Chapter Thirty-Seven

In the imperial court, upon hearing Kangxi's decree, all the ministers, like Yinreng, were filled with disbelief.

The Emperor wants to personally lead the army? No way!

While Yinreng was still in shock, the other ministers reacted even faster and quickly knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, please reconsider."

From the idea that "a country cannot be without a ruler for a day" to "a wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall," and then to the idea that "the emperor's safety is related to the fate of the country," the ministers spoke eloquently, fearing that the emperor might truly lose his mind and perish during his personal campaign against Galdan.

Crown Prince Yinreng, along with the four princes—the First Prince Yinti, the Third Prince Yinzhi, and the Fourth Prince Yinzhen—quickly knelt down and begged their father to retract his decree.

While the emperor's personal command of a military expedition could indeed boost the morale of his generals, the emperor himself had never actually participated in a battle.

Emperor Taizong (Huang Taiji) personally led the expedition because he had been fighting on the battlefield since he was a prince, and he had a wealth of experience. He didn't want his emperor to end up like the previous emperor, Emperor Yingzong of Ming, the "God of War of the Ming Dynasty," Zhu Qizhen.

He led an army of 400,000, only to have it all wiped out and be captured, becoming a disgrace to his generation.

Who knows if the emperor, who seems wise and powerful, will actually cause trouble in the end?

They had to kneel down and sternly dissuade him; some officials even considered remonstrating to the death to preserve their reputation for good conduct throughout the ages.

Who was Emperor Kangxi?

Back then, he only had a group of young Eight Banners soldiers under his command and dared to take action against Aobai. He was a man who dared to abolish the Three Feudatories not long after he took power. Once he made up his mind, how could he stop his steps because of other people's advice?

Of course not.

"My dear ministers, there is no need for further persuasion. I have made up my mind, and the provisions are already being prepared." It is said that "an army marches on its stomach," and since he has decided to personally lead the expedition, he will naturally not neglect the most important issue of provisions.

The provisions... are already being prepared. How could the other ministers not understand the Emperor's determination?

They all looked at the group of military officers, gesturing to them with their eyes, "Go! As military officers, how can you let the Emperor personally lead the army? Don't you have any other military officers available?"

Sure enough, military generals and high-ranking officials stepped forward one after another, from the Fucha family to the Tong family. The Tong family members in particular were very nervous and resistant.

They were able to sit in this position, of course, because they had a grandson who became emperor.

Before Xuan Ye ascended the throne, the Tong family was still a Han Banner.

If something happens to the emperor, the next emperor will have nothing to do with the Tong family. They probably won't be able to maintain their current prominence and honor. How can they accept that?

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!" Kneeling down, the sorrowful voice sounded as if their father had died... Oh no, even their father hadn't been this heartbroken when he died.

Seeing the scene of everyone below opposing, Kangxi coldly ignored them and left with a flick of his sleeve, saying, "Court adjourned."

He had no intention of listening to his ministers; he had already considered the matter of personally leading the expedition.

The ministers below should not obstruct him, but rather think about how to help him fight the enemy and how to achieve a quick victory.

A bunch of useless trash.

The other officials, seeing the Emperor storm off: ...

What to do?

They exchanged glances, some of the older men still thinking of going to the Qianqing Palace to request an audience with the Emperor and ask him to rescind his order.

Kangxi refused to see them. In the dead of winter, he made them come into the palace to kneel, with warm charcoal placed around them, but he wouldn't listen to their nonsense.

In the inner palace, the Grand Empress Dowager was gone, and the Empress Dowager was not her biological mother. She still had to follow Kangxi's wishes, otherwise her position as Empress Dowager would be merely nominal.

Consort Niohuru is ill, and two of the four consorts are under house arrest. Consort Yi is only concerned about her sick eleventh prince, while Consort Rong is past her prime and has no intention of getting involved.

So what if something goes wrong? Anyway, she has a son, and she doesn't expect him to ascend the throne.

The concubine's daughter sent by the Tong family now lives in Chengqian Palace, but she is still a concubine. She has no right to, nor dares to, displease the emperor for such a matter.

Not to mention the other lower-ranking concubines, those with sons hoped to become the Dowager Consort in the future, while those without sons dared not offend the Emperor, fearing that if the Emperor really succeeded (won the battle), they would lose favor.

Several princes wanted to see their father, the Emperor, to persuade him to reconsider, but they couldn't even get a meeting with him.

Enraged, the emperor threatened them that if they caused any more trouble, they would all be sent back to the Imperial Study to study.

First Prince Yinti and Fourth Prince Yinzhen: I'm already in my twenties (almost twenty), and I'm studying with these little brats. Where is my dignity as the eldest (third) brother?

Third Prince Yinzhi: The eldest son and the crown prince didn't care, so why is he, a nobody, talking so much? Isn't that annoying?

Crown Prince Yinreng: The fourth prince's wife said that after the emperor went on a personal expedition, he fell seriously ill and almost died, but she was concerned about her image and did not feel any sadness. This led to the first reason for her being deposed. So, does that mean... the emperor is still alive, or is he no longer alive?

His Highness the Crown Prince pondered for a long time. The Fourth Prince's wife referred to herself as the deposed Crown Prince, meaning that she had been deposed from her position as Crown Prince and had never ascended to the throne.

The only way to depose the crown prince is before the emperor passes away. However, it is impossible for the emperor to depose the crown prince when he is seriously ill, because an unstable succession to the throne would easily lead to infighting among the princes and plunge the Qing Dynasty into internal strife.

With a father as intelligent and farsighted as myself, there's no way he wouldn't have thought of what I could think of.

If he were to pass away soon, the Emperor would do his best to uphold the dignity of the Crown Prince and leave a will in front of the important ministers who were on the expedition to support him as the Crown Prince to ascend the throne.

Of course, unless the Emperor is very dissatisfied with himself as the Crown Prince and will depose him and install someone else in the near future.

But in his current view, the person the Emperor favors and dotes on the most is none other than himself.

Therefore, Father Emperor's serious illness this time is definitely nothing to worry about!

After recovering, he realized that his actions had been disloyal to the emperor and unfilial to his father, and thus deposed himself from his position as crown prince.

After pondering for a long time in his study and finally clarifying the matter, His Highness the Crown Prince sighed. Perhaps the Fourth Prince's wife had learned from some palace servant that Father Emperor had the idea of ​​personally leading an expedition against Galdan.

The current Crown Prince learned five things from his fourth wife, Lady Guarjia: His father personally led an expedition against Galdan, fell seriously ill on the way, and his eldest wife gave birth to four daughters before finally having a legitimate son. She eventually died from exhaustion, and her legitimate son died at the young age of twenty.

However, the timeline is too long, and the Crown Prince cannot verify the truth of the subsequent events at this point.

However, with the Emperor's personal campaign imminent, Yinreng would not ignore this possibility.

As for the deposed crown prince, Yinreng had no real feeling about it, but the things that happened when he was a child and how good his father was to him could be vividly recalled in his mind.

That year he had smallpox, and the palace servants avoided him like the plague. However, his father, the Emperor, personally carried memorials to his Yuqing Palace to stay with him and help him through that dangerous bout of smallpox.

So he got up and went to the Imperial Hospital to consult with the imperial physicians about potential illnesses that might occur during the long journey.

Most importantly, bring the medicine. Otherwise, you might find yourself in a rush and unable to find it, which could delay the Emperor's treatment.

The fourth prince's wife didn't say what illness it was; perhaps she didn't know, or perhaps she did.

Yinreng couldn't simply confront his fourth brother's wife directly, unless he could control her or kill Guarjia.

Imperial Medical Academy.

When Physician Chen saw His Highness the Crown Prince approaching, he assumed it was because His Highness had run out of the tonics he had been taking and needed another dose.

I was still thinking that His Highness the Crown Prince was a little weak, how could he have recovered so quickly?

Then, His Highness the Crown Prince asked him what problems he might encounter if he went on a long trip, and what diseases he might easily catch if he wasn't taken care of properly.

For a moment, Physician Chen was stunned, as if he hadn't expected that His Highness the Crown Prince would come to see him about this matter.

However, Physician Chen quickly realized that it must be because he was worried about the Emperor's personal expedition. This news quickly spread throughout the entire palace, including their Imperial Hospital.

They were the imperial physicians who served the emperor and were specifically responsible for his health.

The other imperial physicians were also summoned by the Crown Prince. They recorded all the possible diseases, how to prevent them, and how to treat them, and then swaggered away.

The imperial physicians exchanged bewildered glances. His Highness the Crown Prince had come all this way just for this? Could it be that he intended to use this to dissuade the Emperor?

Thinking of this possibility, they gathered together to discuss it again. The emperor's personal expedition might lead to accidents on the battlefield, as well as illnesses such as acclimatization problems.

These are all blames that the imperial physicians should bear, and they must be thoroughly examined.

What if something really happens to the Emperor and they can't cure him? What if the Emperor gets a little irritable and executes their entire family?

They immediately discussed consulting medical books to try and get the Emperor to take the medicine with him when he went out, since no one knew who the Emperor would choose to accompany him on his personal expedition.

After leaving the Imperial Hospital, His Highness the Crown Prince held a list of notes in his hand, his expression somewhat solemn. He immediately went to the Qianqing Palace to find his father, the Emperor.

Emperor Kangxi was quite annoyed lately, feeling that his ministers were not doing their jobs properly and were not as good as Mingzhu, who at least helped prepare provisions if he objected.

Well, it's no wonder he made such a good use of Mingzhu.

When he heard the report from below that "the Crown Prince requests an audience," Kangxi's expression was somewhat helpless. Everyone was against him, really.

It made Kangxi feel as if he had returned to more than ten years ago, when he wanted to abolish the Three Feudatories, and the Empress Dowager and the important officials of the imperial family were all against it.

"Let him in." After only a moment of distraction, Kangxi cast aside all his useless emotions. As a monarch, he should stand firm and forge ahead.

Everything he did was for the sake of ensuring the eternal stability of the Qing Dynasty.

They don't understand at all.

When Yinreng entered, he expressed his strong disapproval of his father's decision to personally lead the expedition and presented his reasons.

In addition to the possible diseases mentioned earlier, he also explained to his father the drawbacks of the emperor personally leading the expedition, of course, discussing both the advantages and disadvantages together, and then gave a scathing critique.

At the same time, with a hint of hope, he cried out, "Your subject still needs Your Majesty to protect and guide you..."

Then, Kangxi angrily smacked him on the forehead with a memorial, saying, "Get out! I'm not dead yet!"

The Crown Prince blushed immediately after being hit on the forehead with a memorial. Well... his forehead turned red, and he looked quite aggrieved. He was just concerned about his father, the Emperor. How could his father not know his feelings?

The Crown Prince felt wronged after being scolded and driven away, but he didn't say anything and walked away with a bitter expression on his face.

Seeing Bao Cheng's lonely and aggrieved departing figure, Kangxi chuckled irritably, muttered "brat," and looked down at the instructions his son had given him.

It's clear that Bao Cheng is worried and concerned about him, afraid that something might happen to him.

Kangxi felt a warmth in his heart, because he knew that if something happened to him, Bao Cheng would be able to ascend the throne, but Bao Cheng did not, and instead repeatedly tried to stop and persuade him.

His son, Bao Cheng, is a filial child.

However, no amount of persuasion could change his mind; he had already made up his mind, the provisions were prepared, and the army in the western camp in the suburbs was ready.

When Kangxi said he was personally leading the expedition, he didn't actually go to the battlefield to fight. Instead, he was in the command post of the camp, so he wasn't really worried about his life.

If the Qing Dynasty's elite troops could be so easily breached, it would mean that the Qing Dynasty was on its last legs and beyond saving.

Besides, he has been practicing martial arts for many years and is proficient in horseback riding and archery. He is not a useless person. Do you really think he is Emperor Yingzong of the previous Ming Dynasty?

Yuqing Palace.

Jialuo didn't have much to say about the Emperor's personal expedition, because she felt it had little to do with her.

Recently, she's been busy scheming against the old women in the main courtyard... secretly eating what she wants, but unfortunately, it's unclear whether everyone in Yuqing Palace has X-ray vision.

She had just started to take a bite when she was caught red-handed.

"Your Highness, His Highness said you can't eat any of these." Xiaoqing is now on the Crown Prince's side; the Crown Princess is really... too unreliable.

Before, if I wanted to eat snow, I would discuss it with them. Now, I secretly bring it back from outside and soak the fruit in it.

In the dead of winter, I still crave shaved ice.

“The snow outside isn’t clean. Didn’t you say that not all water that falls from the sky is safe to drink? Your Highness, please bear with it.” He spoke seriously and earnestly, his aim being to dissuade the Crown Princess from this idea.

Jialuo puffed out her cheeks helplessly. She knew it wasn't a good idea, but she just couldn't resist trying it. Could it be... that the baby in her belly was a penguin or a polar bear?

She looked down and patted her belly, which was almost four months along. It was slightly bulging, but thankfully her child was being good and she didn't have any pregnancy symptoms.

I didn't experience any of the morning sickness that others talked about. The only thing was that I had some unusual tastes, and I always couldn't resist trying them.

It must be the baby in her womb that's affecting it.

"I understand, I understand." The aggrieved Crown Princess waved her hand to indicate that she understood. "There's no need to tell His Highness about this, so as not to worry him."

"What are you hiding from me?" The Crown Prince returned from outside. He really couldn't get a moment's rest. Whether it was the Emperor or the Crown Princess, they were both so troublesome.

"Your Highness? Why are you back?" I was just about to sneakily reason with Xiaoqing, or at least get her some shaved ice so she could have a taste, when the Crown Prince appeared at the main gate of the courtyard before I could even begin.

Seeing Jia Luo's guilty conscience, and glancing at Xiao Qing, he said indifferently, "Step back first."

"Yes." Xiaoqing and the others glanced at the Crown Princess with some worry after hearing the Crown Prince's instructions. However, thinking that the Crown Princess was carrying the Crown Prince's child, and given the Crown Prince's affection for her, they thought he probably wouldn't do anything to her, so they retreated towards the door.

"Crown Princess, you're being disobedient again, aren't you?" An elegant and noble man stood in front of Jia Luo, his eyes somewhat indifferent, causing Jia Luo's heart to skip a beat for a moment.

Nervous.

A guilty conscience crossed her mind. Looking at the man who always had a smile on his face, she felt a little worried, and her face became slightly more cautious.

"Your Highness, I... I didn't mean to. It's just that the baby in my belly is being naughty and insists on tasting it. It must be a penguin reincarnated." Jialuo lovingly placed the pot lid on the head of her unborn child.

However, Jialuo didn't think it was the fault. Before she got pregnant, she never thought about tasting snow, and she knew it would be tasteless even without trying it.

"Last time you said the baby in your belly was a bitter gourd spirit, and this time it's a penguin?" The prince looked at Jialuo with a half-smile. Although he didn't know what a penguin was, as soon as he heard "goose," he figured it was probably a breed similar to a white goose.

"Otherwise, why would she like playing in the snow?" Jialuo said matter-of-factly. She ate the snow and her fetus was growing in the middle of the snow. What else could it be but playing?

"Then you must take care of your health and not eat anything indiscriminately." Yinreng remembered that the snow had begun to melt, and there hadn't been much snowfall in the capital recently. "Where did the snow come from?"

"They hid it in the icehouse." Jialuo answered every question. She still didn't like seeing the Crown Prince with a stern face, he looked so handsome when he smiled.

Of course, Jialuo still likes the cold and imposing aura if it's directed at others rather than herself.

His Highness the Crown Prince's attempt to educate the Crown Princess came to an abrupt halt. Was he afraid? It's good that he was afraid; he won't be able to do these things in the future.

"How was the child today? Did he misbehave?" she thought arrogantly, "Will he listen to me from now on?" But she changed the subject and started to care about the child.

"Very good, she's being good. Our child will definitely be a quiet and filial little girl." Jialuo didn't know what type of child she liked, but it seemed that she liked both mischievous and quiet and steady children.

Hers, her own flesh and blood, the one that came out of her womb...

"Hmm." Yinreng glanced at her belly. Whether she would be quiet and filial in the future was uncertain. He had heard that when Consort Yi was pregnant with the Ninth Prince, her pregnancy was also going well.

"Father is going to lead the army in person, so I may be very busy lately. You must take good care of yourself and don't worry me." Yinreng could imagine how busy he would be in the days to come, and he might not be able to take care of the Crown Princess again.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will take good care of myself." Jialuo always referred to herself as "I" in front of Yinreng. She had only referred to herself as "this concubine" for a couple of days before, as it was too awkward. After tentatively referring to herself as "I" and finding that the Crown Prince was not angry, she continued to use it.

That evening, the Crown Prince stayed to keep the Crown Princess company, intending to neglect her. The Crown Prince felt guilty about this, especially since the Crown Princess was pregnant with his child.

Jialuo had a poor appetite and didn't seem to want to eat much. Looking at the food, she felt... nauseous?

"Your Highness, I'd like to go for a walk." Jialuo wondered if her morning sickness had suddenly started. It shouldn't be like this; she was already three or four months pregnant.

"..." Yinreng was just about to have his meal, but in the end, he put down his chopsticks and went for a walk with the Crown Princess before returning.

"What about these meals?" Just as she got up to leave, Jialuo turned around and looked at the meal on the table.

"Take it away." Yinreng wasn't hungry, and since the Crown Princess didn't like it, he ordered the kitchen to prepare another meal. The food that was taken away was usually distributed among the servants.

Jialuo, who had just stepped out of the main gate, felt the cold wind and stopped in her tracks. She turned around, her expression serious.

"Your Highness, what would you do if I told you right now that I don't want to go for a walk anymore?" Waaah, why is it so cold?

"Then I'll add another cloak for you." Yinreng showed no mercy by adding another cloak. He had agreed to go out for a walk to exercise, so he should walk more. The imperial physician said it would make childbirth easier in the future.

Yinreng was certain that the Crown Princess didn't want to go out for a walk in front of him now, and she must have been reluctant to go for a stroll before because she felt cold.

He didn't want to see his Crown Princess die in childbirth like his Empress Dowager, so that she could have a smooth delivery.

Xiaoqing brought over a brightly colored cloak, and His Highness the Crown Prince carefully tied it on Jialuo, then took the Crown Princess's hand and went for a walk.

Bao Cheng's hands are so warm.

Bao Cheng is my sweetheart.

A warm and caring guy?

Yinreng didn't understand, but he pulled her to the flower garden and grove of Yuqing Palace. He remembered that there was a peach grove in the Yuqing Palace garden.

Looking at the peach orchard, Jialuo smiled broadly. "Great, it seems that by summer, we'll have a whole orchard of peaches to eat."

The crown prince asked helplessly, "Are you hungry?"

"A little." Jia Luo frowned, unsure why she felt nauseous and didn't want to eat again. Was her stomach rebelling? Or was the baby in her belly rebelling even before it was born?

Yinreng was about to ask why he didn't want to eat earlier, but upon hearing Jialuo's thoughts, he frowned slightly and said, "If you don't like the food, just change it. Don't make things difficult for yourself. Your health is the most important thing."

Yinreng assumed that his Crown Princess was too kind and gentle to trouble the chef, so he reminded her, "As the Crown Princess, you shouldn't let anyone bully you."

Jialuo: Does Baocheng have some misunderstanding about me? Who dares to bully me? Did someone talk bad about me behind my back?

The two were completely on different wavelengths. Yinreng helplessly patted the Crown Princess's head, hoping that his child wouldn't be as simple-minded as the Crown Princess.

"What do you want to eat? Sour? Spicy?" Yinreng knew that Jialuo had recently been craving strong or unusual flavors, but there were some things she shouldn't eat, so she wasn't allowed to touch them.

"I don't know." Jialuo was troubled. Her baby was still going through a rebellious phase, and the thought of the food she had just eaten made her feel nauseous.

What's going on? It's not greasy at all.

"I will take you to the kitchen." Yinreng had someone hold an umbrella for him. It was about to snow. Since he didn't know what he wanted to eat, he would just wait and see.

As for whether the Crown Prince should appear in the kitchen, His Highness had already overlooked that question.

The Crown Princess and the baby in her womb are more important. She had only taken a few steps when she turned around and led Jialuo back to the main courtyard. "Have someone summon the imperial physician. The Crown Princess is not feeling well."

Jialuo exclaimed "Ah!" Why does His Highness the Crown Prince sound so loud and boisterous?

Yinreng: I am concerned about you.

The Crown Prince, feeling that the Crown Princess was somewhat ungrateful, immediately became displeased. Yinreng's expression turned indifferent, and he said nothing more, walking slowly ahead. But everyone knew that he was angry.

Jialuo: Why is the Crown Prince angry again? Who offended him?

Jialuo pondered for a long time, blinked, and after a few seconds, gently tugged at the Crown Prince's sleeve. "Your Highness, why are you angry? Who upset you? Are you troubled by matters of state?"

Jialuo certainly didn't think that she had angered the Crown Prince. The two of them were chatting and laughing just now, so they must have been thinking about someone who had angered him.

"It's nothing, I was just a little worried about you." Yinreng sighed helplessly to himself, deciding to let the matter slide. Was he just being dramatic? Whatever.

How could he not be angry?! In the Crown Princess's heart, wasn't he a synonym for elegance, nobility, gentleness, grace, and a perfect gentleman?

[Bao Cheng is so kind. I haven't had much of an appetite either. It would be even better if you could massage my back later.]

Jialuo felt some lower back pain and was unsure if it was a pregnancy reaction, but she felt generally uncomfortable.

"Alright, I'll support you so you don't fall." Yinreng helplessly stepped forward and half-embraced Jialuo's waist. Sigh, if the Crown Princess didn't have me, she definitely wouldn't know how to live.

The servants holding umbrellas for His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Crown Princess were moved by their 'fairy-tale love,' sobbing, 'The Crown Prince is so good, he spoils His Highness the Crown Princess so much.'

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess are so loving, I wish I could marry such a wonderful man someday.

Yinreng smiled slightly as he listened to the praise from those around him, feeling a little smug. There was no man in the entire Qing Dynasty as good as him, not even the eldest son!

When they returned to the main courtyard, the imperial physician was summoned. He learned that the Crown Princess had a poor appetite, but after taking her pulse, everything was normal and there was nothing wrong with her. It was probably just pregnancy symptoms.

Just then, a commotion broke out. Someone in the kitchen had an accident, apparently from eating something wrong.

When Yinreng first heard that someone had eaten the wrong thing, he didn't pay much attention. But later he heard them say that the person had eaten the food that the Crown Prince had just removed and that's when the trouble started.

Yinreng immediately became alert and summoned the kitchen staff to inquire what had happened.

Not everyone below was qualified to have an audience with His Highness the Crown Prince. When His Highness the Crown Prince was cold and imposing, they were all somewhat nervous and cautious.

Tell His Highness the meal that the meal was removed earlier. Usually, the removed meal is not eaten and is shared by the kitchen staff and other servants. After all, the master's meal is much better than what they, the servants, eat. The master usually only takes a bite or two and then stops eating.

Sure enough, they were scrambling to eat it, and if you were late, it would all be gone.

"Were all the meals that were removed eaten?" Yinreng suddenly thought of something and asked.

Having received a definite answer, Yinreng pursed his lips and looked at the imperial physician, "Imperial physician, go and examine them."

[Oh no! If I hadn't said I wanted to go for a walk, wouldn't Bao Cheng and I have ended up eating the meal? It's a plot! Someone must be trying to assassinate His Highness the Crown Prince!!]

Jialuo's thoughts coincided with the Crown Prince's. The imperial physician trembled inwardly, wondering if there was another conspiracy. Why was he the one on duty today?

"You rest here, I'll go check on things." Yinreng comforted the Crown Princess, but seeing Jialuo's worry, he finally got up and went to supervise personally. Eunuch Shun immediately went over and surrounded the food that had been cleared away, and it was indeed all eaten...

However, everyone in the kitchen, including those who had entered or left the kitchen, was placed under control.

In the servants' quarters, the imperial physicians went one by one to take their pulses. Normally, these servants would never have the opportunity to be diagnosed by the imperial physicians. If they had any problems, they would at most go to the medicine boy or apprentice to take a look and get some medicine. Some of the poorer servants would even plan to tough it out on their own.

After examining the pulses of several servants, the imperial physician concluded that they were malnourished and had suddenly eaten too much rich food, causing their stomachs to overwhelm them and resulting in diarrhea.

His Highness the Crown Prince, believing someone was plotting to harm him: ...

"Really? Imperial Physician? Please be more careful?" Yinreng frowned in disbelief. Just now, I was so cautious. Doesn't this make him seem like he's making a mountain out of a molehill?

Although the imperial physician believed himself to be a highly skilled physician, he suppressed his temper in the face of power and stepped forward to take the pulse of the servant whose face was the palest.

Under the Crown Prince's gaze, after carefully taking the pulse, he remained silent for a long time until the servant's stomach rumbled. Then he released his grip and stepped aside.

The servant ran quickly outside. The imperial physician led the crown prince out of the room and then slowly said, "Your Highness, their food has been laced with croton oil."

"What?" Yinreng's expression changed slightly. Sure enough, how could he have guessed wrong?

After that, Eunuch Shun no longer had time to stay by the Crown Prince's side. He interrogated everyone who came and went in the imperial kitchen. Finally, a servant responsible for delivering vegetables revealed that a certain eunuch in charge of purchasing vegetables in the imperial kitchen delivered them at a cheaper price...

Yinreng did not hide this matter from Kangxi, but he knew that his father was very busy with his personal military campaign.

Kangxi sent people to help, and they quickly found out the truth. Perhaps... the person behind it didn't want to continue, or perhaps they really couldn't keep it a secret any longer.

Consort Bu was the concubine who suffered a miscarriage while kneeling and mourning at the funeral of Empress Xiaoyi, née Tongjia.

How could she bear it after losing her child?

First, she dealt with the First Princess Consort. On her way back, she slipped because she had applied oil. However, the people around the First Princess Consort thought that it was Consort Hui's harassment that caused the First Princess Consort to have a stomachache, and that she slipped on her way back in a hurry.

Both Yuqing Palace and the Fourth Prince's residence sent over meat dishes with added ingredients, but unfortunately, both Yuqing Palace and the Fourth Prince's residence were quite strict.

Finally, he spent all his silver to bribe the people, but those lackeys didn't seem to have the guts, so he replaced them with croton oil...

Ha, did they really think that by replacing it with croton oil, they could escape this calamity?

When the people sent by the Crown Prince arrived at Consort Bu's residence, Consort Bu had already hanged herself. "Hahaha, I hate it, I hate it!"

With a ferocious expression, he laughed maniacally at the group of servants who had entered, asking, "Why? Why can they be so high and mighty?"

The Tong family, the Tong family, she'll haunt them even as a ghost!

When Emperor Kangxi learned of this, he was furious. "He plotted to murder the crown prince and dared to hang himself? His entire family should be exterminated!"

Emperor Kangxi had no compassion or soft heart whatsoever. When Empress Xiaoyi suffered a miscarriage at her funeral, he felt sorry for her for a short time, but unfortunately, she was too tactless and always wallowed in self-pity. Who would want to see that?

Feeling guilty towards Baoqing and Baocheng, he sent a large amount of rewards to the First Prince's residence and Yuqing Palace, thus incurring their wrath.

When Jialuo learned the reason for her murder, she was speechless. It was all a case of blaming others. What did it have to do with her? If you want to harm someone, go harm the culprit!

Yinreng: Should I look for Empress Xiaoyi or Father Emperor? The Crown Princess is really joking.

However, although this incident happened and was resolved in a way that resembled a farce, it also served as a warning to Yinreng and Jialuo that the seemingly impregnable Yuqing Palace still had its loopholes.

No, the purchasing staff also need to keep a close eye on things.

In the days that followed, the people in the main courtyard were on high alert, which caused the princesses in the back courtyard to complain bitterly.

"It's just a pregnancy, just keep an eye on the main hospital, what does it have to do with us?"

"That's right, recently my maids haven't been allowed to leave Yuqing Palace. What did I do wrong?"

"I'm going to complain to the Crown Prince."

"I'm afraid the Crown Prince isn't happy to see you. Don't end up like Li Jia, being confined to your quarters. His Highness the Crown Prince's offspring are far more precious than you."

"Pshaw, what's so great about that? If it were me, I could also have children for the Crown Prince."

Unfortunately, His Highness the Crown Prince didn't take them seriously at all. "I heard that the Crown Princess was almost harmed recently. You'd better be careful what you do and don't stick your noses out."

It was a well-intentioned warning, though.

At the end of March, the massive army marched headed towards the northwest of the desert.

The Crown Prince remained in the capital to oversee the country. This time, unlike the last time when the Emperor went to the Summer Palace, he was able to handle memorials and state affairs.

With the Emperor's army heading out this time, some relatively less important memorials can be handed over to the Crown Prince for processing. Of course, apart from the Crown Prince, several trusted ministers will remain in the capital.

Yinreng was very busy, while Jialuo, who was seven months pregnant, had already begun preparing for childbirth.

There were four midwives sent by the Imperial Household Department. Her mother was asked to check their backgrounds first and to prohibit them from contacting outsiders.

Well, if it weren't for watching TV so often and watching so many short videos of palace intrigue dramas, Jialuo wouldn't be so worried.

She was always worried that she might be killed at any moment. You know, the most dangerous time in the harem was the childbirth period. Even Empress Hesheli could not control the situation of two lives lost.

It's not enough to just manage the people around you; you also have to see how smoothly things go during production.

Therefore, around May, Jialuo took a half-hour walk every day as exercise, and ate healthy, balanced, and nutritious food with a mix of meat and vegetables.

I've heard that eating more grapes can make children's eyes dark and bright, but Jialuo doesn't care whether there's any scientific basis for it or whether it's true.

What's wrong with her eating a few more grapes for the sake of her unborn baby? It's not like His Highness can't buy them.

With hundreds of thousands of taels in her hands, Jialuo could go all out. Of course, in Jialuo's eyes, this was not called going all out, but called giving birth to a more adorable and beautiful baby. Everything was for the health of the child in her womb.

The princesses in the inner palace could only receive a fixed monthly allowance. If they wanted to see the Crown Prince, they would be confined to their quarters and have their allowances reduced. After being made an example of a few, the other princesses said: "I would rather please the Crown Princess."

Unfortunately, ever since the Crown Princess became pregnant, she hasn't been very welcoming to them.

Fearing they might use the opportunity of paying their respects to harm the unborn child in the Crown Princess's womb, the servants in the main courtyard kept a close watch on them, and even the Crown Princess herself was reluctant to come out to see them.

In fact...

After becoming pregnant, Jia Luo felt tired and sleepy, and couldn't get up this early at all. Even the Empress Dowager no longer required her to go and pay her respects.

Because Consort Hui's actions in making things difficult for the Grand Princess Consort, which caused her to slip and go into premature labor, served as a wake-up call for the Empress Dowager.

Although it was Consort Bu who had tampered with things, the Empress Dowager was also worried that someone might take the opportunity to harm the Crown Princess. She didn't care who came to pay their respects to her. As long as you take good care of yourself in Yuqing Palace, that's the greatest filial piety you can show me.

Jialuo isn't the type to refuse. If you say no, I'll do it. No empty promises.

The Empress Dowager really liked this type of person; they were easy to get along with. Otherwise, it would feel like, "I'm doing this for your own good, but I still have to beg you."

"Your Highness, I have a gift for you. Look, it's a peephole. Do you like it?" Recently, while I was overseeing the country, someone presented me with a peephole as a gift. Now, thinking that Your Highness would like it, I quickly sent it over.

A peep show?

Jialuo looked at it, touched her round face, and exclaimed, "Isn't this a mirror? It's so clear, much better than a bronze mirror. Look at my delicate little face... sigh, I'm pregnant, it's all gotten rounder and fatter."

"My Crown Princess is still so beautiful." Yinreng, who was standing next to her, heard Jialuo's seemingly aggrieved expression and praised her, "Isn't it clear? The servants brought it over, and I'm sending it to you right away."

Yinreng: Are you surprised? Are you happy?

"A tribute? This peephole, is it very expensive?" Jialuo immediately grasped the key point and looked at His Highness the Crown Prince in surprise.

"Hmm, it would cost at least several thousand taels." Such a large and flawless piece might cost tens of thousands of taels to acquire. It is also inlaid with mahogany around the edges and back, with exquisitely carved patterns.

Jia Luo was dumbfounded. Several, several thousand taels?!

[This...a full-length mirror that sells for a few dozen yuan these days is selling for thousands of taels of silver here? Isn't that outrageous profiteering? My god, why didn't I think of selling it for such a high price? I should have made full-length mirrors myself!!!]

[By the way, how do you make a full-length mirror? With sand, and then, and then what? Oh no, why didn't I study physics and chemistry properly?]

[Ahhh, a single piece costs several thousand taels! It's so expensive! Oh right, and Western clocks must be very expensive too...]

"Your Highness, do you know how mirrors are made?" Yinreng, hearing the Crown Princess's excited tone, wondered what she meant by "tens of yuan" or "tens of taels of silver." And where in modern times was she?

Is there a method for making mirrors in physical chemistry? Could it be a rare, unique copy?

Is the raw material sand? How is it made? By burning and melting?

"I don't know how, but those Westerners certainly do." Jia Luo wouldn't take on a job she wasn't qualified for; it would be better to hire skilled workers. However, she didn't know if those Westerners would be willing.

They certainly wouldn't be willing to do that. With costs skyrocketing and profits soaring by 1000%, who would be happy to hand over their money-making technology projects to someone else?

"The Westerners say that these raw materials are very expensive," Yinreng said slowly, a faint glint in his eyes.

[Impossible. The West underwent the Industrial Revolution long ago. It would definitely be very cheap, costing perhaps only a few cents... That might be an exaggeration, but it certainly wouldn't cost a penny!]

The next second, she grabbed the Crown Prince's hand, her voice full of sincerity, "Your Highness, let's research the Western mirrors and clocks ourselves, instead of letting those Westerners make money."

(End of this chapter)