On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, the Yuanmingyuan Garden was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Qingyan specially had a small basket of garlic prepared so that she could pickle Laba garlic by hand. The twins lay on the soft couch, looking at the kang table in front of her. Their view was obstructed by several jars. Inside the basket, there was something white.
"Master, it's best to leave these tasks to the servants," Su Lan quickly advised.
Every year on the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Qingyan would personally make Laba garlic, and Fei Yanggu and his two sons would also personally help him.
"It's alright, you just watch from the side!" Qingyan glared at Sulan. It's always better to make Laba garlic by hand.
After speaking, Yin entered through the door, handed the cloak to Su Peisheng, warmed himself by the stove for a while, and then walked to the soft couch and sat down cross-legged.
“Father…” The twins rushed into Yin’s arms, and Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen even snuggled up to him.
Yin smiled, completely content with having a daughter.
"Little darling, starting to make Laba garlic again?" Su Peisheng handed over some warm water. Yin put the children in the stroller and let them run around on the ground. After washing his hands, Yin also started peeling garlic. "Should we send some to my father-in-law this year?"
Qingyan turned her head first and saw Suzhu and Suzhu going to the children's side, half-bending to take care of the twins. After coming to her senses, she found that Yin was also helping.
"Fourth... I can handle it myself. Father and the others can send some. Do you think we should send them to the palace?" Qingyan wanted to get Yin to help. In her eyes, Yin's hands were the ones planning the future of the Qing Dynasty.
Yin smiled, completely unconcerned.
In public, he maintained the dignity of a prince; in front of her, he was a warm and loving husband.
“Yes, this is what we do reasonably, even more diligently than those in the kitchen,” Yin said.
Each time, Yin would personally deliver the food he made to Chenggan Palace. The gift was small but the sentiment was deep. Consort Tong would grumble about Yin for always being idle, but Emperor Kangxi would praise him.
In the brightly lit hall, illuminated by palace lanterns, the master sat on a soft couch, placing peeled garlic cloves into a jar at a small kang table. Young children ran around on the carpet in the hall. This scene touched Yin's heart.
This warmth is something I've never felt before, from family...
Before dinner, the twins were already sleepy from playing. The nannies came forward and carried the children back to their room. Yin looked at the jar full of garlic cloves and felt a sense of accomplishment. After a busy day at work, it was nice to have something relaxing to do.
"Tomorrow is Laba Festival, is everything ready?" Yin looked at the four jars of Laba garlic, preparing to pour rice vinegar into them at midnight.
"Hmm, should we have the kitchen prepare Laba porridge tomorrow? Are we going to distribute porridge in front of Hongluo Temple?" Qingyan asked.
Yin's position is somewhat delicate, and this act of distributing porridge might cause trouble.
"Let's do it as usual. You distribute porridge every year. If you suddenly stop for a year, people will definitely have something to say," Yin reassured Qingyan. "Father won't say anything. It's a long-standing tradition of the Ulanara clan."
The three men, Fei Yanggu and his father, committed too many killings. From the time Qingyan was old enough to understand, he has always maintained this good tradition, hoping to help his father and brothers reduce their killings.
"Hehe, Fourth Brother, the kitchen has prepared quite a lot of Laba garlic. We prepared it ourselves, and we'll send it out tomorrow. We'll send one jar to Changchun Garden, and I'll have Suzhu send one jar to the new house. We'll keep two jars for ourselves." Yin likes to eat Laba garlic, especially in the summer when he often eats mixed noodles, which consumes a lot of it.
Yin would experience this every year, which was also a way for him to find some free time and do something else.
After breakfast, Yin changed into his court robes and went to Changchun Garden with Qingyan. Today was Laba Festival, and Kangxi specially held a banquet at Changchun Garden. Since the two children were still young and could not stay awake all day, Suzhu and Elu were left in Yuanmingyuan to take care of the two children.
"Fourth Brother..." Qingyan walked behind Yin, "Is it appropriate for us to go so early?"
When they were outside, Qingyan would always take half a step back from Yin as a sign of respect, but he didn't care about that. He always held Qingyan's little hand, ready to walk side by side with her.
"Let's go together." Yin turned to look at Qingyan behind him and took her small hand in his large hand.
The couple would stroll through the Yuanmingyuan Garden. Whenever they had free time, Yin would hold the little boy's hand and walk together to Fuhai Lake, the two of them walking side by side.
At the side gate of Changchun Garden, Yin encountered Yinzhi and his wife. The two approached one after the other. Dong Eshi was also with Yinzhi's illegitimate son. The child's biological mother was Dong Eshi's concubine, and he should have addressed Dong Eshi as his aunt.
After the two couples exchanged greetings, Dong Eshi's gaze was drawn to Yinzhi and Qingyan's clasped hands. She had never felt such warm care from Yinzhi before, and her jealousy towards Qingyan grew even stronger.
Qingyan sensed Dong Eshi's jealousy, her face lowered, and her whole body tensed up.
As the twelfth lunar month approaches, Qingyan rarely gets angry, fearing it might ruin his luck for the whole year.
"Sister-in-law, why didn't you bring the twins? If they had come, they could have played with our little prince for a while." Dong Eshi directly treated the twins as playmates, since the prince's playmates were almost all officials or servants.
"Third sister-in-law, what are you saying? Yiken'e is older than this child, how can they play together? Besides, there is a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children. How can a legitimate son play with an illegitimate son?" Qingyan pointed out directly, "Yiken'e's playmates are basically chosen by the Emperor. Neither the Emperor nor I can interfere."
After she finished speaking, Dong Eshi's expression changed several times. Qingyan's words hit Yinzhi's sore spot.
Since Consort Dong'e had no legitimate son, the child of the concubine was originally to be registered under Consort Dong'e's name. However, the Third Consort made a big fuss about it, and Consort Rong finally gave in.
Yin pursed his lips. Xiao Guai was clearly angry. Making Yi Ken'e a playmate was a privilege that no other prince, except for Qing Yan's offspring, could enjoy.
"Third Brother, this child is much younger than Yiken'e!" The concubine's son is only four months old, while Yiken'e has already turned one year old, although the first birthday celebration was held privately at Kangxi's suggestion.
Actually, the princes were very curious to know what Yikene had drawn when he drew lots.
Only Emperor Kangxi, Consort Tong, and Prince Yin were present. Some rumors say that Emperor Kangxi even placed the imperial seal there.
"Well, it would be good if I could be as healthy as Yiken'e," Yinzhi said awkwardly.
The two couples didn't say much along the way.
Upon arriving at the courtyard gate, Li Dequan quickly informed the two princes.
Emperor Kangxi and Consort Tong sat upright in their seats. When they discovered that Yinzhi had brought the numbers, their expressions darkened.
"Isn't bringing such a small child out just asking for illness?" Consort Tong frowned slightly and questioned, "Third Prince's wife, you don't have any children, didn't your maids remind you of this?"
Lady Dong'e was seething with anger. Yinzhi insisted on carrying her out; could she refuse? (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for it on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
