New Bride (Part 1)

  Yunzhu let out a soft hum, her whole body aching, her limbs feeling as if they had been disassembled and reassembled, extremely uncomfortable. A warm large hand gently stroked her cheek, "Awake?" The voice was low and husky, with the clarity and magnetism unique to young men.

  Yunzhu was startled for a moment, and then she calmed down. She had gotten married, and the person who appeared beside her pillow was her current husband, Fuqin, Aixinjueluo Hongli. She let out a quiet sigh of relief, thinking about what she had seen in her dream, and a faint smile played on her lips as she gazed at him intently. Indeed, there was a purple aura above his head like a canopy, and the energy she had absorbed last night was nothing but a drop in the ocean to him.

  As for whether to return the dragon energy to him, she was not in a hurry. This person's lifespan was so long that several decades were not a problem for him. Moreover, if she really had that ability, she would rather let Yongzheng be emperor for a few more years, which would also temper this person's temperament... Unfortunately, at present, the only thing she could do was to take out food and drink from space to nourish her body, as for the rest... her abilities were insufficient, and her energy was insufficient.

  "Did you sleep well?" He leaned over and kissed the smile on her lips, asking intimately. This was the most fragrant and satisfying sleep he had ever had since he was born, feeling very warm and complete.

  "I fainted." Yunzhu gave him a sideways glance, letting him think for himself. Hongli was embarrassed and smiled slightly with a hint of complacency, carefully helping her sit up. Seeing her furrowed brow, he couldn't help but ask: "Are you really feeling unwell?"

  "My whole body feels like it's been torn into a hundred and eighty pieces, so uncomfortable." She wrinkled her small nose, completely unaware that a certain dragon was staring at her with burning eyes. "I'll take a hot bath, is there still time?"

  "It's very early." He had the habit of getting up early to read since he was a child. He wanted to call someone in to help him get dressed, but thinking that Yúnzhū was still half asleep, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He didn't want others to see her like this either, it wasn't proper for a woman.

  Because of last night's passion, the hickey on her neck and chest was particularly eye-catching at this time, making her whole person look even more delicate and tender, like a carved jade, making people want to take another bite... Hongli was depressed to find that Xiao Hongli, who had been suppressed for most of the night, had a tendency to burst out again. Alas, in order to continue with the next itinerary, he forced himself to dispel the idea of taking a mandarin duck bath with her.

  She took a comfortable hot bath, and after dropping a green-skinned yulan fruit, when she got up, the discomfort on Yunzhu's body had disappeared by more than half. She changed into the imperial prince's fu jin morning dress and crown that she had prepared early, looking refreshed and spirited.

  Hongli saw her wearing a magnificent and elegant court dress, with an indescribable beauty shining through, the whole person was like a bright pearl that dazzled the eyes. He smiled happily and said: "Come quickly to have breakfast." He also changed into the imperial prince's court dress and crown, fully displaying the noble elegance of the heavenly family.

  The breakfast was still placed on the carved pear wood four-season rich and noble round table in the study, which was used last night. There were mushroom chicken porridge, red rice porridge, a plate of milk skin cake, a plate of date paste cake, a plate of golden silk roasted wheat, and a steamer basket of soup dumplings, as well as several small dishes such as winter bamboo shoots with ferns, flower mushrooms with duck slices, garlic mashed pickled cucumber, and eight-treasure rabbit cubes.

  "Eat a bit more." With a good mood and appetite, Hongli ate with great relish, not forgetting to feed Yunzhu this and that, leaving her speechless. Shouldn't one not speak while eating? She could only return the courtesy, also feeding him a few mouthfuls, delighting him so much his eyes narrowed.

  After finishing breakfast, they made their preparations and when the sky was already bright, the two of them went to pay respects at the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

  Outside the Qianqing Palace, there were already female officials and eunuchs waiting. When they saw the two of them arrive, they greeted them and led them to the Yangxin Hall where Yongzheng was, to pay their respects.

  Hongli stood slightly forward to the left, performing the ritual of three kneels and nine knocks. Yunzhu stood slightly backward to the right, performing the ritual of six bows, three kneels, and three salutes. After the rituals were completed, a female official brought over tea from the side. Yunzhu received it and held it above her head, serving tea to Yongzheng.

  Yongzheng's face was gentle, he took the tea and drank a mouthful, rewarded Xi Feng, then let them get up. "Alright, go see the Empress and Xi Fei." Although his mood was good, after several days of banquets, there were many accumulated government affairs. The emperor with a strong sense of responsibility slightly furrowed his brow, glanced at his still young son who couldn't hide the joy in his eyes, looking at Yunzhu's gentle and concerned gaze, and his mouth curved slightly upwards again.

  "Does the Emperor Mother have breakfast yet?"

  Yongzheng was taken aback, "I've used it." Over the past year or so, he had also gradually started paying attention to eating on time. Although sometimes he still didn't have an appetite and sometimes didn't eat much because of things going on, his body had slowly improved. It seemed that neglecting sleep and forgetting to eat was really not a good state to be in.

  "My wife specially cooked porridge this morning, thinking that if the emperor didn't want it, she could at least show her face." Yunzhu said with some embarrassment, sending Yongzheng something was not as good as sending him health. It's just that sending food to the emperor... especially with her own status and not being a favored concubine made it seem strange.

  The new daughter-in-law of the folk also started washing her hands and making soup for her family on the second day. Yongzheng raised an eyebrow, with a smile on his face, asked: "Did the Empress and Xi Fei also prepare porridge?" While gesturing to Su Peisheng to take over the food box, Yunzhu's craftsmanship he still trusted.

  Su Peisheng was very particular, before serving Yongzheng, he took the bowl and scooped out two more spoonfuls for himself, tasted it, and found it so delicious that he almost swallowed his own tongue.

  "The daughter-in-law had prepared handmade needlework for the Empress Dowager and the Queen Mother." She wouldn't even bother to prepare their portions if she wasn't going to see them at the Qianqing Palace, let alone serve it to them when it's cold. Who would eat that? It was a waste of effort, something she wouldn't do. Besides, she didn't have the heart to help them recover from illness either.

  Yongzheng nodded, smelled the fragrance and suddenly felt hungry again. He waved his hand: "Leave the porridge for me, you go first, don't keep them waiting."

  Deng Hongli said as soon as he left Yangxin Hall, "Bring over the porridge."

  ……

  "I haven't even had a chance to taste your cooking yet." Hongli said with a hint of jealousy, his sensitive nose also picked up the aroma of the porridge.

  "This isn't because you didn't get up early, right?" Yunzhu puckered her lips and smiled at him, "You have a lifetime to do it, don't make yourself sick of eating...". The last sentence was said in a hushed tone.

  He listened and indeed it was. Upon realizing the slightly sour tone in her words, he laughed again: "It's not possible, no matter how delicious someone else's cooking is, she's not my Fu Jin (wife), besides, I think your culinary skills are already unmatched by anyone."

  "Clouds and pearls, 'a foot has its shortcomings, an inch has its advantages.' Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. I don't think I can surpass others in every aspect, so just do your best."

  Hongli nodded and said, "Indeed." However, in his heart, he liked Yunzhu for not being arrogant or self-important. He was also surprised that in the Fu family's environment where everyone spoiled her, she could still maintain such a clear and transparent personality, which was truly rare.

  To make her feel at ease, he also mentioned some of Empress Ulanara's and his mother Empress Dowager Ci Xi's hobbies, including the people who served them. Yunzhu listened with a smile, occasionally asking questions. The two chatted and laughed, and soon they arrived at Jingren Palace.

  They made a formal bow to Empress Ulanara and offered her tea. After the empress drank the tea, she also gave Yunzhu a gift envelope as a reward, thus completing the ritual.

  Yunzhu also made a pair of black sable purple satin embroidered phoenix pattern warm hand covers, with fluffy fur on both sides, extremely warm and cozy, the style and embroidery are very suitable for the Empress's status. "Time is a bit tight, otherwise I would have made a robe."

  "I think this hand warmer is quite good, especially on a cold day like today, it's just what I need." The queen looked at Yunzhu and thought she was more pleasing to the eye than before. When Hongshi's wife had tea with her, she didn't have such manners, but in any case, Yunzhu seemed to be making an effort. "Do you have one prepared for your mother-in-law?"

  "I've also prepared one for Mother E and Consort Yu." Yunzhu said.

  "This fortunate lady of yours is indeed a good match, filial and skilled with her hands, and her character and appearance are beyond reproach." The Empress smiled warmly at Hongli.

  "This is the good eyesight of Empress Dowager and Empress, so I was favored." Hongli had been raised by Empress Ulanara for several years, and his feelings towards her were not unfamiliar.

  She asked a few more questions about their life in the two palaces of Qianxi, and instructed that if they needed anything, they should send someone to Jingren Palace to say so, and then dispatch them to Yongsu Palace to pay their respects to Xi Fei, "...so as not to keep her waiting." The Empress said straightforwardly, on the surface she was considerate of all the concubines in the harem, especially Xi Fei Nian Gurulu, who was usually close and intimate.

  The queen lived in the Jingren Palace, but the furnishings were not luxurious, only the utensils and materials used were of the highest grade, low-key and elegant. The Yongsu Palace was different, possibly to cater to the emperor's preferences, the decorations here didn't seem particularly luxurious either, but with Hongli as a son, the things used couldn't be too bad, and the colors seemed even brighter and more vibrant than those in the Jingren Palace.

  The Empress Dowager was delighted to see them and, after Hongli had performed the ritual of two kneels and two knocks, she repeatedly asked them to rise. Yunzhu, however, did not show any laziness, with a smile on her face, still respectfully serving tea to her, without daring to make a single mistake in etiquette.

  The empress's eyes flashed with satisfaction, but her face smiled and scolded, "You child are just polite."

  "This is what a daughter-in-law should do." Yunzhu smiled slightly, with a hint of shyness, and a very respectful and affectionate attitude. Hongli saw it in his eyes, thinking that Yunzhu was perfect in every way, and there was nothing to worry about as previously thought by E'niang, showing that E'niang had been overthinking. "The daughter-in-law made warm hands for E'niang, take a look, if you like it, keep it and use it."

  The Empress Dowager took the hand warmer presented by the nanny and saw that it was made of snow-white fox fur with a red satin surface embroidered with yellow plum blossoms, which looked warm, festive, rich and noble. She tried it on and felt particularly comfortable, smiling: "It's really well-made, very practical. Yu Bin said several times that Wu Zaku's daughter is good at needlework, I think Yunzhu is not bad either."

  "My own daughter-in-law, Mother will naturally think everything is fine." Hong Li said with a thick face.

  "It's good that you know the Empress Dowager cares about you." Xifei said with a smile, and after asking a few more questions about the Emperor and the Empress, she turned to Yunzhu and said: "Strictly speaking, it shouldn't be me who says this, and it's not the right time to bring it up either. Don't worry too much, I'm just reminding you. Now that you've become Hongli's Fu Jin, you should take charge of the women in his harem. The ladies from the Richen and Gao families are still living in the Yuqing Palace, and Lady Richen is pregnant again... it would be best to make a decision soon so that the astrologers can choose an auspicious day..."

  "What the Empress said is reasonable, why should I be overcautious? It's just that I've only just entered the palace, and this matter still needs to be decided by the Emperor." As she spoke, she gave Hongli a casual glance. But in her heart, she cursed, "As Hongli's birth mother, will I be able to avoid paying my respects to her from now on? Doesn't she know that bringing this up at this time is inappropriate? Is she taking others for fools?"

  Although she had been prepared, she wouldn't take Hong Li and his women too seriously. However, Xi Fei's words still made her very unhappy. This shows that this future Empress Dowager Xiaosheng, even with a deep mind and small eyes, once it involves her precious son, her endurance will have flaws... This kind of mentality of treating her son as her own, not allowing other women to surpass her in his heart, is still quite common among mothers-in-law today.

  Hongli was taken aback, what's going on with Empress Dowager? Neither the Emperor nor Empress Dowager has spoken up, what is she worried about? Even if it's worth worrying about, isn't it too early? It's only been one day since the grand wedding, isn't this intentionally trying to upset Yunzhu?! He immediately spoke up: "Let's talk about it after the New Year, by the time we've completed a month of marriage and entered the twelfth lunar month, the palace will be busy with various ceremonies and New Year's banquets. With Empress Dowager's poor health, you'll also have to take care of palace affairs when you arrive, how can we find the time to deal with Yuqing Palace? We can't let the Emperor think that I'm too focused on family matters..."

  Alright, it's been delayed until after the new year. Yunzhu remained silent, while Xi Fei was left speechless by his words for a long time, and could only nod her head, "I'll let you know when we move, I'll tell your mother."