Consort Tong: "Sister Yi, what did Consort Wen say?"
Consort Yi spoke in a hoarse voice: "Her Highness Consort Wen instructed me to take good care of the Tenth Prince."
This is to make arrangements for her death. Although I had heard before coming that Consort Wen was not doing well, I did not expect it to be true.
Consort Tong said with a sorrowful expression, "Consort Wen is blessed with good fortune; she will recover."
At this moment, Consort Tong didn't know what words of comfort to say, so she only uttered a dry and uncomfortable remark.
Consort Yi nodded: "Consort Wen will be alright!"
Everyone looked worried and waited for Kangxi's arrival.
Inside the room, after Consort Yi left, Consort Wen said to the palace servants, "You all go out and keep watch. I also want to have a word with Xiao Shi."
Upon hearing this, everyone went out, leaving only Consort Wen and the Tenth Prince in the room. Consort Wen's face was as pale as paper, and the Tenth Prince's eyes were swollen from crying.
"Mother...Mother..."
"Little Shi, Mommy's here, don't cry."
"Mother, please don't go."
Before her death, Consort Wen seemed to have come to terms with it, managing a weak smile on her face.
"Listen to your mother, I won't be able to accompany you as you grow up anymore. When your father comes, I will ask for a Mongolian wife for you. From now on, you don't need to be too smart, just be happy."
“Mother, I know, I understand. Mother, please don’t say anymore. I’ll call the imperial physician in. You will get better.”
"Tenth Prince, it's no use. Listen to what your mother has to say. You've become close to the Ninth Prince, and he's quite righteous. Although the Emperor has shown him a lot of favor, he will never consider having the Ninth Prince succeed to the throne. From now on, you'll be with him, and he'll protect you. Consort Yi will also take care of you out of respect for the Niohuru clan. Your mother sees that the Emperor is currently in good health, and the First Prince is pressing forward step by step. The Crown Prince may not always be the Crown Prince. The chaos in the court is already evident. Your mother doesn't want you to get involved. Do you understand?"
The Tenth Prince wept uncontrollably: "Your son understands, Mother, your son understands everything."
Consort Wen smiled again: "It's good that you understand. Once you understand, you must remember it."
After giving her son instructions, Consort Wen had exhausted most of her energy and spirit, leaving only a little to wait for Emperor Kangxi.
In the thirty-third year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, Consort Wen was able to foresee the future political situation in the court, and most of her predictions were correct, demonstrating her intelligence. However, there is a saying that too much intelligence can be harmful. Being too intelligent and insightful, she was unable to extricate herself from her own predicament, and thus trapped herself to death.
After giving all the necessary instructions, Consort Wen finally spoke privately with the Tenth Prince.
The Tenth Prince was heartbroken upon hearing the words of concern in the prince's dying words.
The fearless little tyrant of the Forbidden City has something to fear today, and it is the first time he has faced death directly.
Emperor Kangxi arrived late.
To be honest, he didn't arrive so late on purpose. It was just a coincidence. He was handling an important matter in the Qianqing Palace and had summoned many ministers. When he heard that Consort Wen was ill, Kangxi only sent the imperial physician to take a look. It wasn't until Consort Tong asked him twice that Kangxi realized that Consort Wen's health might be worse than he had imagined.
Although Consort Wen held a high rank, her presence in the harem was not stronger than that of the four consorts. By the time Consort Wen entered the palace, Emperor Kangxi had already grown into a qualified emperor, and his heart had long lost any tenderness.
She didn't have the opportunity to develop a relationship with Emperor Kangxi, and he would occasionally neglect her.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Rise, all of you. I'm going to see Consort Wen."
As he spoke, Kangxi went directly to Consort Wen's bedroom.
As soon as Emperor Kangxi arrived, the old woman at the door loudly announced, "This servant greets Your Majesty."
Kangxi: "Get up."
After saying that, she pushed open the door and entered. She saw Consort Wen lying on the bed, looking emaciated, and the Tenth Prince crying so hard that his features were almost blurred.
For a moment, even Emperor Kangxi softened.
"It is I who am late."
Consort Wen smiled and shook her head: "Your Majesty is busy with many affairs of state. It is my poor health that has troubled Your Majesty to worry about me."
Hearing that Consort Wen was so virtuous even on her deathbed, Emperor Kangxi couldn't help but think of her sister, his second empress, Empress Xiaozhao, who was decisive, fair in rewarding and punishing, and equally virtuous.
He couldn't help but sigh, "Let me have the imperial physician come in and examine you again."
Consort Wen shook her head: "Your Majesty, no need. I know my own body. It's beyond saving. But there is one thing I would like to ask of Your Majesty."
Kangxi: "What is it?"
I'll agree to small things, but not big things.
As for what constitutes a major event and what constitutes a minor event, that was naturally left to Emperor Kangxi to judge.
Consort Wen: "I have spoiled Xiao Shi a bit, making him somewhat reckless. In recent years, the Manchu princesses have become more and more virtuous, but they still can't control Xiao Shi's stubborn temper. So I would like to ask Your Majesty to arrange a wife for Xiao Shi who is of Mongolian origin in the future, so that his wife can also teach him a lesson. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
After hearing this, Emperor Kangxi naturally understood Consort Wen's plan.
Marrying a woman of Mongol origin meant losing his right to seize the throne.
If a prince born into the Niohuru clan has even the slightest ambition in the future, the invisible forces behind him will spare no effort to push him along.
Thinking of the political landscape and the two women from the Niohuru clan who had tragically died in the Forbidden City, Kangxi nodded: "I promise you, I will give Xiao Shizhi a Mongolian wife later."
Consort Wen breathed a sigh of relief, but her spirits also sank.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace. I am afraid I must leave now. My son has lost his mother, and the servants in the palace are prone to currying favor with the powerful and bullying the weak. After I leave, I hope Your Majesty can take care of my sons, who are still young. I only hope that they can live a peaceful and safe life in the future."
"Alright, I agree."
The Tenth Prince was also his son. Although he was a bit mischievous, there was still some affection between them. Considering that he was about to lose his mother, Kangxi felt a lot more pity for him.
Consort Wen finally showed a relieved expression, and with a smile, slowly closed her eyes.
The imperial physician cautiously stepped forward to examine her and whispered, "The Imperial Concubine has passed away!"
Kangxi looked sorrowful. After all, she was the one who bore him children. Although his feelings for her were not as deep as those for the four concubines, they were still there for him.
The Tenth Prince held Consort Wen's body and cried out, "Mother... Mother, wake up, don't leave me..."
People outside are also feeling bad. A familiar person has passed away and they will never see them again, so they can't be happy.
Hearing the Tenth Prince crying inside, the Ninth Prince couldn't help but run in, ignoring Emperor Kangxi, and hugged the Tenth Prince: "Tenth Brother, I've come to keep you company."
When the Tenth Prince saw the Ninth Prince, he buried his face in his arms and said, "Ninth Brother, I won't have a mother anymore."
Upon hearing this, the Ninth Prince cried bitterly.
Looking at the two brothers who were so affectionate and respectful, Emperor Kangxi thought, "This relationship is truly wonderful. Why can't the Crown Prince and the First Prince get along like this?"
If An Ning heard his true feelings, she probably wouldn't be able to resist rolling her eyes at him. Why couldn't the Crown Prince and the First Prince be like brothers? Ultimately, it was all because of Emperor Kangxi's intentional or unintentional provocations.
The problem is not scarcity but inequality. As sons, the Crown Prince received too much, which aroused the jealousy of the eldest son, the First Prince.
The Crown Prince felt that Kangxi had given the First Prince too much power, so much that it could threaten him, the Crown Prince. It would be strange if the two didn't fight.
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