Chapter 92 Nian Shilan
After the bumper potato harvest, Emperor Kangxi was overjoyed. After enjoying a potato feast with his ministers, he summoned relevant personnel to discuss plans for promoting potato cultivation.
During this period, the newly appointed Prince Yong, Yinzhen, also presented a personally compiled potato planting manual. Combining the year's trial planting and storage experience, the manual clearly summarized the problems that could be encountered in potato planting and storage, and systematically listed corresponding solutions that ordinary people could also implement.
The publication of this booklet laid a solid foundation for the promotion of potatoes. Emperor Kangxi, increasingly pleased with the book, was delighted and wanted to reward Yinzhen with something.
The title had already been granted to the highest possible level, and it was inappropriate for Yinzhen to bestow any further honors. So, after a moment's thought, Kangxi waved his hand and first promoted Consort Tongjia to Imperial Noble Consort, then placed Tongjia Yuexing'a under Yinzhen's name, adding her to the potato promotion team, clearly transferring the current Tongjia clan to Yinzhen.
In addition, seeing that Yinzhen's residence was empty, he specially bestowed upon him a concubine, Nian Shilan, the daughter of Nian Xialing, the governor of Huguang.
Although the Nian family was a Han Chinese bannerman, all of their descendants were accomplished individuals.
His father was a young man, the governor of Huguang, a second-rank official, the highest local administrative official, and held real power;
His elder brother, Nian Xiyao, was renowned for his talent and literary talent, and served as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.
The second elder brother, Nian Gengyao, was favored by the emperor. Before he was even thirty years old, he had already been promoted by Kangxi to the position of governor of Sichuan, becoming a powerful regional official who excelled in both civil and military affairs.
It can be said that the Nian family is now a family of three outstanding individuals, and apart from not being a Manchu military family, they are excellent in every way.
As the youngest daughter born of the principal wife, Nian Shilan was especially loved by her family and was also an extremely dazzling beauty.
Emperor Kangxi's bestowal of this marriage was carefully considered. With a capable father and elder brother, Yinzhen could naturally gain some support. At the same time, since he was not a member of the Manchu Banner Army, his family background would limit any potential threats from others.
If previously Emperor Kangxi indulged Yinzhen's apparent reluctance to compete, now that the potato has appeared, Kangxi is even less willing for Yinzhen to get involved in factional disputes.
Allowing Yinzhen to enter the political arena, regardless of whose side he sided with, would instantly disrupt the balance of power in the court and threaten Kangxi's throne, which was not what Kangxi wanted. He preferred that Yinzhen continue to demonstrate his talents and remain a staunch supporter of the monarchy.
Therefore, Kangxi now values Yinzhen highly, not giving anyone the possibility of harming him, nor giving anyone the opportunity to win him over.
...
Because it was a marriage bestowed by Emperor Kangxi, Nian Shilan, though a secondary consort, still had a respectable wedding. While the scale wasn't as grand as a primary consort's marriage, Yinzhen (Emperor Yongzheng) had already secured the title of Prince Yong due to his role in the potato incident. Therefore, many court officials took this opportunity to visit him.
All who came and went were distinguished, making it seem even more lively than the arrival of the primary consort.
As the primary consort, Yixiu was already uncomfortable having to personally oversee her own prince's wedding. Seeing this scene made her even more upset, but she could only force a smile to greet the guests, ignoring the worried or amused glances from her sisters-in-law.
Yixiu felt uneasy ever since she learned that the Emperor had bestowed a marriage upon Yinzhen.
These past few years, she'd lived a life of unparalleled power in the inner quarters, so comfortable it was almost worn down her spirit. The sudden arrival of a new concubine, a secondary consort specially bestowed upon her by the Emperor, inevitably made Yixiu suspicious.
When she saw Nian Shilan's dowry chests, which appeared to be compliant with regulations but were clearly twice the size, being delivered to the mansion, her heart sank even further. Nian's family had brought her honor and clearly valued her as their daughter.
Yi Xiu chuckled to herself, realizing that compared to Nian Shi, her only real asset was her Manchu bannerman status. Gazing at the graceful figure, veiled and carefully helped into the bridal chamber by maids, Yi Xiu had a premonition that she would be her strongest rival…
The candlelight flickered, and Nian Shilan slightly tightened her handkerchief, sitting on the bed with her head covered, not daring to move, her heart pounding.
She had actually met Prince Yong several years ago. When she was young, she went out to offer incense with her mother. Her horse was startled in the suburbs of Beijing, and Prince Yong sent people to rescue them.
At that time, Prince Yong had just returned from Jiangnan, still bearing the chilling aura and scars of war. Everyone feared him, but Nian Shilan only glimpsed him briefly by lifting the curtain, and that image was imprinted in her mind.
After learning of Prince Yong's remarkable achievements in Jiangnan, Nian Shilan admired and respected him even more. She never imagined that one day she would become Prince Yong's concubine. Even as a concubine, she felt immense joy.
I just wonder if Prince Yong will like her...
Footsteps approached, and the door was pushed open. Nian Shilan, whose head was covered by a veil, couldn't see anything. But her hearing was exceptionally sharp, her heart was beating faster, and a blush spread across her face.
Eyelashes fluttered, candlelight shone through, and a pair of slender, clean hands slowly lifted the veil. Nian Shilan nervously raised her eyes, meeting Yinzhen's gentle and profound gaze.
"Your Highness..."
At this moment, Nian Shilan forgot her mother's and sisters-in-law's repeated admonitions and refused to pretend to be docile. So she boldly showed Yinzhen a bright smile, revealing her most authentic, passionate, and daring self to him.
"Your Highness, I am Nian Shilan."
Clearly, the bold Nian Shilan suited Yinzhen's taste, and the smile on his lips became even more genuine. "Shilan."
The two gazed deeply into each other's eyes, and the temperature in the room gradually rose...
Yixiu's premonition was absolutely correct; Nian Shilan was indeed coming on strong.
On her first day of paying her respects at the mansion, it was Yinzhen who brought her. Seeing the affection and shyness in Nian Shilan's eyes, Yixiu, the magnanimous wife, froze.
For the next seven days, Nian Shilan was the sole favorite, and her residence, Qilan Courtyard, enjoyed unparalleled favor. Furthermore, Nian Shilan was generous, and when she was in a good mood, she would reward her servants, regardless of whether they were inside or outside the courtyard.
Now, all the servants in the inner courtyard loved to curry favor with Qilan Courtyard, fawning over Consort Nian. They were even more obsequious than Consort Yixiu, the primary consort.
Over the years, the number of people in the backyard of the Prince's Mansion has increased.
The old people in the mansion were taking care of the eldest prince, Honghui; the concubine Qi Yuebin and Mei Qiyue, along with other concubines, were raising the second prince, Hongyun; and the concubine Song Wan'er was raising the eldest princess, Bu'erhe. They lived a relatively peaceful life.
The remaining three—Rou Ze, Yuan Yuxiu, and Liu Qingxue—were the main contenders for the emperor's favor. However, they weren't exactly favored; compared to the other two, only Rou Ze seemed to receive a little affection.
Of the three princesses who entered the Kangxi Emperor's household in the fortieth year of his reign, Li Jingyan gave birth to the third prince, Hongshi; Niohuru Yuyao gave birth to the fourth prince, Hongli; and Geng Shanyun was pregnant and resting during her pregnancy. These three women could be said to have had very good fortune.
In the 43rd year of Kangxi's reign, when Yinzhen withdrew from the court and the entire mansion became low-key, the three people who had entered—Feng Ruozhao, Lü Yingfeng, and Cao Qinmo—were even less noticeable.
After all, it was common knowledge in the inner court that Prince Yong valued offspring more than women. So, apart from the desire for a son, everyone got along relatively peacefully in recent years.
Until Nian Shilan suddenly appeared and overshadowed everyone else in the backyard with her own strength, who wouldn't have some other thoughts in their mind?
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