630,000 elephants bid farewell to the old year (Part 2)

  Yu said that the update is the fastest. Hong Li went to the palace early in the morning with the emperor to invite gods and Buddhas and "step on the year". After finishing, he went to Baohe Hall with Hong Yu to greet the foreign envoys and Mongolian kings who came to pay their respects. He was busy running around until his feet were off the ground. Yunzhu also changed into her imperial son's auspicious dress early and followed the empress to Nourishing Heart Palace to bid farewell to the emperor, then went to Jingren Hall to bid farewell to the empress, and finally couldn't miss Hui Fei's Yongshou Palace and Qi Fei's Zhongxiu Palace... After a long time, she was also exhausted.

  By noon, nothing could be eaten. She thought for a moment and went to the small kitchen to take a look. At the end of the year, many things were presented from all over the country, especially various ingredients, as well as the shares sent by Gan Xi and the accumulated rewards given by Yongzheng, including fresh abalone, squid, scallops and other seafood.

  "Yeh, you select some and send them to Yuqing Palace, distribute them according to the rules, also remind the people around Fucha Gege, she has a list of taboos for pregnant women, what to eat and what not to eat, let her take charge herself."

  "Yes, I understand." Yeh Lao Lao replied in a low voice and instructed the palace maid Su La to pack up the things and carry them to Yuqing Palace.

  "You all go down, I'll cook some porridge for myself."

  "Let us help you, madam," said the servants, "or at least let us show you a flame."

  "Whatever." She really didn't want to do everything herself, it was too tiring. It wasn't that she wasn't physically capable, but wearing such elaborate attire and constantly going back and forth in the palace, bowing and paying respects, was annoying. "First select twenty abalones, wash them clean and slice them into shreds."

  Abalone porridge is refreshing and fragrant. Yunzhu pretended to take out from her bag - actually took out from space, crushed the shell of the green jade lan fruit, and dripped the milky white juice into the porridge, stirring it a few times. Suddenly, the fragrance became even more mellow. She scooped some into a small bowl, tasted two mouthfuls, and found the flavor not bad.

  Bring two porcelain bowls that can hold about three bowls, and fill them with eight-tenths full of Cloud Pearl. She called Su Wenling, Ling Shu, Feng Yiwang, and Jin Baodao: "You few people take these two food boxes to the Emperor and Fourth Brother, this painted pine deer picture is for the Emperor, this painted green bamboo picture is for Fourth Brother, wait," Cloud Pearl turned her head to ask Guo Mama, "Besides the Emperor and Master in Baohe Hall, who else is there?"

  Madam Guo understood her meaning and replied: "Prince Yi is here, as well as Fifth Brother."

  Yunzhu looked at the remaining half pot of porridge and said, "Let Feng Yi and Wang Jinbao take this pot of porridge together. When you go, find Su Zongguan first, he will arrange it."

  "Yes." Several people responded and left.

  "Auntie, let's cook another pot, everyone is tired, and we can eat some later." Yunzhu said.

  Guo and Tu eagerly accepted. They were elderly members of the Fu family, who knew that Yunzhu's self-cultivated yulan flowers produced a fruit that was a rare delicacy, not easily obtainable by ordinary means.

  Several people joined forces to cook a big pot, and Yunzhu ate two bowls herself before going back to her room to rest and prepare for the family banquet in the evening. Guo Mama, Tua Mama, and others who were serving by her side each had a bowl of porridge, feeling that it was incredibly delicious, only regretting that there wasn't more. Even Shang Mama, who thought it was just a slightly fragrant porridge when she was carrying it, felt rather dismissive in her heart. But as soon as the porridge entered her mouth, she realized she had underestimated this Fourth Madame's skills - they were even better than those of the imperial chefs! No wonder she dared to send them to the emperor.

  After the banquet at Baohe Temple ended, not much food was consumed but a lot of wine was drunk. Yongzheng returned to Qianqing Palace with his two sons and princes Yi Xiang, Zhuang Xiang, Ji Xiang, and Guo Xiang to drink some hangover soup. Before long, Su Peisheng came in to report: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has sent someone over with a bowl of fish porridge."

  Yongzheng smiled: "Good, let them bring it up quickly, my stomach is a bit hungry." The delicacies on the banquet table were not bad, but eating cold and hard food in the cold weather was not appetizing. Moreover, the main purpose was to celebrate with foreign envoys and Mongolian nobles, so imperial etiquette had to be observed, and it was not possible to eat much. As an emperor, he always ate something before attending a banquet.

  Suwen Lingzhu brought in several people, and the crowd was somewhat stunned. He even carried a large pot. Yongzheng laughed and said: "It seems that my daughter-in-law is so meticulous that she has taken care of several imperial uncles."

  Su Peisheng tasted half a bowl of porridge as usual and was waved away by the emperor. Yunzhu's heart was meticulous, this porridge was cooked by her personally, and the person who sent it was also someone by her side, what else could be wrong?! He had eaten several times the porridge she cooked, and found out that it was a nourishing sacred product, which made people investigate later to know that it was the effect of the Yulan fruit she cultivated. Thinking back to the Yulan flower tea she made, although he was surprised in his heart, he didn't investigate further.

  She is a filial and intelligent child, how can she not know the principle of being innocent? She dares to take it out for herself and thirteen, with a heart of loyalty and filial piety, believing that she will be like this, and then going to do those despicable things would not betray this kindness?!

  Yongzheng has always been a person who returns ten times what he is given, and although he may seem strict on the surface, he truly acts with your best interests at heart. Yunzhu's actions, which are unhidden and unexplained, bring him joy and admiration, and also cause the palace's informants to keep an eye on her at all times.

  However, Yulan flower and Yulan fruit have such effects, he is still very interested, so let the Ta Hospital's Sun Tai medical secretly experiment. The result was very clear, ordinary Yulan flowers may have some medicinal effect, but they do not have the kind of human body supplement that she brought out, let alone Yulan fruit.

  Dr. Sun said after research that ordinary yulan fruit does not have medicinal effects and eating too much can be harmful to the body.

  This shows that only magnolia trees with such efficacy are in her hands, or only the magnolia trees she cultivates have such efficacy.

  He could only imagine that this daughter-in-law might indeed be extraordinary, the reincarnation of Ling Guang Sheng Jun, a blessing from heaven bestowed upon the Great Qing, otherwise how to explain the fortunate encounters of himself, his thirteenth brother and twelfth brother, as well as the harmony between the imperial court and the people?

  No matter what, as long as this lucky star is by their side, the descendants of the Aixinjueluo family will be prosperous.

  "Fourth brother, so blessed." Hong Duan glanced at the ceramic bowl in Hong Li's hand, which was separately packed in a food box just like the emperor's, and spoke with an acidic tone.

  Hongli curled up the corner of his lips, gave him a triumphant look, opened the lid, and the fragrance overflowed, swallowing saliva involuntarily, his stomach really felt a little hungry, and he quickly picked up the spoon to eat.

  Hong Yu heard the fragrance and urged the small eunuch who was serving porridge to the crowd: "Hurry up, hurry up!" Oh heavens, Thirteen Uncle had almost finished a bowl, when it was his turn, he couldn't eat less than them by one bowl.

  "Smells so good!" Yunluo and Yunli, these two brothers were originally quite calm, but when they smelled this fragrance, their fingers began to move involuntarily, especially Yunli. Since childhood, he had never been fond of banquets, and every time he faced a large pile of "delicious dishes" that couldn't be counted, he would eat until he was stuffed, and even looking at them made him feel full.

  Several people ate most of the porridge in the pot until it was almost empty.

  Yong Yan had not eaten much of Yun Zhu's cooking before, so it didn't matter. But Yong Ruo and Yong Li were very jealous: "Hong Li is really blessed." The fourth imperial concubine was a filial one, and the fourth brother must have also enjoyed this blessing... Yong Xiang did not say it out loud, but his eyes expressed it that way. Perhaps he should have taken Yun Zhu as his own daughter-in-law back then...

  Yongzheng and Hongli were calm on the surface but both were very pleased in their hearts.

  The family banquet was held in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

  Emperors and their consorts do not dine together on ordinary days unless they are summoned by imperial decree. Therefore, there are also concubines who have not had a meal with the emperor throughout the year, and only during the New Year's festival would the emperor hold a family banquet.

  Originally, when a family banquet was held in the Qianqing Palace, the Zhonghe Shao music and the Zhonghe Qing music were set up under the east and west eaves of the palace. Inside the Qianqing Gate, the Danbi Da music and the Danbi Qing music were set up under the east and west eaves. The imperial table was set in front of the treasure seat, and the queen's banquet was held at the Yuzuo music. On both sides, the tables for the imperial concubines, consorts, and ladies-in-waiting were arranged facing north. When entering the banquet and taking their seats, there was ceremonial music; when presenting wine, there was a ceremony; and when leaving the banquet and thanking the host, there was again ceremonial music... However, compared to the previous emperor, the current palace has fewer concubines and sons, and the national treasury is not rich. Since ascending to the throne, the emperor has abolished these ceremonial formalities, and it's truly just a small family gathering of over a dozen people having dinner together, at most inviting a few close relatives of the imperial family to join them.

  Yunzhu felt that this family banquet was much warmer than what she had read in the materials. Except for the emperor, everyone gathered together and there weren't so many rules and etiquette... Of course, it was still necessary to pay respects to the emperor and empress, but as for the imperial noble consorts below the empress, there were no need for such formalities, and with only two consorts present, it made people feel more at ease.

  The imperial banquet table used a high table with a canopy, the queen's banquet table was placed in front of the emperor's banquet table on the left, and three long tables were set up below. The remaining consorts sat on the left side according to their ranks; one table had Prince Hongli, Prince Hongxu, and Prince Fuhui sitting on one side, and Prince Yi and Prince Zhuang sitting on the other side; the right-hand table was occupied by the three imperial consorts, Dong E's wife, Yunzhu, Hehui, Princess Duanrou, Princess Hui, Prince Yi's consort, Zhaojia's wife, and Prince Zhuang's consort, Guoluo's wife.

  The two imperial consorts were the birth mothers of the two princesses. When the emperor ascended to the throne, they were only eight years old and were taken into the palace to be raised. Although they received the love and care of the emperor and empress, their noble status meant that they rarely saw each other, sometimes only once a year. The only time they had a chance to meet was during the grand festivals when the inner court would hold a banquet, and at those times, they couldn't bear to take their eyes off each other.

  Yunzhu looked at Dong E's residence, after the death of her third son, Dong E fell ill in bed. After all, it was his own son, and Yongzheng did not want Hongshi to spend his whole life with the reputation of being expelled from the imperial clan without a place to settle, so he let someone give him medicine, revealing to Dong E that he would find an opportunity to restore Hongshi's imperial status and adopt a grandson for Hongshi to continue the incense in the future... It was actually what made this three-fu-jin's "illness" recover quickly. Now it seems that although people are still a bit thin, the color of their eyes and eyebrows is much more peaceful than when they were seen at the Zhuang Shizi Mansion last time.

  They sat together, and Dong E's expression towards Yunzhu was gentle, possibly thinking that the adopted son would be among Hongli's children. Yunzhu understood in her heart and smiled back, thinking to herself, adoption is just adoption, anyway it won't be my child, my child no matter what status, will always grow up by my side, whoever wants to destroy this won't succeed.

  "I see that both princesses are looking much better." Dong E also didn't forget to chat with He Huan and Rong Xian, the two princesses.

  The two princess consorts also showed a suitable look of surprise, they had noticed as soon as they came in that the two princesses not only looked well but also seemed more lively and spirited.

  Duan Rou smiled and said: "Lately I've been following Fourth Sister to learn about diet and nutrition, I feel like my body has become much lighter and more agile."

  He Hui also nodded, smiling: "Fourth brother even helped us find Wen Xun's royal horse, let's go to the school field together to ride horses and shoot arrows. Fourth sister's riding and shooting are really good."

  Yi Qin Wang Fu Jin and Zhuang Qin Wang Fu Jin listened with emotion, glanced at Yunzhu, intentionally or unintentionally, their daughter had become healthy and spirited because of her. Previously, they worried that their daughters would not adapt to life in Mongolia after being married off there, as living outside the Pass without a strong will and healthy body was not easy, many Qing princesses and noblewomen had perished early on in those places. Now it seemed, with the influence of the four Fu Jin, after another two years of tempering, they should be able to adapt relatively well.

  "The two princesses only lacked refinement, and in another two years they would be as good as me. As for people, as long as they eat well, sleep well, and exercise more, it's hard for this body to get sick." Yunzhu smiled and said, "When I first entered the palace, thanks to the company of the two princesses, I adapted so quickly, and I also learned a lot from the two princesses."

  "The two princesses have four consorts who are blessed with good fortune." The consort of Prince Yi, being well-versed in the art of managing people, was even more skilled than other Manchu noblewomen. Her gentle and kind nature made her a great person to get along with. Although she had health issues, she was relieved that Yunzhu had married Hongli and lived in Qianxi Second House, which was close to Xianfu Palace where Hehui resided, making it convenient for them to learn from each other often.

  Zhuang's mother thought that Yunzhu had a bright future ahead of her and it would be beneficial for her daughter to get along with her, so she was very supportive of them spending more time together.

  "Fourth brother and sister are certainly lucky people." Dong E thought of Hong Shi, thinking of her current widowhood and embarrassing position among her relatives, compared to Yunzhu's popularity everywhere, and unconsciously felt bitter and jealous in her heart. "I heard that Xiaonian still followed the Empress Dowager to preside over the sacrifice ceremony..."

  I didn't expect Dong E to still be interested in this kind of thing now.

  Yunzhu quietly drank her soup, not responding to her words. In these days, she had followed Empress Ulanara and learned about many royal rituals and ceremonies. Not only did the empress guard against her, but even Xi Fei couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Yunzhu could only comfort herself by thinking that if this were during the Nine Dragons' struggle for the throne, she would have already suffered who-knows-how-many hidden arrows and dagger eyes.

  ……

  Family banquet does not discuss national affairs, but family matters. This year, apart from the grand wedding of Hongli and Yunzhu, it is also expected that Hongli will soon have a son or daughter... There are only two happy events, but there are two mourning events: the passing of Hongshi and his eldest daughter... After leaving behind the busy affairs of state, Yongzheng calmed down and focused his attention on family matters and descendants, feeling somewhat disheartened. After three rounds of wine, he excused himself with the Empress and ended the banquet.