Chapter 71 Chapter 71 It had been a while since Kangxi

had been to Xianfu Palace. His sudden arrival, especially on New Year's Eve, really startled Wen Shan.

Kangxi always spent New Year's Eve with the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. After the Grand Empress Dowager's passing, the Empress Dowager and Kangxi would stay up together, occasionally calling Su Malagu over.

"Why is only Yinzhen here? Where are Yinsi and Yinxiang?"

Kangxi felt a little relieved upon entering the main hall and seeing the vibrant red decorations. He then took a closer look and saw that only Yinzhen was there among the three children, so he asked curiously.

Yinzhen, observing Kangxi's apparent composure, secretly complained to himself that the Emperor was being too familiar.

He had only been here a few times in the past few months, yet he acted like they were so familiar.

Wen Shan gave Zhenzhu a look, and Zhenzhu understood and went to serve tea and fruit.

"Minpin is pregnant, and Liangpin hasn't been feeling well lately, so Yinsi and Yinxiang went to visit."

Wen Shan cleared the mess on the table.

Kangxi pondered for a moment, realizing that Minpin and Liangpin seemed to be missing from the palace banquet today.

Zhenzhu swiftly brought tea and snacks.

Speaking of Minpin's pregnancy, Kangxi paused and said, "Minpin is eight months pregnant now, I think."

Wen Shan nodded. "The imperial physician says she'll give birth in the first month of this year."

Kangxi replied, "A birth in the first month is indeed a good omen,"

Wen Shan smiled.

Even Yinzhen, standing nearby, felt a little awkward.

Kangxi coughed and followed up with Wen Shan's question, "What's wrong with Liangpin?"

Wen Shan took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Liangpin has been feeling some discomfort in her legs lately. She's constantly aching and needs to rest for a while."

Liangpin's legs had been ailing since the beginning of winter, yet Kangxi still had no idea.

"Then have the imperial physician take good care of her," Kangxi said rather dryly. "I'll go see her some other day."

Yinzhen: "..."

It seemed like this was the scene every time the Emperor was upset and hadn't come for a while. The Emperor tried hard to find conversation, but Mother was indifferent.

It made him anxious.

Why was the Emperor coming here to cause trouble during New Year's?

Wen Shan didn't bother to chat with Kangxi about these meaningless topics anymore. She asked directly, "Your Majesty, why are you here at Xianfu Palace today? Isn't he usually here to stay with the Empress Dowager?"

It would have been fine if she hadn't mentioned this, but Kangxi's face darkened the moment she did.

"Something went wrong at today's banquet. One of the dishes on the Empress Dowager's table used chicken fat, breaking her fast."

Wen Shan thought to herself, as expected, and pressed on, "Did the Empress Dowager just call Concubine Nianhulu over for this?"

Kangxi nodded. "Concubine Nianhulu made such a drastic mistake in preparing this banquet, so the Empress Dowager naturally wanted to question her. After all this fuss, the Empress Dowager lost interest in staying up late, so I came to see you."

At the end of the palace banquet, the Empress Dowager summoned Concubine Nianhulu and harshly reprimanded her in front of Kangxi, scolding her like a dish. No one had ever scolded her like that since she entered the palace.

Naturally, this was the first time she had made such a blunder.

Wen Shan felt for Concubine Nianhulu, feeling she hadn't been prepared. She hadn't expected her to tamper with the oil, something that wouldn't be obvious from the dish itself, so the dish was served without a trace.

"The Empress Dowager has been fasting for almost six months to recite the Lotus Sutra. She was so close to achieving perfection, but she's now broken. It's inevitable she'll be angry," Wen Shan said.

Although she didn't quite believe it, she had been practicing sincerely for almost six months. Having it ruined just when she was about to complete it would have been upsetting to anyone.

The Empress Dowager usually didn't question right or wrong, but this time she couldn't help but reprimand Concubine Niohuru.

"Isn't there someone in the Imperial Kitchen responsible for the dishes the Empress Dowager uses?" Wen Shan thought for a moment before asking.

If the wrong oil was accidentally used, then that chef should be held responsible. While Concubine Niohuru was also guilty of mismanagement, she couldn't let him off lightly with so many people and so many things to do.

Kangxi had been listening to Concubine Niohuru's explanations for half a day in Ningshou Palace, and the thought still bothered him.

"It seems the Imperial Kitchen didn't assign someone specifically to do it. I haven't really understood it after all."

"..."

Wen Shan thought, how could there be something Kangxi didn't understand? He was simply not paying attention.

He paid no attention to the Empress Dowager's anger or the seemingly tactical scheme against Concubine Nianhulu, letting the women in the harem riot.

This was Wen Shan's biggest annoyance with Kangxi. It was

the clever person feigning ignorance that was most frustrating.

Yinzhen, standing nearby, understood Kangxi's reluctance to continue the conversation, so he tugged at Wen Shan and gently shook his head.

Wen Shan naturally understood; ultimately, the matter had nothing to do with her, and she had no intention of defending Concubine Nianhulu; she had simply asked a few more questions out of curiosity.

Kangxi picked up a piece of pastry, examining it carefully before consuming it. He glanced at Wen Shan and asked, "This doesn't look like your work."

The pastries were shaped into various shapes: ingots, lucky bags, and koi fish, symbolizing prosperity and prosperity, all symbolizing good luck for the New Year.

The quality, however, varied greatly: some were beautifully crafted, while others were so bizarre they were barely discernible.

Kangxi could tell at a glance that these weren't Wenshan's work, or rather, not all of it.

Several of them looked incredibly well-made.

Xianfu Palace had been churning out cakes and pastries for the New Year, so Wenshan hadn't noticed which plate Zhenzhu had brought out. Kangxi asked her about it, and she took a closer look.

"Your Majesty, these were made yesterday by Yinzhen and the others. The ones you're holding were probably made by Yinsi, just to bring good luck for the New Year." Wenshan

felt a little bad that she had brought out this plate. Yinzhen and the others were incredibly busy, and only yesterday, at the end of the year, had the Shangshufang come home an hour early to make some snacks with her.

Yinxiang, in particular, was so reluctant to eat any of them that he asked Wenshan to save them for him.

Zhenzhu, in a moment of urgency, hadn't noticed and brought out the little masters' creations.

Kangxi looked at them with great interest when he heard this: "Yinsi's craftsmanship... needs to be improved."

He raised his hand and called Yinzhen to ask which ones he made.

Yinzhen pointed to a few, and Kangxi smiled and said: "Yinzhen's work is much better than Yinsi's."

Then he pinched the most bizarre one: "This should be made by Yinxiang, right?"

Wen Shan nodded. When Yinxiang made these things, he looked like he had just tamed his limbs. No matter how hard he pinched, he couldn't get that shape, and she had wasted a lot of materials in vain.

Kangxi also smiled and shook his head: "It seems that Yinxiang is not good at this. Let him stay away from these things in the future."

Yinzhen said: "Your Majesty, some of the sons and ministers here have included grains, which means a good harvest and good fortune. Would you like to try one?"

"Really? Then I'll have to pick one carefully." Kangxi enthusiastically selected a gold ingot made by Yinzhen. He bit into it and found a filling made from a blend of grains.

Yinzhen exclaimed, "The Emperor is truly blessed by Heaven. It looks like our Great Qing will have abundant harvests and good weather next year."

Kangxi was naturally pleased to have chosen a pastry containing grains, but he still asked, "Yinzhen, you're not lying to me, are you? Do all of these have a filling?"

Normally, Kangxi wouldn't question whether such a thing was intentional, simply for the sake of luck. However, Yinzhen, known for his integrity, disliked such empty promises of auspiciousness, considering them charades. This was one of Kangxi's favorite things about him, so he asked, hoping he wouldn't stray from the path and become as pretentious as his eldest prince.

"If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, you can pick another one and see," Wen Shan said from the side.

His sons were trying to bring him good luck during the Lunar New Year, but he ruined the mood

. It was no wonder the other princes didn't want to get close to him. They were all like mice seeing a cat. Kangxi picked up another one at random and broke it open. Sure enough, it was pure glutinous rice, with no grain fillings.

"Sure enough, it seems it's a good omen," Kangxi said with a smile.

Wen Shan, considering it was Lunar New Year, also said a few auspicious words in a flattering manner.

Kangxi felt a rare sense of family reunion as he ate the cakes made by his sons. It was a pity that Yinsi and Yinxiang were not around.

"How did you stay up all night in previous years?" Kangxi asked Wen Shan with interest.

Kangxi was curious if Yinsi and Yinxiang had also gone to their biological mothers in the past. If that was the case, then Wen Shan was really generous.

"In previous years, I would have brought Concubine Min and Concubine Liang to Xianfu Palace. It would be lively with so many people. I and Yinzhen's three children would cut paper-cuts and chat together."

Kangxi nodded. This was considered very thoughtful.

No wonder Liangpin and Minpin were so close to Wenshan. He'd occasionally seen them discussing Yinsi and Yinxiang, and they'd only have praise for Wenshan.

But thankfully, Minpin and Liangpin weren't here this year. He'd come today to talk with Wenshan, as the sheer number of people was making things awkward.

Seeing Kangxi show no sign of leaving, Wenshan sensed something was amiss. Was he planning to stay in Xianfu Palace to celebrate the New Year?

How uncomfortable would that night have been for her and Yinzhen? Sure

enough, Kangxi shifted his posture, leaning back comfortably on the couch, and inquired about the hundreds of cattle and sheep Wenshan had gifted to her in-laws.

Wenshan couldn't say the bandits had given her too much to eat, only that it was her first annual holiday gift, and she wanted to give them something special.

"Those hundreds of cattle and sheep have been in your garden for almost three years, haven't they?" Kangxi teased. "I see you're just reluctant to part with the money for fodder."

"..."

He knew all that.

Speaking of this, Kangxi then brought up Yinzhen's wedding.

"Yinzhen will be fifteen next year, so you should start preparing. I can only promise you to wait until you're sixteen," Kangxi said. "If you put it off any longer, Rong Fei will

have nothing to do with you." Yinzhen, unusually uneasy at the mention of his own wedding, was a bit uneasy.

The Third Prince and Yinzhen's weddings had already been scheduled to take place together.

Wen Shan whispered, "Then you could have the Third Prince marry first; he's the older brother, after all."

Why did they have to marry at the same time? Were they really hoping for a double celebration?

Kangxi said calmly, "Yinzhi and Yinzhen are only one year apart in age. Having the Imperial Astronomical Observatory choose an auspicious date for both weddings would be a double celebration. Besides, doing it too often would just make a fuss."

"..."

She thought the more important thing was that it would just make a fuss.

Wen Shan had done her best at this point. Sixteen wasn't too bad; it was better than fourteen.

Then Kangxi said, "Yinsi will be twelve next year, so it's time to get ready. You and Concubine Liang can discuss finding a suitable couple."

Wen Shan: "..."

Didn't they just grant Yinzhen a marriage? Why is it Yinsi's turn so soon?

Wen Shan thought about it and realized that Kangxi wasn't just looking for trouble. Yinsi was only three years younger than Yinzhen...

The Fifth Prince's marriage was also set this year. The Empress Dowager personally selected his wife. His first wife is Hetala, the granddaughter of the Shaanxi Governor. She is also from a prominent family, but not too outstanding, which fits the Empress Dowager's plan for the Fifth Prince.

Next up is the Seventh Prince and Yinsi, who are also only one year apart in age.

These princes were born in the same year, with only a few years' difference in age, so it was natural that their marriages were all rushed together.

Wen Shan understood and nodded, "I understand. I'll take it to heart."

Yinzhen pondered on the matter, thinking that since he didn't want to change Yinsi's marriage, it shouldn't be a big deal.

"After the wedding, you can leave the palace and build your own residence. Since Yinzhen and Yinsi are so close brothers, building residences together will make it easier for you to move around."

Kangxi's sudden mention of this surprised even Wen Shan. The eldest prince had been married for over a year, yet Kangxi hadn't mentioned anything about him leaving the palace and setting up his own residence.

Initially, the eldest prince was quite concerned about this matter, but then someone suggested that the emperor's decision to not allow him to leave the palace was a sign of respect. The crown prince had always lived in the palace, and the prince had always lived in Yuqing Palace, and even after his wedding, he would remain there.

The eldest prince actually believed this.

Even Kangxi's suggestion of a palace, rather than just cramming the eldest prince and his wife and concubines into the Ganxi Wusuo, gave the story some credibility.

Kangxi stayed in Xianfu Palace for over an hour before midnight, the dawn of the new year.

In previous years, Yinzhen, Yinsi, and Yinxiang would go to the garden to set off fireworks, and this year was no exception. Everything was ready, but only Yinzhen went alone.

Wenshan, feeling a bit cold lately, stayed out, watching from the doorway. Kangxi stood by her side, keeping her company.

"It would be much more lively if Yinsi and Yinxiang were here too."

Wen Shan smiled as she watched Yinzhen, running around the yard with a firework stick in a rare, childish manner. She said softly, "Yes, the three of them have been close since childhood. It's the most lively when they're all together."

"Yinxiang is straightforward, but Yinsi is a bit more thoughtful." Kangxi, hands behind his back, observed Yinzhen in the yard, then glanced at Wen Shan and said, "I told you before to keep an eye on Yinsi, and it's still the same now." Wen

Shan pursed her lips and couldn't help but speak up for Yinsi: "Is the Emperor too prejudiced against Yinsi?"

Kangxi always seemed so wary of him, as if Yinsi were some unforgivable villain.

This was the first time Kangxi had heard Wen Shan speak to him so angrily, which he actually found amusing.

"Do you like Yinsi so much?"

It seemed as if in Wen Shan's eyes, Yinsi was some pure, harmless little flower.

To Wenshan, each child was different. Yinzhen was her first, while Yinsi was the first she raised from a nursing infant. Needless to say, Yinxiang was the most lively of the three and the one she talked to the most.

But Yinsi was the most caring. He was much more thoughtful than either of them, perceiving many of her emotions and even taking care of things for her in advance.

So, even though Wenshan knew Yinsi was deliberately putting on a show in front of Kangxi, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

After Kangxi's question, Wenshan nodded, saying, "Yinsi is a very thoughtful child."

Kangxi said nothing more, only smiling faintly as he watched Yinzhen return from the fireworks display.

After midnight, the New Year's Eve vigil ended. Yinzhen politely excused himself and went to the Yanxi Palace to pick up Yinsi and return to the Ganxi Wusuo. Yinxiang also sent word back that he would stay the night at Minbin's palace. Suddenly,

Wenshan and Kangxi were the only ones left in Xianfu Palace. There

would be no morning court tomorrow, but Kangxi would still have to attend the Heavenly Sacrifice and the Ancestral Temple, as well as the grand court meeting where he would receive the respect of the officials. It was no less stressful than a normal day. Wenshan, while not overwhelmed by the workload, was tired by this point and decided to retire.

After changing into his pajamas, Kangxi suddenly looked at her and said, "Where's the sachet you promised me? I heard you were almost done."

"..."

It must have been Concubine Yi who leaked the secret!

She had just happened to see it that day.

Fortunately, Wen Shan had found time to make it almost done in the past few days, and she wanted to hand it in quickly, so Kangxi wouldn't have to dwell on a broken sachet for so long. He then rummaged through it and dug it out of the sewing basket on the table.

Kangxi took it and examined it. While the stitching was still rough, it was indeed much better than before.

"Did Concubine Yi tell the Emperor about this?" Wen Shan asked resentfully.

Kangxi put the sachet away and said, "Concubine Yi came all the way here to speak well of you, why do you look so bitter and resentful?"

Concubine Yi was clever. She had seen from the beginning that Kangxi wanted to make peace with Wen Shan but had no way to do so. So she did this favor, repaying the Eleventh Prince for the kindness he had shown her during the vaccination and also currying favor with the Emperor.

"Tomorrow, the wives of the princes and ministers will come to the palace to pay their respects. I'll have Fucha come to pay you respects and let you meet them."

Kangxi said with his eyes closed after turning off the lights and lying down.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Wen Shan said softly.

Kangxi's visit this time was indeed because Concubine Yi offered him a way out, and he quickly took it. Wen Shan could still sense that many of his words were flattering.

Besides, Wen Shan had never met her future daughter-in-law, so she was quite curious.

After a while, when Wen Shan was about to fall asleep, Kangxi spoke again: "I have already chosen the marriage for Princess Yundai. Let her marry back to Moxi. The Khalkha Prince has a son who is about the same age as him. I think he is suitable." Wen Shan

was already drowsy from her sleep. When she heard the name of the Khalkha Prince, she felt a little familiar. After thinking for a while, she asked: "Did my cousin marry this Khalkha Prince?"

"..."

She couldn't even remember her own relatives. Kangxi patiently said, "I've chosen your cousin's second son."

Wouldn't that make Yun Dai his nephew's wife?

Kangxi had carefully chosen this person out of consideration for the Empress Dowager and Wen Shan. Marrying Wen Shan's cousin's son would reassure both Wen Shan and the Empress Dowager. Furthermore,

he had chosen the second son because he wouldn't have to inherit the title, and without the political pressure to marry Yun Dai.

Kangxi specifically pointed this out because he was worried that Wen Shan, a bit clueless, wouldn't appreciate his thoughtfulness.

Wen Shan naturally understood Kangxi's intention. Although her relationship with Yun Dai was only average, she accepted Kangxi's consideration for her sake and politely thanked him, satisfied.

Kangxi considered this a reconciliation between the two of them. He was in high spirits when he left the next morning. Yinzhen and Yinsi arrived to wish her a happy new year, just as Kangxi was leaving.

"Did you two send someone to watch over us again? Why did you come in after your father left?" Wen Shan asked, hands on her hips.

Yinsi rubbed his head, feeling a bit guilty.

It was just that his mother couldn't see it herself. Every time the Emperor came to Xianfu Palace, he thought the three of them were just in the way and just wanted them to leave.

As sons, they should have some good sense.

On New Year's Day, both dressed in their best and greeted Wenshan. They then received red envelopes that she had lovingly prepared for them. Yinxiang hadn't returned yet, and judging by the time, he'd probably been at Concubine Min's after breakfast.

Today was a day off for the princes, so Yinzhen and Yinsi, who had made a rare escape, played flying chess with Wenshan on the couch. They were a bit unimpressed by the game, which relied heavily on luck, but they were very supportive of Wenshan's enjoyment.

A short while later, Yinxiang, dressed in bright red, returned.

"Mother, I'm back!"

Yinxiang trotted in and saw his fourth and eighth brothers already there. He glanced at the table and saw that breakfast had been cleared away.

"Mother, you didn't leave me any food."

Wen Shan looked at Yinxiang's puffed-up face and smiled. "Mother, I thought you'd eaten at Concubine Min's. Why didn't you come back for dinner?"

Yinxiang took off his shoes and climbed onto the couch, saying aggrievedly, "I came back early this morning, but I ran into my tenth brother on the way, which delayed me."

"Tenth prince? What was he doing out so early in the morning?" Wen Shan asked casually, wiping Yinxiang's face.

Yinsi looked up from fiddling with the dice and said, "Mother, don't you know? The Empress Dowager punished Concubine Nianhulu yesterday by making her kneel in Baohua Hall all night to reflect on her mistakes. She hasn't even let her get up yet. I guess my tenth brother is going to visit his mother."

"Didn't the Emperor tell you last night?" Yinzhen added.

Wen Shan shook her head. Kangxi hadn't said anything. She had assumed the Empress Dowager had simply reprimanded her. After all, it was New Year's Eve, and she had to give Concubine Nianhulu, the most important person in the harem, some respect. She hadn't expected such a severe punishment.

"Tenth brother asked me to tell eighth brother to tell him to ask mother to plead for Concubine Niohuru." Yinxiang continued to relay.

The Queen Mother didn't say when to kneel, so we have to wait until the Queen Mother calms down. It's New Year's Day and it really is a waste of Concubine Niohuru's dignity.

Kangxi doesn't care, really...

Wen Shan suddenly remembered that Concubine Ping and Concubine Hui had a fight some time ago, but Kangxi scolded Concubine Niohuru. Putting this together, it seems that Kangxi is deliberately making things difficult for Concubine Niohuru?