As the chanting of Buddhist prayers subsided, summer gradually gave way to autumn. September arrived, the most beautiful and vibrant month in the capital. On this day, Emperor Kangxi summoned several princes on official business to the Qianqing Palace.
When Fourth Master arrived, he saw Liang Jiugong waiting outside, so he walked up to him and asked kindly, "Why are you waiting outside, Father-in-law?"
Liang Jiugong was Emperor Kangxi's personal eunuch. While nominally master and servant, they were childhood friends, having served Kangxi since he was six years old. Both were now in their fifties. Liang Jiugong was naturally the head eunuch of the inner palace. Whether it was the concubines of the harem or the princes and princesses, they all respectfully addressed him as "Eunuch Liang." This was because he had maintained his position before Kangxi for over forty years without waning in power; he had his own set of methods for dealing with people and serving them, and had always enjoyed Kangxi's trust.
Liang Jiugong, holding a whisk, turned around and saw the Fourth Prince. He smiled slightly, bowed slightly, and replied, "Fourth Prince, you've arrived. This old servant is waiting outside on His Majesty's orders." Whether the prince was favored or not, Liang Jiugong always had a smiling face and treated everyone equally, which is why he was quite popular in the palace.
"Oh, who is Father Emperor meeting? Even Eunuch Liang is being avoided?" Fourth Prince asked curiously.
Liang Jiugong was taken aback, then whispered to the Fourth Prince, "It's Prince Zhi inside."
Fourth Master smiled knowingly and then asked, "Brother, you've arrived very early."
Liang Jiugong nodded slightly and said, "Would the Fourth Prince like to sit in the Imperial Tea Room? This old servant will have them make you another cup of tea." Liang Jiugong knew very well what he should and shouldn't say, which was why he was able to sit firmly in the position of the chief eunuch of the palace.
"No need, I'll wait here with you, Father-in-law." The Fourth Prince was afraid that if he went to sit in the Imperial Tea Room, it wouldn't be good if he wasn't there when Emperor Kangxi called for him.
Just then, the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince arrived together. After exchanging greetings with the Fourth Prince, the Third Prince asked, "Why aren't the Fourth Prince and Eunuch Liang going in? Are there people inside?"
"Reporting to the Third Prince, His Majesty is speaking with Prince Zhi. He has ordered me to stay here and wait outside if any other princes come," Liang Jiugong said.
Upon hearing this, the Third Prince's face showed a hint of surprise, but he quickly regained his composure. He had recently gained considerable favor with Emperor Kangxi and was currently serving in the Hanlin Academy, working with other scholars to compile classic texts. He was also frequently summoned by Emperor Kangxi.
"Father has always treated our eldest brother well; we are truly envious," the Third Prince couldn't help but mock after waiting for a long time without seeing the Prince of Zhi appear. The Fourth Prince pretended not to hear, the Fifth Prince remained indifferent, and Liang Jiugong smiled as usual, saying, "My lords, why don't you come with this old servant to the Imperial Tea Room? It's really hard on you all to stand here in the sun."
Seeing Liang Jiugong's words, the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince followed him, while the Fourth Prince did not. At this moment, the Crown Prince suddenly walked over from the other side of the Qianqing Palace with his hands clasped. Upon seeing him, the Fourth Prince immediately went to greet him and said, "Your subject greets Your Highness!"
The Crown Prince offered a helping hand and said gently, "Fourth Brother is here. Why are you standing outside?" After saying that, he walked with the Fourth Prince towards the entrance of the Qianqing Palace.
After considering for a moment, the Fourth Prince said, "Father is talking with my eldest brother inside, and I am waiting outside the palace as ordered. The Third Prince and the Fifth Prince also arrived just now, and they have gone to the tea room to rest for a while with Eunuch Liang."
The Crown Prince paused for a moment, then continued walking forward, saying unhurriedly, "Prince Zhi has arrived very early! Father has always treated him well. From childhood to adulthood, apart from me, he has received the most rewards and was also the first to be granted the title of prince."
The Fourth Prince respectfully followed in the footsteps of the Crown Prince and said, "Prince Zhi is exceptionally brave and skilled. In the last great battle against the Galdan tribe, he defeated the enemy army and even killed the enemy leader. Naturally, he is highly valued by Father Emperor."
The Crown Prince's eyes flashed, and his expression darkened noticeably. Just as they reached the door, Liang Jiugong returned from the tea room. Upon seeing the Crown Prince, he immediately and crisply bowed, saying respectfully, "This old servant welcomes Your Highness!"
The Crown Prince offered a slight gesture of support and said politely, "Please rise, Your Excellency. I wonder what Father Emperor and my elder brother were discussing... I..."
Before the Crown Prince could finish speaking, the Fourth Prince saw Prince Zhi emerge from inside. Seeing the Crown Prince waiting at the door, Prince Zhi bowed to the Crown Prince and said, "Crown Prince, Fourth Brother, Father Emperor wants you to go in. Eunuch, if the other princes arrive, just let them in. I'll be leaving now." With that, he lifted his royal robe and strode away.
The Crown Prince was surprised that Prince Zhi had left so easily. He glanced at his back and said to the Fourth Prince, "Let's go in." Liang Jiugong quickly turned around to call the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince. Soon after, the Seventh Prince, the Eighth Prince, the Ninth Prince, and the Tenth Prince also arrived one after another.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!" When the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince saw Kangxi, they found him sitting on a mat on the west side, looking quite tired.
"Why are there only the two of you? Where are the others?" Kangxi's expression was unreadable, neither happy nor unhappy.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Eunuch Liang went to the tea room to call for my third and fifth brothers. They must have been waiting too long and went to have some tea," the Crown Prince replied respectfully.
Emperor Kangxi said to the palace servants outside the door, "Go and bring in some stools, please sit down."
When the palace servants brought in the embroidered stools, the other princes also entered. In no time, almost all of Kangxi's adult princes had arrived. After exchanging greetings, everyone sat down around Kangxi, and Liang Jiugong immediately ordered the palace servants to serve tea to Kangxi and the princes.
"I just had a long talk with Prince Zhi. I plan to bestow upon Prince Zhi the title of Princess Gulun, and next year she will be married off to the Khan of the Dzungar Khanate." After Emperor Kangxi slowly said this, there was a moment of silence.
“Eldest brother is truly a role model for us all. I only regret that my eldest daughter’s character, virtue, and appearance are not as good as my eldest niece’s,” the Third Prince suddenly interjected.
The Fourth Prince glanced at it, then at Emperor Kangxi, who slowly closed his eyes.
The Crown Prince said, "Your Majesty, I only regret that I cannot eradicate this malignant tumor of the Qing Dynasty, the Dzungar Khanate. Otherwise, how could my Qing princess have entered that barbaric land?"
Upon hearing this, Kangxi immediately opened his eyes and said slowly, "Do you have any good strategies for crushing the Dzungars?"
Everyone was shocked that Kangxi would suddenly say this. Wasn't he already preparing to send the princess to marry a foreign ruler? Why was he going to fight again?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
