Chapter 63 List
Once you enter the palace, it is like entering a deep sea. Once you enter the palace, you will have very few opportunities to leave the Forbidden City in your lifetime. Therefore, every day when you have the opportunity to leave the palace is worth remembering by everyone in the harem.
Ever since the news spread that she would be living in the garden for a long time, many concubines of lower rank have been sending gifts to Chengqian Palace, hoping that the Imperial Noble Consort would not forget them when drawing up the list.
As for the queens of each palace, they were proud of their status and naturally did not want to behave like the lower-ranking concubines.
It’s late at night, Chengqian Palace.
"Your Majesty, you should go to bed early." Zishang changed the burning candle in the candlestick for Tong Jia, her eyes full of pity.
"Ahem..." Tong Jia tightened her cloak, "I'm fine. The list of people accompanying me will be handed over to the emperor tomorrow. There must be no mistakes in this matter."
"But, Madam!" Zichang disagreed, "How can your body bear it if you hold on like this?"
"Alright, Zishang." Tong Jia's face turned pale, "I know what to do."
"Then the servant will accompany you."
Zichang stopped talking and stood quietly behind Tong Jia.
When the moonlight faded, leaving only a few scattered stars in the night sky and the sky in the east gradually turned pale, Tong Jia put down the pen.
"Alright, Zishang. Go down and have a rest first. It's a shame for you to stay up all night with me."
"Your Highness, I will help you go to bed first. In another hour, it will be time for the ladies from all the palaces to pay their respects."
Tong Jia followed his words and soon fell into a deep sleep. Zishang tucked the corner of the quilt for her and then quietly pushed the door open and left.
Half an hour later.
Yuying woke up in the West Warm Pavilion. Now that she was no longer under house arrest, she should pay her respects to the Imperial Concubine according to the rules.
As it turned out, he got up early and ran into Kangxi who was about to attend court.
"Why don't you sleep a little longer, Aying?" Lu Chen was putting court beads on Kangxi. Kangxi was standing not far from the bed. When he saw Yuying sitting up from the bed, he asked.
Yuying sat up from the bed and yawned, "I still have to go pay my respects to the Imperial Concubine, so I have to go early."
Seeing that Yuying didn't seem to be getting enough sleep, Kangxi said, "If Yuying doesn't want to go, I will send someone to Chengqian Palace to let her know."
"No need, I'm awake." Yuying climbed down from the bed and saw Kangxi was about to put on the imperial crown, "Your Majesty, let me wear it."
Kangxi was surprised and handed the crown to Yuying.
Yuying took it with both hands and felt it in her hands. It was quite heavy. Thinking that Kangxi had to wear such a heavy crown to attend court every day, she couldn't help but feel a little sympathetic.
Yuying lifted the imperial crown, and Kangxi bent down to match Yuying's movements. Seeing this, the servants around him all lowered their heads.
Wait for Yuying to help Kangxi put it on and then adjust the position.
Yuying stood away, looking at her masterpiece with satisfaction. Kangxi let her look at it, "What do you think, Ah Ying?"
"very good!"
After Kangxi left, Yuying hurriedly washed up and rushed to Chengqian Palace, but it was almost too late. Fortunately, the Imperial Concubine had not appeared yet.
Yuying bowed to all the high-ranking ladies according to the rules, still in the familiar position.
Today, no one came to trouble Yuying anymore, and everyone was looking forward to the appearance of the Imperial Concubine.
Noblewoman Guo Luoluo beside Yuying said, "Noblewoman Jin, do you know who is on the entourage list this time?"
Unexpectedly, Concubine Guo Luoluo would actually ask her for information, but Yuying really didn't know that except for her, Kangxi had handed over the rest of the list to the Imperial Concubine.
Therefore, I could only answer truthfully: "I don't know. The emperor has already handed this matter over to the Royal Concubine to arrange."
After much anticipation, Tong Jia finally came out.
"Your concubine pays homage to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine. May Your Majesty be blessed with good health." Everyone stood up and saluted.
"Everyone, please stand up." Tong Jia sat in the main seat. "I know you are all concerned about the list of people for this trip." She paused, turned around and told Zi Shang: "Take down the list and show it to everyone."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zishang handed the list to Concubine Niohuru first.
After receiving it, Concubine Niu Hulu opened it and saw that she was indeed on the first line of the list. She bowed to Tong Jia and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Then the story went on and it was revealed that Concubine Hui, Concubine Rong, and Concubine Yi were all there, but among the four concubines the only one missing was Concubine De.
Concubine De remained silent and passed the list to the next person.
Seeing that Defei looked strange, Tong Jia explained condescendingly: "After all, the garden is not like the palace. Defei sister is accompanied by two young princes and princesses. It is not convenient after all. It is better for you to stay in the palace for the time being."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."
Tong Jia looked at Concubine De being humble in front of her, and the depression in her heart dissipated a little.
All the princes and princesses in the harem who can run and jump will go on this trip, and the Fourth Prince Yinzhen is naturally no exception, but the emperor wants her to stay in the palace.
Since she couldn't go, she would never give Defei the chance to get close to Yinzhen.
Tong Jia suppressed the strange look in her eyes.
When everyone has finished looking, those who can go have happy expressions on their faces, while those who can't go have sad faces. For a moment, you can guess the result just by looking at everyone's faces.
Zichang put the list away again.
"If there is no objection, I will present this list to the Palace of Heavenly Purity today." Tong Jia looked at the people below and spoke.
Those who could go naturally had no objection, but those who could not go, seeing that Concubine De had never spoken up, naturally did not dare to be the first to speak up.
Everyone looked at each other and said in unison, "Everything is up to the Queen."
Tong Jia nodded with satisfaction, "In that case, it's getting late, let's go today."
Yuying followed the crowd and walked out of Chengqian Palace.
"Mr. Jin, please stay."
It’s Zishang.
Yuying stopped as she was told.
"Your Majesty, please allow Concubine Jin to have a moment with you."
Yuying followed Zishang, passed through numerous corridors, and came to the back hall of Chengqian Palace.
"Please sit down." Tong Jia looked at Yuying.
This was the second time Yuying had been alone with Tong Jia. Normally, when they paid their respects in the palace, they were far away from each other and she didn't notice her. But now that she was closer, Yuying realized that compared to the first time they met, Tong Jia seemed to have lost a lot of weight without her noticing. The originally loose Manchu dress looked even more empty on her body.
"My queen, why did you ask me to come here?" Are you asking her to learn some etiquette? Yuying straightened herself up and tried to behave herself.
Qingtao followed behind Yuying and looked at her worriedly.
Tong Jia noticed Yuying's little trick and said, "Now she seems to be much more well-behaved."
Yuying smiled awkwardly.
"Although the Emperor has pardoned you from punishment, if you dare to do it again, I will not let you off lightly. Don't blame me for being merciless then."
Tong Jia said harsh words and stared at Yuying coldly.
"Yes, my lady. I have repented."
Yuying agreed immediately.
"I hope you are truly repentant." Tong Jia was not going to pamper her. "Zishang will send the list of people accompanying this trip to the Palace of Heavenly Purity later. You can go back with her."
Tong Jia tried to turn a blind eye and started to drive them away.
Yuying wished she could leave as soon as possible, and quickly stood up, "Then I will take my leave."
Yuying turned and left, and Tong Jia then turned her gaze back to Yuying, with endless fatigue in her eyes.
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