After three attempts by court officials to decline the throne from Crown Prince Yinzhen, and despite Emperor Kangxi's firm stance that he would abdicate, Yinzhen finally ascended the throne.
On October 26, after the enthronement ceremony, Yinzhen's first step was to honor his father as the Retired Emperor.
Then, the retired Emperor Kangxi issued an edict to confer the title of Empress Dowager on Consort De, of the Uya clan.
When the new emperor ascended the throne, Kangxi moved to Changchun Garden with his concubines, leaving the Forbidden City to his fourth son's wives, concubines, and children.
After arranging things for his parents, Yinzhen issued an edict to confer titles upon his brothers. His second brother's title of Prince Li was promoted to a hereditary title of "Iron-Cap Prince."
The third brother was enfeoffed as Prince Cheng, the fifth brother as Prince Heng, the seventh brother as Prince Chun, the eighth brother as Prince Lian, the ninth brother as Prince Gushan, the tenth brother as Prince Dun, the twelfth brother as Prince Lü, the thirteenth brother as Prince Yi, and the fourteenth brother as Prince Xun. The younger brothers were all enfeoffed as Princes because they were younger.
After bestowing titles upon his brothers, the Fujin (Prince Consort) moved into the Forbidden City with the sisters from the inner courtyard, and Yinzhen began to bestow titles upon his wives and concubines.
The primary consort, Ulanara, became Empress; the secondary consort, Song, became Noble Consort Xian; the secondary consort, Li, became Consort Qi; the concubine, Niohuru, became Consort Xi; the concubine, Geng, became Consort Yu; Lady Wu became Noble Lady Ning; Lady Wuya became a Consort Chang; Lady An became a Consort Chang; Lady Hai became a Consort Chang; and the remaining concubines became Attendants.
Next, Yinzhen began to bestow titles upon his children: the eldest prince Hongyao was named Duan Beile, the second prince Hongxuan was named Yu Beile, the third prince Hongjing was named An Beile, the sixth prince Hongye was named Beizi, and the seventh prince Hongshi was named Beizi.
The Eighth Prince Hongli and the Ninth Prince Hongzhou have not yet been granted titles because they are still young.
The eldest princess was granted the title of Princess Heshuo Huaijia, and the second princess was granted the title of Princess Heshuo Huaike.
As for his other two daughters, although they were not yet married or engaged, Yinzhen also granted them titles.
The third princess was granted the title of Princess Heshuo Huaijing, while the fourth princess, being the legitimate daughter, was granted the title of Princess Gulun Huaishu.
Fifty-four years after the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the year turned to the new year, and Yinzhen changed the reign title to Yongzheng, officially beginning his life as emperor.
For some reason, when choosing a palace, Yunyi did not choose Yikun Palace, which was the most prestigious below Kunning Palace, but instead chose Chengqian Palace to live in.
After Empress Xiaozhaoren passed away, the Kunning Palace was no longer inhabited by the Empress. When choosing a palace before entering the palace, Empress Ulanara chose the Tishun Hall behind the Yangxin Hall where Yinzhen lived.
As for the others, Consort Qi lived in Changchun Palace, Consort Xi lived in Jingren Palace, Consort Yu lived in Yanxi Palace, Noble Lady Ning lived in Zhongcui Palace, and Consort Wuya lived with Consort Xi...
In March, the new emperor held a selection of consorts. Since Emperor Kangxi had abdicated in favor of the crown prince and had not died, Yinzhen was not required to observe mourning. Therefore, the selection of consorts was held in the first year of Yongzheng's reign.
This imperial concubine selection was also strongly advocated by Emperor Kangxi. He felt that his son's harem was too small and looked shabby, so he asked his fourth son to hold a selection to enrich his harem.
In this selection, the Nian family was prominently featured. Yunyi had observed the Nian family's appearance and physique and found them to be physically weak, considering the Nian family's historical experiences.
If she gives birth, the child will not live long, and the more she gives birth, the greater the damage to her body will be.
Yunyi didn't do anything shady. Putting aside Nian's health condition, her entry into the palace at this time wouldn't cause any trouble.
After all, she had discovered that someone was secretly sabotaging that person.
After the imperial concubine selection in April, Lady Nian was chosen and given the title of Noble Lady, residing in Yikun Palace.
Zhang, Wang, Wanyan, and others were also selected, and she had the highest rank among all the selected beauties.
After the talent show concluded, Prince Darhan of Mongolia brought his son to Beijing.
Their trip to Beijing served two purposes: first, to celebrate the ascension of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty to the throne, and second, to receive rewards.
Last winter, Mongolia experienced a severe snow disaster. The tribe to which Prince Darhan belonged was the most prosperous. At the behest of the Qing Emperor, their tribe actively participated in disaster relief and assisted other Mongolian tribes.
At the beginning of this year, in order to show his appreciation, Yinzhen summoned them to the capital to receive their rewards.
The news had barely spread, and before the Mongolian prince even arrived in the capital, a rumor quietly began to circulate.
The prince's heir is of marriageable age, and the emperor currently has two unmarried princesses. Everyone is speculating whether the emperor will show his favor by allowing the princesses to marry into Mongolia.
When this news reached the inner palace, Yunyi was also somewhat worried, but Empress Ulanara was even more worried.
She only had this one daughter in her life, and she doted on her as she grew up. She originally thought that as the daughter of a prince, her daughter would marry peacefully in the capital. With the Yong Prince's Mansion as her backing, her daughter would definitely be happy for the rest of her life.
Unexpectedly, the world changed dramatically. The grandfather became the crown prince, and then the emperor, and his daughter suddenly became a princess.
But being a princess is not so easy. Of all the princesses the retired emperor had to govern, how many of them lived long lives?
Now that a Mongolian prince has entered the capital and such rumors are circulating, she is really worried!
Currently, only the third princess, born to the Imperial Concubine, and her daughter, the fourth princess, are unmarried in the palace.
The Imperial Concubine has four sons, and her son is the most likely to succeed to the throne. Will the Emperor choose to marry his daughter to a Mongolian man for this reason?
It must be said that concern can cloud judgment, and Ulanara was so overwhelmed by worry that she was thinking of all sorts of things.
There has been much discussion in the palace recently, and Erlinzhu, as one of the parties involved, is also aware of this rumor.
That day, she was so annoyed that she begged her second brother to take her out for a horse ride to relax.
After changing into men's clothing, Erlinzhu looked quite scholarly, like a handsome young gentleman.
They rode their horses towards the outskirts of the city, heading towards the racecourse outside the east gate.
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