novelhk Chapter 4 The Legend of Zhen Huan (3)
Chapter 4 The Legend of Zhen Huan (3)
"You're not worried at all!"
"What am I worried about!" Wangyou wasn't worried at all. Whether it was because of her family background or her observations over the past five years, Yongzheng wouldn't touch her.
His decision to bring her into the palace was partly driven by personal motives, but more importantly, it was a matter of political consideration.
The Shuyan Gioro clan is a prominent Manchu family, and the Shuyan Gioro family has a family rule that a man over the age of forty without a son may take a concubine. Therefore, the Shuyan Gioro family strictly selects the wives they wish to marry.
Women who are physically weak or unable to conceive are absolutely not to be married, so the Shu Yan family basically does not have any concubines.
Moreover, the Shuyan Jue Luo family is very strict in educating their children, but they will cultivate them according to their respective talents. Therefore, some members of the Shuyan Jue Luo family are engaged in literature, some in martial arts, and some in business, with the main goal of spreading their influence far and wide.
There were high-ranking officials above and outstanding juniors below, so there was no shortage of successors. However, the Shuyan Jueluo family had not produced a single girl for five generations, which made it impossible for the emperor to take action.
Emperor Kangxi trusted Daishan very much, so when Daishan said that his daughter did not want to get married and only wanted to travel around, Emperor Kangxi readily agreed. Moreover, the Shuyan Gioro family had been loyal ministers for generations and were staunch royalists who never formed cliques or engaged in private activities.
However, the new emperor was wary, so it was inevitable that Wangyou would enter the palace. Before, Wangyou had thought so much because she had a faint hope, but it was clear that she had failed in her gamble. She couldn't risk her whole family.
What Wangyou needs to do now is to keep testing Yongzheng's bottom line; she doesn't want to live a stifling life in the palace.
Emperor Yongzheng was clearly aware of this, and couldn't help but feel somewhat helpless.
"I know you don't want to enter the palace. I first met you at your family's estate. At that time, I was curious about whose daughter you were, that you didn't want to get married. Later, I had someone keep an eye on you and record your every little thing. I don't know when I got into the habit of checking your records every day after I finished my work. Five years have passed in the blink of an eye."
I know what I'm doing isn't very kind, but I've truly fallen in love with you. If you really leave, I'll never see you again, so I have no choice but to issue an edict to bring you into the palace!
Looking into Emperor Yongzheng's sincere eyes, Wangyou was somewhat bewildered. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am overwhelmed with gratitude!"
"You cunning devil, I know that's not what you truly mean!"
"Can I say I didn't understand?" Wangyou wanted to pretend to be genuinely moved, but she had learned everything in her past life except for emotions, so she couldn't fake it!
"What I mean is that I like you, and I am patient to wait for you to like me back!" After wandering for hundreds of years, this was the only young girl that Yongzheng had ever truly cared for. Although it was a bit shameless for an old man to be with a young girl, if he cared about his reputation, he would never have a wife.
"Then you'd better behave yourself!" Wangyou said proudly. Having been pampered and spoiled all her life, she had never suffered any grievances.
"Then I must perform well, but now it's time for the wedding night!" When Yongzheng ordered the arrangements, he did so according to the highest standards. Dragon and phoenix wedding candles were lit, and Wangyou was directly picked up and carried to the bed.
"Your Majesty, I'm hungry!" Wangyou suddenly realized she had forgotten something, felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach, and then remembered that it was time for her to eat.
Seeing the little girl's expectant eyes, Yongzheng couldn't help but gently pinch her nose. "Then let's eat first!"
What could Emperor Yongzheng do? He had personally invited his ancestor back, so he could only spoil him.
Wangyou was a little bewildered. They were going to sleep together on their first meeting? Was it really necessary to go so fast? But it felt so exciting! She hadn't had a chance to experience this in her past life!
Wangyou has a sense of eager anticipation. As for what Yongzheng said, Wangyou should just listen to it as a story. Time will tell. Even ordinary families might not be able to tell the truth, let alone the imperial family.
After enjoying a delicious imperial meal, she exclaimed, "Your Majesty, that cherry meat was so delicious! Could you give me the chef? Or I could have Lamei learn the skill!"
"I like it!"
"Mmm, delicious! No wonder it's imperial cuisine!"
"Su Peisheng, reward the chef who made this dish, and also let him start working at Chengqian Palace tomorrow!" Yongzheng said loudly, waving his hand.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wangyou thought to herself, the first test went quite well, and besides, isn't the bottom line meant to be lowered?
After the meal, seeing Yongzheng's somewhat ambiguous gaze, Wangyou belatedly realized she was a little nervous.
"Your Majesty, I'm going to take a bath!" Wangyou quickly slipped away, hoping to hide for as long as possible. In both her lives, this was the first time a young woman had ever been in a sedan chair. Although Yongzheng was handsome, she still needed to mentally prepare herself.
After the head maid explained how to serve the emperor, Wangyou was almost asleep. As for what the head maid said, Wangyou pretended not to hear it. These ridiculous rules of the Qing Dynasty were just annoying.
However, when Wangyou returned to her palace after getting dressed, she saw that he had already washed up and was sitting in the red tent waiting for her return.
A beautiful woman is more captivating the more you look at her under the lamplight; this applies not only to women but also to men!
Wangyou had a strange thought: it seemed as if the one serving her in bed was Emperor Yongzheng!
"What are you thinking about?"
“I’m thinking about Her Majesty the Queen and her little husband!” Wangyou blurted out.
Yongzheng paused for a moment, then laughed, "Then let this little husband of mine serve my Queen!"
After saying this, Yongzheng kissed her luscious red lips before Wangyou could speak, and then carried her to the bed, where they spent the night in passionate embrace.
Considering Wangyou's young age and that it was her first time, Yongzheng only visited twice before stopping.
Afterwards, he personally carried Wangyou and cleaned her up before holding her and falling asleep.
Early the next morning!
When Yongzheng opened his eyes, he saw Wangyou sleeping soundly in his arms. He gently kissed her forehead before carefully getting out of bed.
So as not to wake Wangyou, Yongzheng dressed himself before going out.
"Go to Jingren Palace and ask the Empress for leave. Don't wake your master!" Yongzheng glanced at the bed curtains before leaving and whispered his instructions.
"Your servant obeys the decree!" Bai Zhi and the others quickly knelt down and said, and only then did Yongzheng go to court.
When Wangyou woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. As soon as she moved, she felt a soreness all over her body. The old man had good stamina!
"Your Majesty, shall you rise?"
"What time is it?"
"Your Majesty, it's already 1:15 PM!" Bai Zhi quickly and efficiently put the bed curtains down.
Upon hearing this, Wangyou realized that it wasn't high in the sky anymore; it was already afternoon!
"Your Majesty, the Emperor sent many rewards after court. He was waiting for you to wake up, but he woke up from his nap while you were still asleep. He just left!" Bai Zhi blushed when she saw the marks on Wang You's body, but she still dutifully helped Wang You get dressed.
"Then I've even missed the chance to pay my respects!"
"His Majesty has sent someone to ask the Empress for leave!"
"Serve the meal, I'm hungry!" Wangyou yawned without any regard for her image. If she didn't want to pay her respects, so be it; it didn't really concern her anyway.
After lunch, Wangyou finally had the energy to get to know the palace servants of Chengqian Palace.
Besides the head eunuch Xia Zi and the head palace maid Miao Lan, there were four other palace maids: Zhu Zhi, Zhu Xia, Zhu Lan, and Zhu Ju, as well as four eunuchs, a small table, a small stool, small chopsticks, and a small bamboo.
Looking at the number of palace maids and eunuchs, plus the four head maids she brought, it was clearly excessive. However, Chengqian Palace was obviously renovated by imperial decree, and the people here were basically the emperor's people.
If the emperor himself didn't mind, then Wangyou would mind even less!