Chapter 18 An Irreconcilable Feud
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager, may the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings." Fanghua bowed respectfully, without the slightest error in etiquette.
"You're always so polite. Get up. There are no outsiders here, so there's no need for such formalities. Come and sit down."
Listen to this! This grandmother and grandson are truly of the same kind, even speaking the same language. If they really had the intention, they should have been stopped when they went to pay their respects.
snort.
They just say nice things.
"That won't do. As the Empress, I must set a good example. If everyone loses their manners, wouldn't that be a disgrace to our royal family?" Fanghua made her choice last night, just like always, to entertain her parents in colorful clothes. It's not shameful.
"That's right, the Empress is the most virtuous and kindest. It is a blessing for our Great Qing to have you as its Empress." Seeing that she wasn't there to cause trouble, the Empress Dowager was happy to say some nice things.
After all, the Empress is still very important. Although Ao Bai has been eliminated, if we want to win over the Han officials, we still need to work on the Empress and the eldest son.
Only when the previous dynasty unified the country could the Qing dynasty truly be considered stable.
"It's nothing like what the Empress Dowager praised. I still have a lot to learn," Fanghua said, her face a mixture of shyness and pride.
After a brief moment of tenderness, Fanghua stopped pulling at him and directly stated her purpose.
She finished recounting yesterday's events in the gentlest tone, then, with a hint of heartbreak in her eyes, said, "Since Your Majesty likes him, I will not go against Your Majesty's wishes. But the eldest prince is pitiful, and we absolutely cannot let Lady Ma Jia continue to take care of him. What do you think, Empress Dowager?"
Yes, she came not only to file a complaint, but also to ensure that Ma Jia would never see her son again before she died.
I just don't know who will die first, her or her son.
The eldest prince has been drugged, but the imperial physicians couldn't find the cause. His health will only deteriorate day by day. The only way to cure him is for her to intervene.
Unfortunately, she wasn't that saintly.
The Empress Dowager stared at Fanghua for a long time, so long that Fanghua couldn't help but wonder if she had given something away.
Fortunately, the Empress Dowager spoke up, "The Empress's consideration is correct. In that case, I will have the Imperial Household Department send a few wet nurses and servants to the Prince's Residence to tidy up the place and send the eldest prince there to be raised."
In fact, the Qing Dynasty had a custom of exchanging children for adoption.
Concubine concubines were of low rank and could be supported by any of the other concubines in the harem.
However, the eldest prince's status was extraordinary, which is why Kangxi had Ma Jiashi support him all this time. He also wanted to take the opportunity to elevate Ma Jiashi's status because of his favor towards her.
Unfortunately, due to the busy affairs of the previous dynasty, this matter has been suppressed until now.
Fanghua's rebirth thwarted Kangxi's plans, thus preventing Ma Jia from being promoted.
In her previous life, when Lady Ma was pregnant with her second son, Emperor Kangxi was overjoyed and promoted her to the rank of Noble Lady, which can be described as a meteoric rise to power.
Even Nara was ranked behind her, but unfortunately, she was not blessed enough to raise the eldest prince, and Nara ultimately benefited from the situation.
Becoming the head of the four concubines is truly pathetic.
"That would be perfect. After I give birth, I will send her to the Prince's quarters. The Empress Dowager's choice is certainly the best," Fanghua flattered.
She will naturally raise her son herself, and no one should try to harm him.
These words indeed pleased the Empress Dowager, who said, "You have such a sweet tongue. If you say this now, you won't be able to bear to give birth to her child."
The Empress Dowager's decree was quickly delivered to Chuxiu Palace.
Ma Jia was heartbroken. As soon as the messenger left, she immediately ordered someone to investigate what had happened.
The Emperor forgave her yesterday, so it's impossible that he would take Chengrui away from her today. There must be some wicked person behind this.
Lady Ma Jia was born into a bondservant family and had some influence in the palace. She quickly found out the reason and smashed a lot of things in anger. She only calmed down after being appeased by her servants.
"The Empress Dowager's decree cannot be disobeyed. Go and pack the eldest prince's things. When the Empress Dowager's people come to fetch him, send the eldest prince there."
After saying that, she burst into tears.
"Empress, Empress, I will never forgive you."
I don't know where she got the courage to arm wrestle with Fanghua.
Anyway, she now hates the Empress.
Would Fanghua care?
Of course not.
She went back after getting what she wanted.
Then they directly summoned the imperial physician. What could the imperial physician possibly find out?
Just like the previous cases, she was physically and mentally damaged, and the fetus in her womb was also in the same state. If she did not take good care of herself, she might not be able to give birth at full term.
Taking this opportunity, Fanghua escaped the disputes of division.
Niohuru had come a few times, but seeing that Fanghua was always in bed, she didn't want to bother her anymore, so she stopped coming.
On the first and fifteenth of each month, the women of the harem would kowtow at the entrance of Kunning Palace before going to Cining Palace to pay their respects.
Emperor Kangxi was very busy with the previous court affairs, and Fanghua had also schemed against him, so he was still angry and naturally avoided going to Kunning Palace.
The days passed uneventfully, and Fanghua did not appear at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, citing pregnancy as the reason.
However, it was Borjigit's wife who led all the wives of her family to pay their respects, and Fanghua was very happy to meet her family.
After leaving his mother and aunt behind, he sent the rest of the wives to the palace banquet.
Everyone knew the mother and daughter had something to talk about, so they didn't pay much attention and went home.
Soetu's wife was somewhat embarrassed. "Your Majesty, why don't I wait for my sister-in-law in the outer room?"
Upon hearing this, Fanghua stood up and walked to her aunt. "Second Aunt, there's no need for that. There are no outsiders here. I also have some things I want to say to you and Mother."
My uncle is now highly regarded by the Emperor and has been appointed a Grand Secretary of the National History Academy. It will be more convenient for him to handle certain matters.
If she remembered correctly, her uncle would leave the National History Academy next year and go to the Hall of Preserving Harmony to become a Grand Secretary of the Hall of Preserving Harmony, which would be a close advisor to the emperor.
“That’s right, let’s listen to Her Majesty the Empress.” Borjigit’s wife also gently said, holding her sister-in-law’s arm.
Tongjia smiled. Although she didn't understand why her sister-in-law and niece had kept her here today, her husband had told her to get along well with the Empress when she was at home.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lady Tongjia stayed behind.
Yes, Suo'etu's wife was from the Tongjia clan, which was not the same clan as Empress Xiaoyiren.
It can be counted that the main branch of the Tongjia clan is the one that enjoys its current prosperity because of Kangxi's birth mother.
The Tongjia clan, the lineage of Consort Songgotu, was not to be underestimated; it was the clan of Consort Songgotu's third wife.
By all accounts, Songgotu and his wife were cousins.
Of course, none of this matters.
Since she bore two sons and two daughters for Suo'etu, Tongjia Shi could manage Suo'etu's household.
"That's right, we're all family, why be so particular? Next time, bring your little brother to the palace to play too. I haven't seen him even once since he was born." Fanghua felt sad thinking about her uncle's final fate.
My uncle and my second aunt had a close relationship. Although my uncle had a concubine, my second aunt always managed the household affairs.
Because his second aunt had given birth to a child, his uncle always asked his concubine to avoid having children, not wanting to cause his second aunt any trouble. It was precisely because of this that his uncle eventually became childless and had no descendants.
(This is a fabrication by the author and cannot be verified.)
In this life, if her uncle does not abandon her, she will naturally ensure that he has many children and grandchildren and that his lineage continues.
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