Another prominent marriage

Like all imperial marriages of this era, the princesses' marriages couldn't be hastily arranged. The ninth daughter of the Emperor, the fifth princess, born to Consort Defei Uya and raised by the Empress Dowager, the younger sister of the Fourth Prince and the older sister of the Fourteenth Prince, with a string of illustrious titles, the most prestigious princess remaining in the palace was now being discussed for marriage.

The Fifth Princess hadn't even been officially given a title, yet she was already included in the princess rankings. Kangxi had already been considering the matter, even though it was discussed. He had only to let the rumor out, and the candidate for the Prince Consort was quickly decided upon: Shun Anyan, grandson of the Emperor's uncle Tong Guowei and son of the Imperial Envoy Longkodo.

Defei was overjoyed, not because of her future son-in-law's family background, but because her daughter could stay in the capital and no longer have to go far away to Mongolia.

When Kangxi decided on this marriage, it was already the first month of the 38th year of his reign. Of course, the official decree had not yet been issued. This decree of marriage was issued together with the decree of officially conferring the title on the Fifth Princess when the wedding was officially held.

The only thing left to do now was to order the Imperial Household Department to prepare the construction of the princesses' residences and dowries after completing the enfeoffment of the princes. The princes' residences were already in the final stages of construction, waiting for the emperor to return from his tour of the south so that they could celebrate the move into their new homes.

Yes, seeing that the northwest had been pacified, Kangxi felt relieved and wanted to take everyone out for a tour at public expense - but there was still no place for the crown prince.

Yinreng was sullen and complaining about his father with a resentful look in the Qianqing Palace. Kangxi was troubled. The prince had indeed not had a holiday in a long, long time, but someone was needed in the capital, right? Hardening his heart, Kangxi frowned, "You are already a very important father, don't throw a tantrum."

Yinreng was practically laughing his ass off. He'd taken advantage of the time Kangxi had taken everyone away to do something. For example, he could discuss with Yarjiang Aduan whether the spies planted in the Prince of Zhi's mansion were reliable. He'd just routinely express his displeasure and continue to act cute with his father, expressing his reluctant farewell.

Kangxi rubbed his forehead. Before the Crown Prince came, he had already been teased once. Two troublemakers: the Thirteenth Prince Yinxiang and the Fourteenth Prince Yinzhen, had joined forces.

Both of their mothers were prominent figures. While not officially a concubine, the Thirteenth Prince's mother, Zhang Jia, was a de facto consort, and her treatment was commensurate with her status. Zhang Jia gave birth to one son and two daughters, all of whom are still alive, making her a prolific mother. De Fei, on the other hand, bore three sons and three daughters, two of whom are still alive. The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes sometimes challenged each other academically, but their similarly smooth upbringings often allowed them to progress in parallel.

An emperor's travels, like a princess's wedding, were not a hasty decision and required considerable preparation. An imperial decree was issued, prompting the Imperial Guard to prepare and deploy defenses along the way. The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes were among those whose influence was sought after within the palace. Their teacher, Haifa, was Kangxi's cousin and therefore well-informed.

Now, I know. Yinzhen was particularly eager to go out. He was at an active age, and he hadn't gotten the chance to go with me last year, so this time he was determined to go. Yinxiang was about the same age and wanted to go too. So he came with him.

One on each side, they clung to Kangxi's arms and began to act coquettishly. Kangxi feigned disapproval, but the two weren't afraid, knowing Kangxi wasn't strict on these matters, and they fell for it. Like twisted candy, one on each side kept calling him "Khan Ama." If they hadn't been well-educated and well-behaved, they'd probably have been rolling on the ground by now in a more ordinary household.

Yinzhen even had more to say: "Last year, Khan Ama didn't take his son with him. This year, it's his turn, right? I've asked the imperial physician, and my mother is in very good health!"

Kangxi glanced sideways at them, and their hearts pounded. Their arms, gripping Kangxi's arms, involuntarily loosened, their eyes a touch timid. They swallowed, still clinging to him, staring back at him despite their fear. Kangxi had been planning this all along, and after keeping them in suspense for a while, he finally said sternly, "Fine. You can come with me—don't fall behind in your studies. I'll be checking up on you every day!"

I thought he was going to say something! Both of them were good at their studies and they all replied, "Khan Ama, just check it."

Being pestered by one or two people is fun, but being complained by a third person is something that even the strongest emperor can’t stand, especially when his second son always comes to complain about him. Kangxi looked at Yinreng with a very sad look.

In his heart, Yinreng actually still had some expectations of traveling with Kangxi, but with the war approaching, after much hesitation, he decided to stay and follow Kangxi's wishes.

So, Yinreng said, "If I stay in Beijing, I will look after these little ones, forcing them to study every day, asking if they have eaten well and slept well... I think of how Khan Ama asks about my brothers every day, while I don't get to listen to his kind advice." He pouted, "I haven't left yet, but I already miss him."

Kangxi was relieved to see Yinreng's tone soften by the end. Every time he traveled, his sons would make this same scene. As his sons grew older, their tantrums became more frequent, and Kangxi was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed. Fortunately, Yinreng stopped at his own pace, and Kangxi couldn't help but offer some comfort.

Seeing Kangxi like this, Yinreng thought to himself, I can't keep using the same excuses. What should I say and do next time? His father has been away at least once a year. It's been so many years, and there will be many more years to come. How many appropriate farewell words can I say? It's so worrying! The same words, no matter how touching, won't move people if repeated too often, and they'll just become annoying.

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Elsewhere, the women gathered together, chatting happily. Today's topics varied widely, but since Kangxi's aunt was also present, they focused on the marriage that had just been rumored.

Tong Guowei's wife, also a member of the Hesheli clan, wasn't particularly close to Empress Renxiao's family. She was an elderly woman, though she was actually slightly younger than the Empress Dowager. She was dressed in a duchess's attire and appeared to be in excellent spirits, her face radiant with rosy light, complementing the equally cheerful Empress Dowager beautifully.

Even the imperial concubines and the wives of the princes dared not easily offend the Duchess. Her imperial decree came from her daughter, the late Empress Xiaoyiren. She also had a daughter in the palace, Concubine Tong, who held a distinguished position. Her son, Longkodo, was also a prominent figure in the court, and the Tong family was known as "Tong Half the Dynasty."

The old lady was quite modest, saying, "It is the master's grace that he was chosen. The whole family is filled with endless joy."

The Empress Dowager also admired the Fifth Princess. She was not one to be modest: "I'm not praising my own child, but our Fifth Princess is first-rate no matter where she is. She is also very pretty and well-educated."

This time, Concubine Tong sat aside, smiling silently. Concubine De was the biological mother, so it was not appropriate for her to praise her own child. Instead, Concubine Rong, Concubine Yi, and Concubine Hui followed suit and praised the Fifth Princess: "She is beautiful and intelligent, a good child." The Fifth Princess was raised by the Empress Dowager, so praising the Fifth Princess was also an indirect way to flatter the old lady.

When Shujia learned that Hesheli was coming, she tactfully stopped sitting next to the Empress Dowager and sat among the sisters-in-law. The concubines were also very friendly to a sister-in-law with whom they had no conflict of interest. The fourth concubine was particularly optimistic about the fifth princess's marriage.

The Fourth Prince had been raised for a period by Shun Anyan's aunt, the late Empress Xiaoyi Ren, and they had a deep bond. Now that his sister is marrying her cousin, the Fourth Prince, upon hearing the news yesterday, returned home and urged his wife, "This is a great event, and our gift cannot be too small."

The corner of the Fourth Lady's mouth twitched. "Master, even if it's a big deal, the Fifth Princess won't get married until next year, and the Princess's Mansion hasn't been cleaned up yet. Can you let me have dinner first?"

However, her husband's family was harmonious and her sister-in-law had married well, so the Fourth Lady was very happy.

The elders chatted above, and the peers below kept chattering. Suddenly, the Third Lady said, "I wonder where the Fifth Princess's new residence will be? Is it close to us?"

Shujia was deeply depressed by this topic, but she and Third Lady had always gotten along well, so she took over the conversation and said, "The news has just spread, and I'm afraid the Imperial Household Department hasn't chosen a location yet. If you can't leave Fifth Sister, why don't you ask your master to go to the Imperial Household Department and ask if it's possible to build it in the same place."

The Fourth Lady thought to herself that this was a good idea. It seemed that her husband was very satisfied with this marriage. If she could be neighbors with the Fifth Princess, she believed that her husband would also be happy.

Although Concubine De was the Fifth Princess's biological mother, she had little say in the marriage; she simply listened with a smile. Her feelings towards the Tong family were complex, partly due to the Fourth Prince. However, it was undeniable that marrying into the Tong family was a good choice. The Empress Dowager and Hesheli were of the same generation, and their conversation was on the same page. Concubine De couldn't interrupt, so she focused on the conversation below.

No matter where the Crown Princess went, as long as she held such a status, she would be more likely to attract attention than others. It was the same now, especially since she hadn't taken her usual seat and had squeezed in among the crowd. With the sudden addition of another person, you had to look at her twice.

After hearing Shujia's words, Defei's thoughts became more active. The Crown Princess' words were directed at the Third Lady, but they touched Defei even more. Obviously, the Fifth Princess and the Third Prince were not born or raised by the same mother, and their relationship wasn't particularly close. Being neighbors was just a joke. But the Fourth Prince was different; he was her biological brother!

Concubine De gave birth to three daughters, but this was the only one who lived to adulthood and was ready to marry. How could she not love her? She was usually taken to the Empress Dowager, so they rarely saw each other. The Fifth Princess was better than the Fourth Prince in that she was more capable of handling things. Living with her grandmother, she also coaxed her mother well.

Although Concubine De was not close to the Fourth Prince, she was very confident in his wife. "Okay, Fourth Prince, aren't you also close to the Tong family? It's just right. I'll leave my sister to you while she's away."

The Fifth Princess, the central figure in the conversation, was absent, ensconced in her own room. When a princess married, she didn't have to prepare anything herself, from her dowry to her clothes, and even the sewing required was minimal. While the Crown Princess and others would have to do extensive sewing for various elders, the Fifth Princess only had to make a few simple items to please a limited number of elders. The rest was handled by the Imperial Household Department, the palace maids, and the maids around her.

However, these elders who are worthy of the princess's gifts cannot be ignored, and their craftsmanship must be extremely careful. The fifth princess is currently selecting the style.

The Empress Dowager was so delighted earlier, marrying off her granddaughter, the one she raised herself, and such a wonderful girl! Shouldn't she be praising her to her heart's content? As she grew older, the Empress Dowager's rejuvenation deepened.

When the meal was about to be served, the Empress Dowager stopped talking, still unsatisfied, and looked at Hesheli: "Why don't you stay and eat with me?"

Of course, Hesheli couldn't refuse, so she thanked him and stayed. She felt quite helpless. "Fifth Princess, even if it's not good, we have to accept it!" You keep repeating these things over and over again...it's really tiring to listen to.

The Empress Dowager looked at her daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law again: "What about you?"

Everyone was afraid of the Empress Dowager, and everyone had their own things to do. The concubines wanted to go back and wait for the call to be made, and the wives had things to do at home and also wanted to go see the Fifth Princess, so they all said they wanted to go back.

The Empress Dowager grabbed an effective listener and generously let everyone go. The servants fled all the way out of Ningshou Palace, some returning to the palace, some visiting the Fifth Princess.

The Fifth Princess had just picked out two purse patterns and put them down. The meal hadn't even been served when the sisters-in-law arrived.

When the Fifth Princess heard the maid say, "My Lord, the Crown Princess, the First Consort, the Third Consort, the Fourth Consort, the Fifth Consort, the Seventh Consort, and the Eighth Consort are here," her ears felt hot. With them gathered in such a group to watch, it was easy to imagine what they would talk about. Young girls are shy, and the thought of "marrying" makes them shy.

The sisters-in-law arrived, and no matter how embarrassed they were, they had to accept them. She was the host, and there was no reason for her to neglect her guests. The sisters-in-law smiled and looked at the embarrassed Fifth Princess. She was wearing a lotus-colored squirrel fur coat, a pair of long red gold filigree hairpins in her hair, a red gold filigree bracelet inlaid with a row of pearls, and a pair of earrings in her ears.

She was already seventeen, sixteen in her sixteenth year, and her body had begun to show the fruits of her development, a truly graceful and elegant lady. With her thin, long eyebrows and bright eyes, she looked a bit like her mother, Consort De, with her soft features. He bowed to the sisters-in-law and allowed the Crown Princess to take the main seat, followed by the order in which each husband sat. He ordered tea and then asked, "Why are you here, sisters-in-law?"

Shujia smiled and said, "Come out from the ancestor's place, we miss our sister."

She didn't point it out, but the Fifth Princess understood it in her heart. She blushed again and said immediately, "Thank you for your concern."

The Eighth Lady said straightforwardly, "Second sister-in-law, just say it directly. Why make you think too much? Uncle Tong's wife is here to pay her respects at Ningshou Palace today. Did you know?"

The Fifth Princess gathered herself together and said, "I heard that during the first month of the lunar year, there are always many people coming to pay their respects."

The Fourth Lady said to the Eighth Lady, "Don't tease her."

The Eighth Lady said, "I'm just passing the message to my younger sister."

The Fifth and Seventh Concubines stood by and watched. The First Concubine said, "You better keep your mouth shut." Given the face-saving relationship between Yinzhi and Yinsi, she could have said this. The Third Concubine covered her mouth and said, "Oh my, what are you doing here?"

The Fifth Princess blushed under the constant barrage of her sisters-in-law. She knew what was going on but couldn't say it out loud, feeling uneasy. The Fourth Lady winked at Shujia, who said to the Fifth Princess, "Seriously, the sisters-in-law aren't here to tease you, but to congratulate you. Don't be embarrassed, this has to happen."

This brought us to the point, and everyone congratulated them. As for the Fifth Princess, since she was old enough to understand, her aunts and sisters had been marrying off one after another, and she had been worried about her own future. Of course, she was willing to finally not have to marry far away, especially since the Tong family was so prominent. She was truly worthy of congratulations.

The sisters-in-law regained their composure and began to speak politely. The Third Lady said, "Just now in Ningshou Palace, the Crown Princess mentioned that if you can't bear to leave your brothers, it's just right. We all have our own residences outside. Your princess residence could be built next to your brothers'. What do you think?"

The Fifth Princess was slightly surprised. This was a good idea. Staying in Beijing was certainly a much better option than living far away in Mongolia, but that didn't mean she was free of pre-marriage fears. Living close to her family would at least be a psychological comfort. The Fifth Princess was cautious and planned to discuss this with her mother and grandmother later, especially her grandmother. If she spoke, the Khan-Ama would certainly value her opinion on such matters.

"This matter is not up to me to decide," the fifth princess implicitly expressed her wish as it concerns the future. "It depends on whether Khan Ama thinks it is appropriate." There was hope in her tone.

The sisters-in-law all noticed. The Eighth Lady said, "No matter where you are in the city, if you're not close to one brother, you'll be close to another. I'm a neighbor of the Fourth Sister-in-law, so why don't you come over? But where are your two brothers?" She began to advertise.

The sisters-in-law's conversation turned to treating their younger sister-in-law like a neighbor, praising the conveniences and surroundings of the mansion, which they hadn't even seen yet. Shujia sighed deliberately, "Are you doing this on purpose? Are you trying to seduce me? You're trying to seduce me right in front of me. No way, I need to take advantage of these days to get closer to you. Even if you're away, this is still your family home. Remember to come visit me."

Everyone burst into laughter.

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Amidst the laughter, Yinreng had already returned to Yuqing Palace, racking his brain with thoughts: how should he behave the next time his Khan-father traveled? He certainly had to express his nostalgia, and if he went along, he had to say something, but… he'd said the same thing countless times; it was no longer fresh. He was also gradually past the age of being cute, so he had to think of a way.

When Shujia came back, he still hadn't figured it out. When he saw Shujia, Yinreng asked her, "Why are you so late today?"

"Don't you know?" a surprised voice said, "The Fifth Princess's future grandmother-in-law has come to the palace to pay her respects and express her gratitude."

"Oh?" Yinreng was quite interested in this. "What's the explanation?"

Shujia told Yinreng about what happened today in detail. Yinreng touched his chin and said, "That's great... Come and eat. I'll go and tell Khan Ama after dinner." It showed his concern. It was too late to tell the third and fourth sons. It was obviously his wife's idea. He couldn't let others get the advantage!

Kangxi was looking over the arrangements for the Southern Tour. The Empress Dowager was old, so the itinerary needed to be more carefully planned. Hearing that the Crown Prince wanted to see him, he put down his work and said, "Send him in."

Yinreng stepped in and paid his respects. After the ceremony, Kangxi asked, "Why are you here now? I guess you have something to ask?"

Yinreng first brought up something else: "I heard from Yarjiang'a that his father was a little unwell. The southern tour is coming soon, and it's not good to disturb the Khan's father..."

"Yabu? He's getting quite old. Ask the Imperial Hospital to send someone to check him out." Actually, there was no need. The palace could call on imperial physicians. They might not be of the highest rank or the most advanced skills, but overall, they were still quite good. Who told the Crown Prince to care about others? Who told... Kangxi to think that Yabu, a man of similar age, was in poor health, while he himself was healthy and could still walk around?

Then the matter of the Fifth Princess came up. Kangxi said, "You are thoughtful!" Yinreng laughed and said, "I have only been thinking about her. Shouldn't I start preparing now? In a couple of days, you will leave, and I will have to write a memorial. How can it be better to report everything to you in person?"

"Well, go ask the Fifth Princess, and then see if your uncle Tong Guowei has any objections. Find out clearly, and then report back." This meant that the Crown Prince was going to try to curry favor with the emperor.

Yinreng bowed his head and said, "Son, I obey your order."

The negotiation with the Tong family went smoothly. The Fifth Princess had already shown a tendency to agree. Kangxi mentioned the Fifth Princess, and today he turned over the name of Concubine De. Concubine De also had something to say, and the two of them agreed. Concubine De said, "I have three daughters, but she is the only one who has grown up. I miss her even more. The princess has her own residence and is not close to her parents-in-law. It would be nice if her brothers and sisters-in-law could take care of her a little."

In just two sentences, she mentioned the Tong family, saying that she did not distrust her daughter's in-laws, expressed her own concerns, and arranged for her daughter to live with her son.

Kangxi meant to choose a good place. If I were to live with my brothers, then of course I would be neighbors with the fourth brother! That was exactly what I wanted.

Yinreng, on the other hand, instructed his wife to flirt with the Empress Dowager while he went to curry favor with the Fourth Prince. He knew that placing a younger sister next to Yinzhen might not be enough to impress him, but being closer to Tong Shi was an acceptable excuse. He was already closer to his adoptive mother, and when Xiaoyi passed away, the Fourth Prince cried until he nearly died.

"When I came back and heard what your second sister-in-law said, I said she was kidding. If the fifth princess wants to live, she should live next to the fourth prince, right? It's only true that Princess Rongxian lives next to the third prince."

Yinzhen had just heard the Fourth Lady come back and say this: "...Mother called me over, and the meaning behind her words was that she wanted my younger sister to stay with us. What do you think? It's not good to really let my younger sister become neighbors with Prince Cheng's family, right? Wouldn't that be a joke?"

Of course not. For the sake of the Fourth Lady's last words, Yinzhen had to snatch his sister back. He took out his pocket watch and saw that it seemed to be early. He wanted to go to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to interrupt his parents. But the Fourth Lady pulled him over and said, "I think the Third Sister-in-law was just talking casually. The Third Prince would never do such a thing. The Crown Princess was just talking casually. I think she didn't mean it either."

Before Yinzhen could make up his mind, his second brother arrived with good news. Yinzhen was delighted: "Prince, you're here so late, and it's still cold." He also invited Yinreng to have a midnight snack and drink hot soup to ward off the cold.

Yinreng accepted it with a smile. Yinzhen was thinking: Oh, where is the suitable place to build a new house near my house? Well, the eighth brother is already a neighbor, so my sister will have to choose another place. It’s not impossible to be a street or two away...

"Fourth? Fourth?"

"ah?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Uh, ahem, the soup tastes good."

“…”

After sending the prince away, Yinzhen calmed down, regained his rationality, and raised his eyebrows. It seemed like he owed the prince a favor?

In fact, this was done by the prince and his wife. If Shujia hadn't mentioned it, no one would have thought of it. But once she mentioned it, Yinreng took advantage of it and it became a favor to Yuqing Palace.

The prince and his wife, having successfully collaborated on a promotion, were calculating the financial costs. Suo-etu was in poor health, so they had sent him a large amount of medicinal herbs. A common ailment among retired seniors isn't a matter of actual physical decline, but rather a psychological depression. Even understanding the situation doesn't guarantee freedom from sadness. The prince's gesture of concern not only dispelled negative rumors about him but also comforted Suo-etu.

The prince discovered that Soetu was actually capable and useful, the key was how you used him.

"So, is this all we have for our uncle's family?" Shujia asked Yinreng. "Since the Fifth Princess's marriage has already been announced, and she's marrying into a family like this, we need to be thoughtful with the gift. The budget is just right now. The Fifth Princess is a refined woman, and the Tong family is a family of scholars. If the gift is too vulgar, it will be embarrassing for us."

"Well, let's leave it at that for now. I seem to remember the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Observatory have already chosen an auspicious date for Prince An. He's going to marry his second wife, so the gift can't be light." "Eldest, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, when the hell are you guys moving? If you don't make a move, I can't go ahead and grab the money!!!"

He had just read off a long string of numbers, so he had no time to pay attention to them. Everyone was packing up at home, preparing to go on a government-funded trip with their father, the Emperor! Oh, the fourth brother was left behind, on duty with his second brother—the kind that didn't get paid. Thirteen and fourteen, who had been playing along, were also added. Together, they went on the Empress Dowager's southern tour.

The Royal Expedition, set off!

Crown Prince, look after the house!

The author has something to say: Emperor Yongzheng's sister married the grandson of the Tong family! This guy is said to have become a member of the Eighth Party... The Fourth Master probably hates the Eighth Master even more.

By the way, I personally think the tension between Lao Kang and the Crown Prince stems from a lack of smoothing things over. For example, the flattering words and the constant chatter of seeing each other every day is actually quite tragic. Distance makes beauty!