TPNCQ CHAPTER 33
He is so fierce
It was common knowledge throughout the palace that the Emperor was angry with Jia Fei because of what had happened to Chen Guiren, and he had taken away Jia Fei's jade token. The Internal Affairs Department, as always, was quick to adapt to the changing winds. No matter how they had previously mistreated Chen Guiren, now that she had moved from the Chunxi Palace to the Yi Kun Palace, they had to make amends, out of respect for the Empress.
Therefore, early the next morning, the head eunuch of the Internal Affairs Department personally led four or five young eunuchs to carefully inspect the west wing where Chen Guiren was staying, checking every item and making a detailed record. They then returned to fetch the necessary items and delivered them one by one to Yingchun.
Looking at the faces of these people, and recalling how they had previously treated them with contempt, Yingchun was furious. "We are truly unworthy of the eunuch's personal visit," she said. "Our Guiren is short on funds and has no silver to offer you all for tea. We can only hope that in the future, the items in our monthly allowance will be delivered in full. I thank you in advance for your cooperation."
"How dare I? young lady, you're too kind," the head eunuch, Wang Fu, replied with a smile, his face full of cunning. "If you need anything at all in the future, just come to the Internal Affairs Department."
"I still have many things to attend to, so I won't personally see you out, gonggong," Yingchun said, holding a gauze curtain. She turned and entered the bedroom with two young palace maids carrying things.
"No need, no need," the head eunuch, Wang Fu, said with a smile, and then left with his men for the Internal Affairs Department.
"The people in the Internal Affairs Department have always been so snobbish. It's not like this is the first time," Chen Guiren shook her head, looking at Yingchun's angry expression.
"That was then, and this is now. We should at least say a few words to let them know that we are not easy to bully. Fifty years can bring great changes in a person's fortunes. We should not underestimate anyone, regardless of their current status....," Yingchun finally vented her anger, rattling off a string of words. Although her words were not entirely coherent, she had heard them before when she was studying with her mistress. The general meaning was not bad.
"That's not quite right," Chen Guiren chuckled, amused by Yingchun's off-the-cuff remarks. Seeing that the bruises on Yingchun's face had faded significantly, she felt relieved.
"If it weren't for the Chun Guifei niangniang's clever arrangement, and the Empress and Xian Guifei niangniang's support, I don't know how much longer I would have had to endure in the Chunxi Palace," Yingchun changed the new gauze curtains with the help of the young palace maids and muttered.
"You must not say such things in the future. Some things are best kept to oneself. From now on, you must be obedient and law-abiding in the Yikun Palace. Xian Guifei niangniang is usually very tolerant, as long as we don't make any mistakes and show more respect, we can definitely get along peacefully. And once we leave the Yikun Palace, we must be even more cautious. Do you understand?" Chen Guiren instructed the three palace maids who served her.
Besides Yingchun, who had been with her since childhood, the other two had also served Chen Guiren for many years. They knew her temperament and, no matter how difficult life was, Chen Guiren had never been harsh or abusive towards them. Where could they find such a good mistress? And now that they had moved into the Yikun Palace and had the protection of the Guifei niangniang, their days would surely be better than before. They all said, "Don't worry, Mistress, we will remember your words and never make any mistakes."
Yingchun was very efficient. In less than half an hour, she and the two young palace maids had tidied up the room. The fresh green gauze curtains were lovely, and the brocade couch was adorned with new cushions and pillows in a beautiful combination of green and yellow, a stark contrast to the previous drab furnishings.
Even the paper used for the windows was of the finest quality, allowing the sunlight from the south-facing room to illuminate the room brightly. The Internal Affairs Department had also sent two porcelain vases filled with freshly cut osmanthus branches, their rich fragrance filling the air.
Having finished these tasks, Yingchun washed new tea set and brewed a pot of fresh tea, pouring a cup for Chen Guiren. "Please try this new tea, Mistress. It has a wonderful aroma. Is it delicious?" she said happily.
Chen Guiren took the teacup, opened the lid, and watched as the steam rose, her thoughts drifting away. In the past, she had only suffered physical hardships, which she could endure with patience. But she feared that in the future, she might not be able to live as leisurely as before.
"The bedroom has been tidied up nicely. Yesterday, I heard the palace maids say that you had moved to the west wing of the Yikun Palace, and I thought it was just a joke. I didn't expect it to be true. Well, it's good" Shu Pin said, entering without announcing herself and sitting directly on the brocade couch, "at least you're out of the Chunxi Palace, and your life will be better."
Shu Pin waved her hand, and the two palace maids who followed her carried four bolts of plain silk and a box of chrysanthemum incense forward. She smiled and said, "The plain silk is nothing special, but this box of chrysanthemum incense was given to me by the Empress Dowager the other day. It's fresh and fragrant, just right for you, my dear sister. In the past, you didn't dare to burn incense because you didn't have access to incense materials. Now you can burn incense with peace of mind. I know you've always loved incense."
"Thank you, sister, for thinking of me," Chen Guiren's eyes welled up, but she forced herself to hold back her tears. Over the years, only Shu Pin had been willing to befriend her and take care of her. It was rare for the two of them to have such compatible temperaments.
"Let's not talk about these things between us. In just a few days, the winds of change have shifted several times in this palace. Now that you have a good place to stay, this sister is naturally happy for you. But you must be more cautious in the future. You know Jia Fei's temper. Once she recovers from this setback, who knows what kind of trouble she will cause," Shu Pin lowered her voice, worried about Chen Guiren's future. "But since you live in the Yikun Palace, Xian Guifei niangniang will naturally protect you. However, you should pay more attention to your daily necessities. I have a pair of high-quality poison-detecting chopsticks that I'll secretly send to you later. It's better to be safe than sorry."
"Xian Guifei niangniang has sent over a set of silver tableware. I think it should be enough. Why don't you keep it?" Chen Guiren declined.
"Some things are unavoidable. Just accept it. Be more careful in the future. We don't want to harm others, but we also can't let others harm us easily. Pay attention to all the big and small things in the palace. Be more cautious when going out. It's better to be safe than sorry. Even if Jia Fei wants to make things difficult for you, he can only harass you. I believe you know how to deal with this, so I won't say any more." Shu Pin held Chen Guiren's hand and instructed her.
*
September 14th
After finishing his morning court session, the Qianlong Emperor went to the martial arts field to assess the archery skills of his two sons, Yongzhang and Yongcheng.
The two princes had received the news at noon, so after a brief rest following their meal, they went to the martial arts field to practice intensively, hoping to perform their best when their father came to evaluate them in the afternoon.
Yongzhang's progress was relatively slow, and seeing Yongcheng's accuracy, he became quite flustered. In a short while, his forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat. Just as he was about to wipe his sweat with a handkerchief, he heard the eunuchs announcing the Emperor's arrival. Not bothering to take out his handkerchief, he wiped his sweat with his sleeve and quickly stepped forward to greet the Emperor.
"All of you, rise. Show me your true abilities. Yongzhang, you go first," the Qianlong Emperor said, standing beside his two sons and watching them with interest.
Yongzhang responded and began his demonstration. Already nervous, his hands trembled even more when he thought about his poor accuracy. Out of ten arrows, only five hit the target, four of which landed on the outer ring, and only one grazed the edge of the red center.
After watching Yongzhang, the Qianlong Emperor didn't say much but gestured for Yongcheng to have a try.
Yongcheng had been practicing diligently for a while, and thinking of the pony his father had promised him, he was even more motivated. As a result, he had made significant progress. Out of ten arrows, four hit the bullseye, five hit the outer ring, and one missed the target completely.
Seeing Yongcheng's disappointment, the Qianlong Emperor patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Although you only hit the bullseye four times, which is one less, it's commendable that you've made such significant progress in such a short time. As promised, I will reward you with a pony. Li Yu, take him to the imperial stables and have the head eunuch personally help him choose one."
Hearing this, Yongcheng was overjoyed and, after thanking his father, followed Li Yu to the imperial stables, his steps light and quick.
Yongzhang stood there, full of envy but with even more self-blame. He couldn't help but feel guilty about his own incompetence.
"Yongzhang, how can you teach your younger siblings if you are so lackadaisical? What's the use of just feeling guilty? Come here." The Qianlong Emperor said sternly, and pulling Yongzhang into his arms, he personally taught him how to draw the bow and shoot arrows.
Seeing his father's serious expression, Yongzhang dared not relax and focused twice as hard on learning.
*
The following day, the fifteenth, It was the day for all the concubines to pay their respects to the Empress.
The concubines first went to the Changchun Palace to greet the Empress and then together went to the Cining Palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. Jia Fei, who had been confined to her quarters after her jade token was removed, was unable to attend such a gathering.
This was the first time in over a year, since Empress Fucha became pregnant and gave birth, that she had led all the concubines to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. Therefore, the Empress Dowager kept them for a while before dismissing them. During this time, she asked Empress Fucha if she wanted to take back Xian Guifei's authority to assist in managing the palace affairs. Empress Fucha declined, citing her weak health and the need to constantly care for her seventh son, Yongcong. She requested that Xian Guifei continue to assist in managing the palace affairs and reported to the Changchun Palace daily on all matters, ensuring that nothing was overlooked.
Upon hearing the Empress's words, the Empress Dowager naturally had no objections. Thus, they chatted for a while longer, had some tea and snacks, and then dismissed everyone.
Upon returning to the Jingren Palace, Su Limo and her maids, Shuangjiang and Dong Xue, began to experiment with making chrysanthemum pastries. They even invited a mama from the imperial kitchen who specialized in making pastries to teach them. Although the pastries they made were somewhat imperfect, with cracks here and there or missing corners, the taste was not bad.
This was Su Limo first time making chrysanthemum pastries. Although they were a bit ugly, the taste was decent, and she felt quite a sense of accomplishment.
At the agreed-upon time in the afternoon, Su Limo had Shuangjiang and Dong Xue take the chrysanthemum pastries they had made earlier to the Prince's Courtyard.
When Su Limo entered the Prince's residence, she saw the sixth prince, Yongrong, already sitting obediently at a round table in the courtyard, waiting for her. She teased him with a smile and asked, "Where's Yongqi? Why isn't he here today?"
"Fifth Brother was scolded by his teacher and has to copy the 'Three Character Classic' ten times before he can rest. It's that one about 'human nature is inherently good'," Yongrong said excitedly, his eyes lighting up when he mentioned Yongqi being punished. He then chattered on for a few more sentences to Su Limo before shifting his attention to the pastries she had brought out.
"Well, since Yongqi can't come because he was punished, what should Yongrong do with these pastries?" Su Limo reminded him with a smile. The brothers were still young, and they had a strong bond. In the future...
"Yongrong should leave three for Fifth Brother," Yongrong said, taking out the handkerchief he had been holding in his arms and placing it on the table. He carefully selected three of the best-looking pastries and arranged them neatly, then turned to the serving mama and said, "mama, please give these to Fifth Brother. Tell him Yongrong saved them especially for him."
Hearing Yongrong's childish command, Su Limo found it both amusing and irritating. However, as a prince, he would need to learn how to manage servants in the future. Otherwise, if the master was too weak, they would be bullied by the servants.
After doing this, Yongrong grabbed a pastry and stuffed it into his mouth, munching away happily. He was so happy that as he ate, he kicked his short legs idly and asked with his mouth full, "E'niang, when can Yongrong start school?"
"Start school? You'll start when you turn three. Your Imperial Father will find a teacher for you." Su Limo patted Yongrong's back to prevent him from choking and handed him a cup of tea.
"In three or four more months? No, no, can we ask Imperial Father to wait until next spring? It's so cold in winter, I saw Fifth Brother's hands were red from the cold, and he still had to practice calligraphy. Yongrong doesn't want to, no, no." Yongrong pouted and begged, no longer interested in his pastries.
"It's not like you'll start school immediately after you turn three. You see, your third birthday is near the end of the year, and there will be a lot of things going on. Maybe your Imperial Father won't have time for it. How about I ask him to let you start after the fifteenth of the first month? Does that sound good?" Su Limo couldn't help but feel sorry for the little prince when she saw his pitiful expression. It was going to be so cold in the dead of winter.
"January is still cold, and so is February, February" Yongrong said, clinging to Su Limo and acting spoiled.
Looking at her two-and-a-half-year-old son acting so spoiled, Su Limo was at a loss. Where did this boy learn to be so coquettish? There were only a few princes in the Prince's Residence, and the wet nurses and mama's who served them were all old. It seemed that some things were just innate.
"Alright, alright. e'niang will try my best to persuade your Imperial Father. But if it really doesn't work, don't blame your e'niang," Su Limo pulled him over and sat him down, then fed him a few sips of warm water. "In the future, be more open with your Imperial Father and don't be so shy. He loves you very much too." Remembering the previous incident, Su Limo reminded the sixth prince.
"But Imperial Father is always so fierce, unlike e'niang who is so gentle, beautiful, and generous," Yongrong said, his eyes dimming slightly when he mentioned the Emperor.
Hearing the words "gentle, beautiful, and generous," Su Limo burst out laughing. "Your Imperial Father may look fierce on the outside, but he loves you all very much inside. If you don't believe me, next time he scolds you, try acting coquettish with him just like you do with me."
"Really?" Six Prince asked, unsure.
"Of course. When has e'niang ever lied to you?" Su Limo had just finished speaking when she heard a noise and knew that Yongzhang was back.
Yongzhang entered the bedroom, looking a little downcast.
Su Limo had a mama bring some warm water and personally wiped Yongzhang's hands with a handkerchief. She then handed him a piece of chrysanthemum pastry and asked softly, "Did something happen at the martial arts field today?" In fact, Su Limo had already heard that Yongcheng had received a pony in the afternoon, but she wanted to know what Yongzhang was really thinking before she could comfort him.
"E'niang, am I useless at everything? I'm not as talented as Fourth Brother in reading and writing, and my archery is not as good as his. Today, Imperial Father rewarded Fourth Brother with a pony, and tomorrow Fourth Brother can start learning to ride and practice archery..." Yongzhang's voice trailed off, and the pastry in his mouth tasted like wax.
"You are a good son of the Emperor and your e'niang. How could you be useless at everything? Look, you're tall and strong. Even Bukuu praised your potential in wrestling, and even your Imperial Father praised you for your bravery, didn't he? Ten fingers are not all the same length, and they complement each other. If they were all the same length, it would be scary. You have your strengths, and Yongcheng has his. Don't be envious of others' strengths and don't show off your own. Do you understand?" Su Limo said, her voice gentle and calm, like a flowing stream.
"Yes, I understand, e'niang. But if I had performed better in archery today, Imperial Father wouldn't have been so angry," Yongzhang said after a moment of silence.
"You're feeling a little guilty about not performing well today, and I understand. You can feel guilty, but don't dwell on it. What you need to do is remember today's feelings in your heart and practice diligently. Only then can you achieve your goals in the future. Starting tomorrow, no matter how much progress Yongcheng makes, you just need to practice your archery diligently and make a little progress every day. If tomorrow is better than today and the day after tomorrow is better than tomorrow, that's the biggest improvement, understand?" Su Limo finished speaking and handed a cup of tea to Yongzhang, continuing, "Besides, as the older brother, you should be happy for Yongcheng when he does well and is rewarded by the Emperor. When you get good at archery, the Emperor will naturally choose a good horse for you."
"I understand, e'niang," Yongzhang nodded heavily, feeling relieved. As the sweet scent of the chrysanthemum pastries filled his nose, his stomach grumbled involuntarily. He picked up a pastry and ate it while sipping the chrysanthemum tea.
After sitting for a while longer, it was time for Su Limo to return to the Jingren Palace with Shuangjiang and Dong Xue.
Shortly after Su Limo left, Jia Fei came to the Prince's Courtyard to visit the fourth and eighth princes. She had purposely chosen to come in the late afternoon to avoid being noticed. Now that she had been grounded in the Chunxi Palace after the Emperor had taken away her jade token, it was not appropriate for her to go out in a high-profile manner. When she heard that Yongcheng had received a reward, she was overjoyed in the Chunxi Palace and, after bribing some people in the Prince's Residence, she had secretly come to visit.
Yongcheng was sitting on a brocade couch, playing with a new bow. When he saw Jia Fei, he quickly stood up to greet her.
"E'niang has heard that your Imperial Father praised you at the martial arts field today and rewarded you with a good horse. You're truly a good son of E'niang's. E'niang is so proud of you. You've really made E'niang very happy," Jia Fei said with a radiant expression, her previous unhappiness completely gone.
"But I missed the bullseye with one arrow today. It would have been better if I had hit it," Yongcheng said, feeling a little regretful about what had happened earlier.
"My son is naturally the best. It doesn't matter if you missed one arrow. You'll do better with more practice. You must listen to E'niang and practice diligently to be the best. That way, your Imperial Father will pay more attention to you and not just care about that sickly boy next door. When you grow up, you can help your Imperial Father with his troubles," Jia Fei said, stroking Yongcheng's head, her voice filled with anticipation. All her hopes were pinned on her sons.
"I know, E'niang. I've been practicing diligently according to what you said. I'm trying my best in my studies and archery, and I'm even better than Third Brother. Don't worry, E'niang. I will definitely make you proud," Yongcheng promised confidently.
"Good son," Jia Fei said happily.
*
The Qianlong Emperor had originally planned to visit the Prince's Residence when Su Limo was there to see if she was as unruly as usual. However, he was delayed by matters of state and when he finally arrived, Jia Fei was already there.
Upon hearing Jia Fei's words to Yongcheng, the Qianlong Emperor's eyes immediately turned cold. It seemed that what the Empress had said was true. Jia Fei indeed had ulterior motives.
How audacious.