When Yinzhen arrived that evening, he saw Changning beaming with joy.
"So, have you chosen someone?"
With a smile, Yinzhen recalled hearing Hutuli biting his tongue back in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
It is said that two girls came to Chengqian Palace. One of them was extremely beautiful and even flirted with Hongyan, making her laugh incessantly and always hovering around Hongyan.
Hongyan started avoiding Hutuli.
His son hadn't been in such a sorry state in a long time.
Yinzhen was puzzled when he heard this. Wasn't it supposed to be about choosing a wife for Duoxihui?
Why did she take a fancy to Hong Yan?
However, both families were of good birth, and were able to become princes.
However, Yinzhen felt he needed to think carefully before deciding whether to become the Crown Princess.
Especially considering what Hu Tuli said, this girl is a bit silly and doesn't know her manners very well.
After hearing Changning's words again tonight, Yinzhen felt even more strongly that such a simple-minded person was not worthy of the position of Empress.
"Although Tu Lichen's daughter is kind-hearted, she is not suited for the treacherous waters of the palace. Even if she becomes the principal wife, she may not be able to control the people below her. However, if she becomes Hongyan's concubine, there would be no problem."
Changning also understood Yinzhen's thoughts.
After all, Hongyan was the designated heir apparent of the Qing Dynasty by Yinzhen, and the positions of his future primary wife and secondary primary wife were extremely important, so they could not block their son's future.
"Hongyan's matter is not urgent. We will properly select a good one for him in the imperial concubine selection next year. We will choose two concubines to serve him first, and then choose the main wife in two years. It is also time for Honghui to get married."
That's true. Honghui and Yierha are about the same age. His mother, Ulanara, was only eleven when she married Yinzhen.
Changning sighed, "They were such tiny little kids before, how come they're about to get married in the blink of an eye? Time really flies and doesn't spare a single moment."
Yinzhen was also somewhat moved. He was surprised and awe-inspiring. This kind of change in life was both instantaneous and gradually perceived.
He will grow old, and he will die.
However, he was not afraid. Unlike his father, the Emperor, he would not be suspicious of his son because of his old age. He believed that the Qing Dynasty would have successors, that his bloodline would pass on his will from generation to generation, and that the burden of the country would be taken over by each generation.
At this moment, Hongyan was feeling somewhat agitated.
He heard that the two girls were the future wives that his mother and Granny Guoluoma were going to choose for Doxihun. Since they were his cousins-in-law, he certainly couldn't afford to offend them.
Moreover, he felt that girls were not as attractive to him as an original work of art by a famous person.
"My heart is already at peace, as tranquil as the clear river."
Hongyan calmed himself down and focused all his attention on his studies again.
But Hutuli deliberately prevented him from having his way.
A few days later, Hutuli ran over to find Hongyan with a face full of excitement.
"Sister, what are you going to say now?" Hong Yan frowned slightly. These past few days, Hu Tuli had been running around to him all day, asking him if he liked that girl.
Hongyan has made it clear many times that he only wants to study right now and has no interest in thinking about girls.
But Hutuli simply refused to believe it.
She felt that she and Hongyan were born of the same mother and were of one mind, so there was no way Hongyan could hide it from her.
Hearing Hong Yan's somewhat impatient voice, Hu Tuli clicked his tongue twice, almost reaching out to twist his ear. In the end, he held back.
"Tch! You're biting the hand that feeds you. I'm here to tell you some good news. Father has issued an edict to betroth my cousin Duoxihui to Li Suitan, the daughter of Li Fu, the Governor-General of Zhili."
Hong Yan was taken aback. The Li family's daughter?
He couldn't remember who was who, but judging from his sister's appearance, the bold girl probably wasn't his cousin's wife.
Hutu chuckled to herself; she quite enjoyed seeing the usually serious Hongyan occasionally act silly.
It must be tiring to always be so formal!
"Hongyan, I was thinking that since my cousin got engaged, we could leave the palace and go to his home to congratulate him! What do you think? We can also get some fresh air. I'm getting so bored in this palace. I've tried all the square dancing."
Hutuli came up with another idea, urging Hongyan to talk to his father and mother, since he had a good relationship with Duoxihun, and his Haha Zhuzi, Alin'a, was Duoxihun's younger brother.
Hongyan also felt that he should congratulate him. Putting aside everything else, he thought that the bond between brothers should not be severed just because he had entered the palace.
but……
"Sister, you go to Chengqian Palace every day, why don't you mention it to Mother?"
Hongyan was puzzled, feeling as if his sister was setting a trap for him.
Hutu chuckled: "I... I was just worried that Mother would think I was being playful."
Hongyan didn't believe it: "Mother has been busy again lately?"
Hutu's lips twitched. He'd gotten everything right...
Hongyan could tell from her expression that it must be true.
However, he was also a little curious: "The New Year holidays are over, what else is Mother busy with? My cousin's wedding?"
"No, it's not that. I've seen Mother reading a lot of books lately, and it seems she's planning to re-establish the system of female officials." Hutu's eyes lit up as she said this.
Hongyan was also surprised: "Female officials? Are they female officials in the inner palace? Or female officials in the previous dynasty?"
Hutu shook her head: "I don't know the specifics. I wanted to help, but Mother said she needs to sort out her general thoughts first."
Hongyan pondered for a moment and said, "It's good that Mother has this intention. If there's anything we can do to help, we'll do our best."
"Yes! That's what I think too. And female officials! When has our Qing Dynasty ever had any female officials?! If we had female officials, wouldn't we also have female generals?!"
Hongyan knew the reason for his sister's agitation, and his heart couldn't help but feel heavy.
He had been learning from Yinzhen for quite some time, and although he had not yet mastered some of the court's affairs, Yinzhen had already begun to ask for his thoughts, cultivating his political acumen.
So when Hongyan heard the news, his first reaction was to worry about Changning.
This is too difficult to implement. If there are female officials and female generals, then will there be an empress in the future?
Just like Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty, a female ruler.
Would Father Emperor really agree to Mother setting this precedent?
Hong Yan felt uneasy. As he grew older and experienced more and more things, he felt that he could no longer be as innocent as he was in his childhood.
He had witnessed the changing of the imperial power and the scenes of bloodshed; he knew just how alluring the throne truly was. Countless people followed one after another in his footsteps.
Therefore, he was worried that his mother's idea would infringe on the interests of certain officials or men led by his father, the emperor, and thus bring about bad consequences.
However, he also knew that his mother was capable, but she probably had no intention of taking his place; she just wanted to pave a path for women.
A path that doesn't require relying on men.
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