Chapter 50 (After Marriage)
"I only caught a glimpse of it from afar at the time, and I saw it once more outside the palace later."
“At that time, in the restaurant, Prince Xiang saw me and came to pay his respects. After exchanging a few words, Prince Xiang left.”
Jialuo didn't hide anything and told the truth along with Mubumutai.
Mubumutai smiled and nodded, then suddenly asked, "Does the Empress think Prince Xiang's appearance is good?"
Jialuo was stunned. She never expected that Mubumutai would ask her what her brother-in-law looked like.
In her past life, it would have been nothing more than a joke, but now, how could she dare to make a joke?
Jialuo pursed her lips and replied gently, "Prince Xiang is handsome and healthy, which is naturally good."
Mubumutai nodded and said, "I also think that Prince Xiang is a sturdy and cute child."
Jialu didn't know what the Empress Dowager meant, so she could only smile and nod in agreement.
Fu Lin, who was sitting in the middle, did not say a word, and the three of them remained quiet for a while.
The three masters quieted down, and the room became exceptionally quiet.
The three of them looked up together when the figures of the newlyweds, dressed in wedding attire, appeared in the distance.
Prince Xiang was not short; at almost eleven years old, he was considered tall among his peers. However, Gao Wa was already nine years old, and she was almost a head taller than the young man beside her.
At this moment, the man on the left and the woman on the right entered the door together.
Gao Wa wore a cheongsam today, with her hair in a bun adorned with a pair of gold coral peach and bat double happiness hairpins. Her features were exquisite and elegant.
Prince Xiang, on the other hand, looked radiant, and his chubby little face even showed a rare hint of a smile.
As the newlyweds bowed and rose, Jialuo and Gaowa exchanged glances.
Jialuo sensed a hint of amusement in her third sister's eyes, and her previously anxious heart slowly calmed down.
When the emperor asks questions, it always seems aloof and lacks warmth.
Furthermore, the two had also fought over Dong E's wife, so their relationship could not be considered harmonious between ruler and subject.
Mubumutai inquired in detail about the wedding yesterday, and Prince Xiang and Gaowa answered each question in turn. In such a short time, they had already developed some tacit understanding.
Jialuo was momentarily dazed, as if the Prince Xiang and Gaowa in front of her had known each other for a long time.
After Mubumutai finished asking his question, Jialu blinked and regained his composure.
She looked gently at Prince Xiang and Gao Wa, knowing that the two must have a lot to do today.
Jialuo said, "I wish Third Sister and Prince Xiang a harmonious and loving marriage in the future."
Gao Wa winked at Jia Luo, while Prince Xiang, with his chubby cheeks pouting, politely returned the gesture of thanks.
Then Mubumutai ordered the two of them to go to the palace where the Dowager Consort was currently residing to pay their respects to the mother of Prince Xiang.
Mubumutai got up, and Jialuo naturally followed suit.
"Xin Sa Ri, accompany the Empress Dowager back to the palace."
"yes."
Fu Lin, of course, had other matters to attend to, so he left first.
Jialuo, holding the Empress Dowager's hand, carefully stepped over the rather high threshold of the Qianqing Palace.
The woman's appearance was exactly the same as when Jialu first met her, but perhaps because of that night, Jialu felt that there was some weariness in her eyes.
“Child, Dorgon chose you from among all the Borjigit tribes of Khorchin and made you his empress.”
Mubumutai did not ride in the sedan chair, but instead walked slowly with Jialuo on the marble-paved road.
The maids, including Sumala, kept a distance of about five feet from the two men.
It was after Dorgon's sudden death and funeral that Jialu first heard Mubumtai talk about him.
Jialu didn't know what she was going to say, but she just went along with her words and said, "When I learned that the court had bypassed my sister and chosen me directly, I was also extremely surprised."
Upon hearing this, Mubumutai reached out and patted the back of Jialuo's hand that was supporting her, sighed, and said, "I have never understood the men of the Aisin Gioro family."
"At first I thought it might be because of your intelligence and appearance, but the most important thing is that Abu cares about you the most."
"Only by making their most beloved daughter the Empress of the Qing Dynasty could the Khorchin tribe completely submit to the Qing."
The two of them walked to an open space. Beyond the white jade balustrade was a wide open area, and in the distance were layers of eaves and an endless sky.
"But now I think it might be because Dorgon knows what kind of woman the emperor he raised would like."
Jialuo was startled, then suddenly turned to look at the woman, realizing what had happened.
But at this moment, he couldn't speak, and his hands were even trembling slightly uncontrollably.
The woman, however, seemed oblivious and slowly said, "Just like Huang Taiji, his son also fell in love with the most beautiful girl in our Borjigit clan."
After they finished speaking, a silence fell between them.
The maid behind him was completely silent, but Galo could clearly hear his own heart pounding.
Looking at Mubumutai's profile, Jialuo slowly said, "Your Majesty thinks too highly of me."
"I heard that Consort Minhui Gonghe Yuan was deeply favored by the late Emperor, who bestowed upon her the character 'Chen' as her name and allowed her to reside in the Guanju Palace."
“Since I entered the palace, Your Majesty left without a word on our wedding night and rarely saw me afterward. He also scolded me for fainting because of Dong E. Even when we consummated our marriage, it was you who helped me.”
"Empress Mother, is this considered being showered with love and affection?"
Towards the end, the girl's tone even became somewhat indignant.
Mubumutai turned her head, her all-knowing eyes fixed on Jialuo, and said, "In that case, what if I allow you to recuperate in the royal villa for an extended period?"
Jialuo was stunned, her heart filled with turbulent waves.
Why do both this mother and son want her to leave?
Or was this just Mubumutai testing her?
In this tight timeframe, Galo didn't even have time to think; she took a step back.
She lowered her eyes slightly, avoiding the woman's sharp gaze, gave a half-bow, and said respectfully, "I am the Empress of the Great Qing Dynasty, and also the daughter-in-law of the Imperial Mother. In this life, since entering the palace, I have been a member of the Aisin Gioro family. Where I go, where I stay, even in death or life, is entirely up to the Imperial Mother."
As soon as she finished speaking, those piercing gazes finally shifted away. Jialuo didn't dare to look up and just waited quietly.
"Alright, why are you making it sound so serious?"
"Don't think I don't know. You're the happiest person to be sent to the other residence to recuperate."
Jialuo then got up, walked forward with an obedient look, and took Mubumutai's hand.
“Empress Dowager feels sorry for Xinsairi, and Xinsairi remembers it all.”
Mubumutai chuckled and said, "You are clever, with a more ingenious mind than many beautiful women."
"Once you're at the other residence, I don't need to tell you all the rules and regulations you should follow."
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