The 64th will hold the jade bow like a full moon
The emperor returned to the Yangxin Hall, the empress returned to the Jingren Palace, and the rest of the concubines were also uninteresting, so they all returned to their respective palaces. This evening banquet can be considered over.
Hongli pulled Yunzhu to the Imperial Garden and headed towards Hui Xiu Mountain. "Will it be cold?" He tightened her large red satin silver fox fur cloak a bit, the winter night was already chilly, and the wind grew even more biting as they climbed higher.
Yunzhu pulled her face into the fluffy hood of her cloak and smiled at him, "It's fine." In the night sky, tree after tree of fireworks and small firecrackers exploded with a "whooshing" sound, including golden chrysanthemums, slow-spitting lotus flowers, and one-zhang orchids, all shot out from the lantern-filled imperial city. The imperial palace was even more magnificent, with fireworks that rivaled modern ones in splendor, including "Full Sky of Stars", "Night Plum Blossoms", "Eight Immortals Celebrating the New Year", and "Three Stars Celebrating Happiness".
"This is a great place to watch the fireworks." She exclaimed, the morning light in the night sky was shining brightly, the lights of the capital city were dazzling, and the stars and lanterns seemed like a vast ocean.
Hongli's smile was tinged with melancholy: "When Huang Ma Fa was around, every Mid-Autumn Festival in August, this pavilion would be packed to the brim. The princes and grandsons would all rush here... Now there are fewer people, partly because of the cold weather, and also because Hongyou can't sit still, and Fu Hui's health isn't good..."
"It's not me accompanying you, is it? In the future, when we have sons and daughters, we'll come here to watch the fireworks together." She smiled at him tenderly, her delicate and smooth little face under the blooming fireworks seemed like a snow-white floating orchid, which strangely made his slightly melancholic heart quickly calm down, with a sense of satisfaction and tenderness spreading across his chest.
"You're right, at that time, Huang Ama and E Niang will also be together..." He pulled her into his arms, yearning.
During this period, he did not go out of the capital to handle official business and was brought by Yongzheng to learn how to deal with government affairs in the Nourishing Heart Temple. His feelings for him gradually deepened, and because of his increasing understanding of the court situation since Kangxi, he had more empathy and understanding for Yongzheng, unknowingly dispelling the fear he had previously felt towards Yongzheng, and his admiration grew greatly.
Yu Zhuo muttered to herself: Yongzheng was actually not bad, but Xi Fei was still a bit too much. On the surface, she smiled and nodded "en" in agreement.
This Hongli, she gradually also figured out his personality, he was clever and cautious when he was young, raised in front of his stepmother after birth, and later taken to the palace by Kangxi for education - actually, the level of attention was not very high, his impression of his father had always been stuck in cold-faced warnings. The elegant and refined air of the imperial grandson had actually cultivated a suspicious, cautious, and self-respecting emperor's personality, but deep down, he had always yearned for some kind of sincere emotion, perhaps from the child's innate affection for parents, or perhaps from seeing Kangxi's doting on Hongshi for a long time...
Seeking but not obtaining, yet unaware of oneself.
She thought that historically, his feelings for Empress Xiaoxian might have come more from the fact that she happened to fill his emotional dependence during his youth. After all, in history, Qianlong's birth mother and adoptive mother were not the same person, he could not fully trust or rely on her, but instead had to be cautious. As for his father Yongzheng, they had little contact, except for the reverence for the emperor, how much paternal love could there be? Only his wife, who was destined to spend her life with him, could make him fully trust and love.
Love is when people appear and meet at the right time and place.
Of course, how deep and true this "love" is, whether it's more romantic or familial, can't be pursued, and can only be inferred from limited information.
However, since the Empress Xiaoxian of history had changed to herself, she would not waste these favorable factors, getting his most pure and true love, step by step deepening his trust, consolidating their feelings. She had the greatest reliance in the harem, plus the Fuca clan outside the court, as long as she protected her children well, she was the only eternal empress of the Qianlong dynasty. What early death, what imperial concubine, if you like it, just take it as a pastime to spice up life, if not, just nip it in the bud.
"Yunzhu?" He held her in his arms, feeling that it would be great if they could stay like this forever. Suddenly, a fear arose in his heart - how many emperors' loves had lasted long throughout history? Either the beloved was doomed to an early death or human hearts changed and couldn't remain together until old age.
"Huh?"
"Yunzhu?" he called out again. His wife, although gentle and nestled in his arms, still hadn't fallen in love with him yet. He was thinking too far ahead... He smiled, suddenly feeling a deep affection for her that couldn't be put into words, an overflowing sense of warmth in his heart.
She lifted her head from his chest and looked at him.
"You mustn't change." The women in the palace, at first, were not without beauty and wisdom, but most of them eventually became deeply embroiled in the vortex of power struggles. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to survive the passing years. He didn't want her to end up like that either.
"How can one not change?" She blinked, "Even if nothing is done, just watching the world change, one's heart will grow and their appearance will age... It's just a matter of whether that person can keep their original heart and maintain their own bottom line." Let her not change, he should first ask himself. The favor of an emperor is indeed the most impermanent thing.
“……You're right.” She was always so transparent. He leaned over and kissed her slightly cool lips, she was transparent but not self-righteous, status, means, wisdom were all sufficient, must protect herself well. He couldn't guarantee that he could protect her every moment! His wife should stand shoulder to shoulder with him, the one he could entrust his back to.
"In those years, if the ancestors of the Aixinjueluo family did not have a firm will and determination, they would not have been able to establish this vast empire... It can be seen that people cannot become complacent. She gazed into the depths of the night sky and said faintly, "Pursuing a better life is human nature, but while pursuing material wealth, we must not forget about spirituality; only when the two are combined is it the way of heaven. However, there are too few people in this world with great wisdom and determination, and during the pursuit, they are instead tempted by desires, sink into love and hate, and become slaves to power and money, losing their sense of purpose."
How difficult it must be for someone as cold and detached as her to truly fall in love with someone, entrusting herself wholeheartedly! Hongli was somewhat taken aback - she was only in her teens, yet had such a profound understanding... A mix of emotions welled up in his heart, and he thought of the phrase "great talent is often accompanied by great misfortune". His response was somewhat distracted: "Hmm, our ancestors' place of origin back then was even more desolate and harsh than Shengjing is today. They didn't have enough clothes to wear or food to eat, and even if they went hunting on horseback every day with a flint bag, they still couldn't cope with the endless taxes and oppression... If we didn't have the spirit of striving and struggling, who knows what kind of life we'd be living now?"
"We should cherish the hard-won achievements of our ancestors." Holding his hand, she suddenly remembered a phrase from a certain writer in later generations: "'If not dying in silence, then bursting out in silence', if at that time Taizu did not fight back, it's possible that now there would be no Manchu people... and no us either. Hmm, we should also be grateful for this, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to marry such an outstanding husband."
Her smile is somewhat playful.
He couldn't help but lower his head, his nose touching hers, "Oh, you think your husband is quite impressive?"
She slightly raised her chin, lightly touched his lips, and her eyes were innocent yet wicked: "Not outstanding now, but will be in the future... Ha!" She dodged his large hand that was about to scratch her side, "Alright, indeed outstanding, no worse than the ancestors of the Aixinjueluo family. Who says it's hard to build a kingdom and even harder to defend it? ... We'll become a wise ruler in the future..." The last few words were spoken in a low voice, as if she couldn't catch her breath.
He heard, his eyes deepened, grabbed her, and tightly hugged her in his arms, with his chin rubbing against the top of her forehead, whispering: "Yunzhu, Yunzhu... you're right, it's hard to build a kingdom, but even harder to defend it, I'll try my best."
Before, he only saw the prosperous scene of Emperor Ma's rule on the surface, and only saw one side of Emperor Father's strictness. Now he knows that none of those are true, they are not easy, and gradually also understands the three words "it is difficult to be a ruler".
He does not want himself, his descendants to follow in their footsteps... How can the great Qing dynasty be forever stable, how can a peaceful and prosperous era be created, he will study hard and explore carefully.
"No matter what the future holds, I'll be with you every step of the way." She closed her eyes and leaned against his chest.
He pulled her cloak tighter for her, "Alright."
In the first month, sacrificial rites, New Year's greetings, eating and drinking, and entertainment became the main tasks of the Qing palace, such as rotating banquets, watching plays, setting off fireworks, and viewing flower lanterns... The celebrations for the new year were endless, although Yongzheng was originally frugal, after all, it was a once-a-year celebration. Last year, due to the appearance of Shen Rui, the political atmosphere presented a harmonious scene for the first time after his ascension to the throne, and he intentionally let his relatives have a reunion, celebrate, and spend a peaceful and auspicious new year, so he no longer emphasized reducing various activities in the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department.
On the eve of the Lantern Festival, Hongli recalled the pleasant encounter with Yunzhu last year. After the banquet ended, he secretly took her out of the palace. The two watched the flower lanterns and then went to Xiuyun Temple to watch the stilt walking, fire dragon dance, and fire lion dance...
After leaving the Jingren Palace of the Empress Dowager, Yongzheng came to the Yongsu Palace of Xi Fei.
On the first and fifteenth of every month, according to ancestral rules, the emperor would stay in the empress's palace. Although in recent years the emperor had been staying more often in the Palace of Mental Cultivation, he wouldn't go to another concubine's place and humiliate the empress. Consort Xi was both startled and delighted by Yongzheng's arrival, repeatedly asking people to serve tea, and personally brought fruit and pastries.
"Sit down, what's the hurry."
The empress finally sat down on the other side of the bed, her face showing a hint of embarrassment: "I was impolite."
Yongzheng looked at the needlework basket placed aside: "What is this?"
"It's a small quilt for the baby... I was thinking that Emperor Qianlong's consort will give birth in a few months, and as the imperial physician is also an imperial prince, I couldn't help but make a small quilt, which would be a token of my good intentions."
Yongzheng nodded, sipping his tea, and his expression eased a lot. If the Empress hadn't gone too far, he wouldn't have humiliated her to this extent by coming to the Yongshou Palace... It's truly pitiful that their relationship has come to this point.
He had thought that she was his wife from a young age, and no matter what she did, he would give her the dignity of being his legitimate wife. He also showed tolerance towards her because of the early death of Honghui. However, he didn't expect her to poison Fuhui. Nian Shi is already dead, and the Nian family has also declined. Even if Nian Shi was disrespectful to her in the past, what else could she hold against? Isn't Fuhui, who is Nian Shi's child, also his own flesh and blood?!
At that time, if it weren't for her secretly instigating and guiding, Hong Shi wouldn't have become closer to Lao Ba and the others... Knowing she had hatred in her heart, he couldn't bear to say anything about her out of consideration for Hong Hui, but this only made her more unscrupulous.
She thought of the children she had given birth to, who were only eight years old but looked like they were only six, with weak and thin bodies. She saw that because of Yunzhu's influence, they had eaten more food and their spirits had lifted... She couldn't help but poison them again! If it weren't for her second move, if she hadn't let the people at the sticky post keep an eye on the children, would she have known about this secret trick? Wasn't it also the same reason that Hongyuan and Hongyun's bodies gradually weakened and were eventually taken away by a minor cold illness?!
He didn't dare think about it.
Despair, anger and heartache churned in his mind, he couldn't wait to rush to the Jingren Palace to scold her severely. Her pale face, her desperation, her excuses... he didn't want to hear any of it.
They were all helpless, what about him? Has he ever not had a hard time in his life? Who would have thought that he was in pain?! His parents, wives and children...
“…made Lantern Festival gifts for Hongli, but unexpectedly the two palaces of Qianxi were also empty.” Knowing that Hongli took Yunzhu and sneaked out of the palace, Xi Fei was unhappy in her heart, feeling that Yunzhu did not have the dignity of an imperial son's consort. The emperor had arrived just in time to let him know that this daughter-in-law was not as virtuous and perfect as she seemed. With a worried expression, she said: “I only found out after asking that they had gone out of the palace. On festival days when dragons and snakes are mixed together, what if something happens?! Hongli is also a steady person, how could he suddenly do something to worry his elders like this…”
Yongzheng glanced at her: "You're worried a bit too late, I'm well aware of how many times he and Hongyu have sneaked out over the years." She didn't mind taking the blame for enticing her son to be unstable, it was all worth it.
The empress's heart was blocked for a moment, and after a while, she said in a low voice: "It's all my fault."
"They are just having fun, I don't want to restrain them too much!" Thinking of his own past, Yongzheng let out a soft sigh. A moment later, he said: "What does this have to do with you? Don't blame everything on yourself."
The son is so big now, when did he have a year or two to take care of himself? Of course, I couldn't blame myself. Xi Fei had a grievance in her heart, but she also felt that the emperor was comforting herself, and her heart was slightly sweet.
"The Empress's body has been getting worse lately, the imperial physician said she needs to rest, you take care of palace affairs and all that. And as for Hui Duan Ruo and Fu Hui, I think they get along well with Yun Zhu, so let her keep an eye on them, share some of the burden..."
The Empress Dowager is recuperating? Palace affairs? Xi Fei was taken aback by the words, then immediately showed a joyful expression, and respectfully bowed her head to say "Your subject obeys." She didn't notice the fleeting sneer in Yongzheng's downcast eyes.
"Alright, I still have things to attend to, I'll head back to the Nurturing Heart Palace first." He stood up.
"I, your concubine, bid farewell to Your Majesty."
The author has something to say: The following is the main body of the text:
The emperor returned to Yangxin Hall, the empress returned to Jingren Palace, and the other concubines also lost interest and returned to their respective palaces. This evening banquet can be considered over.
Hongli pulled Yunzhu to the Imperial Garden, heading towards Hui Xiu Mountain. "Will it be cold?" He tightened her large red satin silver fox fur cloak a bit, and on this cold winter night, the wind was even more biting as they went higher up.
Yunzhu pulled her face into the fluffy hood of her cloak and smiled at him, "It's fine." In the night sky, tree after tree of fireworks and small firecrackers exploded with a "whooshing" sound, including golden chrysanthemums, slow-spitting lotus flowers, and one-zhang lan... all shot out from the lantern-filled imperial city. The imperial palace was even more magnificent, with what seemed like a sky full of stars, night-blooming pear blossoms, eight immortals celebrating the New Year, three stars congratulating happiness... those dazzling scenes were not much different from modern fireworks.
"This is a great place to watch the fireworks." She exclaimed, the morning light in the night sky was shining brightly, the lights of the capital city were dazzling, and the stars and lanterns seemed like a vast ocean.
Hongli's smile was tinged with melancholy: "When Huang Ma Fa was around, every Mid-Autumn Festival in August, this pavilion would be packed to the brim. The princes and grandsons would all rush here... Now there are fewer people, partly because of the cold weather, and also because Hongyou is restless and Fu Hui's health isn't good..."
"It's not me accompanying you, is it? In the future, when we have sons and daughters, we'll come here together to watch the fireworks." She smiled at him tenderly, her delicate and smooth little face under the blooming fireworks seemed like a snow-white, floating qiong flower, which strangely made his slightly melancholic heart quickly calm down, filling his chest with a sense of satisfaction and tenderness.
"You're right, at that time, Huang Ama and E Niang will also be together..." He pulled her into his arms, yearning.
During this period, he did not go out of the capital to handle official business and was brought by Yongzheng to learn how to deal with government affairs in the Nurturing Heart Temple. His feelings for him gradually deepened, and because of his increasing understanding of the court situation since Kangxi, he had more empathy and understanding for Yongzheng, unknowingly dispelling the fear he had previously felt towards Yongzheng, and his admiration increased greatly.
Yu Zhuo muttered to herself: Yongzheng was actually not bad, but Xi Fei was still a bit of a disappointment. On the surface, however, she smiled and nodded in agreement with a gentle "Hmm".
This Hongli, she gradually also figured out his personality, he was clever and cautious when he was young, raised in front of his stepmother after birth, and later taken to the palace by Kangxi for education - actually the attention level is not very high, the impression of his father has always been stuck in cold-faced warnings, under the elegant and refined imperial grandson's demeanor, a suspicious, cautious, self-respecting and self-strengthening emperor's personality was formed, but deep down, he has always yearned for some kind of sincere emotion, this may be due to the child's innate affection for his parents, or perhaps it is the result of seeing Kangxi's doting on Hongshi for a long time...
Seeking but not obtaining, yet unaware of oneself.
She thought that historically, his feelings for Empress Xiaoxianchun might have been more due to the fact that she happened to fill the emotional void in his youth. After all, Qianlong's birth mother and foster mother were not the same person, so he couldn't fully trust or rely on her, but instead had to be cautious. As for his father Yongzheng, they didn't have much contact, except for the reverence due to an emperor, how much paternal love could there be? Only his wife, who was destined to spend her life with him, could make him wholeheartedly trust and love.
Love is when people appear and meet at the right time and place.
Of course, how deep and true this "love" is, whether it's more romantic or familial, can't be pursued, and can only be inferred from limited information.
However, since the Empress Xiaoxian of history had changed to herself, she would not waste these favorable factors, and get his most pure and true love, step by step deepening his trust, consolidating their feelings. In the harem, she already had the greatest reliance, plus the Fuca clan outside the court, as long as she protected her children well, she was the only eternal empress of the Qianlong dynasty. What early death, what imperial concubine, if you like it, just take it as a plaything to spice up life, if not, just nip it in the bud.
"Yunzhu?" He held her in his arms, feeling that it would be great if they could stay like this forever. Suddenly, a sense of fear arose in his heart - how many emperors' loves had lasted long throughout history? Either the beloved was doomed to an early death or human hearts changed, making it impossible to grow old together.
"Huh?"
"Yunzhu?" he called out again. His wife, although gentle and nestled in his arms, still hadn't fallen in love with him yet. He was thinking too far ahead... He smiled, suddenly feeling a deep affection for her that couldn't be put into words, an overflowing sense of warmth in his heart.
She lifted her head from his chest and looked at him.
"You mustn't change." The women in the palace, at first, were not without beauty and wisdom, but most of them eventually fell deeply into the vortex of power struggles. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to survive the passing years. He didn't want her to end up like that either.
"How can one not change?" She blinked, "Even if nothing is done, just watching the world change, one's heart will grow and their appearance will age... It's just a matter of whether that person can keep their original heart and maintain their own bottom line." Let her not change, he should first ask himself. The favor of an emperor is the most impermanent thing.
“……You're right.” She was always so transparent. He leaned over and kissed her slightly cool lips, she was transparent but not self-righteous, status, means, wisdom were all sufficient, must protect herself well. He couldn't guarantee that he could protect her every moment! His wife should stand shoulder to shoulder with him, the one he could entrust his back to.
"In those years, if the ancestors of the Aixinjueluo family did not have a firm will and determination, they would not have been able to establish this vast empire... It can be seen that people cannot become complacent. She gazed into the depths of the night sky and said faintly, "Pursuing a better life is human nature, but while pursuing material wealth, we must not forget about spirituality; only when the two are combined is it the way of heaven. However, there are too few people in this world with great wisdom and determination, and during the pursuit, they are instead tempted by desires, sink into love and hate, and become slaves to power and money, losing their sense of purpose."
How difficult it must be for someone as cold and detached as her to truly fall in love with someone, entrusting herself wholeheartedly! Hongli was somewhat taken aback - she was only in her teens, yet had such a profound understanding... A mix of emotions welled up in his heart, and he thought of the phrase "those who are gifted will be destroyed by heaven". His response was somewhat distracted: "Hmm, our ancestors' place of origin back then was even more desolate and harsh than Shengjing is today. They didn't have enough clothes to cover their bodies or food to fill their bellies... Even if they went hunting on horseback every day with a flint bag, they still couldn't cope with the endless demands for tribute and taxes... If we didn't have the spirit of striving and struggling, who knows what kind of life we'd be living now?"
"We should cherish the hard-won achievements of our ancestors." Holding his hand, she suddenly remembered a phrase from a certain writer in later generations: "'If not dying in silence, then bursting out in silence', if at that time Taizu did not fight back, it's possible that now there would be no Manchu people... and neither would we. Hmm, I should also be grateful for this, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to marry such an outstanding husband."
Her smile is somewhat playful.
He couldn't help but lower his head, his nose touching hers, "Oh, you think your husband is quite impressive?"
She slightly raised her chin, lightly touched his lips, and her eyes were innocent yet wicked: "Not outstanding now, but will be in the future... Ha!" She dodged his large hand that was about to scratch her side, "Alright, indeed outstanding, no worse than the ancestors of the Aixinjueluo family. Who says it's hard to build a kingdom and even harder to defend it? ... We'll become a wise ruler in the future..." The last few words were spoken in a low voice, as if she couldn't catch her breath.
He heard, his eyes deepened, grabbed her, and tightly wrapped her in his arms, his chin rubbing against the top of her forehead, whispering: "Yunzhu, Yunzhu... you're right, it's hard to build a kingdom, but defending it is even harder. I'll try my best."
Before, he only saw the prosperous scene of Emperor Ma's rule on the surface, and only saw the severe and harsh side of his father, but now he knows that none of those are true, they are not easy, and gradually also understood the three words "it is difficult to be a ruler".
He does not want himself, his descendants to follow in their footsteps... How can the great Qing dynasty be forever stable, how can a peaceful and prosperous era be created, he will study hard and explore carefully.
"No matter what the future holds, I'll be with you every step of the way." She closed her eyes and leaned against his chest.
He pulled her cloak tighter for her, "Alright."
In the first month, sacrificial rites, New Year's greetings, eating and drinking, and entertainment became the main tasks of the Qing palace, such as rotating banquets, watching plays, setting off fireworks, and viewing lanterns... The celebrations for the new year were endless, although Yongzheng was originally frugal, after all, it was a once-a-year celebration. Last year, due to the appearance of Shenrui, the political atmosphere presented a harmonious scene for the first time after his ascension to the throne, and he intentionally let his relatives have a reunion, celebration, and peaceful new year, so he no longer emphasized reducing various activities in the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department.
On the eve of the Lantern Festival, Hongli recalled the pleasant encounter with Yunzhu last year. After the banquet ended, he secretly took her out of the palace. The two watched the flower lanterns and then went to Xiuyun Temple to watch the stilt walking, fire dragon dance and fire lion dance...
After leaving the Jingren Palace of the Empress Dowager, Yongzheng came to the Yongsu Palace of Xi Fei.
On the first and fifteenth of every month, according to ancestral rules, the emperor would stay in the empress's palace. Although in recent years the emperor had been staying more often in the Palace of Mental Cultivation, he wouldn't go to another concubine's place and humiliate the empress. Consort Xi was both startled and delighted by Yongzheng's arrival, repeatedly asking people to serve tea, and personally brought fruit and pastries.
"Sit down, what's the hurry."
Xi Fei then sat down on the other side of the kang, her face flushing with embarrassment: "I have lost my composure."
Yongzheng looked at the needlework basket placed on one side: "What is this?"
"It's a small quilt for the baby... I was thinking that Emperor Qianlong's consort will give birth in a few months, and as the imperial physician is also an imperial prince, I couldn't help but make a small quilt, which would be a token of my good intentions."
Yongzheng nodded, sipping his tea, and his expression eased a lot. If the Empress hadn't gone too far, he wouldn't have humiliated her to this extent by coming to the Yongshou Palace... It's truly pitiful that their relationship has come to this point.
He had thought that she was his wife from a young age, and no matter what she did, he would give her the dignity of being his legitimate wife. He also showed tolerance towards her because of the early death of Honghui. However, he didn't expect her to poison Fuhui. Nian Shi is already dead, and the Nian family has also declined. Even if Nian Shi was disrespectful to her in the past, what else could she hold against? Isn't Fuhui, Nian Shi's child, also his own flesh and blood?!
At that time, if it weren't for her secretly instigating and guiding, Hong Shi wouldn't have become closer to Lao Ba and the others... Knowing she had hatred in her heart, he couldn't bear to say anything about her out of consideration for Hong Hui, but this only made her more unscrupulous.
She thought of the children she had given birth to, who were only eight years old but looked like they were only six, with weak and thin bodies. She saw that because of Yunzhu's influence, they had eaten more food and their spirits had lifted... She couldn't help but poison them again! If it weren't for her second move, if she hadn't let the people at the sticky post watch over the children, she wouldn't have known about this secret trick. Wasn't it also the same reason why Hongyuan and Hongyun's bodies gradually weakened and were eventually taken away by a minor cold illness?!
He didn't dare think about it.
Despair, anger and heartache churned in his mind, he couldn't wait to rush to the Jingren Palace to scold her severely. Her pale face, her desperation, her excuses... he didn't want to hear any of it.
They were all involuntary, what about him? Has he ever had a life without difficulties? Who would have thought that he was in pain?! His parents, wives and children...
“…made Lantern Festival gifts for Hongli, but unexpectedly the two palaces of Qianxi were also empty.” Knowing that Hongli took Yunzhu out of the palace secretly, Xi Fei was unhappy and felt that Yunzhu did not have the dignity of an imperial son's consort. The emperor arrived just in time to let him know that this daughter-in-law was not as virtuous and perfect as she seemed. With a worried expression, she said: “I only found out after asking that they had gone out of the palace. On festival days when dragons and snakes are mixed together, what if something happens?! Hongli is also a steady person, how could he suddenly do something to worry his elders like this…?”
Yongzheng glanced at her: "You're worried a bit too late, I'm well aware of how many times he and Hongyu have sneaked out over the years." She didn't mind taking the blame for enticing her son to be unstable, it was all worth it.
The empress's heart was blocked for a moment, and after a while, she said in a low voice: "It's all my fault."
"They are just having fun, I don't want to restrain them too much!" Thinking of his own past, Yongzheng let out a soft sigh. A moment later, he said: "What does this have to do with you? Don't blame everything on yourself."
The son is so big now, when did he have a year or two to take care of himself? Of course, I couldn't blame myself. Xi Fei had a grievance in her heart, but she also felt that the emperor was comforting herself, and her heart was slightly sweet.
"The Empress's body has been getting worse lately, the imperial physician said she needs to rest, you take care of palace affairs and all that. And as for Hui Duan Ruo and Fu Hui, I think they get along well with Yun Zhu, so let her keep an eye on them, share some of the burden..."
The Empress Dowager is recuperating? Palace affairs? Xi Fei was taken aback by the words, then a joyful expression appeared on her face, and she bowed her head in obedience. "Your subject obeys your orders." She didn't notice the flash of ridicule that flickered across Yongzheng's lowered eyes.
"Alright, I still have things to attend to, I'll head back to the Nurturing Heart Palace first." He stood up.
"I, your concubine, bid farewell to Your Majesty."
