Six days after Xiao Yuer’s one-year-old birthday banquet, the Empress Dowager returned to Beijing.
The palace gates were wide open, and the empress dowager's phoenix chariot, surrounded by all the empress dowager's attire, moved forward, followed by the prince's sedan chair.
Emperor Xuanzhi came to greet them with Jiang Changning, the second prince Xiaobai, the third prince Xiaoqian, the little princess, and many princes and nobles.
The phoenix chariot stopped and the palace maids came forward to support the empress dowager.
The crown prince also got off the sedan chair and knelt down. Emperor Xuanzhi bowed and said, "We respectfully welcome mother back to the palace. May your mother live a thousand years."
"Emperor, get up quickly." The empress dowager helped her son up, and the others got up on their own.
Emperor Xuanzhi said respectfully: "My son was extremely unfilial for not leaving the city to welcome the queen mother."
"The emperor is busy with state affairs, and I have so many people serving me. How can I ask you to personally go to the city gate to greet me? What's more, the prince is accompanying me." The empress dowager said with a smile.
After some greetings, everyone went back to their own mothers.
Emperor Xuanzhi was beside the Empress Dowager, asking about her health, while Jiang Changning took the Crown Prince and looked him over. "Although he has lost weight, he looks more calm and experienced."
"Studying abroad can indeed enhance one's knowledge and broaden one's horizons. My son would like to travel around if he has the chance." The prince smiled gently.
Jiang Changning suddenly remembered "Kangxi's Secret Visits" and said with a smile: "Think of a way to convince your father."
Hearing this, he knew that she had no objection. The prince was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, mother."
As long as his mother supports him, it will not be difficult to convince his father.
This is what the prince thought. When he told Emperor Xuanzhi about this, Emperor Xuanzhi told him, "Next year, I will take your mother to Hangzhou, and you will stay in Beijing to supervise the country."
The prince was stunned for a moment, then smiled and replied, "Yes."
My mother has been trapped in this harem for so many years, she must want to go out for a walk.
The Empress Dowager went back to her parents' home and was in a good mood. The Queen Mother should also be happy to return to Hangzhou.
Emperor Xuanzhi kept his word. In March of the following year, he announced a southern tour, with the Crown Prince as regent and Prince De as assistant governor.
Before leaving, Jiang Changning specifically asked the Queen Mother, "Thank you, Queen Mother, for taking care of Xiao Yu'er."
"I will take care of Xiao Yu'er, you don't have to say anything." Although the Queen Mother paid more attention to her grandson, she also liked the lovely granddaughter.
Especially Xiao Yuer was sweet-mouthed, saying: "Grandmother, Xiao Yuer loves you the most."
She picked a flower that was almost crushed into mud by her little hands and gave it to the empress dowager, "This flower is so beautiful, I give it to the imperial grandmother."
After receiving the gift from the Queen Mother, he held his little face and smiled at her in a flattering manner, "Grandmother, you are so kind to Xiao Yu'er."
I don’t know how a little girl who is only one year old can be so good at pleasing others
Anyway, the empress dowager was so coaxed by the little girl that she almost lost her way. She rewarded the little girl with a lot of things, and the little girl's small storehouse was almost full.
Xiao Yu'er was handed over to the care of the Queen Mother, and the two younger sons were under the care of the Crown Prince, so Jiang Changning felt relieved.
When the day of departure came, Jiang Changning happily followed Emperor Xuanzhi out of Beijing without any reluctance.
Under the gaze of civil and military officials, the team set off in a mighty manner.
After leaving the city, Jiang Changning opened the curtain and looked out. "The air of freedom is so fresh!"
Emperor Xuanzhi raised his eyebrows. His queen would occasionally say some strange words, but he had long been accustomed to it and was not angry. He reached out and held her in his arms, "The crown prince can supervise the country now. When we are free in the future, we can come out often."
"That won't do." Jiang Changning refused immediately. "Not to mention that the Crown Prince is still young and cannot be handed over to him. Even if the Emperor and Empress go on tour, it will cost so much money. Do you think it's a good thing, Your Majesty?"
Although the national treasury is now relatively full, the emperor and empress cannot be too wasteful.
Emperor Xuanzhi smiled, "My Ningning, you are indeed a virtuous queen."
"My reputation is not as good as your majesty said. I am the evil queen who seduced the emperor." Jiang Changning smiled teasingly.
"Hehe, that's right." Jiang Changning laughed, "This world belongs to your Majesty, so naturally, your Majesty's words are the truth."
"Naughty." Emperor Xuanzhi did not dare to pinch her face this time. Instead, he turned her face over and kissed her heavily on the lips.
"By the way, Your Majesty, are we really going on a southern tour for fun?"
"Play first, do some work by the way."
Jiang Changning curled his lips, "I am here to do my job and have fun at the same time. Your Majesty, you don't need to coax me. I am not Xiao Yu'er."
"You are harder to appease than Xiao Yu'er."
"She's hard to coax. Are you not going to coax her at all?" Jiang Changning glanced at him coquettishly.
"Coax, how can I not coax my little darling wife?" Emperor Xuanzhi said with a smile.
"You only coax your young wife, but you won't coax her when she's old, right?" Jiang Changning held his chin with his hand, looking resentful, "It's a pity that the beauty is still young but the love has already ended. She has to sit leaning against the incense burner until dawn!"
"No random poetry recitation allowed." Emperor Xuanzhi frowned, "You want to be beaten, don't you?"
Seeing that he was a little angry, Jiang Changning hurriedly smiled and coaxed him, "Your Majesty, please be magnanimous. Don't bother with a little girl who talks nonsense."
She leaned closer and kissed him several times on the face and lips, finally coaxing him into silence.
At 3 p.m., the emperor and empress arrived at the Mountain Resort.
This was the first time that Jiang Changning came to this villa. The two previous emperors did not make a southern tour. Even if they did, like Emperor Xuanzhi, there was still no reason for her, the former Princess of Jin, to come to this royal manor.
Outside the villa, there is a bluestone road with a stone tablet on the east and west sides, on which are engraved the words: Officials and others should dismount here.
When the emperor arrived, he didn't need to dismount here and could go directly into the villa.
This villa combines the essence of northern and southern architecture, with the style of southern gardens and the techniques commonly used in the north.
Not to mention the garden area full of natural wildness, even the palace area with numerous palaces and a strict layout offers a new scene at every step.
Unlike the yellow tiles, red walls and gold-painted paintings of the imperial palace in Beijing, the villa here is made of blue bricks, gray tiles and original wood, making it look elegant and solemn.
Jiang Changning walked and looked along the way, looking very happy, so Emperor Xuanzhi took her to visit the palace.
"This tree looks quite old." Jiang Changning said, touching a big tree with lush branches and leaves.
Emperor Xuanzhi smiled and said, "This tree was left when the villa was built. It has a history of one or two hundred years."
"Old tree grandpa." Jiang Changning patted the tree trunk gently.
The palace area not only has ancient trees, but also rockery, pavilions, towers, secluded courtyards and elegant environment.
After walking around for a while, Emperor Xuanzhi took people to the main hall.
"Do we live together?" Jiang Changning asked.
"Ningning, do you want to live in a separate palace from me?" Emperor Xuanzhi asked in a deep voice.
"No, I'm happy to live in the same palace with Your Majesty." Jiang Changning said with a smile.
The main hall is divided into the main hall, the east and west side halls, which are also the front palace and the rear bedroom.
Seeing Jiang Changning looking around, Emperor Xuanzhi said with a smile: "Aren't you tired after a day's journey? We'll look at these tomorrow. We still have to stay here for a few days."
"Come in and take a rest. It'll be time for dinner soon." Jiang Changning pulled him inside.
(End of this chapter)