The doors and windows in the front hall were wide open, and on a low cabinet below the window directly opposite, there were two pots of pink peony flowers.
In the flowerpot on the left grows a half-open peony, its blossoms large, with layered, towering petals, the shape of which resembles a crown. The buds are flat and round, the main body of the flower is purple, and the petal tips are pinkish-white. This is one of the finest varieties of peony, the Wei Zi.
In the flowerpot on the right, there is a blooming flower with round, pointed buds and pale yellow flowers.
After the princes' wives took their seats in order, Qingyan sat in the main seat on the right, looking at the six princes' wives. They were all around forty years old, with somewhat aged faces, and had a wilder air about them than the wives from within the Great Wall.
Consort Zheng was the highest-ranking among them, and the head of the eight consorts before the conquest of China.
"Fourth Princess Consort, are these two top-grade peonies, Wei Zi and Yao Huang?" Princess Consort Zheng was betrothed by Emperor Kangxi. Before her marriage, she grew up in the capital and had seen such top-grade peonies.
“Princess Consort Zheng has a good eye. These two plants were specially collected by the Fourth Prince.” Qingyan nodded. Unlike the others, Princess Consort Zheng was clearly a noblewoman from beyond the Great Wall. Her skin was fairer, and she looked younger than the other consorts.
With a smile on her face, Princess Consort Zheng got up and walked towards Wei Zi's flowerpot. When she got closer, she bent down and looked at Wei Zi.
“Outside the Great Wall, Prince Zheng’s mansion also has many exquisite flowers, and the Princess Consort is an expert.” The several Princess Consorts had a very good relationship with Prince Zheng’s wife, and they had more important matters to attend to in the capital.
The eldest sons in the family have all come of age, and this year's imperial concubine selection is to be arranged for marriage by Emperor Kangxi. They must understand the virtues of the candidates in advance. Although they cannot choose legitimate daughters with good backgrounds, they can consider illegitimate daughters.
“Really? Mother is an expert too. Many of the chrysanthemums and peonies in the flower garden were planted under Mother’s guidance. The Fujin and Evil Thoughts have more in common.” Qingyan said directly.
"I dare not compare myself to the Imperial Concubine, I only know a little bit about the basics." Princess Consort Zheng had a plan in mind. In order for her son to have a good primary consort, she thought it would be good to use these common topics to win over the Imperial Concubine Tong.
Qingyan smiled. This princess was well-behaved, unlike the Mongolian princesses of Qiu Mishi, who would seize any opportunity to climb the social ladder. In fact, they even wanted Qingyan and Consort Tong to introduce them to each other.
"Your Highness, Consort Tong has arrived." Su Lan walked in and whispered to Qing Yan.
Qingyan immediately stood up and said, "Ladies, please come with me to the Second Gate. Mother has already come from Changchun Garden."
After speaking, the six wives stood up, straightened their everyday clothes, and followed Qingyan out the door.
Consort Tong's procession had entered the second gate. Qingyan and the others stood respectfully at the entrance on the right. The sound of whips stopped, and Qingyan watched as Consort Tong's golden sedan chair came into view.
As the sedan chair landed, Qingyan respectfully bowed to Consort Tong.
"Rise." Consort Tong helped Shu down from the sedan chair and smiled as she asked everyone to stand up.
"It's been many years since I last saw you, my ladies. How are you?" Consort Tong smiled as she looked at the wife of Prince Zheng.
Before their marriages, the two women had a good relationship. The father of Prince Zheng's wife was a capable man, but because he was from a collateral branch of the family, he was not granted a marriage in the capital.
"Yes, it's been many years since we last met. Your Highness the Imperial Concubine hasn't changed at all, but I've aged quite a bit!" Princess Consort Zheng laughed.
"Fusuli Yierha, we've become a bit distant. Before you got married, you and Sister Fusuli Yierha used to visit my home together." Consort Tong reminisced about their past life; after decades apart, their relationship had grown quite estranged.
It turns out that Consort Tong knew Prince Zheng's wife. No wonder Consort Tong suggested Qingyan and told Prince Zheng's wife about her preferences.
The wives of the princes were stunned. The wife of Prince Zheng had never said that she had a good relationship with Consort Tong.
"Back then, my sister was disciplined by the nanny, but when she went to Lord Tong's family home, she was very relaxed," Fusuli Yierha said with emotion.
"Mother, please come in and sit down. It's getting a bit sunny outside," Qingyan stepped forward and advised.
"Yes, I'll listen to you, Xiao'er. Fusuli Yierha, let's go in together." Kangxi arranged for Consort Tong to come forward, also to appease the wives of the princes outside the Great Wall.
Upon entering the front hall, Qingyan said he was going to welcome the Crown Princess, then made an excuse to leave.
She walked slowly out of the courtyard, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Looking at Consort Tong's appearance, she was filled with many emotions.
"Master, would you like to sit in the shade for a while?" Su Lan noticed that Qing Yan's expression was not good. Those people were all Qing Yan's elders by seniority, so she spoke very carefully.
Qingyan sat in the corridor, looking at the second gate. The Crown Princess and the others must have arrived according to the time of the invitation. Qingyan could tell that Consort Tong wanted to have a detailed discussion with several consorts from outside the pass.
"Hey, what's this little girl here?!" A rough voice reached their ears, and Qingyan frowned slightly.
She turned her head and saw a burly man standing outside the second gate. Judging from his casual clothes, he should be the heir of a prince from beyond the Great Wall.
"What kind of person is Erlu? He actually let someone break into the second gate," Qingyan coldly reprimanded.
A dark figure immediately appeared, and Erlu knelt before Qingyan, saying, "My lady, it is this servant's dereliction of duty."
Erlu waved his hand, and a group of imperial guards walked out from outside. These people were specially dispatched by Emperor Kangxi to the Yuanmingyuan.
The prince's gaze was fixed on Qingyan, and his intense stare made Qingyan feel uncomfortable.
"Master, this person is so annoying, look at him." Su Lan was worried that Qing Yan was being targeted.
During the autumn season, many eyes were fixed on Qingyan. Even with numerous servants attending to her, she could not completely guard against their intentions.
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