save the bachelors

Chapter 4743 [The Queen Visits Her Parents]

Suddenly, a pair of eunuchs in red robes were seen riding horses slowly towards them. They dismounted at the West Street Gate, drove the horses out of the enclosure, and then stood with their hands hanging and facing west.

A moment later, another couple came, doing the same thing. Soon, more than ten couples came, all standing with their hands down and facing west.

After a while, the sound of faint music could be heard, as well as pairs of dragon flags and phoenix pennants, pheasant feathers and Kui heads, and a gilded censer burning imperial incense.

Then a seven-phoenix golden umbrella with a curved handle came over, followed by a crown, robe, belt and shoes. There were also eunuchs on duty holding incense beads, embroidered handkerchiefs, gargle bowls, whisks and other things. Teams passed by one after another.

Behind them were eight eunuchs carrying a sedan chair with a golden top and golden phoenix embroidered on it, slowly approaching.

Jia She, Jia Zheng, Xiang Nan and others all knelt on the ground, and were helped up by eunuchs after the phoenix carriage passed by.

The phoenix sedan chair was carried into the main gate, and then went east through the ceremonial gate. When it reached the gate of a courtyard, a eunuch holding a whisk knelt down and asked Yuanchun to get off the sedan chair and change her clothes. Then the sedan chair was carried into the gate, and the eunuchs and others dispersed. Only Zhaorong and Caipin led Yuanchun off the sedan chair.

After Yuanchun went into her room to change her clothes, she boarded the phoenix sedan chair again and was carried into the villa for a visit.

As soon as I entered, I saw all the flowers in the garden blooming.

Peonies, peonies, roses, daisies, pear trees, peach trees and other flowers are in full bloom, and in an instant the garden is filled with the fragrance of flowers, which is so beautiful that it seems as if all the flowers in the garden are welcoming the queen.

Yuanchun was naturally very surprised when she saw this.

……

Jia Zheng, Jia She, Jia's mother, Mrs. Wang and others came to the main building one after another to take turns in front of the emperor, but they were all excused by the emperor's order.

Afterwards, Yuanchun changed her clothes again and took the imperial carriage out of the garden and came to Rongqing Hall, the main room of Jia's mother. Only then did she meet Jia's mother, Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Xing, Sanchun and others.

Although Wang Xifeng likes to be lively, she is pregnant now, so she stays at home to rest to avoid any disturbance. Fortunately, the queen has visited her parents more than once, so she is not discouraged.

Yuanchun hadn't been home for half a year. Naturally, she was very excited to come back again and started crying again. Jia's mother, Mrs. Wang, Sanchun and others also cried and it took them a long time to stop.

Then the stewards of the East and West mansions performed the ceremony outside the hall, and the wives of the stewards of the two mansions and their maids finished the ceremony.

"Why aren't Aunt Xue, Baochai, and Daiyu here?" Yuanchun asked again.

Madam Wang said, "Outside relatives have no official duties, so they dare not enter without permission."

After hearing this, Yuanchun hurriedly ordered them to come in.

At one moment, Aunt Xue and others came in and wanted to perform the state ceremony, but they were excused and went forward to exchange greetings.

Afterwards, Yuanchun ordered someone to call Xiang Nan over.

Xiang Nan entered the house and paid homage.

Yuanchun ordered him to come forward, "I haven't seen you for half a year, brother. You have grown up a lot."

"It's the time for growth." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "Sister, how have you been in the palace in the past six months? Is the emperor treating you well? Is he loving and caring for you? Are you favored?"

"The emperor is very good to me." Yuanchun nodded and said, "You can stay in my palace for one or two days out of ten. You can help me recuperate later."

"No problem." Xiang Nan felt Yuanchun's pulse. "It's fine, sister. You are in good health. You just need some minor adjustments."

"That's good." Yuanchun nodded. "I am so lucky to have a good brother like you."

……

After the relatives had met, You came up and said, "The banquet is ready, please come and have a look, Imperial Concubine."

Yuanchun and the others stood up and, led by Xiang Nan, walked to the garden gate.

First, from the places such as "The Phoenix Comes", "Red Fragrance and Green Jade", "Apricot Curtains in Sight", "Herbal Fragrance", etc., we climbed the towers and pavilions, waded through the water and walked along the mountains, looking around and wandering. Each place is laid out differently, and each pile is embellished with novelty.

Wherever Yuanchun went, flowers were blooming, cranes were dancing and orioles were singing, which amazed her. "Everything is good, but it's too extravagant." "Don't worry, sister. We have more money than can be spent. I have the magic of gold. It's easy to turn the whole garden into gold or silver. As long as you are happy, it's fine." Xiang Nan said with a smile.

"You, even though you are a deity, shouldn't act too recklessly." Yuanchun said with a smile.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything rash." Xiang Nan nodded, "You can also let your brother-in-law the emperor rest assured. As long as he treats you well, I guarantee that his kingdom will be forever secure and no one can do anything to him."

"I understand." Yuanchun nodded.

After touring the scenic spots, they came to the main hall and had a grand banquet. Jia Mu and others accompanied them, and Youshi, Li Wan and others personally served soup and cups.

After the meal, he wrote a poem to congratulate each other and named the villa for his visit "Grand View Garden".

With Xiang Nan's talent, he naturally did not need Xue Baochai's guidance. Lin Daiyu wrote the five poems in an instant. Xue Baochai, Sanchun, Li Wan and others also presented a poem each, and naturally they all received praise.

After finishing the poem, he started listening to the opera.

The twelve actors that Jia Qiang bought specially from Suzhou had learned twenty Kunqu operas after two months of practice and were now ready to perform on stage.

Xiang Nan can also sing opera, and can be considered an expert.

In his opinion, these little actors sang quite well. Of course, they were just good, far from his.

These little actors should be the ones in the drama version of "Dream of Red Mansions", because Xiang Nan clearly saw Lingguan and Fangguan.

……

After watching the play, Yuanchun visited the garden again, taking in the parts she had not had time to see before, and also went to Taoist and Buddhist temples to burn incense and pray for blessings.

Then the eunuch came to report, "All the gifts are here, please check the precedent."

After Yuanchun read it, she ordered it to be given as a reward to everyone in the Jia family.

Among them are gold and jade ruyi, agarwood walking sticks, Canaan rosary beads, palace silk, palace satin, books, pens and ink, etc.

In addition, a hundred rolls of colorful satin and a thousand ounces of gold and silver were given to the people in charge of the engineering, furnishings, reception and theatrical works in the gardens of the East and West Palaces. It can be said that everyone was treated equally.

At this time, the eunuch came forward to report that it was already three quarters past the hour of You and that they had to return to the palace.

After hearing what he said, Yuanchun burst into tears again.

The visit to her parents is over today, and she doesn’t know when the next visit will be. How can she not be sad?

"Don't worry about me, just take good care of yourself. Today's heaven's grace is so great that you are allowed to come back to your parents' house once a month to reflect on your life. We can see each other as often as we want, so why be so sad? If heaven still allows you to come back to your parents' house next year, you must not be so extravagant!" Yuanchun held back her tears while trying to persuade Lady Jia, Mrs. Wang and others.

Grandmother Jia and others were crying so hard that they were choking with sobs.

Although Yuanchun didn't want to leave, the royal rules were strict and she couldn't afford to violate them, so she had to get on the sedan chair.

The people here finally managed to comfort Lady Jia. Mrs. Wang consoled and persuaded them, and then helped them out of the garden.

Afterwards, Yuanchun returned to the palace, met the emperor to express her gratitude, and reported back on her plans to return home.

When the emperor heard this, he was naturally delighted, and he once again rewarded Jia Zheng, Jia She, Xiang Nan and others with gold, silver, and colorful satin.

At this point, Yuanchun’s first visit home ended.

Afterwards, she began to follow Xiang Nankai's prescription and began to regulate her body in preparation for pregnancy.

On the other hand, the Jia family had worked hard for a long time in preparation for the visit. Therefore, after the visit, everyone in the Ning and Rong mansions had a holiday, so that the masters and servants could relax.

Jia Zhen even specially invited an opera troupe and held a grand banquet in the East Palace to entertain the families, housekeepers, and stewards of each room, making it quite lively.