After several days of deliberation, Fu Heng finally agreed to make connections in the palace to ensure Jin'er could be betrothed to the Fourth Prince during the preliminary selection. He knew that without his own schemes, Jin'er was more likely to be betrothed to a Prince of the First Rank. Emperor Kangxi was no longer accepting new concubines; the women selected in these preliminary selections were mostly betrothed to members of the imperial family or princes.
Besides his relationship with Prince Yinqi, Fu Heng also had other connections within the Fucha family. He certainly couldn't approach Yinqi about this matter, so he directly contacted his old acquaintances.
On the eve of the Spring Festival in the 50th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, twenty girls were selected, all from official families. They were betrothed by the Kangxi Emperor to his sons, as well as a few relatives who were close to him.
Two women entered the Fourth Prince's household: one was Fucha Mingjin from the Fucha family, and the other was Ma Jiaying, the daughter of a provincial governor. When this news reached Lanqin's ears, she didn't react much. As expected, Consort De wouldn't show favoritism in such matters; that was the tradition of the royal family.
The Prince of Heshuo was also betrothed to several women, but after hearing that his master's eldest daughter had been betrothed to the fourth prince, he still had some reservations.
After court that day, Yinti left the palace and went to the door of his master's house. When Fu Heng learned that Yinti had arrived, he hurriedly led his family to greet him.
When the gates of the Fucha residence were opened wide, Fu Heng led the male servants out to greet him, and Yinti walked in without saying a word to Fu Heng. He put on a very imposing air as a Prince of the First Rank. Harqi followed his father with his head down until he led Yinti into the reception room.
After everyone was seated and tea was served, Fu Heng spoke to Yinti, saying, "Your Highness's presence today is truly an honor to my humble abode."
Yinti waved his hand and said, "Master, you are exaggerating. The reason I came here today is to ask you why you married your granddaughter into the Fourth Prince's household."
When he said this, Prince Heshuo's tone was rather solemn. Fu Heng immediately felt embarrassed, and Harqi quickly said, "Your Highness, actually my father only just found out. When my daughter was sent to the selection, my father intended for her to fail and return home, but unexpectedly, the Emperor took a liking to her. This is really beyond the control of my father and me."
"Then why didn't the master inform me? If I had just spoken to my mother, your daughter would definitely have been rejected. Although my mother is not as young as she used to be, she can still accomplish this." Yinqi said, barely suppressing his anger. He had come to Fu Heng's place today because he was still furious and wanted to personally confront him.
"Please calm your anger, Your Highness. My granddaughter is merely a concubine entering the household; there's no need for Your Highness to be so concerned," Fu Heng said, bowing. He was actually disappointed in Yinti, but had always been restrained by their teacher-student relationship. Now, however, Yinti seemed to show him no respect whatsoever, even coming to his home to question his granddaughter's affairs—a behavior truly unbecoming of a prince. Although he knew he intended to place his granddaughter in the Fourth Prince's household, it was ultimately a matter for the Fucha family, and it wasn't anyone else's place to interfere.
“Since that’s what you say, Teacher, then I’ll take my leave!” Prince Yinti abruptly stood up from his chair, flicked his sleeves, and walked out with his hands behind his back before Fu Heng could say anything more.
"Then Fu Heng won't see you off any further!" Fu Heng said with a stern face, giving his son a meaningful look. Harqi had already followed Yinti out. Even if Fu Heng didn't see him off, Harqi's presence was enough to fulfill the proper etiquette.
Yinqi walked towards the door with a livid face, completely ignoring Harqi who was following behind him. After he mounted his horse, Harqi bowed and said, "Prince Heshuo, please take care! My father is old and it is really not suitable for him to serve the prince anymore. Please let my father retire."
Yinqi hadn't expected that Fu Heng would quit so readily after their argument. He was even more convinced that Fu Heng had done it on purpose, and angrily said, "I also think he's getting old and should go home and hold his grandchildren. Farewell!"
Harqi waited until Yinti's horse was out of sight before turning around and walking back into the mansion.
Fu Heng was devastated that his twenty-year teacher-student relationship with Yin Ti had been destroyed in an instant. He locked himself in his study and refused to lie.
When Harqi came to him, he made a point of telling Fu Heng the last thing Yinti said.
"Did he really say that?" Fu Heng was extremely disappointed.
"Yes, Father, since the Prince doesn't value me at all, why should I keep trying to win his favor and end up being ignored?" Harqi wanted to take this opportunity to completely sever ties with the Prince. He felt that it was impossible for Yinti to become the Crown Prince; if Kangxi valued him, the position of Crown Prince would have been his long ago.
Fu Heng remained silent, his face ashen, then said to Harqi, "You brat, this is exactly what you wanted to see. If I were to fall out with the Prince, where would I put my face? People outside would all say that I am a despicable person."
Harqi said, “Father, you are already over seventy years old. Why don’t you just stay home and enjoy your retirement? Why get involved in the Prince’s affairs? He is stubborn and self-willed. He has never cared about you as his teacher. Jin’er has only married into the Fourth Prince’s household. We don’t even know what will happen to her yet. The Prince is already coming to interrogate you as if he were a culprit.”
Fu Heng sighed and said, "That's enough. Your father is getting old. I'll return to my hometown tomorrow. From now on, the affairs of the court will all depend on you."
Harqi said with undisguised joy, "Father, as long as you can smooth things over for your son, and if Jin'er can secure a certain position in the Fourth Prince's mansion, then your son will surely bring a bright future to the Fucha family."
Fu Heng knew it was too late to say anything now; he had already offended Prince Heshuo the moment he agreed to pave the way for Mingjin. He just hadn't expected that Yinti would be so unforgiving of their teacher-student relationship, actually coming to his home to confront him directly.
Meanwhile, Yinti ran frantically. His most trusted and relied-upon teachers had all sided with the fourth prince. But was the fourth prince truly so popular? And if his father, the Emperor, truly favored him, then why was a crown prince reinstated?
With these questions in mind, Yinti returned to his residence and went to talk to his primary wife, Lady Jueluo, about the matter.
“Your Highness, please calm down! What Fu Heng did may not have been his own doing, but rather that of his son, Harqi. It is truly inappropriate for Your Highness to go to someone’s house to question them!” said Lady Jue Luo.
"What should he do with his own son and granddaughter? Doesn't he know? Agreeing to his own granddaughter to the fourth prince as a princess, isn't that obviously siding with him?" Yinti snorted.
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