readytorunbook Chapter 244 Winter Fun (Part )
Chapter 244 Winter Fun (Part )
They had a great time playing in the snow that day. The emperor was also happy to enjoy the ordinary father-son fun.
He said that if there are such activities again, we should invite him.
This time the children went to make a snowman again. Hongxi and Honghan said they wanted to make one of an emperor. They were really brave.
But this time, Hong Han still remembered Xia Dongchun's betrayal and refused to take his mother with him no matter what.
It just so happened that Huimin invited Xia Dongchun and her to sit around the stove and make tea together.
Xia Dongchun said happily: "You little bastard, you won't go even though I invited you. Your mother is going to keep the appointment. Hahahahahaha."
Xia Dongchun was still willing to show off his taste for literary and artistic things.
Brewing tea around the stove involves a lot of attention to using charcoal, getting water, tea sets, selecting tea, and brewing tea.
The charcoal used was walnut charcoal, the water was the snow from plum blossom petals, and the tea-making utensil was a ceramic pot...
Tea leaves are ground into powder and made into tea balls. When drinking, the tea is crushed and boiled with onion, ginger, orange peel, mint, dates, salt and other spices. Another method used in the Tang and Song dynasties is to grind the tea leaves into powder, sieve them, and then mix the powdered tea into a paste with water before drinking.
It's also fun when the three of us are together.
A few people drank tea and talked about recent events.
Xia Dongchun finally has a chance to criticize those people in the palace whom she dislikes.
As they were talking, Xia Dongchun mentioned Shen Meizhuang.
"This Concubine Hui is really good at raising children."
Xia Dongchun curled her lips and said, "Look at Jinghe, she doesn't look like a five-year-old child. Even a fifteen-year-old wouldn't be so restrained."
"At such a young age, she should be steady and dignified. Shen Meizhuang is really willing to do that. Look at Jing'an, she looks like a child."
"Look at the last time we had a snowball fight, Jinghe was so happy that her little face was all red and her little mouth was grinning from ear to ear."
An Lingrong glanced at Xia Dongchun and said, "You don't understand this. The emperor praised her a lot, saying that Jinghe has the demeanor of her mother at such a young age, she is generous, dignified, well-educated and well-mannered."
"With these, Jinghe is not as favored by the emperor as Wenyi and Longyue, but she still gets some attention. Unlike Jingan, the emperor ignores her."
Speaking of this, An Lingrong found it very ironic.
"They have a pair of children. The son is very talented. The emperor often praises Hongjun for his ability to study and his intelligence. The emperor also praises the daughter for her intelligence."
"I don't think there is anyone more proud than Shen Meizhuang."
An Lingrong said this with resentment in her eyes. Jing'an was so good, but the emperor turned a blind eye to it.
Although An Lingrong did not want to restrict the child, nor did she want to use the princess to gain favor, she raised the princess to be free and indulged her on weekdays.
But with the emperor’s attitude, how can a mother not feel disheartened?
They are all princesses, but their treatments are very different.
An Lingrong still remembers Jing'an's full moon banquet that year. The emperor wanted Jing'an to be a supplement to Longyue. If it weren't for Sister Min, it would have become a laughing stock.
The emperor is really partial. One is the moon in the sky, and the other is the mud under his feet.
Xia Dongchun saw that An Lingrong was also indignant about Shen Meizhuang's behavior, but she became even more excited, "See, she is so restraining Jinghe. She looks so old and conservative."
Huimin looked at the two of them talking excitedly and smiled helplessly.
"Well, everyone has their own way of education."
"Shen Meizhuang is thinking about the future," Huimin paused, "The future of the children in the palace depends on the emperor's favor and the power of their mother's family."
"This is even more true for princesses. Most of the princesses in our Qing Dynasty were raised in poverty. Shen Meizhuang should be thinking about training her daughter well so that she can find a good marriage partner in the future."
Listening to Huimin's words, An Lingrong seemed to be thinking about something.
"It would be good if I could marry to Khorchin."
"The Khalkha in the south and north of the desert also submitted to us before our Qing Dynasty entered the Pass."
"It's the Western Eleuths in the desert. They have always had friction with us. Among the four tribes, the Junggar, the Khoshut, the Durburt, and the Torghut, the Junggar is the strongest, and the situation has been tense in recent years."
"However," Huimin smiled, "I do admire Princess Gulun Kejing. She is the regent of the Qing Dynasty, holds great power in Mobei, and participates in political affairs. She has truly achieved the original intention of our Qing Dynasty to marry princesses. The marriage between Manchus and Mongols allows the princess to enjoy certain political power in Mongolia, have a say in local affairs, and guide the Mongolian tribes to be loyal to the Qing Dynasty."
"Women are just as good as men."
This surprised An Lingrong, "After the princess gets married, will this still happen?"
Xia Dongchun looked at her surprised expression and said, "You think the princess will stay at home to take care of her husband and children after she marries. The marriage between the two families is for the sake of interests. We marry the princess to the Qing Dynasty naturally for the sake of the Qing Dynasty."
"There are many princesses who hold power in Mongolia."
"The princesses of Fumeng, whether they are Gulun princesses or Heshuo princesses, are all equivalent to Mongolian Heshuo princes, and their sons are all given the title of first-class Taiji or first-class Ta, which is equivalent to the first-rank official of the court."
"Of course, those who marry into a Manchu banner family cannot enjoy this preferential treatment."
"We princesses didn't marry to suffer, most of them wanted to take power in their husband's family and make them loyal to the Qing Dynasty.
"If we can stand up and have the Qing Dynasty's support, we will naturally live a good life."
This was the first time that An Lingrong heard such a statement. She originally thought that Fu Meng had abandoned the princess and that the princess had left her hometown and was helpless. She had never expected that such a possibility could be possible.
In an instant, An Lingrong's eyes lit up.
"It would be great if I could marry Princess Gulun Kejing."
Seeing her suddenly excited, Xia Dongchun said, "Marry her to the south or north of the desert. If she can establish herself and take power, that would be great. After all, a princess taking power would benefit the Qing Dynasty, and our emperor would definitely support her."
"But," Xia Dongchun frowned, "If I marry to Moxi, then..."
"That's not a good place. Not to mention being in power, it will really become like Fumeng as you imagined before."
Huimin also looked at An Lingrong, "Staying in Beijing and Fu Meng each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Jinghe, that child, has been trained so well by Shen Meizhuang, so he must have the idea of staying in Beijing."
"Of course, this depends on the emperor's intention."
After An Lingrong heard Huimin say this, she also remembered some details.
"No wonder Shen Meizhuang wants to train a lady from a noble family."
"I heard that Princess Gulun Rongxian had a fierce temper back then."
"It's obvious that Jinghe is not suitable to marry into Mongolia. Your Majesty must consider this."
Huimin listened to her speculation and said, "Not necessarily. The emperor may consider more than just character when choosing someone to go to Mongolia."
"There's no telling how life will turn out in the future."
"Many of the princesses of the late emperor married into Mongolia and had deep relationships with their princes-in-law, and many of them played important roles."
"But Princess Heshuo Duanjing of Fumeng did not have a good life."
"Those who stay in the capital may not necessarily have smooth sailing."