Chapter 93 – Qing Transmigration Tale (2)
This year was the forty third year of Kangxi. This was the information that Lin Yu Tong learned over the several days.
Rain slowly came down outside. It was clearly autumn, but the history books recorded that Hong Hui died in the forty third year of Kangxi, the sixth day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar. The date did not match.
This was not a problem she should consider. This was data that the system had to automatically collect.
Looking at Hong Hui able to get up and move in the room, Lin Yu Tong was very happy. This child was very good, but too quiet.
“Eniang, when am I back to the front courtyard?” Hong Hui asked in a whisper.
“Is it not good to live with Eniang?” Lin Yu Tong said in surprise. “Why, you do not want to live with eniang? How about having them clean out the side room for you?”
“I do not have to return?” Hong Hui grinned. “What if A-ma does not permit it?”
“Then you will move to your a-ma‘s courtyard to live with him.” Lin Yu Tong said in a matter of fact manner. In any case, the child could not live on his own. No matter how many servants there were, he could not be without the supervision of an adult right now. She thought, if he lived in Si Ye’s courtyard, nothing would happen to him.
“Princess Consort, you know how to find work for Ye.” Si Ye’s voice came from outside.
Such servants could not be used. Even if they could not announce that someone had come, could they not be clever and make some noise? A hint of displeasure flashed through Lin Yu Tong’s eyes.
However, she still welcomed him with a smile. “It is still raining, how come you have visited?” Then, she called for the servant girls to bring dry clothes for this lord and master.
“Greetings, A-ma.” Hong Hui properly bowed to Si Ye.
Seeing that Hong Hui was able to walk and had some blood in his face, Si Ye’s expression grew more relaxed. “Rise. Stay here with your eniang, recover, and then you will move to A-ma‘s courtyard.”
Hong Hui nodded. “Yes! This son will obey.”
“Why be so well-mannered?” Lin Yu Tong said. “Go to play with the puzzle on the bed. It is very tiring to stand.”
Si Ye raised his eyebrows. It had been several days that he felt that Princess Consort was awkward. Today, he found that where the source of his awkwardness came from. This person did not realize to greet him properly.
This was more comfortable, so it did not feel like he had come as a guest each time.
But with this sudden change, he was not used to it.
After changing, Lin Yu Tong handed him a cup of tea and said, “The rain came just on time. Originally, I did not want to receive the ones who have come to visit, and the rain has stopped them.”
Si Ye looked in surprise at Lin Yu Tong. In the past, she would not have said such a thing, feelings that it would be very rude.
She was much more real now, not insincere, clearly not liking something, but acting like she did.
Now, she did not look hard to interact with.
He said, “Oh? They sent notes?”
“Yes!” Lin Yu Tong said. “Eldest Princess Consort came earlier than the crown princess.”
Si Ye nodded and said, “Recently, avoid the eldest consort a bit. Commandery Prince Zhi’s attention is a bit too much.”
Then, he felt a bit of regret. In the past, he would not have explained to Princess Consort like this, and just told her to act to his instructions.
“Ye, do not worry,” Lin Yu Tong responded. She did not dare to be rash. In reality, she was an idiot in politics. It was better not for her to assume anything. This prince had been able to step on all of his accomplished brothers. She could not match him in mind and method. In the wuxia world, compared to those people who did not have politics on their mind, she had felt pretty smart. But if she dared to jump in front of this lord, it would be reckless.
They all said that this person was on the crown prince’s side. Lin Yu Tong saw that this was not so simple from the memories she got from the original. At most, he was just more on the side of the crown prince compared to the eldest imperial son. Thinking about it, this was right. If this person only knew to follow behind others, and could not do anything, then he would not have ended up on the throne in the end.
Thinking this inside, Lin Yu Tong found something to talk about, “On such days, it is best to eat hot pot. How about having the kitchen prepare?”
Si Ye nodded, and laid down on the bed. Then he saw that Hong Hui was piecing together a map.
His expression changed. He glared at Lin Yu Tong and said, “Just play with this in the room, do not let others see it.”
Lin Yu Tong was first confused, and then she realized. The map in pieces implied the country being in pieces. She thought it was very unlucky. She thought, this was very bad. She immediately said, “Tonight, I will glue it together and put it away.” Originally, she wanted to have Hong Hui play and learn the land of the Qing, its size, the mountains and rivers. She had not thought of the taboos. This was a matter that was not important but also not minor.
“Your idea was good, but you cannot be so rash again,” Si Ye said.
Lin Yu Tong hurriedly bowed and said, “This consort will remember the admonishment.”
Hong Hui’s face paled in fright.
Si Ye pulled Lin Yu Tong up. “As long as you remember it. You are my wife, I am your husband, we do not have to be like this.”
Lin Yu Tong hurriedly comforted Hong Hui, saying, “Do not be afraid! What are you afraid of? Your a-ma is teaching Eniang, not angry with Eniang, do not be afraid.”
She felt that Hong Hui’s personality, at the root of this, had been affected by the relationship between this couple.
He was too careful. From his parents, he did not have a sense of security.
Si Ye looked at the pale Hong Hui and felt some regret. Playing with this at home was not a very significant matter. Now that he did this, he frightened the child.
“Come here, A-ma will piece it together with you.” Si Ye reached out a hand.
Lin Yu Tong patted Hong Hui’s back and said, “Go, go playing with A-ma.”
Father and son managed to piece together the map before dinner.
“Eniang, the grass land is so large.” Hong Hui was still thinking about it on the table.
Right now, Mongolia was on the map. When added together, it was very large.
“Later, when you are a few more years older, you can go with the emperor outside the passes.” Si Ye smiled and said, “When the time comes, A-ma will ask a grace for you.”
A grace was needed for an imperial grandson to come along. When one did not have any face with the emperor, they would not be able to get the grace. This was not like the grandsons of ordinary families.
Also, Lin Yu Tong realized that when Si Ye mention Kangxi, he never called the other Khan A-ma but the emperor. It could be seen in his bones, he first thought of his father as the emperor.
So, he was cautious all the time. He did not even allow such a toy puzzle in his home. It could be seen how careful he was.
Lin Yu Tong poured two bowls of soup for them, and then said to Hong Hui, “I have had the kitchen make a bowl of noodles for you. You cannot eat meat right now. If you really want to eat meat, I will get beef porridge for you tomorrow morning, is this good?”
Hong Hui nodded. “Then, Eniang, cook tofu for me.”
Knowing to demand something was an improvement.
“Cook the fish balls a bit more, it will be fine to eat,” Si Ye pointed at the plate of fish balls and said.
The meal went well. At least, Hong Hui did not look at Si Ye like the other was a monster. He may have found that his a-ma ate food and drank water like normal people.
“Princess Consort, have them start preparing tomorrow. Ye may have to leave the capital,” Si Ye said when the meal was about done.
Lin Yu Tong stilled. “Where are you going? How long?”
Si Ye looked outside and said, “The autumn floods have come. The emperor is planning to send someone to look at the river construction of the Yellow River in Henan.” Then he said with hate, “The dams are repaired each year, but fail every year. Where did the silver given by the court go? These corrupt officials should all be killed.”
Lin Yu Tong hurriedly said. “Embezzlement will occur in every dynasty and era, and cannot be avoided. People are like this. When one is not an official, they want to kill all the corrupt officials in the world, but when one becomes an official, they want to embezzle more than anyone else.”
“These words…… not wrong,” Si Ye softly responded. The emperor was more and more generous to the old officials, and more soft of heart.
He sighed and then said, “You and Hong Hui rest early. Yeand Mister Dai have some things to discuss.”
They likely were going to discuss how to govern the matters of the river.
In terms of diligence, this one was likely first.
As expected, just a few days after Si Ye said these things, the emperor sent Si Ye to Henan.
Lin Yu Tong almost choked to death when packing. Just with light luggage, they had dozens of carriages. These sons and grandsons of the emperor were really not the same. In the Heavenly Dragon, a person and a horse would just depart. Not like this, when even the toothpicks and earpicks were taken along.
Granny Fu asked Lin Yu Tong in a whisper, “Princess Consort, which servant girl do you think should go with Ye to serve him?”
Lin Yu Tong was shocked for a second and then understood the meaning. This was telling her to prepare two people for Ye to resolve his physical needs.
Dang!
If he wanted, there were many women outside!
Also, he was going on an official matter. What did it mean if he took along women? Even if she had to show her virtuousness, it was not at this time. This person truly was not observant.
A reputation of virtuousness could not be eaten like food.
She looked up, and there were servant girls with anticipation in their eyes, even her servant girls. It seemed they all knew that the princess consort was not favored and could only rely on the servant girls to secure favor.
Lin Yu Tong saw each person’s gaze. It seemed that she had to send off these people. Just looking at them was uncomfortable.
When seeing Si Ye off, Lin Yu Tong finally met all the women and children in the establishment.
The princely lady Li-shi, a beauty from Jiangnan, almond eyes and red cheeks, small and delicate in figure.
A gege Song-shi, as soft as water, thin and elegant, not as beautiful at Li-shi.
A gege Wu-shi, very stunning with a generous figure.
There were also Niohuru-shi and Geng-shi. They had entered the establishment this year, just thirteen or so, still not grown, and their beauty unable to be seen.
This prince counted as very clean. Other than the women who had been given down, he did not have any servant girls or concubines.
Other than Hong Hui, the eldest gege, the second a-ge Hong Yun and the third a-ge Hong Shi looked to have had problems from birth. Only Hong Shi looked healthy.
Song-shi had given birth to two children but both had died young. This may have been the reason she lost favor.
“Everything in the establishment will be in Princess Consort’s care.” Si Ye nodded at Lin Yu Tong and then left.
Lin Yu Tong led everyone to see him off to the second gate and then Hong Hui, leading Hong Yun, saw Si Ye off to the main gate.
“A-ma, have a good journey.” Hong Hui’s small body was very well-mannered.
Si Ye’s heart immediately softened. A few days ago, he had almost lost this child. Who would have thought that he could still stand here?
“Return, listen to your eniang.” Si Ye rubbed Hong Hui’s head. Seeing Hong Yun looking at him, he reached to pat this child’s head softly. He said to Hong Hui, “Take your younger brother and return.”
Hong Hui watched Si Ye’s carriage leave before coming back.
There were no male masters in the home, and so only Lin Yu Tong was the highest-ranked. She could now have the time to sort out the establishment.
In reality, one did not have to be in charge of every matter of the household. That way, she may exhaust herself to death.
She called for people to bring the old granny. This old granny had been Si Ye’s education granny. While called a granny, she was not even fifty. Si Ye originally had her in charge of the matters of the establishment, but because Ulanara-shi had been very wary of this person, she had been idle for these years, at most managing Si Ye’s private treasury.
Lin Yu Tong pulled her out.
The old granny was very experienced. Hearing Lin Yu Tong’s meaning, she stilled and then said, “Princess Consort is telling this old servant to temporarily be in charge, it should be this old servant’s duty.”
“Not temporary, but for Granny to be in charge of such matters from now. You are experienced. Ye trusts Granny, and so do I,” Lin Yu Tong pointed at a bench and said. “Granny, sit down to talk.”
The old granny was given a fright. She knew just how much this princess consort valued the power in her grasp. Now, had she truly become more open-minded?
She could not help but look up. The princess consort was dressed in Han clothes. A dark blue dress, a white shirt. Her white face was not covered in any powder. Her hair was loosely made up. In the past, regardless of the time, the princess consort’s face would be meticulous, the hair oil keeping even the hair on the temples down, not like this, casual and free.
If it was said to be different, it truly was different.
The old granny took over all the matters of the inner courtyard in confusion.
Lin Yu Tong said, “Also, I think about letting some of the people out, as gathering good fortune for Hong Hui.”
The old granny stilled. She thought the other was going to torment the princely lady and the other gege. Just as she was thinking of how to deal with them, she heard Lin Yu Tong say, “Mostly people from my courtyard.”
She had never thought of this!
Lin Yu Tong did not care about the other servant girls, and called for the granny to take care of this matter. She called Granny Fu over and said, “Granny, it is not that I want to send Granny away, but this was something that I cannot trust other people to do, only Granny.”
Granny Fu stilled. She thought that the princess consort did not want her service any longer. She had nursed the princess consort, and loved her very much. She did not bear to truly leave. But if there was truly something, then it was another matter. “Princess Consort, just tell me. No matter the matter, Granny will do it for you.”
“It is for Hong Hui.” Lin Yu Tong said. “You saw it this time. It truly was the believing of the bodhisattva this time. I just want to do some kind deeds to accumulate good fortune for Hong Hui.”
“Naturally, for Eldest A-ge, it is very important.” Granny Fu hurriedly nodded. “If Eldest A-ge is well, then Princess Consort will be well.”
“I will use all the income from the estate outside the city for charity. Secretly, do not gain attention,” Lin Yu Tong said.
Granny Fu hurriedly said, “Princess Consort, do not worry, this old servant will take care of this for you.”
As a result, on the day, she packed up and went to the estate outside the city.
While she had lied to this loyal granny, the thing given to her was a proper matter. While it was with the excuse of helping Hong Hui, it could help others. This was enough.
Half of the servant girls in the courtyard were gone. Lin Yu Tong promoted some of the honest ones. She gave the rest to the old granny who would pick people to fill the positions from the Imperial Household Department.
Lin Yu Tong was the same to the women in the establishment. If they wanted to pay their respects, they could do it from outside the courtyard. If they had any matters, they would go find the old granny. She would not interfere at all.
She put all her attention on Hong Hui.
In the bathing room, it was a strong herbal scent, a prescription that Lin Yu Tong had made herself. She pretended that she had searched for it from outside, and called for a palace physician to examine it before letting Hong Hui use it.
“Eniang, it is bitter to even smell.” Hong Hui was sitting in the bathtub.
“It is better than eating medicine.” Lin Yu Tong massaged Hong Hui’s meridian points.
This medicine had the effect of strengthening the body, but the process was not very comfortable.
“It is itchy and numbing. I feel uncomfortable all over.” A conflicted expression appeared on Hong Hui’s face.
Then it meant that there was an effect. Lin Yu Tong comforted, “Just persist for a few days. After a few days, you will never be ill.”
Translator Ramblings: Lin Yu Tong making sure Hong Hui survives is the biggest flap of a butterfly’s wings.
- Grafting Life Chapter 92 – Qing Transmigration Tale
- Grafting Life Chapter 94 – Qing Transmigration Tale (3)
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