New Bride (Part 2)
Another voice chimed in, "It's not like you didn't have good fortune before. The affairs of the Yuqing Palace were managed by Lady Fucha, and when she became pregnant, Lady Gao took over, which was understandable. But now it's different, these matters should be handled by Yunzhu."
Hongli glanced at Yunzhu and didn't say anything else, Xi Fei saw this and secretly got angry in her heart.
Yunzhu smiled shallowly, "Look at what the empress said, this entire harem is under the empress's watchful eye, and she takes care of it. What does a wife have to worry about? Besides, the wife has just... doesn't understand anything yet, and needs guidance from the empress many times. To be honest, it's better if the empress lends me a capable maid to help me out, what do you think?"
The Empress smiled and looked at Yunzhu, wondering if she was really not interested in power or had other plans... Her eyes inadvertently glanced at her son's smiling gaze, and her heart condensed, humming a sound, moving the armor on her hand that shone with a faint blue gemstone light: "What borrowing or not, you've opened your mouth, Mother can't refuse... Let Shang Ayi help you, after all, the rules of the palace are different from those of ordinary mansions, it's good to get familiar with them first.
"That's all thanks to my mother-in-law, saving my wife a lot of worry." Yunzhu sincerely bowed and smiled warmly on her face, but even Xi Fei couldn't tell whether she was genuinely happy or just pretending.
Hongli vaguely guessed the meaning of Xi Fei, and was displeased in his heart. However, she was after all his birth mother, and the Qing dynasty ruled the world with filial piety, so he couldn't say anything. Originally, he was worried that Yunzhu had just entered the palace and thought about assigning someone to serve her, which would make up for the lack of ladies-in-waiting by her side. Unexpectedly... He sneered, thinking that the Empress Dowager and his mother were competing to place their people beside his Fu Jin, what kind of idea was this? He didn't need to think to understand. Yunzhu also understood in her heart, but as a daughter-in-law, she could only be obedient and tolerant in everything. In her heart, she secretly decided that from now on, she would definitely protect her more.
The Empress saw them like this, and suddenly felt a little uneasy in her heart. She let Qin Mama bring out the red envelope she had prepared early, which also contained a set of headdresses given by her family when she entered the palace as the emperor's concubine. With a reluctant tone, she said: "This was left to me by my mother... Now I'm giving it to you. I only have one child, Hong Li, and I hope you two will live in harmony and happiness until old age, and soon give birth to a plump and white grandson for me."
"Mother, you keep it, in your hands it's a keepsake, giving it to the daughter-in-law..." What an insignificant thing this is! Yunzhu felt like vomiting blood again, but she had to decline politely and show her gratitude.
Hongli was even more depressed, what does this mean, it's just a dowry headdress, what significance?! Before, when she mentioned the difficulties of entering her mother's mansion for the first time, he still had some sympathy for his own mother, thinking that she could walk step by step and give birth to him was not easy, and he also obeyed her in daily life. If you want to give Yunzhu a memorable gift, just mention it lightly, and Yunzhu will treasure it well. Would you take it out to show off? What's the point of making this gesture, so that people don't know whether to accept or not?!
Qin's nanny lowered her head, and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly. Lately, she couldn't understand Master's thoughts at all, and what he did was truly speechless.
"Mother, why be polite with me?" said Xi Fei lovingly.
Yunzhu didn't bother being polite anymore, took it over and let Lingzhui carefully put it away. If she continued to be polite, she would have vomited...
"Mother, I'll go to the Chongxi Palace for a visit. It's about time for me to see Hongli."
Zhong Xi Palace was the residence of Empress Qi Li. When Consort Xi heard this, a hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes. In the past, when Empress Qi was still at the palace, she would often use these low-ranking gege as pawns to curry favor with the empress dowager, not daring to openly defy her. Later, her son Hongshi also competed with Hongli for the throne, which was truly detestable. However, according to national law and family etiquette, it was impossible to neglect this ritual just because of old grudges. "Then go," she said softly, lowering her eyes. "And have Yunzhu meet you as well, Geran."
The Jingyang Palace of Yu Pin Geng Shi was adjacent to the Zhongzhao Palace, but she was only a pin, according to the rules, Hongli Yunzhu could not go to see her.
One was a concubine promoted from the side, one was a consort promoted from a gege, one had no children left, not even half of them, and another gave birth to a healthy imperial son just like Xi Fei, soon to be married, Qi Fei couldn't help but feel sorrow in her heart.
The cloud pearl is clear in her heart, but she won't say anything, it's just a matter of winning or losing.
Hongli and Hongxiao were on good terms, and Ben also wanted to go to Yu Bin's place to pay his respects. Upon hearing this, he agreed to come down. As for Qi Fei, he wouldn't even put her in his heart, without Hongshi, she was just an old and out-of-favor concubine.
Arriving at the Zhongxi Palace, Yunzhu finally met Empress Qi Li, a woman who had been favored by Yongzheng in his early years and had given birth to several children for him. Perhaps due to her unhappy life and repeated loss of children, the imperial consort's attire did not make her appear majestic and noble, but instead highlighted her frailty, and even the thick powder could not conceal her pale and disappointed complexion. After sizing up Yunzhu for a long time, she let out a light sigh, faintly instructed the palace maid to reward them with gifts and then had them leave.
Behind the thick makeup, one can still vaguely see her youthful beauty. Now that she has gray hair on both sides of her temples, it's clear how important children are to women in the harem. Yunzhu glanced at Hongli beside her who was silent and unspoken, and became even more determined in her original conviction - she and her children were the most important, men could be cultivated for feelings, but romance was not needed.
Yu Pin Geng Shi is a straightforward person, speaking with her is more comfortable than with the empress and concubines, there's no sharp tongue or pretentiousness, she treats people like a neighborly aunt, warm and gentle. The Jingyang Palace she manages is cozy and lively compared to the cold and quiet Zhongxiu Palace next door, even worthless trinkets can be found here, making this palace feel most like home in the imperial palace.
Although she looks gentle, Yunzhu would not underestimate her mind and ability. Without a few clever tricks, Lady Geng wouldn't have risen from an unfavored princess to her current position. Not only did she get along well with the most powerful mother-son duo in the palace, Empress Dowager Xie and her son, but also gave birth to a son like Hongyu and lived a smooth life until she was 96 years old.
On the way back to the palace, Yunzhu asked curiously: "Why don't I see my fifth brother and the others?" Not only Hongxu, but also the other princes living in the palace, including Fuhe and the princesses Huai (Yi Qinwang Yuxiang's fourth daughter) and Duanrou (Zhuang Qinwang Yunlu's first daughter).
"They are all waiting at Qian Xi's place." Hong Li pulled her hand and said, "Eighth brother is not in good health, and Hui Ye too..."
Yunzhu smiled and grasped the pulse of the Fuca family in the palace, only to realize that Empress Ulanara was not as virtuous and dignified as people said later. She also had her own ways, and did not get along with Concubine Li, who was favored early on, and Consort Yu, who was favored later. She was not particularly close or caring towards the princes and princesses either, only maintaining a superficial harmony. Emperor Yongzheng also only showed respect but no love for her, otherwise they would have received the ceremonial greetings together as a family, with the princes and princesses by their side.
Qian Xi Er's residence, a three-section courtyard house with a southern and northern wing, was decorated with colorful lanterns and paintings everywhere due to the upcoming wedding. Although only two masters lived there, it didn't feel empty at all. The wet nurses, palace maids, and eunuchs were all dignified and well-behaved.
As soon as they entered the main hall of Zhengyuan, they saw a 15 or 16-year-old young man and a 6 or 7-year-old boy sitting on a yellow rosewood carved flower back chair on the left side. On the opposite side sat two teenage girls. When Hongli Yunzhu came in, they all stood up to pay their respects: "Hongyao (Fuhui, Hehui, Duanrou) has seen Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law."
No need for courtesy, Hong Li said with a good mood: "This is your fourth sister-in-law, Yun Zhu, this is fifth brother Hong Yu, and this is eighth brother Fu Hui." The young man and the boy could tell at a glance which one was the fifth prince and which one was the eighth prince. Unlike Hong Li's elegant and refined demeanor, Hong Yu had a healthy wheat-colored complexion, thick eyebrows, narrow and long eyes, and a slightly round face that resembled Empress Dowager Ger's family. With his bright and unrestrained smile, he looked like a sunny boy in modern terms. Of course, from the occasional flashes of light in his eyes, it could be seen that he was an intelligent person with great ambitions. Fu Hui and Yun Zhu felt some pity for him at first sight. This seven-year-old boy was pale to the point of being almost transparent, with light brown eyebrows, dark eyes, a high nose, and thin lips without much blood color, looking like only five or six years old, extremely weak and frail. If she remembered correctly, in history, he only lived to be eight years old, which means his life would expire next year...
" Fifth brother, eighth brother said: 'Give them a blessing as a gift.'"
Two people dodged to the side. Fu Hui stared blankly at Yun Zhu, feeling that her warm and delicate smile was a bit like his mother's in memory, and couldn't help but smile back at her, revealing two cute canine teeth, looking a bit shy, yet radiant as ripples on water. Hong Li, Hong You, and others showed slightly astonished expressions, this Eighth Brother hadn't shown such a genuine smile to anyone except the Emperor since the death of the Imperial Noble Consort.
Looking at this bright and cheerful face, Hongli seemed to be thinking of something. "Yunzhu, this is He Hui's younger sister, who lives in the fifth house of Qian East, wearing a light purple embroidered plum blossom flag dress with a purple gold silver mouse shoulder cape, curtsying and smiling shyly. With this smile, Yunzhu finally connected her to Yi Qinwang Fu Jin's elegant and refined smile like a flower." He Hui's younger sister returned half a courtesy.
Hongli smiled and nodded to Yunzhu, indicating the girl wearing a light blue silk cheongsam with a red embroidered plum blossom tight-fitting jacket: "This is Duanrou's younger sister, living in Qian East Four. Except for her slender eyebrows and curved eyes when smiling, she doesn't look much like Zhuang Qinwang Fu Jin elsewhere. She has an air of blooming in the snow like a red plum. Like Tonghe Hui, she bowed to Yunzhu, who returned half a bow.
At the hint of Zao Su and Ling Lian, they immediately stepped forward with a small gift that had been prepared in advance. Yunzhu took out two long, rectangular sandalwood boxes and handed them to Hong Youfu and Hui: "A meeting gift from Fourth Sister."
Hong opened it and found a fan case embroidered with a pine tree in the snow, with a poem on it: The heavy snow presses down on the green pine, the green pine stands upright and straight. If you want to know how high and pure the pine is, wait until the snow melts. Fu Hui's was an embroidered pouch with a design of stone bamboo, also with a poem, which was Yongzheng's "Ode to the Bamboo of Yuquan Mountain".
Two people, one likes the poem on the fan cover, and the other sees that there is a poem by his favorite poet, Hong Ama, on the book bag, and he is even more delighted. They thanked each other separately. Looking at this, Hongli felt jealous, as he had not yet received the embroidered ball made especially for him by Yunzhu.
He Huan and He Duan also received a sachet made by Yunzhu's own hands, except for the color, everything else was the same. Two small gourds with auspicious knots, delicate and lovely, suitable to be pinned on the chest or anywhere else.
Yunzhu had someone bring in new tea and several hot pastries, coaxing Fuhui and the two princesses to eat while chatting about food and embroidery with the ladies-in-waiting. Meanwhile, Hongli spoke with Hongxiao about matters concerning the imperial clan, intentionally or unintentionally mentioning the Yi Qin Wang Fu and the Zhuang Qin Wang Fu. Whenever this happened, Yunzhu noticed that the two princesses seemed somewhat distracted, their hearts not fully present... What good is being a princess if one can't even see one's own parents' faces?
"It's rare for us to gather together today, why don't you all stay and have dinner with me and your Fourth Sister?" Hongli invited them to stay for dinner when it was almost time.
"Why don't we do it another day, so as not to disturb Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister's newlywed bliss?" As he spoke, he winked at Hong Li again, making him feel both annoyed and amused. "What disturbance can eating dinner cause?!"
A few people still declined, and Hongli and Yunzhu had no choice but to make an appointment with them for next time and sent them out of Qianxi Second House.
On the other side, in the Nurturing Heart Palace, Yongzheng heard that several people were chatting and laughing together at Qianxi's second residence for an entire afternoon. He smiled slightly. After a while, he put down his pen and began to think carefully...
