Laughter echoed through the courtyard of Xianfu Palace.
Meanwhile, the apricot blossoms were finally picked, and the soaked and steamed glutinous rice, cooked through but not mushy, and translucent, was taken out. The rest of the work for today was about to begin.
First, pour cooled boiled water into the cooked glutinous rice to cool it down. While it was cooling down, Wan Anran called on everyone to wash their hands.
The palace servants of Xianfu Palace were already used to this procedure, but the wet nurse behind the eldest princess frowned and muttered, "The eldest princess is of noble birth, how could she do these things... um?"
Before she could finish speaking, the wet nurse shut her mouth tightly.
After all, His Highness the Crown Prince was also washing his hands with scented soap, and he even mentioned the recent trend in the palace: "After Father Khan issued the decree, the eunuchs will wash their hands very clean. I didn't know their hands were so white before; I thought they were all pitch black!"
By the end of the rant, Prince Bao Cheng's face had turned black.
Thinking back to those dirty hands that used to serve him, he wondered how much filth had gone into his stomach! He shook his head, quickly trying to shake these chaotic thoughts out of his head.
The eldest princess's wet nurse dared not speak.
She was wholeheartedly concerned for her young mistress, fearing that she might be neglected after entering the palace. Now, seeing that even the Crown Prince hadn't said a word, and that the Emperor was likely to feel the same way, she was almost ready to bow deeply and urge the eldest princess to wash her hands with a beaming smile.
Only by cultivating a good relationship with the Crown Prince can one gain the Emperor's favor!
The eldest princess knew what the nanny was thinking, but she was only seven years old and still very shy. The eldest princess lowered her head and carefully washed her hands, then silently stood next to Wan Anran again.
I feel more relaxed here than Wan Chang.
Wan Anran glanced at the eldest princess, then, taking advantage of her momentary lapse in attention, grabbed her small hand and shoved it into the basin. The soft, sticky rice clung to her hand—a strange sensation she'd never experienced before! The eldest princess opened her eyes wide, looking at Wan Changzai with a slightly bewildered expression: "What...what should we do next?"
"Next, break them all apart."
“…Hmm.” The eldest princess reached out and pinched it. The soft, squishy texture made her eyes light up. She rubbed and kneaded it with her little hands, having a great time.
Wan Anran also started causing trouble.
A moment later, she nudged the eldest princess with her elbow: "Look! This is a heart."
Wan Fu laughed out loud.
He buried himself in his work, saying, "It's just a small act of kindness, look at my crabs!"
Its oval body and large pincers made it look exactly like a real crab, which amused the eldest princess. She rubbed her face together for a moment, then presented a long, thin piece with both hands: "A caterpillar!"
Crown Prince Bao Cheng was not to be outdone.
He muttered and fiddled with it for a while: "Look, a cat!"
The soft, fluffy glutinous rice is like a toy to children.
The once introverted and timid eldest princess suddenly transformed herself into a five-pointed star, then a moon, and then a cloud.
After playing for a full cup of tea's time, the three of them stopped at the call of the noble lady. They put crushed yeast into the loose glutinous rice, then poured in finely chopped apricot petals, mixed them carefully, and then put them into a clean, dry jar.
Even after reaching this point, Wan Anran still had some doubts: "Once the wine is produced at the center, won't it just be sweet rice wine?"
Noble Lady Nara instructed the palace servants to put the jar away safely.
She then nodded to Wan Anran: "That's right, it will take another ten days or so for it to turn into rice wine again. Let's keep a few jars to share, and open the rest tomorrow!"
"Wow! Your Highness, the Crown Prince, the Eldest Princess, and Wan Fu, you're in for a treat tomorrow!"
"This is wine? Can we drink it?" His Highness the Crown Prince was greatly surprised.
"Both the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess can eat it. It's super delicious with eggs and sweet rice wine!" Wan Anran reminded her with a smile, cupping her cheeks. This was one of the snacks she looked forward to the most when she was a child. The soft glutinous rice balls, the fragrant eggs, and the sweet rice wine were so sweet that they made her mouth water just thinking about them.
The crown prince finally revealed a childlike curiosity.
He, along with the eldest princess and Wan Fu, hovered around Wan Anran, insisting that Wan Changzai say more. Wan Anran was happy to recall, and soon brought up other ways to cook it: "You can also use milk, add some almonds and goji berries and cook it together, it tastes very good! Hmm... You can also add some glutinous rice flour to make rice cakes, that's also delicious..."
The various ways of eating it left everyone stunned.
Even Noble Lady Nara, who had originally planned to cook sweet fermented rice balls for the three of them the next day, couldn't help but admit defeat, shaking her head repeatedly: "You! You're such a glutton!"
As dusk approached, the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess reluctantly bid farewell. Wan Anran, sitting back in her room, felt somewhat tired. With her mood relaxed, her eyelids grew heavier, and she let out a large yawn: "Let's boil some hot water to soak our feet."
Take off your socks and put your feet into the warm water.
The moment she soaked in the water, Wan Anran felt so comfortable that she couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. After rubbing herself left and right, she finally felt like she had come back to life.
Ju Bai squatted down to rub Wan Anran's feet.
Wan Anran quickly stopped her—dressing and makeup were done, but washing her feet was something she should do herself. Seeing that Ju Bai still wanted to speak, she quickly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, has there been any news from the palace lately?"
"The most sensational news in the palace recently is, of course, the eldest princess." Ju Bai continued, following the lady's words, "If you ask me, the eldest princess is also a pitiful person."
Zisu reached out and pinched a handful of orange.
She raised her eyes and glared angrily: "What are you saying? How dare you pity the eldest princess?"
The eldest princess is the most precious child in the palace!
Ju Bai murmured in agreement, lowering his eyebrows and raising his hands, not daring to say anything more.
"Ju Bai, what do you think?" Wan Anran asked with a hint of curiosity, thinking of the timid eldest princess.
"Yes." Hearing that the young mistress did not seem to be blaming her, Ju Bai continued, "This servant has heard that the eldest princess is not a princess born to the primary wife of Prince Gong, but rather to a concubine."
The concubine's words sound nice.
In reality, she was not officially appointed, nor was she registered in the imperial register, nor did she receive any official robes or hat. Her status in the Prince's residence was only slightly higher than that of a Gege (a lower-ranking concubine). Most importantly, a Consort could enter the palace, while a Secondary Consort didn't even have the opportunity to do so.
"Could it be..." Wan Anran's drowsiness vanished completely, and she whispered, "Could it be that the eldest princess's birth mother and the primary consort don't get along?"
"Just as Your Highness thought." Ju Bai nodded. "I've heard that this concubine's relationship with the principal wife is strained, and they both gave birth to children around the same time. More importantly, this concubine has three daughters in total, one of whom died young, and another just died before the eldest princess was sent to the palace!"
Having lost two daughters in quick succession, and with her last daughter being sent to the palace? As a concubine, she didn't even have the qualifications to enter the palace; this concubine was likely already under the control of the principal wife. Just hearing this, Wan Anran, Hai Tao, and Zi Su all gasped in shock.
This is truly killing someone by breaking their spirit.
Judging from the eldest princess's previous words, she seemed to have a good impression of Prince Gong's wife. Compared to the information Ju Bai received, it was hard not to feel a little strange.
Even Wan Anran had a fleeting thought.
Did this Princess Consort of Prince Gong really not know that caterpillars can transform into not only butterflies but also moths? Filled with gossip, Wan Anran became even more enthusiastic towards the eldest princess the next day, while also showing a touch of pity.
The eldest princess was still somewhat flattered, her doe-like eyes wide open as she carefully savored a bowl of sweet fermented rice balls.
Small, colorful dumplings floated up and down in a white porcelain bowl, accompanied by red goji berries, green peas, sweet glutinous rice grains, sweet fermented rice, and strands of egg.
After drinking it, I felt warm all over.
The sweet aroma attracted many people, including Emperor Kangxi, who shamelessly tried a bowl. Under the reproachful gaze of Consort Wan, he remained calm and said, "I came at the invitation of the Crown Prince, specifically to taste the filial piety of the Crown Prince, the Ninth Prince, and the First Princess."
Crown Prince Bao Cheng looked completely bewildered.
He shook his head repeatedly behind Kangxi's back, expressing his deep sorrow and indignation.
Don't underestimate me!
This has absolutely nothing to do with me!
Emperor Kangxi was incredibly shameless.
It was a rare treat to drink something so sweet, and it had a unique flavor. He smacked his lips, wiped them, and hurried away.
He left one last sentence.
After the apricot blossom wine is made, it must be sent to the Qianqing Palace.
Good heavens, they've eaten what's in their bowl but are still eyeing what's in the pot.
Prince Bao Cheng's lips were pouting so much they could hang an oil bottle on them—after all, how many years would it take before he could taste apricot blossom wine? He felt like he'd been working for nothing QAQ
The crowd chattered and condemned the emperor's wicked intentions.
What do you usually do to build good relationships in a company? You complain about your incompetent boss! Gather together and secretly badmouth the boss, and before you know it, the smiles on everyone's faces become brighter and brighter.
The eldest princess was still a little reluctant to leave Xianfu Palace.
The restraint, tension, and fear she felt in the palace gradually dissipated in Xianfu Palace, giving her a rare moment of relaxation and comfort. She walked to the main gate, turning back every few steps, when her wet nurse nervously tugged at the princess's sleeve: "Princess, you can't do this!"
The wet nurse nervously observed her surroundings.
She was terrified: what if word got back to the Empress and people thought you had some kind of grudge against her?
"Oh, right." Wan Anran jogged forward, with Hai Tao behind her carrying a food box, her face slightly flushed. "Wait, this portion is for Her Majesty the Empress."
Wan Anran squatted down.
She reached out and ruffled the eldest princess's hair: "I'm sure Her Majesty the Empress will like it."
The eldest princess responded softly.
As she approached Kunning Palace, her heart began to race. The eldest princess ran excitedly into Kunning Palace, her skipping footsteps bringing a touch of joy to the tranquil palace.
She walked all the way to the Queen's bedchamber.
Granny Zhou instinctively reached out to stop the eldest princess, lowering her voice: "Eldest Princess, Her Majesty is resting."
"...Then I'll come back later." The eldest princess's bright eyes dimmed, and after answering somewhat awkwardly, she turned away reluctantly. The empress was busy with palace affairs, and apart from the morning and evening greetings and breakfast, she hadn't seen her much in the few days since she entered the palace.
Perhaps... she doesn't like herself?
Like a stepmother who would hug her and call her "my sweet little girl," but then turn around and tell Yongshou not to play with her.
A hint of disappointment flashed in the eldest princess's eyes.
Granny Zhou felt as if her conscience had been pierced by a sharp arrow, and she clutched her chest, feeling somewhat flustered.
However, the lady has been very busy lately...
Just as she was hesitating, the Empress's voice came from inside the hall: "Is this the eldest princess? Granny Zhou, please let the eldest princess in."
Granny Zhou breathed a sigh of relief.
She quickly put on a smile and pushed open the door: "Princess, please come in!"
The eldest princess's eyes sparkled.
With a stern expression and holding her breath, she stepped into the main hall: "Your subject greets Your Majesty the Empress."
"Why all the formalities? Come here quickly," the Empress called out with a smile. She beckoned the eldest princess to her side and looked her over for a moment: "You've been to Xianfu Palace these past two days, haven't you? Did Consort Wan treat you to some food and drinks?"
"How did the Empress Dowager know?" The eldest princess was extremely surprised.
"Of course I know." The Empress gently stroked the eldest princess's nose, her eyes filled with a warm smile. "The eldest princess smells so sweet, like she's been soaked in candy!"
As she spoke, she pinched the eldest princess's cheek.
The eldest princess giggled, revealing deep dimples on her cheeks that made her look incredibly cute. She boldly asked her wet nurse to bring up the food box: "Today, Consort Wan gave me some sweet fermented rice balls! I even brought some back for Your Majesty to try!"
The eldest princess mustered her courage.
Beads of sweat appeared on her nose as she emphasized, "From fermented rice to glutinous rice balls... they were all made by your son."
The Empress's eyes widened slightly, and she stood there stunned.
Perhaps because the Empress had been silent for too long, the expectation in the eldest princess's eyes gradually dimmed. She lowered her head silently, and after a long while, she managed to squeeze out dry words: "Doesn't Your Majesty like sweets? I'm sorry..."
"What are you apologizing for?" the Empress quickly interrupted the eldest princess. She happily picked up the eldest princess and placed her on her lap, gesturing for Granny Zhou to quickly open the food box.
A sweet aroma wafted out.
The sweet fermented rice balls were still slightly warm. The Queen picked up a spoon, gently scooped up a spoonful, and slowly put it in her mouth. Although it was only slightly warm, it felt incredibly hot and sweet as it entered her heart.
"Is it good?" the eldest princess asked nervously.
"...It's delicious, the best dessert I've ever had." The Empress's voice grew even softer.
The eldest princess's smile blossomed.
Her cheeks were flushed as she happily recounted her stories from Xianfu Palace. The Empress also spoke softly until the eldest princess nodded her little head, at which point she had the wet nurse take her back.
As soon as the eldest princess and her entourage left, the empress couldn't stop coughing.
Granny Zhou was on high alert.
She rushed forward: "My lady, this servant will go and fetch the imperial physician right away!"
"It's just a cough, why call the imperial physician?" The Empress waved her hand. "There's a mountain of palace affairs to attend to, and the Emperor's birthday is almost here..."
The Empress was overwhelmed with the dilemma of having to demonstrate the grandeur of the court while also being frugal within limited resources. She had no time to spare for these minor ailments and had to consult the imperial physician.
"Your Highness, that lady in Chengqian Palace falls ill one, two, three, or four times every year, and we're still constantly calling for imperial physicians. Even Consort Wan knows that health is the most important thing, Your Highness, don't you know that?" Granny Zhou nagged with a stern face. Today, when the eldest princess mentioned Consort Wan, Granny Zhou also remembered what she had said before the New Year.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Her Majesty started feeling unwell occasionally before the Lunar New Year, and after the New Year, it gradually turned into a cough. Now, she has been coughing for more than half a month. After being diagnosed with a cold, Her Majesty has been busy with palace affairs without any slackness, except for taking two doses of medicine every day. Whenever I try to persuade her, she always says the same thing: "I will rest after I finish dealing with the palace affairs."
The workload in the palace increases daily and can never be completely finished.
What if she ruined her health because of these palace affairs? The more Zhou Mama thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. For the first time, she, who usually obeyed the Empress's orders, rebelled. Not only did Zhou Mama ask the Empress to go back to her bed to rest, but she also asked the palace servants to invite the imperial physician.
This is where the trouble started.
The next day, Wan Anran received news from the front hall: "Her Majesty the Empress is ill!"
He was still paying his respects to his parents every morning and evening as usual yesterday, so why is he sick today?
Wan Anran's heart skipped a beat.
Empress Niohuru died of illness less than a year after her investiture… This news resurfaced in the depths of her mind. Wan Anran's eyelashes trembled slightly, her breath caught in her throat, and a fearful thought rose in her heart: Is the fate in the book truly unchangeable?
Ju Bai went out and inquired around.
When she returned, her face was pale: "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager have both rushed to Kunning Palace! I heard that even the power of the palace has been temporarily handed over to Consort Tong, and the Empress Dowager has also issued an edict to Consort An, Consort Jing, Consort Duan, and Consort Rong to assist in the management of palace affairs!"
If the Empress's illness was merely a ripple on the lake, then the news of the transfer of power was a raging storm! Not only was Wan Anran panicked, but the entire harem was shrouded in a shadow.
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