Previous Dynasty
Emperor Kangxi sat upright on the dragon throne, with a group of civil and military officials in the main hall below.
At this moment, the civil and military officials were arguing fiercely.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony was filled with noise, just like a vegetable market outside. The civil and military officials, who were usually pampered and pillars of the country, were more shrewish than street shrewish women, arguing and their faces were red.
Kangxi gave Liang Jiugong a wink, and Liang Jiugong cleared his throat and spoke in a high-pitched voice.
"Silence! Silence! Silence!"
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Hall of Supreme Harmony finally quieted down. The civil and military officials, having calmed down, all blushed and lowered their heads in shame, secretly annoyed.
How could a high-ranking official in the court be so lacking in self-control?
Emperor Kangxi, seated on the dragon throne, looked down at the assembled ministers and said coldly, "I understand what you all mean. The court and the harem are one; the country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and the harem cannot be without a mistress for a day."
"Among the concubines in the palace, there are Consort Zhao, of the Niohuru clan, and Consort Tong, of the Tongjia clan. Consort Zhao comes from the prominent Niohuru clan of the Eight Banners and is the daughter of Ebilun, the regent appointed by the late emperor. She has been a concubine in the palace for many years and is qualified to be empress."
As soon as Kangxi finished speaking, the Niohuru clan official among the ministers below hurriedly stepped forward, his face full of joy and pride, and respectfully said, "Your Majesty is wise, long live the Emperor!"
The ministers, led by Suo'etu, Nalan Mingzhu, and Tong Guowei, exchanged glances with resentment, secretly pondering how to prevent Consort Zhao from becoming Empress.
Tong Guowei stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, although Consort Zhao comes from a prominent Manchu family and has many years of seniority in the palace, she has never had any children. Moreover, Consort Zhao's adoptive father is the traitor Ao Bai."
"I am worried that if Consort Zhao becomes the new empress, it will be difficult to silence the public's criticism."
Emperor Kangxi's expression darkened slightly, and he stared sharply at Tong Guowei.
The Empress Dowager's words made sense. The Tongjia clan, relying on being the maternal family of the Empress Dowager and the maternal family of the Emperor, had become increasingly unruly.
Consort Zhao's appointment as Empress was decided by her and her grandmother three years ago. If Ebilun had not died suddenly three years ago, Consort Zhao would have already become Empress.
After his eldest cousin passed away, Tong Jia, in order to appease his maternal family, issued an edict to make his second cousin a concubine and send her to the palace to serve him. Unexpectedly, this only fueled the arrogance of the Tong Jia clan.
My uncle now actually wants to compete for the position of Empress.
After a moment of deep thought, Suo'etu stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Kangxi, and said, "Your Majesty, what Lord Tong said is not without reason. Although Consort Zhao comes from the noble Niohuru clan, she is, after all, born to a concubine. If she is made empress, I am worried that the people of the world will not be able to accept it and will question Your Majesty."
"In my humble opinion, Your Majesty might as well select another noblewoman from a prominent family and bring her into the palace through the Great Qing Gate in a grand sedan chair to be made the new Empress. Only in this way can the dignity of the Empress as the mother of the nation be truly demonstrated."
After speaking, Soetu lowered his head slightly, a confident smile on his face.
He has a legitimate daughter who is fifteen years old this year. She is at the age of being as beautiful as a flower and more charming than a flower. If she can be selected by the emperor to marry into the palace and become the new empress, then he will be the father-in-law of the emperor, and the Hesheli family will be able to continue to enjoy unparalleled glory and favor.
A high-ranking official from the Niohuru family sneered, stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, if Consort Zhao, born of a concubine, is unworthy to be Empress, then how could Empress Xiaocheng, born of a concubine, have become Empress?"
"Your Majesty, I believe that Consort Zhao is truly deserving of the title of Empress."
The Niohuru family, the Tong family, and the Hesheli family were making a huge fuss. Emperor Kangxi sat on the dragon throne, his head throbbing with pain. The decision to choose Hesheli as empress was made by his grandmother after careful consideration.
Even though Empress Hesheli was somewhat unsuitable for formal occasions due to her status as an illegitimate child, the dead are gone. Now, the Niohuru family has openly torn away this fig leaf. Isn't this a blatant and blatant slap in the face to him and his grandmother?
Because of Consort Zhao, the Niohuru family became increasingly arrogant.
Emperor Kangxi secretly added another entry to the Niohuru family's name in his notebook. After a moment of contemplation, he looked at Nalan Mingzhu, who was frowning and silent, and spoke in a deep voice, "Mingzhu? What do you think about the matter of Consort Zhao being made Empress?"
Nalan Mingzhu was stunned for a moment.
"Your Majesty, I am terrified. I dare not speak rashly about matters of the inner palace. Consort Zhao has been in the palace for many years and has held power in the palace. She is indeed the best candidate for Empress. However, what Lord Tong and Lord Suo'etu said is not without reason. Consort Zhao is indeed born to a concubine."
"Although children born to concubines and children born to the principal wife are both legitimate offspring, they are more or less different in terms of their birth order."
Nalan Mingzhu's words had a hidden meaning.
Emperor Kangxi nodded slightly, frowning as he said, "The matter of making Consort Zhao Empress will be discussed later. We will make a specific decision after discussing it with the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The civil and military officials, each with their own thoughts, respectfully agreed.
News of the events of the previous dynasty quickly spread to the inner palace and the Cining Palace. Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's aged face was filled with anger, and she harbored resentment towards Suo'etu, Tong Guowei, and others.
Empress Xiaocheng, of the Hesheli clan, regardless of her past or whether she was born out of wedlock, is now a thing of the past. As for the Tong Guowei and Niohuru families, that's fine with me.
But what about Songgotu?
Soetu was the uncle of Empress Xiaocheng, of the Hesheli clan. When Empress Xiaocheng was alive, she protected the Hesheli family, and Soetu also benefited from her kindness.
Now, although Suo'etu, as the uncle, did not explicitly say that his niece was born out of wedlock, the meaning behind his words was quite clear.
Was she born out of wedlock to Empress Xiaocheng, or to a concubine of Consort Zhao?
Do the civil and military officials in the court think that children born to concubines or secondary wives cannot become empresses?
With her eyes lowered, the Empress Dowager quickly looked up at the Grand Empress Dowager, carefully choosing her words before speaking softly, "Empress Mother, since Consort Zhao's daughter from a concubine is not suitable to be Empress, why not advise the Emperor to select another noblewoman from a legitimate family to enter the palace, thus silencing the gossips of the court officials?"
"Your Majesty, I must say something I shouldn't, but our Khorchin also has several princesses born of the principal wife. Now that Consort Zhao has become Empress, there is some controversy surrounding her. Perhaps we could take this opportunity, Your Majesty, and Your Majesty, to introduce a noblewoman from our Khorchin..."
The Empress Dowager hesitated, as if she wanted to speak.
The Empress Dowager glanced sharply at the Empress Dowager and said coldly, "I understand what you mean."
"I have had such thoughts, but Xuan Ye is not Fu Lin. I personally taught Xuan Ye, and I know best that although he has some affection for Consort Xuan, it is mostly because Consort Xuan is childish and ignorant."
“We have many noble ladies in Khorchin, but Xuan Ye will not agree to make one of our Khorchin noble ladies his empress. Rather than damaging the relationship between grandfather and grandson with Xuan Ye over the position of empress, it is better to settle for the next best option.”
"No matter who becomes empress in the palace, as long as I am here with you, the glory of our Khorchin will not diminish. The women of our Khorchin will either be concubines or consorts in the palace."
After a long, rambling conversation, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in Cining Palace fell into deep thought.
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