With winter approaching on the grasslands, Kangxi decided to return to the capital. The current war situation was a stalemate, with Jelier making some minor moves behind Galdan's lines, but without any significant breakthrough. Kangxi decided to return to the capital first, appointing several generals and trusted civil officials as his chief advisory group to guide the army's battle plans. Naturally, any changes in circumstances would be reported to him immediately.
Because of his skill in battle and his numerous military achievements, Prince Zhi smoothly entered the highest command. In addition, there were several others who went with him, including Aling'a, Shi Lang, and Zhou Peigong. The Third Prince, Eighth Prince, and Ninth Prince went back with him. The Tenth Prince and Fourteenth Prince were also left behind because they were both skilled in battle.
Emperor Kangxi, accompanied only by three thousand guards and his youngest son and concubine, hurriedly headed towards the capital. He seemed eager to return, traveling very quickly with almost no breaks. His return was kept secret; he didn't inform the Crown Prince or the Fourth Prince until he was less than three hundred li from the capital. Only then did Kangxi send word to the palace that he was returning and ordered the Crown Prince and the Thirteenth Prince to come and greet him.
It was customary for the emperor to return to the capital and for the crown prince and ministers to come out of the city to greet him. However, the greeting usually took place when the emperor was about a hundred li away from the capital. In this case, the crown prince had to come out more than three hundred li, almost to Uchabulan.
What displeased the Crown Prince even more was that Kangxi had ordered him and the Thirteenth Prince to welcome the emperor, but specifically requested that the Fourth Prince continue to temporarily assume the power of regent. So after the Crown Prince and the Thirteenth Prince left the city with the entourage to welcome the emperor, the Fourth Prince had to get busy again. Just preparing for the New Year and showing Kangxi his homework would keep him so busy in the palace that he would lose his bearings.
But the busier you are, the easier it is to make mistakes. The Fourth Prince even fainted from being so busy in the palace.
Upon learning this, Consort De hurriedly led her palace servants to summon the imperial physician, and she herself rushed to the South Fifth Palace where the Fourth Prince was located.
The Fourth Prince was placed in a room where he usually rested in the South Fifth Palace. A row of officials stood in the dark, none of them daring to make a sound. Two imperial physicians also came, but they were not senior enough; the more senior ones had all gone out with Kangxi.
"Her Highness Consort De has arrived!" The eunuch Chang Nuo, who came with Consort De, shouted in a high-pitched voice, and the room immediately made way for her.
Consort De entered the room in her everyday clothes, and the leading officials immediately stepped forward to pay their respects.
After returning their greetings, Consort De went directly to the Fourth Prince's bedside. Two imperial physicians were discussing something. The Fourth Prince remained lying on the bed with his eyes closed.
"How is Fourth Prince? Why hasn't he woken up yet?" Consort De asked anxiously, seeing the Fourth Prince's state. Although she wasn't particularly close to him, he was still her own flesh and blood; how could she not worry?
"Your Majesty, I have just taken the pulse of the Fourth Prince and discovered some abnormalities. After discussing it with Physician Yang, I understand that it is inappropriate to discuss this in front of all the officials. Therefore, I request that you all leave. I can only speak with Your Majesty," said Physician Shen, who was at the head of the table.
Upon hearing this, everyone discreetly withdrew. Seeing that they had all left, Consort De immediately asked, "Now you can speak, right? What exactly happened to the Fourth Prince?"
Imperial Physician Shen immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. The Fourth Prince is currently overworked, and his internal heat is excessive while his yin energy is deficient, causing an imbalance of yin and yang, which has led to his fainting. This servant has already had someone prepare the medicine. After drinking it and resting for a while, he should wake up."
Although Physician Shen spoke very professionally and used almost no suggestive language, Consort De still understood him and looked at him gratefully.
"Where is Su Peisheng!" Consort De suddenly felt a surge of anger, thinking of the eunuch beside the Fourth Prince.
"Your servant is here!" Su Peisheng was already kneeling in a corner at the foot of the Fourth Prince's bed. He had been terrified when the Fourth Prince fainted, and had only knelt in front of the Fourth Prince's bed, watching the imperial physicians examine the Fourth Prince.
"How do you serve your master? Why is his internal heat so strong that it has caused an imbalance of yin and yang?" Consort De scolded, suppressing her embarrassment.
The so-called imbalance of Yin and Yang simply means that the Fourth Prince's lust is currently too strong. The Imperial Physician Shen didn't mention it in front of so many people just now, precisely to save face for the Fourth Prince. If others overheard, it would inevitably spread. The Fourth Prince fainted due to excessive lust combined with his strenuous work.
"Your Majesty, this servant does not know either." Su Peisheng was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat. In the dead of winter, his undergarment was sticking to his body, making him extremely uncomfortable.
"I don't know! How did you become the Fourth Prince's personal eunuch? Didn't you know to advise him to stop?" Consort De was truly furious now. "The Fourth Prince's wife is really something, actually letting the master have his way!"
The Fourth Prince hasn't informed Consort De about his handling of his wife yet. Sigh, this mother and son are really something!
"Your Majesty, this servant has something to report to you." Seeing that the Fourth Prince was in such a state, Su Peisheng knew that if he didn't report to Consort De soon, he would likely be punished as well.
Upon hearing this, the two imperial physicians naturally understood that they should leave. They immediately paid their respects to Consort De and then withdrew.
"Alright. You can speak now." Consort De was furious; the imperial physician's words had embarrassed her. If word got out that the Fourth Prince was obsessed with sex, wouldn't that be a disgrace to her and her son?
“Your Majesty, the Master recently dealt with the Fourth Prince’s wife, confining her to her quarters and stripping her of her power as head of the household. This servant has observed that the Master is usually quite well, and I truly do not understand why the Master has become so unwell,” Su Peisheng said.
Consort De stared at Su Peisheng in surprise, then looked at the unconscious Fourth Prince, and said, "Why did the Fourth Prince depose his primary wife?"
Su Peisheng then recounted in detail the whole story of how the Fujin wanted Lanqin and Nianshi to have abortions.
After hearing this, Consort De remained silent for a long time; she was all too familiar with such underhanded tactics. Moreover, the Fujin (the wife of the deceased prince) hadn't reported anything to her afterward. She hadn't even informed Consort Nian of her pregnancy and miscarriage, which was hardly respectful to her as her mother. However, it was somewhat inappropriate for the Fourth Prince to imprison the Fujin in this way. If Emperor Kangxi found out, and if someone added fuel to the fire, the Fourth Prince's reputation would likely be affected.
"Now, who is the most favored in the Fourth Prince's household? Is the concubine's postpartum period almost over?" Consort De asked.
“Your Majesty, the one I miss the most is still my concubine. However, because she is pregnant, giving birth, and in confinement, I have spent the last few months visiting Princess Yehe and Princess Nian the most,” Su Peisheng said.
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