Chapter 69 Longevity
On the day of the Wanshou Festival, Yuying and Kangxi acted separately.
Kangxi got up early.
Hearing Kangxi getting up, Yuying also hurriedly got up from the bed.
Kangxi was helped to dress, and turned to ask Yuying: "Why don't you sleep a little longer?"
Yuying yawned and replied, "No, I have something to do today." Yuying still had to lead everyone in the small kitchen to make a birthday cake. Although she had experience of making it several times before, she still felt uneasy without keeping an eye on it. Besides, she was afraid that she would not be able to make it in time for the birthday banquet at noon.
Kangxi went ahead and went to the Nine Classics and Three Affairs Hall to meet with civil and military officials, royal family members and foreign envoys.
Yuying quickly washed up and rushed to the small kitchen with Qingtao and Luchen.
Everyone in the small kitchen was waiting for Yuying's instructions.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Get moving! Everyone, be quick!"
Until Yuying arrived, the whole small kitchen started spinning like a top.
Knowing that this was a gift to the Emperor, everyone put in their utmost effort and tried to achieve perfection.
As for the style of the cake, Yuying said that of course it would be whatever is auspicious and festive, just like the peach cake that you often see when there is an elder's birthday at home.
What? You said Kangxi wasn't that old, right? He was more than a dozen years older than Yuying, so how could he not be considered old?
When they were done, Lu Chen couldn't help but urge Yu Ying, "My lady, let's go back and change clothes first, otherwise it will be too late later."
"What time is it now?" Yuying asked.
"My Lord, it is already a quarter past noon."
Calculating the time, it was indeed a bit late. Yuying hurriedly took Luchen back to Qingxi Book House, leaving Qingtao to watch in the small kitchen.
In order to cater to Kangxi's birthday today, Yuying specially wore a festive color. Although there was a rule in the Qing Dynasty that only the main wife could not wear red, there were actually many similar colors. For example, Yuying's red coat with gold thread embroidered with swimming scales today, in order to match this dress, Yuying also specially wore a gold hairpin with a double phoenix holding a longevity fruit, which made her look energetic and charming.
Yuying looked at herself in the bronze mirror in ecstasy. She was so beautiful, it was really a bargain for Kangxi.
"My lady, it's time for us to set off for Wanshu Hongxia."
Seeing that Yuying didn't seem to be planning to leave, Lu Chen couldn't help but remind her.
This year's Wanshou Festival was not held in the Forbidden City, but was instead held in the Wanshu Hongxia in Changchun Garden.
Yuying brought Qingtao and Luchen with her, and behind them there was a little eunuch carrying a big cake.
Yuying didn't meet anyone along the way.
When they arrived at Wan Shu Hong Xia, there was a eunuch waiting at the door. Seeing Yu Ying coming, he came forward and said, "Your servant greets the noble lady Jin."
He glanced at what the eunuchs were carrying behind Yuying, and realized that it was a gift prepared for Kangxi, so he quickly showed Yuying the way.
"My lady, please move and take the gift to the side hall for registration."
After Yuying brought the cake over, he turned and entered the main hall.
At this time, most of the other concubines had arrived, and were now gathering in groups of three or four to talk with familiar people. Yuying had no acquaintances, and the familiar Concubine An and Concubine Zhang Jia had not come to the garden. The only people who could be considered familiar here were Concubine Xi and Concubine Hui.
It just so happened that these two didn't seem to get along well with her. But if Yuying had to choose, she would still prefer to be with Concubine Xi.
Yuying couldn't help but look for Concubine Xi.
Concubine Xi was standing with Concubine Yi and Noble Lady Guo Luoluo, and from a distance the atmosphere between the three seemed to be pretty good.
Concubine Xi saw Yuying looking at her from afar and turned her head away in disgust.
Concubine Yi watched her movements and looked over curiously. She happened to meet Yuying's gaze which she had not yet retracted. Concubine Yi was stunned.
Finally, he smiled and nodded to Yuying, then shifted his gaze and looked at Concubine Xi curiously: "You didn't suffer any loss in Chengqian Palace last time, why do you still dislike Concubine Jin so much?"
Concubine Xi's expression froze. She seemed unwilling to remember something, and said arrogantly, "Why should I like her?"
Concubine Yi replied, "She is favored now, so why bother to make trouble with her? Be careful that she whispers in the emperor's ear, or you will suffer the consequences!"
"Impossible!" Xi quickly retorted, "The Emperor will not listen to her."
She turned her head to the side with her chin held high, like a victorious rooster. But when Concubine Yi heard these words, she felt guilty.
Concubine Yi smiled and stopped talking about Yuying and changed the subject.
Yuying saw that Concubine Xi seemed not to want to see her, but it was not necessary for her to stand with anyone in order to fit in, so she sat in her seat with Qing Tao Lu Chen, quietly waiting for the meal to start.
Like her, Concubine Niohuru also did not talk to the concubines and sat quietly in her seat.
Concubine Niohuru sat on a high place with her eyes closed to rest, while the maid beside her stared at the concubines below with a pair of sharp eyes.
The Imperial Concubine was away, and Concubine Niu Hulu, as the highest-ranking concubine in Changchun Garden, naturally had to take care of all the concubines and take the lead. If something went wrong on such an important day, the Emperor would be the first to blame her.
Seeing that Concubine Niohuru had no intention of communicating with everyone, the other concubines spontaneously stayed away from her and even lowered their voices when speaking.
Seeing that the time was almost up, everyone took their seats.
Opposite Yuying sat Concubine Xi, and next to her was Concubine Duan. Kangxi actually ranked her at the top of all the noble ladies, even surpassing Concubine Guo Luoluo and Concubine Nara who had given birth to princes and princesses.
How could she have deserved this, Yuying thought.
After a while, Kangxi came in with the Crown Prince and other princes.
Everyone quickly stood up and saluted.
The other princes were arranged to go down and sit, and Kangxi led the crown prince to sit on the high seat.
"Everyone, stand up."
Yuying sat down again and breathed a sigh of relief.
As soon as Kangxi came in, he noticed Yuying. Seeing her dressed up today, which was rare, Kangxi's eyes lit up and he couldn't help but take a few more glances at her.
As for the other concubines?
Thinking about it carefully, it seems that he hasn't been to other concubines' palaces for a long time? At the beginning, he hoped to give her a child, so he worked hard on her, hoping to bear fruit soon. Later, she moved into the Palace of Heavenly Purity. If he summoned concubines to sleep with him again, he seemed to think it was weird; you said he went to the concubines' palace to spend the night directly? He couldn't bear to leave her alone in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
So as time went by, he got used to subconsciously looking for her figure and hearing her voice every day.
Looking at it again now, even the once favored Concubine Yi seems to have no extra thoughts in her mind?
Fortunately, he now has enough children, so it's not a bad idea to live like this in the future? As long as she can always be by his side.
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