Toldi was very efficient.
Besides the bamboo bear, lambs, and calves, he quickly introduced other animals, such as antelopes, Pallas's rabbits, leopard cats, and civets. It is said that a pair of tigers and a pair of clouded leopards were originally sent, but because they were too fierce, Tolbi kept them elsewhere to avoid any mishaps.
In addition, there are some birds: such as the green-tailed pheasant with its metallic plumage and the red-necked crane with its unique and beautiful colors... Torbi also conducted a detailed investigation of the animals' living environment and used this information to carefully renovate the animal park.
The sheer scale of the project filled Wan Anran with awe and admiration for her father's boldness. Because of this, the animal park would likely take some time to complete, but Wan Anran was already quite satisfied.
After all, many of the animals here are now difficult to find in later generations. She invited her friends to the rare animal park to enjoy the scenery. The Empress and Consort Xuan also liked the gentle and cute bamboo bears very much; their black and white color scheme is adorable in any era!
No matter how cute the baby bamboo bear is, it's still a bear. After the Empress and Consort Xuan played with it for a while, they led Wen Xian and Yin E to see the fluffy lambs and calves.
After all, the two children are quite young. What if they develop an interest in the adorable bamboo bear and insist on keeping it as a pet? Even if the Empress and Consort Xuan were bold and certain that it was harmless, they would not dare to keep a bamboo bear in the palace.
Wan Anran, who was strolling around holding Yin Tao's hand in one hand and a little panda's hand in the other, couldn't help but shake her head. Foolish humans! In later generations, I wonder how many people would want this kind of treatment but not be able to get it!
The animal park also attracted the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager.
Wan Anran stepped forward with a smile, but her smile froze the moment she reached out to support the Empress Dowager. The coldness of her hand made her subconsciously hold her breath, and her brows furrowed tightly.
It's summer now...
The blazing sun hung high in the sky, relentlessly radiating heat. In such weather, even standing outside for a short while would leave you drenched in sweat.
But the Empress Dowager...
A hint of worry flashed in Wan Anran's eyes: "Empress Dowager, how has your health been lately?"
"It seems to be similar to before," the Empress Dowager replied with a smile. She seemed oblivious to Consort Qi's unusual behavior, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she surveyed the surroundings, asking with slight curiosity about the animals.
Wan Anran suppressed her worries.
As she carefully introduced the animals, she helped the Empress Dowager walk inside. The Empress Dowager asked about the animals, but she seemed somewhat absent-minded. Her gaze lingered on the concubines and princesses for a moment before finally returning to Consort Qi's face.
Wan Anran was somewhat puzzled.
The Empress Dowager simply patted her hand and slowly continued walking inside.
As they approached the bamboo bear enclosure, Wan Anran and her group heard a commotion. Wan Anran glanced up and couldn't help but twitch her lips.
Inside the glass wall, a tiny bamboo bear was kicking its short legs in a bamboo basket, while outside the glass wall, Yin Tao was also trying to squeeze into a similar bamboo basket, sticking out his chubby feet, his shoes and socks already kicked to the other side.
A hint of a smile flashed in Sumala's eyes.
She half-squatted down and gently helped the twelfth prince put on his socks and shoes, then helped him sit down.
Yin Tao gave Su Ma La a sweet smile: "Thank you, Grandma!"
Sumala was stunned for a moment.
She then said, both amused and exasperated, "Twelfth Prince, this servant cannot accept such an honor."
The Empress Dowager glanced at Consort Qi out of the corner of her eye.
Wan Anran remained remarkably calm about the scene. Historically, Yin Tao was raised by Su Ma La, so what if he only called her "Grandma" in this life? In the end, as a concubine, Yin Tao, born to her own father, had no chance of being adopted by Su Ma La.
If that's the case, what is there to worry about?
The Empress Dowager naturally understood. Looking at the silly, grinning Yin Tao, she sighed for a moment. Little Twelfth seemed to be a good-natured person.
It's just a pity...
The Empress Dowager had noticed Consort Qi's surprised look earlier, and she could also clearly feel her body growing weaker day by day. The Emperor was already far more outstanding than she had expected, the Crown Prince was growing up steadily, and many of the princes were growing up healthy and strong, with promising futures, all of which made the Empress Dowager extremely relieved.
The one I'm most worried about is Sumala.
Although the Empress Dowager would certainly treat Sumala leniently, it would be even better if she could have a child to take care of her. The best choice now is the thirteenth prince, born to Consort Zhangjia of Chengqian Palace... but how should I put it?
The Empress Dowager still valued Buddhism.
She always felt that the feng shui of Chengqian Palace was not good, and she didn't think much of Consort Zhangjia and the Thirteenth Prince.
Then there's the Twelfth Prince.
The twelfth prince was cute and had a good personality. He also frequently visited Cining Palace and was quite familiar with Sumala. He was the best candidate in the mind of the Empress Dowager.
Unfortunately, the twelfth prince was born to Consort Qi.
Even though he had once taught the emperor and was one of his close associates, Sumala was still a servant.
If Consort Qi's child were given to Sumala, what would become of Consort Qi's reputation? The Empress Dowager hesitated for a long time, but finally suppressed her thoughts. She walked around the animal park, but even the adorable little bamboo bears couldn't calm her mind, and she left still worried.
Soon the Empress Dowager stopped being in a hurry.
Good news came from Consort Ping: she was three months pregnant.
The Empress Dowager was delighted.
Isn't this just like a pillow being delivered when you're about to fall asleep? She sought out the Emperor and Empress and proposed her plan: "I would like to entrust this child of Consort Ping to Sumala for upbringing."
Sumala shuddered.
She was about to politely decline when the Emperor beat her to it. Kangxi calmly nodded: "It is Grandmother's decision."
Compared to the composed Kangxi Emperor, the Empress's expression was much more complex. She was a beat slow to respond.
The Empress then instructed the palace servants to increase the reward by three points.
Not only the Empress, but also the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. While the concubines were whispering and suspicious, they all increased the number of gifts, which made Consort Ping unusually excited.
"It must be because of His Highness the Crown Prince."
"It must be because of His Highness the Crown Prince."
Whether it was other concubines or Consort Ping, they all blamed the Crown Prince for this.
After all, as the Crown Prince began learning state affairs from the Emperor, praises from ministers would frequently circulate in the court, lauding his exceptional talent and outstanding temperament, deeming him the perfect successor to the Qing Dynasty. Whether true or not, the fact that these rumors were circulating at least indicated that the Emperor valued the Crown Prince more and more.
Consort Ping was overjoyed.
The palace servants beamed and praised the child in the princess's belly, saying, "The child in the princess's belly is His Highness the Crown Prince's own brother, so he is naturally different from others."
Consort Ping rolled her eyes at the palace maid: "Nonsense."
However, her voice was gentle and she did not blame anyone. The palace maids knew that their mistress was pleased, so they showered her with flattery and praise, praising Consort Ping and her unborn child to the skies. Consort Ping was delighted and rewarded everyone handsomely.
At the same time, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Consort Ping touched the pomegranate tree ornament that the Empress had sent, and secretly wondered to herself—the Empress probably didn't know about that matter, right?
Inside the Wutong Courtyard.
The Empress leaned lazily against the swing, with two palace maids standing behind her fanning her, and two other palace maids kneeling at her feet massaging her legs. The Empress squinted her eyes, enjoying the cool breeze, and listened to the palace maids talking about interesting things in Changchun Garden.
This interesting story, of course, refers to news about Consort Ping.
Hearing Consort Ping refer to the child in her womb as the Crown Prince's own brother, the Empress raised her eyelids and couldn't help but sneer.
The palace servants dared not utter a sound.
The palace maid, who had been speaking so vividly, knelt down silently. The Empress glanced at her and said, "Get up and continue."
The palace maid breathed a sigh of relief.
She stood up but dared not stop, only lowering her eyes to look at the instep, and continued to tell interesting stories softly, until the Empress stopped talking again.
The empress had the palace maids rewarded.
She waved everyone away, picked up her cool tea, and took a sip: "Consort Ping, oh Consort Ping."
Aunt He said coldly, "Your Majesty, Consort Ping is really bold!" She actually referred to the child in her womb as the Crown Prince's younger brother. Isn't she eyeing the Empress's throne?
The Empress originally intended to make Consort Ping suffer a bit.
But ever since she heard the Empress Dowager's words, she had no such intention. Now she chuckled and said, "The more smug Consort Ping is, the more she will suffer in the future!"
From the Crown Prince's own brother to a prince and princess raised by servants, it's uncertain whether Consort Ping can withstand this blow. And it's also uncertain whether the proud Crown Prince can accept this 'own brother'.
The Empress's eyes were icy cold.
Only when she heard cheerful laughter outside and Wen Xian skipped in carrying a small lantern did the coldness on her face completely disappear, revealing a gentle smile: "Wen Xian is back? Where is your older sister?"
Wen Xian rushed into the Empress's arms.
She snuggled against her mother affectionately, saying, "Big sister runs slowly, but I run fast!"
The eldest princess then stepped into the courtyard.
She curtsied and greeted him, then pinched Wen Xian's cheek and complained, "Big sister is carrying something in her hand!"
Wen Xian struggled, shaking his head.
The eldest princess snorted and then presented the pastry box to the Empress: "Empress Mother, these are egg yolk pastries that Consort Qi taught us to make. My sister and I both made them!"
The Empress smiled gently.
She opened the box, glanced at it, and laughed: "These three were made by the eldest princess, and these three... were made by Wen Xian."
The former is round and regular, while the latter is crooked and twisted.
Wen Xian's cheeks flushed, and she clung to the Empress like a pretzel, pleading, "Empress Mother, please don't tell anyone!"
When it was time to eat egg yolk pastries, the Mid-Autumn Festival was also approaching. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather gradually turned cooler, and Emperor Kangxi, who had spent more than half a year in Changchun Garden, reluctantly set off to return to the palace.
Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager fell ill as soon as she returned to the palace.
The Empress Dowager was quite old, and even during the changing seasons, she would fall ill for three to five days every winter. At first, Emperor Kangxi didn't pay much attention, thinking it was just a minor illness. However, after the Golden Festival, when the Empress Dowager's condition had worsened, Emperor Kangxi became truly worried.
The Empress Dowager is in a coma.
From the moment this news reached the Emperor, Kangxi ordered the Crown Prince to oversee the state affairs and entrusted the affairs of the court to the Grand Secretaries and ministries. Even the war in the Northwest could not attract the slightest attention from Kangxi.
Emperor Kangxi lived in the Cining Palace, where he was always by his side to attend to his illness.
Besides him, the Empress Dowager and the Empress, along with a group of concubines, took turns attending to him during his illness.
Wan Anran held the medicine in her hands, remaining silent.
Emperor Kangxi had lost a great deal of weight, and his once-fitting clothes now looked loose. He had dark circles under his eyes, high cheekbones, and sunken cheeks, but even so, he had no intention of resting and personally served him medicine day and night.
Wan Anran stared blankly at the Empress Dowager on her sickbed.
Suddenly her pupils contracted, and she cried out in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! The Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager has awakened!"
The Empress Dowager's fingertips trembled slightly.
She opened her eyes, and the moment Wan Anran met her gaze, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
These eyes appear clear, yet they are shrouded in a layer of mist.
The Empress Dowager, who had been in a coma for so many days, suddenly awoke... which doesn't seem like a good omen.
Wan Anran dared not think any further.
The Empress Dowager seemed to look at her for a long time before recognizing Wan Anran: "Consort Qi...? Have someone bring up a bowl of ginseng soup."
Wan Anran lowered her head and sniffed.
She responded softly and hurriedly left the bedchamber, calling for the palace servants to prepare ginseng soup.
The snow fell heavily, turning the entire Forbidden City into a white world. Wan Anran picked up the ginseng soup presented by the palace servants and stepped into the inner room. Just as she stood outside the beaded curtain, she heard the Emperor's mournful cry: "Grandma Emperor!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a loud cry broke out.
The soup bowl fell from Wan Anran's fingertips and slammed heavily onto the ground.
That New Year, the Forbidden City was completely serene, without any gaudy decorations.
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