The Awakening of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince
There was complete silence all around, with only the stern-faced Crown Princess sitting in the main seat.
Originally, the atmosphere in Yuqing Palace was quite harmonious. For the Crown Prince, Soetu's rank had been restored, and his power had returned to a certain level, giving him confidence. For the Crown Princess, not only had the male heir of her family returned safely, but they had also gained something.
What a great situation!
Now, the dissonance emerges.
Since the army's return, everything has been wonderful, albeit a bit busier than usual. With the army's return, the harem has become much busier, and many women have been requesting to visit the palace to pay their respects, often under the guise of congratulations. Shujia is deeply concerned about this. Madam diplomacy is also a form of diplomacy. Sometimes it can accomplish things that wouldn't be possible under other circumstances, but sometimes it can also ruin things. You never know who will succeed and who will fail.
So, no matter who she met, she always maintained a kind attitude. Smiling won't kill anyone, right?
Furthermore, the primary target for everyone's favor was the Empress Dowager. She was the only woman in the palace who could receive the congratulations of all the women in the world. Shujia was merely a guest; she didn't need to play the lead role or invite a large group of people to her home. She only needed to treat Ningshou Palace as a social occasion to demonstrate her position, and everything would be fine.
There were many other guests in Ningshou Palace, such as the Third Concubine, who had already finished her confinement. Her father was also in the army, and they had a lot in common. The First Concubine had been in a good mood recently because Yinzhi had returned safely, and her complexion seemed much better.
When she met Soetu's wife, Tong Jia, she had to congratulate her: "Prime Minister Soetu has worked so hard, and it is really a great joy that he has been reinstated to his original position." Tong Jia did not come alone, so Shujia did not need to stare at her and talk to her alone. She just needed to be a little more friendly to her, which would be more in line with Yinreng's position.
The Suo'etu clan didn't have a good impression of the Crown Princess, but it wasn't any worse than the Mingzhu clan. With Mingzhu and Suo'etu both at full health and about to clash, Suo'etu needed a helping hand. After all... their clan didn't have any deep-seated hatred with the Shi clan. Eliminating Mingzhu was their most pressing goal.
Therefore, Suo Etu wisely changed his strategy and united all possible forces to first eliminate his old enemy Mingzhu. In the process of jointly resisting the enemy, he would then consider the Shi family. If he could win them over, that would be a good idea. If not, he could also get a feel for the Shi family during the cooperation process, which would make it much easier to fight against them in the future.
Tong Jia was quite enthusiastic about Shujia, saying with a smile, "It's all thanks to the emperor's wisdom; Soetu is just running errands." A hint of pride slipped through her words. After years of suppression, she was naturally delighted to regain her former glory. The emperor now brought Soetu with him on every trip, showing that he still valued him, didn't he? Who would keep someone they didn't like around? (Interruption: Kangxi.)
Concubine Tong said, "Madam, you're being modest again. Everyone runs errands for the Emperor, but some people can't do it right. This shows that running errands isn't something that everyone can achieve." This prompted everyone to agree, either sincerely or insincerely. The Empress Dowager even added, adding, "You're absolutely right." Well, everyone agreed.
Shujia watched this spectacle unfold, her eyes rolling inwardly, but she had to feign cheerfulness and continue her compliments. Besides Mingzhu, she was the one who most wanted Soetu gone! Glancing down, she spotted Xiluotai, whose seat had risen higher and higher with each round. She remembered her first big event with Xiluotai, her seat was closer to the door, but now it was closer to the main seat.
The wife of Prince An rolled her eyes and said to the Empress Dowager, "If we talk about merit, it is the second boy of their family who has made a great contribution this time." Xiluote was sitting not far from the wife of Prince An. The wife of Prince An glanced at Xiluote, and everyone's attention turned to Xiluote.
Xiluo Te couldn't stop smiling lately. Not only did her husband and son return home safe and sound, but their futures were even brighter. That smile truly came from the heart. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said, "Stop talking about it! That kid has never really been a good person. He was naughty before he even came back, and his uncle whipped him. Then, when he came back, Mafa and Ama gave him a beating. He still hasn't even taken the plaster off his waist."
Tong Jia was a little unhappy and quickly glanced at An Wangfu. This wife was actually Suo Etu's niece's wife, but An Wangfu had no ties to the Suo family and was secretly involved with Mingzhu. How annoying!
Shujia knew the family situation and thought Qingde had slipped up somewhere. But she wasn't too worried. Qingde had never done anything serious. So she just asked, "Didn't you ask Changji to watch over him?" Xiluo Te said seriously, "Changji's mother took care of him when she took him back to her parents' home."
The Empress Dowager asked who Changji was, and Shujia said, "He is my second brother's son." The Empress Dowager also laughed.
When Shujia saw An Wangfu, she would first ask about the health of the old lady and then about the situation of her future eighth brother's wife. The old lady was Suo Etu's sister, but she was caught in the middle of the matter between her brother and son, and she had been claiming to be ill for a long time.
Concubine Hui was more concerned about the situation at Prince An's Mansion, so she took the opportunity to take over the conversation: "I heard from the Kuixu family last time that she rarely goes out to see guests nowadays. Is there anything wrong with that?"
Prince An's wife looked considerably more haggard than the last time she had seen her. In fact, Shujia thought she didn't look too good either. While that didn't make sense, her husband, Marhun, had held a decent position during those two wars, so at least he wouldn't be punished.
Hearing Concubine Hui's question, she answered seriously: "It's all good. The girl is grown up and has been arranged to marry by the master, so it's not good for her to wander around."
The Queen Mother said, "I remember she was a lively girl. Don't be too restrained."
Princess An's wife said, "It's not that restrictive, I just need to learn a few more rules."
"Well, that's good."
Concubine Yi said, "Grandfather, you don't have to worry about this. I will make sure you have a beautiful and graceful granddaughter-in-law. The family education in Prince An's Mansion has always been good."
Rong Fei also said: "The old ancestor has forgotten, but that year, the princesses of their family were married and came to the palace to kowtow to you. Their appearance and temperament were first-class." This was referring to Malhun's sisters.
The Third Lady supported her mother-in-law: "We heard when we were outside the palace that the princesses in Prince An's mansion are proficient in everything, whether it's appearance, talent, or taking care of the household. You just wait for your granddaughter-in-law to come home and entertain you every day. I'm afraid that when the time comes, you will be so happy to see your younger brother and sister-in-law that you will forget about us."
The Queen Mother blinked and said, "I can't forget it, I can't forget it."
Shujia winked at Sanfujin and said, "In that case, we must take advantage of this good opportunity to get closer to our ancestors so that they won't want to leave. Even a last-minute cram session is a good idea."
The Empress Dowager was overjoyed to be sought after. Prince Jian's second wife, who was also among those present, said to Ning Hui, "Look at the Empress Dowager. She looks so good and in such a good mood. If I can still be like this in my old age, it will be a great blessing."
Ning Hui smiled and lowered her head.
Shujia said, "You don't have to worry about that. Good fortune is written all over your face. Look at your complexion. It's rosy and white, like an apple."
The above is a typical segment from the previous meetings. The conversations with the ladies were simple: if their sons were promising, he'd praise them; if their husbands were promising, he'd praise their husbands. If they weren't, he'd talk about his worries for those away at the battleground. He'd sigh, wondering what life was like outside, and listen to them jokingly share secondhand news they'd heard from their husbands, sons, and brothers.
A few lines like this would be enough to sustain this wave of congratulations. The palace is not a market where anyone can enter. There are limits on the number of times and the number of people allowed in. From the beginning to the end of a wave of congratulations, it would take no more than four days, and that includes the time it takes to compile the list and notify everyone.
Originally, everything was fine. But Shujia should never have heard this: "I heard the Crown Prince can speak now?"
By this time, everyone had already discussed the military situation so many times that, like Xianglin Sao's wailing, the audience was growing impatient, so they had to find a new topic. They talked about the royal family's new arrivals. Ever since the Crown Princess gave birth to a son, boys had been born continuously in the palace for the past two years. They discussed parenting tips.
The person who said this was Soetu's wife. She was merely expressing her concern for Yuqing Palace and giving the Crown Princess a little praise. The words "Grandson" had been attached to the fat boy since his birth by some busybodies. In reality, the title was well-deserved. Even Mingzhu, upon hearing it, would have assumed it referred to the Third Prince of Yuqing Palace.
After hearing this, everyone understood who they were talking about. Shujia's smile faltered, and the more she listened to them gossiping about the crown prince, the more irritating it became. Xiluo Te was the first to notice and glared at her.
Unfortunately, Xiluo encountered the Empress Dowager, who was unusually sensitive and actually sensed her presence. The Empress Dowager and Shujia were sitting very close, and she happened to see Xiluo looking over her: "Oh, you haven't been to the palace recently. It's been several months since you last saw our child. After we leave, you can go with the Crown Princess to Yuqing Palace to take a look."
Xiluo Te forced a smile, stood up and bowed: "I thank the Empress Dowager for her grace."
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On the way back to Yuqing Palace, neither of them spoke much. Shujia and Xiluo walked slowly, chatting about family matters. Shujia asked about everyone in her family, especially Jueluo: "I heard that my second sister-in-law is pregnant. How is she doing now? Mother just said she's going back to her parents' home. Can you handle all this traveling?"
Xiluo Te said, "It's all good. Her parents' home isn't far away. If she senses something is wrong at her parents' home, she can come back and see a doctor, and then she'll know everything."
"Is Marfa still healthy?"
"It's okay, I'm just getting older and not as flexible as I used to be."
…
…
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After a while of questions and answers, they arrived at Yuqing Palace.
It was the fat boy's exercise time, and he was rebelling on the south kang. He took two steps, then swooped down, rolled over on his stomach, and kicked his legs up in the air. He yanked off his crooked cap and flung it aside, rubbing his fat feet against it. Finally, he got down to business, throwing off his shoes and ripping off his socks. He grabbed a small bow and began to climb, aiming for the small cloth tiger not far away. He heard a noise, raised his head in alarm, and saw that it was his mother. He smiled a toothless, flattering smile, and drool dripped from his lips to his collar, with two drops dripping onto the kang mattress.
Shujia was originally unhappy, but seeing him like this, she also smiled, not to mention Xiluo Te, who couldn't move her eyes away. Shujia winked, and Yilali came forward, holding the fat boy and paying her respects, and then teased the fat boy, saying, "Greetings to mother."
Such complex words were clearly beyond the little boy's current processing ability. He needed a system upgrade before he could understand them. He just kept calling for his mother. Shujia picked up the little boy, kissed him twice, sniffed his milky scent, and turned him to Xiluotai: "Do you recognize your grandmother?"
Xiluo smiled, folded her hands, placed them on her legs, and made a greeting gesture: "Hello, little prince." Hongdan had met Xiluo only a few times and didn't remember her very well, but he didn't reject her either. He let her hug him and was quite quiet.
Xiluotai was currently kind: "He's an easy child, quiet and sensible." Shujia glanced at the person on the kang, who would cry if she heard this. Looking back, Xiluotai could no longer resist the little fat boy's gaze and took off the eighteen-bead bracelet she was wearing and gave it to him to play with. What a sensible little boy!
Fang said humorously, "Madam, you're right. Everyone in the palace says our little prince is well-behaved."
"Really?" Xiluo tilted her head and faced Hongdan, rescuing the bracelet from the fat boy's mouth.
The one who answered was Lin Si'er. He was very eloquent and said everything out loud.
"Last time, the tea warehouse sent new tea to us, and they also said that they heard that the prince was born very well. Now everyone in the palace praises our prince." His tone was quite proud.
No one in Yuqing Palace said the word "Grandson" in front of the Crown Princess, because she herself never said it. If you value someone and want to please them, you'll unconsciously follow their behavior and standards—at least, in front of them. Today, I was repeating what someone else said, and I accidentally let it slip.
The title "Taisun" (太孙) has a long history. The first person to receive this title is said to be Emperor Cheng of Han. When he was born, his grandfather, Emperor Xuan, was overjoyed and gave him the courtesy name "Taisun." Originally, this title was simply a person's courtesy name, not a position.
However, as people's preference for the word "Tai" grew, it became a position, meaning the emperor's grandson who was eligible to inherit the throne. If his father was alive, he was second in line to the throne; if his father was dead, he was first in line. Those who were fortunate enough to receive this title were either in trouble themselves, or their father was frustrated.
In Chinese history, if someone gave your son this name, don't think it was a good sign. It could very well mean: your son is in big trouble, and you're in big trouble too. This trouble might even drag your husband into it.
Especially when your son has not yet officially received this title, he has already been given this title by a group of impatient people. Yes, this is the problem. Kangxi has not used this word to call the little fat boy.
So, the Crown Princess got angry, without any concealment, in front of her biological mother.
"Who spread this rumor? Is it okay to call someone that? How come I didn't know that my son's name was changed?!" This is like calling Yinreng the prince when he was just born. The emperor hasn't said anything yet, and it got to Kangxi's ears. What would be the result?
He hadn't even spoken yet, and already, "Oh, you've already sorted out the order of succession?" The emperor is a dead man! And at this sensitive time. While she wasn't being overly boastful, she knew her family was doing pretty well, which was a plus for Yinreng. Plus, Soetu seemed to be shaking like usual. If Yinreng, the second-in-command, didn't control himself, Kangxi might well become suspicious. Even if Kangxi couldn't figure it out right away, there were always people who would help him.
Xiluo Te handed the little fat boy to Hongxiu calmly and said, "He seems tired. Help the little prince wipe his face."
Shujia asked Zhao Guoshi directly: "Do you know about this?"
Zhao Guoshi said: "I don't like to go out, so I didn't hear anything in our palace."
"Who else would walk outside our palace? Call them over, I want to question them."
The eunuchs who ran errands were the most informed, and they were called over in a row. Gao Sanxie, who had stopped the messenger when the Crown Princess called for someone, easily found out the reason. He also followed.
Shu Jiazheng saw him and asked him the same question she had asked Zhao Guoshi. Gao Sanxie was a man of few words and replied with a single sentence: "I heard it from Dezhu."
Shit, he's still here?!
"When did he meet the Crown Prince?" Shujia began to miss Eunuch Cui.
"I'm begging for an audience with the gift of the Emperor's birthday."
Shujia's chest felt tight. At least a month had passed, and she hadn't heard a word. Gao Sanxie hadn't realized the sensitivity of the word, and neither warned Yinreng nor told Kangxi. Shujia bit her lip, her eyes darting back and forth below her. Finally, she said bitterly, "Anyone who says anything more will go to the Ministry of Punishment and receive a beating! I'll go to the Crown Prince and tell him myself."
“Yeah.”
After the crowd dispersed, Shujia felt a little tired. Xiluotai spoke up at this point: "You're too cautious." Shujia said: "I'm just following the rules. Mother taught me not to keep chatty servants." Xiluotai didn't think it was a big deal, because the fat boy was obviously the legitimate son and grandson.
Shujia had to explain to Xiluo that this title was now a job title. For example, back then, Qu Yuan had called himself "Zhen" without issue, but now, anyone could try calling themselves "Zhen" and finally reiterated, "The rules cannot be broken." Xiluo then became serious.
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When Yinreng came back in the evening, Shujia brought up this issue.
Yinreng was even slightly happy: "Isn't our son the same?"
Well, in the eyes of most people, the answer to this question is yes. It's like asking, "Isn't the crown prince the future emperor?" Shujia blinked: "The child is still young, what will happen in the future..."
Yinreng interrupted her and said, "What will happen in the future?" This is a really good question!
Shujia was speechless for a long moment before she said, "I always feel something is wrong. Praising someone too much will easily make people dissatisfied. Right now, if I can avoid any trouble, I will do it. I just want everything to go smoothly. Why should I bring resentment upon my son? He will be criticized by thousands of people and his life will end in vain."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Yinreng was irritated. "What's wrong with you today? Can you shut people up? If you don't take it as a big deal, then it's not a big deal. Originally, everyone would just talk about it and laugh it off. But you are just bringing it up and making a big fuss about it. You are making it a big deal, and it will be hard to deal with in the end."
"The son's status has not been decided yet. Besides, even if it is, he will just be a target. Haven't you had enough of this feeling over the years? Women always speak in a sarcastic way, and when it comes to men, they really start to use guns and sticks, right?" She reached out to pull the quilt for Yinreng. This man was angry just now, and his movement was a little rough, causing the quilt to slip.
Yinreng was struck, wrapped himself in the quilt, and hugged his wife: "Don't worry too much," his tone was no longer very firm, "You think too much, could there be any changes to the legitimate son and grandson?" This was what he was proud of.
The two of them were in the tent when Shujia leaned over and whispered in his ear, "The same thing happened to Emperor Jianwen of the previous dynasty. He even received the title from Emperor Hongwu."
"He dares!" Yinreng's face darkened. "With me here, you don't have to worry about Hongdan in this matter."
"It seems he's already done it. I was worried about you," he muttered, shifting to find a more comfortable position to lie down, his eyes fixed on the top of the tent. "After all, I've spent some time outside the palace, so I'm a bystander and saw a little bit."
"Oh? What do you mean?" The aftereffects of discussing academic issues with his wife appeared at this time. Yinreng had become accustomed to discussing issues with his wife and asking for her opinions.
"Do you still remember that year when the Minister of Rites requested that the Crown Prince's prayer mat be placed inside the threshold? Did it seem good? He was fighting for a place for you, but what was the result? Originally, father and son were harmonious, but now think about it, what kind of feeling is that? If you feel bad, how can Khan Ama feel better? Because of this incident, Mingzhu and the eldest brother have never been able to get Khan Ama to refuse you, but he did it."
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt the body next to her stiffen. Yinreng tilted his head, looking at Shujia in surprise. Shujia had to admit that Yinreng had probably grown up hearing things like "You're the future emperor," and that had shaped him. She didn't want her son to have a similar experience and develop subpar emotional intelligence.
Furthermore, after praising the father, he then promoted the son to a sufficiently high position. It was like the powerful ministers of all dynasties, who had no choice but to rebel or die. He explained carefully, "I was just guessing, and I only dared to speak out now. I don't know what they were thinking. Are they really stupid or... flattering to death..."
Before Shujia finished speaking, Yinreng had already understood the theory of flattery and immediately said, "We'll shut them up tomorrow!"
"Obviously, we didn't think about anything and didn't do anything. I just wanted to live a quiet life, with a loving father and a filial son, day after day. Who knew that the tree wanted to be quiet but the wind did not stop. The terrible thing is that the rumors didn't come from our palace, and we can't control what happens outside Yuqing Palace. We can't stop it even if we want to. If Khan Ama hears..." She reached out from under the quilt and hugged her husband, rubbing him. "I'm a little scared. Khan Ama is so good to us. A loving father is rare and precious. Our family lives in harmony and we don't want any more accidents. It would be great if everyone could live a quiet life."
At this point, neither of them realized that their discussion had already touched upon the essence of "the indivisibility of imperial power." Otherwise, what would they be worried about? It was just a title.
Shujia finished her speech, receiving Yinreng's approval, and fell asleep peacefully. Yinreng was left staring, pondering for most of the night, when he suddenly realized something: the Khan-Father, who had always loved him, had harshly humiliated him a few years ago because there could only be one supreme ruler. There was no two suns in the sky, and the crown prince was not the emperor. He was usually treated with infinite affection and consideration, but when it came to matters of principle, he would turn against him without hesitation! His punishment of Samuha was also a warning to him.
The throne of Crown Prince, though glamorous, was actually a prison. As his wife had said, it was a target. The eldest son could have a clear goal and strive for it. He, on the other hand, had a goal, but couldn't strive for it. If he did, he would cross the line and be struck by lightning, leaving no trace of his body.
Fatherhood is natural, as is the monopoly of imperial power! Being a father is instinctive, and so is being an emperor. And the conflict between these two instincts...had already reached its conclusion a few years ago.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince suddenly realized the hardships of survival.
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After returning, Xiluo Te spread the word that the Crown Princess disliked being called names for her son. Few believed the unfortunate. Women viewed such flattery of a son's status as something only a fool would dislike. It was just a show, wasn't it? To appear modest. It's okay, we understand. The leader has already said he doesn't like being flattered. This flattery is voluntary, so don't worry.
So, in April, on Shujia's birthday, she heard similar names again. When talking to a woman, praising her son is definitely a good topic. When Shujia said, "He is just one of the emperor's grandchildren. He has older brothers above him and younger brothers below him. It doesn't make sense to single him out."
Shujia was stunned. It was her birthday, and people were there to congratulate her. She usually portrayed a gentle and positive image. Was she going to lose her temper? Wouldn't she be called hypocritical if she did? Apparently, the little fat boy's identity was quite unique.
Looking around, she saw that everyone who came was from Yinreng's side or someone close to him. So she went wild! This time, she couldn't speak harshly like she did to the eunuchs and palace maids. She kept her face serious and spoke in a voice that was neither too high nor too low, neither emotional nor angry. "How can you make fun of the royal family? Is it funny to make fun of the little prince?!"
Everyone still didn't know what was going on. How could your son not be happy when you praised him? According to the routine of "three persuasions", some people said: "Our little prince is obviously like that."
Shujia's face darkened. Today was her birthday. Could she not be so? "I don't want to hear this anymore."
According to the rules of survival in the palace, this expression was considered unhappy. She had already said the same refusal three times. Everyone felt a little embarrassed. This birthday was... boring. Once the guests left, Shujia's mood worsened. Her twentieth birthday had just passed like that.
Is there any Qing Dynasty woman in this world who is more miserable than me?
Yinreng had only one word for the crown prince: "Who gave you the right to act on your own?" His words were powerful, and indeed, the people calmed down considerably. However, he soon discovered that the crown prince's power of control was limited: he could control one group, but not another.
Moreover, just as people in this land would jokingly call certain groups of people "princelings" more than three hundred years later, the vivid and descriptive term "Prince" was irresistible, and he couldn't issue an order to "cut off the tongues of those who speak nonsense." This made him very angry.
What’s even more unfortunate is...this news even reached Kangxi’s ears.
As word of this title spread, it was inevitable that Kangxi would eventually learn of it. Especially since the person in question was still living in the palace. Kangxi heard it, raised an eyebrow, and said nothing. He simply asked the Ministry of Rites to come up with some auspicious and pleasant-sounding words. He was about to prepare to divide the fiefdoms among his sons.
The couple in Yuqing Palace experienced together that life does not always go as planned. It is always a little bit wrong here and there.
The author has something to say: I hate wedding banquets! Especially those that don’t start on time.
A colleague was getting married and given a start time. I prepared for the traffic jam, paying for the meal, offering congratulations, finding a seat, and chatting with everyone around me. The journey was smooth, and I even arrived over half an hour early. Upon arrival, I realized I was the first one there... And then, when I got the call, the banquet hadn't started yet.
Waited and waited for more than an hour before the table opened = =
Our boss has arrived, so we all went to toast him at our colleague’s wedding banquet…
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