But now, just before the talent show, Yinzhen suddenly established this rule again.
Just as Qian Shengyan was speculating whether Yinzhen intended to bring Empress Ulanara to the Yuanmingyuan, he issued an imperial edict stating that the Empress was ill and needed long-term care, and that no one was allowed to disturb her without reason. The Imperial Noble Consort would be in charge of the affairs of the six palaces, and from now on, morning and evening greetings would be paid at her palace.
Qian Shengyan: ...
Wait a minute, what the heck!
Why come looking for her so early in the morning! She can't get up!
I haven't been a corporate slave for many years, and I've forgotten what it feels like to get up early!
Fortunately, Yinzhen really understood her. After the new morning and evening greetings rules were implemented, Qian Shengyan discovered that Yinzhen had changed the morning time, postponing it by an hour to 7:00 AM, and that it would not officially begin until after the New Year, in the fifth year of Yongzheng's reign.
Breakfast, on the other hand, is usually eaten after one has risen early to pay respects to the ancestors.
This means that she only needs to get up before 7 a.m.
Qian Shengyan had just breathed a slight sigh of relief when Foerguchun brought her more news from outside.
In the first half of the year, the people were quite interested in the Emperor and discussed his affairs, including the suggestions Qian Shengyan gave him. However, in the second half of the year, with several major events in the court, the most talked-about topic among the people in the capital has now become whether the Eighth Prince is infertile...
Qian Shengyan, upon first hearing this: ?
What? Eighth Prince can't have children? But he has a son!
But she soon realized that Yinzhen had imprisoned Yinsi and Yintang and ordered them to change their names.
Emperor Yongzheng changed Yin Tang's name to Seshehei, meaning "annoying person." His sons were also given different names, all with derogatory connotations.
Yinzhi was forced to change his name to "Aqina," while his son Hongwang was named "Bodhisattva Bao" by Yinzhi. At the same time, Yinzhen issued an edict to strip Yinzhi's wife of her title of "Fujin" and send her back to her maternal home.
During this period, some people speculated that Yinzhi had been married for many years but had no children. Later, a concubine gave birth to Hongwang. However, given the emperor's ruthless treatment of Yinzhi and Yintang, it was impossible for him to be more lenient towards his own son than he was towards Yintang's son. Moreover, the name Hongwang was changed by Yinzhi himself and was not derogatory.
Could it be that this child isn't Eighth Master's?
For a time, the originally well-liked Eighth Prince became the most popular gossip among the people of the capital due to news of "infertility" and "being cuckolded." Even now, if someone mysteriously mentions, "Have you heard that the current emperor's throne was illegitimate?" someone will say in an arrogant and disdainful tone, "You're such a country bumpkin. You don't know that the Eighth Prince was cuckolded?"
Since Yinzhi had been imprisoned, the common people would not be guilty of talking about it; however, Yinzhi had previously promoted himself to gain a good reputation, and so many people knew him. Now, whenever people mentioned the former Eighth Prince, they couldn't help but think of this somewhat ambiguous news.
This is far more interesting than discussing whether the emperor's ascension to the throne was justified, and it doesn't require hiding it from people. Moreover, it has a more romantic feel to it, and people love to listen to it.
Even when Folgochun brought up the matter, it was only to ask Qian Shengyan with longing eyes, "Is Eighth Uncle really unable to have children? Then Hongwang...who is Hongwang's son?"
Qian Shengyan: ...
This shows how powerful rumors can be.
However, just as coincidentally, rumors started circulating outside as soon as Yinzhi's matter was resolved. Qian Shengyan reasonably judged that Yinzhen must have been involved in this matter.
As expected of the Emperor, his learning ability is truly remarkable. He not only draws inferences from one instance to another, but also understands how to grasp people's hearts—the best way to cover up a rumor is to cover it up with another, more sensational one!
Qian Shengyan was speechless in the face of her daughter's inquisitive gaze.
Before long came the Golden Banquet Festival, followed by Yinzhen's birthday celebration. After everything was arranged, the Winter Solstice Grand Ceremony and the Jingshan Sacrifice in the fourth year of Yongzheng's reign also needed to be arranged.
As the year draws to a close, things get busier. Last November, Qian Shengyan spent almost the entire month in bed, while Yinzhen couldn't even concentrate on the sacrificial rites. This year, however, things are much better. Qian Shengyan has nothing to do and can even accompany him to Jingshan to pay respects at the imperial tombs.
After the busy Laba Festival, when the first snow fell, the list of candidates for the first selection in the fifth year of Yongzheng's reign was finalized. They were just waiting for the spring of the following year, when the masters of the palace would have time to begin the selection process.
On this day, Yinzhen had a rare moment of leisure. He sat by the window with Qian Shengyan, peeling oranges and eating them. The two chatted casually about the Ming Dynasty's imperial concubine selection. As they talked, Yinzhen sighed.
"The imperial examinations and the selection of imperial concubines are both laborious and expensive, and I have few capable people under my command. If all my ministers were like the Thirteenth Prince, what worries would my Great Qing have?"
Meanwhile, Thirteen had just returned from flood control efforts and would be leaving again after the New Year.
Qian Shengyan then advised, "I have heard in the palace that Your Majesty has many capable ministers around you. Your Majesty can also delegate some tasks to your subordinates."
"Everything else is fine, but this matter of collecting debts... Sigh, the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the initial selection of imperial concubines, and these past few days I've only heard them complaining about being poor," Yinzhen said irritably.
Qian Shengyan did indeed know about this.
At the end of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the treasury was severely depleted. After Emperor Yongzheng ascended the throne, he swiftly launched a major audit of the treasury and grain reserves. Less than a month after his accession, he put this matter on the agenda. The main figures responsible for collecting the arrears were Prince Yi and Prince Lian. However, Prince Lian, the Eighth Prince, was unscrupulous. When collecting debts, he would act like a nice guy, sometimes even paying out of his own pocket to repay debts for others, all for the sake of a good reputation.
Unfortunately, his financial resources were limited, and he couldn't help many people repay their debts. Later, when he really couldn't repay them, he turned around and helped the debtors persuade Yinzhen and the thirteenth prince, saying that they were really in dire straits and should repay them later.
The tea was so over-the-top that it angered Yinzhen, who punished him, but this only added to his reputation for being harsh and intolerant.
Fortunately, four years have passed, and the Ministry of Revenue's debts have been almost completely recovered. However, Yinzhen is still trying to figure out what to do next.
Qian Shengyan, however, remembered that Emperor Yongzheng established an institution called the Auditing Office after ascending the throne. As the first independent auditing agency in Chinese history, the Auditing Office approved expenditures for audited projects if no violations were found; it rejected audited projects with violations and ordered them to be verified before being submitted for review; and it submitted the handling of major audit matters to Emperor Yongzheng for a decision.
Very scientific, very humane.
Thinking this, Qian Shengyan, perhaps a little dizzy from sitting by the fire, asked directly with a mouthful of sweet and sour citrus, "Didn't His Majesty establish the Examination Hall? Let them conduct the examinations."
As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell into an eerie silence. Qian Shengyan belatedly looked up and stared at Yinzhen in surprise.
Wait, is there no examination hall yet?!
Yinzhen looked at her for a moment before slowly asking, "What is the Examination Hall? What is the review? What do you mean?"
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