Chapter 117: Fatherly Love and Filial Piety Between Xuanye and Yinreng

After living in Changchun Garden for several months, snowflakes began to fall across the capital. Xuanye and Xiuyu boarded a carriage and headed for the Eastern Qing Tombs. The carriage traveled slowly, but their destination wasn't the Eastern Tombs, but rather the temporary resting place of Empress Xiaozhuang's coffin, located outside the fengshui wall.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, and the north wind was blowing. Xuanye, wearing a fox fur coat, stood in front of Xiaozhuang's coffin and took the three incense sticks that Xiu Yu lit for him.

"Madam, where should I place your coffin?" Xuanye spoke from the bottom of his heart. "You said you wanted to see the Qing Dynasty and didn't want to be buried with Emperor Taizong. I agree. But this also makes it very difficult for me."

He inserted three incense sticks into the incense burner, sat down on the ground, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds for offering, and peeled them one by one.

"My grandson personally led the army a while ago. If Mama were still here, she probably wouldn't have allowed me to do so. I thought Galdan would be a difficult man to deal with, perhaps even more so than Wu Sangui. Before leaving, I also thought, if I lost this battle, without Mama, who would support me? But now it seems that apart from his cunning, he is no match for me in other aspects. Perhaps one day, I can defeat the Dzungar Empire! By then, the world will be at peace, all nations will come to pay tribute, and I will be able to create a prosperous era."

Xiu Yu listened to Xuanye's words one by one. He was very calm, but his calm tone was mixed with sadness, which was the endless longing for the deceased.

The Zan'an Feng Hall was already cold, and the snowstorm outside seemed to capture Xuanye's current mood. After Xuanye finished speaking, Xiu Yu walked over to him, sat down, and said, "Since the ancestor has said she will watch over the Qing Dynasty, then she will see everything the emperor does. As long as we always remember the ancestor, she will always be by our side."

"Yes," Xuanye sighed, "as long as I still care about her, the Imperial Mama might really be by my side." He fell silent again, silently peeling melon seeds until the candles on either side flickered, and then he came to his senses. "Yu'er, you said that Mama's coffin was parked here. Did she and Father see it?"

"I must have seen it." Although Xiu Yu was an atheist, she was still willing to comfort Xuanye in this way: "Although I don't know exactly what happened between the old ancestor and the late emperor, but from the perspective of a mother, there is no mother who doesn't love her own children. So, I think deep down in the heart of the old ancestor, he must have loved the late emperor."

"Yes, Mama must have loved Father." Xuanye raised the corner of his mouth slightly. "In fact, since I can remember, Mama and Father's relationship seems not to be very good. Whatever Mama likes, Father definitely doesn't like. Whatever Father likes, even if Mama likes it, she will pretend not to like it. In fact, Father was a good emperor. If he had not died young, the country under his rule would definitely be much better than it is now. Father's edict of apology was really made at random."

Xiu Yu sighed, "It's a pity, there aren't so many ifs in this world. Perhaps, the late emperor was destined to die young, and the emperor was destined to inherit the throne at the age of eight, and the ancestor..." She looked at Xiaozhuang's tablet and said, "She was destined to work hard to assist her son, and then her grandson. When the country was stable, she had done what she should do and left..." She thought of the nine princes' battle for the throne that might begin soon, and said, "Perhaps, this may not be a bad thing..."

Xuanye frowned: "Why do you say that?"

Xiu Yu hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to take the risk and give the man she was destined to be with her whole life some early warning: "Your Majesty, the court has indeed been stable in recent years. Even Galdan, whom you consider a major threat, seems to be less vulnerable. However, it's difficult for everyone to have everything go smoothly in life. If, if something doesn't go as planned in the future, you should let it go."

Xuanye looked at Xiuyu curiously: "Why do you say that?"

Xiu Yu still had some reservations: "I'm just saying this, there will always be difficulties."

Xuanye finally pulled Xiuyu to their feet and said, "Is there anyone as prepared as you? Is this just worrying about nothing?"

"Whether you're worried or not, if that day ever comes, I hope you'll remember what I said today."

Xuanye smiled and said, "Even if that day really comes, with you by my side, life shouldn't be too difficult."

Xiu Yu smiled, but it was tinged with bitterness. When that day finally came, and the Crown Prince was deposed, and the other sons clashed for the throne, which side would her three sons side with? They would probably all side with the Fourth Prince. What would become of her and Xuanye then? No one could say for sure.

"What are you thinking about?" Xuanye saw Xiuyu was in a daze, so he held her hand and rubbed it gently: "Don't you want to spend your life with me anymore?"

"No way." Xiu Yu pursed her lips. "It's just that the road ahead is long, and I don't know if you will always need me by your side. If something unexpected happens in the future, maybe you would rather not see me."

"What kind of unexpected events would make me make such a decision?" Xuanye couldn't figure out what was going on in Xiuyu's head. "Don't worry, no matter what happens in the future, it will be you and only you who will stay by my side."

Listening to the promise Xuanye made in the Zan'an Fengdian, Xiuyu should have felt reassured, and should have felt that no matter what happened in this life, they would be together. However, she still felt somewhat uneasy. After all, Xuanye might not even be able to imagine what would happen in the future, so how could he make any guarantees?

As Xiu Yu thought about this, Xuanye was actually feeling very uneasy.

Chu Tiankuo did say that Yinreng was a good boy, but could Yinreng always be a good boy? He had done a good job as regent this time, and precisely because of that, Xuanye felt even more uneasy. His prince had grown up, and he should be relieved, but he was also a little wary of his prince's full-fledged status. Seeing that the prince had a certain amount of power, would the ministers in the court listen to him instead of him, the emperor? Thinking of this, Xuanye shuddered. He didn't dare to think about it anymore and could only comfort himself that it was probably because the underground palace was too cold.

On the return carriage, Xiu Yu noticed that Xuanye remained silent for a long time, his expression revealing an indescribable feeling. She hesitated for a moment and asked, "Just now you asked me what I was thinking about. Now I want to ask you, what are you thinking about?"

Xuanye looked at Xiuyu and hesitated. He had originally thought that he and Xiuyu could talk about anything, and he could tell her whatever he wanted. However, when he really wanted to say it, the matter involved Yinreng, and he hesitated.

Xiu Yu had roughly guessed what Xuanye was thinking from his expression, and she hesitated. After all, matters concerning the crown prince were kept secret in both the court and the harem.

Finally, Xuanye said, "Yu'er, tell me, is Yinreng a good boy?"

Xiu Yu's slightly nervous mood relaxed a little. She gently held Xuanye's hand and said softly, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince was raised by you and is a good child. In front of you as his father, I cannot say that I don't think the Crown Prince is bad. However, power may be extremely tempting to everyone."

"But what can I do?" Xuanye smiled bitterly: "When I appointed the crown prince, it was my promise to Hesheli, and it was also for the stability of the Qing Dynasty. I wholeheartedly trained Yinreng as the crown prince, and I really hope that he can become a qualified crown prince as soon as possible, a qualified..." He frowned. He has been the crown prince for too long, too long. Maybe he wants to be the emperor.

Xiu Yu hesitated slightly and said, "Your Majesty, let everything take its course. Now that it has come to this, there is no point in regretting it."

"Yes." Xuanye had to admit: "Since it is like this, then we can only let nature take its course."

***

In the Crown Prince's palace, Yinreng sneezed several times for no apparent reason. He asked the eunuch to add more charcoal to the brazier before returning to the book he was holding. It was a book on military strategy, something he rarely read unless absolutely necessary. He had only just heard that the eldest prince had made significant contributions in the Battle of Tuocheng, so he flipped through the pages. As he read, Yinreng couldn't help but laugh at himself. The eldest prince had merely achieved military merit. During his time as regent, he had managed all affairs with impeccable order; in any case, that was more worthy of praise than the eldest prince's military achievements.

But... Yinreng frowned, as if after his father returned to the palace from Tuocheng, he was no longer praised as he was before for his good studies, riding and shooting skills.

Thinking of this, Yinreng sighed softly, put down the book of military strategy in his hand, stood up and walked to the mynah bird in the house and fed it.

The young eunuch could see that his master was in a bad mood, so he stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, you are in a bad mood. Would you like us to play with you for a while?"

Yinreng glanced at the young eunuch and said, "I was busy with government affairs a while ago, so I didn't notice where you were hanging out. What good ideas have you come up with to cheer me up?"

The young eunuch smiled mysteriously and said, "Prince, I have recently found some beautiful young palace maids. Would you like to see them?" He winked as he spoke.

Yinreng sat down on the armchair beside him and crossed his legs. "Why do you think I'm interested in the young palace maid?"

The young eunuch was quite confident: "Didn't the Crown Prince say that I have always had good taste? These young palace maids all come from humble backgrounds, but they are truly beautiful. I guarantee you'll praise me when you see them."

"You're so young, how many women have you seen?" Yinreng glared at the young eunuch. "But I might as well take a look. Mainly to judge whether your eyes are useful or not."

The young eunuch didn't know his master too well. He said, "Prince, just wait and see!" Then he ran out of the Prince's Palace like a flash to summon the palace maids he liked.

Yinreng drank tea while waiting, and from time to time he touched the ring on his thumb. He did not consider himself a lustful person, but it was not a bad thing to play with it occasionally, especially when he was depressed.

But things always happen to be more fortunate and coincidental. Just when Yinreng was having a great time, the door of the warm room was almost kicked open from the outside.

The red cloth covering Yinreng's eyes was forcibly torn off by someone. He looked at his father in front of him, who was wearing a dark blue uniform, and was stunned on the spot.

"Father..." Yinreng slowly knelt down: "Your son..."

Xuanye was so angry that his hands were shaking. He ordered in a cold voice: "All of you get out!"

The palace maids and eunuchs in the warm room almost crawled out. In the end, only Xuanye and Yinreng were left.

Xuanye slowly sat down on the couch and didn't speak for a long time.

Yinreng knelt in the middle of the warm room without uttering a word.

"Do you know what day it is today?" After a long while, Xuanye finally asked a question.

Yinreng hunched over, lowered his head, his mind racing, and replied, "Father, today is the anniversary of our ancestors' death."

"I'm glad you still remember it." Xuanye smiled coldly: "It's the anniversary of our ancestor's death, and you are here..." He was embarrassed to finish his words.

Sweat broke out on Yinreng's palms. It was the first time he felt uneasy in front of his father.

"Your son..." Yinreng hesitated for a while, but decided not to speak for himself.

Xuanye frowned slightly: "Father has always felt that you are a good child, hardworking, filial, and good at both literature and martial arts..."

"Father, it's been a long time since I've praised you like this," Yinreng said softly. "Ever since you returned from your personal expedition, I've been briefed on the government affairs I handled during my time as regent. You've never said anything about whether I've done well or not. I think you value my elder brother's military achievements."

Seeing his son's words revealing grievance, Xuanye finally stood up, walked to Yinreng and touched the back of his head.

"Yinreng, you are the crown prince! In the future, the Qing dynasty will be inherited by you. Doing well is only natural. Why are you still acting like a child, waiting for your father's praise?"

Yinreng was indeed in a gloomy mood. Even though he had just had some fun with those pretty young palace maids, he still didn't feel happy.

Xuanye personally helped Yinreng up and pulled him to sit beside him, saying, "You were carefully nurtured by your father. Isn't your father aware of your abilities? Yinzhi made achievements on the battlefield, but that was his cavalry skills. However, the skills and abilities learned by the regent cannot be compared to those on the battlefield. Why do you envy your elder brother?"

After all, Yinreng still had some childishness in his heart, and when he heard Xuanye say this, his mood became much brighter.

Xuanye added, "I just came back from paying respects to our ancestors and thought I'd come to see you. What a mess you've seen!"

Yinreng finally murmured, "My son was wrong."

"You don't have any bad habits. These little palace maids were found for you by your personal eunuch?" Xuanye's face turned cold. He could teach his son gently, but he had to punish the eunuch who instigated his son to learn bad things.

"Father." Yinreng looked into Xuanye's eyes and said, "Xiaowu saw that my son was in a bad mood, so he tried to find a way to cheer him up."

Xuanye snorted coldly, "There are many ways to please the master, but he chose this method. Do you think Father can forgive him?"

Yinreng knew that if he begged for mercy again and again, his father would become even angrier and Xiaowu would be punished even more severely.

"Father, please at least consider that Xiaowu has been with your son since he was young."

"Give him a beating and have Liang Jiugong arrange for him to go somewhere else."

"Just, stop hitting me."

Xuanye seemed to have guessed that Yinreng would ask this. He snorted and laughed, saying, "You should be more strict with your subordinates."

Yinreng knew that since his father had said so, Xiaowu would not have to be beaten. He immediately poured tea for Xuanye: "Father, please try it. This tea is not bad."

There is no coincidence in the world. The conversation between Xuanye and Yinreng happened to be heard by Yinzhi, who was called in to bring his younger brother some fun things from the grassland. The part he heard was about his military achievements.

Further away, Liang Jiugong was teaching a lesson to the servants following the prince, calling the prince the master and the crown prince!

Yinzhi held the bag of gifts he had intended for Yinreng, his face gloomy. He turned and left, the veins in his right hand bulging as he clutched the bag.

***

After coming out of Yinreng's palace, Xuanye was in a good mood. When he arrived at Yikun Palace, Xiuyu could clearly feel that Xuanye was happy.

Before going to bed, Xiu Yu sat in front of a peep show, taking off her hair accessories, and asked with a smile, "Your Majesty, your mood today is like the rainy season, sometimes cloudy, sometimes sunny?"

Xuanye was reading a book. When he heard Xiuyu's question, he said, "I went to Yinreng's place today. That brat Yinreng was actually instigated by the little eunuch beside him to play with a group of palace maids."

Xiu Yu could clearly hear that Xuanye's attitude towards this matter was one of indulgence and tolerance.

As expected, Xuanye said again: "Yinreng still has no biological mother after all, so he needs my better care."

Xiu Yu nodded, combed her long hair, then stood up and sat next to Xuanye.

"It seems that the father is kind and the son is filial?"

"It's not quite the story of a loving father and a filial son, but I've made everything clear." Xuanye stroked Xiu Yu's long hair and said, "Yu'er, if Yinreng were our child, it would be wonderful. I wouldn't have to worry about this."

"Yu'er wouldn't dare." Xiu Yu knew the palace rules very well. If the emperor said this, she would just listen to it, but if she took it seriously, it would be a big deal.

Xuanye also knew what Xiuyu was thinking. He just smiled and took Xiuyu into his arms: "Our Yinzhen, Yin'er, and Yin'an will all have a good future. Being a prince, you can do whatever you want. In fact, it will be happier."