What are they doing? Naturally, they're calculating what benefits they can gain or might lose.
Consort Nara was not from the direct line of the Yehe Nara clan, and when she first entered the palace, the Yehe Nara clan did not invest much in her, even though Consort Nara successfully gave birth to Chengqing.
Later, Chengqing died, and the newly born Baoqing was tricked out of the palace by Consort Nara. Taking this opportunity, Consort Nara began to frequently contact families outside the palace. Yehenara clan, seeing Baoqing's status as the eldest son of a concubine, reluctantly agreed to invest in him, but this was more of a dispensable option.
That's why, before Consort Nara could take any action after Baoqing's incident, the direct descendants of the Yehenara clan outside the palace sent out advance notice.
Ultimately, they were just afraid of getting into trouble. Bao Cheng's situation was clear, and Bao Qing seemed to have no chance at all. If Consort Nara and Bao Qing were to both get involved, they would also get into trouble themselves. It would be a double loss, not worth it at all.
Sometimes, although there are many intrigues and schemes in the harem, they are not without external manipulation. After all, each of them comes from an excellent family and was a meritorious official who helped the previous emperor conquer the country. Everyone has some hidden strength.
“My lady, that’s not what the clan meant either. You, you don’t need to think too much about it.”
Chengxin tried to persuade Consort Nara, even though she knew her words would be useless.
"Chengxin, those people from the direct line, have always been driven by self-interest."
Before Baoqing returned to the palace, they made a good deal of things, not only providing manpower but also recommending and promoting their father and others to the emperor.
But right now, they've only just heard a hint of a desire to appoint him as crown prince, and before any official decree has even been issued, they've already backed down.
It's absolutely absurd. If everyone thinks like that, then why did we invest in them in the first place? This indirectly implies that she intends to use any means to bring Baoqing back to the palace. Isn't that just greed?
Now that Baoqing has returned to the palace and gotten into trouble, everything has gone back to square one. Instead of comforting and helping her, the direct descendants are telling her to behave herself and not cause them any trouble.
Ha, on what grounds?
Consort Nara was so angry at the shamelessness of the legitimate branch that she laughed. They really were putting on a show of virtue in the street, pretending to be virtuous inside and out.
Chengxin listened to what her mistress said and naturally agreed, but she couldn't express her opinion. After all, they still needed to rely on the main branch. Who knew if there were spies from the other side around them? It wouldn't do any good to offend them with her words.
"My lord, the matter has already occurred. Although the direct line's considerations were not dignified, they were comprehensive."
Or should we ask our people to wait a little longer?
Chengxin carefully advised Consort Nara, saying that in her opinion, it didn't matter whether her mistress wanted to take action or not, because from the moment Prince Baoqing had his accident, they had already stood on the opposite side of the Empress and others.
The identities of the two young princes are quite dramatic; it seems that either the royal family or the families outside the palace have a reason to rise to power.
Consort Nara did not answer Chengxin immediately. She may be crazy, but she would not really drive herself to the brink of despair. Besides, Baoqing was still alive. Even if Baoqing could not succeed in taking the throne in the end, he was still the emperor's son and the future prince.
Her hand was gripped tightly, but Consort Nara gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, let's wait a bit."
With her eyes half-closed, Consort Nara exhaled and admitted that she was still overthinking things. She wanted wealth and power.
...
The New Year celebrations in the fourteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign were low-key, but everyone was happy to have a rare reunion.
Consort Nara showed a long-lost smile, because Baoqing had successfully recovered from her illness and returned to the palace just two days before the New Year. Although it was a pity that Baoqing had some aftereffects, she was still healthy, which was much better than Consort Nara had expected.
Consort Shu also attended the New Year's banquet, but she was even thinner and weaker than before, much like some sickly beauties in folk tales.
The year was the fifteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign.
Before the first month of the lunar calendar was over, the Emperor formally issued an edict at the Qianqing Palace to appoint Bao Cheng, who had changed his name to Yinreng, as the Crown Prince.
For this reason, the imperial court and the harem were busy for half a month for this young prince who was still unaware of the situation. It wasn't until everything had settled down that Kangxi realized that he still had two sons whose names had not been changed.
Kangxi: ...
Whether he genuinely hadn't thought of it or had simply forgotten, Kangxi scratched his head and began to make amends.
First, he issued a formal decree, changing Baoqing's name to Yinti, and then changing Yider's name to Yinyi.
When Xiuning received the news, she was playing with Ider in the tatami room.
Ning Chuge finally managed to get leave and return to Qixiang Palace. The three of them were together, and the atmosphere was very warm.
"Yinyi?"
Ning Chuge tilted her head and looked at her younger brother, who was sitting on the couch with his legs apart. "Father named it, not bad."
The character 祎 has a beautiful meaning. Although it doesn't sound as grand as other characters, it's not bad either.
"It's just a name, a title," Xiu Ning felt content as long as he didn't become Yin Zhi. Since Consort Ma Jia and her children had all been killed, her own son couldn't use his original name. "Your father is so busy with the Crown Prince's affairs, it's not easy that he still remembers he has two sons."
Ning Chuge: ...Mother, there's a hint of sarcasm in what you're saying.
Not sure if she had misheard, Ning Chuge shook her head. "Not only did my second brother become the crown prince, but Father Emperor also rewrote the imperial genealogy." This was extremely unfair to the previous imperial heirs, because apart from the imperial genealogy, there was no trace of them at all.
A warm hand stroked Ning Chuge's little head, and Xiu Ning said gently, "Don't be afraid, Mother is still here. This kind of thing won't happen to you and Yider."
Upon hearing this, Ning Chuge readily nestled into Xiu Ning's arms and acted coquettishly. She had been quite frightened lately due to the rumors circulating in the palace.
Holding the child in her arms, Xiu Ning felt heartache, but there was nothing she could do. This was something Ning Chuge had to face on her own. In the harem, life was often not as important as one might imagine.
"There are too many women in the harem, and your father, the Emperor, will have even more children in the future."
Your mother is petty and can't control everything, but I assure you, as long as I'm here, you and Ider will be safe.
From now on, you can do whatever you want, as long as it doesn't go against your father's wishes, your mother will support you.”
Ning Chuge looked up, somewhat confused about what it meant to not go against his father's wishes.
Xiu Ning chuckled, "It just means never challenge your imperial father's authority."
Your father is first and foremost the Emperor, then your father; you must always remember these words.
Don't lose your composure and get yourself into trouble.
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