Chapter 171: Dunke is younger than me, and her death...

Dunke was of a younger generation, and her death had almost no impact on other people except Honghui and other younger generations, so the New Year of the 49th year was still lively.

Just a few months later, the palace received two pieces of bad news within two days. The 37-year-old Princess Heshuo Duanjing and the 25-year-old Princess Heshuo Chunxun died within three days of each other.

Starting with Wen Ke, in less than a year, he lost four adult daughters, and even Kangxi could not help but feel heartbroken.

To date, he has had a total of twenty daughters, but only four are still alive, one of whom is the adopted daughter of Chang Ning.

Perhaps he recalled his past favor for Duanjing, or perhaps he felt guilty for letting his daughter be in trouble, but after the selection in May, Kangxi gave the daughter of Duanjing and Galzang, who did not participate in the selection, to Hongxi as his principal wife.

People had different reactions to this. The Mongols were of course happy. They were far away from the political center and only knew that Hongxi was the eldest son of the crown prince. Doesn't this mean that Khorchin will have another queen or even a queen mother in the future!

When Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was alive, the court's preferential treatment of the Khorchin people was obvious to all, and they had already begun to fantasize about a better life in the future.

People at the political center were all shocked and confused. They had all seen Kangxi's attitude towards Mongolia over the years. It was definitely more about suppressing and winning over Mongolia than valuing it. The Tenth Prince was automatically excluded from the candidates for the throne because he married a Mongolian wife. Now the Emperor has given a Mongolian wife to Prince Hongxi. What does it mean?

Does the emperor still have thoughts about the position of crown prince?

As soon as this speculation came out, many people who had already developed ambitions grew even more unruly, and their eyes looked at the prince's party with even more hostility.

Hongxi came out of his father's study and returned to his yard with an expressionless face. After closing the door, he stretched out his tightly clenched hands, picked up something and threw it fiercely on the carpet, hunched over and gasping for breath.

After finally calming down, Hongxi recalled the meaning of his father's words, and a hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes.

Even if he married a Mongolian concubine, so what? That position can only be his, Hongjin? Ha.

Qi Buchen didn't know what to say about this matter, and could only secretly complain to Yinzhen: "That's Hongxi's cousin. Even if the emperor wants to compensate Sister Duanjing, there is no need to choose Hongxi!"

What could Yinzhen say? He could only remind her: "Strictly speaking, you are also my cousin."

Jueluo was the great-granddaughter of Chu Ying.

"..." Qi Buchen muttered, "Then we are five generations apart, and Hongxi and she are still within three generations."

Yinzhen smiled and said nothing else. She could say whatever she wanted to say. She was just nagging to him anyway and she wouldn't say anything else when she went out.

Something was wrong with the weather this year. Just after June, the capital was as hot as a steamer. Not to mention Qi Buchen, even the triplets who usually loved to run around and make noises were staying in the house next to the ice, unwilling to go out.

When Yinzhen came back in the evening, his underwear was almost soaked and water could even pour out of his boots.

Qi Buchen wiped him with a cool towel distressedly: "Why don't you bring some ice from home."

The government office had limited funds. Although there was an allocation of ice in the summer, each room could only be allocated two basins a day. Although Yinzhen had a single office, there were also subordinates in it, and the amount of ice was not enough to neutralize the carbon dioxide they exhaled.

Qi Buchen tried to bring him some ice from home several times, but he refused: "Everyone can bear it, so why can't I?"

This time he still refused: "No."

But the reason was different: "The Emperor has issued an order to accompany the Empress Dowager to Rehe for summer vacation, and asked us brothers to escort her. I guess we will be there for a while."

"Do you want to come with me?" he asked.

Qi Buchen shook her head quickly. Although Rehe was not far away, it would still take several days to get there. In such weather, she was unwilling to sway in the carriage. Besides, the empress dowager was seventy years old this year. Considering her health, the speed would only be slower.

Yinzhen didn't force it: "Okay, then you pack up. Before I leave, I will send you and your mother to live in the Old Summer Palace."

"Okay." Qi Buchen began to nod quickly again, and his whole body became visibly happy.

Yinzhen glanced at her and sighed, "As expected, I am just a tool."

Qi Buchen laughed wryly, "No way, Your Highness is the pillar of this family. Without you, we mothers would be starving. How could we be so comfortable? You've worked hard, you've worked hard, I'll serve you, just tell me what you want to eat and drink!"

Massage shoulders and back diligently.

Yinzhen smiled and said, "Really?" He suddenly raised his foot to step on Qi Buchen's leg.

Qi Buchen jumped away quickly like a frightened rabbit.

"Didn't you say you wanted to serve me?" Yinzhen raised his eyebrows. "I just want you to massage my feet right now."

Qi Buchen's face wrinkled into a bitter melon immediately. Although Yinzhen didn't have athlete's foot, he had just been taken out of his boots after being stuck in them for a whole day. This... whoever can do it can do it. Anyway, she can't do it!

"I'll get you some water to wash your feet." Qi Buchen slipped away quickly.

Yinzhen retracted his foot and scolded with a smile: "Slippery."

He didn't really want Fu Jin to massage his feet, but just wanted to tease her. When Fu Jin brought him the foot washing water, he stepped in without any hesitation and didn't mention the massage again. He caught a glimpse of Fu Jin's relieved expression and laughed in his heart.

How can you be so stupid?

The day after sending his wife and children to the Old Summer Palace, Yinzhen, along with his seventh, eighth, and ninth sons, escorted the Empress Dowager to Rehe. Along the way, Yinyou occasionally visited him, but he largely ignored Yinsi and Yin'er. Yin'er, on the other hand, remained loyal to his brother, standing by Yinsi through thick and thin. However, Yinzhen watched with a cold eye, and the relationship between the two was no longer as close as it once was.

When they arrived in Rehe, they saw Kangxi and his entourage waiting there. In addition to the brothers who accompanied the emperor, Yinzhen also saw Hongxi beside the emperor.

This year, Hongxi graduated from the Shangshufang. After all, he was about to marry a wife, so Kangxi also arranged some tasks for him to practice.

What was unexpected was that when the crown prince was already accompanying the emperor, he did not stay in Beijing, but instead requested to stay by Kangxi's side.

Yinzhen knelt on one side, watching Yinreng and Hongxi, father and son, standing on his left and right, helping the emperor, who was kneeling to welcome the empress dowager, to stand up, and a faint sigh came out of his heart.

Three generations of grandparents and grandchildren, and two pairs of fathers and sons, are becoming more and more alike.

The days in Rehe were not easy. The Censorate reported to the Ministry of Revenue that there was a shortage of straw and beans in the warehouse. Emperor Kangxi ordered the Ministry of Justice to conduct a thorough investigation. After the investigation, the Ministry of Justice reported shocking figures. The shortage of straw and beans had lasted for more than ten years, with a total shortage of more than 400,000 taels, involving more than 120 officials including the Shangshu and Shilang.

Yinzhen was furious when he saw this, let alone Kangxi. After reading the memorial, he did not sleep all night. The next day, he felt liver fire rising, his mouth and tongue were ulcerated, his throat was swollen and sore, and he even had difficulty swallowing water. It took several days of recuperation to get better.

Although he was furious, Kangxi did not deal with the matter severely afterwards. He only dismissed the then Minister of Revenue and issued an edict to persuade all officials to be honest and upright, which was a bit humble to say.

Yinzhen participated in the whole process and could not accept Kangxi's handling of the matter. In his opinion, every one of these corrupt officials should have their property confiscated and be imprisoned.

Unfortunately, he still had some sense and knew that it was not his place to say this. He tried to bring it up in front of the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince just laughed it off and didn't respond, so Yinzhen gave up.

After saying goodbye to the prince, Yinzhen felt a little confused for a moment. Although he did not participate in the party struggle, he actually supported the prince in his heart. He was also willing to speak for the prince as long as it did not endanger himself. However, the prince's behavior in the past two years made him begin to doubt whether his support was correct.

The prince's eyes are only focused on the struggle for power and profit, but he has forgotten the responsibilities that a crown prince should bear.

The deficit of the Ministry of Revenue had just come to an end when Hunan and Jiangsu started another drama. The governor and admiral of Hunan accused each other of corruption and deficit, while the governor of Jiangsu reported the governor-general of Liangjiang for dereliction of duty.

There is no peace.

Even in this situation, Kangxi still found time to organize a hunt, showing off his skills in the enclosure and hunting several deer.

Everyone praised and complimented him, but no one noticed that Kangxi's hands behind his back were trembling slightly.

Before the Cold Dew Festival, Kangxi finally brought the Empress Dowager back to Beijing. Under his order, people inside and outside the capital began to prepare for the Empress Dowager's 70th birthday.

On the birthday, the palace was decorated with lights and colorful lanterns inside and outside, and the princes and grandchildren gathered in Ningshou Palace. Everyone congratulated the empress dowager in unison, and the scene was spectacular.

The climax did not end there. After everyone finished celebrating the birthday and took their seats, the fifty-six-year-old Kangxi came down from the throne and personally performed a traditional Manchu Mang-style dance to celebrate the empress dowager's birthday.

This action was a rare sight even for emperors throughout the past five thousand years. The Empress Dowager's eyes filled with tears, and the princes and ministers were moved to tears as well. Some ministers even shouted, "Your Majesty is truly the most filial person throughout history!"

After the dance, Kangxi stepped forward and joined hands with the Empress Dowager, delivering his acceptance speech: "Filial piety is the foundation of human relations and the way of Heaven. Since the founding of our dynasty, we have insisted on governing the world with filial piety. Today, I dance for my mother's birthday, and I also want to warn everyone to always remember filial piety. Those who are unfilial will be punished by Heaven!"

"Your Majesty, your servants will faithfully follow your Majesty's instructions. Long live the Emperor."

The sound resounded through the sky.

Qi Buchen knelt on the ground, shouting "Long live the emperor", but he was unable to immerse himself in the performance. He felt like he was watching a performance that had been rehearsed thousands of times.

Let’s not talk about the pros and cons of governing the country with filial piety.

Heaven will surely send away those who are unfilial.

Who are you warning again?

After the birthday banquet, Kangxi's filial piety spread throughout the world at an incredible speed. Memorials from officials from all over the country flew into the capital, and the things they reported were similar. They were all about how unfilial people from all over the country were inspired by the emperor and how they repented and became filial to their parents.

It seemed as if overnight, the people of the Qing Dynasty were enlightened and everyone became a filial son.

Even the triplets, who had heard some gossip from somewhere, insisted on washing Yinzhen and Qi Buchen's feet, washing clothes, and boiling water and cooking for them.

After driving away the triplets who were so-called filial but actually caused trouble, Qi Buchen sighed, "If I continue to let them be so filial, I will lose ten years of my life."

Yinzhen slapped her on the leg and scolded her, "What nonsense are you talking about? Why don't you apologize to the Buddha?"

Qi Buchen was speechless: "We don't trust them, how can they control us?"

The more you talk, the more outrageous it gets!

Yinzhen stared at her fiercely, as if he would punish her with family discipline if she didn't apologize.

Qi Buchen pursed his lips and said reluctantly: "Buddha passing by, please forgive me for speaking without restraint. I was just talking nonsense just now. Please don't take it seriously."

That's about right.

Yinzhen retracted his gaze and said, "Ask them tomorrow and see who is talking nonsense in front of them."

After being promoted to prince, many more servants were added to the mansion, and now there are more than 300 people. Even if Qi Buchen strictly controls them, he cannot control all the endless little thoughts.