Only you know the ups and downs of a lively event

In recent years, it had become common for the Crown Prince and his son to accompany the Emperor on his travels. Who wouldn't say that the Emperor's trust in the Crown Prince's palace was growing? However, watching his brothers shoulder more and more political responsibilities, Yinreng felt as if a handful of ice cubes had been stuffed into his stomach, causing him to feel uncomfortable from time to time.

Yet, he considered such a trip necessary. He had already accumulated sufficient experience in government affairs to be not only capable of handling matters independently, but to say he could oversee the overall situation was not an exaggeration. It was time to travel around and gain more respect. A western tour, after all, would not be so easy. Thinking of the news that had been concealed until now, Yinreng felt even more uneasy.

Seeing his younger brothers in Beijing having the opportunity to show off, he felt even more uncomfortable. After the incident with Yinzhi, the prince couldn't help but develop a bit of "persecution paranoia". Seeing Shujia pass his luggage to him again, he couldn't help but say: "Hongdan and I are traveling with Khan Ama, and we have Khan Ama's protection in everything. But you are in a serious condition and the day is approaching. You are alone at home, so you must be careful."

Shujia smiled and said, "It's not the first time. Didn't I give birth to Honggui safely? This time, at least I have two girls to keep me company and entertain me."

Speaking of this, Yinreng felt a little ashamed. When Honggui was born, Shujia had no useful relatives, and he had to accompany the emperor on his journey. Looking at Shujia wearing a half-worn royal blue forged flag dress and only two or three hairpins in her hair, he sighed, "I'm sorry for putting you in such a difficult position."

They went through the most difficult days together. At that time, Yinzhi was pressing him step by step, and he was anxious. Khan Ama kept cultivating his brothers, and there were a bunch of idiots around him who made trouble from time to time... How much grievance did the couple suffer in order to break this mess?

His previous extravagance was further reduced. Not only was she required to be frugal, but she was also meticulous and attentive to everyone, not only the elders within the palace, but also the eunuchs of the Qianqing Palace, the maids of the Ningshou Palace, the bondservants, the families of court officials... all were given undivided attention. She also had to consider ways to increase revenue to make up for the financial shortfall. Given the high status of the Crown Prince, such a situation shouldn't have been necessary, yet they still found themselves living in hardship. Yinreng's fists clenched and unclenched.

Shujia asked in surprise, "What are you talking about?" Seeing him staring at her in a daze, she reached out and touched her face. "I was just reading, not writing. I hope there's no ink on my face." She looked at her hands again, which were clean. She blinked, then remembered the hairpin on her head. "It was a gift from the Empress Dowager. She's just being too suspicious. It's all over now. What else is there?"

Ever since Yinzhi's misdeeds, the Empress Dowager has been in a state of panic. Not only has she been burning incense and praying to Buddha, she's also distributed a batch of supposedly blessed Buddha statues, prayer beads, and other items to favored concubines. Naturally, Shujia received a large portion. Furthermore, thanks to the Empress Dowager's influence, ornaments said to ward off evil spirits have become particularly popular this winter. The Sanskrit-inspired hairpin on Shujia's head is one such item, also gifted by the Empress Dowager.

Everyone knew that Yinzhi hated the Eastern Palace the most, so it was only right for the Empress Dowager to give the Crown Princess some more things to calm her down.

Yinreng lowered his head, wiping away the tears from his eyes: "As a man, if I can't protect my wife and children, and still make them work hard for me, what kind of man am I?!"

"It's winter now, so what if I need to cut a few more clothes? I can ask the Imperial Household Department..." He paused here. Ling Pu, the guy who was not disciplined and was targeted by others, was no longer in the Imperial Household Department.

"It's useless to cut new clothes for my current appearance. They won't be wearable soon," Shujia said angrily. "After giving birth and confinement, it's already the end of the year. At that time, we mostly wear ceremonial clothes and court clothes, so we don't need a lot of clothes. But when spring comes, we need to pack some spring clothes."

Yinreng had to buy Shujia new clothes. Seeing that he was getting stubborn, Shujia stopped resisting and said, "Okay." What a lie! How can I get clothes tailored when I'm pregnant?

Yinreng felt better and said, "I remember you."

Shujia also agreed, and teased: "If you go with the emperor, I won't complain, so there is no need to bribe me like this."

Finally, Yinreng whispered, "The clothes you are wearing are no longer bright. Change them."

Shujia laughed: "What are you doing today... seeing this dress and thinking I have nothing to wear? I'm pregnant now, so my normal clothes can't fit me. Only the clothes I made when I was pregnant two years ago can fit me, so I'm wearing them now. It's not that I have nothing to wear."

Yinreng just didn't like her clothes. Shujia said, "Okay."

Yinreng finally smiled as he chattered on about trivial matters: "This time, apart from me, the third brother, and the thirteenth brother accompanying the emperor, the rest of the brothers have all stayed in Beijing. The only ones in charge are the fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth brothers, with the fourth and eighth brothers in the lead. The others are either learning to do their jobs or still studying. If you have any embarrassment, the Empress Dowager is here to help. If it's really not possible, the Concubine in the Chengqian Palace can ask her for help. You can send a letter to your parents' home. Your sister will be staying here for a few days anyway, so it would be convenient to pass on a message. If there's anything the committee can't decide, you can hand it over to the fourth brother. You still have to be careful with the eighth brother..."

One by one, I made contingency plans for every possible situation: who to contact when the baby is born, who to contact if the baby is sick, who to handle the outside gifts during the confinement period, and who to assign to help prepare for the New Year...

The sun still shines on the East Palace, making it seem particularly quiet and warm.

Shujia's face unconsciously revealed a sense of peace, and she leaned against Yinreng's shoulder: "You have thought of everything, what use is there for me?"

Yinreng reached out and scratched the tip of her nose: "Enjoy yourself?"

"That's a good job, sure."

Yinreng pulled his arm back, swallowing the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He had learned: on the night of Yinzhi's incident, after Tong Guowei left, Kangxi had vomited blood! The imperial physician was then quietly summoned, but surprisingly, no information was leaked.

When the old man wanted to keep things secret, many things weren't really meant to be gossiped about. Unfortunately, the emperor's vomiting of blood was such a big deal that even those in the Qianqing Palace, despite their efforts to maintain composure, had to let some of the details slip through their words and actions. One manifestation of this was their exceptional attentiveness to the crown prince.

Yinreng initially thought that it was because Kangxi was about to announce the appointment of a grandson as the crown prince that everyone was getting more aggressive with him. Two days later, he finally realized that he was already the crown prince, so even if his son was appointed as the grandson, how could he deserve such treatment from those serving in the imperial court?

I was the one involved, and I was also excited for a while, but I calmed down quickly. Why are these people in the imperial court so unsteady? With such erratic behavior, let alone in the imperial court, the Eastern Palace doesn't want such a jerk.

There's something particularly wrong with the looks they give me!

Liang Jiugong is a good breakthrough point. His position is high enough, but his character is not good enough. He is the one chosen by Kangxi... He is a man who is cunning and needs to be watched carefully.

Liang Jiugong confessed very readily, but his face was filled with sorrow: "Prince...you...the Emperor..." His voice was very low, "that day...he vomited blood...shut up!"

Yinreng's back was covered in sweat. "Why? How come I don't know? Isn't it because of qi that you're sick? Is it just a cold? I've seen the prescriptions and tried the medicine! You must know that this matter cannot be said nonsense!" How come Qingde didn't hear the news in front of the emperor? (Qingde: Your Majesty, I just finished my shift at the Qianqing Palace and am resting at home.)

"Let alone you, no one in or outside the palace knows about it except for the few people serving in the Qianqing Palace and the Imperial Hospital. His Majesty has issued an order not to tell anyone!" Liang Jiugong shuddered when he thought of Kangxi's dazzling eyes at that time.

Yinreng felt light and airy, his heart already half convinced. First, a brother and a younger brother died, then his eldest son haunted his brothers. If it were him, wouldn't he have spat out a mouthful of blood? His father, the Khan, was a man deeply concerned about his reputation, so how could such a scandal not irritate him? Expressing what was on his mind was usually harmless, but suppressing it was the worst thing. To deal with the aftermath, Kangxi had to suppress his emotions, like a spring: the harder you squeeze it, the more it springs back.

So... the marriage between the Crown Prince, the Nalan family and the Shi family to stabilize the court has a deeper meaning?

"Shut up! Since Khan Ama told you not to, how dare you talk nonsense?" Yinreng's face turned pale, and he tried his best to remain calm. "Don't let out another word! Do you hear me?! Otherwise, you will die!"

As the crown prince, asking about the emperor's health while he was vomiting blood... his heart is damnable! No one would believe you if you said you had no ulterior motives! With sweat on his hands, realizing that something was wrong, Yinreng simply leaned against the pillar in a leisurely manner, squinting at the clear sky. A light voice said, "Serve me with all my heart. Alas... Khan Ama..."

Liang Jiugong's face turned pale: "Huh!" But... wealth and honor are achieved through risk. I believe the crown prince has already remembered my achievement, right?

Yinreng withdrew his distant gaze and said, "The sun is nice. I'll bask in it for a while longer. By the way, tell them... as always, the world still belongs to Khan Ama! As sons and subjects, we should serve him respectfully. Since Khan Ama doesn't tell you to, then don't say anything. Since you don't want to worry me, I... have no choice but to obey your order."

Don't look at me like that! I'm the second-in-command, you want to kill me?!

If Khan Ama found out... Yinreng shuddered and didn't dare to think about it any further.

Shujia looked up at him and asked, "Are you cold?" and handed him the hand warmer in her hand.

Yinreng held the hand warmer and his hands were shaking a little.

————————————————————————————————————————

Outside the palace wall, a couple was also packing their things.

"Master, are you going to live in Nanxun Hall?" the Eighth Lady said, her tone rather discontented as she prepared a separate set of luggage for the Eighth Prince to take with him on duty. Ever since the Qing invasion, the Forbidden City had been subject to transformation. The gates to Kunning Palace had been abruptly relocated, and the functions and layout of many palaces had been altered. Nanxun Hall, however, had retained its original appearance, and it was precisely because of this that the Eighth Lady felt that living there was particularly unpleasant.

Since its completion in the Ming Dynasty, Nanxun Hall has been used to house portraits of successive emperors. Could it be a comfortable place to live in? The Eighth Lady expressed doubts.

The Eighth Prince was very calm: "Why can't I live there? Even if I couldn't live there originally, I must live there when I go there, and I have to live there comfortably." That was the imperial palace, his hometown, and he was still a prince in charge. Who would be so blind as to make him uncomfortable?

The Eighth Lady said angrily, "I always feel that you've been dragged down by the eldest brother," and she spat on the ground. "I've always said that he has a human body but a pig's brain! Even women like us don't do things that abhor victory, but he has no regard for the seriousness of the matter! He even caused my uncle to lose his job."

What a deep hatred! She would never have a good impression of Yinzhi just because he didn't curse her husband.

Prince An was nominally the uncle of the Eighth Lady, but in reality, he had been acting as her father for over a decade, effectively serving as her adoptive father. No daughter would be happy if her father lost his job due to someone else's involvement.

As the Eighth Lady was speaking, she mentioned Kangxi as well: "Khan Ama is the same. Uncle is in charge of the Ministry of Clan Relations, so he should be the one to arrest people. To put it another way, even if you don't want outsiders to know, didn't the third brother turn himself in? Wouldn't it be easier to ask him to do it? Shouldn't Prince Jian be appointed, so why give him the Ministry of Clan Relations? Who is more recent? Could it be that Khan Ama has suspected all of us because of the eldest brother?" She began to have wild thoughts.

Yinsi's heart skipped a beat, but he said calmly, "Don't speculate. It's not true. The emperor ordered me and my brothers to take turns on duty during his western tour. It's obvious that he doesn't mind."

Prince Jian and Prince An were both distantly related to Kangxi, but Prince Jian had spent over a decade studying in the palace, so the emotional connection couldn't be compared. It didn't necessarily stem from their marriage. Yinsi was alarmed by the fact that Kangxi had always been clear about his intentions: to reduce Prince An's influence. It seemed the old man hadn't given up on that idea.

Yinsi became increasingly reassured. If he could act this way towards a mere Prince An, then even the Emperor wouldn't be able to act rashly if the Prince was powerful, so he had no choice but to resort to this slow and steady approach. It seemed that developing power was the right path. Otherwise, as Yinzhi's close brother, it would be incredibly difficult for him to curry favor with the Crown Prince.

What was Khan Ama thinking? Yinsi was lost in thought. Eighth Lady spoke for a while, but when no one responded, she was about to ask, but seeing his expression, she closed her mouth again. She was a bit eager to show off, but she wasn't completely insensitive to others' expressions.

Yinsi silently calculated that with the old man's methods, the Prince An's Mansion would have to be restrained. If he couldn't do it, the old man would definitely have a trick up his sleeve. Rather than letting others take advantage, it would be better to get close to the Prince An's Mansion. Ever since Yinzhi's accident, the old man's health had deteriorated significantly, so he had to move faster.

"When I go to the palace for the night shift, if you have nothing to do, you don't have to stay at home all the time. It would be good to move around more."

"Needless to say?" The Eighth Lady quickly replied, "You and Uncle Jingxi seem to get along quite well. Why don't you try to persuade him? Don't always get angry with Prince An's mansion."

Yinsi smiled: "I save myself the trouble."

Jingxi, thanks to his father's influence and his own performance, held a high nobility title. Unexpectedly, Kangxi, digging up past grievances, demoted him several ranks, reducing his status and making his life much worse. When he was a Beizi, his nephews treated him with respect. Now, while they were polite, they were much less respectful. He was the legitimate son, yet could only watch his brother inherit the title—which was fine—but the thought of a nephew who would become the future lord of the Prince An's Palace was a source of discomfort. Conflicts gradually arose.

The Eighth Lady took the opportunity to ask, "Khan Ama went on his own tour to the west, and you are still here to discuss etiquette?"

Yinsi smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, it is a difficult thing."

Just like the treatment of the Crown Princess, the Crown Prince was a novelty, requiring all the necessary etiquette... to be figured out! Of all the discussions, this was the most frustrating, time-consuming and laborious. Without a moderator, the debaters could argue to death! Yinsi himself wasn't particularly well-versed in this area, and the emperor, who could have controlled the situation, had gone on a trip.

"What's so difficult about this? Just report what they've agreed on," the Eighth Lady thought, trying to avoid getting involved. "When it comes to the eldest brother's affairs, we all have to turn a blind eye. Even if it's a little beyond the bounds of etiquette, we just have to accept it."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Yinsi analyzed. "It's not like I'm the only one left here. When the time comes, my brothers will each have their own opinions. If I pretend to be dumb, I'll just stand out."

The Eighth Lady said angrily, "This doesn't work, and that doesn't work either. It's really boring."

Isn't it? Yinsi followed with a wry smile: "Don't be angry here, I have my own ideas about these things. Another thing, when I'm not at home, don't always drag your uncle's family into your affairs, they are still worried."

"Who should I look for then?"

"If there is something, send someone to tell Mr. He and ask for his opinion. If the matter is bigger, send someone to find me in the palace. If it is really urgent, isn't it next door? If I am on duty, he will definitely not have to be on duty. Although he may not be likable, he is serious about his work. As long as he promises to do something, he will do it unless it is really impossible." This was said of the Fourth Prince.

"become."

"Don't take it so seriously. I'm on duty and have to come back every two days."

The Eighth Lady said angrily, "Why are you saying so much to fool me?"

"Never again."

The atmosphere was warm, but the Eighth Lady had a thorn in her heart: still no heir, and next year would be the year for the selection of concubines, with the possibility of another "marriage" coming her way. Kangxi, it was said, was not one to interfere much in his sons' affairs. Before marriage, he would give her a concubine to use first, then appoint her as a regular concubine, and after that, he had little control over matters.

It was likely the imperial concubines' whispering that prompted Kangxi to appoint one or two concubines to his sons' harems. Or, as in the case of the eldest prince, the original wife died, prompting the emperor to appoint a second wife. This was true for the princes, and it was similar for members of the imperial clan.

Which prince would be short of women? Whether it was the princes in the palace or the princes outside, who didn't have a few concubines from the bannermen family? With so many resources around them, how could they be short of people if they wanted them? The emperor didn't even need to worry about them starving.

There was only one situation where Kangxi would show extra care: someone like Yinsi, who had no sons. This refers to both before and after marriage. Based on Eighth Lady's understanding of Consort Hui and Consort Liang, they had both been removed from the imperial court, and since they hadn't received favors for a long time, their opportunities to meet the emperor were rare, and their chances of offering advice were even lower. The idea of ​​sending concubines to the family was most likely Kangxi's own.

The Eighth Lady was furious. Even if she could only give birth to a son, it would save her from being talked about behind her back, right? Look at the neighboring family. The Fourth Lady only gave birth to a son, and she was so stable.

How could the Fourth Lady be stable? She could only stay put.

The Fourth Prince, who was described by the Eighth Prince as "annoying but reliable", changed his talkative nature when it came to the fact that he had to stay behind on business and was often away from home. He only had one sentence to say to his wife: "Do as usual." After that, he grabbed his hat, put it on his head, looked at himself in the mirror, and went out.

If it is concise and to the point, it is just like Elder Tang in "A Chinese Odyssey". When he is nagging, people want to beat him to death with a stick. When he is concise, people want to grab his collar and shake him for more words.

The Fourth Prince was too confident in his wife. He knew that the Fourth Lady would take care of everything, so why was he still nagging? He should have done something meritorious to nag about it. Even though he was a chatterbox, his words were not free.

The Fourth Lady's mouth was bitter. If they truly had a mutual understanding, it would have been fine, but with the appearance of illegitimate sons and daughters, her understanding of him and her became increasingly diminished. Fortunately, the Fourth Prince still respected her very much, leaving her in charge of the affairs of the palace and not interfering in the affairs of the family. He did not want to offend her, and he valued Honghui more than the illegitimate sons.

But that's how it is. The relationship between husband and wife is a bit like plain water. He nags less and less, and his work becomes busier and busier.

The Fourth Lady stared at the door in a daze for a long time, then patted her cheek. After all, they were a model couple and respected each other.

But if they were all treated as politely as guests, were they still family members? The Fourth Lady was stunned again.

Li's belly was swollen again.

——————————————————————————————————————————

The rest of the princes, whether they were accompanying the emperor or staying behind, each had something to tell the woman who was in charge of the household. After they had given the instructions, the emperor set off.

As the matter had been reported, the next day after the emperor left, the third and fourth daughters of the Shi family, Shuyi, and Shuhui, came to the palace. Shujia was in Ningshou Palace at the time, and the two young girls were also summoned there, led by Madam Shi Lin.

After the three of them saluted, the Empress Dowager smiled and said, "You're finally here." The two girls were several years apart in age, and were easy to tell apart at this age. They all wore the same small Manchu clothing and had small bun hairstyles. Shuhui's hair was not as long as Shuyi's, so it was a little thinner.

First, the elders exchanged pleasantries. Two little girls, holding handkerchiefs, stood behind Madam Shi Lin, their eyes watching her nose and their noses watching her heart. The Empress Dowager, the concubines, and Madam Shi Lin exchanged pleasantries, but many of them paid half their attention to the two little girls.

They chatted for a long time, and even changed the tea twice, but the two girls still stood there obediently. Concubine Tong asked Madam Shi Lin with a smile: "Are these the two princesses?" Madam Shi Lin bowed and said: "Yes."

The Empress Dowager called the two little girls over and said, "Come here, let me take a look." With narrowed eyes, she held one by each hand, looking from one to the other, and rubbed the backs of the girls' tender hands with the pads of her thumbs. If someone of a different gender did this, it would be considered rude.

Concubine Tong said from the side: "They are two really pretty girls." Concubine Yi also praised: "Indeed, they are so beautiful."

Shuyi and Shuhui were still a little nervous, their cheeks flushed, as they quickly glanced at the pregnant woman sitting next to the Empress Dowager. Oh, her sister was standing right next to her, so why should she be afraid? The Empress Dowager first asked Shuyi, "How old are you? When were you born? What do you like to do?"

Shuyi answered respectfully, thinking to herself, the Empress Dowager is indeed accustomed to speaking Mongolian.

The Empress Dowager then turned to Shuhui and asked, "What about you? When was your birthday? Have you learned needlework? Your sister's needlework is excellent and she is very clever. I think you are not bad either."

Shuhui also answered.

The Empress Dowager only asked a few questions and chatted with them about family matters: "Your sister often said that you are all good girls..." After speaking in detail, she asked, "

Everyone was stunned. Didn’t you even notice that you were speaking Mongolian?

The two little girls were stunned and immediately answered: "I can speak a little. Grandma has become more and more accustomed to speaking Mongolian recently." As people get older, they do whatever is easiest.

Shujia asked with a smile, "I sent someone to check on grandma the other day. Is she okay?"

Shuhui said, "It's all fine, except that my teeth are a little loose, so I can't eat hard food."

The Queen Mother said, "Ah! What a pity!"

Shuyi and Shuhui's noses were sweating. This Empress Dowager was truly unpredictable. Even as the Empress Dowager, she should have said a more dignified closing remark, right? What a shame, that was all? Judging from her tone...was she even feeling thankful that her teeth were still in good condition?

Shujia said, "Then the food I asked them to bring is quite suitable." Of course, the food given to the elderly should be strong and soft so that it is easier to eat.

The Empress Dowager left the little girl behind, along with the concubines and wives in the room, and turned to ask the Crown Princess, "Have you cooked something delicious again? Is it something new and special?"

Shuyi and Shuhui: ...

After a long pause, the Empress Dowager finally released the three sisters: "I told them to come and keep you company, but instead they're sitting here with us old folks grinding their teeth. What a waste of time! It's perfect, why don't you take them back for dinner?"

The Empress Dowager originally wanted to keep the meal to observe, but when she saw Shujia had calmly changed three sitting positions, she regretted it greatly. She shouldn't have asked a pregnant woman to stay like that because of her momentary excitement, and she quickly sent her away.

The three sisters were able to escape.

To be more precise, it was the two young girls who felt as if they had survived a catastrophe. Madam Shi Lin also excused herself and slowly followed Shu Jia. Being old and pregnant, they couldn't move quickly. The two girls tactfully supported one of them each: Shu Hui supported her great-aunt, and Shu Yi supported her elder sister.

They spoke in silence all the way to the East Palace, where they sat down as host and guest.

Madam Shi Lin said, "These two girls, I brought them here. Judging from the masters' expressions just now..."

Shujia said, "It's not certain yet."

Maybe? Not impossible? Madam Shi Lin felt more confident and stopped asking questions. Instead, she congratulated the Eastern Palace: "Last time, there were so many people around that we had to talk properly. This time, I want to congratulate you sincerely."

Shujia knew she was talking about Hongdan, and smiled, "It's because Khan Ama likes him." After a few days of calming down, she no longer had the initial excitement, but there was still a long way to go.

Madam Shi Lin was startled as Shu Jia continued, "Have you met the princess of the Nalan family?"

Madam Shi Lin said, "I have seen her. She is a very pretty girl, gentle and charming, like a willow branch."

Oh my god! Shujia frowned. Shuyi's heart moved. Shuhui also knew that the third sister-in-law was not as good as her mother liked. Why did the second sister dislike her after hearing a word without seeing her?

Shujia was thinking: The Nalan family's grandchildren are dwindling rapidly. Besides Nalan Rongruo's children, Kuixu and Kuifang had been married for twenty years and had quite a few children, yet the few still alive could be counted on one hand! For a man with a wife, concubines, and a maid, it's a little too few! Nalan Rongruo also died young, and Nian Gengyao's wife was said to be in poor health.

After a moment's silence, Shujia said, "As long as she has a good temper, it's all right. Khan Ama has spoken, and it won't be wrong. I can't see her now. When you get married, bring her to me."

Madam Shi Lin said, "Yes."

From beginning to end, Shujia never mentioned the Crown Prince again. Madam Shilin had seen him before and, judging by Shujia's attitude, she didn't mention it either. The two young girls, however, were somewhat surprised. They kept quiet at home, because their father said they weren't out of mourning yet, so why was he in the palace? It was clearly a lively event.

It was indeed a lively event. At this moment, the previous court was engaged in a lively quarrel! Things like the dispute over gifts were a grand stage for everyone to show off their skills. Other matters would also consider the issue of face: if you make a mistake, I'm related to you, so I won't scold you in front of the court, I'll just play dead. But this was a great opportunity to show off one's skills.

This is no longer an era of party disputes, so things are not as intense as they used to be, but there are still many things to contend for.

There was a lot of talk going on between the two sides, and the Fifth Prince was so angry that his eyes were filled with mosquito coils.

The disagreement wasn't about the special status of the crown prince, but how special he wanted to be! Should he surpass his uncles? Should he surpass the princes? To what extent? How many pearls should be on his hat? What material should the seal be made of, how many inches and how many centimeters square, and what kind of button should be carved? And... where should he live?

After arguing for a while, they just rolled up their sleeves and went to fight.

The author has something to say:

At this time yesterday, Pangpang called and said he wanted to discuss the text with a certain person...

To those who wrote long comments and typed JF, points have been sent, please check. I can’t reply... **It’s too much.

190 Living in the Palace as a Teacher

In this world, many things seem difficult not because they are inherently difficult, but because the difficulty often lies outside the problem. The remaining princes are now deeply experiencing this philosophy: it's not that the etiquette is too complicated, but that they don't have the power to decide!

If one of them had the final say, it would be simple. They could just make the decision, saving the ministers from arguing. The problem now was that the decision rested with Kangxi. An emperor in a rage wasn't easy to talk to. If they didn't handle the situation well, a beating would be inevitable.

Fortunately, many of the ministers were sensible, and the emperor said that a set of regulations should be formulated as soon as possible. The Imperial Astronomical Observatory, the first government office of the Cold Ant Forum, once again gained attention and was involved in calculating the nearest auspicious day.

When the princes held a meeting, the Fourth Prince was very angry: "They are so noisy and fussy, and they don't even say a word of responsibility."

Among the princes who stayed in Beijing, he was the oldest except the one who was circled, so his younger brothers were reluctant to argue with him - weren't they also anxious and angry?

The Eighth Prince smiled slightly and said, "Fourth Brother, Khan Ama gave more than just one instruction before he left."

"No matter it is court robes or utensils, we have to wait until the regulations are set before we can ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs to purchase them. There is more than one thing to do. If this one is not done, the others will not be done." The Fourth Prince's tone became increasingly cold. Listening to him speak in the middle of winter was no less than feeling another cold wave.

The Eighth Prince was calm and composed: "Fourth Brother, don't you remember? Khan Ama even ordered the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to calculate the date. The dispute here will take too long to be resolved, but the Imperial Astronomical Observatory's calendar is ready. We worked together, and we have a result here. The Imperial Astronomical Observatory has also calculated the date. Are you waiting until everything is ready to find out that the date is not calculated correctly?"

The Ninth Prince chuckled and said, "Eighth Brother, that's great." After saying that, he gave a thumbs up.

The Imperial Observatory, always the target of scolding and interrogation, was now politely "invited" by the princes. He was still terrified. Had he done something wrong? Could it be that the date for the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes' wedding at the end of the year was wrong? Thinking back to the time he'd calculated a wedding date for the Fifth Prince and his family, and been repeatedly dismissed, his calves were cramping.

After coming over to greet him, he saw the brothers amiably assigning him a task: "Calculate the earliest suitable date for the enthronement."

The Ninth Prince grinned and said, "Khan Ama is waiting to use it."

Thus, while the court officials were still arguing fiercely, the princes had already drawn the lines for them. The Imperial Observatory acted quickly, reporting several dates the next day, from the end of the 42nd year of the Kangxi reign to the summer of the 43rd year of the Kangxi reign, a total of five days.

The next day, the princes announced the outcome at a meeting. The one who spoke was the Fourth Prince, who was generally considered difficult to get along with. "Before leaving, Khan-Ama ordered us to take charge of this matter. We must not slack off. Khan-Ama said that important matters should be decided early to reassure the people. Now that the date has been set, what are your rules?"

The court officials seemed to be energized. They swallowed their saliva, cleared their throats, rolled up their sleeves, sorted out their thoughts and prepared for another heated debate. They had to make it clear before this day!

Just as the ant finished coughing and rolled up its sleeves halfway, someone came out to shout for help!

The Imperial Household Department could no longer sit still.

You guys are just wasting your words while arguing. The final payment will fall on us. If you keep dragging your feet to reach a result before the deadline, won't that leave us less time to prepare?

"Since this is the case, we, the servants, implore you to make a decision as soon as possible so that we can prepare the Crown Prince's court robes, ceremonial weapons, and utensils."

The princes smiled at each other and said, "Look, we don't even have to do it ourselves. Someone has come out to urge us to update... uh, to urge us to do our job."

The Imperial Household Department not only oversaw the royal family's food, clothing, housing, and transportation, but also many other expenses. As the emperor's closest ministers, the Imperial Household Department was not to be trifled with. If you embarrass them today, they'll have plenty of ways to upset you later! Reaching a consensus, the court officials began to abandon the idea of ​​necessarily fighting for victory and instead strived for moderation.

The Imperial Household Department stood by and watched them quarreling with a fierce look on their faces.

——————————————————————————

Because Yinreng and his son were both away on a long journey, and Hongxi was not yet old enough to attend court, the Eastern Palace was relatively isolated from news from the court. Shujia was unaware that the court had shifted from fierce arguments to striving for consensus. Every day, she would go to Ningshou Palace to see the Empress Dowager and chat with the concubines. She would come back to talk with her sisters and open Yinreng's letters.

The two girls actually lived in the East Palace. Since it was big enough, Shujia had the courtyard in front of the library on the right side of the Duanyi Palace cleared out, so the two sisters could live together. Hongxiu, a former servant of the Shi family, personally led them there. "Originally, we thought we would arrange for the master to have a little princess here when she had a little princess, but it turned out to be the only place where the little princes were born. So the master ordered the closest courtyard to be used as a library, and the princesses lived a little further forward."

The courtyard gate had already been opened, and Hongxiu let them in. It was a rather exquisite double-story courtyard. The three main rooms in the front were for receiving guests, and around these three rooms were three more main rooms in the back, which served as bedrooms. Along the courtyard walls on either side were two rows of side rooms, presumably used for storage, accommodation for palace maids and eunuchs, and so on.

Shuyi and Shuhui hadn't brought their usual maids with them, so Shujia had Hongxiu and Yuniu take care of their daily needs with two young eunuchs. As Shuyi and Shuhui walked, they observed the courtyard from the corner of their eyes. It was spotless, clearly cleaned. Once inside, they found everything brand new, indicating it had never been lived in.

Shuyi was a little embarrassed: "Aunt, this yard is still new. Is it suitable for us to live here?"

Hongxiu smiled and said, "You two are the master's sisters. If the master says it's suitable, then it's suitable."

Yu Niu asked the eunuch to bring the two sisters' bags. "The girls' things are all here. We dare not touch them without permission. How do you think we should put them?"

Shuhui said, "They are just a few pieces of clothing and jewelry, and they belong to their respective owners. The blue bundle contains my sister's things, and the red ones are mine. Aunt, you are familiar with the rules of the palace, so you can do whatever you want."

Yuniu thought to herself that a ten-year-old girl could say such things, so she must have been well-mannered. She knelt and bowed, "Well, put the clothes in the closet. Yours on the left, the third lady's on the right, and the jewelry the same way. Okay?"

Shuhui nodded: "Thank you."

Hongxiu had been observing and said with a smile, "The princesses have been accompanying the Empress Dowager all morning, it's time to call it a day. Why don't you take a break, change clothes, and wait for the meal to be served to the Empress Dowager?"

Upon hearing this, the two hurriedly stood up. The young eunuch had already fetched two basins of hot water, placed them on the basin rack, and then retreated. Yuniu and Hongxiu stepped forward to help them remove their jewelry and wash their faces again. After walking around Ningshou Palace, they had sweated a lot, and Shuyi's makeup needed to be reapplied. Shuhui, on the other hand, was still young and hadn't yet applied makeup, so she saved a lot of trouble.

The two changed into casual clothes. Hongxiu helped Shuhui tidy up her clothes and said, "The master doesn't need to dress too formally at home. The girls don't need to be restrained when meeting their sisters." She also talked about rules and customs, and Shuyi and Shuhui listened attentively.

It didn't take long for her to change her clothes. She opened her mirror box and took a look, then put on some makeup and combed her hair. When everything was ready, Hongxiu said, "It's time for dinner. I'll show the way to the ladies." Shuyi and Shuhui exchanged a glance, and two purses slipped out of each of their sleeves.

Hongxiu accepted the reward with a smile: "I won't be polite." Yuniu and others stepped forward to take the purse and thanked her for the reward.

Shujia returned wearing a scarlet embroidered jacket with hundreds of ornaments, and had removed most of her head jewelry, even replacing her earrings with a pair of small, single-bead pendants. She was reclining on the couch, lost in thought as she gazed at a jeweled bonsai nearby. The dining table was already set before her, and when she heard footsteps, she looked toward the door.

The two little girls also changed into homely clothes, both in half-new, bright red flag costumes, with their hair in buns and matching collars. Shujia smiled inwardly. All the big families had the same rules. She and Shuxian had followed the same rules when they were at home, and now that they were married into the Eastern Palace, they treated their sons of similar age the same way.

Holding Lin Si'er's hand, Qing Jin supported Shujia's shoulders and back on the other side. Shujia smiled and sat at the head of the table: "Serve the meal, you all have a seat."

The two sisters sat down, one on each side, and the mats were brought in one by one. Shujia said, "We've been busy all morning and we're tired. Let's eat first and talk later."

Shujia felt perfectly at home, having plenty of time to observe her younger sister's behavior. Both girls were clearly qualified, and next year's selection process would be held, and Shuyi's qualifications should be no problem. Shuhui... so young, yet so serious. Now, looking at her childish face acting like an adult, one could still say "so cute." But if she still looked like this when she got older, it would be a bit boring.

Don't talk while eating.

After a quiet meal, the table was cleared, and everyone rinsed their hands and mouths. A cup of tea was served to each of them. Then the nanny came to say that Honggui wanted his mother. Shujia said helplessly, "It's only been a meal, and he's already making a fuss again. Bring him here."

Everyone in the Eastern Palace used to eat communal dinners. With Yinreng at work and the three students at school, dinner was the only time they could connect. Shujia tried her best to make breakfast a common meal, even if it was a little smaller. Ultimately, she was the one who managed to twist it around. Honggui, though young, was accustomed to this lifestyle. Suddenly, he was forced to eat alone, and he didn't quite understand the reasoning. He felt aggrieved and barely ate a bite.

When he came over, Honggui was still pouting. Shujia turned her head and smiled: "Haven't you met your aunt yet?"

Shuyi and Shuhui both stood up.

Honggui blinked, looking from one to the other, full of curiosity, as if forgetting his grievances. The pink and tender little girl was indeed more attractive. She walked limply to her aunt and clasped her hands in a meaningful manner, saying, "Greetings, aunt." This action was very interesting when done by a young child.

Shuyi and Shuhui couldn't go up to him and pinch his fat face first, they had to return the favor.

After the ceremony, Honggui glanced at the two little girls reluctantly, and then turned his expression to a pitiful one: "Mother~"

"Come here."

Shuyi and Shuhui watched Honggui's swift movements, like those of a young bandit. He rushed to the couch and, using both hands and feet, climbed up, first onto the stepping stone and then onto the couch. This energy looked familiar!

The little bandit was happy as he lay on his mother's lap and let her stroke his back.

Shujia pinched the back of her son's neck and asked her sisters, "Is the room suitable?"

"very good."

"You'll be staying here for a while, so if it doesn't suit you, just tell me earlier."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

"Well, you don't have to be restrained here. Just observe etiquette outside this place. From now on, we will go to Ningshou Palace every day, so you don't have to worry about anything else. It's a good opportunity for you to take a look at the rules of this palace."

They both said yes.

After a while, Honggui's stomach started to growl, and the little bandit said confidently: "Mom, I'm hungry~"

The little ancestor's meal was served immediately. Shujia looked at her son eating by himself with a small spoon and felt very relieved: "Slow down, no one is trying to snatch it from you."

While Honggui was eating, Shujia asked about the recent situation at home: "How are my father and mother? After Mafa passed away, I haven't seen my mother many times, let alone my father."

The two sisters answered one by one. Shujia found that the two of them were very jealous. Although Shuhui let her sister answer first when she first posted on the forum, Shuyi also deliberately let Shuhui answer a few more questions.

"What did you learn at home?"

Hearing this, Shuyi and Shuhui were both excited. The drama was about to begin! Especially Shuyi, who would be taking the imperial examination next year. This was probably her sister testing her. Shuyi answered first: "I have read all the Four Books for Women and the Four Books, and I have also read some poetry."

Shuhui said, "I haven't read as much as my elder sister. I haven't finished reading the Four Books yet." She was a little depressed. It was said that the elder sister sitting above her was a little bit worse than her eldest sister, yet they studied together.

"Did Mr. Jiang teach you?"

Shuhui said, "Mr. Jiang is old, so Mr. Yao is here instead."

"Where's the needle and thread?"

"I'm learning from my aunts. I can't make clothes yet, but I can make a few stitches for purses, shoes and socks." Shuyi answered conservatively.

Speaking of the aunts, Shujia remembered that Aunt Wu and the others were only in their forties and could still teach students. If the Hongxiu and the others left, they would be taking away their jobs. "The aunts' advice is very useful. Are you willing to listen?"

Honggui finished eating and felt like lying on the table. Shujia patted him and said, "Get up and walk around before you go back to sleep."

The maids came up, picked up Honggui, put him on the ground, and watched him spin around.

Shuyi said, "Since the beginning of spring, the maids have been teaching the palace rules."

As soon as she finished speaking, she found that her sister had stopped talking. The room was very quiet, with only the dull sound of Honggui's footsteps on the carpet, which was particularly startling.

Shujia exhaled: "You all go write a page for me to see."

Zichang walked over and led the two girls to Shujia's desk. Two pools of ink had been ground long ago, and the paper was spread out. The two looked at each other, secretly encouraged themselves, and picked up their pens with force.

By the time they finished writing, Honggui was tired from walking and had already been taken to bed. Shujia took a look and saw that the girls' handwriting was very neat. "That's all right," she smiled and waved, "Come and sit down."

The Crown Princess acted like the Empress Dowager, with a "teasing and amusing" person sitting on either side. Holding one of her sisters in each hand, Shujia smiled and said, "That puts my mind at ease. I was feeling a bit bored being alone in the palace, so the higher-ups kindly sent my family to keep me company. Unfortunately, Mother couldn't come in, so they sent you two instead. I was worried that you would miss schoolwork if you came to keep me company, especially the Third Girl. She's going to be selected next year, and missing out on things is no joke. Now it seems there's nothing to worry about."

Shuyi also smiled and said, "How could it be a mistake? Yesterday, the aunts said that it was a blessing to be able to visit the palace. Your guidance is much better than learning blindly at home."

"What's with that mouth?" Shujia teased her, "Can you talk like this?"

"Then you can just live here peacefully for a month." With the final word, the third and fourth girls began their shocking lives.

—————————————————————————————

Living in the palace wasn't easy; Shuyi and Shuhui had already prepared themselves for this before entering. However, reality is always more shocking than legend. Without personal experience, you wouldn't understand how painful it was to wake up early and pay respects every day. The body clock in the palace was always two quarters of an hour ahead of the outside world, and their pregnant sister's sleep and sleep schedule followed the palace's standard time.

They had to get up a little earlier than their sister, ideally arriving just as her sister was getting dressed and combing her hair. They'd already been a bit late the previous day. It was normal to be a little excited on your first night in the palace, but a poor night's sleep would certainly affect your sleep.

When they arrived, Shujia had already finished cleaning up and was waiting for dinner. Seeing Honggui being carried in, the two of them blushed and hurried forward to salute, "We're late."

"Sit down."

I had lost the taste for this snack. After finishing it, it was time to pay my respects. "The Empress Dowager should be getting up now. Come with me to see her."

The Crown Princess had always walked to pay her respects, but recently, due to her impending birth, she had been forced to ride in a sedan chair. The two young girls did not have this privilege and had to walk, one on the left and one on the right.

"These are the people you will deal with in this palace. Watch more, listen more, and talk less. If you don't understand something, come back and ask me. Regardless of their status, they are all elders, so remember to respect them." The concubines have lived in the palace for a long time, and their every move carries the flavor of the palace. It would be perfect for you to study in this environment.

Arriving at Ningshou Palace, they were the first group to arrive, giving them time to make a better impression on the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was still very happy, as she rarely seemed unhappy. She praised her elder sister to her younger sister, "The Crown Princess is a wonderful person. She's the first one to come every day..."

Shuyi and Shuhui were secretly surprised when they heard this. Their sister had been married for more than eight years, right? And it was like this every day?

Shujia said, "It is one's duty to be filial. If you arrive a little earlier, you can get more benefits." As she said that, she picked up the cloud cake on the plate and took a bite.

Shuyi seemed to understand something.

Then, the concubines arrived one after another, including the Ninth, Tenth, and Twelfth Concubines. Shuyi and Shuhui were briefly asked, "Are you getting used to living here?" before being put aside to listen to the gossip of the other ladies. Gradually, the atmosphere began to develop. Concubine Yi, with her quick wit and forthright demeanor, was the most popular. Concubine Tong and Concubine De were favored for their understanding. Concubine Ten spoke Mongolian well, allowing her to engage in conversation with the Empress Dowager. Concubines Wang and other Han Chinese concubines were reduced to mere background.

After returning to the East Palace, Shujia did not rush to ask them to leave, but commented on what she had seen and heard today.

Shuyi said: "Everyone has his or her strengths, so we should play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses."

Shujia asked Shuhui again: "What about you?"

Shuhui was stunned. "If you follow the right path in everything, you can go anywhere." After a moment's hesitation, she said, "For example, my second sister is very filial to the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager is naturally close to her."

This second sister really made people feel mixed emotions. Shujia asked Shuhui: "Is it okay to be honest? How is it okay? Filial piety? Is it filial piety to die early?"

Shuhui tried to think: "I will wake up at dawn and dusk, and enjoy your presence."

"Is that it? For example, today, we arrived fifteen minutes early. If we didn't know Mongolian, could we still stare at the Empress Dowager for a quarter of an hour? The Empress Dowager likes to hear simple and easy-to-understand words. If you nitpick on words, are you teaching her a lesson? The Empress Dowager likes to chat with people, but you keep silent and let her tease you and cheer you up? Will the Empress Dowager still be happy like that?"

Shuhui's worldview was shaken. It could be said that wherever she appeared, she was a presence among the young girls who could not be ignored. If it was a birthday party, she would just show up, bow politely, say "May you be blessed as vast as the East Sea and live as long as the Southern Mountains," then listen to the compliments quietly and be humble. She never considered whether others would dislike her because she was sure it was the right thing to do. Now, when asked this question, she was completely stunned.

"Even though I brought you here to play, you can't fall behind in your studies. You can all write a few pages before dinner."

The two of them were writing in Shujia's study.

Hongxiu went to check and came back, whispering to Shujia, "Master, the fourth young lady seems a little absent-minded. Did you frighten her by saying that?"

Shujia pursed her lips and smiled: "My mother would never raise her daughter to be unable to withstand hardships. It's better to be shocked." The Shi family's family education, apart from other things, must have the quality of tenacity.

After finishing her writing, Shujia stopped looking at it and invited the two to eat. After they finished eating, she said, "You are all thinking about things, and I can tell that you are thinking about things. If you have something on your mind, you must learn to put it aside first." She pointed at Hongxiu and said, "The third girl will be selected for a big job next year, and the rules cannot be abolished. The aunts at home are good, and the one here is not bad either. Let her teach you the rules from today. The aunts at home have been away from the palace for a long time, and things in the palace are not the same as in previous years. It's a good time to let her tell you. The fourth girl hasn't finished her lessons yet, so let's review them today."

After the assignment was completed, Shujia and Hongxiu went to work as teachers respectively.

Shuhui felt a little uneasy, but her second sister smiled mysteriously and pulled her in for a chat: "Sit down, I'll teach you your lessons. A teacher's job is to impart knowledge and resolve doubts, which is more important than teaching you to recognize a few words or punctuate a few sentences. Anyone who studies must not only learn, but also think."

"Yes." He was quite shocked.

"Do you miss reading?"

"I do think about it, but I just can't figure it out."

"You really thought it was what you thought, not what the masters said?" This was a bit confusing. Seeing that Shuhui was about to get angry, Shujia explained it to her in detail, "Think carefully, is what you think now different from what the masters taught you? Is it really what you 'thought', or did you just memorize the masters' words?"

Shuhui was really confused: "Master taught us the words of sages. Could it be that sages are also wrong?"

"The Analects of Confucius already exists, so why did Mencius need to write more books? Was Mencius born a second-rate sage? Why did Zhu Xi bother to annotate the Four Books?" When it comes to fooling people, the Crown Princess is definitely a master.

Shuhui, a primary school student, was fooled by her older sister, who was the same age as an aunt. The forum starter was faced with a living example of an ant. This sister became the Crown Princess and did it quite well, which shows that what she said... is feasible.

Shujia breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the child was still young and her thoughts were not yet formed, but she was stimulated by her. She was sure that she would remember her words more deeply than her master's words in the future - because they were unusual!

"You can't just memorize what others say and claim it as your own. You have to have your own ideas." Shujia continued to fool her, refusing to remind her sister that what she, as an older sister, is doing now is indoctrinating her, and she is also trying to fool her sister into thinking that her own opinions are her own.

The Crown Princess's "Four Books for Women" has finally found someone to teach!

The days passed slowly, and Shujia had a very high opinion of Shuyi. Basically, Shuyi could do a good job without her having to give her any more advice. As for Shuhui, the little girl had originally a very pure mind. Ahem, a blank piece of paper was always used for writing.

When chatting with Hongxiu, Shujia often sighed: "If the fourth girl was as smart as the third girl, I would have less worries."

Hongxiu said, "The fourth young lady is not unintelligent, she just hasn't put her mind to it. If you can enlighten her, what will be difficult in the future? I see that the fourth young lady is becoming more and more like you in your youth."

"What did I look like back then?"

"It's like this now."

"Huh? Well, youth is neither old nor bad."

“…”

As they were chatting and laughing, Shujia's heart suddenly jumped and her body stiffened instantly. Hongxiu was startled: "Master, what's wrong?"

"Maybe she's about to give birth..."

The author has something to say:

Tomorrow is finally Friday, tears are flowing!

, don’t ask me to update today!

191 Childbirth and Funeral Arrangements

As a seasoned mother, Shujia was no stranger to childbirth. After sensing something unusual in her body, she systematically assigned tasks: "Go report to the Empress Dowager and the Concubine Mother of the Chengqian Palace. Call the midwife selected by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Go to the Imperial Hospital to summon the imperial physician. Call the previously selected nanny and wet nurse to stand by."

Hongxiu supported her, not daring to leave. Fortunately, the Crown Princess wasn't alone with her maidservant; Xiuniu and the others were also there. Since it was daytime, eunuchs like Zhao Guoshi were also there. Hongxiu and the other maids surrounded Shujia while Zhao Guoshi went out to carry out the Crown Princess's instructions.

He trotted out the door. A group of young eunuchs were huddled together in the corridor, their hands folded, waiting for instructions. Zhao Guoshi casually pointed, "Go to the Imperial Hospital and summon the imperial physician. Tell them that the Crown Princess seems to be about to give birth. You, call the midwife, and quickly!"

After giving these instructions, he sent someone to report: "You two go to Ningshou Palace to inform the Empress Dowager that the Crown Princess seems to be about to give birth. You two go to Chengqian Palace to report the news and ask the Imperial Concubine to take good care of her. You go and call the nanny prepared for the little prince." After saying this, he hurriedly ran to tell Gao Sanxie.

When Zhao Guoshi left, Shuhui, who was studying in Shujia's study, heard the noise and came over. Seeing Shujia being held by two people, she was shocked and said, "Second sister, what's wrong with you?"

Shujia smiled at her: "It's no big deal, I'm just going to give birth."

"Huh?" Shuhui was the first to panic. Giving birth is a big deal, even elementary school students know its importance. Shuhui was at a loss for a moment, searching her limited common sense: "Why don't you go inside and rest? Where's the midwife?"

Shujia was still in the mood to tease her: "You know how to find a midwife, you know it in your heart."

Shuhui: “…”

Hongxiu was also sweating: "Fourth Miss, the master is fine here, but you can't stay in this room any longer. I will send you to stay with the third lady."

Shuhui was in a dilemma. Shujia had already said, "You all go ahead. No young girls should go into the blood room. Hongxiu, there will be a lot of people around later, so keep an eye on them." Then she said to Shuhui, "Go tell your third sister not to panic. I won't be able to look after you in the next few days, so tell Hongxiu if you have any problems."

Hongxiu responded repeatedly, "Master, I will definitely serve the two princesses well. Please be quiet for now, as you will need your strength later."

Seeing this, Shujia immediately said sensibly, "Second sister, Aunt Wang and I are going to see Third sister."

Shujia then said to Xiuniu, "Go watch Honggui. There will be a lot of people coming and going soon. Don't let him get bumped. When Hongtong comes back from school, keep an eye on him too."

Xiuniu was both angry and amused: "Master, you are the one who should be most careful now! The two princes each have a nanny, and they will do their best."

After everything was said and done, Shujia wisely kept quiet and, supported by them, she slowly paced around the room. Gao Sanxie ran over and called out, "Master," then stopped talking and retreated outside to coordinate and direct the group.

The imperial physician, midwife, and wet nurse arrived one after another, but Concubine Tong arrived earlier than them and kept urging them: "Where's the midwife? Where's the imperial physician? Have you called them? Go and ask them again!"

The imperial physician and the midwife were running, arriving breathless. The physician first took the patient's pulse: "Everything is fine." The midwife then stepped forward: "Master, let's go in." She then ordered hot water to be boiled. Zhao Guoshi lay at the doorway of the main hall and said: "I've already prepared it. It should be ready by now."

The midwife wanted to hit someone. The pregnant woman hadn't even lain down yet, so what was the point of boiling water? "Keep boiling it a little more. Don't let it get cold. Be careful not to let it dry out."

Concubine Tong sat anxiously in the east side room waiting for news. Li Jiashi and Li Jiashi heard the noise and came over. Concubine Tong said, "Your mistress is about to give birth. Let's all wait here for news." She asked Honggui if anyone was watching. When she learned that Xiuniu was there, Concubine Tong nodded and said, "She is a reliable girl."

The wet nurses and nannies came slowly; they were the most patient, for they were not needed until the baby was born. Without waiting for instructions, Xiuniu went forward and led the wet nurses and nannies to the side room to rest.

Concubine Tong stood up and walked to the door to listen for any movement inside. She only heard a noisy sound of footsteps and unclear voices. At this time, Hongxi and Hongtong, two students from school, came back. Hongxi understood what was going on as he had experienced the same thing before. He grabbed Hongtong and said, "Slow down." He stopped Zhao Guoshi and asked what was going on.

Zhao Guoshi's forehead was covered with sweat. "Greetings to the two elder brothers. Congratulations! The Eastern Palace is having another baby." Hongtong was very nervous. He was still a child when Honggui was born and could not remember the details. He grabbed Zhao Guoshi and asked, "How is my mother?"

Zhao Guoshi said, "The Imperial Concubine, the Imperial Physician, and the Midwife have all arrived. Ningshou Palace has also sent people to inquire about everything. Everything will go smoothly. Please go back to your room and wait for a moment. There are too many people here. We don't want to disturb you."

Hongtong was unwilling to comply. Hongxi also stepped forward and asked, "What did the imperial physician say?"

"He said everything is fine." As soon as he saw Gao Sanxie, he quickly called him over and pushed the two princes to Gao Sanxie.

Gao Sanxie stepped forward to pay his respects, then said, "Brother, if you're worried, you can wait here, but please make way. It's warmer and quieter over there, out of the wind. I'll have them put up a screen. How about you two wait there?"

As Hongxi grew older, Gao Sanxie's attitude towards them gradually changed from that of children to that of adults.

Hongxi and Hongtong held hands and stood aside waiting silently. Gao Sanxie directed their followers to get screens, thick cloaks, hand warmers and other items.

Those who were busy didn't stay busy for long, and those who were waiting didn't wait long either. Not long after dark, the Crown Princess successfully gave birth to another boy, and both mother and child were safe.

For a moment, everyone in the East Palace was overjoyed. Great! As long as everyone was safe, everything was fine. As for whether it was a boy or a girl, it didn't matter to them.

Concubine Tong said happily, "Please clean up the room and hang up the bow. Send someone to Ningshou Palace to report the news. Take the badge to Nanxun Palace to tell Prince Si. Send the news to the Imperial Court tomorrow morning. Tell the Crown Princess to have a good rest. I will take care of the third day bath."

Shujia was a little exhausted, but she did not faint. She listened to Concubine Tong's loud instructions outside and waved weakly to Lulu. Lulu came out and said to Concubine Tong, "My lady, my master sent me to thank you."

"I was just about to ask you, where are your master's two sisters?"

"The master has asked Sister Wang to accompany him."

"Okay, it's getting late, and I should go back. You guys find a place for the imperial doctors to rest up ahead, and don't ask them to leave. We'll talk about it tomorrow." After handing the rest of the matters over to Gao Sanxie, Concubine Tong saw the brothers Hongxi and Hongtong as she was about to leave: "It's so cold, why are you two standing outside? It's no joke if you get frozen."

Hongtong's face flushed: "My dear concubine!"

Seeing him throw the hand warmer to the eunuch beside him, Concubine Tong came running over and smiled: "It's cold, go inside and see your brother." She then said to Hongxi, "Rest early today. Although there is a happy event, you still have to wait for tomorrow."

Hongxi bowed his head and said, "Yes."

After touching Hongtong's face and finding it not so cold anymore, Concubine Tong went back with peace of mind. She was still thinking about how to handle the third-day bathing ceremony. She had to send out a notice early tomorrow morning...

The next day, the news that the Crown Princess had given birth to another son was told to everyone through various channels - the express horse to the imperial court had just set off, and it might take a few days for the news to be received - those who received the news hurriedly prepared gifts for the newborn.

Like his two aunts, Honggui was not released until the next day. He was not allowed to see his mother after his release, and he was extremely unhappy. They were so excited that they arrived early, before dawn, and the Crown Princess was still asleep. Honggui was lying on the door, ready to force his way in. Hongtong stepped forward and grabbed his collar, pulling him back: "You are a brother now, you should be sensible!"

Hongxi: ...Shit! You're about to strangle Honggui to death! He quickly stepped forward to rescue him: "Be careful, the collar is stuck on his neck!" The two maids surrounded him from both sides, grabbing one each time.

Hongtong said embarrassedly: "I thought I could lift him up."

Hongxi was speechless. You overestimate your own fighting power.

Honggui pulled his collar and said, "I'm going to be a big brother?!"

Hongtong's face hardened again: "Don't make noise!"

Hongxi: You're loud too. "Keep your voices down!"

After the elder brother spoke, both of them shut up, saving trouble for the maids who wanted to come up and persuade the two young masters to be quiet.

Shuyi and Shuhui also arrived and stood aside quietly. When everyone was quiet, they looked at each other and asked about what happened yesterday: "We didn't dare to come and cause trouble. How is the second sister?"

Lu Xu smiled and said, "Our master has never encountered any bad things. The young prince is still asleep, so it's unbearable to watch him at the moment."

Shujia had already woken up while she was talking. After washing her face and rinsing her mouth, she called everyone over: "I'm fine. You still have to go to school. Come and see your brother after you take a bath. Honggui must eat and sleep well." The three of them looked at her eagerly. Hongtong said, "Mother, we want to see our brother."

The newborn was sleeping soundly, and Honggui muttered, "It doesn't look good." Then Hongxi pulled his clothes and said, "Mother, our sons are going to study." Hongtong patted Honggui on the head before leaving.

Shujia sent her sons away and instructed her sisters, "I have to recuperate after the baby is born. I won't be able to look after you. Third daughter is getting married soon and can't be delayed. Fourth daughter's schoolwork is also very important. You should pack up and go home first. Bring good things to your family. Come back to see me after you're done with the baby."

The two agreed and went back to pack. Hongxiu followed and commented on Shujia's behalf: "It was the master's idea. The two girls should go back and tell the master and the mistress the good news. After a while, the master may want to invite you two to stay for a while." Especially Shuyi, as the grand selection was approaching, it was only right for her to meet the judges first.

After the packers left, Concubine Tong came again. She looked at Shujia's face and said with a smile, "You look good."

"I also want to thank my mother for taking care of me."

Concubine Tong spoke modestly and gave a general account of the third-day bath. "I sent messages everywhere this morning, so I'm afraid it'll be busy here soon. The people from the palace are probably coming soon, but the ones outside the palace may be a little slower."

As they were speaking, Hongxiu brought Shuyi and Shuhui to say goodbye.

Concubine Tong's eyes widened: "Why are you leaving? Your sister is busy, so is there no one to entertain you?"

Shujia said, "My mother hasn't seen me for a long time. I'm afraid she'll be too worried, so I asked them to go back and talk to her face to face."

Concubine Tong stopped asking questions and said, "That's right." She took off a pair of bracelets from her hands and gave one to each of them. "You are going home, and I don't have anything good. Take it and play with it."

Shujia declined on her sister's behalf: "You gave me a meeting gift when we met, and a farewell gift when we left. You really are like a child giving away money."

Concubine Tong said, "I like them just by looking at them, and I'm happy to spend money on them."

Shujia said, "Since it's a reward from the Imperial Concubine, you should accept it all."

The two of them then accepted it and thanked him.

After the others left, Concubine Tong said to Shujia, "If this news gets to the Emperor, His Majesty and the Crown Prince will be so happy!"

That was an exaggeration. No matter how happy we were, it couldn't compare to the excitement we felt when Hongdan was born, right? Shujia didn't point it out. Anyway...it was true that everyone needed good news to cover up their previous nervousness.

Shujia's guess was correct. Kangxi burst into laughter after receiving the news and handed the letter to Yinreng who was standing beside him: "The Crown Princess gave birth to a son on the fourth day of the eleventh month. Both mother and child are safe."

Both of them laughed sincerely - after all the laughter along the way, there weren't many times when they were genuine.

This western tour was originally a planned inspection tour by Kangxi, but due to the incident involving Yinzhi, it took on a new meaning: to showcase the harmonious life of the royal family. Thus, the western tour felt like a rush, a desperate effort to project calm, composure, harmony, and beauty.

Kangxi always took the crown prince and his son with him wherever he went. He usually held his grandson in one hand, his son standing on the other, with the emperor in the middle, traveling, meeting with officials, and handling government affairs that were not particularly confidential. In the eyes of his subjects, this royal family was truly stable and united!

The route of the Western Tour was to leave Beijing through Zhili and Shanxi to Shaanxi. Zhili Governor Li Guangdi was the first to come to the court.

Li Guangdi had been appointed Minister of Personnel in Han Dynasty in April of this year and was still appointed Governor of Zhili. He had not yet arrived in Beijing but was still presiding over affairs there. However, Zhili was too close to the capital, and he was highly favored by Emperor Kangxi, so he was well-informed about many things in the capital. It was just that the incident with Yinzhi happened so suddenly that Emperor Kangxi needed to cut the Gordian knot without informing him in advance. Nevertheless, the next day, after making his decision, Emperor Kangxi immediately notified everyone.

Li Guangdi also wanted to meet with Kangxi to gather information and adjust his response. On the first day of the emperor's journey, upon reaching Shisanli Village in Liangxiang County, Li Guangdi arrived. His request for an audience had already been submitted to the emperor and approved, even before the emperor knew he was leaving the capital.

He was a shrewd man. As a Han official, it was wisest not to get involved in conflicts between the princes. They were not bannermen, and their lives were generally guaranteed. Once involved, Han officials would be worthless, making an example of them a perfect example. Therefore, Li Guangdi was very cautious. Even though he had taught Yinreng, he only expressed his opinions on his studies and kept silent on any further questions.

Furthermore, his impression of Yinreng was not particularly favorable, so Li Guangdi cautiously maintained a neutral stance. It was precisely because of this tactful attitude that Kangxi, despite beating Mingzhu and whipping Soetu, still treated Li Guangdi with the same care. This man, despite his reputation for betrayal and unfilial behavior, was still able to serve as the governor of Zhili, relying on his tact.

Now the situation has changed again. The guy most likely to succeed the throne has been circled, and the Crown Prince is just waiting to get his job certificate. Even if he has a bad impression of the Crown Prince, he must correct himself. Besides, the few times he met the Crown Prince, he was quite polite to him. If the Crown Prince pretends to be a minister, the minister will have opinions. If the minister pretends to be a prince, the Crown Prince will not only have opinions but also make suggestions and prepare to put them into practice.

Regardless, he had to see the emperor first. Regardless of the family, the relationship between the crown prince and the emperor was one that had to be discussed, yet was difficult to articulate. While Li Guangdi intended to show goodwill to the crown prince, he also recognized the situation: the emperor's final say was the final word. The future emperor would have to step aside for a moment.

The route for the Western Tour had been mapped out long ago, and Shisanli Village lay along it, having already been prepared. The villagers were thrilled, and had no complaints about the long-awaited demolition and expansion work: wherever the emperor passed, taxes and levies would be reduced or exempted.

Preparations were made early, and Kangxi's accommodation was quite comfortable. Even before he had settled in, he heard that Li Guangdi had arrived and was summoned to see him. Li Guangdi had rushed from Baoding Prefecture to Liangxiang County early in the morning, and the wait wasn't long—the emperor hadn't been in a hurry the day before, and since he had been meeting with officials, it was still early when he stopped.

Li Guangdi was dressed formally, looking very energetic, despite his age. Entering the room where Kangxi was staying, the room wasn't cold, but Li Guangdi felt a bit gloomy. His movements were still smooth, rolling up his sleeves, kneeling, bowing, and reciting the standard audience dialogue. Kangxi's calm voice came from above: "Stand up."

Li Guangdi climbed to his feet, his eyes adjusting to the light. He saw the crown prince and his grandson, like statues, standing on either side of the throne. The winter sun shone through the door frame, drawing a line just in front of Kangxi's toes.

Kangxi looked much older and more withered than the last time he had seen him. Li Guangdi saw this and began to flatter him: "Your Majesty, your face is pale and you have worked so hard. I beg you to take care of yourself." It seemed that the incident with Prince Zhi had dealt a heavy blow to the emperor.

Kangxi smiled and said, "You too." He looked closely at Li Guangdi, who was also a thin old man, and ordered him to sit down.

Li Guangdi finally settled into his seat and was able to survey the Crown Prince and his son. The Crown Prince had surprisingly lost weight, evidently having been through a lot. This was a good thing; if he had gained weight, Li Guangdi would have had to make other plans. He then looked at the newly appointed Crown Prince, who appeared to have grown taller since the beginning of the year. He stood silently beside Kangxi.

Kangxi and Li Guangdi exchanged pleasantries and turned to discussing Zhili government affairs. River engineering was the main topic, and Li Guangdi answered them logically. Kangxi then inquired about people's livelihoods, and Li Guangdi replied naturally, "Zhili has dredged its rivers for years, and there have been no disasters. The people live and work in peace and contentment."

Kangxi was delighted and inquired about the situation of officials of all ranks in Zhili. Li Guangdi answered them one by one. As they continued their conversation, it was time for dinner, and Kangxi invited Li Guangdi to dinner, accompanied by the Crown Prince and his grandson. The table was far from quiet. Kangxi and Li Guangdi hadn't seen each other for a long time and had something to discuss. Yinreng, too, couldn't just focus on eating, and would occasionally interject a few words. Hongdan, on the other hand, was quite quiet, taking two bites of food, then a mouthful of rice, then putting down his chopsticks to listen to a few more words.

After dinner, Yinxiang came over to ask, "Khan Ama, will the Crown Prince continue with his afternoon classes?"

Kangxi said, "Of course. You have just finished your meal. You can move around after a while. Yinreng should go too. Don't get bored staying in the room all the time."

After sending away a few pairs of ears, Kangxi wanted to have a private conversation with Li Guangdi.

"What do people outside say about Yinzhi?" During the confidential conversation between the emperor and his ministers, Kangxi bluntly pointed out the key point.

Li Guangdi had prepared a plan for each question before arriving, and Kangxi was asking exactly what he had prepared. He answered slowly, "There aren't many rumors out there. I saw the palace gate report and learned of this. I was horrified and utterly lost for words."

Kangxi looked at his fingertips, as if analyzing the truth in Li Guangdi's words. Li Guangdi sat upright as before, maintaining a calm demeanor. After a long moment, Kangxi asked, "What do you think?"

This is not a case of playing Tai Chi. The leader is clearly asking for your opinion, and if you don't share it, it's passive resistance. Li Guangdi considered it for a moment before saying, "Prince Zhi was misled by others and committed such a foolish act. Your Majesty has already dealt with it. In my opinion... he has been circled, so the matter is over with him. Now, the most important thing is to appease those who are still outside the circle."

After saying that, he closed his mouth, with an expression that said he would never say anything even if you kill him.

Kangxi's thoughts were very similar to his, and he thought to himself that Li Guangdi was indeed a capable man.

Li Guangdi, a capable man, followed the emperor on his journey westward. After all, it was within his jurisdiction, accompanying the leader on an inspection tour. Then, he was slapped in the face.

Here's a person I'd like to introduce: Yang Mingshi. Yang Mingshi, courtesy name Binshi, was a native of Jiangyin, Jiangnan. In the 30th year of the Kangxi reign, he achieved Jinshi (imperial jinshi) status and was later promoted to Shujishi (official scholar). His examiner, Li Guangdi, admired him greatly and even taught him Confucian classics, making him a semi-mentor to Yinreng. After the academy closed, he was appointed Jianchao (censor). In the 41st year of the Kangxi reign, Li Guangdi recommended him as the supervisor of Shuntian's education, and he was soon promoted to imperial tutor. His career was smooth, and his personality was quite... unique!

On their western tour, someone in Zhili came to cause trouble. Kangxi and his companions, heavily protected, remained unfazed, and the three generations of grandfather and grandson remained calm. Kangxi didn't say a word, but Yinreng ordered, "Go and see what's going on." Hongdan even offered his grandfather a cup of tea.

Soon, the guards arrived with the report: "It's Li Zhengchao, a martial artist from Feixiang, who's gone berserk and disrupted the ceremonial procession." Li Guangdi, accompanying the emperor, was terrified. The incident had occurred within his territory, and further investigation revealed that this Li Zhengchao was also the one chosen by Yang Mingshi. Li Guangdi was furious. "Why are you running around like this, you Shuntian Prefecture native?"

Li Guangdi hurriedly knelt down to apologize, and then impeached the scene.

Kangxi was in a bad mood to begin with, but for Li Guangdi's sake, he had a good impression of Yang Mingshi, so he just scolded him and let the matter go: "There was Shi Shilun before, and there was Yang Mingshi after! Shilun is honest, but he is biased when encountering things. When the people and students have a lawsuit, he will definitely side with the people. When students and gentry have a lawsuit, he will definitely side with the students. He only seeks to be fair in dealing with things, how can he be biased? People like Shilun are suitable for being entrusted with financial matters. Yang Mingshi is the inspector of education. He intentionally discards the rich and recognizes the poor, and does not ask about academic performance or literacy, but he does not accept bribes, so I forgive him." I am here to show harmony, not to criticize people!

Even though he swallowed his anger, it still made him feel a little worse. Even though he was in a bad mood, he still had to put on a brave face to show his cheerfulness. The emperor couldn't stand the contrast, and after meeting with the Shanxi Governor Galin, Kangxi fell ill and didn't recover for three days.

Perhaps it was a psychological factor, but Yinreng always looked unwell to his Khan-father, while Kangxi hadn't been ill much during his entire trip. If he felt a little unwell, a little medicine and a sweat would do the trick. Furthermore, he still had the energy to think about other things.

As his health dwindled, Kangxi, a relatively rational man, inevitably began to think about his afterlife. His biggest concern wasn't the country; he trusted the crown prince's ability to handle affairs. Instead, he worried about his family. Kangxi was more concerned about his sons and nephews, especially his younger sons.

Of course, Emperor Kangxi's harem was headed by Concubine Tong, supported by the Four Heavenly Kings (Concubine Hui was considered disabled), but he favored two relatively younger women: Concubine He of the Guaerjia clan and Concubine Wang. Concubine He was already the main concubine and childless, a fate unto himself. Concubine Wang, however, had three young sons. What would become of them if he were to pass away? Unlike her older brothers, who had grown up and established their own families, they were not yet fully established.

After much deliberation, Kangxi came up with the most primitive solution: marriage.

When Yinreng heard Kangxi ask, "Does Hongdan's mother have four sisters?" he was stunned for a moment.

"Yes. The eldest sister was born out of wedlock and has already married a son of the Jiang family. The third sister was born out of wedlock and will be chosen next year. The youngest sister has the same mother as Hongdan's mother and is ten years old this year. Because she is about to give birth, I brought my two younger sisters into the palace to keep her company for a few days."

"Well, you've asked for permission, I know." Kangxi lowered his eyes. It was done. The Fifteenth Prince was settled. As long as the fourth daughter of the Shi family wasn't a shrew or a scoundrel, she would be his. He had three siblings from the same mother, so this meant he had a bridge to become closer to the Crown Prince.

One must believe this fact: Kangxi didn't know that he was historically unaware of his sixty-year reign, nearing his seventies. His ancestors didn't live long, and he was already fifty. Ten more years as emperor would have been a great achievement. By then, the fifteenth prince would have been only about twenty, still too young for a position at court... He should have considered his afterlife—how to make proper arrangements for the people he cared about.

So, in Kangxi's mind, assigning the Shi family girl to the Fifteenth Prince wasn't about giving him a hand. It was simply... about having the Crown Prince take care of his younger brother! The Fifteenth Prince's mother, Concubine Wang, was a concubine in name only, but in reality a noblewoman. Furthermore, she was a Han Chinese woman, and according to the Qing court's system, her status was even lower than that of a bannerman, which was truly worrying!

Just days after Kangxi made up his mind, he received good news from the capital: he had a grandson, and Hongdan had a younger brother. How could he not be delighted? The child arrived just in time, and the Crown Princess gave birth just in time. Kangxi ordered extra meals for the troops, sharing in the joy and letting the entire team be inspired. This was the only way to demonstrate the prosperity of the royal family, undeterred by minor incidents.

The author has something to say:

Even in history, Kangxi probably had the same idea at this time, right?

Deal with Soetu so that he can no longer have a negative influence on the crown prince. Let the young son be the crown prince's brother-in-law...