After three days and three nights of calculation, Ji Changming finally determined the person corresponding to the Wenwu Qu star. He couldn't help but admire Emperor Kangxi's keen insight and wisdom.
“Your Majesty, the Imperial Observatory’s Director Ji is requesting an audience outside!” Liang Jiugong said to Emperor Kangxi, who was reading memorials.
"Let him in!" Kangxi said, looking up. He was reviewing the grain taxes from various regions. Although a heavy rain had timely alleviated the drought, the affected crops would certainly yield less, and the current grain shortage was a real worry.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject greets you!" Ji Changming bowed to Kangxi with a joyful expression. The person whose name corresponded to the Wenwuqu stars he had calculated seemed to be a leading candidate for the crown prince.
"Ji Changming, is there any news?" Kangxi asked, looking at him.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I have already calculated the person corresponding to the Wenwu Quxing (文武曲星)," Ji Changming said.
Kangxi quickly said, "Just write it down and let me see it; there's no need to say it aloud."
Ji Changming had not expected Kangxi to be so cautious, so he quickly stood aside and waited for Liang Jiugong to bring him paper and pen.
After Liang Jiugong had a eunuch bring paper and pen and handed them to Ji Changming, all of them withdrew.
Ji Changming then picked up a pen and slowly wrote down the birth date and time of the Wenwu Quxing (a star associated with literature and martial arts) and the corresponding person on the paper.
After he handed the note to Liang Jiugong, Liang Jiugong then presented it to Emperor Kangxi. Emperor Kangxi took the note, unfolded it, and read it; it was indeed as he had predicted.
"Minister Ji, since that's the case, would it be possible to prevent them from influencing each other by taking one of their children away?" Kangxi asked.
“Yes, these two children must never live under the same roof, otherwise their fates clash, and who knows what might happen,” Ji Changming said.
"Very well, this matter must be kept strictly confidential. Do you understand what I mean? Not a single word of this matter shall be leaked to the outside world," Kangxi said.
Ji Changming accepted the order and left, leaving only Kangxi and Liang Jiugong in the Qianqing Palace.
"Summon the Fourth Prince to see me!" Kangxi said, flipping through several memorials on his desk.
When the Fourth Prince was summoned to the Qianqing Palace by Liang Jiugong, Emperor Kangxi had already stood up from his desk and was setting up a chess game in his left side room.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty!" The Fourth Prince followed Liang Jiugong into the left side room of the Qianqing Palace and addressed Kangxi, who was sitting cross-legged on the main couch.
"Fourth Prince, come and play a game of chess with Father Emperor!" Kangxi waved to his fourth son.
"Yes, Father Emperor!" The Fourth Prince walked to the opposite side of Emperor Kangxi and sat down cross-legged.
The Fourth Prince was always good at chess, but Emperor Kangxi was also very good, so the father and son were evenly matched. This game was destined to be slow and complicated.
"Are Niohuru's twins due in the next few days?" Kangxi asked, pausing between the two.
"There are still half a month left. Father, the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, and Lady Niohuru's belly is too big, so I will ask her for leave in advance," the Fourth Prince said.
"Yes. Let them rest well at home," Kangxi said with a smile. "However, if these two children are born, I would like to bring one of them to the palace to raise!"
When these words were spoken, the Fourth Prince's heart nearly skipped a beat. Countless chemical reactions were going through his mind as he tried to analyze Kangxi's words to understand his intentions.
"It's been a long time since I've had a baby by my side. Let me raise one so I can experience the joy of having children and grandchildren!" Kangxi said gently when he saw that the Fourth Prince was silent.
"Father, what if there are two princesses? I don't know whether Niohuru is carrying a boy or a girl?" the Fourth Prince suddenly asked.
"Haha, it must be a prince. Yinzhen, if it's two boys, then bring one to the palace. I've already thought of a name." Kangxi seemed determined to get the Fourth Prince's approval. Actually, he didn't need the Fourth Prince's approval; the emperor's order had to be obeyed whether one wanted to or not.
The Fourth Prince was utterly astonished; he had never seen Kangxi like this before. But he couldn't understand why Kangxi insisted on taking one away, even before the child was born!
Seeing the puzzled look on the Fourth Prince's face, Kangxi realized his request was a bit excessive. The boy's parents hadn't even had enough time to hold him, and now he wanted to separate them?!
"Just bring him in to raise, and you can take him back to live with you every few days. I will personally teach him calligraphy and painting!" Kangxi said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern for the child in Lady Niohuru's womb. Your subject obeys!" The Fourth Prince really couldn't refuse. It was a good thing that Kangxi valued the little prince in Lanqin's womb so much. Moreover, he was personally raising and educating him. This was a treatment that only the deposed Crown Prince Yinren had received. The Fourth Prince wasn't stupid, so he agreed without much thought.
After the Fourth Prince left the palace, he began to feel uneasy. How would Lan Qin react to this suggestion? The little woman would definitely not agree!
After realizing this, Fourth Master was really unsure of himself. He had agreed to hand over the child in her womb without even telling her.
Meanwhile, our Comrade Lanqin had no idea that one of the children in her womb had already been given away by the Fourth Prince. She was discussing the Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet at the Fourth Prince's mansion with Cui Niang.
“My lady, your belly is so big, let the master go to the palace to report it to you. You might as well not go to the palace banquet,” said Cui Niang.
“Yes, I really can’t go. I could give birth at any moment. Let Nian Shi manage the family banquets at the manor. I’m too lazy to manage them anymore,” Lanqin said.
“That won’t do. That woman is desperately trying to seize power. If you hand it over to her, she might not give it back easily,” said Cui Niang.
"Then let Sister Song, Sister Wu, and Sister Geng handle it. I'm completely out of energy," Lanqin said.
“Yes, those three will definitely be able to assist our master,” said Cui Niang.
"Where should we hold it then? I don't want to hold it in the South Courtyard." Lanqin suddenly felt that being the principal wife wasn't easy. She had to organize all sorts of festive banquets during the New Year and other holidays. It was much easier to be a princess.
"Where should we go to do it? Going to the front yard isn't appropriate either," Cui Niang said, frowning.
"That's why I suggested letting the Nian family manage it, so they can go to the East Courtyard." This was Lanqin's original idea. "Anyway, she likes excitement. Letting them all go to her place will satisfy her vanity, and I can have some peace and quiet. It's a win-win-win situation."
“What Master said is not wrong. Master is now full term and could give birth at any time. If we let them all come to the South Courtyard, what if they offend Master?” Nianxue said.
“But, my lord, it would be very bad if Lady Nian took control of the kitchen.” Cui Niang was still worried that Lady Nian would hold onto power and not let go.
“It’s not so bad. She’s a concubine, so she should be in charge of some things. What you’re worried about is that she might sabotage your food. Be careful, she wouldn’t dare to do anything openly,” Lanqin said.
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