TPNCQ CHAPTER 12
Entering the mouth, it melts; brothers and friends are respectful and harmonious.
Xiu Guiren hurriedly knelt again, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something. Thousands of words welled up inside her, but in the end, all she could muster was, “Thank you for your guidance, Empress Dowager. I will remember it and will not let my personal concerns affect the Emperor and the imperial offspring.”
“Xian Guifei, the Emperor and I trust you. Since the Empress is pregnant, we have entrusted you with the management of the Six Palaces. If any palace servants cause trouble, you have the authority to deal with them. If the younger concubines do not follow the rules, you can reprimand them. The harem is in turmoil, the emperor is troubled, and a single hair can move the whole body. The court is also in turmoil. If you do not understand the reason for this, I will have to explain it to you clearly," the empress dowager said slowly, her expression unreadable.
“It is my fault for not managing well. Chenqie will be more diligent in the future,” Xian Guifei quickly knelt and responded respectfully.
“Rise. In a few days, it will be the silkworm ceremony. The Emperor values agriculture and sericulture highly. Since the Empress is not fit to attend, you will take her place. Prepare well,” the Empress Dowager said, raising her hand to signal Xian Guifei to rise.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager did not blame her too much, Xian Guifei replied, “Everything has been arranged properly, Empress Dowager, rest assured.”
"A few days ago, I was sick, and it was difficult for Shu Pin to wait on me day and night. Now that I am much better, you should also rest and focus your energy on the emperor. There is no need to accompany me, this old woman, every day." The empress dowager said with a smile.
“Empress Dowager, I am already very content that you do not mind my clumsiness and allow me to serve you,” Shu Pin replied warmly, without arrogance or impatience.
Seeing that Empress Dowager finally smile, everyone else also relaxed a bit, no longer holding their breath as they had earlier.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the Empress Dowager dismissed them. Everyone bowed and took their leave, exiting one by one.
Seeing that her own palace people had been punished, Ling Pin's face also turned unsightly, and she hurried back to her palace.
Su Limo also quickly blended into the crowd, quietly holding onto Shuangjiang’s hand as they left Cining Palace. It was only after they exited the palace gates that she let out a sigh of relief.
Sure enough, the former champion of palace struggles and the top master of maintaining balance had shown her prowess.
Su Limo, supported by Shuangjiang, hurried back to her palace. She still had to prepare pastries and snacks to visit to the prince residence to see the dumplings.
Jia Fei received a hairpin as a gift from the Empress Dowager. It was a great honor, and she walked extremely slowly on her way back. The gloom of many days was swept away, and she was beaming with joy.
“Niangniang, isn't that Chun Guifei ahead?” Lamei pointed and said in a low voice.
“No wonder she looks so bloated and disheveled. If I were her, I’d hurry back to the palace too, too embarrassed to show myself outside. She just gave birth to a daughter, not highly regarded, but better than nothing,” Jia Fei was in a very good mood at the moment. She watched Chun Guifei and her entourage walk by in a hurry and sneered.
*
In Jingren Palace, Su Limei had finished her breakfast and packed the pastries for the dumplings, accompanied by Shuangjiang, she headed to the Prince's residence.
The Prince's residence had received advance notice, and there was a fixed schedule for approximately when each concubine would arrive to visit the princes.
When Su Limo arrived, the third child, Yongzhang, and the sixth child, Yongrong, were already sitting at the round table, eagerly waiting to be fed. Seeing that the fifth child, Yongqi, was not there, she glanced around and noticed a small figure behind the door crack. Smiling, she pretended not to notice and sat down, placing the four kinds of pastries on the table, introducing them one by one. "This is the 'Pear Flesh Good Sir,' pickled pear fruit coated in a layer of sugar frost, sweet and sour. This is the 'Shortcrust Red Bean Cake,' don't let the thin pastry fool you, it took five layers to achieve this effect, it melts in your mouth..."
T/N: My head is spinning trying to translate these dish name. I have tried my best, so please bear with me if you cannot understand ~~
Before Su Limo could finish, the sixth child, Yongrong, couldn’t resist grabbing a piece of crispy red bean cake and stuffing it into his mouth, the crispy crumbs falling apart, leaving a fragrant taste.
Seeing this, the fifth child, Yongqi, couldn't hold back any longer. He dashed forward, greeted Su Limo, and sat down.
Su Limo smiled slightly. Just as she thought, what five-year-old could resist a treat?
Seeing his two younger brothers enjoying the snacks so much, the third child, Yongzhang, finally picked up a piece of the 'Pear Flesh Good Sir' and put it in his mouth.
This time, Su Limo not only brought pastries but also a soup for each of the dumpling. For Yongzhang, she brought a black pork bone soup that had been simmering for two hours. For Yongqi, she prepared a rich fish soup. Since Yongrong might find it hard to digest after eating the pastries, she made a light lotus seed soup for him.
"The fourth dumpling, Yongcheng, had just finished reviewing a poem that his nanny had taught him the day before. He stepped out of the main hall and was about to head to his study to practice calligraphy when he heard the joyful laughter from the courtyard. He couldn't resist the urge to join in. He had heard his sixth brother, Yongrong, mention a few days ago that Chun Niangniang would be bringing delicious pastries."
Just as Yongcheng was about to go over, his nanny stopped him. She whispered something to him, and he paused for a moment. With a sigh, he turned back and went to his study.
“Fourth brother is gone, he's gone,” the sixth dumpling, Yongrong said, smacking his lips.
Seeing this, Yongzhang took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, spread it on the table, and picked one of each pastry to wrap up. “Let’s save some for him.”
Watching Yongzhang act like a little grown-up, Su Limo raised her hand and patted his shoulder in encouragement.
The scene of the brothers getting along so well was truly heartwarming.
Emperor Qianlong, having finished his affairs in the court, recalled that he had arranged to visit the princes at their residence two days ago. So, he led a group of people towards the residence. Just as they were about to enter the courtyard, they heard joyful laughter and stopped.
The eunuch Li Yu quickly came forward and said, "At this hour, it should be Chun Guifei inside."
Emperor Qianlong furrowed his brow slightly and said, "What propriety is this? Who allowed the imperial consorts to bring pastries and snacks into the princes' residence?"
Hearing this, the eunuch in charge of the princes' residence was about to kneel down, but Emperor Qianlong waved his hand and stopped him. Thinking of how she had been feeling unwell lately, he said, "Forget it, let's return to the Yangxin palace first."
As he left, he added in a low voice, “A mother of three children, yet still so imprudent.”
His voice was low, and even Li Yu, who was serving by his side, couldn't hear it clearly. However, judging by the emperor's expression, he didn't seem angry. So, he waved his hand behind him and let the eunuch in charge of the princes' residence leave without following.
Those who could be head eunuch were all smart. Seeing this, they quickly left.
*
In the afternoon, when Jia Fei visited the prince residence to see the fourth child, Yongcheng, the nanny who was serving her recounted today's event involving Chun Guifei’s.
“Chun Guifei has been bringing pastries and soup these last two visits. The Emperor dislikes the idea of pampering the princes too much, and she’s ruining her own future this way,” the nanny said with a smile on her face full of wrinkles.
"She barely escaped death and now sees food and drink as more important than anything else. That's the extent of her ambition. Our Yongcheng didn't join in the fun, did he?" Jia Fei inquired.
“Rest assured, Niangniang, this slave will avoid it. The fourth prince has a noble character. How could he mix with those little brat? It all thanks to niangniang upbringing,” the nanny complimented, shaking her head in reassurance.
Hearing this, the fourth prince, Yongcheng lowered his head, not daring to look at Jia Fei. The incident of the four prince sneaking into the inner chamber and stealing food at noon today must never be discovered.
But to be honest, the pastries brought by Chun Niangniang were really delicious.
*
The whole palace soon knew about the Empress Dowager's gift to Jia Fei, and naturally, Qianlong was aware too.
The next night, he went to Chunxi Palace to visit Jia Fei.
*
Author's Note:
Su Limo’s children: Third Prince Yongzhang, Sixth Prince Yongrong, and Fourth Princess Jingshun.
Jia Fei’s child: Fourth Prince Yongcheng.
Yu Fei’s child: Fifth Prince Yongqi.