Chapter 38: The Scheming Wife of the Tenth Prince...
Seeing Yin'e's face full of relief, as if he wanted to avoid the credit and fame for improving the smallpox vaccination method, the Imperial Concubine couldn't help but smile and kissed Yin'e on the forehead: "Mother knew that our Yin'e was very smart."
The Imperial Concubine feared that Yin'e wouldn't understand her good intentions, wouldn't understand why she was concealing the fact that it was he who improved the smallpox inoculation method, or perhaps he was unwilling to bide his time and conceal his talents.
Fortunately, Yin'e was intelligent and quick-witted, and had his own understanding of the situation. He knew that his background was too conspicuous, understood that he could no longer stand out, and was well aware of his predicament.
The Imperial Concubine doted on her son, Yin'e, and took meticulous care of him after his birth. Since they spent so much time together, Yin'e's unusual nature could not escape her notice.
The Imperial Concubine had guessed that Yin'e was born with this knowledge, but she wouldn't press him for details or try to find out the truth. She only knew that Yin'e was her child, a piece of her own flesh, and she would do everything in her power to protect him, to ensure his safe growth and long life.
Yin'e, who was grinning foolishly after being kissed by the Imperial Concubine, suddenly realized something, and his smile froze, and he stopped nodding.
Because Yin'e realized that what the Consort had just said was "she reported to the Emperor".
Blinking, a clear worry appeared in his bright almond-shaped eyes. Yin'e leaned close to the Consort's ear and whispered, "Mother, is it inappropriate for you to present the new smallpox vaccination method to Father? Why don't we let someone else take the lead?"
Yin'e hesitated for so long because he didn't want to stand out!
Not only did he himself not want to take the lead, but he also didn't want the Imperial Concubine to get involved in this mess. In Yin'e's view, the best way was to secretly leak the new smallpox inoculation method to the imperial physicians in the smallpox department, so that they would take the lead and make it happen.
With a slight twitch of her brows, the Imperial Concubine glanced down at Yin'e for a moment, then suddenly smiled brightly and asked in a teasing tone, "Even if the reward for presenting the new smallpox vaccination method has nothing to do with you?"
She knew that Yin'e was a little greedy.
Hmm... maybe more than just a little, the imperial concubine filter is too strong.
Yin'e nodded without hesitation: "Mother's safety is the most important thing. Merit and such don't matter at all. Mother, you shouldn't do this yourself."
After a pause, Yin'e continued in a low voice, "I told my mother about the smallpox vaccination method because it concerns my own safety—I will be vaccinated sooner or later."
After hesitating for a moment, Yin'e ultimately did not tell the Consort that part of the reason he had revealed the smallpox and vaccinia vaccination methods so early was that he wanted to do what he could to help the Sixth Prince.
"Wait—" Yin'e suddenly realized, glaring angrily at the Consort, his fair face puffed up, his bright almond eyes wide open, "Mother, didn't you just say that the new smallpox vaccination method wouldn't be attributed to me, and that I wouldn't receive any credit or reward for it?"
Yin'e strongly suspected that the Imperial Concubine was deliberately teasing him.
There was no reward to begin with, yet the Imperial Concubine dared to tempt him with a reward, testing his resolve—how wicked!
Why do adults like to tease children so much?
"Who says rewards can only be displayed openly?" The Imperial Concubine smiled meaningfully, her slender, white index finger gently nodding between Yin'e's brows.
Blinking his big eyes, Yin'e understood what the Imperial Concubine meant, but he still shook his head like a rattle drum, and said firmly with a straight face, "Then I don't want it either. I just want Mother to be safe and sound. We don't want to get involved in this matter, and we don't need this credit."
Hearing Yin'e's unwavering answer, the Imperial Concubine's heart softened, melting into a spring-like warmth. She couldn't help but cup Yin'e's soft, chubby face in her hands and shower his fair cheeks with kisses: "Yin'e, how can you be so adorable?"
"Mother—" Yin'e's little face turned bright red, he pouted and got angry, and his little voice suddenly became much louder.
Twisting his little head from side to side, Yin'e tried to dodge the "attack" from the Imperial Concubine.
With a stern face, he tried his best to put on a serious expression: "Mother, what should we do if Father suspects you?"
The Imperial Concubine paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh: "You're still suspicious?" Releasing her hands from Yin'e's face, the Imperial Concubine smiled gently, "You don't need to worry about these things."
Yin'e felt slighted, puffed out his cheeks and glared at the Consort indignation, a look of shame and annoyance lingering between his handsome and bright brows.
His reaction only made the imperial concubine laugh even harder, her silvery laughter filling the entire inner room.
With a trembling hand, she gently pinched Yin'e's soft, white cheek. The Consort said in a melodious voice filled with joy, "Don't worry, your mother knows your father better than you do, and knows what to do."
Under Yin'e's worried gaze, the smile on the Consort's face faded slightly.
She nodded slowly to Yin'e and solemnly promised, "I will not act rashly. I will make full preparations, handle everything properly, and only present the new smallpox inoculation method when I am absolutely certain."
Hearing the Imperial Concubine say this, Yin'e was able to barely put aside his worries.
The Imperial Concubine embraced Yin'e, but then changed the subject again: "Yin'e, if the smallpox vaccination method and the water vaccination method can really reduce the mortality rate of smallpox vaccination, then this will be a great thing that benefits all the people of the world, and the merit will be immeasurable."
With a soft sigh, the Consort hugged Yin'e tightly, gently patting his back with her delicate hand: "This is clearly your achievement, but this matter cannot be publicized. You will not receive any reward, nor will you be honored. Your achievements and contributions will all be buried and erased."
Compared to the Imperial Concubine, Yin'e was the one who least wanted to stand out.
If the Imperial Concubine wants to protect her son, she must keep the conversation between the mother and son today a secret and never let anyone else know that it was Yin'e who proposed the improved smallpox vaccination method.
But... this also means that when smallpox vaccination and vaccinia variolation were promoted in the Qing Dynasty, no one knew that this new vaccination method that benefited the world was Yin'e's achievement, nor would anyone know how excellent or outstanding Yin'e was.
With an "Oh," Yin'e nodded indifferently, not putting on a brave face; he genuinely didn't care at all.
It's not that Yin'e didn't care about fame or money; he was of noble character, had lofty ideals, was full of passion and loyalty, and wholeheartedly wanted to help the people and bring peace to the country.
Yin'e knew very well that fame and high achievements were poison to him, and would only make Kangxi more wary of him rather than value him.
If he were to become a complacent, lazy bum, Emperor Kangxi would be a benevolent father, showering him with benefits; but if he were to strive for success, Emperor Kangxi would never be happy for his son's progress. Emperor Kangxi would not beat or kill him, but he would neglect him, be suspicious of him, and suppress him.
The Imperial Concubine sighed, feeling a pang of sadness and sympathy for Yin'e.
The Consort gently patted Yin'e's back and then moved her soft hand up to soothe him, stroking his head and rubbing his fine, black hair: "On the surface, you will get nothing, and you can't get anything. But secretly, your mother will fight for compensation commensurate with your contribution to improving the smallpox vaccination technique."
The Imperial Concubine would present Emperor Kangxi with medical and protective knowledge and improved plans for smallpox inoculation, but she did not intend to use the name of the Niohuru clan, nor did she intend to attribute this achievement to the Niohuru family.
This credit belongs to Yin'e, and the Imperial Concubine will not allow anyone to claim it, not even her own family.
"Secret compensation?" Yin'e was momentarily confused, then his eyes lit up. His almond-shaped eyes widened, and he looked at the Consort with sparkling eyes, asking with anticipation, "Could we exchange it for a hereditary prince? Or just a princely title, if it's not hereditary, that would be fine too!"
In the thirty-seventh year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the emperor bestowed titles upon his sons for the first time. The tenth prince, who was only fifteen years old that year, and unlike the eighth prince, had not served on the battlefield and made military achievements, missed the first conferment of titles along with the ninth prince and other young princes.
During the mid-Kangxi reign, the Tenth Prince was always bald.
It wasn't until the 48th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign that, after an eleven-year hiatus, the Kangxi Emperor bestowed titles upon his sons once again. The 26-year-old Tenth Prince finally shed his title of "bald prince" and was granted a title for the first time, becoming the Prince of Dun.
Although the Tenth Prince was initially granted the title of Prince of the Second Rank, giving him a much higher starting point than his brothers, he was granted the title during the later years of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, when the struggle for the throne was at its most intense.
Furthermore, since the Tenth Prince was also a member of the Eighth Prince's faction, he was never promoted to the rank of Prince until the death of Emperor Kangxi, let alone the Iron-Cap Prince title that Emperor Yongzheng bestowed upon the Thirteenth Prince.
If possible, Yin'e would like to be granted a title as soon as possible. If he is only granted the title of Prince Dun at the age of twenty-six, and before that he is just a bald prince, how undignified and demeaning that would be.
Even if he's going to be a salted fish, he'll be the most expensive one.
The Imperial Concubine stood there stunned for a long time before nodding at Yin'e's forehead, both amused and exasperated: "What are you thinking? A hereditary prince is not something that can be granted easily."
After calculating in her mind, the Imperial Concubine pondered for a moment and then nodded slightly: "A prince can be granted, and not just one princely title."
But the "iron hat" (a hereditary title for children) is really not enough. It only improves the vaccination method and increases the success rate, but it doesn't grant the hereditary title. It's more than a dream come true.
If the smallpox vaccine and vesicular vaccination methods were implemented in the Qing Dynasty and could prevent the spread of the epidemic and completely eradicate smallpox, then there would still be some possibility.
What the imperial concubine didn't know was that after smallpox was introduced globally, it was indeed completely eradicated. In 1980, the World Health Organization announced that humanity had successfully eradicated smallpox, making it the first infectious disease in humans to be completely eradicated.
However, Yin'e, seeking to play it safe, did not say that smallpox could be completely eradicated, but only that it could greatly increase the success rate of vaccination. This led the Consort to misjudge the value of the new vaccination technique.
Staring blankly at an unknown place ahead, the imperial concubine's gaze was unfocused.
She was thinking about how to present the new smallpox inoculation method to Emperor Kangxi in a reasonable way, and what kind of compensation she could use this achievement to secure for Yin'e.
For the mother and son, wealth was not a problem; power was a poison. What Yin'e needed was not some expensive or precious reward, but a guarantee that would protect him in the future, ensuring his peace, happiness, wealth, and honor.
A moment later, the Imperial Concubine suddenly smiled brightly, lowered her head and affectionately rubbed her forehead against Yin'e's, asking him with a radiant smile, "Yin'e, how about your mother arranges for you to marry a Mongolian noblewoman as your wife?"
"ah???"
Yin'e was completely dumbfounded, his pupils dilated in shock, and he simply couldn't believe what he had just heard.
He's so young, is it really appropriate to discuss this issue now?
No matter how he thought about it, Yin'e felt that it was too early for him to be considering a wife at his age. Even his eldest brother, the eldest prince, hadn't been betrothed yet!
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Author's note: Yin'e: I'm so envious of Thirteen's Iron-Cap Prince title, waaaa QAQ.
Fourth Prince: Roll it up?
Yin'e: ...No.
Even if he lay flat, outside, and jumped from here, he definitely wouldn't be rolled up.
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