Suo Etu looked at Longkodo, who looked very different from before, and smiled slowly, stroking his long beard and said, "Second Master Tong must be very tired after the long journey. Please come in, please come in."
***
The dowry list for the Crown Princess was drawn up by the Imperial Household Department, and the Emperor personally revised and added to it. It was then presented to the two Empress Dowagers for their review. Only after the Grand Empress Dowager gave her nod did he order his subordinates to prepare it.
After the Empress Dowager nodded, the people who were in charge of the wedding heaved a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads. They thought with sympathy that it had finally passed.
There were precedents for the marriage of princes, but the wedding of the crown prince was the first since the founding of the Qing Dynasty. The Ministry of Internal Affairs was too busy to do anything, and the procedures drafted by the Ministry of Rites were rejected again and again. The emperor had only one meaning: it was not grand enough, not solemn enough, and whether you could do it
The Minister of Rites had two huge dark circles under his eyes from overwork. He gritted his teeth and, according to the precedent of the Emperor and Empress Yuan's wedding, reduced the price by 20%, and only then did he get approval.
The eldest prince married his first wife, whose dowry was naturally collected by her family; and the crown princess's wife was actually bought by the Ministry of Internal Affairs - the Guarjia clan paid 40% and the palace paid 60%. The emperor opened his private treasury to add many good things, not to mention the two queen mothers; Yunxiu thought about it and thought that Jingchu had not yet stepped into the palace and would need money in the future, so she added the gold and silver she had accumulated over the years.
The Yikun Palace was home to the most powerful and favored Concubine Yi. The Imperial Household Department would never dare to neglect her, and all the precious tributes were sent here, including the best tea and silk. The eunuchs and palace maids did not need to be bribed, and they were eager to work hard for the Concubine and make her notice them.
In addition to the frequent gifts from the Qianqing Palace, the third-day-old, full-month-old, and first-year-old gifts for the fifth, ninth, and eleventh princes... the expenses of the Yikun Palace were huge, but Yunxiu was truly wealthy, and her entire wealth made the other concubines jealous. The gold and silver she had saved for her dowry would have been a large sum in silver notes.
Ruizhu took the mahogany box to the Imperial Household Department. When the box was opened, the officials were terrified and did not dare to make a decision on their own. They turned around and reported it to the emperor.
It is said that Concubine Yi treats the Crown Prince very well, and now he finally believes it. He loves the Crown Princess so much that giving her a dowry is no different from marrying off a daughter...
Hearing the report, Kangxi was stunned, then laughed: "It was given by the imperial concubine, so just accept it. Her wealth is not less than mine."
The official from the Ministry of Internal Affairs could not respond and could only bow repeatedly. Liang Jiugong on the side sighed faintly, "Why don't you leave? This is so tactless."
Chief Steward Liang gave him a look, but was rejected - the official didn't even raise his head, still respectfully waiting for the Emperor's instructions.
Then, in front of a room full of palace servants, Kangxi pondered for a moment and ordered: "Open my private treasury, and I will give her as much as the imperial concubine gave. Add another hundred taels of gold, and ask if there is anything missing, and make up for it... The prince is getting married with all his heart, and there is no reason for her to spend money."
After thinking for a while, Kangxi continued, "Do it quietly, don't alarm others."
The officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were stunned. Should they fill the gap
There is no reason for the imperial concubine to spend money
Everyone says that the Crown Prince is the Emperor's beloved daughter, is this the treatment he deserves
After so many years of working in the palace, this was the first time he lost his composure and walked out of the imperial study like a crab. The blue-feathered guard at the door saw him stop where he was, touched his cheek, and then touched his cheek again...
What? Is there something wrong with my teeth
The next day, in Yikun Palace, Yunxiu was stunned by the yellow gold ingots.
I picked one up and took a look. It had a great shape and quality, worthy of being something the palace prepared as a reward.
"Is the emperor afraid that I will starve his little princess?" Yun Xiu murmured, and then she couldn't help laughing, "This kind of business that is sure to make money can really be done more often."
Ruizhu looked over quietly, and saw a deep smile flashing in her mistress's peach blossom eyes, and her curved eyebrows were particularly moving. Somehow, she felt a lot of emotions in an instant, and countless joy filled her heart. The queen seemed different from before.
If I really have to describe it, it's like... like I feel more relaxed and at ease.
At this time, someone reported that the Fifth Prince, Ninth Prince, and Eleventh Prince came to pay respects to the Empress. Yun Xiu put down the gold ingots, feeling very surprised, and said with a smile: "It's rare for the brothers to get together. Let them in."
Soon, Yinqi took the lead, and Yinzhen followed behind holding Yinzhen's hand. After paying respects, the Ninth Prince called "Mother" with a smile, and blinked his peach blossom eyes that were exactly the same as Yunxiu's: "Mother, I heard about it. You added makeup to my second sister-in-law yesterday..."
The Fifth Prince nodded, looking eager: "Second brother even showed off to his younger brother."
After saying that, the Ninth Prince pinched the Eleventh Prince's small, fleshy hand. Yinzhen got the hint and immediately puffed up his cheeks, blew air out of his nose, and pretended to be angry and said, "Mother, when the Ninth Prince says he will marry a concubine, you should also treat him equally!"
Yunxiu looked at this and that, waved to let Yinzhen come over, and then glanced at Yinzhen with a smile.
"..." Yinzhen almost fainted. He had clearly taught his eleventh brother to say "when I marry my wife", so how could he be sold out
"Mother, I'm not thinking about your money." The Ninth Prince explained hesitantly.
Yunxiu was amused, but suddenly she felt a little worried. All her children were debts. She had three sons in a row. Even the well-behaved Yinzhen was a mischievous boy. Add to that the seemingly honest Xiaoshi. Wouldn't they have squandered all her private treasury
Seeing her like this, Ruizhu suppressed her laughter and joked, "Let the brothers know that the queen has a business that is sure to make money, and there will be more dowries in the future."
As she spoke, she subconsciously glanced at the gold ingots on the tray. Yinzhen followed her line of sight, his eyes suddenly lit up, "Mother—"
It is so golden that you can tell its quality without even looking at it. Where did it come from
Yunxiu knew what Yinzhen was thinking about. A seven-year-old kid who couldn't even leave the palace was still thinking about his big business in his previous life, rubbing his hands and eager to try. He was just dreaming.
She smiled softly and said in a long voice: "This is a good thing that your royal father gave to me out of pity for me."
The tone was so different from usual that it gave Yinqi and the others goosebumps and they all fell silent.
"..." After walking out of Yikun Palace hand and foot, Yinqi said with difficulty, "Ninth brother, you really shouldn't ask."
Yinzhen seemed to have suffered an unprecedented blow, his eyes were blurred and he couldn't speak. After a while, he opened his mouth, "Mother..."
Yinzhen walked slowly, puffing up his chubby face in deep thought, and finally concluded: "Mother likes gold ingots the most."
Go and tell the Emperor later!
******
On March 16, the 29th year of the Kangxi reign, Crown Prince Yinreng got married and married his first wife, Guaerjia.
On the eve of the wedding, 128 boxes filled with dowry were carried around the long and busy streets, attracting the attention of the people, and were carried into Yuqing Palace one after another. The bearers were from the Guarjia clan, the mother's family of the future Crown Princess, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs hosted a banquet for them. For a time, both the host and the guests were very happy, and there was a festive atmosphere inside and outside the palace.
On the second day, before dawn, when it was still dark, the entire Forbidden City was brightly lit and noisy. The prince took off his apricot yellow uniform and put on a bright red dragon robe. He went to the Cining Palace, Ningshou Palace, and Qianqing Palace in turn, with a solemn face, and performed the ritual of kneeling three times and knocking nine times.
The dragon robe is embroidered with a four-clawed golden dragon, circling and spitting out pearls, with bright eyes, which makes the prince look elegant and handsome.
A pair of phoenix eyes, containing the majesty that was inherited from Kangxi and has already taken shape.
The Empress Dowager sat on the upper seat and accepted his gift. After the gift, the old lady said "good" repeatedly, her eyes slightly moist, and said: "Yinreng is becoming more and more like the emperor. I have no regrets in my life after seeing this day... You should live a good life with your wife, and never let your father down..."
At the end of the conversation, the Empress Dowager's voice was a little breathless. After a while, she smiled kindly and said, "Go, your grandmother also has many instructions."
The prince knelt down again and said "Grandfather" in a trembling voice, and did not stand up for a long time.
After a long time, he said in a hoarse voice: "Baocheng will never forget the kindness and teachings of our ancestors!"
When they arrived at the Empress Dowager's residence at Ningshou Palace, she gave him a few earnest instructions, and then said to the prince cheerfully, "I like Jingchu, so you must not bully her."
The prince smiled and responded, "The Royal Madam will just supervise my grandson."
…
Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Liang Jiugong held his breath as he arranged the emperor's court robe and smoothed out the wrinkles on the collar. From time to time, the eunuch outside came to report the prince's whereabouts: The prince has paid his respects to the empress dowager... and is heading towards the Qianqing Gate...
Kangxi looked at the bronze mirror without saying anything, just hummed softly.
The emperor rested in the Qianqing Palace yesterday, and Liang Jiugong knew without thinking that he would not sleep well. Sure enough, the sound of tossing and turning on the dragon bed did not stop until the second watch.
Liang Jiugong had followed Kangxi since he was a child and had witnessed the prince grow from a small jade ball into such an outstanding appearance. He knew the emperor's feelings very well, so he kept silent and was extremely careful not to interrupt the emperor's thoughts.
After a while, Kangxi had looked at the bronze mirror enough, then he withdrew his gaze and asked him in a deep voice, "Do you think this jade cream is effective?"
Liang Jiugong: “…”
Liang Jiugong almost stumbled, and hurriedly searched for words: "In reply to Your Majesty, Doctor Min's skills are well-known in the capital, and the effectiveness of the Jade Cream is beyond doubt. Your Majesty is already in the prime of life, so there is no need to apply this stuff. You remember to apply it every morning and evening, and I look a little younger than the Crown Prince!"
"Nonsense." Kangxi kicked him and scolded him lightly, but he felt very happy in his heart and smiled slightly, "Okay, I should go and accept Baocheng's gift."
The prince has been very busy preparing for his wedding recently, and has to practice riding and archery in his free time. He hasn't spoken to his royal father at close range for a long time.
As soon as he entered the palace, he lifted up the corner of his robe and solemnly performed the ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows.
Kangxi exclaimed with emotion. After the prince stood up, before his eyes could even turn red, he subconsciously looked at Kangxi's face, trying to find traces of the jade cream.
When Kangxi glanced at him inquiringly, the prince was startled and realized that he had been rude.
He quickly apologized, "Please forgive my son, Father! Because... because my face looks a little younger than my son's..."
After hearing these words, the prince felt bad and wanted to slap himself. On the day of his wedding, he was so arrogant that he could say such an offensive word!
Kangxi had no idea that the prince was feeling uneasy. Instead of being angry, he burst into laughter and reached out to touch the prince. He was both happy and relieved, and kept saying, "Today is the day for us to get married. Baocheng has finally grown up."
The prince's eyes did not turn red after all. He was filled with words of encouragement and praise, and he left with a light heart. When he left the Qianqing Palace, the breeze blew past his ears, and he finally calmed down a little.
Putting aside the emperor's abnormality for the moment, he pointed to the blue brick path leading to the West Six Palaces and said to He Zhuer with a smile: "No need to follow me, I will go there for a walk."
It was just dawn, and the palace was deserted and quiet everywhere. Finding a secluded place, the prince put away his smile, knelt down and bowed.
The direction he kowtowed to was the Yikun Palace, which stood in the morning mist, with its flying eaves and red walls and green tiles. Please remember:, website mobile version m. computer version., free and fastest update without anti-theft.