Soon, Qian Shengyan discovered that Yinzhen did not seem to want to cover up the matter. Soon, some rumors began to circulate in the harem that Consort Daonian had been demoted, firstly because she had not taken good care of the princes, and secondly because she had an improper relationship with a young eunuch.
This ambiguity is far more suggestive than simply praising someone for having delicate features.
Everyone in Qian Shengyan's palace heard the rumors, and Qingxue even sent a reply to Qian Shengyan, asking whether or not to pay attention to them.
Qian Shengyan was also having a headache. Logically speaking, only Yinzhen should know about this matter, and the fact that the rumors were spreading meant that he had tacitly approved of it. Although she didn't know why, Qian Shengyan couldn't completely suppress it, but she couldn't ignore it at all either. So she could only pretend to investigate, but she wasn't really that strict.
Because of this incident, Shan Xiu feigned illness until the New Year, and Yinzhen ignored her. In his view, retaining her position as a Noble Consort after committing such a grave mistake was already an act of extraordinary leniency. Faced with several letters from Nian Gengyao, Yinzhen recounted the whole story without hesitation, only embellishing it at the end, saying, "I am saddened, but I am reluctant to punish him severely." In the end, Nian Gengyao had nothing more to say.
The Nian family did come to the palace twice, ostensibly to visit the sick, but it was probably to reprimand Nian Shi. Therefore, when the Nian family came a third time, Shan Xiu claimed to be ill and refused to see them, and the entire Yikun Palace began to remain closed to the public.
Later, Yinzhen also mentioned this matter to Qian Shengyan: "Although everyone in Yikun Palace is someone I arranged, apart from Wanxia who serves me personally, no one else knows her true identity." He sighed, "Indeed, people's hearts are fickle."
Wanxia was always directed away by Shanxiu under some pretext, while the others were all won over by her. The head palace maids and eunuchs were fine, but those below them couldn't really be considered Yinzhen's people.
Those who didn't know the truth all thought that "Nian Shi" was a truly favored imperial concubine, and naturally they had the intention to curry favor with her. It had only been a few months, and Shan Xiu had been so flattered that she forgot her own status. Perhaps she really thought she was an imperial concubine who enjoyed the emperor's favor.
I just don't know what they were thinking, treating Fu Hui so poorly...
Yinzhen specially transferred another batch of eunuchs and maids to Yikun Palace, but soon after, many were withdrawn. Qian Shengyan asked about it, and Yinzhen said, "It was Lady Nian who requested it herself. Now that she is a Noble Consort, she really doesn't need so many people." He paused, then continued, "But Fu Hui..."
Fu Hui was in a dilemma. If it were truly a prince, Yinzhen would have already entrusted the child to the care of other concubines, but this child…
He regretted that he had impulsively given "nian" a "child" back then, which put him in a difficult position now. Thinking of Nian Gengyao's letter mentioning this nephew and saying that he "wanted to meet the sixth prince after returning victorious," Yinzhen felt even more troubled.
Hesitating for a moment, the best time to deal with it was missed. Fu Hui was still being cared for by Shan Xiu, but the wet nurse was replaced by Yinzhen, so it should be fine.
After the Empress's headaches subsided, Consort Nian requested to be confined to her quarters, and the concubines of the Eastern Six Palaces gradually moved out, the first year of Yongzheng's reign came to an end.
With New Year's Eve approaching, Qian Shengyan used to manage the correspondence at home. Now that she has entered the palace, the number of invitations has increased. Fortunately, she doesn't need to reply to each one; her nanny handles it for her. She only needs to choose who she wants to see and who she doesn't.
Nowadays, apart from the Third Prince Hongshi, none of the Emperor's sons have wives or concubines, so the harem only receives female relatives. It is the first year of Yongzheng's reign, and according to Yinzhen, he is still in mourning, so the New Year's banquet will not be held for the time being. Only a few important officials will be invited to the palace for a banquet at noon on New Year's Eve, so that they can reunite with their families in the evening.
Originally, Qian Shengyan thought that being a prince and having to enter the palace every New Year's Eve and New Year's Day was already tiring enough, but after seeing Yinzhen become the emperor, she truly understood what hardship meant.
After a banquet with his ministers at noon on New Year's Eve, he had another New Year's Eve dinner with his concubines, princes, and nobles around 4 p.m.
After the meal, they could not rest. After eating dumplings in the early morning, they had to go and kowtow.
That's right, even the emperor has to kowtow.
On New Year's Day, Qing Dynasty emperors traditionally worshipped Zhenwu the Great, Doumu Yuanjun (the mother of the stars of the Big Dipper), their ancestors, and the Empress Dowager. In addition to worshipping important "gods" and "people," they would also kowtow at places with significant symbolic meanings, such as the Heavenly Vault Hall, the Heaven and Earth Incense Pavilion in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, sacrificial sites, the Great High Hall, the Central Hall, the Chonghua Palace, the Hongren Temple, the Chanfu Temple, and the Shouhuang Hall.
When dawn breaks, around 7 a.m., the Emperor will go to the Hall of Central Harmony to receive congratulations from the officials. After the ceremony, he will go to the Palace of Clean and Bright to receive congratulations from the empresses, concubines, princes and princesses.
Then, he had lunch with the princes and high-ranking officials, and it wasn't until after the meal that the event truly ended.
Qian Shengyan sat on the other side of Ulanara, watching Yinzhen and Prince Yi chatting happily, and truly felt that being the emperor was not so great.
From yesterday morning until now, Yinzhen has barely slept a wink. He only dozed off for a short while this morning, but got up again quickly and hasn't rested since, yet he still manages to maintain such a radiant appearance.
That's really impressive.
By 5 p.m., the banquet finally ended. Qian Shengyan, along with Ulanara, bid farewell to Yinzhen and returned to the inner palace. The two exchanged a glance, Yinzhen nodded slightly to her, and Qian Shengyan curtsied slightly before leaving.
After a while, after seeing off the important ministers and princes, Yinzhen arrived at Yongshou Palace.
He was still wearing his court robes, but he was clearly exhausted.
Qian Shengyan helped him change out of his everyday clothes and wash up. Only then did Yinzhen lie down on the small couch and sigh, "It's still so comfortable like this."
Before Qian Shengyan could reply, Su Peisheng led his men in, carrying two stacks of memorials.
Qian Shengyan: ? ? ?
No, didn't I just stop writing yesterday?
Don't you get a single day off during the Lunar New Year?
As it turned out, Yinzhen really didn't rest.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, he issued 11 imperial edicts in succession, instructing officials in various provinces to be diligent in their duties, love the people, and remain honest and upright.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Yinzhen ordered local governors to strictly investigate whether the silver bestowed upon the elderly living alone had been delivered.
Qian Shengyan, who only wanted to lie in the harem and be lazy: 0A0
You can't compare yourself to others!
However, she was also somewhat worried. Yinzhen only reigned for thirteen years, which was not because he had worked too hard. Kangxi reigned for more than fifty years and visited the Rehe Mountain Resort more than forty times, but the historical Yongzheng, who reigned for thirteen years, never went to Rehe even once.
Doesn't he like it? No, he's just too diligent.
No, this won't do. Working this hard will really kill me...
Qian Shengyan couldn't bear it any longer. Seeing that Yinzhen had been busy all New Year, she mustered up her courage and went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to find him on the fifth day of the first lunar month.
"Your Majesty, I haven't been out of the palace since I entered. I hear the New Year celebrations in the capital are very lively, and I'd like to go out and see." Qian Shengyan timidly tugged at Yinzhen's sleeve, looking at him expectantly. "Isn't it time to stop writing until the sixth day of the first lunar month? Can't Your Majesty take a day off?"
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