novelaction Chapter 284 Lotus
Chapter 284 Lotus
The emperor paid considerable attention to Yongyan and would come to see him every now and then.
Not long after Han Xiangjian became Rong Guiren, she was promoted to Rongpin. However, within just one year, her cold personality, which was exactly the same as Shufei, quickly made the emperor lose interest in her.
The horses on the grassland are very fierce. Even if they are tamed, they will still be stubborn if they are locked up in the stable all day.
Over time, the emperor no longer liked to visit her.
As time went by, the person who stayed with the emperor all day became Yan Wan again.
As he grew older in recent years, the emperor became somewhat attached to Yan Wan.
After all, they had been together for more than ten years and were like family members. The emperor always remembered to take her with him wherever he went.
If we talk about the woman he loves, apart from the late Empress Fucha, the only other woman who can have a place in his heart is Imperial Noble Consort Ling.
One is a moonlight-like figure, and the other is the mole on the heart.
At first, he may have favored her just because of her beauty, but as time went on, he found that he could not live without her.
In the 28th year of Qianlong's reign, the weather was hot, but in June the emperor took the empress dowager and concubines to the Old Summer Palace to escape the summer heat.
After Yongyan was born, he truly realized that he was getting old and began to consider the issue of establishing an heir.
In the eyes of the emperor, the most suitable candidate is none other than the fifth prince Yongqi.
He was gifted, talented in both civil and military affairs, and was the most outstanding of his sons. But the only drawback was that he was too outstanding and his temperament was easily influenced by others.
I am not filial enough and cannot stand on his side in everything.
This is a big no-no.
For the emperor, it is not enough for the future crown prince to be just excellent. At the moment, he must be "obedient" enough.
Yongqi, just a little bit short.
"My son, I would like to send my regards to Emperor Ama."
"My son, I would like to send my regards to Emperor Ama."
Just as I thought of this, Yongqi brought Yongyan to pay his respects.
Although there is a big age gap between them, Yongqi loves Yongyan very much, and the scene of brotherly love and respect between them is more or less comfortable.
"Hurry up and get up. Why did you two brothers want to come see me?"
He nodded to Yongqi, and then spoke to Yongyan with a smile, which sounded quite doting.
People always have more affection for their young children.
Especially for someone who had a child in his old age.
Yongyan was only three years old, and he was as white and plump as a glutinous rice dumpling. When he stood in front of people, he was only a little higher than his knees, which made him very adorable.
"Father Your Majesty, this was picked by my fifth brother... I picked it. My fifth brother took me to enjoy the flowers, and I wanted to eat some lotus seeds, so my fifth brother picked them. I thought Your Majesty would like them too, so I brought them to you..."
Yongyan spoke word by word. Although he was only three years old, he could already speak clearly. However, his hands were a little small, so he could barely pick up two lotus pods. After he finished speaking, he handed them to the emperor as if presenting a treasure.
Yongqi took a full handful in his hand, and seeing this, he turned around and handed it to Jinzhong who was waiting on the side.
"Really? Then, Father Huang, try what you picked. Is it better than what my chef makes?"
The emperor touched Yongyan's head with great satisfaction, took the lotus pod, and while flicking it, he spoke to Yongqi.
"The autumn hunting season is just two months away. In recent years, you've been in charge of the hunt. This year, you should start preparing as well..."
The lotus seeds in July are fresh and tender. They can be eaten after gently peeling the skin. The lotus flesh is crispy and sweet, and the lotus heart in the middle has a hint of bitterness, but it can reduce heat and detoxify. After eating it, there are some traces of sweetness left in the mouth, which also has a unique flavor.
The emperor threw two into his mouth in a row and asked Jinzhong to pick the rest.
It was just some wild fun, but it put him in a good mood.
"Yes, I will prepare to set off now and will not let the emperor down." Yongqi smiled as he watched the interaction between the emperor and Yongyan, and replied seriously when he heard the emperor mention him.
"Father, I want to go too. I want to ride a horse like my fifth brother."
Although Yongyan was young, he knew what autumn hunting was. When he saw the two people chatting about it, he started to talk about it.
"You are still young. It is too dangerous to ride a horse. When you are older, the Emperor will ask your fifth brother to teach you how to ride a horse."
The emperor smiled, touched Yongyan's head, gestured to him and said.
"But Fifth Brother has already gone, and I want to go with him too. Father, please let me go with you~"
Yongyan was very attached to Yongqi. When he heard that he couldn't go, he just hugged the emperor's legs and acted coquettishly.
The autumn hunt is no joke. In previous years, princes like him who were under the age of 20 had to stay in the Old Summer Palace. The autumn hunt is too far away for young princes and princesses. The strong wind on the grassland makes them more likely to get sick.
"Yongyan, you are too young now, not even as tall as a horse's legs. You'd better wait obediently for the emperor and your fifth brother to come back. If you make trouble again, the emperor will ask your seventh sister to come and take you back."
The emperor pretended to have a stern face and deliberately mentioned Jingxuan.
Yongyan grew up in great care and was fearless except for his sister who was born to the same mother.
"Well then... I won't go there. I'll go with my fifth brother when I grow up."
The threat was indeed effective. When Yongyan heard the word Jingxuan, his face wrinkled and he agreed silently.
Seeing his face wrinkle, Yongqi coaxed him with a smile.
"Yes, Yongyan, when you're taller, I'll personally find you a pony. You're still too young, so wait for me in the Old Summer Palace with Empress Ling. I'll personally hunt a wolf for you to make a winter coat..."
"Fifth brother is biased. When he gets something good, he only thinks of Fifteenth brother. Why doesn't he think of me, his younger sister?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a crisp voice was heard.
"My concubine pays your respects to the Emperor."
"My son, I would like to send my regards to Emperor Ama."
You can tell it's Jingxuan's voice without even listening.
She was the only one who dared to be so bold in front of the emperor.
After all, her mother was the Imperial Noble Consort, and her foster mother was Shu Fei, the head of the Four Consorts, so naturally she could act as she pleased in the harem.
"Your son pays his respects to your Majesty."
Seeing Jingxuan coming in with Yanwan, Yongqi calmly greeted them according to the etiquette.
"Everyone, get up? Jingxuan, why are you here?"
"I heard from Mother that there were lotus seeds to eat, so I asked her to come over to try them. This good thing is not often found... Fifth brother, you haven't replied to me yet! You are too partial to your fifteenth brother..."
Jing Xuan looked at the plate of peeled lotus seeds in front of the emperor and said mischievously.
"You little girl, you have no respect for your elder brother. Speak to him properly."
As Yanwan stood up, Jinzhong handed her a round stool behind her. She sat down while saying angrily.
"It's okay. Wolf fur is too hard for you little girls. Fifth brother, look back and see if there's a cloud fox. The cloud fox has soft, white fur, which is perfect for little girls like you."
Yongqi smiled and replied, "The brothers and sisters have had a good relationship over the past few years, and the more time passes, the more they feel like home. He likes this kind of scene."
"Yongqi was filial. He picked lotus seeds and sent a bunch over. This girl sent a few branches to the Empress Dowager. The rest went to Sister Shufei, and Sister Meifei also got one. Yufei, Yingfei, Rongpin, Kepin... all got some. Now that I haven't been left out, I can only rush over anxiously."
Yan Wan joked as she listed them one by one, and by the end, Jing Xuan's face turned red.
"Hahaha, you're quite a simple-minded kid. This plate of peeled fruit is a reward for you. Your fifth brother brought a handful over. If you like it, you can take it home..."
The emperor laughed heartily at her and said while pinching her little nose.
"That's fine. If Fifth Sister likes it, I'll go pick more. There are a lot of them in the lake, and I was inconsiderate. I'll bring some people to pick more and send them to the Empress Dowager and the other concubines..."
"Well, it's hot today, so go to your royal grandmother and show your filial piety. The autumn hunt will take several months, so you should have a good chat with her."
Hearing Yongqi's words, he nodded.
Jingxuan was stuffing lotus seeds into her mouth. When she heard the emperor's order, she quickly got off the stool, clapped her hands and said.
"Father, Mother, I want to go with my fifth brother too. I want to pick some lotus flowers to put in a vase, and we'll also go visit the Empress Dowager..."
"Your son is going too~Your son is going too~"
Once Jingxuan took the lead, Yongyan also started to make trouble.
"Okay, you guys go together. Jinzhong, take some people with you and keep an eye on these two little ones. Don't let them accidentally fall into the lake and get soaked."
The first half of the sentence was directed at Jinzhong, and the second half was teasing the two younger ones.
The emperor has become more humane in recent years.
"They are grown-ups now, how can His Majesty still allow them to cause trouble? Be careful not to get your clothes wet, Yongqi, keep a close eye on them."
The children had a rare moment of free time, so Yanwan didn't spoil their fun. She just said a few words of scolding and let them go.
"Yes, I'll take my leave now."
"My son, please retire."
"I'll take my leave~"
After the two nodded, Yongqi walked out of the hall holding a carrot head in each hand.
As soon as the people left, the hall became quiet.
The emperor took Yan Wan to his side with familiarity, muttering, "You have brought up Yong Yan very well, and even Yong Qi has started to smile a little bit."
His son was mature and always serious. The emperor felt relieved to see him showing some liveliness on rare occasions.
"It's just my responsibility. The emperor has entrusted the harem to me, so I naturally can't let him down... Yongqi is a good kid. I think if Yongyan can learn a little from him, it will be a blessing for me..."