Checking on and teasing my son
In cases of suing someone, the defendant always suffers, as few people will tell you in advance, "I'm going to sue you," allowing you to prepare. Generally, after the complaint is filed and the judge has formed a negative impression of the defendant, they will be fair and lenient and give the defendant a chance to appeal. Those who are disgusted by the complaint will simply avoid the defendant and avoid him altogether, not even giving him a chance to defend himself.
The worst part is when someone accuses you of something behind your back. You don't even know they've accused you, let alone what they've accused you of. Naturally, you won't even think about defending yourself. You'll have no choice but to carry the blame the entire way through, and only under special circumstances, when you realize you've been set up, can you possibly redeem yourself.
The most unlucky person is the one who is completely unaware and continues to do as he pleases. It was originally not a big deal, but because the judge was influenced by someone and had a bad impression of you, he was dissatisfied with everything you did, and in the end he was completely doomed.
Yinreng was in such a situation.
Yinzhi said to Kangxi in a tone that sounded like he was worried his younger brother might learn bad things: "I'm afraid no one else would dare to tell Khan Ama about such a thing. If I don't tell you now, I will be unworthy of being a minister, a son, and a brother."
He was also Kangxi's son—this was the main issue—and Kangxi at least gave him a chance to finish his words and took them in. Kangxi didn't treat him like other ministers; he was quite indulgent towards his eldest son, otherwise he wouldn't have tolerated him and the crown prince quarreling for so many years.
Kangxi knew that the eldest prince and the crown prince had some issues, but as a father, he didn't want to believe that his two sons were sworn enemies. He preferred to believe that they simply had different personalities and some minor misunderstandings. Therefore, on the one hand, he felt that the eldest prince might be trying to be nice, but on the other hand, he also felt that the eldest prince actually cared about the crown prince and wasn't so mean as to constantly cause trouble for his younger brother.
——Kangxi is a father after all.
Since Yinreng was the son he cared about the most, Kangxi would always inquire about anything that involved Yinreng and suggested something bad, adhering to the principle of "better to kill him wrongly than to let him go right away." In particular, Yinzhi's words were based on hearsay, not just groundless rumors.
When Yinzhi complained, Kangxi was also worried. He knew his own son well. Kangxi had many children, and it was impossible for him to know all of them in detail. However, he knew the prince he had watched grow up very well. Of course, he also understood Yinreng's faults - Yinreng inherited Kangxi's temperament of demanding perfection in everything, and carried this temperament forward. Kangxi paid more attention to a good reputation, while Yinreng was all-rounder. This was also Kangxi's spoiling - he always used the best food, clothing and daily necessities, and his standards were naturally high. Everything had to be exquisite and gorgeous, and even the servants had to look decent.
Kangxi certainly had people watching Yuqing Palace. It wasn't out of suspicion or anything like that. When Yinreng moved into Yuqing Palace, he was barely ten years old. As a true son-obsessed man, it would be strange if he didn't have someone watching over him. Year after year, it became a habit. Over the years, no one had heard of Yinreng having any unusual hobbies... But he had to be on guard, just in case Yinzhi's claims were even half true.
It was impossible for Kangxi to remember everyone in Yuqing Palace, but he knew the prominent ones like Eunuch Cui and people around Yinreng like Dezhu. If he thought about it carefully, he realized that they were all good-looking people.
That's nonsense. Those who weren't good-looking were immediately screened out from the palace. There wasn't anyone in the palace who looked too bad! A servant's quality was also a reflection of their master's reputation! How old was Yinreng? Could there be any elderly servants around him? Even if you were buying a cabbage, you'd look for one that was plump, fresh, and free of insects, right?
Kangxi couldn't care less about this now. He was pondering the possibility that the prince might be "disobedient." The more he thought about it, the more worried he became. It was true that the prince was becoming more mature, but subtleties could easily lead to bad behavior. The prince did have a penchant for liking fancy things.
He couldn't sit still anymore.
Hirasun had been working in the Imperial Household Department for decades. When Mingzhu was there, he worked well with her. He was in charge of all the supplies in the palace and took good care of the crown prince. In Kangxi's eyes, he was a loyal minister, and since he was in charge, Kangxi brought him over.
If Hirasun were a fool, he wouldn't have stayed in the Imperial Household Department, a lucrative place, for so many years. It's hard to say he was a loyal official. When he was summoned, he thought Kangxi was going to ask him about recent expenses and the rewards he had prepared for the Mongols. He had a prepared speech, but Kangxi asked a different question.
In the hall, dozens of tallow candles glared, making Hirasun feel dizzy. The emperor asked him, "How many maids and eunuchs are there in Yuqing Palace? Who is the chief eunuch? How old is he? Where is he from? When did he start serving? Who else is with the crown prince?"
Hailason had a detailed account of his own. He couldn't remember the young eunuchs, but he knew Eunuch Cui in great detail. He couldn't count their entire eight generations, but at least he knew their parents and brothers: "There are eighteen palace maids in Yuqing Palace... The chief eunuch is Eunuch Cui, born this year, uh, he was born in the fourth year of the Kangxi reign... Dezhu is the prince's haha bead..."
Kangxi said one by one, the stewards in Yuqing Palace are all young people. The maids are okay, the old ones have been released, but having a row of pretty young eunuchs is really outrageous! Even if there is nothing, it will not sound good if it gets out. So, the boss said it in an ambiguous tone, and he couldn't help but think of it in a wrong way. Who knows what others will think!
Emperor Kangxi, who was keen on a good reputation, took this matter to a higher level.
OK, Kangxi knew it and said to Hailaxun, "The number of people in Yuqing Palace is increasing. When you go back, select some experienced eunuchs to serve as reserve." Hailaxun shouted, "Hey."
"Kneel down and pay your respects."
Hirasun took three small steps back before turning around and leaving the tent.
Kangxi dismissed Helasun and pulled out a blank, yellow paper-covered petition... "Come, write a secret order to your closest confidants in Beijing, asking them to report the Crown Prince's actions and to investigate the behavior of Eunuch Cui, Dezhu, and the others." Kangxi breathed a sigh of relief after the order was sent. He estimated that the back-and-forth, including the investigation, would take at least half a month. He was starting to feel sleepless.
He's already married and has a son, so he can't be so absurd, right? Kangxi asked himself, lying in bed. He desperately hoped that the news he received would prove Yinzhi wrong.
Please wait patiently, it will be here soon.
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In the capital, the Crown Prince and his wife were unaware that the eldest prince had already made a false accusation, so they put aside the issue of the princes' titles and relocations for the moment. As the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, they had to prepare for the festival first.
Finally, after finally drafting the Mid-Autumn Festival schedule, he finally had time to entertain his son. The fat boy was still lying in bed, struggling to roll around, though he could whimper. Yinreng held the fat boy and taught him to speak whenever he had time, hoping that one day his son would open his mouth and call him "Ama." Instead, he called the fat boy "Ama" a hundred or eighty times a day, and the little boy still responded with "Yiyi Ya".
This is intolerable! Yinreng glared at the fat boy, making him laugh so hard that his toothless mouth opened wide and drooled.
Shujia laughed so hard she rolled over, wiping the fat boy's saliva. Yinreng reached out and pinched the fat boy's chubby hands and feet, finally pinching his chin: "You've gained so much weight, why don't you grow smarter? Is it so hard to call me father?" Hmm, it feels really good. He pinched it again, it was so smooth, tender, and elastic...
Shujia said, "It's not time for him to get angry yet. It's not too late to rush after he turns one. Hey, what are you doing?"
"Come and touch it, it's fun."
"What?"
Wuliang's father took Wuliang's mother's hand and said, "Is it comfortable?"
"The child is so tender." You know what, it's really easy to do. I pinched it again and again.
"Wow--" This was the toy's protest.
After making their son cry, they handed him over to the wet nurse to comfort him. The fat boy was tired of crying and soon fell asleep. The unscrupulous parents began to drink fragrant tea and read poetry and books.
The two of them have more and more things to do, and the time to sit down quietly and chat or do arithmetic problems has been compressed.
Today, the two of them were talking about Western oil paintings. Yinreng had seen them so many times that he showed off to his wife, "They look exactly like the real thing. When I first saw them, I almost had a fit. Even this servant didn't even show respect to me! Westerners really don't know how to behave."
Shujia was about to spit out a mouthful of tea, but after thinking for a moment, she asked, "How old were you then?" She probably wasn't too old. She imagined a little boy with a stern face, pointing at the oil painting and making fun of it. The more she thought about it, the funnier it became.
"Five years old? It was when I was living with Khan Ama in the Qianqing Palace..."
Shujia put down her teacup and asked curiously, "I often see a lot of Western toys in the palace. I wonder if you've seen them before? What else do they have?"
The Crown Princess's skill in going off topic has become more and more sophisticated.
Yinreng lifted the lid of his bowl and took a sip of tea. "It's just for the sake of novelty. Speaking of which, that clairvoyance is not bad, but you can't use it casually in the palace."
Well, I understand. This is a telescope, and you really can't use it to peek around in the palace. But if you can get one, it wouldn't be bad to peek.
"Many things came from Johann Adam Schall von Bell back then, but unfortunately, he died and some of them were lost. Some of these things still exist," Yinreng continued. "More recently, there have been a few Westerners who are skilled in painting and translation. When Soetu went to negotiate with the Russians, Jean-Baptiste du Braven accompanied him as an interpreter."
I heard there were still Western painters around, and Shujia was tempted. It would be nice to paint an oil painting. But after some thought, she held back. If you acted out of character while Kangxi was away, he'd immediately bring you back to your old ways when he returned, and that would make you look disrespectful. "When there's no tiger in the mountains, the monkey becomes king," you'd lose your composure.
She had thought about opening a business while Kangxi was away, so that when he returned, it would be a big deal. Finally, she realized that it would be better to do this while Kangxi was in Beijing. If he didn't express his approval, everyone would assume it was his tacit consent, and there would be no need to worry about future consequences. So she held back again.
Coming back to her senses, Shujia said to Yinreng, "I've never seen a Western painting before. How about getting one and taking a look at it someday? Are there any paintings that are exactly like the real person?"
"Yes, they say that if the painting was of you, and you put it in front of you, it would be like looking in a mirror."
Shujia changed the topic again. This is probably the highest level of going off topic - bringing it back to you!
"You want to paint a picture?" It's not that Yinreng couldn't read people's expressions; his intelligence was more than enough to complete the task, but in most cases, he wouldn't waste his energy on it. Now, things are much better; at least he'll consider his wife's feelings. "Some of those people are missionaries, probably similar to monks. It's not impossible, but I'd need permission." Well, Shujia has always been very open to such things. She wouldn't get startled or seem inexperienced, nor would she sneer and make him feel bored. Perhaps she's had some thoughts this time?
Yinreng hesitated. Traditionally, royal portraits had been painted by dedicated local artists. Wasn't using a Westerner this time a bit out of line? He didn't think it was a big deal, but considering Kangxi's feelings, it felt a bit... well, if he said it was just for his own viewing, just to get a taste of Western painting, that wouldn't be a problem, right?
Shujia felt warm in her heart. For Yinreng, this kind of consideration for others must be quite difficult for him, right? She reached out and covered his hand: "It's okay, I'm just saying it, you don't have to worry." She met Yinreng's eyes and smiled brightly, "I just want to paint, and I want to paint our family together."
A family photo! Seriously, a baby's birth should be accompanied by a photo! I almost forgot about oil paintings. Oh, if I could paint one for his birthday, it would be a joy to take it out and look at it.
"There will always be a chance." Yinreng held his wife's hand and promised solemnly.
"How about drawing a picture for the baby when he turns one?" Shujia blinked, "Well, let's make the room warmer..." Strip him naked and paint him a ****! Forget it, I guess even if the child's father agrees, his grandfather won't.
Yinreng quite supported this idea. Drawing a one-year-old portrait of her wearing clothes, Yinreng thought that only a mother could come up with this idea.
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In Yuqing Palace, a couple was teasing their son and enjoying family happiness. On the grassland, a father's heart was in turmoil.
Kangxi waited for nearly half a month before receiving more reliable intelligence. Dezhu had been close to Yinreng, but a few months earlier, he had sent him to work as a servant, a minor one, like purchasing. There were several servants in the palace who were close friends with Dezhu, but with his departure, they also lost contact with Yuqing Palace.
Also, there are indeed many young men with good looks in Yuqing Palace, but no one has been found to have committed any misconduct so far.
Eunuch Cui was also young and clever, but he only flattered his superiors.
Kangxi breathed a sigh of relief, his frown softening. The following incidents—Dezhu's use of the tiger's skin as a banner when preparing festival gifts for Yinreng and his sometimes dishonorable tactics, and Eunuch Cui's acquisition of property outside the palace, his bullying of lower-ranking eunuchs within the palace, his intercession for others, and his greed for money and oppression of innocent people—were no big deal in Kangxi's eyes.
Very good, the prince is still a good prince. Kangxi was happy. People are in high spirits when they are happy, and they are especially tolerant towards others.
Because Yinzhi's words were not true, Kangxi was generous to him and decided not to pursue his eldest son. After all, if it were not for his reminder, Kangxi might not have discovered that the people around Yinreng were so bad - he had previously focused his attention on Yinreng.
It would be too late to discover these servants until they had caused more trouble, or even led the Crown Prince astray. Kangxi felt a bit of a cold sweat and also felt a bit relieved. Well, let's leave it at that for now. It's time for Hirasun to pick someone. No, I have to personally take care of this matter!
Kangxi narrowed his eyes, weighing the report in his hand. It showed that everything in Yuqing Palace was in perfect order, the Crown Princess had returned to manage the palace, and everything was in good order. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess were also on good terms, close enough that they could even team up to bully their son. With a curled lip, Kangxi quickly calculated his schedule and dates. Hmm, let those servants bask in their pride for a few more months. I'll deal with them when I get back before the Lunar New Year!
Everything was thought out, and Kangxi was relieved after instructing people in Beijing to continue to pay close attention to whether there were any villains around the prince.
The Mid-Autumn Festival arrived a few days after receiving the report. Biting into the egg yolk mooncakes served in Yuqing Palace, Kangxi's mood brightened. Smiling, he said to Qingde, who was accompanying him, "This is a reunion festival. You can write home."
Qingde was eager to hear this, as he had news to tell his sister and brother-in-law - quickly deal with your servants, the eldest prince has filed a complaint!
Qingde was in the Imperial Guard, accompanying Kangxi half the time, and the other half due to rotations within the Imperial Guard. Therefore, he often became very familiar with the accompanying guards. His brother Fu Dali and uncle Shi Wenbing were also guards, making it easier for him to infiltrate the inner circle.
Men bonded through the same few means. Qingde was well-off, so he'd occasionally share a few drinks, listen to some songs, and flirt with young girls—ahem, not from decent families—so naturally, class ties ran deep. He also had a brother-in-law, the crown prince, which also made him popular.
Originally, the guards were supposed to keep their mouths shut and keep secrets even if they heard something. However, as the Suoming factional struggle intensified, most of the guards came from the upper three banners, and more than half of them came from well-off families. It was inevitable that they would be implicated, and leaks were not impossible.
Originally, Mingzhu had a better reputation, but Suo'etu had also served as the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, managing everyone, and many people had become fence-sitters. Of course, this was limited to certain special circumstances; the guards weren't exactly going to spread the emperor's private information without a care in the world. It wasn't like they were risking their lives. Furthermore, Suo'etu wasn't someone to be trifled with. If you got too close to him, Mingzhu might find out and punish you. Mingzhu, while seemingly kind, wasn't exactly a big shot.
Now the situation has changed slightly with Qingde. Those who were unable to come forward in the past and had nowhere to report secrets have become familiar with Qingde, which is a good opportunity for the prince.
Yinzhi wasn't a very popular figure either. For example, on the front lines, he would often play tricks on others and steal their credit in order to promote those who favored him. Such actions, with a single word from him, could ruin the person's career for decades. Coincidentally, one of the guards had a brother who had suffered losses in the army. Great! The prince's second brother-in-law is our brother.
The guard wasn't on duty that day, so he didn't hear what happened. A friend on duty, who had been holding it in for days, finally said to him, "The eldest prince is such a bad man! He didn't even bother to slander your brother." The guard knew what had happened to his friend's family, "Now he's slandering his own brothers. He's made the master unhappy, and we on duty have to be careful, fearing that the master will be upset and take it out on us."
The guard finally understood: "No wonder I felt so cold in the tent when I was on duty yesterday. It turned out to be this guy's fault!"
"That's right. The master used to be very tolerant of my uncle's family. Even that Orondai, the one who dared to piss before the Qing Dynasty, was tolerated by the master. But the other day, he said something wrong and he was given a slap on the face!"
The guard heard it all, took it to heart, and thought he could use it to his advantage. Everyone knows the eldest prince's little tricks! He's going to go against the crown prince. The crown prince and the eldest prince are already at loggerheads, and only His Majesty wants them to be united. Great! If the crown prince knew this, he'd definitely dislike the eldest prince even more!
If you make me unhappy, I can't let you be happy! Besides, the prince is the future emperor. What good will it bring to you if you go against him? Why don't we make a pledge of allegiance to the prince now? Hehe, I won't tell him directly, I'll just tell my good brother Qingde. I'm worried about him, I have feelings for him, and I'm not trying to please the prince.
The best part of this plan was that it could make the eldest prince unhappy without him having to do anything himself. The guard smiled, and his smile was as obscene as the eldest prince's, who was secretly happy.
Doesn’t Qingde know it?
He knew, but sending someone to deliver the message privately was a real hassle. First, Qingde had come out on his own; his father and brother were left in the capital, supposedly as a token of appreciation for their hard work, and he had no one to discuss this with. Second, he hadn't brought much of his family with him, and the traveling group was large, with many people and eyes everywhere. Sending someone to deliver the message would require a good excuse to avoid arousing suspicion. If Yinzhi filed a complaint, Qingde would easily be caught, and "innocent" people would be implicated, cutting off a source of information. Qingde knew his family was definitely being targeted by the eldest prince's side, and he had to be doubly careful.
Now, with a legitimate opportunity, Qingde packed four large bags of local specialties and asked them to take them home to honor their elders. Of course, he also prepared a portion for each of his two married sisters.
The news thus reached the Forbidden City.
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