The outstretched hand paused slightly before resuming its movement as if nothing had happened. Xiu Ning said lightly, "No, your Emperor Father won't agree."
This involves the situation of the previous dynasty, and is not just a matter for the Empress Dowager alone. Even Xiu Ning, the child's biological mother, cannot express any opinion.
Upon hearing this, Ning Chuge lifted her head from Xiu Ning's arms and blinked. "Mother, is it good or bad to entrust my younger brother to the Empress Dowager's care?"
Xiuning smiled and said, "Neither good nor bad," or rather, a mixture of good and bad.
Reaching out, Xiu Ning touched her eight-month pregnant belly. Having already been diagnosed with a boy, she sighed softly, "You should know what the daily lives of those Mongolian concubines in the harem are like these days."
Ning Chuge nodded, "The two concubines of Yanxi Palace used to visit the Empress Dowager at Shou Kang Palace often, but in the past two years they have lost interest and just live peacefully in Yanxi Palace."
Xiu Ning patted Ning Chuge's hand. "This is an inevitable result. The Mongol sphere of influence is too large, and the Mongols are unwilling to relinquish their power. Naturally, the Qing imperial family will choose to guard against them."
Ning Chuge was puzzled. "But I heard my grandmother say that the Qing Dynasty and Mongolia have always been staunch allies and should help each other, not be so treacherous now."
Xiu Ning lowered her head and met Ning Chuge's eyes. She said seriously, "Between nations, we must never act impulsively."
When the Qing Dynasty entered the Central Plains, it was indeed a staunch ally of the Mongols. At that time, most of the imperial concubines were from Mongolia.
But times have changed. The Qing Dynasty is thriving. If you were in that situation, would you still tolerate the presence of someone who could threaten you?
The relationship between Mongolia and the Qing Dynasty has evolved from one of mutual support and inseparability to one of vigilance, suppression, and preventing Mongolia from gaining power. This is an inevitable result of history.
Seeing Ning Chuge's confused and bewildered eyes, Xiu Ning, for the first time, did not let him figure it out on his own, but tried her best to explain the relationship between them to Ning Chuge.
Ning Chuge was intelligent, and with Xiu Ning's reminder, she quickly figured out the key point.
To put it bluntly, it's nothing more than a zero-sum game. If you're strong, I'm weak; if I'm weak, you're strong. To maintain stability, you have to keep the surrounding risks within an acceptable range.
"However, Mongolia is not stupid. Mongolia will not accept such obvious exclusion and suppression."
It's like someone who has suffered a loss always wants to get revenge.
Ningchuge did not believe that Mongolia would compromise with the Qing Dynasty, otherwise there would still be Mongolian concubines living in the harem.
Xiuning nodded in satisfaction. "That's right, so the Qing Dynasty needs to win over the Mongols."
To win them over?
Ning Chuge's mind went blank for a moment, then she realized it was an arranged marriage!
"Ning Chuge, you need to be prepared," Xiu Ning said, feeling a slight pain in her chest, but she couldn't stop her.
"Mother, I don't think this is a good idea," Ning Chuge said, lowering her head and thinking to herself, "You don't treat the people that Mongolia sends to the harem well, so why do you think that marrying your daughter to Mongolia will bring good results?"
“But we had no choice,” Xiu Ning knew, of course, that marrying a princess was a foolish idea, because princesses raised in the deep palace could not adapt to the harsh life outside the Great Wall and often died within a few years of marriage.
But did Kangxi show mercy? No, Kangxi married off most of his daughters who he could raise to Mongolia (except for the ninth princess of Consort De, but this child was left in the capital and married off to the Tong family by Kangxi, and died even earlier).
Xiu Ning gently pried open Ning Chuge's bitten lips. She knew Ning Chuge was upset, but as she herself had said, they had no choice but to accept it, except to do their best to improve themselves.
It wasn't that Xiu Ning wanted to say something to hurt Ning Chuge at this time. Ning Chuge was born in the ninth year of Kangxi's reign and is now nine years old, which is considered a young woman (in this era, princesses usually got married between the ages of seventeen and nineteen. However, considering the princesses' health, Kangxi would allow them to stay in the marriage for two more years after the marriage). It's good for them to be mentally prepared so that they can receive professional training in their future lives.
"On the bright side, Mongolia is different from the Qing Dynasty now; there, both men and women can hold power."
Ning Chuge, if you are serious, you should think carefully about how to choose your future path.
Whether she wants to live like a concubine in the imperial harem or become the next Empress Dowager is entirely up to her.
Xiuning offered Ningchuge a few words of encouragement, and Xiuning felt that even though Mongolia had a thousand and one bad points, there was one thing that the Qing Dynasty could not match: fairness in the rights of men and women.
The Qing Dynasty had gradually transformed into a country where men held absolute power, and women were ultimately reduced to mere appendages to men, devoid of their own value, with their lives entirely dependent on men's decisions.
Given the choice between becoming a canary in the capital or an eagle soaring over the grasslands, Xiu Ning felt that, based on her understanding of Ning Chuge, she would choose the second option.
Ning Chuge would definitely be the second type. You can tell from her love of riding and archery that she has always longed for that kind of free and unrestrained life.
"Mother, I understand."
Ning Chuge nodded earnestly to Xiu Ning, a smile returning to her face, her earlier worry completely gone.
Seeing this, Xiu Ning felt relieved and reached out to feel the fetal movements in her abdomen. She thought to herself that this child was quite naughty and probably wouldn't be very quiet after being born.
...
In early August of the sixteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, Xiu Ning gave birth to the fourth prince, Yin Lu, at Qixiang Palace.
Xiuning was somewhat dissatisfied with the name, but at least the meaning of the characters was good. Although it used the original name, it sounded more pleasant than Yinzhen's.
Because of the timing of her birth, Xiuning did not have the opportunity to attend the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. However, despite not attending, the imperial edict of investiture was still sent over.
This time, just like in history, Kangxi first conferred the title of Noble Consort on Tongjia Rongyue, and then promoted Consort Jia, of the Xiao Niu Hulu clan, to the rank of Imperial Consort.
Subsequently, seven women, including Xiuning, from the Li, Wangjia, Dong, Nara, Guoluo, and Guarjia clans, were conferred the title of concubine.
The remaining members, such as the Hesheli clan, the Zhaojia clan, the Borjigit clan, and the Zhang clan, held different ranks, including Noble Lady, Attendant, and Lady-in-Waiting.
It can be said that Kangxi's decree directly divided the concubines in the harem, who originally had no rank, into different classes.
Xiu Ning secured the position of the head of the Seven Concubines through her offspring and her family's efforts in the court.
"Congratulations, Consort Jing! This servant offers my congratulations."
With a bow and a smile, Liang Jiugong handed the imperial edict to Xiuning. His smile was obsequious. Who would have thought that the one who would eventually rise to the top of the Seven Concubines would be Xitala from Qixiang Palace? It has to be said, the power of offspring is a wonderful thing.
"Thank you for making this trip, Father-in-law. Chunyu, please thank you properly for me."
Xiuning is not yet out of confinement, but since the Emperor has sent someone to deliver a reward, she cannot refuse to show her face.
After a brief stroll and a few polite words with Liang Jiugong, Xiu Ning turned around and let Xuan Ying help her inside.
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