Secrets of Yuqing Palace

Then Zhang Xi went to find Liang Jiugong, the eunuch who served the emperor.

Soon, Wanyu, who was drowsy with a blank look in her eyes, heard the emperor's loud orders.

"Crown Princess, it's snowing hard outside. Please accompany the Queen Mother back to Ningshou Palace to rest."

"Princes under ten years old and princesses under thirteen years old, please go back and rest."

Everyone stood up and saluted.

"Yes."

Yinreng squeezed Wanyu's little hand and said, "Go quickly."

"Take good care of the Royal Madam."

Wanyu nodded, "Then you should take care of yourself too."

"Be careful when you come back, don't catch a cold."

Yinreng replied, "If Khan Ama doesn't want me to stay in the Qianqing Palace to rest, I will go back after the New Year's Eve celebration is over."

"it is good."

Wanyu stood up and walked to the Empress Dowager.

She supported the Empress Dowager's hand and said sweetly, "Madam, let me help you go back and rest."

The Queen Mother clapped her hands in satisfaction.

Then he looked at Kangxi and kindly and gently admonished him, "Emperor, don't stay up too late."

"It's time to go to bed early. There's still a lot to do tomorrow."

"Don't ruin your health. The Qing Dynasty still needs you, and so do we women and children."

Kangxi accompanied the Empress Dowager to the entrance of the main hall.

"Don't worry, Madam Empress, I understand."

"When you go back, Empress Dowager, please be careful on your way back."

"Crown Princess, escort the Empress Dowager."

"Tell the eunuchs carrying the sedan chair to slow down so they don't slip and fall."

Wanyu knelt and replied respectfully, "Yes, Khan Ama."

Kangxi continued, "And Wu'er, be a good girl and stay with your Royal Mama. Don't be naughty."

The fifth princess responded sweetly, "Don't worry, Khan Ama, I am a very obedient daughter."

Kangxi nodded with satisfaction.

"Well, let's go."

"Your son respectfully sends the Empress Dowager off."

"Your Highness the Queen Mother is sent off respectfully."

"Your Majesty the Queen Mother is sent away respectfully."

"My grandson and granddaughter-in-law respectfully send off the Empress Dowager."

"Your servant/slave respectfully sends the Empress Dowager off."

Yinreng warned, "Be careful on the road."

Wanyu nodded, and then she and the Fifth Princess supported the Empress Dowager on either side.

On New Year's Eve, the Forbidden City was shrouded in wind and snow, and a cold atmosphere permeated every corner.

Although there were lights and decorations everywhere, creating a festive and peaceful atmosphere, the biting wind and snow outside added a touch of chill.

Wanyu was startled by the oncoming snow and wind, and all her sleepiness disappeared.

She was wearing a thick Manchu dress, which was made of warm satin, which was extremely warm and filled with soft cotton.

The collar and cuffs are trimmed with exquisite fox fur with bright color, which is both warm and exquisite and beautiful.

A mink cloak was also worn over the Manchu dress.

This cloak was found by Yinreng during hunting, and he specially had it made into a cloak for her.

The mink fur is shiny and smooth, and the color is pure. You can tell at a glance that it is high-quality fur.

The cloak was very large, wrapping her small body tightly. Under the two ropes on the front, there was a fur ball the size of a baby's head hanging on each side. They swayed gently in the wind and snow, looking very cute.

The hood was very large, also made of mink fur, and when it was worn on her head, it covered most of her small face.

She first carefully helped the empress dowager onto the sedan chair, and then placed the hand warmer in her palm.

Then the fifth princess was also sent to the sedan chair and sat next to the empress dowager.

This sedan chair is a warm one, which not only protects against wind and snow, but also keeps you warm.

The sedan chair is beautifully decorated, and the curtains are made of layers of brocade, thick and gorgeous.

There were sachets hanging around the sedan, emitting a faint fragrance that drifted faintly in the wind and snow.

"Madam, please sit down with your fifth sister."

"Well, it's snowing hard outside, you should get in the sedan quickly."

"Ah."

After lowering the curtain of the sedan chair, Wanyu walked to the sedan chair at the back.

"Get up the sedan."

As the eunuch's shrill voice sounded, the team slowly moved towards the Ningshou Palace.

Although the snow on the ground had been cleared, the wind and snow were blowing so fast that a thin layer of snow soon accumulated on the ground again.

The eunuchs' footsteps left shallow footprints in the snow. They lowered their heads, braved the wind and snow, and carried the sedan chair forward steadily.

The palace maids held lanterns on both sides of the sedan chair. The lanterns swayed constantly in the wind and snow, lighting the way forward for the team.

The wind and snow were howling, as if they were going to swallow up the team.

Wanyu would occasionally stare at the Empress Dowager's sedan chair in front of her through the gap in the curtains.

The cold wind blew up a corner of the sedan chair curtain from time to time, and the cold wind rushed in, but she didn't care at all.

When passing Cang Zhen Gate, a strong wind suddenly blew, causing the lanterns in front to sway violently, and the team stopped briefly.

Wanyu's heart suddenly tightened. She lifted a corner of the curtain and looked anxiously at the sedan chair in front of her.

She ordered the sedan to stop and went forward to check.

When she reached the side curtain of the sedan chair, she asked with concern, "Madam, are you and Fifth Sister okay?"

The curtain at the window was lifted from the inside, revealing the calm face of the Empress Dowager.

She said kindly, "My dear child, I am fine, and your fifth sister is fine too."

"You should go back soon."

After receiving the response, Wanyu felt relieved and returned to her warm sedan.

As the team moved forward, the palaces with carved beams and painted buildings, red walls and yellow tiles, illuminated by the flickering candlelight, appeared even more solemn and dignified in the wind and snow.

Finally, the outline of Ningshou Palace appeared before our eyes.

The palace servants in front of the palace gate had been waiting for a long time in the wind and snow. Everyone stood respectfully until the team returned, and then they saluted.

The Empress Dowager's warm sedan stopped first, followed by Wanyu's sedan chair.

Wanyu hurriedly got out of the sedan chair, walked quickly to the Empress Dowager's warm sedan chair, and spoke softly.

"Madam, we have arrived at Ningshou Palace. Your granddaughter-in-law will help you get out of the sedan chair."

Then she carefully helped the Queen Mother out of the sedan chair.

The fifth princess in the sedan chair was also helped down by the palace maids.

After entering Ningshou Palace, a warm breath hits you in the face.

The palace servants had already lit the charcoal brazier, and the room was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood.

Wanyu accompanied the Empress Dowager to the couch in the inner chamber and bowed respectfully: "Madam, are you tired? Please wash up and rest now."

The Queen Mother looked at her lovingly, took her hand and said, "My dear child, I am grateful to you for this night."

"It's getting late. Why don't you stay in Ningshou Palace for one night and return to Yuqing Palace tomorrow?"

The Empress Dowager had good intentions. Thinking it was too late, she let the Crown Princess rest in Ningshou Palace for one night.

But Wanyu thought that Yinreng might return to Yuqing Palace, so she rejected the Queen Mother's kindness.

So he chatted with the Empress Dowager for a while, helped her lie down to rest, and then took his own sedan chair back to Yuqing Palace.

Xia He: "Master, would you like to take a hot bath before resting?"

Wanyu asked, "What time is it?"

Xia He: "It's almost midnight."

Wanyu shook her head and said, "Forget it, just soak your feet."

Xia He knelt down and saluted, "Yes, I'll arrange it right away."

Wanyu called Xia He and said, "Ask the kitchen to boil some more hot water."

"If the Crown Prince returns to Yuqing Palace to rest tonight, let him soak his feet and warm himself up first."

Xia He: "Yes."