“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
Consort De of the Uya Clan, you possess a gentle and virtuous nature… You have now given birth to an imperial son, extending blessings to the imperial line…
Therefore, by special imperial favor and with the granting of seals and investiture, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Defei (Virtuous Consort)…
Respect this decree.”
The eunuch’s shrill voice echoed through the hall.
Shulan knelt together with everyone in Yonghe Palace.
“This concubine, Uya Shulan, thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor forever!”
The bright yellow imperial edict rested in her palms.
It felt so hot her fingertips tingled.
If nothing unexpected happened, this would probably be the highest rank she would ever attain.
Jinhua helped her rise.
Her eyes were slightly red.
“Congratulations, Your Highness.”
“Pass the word.
Everyone in Yonghe Palace shall be rewarded.”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
The maids bowed joyfully and hurried out to spread the announcement.
Before long, cheerful voices could be heard outside.
Even the atmosphere inside the palace became noticeably lighter.
“Your Highness, how shall we celebrate?” Jinhua asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling.
Shulan smiled.
“Go to the Imperial Kitchen and bring back a little of every kind of meat. If they have beef, even better.
If there’s sour plum soup, bring two jars. If not, newly brewed rose wine will do.
And have some delicate pastries sent over as rewards for the attendants on duty.”
“Yes!”
Jinhua departed happily.
Meanwhile, Shulan wasn’t idle either.
She instructed the maids to bring over the newly completed children’s dining chair.
Yinzuo had somehow developed a terrible habit.
He would only eat if people chased after him.
Shulan absolutely refused to encourage that behavior.
Besides, tonight’s celebration involved grilling food on an iron plate.
If anything happened while he was running around, she’d regret it forever.
Keeping him securely strapped into his chair was clearly the safest option.
Twentieth Day of the Twelfth Lunar Month, Kangxi Year Twenty
Night had fallen early.
Yet the celebratory atmosphere only grew stronger.
Inside the warm pavilion behind Yonghe Palace, a brass-and-silver iron griddle sat atop a charcoal stove.
The coals burned brightly.
Having changed out of her ceremonial robes, Shulan sat down in a simple lotus-colored outfit.
She watched Little Six with great interest.
The child was securely strapped into his chair.
“One… two… thirty-one… thirty-two…”
“Here I was wondering whose little duckling was drooling so much. At this rate, he’ll flood the palace.”
Kangxi strode inside.
The maids hadn’t even had time to warn Shulan before Liang Jiugong stopped them.
Caught off guard once again, Shulan shot Kangxi a resentful glance.
“This concubine greets Your Majesty.”
“What? Did I scare you again?”
“Your Majesty appears unexpectedly every single time. Of course I’d be startled.”
Kangxi reached out and lightly brushed a strand of hair near her temple.
His eyes were filled with amusement.
“You may look gentle and refined, but you’re actually quite mischievous.
Tell me, what mother spends every day leading Yinzuo into mischief like you do?”
Instant goosebumps spread across Shulan’s body.
She discreetly leaned away.
“How am I causing mischief?
Besides, Little Six is still small.
Small people don’t have any say in the matter.”
“You, ah, you.”
Kangxi pointed at her affectionately.
Then he looked toward Little Six, who was still drooling heavily.
Clearly not expecting help from Shulan, he took a handkerchief from Liang Jiugong and personally wiped the child’s mouth.
“Little Six, look at this.
When you’re small, everything you say gets treated as cute babbling.
No one even wipes your drool.
What a pitiful life.”
“Ahhh…”
Little Six stared at him.
“Oh? Are you calling for Father?”
“Ahhh…”
“You want something to eat?”
“Ahhh…”
Shulan watched the completely nonsensical conversation somehow proceed smoothly.
Speechless, she shook her head.
When Little Six started drooling again, she finally ordered the wet nurse to bring out his meal.
“Little Six, your dinner is here.
Your Majesty, please sit down and stop distracting him from eating.”
Before Kangxi could object, she firmly pushed him into a chair.
This was a completely new experience for Kangxi.
Whenever he visited the harem, the women were either trembling with fear or desperately competing for favor.
Only here, in Defei’s palace, did he experience the warmth of an ordinary family.
“What new invention is Yonghe Palace up to now?
I could smell something delicious from outside.
No wonder Little Six is drooling like this.”
Shulan sat beside him.
A maid laid paper-thin slices of venison loin onto the hot iron plate.
Sizzle!
The aroma of meat and rendered fat instantly filled the room.
“Mother! Mother!”
Almost two years old now, Yinzuo gripped his little table and stretched his neck toward the dancing slices of meat.
His entire face radiated longing.
Shulan pinched his tiny hand.
“This isn’t for you.
Eat your own food like a good boy.”
By then, the maids had already rolled perfectly grilled venison slices with shredded scallions and placed them onto white porcelain plates.
Shulan picked up a piece and held it out toward Kangxi.
“Would Your Majesty like to try it?”
Kangxi waved away the food-tasting eunuch and ate it directly.
He nodded approvingly.
“Excellent.
It seems my Defei is skilled not only in managing palace affairs, but also in grilling meat.”
“Your Majesty!”
Shulan’s cheeks immediately reddened.
“You always tease me.
It’s merely a cooking method I happened to come across.”
She placed another slice into his bowl.
Kangxi ate contentedly.
His gaze wandered around the pavilion.
The warm, harmonious scene filled him with rare comfort.
The beef sizzled on the iron plate.
Golden egg pancakes crisped around the edges.
The Imperial Kitchen’s newest dish—stuffed mushrooms—released rich juices as they cooked.
Pepper and mushroom fragrance mingled with the scent of meat.
Even Little Six, fully aware that he wasn’t allowed any of it, continued drooling while eating his own food.
Gripping a silver spoon, he occasionally scooped another bite of baby food into his mouth while staring longingly at the grilled meat.
The sight made Shulan laugh.
Kangxi watched the increasingly messy child.
Food was everywhere.
“Why don’t you have the nanny feed him?”
Shulan smiled.
“Your Majesty, I want Little Six to learn to feed himself and develop good habits.
He’s still young, but independence has to start somewhere.
Besides, he seems more interested in eating when he does it himself.
He eats more that way too.”
Though Kangxi didn’t fully understand, he didn’t interfere.
After all, among all the princes and princesses in the palace, Little Six was by far the healthiest and best cared for.
There was probably some logic behind it.
Eventually, Little Six’s stomach became round and full.
Rice porridge covered the corners of his mouth.
Grease stained his clothes.
He looked thoroughly disheveled.
The nanny finally carried him away.
“Be careful.
Change him into clean clothes first.
Don’t wash him immediately.”
Shulan gave her instructions.
The nanny quickly agreed and carried away the drowsy child.
The pavilion suddenly became much quieter.
Only the crackling charcoal fire remained.
Kangxi set down his chopsticks.
His fingers traced the rim of his teacup as he watched Shulan tidying the table.
After a moment, he chuckled.
“When others are promoted to Consort, they either host grand banquets or spend the day chanting scriptures and praying for blessings.
Yet here you are, grilling meat with your son and filling the palace with cooking smoke.”
Shulan lowered her head and pretended to be shy.
“I simply felt that grand banquets were troublesome.
And chanting scriptures is mostly ceremonial anyway.
It’s more comfortable this way.”
Kangxi raised an eyebrow.
Then he pulled her down beside him.
“You’re refreshingly honest.
Comfort is good.
Life in this palace can become tiresome when everything is governed by rules.”
Shulan played the perfect listener and wisely offered no opinions.
“This meal was quite satisfying.”
Kangxi casually rubbed the top of her head.
The gesture was unusually relaxed.
“In the future, don’t bother with so many formalities.
Whenever I have time, I’ll come to Yonghe Palace and steal a meal.”
Shulan immediately rose and curtsied.
“I shall always be waiting for Your Majesty.”
Only after Kangxi’s figure disappeared into the distance did Shulan finally relax.
Patting her chest, she muttered under her breath:
“Did he even wash his hands before touching my hair?”
Looking at the table covered with leftovers, she felt deeply wronged.
The Emperor had eaten his fill and left.
Meanwhile, the actual host had barely managed a few bites.
Jinhua noticed her expression.
She exchanged a glance with a nearby maid.
In an instant, the entire table was cleared and replaced.
Shulan blinked.
The scene before her had completely changed.
Jinhua smiled proudly.
“Your Highness, today is your special day.
Naturally your happiness comes first.
The moment His Majesty arrived, this servant ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a second meal for you.”
Shulan’s eyes lit up.
“Jinhua, I love you to death!”
She practically bounced in her seat.
“Now it’s finally my turn to eat!”