CHAPTER 653: [647] QING CHUAN CHENG WANGFEI 16 (2 MORE UPDATES)

Yuanming Garden was located in the northwest suburbs of Beijing, adjacent to Yihe Garden, comprising Yuanming Garden, Chang Chun Garden, and Qichun Garden, also known as the Three Gardens of Yuanming.

What she saw in later generations was the ruins left behind; this was also her first time seeing such a majestic and splendid Imperial Garden during the Yong Zheng period.

It is well-known that Yuanming Garden was bestowed by Kangxi to the not-yet-enthroned Yong Zheng as a place for leisure. At that time, Yuanming Garden was not as large as it appeared in later generations, having been reconstructed and expanded by Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Daoguang.

The Qing Dynasty was established by the Man people, who had long lived in the Northeast. How could they endure the dry, sweltering heat of Beijing’s high summer?

Furthermore, after a great fire in the early years of Kangxi’s reign, high palace walls were built for fire prevention, making the Emperor feel uncomfortable in his residence.

After ascending to the throne, Yong Zheng expanded Yuanming Garden and added the Hall of Rectitude, the Diligent Governance Hall, and the storage rooms for the Cabinet, the six ministries, and the Military Affairs Office to the south of the garden to "escape the noise and attend to government affairs."

Thereafter, Yuanming Garden also became one of the main workplaces of the Emperor.

It is said that he spent at least two hundred days a year there, only returning to the Forbidden City from the winter solstice until February of the following year and during some major festivals.

Today, Yun Mi brought Xiyuan to Yuanming Garden, and in her eyes, besides curiosity, there was astonishment.

Because at this time, the area of the Yuanming Garden was equivalent to 280 football fields, such a vast place, how long would it take her to truly walk through it?

Not to mention the Yuanming Garden she saw in later generations, which would only be even larger; even if parts were destroyed, it wouldn’t affect its grandeur.

Unlike in later generations, the Three Gardens later boasted countless Chinese and Western-style buildings, of course, shaped by renovations over generations.

The current Yuanming Garden was interspersed with streams, lakes, small rocks, palatial halls, and platforms, planted with countless precious flowers and trees.

Together with the natural mountains, forests, and valleys, it was indeed a magnificent and wonderful sight that made Xiyuan fall in love with the place at first glance.

"How beautiful!"

No wonder that since Yong Zheng, every Emperor spent at least a hundred days here each year, with the longest staying for as many as two hundred thirty days. If it were her, she would want to live here all 365 days of the year.

They had arrived in the morning, heading directly to the outer court area.

Like the Imperial Palace, Yuanming Garden was divided into an outer court and an inner court.

The outer court area was located in the southern part of the garden, with the Great Palace Gate at the front and the Left and Right Chancellery Rooms preceding it.

Beyond these, to the east were the Imperial Clan Court, the Cabinet, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, and the Imperial Examination Hall, while to the west were the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Industry, and the Astronomical Observatory.

They were heading to the west side at the time; perhaps they might see Amma, who was in his office.

Emperor Yong Zheng usually reviewed memorials and met with ministers in Diligent Governance Hall in the mornings, dealing with governmental affairs, and by the time they arrived, the morning court session had ended and breakfast was finished.

Thus, they did not wait long before being summoned inside. It was Xiyuan’s first time seeing Emperor Yong Zheng, and she was very nervous, following closely behind Yun Mi with reverent greetings, until she heard, "Rise," a voice not loud yet bearing an imperious authority only an Emperor could wield.

"Thank you, Emperor, long live, long live, forever and ever."

After breakfast, Emperor Yong Zheng had just returned from a stroll, so he was in a relaxed state. After greeting him respectfully, Wuya Xiyuan raised her head and saw the fifty-six-year-old Emperor Yong Zheng. As she had imagined, he embodied an aging yet terrifying imperial majesty.

Emperor Yong Zheng carefully sized her up before asking, "Are you Lianxi’s younger sister, the second daughter of Hai Wang?"

"I am Wuya Xiyuan, at your service, Your Majesty."

As she was about to kneel again, Emperor Yong Zheng waved his hand, "Alright, no need for so much formality among family. You two, one with a cracked head and the other with a cold, are you both well now?"

Yun Mi, embarrassed, clasped his hands together, "Replying to my elder brother, we are both well now."

"Um, your wife is quite astute, though she doesn’t resemble my Imperial Concubine Lian much; but she indeed carries the grace of the Wuya. How old is she?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, your servant is fourteen this year."

"Hmm, still very young, she will only grow more outstanding. Yun Mi,"

"Your elder brother, I am present."

"Treat her well. To marry you at fourteen, she will have to stick with you through thick and thin for most of her life!"

"Yes, I will certainly remember this in my heart, Your Majesty."

"That’s good. You stay, let Wuya Xiyuan go with Mr. Su to visit Imperial Concubine Xi’s place. You may both take your leave now."

"Yes, departing with your leave, Your Majesty."

Mr. Su was Mr. Su Peisheng, the chief eunuch by the Emperor’s side. Despite being a eunuch, he was tall and imposing. Although his face was smooth and his voice soft, he commanded a strong presence and maintained proper decorum, showing courtesy to her, who dare not slight him.

Since she was to appear before the Emperor, today she wore formal Manchu attire, stepping in flowerpot-bottom shoes, so she climbed into a sedan chair once outside the Diligent Governance Hall.

Unexpectedly, halfway there, she met Princess Bao, Mrs. Fucha. Invited by Mrs. Fucha, Su Peisheng passed Wuya Xiyuan into her guidance.

Mrs. Fucha, daughter of the Hubei General Chang Ming and stunningly dignified, was very close to the Imperial Concubine Niu Gulu, her mother’s childhood neighbor. The mother-daughter duo often visited the palace at the Imperial Concubine’s request, who was very fond of Mrs. Fucha and frequently showered her with gifts. Later, when Chang Ming moved with his family to serve as General in Hubei, Imperial Concubine still often reminisced about them.

In an offhand conversation with Emperor Yong Zheng, he had said, "Since you like their daughter so much, why not betroth her to Hongli? Wouldn’t that allow you to see her every day?" It was this very suggestion from Niu Gulu that resulted in Mrs. Fucha becoming the legitimate wife of Prince Bao.

Of course, this was just one version; another said that during the eleventh year of Yong Zheng’s reign, he fancied Mrs. Fucha during a selection process and somehow arranged her marriage to Hongli. Regardless of which version was true, Mrs. Fucha was indeed favored by Emperor Yong Zheng.

Seeing her today, she indeed was enchantingly charming, playfully addressing her as "little auntie," even though she was actually a year or two older, which was quite amusing.

The two shared a sedan, lifting the curtain and chatting leisurely as they headed towards the garden of Imperial Concubine Xi.

It was midsummer, the sun blistering and extremely sultry, but walking along under the dense shade of trees with a refreshing breeze made them feel remarkably cooler.

Sitting in the sedan, they admired the scenery all the way, unknowingly arriving at a particularly cool spot—this was Imperial Concubine Xi’s Qinghe Garden, next to a pond of beautiful lotus.

Su Mei and Su He assisted Wuya Xiyuan, who was wearing her flowerpot-bottom shoes, out of the sedan. A maid was already waiting at the entrance. Looking up, the yard was filled with bamboo forests, and the sound of the wind rustling through the bamboo leaves mixed with the tinkling of golden bells hung on the bamboo tips was extremely pleasing to the ear.

This place, with both a lotus pond and a bamboo forest, evidently showed that Imperial Concubine Xi was a person of refined taste. To be granted such a cool haven was surely a sign of the Emperor’s favor, deserving for the mother of Hongli, Imperial Concubine Niu Gulu.