Chapter 91: I was surprised to hear that the birthday banquet continued into the night, and we were almost at the palace gates...
The excitement of the birthday banquet continued into the night, and when it was almost time to lock the palace gates, everyone dispersed.
On a late autumn night with a thin moon and thick clouds, Muxue sat in a green-covered carriage, wrapped in an embroidered blanket, and walked out through the long palace gate. The eunuchs, who had heard the orders, drove the horses behind the carriage, and the horses' hooves slowly stepped on the bricks and stones, making a clattering sound.
Muxue thought for a while, guessing what the Queen Mother meant.
Maybe there was some element of comfort in it? After all, it happened to be the Fifth Princess' wedding. One was marrying far away, and the other stayed with her family. It was normal for her to worry about her and think too much, or even be jealous of the Fifth Princess.
But - Muxue hugged the embroidered carpet to herself. She? No longer needed it.
If it were earlier, she would be more touched to receive such care from her grandmother. However, the affection between people also depends on the opportunity. After that point, the effect may be completely different. She is clear about this. In short, this relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is not as mellow as the one between the Queen Mother and the Fifth Princess. It is good to be polite to each other and care about each other occasionally.
It was really tiring to socialize for so long. Mu Xue slept for a long time, and when she woke up the next day, it was already dawn.
It was a cloudy day and the room was dim. Rong'er asked the maid to hang up all the curtains that could be pulled up, but it was still a little dark.
"That's it," Mu Xue said, "It's already late autumn, and we can't take down the thick curtain at the door, otherwise it will be very cold if the wind blows in."
"You are right, Princess." Rong'er came over and helped her sit down on the kang covered with embroidered felt. "The weather is getting colder day by day. Are we going to celebrate the New Year in Beijing?"
Mu Xue thought about it for a while and shook her head gently: "It's better to go back to Guihua. The princess's mansion has been built. It's also a good thing to spend the New Year in the new house."
Rong Er smiled and said, "What else? Didn't the princess order the prince consort to spend the New Year at the Guihua Princess's residence?"
"You little girl, now you are making fun of me." Mu Xue also laughed.
Rong Er smiled and took a few snacks from the tray held by the maid next to her and placed them on the small Huanghuali kang table. She dared to do this because she knew the princess's temper. Although the birthday banquet was lively and prosperous, and the princess received a reward, she did not look very happy. So she deliberately brought up the prince consort, and it really worked.
Putting aside other things, the fact that the prince consort can make the princess smile is also quite good.
Rong Er smiled and said, "I know I am wrong, so I will tell the maids to get ready."
Mu Xue picked up a jujube and hawthorn cake and ate it, nodding: "Okay, put everything in order."
After serving the princess her meal, Rong'er saw the stewards Ru Yunqi and others coming and going outside. She told the other maids to keep an eye on things outside and walked towards a row of corridors at the back of the mansion.
Madam Wu and Madam Zhao were drinking tea over a charcoal fire. They had accompanied the princess into the palace and had kowtowed countless times. The princess had shown her mercy and granted them two days off, which was just the right time for them to rest. Seeing Rong'er at this moment, she asked, "Why are you here? Who is serving the princess?"
"Chunyan is here to watch over us. Aunt Yun just called back and she will have someone to serve us for a while." Rong'er said, "The princess said she will return to her native place soon. This year, she will celebrate the New Year in the newly built princess's mansion. I specially want to tell you two about this."
Mother Zhao calculated the time and said, "We really need to get ready quickly. If we delay a little longer, it will snow heavily and the roads will become difficult to travel on."
"It's OK. Fortunately, I'm a naturalized immigrant. At least most of the road is an official road. Even if it snows, I can still walk." Aunt Wu said, "If I had gone to Kulun, the desert and Gobi, I would have really been in trouble."
She asked, "But did you say when you would be back?"
"Not yet. It will take at least two days." Rong'er replied.
Mother Zhao smiled and said to Aunt Wu, "I thought you were reluctant to leave."
It was the first time that Nanny Wu accompanied the princess on a long journey. Although she did not say anything, her eyes were swollen from crying for two days.
"Oh, it's a different time now," said Aunt Wu, "My family is still in Guihua. It's a good time to go back and celebrate the New Year."
Where is Nanny? Please help keep an eye on the situation to prevent any omissions in the construction of the mansion.
Rong Er sat down on a small stool: "Over there, the princess's mansion, where we live, what does it look like?"
The people down there were really looking forward to it, finally they didn’t have to live in tents anymore!
Mother Zhao said, "The princess specifically instructed that space be reserved behind and to the left of the mansion to build verandas. First-class ladies like you will have one room each. Second-class ladies and below will have four people in one room. The street to the right of the mansion was also specially leveled to make it easier to build houses later."
At this point, Nanny Wu interrupted and said, "The money used to build the house in the mansion was from the princess' own private money, and it was built according to the regulations in the capital, so it cost a lot. Humph, I'll have a good talk with Qiuhua later and let the dowry family know. It's not easy to build a house like this outside. As for the small amount of silver now, it's like giving it away for free."
After talking for a while, Rong'er looked at the sky and went back to the main hall to serve. The time was just right. The discussion inside had just finished.
Things should go well, the princess looked relaxed.
Rong'er brought forward a cup of warm honey osmanthus green tea and asked the princess to have it.
Muxue took it, took a few sips, and found the sweetness was just right.
"Very good." She said with a smile, "Tell Beilaixian to prepare some mutton hotpot tonight, and we can all have a great meal together."
Yunqi just told her that the Cao family submitted a petition requesting to take charge of the copper affairs, and the Emperor approved it and allocated the new quota to the Cao family to handle it.
Yunqi also took the opportunity to have a nice chat with the Cao family and agreed on a lower price for the old pattern silk. At the same time, it was agreed that Yunqi would send someone to coordinate and smooth the copper business.
After hearing this, Mu Xue said, "You have done a great job. I have reserved a small courtyard for you on the left side of the Princess's Mansion in Guihua City."
Although she instructed that all her subordinates should have a roof over their heads, it was not true egalitarianism. Houses vary in size and regulations, and those who are capable will naturally have better housing. It plays a small role in motivation.
Yunqi immediately expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Master, for the gift of this house."
"Okay, you deserve it." Mu Xue said, "But after this, our people should seldom follow the Cao family in this way. Just do the front and back service work."
"Princess, are you worried about the price of copper changing in the future?"
"Who knows?" Mu Xue said, "After all, we are not in the capital for a long time. We should focus on the copper business and maintain the current situation. The focus should still be on Mobei trade and this year's business."
"I understand."
"I have another thing I want to do, but I don't know if it's appropriate." Mu Xue said, "After returning to Guihua, it's still a remote place. Even if I can communicate with Khan Ama through letters, I still don't know what's going on in the capital. So, I'm thinking of proposing to Khan Ama to compile a book to record the achievements of our dynasty in pacifying the desert. What do you think?"
Yunqi thought for a moment, clapped his hands and said, "This matter of compiling a book is really wonderful! How did the princess come up with this idea? After all, you are a girl, unlike the princes who can directly take on the task. But compiling a book is not so taboo. It seems to be an idle matter, but it can be used to achieve great things. Not only can you take charge of the authority of compiling history, discuss the war achievements with the Mongolian tribes, but you can also be close to the core of the court."
Once agreed, the compilation of this great book will be sent from the Hanlin Academy and will be in charge of important officials. It will take at least four or five years to revise this book, and it will definitely involve the princess of Mobei. In this way, she will not worry about being unable to communicate with the court while in the border area.
Yunqi couldn't help but say, "This is indeed a very kind act. I am so terrified that I have never offered such advice to my master."
"You have so many things on your shoulders, how can you take care of everything?" Mu Xue said, "I just love reading all day, so I thought about this idea."
If I can get this matter done during this trip to Beijing, it won't matter if I don't come back later.
He handed a sign into the palace and asked to see Khan Ama.
Emperor Kangxi was very busy, but considering that the Fourth Princess rarely came back, he specially cleared out the afternoon time for her.
Due to the rainy weather, the lights in the Qianqing Palace were lit in advance.
The palace maid serving tea, An Jing, placed the teacups in place and retreated quietly to the outer room.
Emperor Kangxi sat cross-legged on the kang near the window, looking contented, twiddling a string of prayer beads in his hand: "Have you decided on the date of your return?"
"Yes, I'll be back in five days."
He nodded and said, "You have made great progress since you got married."
"Thanks to my father."
Muxue sat on the palace stool with her eyes lowered, looking very respectful.
"I've seen a lot of things since I went out. After all, she is the daughter of Khan Ama. As the saying goes, a good father will have a good daughter."
Emperor Kangxi smiled and said, "Very good. You are very smart now. I am relieved that you will stay in the naturalized state."
"My daughter has been in the desert for two years. She has some insights, but they are not very mature."
"Is there anything I can't tell you? Just tell me, and I promise I won't laugh at you."
Mu Xue held the teacup and smiled, "Thanks to Khan Ama's divine power, Mongolia was pacified. Every tribe my daughter went to told about Bodag Khan's achievements. I like to listen to them and feel that we share the glory. However, they are scattered and I hate that I can't hear them all. Why don't you compile a big book to record Khan Ama's comings and goings in pacifying the northern desert and his glorious military exploits? If this book is completed, it can be announced to all Mongolian tribes to publicize God's grace. It can also leave a name and a lesson for future generations."
The proposal to demonstrate his civil and military achievements and leave his name in history made Emperor Kangxi unconsciously move his rosary beads.
He was moved.
Mu Xue noticed this, stood up and said solemnly: "Your son, please compile the "Chronicle of the Pacification of the Northern Desert" so that people will know for generations that our Qing Dynasty pacified the Northern Desert, and we took people's hearts as the Great Wall and it was the destiny of heaven."
"Well, one person's heart is the Great Wall, and destiny is in their hands." Emperor Kangxi laughed and looked at her with a very gratified look. "It's indeed good to revise the book. But it's not something you can do alone. I'll ask the cabinet ministers and the Imperial Academy to have a good discussion and come up with a set of rules. You can help take a look."
Mu Xue smiled and said, "My daughter is the bridge between Manchuria and Mongolia. This book is about Mongolia, so I have no choice but to write it."
As he was speaking, he suddenly heard Liang Jiugong's troubled voice outside: "Your Majesty, there is an urgent military document delivered."
Emperor Kangxi's smile faded and he frowned. "Send it in."
Liang Jiugong led a man in holding a music box.
Upon seeing this, Mu Xue tactfully stood up and left, wondering in her heart what could have happened that made him so anxious.
However, just as she walked out of the room, she heard Emperor Kangxi calling her, "Come back."
And what about her? Mu Xue was stunned and quickly returned to the palace.
Emperor Kangxi sighed deeply and handed the memorial to her.
Mu Xue lowered her head, and when she saw the contents on the paper clearly, her eyes suddenly widened.
"Tushetu Khan is dead?"
Emperor Kangxi nodded, and with a blank expression, he summoned the imperial scholar on standby:
"Draft an imperial decree. Since the Tushetu Khan tribe surrendered, his loyalty is commendable. Now I hear of his sudden death, I am deeply saddened. Dunduo Buduo Erji is the eldest grandson, respectful, diligent, talented and experienced. He shall inherit the Khan title and be the Zasak Prince, commanding his old tribe."
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