Chapter 1873 Moral Kidnapping
As May approached, Changchun Garden and Yuanmingyuan Garden became lively. Qingyan began preparing for the Dragon Boat Festival. For the first time, Consort Tong summoned Qingyan to Changchun Garden. In the main hall, she instructed Qingyan to send the twins to Emperor Kangxi for their studies, with Hafeng accompanying them.
"Mother, did you call me here because of the Dragon Boat Festival?" After hearing Yinzhen's words, Qingyan knew that she couldn't avoid it.
Consort Tong nodded: "You will always have to go through these things. This year, I will do it myself and you can watch from the side. Next time at the Golden Festival, you will have to do it yourself."
"Mother, I will study hard." Qingyan did not back down as she usually did. If Yinzhen were to take a certain position, she would fight alongside him. If she backed down, wouldn't that give other women a chance?
Consort Tong seemed quite satisfied with Qingyan's manner and instructed Shu Rong to summon all the chief stewards to report on the situation one by one.
Qingyan watched as Consort Tong began making arrangements step by step. She observed and memorized every step Consort Tong took. When the stewards noticed Qingyan's presence, they all considered the possibility of the next empress and became exceptionally respectful.
Just before lunchtime, the stewards finished their audience, and Consort Tong and Qingyan relaxed, sitting down and hastily eating their lunch.
Hafeng went to the side hall to drink milk, while the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat on chairs and talked about what happened that afternoon.
“My dear, the Third Prince’s wife and the Eighth Prince’s wife will be here soon. Sigh…” Consort Tong said, “Yinzhi and Yinsi have crossed the line of the Imperial Clan Court and have been sent back to the capital ahead of schedule. They are now being held in their residence.”
"Mother, are Third Sister-in-law and Eighth Sister-in-law here to plead for mercy?" Qingyan asked Consort Tong.
Consort Tong shook her head: "It was for her own family."
After the incident, the heads of the Dong'e and Jue Luo clans all came to apologize, even stating that the matter had nothing to do with their families.
Ugh!
Qingyan stared at Consort Tong in astonishment. It turned out that the Dong E clan and the Jue Luo clan were already planning to abandon both of their primary consorts. Perhaps, in this selection of concubines, there would be candidates from two different families; otherwise, they wouldn't have given up so quickly.
"Mother, are there two families that are going to select daughters for this imperial concubine selection?" Qingyan asked Consort Tong.
"Haha, Xiao Guai guessed right. These two families have no fewer than three people participating in the selection process. They are focusing their attention on the harem." Yinzhen's feelings for Qingyan prompted many censors to offer their opinions.
Yinzhen didn't say much. The censors all thought that there would be young ladies entering the palace during the selection of concubines, and they all prepared to have their own daughters participate in the selection.
A few days ago, Yinzhen told Consort Tong that all the selected girls would be betrothed to princes who needed them. Kangxi had many princes, and quite a few of them were of marriageable age. As the elder brother, Yinzhen should naturally try his best to take care of his younger brothers.
"Mother, the censors have been urging His Majesty to select women for the palace many times. Even the wives of the censors are implying to me that if His Majesty doesn't select women for the palace, he's not virtuous," Qingyan complained to Consort Tong.
Consort Tong, upon hearing Qingyan's words, asked, "Do you yourself want someone to enter the palace?"
"Of course I don't want to. These censors have no good intentions. Back then, I swore an oath in public. Do you think the Eternal Heaven would allow me to break my oath?" Qingyan sneered.
"It's good that you thought of that," Consort Tong praised directly. "If the Censor's wife gives any more hints, just answer like this."
Qingyan looked at Consort Tong with surprise: "Mother, am I too unusual?"
"Of course not, this is due to the rules." Consort Tong expressed her satisfaction with Qingyan's actions, demonstrating appropriate restraint.
"Mother, I'm relieved if it's nothing serious. I was worried that it might cause trouble for you and Master," Qingyan said helplessly.
After lunch, Consort Tong and Qingyan sat in the main hall. The Third Prince's wife and the Eighth Prince's wife walked in looking tired. After everyone greeted them, the two took their seats.
The Third Princess's face was filled with bitterness. Indeed, the family was the most unreliable. Dong E Peng Chun had sent her mother to the other residence to say that her half-sister would be participating in the imperial concubine selection this year, and she had better calm things down.
Therefore, the Third Prince's wife had no choice but to come to Consort Tong to apologize. At the residence, Yinzhi had a terrible temper and even Consort Dong'e was scolded several times.
“My dear mother, the master truly knows he was wrong. I hope you can forgive him this time. Besides… the ladies-in-waiting in the family are all excellent and have nothing to do with this matter,” the Third Princess Consort said.
Qingyan could see the helplessness and bitterness in her eyes. Although Qingyan sympathized with her, she would never plead for her. Kangxi had already made his decision and could not go back on it.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, please plead for him. If Fourth Brother can step in and clear things up, the Master will definitely be released." Eighth Princess Consort knelt down in front of Qingyan, who quickly got up and moved aside. "Please help me out of consideration for the fact that the Jue Luo family is your maternal family."
Qingyan looked at the Eighth Prince's wife, whose eyes were red and swollen, even worse than the Third Prince's wife's condition. Qingyan glanced at Consort Tong and noticed that Consort Tong was only smiling with the corners of her mouth turned up.
“Eighth Princess Consort, you should know how the Jue Luo family has treated me. Are you going to let my husband and I drift apart because of such a maternal family?” Qingyan said coldly.
Consort Tong was completely relieved after hearing this. Qingyan could understand with just a glance, and things would not be easy then.
The Third and Eighth Prince's wives were instantly speechless. How could Consort Tong and Qingyan cooperate so perfectly?
After dinner, Yinzhen and Qingyan carried Hafeng to the Yuanmingyuan Garden. The twins were left at Changchun Garden by Kangxi and Consort Tong. After coaxing Hafeng to sleep, the two went to the study.
"My dear, you've had a hard time!" When Yinzhen heard that the Third and Eighth Prince's wives had gone to pay their respects to Consort Tong, he could guess that the Eighth Prince's wife must have made things difficult for Qingyan.
Qingyan recounted the two men's pleas for mercy, and Yinzhen sneered. It seemed that Yinzhi and Yinsi were still not giving up. The kidnapped members of the imperial clan began to defect one after another. The Imperial Clan Court submitted a memorial to Kangxi, restoring the original situation to its former state.
Therefore, Kangxi was furious and locked Yinzhi and Yinsi in their residence. It was only because the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, and Kangxi did not want their affair to ruin his last Dragon Boat Festival on the throne. He hoped to see things through to the end.
"Si Si, I don't think there's anything wrong with it, I just think it looks a bit awkward. After all, the Jue Luo family is related to my family. What would outsiders who don't know the situation say?" Qing Yan was more worried about this. "If it causes you trouble, I'll feel bad."
Yinzhen put his arm around Qingyan and sat her on his lap, patting her back: "Of course there won't be any problems. After the selection of concubines, I will bestow the concubines upon my younger brother. But the position of primary wife is better than that of a concubine, right?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
