Various variables

The 41st year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign had a quiet, but not bad, start for the Crown Princess. The court struggles, filtered through the direct participants—the princes, relatives, and ministers—became much softer when it came to the women.

By the 41st year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the hundredth day of Hua Shan's funeral had arrived. After a hundred days, the bereaved family could dress less grimly and socialize more frequently. By the time of the fifth prince's hundredth day, the Shi family could at least make a small appearance through this event, and Shujia could also meet her natal family members.

Moreover, due to their alignment, many officials on posting outside the capital gradually paid tribute to the Eastern Palace, which made Shujia's finances much more comfortable. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for the couple to manage the several major events in the 41st year of the Kangxi reign.

Everyday events like the Emperor's birthday and the Emperor's birthday certainly had budgets, but the rush of princes marrying off at once was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—no one wanted to. Three gifts (the first, ninth, and tenth) for the consorts, three (one on the thirteenth and two on the fourteenth) for the arranged marriages of the concubines, and another three (the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth) for the legitimate consorts, who would be married off as soon as a date was set. Even the Crown Prince felt a bit overwhelmed.

Shujia worried that Yinreng would be influenced by these unidentified assets, but Yinreng had already made plans. Some were his die-hard supporters, and he felt uneasy not accepting them, so he accepted them. For example, Qi Shiwu was a die-hard loyalist to the crown prince. During Soetu's early years, he had been close to him, but he wasn't a complete Soetu supporter. Therefore, he had survived the last purge.

People like this have been tested, and as long as they are not completely corrupted, Yinreng has to protect them.

Someone like Wang Xian, who embodies the sentiment of "the friendship of gentlemen is as light as water," must act the sanctimonious role of heir apparent in front of them. He must worry about the country, the people, and the state, and must love his country, his family, and the emperor, acting as pure and innocent as possible to resonate with the more upright. No matter how rotten you may be on the inside, you must appear radiant. Not only can you not accept money from such a person, but the "rewards" you offer him must also be elegant.

As a mother who had just finished her confinement, Shujia was not busy with these things. She was busy building a good relationship with Concubine Tong.

Imperial Concubine Tong Jia was born into an excellent family, well-educated, and capable of handling affairs. Apart from anything else, the fact that she had managed to stay in the palace for more than a decade in a comfortable position, and had always remained calm, ultimately becoming an Imperial Concubine, made her a truly extraordinary character.

If you can establish a good relationship with her, you will naturally benefit a lot. However, before she really wants to help you, it is best to be a little more careful in your relationship.

Shujia and Concubine Tong had previously been casual acquaintances, and while they had a good impression of each other, they had never had the conditions or opportunity to become close friends. The Crown Princess couldn't regularly visit the harem; it wasn't her territory, and she didn't have a mother-in-law there. Concubine Tong had even less reason to wander around the six palaces.

Now, the Crown Princess is giving birth, the Crown Prince is not at home, and Xiluo Te is unable to enter the palace to take care of her due to special circumstances, so it is thanks to Concubine Tong that she is taking care of her. This is the most natural reason.

Shujia strolled out from the Empress Dowager's place and, after analyzing their conversation in Ningshou Palace that day, decided that if Concubine Tong was not too busy that day, she would find an excuse to take Hongtong for a stroll in Chengqian Palace. To this end, she even brought out her sedan chair, left Ningshou Palace, and went to sit in Chengqian Palace with Concubine Tong.

Concubine Tong didn't have any children of her own, but she loved them. Hongtong looked adorable, so whenever she saw him, she'd play with him using all sorts of goodies. Shujia's timing was clever; eight out of ten episodes were when Concubine Tong was free, making it easier for them to chat about their parents.

Shujia was well versed in socializing. As the Crown Princess, she was welcome wherever she went, as long as she wasn't a die-hard anti-Crown Prince. With this as her motto, as long as her words and actions weren't offensive, she would naturally attract a large number of people to befriend her.

Concubine Tong was also happy to maintain a good relationship with the Eastern Palace. She had no children, no adopted children, not even a child like the Eighth Prince, who was nominally under her full responsibility. She felt truly lonely. She also had to manage palace affairs, and watching the younger concubines, each one surrounded by children, was quite a thrill.

As for children, you cannot get them even if you pray for them.

Now that she had a little fat boy to play with, she was naturally happy. As for the meaning behind the Crown Princess's actions, she didn't need to think too much. Anyway, as long as they didn't harm her, she was happy to have someone to talk to, right?

What Shujia and Yinreng want now is just a "no objection" from everyone. As for "support", dear, the Crown Prince is the heir written into the constitution and does not need support.

As soon as the New Year came, Concubine Tong's goodies started to appear in large quantities. She didn't need to give away many things, but because of her status, she had to receive many gifts, and now she was just using them to amuse Hongtong.

In the eastern warm room of Chengqian Palace, the screen on the kang was a New Year gift from the Eastern Palace. Concubine Tong sat in front of the screen, holding a string of sandalwood bracelets. She and Hongtong each held one side, practicing tug-of-war. "This screen was also a gift from you guys, I like it when I see it."

Shujia sat opposite her: "Then I'm relieved. They also said that this style is a little simple. To be honest, I fell in love with this at first sight."

Concubine Tong said, "That's right. It's too complicated and makes me dizzy." She stretched out her hand to protect the back of Hongtong's head to prevent him from falling, and then loosened her grip, "Oh, our prince is really strong."

Hong Tong chuckled and presented the bracelet to Shu Jia: "Mother~"

Shujia reached out and poked his forehead: "Why don't you go and thank the imperial concubine for the reward."

Hongtong got up seriously and imitated his father. He put his fat fist to his lips to clear his throat, straightened his clothes, and said seriously: "Thank you, Concubine."

Concubine Tong laughed so hard that she almost fell down: "Oh, you are really pitiful."

Shujia complained bluntly, "He loves to be around people, but when no one pays attention to him, he'll try to make some noise to get people to come and see him. Once someone's looking at him, he gets even more aggressive."

Concubine Tong hugged Erpang, reluctant to let go, and sniffed the milky scent on the child: "I think this is a very well-behaved child, isn't it?" Finally, she started chatting with Hongtong.

Hongtong nodded seriously: "You are quite right."

Damn! This tone, this action, it's clearly cosplaying me! Shujia burst into tears.

Concubine Tong was even happier and looked at Shujia: "Is that so? How serious."

Shujia nodded, feeling both amused and helpless: "He speaks seriously every day, so of course he is serious."

Concubine Tong pounded the table and pointed at Shujia. "I've always seen you make the Empress Dowager laugh, but I never understood why. Speaking to you today, I finally realized that whenever I'm with you, I can always laugh. Brother, what are we reading?"

Classics? Hongtong thought hard: "The Analects? My Lady, there's no Classics in the title, but Mother insists it's a Classic. There's a Classic in the Three Character Classic, but Mother says it's not a Classic. Why is that?"

Concubine Tong: “…”

Shujia said hurriedly: "See, this kind of noise every day is giving me a headache."

Hongtong tugged at Concubine Tong's sleeve and said shyly, "Mother clearly told me that if I don't understand something, I should ask."

Concubine Tong quickly lowered her head and coaxed him: "It's okay, it's okay, let's talk slowly. The Analects is the first of the Six Classics..."

Shujia was stunned. She believed that teaching a child should be gradual and gradual. He was three years old and hadn't even started kindergarten yet, so she couldn't explain things too profoundly. Besides, this was the second son, so he didn't need to bear the same pressure as Hongdan, right? Concubine Tong, on the other hand, was so direct in her jokes. It was a shame that the fat boy listened intently!

I said, did you understand it?

Before Shujia could figure out what was going on, the two of them started chatting back and forth.

Hongtong was not as lucky as his brother, who had Su Malagu as a full-time tutor. However, he had Concubine Tong, with whom he could play from time to time.

Shujia also took advantage of this opportunity to become a frequent visitor to Chengqian Palace, where a royal concubine also resided. Now the mother of three sons, she remained gentle and generous, speaking softly and delicately, her demeanor etched with the influence of the Jiangnan water towns. She spoke little, though her Mandarin, tinged with a hint of a southern accent, was particularly pleasant to the ear.

Wang Pin's fifteenth and sixteenth princes have already gone to live with Zhaoxiang. They only have a youngest son, the eighteenth prince, who is less than half a year old and is also a cute little boy.

Psychologically, Concubine Tong preferred Hongtong. After all, he was her grandson—she was the only one in the harem who could even be called a grandmother, though not a legitimate grandson. For someone like the Eighteenth Prince, adoption wasn't an option, it was just a matter of personal connection; he had a biological mother.

She had to save face, so she would feel aggrieved from time to time, but she couldn't show it at all. She had to introduce him with a smile: "This is our Eighteenth Prince, look how handsome he is." At this time, the Eighteenth Prince was sleeping, and Hongtong was held by Concubine Tong with some difficulty, letting him look at his Eighteenth Uncle.

Hongtong tilted his head: "My brother is fatter than him."

Shujia wanted to hit someone: "You are fat too!" All your brothers are fat, what is there to brag about?

Concubine Tong's arms were sore, so she quickly put him on the ground and said to Shujia, "You are right."

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After a while, Shujia became familiar with Concubine Tong. And because of Hongtong, Shujia could not stop them from playing together. This friendly relationship seemed to have added something else to it.

Concubine Tong also showed enough goodwill. Shujia was the first to learn about Kangxi's trip to Mount Wutai from her.

"We don't know this."

Concubine Tong was slightly pleased with herself, but her tone remained calm: "It's nothing, we'll probably know today. But I just heard the emperor say that yesterday. By the way, the emperor wants to take Prince Hongdan with him."

Shujia knew that it was Concubine Tong who had been called up yesterday. The advantage of having a son by the emperor's side was that as a mother, she could legitimately call in the eunuchs around him for questioning. Many of Hongdan's associates were employed by the Eastern Palace, and their quarters were located there. With the exception of eunuchs like the personal eunuchs, others were not allowed to wander around the Qianqing Palace when not on duty and had to return.

Yinreng discovered this after he was puzzled by the fact that his information was not as good as his wife's several times.

With this information channel, Shujia was able to express sufficient shock at the news about Concubine Tong.

Concubine Tong smiled and said, "The Emperor said yesterday that he had been thinking about it for a long time, but he had been busy before and didn't say it."

Since her son was going, Shujia naturally had to ask more questions: "When will he leave? I want to make some preparations for Hongdan."

Concubine Tong said, "It will be very quick. Mount Wutai is not too far away, and the Imperial Guards will not have to spend too much effort. The carriages and horses were inspected before the visit to the mausoleum. We will leave in the first month of the year."

Shujia started discussing with Concubine Tong what to bring on the trip: "I haven't prepared my clothes for going up the mountain yet. What do you think I should pack?"

Concubine Tong hadn't prepared anything either. Kangxi's outfits were prepared by different people, and she was happy to offer some advice: "Your Majesty said it's colder up in the mountains than down there. You might as well prepare some thick clothes for your brother..."

On this day, Yinreng came back and was about to tell Shujia about this, but he found that Shujia was already packing up. He was stunned: "How did you know? I just found out the news." He looked around and calculated that the eunuchs who came back yesterday could not have known the news, and the eunuchs on duty today were still on duty.

Shujia said: "The Concubine Mother of Chengqian Palace said so."

Yinreng: “…” You are awesome!

The very powerful Crown Princess asked the Crown Prince: "Will you go this time?"

So there's something you don't know! Yinreng cleared his throat and said, "My fourth and thirteenth brothers and I are accompanying you."

"Then I'll just pack your luggage."

Realizing for the first time that he was just a 'handyman', the Crown Prince lodged a solemn protest: "Handyman?"

Shujia suppressed her laughter and said, "On purpose?"

Yinreng's hand itched, and he couldn't help but grab Shujia and tickle her. They played for a while, and their hair was a little messy. Yinreng hugged Shujia, and their bodies swayed rhythmically. Yinreng whispered, "Be careful when you're alone at home. Even in Chengqian Palace."

"What?" Shujia believed that her actions were completely mutually beneficial.

Yinreng's tone also turned cold: "Longkodo."

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Longkodo was actually a decent man, his smooth career undoubtedly benefiting from his status as a relative of the emperor's wife. It's also an indisputable fact that he was the most successful of the six brothers. However, this relatively modest man had a fatal weakness: he was too careless and favored his concubine over his wife.

He loved his fourth son to an incomprehensible degree, with everything revolving around his will. Even his own parents couldn't do anything about him. He had always refused to get close to the Crown Prince, partly because the Crown Prince wasn't respectful enough, and partly because he was unlikely to support some of his unusual actions.

It should be noted that the Crown Prince's lack of "respect for the wise and humble" is a historical problem. Due to the improvement of the Crown Prince's attitude in recent years, the attitudes of troublemakers like Orondei have loosened up. Tong Guowei has also been a little shaken after thinking about it. Only Longkodo has insisted on fighting the Crown Prince to the end.

Here I would like to explain why.

First, let me introduce some background. Suo Etu's surname was Hesheli, and Longkodo's mother's surname was also Hesheli. Although the two were not particularly closely related, it does not prevent them from saying that "five hundred years ago, they were one family." If we really do have a blood relationship, we might not even need to go back five hundred years.

At the height of Soetu's power, Tong Guowei paid little attention to him, let alone Tong Guogang. Though somewhat tyrannical, Soetu was also sensible. Unfortunately, he had a daughter with a strong sense of justice—Wu Yunzhu, the wife of Yisan'a. Her father was a Grand Secretary and Minister of the Imperial Guard, and her husband was also a Grand Secretary. She also had the surname Hesheli and had frequent contact with Longkodo's mother.

Yu had heard about the incident in the capital, but at first he couldn't believe it. How could a family have such a brain-defective child? But when he met Long's mother, Hesheli, he was shocked: It really existed! He was immediately furious, and seeing Long's mother, completely in tears and unable to intervene, he only added fuel to the fire.

This woman was Soetu's daughter, the cousin of Empress Renxiao. She possessed a profound cultural literacy and a far superior character than her father. She couldn't bring herself to teach Longkodo a lesson, and she was deeply displeased with his actions. If Si'er dared to appear before her, no matter the occasion, she would simply walk away!

Her attitude directly influenced many people. Noble character is always contagious, and if you add a distinguished background, the influence is even greater. Not to mention her father and husband, if nothing unexpected happens, her son will have a high position in the future. People don't care about Si'er at all, so some people follow her. Even if they can't be as decisive as her, they are still cold and indifferent.

Si'er, a woman who longed to distinguish herself in this aristocratic world, fell face at the sight of this. Despite the host's attempts at persuasion and the crowds of flatterers surrounding her, Si'er still felt insulted. She wanted nothing more than to be in the spotlight, to hold her head high and proud. But today, when she raised her head, bam, someone stamped a shoe print on her face.

This is nothing, a little misunderstanding between women, but in the face of men's interests, it is just cannon fodder.

But Longkodo is a man who is guided by the direction of a woman's embroidered shoe tips!

Si'er had been wronged, so how could she not make a scene when she returned? When Longkodo came home from work, he saw Si'er leaning on the bed, holding her chest. She was sick.

Longkodo was immediately terrified: "What's wrong with you? Don't you want to see the doctor? Or should I go find the imperial physician to take a look?"

When Si'er heard this, he used his crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang himself to the extreme, crying into his blanket, "Why are we still looking for a doctor? Why are we still looking for an imperial physician? I'd rather die. Living is shameful!"

"What?!" Longkodo was extremely shocked. "How have you been shameful?" He went forward and dug the man out, coaxing him and saying countless sweet words. "If you are shameful to live like this, what woman deserves to live?"

Si'er finally found his group: "Today... I went out... The guy from the Yi University scholar's house... saw me coming... and left immediately..."

Longkodo was not the kind of person who would say, "Don't make trouble for me. You shouldn't have failed to understand the situation and shown off. Others have done nothing wrong."

It's time to fight! You damned woman! How dare you give me, a woman, a hard time!

What? Wu Yunzhu is no pushover. While her father isn't a good man, she's always been a role model, and her stance on this matter is absolutely right. How many people sympathize with Si'er in public and applaud him behind his back? Longkodo and Si'er were furious, and a grudge was brewing. But they couldn't do anything. If they wanted to teach Wu Yunzhu a lesson, they had to first destroy both her husband's and her own family.

Wu Yunzhu, in a different environment, Yinreng would have to call her Auntie. Soetu is her father, and Yisan'a is still a Grand Secretary. Although not a member of Soetu's party, there's a natural connection. Behind them, standing behind them is the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince ascends to power, well, this woman would have to show off her power!

Poor prince, he was so unlucky that he was hated by someone like Soetu, and he was still hated when he met a good person like Wuyunzhu.

It wasn't that Yinreng didn't want to reconcile with Tong Guowei. He could already indulge Hongdan and Orondei, so having Longkodo was nothing. Although Longkodo's behavior disgusted him, it wasn't that he couldn't turn a blind eye - he just didn't want to take the initiative to contact him.

Yinreng's current social strategy still favors a natural, unobtrusive approach—in short, avoid being too obvious. For example, Qingde and Orondei are relatively compatible, and this development aligns with Yinreng's ideal diplomacy. Finding a level of mutual acceptance and then moving closer together will increase both his own and Kangxi's acceptance.

This approach also has a disadvantage: it takes time. However, everyone is still in the initial stage, and the Crown Prince still has the advantage of status. Although there have been many detours and adverse effects in the past, the situation is not completely bad, and Yinreng can still afford to wait.

However, you can't expect the Crown Prince to be too proactive on this level. Yinreng's body language was sufficient, and his attitude when meeting Tong Guowei was quite affable, comparable to his early closeness with Soetu. He also behaved well in other aspects. So much so that Tong Guowei began to waver and began to consider ways to reconcile.

As a result, trouble arose.

Si'er had a bad time with Wu Yunzhu, so Longkodo traced the cause directly to the Crown Prince. To exact revenge on the Crown Prince's relatives, if he didn't bring the Crown Prince down, he would be making his greatest future enemy. Longkodo had made up his mind, and he had no choice but to act.

Since Tong Guowei was still the head of the family, he tried hard to lobby his father: "Father, do you think the prince can be handed over? But look at him, what has he done in his daily life?" The prince has been keeping a low profile recently, and his performance can only be considered mediocre.

Then Longkodo cited many examples and brought up old accounts, such as the crown prince was domineering, the crown prince was extravagant, the crown prince was rude, the crown prince formed a clique, the crown prince had a violent temper... It would be better for him to step down.

All of the above is true. After Tong Guowei slapped Longkodo, he wavered. The Crown Prince's bad deeds are too obvious, and his good deeds... have been too low-key recently.

But Tong Guowei got to the point: "I have never heard of the Crown Prince showing any signs of losing his moral integrity, and among the other princes, there is no one who is worthy of respect."

Although Longkodo's brain was full of soy milk, he occasionally had a moment of inspiration. The eldest brother was absolutely a fool, and there was a pearl ahead. Not as good as... the eighth brother!

Tong Guowei still had a good impression of the Eighth Prince, but out of a cautious politician, he said, "The Eighth Prince is still young. I need to consider this further."

Longkodo delivered a drastic warning: "Others are fine. Whoever wants to take the throne will have to rely on us. Only the crown prince...he...is not very kind to our family."

Tong Guowei's mind shifted again. As the head of the family, he needed to consider all the circumstances. Longkodo was right. The Crown Prince wasn't close enough to the Tong family, and there was even a subtle sense of distance. Things had been better lately, but the gestures were still subtle. Tong Guowei had his pride, didn't he?

Longkodo had set a trap for Tong Guowei. He chose the perfect moment, and while Yinreng was talking to Tong Guowei, he snuck up behind him. He looked at Yinreng with a provocative glare. Yinreng wasn't one to be easily provoked, but Longkodo, so angry about Wu Yunzhu that he even directed his resentment at the Crown Prince, his glare was truly sharp. Yinreng quickly grew uncomfortable.

Being nice to you doesn't mean I have to act like a grandson!

Yinreng was the crown prince after all. Even if he gave the eunuchs some gray income, it still had a nice name, "reward," which at least saved his face. And now, Longkodo was glaring at him in broad daylight. Even the gods would be furious. You idiot, I haven't even despised you yet!

The prince had no idea that Longkodo was targeting him because he was his mother's cousin. He had been marked for no apparent reason and was about to use his skills to attack. Of course, Yinreng had to be on guard.

Tong Guowei was practicing Tai Chi with Yinreng, and saw that Yinreng had also become sharp. Following his gaze, he saw that he was looking at his own son with displeasure. At this moment, Longkodo had retracted his provocative look and stood respectfully.

Prince, please accept my condolences.

Tong Guowei was cautious, even investigating whether the Crown Prince and Longkodo had any personal grudges. If resolving a personal misunderstanding was possible, it would be much easier than starting a new party to support an unconfirmed candidate for the throne. Longkodo and Yinreng had no substantive contact at all; their dislike for each other was unfounded and irreversible.

Two thoughts were fighting fiercely in Tong Guowei's mind. Making up his mind to go against the crown prince was not easy, even for a veteran minister of two dynasties.

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Just as the conflict with the Tong family was brewing, Yinreng had to pack up and follow Kangxi to Mount Wutai. Before leaving, he left a lot of instructions: "Don't say anything to the concubines and mothers in the Chengqian Palace. If anyone outside is offended by the Tong family, don't do anything until I come back to deal with it."

Shujia replied, "I understand. Have a safe journey." She also didn't know that Wu Yunzhu had already PKed Si'er once, and the blame was still put on Donggong. Probably the only one who knew the truth was Longkodo.

Concubine Tong's mother came to see her, not wanting to upset her, and didn't mention what had happened to Si'er, so Concubine Tong didn't know either. The Crown Princess and Concubine Tong continued to grow closer. On one side, the men were on the verge of becoming enemies, while on the other, the women were on the verge of becoming friends.

Kangxi was gone for more than a month and returned to the palace in early March. During this period, the Crown Princess and Concubine Tong were very idle, as their main work target was away! They would get together to chat whenever they had nothing to do. Sometimes, Concubine Tong would simply teach Hongtong to write, pick out a few things that were between important and unimportant, and remind Shujia in advance: "It's just right, I'm taking care of the children for you, you can help me with these things."

The words were not said explicitly, but the meaning was clear: You will encounter this kind of thing in the future. Between the words and the outside, there was already a sense of intimacy.

Shujia also knew her limits. After being unable to refuse, she just watched without giving any instructions. Finally, she waited until Concubine Tong had had enough fun before the two of them discussed the outcome. When it came to matters involving palace maids and eunuchs, she could intervene a little. When it came to matters between the concubines, she would directly say, "This is not for us younger generations to discuss."

Concubine Tong didn't force it.

The two of them exchanged intelligence: "What letters did you receive from the Emperor? What news did I get from the Crown Prince?" These two women were surprisingly the most knowledgeable people in the capital about the Emperor's movements. On the 100th day of the Fifth Prince's reign, Concubine Tong's "reward" was truly generous, and the Crown Princess was exceptionally generous in accepting it.

It turns out that even without men, women can still be very harmonious with each other.

This harmony lasted until the emperor returned to the court. Shujia sighed and thought that once the emperor came back, it would be impossible for Concubine Tong to play with everyone every day.

Not to mention Concubine Tong, even Shujia herself was not in the mood to play along with everyone every day - Yinreng's mood was already low enough.

Hongdan had returned from his trip, having been granted permission to visit his mother. He was describing the scenery along the way. He spoke eloquently, his descriptions vividly. Shujia yearned for Mount Wutai. "Mount Wutai, what a scenic spot, and how pristine it is!" she wondered. "If only I could go there once."

He blurted it out unconsciously, and Hongdan immediately said, "Mother, do you want to see it? When I grow up, I will go to worship you."

Shujia touched his head and said, "Okay." Who wants to go on a pilgrimage? I just want to travel.

Perhaps only here would Hongdan temporarily let go of his burden and start chattering: "Mother, can my little brother speak now? Where's Hongtong? Is he naughty?"

Shujia pulled his hand and stood up: "Let's go and take a look and you'll know. Hongtong is still as round as before."

Hongdan laughed loudly. Hongtong was taking a nap and woke up. He rubbed his eyes and came out. When he saw Hongdan, his eyes lit up: "Brother!"

"Ha, little round ball."

"You are round!"

Hongdan was very happy to be bickered with: "I am not round anymore, you round it!"

What follows is the pointless, "you are rounder" argument.

Shujia just smiled with her lips pursed.

Yinreng returned at this time. Kangxi had finally released him, but his face was not good. Kangxi had returned, so of course he summoned the men who stayed behind to inquire about their situation. Yinreng soon discovered that after only one Lunar New Year, the business level of these brothers had reached a higher level than before. It was simply #￥@……%～&**!!!

What frustrated Yinreng most was Kangxi's attitude. He affably questioned each prince, pointed out shortcomings in their work, and offered his hopes for the future. Yinreng felt isolated; it was always he and Kangxi who engaged in lively discussions, while his brothers were kept at bay.

Although he is not isolated from power now, he has no say in the affairs of the court.

He clenched his fists and said to Shujia, "I've already had breakfast in the Qianqing Palace. I don't feel like having a snack at noon, so I'll go sit in the small Buddhist hall for a while. Hongdan has been traveling all the way, too, so let him rest for a while. We can have dinner together."

Shujia said, "Wash your face first before you sit down. You look so dusty."

Yinreng gave a perfunctory nod and went to wash his face. Shujia led her son inside and followed him in. Without saying anything more, she lent a hand and took out the clothes she had prepared for him to change into. Then she took her sons to the west side room and said, "You go ahead. I'll watch Hongdan write."

Yinreng went to meditate and Shujia sent Hongtong away. "Why do I feel like there's something I haven't done yet? Hongtong, you haven't washed your face yet, have you? Here's the nanny, take him to wash his face."

The area has been cleared. Son, tell me, what happened to your father?

Hongdan had a vague understanding in his heart, but he didn't quite understand. When Shujia asked, he told her everything he knew: "Father is very good. He was smiling all the way out of Beijing." Then he complained, "Father is already a grown man, and he still acts like a spoiled child with Marfa!"

Shujia: ...That’s normal.

"On the way up the mountain, I walked with Mafa, without the sedan chair. We talked and laughed, and when we came back from the pilgrimage, we talked a lot. My fourth uncle and thirteenth uncle were also well versed in Buddhism, and my father could talk to them very clearly."

"Really? Your father is becoming more and more like a Buddhist layman." Well, it's uncomfortable in Beijing, but it's comfortable when I go out. The work pressure is too great, but I can't always hide away from it.

Shujia hadn't figured out how to comfort him yet, but Yinreng was back to normal by dinner time. After dinner, he even examined Hongxi's homework and said, "You've studied hard. In that case, I'll ask for leave for your uncle, ninth uncle, and tenth uncle's wedding. You can go and join in the fun."

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The three biggest red envelope bombs this year all have an equivalent of millions of tons, and the first one is the remarriage of Prince Zhi.

The Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Household Department and other relevant departments were extremely busy.

With three high-profile formal weddings in a single year, and the grooms all being prominent princes, the pressure was immense. In March, as soon as the emperor returned from Mount Wutai, the wedding celebrations at the Prince Zhi's mansion began. The relevant departments were furious—March 18th was the Emperor's birthday! They were all rushing to celebrate together!

The rush to hold the wedding was due to the Emperor's birthday celebration in March. The Emperor wanted his eldest son's family to look good this time—no frontline workers should be left vacant, and the whole family should be present. The pressure on the relevant departments doubled.

At the first wedding, the person who felt the most pressure was the new wife of Prince Zhi, Zhang Jia.

If someone has already done the same work, the next person will inevitably be compared to the previous one. Not only will others compare, but they'll also compare themselves to the previous one in their own minds. Zhang Jiashi faced this dilemma, and she had no way to avoid it. Since Irgen Jueluo was already dead, she couldn't even find a rival and was being outmaneuvered. It was frustrating! But she had to endure it and perform well.

She couldn't bear the thought that her ex-husband had left behind a son and four daughters, that her family background wasn't strong enough to dominate the scene, or that her son, even if legitimate, would have his future discounted like secondhand goods. Ami Doufu, marrying the prince as his legitimate wife was something she hadn't been able to achieve. It was only because she was a successor that she could enjoy this honor. Thinking of this made her feel a little better.

At the Prince Zhi's mansion, the Crown Princess and her brothers and sisters-in-law all came to the wedding banquet, but Zhang Jia, the eldest sister-in-law, was not allowed to attend. Princess Zhu Zaijing and Consort Zhu came in to see her, but in Zhang Jia's eyes, these people all had a strong aura, and even their friendly attitudes were still oppressive.

She had met most of them before, some more than once. She had been chosen after a thorough search, and during her stay there, she had been surrounded by these women countless times, so she had some impression of them. At that time, she was in a state of being "picky", afraid that one of them would become her immediate superior.

She had some psychological trauma at that time, and although the situation has changed slightly now, she is still a little nervous.

Zhang Jia looked up at her sisters-in-law. The Crown Princess, who was in the lead, put a lot of pressure on her. Legend had it that this person was a perfect man in every sense of the word. However, she was marrying the Prince of Zhi, and she and her "good" husband were already at odds... even the Emperor knew about it.

A closer look revealed that the Crown Princess's attire was more elaborate than the others', making her easy to spot. She wore three earrings, each adorned with oriental pearls. She had long eyebrows and phoenix eyes, fair skin, and a perpetual smile. She spoke in a steady, unhurried voice, addressing him as "Sister-in-law." Zhang Jia felt a slight unease at this, and moved to stand, only to be held down again.

The rest were all princes' wives, whose husbands all held the title of Beile, but they did not wear Beile's wife's clothes, but were dressed like princes' wives of a higher rank than princes' wives. After them came the families of some close relatives of the imperial clan, and among them, the wives of the iron-hat princes were ranked first.

In fact, Prince Yu’s wife also came, but a little later - Prince Yu’s health has been getting worse recently.

With so many young women, the room was bustling with activity. She observed Zhang Jiashi while chatting. The Crown Princess sat closest to the Eighth Concubine. Compared to the Crown Princess, the Eighth Concubine was a figure that made her uneasy. The Crown Princess was fine, at least her reputation was decent. But this Eighth Concubine… The Eighth Prince had a good relationship with the First Prince, but the Eighth Concubine had been married for many years and, not only was she childless, but neither were her concubines. Who knew what people in the capital were saying behind her back? The thing a concubine feared most was being accused of being in Prince Si's mansion.

The Eighth Lady was also very graceful and said with a smile, "Look, the bride is shy. You are our eldest sister-in-law, how can this be allowed?"

The Third Lady laughed and said, "Who told you to feel embarrassed every time you look at her?" The Eighth Lady said, "I see you feel embarrassed." The Crown Princess pushed the Eighth Lady through Zhang Jia and said, "You keep looking at her. If you look at her for too long, she will feel embarrassed again and she will become like Guan Gong." Everyone made fun of the Eighth Lady again.

The princesses smiled reservedly, occasionally exchanging a few words with those sitting nearby, but not participating in the proceedings. In reality, there weren't many married princesses; most were minors from the palace. Because of their presence, everyone was careful not to touch on anything inappropriate for children. The jokes Zhang Jia heard were abridged, easing her pressure considerably, but she felt like an outsider.

She interrupted, because the topics they were talking about were all new to her, and since she was a newlywed, she had to be reserved. She had no choice but to smile shyly, and soon her face became stiff.

Everyone was just there for the formalities, as they all headed out for the wedding banquet. After a brief pause, Zhang Jia was the only one left in the bridal chamber, still feeling nervous. Was this a good start or a bad one? She didn't seem to fit in with the crowd. Oh, I wonder what kind of person Prince Zhi is? I'm worried...

While Zhang Jia was worried, Yinzhi was beaming. It was great! He finally had a wife, and someone would take care of the family. His career was growing, and he needed a mistress to support the family. With a daughter getting married and a son growing up, the house was a mess and looked out of place.

Yinzhi was still happy today. Seeing the piles of invitations, he felt even happier. The number of tables allowed for a prince's wedding was set, and while Yinzhi couldn't overstep the boundaries and add tables, it didn't prevent him from accepting gifts. This person came, and that person didn't bring any money. Well, I'm still very popular.

He personally welcomed his brothers to sit in the seats of honor: "There are so many people here today and it's so busy. I hope there are some things that I haven't treated you well. Please forgive me, brothers."

Yinreng spoke first: "Needless to say, eldest brother, just go and do your own thing. How can we brothers be short of people?" Yinzhi said, "The prince has spoken, so I feel relieved." After that, he called on the eighth brother to help him, "The uncles and uncles will be here soon. I'm afraid there will be other guests. Eighth brother, please help me greet them." After that, he really took the eighth brother away in front of Yinreng.

Yinzhen also came. Seeing his brother leave, he followed him! Yinzhi thought that his ninth brother had changed his nature, but then he thought, this kid is about to get married, so he is afraid that I will not give him face when the time comes. Tsk tsk, it’s good that you know. He also assigned Yinzhen a task in a grand manner and greeted another group of clan members: "There are clan elders here, ninth brother, be careful."

After saying this, without even looking at Yin'er's constipated expression, he happily ran to greet Fuquan.

Yinzhi was happy, but Yinreng was the one who was unhappy. Although he knew that many of these guests came out of courtesy, he still felt uncomfortable seeing his rival's house full of guests. Especially when Fuquan came in with Yinzhi holding his left arm and Yinsi holding his right arm, Yinreng's mouth twitched fiercely. He quickly stood up to greet him: "Is Prince Bo here?"

The other princes did not dare to neglect him and all came to greet him. They offered him a seat and served him tea. Fuquan repeatedly declined and took the seat next to Yinreng. Yin'er, now no longer constipated, looked ecstatic as he watched the eldest prince and the crown prince seemingly vying to speak to Prince Bo. The crown prince was better off and asked, "How is Prince Bo's health these days? Is Imperial Physician Zhang doing well?"

The Prince of Zhi was perhaps too excited, and the other guests ignored him and came over to interrupt, "What kind of tea does Prince Bo like? Ask them to make it."

As soon as he spoke, the prince stopped talking. Fuquan didn't know which one to answer first, so Yinsi smoothed things over: "Brother, the uncle prince is coming too, you are the host." Yinzhi then grabbed Yin'er to help. Yin'er rolled his eyes at his brother and was dragged away unwillingly, struggling all the way: "Hurry up, don't grab my clothes."

Yinzhi dragged him with great difficulty, and finally he arrived at the door, and Changning also arrived. Changning's health was not very good, but he had become more and more transparent in recent years. After all, people did not pay as much attention to him as Fuquan.

When they were brought inside, everyone's enthusiasm waned a bit. Fuquan sighed inwardly. Fortunately, the Crown Prince and the Eighth Prince were kind enough to ask after Changning, and the other princes politely passed Changning to Fuquan. Yinsi, remembering Changning's preferences, ordered a suitable tea to be brewed.

Yinreng just said: "Prince Bo and Prince Shu seem to be in good spirits today..."

Yinzhi then interrupted, "Don't worry, Prince. I can't say much about other things, but I can still entertain my uncles and uncles."

Yinreng had no choice but to shut up again. This elder brother spoke as if he was despising the Prince Zhi's Mansion for not entertaining guests well. In all conscience, he just wanted to care about his uncles.

Yinzhen whispered contemptuously in Yinsi's ear: "Look at the way the two of them are, it seems like they are competing for favor..."

"Shut up!" The soft and serious scolding made Yinzhen touch his nose and keep silent.

Over there, another pair of brothers were repeating the same scene. Chang Ning whispered in Fuquan's ear, "Big Brother, are you... having a blast?"

"Shut up!" The one being scolded even coughed.

The room was in turmoil again, and before it had quieted down, there was a commotion at the door! Everyone was very concerned, and Yinzhi simply called the servants to ask about it. This question was a big deal -

Suo Etu also came, and he was with Mingzhu. The two of them talked and laughed, as if they were old friends.

This is a combination that can really make everyone's eyes pop out!

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Shujia only found out that Soetu was also present after she returned to the palace in the evening. If he hadn't shown up, no one could say anything - as a retired cadre, it was understandable for him not to participate in activities for current employees. No one expected him to be there.

When Yinreng came back and told her, she still didn't quite believe it: "Really? And with... Mingzhu?"

Yinreng nodded seriously: "What does he mean?"

Shujia was completely clueless: "How would I know?"

Yinreng was filled with grief, completely confused as to what Soetu was up to. He harbored resentment, grudges, and a wariness towards him, but ultimately, he still had some feelings for him. He didn't want to take matters to the extreme, and he hoped Soetu would be more gracious and not have any dealings with Yinzhi. He decided to give Soetu a chance to explain himself.

He took a deep breath and decided to find an opportunity to ask. The Emperor's birthday was on March 18th, and Soetu had to show up then. Within a few days, Yinreng suppressed his anxiety and asked Shujia, "What do you think of the new wife of Prince Zhi?"

Shujia said, "The people Khan Ama picked are not bad at all. As for the others... I haven't met the Empress Dowager yet, so it's hard to say what her abilities are."

"Grandmother Empress Dowager? She has always been kind."

"Just wait and see."

The Empress Dowager is of high generation and status, but her emotional intelligence and IQ are relatively low. To be able to get along well with her is a sign of real ability.

As expected, Zhang Jia faced a severe test.

The newlyweds came to the palace to pay their respects. Kangxi was fine with it. He talked about the importance of harmony and friendship in general, and then let his daughter-in-law go to see the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager began to ramble. Zhang Jia was initially confused. She had diligently studied Manchu, but her Mongolian was a bit of a slacker—even if she wanted to learn, she'd have to find a Mongolian-speaking teacher, right? Blinking, the Crown Princess finally translated for her: "The Empress Dowager said we're all family from now on."

The Empress Dowager realized her eldest grandson's wife didn't speak Mongolian, which was a bit embarrassing, considering the previous wife knew it. She tried speaking Chinese instead, but her language wasn't very good. She could speak simple conversations, but she got stuck when it came to more complex things.

Translated again: "Take good care of the eldest brother."

The Empress Dowager asked Shujia directly: "She can speak Manchu, right?" This was in Mongolian.

Shujia looked at Zhang Jia and asked again. Zhang Jia blushed, stood up and nodded. The Empress Dowager breathed a sigh of relief. She spoke Manchu well, and this time she said directly: "Take good care of the children. The eldest princess is a good girl, and Hongyu is very obedient..." She kept praising the children of Irgen Jueluo, trying to make Zhang Jia like them.

No one dared to interrupt the Empress Dowager, and Zhang Jiashi felt very uncomfortable. Shujia and the Fourth Lady were all surprised: "When we entered the house, we were also ready-made mothers, and we had never heard of this. Could it be that the Empress Dowager saw something?"

How could they know that the four princesses and Hongyu were all left by the "ex-wife" and not illegitimate children? The Empress Dowager was not very smart in other aspects, but she thought of this point - except that she forgot to consider the occasion.

Zhang Jia's face initially turned a bit green, but she quickly controlled her expression and put on a proper smile. However, as everyone's professional skills improved, this reaction speed could no longer keep up with the situation. Even Concubine Hui was a little dissatisfied.

The Empress Dowager was truly genuine, constantly praising her great-grandson and his daughter, leaving Zhang Jiashi speechless with words like, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of everyone." She'd been reminded of this before she married, but since she'd been kept quiet from her entrance to Kangxi's lecture and the initial questions from the Empress Dowager, she was completely bewildered by the three-way switchbacks and initially lost control.

After coming to her senses, she recited the cheat sheet silently several times. The Empress Dowager kept nagging as if she was possessed by Tang Monk. After all, Zhang Jia was young and could not hold it in any longer.

When the Empress Dowager finally finished speaking and it was Zhang Jia's turn to promise, she was a little slow to react. By the time she finished saying "I will live up to the Empress Dowager's expectations," her face was flushed—her performance today had been terrible.

Zhang Jiashi's bad luck hadn't yet subsided when Concubine Hui summoned her to Zhongcui Palace and gave her a lecture: "Take good care of Hongyu and the other princesses."

When she returned home, she still had to kowtow and burn incense before Irgen Jueluo's tablet! Yinzhi raised this question very bluntly, leaving Zhang Jiashi with a bitter taste in her heart. It seemed that no amount of mental preparation before marriage could compare to the harsh reality.

These days are going to be tough.

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"Grandma, the Empress Dowager, is really a touchstone!" Yinreng exclaimed, his eyes full of teasing as he looked at Shujia, meaning that he had discovered that you were a piece of gold.

Shujia rolled her eyes at him in annoyance, but Yinreng didn't care: "Let's make another pair of birthday gifts."

This cannot be sloppy. Everything must be prepared and packed properly, both for adults and children. After Yinreng finished selecting the gifts and found no mistakes, he began to think about how to talk to Suo Etu tomorrow.

Of course, he said it directly. After the banquet, the prince told his father directly that he hadn't seen Soetu for a long time and wanted to talk. This statement was quite humane, and Kangxi agreed.

Soetu had rarely been to the New Eastern Palace. Entering here, he felt a sense of changed times. He sat down respectfully, waiting for Yinreng to ask questions.

Yinreng thought of many lines, but finally went straight to the point: "Why did you end up with Mingzhu?"

Suo Etu said, "Mingzhu and I have served in the same court for decades. We have always been together. Why do you say that, Prince?"

Yinreng: “…” You’ve been fighting each other for decades, okay?

Suo Etu confessed: "Thanks to the Crown Prince's enlightenment, I sincerely repent. I regret that I should have let my selfish interests affect the overall situation. I didn't expect Mingzhu to have the same intention. So I came together. I hope that you and the Prince of Zhi can also work together as brothers, so that you can share the emperor's worries. What do you... think?"

Yinreng gritted his teeth and grinned: "You are absolutely right!"

He was so angry, and yet he didn't leave any room for criticism. He's really grown up, and he's also very frustrated. Suo Etu sighed: "The Crown Prince is wise. I hope the Prince of Zhi is the same! He... needs more persuasion."

Yinreng's expression changed from ferocious to thoughtful, and Soetu did not rush him and drank his tea slowly.

"What did Big Brother say?"

"The slave is watching."

Yinreng's expression became very bitter.

Suo Etu was no fool. He always followed the lead, and once Kangxi made a statement, he absolutely fell in line. Even when he was being reckless, he would initially resist Kangxi, and then, once Kangxi made his decision, he would follow his leader's instructions, absolutely aligning with his superiors. He was so discerning that he wouldn't even offend the Tong family.

Because he fought Mingzhu so fiercely, he went too far and couldn't stop, so he had no choice but to go all the way. He was hit by Yinreng halfway through, and only after the stars in his eyes did he come to his senses. After waking up, he became more and more open-minded in his understanding of Kangxi's thoughts.

Doesn't the Emperor dislike us quarreling? Okay, let's be harmonious! Anyway, I've already withdrawn. Of course... I still can't betray the Crown Prince. I still have to support him. If that person gets into trouble, I'll be in trouble. It just so happens that seeing the Crown Prince becoming more and more obedient and the eldest prince becoming more and more arrogant, I sneered, Mingzhu, can you still sit still?

Mingzhu was still a formidable opponent. Soetu certainly disliked him, but he had to admit that Mingzhu was intelligent. If they had worked separately, it would have been pointless for Mingzhu to take the helm. It would have been better to drag him into this. I'm the initiator, and no matter how capable he is, he can't surpass me. Come on, Mingzhu, let's reconcile. He thought it would take a long time, so he specifically mentioned the embarrassing incident at Yinzhi's wedding to minimize resistance.

Mingzhu was just about to get off the boat and join the official ranks. She feigned bargaining with Soetu for a while before decisively agreeing. The two old men, both powerful, made their debut at Yinzhi's wedding banquet, trying to smooth things over, making everyone's eyes pop out.

Yinreng didn't like Mingzhu, not at all, but he didn't want to add this enemy, at least not at this stage.

"You guys are indeed the backbone!"

The two unscrupulous guys laughed.

The author has something to say:

Thank you for your concern, I am back from the dead TT

If you have something, don’t be sick; if you don’t have anything, don’t be poor!