Chapter 173: After the father cheated his son and planned to pretend he didn’t know, Qi Buchen…
After deciding to pretend she didn't know, Qi Buchen never asked anyone to inquire about the news next door, nor did she tell anyone about it. During this period, she occasionally attended banquets, but she didn't see anyone mention any lawsuits in Yinsi's mansion. She guessed that maybe Baya realized it later and punished the servants?
Of course, it is also possible that everyone is like her, knowing but pretending not to know.
In mid-February, Kangxi returned to the palace and stayed in Changchun Garden. Yinzhen waited until his son was settled before heading straight to his residence in Beijing.
As soon as he came back, Qi Buchen pushed him into the medicinal bath tub. He had been out inspecting the river works in such a cold weather, and he had caught a lot of cold. During the New Year, Zhao Jia said that Yinxiang had some problems with his legs because of the movement he had in Shangsiyuan in the winter of the previous year. Yinzhen was thirty-three years old now, much older than Yinxiang. If his legs and feet were to be affected by the cold again, what would happen?
Yinzhen leaned back in the bathtub, sighing comfortably. Qi Buchen sat beside him and talked to him, asking about his experiences and gains from this trip.
"I've uncovered quite a few problems this time," Yinzhen said. "At Kang'er Harbor, the person in charge isn't competent enough. While a dam has been built, it's not in the best location. If there's a flood, the risk of flooding remains high. And at Heshao, the planned river channel intersects with the village. We need to find a way around it, whether to reroute it or relocate the village."
He sighed, "I've also had people secretly check along the way. The phenomenon of excessive poll tax is becoming more and more serious. I plan to submit a memorial."
He had thought of a way to stabilize the population earlier and had made a contingency plan, but it just happened that the issue of taking back the prison power had come to a conclusion. Kangxi ordered the transfer of the power to the Ministry of Justice, and the flag owners made a big fuss, so he temporarily postponed submitting the memorial.
However, this time I went out, I saw that the situation was getting worse. I am afraid that if it is delayed any further, more people will suffer. I don't know how many people will not be able to hold on and will have to sell their children and land. It is better not to think too much about it and just implement it as soon as possible.
Qi Buchen certainly supported him: "So are you going to submit the memorial to the Ministry of Public Administration, or?"
Yinzhen had already made up his mind: "I will report it directly in person. It is better to keep this matter secret if possible." Although the policy is a good one, it also affects the interests of many people. Who knows what those people will do if the news gets out too early.
Qi Buchen expressed his understanding, and then it was Yinzhen's turn to ask questions.
"Thirteenth brother's leg problem has recurred. I sent some medicine. You can go and have a look later." Qi Buchen said.
Yinzhen nodded. He still cared about his younger brother very much. Over the past six months, he had tried hard to arrange some tasks for Yinxiang, which finally helped to boost his spirits.
"What else?" he asked.
"Nothing else happened." Qi Buchen hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell him about the Eighth Brother's family. "There was a small incident next door. The Eighth Brother's concubine was found to be three months pregnant, and there was some commotion. I don't know if it got out, but I haven't met anyone who mentioned it."
Qi Buchen also gossiped with Yinzhen about the fact that Yinsi did not enter the rooms of the other three concubines, and asked Yinzhen if Zhang Zhibi would have any objection to Yinsi doing this.
Yinzhen said, "Zhang Zhibi was too deeply involved with my eldest brother. When my eldest brother got into trouble, they were going to settle accounts with him, but it was the Eighth Brother who protected him. How could he dare to object? Besides, he was counting on the Eighth Brother to rise to prominence. By then, Hongwang would be the Eighth Brother's only son. How could he not benefit from his family's benefits?"
Well, my daughter is not important, my own future is important.
Based on this, although her words were vague, Yinzhen could probably guess what the turmoil was about. He shook his head: "Guo Luoluo is also confused. How could the concubine dare to do that? I guess it's the Eighth Prince who dares not say it. Just wait and see. The Eighth Prince will not let this matter have hidden dangers."
Yinsi now relies entirely on his reputation. Even if there is only a slight possibility, he will not let himself be labeled as a cuckold.
Yinzhen praised his words again, and the next day, the neighbors celebrated with great fanfare. Yinsi even sent invitations to his close relatives, inviting them to a banquet to celebrate.
Although it was a bit exaggerated to make such a big fuss when she was only three months pregnant, considering that Yinsi was already thirty years old this year and had few children, only a son and a daughter, his ecstasy was understandable.
However, Yinsi still knew his limits and only invited his subordinates, the bannermen, and not other dignitaries, so few people gossiped.
Yinzhen chose to go to the palace to meet Kangxi on the two days when Kangxi returned to the palace. He went in early in the morning and came back in the evening. Although his expression was not very obvious, his relaxed demeanor showed that his trip was smooth.
"Is it done?" Qi Buchen asked curiously, "When will it be implemented?"
Yinzhen said modestly, "The Emperor only said it was good, but he didn't say he would use it."
Qi Buchen looked at him with contempt and said, "Just pretend!"
Facts have proved that Yinzhen was indeed pretending. Although this year's Halloween was not a birthday celebration, it was the 50th anniversary of Kangxi's accession to the throne, so it was celebrated more grandly than in previous years.
On the day of his Emperor Kangxi's birthday, he issued an imperial edict to the empire: "Today, I have reigned for fifty years. I recall that when I first ascended the throne, I too was filled with lofty ambitions, hoping to create a prosperous era. The older I get, the more I realize how naive I was then. Now, as I approach sixty, I fear I will not be able to fulfill my former ambitions, and I feel deeply ashamed. It so happens that Prince Yong made a memorial a month ago, arguing that although the populations of various regions have increased, the land has not expanded, and that increasing taxes based on population growth is inappropriate. I have pondered his point day and night, and I find it reasonable. Therefore, today I order the governors of all provinces to maintain the permanent quota of population figures reported in the tax and grain registers at the end of last year, with no increase or decrease. No additional taxes will be levied on additional persons in the future."
When the decree was issued, the whole city was shocked, but Kangxi chose a very good time, making this decree to never increase taxes seem like a policy of grace like a general amnesty. Of course, it was indeed a grace, but in this way, those who could have opposed it could not raise any objections and could only sing praises.
As a benevolent policy, this imperial edict was sent to all parts of the country as quickly as possible and announced to the people in the form of a notice, so that they would know the emperor's grace, and then be grateful and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the emperor's accession to the throne.
By the way, Yinzhen, who was explicitly named in the imperial edict, also gained a wave of reputation, and his reputation improved visibly.
Yinzhen was not very happy. When Qi Buchen asked him why, Yinzhen leaned against her and whispered, "Third brother is not very good, he wants me to take over."
Qi Buchen understood it immediately. After the crown prince was restored, Yinzhi was imprisoned and Yinsi was suppressed. Although other people were given titles and had some fame, to be honest, they were all small fights and could not compare to the scene of Yinzhi and Yinsi at the beginning.
After the honeymoon period of his restoration, Kangxi's attitude towards the crown prince changed again. He began to support Yinzhi, intentionally or unintentionally, and whenever there was an opportunity for him to appear, he would let Yinzhi go. Unfortunately, Yinzhi, whether due to his personality or other reasons, could not hold up his aura. Although there were many literati who flattered him, there were few ministers who supported him.
Kangxi might have been a little disappointed with Yinzhi, and it just so happened that Yinzhen ran into trouble this time, so he had a free son and just used him as a raft.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to announce it to the world so openly after Yinzhen hinted that he did not want to be in the spotlight.
"Is it a big problem?" Qi Buchen asked worriedly.
Yinzhen shook his head slightly: "It shouldn't be a big deal. My performance should have been excluded long ago." Otherwise, the emperor would not dare to be so confident and bold in giving him reputation.
Unfortunately, this time, Yinzhen guessed wrong. He underestimated the ambition of those who loved power.
Of course, Kangxi’s help cannot be ignored.
Shortly after the Wanshou Festival, because there had been few rains since the beginning of the year, and there were concerns about drought, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory submitted a memorial requesting prayers for rain. Kangxi ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare a rain-praying ceremony and ordered Yinzhen to preside over the matter.
Qi Buchen was a little speechless: "The Imperial Astronomical Observatory can even calculate solar eclipses, so why would they still believe in things like praying for rain?"
Yinzhen looked at her helplessly: "What else can you ask them to do? Can you figure out when it will rain?"
The people in the Imperial Observatory just wanted to take precautions in advance to avoid being blamed for future natural disasters.
It's just a show, alright.
No one expected that God would be so kind. On the second day of the rain-praying ceremony, the entire capital was shrouded in heavy rain, which lasted for a whole day and night.
Qi Buchen was speechless and looked at Yinzhen with a look of bewilderment: "What do you mean?"
Although many people in the upper echelons of the imperial court were enlightened and had a certain scientific understanding of weather changes, the general public did not!
This wave of rain-praying was so successful, and Yinzhen had a reputation for never increasing taxes, so wouldn't the people deify him?
As Qi Buchen had predicted, the people of the capital city attributed the rain to Yinzhen, saying it was because Prince Yong cared about the people and that the heavens, moved by his kindness, had sent down the heavy rain, averting the drought. For this reason, many people in the capital city set up longevity tablets for Yinzhen in their homes and burned incense daily, praying for his blessing for a good harvest.
Wow, is this directly deifying Yinzhen?
"what to do?"
After listening to the servants' report on the local situation, Qi Buchen looked at Yinzhen with innocent eyes and asked for countermeasures.
Yinzhen looked at her helplessly: "Do you think I know what to do?"
After the incident, he racked his brains on how to deal with this wave, but in vain, he could not come up with a solution. The people are the easiest to incite, but the hardest to change their cognition.
Qi Buchen felt bitter: "How about we send someone to spread some negative rumors about you, or give the credit for this matter to those lamas?"
Yinzhen sighed: "Let's try it."
The result proved that it was not feasible. Those who spoke ill of Yinzhen were almost beaten to death by the people. The lamas did have some effect, and many people began to be grateful to them, but they could not replace Yinzhen. After all, when it was announced at the beginning, it was said that Yinzhen presided over the rain-praying ceremony throughout.
Kangxi was a master at fathers cheating their sons.
"Let's go." Yinzhen sighed much more frequently recently. "Pack your things and go to the Old Summer Palace to farm."
Is this a response to the people's requests for him to bless a good harvest? Perhaps in the future he will actually be deified by the people and be called Shennong?
Imagining the image of a deity with rice growing on Yinzhen's head, Qi Buchen almost laughed at his own imagination.
The family packed up and fled overnight, living a farming life like a paradise in the Old Summer Palace.
Kangxi seemed to think that the effect of praying for rain was too much, and he never looked for Yinzhen again. He also pretended not to know that he had given up his job in the Ministry of Justice.
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