Chapter 157 The Election Begins
Xiao Feng lifted the bird's head buried in the pastry and looked back at Qiao Ling, who was still worried.
It said, "My clever little one, my clever little one, I can eat, I won't die, I won't die!"
Although everyone knows that Xiaofeng is clever, it doesn't dare to show it too much.
After all, being too extraordinary is not good for anyone.
Qiaoling was now caught between a rock and a hard place, unsure whether to cry or laugh.
She was comforted by a parrot.
Since the suppression of the large-scale conferment of titles upon the harem, the women of the harem have been visiting the Qianqing Palace more and more frequently.
Even the Imperial Concubine would send some soup to the Qianqing Palace every few days.
The emperor understood that everyone wanted to receive a good reward.
However, the list has already been finalized, and it is impossible for the Imperial Concubine to be promoted further; at most, she can only be given a title.
No one knew what the emperor was thinking.
That's why everyone put in even more effort.
Sometimes, the imperial kitchen would sell a bowl of soup for an exorbitant price.
The people in the imperial kitchen were overjoyed.
The grand investiture didn't come, but the first general election of the Kangxi era did.
Yes, this was the first general election after Kangxi ascended the throne.
Both Fanghua and the Imperial Concubine participated in the general election.
Fanghua saw many familiar names among them, and she smiled knowingly, her eyes full of mockery.
The Imperial Concubine, sitting to the side, was quite puzzled and asked, "What is Your Majesty laughing at? Have you discovered something interesting?"
She knew the Empress rarely showed her emotions, so anything that could elicit such an expression from her must be something interesting.
Fanghua didn't hide anything, pointing to several names and saying to her, "Look at these people, our Emperor is really concerned about the Three Feudatories." These were the people Kangxi had instructed her about before.
Now that Fanghua has seen their family backgrounds, how could she not laugh?
Of course, she didn't point out too many of the familiar names.
She's not a prophet; some things are better kept secret.
The Imperial Concubine glanced at it sideways, then chuckled softly, "Of course, haven't you noticed that our Emperor hasn't been visiting the harem much lately? I suppose he's preparing for this grand election."
She naturally noticed the Emperor's change; though she didn't know the reason, he was clearly not as affectionate as before.
Previously, every year, two or three concubines in the harem would announce good news, but it's been so long now, and there have only been births, not pregnancies.
There are some speculations, but nothing is certain.
Fanghua glared at her. This imperial concubine was speaking more and more recklessly, and she didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. "Be careful that the emperor doesn't hold a grudge against you if he hears this." This person really dares to say anything.
Doesn't she understand the principle of seeing through things but not saying them?
"What's there to be afraid of? There are no outsiders here. Would Her Majesty the Empress really allow me to be reprimanded by the Emperor?" The Imperial Concubine smiled radiantly, a true femme fatale.
"Alright, make a note of these people. They are all people the Emperor wants to keep."
There will definitely be a lot of candidates for the first talent show, plus many relatives who want to arrange marriages, so there are quite a few candidates this time.
"I know, Your Majesty the Empress, how could you not trust me?"
The imperial concubine pursed her lips, looking completely unconcerned.
However, she also felt a little displeased. Pointing to Tongjia's name, she said, "I knew she was going to enter the palace, and now that she's going to enter, why do I feel so uneasy?"
Fanghua glanced at her and knew what was bothering her.
"What, you want the Niohuru clan and the Tongjia clan to clash?" Fanghua rolled her eyes at her. "Don't you know how protective our emperor is? The combined families behind you and me are not as powerful as one Tongjia clan member."
Thinking of Tong Banchao from her previous life, Fanghua only found it laughable.
Emperor Kangxi really raised a good dog.
"Tch." The Imperial Concubine rolled her eyes. "I disdain those who rose from humble origins. It's all just a matter of the victors taking all." She understood the family's thoughts, but she didn't think now was a good time.
As long as the emperor is on the throne, Niohuru will never have a chance to rise in status because of her responsibility to Oboi.
This is also to atone for their indecisiveness back then.
"It's good that you understand. We can't afford to mess with her once she enters the palace. Our Emperor is very protective of his own." If Lady Tongjia enters the palace, even the Empress herself will have to make way for her.
Tsk tsk, what a clever scheme.
It's a pity that she didn't die; otherwise, Tongjia's dream of becoming empress in this life would have been shattered. How pitiful!
He spent his whole life longing for his wife's name, but in the end, he only enjoyed a single day of bliss. What an unlucky thing.
Since the emperor is now unable to have children, she might be able to survive for a while and live a longer life.
"Isn't Your Majesty afraid that she'll covet the throne?" The Consort couldn't stand the Empress's nonchalant demeanor; it was an eyesore.
"Can't you speak properly? If you can, stay. If not, go back and take care of Xizhu." You can't be too nice to this person; if you're not careful, he'll take advantage of you.
It's infuriating.
"Fine, fine, fine, I was wrong, I won't say anymore, I won't say anymore, okay?" The Imperial Concubine immediately surrendered when she saw that the Empress was angry.
Fanghua ignored her and circled some names, then had the people around her write them down one by one.
After working for a while, the Imperial Concubine suddenly spoke up: "Has His Majesty made any arrangements for the ranks of these people?" She felt that Yongshou Palace was a bit too quiet and wanted to find a few interesting people to put in.
The Empress, unaware of her thoughts, looked up at her upon hearing her question. "No, what's wrong? Did your family send a message to the palace?"
Such things are quite normal. For example, in the Hesheli family, her mother sent a letter to the palace and asked for favors.
"Every family has a few people who get in through connections. I don't care about them. I want to select a few interesting ones to enter Yongshou Palace. I can't compare to Your Majesty the Empress. Kunning Palace is not for outsiders."
At this point, the imperial concubine felt a pang of sadness.
I'm so envious.
But it's just a moment of envy; all other emotions have long since vanished.
"How could I not know you were someone who enjoys excitement?" This person has no good intentions.
Seeing that the Empress had seen through her thoughts, the Consort did not hide anything and said, "I can't hide it from Your Majesty. I just can't stand anyone jumping over my head in the future. Naturally, I have to find fault with a few who are trying to win my favor."
Fanghua didn't care whether what she said was true or false; as long as she was happy, that was all that mattered.
So she said, "We can see after they enter the palace. It's a bit early to choose now. We can't judge a person's character just by listening to the reports of the servants below." She still had some genuine feelings for the Imperial Concubine.
Over the years, although the Imperial Concubine had always opposed her, she had never actually caused her any harm, and she was willing to play along.
But since it concerns her future, she is happy to offer a few more words of advice.
"That's true, then let's listen to Her Majesty the Empress." The Imperial Concubine didn't insist, but simply wanted to report to the Empress first to avoid causing trouble later.
She had no other thoughts than to watch Xizhu grow up, get married, and start her own family.
The two then quietly dealt with the affairs of the harem.
Because of the general election, there are many affairs in the palace now, and there is much less time to spend with the children every day.
In early March of the fourteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the first general election after Kangxi's ascension to the throne officially began.
As the Empress and the Imperial Concubine, the two would not be involved in everything, but would keep a close eye on the young ladies-in-waiting to prevent them from doing anything that would damage the imperial dignity.
By the time the first, second, and third selections were being conducted, it was already May. The first birthday celebration for Yinreng, also known as Crown Prince Chengreng, was about to begin. The first birthday celebration for the Crown Prince was a major event of the country, and everything, from the Imperial Household Department to the Ministry of Rites, had to give way to it.
Fanghua looked at her babbling son in front of her and was filled with emotion.
In her previous life, she could only watch from the void as her son went through every important moment in his life.
Because of her passing, both the third-day celebration and the first birthday ceremony were conducted very simply.
Although none of the three powerful figures in the palace owed the Crown Prince anything, he had lost his mother, and his birthday was also the anniversary of her death. How could the child truly be happy and joyful?
This is a stain on the crown prince's record and the greatest regret of his life.
Every time Fanghua saw Yinreng locking himself in Kunning Palace and crying on his birthday, her heart ached. Every time she saw him holding her painting and calling for his mother, tears of blood streamed down her face. She wanted to hug him and respond to him.
Unfortunately, he couldn't hear her voice or her cries, and he couldn't feel her care and concern.
In this life, she is alive, and her Yinreng, her crown prince, will receive the congratulations of everyone in the world and the most precious and sincere blessings.
He now has blood-related brothers and the most loving mother in the world. He no longer needs to envy others who have a mother to care for them when they are tired or to comfort them when they cry.
In this life, he lacks nothing and has more of everything than others.
She will give him the best and the most precious things in the world.
"Your Majesty is really something. He even trains the child for the first birthday celebration in advance. This is just what we adults hope for the child's future. It's really true that whatever the child picks up will turn out to be auspicious or inauspicious." Fanghua looked at the Emperor instructing the Crown Prince on what to pick up, feeling quite helpless.
But he was also satisfied with his actions, after all, his concern proved that Chengren held a special place in his heart.
Whether it's a father-son relationship or something else, as long as he truly cares about his child, she's satisfied.
When Chenghu was born, he naturally taught him, though not as attentively as the Crown Prince, it was still a unique favor from the Emperor.
"Your Majesty doesn't understand. How can I let others laugh at my Crown Prince? When he's chosen for his first birthday celebration, he'll naturally grab the best thing in the world." Kangxi looked at the babbling Crown Prince holding the seal he had placed on his hand and proudly showed it off to the Empress.
"Look, Chengren has remembered it, and he won't let go of my seal."
Fanghua couldn't bear to watch. "Your Majesty, don't threaten Chengren with egg custard. See if he still wants your seal."
Although she wanted his throne, she couldn't show it too much, since the emperor might not want to see anyone eyeing his position.
Unless he dies, he doesn't want anyone to remember him.
Kangxi awkwardly touched the tip of his nose. "You can't say things like that. When did I ever threaten Chengren?" If he didn't admit it, then the matter didn't exist.
The servants standing by lowered their heads, trying to suppress their laughter, afraid that they might burst out laughing out loud.
The emperor's anger is still terrifying.
"If the Emperor says no, then no." Fanghua ignored him and picked up Chengren. "Good son, don't listen to your father. Take whatever you like."
Chengren's little eyes darted around, then he pointed at the Emperor and sobbed, "Empress Mother, Emperor Father is bad."
Naturally, he didn't speak fluently, stammering as he expressed his thoughts, sounding quite aggrieved.
Fanghua's heart ached for the little boy's pitiful appearance. "Don't cry, sweetie. Let's ignore Father Emperor and go eat steamed egg custard." With that, Fanghua got up, picked up Chengren, and walked out.
Emperor Kangxi looked helpless; who was he doing this for?
Little thing, you don't appreciate it at all.
Seeing the Empress carrying the person away, he quickly got up and followed.
"Your Majesty, don't forget my share. I've been teaching for quite a while now, and I'm hungry too."
The warmth of Kunning Palace may be unknown to others, but the servants there all wear smiles.
After all, if their master is favored, they, the servants, can have more face when they go out.
Chenghu returned at lunchtime.
Because of the Crown Prince's first birthday celebration, Emperor Kangxi has suspended Chenghu and Chengdao's studies at the Qianqing Palace.
Upon Chenghu's return, Fanghua handed the Crown Prince over to the Emperor, then greeted Chenghu, personally washed his hands and changed his clothes, and then led him to sit down at the table.
These scenes made Emperor Kangxi extremely envious.
You should know that all this care and consideration should have been given to him alone.
How long has it been since the Queen treated him like this?
"You're such a grown man, and you still have to let your Empress Mother handle these little things." Her tone was sour, yet it was quite pitiful.
Fanghua glared at him, after all, she disliked it most when others talked about her son.
"Hmph, if Your Majesty doesn't like it, you don't have to look. You can love your own son as you please. I'm happy to do so."
Chenghu sat down and looked at his father with a respectful expression: "Father is right. However, since Mother loves her son so much, I cannot let her down. That's why Mother has gone to so much trouble. When I grow up, I will serve Mother every day."
Hearing his filial words, Fanghua felt very gratified. Although she didn't need her sons to be overly filial or put her first in everything, their kindness warmed her heart.
"Alright, so it's my fault now. Let's have our meal. If you keep talking, I should probably leave."
At this moment, Kangxi felt like an outsider.
The mother and her two children excluded him.
"Don't cry, Father Emperor, have some steamed egg custard." The little prince pushed the steamed egg custard in front of him toward his father, his eyes filled with calculations that no one else could see.
Fanghua, with her own perspective, attributed all the changes in her youngest son to the wisdom nurtured by the spiritual spring water.
Chenghu also doted on his younger brother. In addition, he was different from his other brothers and discovered that his mother had given them a lot of good things. He didn't think there was anything wrong with his younger brother's precocious intelligence.
Therefore, Yinreng concealed his extraordinary rebirth.
Yes.
Yinreng was reborn. He was reborn in his mother's womb. At first, he didn't know what was going on and thought he was reincarnating with his memories.
But when he was born, he heard the midwife calling out "Empress," and he knew that he had been reborn on the day his mother gave birth to him.
So he was afraid.
I'm afraid of experiencing the pain of losing my mother again.
He prayed to the Eternal Heaven that his Empress Mother would live and that nothing would happen to her.
When he heard the servants excitedly shouting that the Empress had given birth to another prince, he could no longer hold back his tears and cried out.
Because he was afraid, he was worried.
Fortunately, after all the fuss, his mother safely gave birth and did not leave him as she had in his previous life.
However, he also discovered many differences.
Because his older brother, Chenghu, was still alive.
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