Chapter 181 Schemes in Various Places
Emperor Kangxi was a ruler who did not tolerate being wronged.
After the Third Prince's wedding, it was immediately announced that the Second and Third Princes would enter the court to attend to state affairs.
However, since there's no assigned destination yet, it shouldn't be too long.
Chengren should have attended court as well. He is the crown prince, and even though he is young, he has the right to listen in.
But the emperor wouldn't budge, so he could only remain a prince who studied.
Fortunately, Chengreng had received imperial instruction in his previous life, so it doesn't matter whether he has it in this life or not.
He wanted a useless crown prince, so he would be a bit useless. He wasn't really useless, and Chengren was happy to cooperate, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
Instead of wasting time on that, you should study firearms with Dai Zi. These things are incredibly powerful. Back then, my fourth brother won many battles for the Qing Dynasty because of them.
He took Dai Zi under his wing during his youth, thus preventing Dai Zi from being punished by the emperor later for developing firearms that were too lethal.
Such a talent, he wouldn't miss out on in this lifetime.
As for his fourth brother's other opportunities, he really didn't think much of them. The two of them were of different status and position, which meant that there were some people that he, as the crown prince, could not even look at.
Previously, it was only the emperor's inclination, and the court officials, even if they had the will, did not dare to. Now that the emperor has put forward the Third Prince, those who want to make achievements are naturally filled with mixed feelings.
In addition, the Ma Jia clan is one of the eight clans. Although Consort Rong is not from the direct line, her father and brothers are not weak. As a result, the Third Prince attracted a lot of attention as soon as he entered the court.
The Second Prince was in the same situation because he had the support of Lord Mingzhu. Although his reputation was damaged for some reasons, it was just a matter of reputation.
Therefore, it is also a very promising stock.
With the support of figures like Suo'etu for the Crown Prince, the court is now in a three-way power struggle.
This is what Kangxi wanted to see, and it's the balance he desired.
Because the crown prince has not entered the court, he is somewhat weaker, but he is the rightful heir apparent, so he has quite a few supporters.
Another year has passed in the blink of an eye, and the matter of the princess's marriage to a foreign ruler has once again been brought up by the court officials.
The most uneasy person was Consort Zhang, the mother of the eldest princess.
Consort Zhang had thought that the Empress Dowager's three-year mourning period would allow her to keep her daughter for a while longer, but unexpectedly, before the three years were up, the marriage was brought up again by the court officials.
"Jinghua, why don't you go and beg your father, the Emperor, to let her stay in the capital after she gets married, and let her husband also settle in the capital?" Consort Zhang looked at her twenty-year-old daughter with great reluctance.
She fought and struggled her whole life, but in the end, she was spared two daughters because of the Empress's kindness.
She was more fortunate than Consort Dong, at least her two children were raised under her care.
That's precisely why she was so reluctant to see her daughter marry far away.
"Mother, do you think Father Emperor will agree?" The eldest princess looked dejected, but she had already resigned herself to her fate. Marrying into Mongolia was her destiny. She had thought about a miracle, but deep down she knew it was impossible.
"Mother, once the mourning period is over, I will be married off to Mongolia. You must be careful in everything you do in the palace." She was worried about her mother, Princess Jinghua.
Although the Empress Dowager didn't say she liked her that much, she still loved her to some extent. But because the Empress Dowager failed to recognize her true nature, she and her mother eventually lost the Empress Dowager's care.
Can she blame her mother?
That's impossible, but you can't blame the Empress Dowager either.
All I can say is that this is her fate.
She already knew in private that her second sister would not marry far away like herself. It would be a lie to say she wasn't jealous, but what could she do?
Her mother was not a concubine.
"Mother knows, Mother knows, Jinghua, is there really no way at all?" She still wanted to try. "How about Mother asks your Imperial Mother for help?"
At the mention of the Empress, Jinghua sighed, “Mother, what’s done is done. There’s nothing you can do about it. Fortunately, you gave birth to two princesses. As long as you behave yourself in the future, Father and Mother will definitely not mistreat you.”
Jinghua comforted her mother, finally calming her down after much persuasion. "Alright, Mother, let's not mention this again, lest people laugh at us. Prince Tarna is a good man. The Imperial Household Department has provided a portrait of him. I won't be mistreated if I marry him."
Fortunately, she had been practicing the martial arts that her mother had taught her since she was a child, so at least she had the ability to protect herself when she was far away from home.
There are many birth mothers like Zhang Pin who plan everything for their daughters, but they are just birth mothers.
After learning the news, Consort Rong set her sights on the Third and Fourth Princesses.
The two were auspicious omens and were also the first twin princesses of the Qing Dynasty.
With such a reputation, many people came to propose marriage to the two.
But since the emperor hadn't given the order, she couldn't make the decision herself.
But now that her son has entered the court, could she also use the princess's marriage to gain some advantage for her son?
On this day, Consort Rong came to the Qianqing Palace.
"Your Majesty, I greet you. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."
"Get up."
As Kangxi looked at Consort Rong, who had been frequently visiting the Qianqing Palace recently, a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.
It's all too clear why Consort Rong came.
He wouldn't mind giving her a little more affection.
"What delicious food did you bring today? I'm a little hungry," Kangxi asked with a curious look after closing the memorial beside him.
Consort Rong was completely absorbed in this false sense of favor. She never thought she was inferior to the Noble Consort, the Empress, and others. She simply didn't have their status. Otherwise, it's not certain who would be the Empress or Noble Consort now.
"I heard from Cheng Ti that Your Majesty has been busy until very late lately. So today I brought some calming and sleep-inducing herbal soup for Your Majesty to help you sleep better at night."
Consort Rong introduced herself and also brought her son along, which shows why she came.
"Cheng Ti is a filial son." Kangxi nodded in satisfaction, then stretched out his hand, "Hurry up and let me have a taste."
Wei Zhong stepped forward and took the food box from Consort Rong, then went through the whole process of testing for poison. Consort Rong was used to it. At first, she was a little unhappy, but after getting used to it, she took it for granted.
The soup was almost cold when it reached the Emperor, but that didn't affect the taste. After all, it was made in Yanxi Palace, so it was bound to be good.
"Not bad, refreshing and not greasy, with a pleasant aroma and no medicinal taste. It seems that Consort Rong put a lot of effort into it."
Consort Rong was beaming with pride upon receiving the Emperor's praise. "I'm glad Your Majesty likes it. If it's useful, I'll send it to Your Majesty again next time."
After finishing a bowl of soup, Kangxi enjoyed Consort Rong's service. It took him a while before he stopped her from massaging him with her small hands. "Speak, what is it?"
Consort Rong was not embarrassed by the Emperor's exposure. Instead, she looked worried and said, "Your Majesty, I am worried about the marriage of the Third Princess and the Fourth Princess. The mourning period for the Empress Dowager will soon be over, and their marriage should be put on the agenda. Although I am not their birth mother, I have raised them for so long."
As she spoke of her deep emotions, Consort Rong's tears flowed uncontrollably. She wiped them away with her handkerchief and then said, "I have just heard that some court officials want the eldest princess to get married, so I am naturally worried about the third and fourth princesses."
Hearing her heartfelt words, filled with such maternal love, even Emperor Kangxi, as a father, was deeply moved.
"You've worked so hard all these years." Kangxi took her hand and patted it gently. "Don't worry, I've already made plans for the marriages of the Third Princess and the Fourth Princess. Just wait patiently."
This was not the result Consort Rong wanted. She wanted to ask, but when she met the Emperor's gaze, all her questions got stuck in her throat.
"With Your Majesty, our Imperial Father, caring for us, that is the best thing. I would like to ask which tribe you are marrying into, so that I can prepare some supplies for the two princesses."
However, in an instant, Consort Rong thought of another excuse.
Unfortunately, Kangxi didn't reveal a word. "The Ministry of Rites will handle this matter. You just need to take good care of the Third and Fourth Princesses. When they get married, I will allow you to personally escort them out of the capital, is that alright?"
As they talked, Kangxi still managed to reveal a bit of information.
Leaving the capital city would prove that the two princesses would be married off to distant places.
This was not the outcome Consort Rong desired. If the two women were married off to distant lands, it would undermine her son's ability to cultivate influence in the court.
"Your Majesty, is it really possible?" Consort Rong feigned surprise and delight. "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."
After she finished speaking, she curtsied.
Kangxi helped the man up, saying, "Alright, I know you have a motherly heart. I'll remember this. Go back and spend some quality time with the Third and Fourth Princesses."
Consort Rong was clever; she knew that the Emperor was issuing an order to leave.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will return now. Please rest well and do not overwork yourself."
"Alright, I've got it."
As soon as Consort Rong left, Emperor Kangxi's face turned cold.
"Hmph, Wei Zhong, investigate for me. I truly did not know that Consort Rong cared so much about the Third Princess and the Fourth Princess."
Since Consort De's death, although he had hated her, he also felt pity for her, after all, it was his impulsiveness that caused the Third Princess and the Fourth Princess to lose their mother.
After the two returned from the imperial tomb, he paid more attention to them than to others.
The reason for letting Consort Rong raise the two was simply because Consort Rong, being of high status, felt it wouldn't be unfair to them.
Unexpectedly, Consort Rong dared to harbor the intention of exploiting the good fortune of the Qing Dynasty.
"Yes, this servant will investigate immediately."
Wei Zhong knew this would happen when Consort Rong mentioned the two princesses. The current emperor is extremely suspicious, and even eunuchs like them are often guarded against by him.
He always acts with trepidation.
If he hadn't served his master since childhood, he probably would have lost half his life long ago.
"Yes, go ahead. Go to my private treasury later and pick out some nice things for Jinghua. She's getting married soon, and we can't let the royal family lose face."
"yes."
Consort Rong's movements could not be kept secret, and the conversations inside the room were not kept confidential. Some people thought it would be quite easy to find out more.
So, when Consort Rong learned that she wanted to ask Princess Furui which family she was going to marry into, everyone was very curious.
Even the fleeting beauty of youth is no exception.
However, thinking about Consort De's affair, the two princesses have harbored a lot of resentment towards the Emperor, their father, over the years.
But they are also clever, knowing what they can and cannot do.
I wonder if these two will give her a surprise after hiding for so long.
Ever since the Emperor's health improved, Fanghua has been feeling very uneasy, as if things are about to slip out of her control.
If things don't go according to plan, she doesn't mind getting involved herself.
Even if she dies, she will pave a bright future for her child.
It's a pity that Fanghua was disappointed.
After the princess was married, the second princess was betrothed to a man from the capital city because the imperial concubine was about to die.
The Imperial Concubine knew her time was coming to an end. Back then, she had carefully calculated the amount of poison she gave the Emperor, but she never expected that the retribution would only befall her alone.
She was angry, indignant, and furious, but it was all in vain.
Now, she was filled with great hatred, and she had only one request: to watch her get married and to personally choose a good husband for her.
She didn't care about his family background, she only asked that he treat her daughter very well.
"Your Highness, this servant thinks the second son of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is quite good. I've heard he's exceptional in both calligraphy and painting, and has a reputation as a talented scholar." A maidservant beside Consort Xi pointed to a painting of a handsome young man and shared the information she had gathered.
But the imperial concubine only glanced at them before turning her gaze away, instead searching for someone who caught her eye in the homes of those military officers.
Seeing that the empress did not respond, the palace maid was not angry. Instead, she stuck out her tongue.
The old nanny standing nearby glared at her, "Alright, that's enough. Her Highness has her own plans; she doesn't need you to remind her."
They're still too inexperienced; how many of those talented men and beautiful women have happy endings?
A talented scholar; you should know there's a word for that: a romantic and talented scholar.
Just by listening to him, you can tell that this talented man is not a good match. When looking for a husband, you don't look at his talent, but at his character.
The sons of military generals chosen by the Empress were not as dashing as the children of scholars.
The imperial concubine selected a few that she liked, closed the box, and set the rest aside.
"Granny, please don't say that. Which young girl doesn't yearn for spring? It's only natural that she would like a talented young man. But my royal princess is not marrying an ordinary husband. Those talented young men can't resist her." After saying that, the Imperial Concubine laughed.
"Alright, take the rest away. Go and call the Second Princess over so she can personally choose someone she likes."
The maid didn't say anything more and obediently cleaned up the picture books on the table.
The second princess arrived quickly. She knew why her mother had summoned her, so she wasn't surprised at all when she saw the picture book in her mother's hand.
"These are all chosen by your mother. Take a look. The hunting season is coming soon. When the time comes, have your father call them out so you can take a look. If there are any suitable ones, then make a decision. You're not young anymore."
Although royal princesses stay for a long time, they can't remain unmarried until they turn twenty. Even the eldest princess was rushing to marry out of the royal family when she turned twenty.
"Yes, I will listen to Mother. But Mother, I would like to ask the Empress Mother." Xizhu said after looking through all the picture books.
"Alright, then take it and ask your Empress Mother. But Xizhu, do you really trust your Empress Mother so much?" She didn't understand why Xizhu would trust the Empress so much.
Even if it's because of me, I don't completely trust the Empress.
“Mother, compared to Father Emperor, I trust Mother Emperor more,” Xizhu said, her eyes narrowing.
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Concubine fell silent. Wasn't she the same?
"Alright, I'll go with you." She also wanted to ask the Empress for some favors.
When they arrived at Kunning Palace, Fanghua was talking to Chenghu.
Recently, this brat has started to be targeted by people.
So, they've come here to find some peace and quiet.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! May Your Majesty be blessed!" As soon as Xizhu entered the main hall, she ran towards the Empress with a cheerful smile, just like always.
But when she saw the person sitting below the Empress, she immediately straightened her posture and said, "Xizhu greets elder brother. Elder brother has also come to see the Empress Mother today."
Chenghu had spent a lot of time with his second younger sister since childhood and was quite familiar with her. "Who do I have here? It's Xizhu. I'm afraid you're the only one in the entire harem who is so lively in front of the Empress Dowager."
After speaking, the younger sister bowed to the imperial concubine behind her, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."
The Imperial Concubine raised her hand, "Alright, there are no outsiders here, no need to be so formal."
Chenghu smiled, thanked him, and then sat up straight.
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