The Empress of the Qing Dynasty is from the Northeast

Qingzhiyuan

As soon as Yinzhen entered the door, he smelled a sweet fragrance and his stomach immediately began to growl.

"Master!" Changning heard the noise and turned around suddenly. She saw Yinzhen coming back. Her eyes lit up and she quickly stood up and rushed over.

This frightened Yinzhen, and he hurried forward to catch her and stop her from moving. "Don't move, don't move. Why are you so impatient? Be careful. What if you hurt the child?"

Unexpectedly, as soon as these words came out, Changning's tears started falling.

"What's wrong? Are you so happy to see me back?" Yinzhen wiped Changning's tears lovingly.

Chang Ning pouted, feeling very aggrieved, "I haven't seen you for so long, you only have the children in your mind, not me at all!"

Yinzhen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He scratched Changning's nose and said softly, "Silly girl, you are always in my heart. How could I not miss you? I write to you and send you things every few days because I am thinking about you. How about the fruits and fabrics from the south?"

Chang Ning was very happy when talking about this. She burst into laughter and said, "I like it. But I think those fabrics are not good enough for making Manchu clothing. It would be great if they can be made into skirts for Han women."

"It's not that difficult. I'll find you a needlework nanny."

"Master, you are so kind. You must be tired from your work trips. Can you have a meal?"

Seeing Changning's happy appearance, Yinzhen also felt relieved. Then he realized that he was hungry just now. "I only drank the soup. I smelled the fragrance as soon as I entered the room. What are you eating?"

Chang Ning quickly instructed Zhui Yu to take out the sweet potatoes from the charcoal basin. "They are roasted sweet potatoes. They are very sweet. Let me try some."

The skin of the baked sweet potato is burnt brown, and a few places have been baked to the point of oozing syrup, which looks sticky and sweet. Changning gently breaks it in the middle to reveal the orange-red potato flesh, with a rich sweet fragrance in the air. A light bite reveals it's very soft and sticky.

Yinzhen also took half of the roasted sweet potato and ate it. He felt that the coldness in his heart was filled by the warm and sweet sweet potato.

After eating the roasted sweet potatoes, Changning asked the kitchen to make a bowl of thick dumpling soup.

I specifically asked for no chicken soup base, just clear soup with noodle dumplings, and put some salt and bean sprouts in it to make it thicker.

Yinzhen looked at this bowl of plain noodle dumpling soup and thought that the food at Yaoxian's place always refreshed his perception.

But I didn't want to offend Chang Ning, so I ate it spoonful by spoonful, and surprisingly found it quite good. The soup was thick, the bean sprouts were crisp, and there was no excessive seasoning, but I could taste the original flavor of the food.

"This dumpling soup is pretty good. I'll have it tomorrow morning and pair it with some pickled vegetables."

After eating this bowl of food, Yinzhen was no longer hungry and turned to give instructions to Su Peisheng.

"Add a salted duck egg, one that's oily and has lots of yolk." Changning also added with a smile.

After eating, the two went into the inner room.

Seeing that the inner room was covered with fox fur carpets and that one had to take off shoes to walk on them barefoot, Yinzhen also found it quite novel. "Do you like this? Persia has offered quite a few as tribute. I'll send you a few tomorrow."

Chang Ning shook his head. "I like the fox fur one. It's warm to step on. The Persian carpet is not very nice. It doesn't match the furnishings in my room."

Yinzhen nodded, "Indeed, it is more beautiful if it is simple and elegant."

The maid had already helped the two of them wash up. Changning got on the bed first and leaned against the big cushion. There were also a rabbit doll and a carrot doll on the bed.

Changning also gave Yinzhen one and asked him to lean on it and he really liked it. "You really know how to enjoy it. Do you have more cushions like this? Make a few more and send them to the emperor and mother."

Chang Ning smiled, a little cunningly, "Of course I'm ready, just waiting for you to come back, so that you can show your filial piety at the end of the year. Also prepare two boxes of soft cheese, sweet and sticky. The osmanthus wine buried under the tree is also ready."

Yinzhen gently hugged Changning and said softly, "Yaoxian, you are so thoughtful. I have been away for so long and couldn't accompany you. But reading your letter, I think you are living a comfortable life. How is it? Is anyone making you angry?"

"Who would dare to do that? Speaking of this, I have to thank you. My mother has been with me for half a month. I feel much better after not seeing my family for a long time."

Speaking of Fucha's family, Yinzhen thought for a moment and said, "Your eldest brother's year-end evaluation has come out. This time he is expected to be promoted to the fourth rank of Honglu Temple Minister."

Chang Ning nodded, feeling happy and a little proud. "Big brother is the one who studies hard and has real talent."

"Your eldest brother has a son?"

"Yes, Duo Xihui, he is five years old, very smart, but he has not yet entered school, and my eldest brother is teaching him. My eldest sister-in-law is also pregnant, and she will give birth to her child right after me."

Yinzhen nodded and said, "That's great. If it's a boy, it can be used as a bead for our prince."

"Oh!" Changning suddenly exclaimed when talking about the child.

Yinzhen suddenly became nervous "What's wrong?"

"Stomach, the kids are kicking again."

Yinzhen knew about the fetal movement, but he had never been in such close contact with it, so he was very happy and slowly put his big hand on Changning's belly.

It might be the induction between father and son. As soon as Yinzhen put his big hand on it, he felt a small bulge under his palm. It was different from the weak and small fetus he had imagined. It kicked hard and it was quite powerful.

Then, Yinzhen stared at Changning's belly intently. There was a bulge here and there, and the children inside were punching and kicking. Yinzhen felt inexplicably moved when he saw it. "You have worked so hard. These two children were so naughty while still in your belly."

"Yeah, when they come out, I'm going to spank them hard."

Yinzhen looked at Changning laughing and also laughed.

The two of them started chatting like an ordinary couple.

"They are really powerful! Most likely it's a prince. But you like spicy food so much that I'm not sure. What did the doctor in the Bai Mansion say?"

Chang Ning teased, "Why do you care so much about whether the child is a boy or a girl? Do you believe in sour boys and spicy girls?"

Yinzhen gently touched Changning's belly again. The child moved around for a while and seemed to be tired, so he stopped moving now.

Although there was no fetal movement, Yinzhen could clearly feel that in the belly of the woman next to him, two children related to him by blood were growing.

It is difficult to understand this feeling unless you are a parent.

"I am curious and concerned. I am just thinking of a name for the child."

"What have you prepared?"

"The names must be chosen by the Emperor. Moreover, these are the first twins since the founding of the Qing Dynasty. Regardless of whether they are boy and girl twins or not, the Emperor will attach great importance to them."