“My lord, isn’t your birth the biggest obstacle right now?” said the Eighth Prince’s wife.
"But you can't let her die!" The Eighth Prince stared at his wife. He thought he didn't care that much about his mother, but when he heard that she had passed away, he felt as if someone had pulled out his spine, and his heart turned cold!
"That's not what I meant. I originally just wanted to talk to Mother about the Eighth Prince's difficulties and ask her to put in a good word for him with Father Emperor! But I never expected that Mother would use this method..." After saying this, the Eighth Prince's wife was also very shocked. She looked down on Lady Wei, but she didn't want her to die.
Upon hearing this, Eighth Master closed his eyes and stopped speaking.
"My lord, I believe that Mother would rather die than jeopardize your future. This is not the time for you to be sad, but rather to pull yourself together and strive for that position. Otherwise, you will be letting Mother down!"
Eighth Master secretly clenched one of his hands, which was hidden in his sleeve.
After Consort Liang's death, the Eighth Prince stayed at his residence for more than ten days, which Emperor Kangxi granted, as he was in mourning for his mother.
However, after the Eighth Prince returned to court, Kangxi found a stack of memorials on his desk, all recommending him as the crown prince. Kangxi counted them carefully and found that more than thirty court officials believed the Eighth Prince was the best candidate for crown prince, including many important court officials.
"Hmph, I never imagined he was so good!" Kangxi said, glancing at the memorials piled on his desk as he sat in the Qianqing Palace.
Liang Jiugong took the tea from Mei'er and personally served it to Kangxi!
“The Eighth Prince has always had a reputation for virtue!” He said only this much, and then said nothing more.
"Hmph, what he has done is even more virtuous than what I have done!" Kangxi said. "Eighth Prince, I have truly underestimated him!"
Seeing that Kangxi was displeased, Mei'er brought over a plate of peeled walnuts and said, "Your Majesty, these are red-skinned walnuts presented by Zaozhuang, Shandong. They taste very good. Would Your Majesty like to try some?"
Emperor Kangxi had no idea what to do with these memorials for the time being, so he took a few walnuts from Mei'er and ate them.
After Zheng was punished by Emperor Kangxi, Mei'er resumed serving him.
Upon seeing this, Liang Jiugong instructed the eunuchs to retreat.
Meanwhile, Ninth Prince was having tea with Consort Yi in Consort Yi's palace.
"Mother, this is white tea that was specially brought back from Yunnan. Even the palace doesn't have it. I finally managed to get this jar, and I'm giving it all to you!" Ninth Prince was dressed in a purple court robe. He hadn't left since court that day and had gone to Consort Yi's palace for lunch.
"Hmph, you only forget your mother when there's nothing wrong! Tell me, what do you want your mother to do for you this time?" Consort Yi said.
“Naturally, it’s my brother’s business! Mother, you know I have no interest in that position. My brother is a good person, and I grew up with him. Naturally, I hope someone close to him will take that position. It’s better than those cold-hearted people! My ambition is to trade with Westerners and sell Qing Dynasty tea and silk to foreigners. I want my money exchange to expand beyond the borders of Qing Dynasty!” Ninth Master said.
"Why would you give up being a wealthy and noble prince and think about these things?" Consort Yi said, taking a sip of tea.
"Mother, how could you not imagine who you are most at odds with in this palace right now?"
A hint of jealousy flashed in Consort Yi's eyes: "Naturally, it's Yonghe Palace!"
“Therefore, the son should naturally support Eighth Brother, otherwise Fourth Brother might have no rivals!” Ninth Master said.
"If the Eighth Prince gets that position, will he be good to us, mother and son?" Consort Yi asked.
“Eighth Brother and his son grew up together since they were little, and he understands his son’s ambitions better than anyone else. Ever since Fifth Brother was injured, his temperament has become very strange, and he hardly interacts with his son anymore! The only one we can count on is Eighth Brother to treat Mother well in the future!” Ninth Master said.
"Alas! Your fifth brother! If he hadn't lost face, things wouldn't be like this now. From a young age, he was intelligent and studious, and your father adored him." Consort Yi seemed to be reminiscing about the Fifth Prince's childhood charm, her eyes filled with regret and sorrow. Naturally, she didn't want to help someone else's son, but even her own son lacked the ability to reach that position.
“Mother, perhaps Fifth Brother is destined for us. No matter how much you regret it, it won’t change anything! Mother, why don’t you go and talk to Uncle yourself and ask him to support Eighth Brother!” Ninth Master said.
Consort Yi looked at her son, who was single-mindedly supporting the Eighth Prince, and said, "Are you sure he can win your father's favor? Consort Liang just passed away, and he's only thinking about vying for that position!"
“Mother, Father Emperor treats everyone the same except for the deposed Crown Prince. Please, for the sake of my cousin!” Ninth Prince was referring to Eighth Prince’s wife.
"Well, when it comes to it, only the Eighth Prince is left. After all, Hui'er is my own niece." Consort Yi seemed to have finally made up her mind.
After leaving Yikun Palace, Ninth Master did not head towards Shenwu Gate, but instead went to the back gate of Qianqing Palace.
He was waiting for someone, a woman who could let him know Kangxi's feelings.
A moment later, the back door was finally opened from the inside out. A woman in a pink cheongsam with her hair styled in two buns walked out; it was Mei'er, whom Ninth Master had helped that day.
"Well? Did Father Emperor see those memorials?" Ninth Prince asked.
"His Majesty did read it, but he didn't seem very happy!" Mei'er's body grew increasingly frail.
"Unhappy? What did you say?" Ninth Master asked hurriedly.
Mei then told him everything that Kangxi had said, word for word.
After hearing this, Ninth Prince didn't quite understand Kangxi's meaning, so he took out a small bottle from his pocket and handed it to Mei'er, saying, "You must take this according to the dosage. Taking too much can be life-threatening. Continue to keep an eye on things for me!"
"Thank you, Ninth Master. Please don't forget what you promised me!" Mei'er said.
"Of course, if it succeeds, your family and you will all be able to live a life of servants!" Ninth Master said. It turned out that Mei'er agreed to be Ninth Master's spy because she wanted to leave this place one day and return to her family.
Mei nodded, finally turning around and entering the door with satisfaction.
Ninth Master thought to himself: When things are done, I'm afraid this woman can't be kept alive!
After Mei'er relayed the news to Ninth Master about Kangxi's reading of the memorials, she headed towards the row of houses where she lived!
She shared a room with Yu Fen, and had already offended her because Yu Fen was favored by Emperor Kangxi.
When Yu Fen saw her enter the room, she rolled her eyes and said, "Why are you back at this time? I thought you were serving the Emperor!"
Mei ignored her and went straight to her small room.
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