Chapter 135 Irkh's Third Baptism
Niohuru and Wang and Daijia clans also stood in the hall according to their rank.
Niohuru was meek and obedient, but when she occasionally looked up at the Empress, a flash of coldness would appear deep in her eyes.
Jiang Nan was still dressed in her postpartum recovery attire, wearing only a lake-blue dress embroidered with lotus blossoms.
She looked radiant today, with a rosy complexion and a lively spirit.
She put away her usual sharp tongue, and not even a hint of wanting to displease the Empress surfaced.
The auspicious hour had arrived, and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was the first to rise and slowly walk to the golden basin.
The master of ceremonies had already announced the order.
"The third-day celebration begins, with the Empress Dowager leading the way by adding water to the basin."
Empress Xiaozhuang held a jade spoon and scooped a spoonful of water from a jade bowl held by a palace maid beside her.
Slowly pour it into the golden basin, he said in a gentle voice.
"Clear water washes away the dust, and blessings last long."
This marks the beginning of the ceremony, symbolizing blessings from elders.
Kangxi then got up and dropped several exquisite gold and silver ingots into the basin. The ingots made a crisp sound as they fell into the warm water.
He looked gently at the son in the wet nurse's arms and said in a clear voice.
"Gold and silver as New Year's gifts ensure a solid foundation for the future."
Next, it was Empress Hesheli's turn.
She tried her best to maintain a cheerful smile and walked steadily forward.
He took a handful of dried fruits such as red dates, lotus seeds, and chestnuts from the palace maid's tray, scattered them into the basin, and recited auspicious words according to custom.
"Early establishment of offspring will bring many noble sons, and many sons bring many blessings."
After completing the ritual, she quickly returned to her seat, lowered her eyes, and dared not look any further.
Subsequently, concubines, imperial consorts, and other members of the royal family stepped forward one by one to add water to the basin.
People threw gold and silver or scattered fruit, and auspicious words were heard throughout the hall, creating a lively atmosphere.
Jiang Nan met Brother Fuquan for the second time. Brother Fuquan nodded to his sister-in-law after completing the blessing ceremony.
After the ritual of adding a basin is completed, the main event, the bathing, begins.
The invited auspicious old lady stepped forward and first bowed to the Emperor, Empress, and Grand Empress Dowager.
Then he took the young prince Erhe from the wet nurse.
Unwrapping the bright yellow swaddling clothes reveals the newborn's rosy and delicate body.
Perhaps startled by the surrounding noise, or perhaps it was his nature, little Erkh suddenly burst into tears.
The loud cries echoed throughout the hall.
Grandma Jixiang, however, remained calm and composed, smiling as she smoothed things over.
"The young prince has a loud voice; he will surely become a great and upright man in the future."
These words brought smiles to the faces of both Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and Emperor Kangxi.
Grandma Jixiang carefully lifted the child into the golden basin with water at the right temperature.
Use a soft gauze towel dipped in water mixed with locust leaves and mugwort to gently wipe the baby's head, neck, chest, back, and limbs.
They loudly recited the blessings passed down through generations.
"Wash your hair first, then you'll be a king."
"After washing the waist, each generation surpasses the last."
"Wash eggs, become a county magistrate."
"Wash the ditch, and you'll become a prefect."
With each line recited, a chorus of soft laughter rose from the surroundings.
Upon hearing "wash the egg" and "wash the hook," Jiang Nan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Looking at the scene before her, she suddenly felt a pang of regret.
It would be great if it could be made into a short video. When Erhe grows up and looks back at it, he will definitely find it funny.
She secretly pondered what would happen if this little guy ever dared to harbor even the slightest rebellious or defiant thoughts towards his mother.
Simply throw that video at him, and he'll immediately lose his temper and become obedient.
Thinking of what Kangxi had experienced in his childhood, his playful gaze unconsciously fell on him.
When she washed her ankles, Grandma Jixiang recited again.
"Where your feet rest on a goldfish bowl, you will enjoy wealth and prosperity for ten thousand years."
A eunuch had already placed a small gold bowl into the basin as a symbolic gesture.
Throughout the bathing process, Erkh cried at first.
Later, as she gradually got used to it, she even gently kicked her calves in the warm water, which she seemed to enjoy.
Jiang Nan, who was a little further away, looked on with great interest, her face filled with wonder.
As a modern-day office worker, she had never even seen such a solemn and special ceremony before.
After the bath, Grandma Jixiang wrapped Erhe in a warm, soft silk cloth and gently patted it dry.
She then took out a fresh, bright green scallion, gently patted it three times on the baby, and murmured something.
"First strike to make them clever, second strike to make them quick-witted, third strike to make them flee from evil spirits."
This is called "beating the clever," which symbolizes expelling evil and enlightening the mind.
The ceremony is now essentially over.
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang got up and personally hung a red gold locket engraved with the words "May you live a long and healthy life" around Erhe's neck.
She was kind and gentle.
"My great-grandson will surely be safe and well."
Emperor Kangxi also bestowed generous rewards, and all the palace servants in Yongshou Palace received gifts, filling the hall with sounds of gratitude.
Empress Hesheli, as was customary, also said a few words of congratulations to the Emperor and to Consort Jin for the birth of her son.
His tone was flat, but his eyes were filled with complex emotions.
When her gaze fell upon the healthy, lively baby, she thought of her own prematurely deceased son, Chenghu.
My heart ached as if pierced by needles, yet I had no choice but to force a smile.
Niohuru watched coldly, taking in the fleeting pain in the Empress's eyes, and sneered inwardly.
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Inside the sleeping quarters of Kunning Palace.
Empress Hesheli sat alone on the phoenix couch by the window.
She was still wearing the empress's formal court dress that she had worn for the third birthday celebration.
The heavy court hat made her neck ache, but she was completely unaware of it.
Since Chenghu's untimely death, she has been confined to her home until yesterday, and she has been mechanically eating some food every day.
Most of the time, I just sit alone like this, as if I've almost forgotten how to speak.
After a long while, she seemed to wake up from a long dream, and turned her stiff neck very slowly.
He looked at Ning Wei, the palace maid who stood by his side with her hands at her sides, and spoke in a dry, hoarse voice.
"What was the response from Father and the family to the message I was asked to convey to my mother?"
Upon hearing the sound, Ning Wei cautiously took half a step forward, her head bowed and her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
"Your Majesty, the Lady instructed me to tell you that for now... it is best to remain calm and obedient. Since the Emperor has shown his favor and lifted Your Majesty's confinement, he has given face to the Hesheli family and also given Your Majesty an opportunity. The Lady has instructed Your Majesty to calm down and try to win back the Emperor's favor so that you can produce a legitimate heir for the royal family as soon as possible. This is the only way to ensure stability."
The Queen listened quietly, her face expressionless.
She suddenly let out a sneer, the sound of which seemed particularly jarring in the empty palace.
"Behave yourself? Win back the Emperor's favor? Bear a prince? Ha... Is it that I don't want to have a child? But in the three months since I've been confined to my palace, has the Emperor even visited Kunning Palace once? I haven't even seen the Emperor's face. How can I have a child? How can I win him back?"
Her tone was laced with sarcasm and helplessness.
Ning Wei lowered her head even further, forcing herself to continue persuading him.
“Your Majesty, you are, after all, the Empress. Now that you have been released from confinement, according to ancestral etiquette, the Emperor must come on the first and fifteenth of each month. This is our opportunity. The Madam said that if the Emperor does not come on those days, the Master… the Master will submit another memorial to request his presence. Your Majesty, this is indeed the only way forward right now.”
The Empress remained silent.
She understood that although her family had not completely given up on her, their support was limited to this extent.
She would no longer receive a steady stream of capable people to assist her, as she had before.
The last time she abandoned Granny Jing to scheme against Lady Niohuru, she ultimately shot herself in the foot.
Her mother and father were utterly disappointed in her.
A feeling mixed with regret, loneliness, and abandonment rose from the bottom of my heart.
After a long while, she waved her hand wearily and weakly.
"Very well... I understand."
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