Chapter 113 Eve
Before the Golden Award Ceremony, Kangxi was about to lead everyone back to the palace, so all the concubines in Changchun Garden were packing up.
Qingxi Bookstore is no exception.
With Qingdai and Luchen around, Yuying didn't have to worry. She only needed to check the list again the night before leaving.
That night, Kangxi fell asleep early with Yuying in his arms. After all, he would not have such a leisurely life after returning to the palace.
The Golden Ban Festival is the birthday of the Manchu people, and was later known as the "National Birthday". It is one of the most important days for the Manchu people, so a grand celebration is held in the palace every year.
After living in Changchun Garden for so long, the concubines were reluctant to return to the palace when they heard the news. After all, who would want to return to the square Forbidden City after living in the garden for so long? But no matter how reluctant they were, they had to hurry up and pack their things according to the rules. After all, the emperor would not wait for anyone.
The next day, all the luggage had been loaded onto the car, and the concubines were waiting at the gate of Changchun Garden, eagerly waiting for Kangxi to arrive.
Kangxi personally supported the empress dowager and walked over from not far away, followed by Concubine Xuan and Yuying, who arrived late.
Didn't the Queen Mother just say that she would have to sit in the carriage for a long time, so she insisted on getting off the sedan chair and walking by herself, which wasted a lot of time.
The Queen Mother now looks much more energetic and vibrant, as if she has come over the death of the Grand Empress Dowager.
Only after Kangxi personally helped the empress dowager into the carriage did he have the opportunity to say goodbye to Yuying.
"Aying, see you after we return to the palace."
Kangxi was indeed reluctant to let her go. After all, Yuying would move back to Yongshou Palace after returning to the palace. Kangxi also asked Yuying to continue living in Qianqing Palace, but Yuying refused.
The team returning to the palace moved forward slowly.
When they saw the red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City, the carriages would be replaced by sedan chairs, and the concubines would sit in the sedan chairs to go to their respective palaces.
After being away for many days, Yuying returned to Yongshou Palace again.
The gate of Yongshou Palace was wide open, and Xiao Zhuozi and the palace maids and eunuchs who were unable to accompany Yuying to Changchun Garden had been standing there waiting for a long time.
When Yuying was asked to get off the sedan chair, everyone's faces were filled with joy. They knelt down and greeted Yuying.
Yuying raised her hand to signal everyone to stand up, and said with a smile: "Xiao Zhuozi, you have worked hard guarding Yongshou Palace while I am away."
"It's not hard for me! It's what I should do!" Xiao Zhuozi straightened his chest and answered loudly.
"Your Highness, please go in first. The servants have already cleaned the Yongshou Palace thoroughly, and there won't be a speck of dust to be found."
Hearing this, Yuying lifted her skirt and walked towards Yongshou Palace.
Along the way, it was indeed spotless just as Xiao Zhuozi said.
Yuying sat down at the main seat and motioned Qingtao to be shown to everyone.
The first day back in the palace was naturally busy.
After Yuying was settled, she sent Qingtao and the others to pack up the things they brought back from Changchun Garden. The clothes for the four seasons alone filled up the whole room, not to mention the various rewards given by Kangxi.
Qingtao and others had seen them all, but when Xiao Zhuozi and the others saw the boxes, they were really overwhelmed.
They worked until sunset. When the last box of gold, silver and jewelry was put into the warehouse, Xiao Zhuozi wiped the sweat from his forehead. The emperor had a deep affection for his empress.
Everyone in Yongshou Palace was busy, especially Kangxi.
He did not even have time to rest, and summoned the Ministry of Rites to the Qing Palace to discuss the Golden Festival. After the Ministry of Rites left, Imperial Noble Consort Tong Jia had been waiting in the side hall for a long time, and she was also waiting to discuss with Kangxi how the harem would celebrate the Golden Festival.
If there was a queen in the palace, the queen would be in charge of this matter. But the position of queen was vacant, and Tong Jia was not legitimate, so she could only plan it and then hand it over to Kangxi for decision.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Tong Jia bowed to Kangxi.
"No need to be polite, cousin."
Kangxi picked up the memorial presented by Tong Jia and began to read it. Tong Jia looked at Kangxi infatuatedly.
After a long while, Kangxi put the memorial down and said, "My cousin, your plan is very good. I will follow your arrangement."
"Yes, I will give the order then."
After finishing the serious business, Tong Jia had no reason to stay, so she turned to talk about other things with Kangxi.
"I met Xiao Ba before I came here, and I saw that Xiao Ba's stuttering had improved a lot. I guess my cousin must have put a lot of thought into it."
"It's all thanks to Concubine Jin. I dare not claim it for myself." Kangxi seemed to be interested.
Tong Jia's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal. She didn't expect Kangxi to mention someone else like this, but in order to spend more time with Kangxi, she continued with Kangxi's words: "Yes, Xiao Si also told me that Xiao Ba liked Jinpin more, and even complained to me about this."
"I also find it strange, why does Xiao Ba like Concubine Jin so much?"
Tong Jia didn't want to keep talking about other people with Kangxi, so she changed the subject.
After a while, seeing that it was getting dark, Kangxi began to send people away: "Cousin, I still have memorials to review, you should go back to the palace first."
Tong Jia stood up and did not leave. Instead, she approached Kangxi and said, "Cousin, it's late today. Can I stay here?"
Kangxi raised his eyes and stared at Tong Jia, as if wondering whether she did it on purpose today.
"The back hall of the Qianqing Palace has not been occupied for a long time, and it is covered with dust. Don't let your cousin down. I will ask Liang Jiugong to take you back."
After Kangxi finished speaking, he ordered Liang Jiugong beside him to take Tong Jia out.
Tong Jia left reluctantly.
When they reached the outside of the palace, Tong Jia tilted her head and looked at Liang Jiugong, "Eunuch Liang, there is no need to see me off. I can go back by myself."
There was a hint of anger in his tone.
Liang Jiugong had no choice but to return to the palace to report to Kangxi.
"What's wrong? Did the Imperial Concubine give you a cold look?" Seeing Liang Jiugong's sad face, Kangxi asked casually.
Liang Jiugong quickly put away the expression he had just revealed and said with a smile: "The Emperor still understands the Imperial Concubine."
Kangxi neither denied nor confirmed it, but just asked Liang Jiugong to go to Yongshou Palace.
"Since she doesn't need you to send her off, then you can go to Yongshou Palace for me and tell Concubine Jin that I won't be going there today."
He just rejected Tong Jia's request to stay overnight. If he went to Yongshou Palace again today, Kangxi was afraid that Tong Jia would bear a grudge against Yuying, so he had to put up with it.
On the other side, Tong Jia, who was riding on a sedan chair back to Chengqian Palace, told Zichang angrily about what had happened in the palace.
"That's clearly not what I meant! My cousin is playing dumb! How come Concubine Jin can stay in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, but I can't even stay for one night?"
This is not Chengqian Palace, they are walking on the palace road, people are coming and going, Zishang doesn't dare to respond to Tong Jia's question.
Fortunately, Tong Jia didn't care whether Zichang didn't respond to her or not. She twisted the handkerchief in her hand and sulked.
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