Rebirth of His Royal Highness Prince Chenghu

Time flies and it is December. Kunning Palace

Kangxi: "My dear, what gift do you want for your birthday this year? I will prepare it for you."

Qingyao said slowly, "Ever since I married my husband, I have lived a life of luxury. All my material needs have been met, and I have no other desires."

Kangxi asked, "Is there really nothing you want?"

Qingyao said, "I really don't have any other requests. I just want my husband to be with me on my birthday. Don't go anywhere. Just the two of us can spend the day together."

Kangxi: "Since you wish so, then I will agree to your request. When the time comes, I will definitely accompany you for the entire day and never leave you."

Qingyao opened her red lips and said softly, "Thank you for your help, my husband. I would like to thank you."

Kangxi said, "Four days before your birthday is Tuantuan's birthday. Your birthdays coincide with each other, what a fate!"

Qingyao marveled at the wonder of fate as she meticulously sewed a nightgown for her husband. Her needle and thread moved with ease, meticulously completing the final touches, ensuring every inch of fabric fit perfectly. She tenderly handed it to her husband and asked softly, "Husband, try it on and see if it fits you."

Kangxi gently took the pajamas she handed him, his eyes filled with warmth. He said softly, "This pajamas was sewn by you, Qingqing. How could it not fit?"

Qingyao said, "Try it on quickly. If it doesn't fit, I'll help you adjust it."

Kangxi asked softly, "My dear, could you change my clothes for me?"

Qingyao put down her needlework, stood up, and began to untie his belt, take off his outer clothes, and help him change into his inner clothes. She took out the pajamas she had sewn by hand and helped him change into them. "Is it suitable, my husband?"

Kangxi: "Not bad. It's quite suitable. You are so skillful."

Qingyao smiled and said, "As long as my husband is satisfied, I will be satisfied."

In the blink of an eye, the winter solstice has quietly arrived.

At seven quarters before sunrise, the Taihe bell rang in the Zhai Palace, and Emperor Kangxi set out for the Circular Mound Altar. The bells stopped ringing, and drums and music began, signaling the official start of the ceremony. At this point, a calf was being roasted in the southeast of the Circular Mound Altar, and sky lanterns were hung in the southwest. The misty clouds and flickering candlelight created a mysterious atmosphere.

The ceremony officially begins.

The first step was to welcome the gods. After changing into sacrificial robes at the Jufutai (Jufutai) platform on the southeast side of Zhaoxiang Gate (South Gate), Kangxi entered the Circular Mound Altar through the left gate and ascended to the middle platform to pay his respects. At this point, firewood was burned in the censer to welcome the gods, and the band played "Shiping Zhizhang." The emcee (master of ceremonies) chanted, "Welcome the gods and burn firewood." The music officer (the person responsible for issuing orders to the band) chanted, "Play the music to welcome the gods." The zayin (the person responsible for conveying procedural information to the emperor) played, "Ascend the altar." The emperor ascended to the upper level. To show respect for heaven, the top level was called the first level, followed by the second and third levels. The emperor knelt and offered incense before the main tablet of the Lord of Heaven. Then, he went to the accompanying tablets of his ancestors and offered incense and kowtowed. Returning to his worship position, he performed the ritual of three kneelings and nine bows to the gods.

Step 2: Laying down jade and silk. The emperor proceeds to the main and secondary seats and lays down jade and silk. The music "Jingping Zhizhang" plays. The ceremonial master chants "Laying down jade and silk," and the music master chants "Playing music." The emperor proceeds to the altar, kneels, places the jade and silk on the table, and then returns to his seat.

The third step: presenting the altar. The emperor goes to the main seat and the supporting seat and presents the altar. The music plays "Xianping Chapter". The ceremonial officer chants "presenting the altar" and the music officer chants "raising the music". He then goes to the shrine, kneels, receives the altar, and then returns to his seat.

Step 4: Perform the First Offering Ceremony. The music plays the "Fengping Chapter" and the dance "Ganqi Dance." The Dianyi chants, "Perform the First Offering Ceremony," and the Siyue chants, "Play the First Offering Music." The music begins, and the emperor kneels before the main seat, offers the wine, and then returns to the seat of worship. The Siyue then kneels and reads the prayer, and the music pauses. After the prayer, the music resumes, and the emperor performs the ritual of three kneelings and nine bows, then offers the wine before the secondary seat.

Step 5: Perform the second offering ceremony. The emperor offers wine to each deity in turn, plays the "Jiaping Chapter", dances the "Yuyue Dance", and then returns to pay respects.

Step Six: Final Offering Ceremony. The Emperor offers wine to each deity in turn, playing the "Yongping Chapter." The "Yuyue Dance" is performed. The Minister of the Imperial Household Department presents the blessed sacrificial offering and advances to the throne of the Supreme God, bowing to it. The Emperor drinks the blessed offering, receives the sacrificial offering, and then kneels to receive the blessing and sacrificial offering, bowing three times. Returning to his position, he performs the ritual of three kneelings and nine bows.

Step 7: Remove the food and play the "Xiping Chapter".

Step 8: Send off the emperor and the gods. The emperor performs the ritual of three kneelings and nine bows, and plays the "Chapter of Peace and Prosperity". The offerings are sent to the burning furnace and burned. The emperor reaches the burning position and plays the "Chapter of Great Peace and Prosperity".

The ninth part is Wang Liao (Watching the Burning of Sacrificial Offerings). The emperor watches the burning of the sacrificial offerings, plays the "Protecting Peace" music, and then returns to the palace, marking the end of the ceremony.

Kangxi slowly walked out of the Lingxing Gate south of the Circular Mound, returned to the Jufutai, changed out of his sacrificial robes, got on the imperial sedan chair, and with great music playing, he set off for the palace.

Kangxi brought a copy of the Jiujiu Xiaohan Tu to Kunning Palace.

Kunning Palace

Qingyao opened her eyes lazily, stretched herself drowsily, and nestled in the quilt lazily, unwilling to leave the warm quilt.

"Your Majesty has arrived~" Liang Jiugong sang loudly.

The palace maids and eunuchs outside the door all knelt down and said, "Your servants, we pay our respects to the Emperor."

Kangxi stepped steadily into the main hall of Kunning Palace and closed the door behind him. He took off his cloak and handed it to the maid guarding the door. Then, he warmed his hands in front of the charcoal basin in the main hall and asked softly, "Is the Queen awake yet?"

Chunyu replied, "In reply to Your Majesty, Your Majesty has not summoned me to serve you. I guess Your Majesty is not awake yet."

Kangxi pushed open the door of the inner hall, strode in, and ordered, "Go and prepare breakfast."

The bed curtains moved slightly, and Qingyao's hazy eyes slowly focused, and what came into view was the person she had been thinking about. She opened her red lips slightly, and her tone was filled with a hint of surprise and joy: "Husband, why are you here?"

Kangxi gently hung the bright yellow bed curtains with golden hooks, then sat down beside the bed and asked softly, "I came here immediately after the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven. Why don't you get up now that you're awake?"

Qingyao rubbed the quilt gently and muttered softly, "It's so cold outside. I really don't want to get up."

Kangxi patted the back of her hand gently and said softly, "Don't lie around any longer. Get up quickly. There's a wonderful ice skating show today. Let's go see it together."

Qingyao instructed, "Husband, please send someone to look after the two little ones. The weather is getting colder now, don't let them get cold."

Kangxi: "Okay, I'll ask Liang Jiugong to check it out. The two little guys won't freeze to death. Besides, their fur is so thick that they won't freeze to death."

Qingyao opened her red lips and said sweetly, "Thank you, my husband."

Kangxi said, "No need to thank me. Get up quickly. Today is the ice skating festival. Why don't you come with me and enjoy this magnificent sight of ice and snow?"

Qingyao turned over lazily and murmured, "The quilt is so warm, and the wind outside is so cold. I really don't want to get up."

Kangxi gently picked out a bright red Manchu dress for her, returned to the bed and gently woke her up from the warm quilt. He carefully helped her put on her clothes, and everything seemed so warm and harmonious.

Qingyao said aggrievedly: "My husband is so mean. He actually bullies me." After saying that, she pouted in dissatisfaction.

Kangxi personally picked up the matching embroidered shoes and gently put them on her. He smiled and said, "My dear, later on, put on the fox fur coat I gave you, hold the hand warmer, get on the sedan chair, and go to Taiye Lake together to watch the ice skating."

Qingyao murmured softly: "Oh, the weather is so cold, I really don't want to go out."

Kangxi looked at Qingyao helplessly and shook his head gently: "You guy..."

Qingyao hurriedly said, "Go and send someone to look after those two little guys. Don't let them get cold."

Kangxi shouted, "Liang Jiugong!"

Liang Jiugong responded respectfully: "I am here, Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

Kangxi instructed with concern: "Hurry up and go to the back garden of Kunning Palace to check on the two iron-eating beasts. The weather is getting colder, don't let them get cold. If you can't, find a warm room to put them in."

Liang Jiugong responded respectfully, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will do it right away." Then he left the room.

Qingyao said softly, "Husband, I don't know why, but I feel a little empty in my stomach right now, like I'm a little hungry."

Kangxi gave the order: "Serve the meal!"

Qingyao sat on the chair, feeling sleepy and yawning continuously.

Kangxi asked with concern, "Qingqing, have you been awake all night? Are you feeling well enough?"

Qingyao sighed helplessly, "Although I don't want to admit it, I still feel a little sleepy."

Kangxi said, "It's late at night, so go to bed early and don't stay up late reading those storybooks."

Qingyao said softly, "Husband, I understand."

Kangxi: "Staying up late to read storybooks is bad for your eyes, my dear. You think your husband has been busy with the Heavenly Festival and fasting these days and hasn't been able to discipline you properly. If I find you staying up late to read these in the future, I will burn them so that you can never read them again. Do you understand?"

Qingyao said softly, "My husband, please don't burn it. I really know I was wrong."

Kangxi said calmly, "To admit one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue." He looked up and saw that the food was ready. He said softly, "Let's eat."

Qingyao smiled slightly, reached out her hand, picked up the chopsticks elegantly, and picked up the delicious dishes for him.

Kangxi looked at Qingyao and said softly, "Your stomach is growling. Eat quickly and fill your stomach first."

Qingyao savored the delicious food with small bites, her movements were so cute and well-behaved that people couldn't help but want to take a few more glances.

Kangxi, who had just enjoyed a sumptuous meal with her, now urged her, "Hurry up and dress up, we are getting ready to set off."

Qingyao sat quietly at the dressing table, letting Xia He carefully comb her hair and change into a warm fox fur coat. She clutched a hand warmer, which seemed to carry a hint of warmth. She whispered, "Husband, everything is ready. We can set off now."

Kangxi gently uttered "Let's go", and then the two of them left Kunning Palace together, got on the sedan chair, and headed towards Taiye Lake.

Taiye pool

Ice skating is known as a "national custom." The court included skating, ice hockey, and wrestling as military training for troops guarding the capital. Ice skating was also included in the emperor's annual winter military parade to review military skills. It was commonly known as "running on ice skating shoes." The army even had a specialized branch of the military called the "Jiyong Ice Skating Battalion." Skating soldiers were called "ice skaters," skating instructors were called "ice skate instructors," and the skating department was called the "Ice Skating Office." The ice skates used at the time were relatively simple, consisting of steel bars or strips under the boards, which were tied to the bottoms of the shoes. Later, they developed into single-shoe and double-shoe styles, similar to the simple ice skates used today. Originally a military exercise, ice skating gradually evolved into a competitive activity exclusively for the entertainment of the imperial court and aristocracy. While the scale of military group performances was similar, the emphasis was on individual skill displays. The sheer variety and sophistication of the techniques employed was breathtaking.

According to the rules, royal family members and important officials in the court were able to bring their families to attend, which was considered a grace from the emperor to everyone.

Since the time of Emperor Taizu Nurhaci, whenever an ice skating festival was held, the Eight Banners, the vanguard commander, the guard commander, etc. would each select 200 people who were good at ice walking. They would start training in October and continue until the end of the year. The best among them would be selected to participate in the "waiting" and "ball grabbing" competitions.

The so-called "rushing to wait" is a competition of speed. Whoever slides faster wins.

As for the "ball grabbing" game, ten people are divided into two teams and they grab a sewn leather ball.

The royal ice bed was soon pushed over. The so-called "ice bed" was a bit like a boat, made of wood, with many royal decorations on it, looking "very noble".

The emperor sat on an ice bed to watch the ceremony. As for the others, of course, they did not have this treatment. Everyone had to stand and watch. Even so, everyone was in high spirits.

According to usual practice, the "waiting" and "ball grabbing" stages of this ice skating festival will take about an hour to complete.

Only after the competition is over can everyone take their seats and enjoy the feast on ice.

This means that everyone except the emperor has to stand for a long time.

After everything was ready, the emperor announced the start of the ice skating ceremony.

Each performance consisted of 1,600 members, representing each of the Qing Dynasty's flags. During the review, they were divided into two teams: one team's leader wore a red jacket and the members wore red vests; the other team's leader wore a yellow jacket and the members wore yellow vests. On their backs, the members wore flags representing their nationality: the "pure yellow," "pure red," "bordered yellow," or "bordered red" flags. Their knees were covered with knee pads and their feet wore ice-studded boots. On the ice rink stood three gates adorned with colorful flags. The two teams, each forming a column, passed through each gate. Two cloud-shaped circles formed the rink, creating a magnificent spectacle. Each performance featured a variety of movements: figure skating, acrobatics, and military-style skating and archery.

The second type is speed skating, a competition of speed and speed. This is also known as "rushing to wait." The elites from each banner who participated in the "rushing to wait" hurried down to prepare for the competition. Following a few gunshots from the Firearms Battalion, the participants quickly skated forward, their destination being the emperor's ice bed. Some were quite skilled, and were a bit slower than the carefully selected Eight Banners children in front of them. The shoes worn by those skating on the ice all had iron teeth. They sprinted across the ice like lightning, racing against time to win. There are many speed skating styles, such as flat bend, bend, outside edge, and ice running, and the fastest skaters will be rewarded.

The second type is acrobatic skating and what is now known as figure skating. It vividly depicts various figure skating moves, such as "Scorpion Skating," "Single Rooster Skating," "Nezha Exploring the Sea," "Falcon Flipping," "Monkey Offering Peaches," and "Children Visiting the Temple." There's also a pair figure skating move called "Double Flying Swallow." Acrobatic skating includes fork flying, spear juggling, banner juggling, pole juggling, stick juggling, ice inversions, and human pyramids. Military-style skating and archery are also on display, offering a truly diverse and extraordinary display of skill.

The third type of performance was ice skating. Even the emperor watched Cuju on ice, a display of martial spirit. "Ju" means ball, and "jue" means kick. It involves skating and kicking the ball while wearing ice skates. During the game, pairs of players each count and have their own leader. After the ball is thrown up and down, the players compete, skating and kicking, chasing each other in a quest for victory. In addition to the imperial court skating teams, skating was also popular among the public. At the time, "Cuju on the ice of Shichahai and the moat was practiced by the people." This activity also gave rise to many talented figure skaters.

In a game of grabbing the ball, the competition is very fast, but grabbing the ball is much slower.

The carefully selected people from each flag were divided into two teams, the Plain Yellow Flag and the Bordered Yellow Flag. Each team had ten people and ten substitutes, wearing yellow jackets and red jackets respectively. They went on the court to grab the ball. If someone was exhausted or injured, he would be replaced by a substitute.

However, the skates worn by the "Qiangqiu" and "Qiangdeng" players are different. The emperor had played both in his youth, so he knew the difference. The skates worn by the "Qiangqiu" players had iron tracks to prevent slipping. By placing the heel on the ice, the player could stop and avoid falling.