New Year’s Eve of the Thirteenth Year of Kangxi
This year, due to the passing of Empress Xiaocheng, the festive atmosphere in the palace was not as strong. However, since the Golden Festival was not held this year, a banquet was still arranged for this New Year’s Eve.
Compared to previous years, this New Year’s Eve was much quieter. Whether it was the palace maids and eunuchs or the members of the imperial family and ministers, the smiles on their faces were much more restrained.
“Yujin, why aren’t you playing with your little friends? Why are you always sticking to your mother?” Hesheli Shi sat properly in the East Wing Hall of the Hall of Preserving Harmony, where many ladies and noble ladies had already gathered.
Since the Emperor’s banquet for the imperial family and ministers was held separately, there were no royal relatives here today.
Every year, the New Year’s Eve banquet is divided into three parts: an external banquet for the Mongolian princes; an internal banquet for the court ministers; and finally, a family banquet for the palace consorts and royal relatives.
“Mother, I just want to be with you.” Lanzhu only had two close friends.
One was a cousin from her mother’s side, and the other was a noble lady from the Guarjia family.
Both of them had high status, so they could naturally attend today’s palace banquet. However, Lanzhu hadn’t seen them in the hall yet, so they were probably still on their way.
Just as Lanzhu was speaking, she saw a large group of people walking in from outside, including the cousin and Wenyuan she had just been thinking about.
The three of them exchanged a subtle glance and then smiled cautiously.
Hesheli Shi naturally noticed her daughter’s actions and gently said, “Go on, you three have a good chat, but don’t go too far.”
“Got it, Mother.” Lanzhu’s voice sounded a bit more cheerful.
After reuniting with her cousin and the others, Lanzhu left the hall and found a secluded pavilion to sit in.
Because it was New Year’s Eve, the pavilion, which usually had no cover, was carefully draped with thick cotton cloth by the palace staff, which was convenient for them.
“Lanzhu, you haven’t come to play with me for a long time.” Wenyuan, who was about the same age as Lanzhu, said. Both were thirteen—no, fourteen now.
Cousin Yinglan was a year older than them, just fifteen this year. Last year’s selection process was just the right age for her, but due to the passing of Empress Xiaocheng, the final selection was never held.
In two years, cousin would be almost eighteen, and her age might exceed the limit, possibly being eliminated in the final selection.
But this could also be a good thing.
“You know I don’t like to move around when it’s cold.” Lanzhu said softly.
“Really, I’m almost bored to death at home.”
“Mother won’t let me go out, and you don’t come to see me either.” Wenyuan wrinkled her nose and snorted lightly.
“Cousin is now a candidate for selection, how can she come out easily?” Lanzhu sighed at this.
For three years, cousin couldn’t go out freely, and just thinking about it made her feel sad.
Not wanting to go out and not being able to go out are two different things.
At least she didn’t want to be so restricted.
“Speaking of us, Wenyuan, why haven’t you made any moves either?” Yinglan’s gentle face was full of smiles.
“My mother won’t let me go out.” Wenyuan pouted slightly.
It’s just that the mistress passed away, it’s been half a year, and her mother is still keeping her in, not letting her go out.
“After May next year, your mother probably won’t keep you in anymore.” Lanzhu naturally understood why Lady Guarjia wouldn’t let Wenyuan go out.
Cousin couldn’t help it because of her status, while Wenyuan was simply too lively, so she was being watched.
The mourning period for the mistress hadn’t even been a year, and they were afraid someone with ill intentions would catch them slipping.
“But May next year is still a long way off.” Wenyuan, who couldn’t sit still, had been cooped up at home for half a year, and it was almost her limit.
“It’ll pass quickly. If you really can’t stand it, you can come find us.” Normal visits between the two families shouldn’t be a big problem.
Yinglan looked at the innocent expression of Wenyuan and the clear eyes of her cousin, and sighed inwardly.
There wasn’t much time left. The next selection was in two years. After that, Wenyuan might be fine, but cousin Lanzhu might be hard to see again.
The Tongjia family currently had no noble ladies in the palace because everyone was waiting for Lanzhu, the legitimate daughter of the Tongjia clan, to grow up.
Looking at her cousin, she seemed unaware, but that was also good. With her cousin’s intelligence and the support of the Tongjia clan, she could live well in the palace.
As long as she wasn’t burdened by emotions, she believed her cousin could make the right choices.
Hopefully, her cousin would remain unaware for a while longer.
“Got it.”
“Yinglan, tell us what the selection process is like?” After expressing her frustrations, Wenyuan became lively again, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Yinglan across from her.
Yinglan chuckled, “Why are you asking about this?”
“You still have two years before your selection.”
Wenyuan said, “I just want to see if there’s a chance of being eliminated early.”
Yinglan was taken aback, “Why do you think that?”
Then she quickly glanced at her cousin and noticed her mood wasn’t quite right either.
“My mother doesn’t want me to enter the palace, but my father…” Wenyuan’s expression was a bit downcast.
Yinglan, hearing this, wisely stopped talking. They all knew about Wenyuan’s family situation. Although Wenyuan was the legitimate daughter, she wasn’t very favored by her father.
Her father favored a concubine’s daughter instead.
“Isn’t your father always fond of that quiet one? Why isn’t he letting her compete this time?” Lanzhu asked.
“This time, he probably had a rare moment of fatherly affection and gave up his ambition.” Wenyuan was indifferent.
She didn’t care for her father’s affection. She had her mother and brothers who loved her, and no one at home could bully her.
“But let me tell you, that quiet one has quite the ambition. In the next selection, she might use some tricks.” Only her father couldn’t see the ambition in that quiet one’s eyes, but she could see it clearly.
“Why worry about so much?”
“The palace isn’t that easy to break into.” Yinglan, who had experienced the selection, scoffed. It wasn’t that she looked down on Wenyuan’s concubine sister, but unless her family had deep roots in the palace and planned to gamble all their strength, it was risky.
“What am I worried about? The Guarjia family isn’t run by my father alone. Even if he changes his mind and wants to help that quiet one, he has to see if the other clan members agree.” After all, she was still the legitimate daughter.
There were plenty of clear-headed people in the clan.
“Wenyuan, stop talking.” Yinglan looked at her cousin’s increasingly downcast face and, after a moment’s thought, understood the key.
Her cousin’s Tongjia family was the Emperor’s maternal clan. How could they not send someone into the palace? And the most suitable candidate was her cousin Lanzhu.
After all, she was the only legitimate daughter of this generation.
Wenyuan followed Yinglan’s gaze and indeed noticed Lanzhu’s unease.
Originally quite downcast, Lanzhu’s eyes brightened slightly when she saw her cousin and Wenyuan looking at her cautiously, and the trace of disappointment in her heart quickly disappeared. “Why did you stop talking? It’s rare for us to meet these days.”
“That’s true. Recently, the jewelry sold in the capital has been much more subdued in color. Once the mistress’s mourning period is over, I must go out and choose some.” Wenyuan said with a smile.
“Wenyuan, be careful with your words!” Yinglan hadn’t expected Wenyuan to blurt it out so boldly.
They were still attending the New Year’s Eve banquet in the palace.
With so many people around, she had to be careful not to let her words cause trouble.
Wenyuan then realized she was still in the palace, her face turning a bit pale. She quickly looked around, but the curtains blocked her view, and she couldn’t see clearly.
“Alright, cousin, Wenyuan didn’t mean it. This place is secluded, surely no one will come.” Seeing the atmosphere was off, Lanzhu quickly spoke to comfort them.
Then she added, “Wenyuan, when the selection comes, you must be careful with your words. Don’t let anyone catch you slipping.”
“I know.”
“My mother also says I speak without thinking. I was just too happy.”
“Outside, no matter how happy you are, you can’t.” Being the oldest of the three, Yinglan naturally had the responsibility to watch over them.
“Got it.”
The three originally planned to stay a while longer, but Yiyun from Lanzhu’s mother’s side came over.
“Eldest Miss, Hesheli Gege, Guarjia Gege, the banquet is about to start. Madam sent me to fetch you.”
“Got it, we’re coming.” The three of them got up and headed towards the side hall of the Hall of Preserving Harmony.
This internal New Year’s Eve banquet was separate. The ministers were personally hosted by the Emperor, while the women were originally hosted by the Empress, but due to the special circumstances, the host was now Consort Zhao, who held the highest position in the harem.
When Lanzhu and the others arrived, the East Wing Hall was already full. The three quietly went to sit obediently beside their mothers.
Hesheli Shi glanced at her daughter and then slightly tilted her head, “How was the chat?”
“Not bad, Mother.” Lanzhu returned her mother a smile.
As the time arrived, the sharp voice of a eunuch came from outside the East Wing Hall.
“Consort Zhao is here!”
As the voice fell, everyone stood up and bowed towards the person entering from the door.
“Greetings to Consort Zhao.”
Today’s internal New Year’s Eve banquet was not attended by the Empress Dowager or the Grand Empress Dowager, nor were any other consorts present except for Consort Zhao.
After all, they would only attend the family banquet.
After the New Year’s Eve banquet began, Lanzhu always felt someone was watching her, but when she quietly looked over, she found nothing wrong.
So she quietly sat in her seat, losing the desire to investigate.
At the head, Consort Zhao looked at the seemingly lotus-like independent Tongjia Gege, her hands placed properly in front of her tightened.
How could she not know the Grand Empress Dowager’s actions before? She had lost to Hesheli Shi because she was a concubine’s daughter. This time, how could she retreat again!
What of the Tongjia clan, what of being the Emperor’s cousin, she would not retreat a single step!
However, she disdained to act at this time. When Tongjia Gege entered the palace, their contest would just begin.
She didn’t care where the Emperor’s affections lay, but the position of Empress, no one should think of touching it!
…
At the Shenwu Gate
Hesheli Shi and her daughter, who had come out earlier, were waiting in front of their carriage for the rest of their family.
It was already past the hour of Xu, and the sky outside had long turned dark.
But looking out, the entire capital was now brightly lit.
Even though the Shenwu Gate was quite a distance from the outer street, Lanzhu seemed to hear the lively sounds of the people.
Even during the mourning period, it was so lively. Who knows what a grand scene it would be after the mourning period, but unfortunately, she couldn’t see it.
Lanzhu longed for it in her heart, but she only slightly lifted the curtain, her eyes bright as she looked towards the outer city.
Beside her, Liu Chun said, “Eldest Miss, do you want to go take a look?”
Lanzhu shook her head slightly, “I just think it’s very lively today.”
“Tomorrow is the real New Year’s Eve. In a couple of days, you can ask Madam to let you go out and take a look.” Madam loves you so much, she surely won’t refuse.