The following day, after court, Prince Yong submitted a memorial requesting an audience with Emperor Kangxi.
After spending an hour in the Qianqing Palace, Prince Yong came out and paid his respects to Consort De of Yonghe Palace and Consort Tongjia of Changchun Palace before returning to his residence.
Since the Crown Prince's reinstatement, Prince Yong has been given a new post, but it is not much and is mostly a sinecure. In addition, the Crown Prince is suspicious of all his brothers after his reinstatement, including Prince Yong, whom he once relied on. Prince Yong has become increasingly indifferent to worldly affairs, spending his days in seclusion in his mansion, devoted to Buddhist chanting, and living a leisurely life.
At the end of Shenshi (3-5 PM), Prince Yong went to Marhan's residence.
Marhan had just returned to the manor when he heard the servants' report and hurriedly went out to greet them.
"Marhan has met with Prince Yong."
Prince Yong raised his hand: "Minister Ma, there's no need for such formalities."
Marhan rose and welcomed Prince Yong into the flower hall. Prince Yong sat at the head of the table, and Marhan ordered his servants to serve tea. He himself sat at the head of the table on the left.
"I was unaware of Your Highness's arrival. What are your orders?" Marhan was genuinely surprised.
After the Crown Prince was deposed, Prince Yong refused to see any officials. Even after the Crown Prince was reinstated, he did not interact much with court officials, which was in stark contrast to the flamboyant Prince Lian.
Why have you suddenly come to my residence today?
"I have come here today to discuss something with you." Prince Yong glanced outside.
Marhan understood immediately and ordered his steward, Uncle Gui, to stand guard outside the flower hall.
"Please speak, Your Highness."
Prince Yong cut to the chase: "I've come to see you about the matter of the Thirteenth Prince's wife."
Marhan paused, then suddenly tensed up: "Heyue? No, what happened to the Thirteenth Prince's wife?"
"Yesterday I received a letter from my thirteenth brother, saying that his wife had miscarried," Prince Yong said slowly, also mentioning the assassination attempt.
Marhan listened with trepidation and deep worry: "How is the Thirteenth Princess Consort now?"
He only regretted that his daughter was too far away from the capital, and he couldn't even visit her. He could only wait for news here.
Prince Yong comforted her, saying, "Your sister-in-law is fine now. However, since they live among ordinary people, there are all sorts of people around. Their identities are sensitive, and if something like this happens once, it will happen again. After all, the number of people protecting them is limited, and their situation is special. Some things cannot be done openly. I will make arrangements for this matter myself."
"I have come to see you today in the hope that your wife can go and take care of the Thirteenth Prince's wife. As you know, royal offspring are of utmost importance. If Father Emperor were to find out about the Thirteenth Prince's wife's miscarriage, he would surely be heartbroken. No matter what happens to the Thirteenth Prince, his wife's child is still Father Emperor's own grandson. I do not wish for any further mishaps, and I hope that the Thirteenth Prince's wife can help the Thirteenth Prince continue his lineage as soon as possible."
Marhan nodded repeatedly, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will discuss it with my wife and have her go to Jiangnan as soon as possible to take care of the Thirteenth Prince's wife under the pretext of visiting her brother-in-law."
Prince Yong nodded, took something out of his sleeve, and gestured for Marhan to step forward.
Marhan stepped forward respectfully to accept it, glanced at it, and was greatly shocked.
Prince Yong said, "Give this to my thirteenth brother and tell him that it should only be used in times of crisis."
Taking a deep breath and concealing his joy, Marhan nodded repeatedly: "Your Highness, rest assured, this servant will definitely have my wife personally deliver it to the Thirteenth Prince."
After seeing Prince Yong off, Marhan could not hide his joy and hurriedly went to the backyard to see Lady Irgen Gioro.
Hearing her husband's words, Lady Irgen Gioro looked at the golden plaque in front of her, her eyes filled with undisguised joy. She clasped her hands together and said, "Thank God, it seems that the Emperor has not forgotten the Thirteenth Prince and still thinks of him."
“Alright, alright, none of that matters. The important thing is that you go see Heyue right away and make sure she gets better,” Marhan reminded his wife.
"And what about you?" Although Lady Irgen Gioro missed her daughter, she did not forget her husband.
Marhan grinned and said, "You don't need to worry about that. Once I resign from my post, I'll go to Jiangnan to find you and your daughter."
"Resign from office?" Yiergenjueluo was taken aback.
Marhan nodded: "I'm getting old, how many more years can I live? I might as well stay with you, like my brother-in-law and his family, traveling around and enjoying life. When our daughter has another child, we can go and help take care of the baby."
Upon hearing this, Irgen Gioro laughed and said, "That's good." Then she hesitated, "But what about Guanzhu?"
“This kid’s skills are different now than before. No one can bully him. Now that he’s with the Fourteenth Prince, the Fourteenth Prince doesn’t need to make things difficult for him. And with the Fourth Prince looking after him, as long as he doesn’t do anything wrong, what could possibly happen?” Marhan wasn’t worried about this.
“Alright, I’ll go pack my things now. It just so happens that Yiduli is going to Shanxi to take up the post of county magistrate, so I’ll set off with them.”
Three days later, Yiergenjueluo and his wife Yiduli embarked on their journey south.
Five days later, Marhan submitted a memorial requesting to resign from his official post, but Emperor Kangxi did not grant it.
After the court session, Malhan was summoned to the Qianqing Palace.
Marhan had just knelt on the white marble floor when a memorial was thrown at him and hit him on the head, accompanied by the emperor's furious roar: "You scoundrel!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me!" Marhan immediately prostrated himself on the ground, his voice loud but calm.
Emperor Kangxi clutched his chest in anger, sneering repeatedly, "You scoundrel! You're so eager to go and be with your daughter?!"
Marhan hurriedly cried out, "This servant dares not!"
"You dare not?! I think you dare very much! Your wife just left and you resigned from your post. Do you think I'm a fool?" Kangxi said angrily without thinking.
Marhan hurriedly protested his innocence: "Your Majesty, this servant dares not. This servant is indeed old and no longer able to do what he should. I only wish to spend my remaining years with my wife and children. I beg Your Majesty to grant my request."
"What if I don't grant my request?" Kangxi sneered.
“Then this servant will kneel until His Majesty agrees.” Marhan remained calm and composed, which angered Kangxi so much that he pointed at him, speechless for a long time before finally managing to utter, “You…you’re quite something! Even you dare to threaten me!”
Marhan smiled wryly: "Your Majesty, I dare not threaten you. I am only speaking the truth. Look at me, I have so many white hairs. How many more years do I have left to live? I just want to spend more of my remaining days with my wife and children and enjoy some family happiness."
Emperor Kangxi fell silent, and a moment of silence ensued in the Qianqing Palace.
Marhan hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and spoke again: "Your Majesty, please forgive this servant for being so disrespectful. Sometimes you should relax a bit. All the princes are filial. Why not let them help you share some of the burden? Although you are in your prime, you will get tired sometimes. Aren't sons meant to help their fathers? Why do you feel sorry for the princes?"
Emperor Kangxi covered his mouth and coughed lightly, then scolded, "Insolence! Do you believe I'll take your head?"
Marhan kowtowed again: "Your Majesty, my head is worthless. You have no use for my head, so why waste your time? I just want to spend time with my family. If you can't stand seeing me at ease, I will leave the capital. Out of sight, out of mind."
"You!" Kangxi laughed in exasperation.
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