Chapter 88
Yinreng was not particularly surprised that the things his fourth wife had done had been exposed.
I just feel...why is it so late? Father Emperor's abilities really need to be strengthened.
The roads leading to the various tribes of Mongolia were completed, and the wool harvesting business began. In winter, the wool sweaters were really warm.
Although it's not winter yet, just summer... but once summer is over, won't it be winter?
Making wool sweaters takes time, doesn't it? After two or three months, the winter harvest will definitely be plentiful. Winters in the Jiangnan region are quite cold, after all.
The Jiangnan region is very wealthy, so we can sell it for a higher price...
He was mentally calculating how to extract money from the rich and how to build up the Qing Dynasty to make it better.
As for the matter of the Fourth Prince's wife, Lady Guarjia, Yinreng only inquired about it briefly before forgetting about it. However, Jialuo was shocked by the matter.
"Fourth sister-in-law, how could you... actually do such a thing?" Jialuo clicked her tongue in surprise. She hadn't spent much time with Guarjia, except for the time when they first met during the election. After becoming the fourth sister-in-law, Guarjia had never really participated in her conversations.
That's not quite right. It's not that we didn't participate much, but rather that we didn't spend much time alone together.
Occasionally, Jialuo would glance at him with a slightly sinister look, and the naive and innocent Jialuo would think she was seeing things.
Who would have thought...
"Why? Could it really be because Prince Yong... favored his concubine over his wife?" Jialuo thought of many reasons, but finally settled on this question.
Women are bound by feudal doctrines and originally followed the idea of "marrying and obeying the husband" when it came to marriage. The Fourth Prince's wife's parents died of illness, and there was no deadly enmity between her family and her fourth brother.
Besides, what harm has the fourth sister-in-law caused to the Guarjia clan by doing such a thing?
It seems that even women from the Guarjia clan are facing a decline in their prospects. Which man or family would be willing to marry a woman from the Guarjia clan? Aren't they really afraid of being poisoned and murdered by the ruthless women of the Guarjia clan?
Favoring concubines at the expense of wives? What man doesn't love women? If having a few more concubines means being murdered by the wife, then goodbye to that.
"This servant doesn't know either, but I've heard that the Fourth Prince does indeed pay more attention to the princesses in the back courtyard and their children..." The maid beside him had a similar idea, otherwise, would Guarjia really be crazy?
They even dared to lay a hand on the Emperor. If they were discovered, they would be doomed and their entire family would be ruined.
As a result, the public also uncovered the events that occurred at the Prince Yong's residence.
No one expected that the cold-faced, aloof, and rule-abiding Prince Yong was actually a man who indulged in beautiful women, favored his concubines, and neglected his wife.
Tsk tsk.
The reputation of Prince Yong has suffered a blow. Many romantic scholars and officials are secretly laughing at him, thinking he is so particular about rules, but he is no different from them.
We're all men, why are you putting on airs here?
"Tsk tsk, then... why would the Guarjia clan be so... ruthless?" Jialuo knew and understood many women of this era, and she could roughly understand their thoughts.
Women who could marry into the royal family must have been of excellent character. Emperor Kangxi had carefully selected them, yet one of them dared to plot against his master simply because the emperor valued his concubines and their offspring more. This was utterly audacious.
Who wouldn't be shocked? I've only ever seen jealous women plot against their concubines and their children, but I've never heard of one directly attacking a man.
"This servant doesn't know. Perhaps, Fourth Princess Consort... of the Guarjia clan, is rather intolerant of dissidents?" The maid was sweating profusely. Who knew what Fourth Princess Consort was thinking?
She herself was a Fujin (principal wife), possessing such a large dowry, and had given birth to a legitimate son. Although the Fourth Prince valued the concubines and children in the harem, he did not directly neglect the Fourth Fujin and her legitimate son.
This seemed like a bright future ahead, but who could have imagined that the Fourth Prince's wife would be so twisted? She even dared to poison her master?
"Oh." Jialuo nodded. She had only asked a few questions about the matter and hadn't paid much attention to it, but she had heard about what happened afterward.
The Fourth Prince's wife, of the Guarjia clan, plotted to harm a royal prince and was sentenced to death. Her family, of course, could not escape punishment; those who deserved to be killed were killed, and those who deserved to be exiled were exiled.
Kangxi took the opportunity to purge the Imperial Household Department. These lackeys had been living too well and were always looking to squeeze every last drop of blood out of him.
Emperor Kangxi was in a bad mood for several days. His fourth wife, Lady Guarjia, was said to have been executed, but she was still in the Shenxing Division. There were still many details about her rebirth and her unrebirth.
More than half a month later, after comparing Guarjia's confession and the events of her past and present lives, Kangxi had someone investigate again.
In his previous life, he never thought of or did anything like sailing to the West. The actions of the Ninth and Tenth Princes were influenced by Yinreng and his Crown Princess.
Crown Princess Fucha tapped on the dragon desk, and he did inquire about who Fucha had married in her previous life.
Guarjia didn't remember much. There were so many people in the selection back then. If it weren't for the fact that Fucha was betrothed to the Crown Prince in this life, she, a woman who should have been on a parallel path and never intersected with her, would have ended up marrying a member of the imperial clan, to whom, and going to Shengjing...
In any case, Kangxi didn't investigate thoroughly and simply said that the Guarjia clan hadn't been beaten badly enough.
The people in the Shenxing Division were also ruthless, and they used all sorts of torture methods. Guarjia cried and begged for mercy, but in the end, they still couldn't reach a conclusion.
The investigation revealed that the ninth and tenth princes were doing business with the Fucha family and were eyeing Western goods... simply because those trinkets were extremely profitable. They even considered whether to steal the business themselves.
Finally, they focused their attention on this thing, and even went to investigate it, which shows that the Crown Prince, the Ninth Prince, and the Tenth Prince were not just after profit.
It can only be said that Lady Fucha was a blessed woman who brought good fortune to her husband.
And they're still bringing prosperity to their Great Qing?
Later, he summoned Yinreng again, showing concern for his well-being and inviting him to dine with him. Yinreng was quite puzzled, wondering what was going on.
He couldn't hear his father's thoughts, but he could hear Liang Jiugong's. And so, listening to Liang Jiugong's fragmented thoughts, Yinreng realized that... his fourth sister-in-law, oh no, now it should be said that the Guarjia clan, had been exposed.
Looking into his father's eyes, filled with guilt and heartache, it would be a lie to say that Yinreng was not moved.
They were also willing to act alongside their father, the Emperor. The two of them... past life is past life, and this life is this life. When the Guarjia clan chose another path, the course of history changed.
That's not right either, Yinreng firmly refused to admit that it was his past life.
He had no desire to associate with the Guarjia clan, regardless of the nature of their relationship.
"Father, if these wool sweaters sell well, we can control the Mongolian region." Yinreng still focused his mind on how to develop and consolidate the Qing Dynasty. Those fabricated histories were not based on his own experience, and he could not relate to them at all.
Father Emperor, there's no need for you to feel guilty about things that haven't happened yet. Let's work together to develop the Qing Dynasty.
Making people's lives better... that's what's truly good.
Looking at his outstanding crown prince, and thinking of Bao Cheng's future fate, Kangxi felt even more bitter. His Bao Cheng, such an excellent Bao Cheng, was imprisoned in the dark and gloomy Xian'an Palace.
During this period, he was busy compensating Yinreng and neglected his other sons.
The other princes who were overlooked all felt sorry for the fourth prince, since it was clearly the fourth prince who was poisoned and murdered.
Father Emperor...why are you so worried about the Crown Prince?
What about the fourth brother? He was just a pitiful little guy with no one to love him. Suddenly, the eldest brother, the third brother, and the others brought heavy gifts to visit this poor little fourth brother.
The fourth brother, who was being stared at with pitiful, affectionate eyes, looked rather displeased. "Don't look at me like that, it makes me want to vomit."
Did the eldest and third brothers take the wrong medicine this morning?
"You've come to see... Brother, is there something you need?" If you have something to say, say it; if not, get out!
"Fourth brother, what are you saying? As your older brothers, we're here to visit you when you're sick. What's wrong with that?" Yinti blurted out loudly, then plopped down on the stool next to him.
"Yes, Fourth Prince, you've really suffered." Yin Zhi shook his head, sighing deeply. He hadn't expected that Guarjia was such a vicious person, daring to poison her own man.
Thinking of the women in his own backyard, and then of Lady Dong'e, Yinzhi felt fortunate.
Fortunately, Lady Dong'e was a bit jealous, but not to the point of being a vicious woman; otherwise, she might have poisoned herself in her extreme hatred...
"..." Yinzhen didn't want to bring up the matter of the Guarjia clan. He was very suspicious and had already planted spies in the backyard long ago...
But, Father Emperor…
It's better not to say anything. Anyway, he's the only one who's hurt. As for his two older brothers who came to visit him, Yinzhen didn't want to say anything at all. "Can you leave? I just want some peace and quiet."
Yinzhen wanted them to leave so he could have some peace and quiet, but unfortunately, neither Yinti nor Yinzhi were the kind of people who understood others.
He didn't leave at all; instead, he chatted with Yinzhen about everyday matters. "Fourth Prince, you're lucky. At least it wasn't some deadly poison. You know Longkodo from the Tong family, right? Oh dear, I heard he's gone..."
The third prince was a gossip, and it was precisely because of Longkodo's affair that he felt a chill down his spine. He realized he should treat his wife better.
"What happened to Longkodo?" Yinzhen, who had been recuperating recently, hadn't been paying much attention to what was happening outside.
Moreover, he has never been a gossipy person and had not paid attention to the situation of the offspring of officials in certain mansions.
"Sigh, it's all because of Longkodo. He favors his concubine over his wife. His wife, Hesheli, has been tormented beyond recognition, and his son is the same, raised to be timid and submissive. I heard that Tong Guowei's wife is also from the Hesheli clan. Tsk tsk, just letting her son abuse her niece like that." Yinti shook his head, full of disgust.
Not everyone is like him, living in harmony with his wife and recently having a legitimate son... well, he had one several months ago, but he's still beaming with joy and smugness.
"Brother, you've said so much, but you haven't gotten to the point." Yin Zhi thought his eldest brother was really long-winded, and he was even rambling on about things that weren't important.
"What did I say? I was right. Longkodo's wife bribed someone close to her concubine. That concubine, what was her name, Li something, was ruthless. She dared to lay a hand on the wife and break her leg. She frequently beat and scolded the servants around her, and even poisoned them, killing two people in one fell swoop..."
Yin Zhi thought it was truly bizarre... Every year the news was so strange. The Fourth Prince's wife poisoning him was already absurd news, but who knew that Longkodo's affair would be even more...
Seriously, when a woman gets ruthless, oh my, how can a man compare?
At this moment, the Tong family is being talked about by Prince Zhi and Prince Cheng.
Tong Guowei loved his son Longkodo the most. Apart from being a bit confused about women, he was quite good in other aspects, whether it was literature or martial arts.
Upon learning of his son's death, he was completely stunned. Looking at the servant who came to report to him, he angrily shouted in disbelief, "You dog of a servant, who gave you permission to curse your master like that?"
He kicked the lackey to the ground.
The servant who came to report remained kneeling on the ground without saying a word. Tong Guowei's rage was mixed with panic; he couldn't believe it was true.
Unlike Tong Guowei, Tong Guowei's wife did not immediately run to Longkodo.
As I ran over, I kept hoping that things wouldn't turn out like what the dog servant had said.
But she also knew that if it weren't true, how could the servant dare to lie like that? Was he really not afraid of death?
When she arrived, the servants standing nearby dared not approach, trembling nervously. The two masters, who had taken the poison, were already slumped on the ground, blood trickling from their mouths...
"Longkodo!!!" The old lady was terrified, crying out in shock and grief. At the same time, she ran towards Longkodo, shouting, "Are you all dead? Why aren't you calling the imperial physician! Where is the doctor?"
When the old lady rushed over, Tong Guowei also rushed over. When he saw the scene in front of him, he was so frightened that he staggered.
"Longkodo?" Tong Guowei was also greatly shocked and could not believe the facts before his eyes, but the facts were right in front of him.
The culprit... was none other than Hesheli, Longkodo's wife, who was tortured beyond recognition...
Once this matter was exposed, it caused a great uproar, especially among men who favored their concubines over their wives, who looked at their wives with some horror.
For a time, the atmosphere did improve somewhat...
As a result, the Hesheli lineage of Longkodo's wife was targeted by the Tong family, which led to a fight between the Tong family and the Hesheli.
With Hesheli's Suo'etu remaining at home, the upper echelons lacked a pillar of support and were utterly defeated under the Tong family's encirclement and suppression.
Including Algishan, who was in charge of supervising the road construction, Songgotu even wanted to confront Tong Guowei head-on, but Yinreng complained to Kangxi, "Father, I am also heartbroken that Longkodo is gone. We have lost such an important minister of the country. However, Lord Tong is making things difficult for Algishan. It is almost winter, and the road to the western Mongolian tribes is not yet completed. We are still waiting for the wool from the western and northern Mongolian tribes. Now that Lord Tong is stirring things up, it has caused us great losses."
"The wool business was quite profitable last year, and production has increased this year. I've also heard that many tribes in the Western Desert are increasing their wool production, which will definitely reduce horse production and lessen the threat to them."
"Father, I have nothing to say about Lord Tong's attempt to target the family of Consort Longkodo, but many officials who have done their jobs diligently and without any wrongdoing have been implicated, affecting the operation of the court..."
Yinreng's words were a constant veiled hint to Kangxi: "You should do something about your uncle."
"Algishan was almost killed by the stones. After all, Songgotu was a man who had made great contributions. The high yields of Western cannons and grain were all handled by Songgotu..."
Tong Guowei is your relative, does that mean you can ignore such an important minister of the state? Suo'etu has made great contributions, how can you ignore such a loyal person? Isn't that disheartening?
Kangxi frowned as he listened to Yinreng's words. In his previous life, Suo'etu had been starved to death in prison by him. Suo'etu must have done something unforgivable.
But in this life, Suo'etu...
It has to be said that it's quite useful, and we're currently planting two other high-yield crops for him, including that hybrid rice...
Kangxi immediately summoned Tong Guowei. Tong Guowei may have been making a fuss, but he shouldn't joke about his Qing Dynasty. Besides, his uncle had several other sons besides Longkodo.
If they cause any more trouble, don't blame me for taking action.
After being threatened by Kangxi, what could Tong Guowei do? On the surface, he could only suppress his thoughts of causing trouble, while at the same time starting to educate his other sons.
A hundred years from now, surely we can't really find that the Tong family has no heir?
Tong Guowei's wife, Lady Hesheli, was unhappy. Although Tong Guowei had many sons, she only had one son, and now that he was gone, Tong Guowei said he would not seek revenge.
Not only that, she also wants to promote the sons of her other concubines? To seize her own son's position and make him the heir of the Tong family in the future?
What about Longkodo?
What about myself?
Empress Hesheli was always proud of her son being the most outstanding heir, so she was arrogant and smug in front of her many concubines, and even made them suffer, including her illegitimate sons.
She herself was from the Hesheli clan and had married the emperor's uncle, so even the emperor had to show her respect.
But now...
In the depths of winter, wool sweaters are very warm and are especially popular in northern regions, where demand far exceeds supply.
Then it was supplied to the Jiangnan area. Although it looked a bit strangely short, when you wore it, in addition to the sweater, there were also wool pants, which were really... quite warm.
In addition, there are scarves and socks, from a royal brand, exclusively for the wealthy.
If the price is high, the profits can be used to develop the Qing Dynasty. If things continue like that, infrastructure construction is very expensive, and once it starts, it cannot be stopped easily.
Road construction, factory building, building orphanages and nursing homes, etc., were all done in the emperor's name, so the crown prince did not need to have a great reputation among the people.
Women only gain confidence and status when they start earning money in factories. It's impossible to talk about gender equality without considering everything else; it just makes people think you're crazy.
Jialuo persuaded Yinreng to do everything she could.
I've done my part, and I have a clear conscience.
That winter was very cold, but the people fared better than in previous years.
The third to the eighth prince were divided into groups to promote grain crops. Because it was the emperor himself who came to promote them, neither the prefect nor the county magistrate dared to neglect them. In any case, every village had to plant them.
The village chief led the way: "The county magistrate has said that every village and every household will be allocated a portion and must plant these new grain crops."
Who would dare disobey? Anyway, it's not much, at most just a small plot or two, but my heart is full of resentment.
I have no idea what the imperial court is doing. What new grain? And high yield? It can't germinate, and if it does, it'll be poisonous? Seriously, do they really want to poison them?
There was nothing they could do. The county magistrate paid special attention to the planting season and even patrolled every village. Who would dare not plant?
Driven by this resentment, the sweet potatoes and potatoes they planted yielded unbelievably high yields.
Sprouted food is poisonous? Then eat this first!
Sweet potatoes can't be eaten as a meal? Then eat them with whole grains!
Because road construction required the help of laborers from various places, in addition to carrying stones to pave the road, they also had to ask the aunties to cook a meal. Along the way, people in many places benefited.
This year is another good year.
I heard that wool sweaters are popular in the city now, but they're not eligible to buy them. I heard they're very warm.
However, once they've saved up enough money, they'll definitely be able to buy one someday...
Although the ninth and tenth brothers were not present for the Golden Festival and Lunar New Year's Eve this year, it didn't stop the others from having fun.
Apart from Consort Yi, no one else paid any attention to this, because so many things had happened this year.
Oh, no, there's also the Eighth Prince, Yinzhi, who had been trying to extract money from the Ninth Prince to pave the way for his own path to the throne.
The Eighth Prince's wife was also very uncomfortable. Before, when the Ninth Prince's share of the silver was delivered, she could still enjoy herself.
Since his death, Yinzhi has had no income, and the Eighth Prince's wife can only spend her own dowry. How could she possibly feel at ease? She feels terrible about spending her own money.
Now that the national treasury is under the control of Prince Yong, you want to borrow money? Sure, let me check if it's true first.
Seeing that the First Consort, the Crown Princess, and the Third Consort all had legitimate sons, including the Fourth Consort who had already been... given birth to a legitimate son, the Eighth Consort couldn't ignore the two unfavored women, the Fifth and Seventh Consorts. How could the proud and arrogant Eighth Consort be willing to admit that she was inferior to others?
Looking around, she finally squeezed herself into the group of the First Princess and others. At least, when it came to having children, they... the Eighth Princess reluctantly admitted that she was not as good as them.
However, her usual arrogance led the other wives to treat the Eighth Prince's wife with indifference, their faces showing a faint smile, but when it came to having children...
"It's all because of her destiny to have children." Who doesn't know what kind of person the Eighth Prince's wife is? I heard that the Crown Princess even gave her a secret formula for conceiving easily, and what happened?
Instead of being thanked, she was ridiculed and people even told her behind her back that the Crown Princess had deliberately given her a wrong fertility formula to torment her.
Feeling resentful and sullen from being disliked, the Eighth Prince's wife went back and complained to the Eighth Prince, Yinzhi, at length:
"My sister-in-law and the Crown Princess look down on us because of our lowly status, saying we're inferior to them. They even make sarcastic remarks, saying we can't have children..."
As she spoke, the Eighth Prince's wife's bright and cheerful face broke into tears, and she nestled against Yinzhi's chest, looking pitiful.
"My lady, you're crying. It's all my fault. I couldn't give you better..." Yinzhi lowered his head. "If only I had a powerful maternal family like my elder brother's..."
Yinzhi sighed in his gentle voice, with a hint of sorrow and bitterness hidden in his words, and comforted his Eighth Prince Consort, Guo Luoluo, with self-reproach.
Upon hearing his words, Lady Guoluo immediately hugged him. Her Eighth Prince was gentle and refined, and extremely capable, but he lacked a powerful family backing him, which is why he was bullied by the other princes.
With pity and tenderness, she said, "My lord, you may not have a maternal family, but you still have my family behind you, the Prince An's Mansion, which is your support."
The Eighth Prince's wife, Lady Guoluo, truly loved Yinzhi. Seeing him so distressed, Lady Guoluo felt her heart ache.
Her Eighth Prince shouldn't be like this. How can he be looked down upon by the other princes just because of his birth?
It's really too much. Even Consort Yi and her cousin Yinzhen, who are from the same clan, are unwilling to help their Eighth Prince.
When their Eighth Master rises to power, he will definitely teach them a lesson.
“The Prince An’s Mansion? But how could the Prince An’s Mansion’s power possibly fall into my hands?” Yinzhi shook his head slightly, trying to persuade Guo Luoluo Shi not to worry about him.
“Who says it’s impossible? Before his death, Grandfather Guoluo gave me the token…” In her anxiety, Lady Guoluo grabbed Yinzhi’s hand and was about to lead him to find the token.
Her Eighth Prince is so outstanding, he just lacks an opportunity, an opportunity for his father, the Emperor, to see Yinzhi.
Yinzhi's eyes lit up when he saw the token in Guoluo's hand, but his face was full of disapproval. "Fujin, this was given to you by Guoluo Mafa. Keep it safe. I can't accept it."
In Guo Luoluo's view, Yinzhi's firm refusal was a sign of his care for her, his love for her, and his desire to keep the best for her.
But they are husband and wife, aren't they?
A wife's honor is tied to her husband's. As long as Yinzhi is well, she won't have to be stared at with those strange and disdainful eyes anymore. Since being taken back to the manor by Prince Yue Le, Guo Luoluo, she has never suffered such grievances.
Seeing that Yinzhi couldn't refuse, he held the token and looked at Guo Luoluo with deep emotion, taking her hand and saying, "Fujin, in this life, only you have ever been so good to me, so considerate of me..."
(End of this chapter)
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