novelonline Chapter 2088: Concubine Yi Retreats
Chapter 2088: Concubine Yi Retreats
Chapter 2088: Concubine Yi Retreats
The cherry orchard is on the sunny hillside, not far from here.
Everybody came out of the pigsty, got on the sedan chair or horses, and went to the cherry orchard to pick cherries.
Niguzhu and Tana were holding hands, looking at the branches full of fruits, and were already discussing picking more cherries to give to their sisters.
They enjoyed picking green apricots the day before yesterday.
It was because it got hot later that everyone went back to the house.
Now at the foot of the mountain, the mountain breeze is blowing, and it is much cooler than the West Garden.
However, cherry trees are taller than apricot trees. Even after being pruned to limit their height, they are still eight or nine feet tall.
It’s okay for adults, they can pick some of the cherries at the bottom by standing on tiptoe.
Children need help from adults.
The cherry is small, about the size of a thumb.
The cherries on the trees are just ripe, so we have to pick and choose them.
Niguzhu sat on Xiaosong's shoulder and felt his neck sore after picking a few.
She got down from the ground, came to the Queen Mother and said, "Mother Wuku, I will help you carry the basket."
The Queen Mother was looking up at the cherry tree. She did not pick the cherries one by one, but instead selected the branches with the most fruits and pruned them.
In this way, the cherries can retain more moisture and taste sweeter.
This was prepared by her for Jiugege.
Jiugege was originally slim, and she has become even slimmer since she started having morning sickness.
The Queen Mother loved her granddaughter so much that she wanted to send her three meals a day.
These cherries are not yet ripe and are slightly sour, making them perfect for pregnant women.
Especially if it is steamed, it will not hurt the stomach.
Seeing that Niguzhu was about to carry the basket, the Queen Mother looked at Nanny Bai.
Nanny Bai followed behind, carrying a bamboo basket that was one and a half feet square. After the empress dowager signaled, she gave it to Niguzhu.
Two small cherry branches were placed inside.
Shushu is here, staying with Concubine Yi.
Since the beginning of the banquet, Concubine Yi didn't say much.
Shushu could sense that Concubine Yi was deliberately downplaying her role today and trying to avoid her.
It was not only to avoid stealing the spotlight from the empress dowager, but more importantly, it was because Kangxi was there.
Shushu's eyes swept over the Fifth Prince, the Ninth Prince and the Eighteenth Prince. The three princes who were appointed as princes were still too eye-catching.
Fortunately, the Guo Luoluo family has become quiet, otherwise the Fifth Prince and the Ninth Prince would not have such a comfortable life.
Concubine Yi was picking cherries, picking only one or two cherries from each cherry branch.
The cherries she picked were light red in color and larger than the others.
Shushu was beside her, helping Concubine Yi to press down the buds.
Concubine Yi wanted to urge her to go to the Queen Mother, but when she saw the Fifth Prince and Guaerjia with Tana beside the Queen Mother, she changed her tone and said, "This farm is well maintained. The Emperor awarded me several farms in Tongzhou in the early years. You and the Fifth Prince's family can share one and run it well."
Shu Shu did not say anything to refuse. After thinking for a while, he said, "Then I will run the farm here. If there is any success, the Queen will reward me with a job."
Concubine Yi shook her head and said, "What do I need so much silver for? Save it for Niguzhu and add to his property in the future."
Seeing this, Shushu said, "Then let the eldest princess kowtow to you later."
Concubine Yi looked at Niguzhu and Tana holding hands. Although she was a younger sister, she acted like an older sister. Her eyes became more and more joyful.
She hoped that her two sons would love each other, but she also knew that even if they were brothers, they would still be two families when they started a family.
Whether they are close or not depends on the relationship between the two wives.
Before, Dong E was kind and respectful to the Fifth Lady; now she knows the relatives and relatives and helps the Fifth Prince to promote Guaerjia.
Concubine Yi thought about what Kangxi had said before, that the Ninth Prince was "copying" others and was living a successful life because he had married the right wife.
She couldn't help but look at the Eighteenth Prince, hoping that he would also have a blessed wife and not have to live a muddled life like the Fifth Prince.
However, Concubine Yi was also glad in her heart. After all, there was no shortage of romantic people in the Aisin-Gioro family, and fortunately the Fifth Prince and the Ninth Prince were not among them.
The Fifth Prince seems to have a good temper and is also soft-hearted.
But he could be soft-hearted towards Liu Gege, he could be soft-hearted towards his Tara clan, and he could also be soft-hearted towards the Guarjia clan.
The Ninth Prince is a donkey that needs to be coaxed. He is not someone who can coax others...
The Ninth Prince was coaxing someone at this moment.
He placed Hongxuan in Kangxi's arms and said, "Khan Ama, please hug your grandson well. If you don't hug him, he will be old enough to be hated by cats and dogs."
Kangxi held Hongxuan in his arms, looking at the little prince's well-behaved appearance, and said to the Ninth Prince, "How can you say that about your nephew? Do you think that everyone is a jerk like you since childhood?"
The Ninth Prince laughed and said, "Khan Ama, to be honest, my son was still young at that time and didn't know right from wrong. How could he have done anything wrong? Who told you to let him do whatever he wanted? If Khan Ama had taken some time to look after his homework, with his intelligence, he would have become a successful person long ago!"
Seeing his arrogant look, Kangxi glanced at him and said, "You still don't beat me enough. If I were a strict father, I would give you twenty strokes of the cane every day, and you wouldn't grow crooked."
The Ninth Prince didn't like to hear this and said, "What a shame, father! Is it just because your son is naughty? If you really want to beat your son, then beat him one by one. He will definitely be more obedient than he is now."
"Who is dishonest?" Kangxi asked.
Brother Ninth: "..."
There are few honest ones.
But it's enough to keep it in mind. If it doesn't happen to you, why would you hesitate?
He changed the subject and said, "Look at how well Hongxuan has grown up. He is also strong and healthy. He is one and a half years younger than his brother and sister. He is about to catch up with Fengsheng in weight."
Kangxi looked at Hongxuan, his eyes fixed on his little curly hair.
To be honest, there are a few members of the royal family who also have brown hair and light eye color, but they are not as obvious as Hongxuan's.
This is not a bad thing for Hongxuan.
Hongxuan was held obediently. Seeing Kangxi looking at him, he also looked at Kangxi.
The Ninth Prince thought for a moment and said, "The brothers are always together. Next year, Fengsheng will study with Akdan, and Hongxuan will be left behind. How about letting Hongxuan enter the upper study room next year?"
"Nonsense!"
Kangxi frowned and said, "Fengsheng and his friends have big birthdays, so they can start school a year earlier. Hongxuan's birthday is in Dongyue, so it's too early for him to start learning at the age of five. It's better to start learning at the age of six..."
The Ninth Prince thought about it and agreed.
Hongxuan looks well-behaved, but he is too old to be here, so we won’t feel at ease until we know he is old enough to file a complaint before sending him to the palace.
The Eighteenth Prince and Fengsheng were both picked cherries by their guards.
When he arrived at Akdan, he picked a few and then went down to the field and refused to pick any more.
When the cherries were almost picked, Kangxi and Concubine Yi left first.
When the emperor went on a journey and temporarily stationed troops there, the ministers and guards who accompanied him were also feeling uneasy.
In addition, Kangxi was very busy with government affairs and had to meet with several rotating ministers in the afternoon.
Shushu and Guaerjia accompanied the empress dowager back to the yurt. The fifth and ninth princes took the children and sent Kangxi and Concubine Yi out of the farm.
The Queen Mother washed her hands, ate the sour and sweet cherries, and said with a smile: "It's just right for digestion."
Shushu said: "You just ate snacks at noon and didn't eat much of the meal."
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "Who said your snacks are so delicious? Can they be sold in the pastry shop?"
Shushu said, "As for the soft candies, forget about the other ones. When eating cakes outside, I only recognize the oily candies. The most popular ones are the ones like the honey three-knife ones, and the second most popular ones are the peach cakes..."
The Queen Mother said, "Then eat it at home. There's no need to keep good food out in the open..."
"Um……"
Shu Shu nodded and said, "The steamed buns that are currently being made are only consumed by the family, not by the shop."
The Queen Mother looked at Guaerjia and said, "Also keep an eye on the kitchen. Don't always give Fifth Prince meat. There should be a dish of vegetables at every meal."
Guaerjia nodded and said, "Yes, the kitchen is preparing the dishes, and the cave dishes at home are also served."
The Queen Mother asked with concern, "I remember that the Fifth Prince didn't like leafy vegetables. He liked eggplant, dried lentils, and gourd strips. Does he still eat these now?"
Guarjia nodded and said, "For food, we have to eat eggplant every other day, either with preserved eggplant or minced meat. We have fresh lentils, but Fifth Master prefers to eat dried lentils, which we use to stew pork ribs or braised pork. Gourd strips are used in mutton soup, which Fifth Master says makes the soup more fragrant."
Shushu was listening and was also speechless.
This is a vegetarian dish and it can be eaten just like meat.
The Queen Mother said, "I definitely won't eat cabbage, spinach, or radish. Eating these in the palace has caused me to become ill."
Guaerjia said: "I only eat buns stuffed with cabbage, saying that they don't have a fishy smell. I only eat white radish, not red radish..."
At this point, she glanced at Shushu and said, "I ate radish and beef offal and shredded radish pancakes at Jiuye's house. They didn't taste like radish. Wuye liked them, so he asked for the recipe and had someone make them several times. The eldest princess also liked them."
The Queen Mother listened with a smile and said, "That shredded radish cake is indeed delicious. It's perfect for winter..."
As they were talking, the Fifth Prince and the Ninth Prince brought the children back.
There were only two fewer people than at noon, but the atmosphere in the yurt was different.
The eldest princess sat next to Guwalgiya.
Niguzhu sat directly next to the Queen Mother.
Hongxuan sat on the Ninth Prince's lap.
The Eighteenth Prince and Akdan followed Shushu on the left and right.
Fengsheng asked the Fifth Prince to come over.
"What is the Empress Dowager talking about? Why is it eaten in winter? If you want to eat it, just send someone to prepare it. There is no need to observe the seasons. The rule of 'not eating at the wrong time' is a rule made up by nerds. There is no need to observe it..."
Brother Ninth said.
The Queen Mother smiled and said, "'Eat radishes in winter and ginger in summer'. Speaking of white radishes, they are a standard dish in the palace and are served twelve months a year. You guys definitely don't like radishes."
The Ninth Prince heard this and gritted his teeth, saying, "Grandmother is right. I don't like the taste. Bring back the radish, but I won't eat a single bite. I'd rather eat mustard greens with porridge."
The Queen Mother said, "Thanks to you, we don't have to eat only radishes and cabbages when there is a shortage of food in the palace. We can use broccoli to fill the gap. It is much better than when you were young."
Everyone looked at the Eighteenth Prince.
The eighteenth prince lived in the Yikun Palace and never complained.
When the palace is moved out next year, the share of the prince will increase significantly compared to before.
The Ninth Prince was still a little dissatisfied and said, "I'll discuss this with the Twelfth Prince later and try to add eggs to the diet next year. If he doesn't like to eat meat, he can still use eggs to replace it..."