Chapter 113 – The Eve

Before the Panjin Festival, Kangxi was preparing to lead everyone back to the palace. As a result, all the concubines in Changchun Garden were busy packing.

Qingxi Study was no exception.

With Qingdai and Lüchen around, Yuying had nothing to worry about. She only needed to check the list one last time the night before departure.

That night, Kangxi embraced Yuying and went to bed early. After all, once they returned to the palace, there would be no such leisurely days.

The Panjin Festival marks the birth of the Manchu people and was later hailed as the “National Birth Day.” It is one of the most important days for the Manchus, so the palace holds grand celebrations every year.

After living in Changchun Garden for so long, the sudden news of returning to the palace made the concubines reluctant. After all, who would want to go back to the rigid and enclosed Forbidden City after enjoying the open garden for so long? But no matter how unwilling they were, they had to follow the rules and hurry to pack up. The emperor would not wait for anyone.

The next day, all the luggage had been loaded onto the carts, and the concubines were waiting at the gates of Changchun Garden, craning their necks, eagerly awaiting Kangxi’s arrival.

Kangxi personally helped the Empress Dowager walk over from not far away, followed by Consort Xuan and Yuying. They arrived slowly and late.

This delay was because the Empress Dowager said she would have to sit in the carriage for a long time later and insisted on walking a bit herself instead of riding the sedan, which caused quite some delay.

The Empress Dowager now looked much more spirited and full of life, seemingly having emerged from the grief of the Grand Empress Dowager’s passing.

After personally helping the Empress Dowager into the carriage, Kangxi finally had the chance to bid farewell to Yuying.

“Ah Ying, let’s meet again after we return to the palace.”

Kangxi was truly reluctant to part. After all, once back in the palace, Yuying would return to reside in Yongshou Palace. Although Kangxi had suggested that she continue living in the Qianqing Palace, Yuying had declined.

The returning procession slowly made its way forward.

When the red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City came into view, it was time to switch from carriages to sedan chairs. Each concubine sat in her respective sedan chair and was carried off to her own palace.

After being away for many days, Yuying finally returned to Yongshou Palace.

The gates of Yongshou Palace were wide open. Xiao Zhuozi, along with the palace maids and eunuchs who had not gone with Yuying to Changchun Garden, had been waiting for a long time.

As Yuying stepped down from the sedan, everyone’s face lit up with joy, and they all knelt down with a rustling sound to greet her.

Yuying raised her hand to indicate that they could rise and smiled as she spoke, “Xiao Zhuozi, you’ve worked hard guarding Yongshou Palace while I was away.”

“This servant is not tired! It’s all part of what I should do!” Xiao Zhuozi straightened his chest and answered loudly.

“Your Highness, please go inside. We’ve already cleaned the palace spotless — not a speck of dust in sight.”

Upon hearing this, Yuying lifted her skirt and walked into Yongshou Palace.

Along the way, it was indeed just as Xiao Zhuozi had said — not a speck of dust to be seen.

Yuying sat down at the main seat and signaled Qingtao to give the attendants their rewards.

The first day back in the palace was naturally a busy one.

Once Yuying had settled in, she sent Qingtao and the others to unpack the items brought back from Changchun Garden. Just the seasonal clothing alone filled an entire room, not to mention all the rewards bestowed by Kangxi.

While Qingtao and her group were familiar with these items, Xiao Zhuozi and his team were wide-eyed with amazement at the many boxes.

Everyone was busy until the sun set behind the mountains. As they put the last chest of gold, silver, and jewels into storage, Xiao Zhuozi wiped the sweat from his brow, thinking how deeply the emperor cherished his mistress.

Yongshou Palace was bustling with activity, and Kangxi was even busier.

He didn’t even have time to rest before summoning the Ministry of Rites officials to Qianqing Palace to discuss matters concerning the Panjin Festival. Once the officials left, Imperial Noble Consort Tong Jia had already been waiting in the side hall for some time, ready to discuss how the inner palace should celebrate the Panjin Festival.

If there had been an empress, she would naturally have handled everything. But since the position was vacant, Tong Jia, whose status was not officially legitimate, could only make plans and submit them to Kangxi for approval.

“Your servant greets Your Majesty,” Tong Jia said, bowing deeply to Kangxi.

“No need for such formality, cousin.”

Kangxi took the memorial Tong Jia handed him and began reading. Tong Jia gazed at Kangxi affectionately from the side.

After a long while, Kangxi set down the memorial and said, “Cousin, your plan is excellent. Let it be done according to your arrangements.”

“Yes. Then I shall pass along the orders,” she replied.

With business settled, Tong Jia had no reason to stay. She switched topics and began chatting.

“Before coming, I saw Eighth Prince. His stuttering seems to have improved greatly. You must have put in a lot of effort, cousin.”

“That’s all thanks to Concubine Jin. I dare not take the credit,” Kangxi said, showing some interest.

Tong Jia’s smile stiffened for a moment but quickly returned to normal. She hadn’t expected Kangxi to bring up someone else, but wanting to spend more time with him, she followed his lead.

“Yes, even Fourth Prince mentioned to me that Eighth Prince prefers Concubine Jin, and even complained to me about it.”

“I find it strange too — why does Eighth Prince like Concubine Jin so much?”

Tong Jia didn’t want to keep talking about someone else with Kangxi, so she quickly changed the subject.

After a while, as the sky darkened, Kangxi began ushering her out: “Cousin, I still have memorials to read. You should return to your palace.”

Tong Jia rose but didn’t immediately leave. Instead, she walked closer to Kangxi. “Cousin, it’s already late. May I stay the night?”

Kangxi looked up and stared at her, as if trying to determine whether this request was premeditated.

“The rear halls of Qianqing Palace haven’t been lived in for a long time and are full of dust. I wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable. I’ll have Liang Jiugong escort you back.”

With that, Kangxi ordered Liang Jiugong at his side to escort Tong Jia out.

Tong Jia left reluctantly.

Once outside the hall, Tong Jia turned her head to Liang Jiugong. “Eunuch Liang, there’s no need to escort me. I can find my way back.”

Her tone was tinged with resentment.

Liang Jiugong had no choice but to return to the hall and report to Kangxi.

“What’s wrong? Did the Imperial Noble Consort give you an attitude?” Kangxi casually asked when he saw Liang Jiugong’s gloomy expression.

Liang Jiugong quickly wiped the look off his face and smiled. “Your Majesty truly understands the Imperial Noble Consort.”

Kangxi neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he gave Liang Jiugong a new task.

“Since she doesn’t need you to escort her, go to Yongshou Palace instead. Tell Concubine Jin that I won’t be visiting tonight.”

He had just refused Tong Jia’s request to stay the night. If he went to Yongshou Palace afterward, he feared she would resent Yuying. He could only choose to sacrifice his own desires.

Meanwhile, riding her sedan chair back to Chengqian Palace, Tong Jia fumed as she complained to Zishang about what had just happened.

“I clearly didn’t mean it that way! But cousin pretended not to understand! Why can she — Concubine Jin — live in Qianqing Palace, and I can’t even stay one night?!”

This wasn’t the privacy of Chengqian Palace — they were still walking along the palace path where people were coming and going. Zishang dared not respond to Tong Jia’s complaints.

Fortunately, Tong Jia didn’t care whether Zishang replied or not. She twisted the handkerchief in her hand, sulking in silence.