Secrets of Yuqing Palace

After the third day bath, the "lifting and rocking carriage" ceremony for the young prince Hongxi will begin.

The Manchus have a custom of "sleeping in a rocking chair".

There is a folk saying: "Outside Guandong, there are three strange things: windows are papered on the outside, girls smoke big pipes, and children are hung up to feed themselves."

The phrase "raising a child by hanging him up" refers to a baby sleeping in a rocking chair.

A rocking chair is similar to a relatively large and sturdy cradle, hung from the beams of the house with ropes.

Put the child in the stroller, push it gently and rock it back and forth. The child will feel comfortable and at ease inside and will not cry or make a fuss.

On the day of raising the rocking carriage, the eunuchs raised and hung the rocking carriage in the east room of Huaqing Palace.

Then they pasted blessing characters on the stroller, chanted "happy songs", and a eunuch holding incense walked in front, guiding the nanny who was holding Prince Hongxi to put the little prince into the stroller.

Then came the emperor, empress dowager, concubines, as well as the previous generation's concubines, princes and princesses, royal relatives, and others.

Two small purses were given to the little prince, filled with gold and silver unicorns and other objects, which had the same meaning as the folk "car money".

After the rocking chair is raised, there are celebrations such as the small full moon.

But it has nothing to do with Wanyu. Before she leaves the confinement period, she cannot participate in any ceremony.

She had to spend every day in the confinement room, undergoing a rigorous abdominal massage by the health nanny.

She didn't expect that giving birth would be so painful, and when the nanny was massaging her to remove the lochia and reshape her body, she almost cried out in pain.

But Nanny Sun was prepared and put a piece of cork in her mouth.

Otherwise, after the confinement period, she might become a mute princess.

But no matter how painful it is, she feels it is worth it when she sees the fair and tender baby every day.

Although the time was hard to bear, Wanyu finally came out of confinement.

Early in the morning, Wanyu woke up early.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the bright sky outside. Thinking about what day it was, she almost cried with joy.

She breathed a sigh of relief, and the inner ease made her feel enlightened, and the feeling of relaxation came over her like a tide.

"Good heavens! I've finally made it!"

She sniffed the smell on her body and felt it was sour, smelly, and had a hint of milk. She couldn't help but frown slightly, secretly disgusted with herself.

Thinking that Yinreng would come to see her every day and kiss her when he left, Wanyu couldn't help but shiver.

He muttered quietly, "I don't know how Baocheng can bring himself to eat this every day. I really hate myself."

It felt like she couldn't stay in this confinement room for even a moment!

"Xia He!"

Xia He, who was on guard outside, heard the noise, opened the door and walked in.

"Is the master awake?"

"Ok!"

"Quickly prepare some water for me to bathe in, and help me wash up."

"If I don't wash it, I feel like I'm going to go bad!"

Wanyu directly lifted the quilt, quickly jumped up from the bed, and gave orders impatiently.

"It's so hot, and I'm stuck in this little room all day, unable to go anywhere, and even unable to get out of bed. I feel like I'm emitting a sour odor all over my body."

Seeing the master so anxious, Xia He smiled clearly and said, "Master, please slow down."

"Don't worry, Master. I know you've wanted to take a bath for a long time."

"So I have asked the kitchen staff to prepare hot water in advance."

"I will have the bathroom prepared right away. The master will be able to bathe soon."

Wanyu shook her head with all her might, "I'm fine."

"I feel full of energy today."

"Okay, go get ready quickly, Xia Lian is here."

Xia He smiled and knelt down, saying, "Yes."

After seeing Xia He leave, Wanyu came to the dressing table and couldn't help but complain in a low voice to Xia Lian who was combing her hair.

"This confinement period is so unpleasant. Look at me, I feel like I'm almost turning into a slovenly old woman."

"I can't even wash my hair. The Crown Prince, Mammy, and Xia He teamed up to bully me. They're watching me closely!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Lian smiled and consoled him, "Master, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Nanny Xia He are doing this out of concern for you."

"Giving birth is already very damaging to your body. They're worried that you won't take good care of yourself and develop a chronic illness later in life."

"Look, now that you're out of confinement, Xia He has already asked someone to prepare hot water."

"I just wanted you to have a good bath today."

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has also had the sewing room staff cut a number of beautiful new clothes for you in advance, just to make you happy wearing them."

Wanyu looked at herself in the mirror. Although her face was still a little pale from giving birth, her eyes were bright and shining.

She snorted softly in a proud manner.

"I know they mean well, so I gritted my teeth and endured it. Otherwise, I would have made a scene a long time ago."

Then she pouted, "But this is too uncomfortable."

While comforting her master, Xia Lian gently combed her hair starting from the ends.

The long black hair gradually became smooth as the comb was combed, like a piece of bright black silk.

While combing her hair, I also cleared her scalp.

This was Xia Lian's basic exercise when Wanyu was in confinement and couldn't wash her hair.

It can make the owner's head relax and feel more comfortable, so the mood will not be so irritable anymore.

Wanyu closed her eyes, enjoying this moment of tranquility and relaxation.

The bathroom was soon ready, and Xia Lian successfully smoothed the master's fur.

Wanyu was surrounded by palace maids and led to the bathroom.

With the service of Xia He and the palace maids, Wanyu finally had a comfortable bath and also received a massage.

Wanyu always felt that she was dirty and smelly, so she asked the palace servants to scrub her thoroughly and changed the bath water several times.

She also asked Xia Lian to prepare rose soap for her, which was made from purified fresh flowers. She rubbed off several layers of mud on her body, and only stopped when she felt white, tender, fragrant and soft.

While she was enjoying her wash, Nanny Sun walked in with a smile on her face.

Seeing the master so happy and comfortable, the nanny smiled and said, "Master, you are finally happy today."

Wanyu opened her eyes and replied with a smile, "Mammy, you've been really busy watching over me for the past month, but now I'm finally free."

There was a flash of fondness in Nanny Sun's eyes.

"Master is saying that from now on, Master can bathe however he wants."

At this time, after attending the morning court, Yinreng talked with Kangxi for a while, and handled memorials for the old man in the Qianqing Palace for a while, and then returned to the Yuqing Palace.

Upon learning that the Crown Princess had just finished her confinement and was taking a bath, he walked over.

He stood at the door and heard the young concubine chatting and laughing with the palace servants inside, and a smile flashed across his face.

He also knew that Wanyu had been feeling very depressed for the past month. She was a lively person by nature, and being confined to the palace and not allowed to leave at will had already made her a little depressed.

Now she has to stay in a small room during her confinement period, which makes her feel even more wronged.

Now that I see her so happy, I feel happy too.

However, an idea flashed through Yinreng's mind at this moment, and he wanted to give her a surprise.

After finally washing clean, Wanyu felt refreshed and invigorated.

I don’t feel how hot it is in August at all.

She changed into clean and refreshing clothes and stood there, regaining her former agility and beauty.

She could finally return to her spacious, bright and comfortable main hall.

Unexpectedly, when she returned to the main hall, she saw Yinreng standing tall with his arms outstretched in the center of the main hall, looking at her with a smile on his face.