Happy and sad events
The Fourth Concubine had given birth to a daughter, making her Yinzhen's third daughter. A daughter born to a concubine naturally could not be neglected, so when the news of the Fourth Concubine's birth spread, Changchun Garden, the Forbidden City, and the various palaces outside the palace were all busy, taking out the prepared gifts.
Concubine Tong and others who lived in Changchun Garden even sent people back to the palace to get it. The Ninth Lady and others who lived in the palace also prepared their travel clothes, ready to attend in person.
The Empress Dowager and Concubine Tong sent a message to the Eastern Palace: "The Crown Princess is unable to move around easily, so she need not leave the palace. If there are any rewards, please have them announced." Shujia's due date was nearly two months away, and she wasn't particularly worried. With her husband away, she didn't dare worry about anyone else's involvement. She might not be able to have a baby in seven months, but what if it was premature? The Twelfth Concubine, similarly treated as the Crown Princess, was still over a month pregnant, and for safety's sake, she wasn't allowed out either.
Shujia had no choice but to send the things out, and asked Hongxiu to pass on the message: "Relax and take good care of your health."
Hongxiu stood aside, and even ordinary ladies and wives had to give her some respect. However, she was only a maidservant of the Crown Princess, and could not say much to the Fourth Wife. When she arrived at the Zhen Beile Mansion, she completed her errand and paid her respects to the other wives. It was no longer appropriate for her to stay and listen to their private conversations.
Hongxiu withdrew, and less-close wives and concubines followed suit. Seeing that only the concubines remained, the Fourth Concubine's mother, recognizing her status, also withdrew to a nearby courtyard to rest. Only when the relatively recent guests were finally left did the princes' wives step forward in unison to offer their congratulations.
Having a daughter is a blessing, and in this situation, this is also true. Look at the Fifth, Eighth, and Thirteenth Concubines. They don't have to worry so much about having a daughter now. The words of these three people are full of envy, and their tone is different from others.
This was known. The Fifth and Thirteenth Concubines spoke in a light voice with a hint of melancholy: "The little princess is so beautiful." They surrounded their little niece and hardly moved, staying closer to the little princess than to the Fourth Concubine.
The Eighth Lady encouraged the Fourth Lady: "Sister, you brought your younger brother with you. You are lucky." Even if it is a daughter, it is better than having no children at all.
The other wives who had children or had given birth to sons were more enthusiastic than these wives. In addition to saying that their niece was born well, they also followed up on the words of the Eighth Wife and encouraged the Fourth Wife to keep up the good work.
With her husband away, the Fourth Lady had fought tooth and nail to give birth to another daughter. Disappointment, grievance, and anxiety were inevitable. But after hearing what they said today, she felt that she wasn't the worst off. Even if her son died, at least she had a daughter to live with, which was better than being childless. She even felt encouraged. Hadn't the First Lady given birth to a son after giving birth to four daughters?
She cheered up again.
The wives were of equal status, and even though their husbands differed in degree of intimacy, and their sisters-in-law might have had their own petty disputes, they were united in upholding "orthodoxy." Seeing that the Fourth Wife had recovered, the other wives were happy for her. They had noodles at Prince Zhen's mansion before dispersing.
The Eighth Lady lived closest to the family, so she volunteered to see the sisters-in-law off, eventually returning home. She was utterly dejected when she got home. Other families were having babies, and the cries of babies were so sweet! But her home was as quiet as death! The sound of the Eighth Lady's feet stomping on the ground was even heavier than usual.
It was fate that afternoon. That afternoon, the Eighth Lady heard the Eighth Prince say that Mr. He (He Chao) had made a joke today: "His little daughter was naughty. She drew a flower on the corner of his clothes. Mr. He was in a hurry and didn't see it. When she came to me..."
The Eighth Lady smiled, then something occurred to her: "How old is Mr. He's daughter this year?"
The Eighth Concubine was utterly lonely. Whenever the Eighth Prince left for work, the house fell silent as a grave. She was quite a capable housekeeper, and no one dared to cause trouble. Everyone was as quiet as a rock, and the fun of domestic strife was gone. She couldn't visit neighbors or perform on stage every day, and just as she was feeling down, she heard about an interesting young woman. A small part of the gap in the Eighth Concubine's heart was filled. It was only a small part, but it made her feel much better.
The Eighth Prince thought for a moment and said, "He must be about three or four years old. Mr. He lives in Beijing, and his salary is low. He doesn't have many servants, so he has to do a lot of things himself. He hasn't been very strict with the child, and he has become a naughty child."
"Children are only interesting when they are naughty," said the Eighth Lady, who was envious of other children. "Would you mind sending someone to bring them over so I can see them tomorrow?"
The Eighth Prince was indifferent to such matters: "Let's talk to Mr. He first before sending anyone."
The next morning, the Eighth Concubine sent someone to knock on He Chao's door. He Chao was ordered to serve the Eighth Prince while he studied. When the Eighth Prince didn't have to go to the palace for duty, He Chao was more relaxed. At this time, he was still at home. He received the news that the Concubine wanted to see the child, and hurriedly ordered her daughter to be dressed. However, she was still worried, so she personally accompanied the carriage to the Eighth Prince's residence.
Arriving at the palace, the maid and the eunuch brought the girl to the Eighth Lady. The Eighth Lady saw that the little girl was wearing a bright red jacket and, as was customary in the capital, had only a small braid on her head. She had snow-white, rosy skin, was short and petite, and had a dimple on her cheek when she smiled. She kowtowed in a childish voice.
The Eighth Prince and He Chao's description of the little girl as "naughty" was true. After all, the little girl had a father who was a Jinshi, had worked as an editor, and was now a student for the prince. He followed the rules to the letter. The tender voice touched the softest part of the Eighth Lady's heart.
The Eighth Lady fell in love with her the moment they met and lavished her with gifts: a gold necklace, bracelets, anklets, and a satin purse. The girl was also quite courageous, giggling, "Thank you, Lady," as she gazed at the tray held by the maid with her large, round eyes.
The Eighth Lady asked her, "Do you want to see it?"
The little girl endured it for a moment, blinking her big eyes. It was considered impolite to look at gifts back then, so she pouted and shook her head. The disappointment in her eyes defeated the Eighth Lady, who waved her hand and the maid came forward.
The Eighth Lady personally put a collar on the little girl. Looking at the little girl's sweet smiling face, an idea suddenly came to her mind!
A few days later, a major event occurred in the capital: an earthquake! A minor tremor, considered a warning from heaven, sent some into a state of panic. The Eighth Prince was also busy, conferring with his brothers and ministers who remained in the capital and writing a report to Emperor Kangxi.
It wasn't until Kangxi approved the memorial, indicating that he would soon arrive in Beijing and that he would discuss anything when he returned, that the Eighth Prince and the others breathed a sigh of relief. The Eighth Lady took the opportunity to ask the Eighth Prince if the earthquake had frightened He Chao's little daughter. How would the Eighth Prince know this? "I haven't heard Mr. He mention it."
The Eighth Lady didn't really want an answer. She just wanted to say, "I fell in love with that child the moment I saw her. Isn't it fate? Mr. He's family is short of caregivers, and he was sent by Khan Ama to study with you, so he can be considered your subordinate. Why don't you talk to Mr. He about it? I'll take him in and look after him. It will relieve my loneliness and Mr. He's worries. Girls should never be left undisciplined."
The Eighth Prince thought about it again and again but still couldn't make up his mind. The Eighth Lady persuaded him for several days before he agreed.
The Eighth Lady received permission and actually went to pick up the little girl herself. From then on, the Eighth Prince's residence was filled with the sound of children, and people gradually knew that the Eighth Lady had an adopted daughter. The Eighth Prince had also given another example of being considerate of his subordinates, and the Eighth Lady also earned some reputation for virtue.
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Shujia was in the palace, so the news would arrive later. While the Eighth Lady was busy trying to convince the Eighth Prince to adopt her daughter, the Crown Princess had to give her sister one more lesson before the Emperor returned, and then send her home. Of the four Shi sisters, Shuxian was no longer in the capital, and Shuyi was already engaged. It was fine for Shujia to not go, but she couldn't keep Shuhui in the palace as well. It would be awkward if none of the sisters were present.
Shujia's timing was very accurate. As soon as Shuhui returned home, Yinreng also came back. When he came back, he asked, "Didn't you pick up your fourth sister?"
Shujia said, "She came to keep me company for a while. The third girl's wedding date is approaching, and she can't be without a sister, right?"
Yinreng nodded and said, "Did the earthquake a few days ago frighten you?"
"I didn't feel anything during the earthquake. I only started to feel scared after it was over. Before I could even feel any fear, I thought about my son and how I needed to comfort him. In the blink of an eye, I was so busy that I forgot I was scared."
The couple had been apart for several days, inevitably exchanging information. Yinreng had no comment on the Fourth Lady giving birth to a daughter, but he was very dissatisfied with the Eighth Lady adopting He Zhuo's daughter: "If you really want to sympathize with the hardship of the family, you can reward them with some money and land, which is fine, but taking the daughter of a foreign minister and raising her as a daughter in the prince's mansion is not a big deal? He Zhuo is not dead! And the Eighth Lady let her do what she wants! How foolish!"
Shujia let him lose his temper. Yinreng was not a person with a good temper to begin with, and he had been holding it in for many years. Letting him lose his temper and curse at others over some trivial matters would help him relieve stress.
Yinreng complained for a long time, his breath gradually calmed down, and he drank a sip of tea: "There have been a lot of things this year." There were two consecutive earthquakes in the capital, both of which were minor, and it was necessary to divert everyone's attention, such as: holding some happy events.
This year saw four major royal weddings: Prince Yu's remarriage, Prince Ping's marriage, the Sixth Princess's marriage, and the Ninth Princess's marriage. The Ninth Princess, the younger sister, married several months earlier than the Sixth Princess. Baotai's wedding also took place in the first half of the year, while Nersu's was in the second half. These four events, all weighing heavily on the public, served to divert public attention.
Kangxi conferred the title of Dali Temple Minister on Li Xu and the title of Tongzhengshi on Cao Yin. Firstly, it was a reward for their hard work, and secondly, it was to add weight to Nersu's future wife.
Of all these marriages, the one that truly satisfied Yinreng was Baotai marrying Shuyi. Yinreng had already tacitly accepted that this marriage was the beginning of the "smooth transfer of power plan" that Kangxi had been planning and implementing within the imperial family. All that was left was for the Fifteenth Prince to marry Shuhui, and the plan would be largely complete. He finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Shujia thought to herself, "These are just a few things, and you think you're done once you've done them. I've been dealing with these trivial matters all year long, and I don't know when it will all be over."
Well, at least you can take a break during the confinement period after giving birth.
In April, the Crown Princess gave birth to another son. As usual, he couldn't be named yet. Everything was calm, both inside and outside the palace. Those who wanted to congratulate congratulated, those who wanted to receive rewards received them, and those who wanted to take Hongchen to his own courtyard went to serve him.
Really, not exciting at all.
It’s easy to want excitement, for example, the prince is sick!
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Yinreng was in relatively good health, despite the heavy psychological burden he had endured in recent years, including two serious illnesses. He was still young, after all, and his illnesses were minor. However, this time, he fell ill after the Ninth Princess married Sun Chengyun, and was unable to participate in this year's imperial tour.
Yinreng was pretending to be sick. He needed some time away from the emperor's supervision to reassess the situation in the capital and make appropriate adjustments to his plans.
The Crown Prince wasn't arranging his forces to force the emperor to abdicate, but rather felt that he hadn't been able to spend time alone with his subjects for a long time. Kangxi arranged a dense schedule for him, taking him with him wherever he went, which was indeed to build momentum for him, but it also squeezed his personal space.
Whether it was the Yuqing Palace or the Eastern Palace, they were all under the Emperor's watchful eye. The moment the Crown Prince summoned someone, the Emperor would know the next moment. The same was true when traveling. If you happened to meet someone and offered a few words of advice, it was fine. If you wanted to say more, you had to find another way.
Over time, private communication between the prince and court officials became less and less, and personal relationships began to erode.
Traveling with the emperor was always a rare opportunity, and refusing it in person was suspicious. This is how Yinreng came up with this roundabout way to save the country. He was actually ill, and he exaggerated his condition to the imperial physician, but he sternly stopped the doctor: "Don't say that to Khan Ama!"
Who should you listen to, the crown prince or the emperor? This is a really difficult question!
The imperial physician confessed everything after just a few words under Kangxi's questioning. Kangxi then took the pulse record and examined it. It wasn't a serious illness, just a slight cold and fatigue. With the departure date approaching, it was difficult to postpone it any further. It was a good opportunity to leave Yinreng behind to look after the family and attend Baotai's wedding.
Because the Sixth Princess's wedding was scheduled for September, and the Emperor had not yet returned to the capital as planned, it was convenient for the Crown Prince to be in the capital. The Sixth Princess's husband, Celeng, had been raised in the capital since childhood, so the Princess wouldn't have to worry about having a common language with her husband.
After reading the pulse case, Kangxi rushed to Wuyi Zhai to see his son. When Kangxi entered, he saw Yinreng was not lying in bed. He said: "Why is Khan Ama here? My son is fine, they are making a fuss!" The content of his words was reliable, but his voice did not sound like he was fine at all.
Yinreng led Kangxi to the westernmost room, where a book lay on the couch. "My son was just here studying."
Kangxi smiled and said, "Since you are so energetic, I have two errands for you to do."
Yinreng said excitedly, "It's up to Khan Ama to order."
The task Kangxi gave him was to oversee two weddings in Beijing. Yinreng lowered his head and said in a muffled voice, "Son, obey your order."
After sending Kangxi away, Yinreng didn't feel happy at all. He had achieved his goal by taking advantage of his father's love, but why did he feel like a worthless person?
The Crown Prince, disillusioned, saw off the Emperor and didn't rush to build rapport with the courtiers. There were still several months to go, ample opportunity for communication and rekindling old ties. Let's call the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department first. Baotai's wedding is approaching, and we can discuss matters.
In the days that followed, Yinreng devoted himself to handling various government affairs, finding himself at ease and feeling that this kind of life was what he was most accustomed to. At the same time, he also became more harmonious with the ministers who remained behind. The marriage of Prince Yu, which the Crown Prince had always been concerned about, also went smoothly.
Kangxi was not at home, but the Empress Dowager was. After their son's full month, the Crown Prince and his family moved to Changchun Garden to accompany the Empress Dowager. It was a good opportunity for the newlyweds to meet the Crown Prince and his wife at Wuyi Zhai after their visit to the Empress Dowager.
Yinreng and Baotai had a long talk in the study, and Shujia met her sister in the inner room.
Seeing Shuyi's shy new bride, Shujia knew her sister had passed the first hurdle of her marriage. She then inquired about the situation in Prince Yu's mansion: "Did you meet the old lady this morning? Did they get along well?"
Shuyi said softly, "The old lady said that it's finally time to take a break. They've been taking care of the household chores lately, and it's been very tiring. I think I'll still have to ask them for advice from time to time in the future, and I'll have to reply to them if I have any questions."
"From now on, you should call the old ladies "mother."
"Uh, yes."
Shujia then asked Shuyi if she had met anyone else. She learned that she had already met Prince Yu's sons, as she still had plenty of time. The eunuchs, stewards, and maids in the palace had all come over to kowtow to her. Then she said, "You've made a good start."
Shuyi took the opportunity to ask, "So that person brought some of the family with him. I was thinking, let's keep a few of them, and as for the rest... instead of sending them away, let them look after the farm and shops that the child's biological mother brought as a dowry. Do you think that's appropriate?"
Shujia said, "That's one way. There's no need to talk too much or too little. But there's one thing: don't rush things."
"I saved it."
Yinreng spoke to Baotai in the tone of an elder brother, as if that woman wasn't his sister-in-law. He first teased the groom, then changed the subject and gave him a serious instruction: "I haven't seen your wife, so I can't say whether she's good or bad. I think the one Khan Ama chose must have come from a well-educated Shi family, so she should be good. However, you still have to see what kind of person she is. Just watch her now, see how she serves the old wife, how she treats your younger brothers, and how she governs her children. If she does well, you can rest assured. If she does something wrong, correct her early, and it will also keep the family harmonious."
Basically, he was considering the issue from Baotai's perspective. Baotai heard that Yinreng had a little intention of protecting his wife's sister, but he was more concerned about himself, and he was also very moved. On the one hand, he said that he believed that the Crown Princess's sister would be a good wife, and on the other hand, he thanked the Crown Prince for his concern for him.
He himself had his doubts about whether his new wife would be kind to his son, serve his mother-in-law, and manage the household well. He was a little worried that she might take advantage of her sister, the Crown Princess, to become hardened. After a day and a night together, he initially felt that his wife wasn't a mean person. And now that the Crown Prince seemed to be speaking fairly, Baotai gradually felt at ease.
Although he declined the prince's invitation to dinner, judging from Baotai's expression, he was grateful.
Yinreng raised an eyebrow. He was indeed good at things like staying in the capital. Well, not bad! The Crown Prince smiled and gave himself a high score.
However, it didn't take long for him to stop laughing: Prince Jian Yarjiang'a's eldest son Delon and second son Alta died on the same day of the same month of the same year...!
The two children had a sudden illness. They were fine during the day, but suddenly broke out in the middle of the night. The maids and servants on night watch didn't hear anything at first, but only went to check on them when the patients began to tremble with fever. They hurried to take care of them, and prepared to report to the concubine at dawn and send for the imperial physician.
Ning Hui always got up early, and since Yarjiang'a had to go to court, Ning Hui had to see her husband off, so she couldn't get up late, usually at noon. Delong's maid ran over at the exact time, and Ning Hui was naturally anxious when she heard it. She immediately sent someone to get Yarjiang'a's note to call the imperial physician.
Just as the people here were sent away, the illegitimate son Alta also came to report: "The second elder brother is sick." According to the description, the symptoms were surprisingly similar to Delon's!
Someone from Prince Jian's mansion caught the imperial physician just as he arrived at work, and there were still breakfast crumbs hanging from his beard. Even so, the imperial physician's only job at Prince Jian's mansion was to announce that the two princes were "no longer useful. My condolences."
Ning Hui fainted on the spot. Fortunately, the imperial physician was still there, and after a burst of emergency treatment, Ning Hui regained her breath. She tried to scream, but no sound came out, and tears streamed down her face. Meanwhile, Yarjiang'a's concubine, Irgen Jueluo, was also weeping bitterly, and came over to ask Fu Jin for advice.
Ning Hui cried for a while, then wiped away her tears. "Where are they? Ask the Chief Secretary to go to Changchun Garden to report to the Crown Prince. Then, report to the Imperial Clan Court. I'll go write a letter... to the Prince."
Yarjiang'a led the clan affairs office himself and told the clan affairs office, which was actually telling the officials who stayed behind, that Prince Jian's two sons had died, and that what needed to be registered should be registered, and what needed to be reported should be reported.
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Yinreng was stunned when he received the news: "Are you telling the truth?"
"How dare I joke with the young master's life? This morning, as soon as I arrived, the lady inside said that the two princes...are gone! I have brought the imperial physician with me, Your Highness, please ask him."
Yinreng summoned the imperial physician, but all he could report was the condition of the bodies. Then the clan office reported: "Prince Jian's eldest and second sons have died."
Yinreng then issued an order: "Instruct the officials to conduct funerals for Prince Jian's two sons according to the established rules. Call the Nine Gates Commander and the Grand Secretary on duty." It absolutely couldn't be an infectious disease! What emergency could kill two people in one night? Even if the imperial physician said it wasn't certain, we had to be on guard.
The Nine-Gate Commander and his men arrived quickly, and Yinreng issued orders: Instruct the Imperial Hospital to take pulses in the palace and Changchun Garden, especially for the young princes and princesses, and to prescribe several preventative prescriptions. They were also to visit each of the princes' palaces to check their pulses. They were to send someone back to the palace to bring the young princes and princesses to Changchun Garden to serve the Empress Dowager. The Nine-Gate Commander was to maintain security in the capital, prohibiting anyone from spreading rumors or disrupting order. The powerful and influential in the capital were also prohibited from leaving the city with their entire families to prevent panic.
The Grand Secretary and others seconded the proposal, wrote a memorial, and submitted it to the emperor. Yinreng also wrote an additional letter to Yarjiang'a, asking him to mourn.
The author has something to say:
Personally, I don't think today's actions count as giving out lunch boxes. The two names that were crossed out never made a direct appearance...
PS: My heart is wavering between abuse and non-abuse.
PPS: I can’t find a name that hasn’t been used if the Crown Princess wants to have another son, so this is the last son?
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