Two days before the Golden Banquet Festival, the Empress Dowager issued an imperial decree for the Empress Dowager to come to the Buddhist hall in the Yuanmingyuan Garden to worship Buddha. Qingyan and the children waited at the entrance of the Buddhist hall courtyard. Batu Buhe was dressed in a blue Mongolian robe, and his hair was braided with a matching hair ornament, which hung down his back.
Qingyan stood at the door, with the twins standing obediently beside her. After the Empress Dowager came out of Changchun Garden, Xiao Sula had already come to report to her.
The children stood directly in the courtyard. The autumn wind blew, and the golden leaves fluttered in the wind. Batu Buhe often returned to the Buddhist hall to worship Buddha and had become accustomed to everything here.
The twins were seeing such a scene for the first time, so they were naturally very curious. Qingyan couldn't stop the children's curious eyes.
“Mother, Batubuhe said the vegetarian food here is delicious,” Yiken’e said directly.
Qingyan bent down to look at Batubuhe. The vegetarian meal was made according to the Mongolian mourning customs. The ingredients were basically delivered to the capital by the Yuelai Inn's shops on the grasslands. In addition, Yin selected a Mongolian chef from the palace to cook it, ensuring that the taste was authentic.
After arriving in Beijing, Batubuhe was grateful to be able to enjoy such authentic food.
Hu Richa knew very well how many favors and connections were needed for such preparations, and the imperial chefs from the palace had cost Yin a lot of credit.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has arrived!" Su Zhu walked in from outside and gave Qing Yan special instructions.
"Children, get ready, Grandma Anguma is coming!" Qingyan said directly.
Later, the Empress Dowager's imperial carriage came into view. Qingyan led the children to kneel on the bluestone ground, and she could feel the silhouette.
"Greetings to Grandma/Grandma Angguma!" Qingyan and her three children knelt on the ground to pay their respects.
The imperial carriage passed by them, and the sound of the Empress Dowager calling out came from inside the carriage.
Su Mo'er stood beside the phoenix carriage, only giving Batu Buhe a smile, and didn't even smile at the twins.
"Little darling, get up quickly, the children are still young!" The Empress Dowager looked at Batu Buhe's round little face and felt much better. Her worries were finally relieved.
In her opinion, Qingyan's care had made Batubuhe feel more relaxed, and even more cheerful than when she was on the grassland.
“Mother…” Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen was summoned by the Empress Dowager, who gave her a small purse. The little girl was very happy and skipped over to Qingyan.
"Fourth Princess Consort, the young princess's manners need to be improved. How can she jump around like this in the Buddhist hall?" Su Mo'er suddenly appeared in front of Qingyan.
Qingyan was slightly taken aback: "Granny, I will be careful!"
Su Mo'er nodded and went back with a stern face.
“Batubuhe was left with Angguma, who said, ‘Let us come back first!’” Yiken’e ran to Qingyan’s side and whispered.
Qingyan nodded: "Grandma Angguma rarely sees Batubuhe, so it's normal that she would like Batubuhe a little!"
In the Empress Dowager's eyes, those who could come from the grasslands were closer to her than those in the palace.
"Mother, are we going to stay here?" Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen asked, tilting her little head up.
Su Mo'er stood by the Empress Dowager's side the whole time. Although she had some reservations about the Empress Dowager giving the twins gifts, she still agreed.
Inside the palace, Emperor Kangxi remarked that Su Mo'er had become somewhat arrogant and frequently used rules to restrain the Empress Dowager.
"Did you thank Grandma Angguma?" Qingyan asked the twins.
The twins nodded: "Grandma Angguma said that this was specially prepared for us. Batubuhe's gifts were all prepared separately."
Inside the palace, the twins received the most gifts. Since Batu Buhe arrived, he has received even more gifts than they have, yet the children show no jealousy whatsoever.
"Aren't you jealous?" Qingyan was very careful when taking the children out to play, so she was well aware of their tendency to compare themselves to others.
As they grew older, the twins, under Emperor Kangxi's tutelage, became even better at controlling their emotions.
“I’m not jealous. Batubuhe has left his home, and his father and mother are not by his side, so it’s only right that he receives more care,” Yiken’e quickly said.
“Yes, Ah Hun is right!” Hutu Lifengsheng Zhalafen echoed.
Qingyan nodded in satisfaction: "You all behaved very well today. When we get back to the manor, your mother will cook for you personally. Besides preparing two vegetarian dishes for Batu Buhe, what else would you like to eat?"
When the children behave well, Qingyan rewards them with practical actions, and the children love the meals Qingyan prepares.
"Mother, really?" Hutuli Fengsheng Zhalafen asked in disbelief.
They would only cook for Qingyan if they received praise from the examiner or if they received praise from Yin.
"Mother, I'm back!" Batu Buhe walked to the door. She heard Qingyan's words and her eyes widened slightly.
"Batubuhe, you can order two vegetarian dishes. You did a great job today!" Qingyan put all three children in one seat. Batubuhe easily blended in with the twins. Even Hafeng had a good relationship with Batubuhe.
Batubuhe blinked his almond-shaped eyes, looked at Qingyan, and tilted his head to start thinking about the menu.
"Fourth Princess Consort, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager invites you in." A palace maid appeared beside the Empress Dowager. This was a palace maid who had been specially sent to the Empress Dowager when the old prince was still alive.
Seeing how Batubuhe relied on Qingyan, her smile became even more genuine.
After Qingyan stood up, she looked at the three little ones beside her and said, "You two sit here obediently and wait for me. After we come out, we can go back."
In a side hall of the Buddhist temple, the Empress Dowager looked at the similar layout to that of the Cining Palace and a relaxed smile appeared on her face.
"Su Mo'er, stop targeting Qingyan. Batu Buhe is doing really well under her care!" The Empress Dowager expressed her incomprehension at Su Mo'er's actions towards Qingyan.
Every time you go to the grasslands, those people from Horqin give you no shortage of trouble.
Su Mo'er did not answer, but went straight back to the Buddhist hall to prepare vegetarian food for the Empress Dowager, thus avoiding the scene of meeting Qingyan.
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager!" Qingyan entered the side hall and directly greeted the Empress Dowager.
"Get up and kowtow quickly," the Empress Dowager said, waving her hand.
In the Empress Dowager's eyes, Qingyan had really put a lot of thought into it. The fact that it was arranged according to the Cining Palace's layout must have been due to the help of Consort Tong.
"Grandma, we can only make simple arrangements here. The elderly will feel relaxed living in familiar surroundings!" Qingyan was relieved to see the Empress Dowager's satisfied smile.
"My little darling, I'm very satisfied!" the Empress Dowager praised.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
