In fact, the imperial physicians also said that Kangxi's body could not be overworked, nor could it experience any intense emotional fluctuations. If he wanted to live a long life, the most important thing he should do was to rest quietly.
But he simply couldn't let go of this position. Even though the Crown Prince was already very outstanding and capable of shouldering this responsibility, he still hesitated to relinquish power.
They even harbored some apprehension towards the Crown Prince because of his excellence.
These strange dreams he had every night were causing Kangxi to waver.
Perhaps I shouldn't cling to this position any longer. The Crown Prince is a suitable successor, and I should learn to let go!
After the imperial concubine selection in the thirty-fourth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the emperor appointed primary wives for the seventh prince, Yinzhi, and the eighth prince, Yinxi.
Subsequently, Kangxi issued several more imperial edicts, breaking the peace inside and outside the palace.
The entire clan of Imperial Noble Consort Ma Jia of Zhongcui Palace was transferred from the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner bondservants to the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, and Imperial Noble Consort Ma Jia was established as Empress.
As early as after the deaths of Empress Renxiao and Empress Xiaozhao, Emperor Kangxi had already decided not to appoint another empress.
The reason why Empress Xiaoyi, of the Tongjia clan, was later established was because she was already on her deathbed. It was done to fulfill her wishes and also to bring her good luck.
Tongjia was empress for only one day and no grand ceremony was held to officially recognize her as empress.
The fact that Yunyi has now been granted the title of Empress was a decision made by Emperor Kangxi after careful consideration.
He consulted Daoist Tanyangzi and learned that Ma Jia's destiny was extremely auspicious and that she could bear the fate of a phoenix and would not be affected by his own fate of bringing misfortune to his wife. Only then did he issue the imperial edict to make her empress.
Jinzhen did not believe in these things. Tan Yangzi was someone he had specially cultivated to deceive Kangxi and complete his own plan.
Now that Emperor Kangxi intends to make Lady Magiya his empress, he naturally will not object. Lady Magiya is his own aunt, and if she becomes empress, his cousin will rightfully become the eldest son of the legitimate wife.
A month after the imperial decree was issued, Yunyi successfully completed her coronation ceremony and became Kangxi's fourth empress.
Just a few days after she became empress, Kangxi abdicated, allowing his son, Crown Prince Yinzhi, to inherit the throne, while he himself went to the garden outside the palace to indulge in the great road.
The crown prince declined repeatedly, but Kangxi was determined to leave, and he eventually ascended the throne. At that time, he was only twenty-eight years old and still very young.
Watching his cousin ascend the throne, Jinzhen concealed his merits and fame, his heart filled with a relieved smile. This day had finally come.
He had gone through countless hardships to defeat so many brothers and successfully take over, but he was already forty-five years old and no longer in his prime.
He knew he didn't have much time left. He had devoted himself to the throne for thirteen years, and finally, with great reluctance, he handed over this heavy responsibility to his fourth son.
The fourth son was ambitious and eager for success. Although he was somewhat intelligent, he was not actually the most suitable candidate. However, he was chosen because the family had few children.
But now, with his elder brother around, and Hongfen clearly being a capable man, it is most appropriate for their lineage to ascend to the throne.
Moreover, with him around in the future, he can at least assist several generations of Qing emperors, and only then can he feel at ease!
Upon ascending the throne, the new emperor bestowed the title of First-Class Duke of Cheng'en upon his birth mother's father, Ma Jia, and promoted his maternal uncle to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, a third-rank official position.
According to custom, the father and brothers of the Empress could be granted the title of Duke Cheng'en, but Emperor Kangxi did not grant the title to Lady Ma's father at that time. Instead, he reserved it for his son, so that he could bestow favors upon his maternal grandfather's family.
After abdicating and becoming the Retired Emperor, Kangxi went to live alone in the garden. Because he wanted to discuss philosophy, he did not bring his wives and concubines with him.
Yinyu was not one to mistreat his stepmother. He knew that his father was now focused on discussing Taoism and no longer concerned himself with matters of the harem.
He then specifically discussed it with his father and ordered that the concubines with sons be allowed to leave the palace to live with their children and not have to stay in the palace.
The former Empress Dowager has now become the Grand Empress Dowager, and Empress Yunyi has become the Retired Empress. They have moved to Ning Shou Palace to live, since they are elders. If they don't move, the new emperor's concubines will have nowhere to live.
After the retired emperor's concubines moved out, the palaces in the East and West Six Palaces became vacant, making them available for the new emperor's concubines to live in.
Yinzhi's primary consort, Lady Xilinjueluo, also successfully became Empress, in charge of the affairs of the inner palace.
Of course, after becoming emperor, Yinzhi did not mistreat his younger brothers, granting them all the title of Prince.
Among them, the youngest prince, the Tenth Prince Yinyou, is the only prince who was granted the title of Prince of the Second Rank without being married.
It was only because Yinzhi felt sorry for his younger brother and considered that he had been ill since childhood that he made an exception and granted him the title of Prince of the Second Rank. Otherwise, he should have only been a Beile, and could only be promoted after marriage or meritorious service.
The following year, Yinzhi changed the era name to Gan'an. The new emperor ascended the throne and opened a special imperial examination. Jinzhen, who was still the companion of the eldest prince Hongfen, wanted to go but could not.
However, he still managed to get his hands on Enke's exam paper through connections, tried it out himself, and got a feel for it.
Five years later
With the start of the new year, the Ministry of Rites has been busy. This year is also the year of the provincial examination, and the examination date has been set for the eighth day of the second lunar month.
Jinzhen is sixteen years old this year. The eldest prince, Hongfen, has grown up and no longer needs him as a study companion to study in the Imperial Study. Since two years ago, he has returned to the Ma Jia residence to focus on his studies.
With a father who was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) and memories of his previous life, Jinzhen is doing very well and has already achieved the title of Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial imperial examinations).
Ma Jiayun was also surprised by his eldest son's talent. After several years of testing and teaching, he estimated that his eldest son would have a 70-80% chance of passing the imperial examination this spring.
Wuya didn't care whether her son could get in or not; she was only worried that in this cold weather, her son would have to stay in the examination hall for nine days and nine nights, and how his body could withstand it.
Although Jinzhen had also practiced the riding and archery skills that all the Manchus knew, he was not very proficient in them.
In addition, his father was a scholar and his mother was delicate and frail like a Han Chinese woman, so his body was not very strong.
This was exactly what Uya was worried about. Thinking of her son's frail body, she was filled with anxiety and could only prepare more warm clothes that he could bring in, as well as some warm medicine.
With Uya clan making intensive preparations, the imperial examination began.
Jinzhen was still fast asleep when he was woken up by his personal servant.
With so many people taking the exam and strict checks to prevent cheating, all the candidates had to go to the entrance of the examination hall in the middle of the night to get in early so as not to delay the provincial examination the next day.
After the search, Jinzhen finally entered the examination hall. He was lucky enough not to be assigned to a bad grade.
After some delay, it was already getting light, but it was still early. He tidied up a bit and went to sleep fully clothed. Tomorrow was the main event, and he needed to conserve his energy so he would be refreshed and energetic tomorrow.
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