The Empress Dowager was in a good mood after winning money at cards today. When she saw the Empress and Hutuli coming together, she asked with a smile, "Is there anything you need, Empress? And you brought this little devil with you."
Changning sat to one side and told the Empress Dowager in detail about the construction of the Imperial Garden playground for the concubines to run laps. At the end, she added, "I should have reported this to Your Majesty earlier, but I was held up by something the other day. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
The Empress Dowager happily played her cards, not taking the matter to heart at all. She even praised the Empress, saying, "The Empress is clever and manages the harem very well. I've also heard about that playground; it's indeed quite nice. When I have time, I'll go over there and stretch my muscles."
Now that I am old, I will stay here in Cining Palace and enjoy the company of my grandchildren. From now on, the Empress can make her own decisions regarding matters in the inner palace.
Changning understood what she meant: she was now retiring and doing nothing, so there was no need to bother her or disrupt her happy retirement.
Changning is suddenly so envious!
She really wants to give up too!
No wonder people say, "Lying flat is the ultimate goal in life."
The other two palace maids who were playing cards with the Empress Dowager were also very perceptive; after the game, they voluntarily stood up and gave up their seats.
"Empress, Hutuli, you two come here. Let's play together." The Empress Dowager was in high spirits and called Changning and Hutuli over to play together.
Hutuli had been eyeing the cards for a while. She rubbed her hands together and said, "Grandma, then I won't hold back. My card skills are pretty good now."
The Empress Dowager chuckled, "Alright. Then let me see the power of Hutu."
So, the group started playing mahjong together again.
After playing mahjong in Cining Palace for an afternoon, when Changning returned to Chengqian Palace, she could still hear the sound of "One of Bamboo, Two of Coins" echoing in her ears.
Today, Yinzhen has already decided in the court that the Fourteenth Prince will lead troops on a distant expedition to fight against the Japanese pirates.
This made Fourteen jump for joy.
Yinzhen was originally worried that the Empress Dowager might be unhappy, since she had previously been very biased towards this youngest son. However, when he asked someone, they found out that the Empress Dowager was obsessed with playing mahjong in Cining Palace. Upon hearing this news, she didn't say anything and won a big hand.
Yinzhen was finally relieved.
However, war is a major event, and preparations for the war had been made for a long time. Only then did they choose an auspicious day and personally send the fourteenth prince off from the capital.
On the day she left the capital on the fourteenth, her wife, Lady Wanyan, made a special trip to the Cining Palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. The two women talked for quite a while.
Wanhe followed them in.
She has two daughters of her own, and now that she has met Yartan and Unashi, she is extremely fond of them and can't help but compare them with her own daughters.
"Look at them, the Third Princess and the Fourth Princess are really beautiful, especially the Fourth Princess, whose skin is so delicate and fair. Don't even mention our two little girls, they both took after the Fourteenth Prince, each one is darker than the other."
Listening to Wanhe's merciless criticism of the Fourteenth Prince, Changning couldn't help but laugh. Then, remembering that it was the day the Fourteenth Prince was going to war, she offered some words of comfort: "The Fourteenth Prince is going to war now to make a name for himself. You all need to take good care of his logistics in the capital. If you have any troubles, you can tell me directly. Although we are of different statuses, we have known each other for so many years, so please don't be distant with me."
Wanhe was deeply moved when she heard Changning say that. The two had become friends before simply because they valued each other's temperament, which was why they got along so well.
However, the two were originally in the same situation, both being favored concubines. But later, Changning became the Empress, and the change in status made Wanhe a little worried. But who knew that Changning was still the same Changning and did not put on airs.
Wanhe both abided by the palace rules and was happy that Changning treated her as kindly as ever.
"Don't worry, sister. The Fourteenth Prince has never been reliable. He's been away from home for years. I've learned my lesson. Now that Hongchun is getting on in years, I'll just have my son handle anything."
Changning tugged at her hand: "Don't worry, the next selection will be for these boys to choose their wives. The Emperor also told me to keep an eye out and pick a good one for Hongchun. If you have a favorite girl in mind, you can tell me in advance."
Wanhe was genuinely happy this time, but she never worried about her son. As for her son, even if his wife didn't suit his taste, it didn't matter if he married a concubine or a secondary wife. She was only worried about her daughter.
"Sister, I heard we're going to Mulan Qiumi this month?"
Changning nodded: "Although the Fourteenth Prince is not here, you and the Fourteenth Princess can still go along to relax."
Wanhe replied with a smile, "That would be wonderful. But this is the first Mulan Autumn Festival since His Majesty ascended the throne. I wonder if everyone from Mongolia will be able to attend?"
Changning understood her unspoken meaning and patted her hand to comfort her: "Don't worry. As long as Mongolia can be controlled, our royal princesses won't have to suffer any injustices."
Wanhe beamed even more this time.
When Yinzhen returned in the evening, he also talked about the Fourteenth Prince's expedition, but he seemed to have many feelings about it.
"Fourteen was just a young boy back then. He would often throw bugs into my shoes. Every day, he would either make his other younger brothers jump up and down in anger or make his master glare and blow his beard. I cleaned up his messes a lot when he was little."
Now, he can finally stand up.
While lamenting the passage of time, Yinzhen also affirmed the growth of the Fourteenth Prince and expressed his expectations: "I hope that this time he can avoid arrogance and impetuosity and achieve a great victory."
Changning naturally had to ally with Yinzhen.
"Sigh, if only Yierha could be like the Fourteenth Prince and rise to power sooner." Yinzhen felt a headache coming on when he thought of his eldest daughter, and then he thought of his equally mischievous son, Hongchen. "How is Hongchen doing these days? Has he gotten into trouble again?"
Changning couldn't help but laugh: "I didn't cause any trouble, but I picked the flowers that my mother planted herself in Cining Palace and made them into bookmarks. I said I learned it from Hutuli, and I even gave one to her."
Yinzhen was surprised: "He gave me one too!"
The couple looked at each other and laughed.
"This is really something." Yinzhen was a little helpless. "Is the Empress Dowager angry?"
Changning shook her head: "How could I be really angry? After Hongchen finished making it, the first thing he did was send it to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager praised him for being thoughtful and filial. It's just that I can't help but feel a little heartache."
Yinzhen chuckled and said, "Let the flower shop send some more cultivated and precious flower seeds to Mother tomorrow."
Changning nodded.
"In ten days, we'll set off for Mulan Hunting Ground. Let's bring the children along this time."
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