quite an ability to make Consort Tong laugh.
"Grandpa, once the jam is ready, you must try Songkelierha's cooking," Songkelierha said, leaning against Ingenjueluo Shi, as if presenting a treasure.
"Alright!" Kangxi agreed with a smile. "The three of you accompany the Consort to the courtyard more often. There are plenty of fruits there. Make them yourself, and bring some up when the jam is ready."
Emperor Kangxi thought this was a good idea; it would not only encourage the child to move around more, but also allow the child to learn more.
"Yes!" Yin Genjue Luo Shi and Qing Yan bowed and replied.
Yin knew in his heart that all of this was prepared by Qingyan for the mansion and the Ulanara family. In winter, the ministers had too few things to use. In autumn, many households began to prepare things in their small kitchens. Since the mistress was not paying attention, they could only envy the Ulanara family from the bottom of their hearts.
Ever since Xiao Guai became sensible, this has been the first thing they eat in their winter meals.
"Come, let's go have dinner first!" Consort Tong didn't mind, and Su Peisheng led the servants to bring dinner to the dining hall.
When Consort Tong arrived in the courtyard, she felt hungry for the first time.
After dinner, the three members of Yinzhi's family took their leave. Kangxi immediately smiled broadly and even had the nanny bring the two children to him.
"I told you, it's good for you to get more exercise. Come and hold our Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen." Kangxi and Consort Tong held the twins and walked back and forth. Yinhe Qingyan wanted to step forward to take over, but Kangxi glared at him and said, "Wait until we get back to the Yuanmingyuan before you start holding them. Don't steal our fun from us old folks."
Yin sighed helplessly. With the arrival of twins, Kangxi was becoming more and more like an ordinary grandfather.
"Little darling, starting tomorrow, you should take your mother to prepare more things so that the meals in the Chenggan Palace's small kitchen can be more plentiful." Emperor Kangxi also liked to eat some new dishes. The people in the imperial kitchen prepared the same three dishes as always, and they also made sure to send some from the small kitchens in each palace.
“That’s fine, Shu. You can help me prepare. Next year, we won’t have to let Xiao Guai in!” As a daughter-in-law, Qingyan sends a lot of green vegetables to Chenggan Palace every year.
In winter, these are things that money can't buy.
"Xuan Ye, you need to clean up the servants in the orchard." When Consort Tong was preparing things, she always felt that the servants in the orchard were watching their every move.
Emperor Kangxi glanced at Consort Tong and simply nodded helplessly.
Yin's heart skipped a beat. The Crown Prince had gone too far; he had even hidden spies in the orchard of Changchun Garden.
"Fourth brother, you go back first!" Kangxi saw the guests off directly. The twins waved their little paws twice as they watched their father and mother leave.
Back at the Yuanmingyuan, Yin, with a blank expression, led her to his study. As soon as they entered, they discovered that someone had moved his desk.
"My lord, Lord Saito has arrived!" Su Peisheng reported respectfully.
"Let him in." Yin looked around the study to make sure it was safe before letting go of Qingyan's hand.
Saito's face was grim as he watched Yin Zai looking at Zhu Souhang's memorials, wondering if there were too few.
"Fourth Master, someone appeared in the study this afternoon. I was just passing by when I saw Xiao Sula peeking around, so I detained him immediately!" Saito walked in and, seeing Yin's slightly uneasy expression, quickly said.
"Eru, go and interrogate him yourself!" Yin flipped through several memorials and found that none of the memorials from the Imperial Household Department were available.
He felt a pang of unease; the Crown Prince was about to make his move.
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