By the end of the 20th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, Xiaotangshan had taken shape. Yinzhen (the Yongzheng Emperor) provided ample funds, so the construction progressed much faster than previous imperial palaces. Multiple skilled workers were on the job simultaneously, and the geomantic map of Xiaotangshan allowed for simultaneous work in multiple locations, naturally accelerating the process.
Moreover, the Minister of Works personally oversaw the construction of the Xiaotangshan Imperial Palace, so no one dared to cut corners or slack off. Everyone wanted to perform well, which naturally increased efficiency.
Liang Jiugong: "Your Majesty, we have received the latest news from Xiaotangshan. If we hurry, the project can be completed before the end of the year."
Liang Jiugong was asking Yinzhen whether he should hurry up.
Yinzhen: "Tell the Minister of Works that he did a good job. If we have to stop work, let the craftsmen go home and prepare for the New Year. We can resume work after the Lantern Festival. Take 10,000 taels of silver from my private treasury and give it to them as a reward."
Liang Jiugong smiled and said, "Your Majesty is merciful. This servant will inform the Minister of Works immediately."
Yinzhen: "Go and do it first, and call Chengyi over."
Liang Jiugong: "Hah!"
Liang Jiugong left, and not long after, an unremarkable-looking person entered Yinzhen's study.
Yinzhen: "How's the matter I asked you to keep an eye on going?"
Cheng Yi wasn't usually an expressionless person, but when he heard Yinzhen ask that question, his expression twisted for a moment. Staring at a stupid woman every day was exhausting!
Cheng Yi: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Princess Jingxian has already started corresponding with that male prostitute. Since the letters are delivered by their own people, neither of them has discovered the other's identity. Also, as Your Majesty instructed, I have memorized Princess Jingxian's recipe for making spices."
As he spoke, Cheng Yi presented the spice recipes he had prepared to the desk.
Yinzhen opened the prescriptions and examined them carefully. They were all deceptive remedies, suitable for use in the inner quarters of the household, and also for use in the Ministry of Justice.
Yinzhen thought for a moment and said, "You continue to keep an eye on her, and while you're at it, tell her mother a little about Princess Jingxian's situation."
Yinzhen felt that Jingxian was still useful. This lesson should have made her more aware that in ancient times, if you don't have the ability to set rules, you should learn to abide by them. Doing things based on assumptions is unacceptable.
Cheng Yi: "Chirp!"
Cheng Yi acted quickly. Yinzhen gave the order, and before long, Jingxian's mother knew that her daughter was being disobedient.
When Jingxian's mother, Shumulu, learned that her daughter had been completely fooled by a male prostitute, she was both anxious and angry.
Although she sent her daughter to a nunnery, it didn't mean she had truly abandoned her daughter, whom she had pampered since childhood. She thought that once things calmed down, she would let her daughter leave the capital and, with the help of Guarjia's connections, marry into a good family in the future. Who would have thought that her daughter would secretly begin seeing a male prostitute without her noticing?
Shumulu looked at the letter she had taken from her daughter and was extremely disappointed in her. But even in her disappointment, her daughter was still her own. She had other children, and even if she didn't care about her eldest daughter, she couldn't just ignore her.
Shumulu was very decisive. First, she sent people to block the news and sent her confidants to control the male prostitute so that he could never appear in public again. Then she replaced all the people around her daughter. The people she replaced were no longer there. Apart from being able to provide some help to Jingxian in her daily life, they were no longer there.
After Shumulu's series of actions, Jingxian completely cut off contact with the outside world.
At this point, she was unaware that the man she longed for was a male prostitute.
Jingxian: "Why did Mother take all my coats and servants away? I've gotten used to their service. Could you please inform Mother so that she can bring them back?"
The old woman was personally chosen by Shumulu. Besides being known for being cold and ruthless, she said with a blank face, "The Princess Consort instructed that the Princess should just focus on reciting scriptures and not think about anything else."
Jingxian didn't believe it: "How is that possible?"
Jingxian knew her mother from the Qing Dynasty quite well; she loved her dearly and it was impossible for her to be so heartless towards her.
The old woman said, "I'm just following orders, so please don't make things difficult for me, Your Highness. You should focus on your chanting. I'll go out and take a look, and I won't disturb your meditation any longer."
After saying this, the old woman left, leaving Jingxian kneeling there, furious and exasperated.
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