Because Yinzhen didn't call Kangxi "Father," and because Kangxi wasn't busy these days, he often came to Jingren Palace to play with the young prince.
It took Kangxi several days of instruction before Yinzhen finally managed to call him "Father Emperor." However, this was different for Kangxi, since he had only taught Baocheng to call him "Father Emperor." Now that he had taught Yinzhen, his feelings for Yinzhen, though not as strong as for Baocheng, were not far off.
This is also what Wanwan wanted: to increase the time Kangxi and Xiao Si spent together so that Kangxi would care about Xiao Si.
After all, that's how it was with Bao Cheng. Historically, when Emperor Kangxi deposed the crown prince, he cried and slapped himself. This was mostly because the crown prince was someone Emperor Kangxi had personally raised and had invested emotionally in, making it difficult for him to let go.
That's why it's often said that Kangxi's sons, the crown prince, were one, and his other children were another.
Emperor Kangxi's children were divided into the Crown Prince and other children.
Wanwan wanted Kangxi to have feelings for Yinzhen, as well as for their future children, and to be unable to let go of them.
Clearly, the effect is very good.
……………………
Time just passed by like that.
In the sixteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, it was the first time that the emperor bestowed titles upon the six palaces.
The war at the front was going well, so they decided to bestow titles and ranks upon the six palaces. The harem had always consisted of concubines, regardless of their status. Some were princesses from officials' families, and some were princesses from bondservant families, but they all had the same status in the harem and were easy to manage.
Therefore, in this year, Emperor Kangxi prepared to bestow titles and honors upon the imperial harem.
When the news of the Great Conferment of the Imperial Harem spread a few days ago, everyone in the harem was in a state of panic. Almost all of them went to Jingren Palace to inquire about the news. Wanwan was afraid of trouble, so she simply refused to see them. After all, they only paid their respects twice a month, and as long as she did not leave Jingren Palace, they would not see her.
So someone went to Chengqian Palace to find Consort Tong again. Although Consort Tong was unhappy that they went to find Wanwan first, she had no choice. She also wanted to know if she would become the Empress.
However, Consort Tong miscalculated. Emperor Kangxi believed that he was unlucky in marriage and therefore had no intention of establishing an empress.
Consort Tong thought that since she was the Emperor's cousin, Emperor Kangxi would come looking for her, but she never did.
Knowing that the women of the harem had come to her to inquire about information, even though she didn't know anything about it, didn't stop her from putting on airs.
Every time a concubine came to pay her respects, she would act superior and ask indirectly about the matter of promotion, to which she would always reply, "Those who are due will be promoted, what's the rush?"
Actually, I don't know either (?_?).
After leaving Cining Palace, Kangxi went to Jingren Palace.
Emperor Kangxi had come to discuss rank with Wanwan.
After all, Wanwan is currently in charge of the six palaces and holds the highest rank. Moreover, Kangxi likes Wanwan, so naturally Kangxi would have to discuss it with Wanwan.
Upon arriving at Jingren Palace, Wanwan saw Emperor Kangxi and bowed to him. Although Emperor Kangxi had repeatedly told Wanwan not to care about such formalities, Wanwan dared not. If Emperor Kangxi disliked her in the future, these would all be evidence of his crimes. Besides, how could the Emperor possibly make a mistake? The only one who would be at fault would be Wanwan.
Emperor Kangxi took Wanwan's hand and led her to the study. "I have decided to bestow titles upon the concubines, but I would like to hear your suggestions on who should be granted titles and what ranks they should hold."
Wanwan dared not tell Kangxi directly, lest he be dissatisfied later.
So Wanwan said, "What nonsense is Xuan Ye talking about? This is a serious matter. How can I say such things, especially with the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager also involved?"
Emperor Kangxi said, “I have already consulted the late Emperor. He instructed me to bestow titles myself, but only those that are appropriate. I must not bestow titles that are not appropriate, and they must be appropriate to the concubine’s family background, whether she has given birth to children, and whether her family has rendered meritorious service. All these factors must be taken into consideration.”
After hearing what Kangxi said, Wanwan said to him, "I suppose Xuan Ye has already decided on the rank of concubine he wants to bestow, so I won't say anything more."
Emperor Kangxi said, “Although I have considered various reasons, there are bound to be some inappropriate ones. You are very thoughtful, so tell me about them and I will listen and give them my consideration.”
Wanwan said, "Then let's write down the ranks first. As for the concubines that Xuan Ye wants to promote, I'll talk about them later."
So Wanwan pulled Kangxi from the recliner to the desk. After leaving the recliner, Kangxi sighed once again, "My dear, you really know how to enjoy yourself."
Emperor Kangxi picked up his brush and wrote down the ranks of the imperial harem.
Empress: One
Imperial Noble Consort: One (equivalent to the Vice Empress)
Consorts: Four
Concubine: Seven (Kangxi established seven ranks of concubines, but Yongzheng apparently only had six).
Benefactor: Uncertain
Always present: indefinite number
Answer: Indeterminate
Official's daughter: number undetermined
Wanwan looked at the ranks and said, "Xuan Ye wants to promote those people's ranks."
"I want to..."
Meanwhile, everyone in the harem knew that Kangxi had gone from Cining Palace to Jingren Palace to find Wanwan to determine the ranks of the harem members.
As for why they were so sure that Kangxi would go to Wanwan, it was because of Kangxi's favor towards Wanwan after she entered the palace; her favor had remained undiminished ever since.
Almost all the good things, except for those from the Empress, were sent to Jingren Palace. And that's only what they knew. What about the things Kangxi sent to Wanwan when they didn't know?
So even though the people in the harem didn't like Wanwan having the emperor all to herself these past few days, they didn't dare to be disrespectful to her. Almost every time Wanwan left Jingren Palace, she would run into the concubines, who were all very respectful to her.
Wanwan has been in the palace for almost four years, but she has never enjoyed such a welcome before.
However, Wanwan knew why, so she stopped going out after a few days. Every time she went out, she would run into people, and after a few times, she stopped going out altogether.
Emperor Kangxi wrote down their surnames on the list of ranks.
The names listed after the rank of Consort were: Nara (Consort Hui), Magia (Consort Rong), Li (Consort An), Wangjia (Consort Jing), Dong (Consort Duan), Guoluo (Consort Yi), and Niohuru (Consort Xi).
The imperial concubine's name was followed by the name Tongjia.
The others are all important people, always present, and agreeable.
There were also some extremely unfavored concubines whose status remained unchanged.
Wanwan looked at the list written by Kangxi, which was indeed the list of those who received high honors in the sixteenth year of Kangxi's reign. But Wanwan wanted to interfere and distance herself from them.
Wanwan said, "Xuan Ye, I do have some different suggestions regarding what you wrote."
Emperor Kangxi said, "I just wanted to see if you were suitable. Just tell me."
"I think the initial title is too high."
Worried that Kangxi might think she was deliberately making things difficult for the concubines, she added, "It's only the sixteenth year of Kangxi's reign. There will definitely be more grand conferments upon the harem in the coming decades."
He then said, "I'm afraid that in a few years, Qingqing will believe that the previous dynasty won the war and will inevitably be promoted again."
"If the initial title is too high, it may be difficult to be promoted later."
"Wouldn't some concubines stay in the same rank for decades?"
"Moreover, the ranks of concubines are already full. If there is any promotion in the future, the rank of concubine must be raised to the rank of imperial consort before the rank of concubine can be officially conferred. Otherwise, the number of concubines will exceed the limit."
Kangxi thought about it and agreed. He would definitely bestow titles upon the imperial harem again in the future, and perhaps after the suppression of the Three Feudatories, he would bestow titles upon the imperial harem again. The two bestowals of titles were close in time, so it was indeed not easy to bestow titles.
It's quite possible that a concubine could remain in the same rank for decades.
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