Kangxi's guess was correct; the young eunuch was indeed deliberately sent into Yuqing Palace to enrage him.
Liang Jiugong went to investigate, and the more he investigated, the more he found.
Liang Jiugong: "Your Majesty, that little eunuch was sent into Yuqing Palace by someone arranged by Prince Zhi."
Emperor Kangxi frowned: "I confined him to his residence some time ago. How did he manage that?"
Liang Jiugong: "They used Consort Hui's connections in the palace to get it in."
Emperor Kangxi was furious: "Consort Hui, she really is plotting to kill Yinreng! Tell me, my Baocheng has been deposed, why are they still unwilling to let Baocheng go?"
Liang Jiugong: Wild grass cannot be burned out; it will grow again when the spring breeze blows!
That's the truth, but he didn't dare to say it aloud. Kangxi didn't actually know either, but he always wanted to gloss over the truth.
Liang Jiugong continued, "Your Majesty, I have also discovered something else that concerns the Second Prince."
Kangxi had a vague feeling that he might not like what Liang Jiugong was about to say, but he still asked, "What is it?"
Liang Jiugong didn't want to say it, but he had to. He couldn't keep it a secret. If Kangxi found out about it from someone else later, it would mean that he, as the chief steward, had failed in his duty.
Liang Jiugong: "In Yuqing Palace, the Second Prince started keeping young and handsome eunuchs to serve him a few years ago. I found out that these young eunuchs were originally given to the Second Prince by Lord Lingpu to relieve his boredom."
Emperor Kangxi couldn't hold back any longer and smashed the teacup in front of him, shouting, "Outrageous! Utterly outrageous! Lingpu dared to corrupt Baocheng! I will make sure he dies a gruesome death! Liang Jiugong, issue the imperial decree to investigate Lingpu and punish him severely!"
Liang Jiugong: "Yes, sir!"
Emperor Kangxi originally thought that having Suo'etu by Yinreng's side was already enough of a headache for him, but he didn't expect that there would also be Lingpu.
At this point, Kangxi had no regrets about deposing the crown prince. Lingpu had made a mistake, but why didn't Yinreng refuse? This was a sign of his incompetence.
Lingpu, the husband of Yinreng's wet nurse, was the Minister of the Imperial Household Department.
Kangxi had someone investigate him, but he himself was not clean either. Every investigation was successful. Within two days, Lingpu was imprisoned and subsequently executed by slow slicing. Adult males were given death sentences, and the rest were exiled, with no possibility of being pardoned.
It could be said that Lingpu's crime did not warrant such punishment, but Kangxi was prone to taking his anger out on others. Lingpu had corrupted Yinreng, and Kangxi was ultimately reluctant to take action against Yinreng, but he showed no mercy to Lingpu.
Then Kangxi replaced all the servants around Yinreng, and all the previous palace servants were given death sentences. The masters of Yuqing Palace were all in danger and terrified.
Enraged, Yinreng laughed and went mad in his study.
When Anning learned of the situation at Yuqing Palace, she remained expressionless. She had never interfered in Yuqing Palace affairs, but she had been keeping an eye on Lingpu. She had known about this since when Lingpu sent a handsome young eunuch to Yinreng.
In this matter, Emperor Kangxi will be angry, but after investigation, he will not hold her responsible because she is indeed innocent.
She was merely showing consideration for Liang Jiugong's hard work in investigating the case, and provided some clues while he was investigating, all in order to make Kangxi completely lose faith in Yinreng.
Kangxi is currently in good health, but Anning is afraid that one day he might remember Yinreng's good qualities and, in a moment of confusion, reinstate the crown prince.
Historically, when Emperor Kangxi established two crown princes, it was more about setting up targets. However, the situation is different now, and there is no need to set up such targets anymore.
This is good for her, and it's also a good thing for Yinreng.
A crown prince who has been appointed and deposed twice is a unique case in history, and it doesn't sound good.
In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Kangxi summoned all his adult sons except for Yinreng.
All his sons knelt on the ground, each one exceptionally brave and heroic. Kangxi remained silent for a long time before finally letting them rise.
Kangxi: "Now that the Crown Prince has been deposed, what do you think I should do to settle Bao Cheng?"
This question is quite perplexing; how to deal with the deposed crown prince is a difficult question to answer.
Everyone understood that Kangxi still had a fatherly affection for Yinreng. They were eager to seize the throne and naturally wanted to eliminate Yinreng completely, but Kangxi obviously would not agree to that.
So, how to settle Yinreng requires striking a balance.
If we are too harsh on Yinreng, Kangxi will be dissatisfied and will feel sorry for him. If we are too lenient on Yinreng, what will happen if he regains power in the future?
Kangxi was in a dilemma, and so were they!
Although the eldest prince was reckless, this situation was somewhat different from that in history. Naturally, he wouldn't be so reckless as to demand the personal execution of the deposed crown prince, as he had in history.
The eldest prince was certainly harsh on Yinreng, and he spoke first: "Father, my second brother is spoiled and arrogant, and has no respect for the emperor and his father. I think he should be imprisoned in the Beehive Alley and not be allowed to leave until he dies."
Beekeeping Alley is where the Thirteenth Prince was imprisoned in history. The place is dark, damp, narrow, and blocked out from the sun. It is not a suitable place to live, and living there for a long time may shorten one's lifespan.
Although the thirteenth prince was also implicated in this dethronement, Emperor Kangxi was not furious, at least not because it affected his son's foundation.
The Thirteenth Prince was simply imprisoned along with everyone else, and then released; he never stayed in the Beekeeping Alley.
In short, the eldest prince's suggestion was simply because he couldn't stand to see Yinreng doing well.
Kangxi knew what the eldest prince was thinking, and so did the other princes. For a moment, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The eldest prince may not have been unaware that what he said was inappropriate, but he couldn't help it. Over the years, he and Yinreng had been fighting each other to the death.
Now that Yinreng has fallen from grace, he will surely take advantage of his misfortune.
Kangxi thought he was utterly stupid, and looked at him with a cold gaze: "Eldest son, how have I taught you since you were a child? Brotherly love and respect, how can you not tolerate your own brother?"
Then, Kangxi glanced at the others and asked, "Are you all the same? Do you all dislike Yinreng and want to kill him?"
Everyone replied, "Your Majesty, we dare not. Please calm your anger, Father."
Kangxi snorted coldly: "I dare not. I think you dare to do it. Get back here."
Everyone: "Yes, Father Emperor."
After everyone left, Liang Jiugong came in, and Kangxi couldn't help but complain to him: "None of my good sons really wish Baocheng well."
Hearing this, Liang Jiugong felt a pang of sympathy. Thinking of something, he said, "Your Majesty, when I was investigating Ling Pu, I discovered that several princes took great care of the Second Prince. This shows that the princes are friendly and respectful to their brothers."
Emperor Kangxi was unaware of this matter and immediately asked, "Who are they?"
Liang Jiugong: "Third Master, Fourth Master, Fifth Master, Thirteenth Master, and Sixteenth Prince!"
Kangxi could understand the first few princes, the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the Thirteenth Prince, who all followed Yinreng in carrying out his duties. The Fifth Prince was kind and honest, and his relationship with Yinreng changed.
But the Sixteenth Prince?
Kangxi: "When did Yinyi have any dealings with Baocheng?"
Liang Jiugong explained, "The Crown Prince once instructed the people in the Imperial Study to take care of the Sixteenth Prince, and the Sixteenth Prince remembered it."
Kangxi thought of Anning and sighed, "Consort Shu and her son are both kind and honest people. Yinyi is also very intelligent and knows how to be grateful. He is a good person. I will go to the Imperial Study to see him."
Currently, only the Fifteenth Prince and the Sixteenth Prince are studying in the Imperial Study. It is self-evident who Kangxi wants to see.
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