Chapter 100 Extra Chapter 1
Emperor Kangxi's abdication edict caused a sensation throughout the court and the country.
No one believed it; what emperor would willingly abdicate? Li Yuan of the Tang Dynasty was ousted from the throne by Li Shimin in the Xuanwu Gate Incident. Even Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang, despite their advanced age and the repeated deposition of their crown princes, would not relinquish the power they held.
However, given the Emperor's authority, no one would doubt that he was being threatened. Who would dare to threaten the Emperor?
After the court session, the imperial relatives and officials all wanted to see the emperor and ask him to withdraw the imperial edict.
The most ambitious of the princes, Yinzhi, never imagined that things would develop in this direction.
He was also thinking that his father had recently given birth to an eighteenth son in the harem, which showed that his father was still in good health, even though his father was almost fifty years old.
The Crown Prince, now in his prime, will surely begin to be wary. If I were to interfere further, I might be able to bring him down.
But who knew that Father Emperor would abdicate?! How could this happen?
He had no interest in talking to anyone. The imperial relatives and officials had all gone to beg the Emperor to rescind the imperial edict. Looking at his brothers, they were also shocked by the matter.
His Highness the Crown Prince was the first to ask his father, the Emperor, to withdraw the imperial edict. Yinti and the others followed behind him. After all, there was a big difference between the Emperor being the Emperor and his brothers being the Emperor.
Yinzhi followed after him, even though he knew that his father must have given this decision a lot of thought.
However, they still knelt together outside the Qianqing Palace, begging their father, the Emperor, to rescind his decree.
Emperor Kangxi paid no heed to the people kneeling outside; he was only discussing with his Minister of Rites matters concerning the enthronement ceremony of Crown Prince Yinreng next month, ensuring that everything was handled smoothly and properly.
Oh, and I also need to deal with and arrange things for the women in my harem. I don't want the women from Yuqing Palace to have to stay there, since they are the Emperor's women after all.
The women in the harem received no news at all, only hearing reports from their servants that the Emperor had announced his abdication edict during the morning court session.
All the concubines were dumbfounded, especially the group that had just entered the palace this year, who thought they could enter the palace and become the emperor's concubines, hoping to gain immense wealth and status.
How could this be...?
However, they had no control over the emperor's decree and could only silently accept it. As for the concubines, they didn't have much confidence that their sons could compete for the throne; they were just happy to be safe.
The only problem is... she's become the retired emperor's concubine, and no matter how much she's favored, it's not as effective as the current emperor.
Also, what are the Emperor's plans for their future?
It was noon, and the sun was shining down on them. Everyone was wearing thick official robes that were not breathable, and they were sweating profusely. Many of the relatives and important officials were elderly people, and they could hardly stand it.
An elder of the clan, who had always lived a life of luxury, had never suffered such hardship. He fainted under the sun.
This immediately caused an uproar. "Summon the imperial physician! Go and summon the imperial physician!"
Kangxi, who was still discussing the enthronement ceremony inside, heard the commotion outside and looked at Liang Jiugong. Liang Jiugong quickly went to check on the situation and found that someone had fainted.
"They haven't left yet?" Kangxi was slightly surprised when he heard someone say they had fainted. He thought they had left, especially in this hot weather. "Let them go back. Also, call the imperial physician. They must have suffered from heatstroke."
"Wang Yan, you should go back first." Kangxi told him to go back to the Ministry of Rites to make preparations. As for talking to his ministers? He hadn't expected that there would be so many things to prepare and do later, and he had no interest in spending his time and energy on them.
Even now, Emperor Kangxi still holds absolute power in the court.
Outside the palace, Liang Jiugong told them to disperse. This was the Emperor's order, an imperial decree issued by the Emperor. Were you trying to force the Emperor to abdicate?
Furthermore, the Emperor refuses to see anyone.
As he spoke, he glanced at His Highness the Crown Prince and tsk tsk. The Minister of Rites has already gone back to prepare for the coronation ceremony. Soon, His Highness the Crown Prince will be the Emperor, and His Majesty will become the Retired Emperor.
The Emperor's affection for his son, the Crown Prince, is so deep that even ordinary people would not treat their sons so well, let alone the imperial family.
Yinreng knelt there, listening to Liang Jiugong's thoughts, but he couldn't understand why his father would abdicate. Did even Liang Jiugong, the chief eunuch of the imperial court, not know?
Liang Jiugong's persuasion gave those kneeling outside the hall a way out, after all... it was midday, the sun was shining overhead, it was really hot, and their knees were quite sore.
With so many people around, and the Emperor watching from inside, if I were to just leave like this, I would be courting death.
After being persuaded by Liang Jiugong, many officials looked at each other and said, "Eunuch Liang, we want to see the Emperor. If the Emperor refuses to see us, we will kneel here and never get up."
This is an official who doesn't want to believe it. He's not part of the Crown Prince's faction, so how could he possibly want the Crown Prince to ascend the throne?
The other officials who had become part of the Crown Prince's faction were actually trying to signal to him with their eyes that the act was over and it was time to get up and take their leave.
They were just surprised when one of the idiots said something like that, which left them stuck again.
However, most people still hope that the Emperor will rescind the decree, since His Highness the Crown Prince's methods in investigating corrupt officials were too ruthless, and he was clearly not the kind of person who would tolerate them.
It's still the Emperor... The Emperor is quite good. In the past, he didn't investigate corrupt officials or manage the national treasury debt collection; it was all done by the princes...
Sigh, now the princes have grown up and are serving in the court. The rest... is pretty much the same.
However, Liang Jiugong did not give them the chance to stay. He told them to leave quickly and not to stay there, as the emperor would not change his mind.
Some people left, some stayed, but the only one who was called in was the Crown Prince Yinreng, who was to be succeeded to the throne.
"Your Highness, His Majesty invites you in." Liang Jiugong's attitude towards Yinreng became even more respectful, after all, in a month, this would be the new emperor.
Yinreng's feet were also a little numb, but the noble temperament he had cultivated over the years as the Crown Prince allowed him to walk in calmly. If you looked closely, you could even see that there was a slight flaw in his walking posture.
Upon entering, I saw my father, the Emperor, sitting on the dragon throne handling state affairs, just like any other scene I'd ever seen. But my feelings were quite different now.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty. Your Majesty, why did you issue the imperial edict at this morning's court? Without your protection, your subject is still somewhat uneasy. Please withdraw the edict."
Yinreng was puzzled but also tried to persuade him, feeling that it was best for his father to stay in the capital. He did not think he could sit in that position. The important thing was that if he became the emperor, with the retired emperor watching over him, wouldn't he have very few opportunities to leave the capital?
He had thought it all through. If his eldest brother and the others could run away, could he run away too? He had to see the scenery outside. As the crown prince, how could he lose to Yinti?
"I believe you can do it." Kangxi did not think Baocheng was incapable. He himself ascended the throne at the age of eight and did a great job.
At that time, he didn't understand anything.
How could Bao Cheng not be good now? He has been learning from me for so long. Even if something goes wrong, I can still clear obstacles and make up for mistakes for Yinreng.
"Your coronation ceremony will be in a month. The imperial edict has been issued and is law. Go back and prepare well, Baocheng. Your father is getting old. The heavy responsibility of the Qing Dynasty should be handed over to you. Don't let your father down."
Kangxi spoke in a calm voice, his expression very serious. In his view, Yinreng should not be such an insecure person.
"Father..." Yinreng listened to Kangxi's words and felt that his father's words were somewhat... Yinreng didn't know how to describe it, but he just thought that his father was just making an excuse.
He should grow up now. He can no longer stay behind his father. He should grow up and protect his aging father from the wind and rain.
After hearing the innermost thoughts of the Guarjia clan, Yinreng had long since lost the belief that he would one day ascend the throne.
Since I'm going to be laid off, I might as well live life to the fullest.
However, he overlooked the question: what would the Emperor do if he knew how things would develop? Would he continue to let things run rampant, or would he begin to take precautions and be wary?
What Yinreng couldn't understand was why his father, the Emperor, would choose to abdicate?
Suddenly, a wave of bitterness rose in my heart. Father, how could you be so kind to me? How could I bear to leave you and go to the West?
The touching father-son relationship inside was unknown to outsiders, but the princes knew that even if they knelt here to their deaths, they would not be able to change their father's mind.
For example, the ninth and tenth princes felt like they were about to get heatstroke, and their legs might even break from kneeling. Once the Emperor made a decision, who could persuade them otherwise?
When the Emperor said he wanted to abolish the Three Feudatories, the Qing Dynasty was teetering on the brink of collapse, but it still succeeded in abolishing the Three Feudatories.
The Emperor wanted to personally lead an expedition against Galdan, and in the end, he launched three consecutive campaigns, successfully capturing and eliminating him.
Now that the Emperor has declared his intention to abdicate, who can resist? Are they trying to force him to abdicate? The Emperor holds military power and control of the Eight Banners; who has the authority to do so?
"You all stay kneeling. I'm going back first. I have heatstroke and need to go back and take my medicine." The ninth brother got up immediately and looked at the tenth brother.
"Ninth Brother is right. Oh dear, I feel dizzy and nauseous. I must have heatstroke. Ninth Brother, please help me back. Don't let Father worry about such a small thing." The Tenth Prince nodded hurriedly and got up with Ninth Brother's help.
Yinti watched his two younger brothers leave. Even if his father didn't abdicate, it wouldn't be his turn to ascend to that position.
"My legs hurt too. Ouch, it must be from sailing on the sea for too long. My rheumatism has flared up." Yinti turned and left. The fertility formula that his second son had given him before was still missing after all these years.
Sigh, it seems this really is the last one.
Yinti felt he had to repay the kindness and favors his second son had shown him. So, he decided that if his second son was going to ascend the throne, he would not be an obstacle.
Oh, maybe I'm just being presumptuous. It's not my place to be this obstacle at all.
The third, fourth, fifth, and seventh princes remained silent for a few seconds after they all left. The Emperor seemed quite satisfied with the Crown Prince. If there was to be a discussion, it should be the Crown Prince who did it, not them.
After they left, the other princes, even those with some ulterior motives, did not want to reveal them.
Seeing that the princes were leaving one after another, the others gradually followed suit, leaving whenever someone took the first step.
Some people stayed behind, hoping to demonstrate their loyalty to the emperor.
Those who left believed that the emperor would definitely abdicate, and they didn't know if doing so would displease the new emperor. What if the new emperor thought they were dissatisfied with his ascension to the throne and then made things difficult for them?
Back in his residence, the Eighth Prince sat in his study and slammed his fist on the table. He didn't even dare to smash the porcelain, for fear that word would get out and his father and the Crown Prince would think he was very dissatisfied with the abdication edict.
How could this be! How could Father Emperor voluntarily abdicate? What emperor would willingly abdicate?
Yinzhi truly never expected that his birth mother, despite her beauty, was not favored and had been mistreated by servants in the palace since childhood. She had never received any favor or attention from her father, the Emperor.
Yinzhi wanted to climb up the ranks through his own efforts, to let his father see his existence, and to tell everyone that he, Aisin Gioro Yinzhi, was a capable man and that no one could underestimate him.
They also want to climb up and step on the heads of those who once insulted them, to tell them how despicable their past behavior was.
However, everything came to an end while I was still in the planning stage.
Just how much does the Emperor favor the Crown Prince? Why can't he share even a fraction of that favor with him?
He slammed his fist on the table in anger, and just then, a servant's voice came from the doorway, "Master, the Princess Consort has arrived."
"Get out!" Yinzhi shouted angrily, his face cold. He had no interest in talking to women about anything, not even their advisors. He didn't want to see anyone right now.
The Eighth Prince's wife, Lady Guoluo, who was standing at the door, certainly heard Yinzhi's angry rebuke, but she was not angry, because she felt the same way—unbelievable!
Why did the Emperor abdicate?
Like Yinzhi, she also fantasized that one day, the outstanding, capable, and gentle Yinzhi would ascend the throne.
A man as good as Yinzhi will surely become a wise and benevolent ruler in the future.
But now...
"Yin Si, it's me. May I come in?" Guo Luoluo did not leave, but called out to the inside.
"Get out, I told you to get out!" How could Yinzhi possibly maintain his composure now? The couple, whose relationship had broken down because of their two concubines, had lost their former intimacy, and there was no possibility of discussion left.
Yinzhi was extremely annoyed. Why did Guoluo, who didn't know how to read the room, have to bother him when he was already so annoyed?
The Eighth Prince's wife, Lady Guoluo, looked somewhat aggrieved and bitter after being scolded. Finally, she turned and left.
Such a heartless and barking bastard deserves to be unworthy of that position.
Yinzhi had no idea what Guoluo thought of him or how she despised him. Even if he did know, it wouldn't matter; it wasn't enough for him to care.
He was filled with heartache and regret, and sat blankly in his study all night, with the candle burning all night long.
Time, however, did not stand still because of his resentment. Apart from him, the other princes... those who had sailed the seas had become much more open-minded. They were somewhat depressed, but they did not hold grudges.
Let the crown prince ascend the throne.
Judging from the Crown Prince's attitude, he wouldn't strictly confine them to prevent them from leaving the capital.
The concubines in the harem also summoned their sons, but not long after the summons, they received a notice from the Qianqing Palace that they were to be moved to another palace.
However, there were too many people, so they had to take it slowly, and they also had to squeeze into the Western Six Palaces, which was very annoying for the high-ranking concubines.
Previously, a concubine could sit in the main hall of a palace, but now she can only cower in a corner. But there's nothing she can do; after all, a new emperor brings a new court.
The same applies to the imperial harem!
Yuqing Palace.
While Crown Princess Jialuo was still checking the accounts, she heard Xiao Chenzi rushing over, his voice urgent as if the sky had fallen.
He was panting heavily when he said, "Crown Princess, Crown Princess, at the morning court session, the Emperor has announced his abdication."
Little Chenzi never expected that the surprise would come so suddenly—the Emperor abdicated in favor of the Crown Prince.
Wouldn't that mean their Crown Princess would become Empress? And all of them would rise to power together!
When Jialuo heard Xiao Chenzi's report, she looked over in astonishment, thinking that there was something wrong with her ears.
"Little Chen, you can't just say things like that. If word gets out, you could be beheaded." Jia Luo hoped that Little Chen could be more rational. Had he bumped his head on the way out today and made him stupid?
"No, Your Highness, it's true, it's already spread." Little Chenzi was anxious and quickly explained, but why didn't the Crown Princess believe him?
Ah...it's true?
Jialuo's eyes widened instantly, and she instinctively straightened up in disbelief. "Really? How could it be so sudden? Go, go find out what's going on. Where's the Crown Prince? Has he returned?"
Jialuo never imagined that such an outrageous thing could happen.
Jialuo was still somewhat skeptical and sent someone to find out what was going on.
Soon, several servants who had gathered information returned. Indeed, the Emperor had read out the abdication edict during the morning court session and passed the throne to Crown Prince Aisin Gioro Yinreng.
"..." Jialuo didn't know what to say at this moment. She thought she would have to work hard for a long time before she would have the opportunity to reach the pinnacle of life and fight alongside the Crown Prince for that position, experiencing ups and downs.
It's pretty good.
She just didn't understand why he abdicated. Although she wasn't well-versed in history, she knew that there were very few retired emperors in history, and they probably didn't abdicate in a sincere way!
Jialuo didn't know what to do, so she could only wait for Yinreng to return.
When Yinreng returned, he heard Xiao Chenzi, who was waiting for him in the front yard, say that the Crown Princess wanted him to come over.
Yinreng roughly knew that Jialuo knew about the Emperor's morning court session that day and must be extremely worried.
"Jialuo." The noble and elegant man was more mature than before, perhaps because he knew how heavy the task he was about to shoulder was.
"Your Highness, I've heard about the morning court session. What should we do now?" Jialuo felt she needed to express her opinion, to follow the Crown Prince's lead, in order to reveal the Yuqing Palace's intentions.
"Just follow Father's wishes, Jialuo. Get ready, you'll be very busy from now on." Yinreng's attitude told Jialuo that yes, soon... she would become Empress.
"Father has made all the arrangements. The coronation ceremony will be held in a month." Yinreng reached out and patted his little wife's head. My Crown Princess is about to become the mother of the nation.
"The phoenix robe is being rushed to completion. There might be a bit of chaos ahead. Jialuo, thank you for your hard work." She manages the household affairs for him and bears his children.
I'll be very busy from now on, but it will be worthwhile. Just be patient.
"Your Highness, congratulations." At this moment, Jialuo took Yinreng's hand. She didn't ask why the emperor chose to abdicate. Her face was full of smiles. "Soon, you will be the emperor."
[Sigh, becoming emperor with three thousand beauties in the harem makes things even more difficult.]
At my age, I would still be considered young and beautiful in the 21st century, but in this era, I'm already past my prime.
If Bao Cheng gets involved with another woman, I'll run away.
But where can I run to? What if I get kidnapped by human traffickers?
[Forget it, I'll stay in the palace. There's food, drink, and servants to wait on me. The worst that can happen is I'll lose that scoundrel of a man.]
I cursed him in my heart, but before my thoughts could even flow, I felt a finger snap on my forehead.
hiss--
"What are you doing? Does it hurt?" Jialuo glared angrily at Yinreng. He hadn't even become emperor yet, and he was already abusing his wife?
"I want to see what kind of nonsense you're thinking. Don't read so many novels anymore." Yinreng said softly and helplessly, it was all because of the novels that his Crown Princess was corrupted.
"What a scoundrel! Seriously, next time he'll have that bookstore shut down."
"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm just thinking about you, aren't I?" Is she really the kind of person who can't hide her feelings? Are all my thoughts written on her face? Damn it, after being the Crown Princess for so many years, haven't I learned what it means to keep my emotions hidden?
That won't do. How can she be an empress if she doesn't act like that?
Immediately, Jialuo put on a stern face, pretending to be very serious and authoritative. "Can you tell what I'm thinking from this?"
Yinreng was amused and rubbed her reddened forehead. His Crown Princess's thought process was really hard to keep up with.
Only he understood.
Jialuo, whose forehead had been rubbed, leaned against Yinreng, and the two chatted intimately, with Jialuo doing most of the talking and Yinreng listening.
During this period, Emperor Kangxi was indeed very busy. After arranging for his concubines to reside in the Western Six Palaces, he discovered that... while the Western Six Palaces looked very large, they could not actually accommodate so many people.
Moreover, if Bao Cheng ascends the throne, it would be inappropriate for him to remain in the Qianqing Palace.
A country cannot have two rulers. If one says he will abdicate, he should abdicate, not continue to hold onto power.
When he had this idea, he also bought several gardens in the suburbs. They have already been built. The three gardens are connected together, and it is not a problem to arrange for the concubines to go there one by one.
First, there were the young and beautiful concubines, mostly the ones who had recently been favored. After all, with the new emperor on the throne, it would be difficult to silence gossip if he were to have any affairs with those concubines.
Next came his own palace, which began to be moved out, gradually decreasing in size. Kangxi was indeed somewhat disoriented.
Soon, this palace would no longer belong to him.
However, Yinreng was dissatisfied every day when he came over and saw Kangxi's arrangements, especially when people were moving things out of the Qianqing Palace. He said, "Father, how can you move them away? Aren't you watching over your son?"
"What am I doing staying in the palace?" Kangxi thought Bao Cheng was still foolish. Now that he had become the emperor, he should be issuing orders. Why was he being suppressed by his father? Wasn't he just asking for trouble?
But I still felt a little pleased and warm inside.
"Of course, it's to see if your son has done anything wrong. Also, you are not allowed to move these things away. The Qianqing Palace is yours. Your son will live in the Yangxin Hall, which is not far from you." Father Emperor hasn't even left yet, what would it mean if I moved in?
"Liang Jiugong, you are not allowed to move anything. Father's things must remain in the palace." Instead of trying to persuade Kangxi, Yinreng turned to Liang Jiugong and gave him his orders.
Father Emperor, you mustn't leave. Father Emperor, you must stay with him.
He expressed his determination with his expression and tone, looking at Kangxi with bright eyes and a hint of pleading.
How could Kangxi not have noticed? He pursed his lips, a hint of helplessness in his expression, and said, "Alright, Baocheng, come here. This is the program for the coronation ceremony. Take a look."
The coronation ceremony is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and for the emperor no less, there is absolutely no room for error.
Yinreng also knew the importance of this, so he stepped forward, and then Kangxi led his son through the process once, which can be called a rehearsal.
The concubines who were arranged to leave the palace were somewhat uneasy, thinking that they had been rejected by the emperor. In fact, they were arranged to live in the emperor's newly built garden, and the emperor would soon be living outside the palace.
Well, that's fine, isn't it? Anyway, there's nothing I can do about it. Besides, when the Emperor leaves the palace, it's just a few of them. It's better than competing for the Emperor's favor with all those women in the harem, right?
At least they could have a son like Chen (the mother of the seventeenth prince) and Wang (the mothers of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and eighteenth princes), so that they would have someone to rely on in the future.
They will definitely take this time to recuperate, so that... when the emperor passes away, no, on his deathbed, they can have their own sons take them out of the palace to become old matriarchs.
Kangxi ignored the various thoughts and intentions of the people, keeping his own Bao Cheng by his side. Time passed quickly, and the day of Yinreng's enthronement arrived.
The sky was clear and the air was crisp; it was indeed an auspicious day chosen by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
Emperor Kangxi was very pleased with Yinreng, who was dressed in the dragon robe. He believed that the crown prince of the Qing Dynasty, whom he had personally trained, would surely lead the Qing Dynasty to greater prosperity in the future.
Neither relatives nor ministers could persuade Emperor Kangxi to change his mind.
Therefore, the enthronement ceremony was still held on this day, and all the imperial relatives and ministers came.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, they walked step by step toward the tall building. The perfect sunlight shone down, filling the building with light, like the flourishing of the Qing Dynasty, shining with the brilliance of the future.
The princes, including Yinti, could only look up at the crown prince who had once stood beside them, now... had become the emperor.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Everyone knelt down in unison to pay their respects, their voices carrying far and wide.
The new emperor would not change his reign title until the following year, as the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was still choosing his reign title. Although Yinreng kept him in the palace after his coronation ceremony, Kangxi was very sensible.
To avoid a situation where there are two emperors in one country, forcing the officials to report to the retired emperor, wouldn't that diminish Yinreng's imperial authority?
When Kangxi left, he took another group of people with him, and the people from Yuqing Palace had been relocated to the Eastern Six Palaces.
First, Jialuo, as the Crown Princess, was made Empress and resided in Kunning Palace.
The other princesses... Yinreng couldn't even remember who was who, but considering their sensible nature, he could keep them. In terms of rank, those who could please Jialuo were Noble Ladies, while the others were Attendants.
Jialuo had been in charge of the affairs of the inner palace for many years, so even after moving to Kunning Palace, she was not in a state of chaos.
After the coronation ceremony came the empress's investiture ceremony. Other nobles... didn't even receive a royal decree; at most, they received an imperial edict.
Kunning Palace.
"Your Majesty, this servant greets Your Majesty."
"This old servant greets Your Majesty the Empress."
"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress."
The people who used to be in the main courtyard of Yuqing Palace were all beaming with joy as they congratulated the Empress. Now that they were the Empress's servants, who would dare to give them a hard time?
"Mother, Mother, why do I call you Imperial Mother?" At this moment, three chubby boys ran over. They had heard about the recent events, but still had many questions.
Previously, my father and mother were both very busy and didn't have time to pay attention to them.
Now that everything was finally over, Hongyao brought his three younger brothers to Kunning Palace. The three chubby boys immediately hugged their mother's legs and asked questions in a soft, whiny voice.
(End of this chapter)
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