Chapter 190: Testing Perhaps the mark of the imperial concubine in history is quite...
Perhaps it was because Concubine Nian left a deep impression in history. Qi Buchen thought about it and felt that Nian Xialing's purpose of coming here was not that simple.
Unfortunately, Nian Xialing did not take any further action after that, as if he was really only making this trip for Nian Gengyao's career.
While everyone was paying attention to the talent show, Qi Buchen found time to disguise himself and come to the Meridian Gate with Yinzhen.
Even when they arrived at the place, Yinzhen's brows were still furrowed as he said, "What's so interesting about this kind of thing? Don't get scared later."
Qi Buchen remained silent. Yinzhen sighed and said nothing more. Fu Jin was so stubborn about this matter that he even suspected that Fu Jin had some connection with the Dai family that he didn't know about.
Yes, today is the day Dai Mingshi will be executed.
Despite Qi Buchen's unreasonable demands, Yinzhen finally tried his best to help Dai Mingshi. Although Dai Mingshi was still executed, the people involved were given lighter sentences.
Qi Buchen didn't know whether the outcome of this literary inquisition was better than in history. She came here just to get rid of some obsessions. She just hoped that there would be no more literary inquisitions in the future and that future generations would criticize it less harshly.
In the end, Qi Buchen still did not dare to face the execution scene. He just heard from afar that it was over from the execution ground, and then turned around and went home.
Seeing that the selection was approaching, people outside finally believed that Prince Yong and his wife really were not considering Prince Honghui's marriage for the time being, and gradually gave up the idea of visiting them. Qi Buchen was finally able to relax and was in the mood to inquire about the developments in Prince Cheng's mansion.
Unfortunately, Dong E did a good job of keeping the secret, and Qi Buchen was unable to find out whose daughter she told Hong Sheng about.
Just as the concubines were about to enter the palace, Kangxi had to take the Empress Dowager to the frontier to escape the summer heat, and ordered Yinzhi, Yinsi, Yin'er and the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth princes to accompany them.
Honestly, it was indeed hot in May this year, but the Empress Dowager was old. Even if she wanted to escape the heat, couldn't she go to Rehe or Nanyuan? Why did she have to go all the way to the frontier? I don't know what Kangxi was thinking.
However, he might not be back for more than two months. Well, some people who were originally quite enthusiastic about the talent show were immediately poured a bucket of cold water.
Now all the adult princes have married, and except for Prince Yong, there are also many people in the harem. The oldest of the remaining princes is only seven years old, so there is no need to think about it.
Therefore, in this selection, those families with high hopes were all aiming for Kangxi's harem. As for the royal family and the emperor's grandchildren, they had already been favored in advance, so it was not their turn.
——Now that the emperor is gone, the concubines who presided over the selection will definitely pick two at random to serve as concubines. When the emperor comes back, it is unknown when he will remember these newly selected ladies.
Oh, let’s just go our separate ways.
When Honghui came back from the palace, he told his parents about the changes in the palace. It was said that the air in Yonghe Palace was full of ease.
——Although Concubine De did not like Yinzhen and Qi Buchen, she could not completely ignore Honghui since he was studying in the palace. In addition, there was Hongchun from the Fourteenth Family, so she would call her two grandsons over from time to time to care for them.
Qi Buchen didn't mind this. He just listened to his son's sharing with great interest. It was a good thing that children were willing to share with their parents. It was better than being aloof and indifferent.
Yinzhen frowned slightly and said, "You should focus on your studies while you are in the palace. Don't pay too much attention to other things."
Although he didn't think Honghui's concern was anything special, Qi Buchen always believed that the couple should keep pace with each other in education. So he nodded and said, "Your father is right. Just focus on your studies and don't worry about anything else." After agreeing, he changed the subject and said, "But don't study too hard. Your health is also important. When you feel tired from studying, you still need to balance work and rest."
Yinzhen glanced at her and said nothing.
Honghui stood up, bowed properly and said, "My son will follow my father's instructions."
"Okay, no need to be so formal." Qi Buchen pulled him up and asked, "Has anyone in the palace asked about your marriage recently?"
Speaking of this, Honghui's face suddenly turned red with shame. He has been teased about this a lot recently.
"Yes... yes." Honghui lowered his head, no longer as graceful as before.
Qi Buchen laughed secretly in his heart, but did not show it on his face: "Who are they? What did they say?"
She looked normal, and Honghui quickly adjusted himself. He guessed why his mother was asking about this, so he said, "A lot of people asked, but most of them just casually. However, Dachun, Hongsheng's tutor, asked me twice."
Dachun?
Qi Buchen thought for a while and remembered that this was the son of Tong Guowei's fifth son Qingyuan. When Wen Xiangang passed away, Tong Guowei wrote a letter to retire. Kangxi appointed Dachun as Hongsheng's companion to show his favor to the Tong family.
"Tong family," Qi Buchen muttered silently in his heart, put it down, and then smiled at Honghui: "Okay, mother knows, go find Hongyu and the others, they have been talking about you for a long time, bring them to the main courtyard for dinner later."
"Yes, son, I'll take my leave." Honghui left.
Qi Buchen then looked at Yinzhen: "What does the Tong family mean?"
Yinzhen pondered, "The Tong family's situation is complicated. Tong... Duke Cheng'en's sons don't get along very well. Even Shun Anyan and his generation have their own ideas. Add to that Tong Guogang's branch..." He shook his head, "A tree with deep roots and branches spreading out in all directions makes it difficult for outsiders to get a glimpse of its territory."
Qi Buchen thought of history, hesitated for a moment, and whispered: "Do you think Longkodo will come to you?"
Yinzhen didn't deny it right away. He was silent for a moment before saying, "I don't know. Longkodo was arrogant and stubborn in his early years, as if nothing in the world was worth his attention. But as he rose through the ranks over the years, he's become much more restrained and has become much more cunning."
He tapped his fingers on the armrest. "I don't think Longkodo would be so hasty to express his opinion. As long as Duke Cheng'en is alive, the Emperor will always have a place for them in his heart."
Qi Buchen reminded him: "Master Tong and Shun Anyan have already openly supported Old Eight."
Yinzhen was silent for a moment, then laughed and said, "A low-level mistake."
Qi Buchen chuckled and continued, "What do you think the chances are that Longkodo will support Lao Ba?"
"Probably not." Yinzhen answered firmly this time. "Longkodo is actually quite attached to family background. The Eighth Brother's background... in his eyes, it's probably not up to par. Even if I hadn't grown up at the lap of Mother Xiaoyi, I'd probably be no different from the Eighth Brother in his eyes."
Of course, Concubine De's background was much better than that of Concubine Wei, but the Tong family had two queens and one imperial concubine. Longkodo's blood relationship with Kangxi was probably much closer than that of most members of the royal family. In this case, how could Longkodo not be arrogant?
As he said this, Yinzhen was quite calm. When he was young, he would get angry because of Longkodo's disrespect, but now that his children are so grown up, he no longer cares about it.
Qi Buchen muttered, "He values family background and even got a Li Si'er."
Yinzhen reacted for a moment before remembering who Li Si'er was. He said helplessly, "It's been so long, and you're still thinking about this?"
Qi Buchen curled her lips. "Do you think that Li Si'er is dead after so long? No, I tell you, Li Si'er is alive and well, at least better off than Longkodo's wife." She became angry again. "I don't understand. Li Si'er has been half paralyzed for so many years, how can Hesheli still be suppressed?"
Hesheli was Longkodo's legitimate wife. Although she was not as miserable as in history because she came from a prominent family, she had not had a good life in recent years. Longkodo's harem was controlled by Li Si'er, and the fence could not be tightened at all. From time to time, news of her being bullied by Li Si'er would be revealed.
When the news spread, Li Si'er not only didn't care, but was even very proud of it. With her like this, Longkodo would be even less likely to care.
Yinzhen shook his head and said something fair: "Her situation is entirely due to Longkodo."
If Longkodo doesn't support her, what's the use of her being capable?
Qi Buchen really wanted to say that Hesheli still had her family, but when he thought about the decline of her family over the years and compared it with Longkodo's high position and power, he knew that he was daydreaming.
"Forget it, why talk about him? He's annoying." Qi Buchen said impatiently.
Yinzhen laughed and asked, "Weren't you the one who mentioned Longkodo first?"
After the preliminary and re-selection, the beauties entered the palace, and everything went smoothly in the court and the harem.
At this peaceful moment, Yinzhen received a document presented by one of his retainers.
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It was unknown how much time had passed before Yinzhen closed the document and stared at the signature: Dai Duo.
In the dim room, Yinzhen ordered his subordinates: "Go and find out who Dai Duo has been in contact with recently."
The next morning, Yinzhen received the report. He pondered for a long time before instructing Su Peisheng, "Go and tell Dai Duo to go to Huguang and inspect all maritime transport matters. Set off immediately."
As Dai Duo hurriedly left the capital, somewhere in the capital, Longkodo received a report from his servant: "Dai Duo has been sent to Huguang to check the accounts."
"Heh." Longkodo chuckled, waved his hand to let the servant leave, and continued with his unfinished reply.
After a long time, he handed the written letter to his attendant, who took the letter aside to dry without even looking at it, and then laid a new piece of white paper on it.
Longkodo pondered for a moment, picked up the pen and wrote the word "four" on the paper. After a brief pause, he added a "ten" in front of it.
After adding this stroke, he frowned slightly and lowered the pen several times, but in the end he did nothing.
This piece of paper was eventually placed on a candle and lit.
The selection process is nearing its end, and the palace has been fully booked with invitations to audiences for the past two days. The ladies are very busy, receiving one princess after another.
Rong Fei drank some tea to moisten her mouth, and glanced at Dong E, who was sitting on the embroidered cushion beside her, massaging her legs to show her filial piety. "Don't think about it, I don't have that intention."
Dong E's hand paused for a moment before regaining its strength and saying, "How could that be? Our Hong Sheng, even if he's not handsome, is more than enough to match their daughter."
Rong Fei said angrily, "Why not? You didn't get any confirmation from them before, so you should have known it wouldn't work. But you insisted on asking me again, and now you still don't give up?"
Being accused so bluntly by Concubine Rong, Dong E lowered her head in embarrassment, but she quickly adjusted her attitude and whispered, "Thank you for your hard work, mother. I just want to give Hong Sheng the best."
She showed weakness, and since it concerned her grandson, Rong Fei also let go of her slight displeasure at being humiliated. She sighed, "It's not that I find it tiring. As long as it's for Hong Sheng's good, what does it matter if I have to sacrifice face? It's just that given the current situation, their family is being overly cautious."
"It's okay if their family isn't good enough. There are some girls with comparable family backgrounds among this group of beauties." Rong Fei asked the palace maid to bring a list. "These are the ones I've noticed recently. Take a look and pick one from among them."
Dong E flipped through the list. The family backgrounds of the names on the list were all good, but she already had someone she wanted in her heart, and when she looked at these again, she always felt that something was missing.
Closing the roster, Dong E said, "I've written down everything. I'll discuss it with the prince when I get home today."
Rong Fei nodded and did not keep her: "Then go back early."
Coincidentally, Concubine De also met her daughter-in-law in Yonghe Palace.
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