Chapter 140 Grand Conferment
"Your Highness, what does Consort Hua mean by this? Could it be that she wants to take the Fourth Prince away from us?"
In the main hall of Yongshou Palace, Consort Xi, Niohuru Yuyao, frowned as she looked at the writing implements that Consort Hua had suddenly sent. Before she could speak, her maid Linglong beside her began to complain anxiously.
“No.” Niu Gulu Yuyao shook her head. Having dealt with Nian Shilan for so many years, she had a certain understanding of her. Although Nian was domineering, she would not do, nor would she stoop to, such a thing as taking away someone else’s offspring.
Given Nian Shilan's personality, she's more likely to be just watching the show. Thinking of this, Niohuru Yuyao's eyes narrowed, and she ordered, "Go and investigate what's happened to Hongli recently?"
"Yes." Linglong accepted the order and hurriedly led her people to the West Third Institute.
According to ancestral rules, princes who turned six lived in the Western Third Palace, only allowed to return to their birth mothers' palaces on their days off. Because of the Emperor's emphasis on offspring and the stable management of the palace, Niohuru Yuyao did not exert much control over Hongli's life in the Western Third Palace. This meant that she wasn't always the first to know about everything.
In the past, Hongli was sensible, and Niohuru Yuyao didn't think there was anything wrong with it. But now that something had really happened, she only found out from Nian Shilan. This made her feel a little regretful and irritable, and she felt a deep disgust for the culprit who had caused this and coveted Hongli.
It was an ordinary day in the palace, except that Consort Hua sent a set of writing implements to Yongshou Palace, and then Consort Xi sent someone to deliver them to the Fourth Prince in the Western Third Palace.
No one knows what happened after that, but from that day on, Zhen Huan gradually found that her treatment was getting worse and worse, and she was constantly hindered in everything she did.
The reason given was that she wasn't chosen to serve the emperor, yet An Lingrong, who shared the same palace, didn't suffer the same neglect. Logically, An Lingrong's rank was one level higher than Lingrong's.
If she couldn't sense someone plotting against her, she wouldn't be Zhen Huan. But Zhen Huan was truly baffled by the mastermind behind it all. Her primary suspect was Consort Wan, Rou Ze. She suspected Consort Hua, the Empress, and even Consort Ning, whom she encountered in the Imperial Garden who seemed to dislike her, but she never suspected Consort Xi.
I don't know why, but she just doesn't respect the Fourth Prince's birth mother.
Suspicion is just suspicion; without evidence, she, an unfavored concubine, could only struggle to persevere. Amidst Huanbi's growing complaints, her desire to seize the emperor's favor intensified.
Time flew by, and the news of the grand investiture of the imperial harem spread like wildfire with the falling snow, until finally the last grand court session before the end of the year arrived.
The sky had cleared up for the first time, and the sun peeked out, bringing a touch of warmth. Yinzhen then unleashed a thunderous roar in the imperial court.
By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
Since ancient times, emperors who ascended the throne and ruled the world had always established a successor and strengthened the foundation of the state to ensure the long-lasting prosperity of the dynasty. I, having inherited this great legacy, am diligent and conscientious day and night. I look up to the glorious achievements of our ancestors. The entrustment is of utmost importance. The continuation of the dynasty and the continuation of blessings rest on the shoulders of a virtuous and capable ruler.
The Crown Prince, Honghui, is of exceptionally high talent and bears a striking resemblance to me. Therefore, in accordance with the initial edict, following proper rites, and respectfully considering public sentiment, I hereby solemnly inform Heaven, the ancestral temples, and the state, that I hereby bestow upon him the imperial seal and establish him as Crown Prince, placing him in the Eastern Palace, thus ensuring the continuity of the dynasty for ten thousand years and easing the anxieties of the entire realm. This is my decree!
Yinzhen appointed the 11-year-old Honghui as Crown Prince, not only using the same imperial edict as when he himself had appointed the Crown Prince, but also ordering the original Prince Yong's residence to be converted into the Yonghe Palace and given to the Crown Prince to live in.
A crown prince who can leave the palace to establish his own residence and freely associate with ministers demonstrates the stability of his position. Indeed, the rumors that the emperor favors the eldest prince, Honghui, are true.
With the crown prince chosen, the succession of the imperial family was secured. Under Yinzhen's strong suppression, the ministers no longer dared to cause trouble, as the grudges and grievances of the previous generation had been dealt with.
Now, with the Crown Prince's promotion, the court officials' attention has shifted to the other princes, all of whom seem quite promising. Whether they want to follow the Crown Prince and gain merit for the new emperor, or risk their fortunes to pledge allegiance to a particular prince, opportunists are always eager to make their move.
The previous dynasty had appointed the crown prince, and in the inner palace, during the last New Year's greetings, amidst the increasingly anxious waiting of the many concubines, Yixiu finally announced the imperial decree of promotion.
This time, the imperial harem was honored with a grand bestowal of titles. Consort Duan and Consort Hua were not granted any titles, only some rewards. Consort Song, Song Wan'er, was given the title "Shu".
Consort Li was granted the title "He," Noble Lady Ning was promoted to Consort Ning, Noble Lady Geng was promoted to Consort Shen, and Noble Lady Borjigit was promoted to Consort An. The first three were promoted because of their children, while Consort An was promoted because of her birth.
From then on, there were 5 of the six concubines: Consort Xi, Niohuru Yuyao; Consort He, Li Jingyan; Consort Ning, Mei Qiyue; Consort An, Borjigit; and Consort Shen, Geng Shanyun.
Although the remaining people were not promoted, they all received rewards, with Consort Hui, Shen Meizhuang, receiving the most. Among the rewards were two items that were clearly only available to concubines, demonstrating the Emperor's favor towards Shen Meizhuang.
Everyone knew perfectly well that this last concubine position was reserved for Consort Hui, and that she would be promoted as soon as she became pregnant.
Shen Meizhuang naturally noticed this as well, and couldn't help but smile sweetly, making everyone who saw it feel uneasy. Even though they had received a reward, they lost interest in playing with it.
Yixiu, seated above, could see everything clearly, but she didn't care at all. On the contrary, she was overjoyed, because she knew very well that Honghui was receiving the Crown Prince's reward in the main hall.
With her son becoming the crown prince and her position secure, why would she care about the fate of a mere concubine?
Qi Yuebin, however, couldn't see through his old rival. Was Yixiu really being so generous these days? Given her possessiveness towards the Emperor, it shouldn't be like this.
It wasn't until he returned to Qixiang Palace and received the news that the eldest prince, Honghui, had been appointed crown prince that Qi Yuebin finally realized what had happened.
"So that's how it is... The eldest son of the legitimate wife, the Empress is truly blessed to have given birth to such a fine son..." Seeing Yixiu become a winner in life, Qi Yuebin couldn't help but feel a little lost.
Later, it was learned that the Emperor had promoted the eldest princess, Bu'er, to the title of Princess Gulun Wenjia, and the second princess, Galudai, to the title of Princess Gulun Minjia. These promotions, clearly exceeding the prescribed protocol, demonstrated the Emperor's affection for his only two daughters.
Compared to his daughter and eldest son, the other sons were still just bald princes. This blatant favoritism was hard not to draw attention. Not only Qi Yuebin, but at this moment, in the harem, apart from the confident Yixiu and the happy Consort Hua and Consort Shu, how could anyone else not feel disappointed?
Whether they had children or not, the concubines, while marveling at the emperor's favoritism towards the crown prince and the two princesses, could hardly help but harbor other ambitions and hope that their own children might become the exception.
Compared to the past, the atmosphere in the harem has shifted dramatically, with more women hoping to have a daughter rather than a son. After all, there are very few princesses in the palace, and the fewer there are, the more precious they are, and the easier it is for them to gain the emperor's favor.
Thus, the desire for a son turned into a desire for a daughter. The traditional mindset of "preferring sons to daughters" was completely ineffective under Yinzhen's actions, and spontaneously changed for the sake of interests.
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