TPNCQ CHAPTER 48
Sharp-tongued
It's not easy for Qianlong to respond to this. The Empress Dowager enjoys playing mahjong the most in the palace, and she often plays with the other concubines.
"Does Your Majesty think
I’ve done something wrong or improper that violate the palace rules?" Su Limo argued, knowing she had to
maintain a good relationship with her partner. “Some people like reading, some
like painting, and some like playing chess. I like playing mahjong, it’s just a
way to pass the time. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with that.”
"..." Qianlong looked at Su Limo kneeling on the
ground, showing no signs of reflection, and had to change the subject and said again, "Yongrong is three years old, and he’s learned to be as clingy and
girlish as Jingshun. How can this be proper?"
Hearing this, Su Limo finally understood why Qianlong had
come. It seemed he had come to warn her not to spoil the Sixth Prince too much because of the issue of education. Without
Qianlong saying it out loud, Su Limo already knew what he would say. It would
be something along the lines of how a man should be upright and worthy of
heaven and earth, etc. But Yongrong was only a three-year-old child. What he
needed was the love, care, and companionship of his parents.
“But didn’t Your Majesty also hold Yongrong and wouldn’t let
him go today?” Su Limo countered. In fact, Qianlong had many opportunities to
put Yongrong down or hand him to the nanny, but he didn’t. Maybe, just maybe,
this was the first time that the prince to be so clingy and coquettish, and although Qianlong
was tough on the outside, he might actually find it heartwarming deep down.
“...You have a sharp tongue,” Qianlong said, emphasizing
each word. “Get up.”
Finally, she was allowed to stand. Su Limo quickly got up
and sat on the couch, smiling gently and sweetly. “When Yongrong left the
Cining Palace today, he told me, ‘Imperial Father really loves me.’ Your Majesty is a
strict father and a wise ruler. In the eyes of children, they have more awe of
you and dare not get too close, for fear of crossing a line or breaking a rule.
Your Majesty always talks about rules and regulations, but for some
insignificant things, what harm can it do?”
Hearing this, Qianlong was stunned. When he was young, he
also wondered if his father loved his third brother more than him. Later, when
his father gave him the bow and arrow he had used as a child, he realized that
his father loved him too.
“You’re so noisy,” Qianlong said.
Su Limo gave Shuangjiang a signal, and Shuangjiang brought
over a cup of tea and two plates of pastries.
“Your Majesty, please try this,” Su Limo said, picking up a
piece of osmanthus white frost cake and handing it to Qianlong. “This is
Yongrong’s favorite cake.”
Qianlong glanced at Su Limo and took the cake, putting it in
his mouth. Yongrong was already three years old, and this was the first time he
knew that Yongrong liked osmanthus cake.
It was sweet, soft, and couldn’t compare to the osmanthus
cake in the Yangxin Palace.
Qianlong took it and ate one piece, then took another piece and had a cup of tea before leaving Jingren Palace.
Li Yu noticed that the Emperor seemed to be in a much better
mood as he got into the sedan chair. He had been quite angry when he arrived,
and his temper had flared up even more when he saw the mahjong game. But after
only two quarters of an hour inside, he came out looking fine.
This Chun guifei was truly strange. Sometimes, a few
words could infuriate the Emperor, but other times, a few words could also calm
him down.
Most of the concubines were careful to serve and flatter,
and it was indeed rare to find someone like Chun guifei.
"Send two plates of osmanthus cakes from the Yangxin
Palace to Jingren Palace," the Emperor ordered.
"Yes," Li Yu replied, bowing and giving his
apprentice, Xiao Hezi, a signal to go and do it.
Seeing that the Emperor didn't seem unhappy when he left, Su
Limo also breathed a sigh of relief. The words she had said earlier were just
a test, and fortunately, the Emperor didn't seem to blame her. It was really
nothing serious.
"Niangniang, the little eunuch Xiao Hezi from the
Yangxin Palace has sent over a food box. He said it's a reward from Your
Majesty," Shuangjiang opened the food box and brought out two more plates
of pastries.
Su Limo took a piece and tasted it. It was osmanthus cake.
A smile spread across her lips. After eating it, she took another piece.
It seemed that the Emperor had listened to her words.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have specially sent over Yongrong's
favorite osmanthus cake.
This was his way of telling her that not only mothers have a
soft spot for their children, but fathers do too.
*
There were countless banquets, big and small, throughout the
first month of the lunar year, and the palace was full of flowers and
decorations.
However, for Su Limo, these things were truly boring.
Except for the banquets she had to attend, she declined all the others, such as
going to Changyin Pavilion to listen to operas or to Luoxuexuan to admire plum
blossoms... Instead, she invited Song mama from the Imperial Kitchen to
Jingren Palace to teach her how to make pastries every few days.
Song mama had been making pastries in the Imperial Kitchen
for twenty years and had a lot of experience. This was the first time a
concubine had specifically asked her to teach her how to make pastries. After
discussing it with her superiors, she agreed to take on this task.
At first, she thought that Chun guifei was just on a
whim and would only do it occasionally, but unexpectedly, she invited her to
Jingren Palace every two or three days for half an hour, and she did this for
more than half a month. However, Chun guifei was not taking advantage of
her. Every time she came, she would give her a reward, so she earned quite a
bit of extra money. Moreover, Chun guifei was always kind and never
acted arrogantly because of her high rank. Every time, she would politely ask
her questions, and she would never get angry if she made a mistake, but would
continue to try again.
Many people in the Imperial Kitchen envied her for this job
and asked her to keep an eye on whether Chun guifei wanted to learn
other skills and recommend them.
Empress Fucha and Xian guifei were busy with various grand banquets throughout the first month of the lunar year, and now they had to worry about preparing for the ancestral worship in Dongling in February. Every time they went to Dongling for the ancestral worship and passed Panshan Mountain, the Emperor would stay there for several days to pray and worship Buddha. All of this needed to be prepared well in advance. The round trip would take about a month, and every aspect of food, clothing, housing, and transportation had to be meticulously prepared, requiring a lot of effort and thought.
Moreover, in March, Princess Hejing was to marry into the
Khorchin clan, and all the arrangements were being made according to the
standards of a Princess of the Imperial Family. Although the Ministry of Rites
was overseeing the preparations, Empress Fucha only had this one daughter, who
was as precious to her as her own heart. Now, following the old custom of
Manchu-Mongol intermarriage, she had to marry into the Khorchin clan, which
made her heart feel like it was being fried in oil.
If she had known this day would come, she would have
arranged her daughter’s marriage long ago. It didn’t matter if it was a
brilliant scholar or a mediocre noble family, as long as he was kind and
treated Princess Hejing well. As long as she was still in the capital, even if
she was bullied, she could come to the palace to cry to her mother and ask for
her help to vent her anger.
But now, she was going to marry far away in Khorchin, and
there was no telling if they would ever see each other again in this lifetime.
If her husband was healthy and strong and they could grow old together, that
would be fine. But if he were to die prematurely, would she have to follow the
outdated custom and marry one of his younger brothers? It was truly absurd.
She had always thought that Princess Hejing was still young
and a child, so she had delayed the marriage. She and the Emperor had looked at
several young men, but they always felt that they were not worthy of their
only, precious, and legitimate daughter. But now...
No matter how unwilling Empress Fucha was, she could only grit her teeth and endure the pain, swallowing her bitter tears. She could only add more items to the dowry prepared for a Princess of the Imperial Family, hoping that one day something might come in handy. Qianlong also ordered people to search for many rare treasures and add them to the dowry.
*
Jia fei was dissatisfied with Ling pin for
seducing the Emperor and taking away most of his favor. Therefore, throughout
the first month of the lunar year, all her thoughts were focused on how to make
the Emperor favor her and how to make him see her more often. She didn't care
about anything else for the time being. After being neglected for several
months at the beginning of the year, she understood very clearly that no matter
what, she had to hold onto the Emperor's heart and maintain his favor,
otherwise, there were too many people in the palace who would look down on her
and want to bring her down. Most importantly, for the sake of her two sons'
future, she had to be the most favored concubine in the palace.
Therefore, throughout the first month of the lunar year, Jia
fei and Ling pin took turns to attract the Emperor's attention,
seemingly tirelessly.
However, in the end, it was Ling pin who won,
securing a place to accompany the Emperor on the ancestral worship in Dongling
on the second day of the second lunar month.
Apart from Empress Fucha, as the primary wife, Qianlong only
specifically named Ling pin and Shu pin to accompany him.
The other concubines didn't dare to say anything, except for Jia fei.
Jia fei was unwilling to give up and begged Qianlong
several times, but no matter how much she coquetted, Qianlong didn't agree to
let her go this time.
On the second day of the second lunar month, as the imperial procession left the palace gates, Jia fei was furious. She ranted and raved in the Chunxi Palace for quite some time, "That vixen! She pretends to be devout and prays to Buddha every day, and now the Emperor has specially allowed her to accompany him to Panshan Mountain for prayers. How dare she! I bet I know what dirty tricks she's up to. The Emperor is completely bewitched by her, and he even specifically asked for Shu pin to go as well. Everyone knows that Shu pin is the Empress Dowager's person. In this way, she's pleasing the Empress Dowager, and even the Empress won't be able to say anything."
Seeing her mistress so angry, La Mei, her maid, quickly
tried to calm her down. "Niangniang, please calm down. Accompanying the
Emperor on an ancestral worship isn't exactly a pleasant task. Now that the
Emperor has used Shu pin to appease the Empress Dowager, I think
the Empress Dowager might not let this matter go so easily. Ling pin will
eventually have to return to the palace. When the Empress Dowager speaks, she
will have to obediently listen. How can the Empress Dowager feel at ease with
such a vixen accompanying the Emperor day and night? The Empress Dowager is a
devout Buddhist, and she values a sincere heart in religious matters. How dare Ling
pin use this matter to compete for the Emperor's favor again and
again..."
"Yes, that's right. I was so angry that I didn't think of that," Jia fei came to her senses, and the anger in her eyes subsided a bit.
"Niangniang was so angry with Ling pin that she forgot. However, there is one important matter that niangniang can consider. Maybe the Emperor will understand niangniang's intentions when he sees it." La Mei pondered and said.
"Are you talking about Princess Hejing's marriage to
the Khorchin clan? I think she deserves it. What is there to consider?" Jia
fei sneered. "She always flaunted her status as the legitimate princess and never took any of us seriously. Now she's going to marry into the
grasslands and herd horses and sheep every day. I think she can appreciate the beauty of
the vast grasslands and grazing cattle. Why should I care about her? This is a
blessing that others can't even dream of. She should cherish this opportunity
to go to Khorchin."