Chapter 77 Southern Tour and Meeting with the Crown Prince
In the latter half of the 41st year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the lingering effects of the bloody Jiangnan region on the demotion of officials finally subsided.
In the imperial court, only Su He, the Minister of Revenue, wore a smile because of the increasingly abundant national treasury, and he was much more tolerant of his colleagues.
Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long. Kangxi announced another southern tour, which would require another expenditure from the national treasury. Suhe's smile didn't last long before he reverted to his stingy, miserly demeanor, pointing and gesturing at all the officials who came to collect the money.
On this southern tour, Emperor Kangxi unusually brought the Crown Prince along, seemingly indicating an attempt to ease tensions. After all, many of the corrupt officials recently uncovered were implicated with the Crown Prince, for which Kangxi had reprimanded him frequently. Of course, he also took his anger out on those around the Crown Prince, with the Songgotu family being the most prominent example.
Of course, Kangxi wouldn't say it so directly; he only said it was to inspect the Jiangnan officialdom after the major reshuffle and to consolidate his rule. For this reason, he brought Yinzhen along again.
Of course, besides the Crown Prince and Yinzhen, the other sons were also brought along. The Third Prince Yinzhi, the Eighth Prince Yinsi, the Thirteenth Prince Yinxiang, and the Fourteenth Prince Yinzhen all accompanied the emperor on his inspection tour.
However, the officials in Jiangnan who received the news were quite frightened, suspecting that the Emperor and Prince Yong were not there for an inspection tour at all, but rather to intimidate them. Having experienced that major case before, which official wasn't still shaken?
Hearing that Prince Yong was accompanying the emperor was far more terrifying than hearing that the Crown Prince was accompanying him.
Fortunately, Prince Yong was much more restrained this time; in fact, none of the princes had a strong presence. The entire trip was a performance of filial piety between Emperor Kangxi and the Crown Prince.
Emperor Kangxi, accompanied by his Crown Prince Yinreng, received officials from all walks of life, visited the Temple of Confucius, and made incognito visits. Everyone who witnessed this remarked on the deep bond between father and son, and everyone felt that the Emperor valued the Crown Prince highly, and that the Crown Prince's position was unshakeable.
As a result, a steady stream of people flocked to curry favor with and pay homage to the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince's faction, whose morale had just been dampened, began to rise again. They believed they wouldn't be as unrestrained as before, but they were certainly no less aggressive.
However, the princelings' arrogance didn't last long before an unexpected event occurred.
In October, Emperor Kangxi's imperial procession returned to Beijing. When they reached Dezhou, Crown Prince Yinreng suddenly fell ill and was ill from the arduous journey. Kangxi, concerned for his son, at Yinreng's request, urgently summoned Songgotu, who was no longer holding any official position, to attend to him, while he himself led the remaining princes and most of the accompanying officials back to Beijing.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, I am late..."
Soetu rushed to the imperial palace, covered in dust, and rushed to Yinreng's bedside, his concern evident. "How have you been taking care of him? How could you let His Highness catch a cold?"
Upon hearing Suo'etu's angry rebuke, the palace servants who were attending him were so frightened that they knelt down on the ground, trembling with fear.
"Alright, alright, Uncle, it's none of their business. I just had a few extra drinks before bed." Yinreng was quite pleased with Suo'etu's concern and was in a good mood, so he said a few more words for the servants.
"That's because these servants didn't take good care of him. Since the Crown Prince is so kind, I won't say anything more. You must serve the Crown Prince even more diligently in the future!"
"yes."
Yinreng was already used to seeing Suo'etu reprimanding his servants and didn't think there was anything wrong with it. When Suo'etu waved the servants away, he was puzzled.
"Grandpa, this is..."
"Your Highness, if I may be so bold as to ask, how has the Emperor treated you lately?"
Seeing that there was no one else in the hall, Suo'etu's expression became slightly solemn, and he carefully approached Yinreng and asked him.
"Father?" Yinreng was a little confused, but answered truthfully, "Father is good to me. Although I was reprimanded by those officials a while ago, the storm has passed and the sun is shining again. Uncle, you don't need to worry."
"Is that really so?" Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, Soetu's expression did not improve, and he continued to press for an answer.
"Of course, what does Lord Suo want to say?" Yinreng frowned. No matter how close they were, he would not allow Suo'etu to question his relationship with his father.
"Forgive my rudeness, Your Highness, but His Majesty is first and foremost the Son of Heaven, and only secondly a father."
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
If it weren't for Suo'etu, and someone else had said those words, Yinreng would have had them dragged away and beaten to death long ago.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger and allow this old minister a few more words. Although I have heard of His Majesty's favor towards Your Highness during my time in the capital..."
"Since you already know, why say anything more?" Yinreng interrupted, not wanting Suo'etu to continue. But Suo'etu was stubborn and wouldn't allow Yinreng to evade the question, continuing on his way.
"Your Highness, it is said that the Emperor favors you, but why is he taking you on a southern tour at this time, instead of leaving you to oversee the country as usual? Your position has already been shaken by the Jiangnan incident. Shouldn't the Emperor continue to entrust you with the important task of overseeing the country to show his trust?"
"Since we've taken you on this southern tour, have you continued to participate in important military and national affairs along the way? We haven't seen any replies from the memorials submitted to us in the capital either. When receiving officials, aside from your stance, are you any different from the other princes?"
"Enough! Soetu, what exactly do you mean?" Yinreng shouted angrily. Soetu's words seemed to shatter the false glory he had been maintaining for so long. He suddenly realized that he was not without doubts, and that he was not without wavering.
Soetu sighed deeply, his eyes filled with pity as he looked at Yinreng. "Your Highness, the turmoil in Jiangnan has just subsided. Even if you ask me, at this moment, the name of Prince Yong is more effective than yours. Since we've already brought you along, why bring Prince Yong as well?"
"Yinzhen..." When his younger brother was mentioned again, Yinreng could not suppress the resentment and discomfort in his heart.
“Your Highness, Prince Yong is nothing to fear.” Seeing that Yinreng’s attention had shifted to Prince Yong, Suo’etu’s attitude was much better than when he treated his sons and brothers. He knew the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Emperor well, but he had to bring it up now.
“Your Highness, you are the hope of the Hesheli clan. This old minister would never harm you; I would only consider your well-being. But the Emperor is different. No matter how good he is to you, you are not his only son. The affairs of the court and the world take precedence over the bond between father and son…”
Yinreng was stunned. Suo'etu's words revealed the reality of his avoidance. Yinzhen's actions were all at the behest of his father, the Emperor. Without his father's order, Yinzhen should not have stood against him.
Yes... Father Emperor regrets it. He clearly promised to groom Yinzhen to be his right-hand man, but he personally cut off his arm, took Yinzhen away, and even made Yinzhen target the officials who had pledged allegiance to him...
Imperial Father, Imperial Father, in the end, the Emperor comes first. In fact, as early as when his father, the Emperor, promoted Yinzhi to challenge him, Yinreng had a vague idea that he was ultimately subordinate to the imperial power. However, he was unwilling to accept this, and from deceiving himself all along, he had now reached the point where even Songgotu was determined to expose him.
"So what... I am the Crown Prince!" Yinreng forced himself not to show his weakness.
"Your Highness, there is no such thing as being the Crown Prince for life." Soetu stared straight at Yinreng, his eyes revealing madness.
"How dare you! You're so audacious!" Understanding the meaning behind Suo'etu's words, Yinreng's heart pounded wildly. He had never considered this path before, and he shouted angrily.
"Your Highness, for your sake, this old minister would dare to do anything, no matter how daring!" Soetu had never been so lucidly crazy, so fiercely determined.
"I won't allow it! That's my father, Soetu! I won't allow it!"
"Your Highness, that is the Emperor!"
"I said no, and that's final! Get out! Get out!"
...
Having been banished from the palace by the Crown Prince, Suo'etu turned back to gaze at the tightly closed gate, his eyes deep and unfathomable. The Crown Prince valued relationships, so he would handle everything perfectly and present it to him…
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