The Virtuous Concubine

Kunning Palace is the last of the three palaces. The two rooms on the east side are the bridal chambers for the emperor's wedding. This is also where the previous empress died of hemorrhage after giving birth to the crown prince of the Qing Dynasty.

In order to drive away the bad omens of the past, the interior decoration of the bridal chamber was very exquisite, with many additions deliberately made to it, with red light shining and a festive atmosphere.

A striking palace lantern with double happiness characters hung in front of the bridal chamber door, and the double happiness characters painted with gold powder on the gold-plated red door sparkled with golden light. Above the door lintel, a cursive character "Shou" was vivid and elegant, and a long couplet was hung on the wall next to the door, reaching the ground. From the main gate of Kunning Palace to the East Warm Pavilion, and the corridor outside the bridal chamber, there are red and gold-inlaid wooden screen walls, which symbolize the emperor and empress's wedding and the joy of welcoming the door.

However, looking from a distance, Empress Nianhulu felt that the warm red color seemed like a piece of blood.

After being helped across the brazier at the door, Empress Niuhulu had to step over the saddle placed on the threshold. There were two apples under the saddle. The tradition of stepping over the saddle has a long history among the Manchus. Because "An" and "An" are homophones, people regard it as a lucky charm for peace.

At this time, Empress Niuhulu was already a little exhausted. This court dress was extraordinarily gorgeous, and naturally it was not light. Moreover, when she got off the phoenix chariot in the Cining Palace, Empress Niuhulu held the treasure vase handed to her by the wife of the emperor for a long time.

There are quite a lot of things in this treasure vase, filled with various auspicious items, like a small treasure bowl, including two pearls, two gems, two gold coins, two silver coins, two gold and silver "Ruyi" each, two gold ingots, two silver ingots, and eight treasures, two of each gold and silver. The rest of the empty space is filled with gold and silver.

As soon as she entered the palace, Empress Niuhulu was led to the five shrines to the west of Kunning Palace to worship the shamans. The shamans sang and danced around her, and it took a while for them to finish their prayers.

Only then was Empress Niuhulu able to change her clothes into a red silk cotton robe embroidered with gold dragon and phoenix patterns, as well as a matching veil, and was led by Nanny Xi to the wedding bed.

The dragon and phoenix wedding bed in the bridal chamber was covered with a thick red satin dragon and phoenix double happiness mattress, and the bed was equipped with a bright yellow satin and vermilion satin wedding quilt and pillow, with delicate embroidery, showing supreme wealth. The bright red satin dragon and phoenix double happiness bed curtain hanging at the head of the bed cast a shadow on Empress Niuhulu.

When Empress Nianhulu saw that the veil was covered, she quietly took a pill under the cover of the veil and asked for a cup of tea. At this time, Kangxi had also changed into a dragon robe and was accompanied to Kunning Palace by his two brothers Fuquan and Changning.

This was his second time being a groom, so he was naturally familiar with the process. After sending Fuquan and Changning away, he walked into the eastern warm room of Kunning Palace and sat on the dragon and phoenix wedding bed with Empress Niuhulu.

Outside the palace window, the married guard couple sang the "Song of Blessing" in Manchu. In the midst of this melodious singing, Kangxi unveiled Empress Niuhulu's veil. Looking at her dignified and bright face, Kangxi could not help but think of Hesheli.

It was also here, the same veil was unveiled, and the same song was heard. Unfortunately, the person is gone. The tenderness and memories of the past are intertwined into a mist of deep affection.

Empress Nianhulu probably didn't notice his wandering away and just lowered her head shyly, even though it was not the first day she and Kangxi had met and sat on the same bed.

Kangxi took a deep breath, refocused his gaze on Empress Niuhulu in front of him, and took her hand: "From now on, I will be tied together with you. May our love be as strong as a pine tree that grows stronger in the cold winter, and as green as a bamboo that grows greener after frost."

Upon hearing this, Empress Niuhulu gently raised her head, her eyes as clear as water, reflecting Kangxi's expression at the moment. She responded softly: "May your majesty and I share the same heart, and weather the storm together."

Soon, the female official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs saw that the auspicious time had arrived, so she came forward with a round box containing "descendants' cakes". The emperor and empress sat opposite each other, and the four ladies-in-waiting respectfully served them with the wedding banquet, drinking the wedding wine, and eating longevity noodles.

These things were hard to eat, either half-cooked or cold. But Empress Niuhulu still endured the discomfort and ate some, and that was the end of the day.

With the beauty in his arms, Kangxi wanted to do something, but his mind was in a mess. In his mind, the voice and smile of Hesheli, the babbling of Baocheng, the heart-wrenching questioning of Concubine Tong, and the eyes of Niuhulu that seemed to see through everything, intertwined together, made him lose interest.

He vaguely felt that he was wrong, but he didn't know where he was wrong, and he was unwilling to admit that he was wrong.

Niuhulu was a very good person, a very suitable candidate for the empress. Everything he did was for the people of the Qing Dynasty.

Thinking this, he fell asleep holding Empress Niuhulu in his arms.

After the concubines dispersed, they returned to the palace. However, except for Malu, few people fell asleep tonight.

Concubine Tong collapsed as soon as she arrived at the palace, which scared Liuying to death.

Fortunately, today the Emperor saw that Concubine Tong was very cooperative and felt that she had finally grown up, so he specially issued an edict allowing Madam Tong, Concubine Tong's mother, to meet Concubine Tong.

When Madam Tong arrived, Chengqian Palace was in chaos. When she saw the panic and confusion of the crowd, she knew something was wrong with her daughter, and hurriedly took the maid with her into the inner room.

Her maid was called Ren Dong, and her family was a doctor, so she knew some medical skills. Originally, such a person was to be brought into the palace by Concubine Tong, but Concubine Tong did not like Ren Dong's upright temper and her inability to flatter and please others, so she resolutely refused. Madam Tong had no choice but to keep her by her side, but this time, thinking that Concubine Tong had just fallen seriously ill, she took the opportunity to bring her in, and she did not expect that she would really come in handy.

Madam Tong led Ren Dong through the panicked crowd and headed straight for Concubine Tong. Seeing her unconscious daughter, Madam Tong lost control of her emotions and screamed in grief: "My son——"

She cried and threw herself onto Concubine Tong's bed.

Jin Dong immediately stepped forward, first stabilized Madam Tong, and then quickly checked Concubine Tong's condition. She gently lifted Concubine Tong's eyelids and checked her breathing and pulse. After confirming that Concubine Tong was not in danger of life, the maid took out a small bottle of herbs from her bosom, crushed the juice directly with her hands, and applied the juice to Concubine Tong's philtrum.

Concubine Tong's condition gradually stabilized. Slowly, her eyes trembled slightly, and finally slowly opened. When she saw her mother, Concubine Tong's eyes were full of tears. Although she was weak, she still didn't know where she got the strength from, and she leaned on Madam Tong's arms and cried loudly.

"Mother..." She burst into tears, "My cousin is so cruel, he has such a cruel heart!!!"

Mrs. Tong held her daughter's hand tightly, her voice full of love and concern: "My son, you scared me. It's so touching that you finally woke up. What happened?"

Concubine Tong tried to sit up straight, but felt dizzy. Madam Tong quickly held her down gently, signaling her not to move in a hurry.

Concubine Tong could only continue to lean on her mother's arms and wipe away her tears, her eyes red and swollen: "He made Niuhulu the queen, he broke his promise... He didn't keep his word, and my daughter is really heartbroken."

As she spoke, Concubine Tong grabbed her clothes on her chest, wrinkling the collar and the collar, and losing her manners. Honeysuckle, who was standing by, was afraid that Concubine Tong's excitement would cause heart disease, so she quickly took out smelling salts and stuffed them under her nose.

Concubine Tong was so rudely interrupted by her that she couldn't help but get angry: "Get out of here! Where did you come from, you country maid? Do you have the right to interrupt the master's speech? Get out, get out--"