Chapter 61 Consort Hui and Prince Cheng
Baoqing, completely oblivious to being disliked, strolled off to Yuqing Palace.
The Crown Prince's residence, Yuqing Palace, was naturally exquisite in every way. The furnishings inside were all of the finest quality, and any one of them could be worth a lifetime's worth of food, clothing, and luxury for an ordinary person.
However, Baoqing felt it was inferior to his mansion.
After being granted the title of Prince, his residence was expanded by two courtyards, and a large garden in the style of Jiangnan gardens was built in the back, which was much more spacious than Yuqing Palace.
Just then, the Crown Prince's Haha Pearl came out of the study and saw the figure standing in the courtyard. His eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost: "Why is Prince Zhi here?"
Then he realized that this was a prince, and quickly bowed and paid his respects.
But he couldn't help but have some doubts.
Wasn't it said that Prince Zhi and the Crown Prince never got along? How come this one seems so relaxed in Yuqing Palace, like it's his own home?
“No need for formalities,” Baoqing said casually, standing in front of the large blue-and-white porcelain jar, seemingly admiring the fish swimming inside. “Have you eaten?”
It wasn't time for dinner yet, so his question was quite perfunctory.
Haha, Zhu Zi really wanted to leave, but out of politeness, she had to exchange a few pleasantries before departing.
A young eunuch had already entered the study to report, and it wasn't until Haha Zhuzi had rounded the corner and disappeared from sight that the Crown Prince, dressed in casual clothes, leaned casually against the study door with his arms crossed, his tone somewhat lazy, "Brother, what brings you here?"
In recent years, under the Emperor's deliberate control, their relationship has deteriorated significantly. How long ago was the last time my elder brother came to Yuqing Palace?
Half a year?
A year?
In short, I can't remember.
Baoqing has moved from the fish tank in the courtyard to the flowerpot under the eaves, and is now only a few steps away from the Crown Prince.
He squatted down without any regard for decorum, rubbed the soil in the jasmine pot with his fingers, and said sincerely, "The soil in your flower is too wet. If I touch it, I've probably watered it too much. The roots must be rotting. It seems that out of brotherhood, I can replace it with a new one for you for free."
The crown prince rolled his eyes at him and spoke sarcastically, "I think you've gone crazy from growing flowers in the mansion. This jasmine plant is in sandy soil and it's about to wither and die from lack of water. Where did you get the extra water?"
After Emperor Kangxi passed away, the Crown Prince took over the reins of government. The Third Prince and the Fourth Prince both had their own duties, while Baoqing had nothing to do. He only needed to go to the Ministry of War once a day, and he had plenty of free time.
Then he started growing flowers himself in the Prince's mansion.
Bao Qing's hand was still resting on the rim of the crackled Ru ware flowerpot, and he didn't even look up. "How do you know what I did in the mansion?"
The crown prince readily admitted, "Isn't this something you can find out just by wanting to know?"
Every household has one or two spies. His place is full of the Emperor's men, and they change them every now and then without anyone saying anything.
Bao Qing was straightforward and not stupid. He slowly raised his head and imitated the Crown Prince's mocking tone: "I am truly flattered that the Regent Crown Prince has time to care about such a small matter of mine."
Although it was said that the Crown Prince was in charge of the country, everyone knew that memorials were sent to the Emperor by fast horses and then returned. At most, the Crown Prince would approve a memorial of greetings, as if the memorials were being passed around by a merchant.
Most importantly, Songgotu, a staunch princeling, also went on the eastern tour.
The Crown Prince was nothing more than a tool for stamping documents in the capital.
“You’re just bored out of your mind and have come to Yuqing Palace to pass the time,” the Crown Prince straightened up, turned around and went back to his study.
Baoqing touched the side of his nose, looking a little embarrassed.
He really did come to Yuqing Palace for leisure.
In the mansion, the wife complained that he was getting in her way and even killed many of the flowers. She said that if he had nothing to do, he should just sit there in a daze and not act crazy in front of her.
He wouldn't stoop to the level of the princess; if he didn't want to go back, he wouldn't go back. Wasn't this the kind of time he spent with his brothers?
Unfortunately, the fourth brother had completely lost his patience with the teasing.
As she pondered this, Baoqing followed the Crown Prince into the study.
The crown prince was drinking tea when he saw him and looked even more puzzled. "What are you doing here?"
Who would be so carefree as to barge into the enemy's study?
Brother, could it be that you look honest but are actually here to steal secrets?
The crown prince was amused by his own guess.
-
Even when Emperor Kangxi was far away in the border region, he did not forget to keep an eye on the situation in the capital.
As his sons grew up, Emperor Kangxi felt gratified by their success, but he also couldn't help feeling threatened.
Especially for the crown prince, the rightful heir.
However, the Crown Prince was still his most precious treasure, so Kangxi wrote back three letters a day, most of which were about the Crown Prince and hoped that he would be well. He also ruthlessly left the four princes behind to keep the Crown Prince in check.
Although he supported his eldest son in challenging the crown prince, and although he secretly sowed discord between his eldest son and the crown prince, he was a good father.
Inside the tent, candlelight flickered. Kangxi put down the memorial and rubbed his temples. "Liang Jiugong."
Liang Jiugong, who had been standing by, immediately replied respectfully, "This servant is here."
Kangxi said in a calm tone: "Tell me about the situation in the capital."
Someone had previously reported that Emperor Kangxi was reviewing memorials, so Liang Jiugong did not disturb him.
After organizing his thoughts, Liang Jiugong slowly said, "Everything in the capital is as usual. Prince Cheng and the Fourth Prince are working diligently and without any misconduct. However, after finishing his shift, Prince Zhi went to Yuqing Palace and apparently angered the Crown Prince. He was kicked out of the study after entering it."
Emperor Kangxi bent his knuckles and gently tapped the table, lost in thought for a moment.
“Baoqing is still not steady enough. He should go out and gain some experience. He should send a message to the capital and ask Prince Zhi to come over so as not to interfere with the Crown Prince’s business.”
This news reached the Crown Prince.
He scoffed and threw the greeting document back onto the table.
Under the guise of caring for him, the Emperor never reduced the number of people he kept in Yuqing Palace, and he never tried to hide it.
As a child, he happily accepted that the servants were all his father, the Emperor, believing it to be a sign of his father's care and respect for him.
But now he has grown up and married a princess, his elder brother has left the palace to establish his own government and has his own subordinates, and his younger brothers have also begun to participate in national affairs and gradually develop their own manpower. Only he is trapped in the Forbidden City and it is inconvenient for him to do anything.
They say the Eastern Palace is just a small court with its own subordinate officials.
He has many people in the Eastern Palace, but they are not his subordinates. They all listen to their father, the Emperor, not him, their master.
The reason for hastily summoning the elder brother was probably because they were afraid that the relationship between the two of them would be harmonized again.
They even used the pretense of being considerate of him.
Despite his inner dissatisfaction, he maintained the composed and dignified demeanor of the Crown Prince: "Send this letter to the Prince Zhi's residence."
-
After making an eastern tour and then a southern tour, Baoqing suspected that his father was just trying to make things difficult for him.
However, there are also advantages to doing official business.
This at least shows that the Emperor still values him quite a bit; he would be miserable if he were really idle.
Baoqing comforted herself in this way.
The First Princess Consort prepared his luggage with some concern: "You just went on the southern tour for three months last year and came back looking like a piece of charcoal. Why are you going out again after only a few days of rest?"
This guy's barely warmed up before he's already running off. Father Emperor really knows how to make things difficult for people.
Of course, she only thought these words to herself.
Bao Qing smiled broadly: "The Yellow River is a serious matter, and of paramount importance. The other brothers would love to get it but can't."
The First Princess knew he was ambitious, so she didn't say anything more, only telling him to be careful and not to go near the Yellow River.
"Remember to send a message to your mother before you leave. She was talking about you the other day," the First Princess Consort said, as she listed the things he needed to bring.
Baoqing smiled and agreed, "I'll go to the palace later and tell Mother in person."
"Then you can stop by Fuyuan Pavilion on Mao'er Street and buy some Poria cocos cake and Ruyi rolls. Mother has been fond of these lately, saying that the ones made in the palace kitchen don't taste the same."
"Okay, got it."
-
Yun Yun was leaning back on the chaise longue, cracking melon seeds. When she heard the palace maid announce that Prince Zhi had arrived, she merely raised her head slightly and casually said, "Let him in."
She also had a good time traveling in Mongolia during the last eastern tour.
Although Baoqing arrived halfway through, it didn't dampen her cheerful mood.
This is a rare opportunity; it's probably the last time she'll ever come to Mongolia, so she's determined to make the most of it.
Unfortunately, Baoqing became an unstable factor. He said he would be filial to his mother and ride horses with her, but in the blink of an eye, he did a series of terrible things that left her to clean up his mess.
Yunyun still remembers that suffocating feeling.
If she doesn't retaliate and cause trouble for Baoqing, she's not his mother.
Baoqing, carrying Poria cocos cake and Ruyi roll, sat down at the pear wood table opposite Yunyun, his tone light and cheerful, "Mother, your son is going to inspect the Yellow River and has come to say goodbye."
"Okay, I understand. You can go now."
Yun Yun was extremely cold-blooded, yet she still cracked the melon seeds in her hand with practiced ease.
Baoqing was immediately displeased and said with dissatisfaction, "Your subject has come to Yanxi Palace with great difficulty, and you won't even let your subject have a meal before leaving? Your subject knows that every time the Princess Consort comes to pay her respects with her three children, she does not leave the palace until after lunch."
"You compare yourself to your wife and children?" Yun Yun put down the melon seeds, wiped her fingertips with a handkerchief, and feigned surprise. "Didn't you always pride yourself on being a stalwart and upright man? Why are you begging for a meal now?"
Bao Qing was speechless for a moment and shut his mouth in embarrassment.
He could never win a verbal argument against his mother.
The mother and son chatted happily for a while, mainly about the billing issue.
Bao Qing, relying on his thick skin and relentless persistence, had just finished having lunch at Yanxi Palace when a young eunuch came in panting and reported: "Your Majesty, may Your Highness be blessed! News has come from Qianqing Palace that Prince Cheng has been demoted to Beile because he was dissatisfied with Consort Min's 100-day head-shaving ceremony."
Consort Min is the former Consort Zhangjia who passed away a few days ago. She was the birth mother of the Thirteenth Prince, Yinxiang.
Although she came from a humble background, she was indeed favored for a period of time, and as a result, the Thirteenth Prince, Yinxiang, also won the Emperor's favor due to his quick wit and intelligence.
After her death, Emperor Kangxi posthumously conferred upon her the title of Consort Min, a title with exceptionally high honors.
Bao Qing looked incredulous: "Is this referring to Prince Cheng as my third brother?"
In his eyes, his third brother, who was full of erudition, was the most law-abiding person.
Because the second brother was both the crown prince and the elder brother, the third brother always treated the crown prince with utmost respect and courtesy whenever he saw him. He fulfilled his duty as the elder brother by bowing and greeting him, and there was nothing inappropriate about it.
How could someone who has such a strong sense of propriety be demoted by the Emperor for something like this?
The young eunuch replied with certainty, "Your Highness, it is indeed Prince Cheng, now Prince Cheng. Not only has his title been reduced, but the Emperor has also ordered him to remain secluded for a month to reflect on his actions, forbidding him from leaving the palace even for a moment."
Yun Jun said, "You can go down now."
The young eunuch accepted the reward and respectfully withdrew, while Baoqing remained in a daze. "Mother, is there something wrong with my ears? How could I have heard that my third brother was demoted?"
He believed that his fourth brother had been reduced to a blank slate by his father, because his fourth brother was expressionless and cold-hearted. Except in front of the Crown Prince, he was always the same deadpan person to everyone else, so it was obvious that he was capable of such a thing.
But it's my third brother.
Bao Qing shook his head.
My third brother is a good younger brother.
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