Chapter 39 The Tenth Brother's Worries as a Loving Mother...
Yin'e's pupils dilated in shock, but the Imperial Concubine found the idea of a marriage alliance with the Mongols to be ingenious.
In its early years, the Qing Dynasty made many efforts to win over the Mongols, and intermarriage between the Manchus and Mongols was extremely frequent.
From Nurhaci, the founding emperor, to Huang Taiji, the second emperor, and then to the Shunzhi Emperor, their harems were dominated by Mongol women.
In particular, Empress Dowager Borjigit Bumbutai, who came from the Khorchin tribe, became the most noble and powerful woman in the Qing Dynasty.
Even the current emperor's harem was filled with Mongolian women in his early years, including several concubines of Mongolian origin. For example, Consort Hui, posthumously conferred the title in the ninth year of Kangxi's reign, and Consort Xianfu, who had no formal title, were both noblewomen from the Khorchin tribe.
However, after the emperor assumed personal rule, the Mongol concubines who had once dominated the Qing harem gradually faded into obscurity, and the Manchu concubines emerged victorious in the new round of harem struggles. For example, Empress Renxiao of the Hesheli clan and Empress Xiaozhao of the Niohuru clan were both of Manchu origin.
The imperial harem is a reflection of the previous dynasty. Although the emperor has made many efforts to appease the Mongols over the years, repeatedly making northern tours beyond the Great Wall, and maintaining the Manchu-Mongol intermarriage alliance, it is an undeniable fact that the power of the Mongol concubines in his harem has gradually declined.
Since the emperor assumed personal rule, while appeasing the Mongol tribes through marriage alliances, he also secretly suppressed them. He neither wanted the Khorchin and Abahai tribes to become too powerful, nor did he allow the Mongol tribes to unite and produce a Khan who could command the entire grassland.
The emperor was wary of the Mongols. He had finally managed to eliminate the influence of the Mongol concubines in the harem, and he was determined not to allow the next emperor's empress to be of Mongol origin.
Other princes who were close to the Mongols, or even married into the Mongols, would only incur the emperor's displeasure and be neglected by him, which would be detrimental to them. However, for Yin'e, who came from a prominent family and had to keep a low profile, marrying into the Mongols was a good move.
If Yin'e were to marry a Manchu nobleman after he comes of age, the emperor might arrange for him to marry a woman from a weak family with no support in order to suppress him.
Rather than that, it would be better to marry a noblewoman from Mongolia whose family is far away but whose tribe is powerful.
In this way, Yin'e voluntarily gave up his right to vie for the throne, showing the emperor that he had no intention of seizing the throne. This made the emperor lower his guard against him and feel a sense of guilt and affection towards him. He lost face but gained substance.
Secondly, the Mongol princes were powerful and were objects of courting and appeasement for the Qing Dynasty. Yin'e's marriage alliance with the Mongols was equivalent to gaining a powerful backer; his future father-in-law, a figure of considerable influence on the grasslands, would become a protective shield for him.
Parents plan far ahead for their children.
Although Yin'e is still young, the Imperial Concubine is already planning for his future.
Gently stroking Yin'e's head, the Imperial Concubine's voice lowered as she whispered in Yin'e's ear, "By forming an alliance with the Mongols and marrying a noblewoman from Mongolia as your consort, your father's, mother's, and wife's families will all be powerful enough to protect you."
Just now, the Imperial Concubine suddenly said that she wanted to arrange for him to marry a Mongolian noblewoman as his wife. Yin'e was shocked and a little shy at the same time. This was because he had never been in a relationship in his previous life.
But after hearing what the Imperial Concubine said next, Yin'e was completely stunned.
Historically, the Tenth Prince did indeed marry a noblewoman from Mongolia as his primary consort, and he was also the only prince among Kangxi's sons to have a marriage alliance with a Mongol.
With his paternal, maternal, and familial families all being powerful, is this why the Tenth Prince, despite being a member of the Eighth Prince's faction—though not a core figure—did not suffer the same suppression and tragic end as the Eighth and Ninth Princes under Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Yongzheng?
Historically, the Imperial Concubine Guifei was already deceased when the Tenth Prince married. However, her schemes for the Tenth Prince undoubtedly succeeded. Even though the Tenth Prince, who was married into the Mongol tribe, was embroiled in the struggle for the throne, he still managed to die a peaceful death.
Moreover, in the 48th year of Kangxi's reign, why was the Tenth Prince granted the title of Prince of the Second Rank at the outset, giving him a significant head start over his brothers?
Was it because he performed his duties well, gained military merits on the battlefield, or made significant achievements in politics? No, none of these. The Tenth Prince was initially granted the title of Prince of the County simply because his birth mother was a Consort, and his status was elevated because of his mother.
The prince's glory and peaceful death were all due to the protection of the imperial concubine, and her loving motherly heart towards her son.
Yin'e's nose tingled, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Hot tears fell, wetting his face and stinging his heart.
He sobbed and threw himself into the concubine's arms, a deep, overwhelming, and indescribable mix of emotions welling up inside him.
The Imperial Concubine opened her arms to catch Yin'e, her beautiful and gentle face filled with anxiety.
Yin'e felt that this embrace was so warm, safe, and reassuring. This embrace would always accept him, protect him, and shield him from all external crises and dangers.
The Imperial Concubine held Yin'e, who had suddenly started crying, and looked him over from head to toe. She was so anxious that her forehead was covered in sweat, and she asked repeatedly with a look of panic and concern, "Yin'e, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Tell your mother quickly, don't hide it from me."
Yin'e, buried in the Consort's arms, shook his head, his tears wetting the Consort's palace dress.
He sobbed silently, choked up and unable to utter a single word.
After a while, Yin'e finally composed himself and stopped sobbing quietly.
His small body, still smelling of milk, twitched slightly, and he choked out in a sob, "Mother, I want you to stay with me forever. Don't leave me, don't abandon me, I'll be scared without you."
Some thoughts Yin'e couldn't voice, yet they kept surfacing in his mind: the Imperial Concubine wanted to wait for him, to wait for him to leave the palace and establish his own residence, so that he could take her out of the palace and care for her.
By then, the Imperial Concubine will be able to enjoy spring outings and flower viewing, summer boating on the lake, autumn climbing to admire the maple leaves, and winter appreciating the snow and plum blossoms. Her life will be colorful and full of fun, and her days will certainly be happier and more joyful than the daily torment and loneliness she endured in the palace.
Yin'e not only remembered that the sixth prince, Yinzuo, died at the age of six in history, but also that Consort Niohuru did not live long and did not even live to see the tenth prince come of age and get married. She died of illness when he was eleven years old.
If Yin'e wanted to help the Sixth Prince because he had a kind heart, still pitied the weak, and wanted to have a clear conscience, then his desire to save the Imperial Concubine had no reason whatsoever.
He was just a child who wanted to save his mother's life. He longed for his mother's love and care, wanted her to always be by his side, and wanted her to live a long and healthy life, growing old happily from her youthful black hair to her white hair.
Raising his head, he roughly wiped away the tears on his face with his small hands and shouted urgently, "Imperial Physician! Mother, go and fetch the Imperial Physician, the best one, the one with the longest and whitest beard."
Yin'e's unusual reaction startled and panicked the Consort, but she did not lose her composure. She quickly called out to Lanzhi, who was guarding outside the inner room, and asked her to fetch the waist token and give it to Luyi, so that Luyi could personally go to the Imperial Hospital to invite a specialist in pediatric diseases.
Yin'e had calmed down by now, no longer as panicked as before. He quickly stopped the Imperial Concubine and said, "Mother, I'm fine. Don't worry, and there's no need to call the imperial physician for me."
The Imperial Concubine gripped Yin'e's shoulders tightly with both hands, looking him up and down, her beautiful eyes filled with worry and anxiety.
A moment later, the Imperial Concubine examined Yin'e's forehead and saw that his complexion was normal, he had no fever, no unusual symptoms, and did not seem to be unwell. She breathed a sigh of relief and was somewhat relieved.
She calmed down a little, but the Imperial Concubine still kept a close eye on Yin'e, afraid that he might do something wrong.
With a tense expression and her delicate brows furrowed, the Imperial Concubine said sternly, "If I'm not calling the imperial physician for you, then who is it for? Yin'e, are you really not feeling unwell anywhere? Don't hold it in, tell your mother where you feel pain."
Seeing the Imperial Concubine sweating profusely with anxiety, Yin'e felt extremely guilty.
It seems he not only frightened himself, but also the imperial concubine.
He raised his chubby little hand to wipe the sweat from the Imperial Concubine's forehead, then pulled her back to sit down. In a soft, guilty little voice, he said, "Mother, I'm really alright."
Yin'e was still worried about the Consort's health, so he held her hand and said earnestly, "The imperial physician was invited for Mother."
Yin'e knew that imperial physicians would come to the palace every five days to check on the Consort's health. But each time, the physicians said that the Consort's health was fine, but she was weak and depleted after giving birth and needed to rest and recuperate.
When it came to how to nourish the body and how to recuperate, the imperial physician who came to check his pulse became vague and evasive.
He simply advised her to cultivate herself more, worry less, avoid sadness and anger, and maintain a calm and peaceful mind in daily life, avoiding extreme emotional fluctuations such as great joy or sorrow. Then he prescribed several common tonic formulas and instructed the palace servants of Yongshou Palace to obtain the medicine from the pharmacy and brew it for the Consort to drink daily.
Yin'e also knew that the imperial physicians who could take the pulse of the Consort were all highly skilled and had real expertise. Since they all said that the Consort's health was fine, then there was indeed nothing seriously wrong with her.
However, the imperial physicians in the palace were often adept at self-preservation, and after taking the pulse, they would only say seven-tenths of the extent of the illness, always leaving some room for interpretation.
Yin'e could not fully trust the imperial physicians in the palace—if the Consort was truly healthy, how could she have died so young, in her early thirties?
Currently, Yin'e's initial plan is to invite all the imperial physicians specializing in gynecology from the Imperial Hospital to examine the Imperial Concubine's pulse. After comparing the results of all the examinations, he will select the best physician to specifically treat the Imperial Concubine's health and adjust the tonic prescriptions according to her condition.
Since it concerned the Consort's health, Yin'e did not think he was overreacting; in fact, he felt that being a hundred times more cautious would not be excessive.
Consort Gui knew that Yin'e was born with knowledge and could even produce methods for treating smallpox and waterborne diseases. She was not surprised that he wanted to invite the imperial physician for her. She simply shook her head and refused, saying, "I am fine and have been taking regular pulse checks. There is no need to specially invite the imperial physician."
"Mother, please do." Fearing that the Consort might be reluctant to seek medical help, Yin'e tugged at her sleeve and shook her back and forth, acting coquettishly. "Let the head of the gynecology department examine your pulse and prescribe medicine according to your condition, instead of using the old prescriptions to fool people."
Pouting, Yin'e grumbled with a hint of dissatisfaction, "Mother drinks tonics every day, but it doesn't seem to have any effect. Let's call the head of the Imperial Hospital to take her pulse again."
Seeing that the Imperial Concubine was still hesitating, Yin'e threw himself into her arms and persistently begged, "Please, please, please ask the imperial physician to come and see me. I want my mother to stay with me."
Lan Zhi, who was following the Consort's instructions to enter the inner room to retrieve her waist token, was somewhat tempted and quickly chimed in, "Yes, Your Highness, the prescription you are using now was written a year ago. It may no longer be suitable. Please ask the Imperial Physician to write a new one!"
After a moment's hesitation, the Imperial Concubine finally nodded and said, "Very well." Seeing that Lan Zhi was about to leave, the Imperial Concubine stopped her and shook her head, saying, "This matter is not urgent. The palace gates will be locked soon, so let's ask the Imperial Physician to come again tomorrow."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 23:08:21 on March 1, 2023 and 16:06:38 on March 2, 2023!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Mysterious teammate tricked me out of 10 bottles again; Parting Sorrow (づ●─●)づ 1 bottle;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
