The Crown Prince's New Trouble

Soetu's retirement triggered a massive earthquake in the officialdom, with its epicenter in the capital and aftershocks reverberating throughout the country. Only then could one truly grasp the profound influence of this once-powerful figure. Perhaps he no longer had many capable people at his disposal, perhaps the crown prince no longer supported him, making it difficult for him to continue, or perhaps the emperor, displeased with him, could still eliminate him. But one undeniable fact: in everyone's eyes, he had become a role model.

Soetu first took sick leave and then retired, leaving his followers in a state of panic. Even when he was ill, people crowded around his door, each seeking advice. To no avail. The most devastated were the core members, as everyone knew: not only had the emperor dealt with them, but the crown prince had personally ordered Soetu to retire.

The sky is falling!

If it was just the Emperor's intention, they could still look forward to "the next day." Now it was the Crown Prince's intention, and the Emperor, a jerk of a father who was content with having a son and always listened to his son's words, had them all dealt with! It was so hateful! Hadn't they worked so hard for him for most of their lives? Now, the Crown Prince had turned on them!

I can't accept this, I really can't accept this! I was so angry that I wanted to curse the crown prince, but before everyone could gather together, the decree came down.

Kangxi acted quickly. As an emperor, he was satisfied with the prince's performance and saw the inner pain of his beloved son, whom he had loved for more than 20 years. In return, Kangxi wanted to prevent future troubles for Yinreng.

A villain is not to be trifled with. Even as an emperor, Kangxi couldn't ignore a villain. He naturally felt that Soetu was a first-rate villain, but the crown prince valued Soetu and gave him a glimmer of hope, and Kangxi didn't want to offend Yinreng. This child has had a hard time recently; growing up always comes at a price.

Sitting in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Kangxi read Soetu's three requests for retirement and smiled, a cold smile. Meanwhile, the imperial edict decreeing Soetu's retirement had already been issued, yet the emperor looked somewhat displeased. The eunuchs and maids of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, having long mastered the art of predicting the emperor's mood by reading the air pressure, picked up on the uneasy air and stood even more formally, striving to minimize their presence.

Spending time with Kangxi reveals that his good temper doesn't mean he never gets angry. And even a good-tempered person, when angry, can be incredibly brutal. Kangxi, in particular, possessed a strong will and perseverance. While such people have a high tolerance, once they cross a line, their resentment can be incredibly persistent and unwavering. It can last so long that even if you've forgotten, he still remembers.

"The Crown Prince is still too kind." He wasn't ruthless enough, a little soft on Soetu. That bastard, Soetu, wouldn't reflect deeply unless he was pushed. Look at these three memorials, each one more in-depth and detailed than the last. The Crown Prince's actions were qualitatively correct, but Kangxi felt a little inadequate in terms of quantity. He also felt the Crown Prince was kind enough not to push Soetu too hard. "He's my son, after all," Kangxi thought with a touch of pride.

Kangxi's words made everyone shrink even more. Even those as close as Wei Zhu and as clever as Liang Jiugong didn't dare to utter a word. Under normal circumstances, they might have joked, "The Crown Prince is kind-hearted, aren't you satisfied?" Unfortunately, Kangxi's smile just now was too terrifying, and it still haunted them. They were filled with resentment. The consultant had a higher title than us, and was in charge of more responsibilities than us, so why was he gone now?

The eunuchs could feign death, but the Grand Secretary couldn't remain silent. Li Tianfu didn't think this was a bad thing. As someone who had spent decades in officialdom, nearly every one of the six ministries, and always managed to maintain a balance, even after returning home from mourning, Kangxi still kept the Grand Secretary position for him. You have to believe that he was a thoroughgoing person. He knew Kangxi's temperament. He wasn't afraid of kindness, but he was afraid of a lack of conscience, especially toward his own son. The Crown Prince would be fine in the future, but he was suffering for now. As long as he held his ground and remained fair and impartial, he would remain a good crown prince, and the Emperor wouldn't let his position be shaken.

Li Tianfu shifted slightly, hoping Kangxi would regain his composure before calmly standing up. He still had a few important matters to attend to, which he had to ask. But before that, he had to say a few words, following Kangxi's lead: "The Crown Prince is young, after all, and may not be as thorough as Your Majesty. His actions are unusually prudent for his age. Your Majesty is in the prime of his life, so he can be a good mentor."

Kangxi liked hearing this. The prince understood, of course, that Soetu wasn't a good person. He also said the prince had some shortcomings, which was a subtle way of praising the emperor. Kangxi smiled reservedly, "You don't know," and changed the subject, "What's going on today?"

Li Tianfu said calmly, "Soetu has retired, and someone must fill his original post. Other positions are still acceptable, but the position of Minister of the Imperial Guard involves the Forbidden City, so I still need your instructions. The Imperial Envoy Longkodo reported that preparations have been made for the Emperor's tour of Mount Wutai, and it's just a matter of defense..."

Kangxi frowned slightly. He was happy that Soetu had gone, and it saved him the trouble of dealing with him. It was the Crown Prince who had sensed Soetu's faults and had ordered him to leave. If Soetu continued like this, he would eventually destroy his family. The Crown Prince was doing this for Soetu's own good. He was happy and relieved that Soetu had a good ending, but the Crown Prince was inevitably under greater pressure.

Kangxi knew Suo Etu was restless. The bustle outside his house was enough to tell him that he had considerable influence. Kangxi was worried that if anyone else got wind of the Crown Prince's attempt to persuade Suo Etu to retire, it would be disastrous if someone in Suo Etu's faction said something unfavorable to the Crown Prince.

Furthermore, Kangxi knew that life would be difficult without Crown Prince Soetu, and he felt a pity for him. He had such a broad-minded attitude, yet he had lost someone who could have helped him. He might face trouble from Mingzhu and others. Kangxi was well aware of the conflict between the two factions, but his natural protectiveness and self-hypnosis led him to temporarily ignore Yinzhi's role and directly blame Mingzhu.

If his son is well behaved, his father will consider him more comprehensively. Yinreng has grown up, can distinguish right from wrong, and has done the right thing. Kangxi cannot let him bear all the difficulties alone. Kangxi wants to tell everyone: The prince has done everything right. I support him. Don't mess around!

"Let's just talk about Xinyu. He's been idle for so long and has been eating my food for free for so many years. It's time for him to contribute some of his strength to me."

Li Tianfu was delighted. Bingo, he guessed right again. The emperor wouldn't let the prince be too upset.

Of course not. Kangxi issued another order: "Go and call Kaiyinbu."

Kaiyinbu, the commander-in-chief, also served as the commander of the infantry. The full name of the commander of the infantry was the commander of the nine-gate infantry, which was the position that Longkodo later held. He was in charge of matters such as the defense of the capital, catching bandits, and handling lawsuits involving bannermen.

Li Tianfu moved his ears but said nothing. After Kangxi finished speaking, he continued, "Another thing. The Ministry of Rites is requesting that the princes be given titles. The day is almost here." He pointed to a memorial, which also asked Kangxi to choose one.

This needed further consideration. Kangxi simply said, "I understand."

Li Tianfu had one more thing to ask for: "Earlier, the eldest son of the emperor, Yinzhi, and the Grand Secretary Yisan'a were ordered to offer sacrifices to the tombs of Jin Taizu and Shizong, and the Ministry of Rites has also asked someone to draft the sacrificial text." This was for revision.

There were only a few important matters, so Kangxi gave them a cursory glance and dismissed Li Tianfu. As Li Tianfu was leaving, he ran into Kaiyinbu. To reach their position, they were quite old. Although Li Tianfu appeared calm and composed, he knew this was due to his agility. Kaiyinbu was slightly different. His respect for his master made him bow slightly, but his steps were brisk and energetic.

When Li Tianfu and Kaiyinbu met, they greeted each other in low voices, clasped their fists and saluted each other, without stopping, and went about their business. This was the Qianqing Palace, and the emperor was still waiting for Kaiyinbu.

Kaiyinbu entered the eastern warm room, swiftly patted his horse-hoof sleeves, and bowed deeply. Kangxi smiled and said, "You are quite energetic. Stand up and give him a seat."

Liang Jiugong was finally relieved. Kangxi's behavior was a sign of improvement in his mood.

Kaiyinbu thanked him for the seat and then said with a smile: "I still have to work hard for my master. How can I not be well rested before seeing my master?"

"Oh? So, I do have a errand for you to perform."

"But I will obey the Master's orders."

"Do as this." A bloody document floated before Kaiyinbu's eyes.

Kangxi's words were lighthearted, but Kaiyinbu was furious. He wasn't furious about the difficulty of the task. The Emperor wanted him to capture Soetu's followers, which... was a piece of cake for him. Soetu's followers were too high-profile, and it was impossible to not know where they lived.

The implications of this mission were what made him want to vomit blood. Was the Emperor disapproving of the Crown Prince? Or was he seizing the opportunity to punish him? If the Eastern Palace were to destabilize, it would undoubtedly be a far greater earthquake than Soetu's resignation. Full of doubts, he still replied firmly, "I'll do it right away." Inwardly, he wondered, it's spring now, and aren't executions usually carried out in autumn?

Never mind all that, just get the job done.

Kaiyinbu left the palace, assembled his troops, and marched forward according to the list Kangxi had given him. Coincidentally, these individuals were holding a small meeting, and they could be taken down in one fell swoop. The meeting consisted of a detailed enumeration of their crimes, followed by the death penalty for some and exile for others. The exiled individuals were also warned: "If you continue to speak nonsense or cause trouble, your entire family will be executed."

Kaiyinbu became more and more confused. What were these guys saying?

When he returned to report, Kangxi offered him no explanation, leaving him feeling even more depressed. He even issued a strange order: "I am about to travel west. You must be very careful in the capital." My Lord, tell me, who should I be careful of?!

Kangxi would not care about Kaiyinbu's doubts. If he needed someone to teach him everything, he would be better off finding someone who knew better. Kaiyinbu understood this and decided to cast a wide net, catching as many fish as possible. He knew he would eventually catch the right one. With the imperial edict, he had a legitimate reason to gossip about other people's private lives.

He knelt down neatly and before he even walked out the door, he heard Kangxi's voice inside: "Liang Jiugong, go to Yuqing Palace and see if the prince is not busy, ask him to come over."

Kaiyinbu quickened his pace and ran back to his yamen to arrange for personnel. Since the incident started with Suo Etu, he needed someone to keep an eye on things. Ming and Suo Etu were not getting along, so he had to get someone to keep an eye on things...

After giving Liang Jiugong his instructions, Kangxi summoned his advisor, Cheng Yuxing. He trusted Cheng Yuxing more than Liang Jiugong did. Therefore, he had an important matter for Cheng Yuxing to handle: "Go to Soetu's house and tell him that I know everything he has done. If he doesn't retire early, I will question him severely."

The implication was clear: if the prince hadn't protected you, you wouldn't have ended up like this. I'll spare your life, but be honest! Also, the prince is helping you, so don't harbor any resentment.

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When Yinreng arrived at the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Kangxi was looking at a map.

After greeting him, Kangxi beckoned, "Come and sit down."

Yinreng blinked. Sometimes he sat opposite Kangxi, and sometimes he sat in the closest spot under Kangxi's kang. This... Kangxi waved his hand and patted his side—he hadn't sat in this position for more than ten years.

Yinreng's puzzled look made Kangxi laugh: "It's not like I haven't sat here before. Come, lean on me and you'll see clearly. We have something to discuss."

Yinreng sat next to Kangxi. Both of them were quite passionate, and they felt warm together, almost sweating. Kangxi reached out and pinched Yinreng's shoulder, frowning and saying, "You've lost weight, and you haven't regained it."

Yinreng said, "I think he took his coat when he came in. Son, please wear something thicker. Would you please try again?"

Kangxi laughed and scolded, "Nonsense," pointing to the picture, "Come and see."

This was a map of the capital, the square city of Beijing, the square Forbidden City, and the square Forbidden City. This map would not be easily circulated, as it was a matter of defense and security. Kangxi had even drawn several circles on the map.

"Khan Ama, what is this?"

"You should know that when I return from Mount Wutai, I will confer titles on Yinzhi, Yinzhi, and the others. Once they have titles, they will move out of the palace and build their own residences. There was a big war last year, and the treasury is not full. This year should be a relief, so it's a good time to start, and we can move out next year."

It turns out he was choosing a place.

Yinreng looked at it very seriously and said: "These places were originally people's old houses. It will take some time to demolish the old houses and build new ones." After saying that, he looked at the map for a while and gestured in his mind, thinking that it would be great if he could have a place to stay outside.

Kangxi glanced at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'm a little reluctant. We've been together for so many years, and suddenly everyone is moving out, and so many of them at once."

"Aren't the remaining ones in the palace your brothers?"

Kangxi's casual remark struck Yinreng's heart like a heavy blow. "Yes, the ones in the palace are brothers too, and they're still young. If they start training now, they might become helpful." The third and fourth brothers are grown up, so it's a little late to win them over now. The younger brothers, born under less privileged circumstances, deserve more attention. And without the influence of a bad guy like the eldest, isn't this a chance from heaven? They can still show great brotherly love and comradeship.

It is much easier to smile at these non-threatening little brothers than to pretend to be friendly with Yinzhi.

Yinreng smiled knowingly: "Of course my younger brothers are brothers, but I can't help but feel empty when my elder brothers are gone. My younger brothers are too young to argue with me."

"Even if we move out, we're still a family. They still have to go to court to discuss government and do their work. We see them every day. What are you doing here?"

Yinreng smiled embarrassedly: "It's my son who is thinking the wrong way."

He was indeed a kind-hearted child. Kangxi was satisfied. Brotherly love and respect for each other were rare in the imperial family. His mood brightened, and Kangxi said, "Suo Etu retired due to old age and illness. He is your mother's uncle. He has worked hard over the years. Why don't you go and see him?"

Yinreng was a little embarrassed, but his eyes held a firmness. Speaking of Soetu, Yinreng's tone was filled with sadness: "Ever since I was little, he's been the one I know best at court, and he seemed capable. But now he's acting a bit foolishly. For example, when my father Khan was personally leading the army, he advised me to avoid Galdan. That was truly foolish. If I force him to do anything, I'm afraid he'll embarrass himself. For my mother's sake, I'd better have him retire early to avoid being laughed at."

Yinreng knew that if one took a serious look at what Soetu had done, even without any personal involvement, it would have been enough to get him killed. Whether to inquire about it or not was entirely up to Kangxi.

Capable? If he is, why did you ask him to retire? You are pretending to be so arrogant in front of your father! Kangxi said calmly: "He is still at home well. If you are worried, go and see him tomorrow."

Yinreng hesitated for a moment, his mind torn between inner and outer desires. Finally, he nodded and said, "Son will go tomorrow."

Kangxi couldn't help but add, "He is foolish and blinded by greed!"

Yinreng looked bewildered, and Kangxi curled his lips, finding it amusing to tease his son. He already knew the origin of Yinreng's dislike for Soetu, but chose not to point it out, leaving Yinreng to fret. In truth, this matter couldn't be brought to light between father and son for now. Kangxi couldn't explain his current unwillingness to appoint a grandson as crown prince, and he suspected Soetu was aiding Yinreng in the throne. Although Yinreng's actions indirectly proved he had no such intentions and was loyal to his father, the matter couldn't be brought to light.

Tenderness and affection always need to be expressed through a veil. If you tear it off and see a face full of freckles, that's considered good, you can pretend to be playful, but if you see a phoenix, it will be ugly.

After hearing Kangxi's words, Yinreng, accompanied by Gao Sanxie, proceeded to Soetu's home with a procession of honor. Since his retirement, Soetu's home had become considerably quieter, a desolate sight even without visitors. Yesterday, Kangxi had sent someone to threaten Soetu, and the advisory office, whose job was to relay the threat, had relayed the message to Soetu with precise tone and content. Soetu, already old and sleepy, had been kept awake all night by this disturbance.

Yinreng was greatly surprised when he saw Suo'etu. He knew that this incident had hit Suo'etu hard, but he hadn't expected it to be so severe. He personally grasped Suo'etu's arm and tried to pull him up, but the weight he had was very light, and he lifted him up easily.

"How did you become like this?" Yinreng didn't think he had done anything wrong, but he felt a little sympathetic towards Soetu's behavior.

It's true that Soetu had lost weight. Anyone who'd faced such a major event, and endured months of such torment, would inevitably suffer health consequences. His current complexion, however, was simply due to his sleepless nights. Yesterday, Soetu's mood had been a rollercoaster. He'd been threatened by the emperor, and then received news that his advisors had been executed and his minions had been removed. His anxiety was at its peak.

He even thought that the emperor was going to take action against the prince. Even if the prince's previous actions could be considered unfair to him, he did not want the prince to be finished. If the prince was in trouble, the other members of the Hesheli family could still live well, but his Soetu family would definitely be finished.

After this wake-up call, Soetu finally regained some of his sanity, which had been blinded by power and a favorable situation. He said that although he was Soni's son, he was born out of wedlock. He was quite ambitious in his youth and had climbed to his current position through his own efforts. He could not be said to be guilty of incompetence.

Over the years, with his days of hard work and prosperity, and a bright future ahead of him, he had used his brain less and less, and made more and more mistakes. Machines rust when they are not used, and the human brain becomes stupid when it is not used. Today, he had finally rediscovered his original pioneering spirit.

He pondered this for most of the night, finally coming to his senses: The Emperor was trying to protect the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince was also trying to protect him. With that realization, he realized he was afraid. Given what he had done, the only thing worse than Oboi was forcing the Emperor to issue an order. Of course, Kangxi couldn't tolerate that. His father had made his fortune by capturing Oboi. After realizing this, he became worried again, and only closed his eyes when the sun was high in the sky.

Just as I was about to feel sleepy, the prince arrived.

Soetu naturally invited the prince to sit in the main room, and then brought his children and grandchildren to apologize to the prince.

"I am old and foolish. It is rare for a person to live to seventy. I am over seventy years old, but I act foolishly and still cling to power. I deserve to die."

Yinreng didn't know what was wrong with him, so he helped him up again and asked, "Why do you have to do this?"

Suo Etu cried bitterly, "I have had some free time these days, and my mind has become clear. Fame and wealth are nothing but dirt. As long as my family lives in harmony, that is more important than anything else. I always thought the prince was young, but I didn't expect him to be more sensible than me. From now on, I will put the past behind me and stay at home to enjoy the company of my grandchildren."

Yinreng felt so sorry for his crying that he said, "Throw away all those things you had before."

"Well, Prince, from now on, just listen to the words of Your Majesty, learn from Your Majesty, and don't worry about anything else. I used to be like a black-eyed chicken, and I'm truly ashamed." Then he began to reflect and mutter, "When I was young, I was quite humble, which is why I later achieved such success. I didn't expect that after enjoying such success for too long, I would forget my roots. When people become arrogant, they won't listen to others and become rude. Rude people won't last long..."

He rambled on and on until he was exhausted and gasping for breath before he stopped. With so many people talking and so many things going on, he couldn't hint too clearly, so he had to hide his words in his nagging, hoping Yinreng would understand.

Yinreng understood without even listening.

Suo Etu was still worried. Yinreng wanted to go back, so he insisted on personally seeing Yinreng off to the door. Then, leaning in close, he whispered, "The Emperor sent the eunuch in charge of the Palace of Heavenly Purity to tell me to take care of myself. The Emperor knows everything that happened before. The Emperor silenced them because he didn't want the news to get out. I'm doing my best to keep my men in line."

Knowing that Gao Sanxie could speak Manchu, the versatile old comrade Suo Etu spoke Mongolian...

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After a meeting, all three parties felt reassured. Kangxi, upon hearing the report, snorted, "He's quite obedient," then reflected that the Crown Prince's behavior was nothing wrong and put Soetu out of his mind, ready to travel. Soetu, knowing the Crown Prince well, felt assured that he had listened and that Kangxi wasn't afraid of hearing what he said, and so he felt relieved. Yinreng, seeing that Soetu had stopped causing trouble, was thankful.

It’s good to feel relieved. After feeling relieved, the emperor went to Mount Wutai.

At this time, trouble came.

Soetu, by now, understood Yinreng's predicament. Even if you're the boss, you still have to understand the saying, "It's hard to get rid of a big tail." Even if the tail isn't big enough, as long as your nerves aren't strong enough, you still can't control it. Soetu had tasted the bitter fruit of his earlier arrogance—his servant ran away.

In his earliest days with Kangxi, Soetu, along with Mingzhu, participated in the entire process of eliminating Oboi. At that time, as the saying goes, "If a ruler is not discreet, he will lose his ministers; if a minister is not discreet, he will lose himself." Everyone was extremely cautious. Later, when Kangxi won and assumed power, Soetu's status soared, and he became the most powerful official in the world.

Believing no one dared to offend him, he gradually lost his caution. While he would clear the room during meetings, he was careless, and many of his servants could overhear his "secret discussions." When laziness becomes a habit, it's difficult to break. The last time he came back to discuss the "Prince's request for retirement," he had ears.

After Soetu fell ill, the crown prince visited him, weeping profusely. Afterward, they both left as if nothing had happened, and Yuqing Palace offered no gifts. Soetu's servants were restless. The saying, "like master, like servant" is a rather arbitrary one, but it's often true. For years, whenever Soetu made decisions before Kangxi, he would always make a wrong decision, then insist on it, only to be scolded and then, in disgrace, change his mind, acting like a fence-sitter.

The servants of the Suo family also have this fence-sitting nature. When Suo Etu gained power, he used his influence to acquire some property outside, inevitably doing things that oppressed the good people. Now that Suo Etu has fallen, his reputation is no longer so easy to use. If everyone doesn't bother with Master Suo, can't they deal with his servants who are doing evil? - I'm asking you to tarnish the reputation of Prime Minister Suo!

Those who are used to high ridges are not used to low ground. Unconvinced, what else could he do? He packed up and fled, quickly joining another man—Fulun. Fulun, a member of the Shumulu clan, a member of the Plain White Banner of Manchuria, was Mingzhu's closest friend. He was impeached by Guo Xiu, dismissed from office, and later reinstated, currently serving as the Minister of Rites.

This person is not a good person. He is narrow-minded and bold. He turned around and said that when Guo Xiu was the magistrate of Wujiang County, he had embezzled public funds. His father Jingchang was originally named Erbiao. He was a slave of Ming Dynasty censor Huang Zongchang. He was executed for being a member of the rebel party. Xiu changed his father's name and impersonated Fengdian, and his title should be reclaimed.

Then, rumors spread in the capital that the Crown Prince was mean and ungrateful, and that Prime Minister Suo was pitiful. He had worked hard all his life, but because he was incompetent and failed to become the Crown Prince, he was forced by the Crown Prince to retire and raise a child. The Crown Prince was so cruel!

This has a terrible impact! Considering how Suo Etu was jumping around a while ago, using threats and inducements, and finally the matter was quietly put to rest. There are quite a few people who believe it!

Suddenly, bad rumors about the Crown Prince spread like wildfire, and of course, they even reached the palace. Well, this time it wasn't his followers who were dishonest, it was the servants of Prime Minister Suo who were too avant-garde and had the idea of ​​switching jobs!

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Yinreng's expression remained unchanged, but his teeth were gritting. This difficult movement frightened Shujia, who quickly patted his chest to calm him down: "Don't be angry, isn't this early? There's still time."

Shujia knew about this because the news had been brought to the palace by the Shi family. Well, the Fulun family was from the Plain White Banner, which was great. The Shi family was also from the Plain White Banner, and they were neighbors. If the Crown Princess's family didn't keep a close eye on a key member of the eldest prince's faction, it would be a disservice to the eldest prince's efforts to climb the ladder.

Population mobility was minimal these days, especially in areas like these, where residential areas were practically confined to their own territory. The masters didn't know who lived in each household, who went out frequently, which wives liked to return to their parents' home on which days, and which masters liked to hold family gatherings on which holidays. The servants who followed them out and worked at the gates knew all the details.

There was a man in the Shi family compound who was bored to death and always wanted to hear the latest news. The old man had retired long ago and no longer even worked his shifts. With all his old friends gone, this was all he had left. The men who followed the old man and the young masters out, as well as the gatekeepers, would first report to the old man after work to get the latest gossip.

Hua Shan heard the latest gossip of the day: a suspicious fellow came to the house of the Foren family, who lived two alleys away from our community. People walking around here, even if they were servants or vendors called in, walked very politely no matter how fast they walked. Unlike this fellow, he was sweating all over his forehead during the late spring cold and almost tripped.

To please the old man, the servant even imitated someone else's walking: "Carrying such a big bag, walking like this, swaying like a thief..."

Hua Shan didn't take it seriously at first, but when the rumors about the crown prince started spreading, he finally realized what was going on. Mingzhu and the others were the focus of attention. A few days ago, Fulun went to Mingzhu's house, and then the rumors started to spread, with details and details.

When the news reached the palace, Shujia was so angry that she choked.

Rumors must be simple and clear. If they're too complex, the person spreading them won't remember them, and they'll morph into various versions. If you want people to remember the key points you want to spread, you need to be concise. Then, as the rumor spreads, its various derivative versions will closely follow the theme you intended and not stray off topic.

The person who badmouthed Yinreng had truly grasped the essence of this. For example, if you write a blog post with well-reasoned arguments, how many people would actually take the time to read it? To analyze it? To discern it? It's worse than someone knitting a Weibo post—140 characters at most, read it in under a minute, and then easily forward it.

The only countermeasure she could think of was to fight rumor with rumor. 'Wasn't it the eldest prince who forced Prime Minister Suo to step down? He was making too much noise, and the eldest prince was unhappy. He was going to be crowned king, and the momentum was really strong.' It doesn't even need explanation; who doesn't know that the two sides are already at loggerheads? Even Kangxi, while defending his son, knew that the Ming and Suo rivalries were fierce.

But no! One rumor like this would be fine, but another... Kangxi was no fool! Shujia was 100% convinced that those who reported the vegetable prices to Kangxi wouldn't mind. So what if she debunked the rumor? Debunking it would only make Kangxi unhappy. He hated fighting, especially between his sons.

But she couldn't suppress the news, she had to tell Yinreng. That's how the above happened.

Yinreng finally remembered that he would need these teeth for decades to come, and if they were broken now, they would be useless. He relaxed, his bones aching on both sides. He let out a long breath and met Shujia's worried eyes. "Rumors stop at the wise, don't be afraid. Let's just do our job well, and you can just pretend it didn't happen. Do you hear me?" He put his hands on Shujia's shoulders, holding them firmly, and looked straight into her eyes.

Shujia said, "Don't do anything stupid."

The corners of Yinreng's lips curled up in a sarcastic arc: "I don't do anything. I don't do stupid things or smart things. I only do serious things." Seeing that Shujia's worry had not subsided, Yinreng said seriously, "I just be myself." Well, the matter is over, it should be okay to tell his wife.

Yinreng recounted the entire story in detail, leaving Shujia stunned. She was reassured that her husband's IQ was decent, and his EQ wasn't bad either, so how could he have been deposed in the end? Yinreng's eyes glazed over, as if he'd frightened her. He felt a little regretful. After all, she was a woman, and recounting such a major event to her was too much of a stimulus.

This time it was Yinreng's turn to coax his wife: "It's okay, Khan Ama knows the whole story. When Soetu sent me out, he whispered to me that Khan Ama already knew everything, and this rumor will have no effect on Khan Ama. We just need to be loyal and filial and behave uprightly, so what is there to be afraid of?" However, he couldn't say this to his wife because it would have a bad influence on the court officials.

Shujia blinked: "I'm glad Khan Ama isn't angry."

It's not bad to have a wife who's easy to coax. Just give her some good advice and she'll believe it. Yinreng wiped the sweat off his forehead: "Where's Hongdan?" Shujia twitched her lips: "Ever since he learned to walk, he's been running around. Boys can't be restrained, so we asked his nanny to take him to Suma's place." Even with the Empress Dowager, she wasn't at ease, but Suma Lagu was different. All the women in the palace put together didn't understand things as well as she did.

Yinreng raised his eyebrows and said, "She's fine. You should take a rest. I still have some things to do. As soon as Khan Ama left the capital, I had a lot to do."

Shujia felt something was wrong. Yinreng was clearly worried, otherwise he wouldn't have explained the last sentence in vain. He felt guilty. He nodded and said, "Don't be too tired." He turned around and called Jia Yingxuan over. "How is the prince doing recently? Did he say he wanted to do anything?"

"The Crown Prince has been carrying out the tasks ordered by His Majesty..."

There is absolutely nothing wrong with it.

In fact, it does exist, but it is buried in her heart and Shujia doesn’t know it.

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

The impact of rumors is unpredictable. Most people don’t think about it when they spread it. Once more people say it, you will think it is the truth.

Mingzhu's followers knew what was going on, but they kept silent and fanned the flames. Soetu's followers suffered heavy losses, and the emperor's warning of several bloody heads silenced them temporarily. The people who spread the rumors the most were those who were neither supportive nor loyal, as well as the general public.

Some people who thought they could show up in front of the prince after Soetu's downfall retreated again.

Of course, there were also those who were unaffected by the negative impact, such as Yarjiang'a, who was named Crown Prince at the end of last year. This was supposed to be a major event, a future iron-hat prince, with countless people eager to curry favor with him. Unfortunately, it coincided with Prime Minister Suo's retirement. This kind of thing is like Emperor Kangxi's decision to enfeoff his sons: even if it was kept secret, someone would inevitably get a sliver of information. The public's anxiety and restlessness overshadowed Yarjiang'a's joyous occasion.

But this didn't dampen his good mood. With Soetu, the crown prince's most influential minister, gone, everyone could finally show up in front of the crown prince. Yarjiang'a guessed that many still harbored skepticism towards him. But he wasn't afraid. First, his status—the future Iron Hat Prince—and second, his connections. Few among his clan had a good relationship with Yinreng.

Yaerjiang'a was lying in bed, but when he heard the rumor, he laughed. "What a bunch of idiots! As soon as I heard it, I knew who spread it! I know. After I complained to the prince, Soetu fell."

Even so, he couldn't sit still. The weight of the prince of Jian was still enough. Yaerjiang Axian persuaded his father: "Yes, you are right, this slave is just talking nonsense! How could the prince be such a person?! Soetu has been ill since returning from last winter. He has been ill for several months and retired because he could not bear it anymore."

There is also a very influential person in the royal family who supports the prince.

Fuquan was a trouble-averse man, content to live in comfort and avoid moving if possible. He was willing to believe that the Crown Prince had listened to his advice and distanced himself from Soetu, and it wasn't because he wasn't crowned as the Crown Prince. He'd talked to the Crown Prince, hadn't he? The Crown Prince had always been a good boy, polite to his elders. Now that Soetu was gone, well, he still had some affection for her and hadn't killed her. That was quite good.

Prince Yu was not good at expressing his opinions, but when Prince Jian was talking to Yarjiang'a, he would just nod and say, "Very true. Your Majesty is wise, how could he let Soetu retire without thinking? If you don't know what's going on here, don't talk nonsense." Then there would be fewer strange voices among the top leaders.

Thanks to the Ming-Suo factional strife, most people tended to equate the Crown Prince with Soetu and the eldest prince with Mingzhu. It wasn't like the Crown Prince was suicidal. Gradually, the rumors within the court diminished, but the Crown Prince's image in the eyes of the outside world remained somewhat tarnished. Fortunately, the damage wasn't too severe. Previously, the Crown Prince had performed well, and Kangxi had praised him in several imperial edicts.

Strictly speaking, the Crown Prince's reputation among the court officials was quite good. He hadn't committed any obvious misdeeds worthy of widespread publicity. The current rumors were only just beginning, and once they were suppressed, they were stopped. From his birth until now, Kangxi had always praised him highly. Even the rival eldest prince knew he was a formidable opponent and a difficult target—it was already unfortunate for the eldest prince to have tried for over twenty years to succeed against a motherless child. Therefore, Yinreng's situation wasn't particularly dire.

But it's unbearable.

Yinreng paced around his study somewhat uneasily. He had been taught from childhood to behave with moderation, and such an action was not something he would do lightly. Its occurrence in a year was even rarer than a cold. But lately, he had been doing it repeatedly without realizing it.

Yinreng endured a difficult time. He had many things to do, yet they were all so complex and complex. Facing Kangxi's gaze, which was tinged with satisfaction but also a hint of doubt (his son had matured, and although he always believed that his son was his own good, he was still puzzled by his sudden change in understanding), he could only straighten his back and let Kangxi examine him. He had no choice but to endure the eldest prince's subtle actions, both overt and covert.

Persistence is the key. Over time, everyone will know that the prince is a good person.

Sometimes, a poor performance isn't important; what matters is your persistence. A lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth. He needs to appear upright and fearless; he needs to withstand pressure and remain calm. He needs to ignore the fact that the boss is being assigned various tasks, traveling around to make friends with ministers and spread influence throughout the government.

He picked up a brush washer and was about to throw it to the ground, but he held himself back.

"Bang!" The sound of a brush washer falling to the ground. It was Kangxi who dropped it. The father and son really have a tacit understanding.

Kangxi, of course, knew the rumors circulating in the capital. Kaiyinbu was indeed quite influential. Kangxi was trembling with anger. He hadn't pursued Soetu, simply because he didn't want to discuss the "Grand Prince." As a result, the entire capital was buzzing with rumors. Soetu's comments were at least limited to civil servants. They were paid by the court, so they could shut up if told to. Problems within the system could be easily resolved with a single word. Now the people knew about it. The people paid taxes to support us, so it was more difficult to stop them than to stop a river.

Kangxi wanted to kill someone, and he knew who was responsible. He just couldn't understand why Mingzhu, despite his factionalism, was such a fool. Didn't he know that I could figure it out?

Emperor Kangxi, what you should think about now is not Mingzhu, but how to end this?

The author has something to say: This is a very full chapter, I have been writing it since I finished my meal.