There were still two quarters of an hour before Chenzheng, and the crown princess arrived before the palace concubine.
Shu Shu followed Wu Fujin and stood up, welcoming the Crown Princess in.
With the arrival of the Crown Princess, the heads of various palaces arrived one after another outside, bringing with them the nobles from each palace who were qualified to pay their respects.
San Fujin and Si Fujin were missing. They must have gone to their respective mothers-in-law.
When we arrived at Chenzheng, there were all the people outside.
In the absence of Concubine Yi, Shu Shu followed Wu Fujin.
The two of them followed the Crown Princess out and stood beside the Queen Mother.
This was the first time Shu Shu stood in this position, which was different from before.
Previously, she was standing behind Concubine Yi, in the west, making it easier to see the concubines opposite, such as Concubine Hui, Concubine De, Concubine Xianfu, Concubine Duan, and Concubine Wei.
Standing on the right side of the Queen Mother's seat, you can have a panoramic view.
Although Concubine Yi did not come, the seat on the west side was still vacant, and no one disturbed the seats.
Next are Concubine Rong, Concubine Tong, Concubine Xi and Concubine Zhang.
In addition to the nine main seats seated, there are also three or four noble people standing behind the last seat.
They all still looked strange, and there was only one Guarja nobleman whom they knew.
Last summer and this spring, there were Guarja nobles accompanying the retinue twice, and they were in the limelight for the same time.
Guar Jiagui's complexion is getting better and better, she is more delicate and beautiful, and her figure looks much plumper than last year.
Sanfujin stood behind Concubine Rong with a mournful look on her face. It seemed that she knew that her mother-in-law was going to accompany her.
Her two sons are young and cannot go out without proper care.
Because I showed off in front of my sister-in-law once before, now I feel shameless. I just feel that others will laugh at me and not look at everyone.
In contrast, Concubine Rong was in high spirits.
She is the oldest among the concubines. Her hair was a little thin before, and her hairline was pulled out higher in the front.
When Concubine Yi made it popular to wear diamonds, Concubine Rong never left her head with her hair. She covered the imperfections on her forehead and added a thick layer of powder, making her look much younger.
Sifujin stood behind Concubine De, with a dignified expression and hidden emotions.
The passage of time could not be seen on Wei Bin's face. She was still beautiful from her hair to her heels, and her skin was so fair that it seemed to be glowing.
Shu Shu couldn't help but take a few more glances.
She couldn't look directly at Wei Bin's face, so she focused on her belly.
For such a beautiful woman, I can understand how she should be favored.
Was Kangxi too restrained?
Or is Wei Concubine feeling unsatisfied?
Why did you just give birth to an eighth elder brother?
Like Concubine Rong and Concubine De, they both gave birth six times.
Yi Fei four times.
Zhang concubine three times.
Empress Yuan, Concubine Hui, Concubine Wenxi, and Concubine Wang twice.
Shu Shu glanced at Concubine Tong.
Her title of imperial concubine was stillborn.
The layout of the harem will not change for the time being.
When Suo'etu died, Yuqing Palace suffered a heavy blow, and the princess was not as confident as before, and did not need to bring up a third party to balance the situation.
Concubine Tong lost her previous calmness, with a slight smile on her face, but the light in her eyes was gone, and she looked faintly timid.
Her confidence comes from her surname and family.
Now her surname and family are still here, but her natal family has been kicked out of Beijing. It seems that the blow is not light.
Concubine Hui had already told the Queen Mother about her southern tour, and said with a smile: "First take a carriage to Tongzhou, and then board a boat to go south. I have only been on a royal boat in the garden, and I have never been on a big ship."
The Queen Mother smiled and said: "This time it is a big ship. We will all learn a lot when the time comes."
Concubine Rong also had a smile on her face and said, "I heard that we are going south along the canal. I don't know if we can reach Hangzhou in a month."
The two of them were the only concubines accompanying this time. Although they were Prime Minister Hui, Concubine Rong was also happy.
She remembered clearly that last year, when Concubine Yi came back with her retinue, there were more than a dozen boxes of luggage, all gifts from the Mongolian prince, princess, and princess.
This time on the southern tour, it was a similar situation.
There was no vassal king, but local officials and imperial edicts from the provinces along the way came to court.
When the time comes, the filial piety of their palace concubines will naturally be indispensable.
The Queen Mother was sitting on her seat. Seeing the envy and jealousy on the faces of the other concubines, she waved her hands and said, "If you don't want to go out, just go back first. You don't need to accompany me here..."
All the concubines looked at each other and towards Concubine De.
Concubine De stood up and said respectfully, "I'll go back first, my concubine."
The Queen Mother nodded, stood up and called Concubine Hui and Concubine Rong to the East Room.
Concubine Hui looked at the noble Gualja, waved to her, and motioned for her to follow.
This time, there is also the noble Gualja on the list.
Concubine Rong looked at San Fujin and said, "You should leave the palace first. Brothers are still young, so don't hang out all the time."
San Fujin's face turned red, he responded, and followed the concubines out of Ningshou Palace.
Concubine De was also unhappy and did not leave Sifujin.
At the gate of Shenwumen, two sisters-in-law who were about to leave the palace bumped into each other.
San Fujin took Si Fujin's hand and complained in a low voice: "What on earth do our queens think? People who are almost fifty don't take good care of them. They have to go out and compete with young nobles. Too shabby..."
According to the news that came out years ago, there was no Concubine Rong.
Because of this, the third elder brother even talked to San Fujin for a while, saying that Concubine Hui and the eldest elder brother took advantage.
The mother of the emperor's eldest son is the first person in the harem when there is no queen or concubine.
It's a pity that my mother-in-law has no luck. As long as one of the first two sons is born, she will be the current concubine Hui.
Sanfujin heard this and disagreed.
If that were the case, it might be a disaster rather than a blessing for my mother-in-law.
Concubine Hui's fairness and generosity are well-known.
Even the mother of the emperor's eldest son did not favor the eldest brother and treat other princes and princesses lightly.
The emperor was able to entrust Zhaoxiang to the care of Concubine Hui, which was the only trust in the harem.
San Fujin complained about his mother-in-law, but Si Fujin couldn't answer the question. He just said, "There will be many opportunities in the future. If not this time, there will be other opportunities."
San Fujin sighed and said: "But who knows if there will be a Queen Mother next time? Speaking of which, the four younger brothers and sisters are like me. They didn't catch up with last year's northern tour. They all said that the Mongolian princes were rich. How many houses did the Eastern League go to? Last year, the five My brothers and sisters took advantage, it's our turn."
Sifu Jin said: "It's not that easy to go out. It's also tiring. Anyway, I don't like to go out."
San Fujin thought about the situation just now and said "Huh".
"The Crown Princess has come out from Ningshou Palace, why didn't Shu Shu come out? Well, why is she joining in the fun?"
Si Fujin smiled and said: "I guess he is waiting for his fifth younger brother and sister, who also has to go to Yi Fei's mother's palace to pay her respects."
San Fujin curled his lips and said: "When we were Prince Fujin, who was not trembling with fear, that is, Shu Shu Song Kuai, my little daughter-in-law, just push the fifth younger brother and sister to the front."
Si Fujin smiled and did not answer.
Sanfujin asked curiously: "What happened to Bafujin? Do my brothers and sisters know the news?"
Sifu Jin said: "The weather has been hot and cold recently. The children are noisy. They can't live without people and have no time to go out."
San Fujin asked curiously: "With Ba Fujin's domineering temperament, he can let Ba Age take Princess out. Then he won't make a monster again, right?"
Si Fujin didn't answer, and he wasn't sure.
With Bafujin's willfulness, it is impossible to say that this would really happen.
*
In Ningshou Palace, Dongci Room.
Concubine Hui looked at the Queen Mother and said, "The emperor was afraid of disturbing the place. He had agreed to get the money from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Sibeile made an expense list based on the previous entourage. The emperor saw it and felt that it was too much. Da, ordered to streamline the manpower, and the accompanying concubines also went to four Qianqing palaces to agree, and there are only six people left. By then, the number of people who will follow and serve may also be reduced."
The Queen Mother nodded and said: "It's better to be frugal. When you go out, you don't have to be surrounded by a bunch of people like you are in the palace."
Concubine Hui smiled and said: "No matter how streamlined it is, I can't simplify it enough for you. I think that we, the people who follow us in the palace, will have fewer followers. I was planning to bring eight people now, and now I'm taking five, and I'm planning to take six." Take three with you, take two with you if you have four, take one with you if you have two, so that you can streamline the number of dozens of people in the palace..."
The Queen Mother said: "It all depends on the emperor's wishes. You can make arrangements accordingly."
Concubine Hui looked at Concubine Rong.
Concubine Rong smiled softly and said, "I naturally obey my sister's arrangements."
She and Concubine Hui were originally supposed to bring eight people to serve them, but now they were down to almost half.
Concubine Hui looked at Shu Shu again and said, "Where you and Jiu Gege are, there are also Thirteenth Brother and Fourteenth Brother, each with three people."
Shu Shu also obediently agreed.
In my previous life, I saw information and someone specifically compared it and said it was the difference between Kangxi's Southern Tour and Qianlong's Southern Tour.
During Kangxi's southern tour, the first two times there were only 300 people. The last few times there were more, but they were less than 400 people. They used imperial boats modified from official ships.
During Qianlong's southern tour, not counting the military guards along the way, the accompanying fleet alone required two to three thousand people, and a specially built Qianlong Royal Boat was also built.
Concubine Rong said in surprise: "Brother Ninth is also going? Is he also a new addition?"
The Queen Mother smiled and said: "Brother Jiu is not going, but I want to take Jiu Fujin with me to be my companion on the road."
Concubine Rong still wanted to speak, but Concubine Hui had already looked at the Guarjia family and patiently told her: "Everyone has reduced the number of people, and you have to reduce the manpower there too. When you go out, you can't just take the maids, eunuchs or nuns with you." , it is more convenient to bring one..."
Guarjia was only seventeen years old, a little younger than her eldest brother. Concubine Hui looked at them like children and treated them generously.
Noble Guarjia said with gratitude: "Thank you for your advice."
The only ones who could take four people before were the royal concubines of Gualja, who were treated as nobles and nobles.
This time it was changed to bring two people.
The remaining two who changed one refer to the two newcomers to Qianqing Palace.
That Concubine Hui just sent someone to give the order.
After Concubine Hui finished talking about the people in the palace, she looked at Wufu Jin and said, "The emperor has said that when the time comes, you and your wife will be allowed to serve on the Queen Mother's ship. You should bring as few people as possible to avoid being cramped."
Wufujin also responded honestly.
After coming out of Ningshou Palace, Shu Shu and Wu Fujin went to Yikun Palace together.
Shu Shu whispered: "It's nothing else. You have hands and feet, and you don't have to be served by anyone, but combing your hair is a technical job!"
Wu Fujin nodded and said: "Yes, this only takes up one person. If we follow Concubine Hui's advice and bring a eunuch or a nun, there will be one person left."
Shu Shu also felt a headache.
She had to take care of the Queen Mother's diet, so Xiaotang couldn't live without her.
Plus the eunuch Zhou Song, there are three.
What should Xiaochun and Xiaosong do?
