I wish you all a happy Lantern Festival
Despite the pressure, Shi Wenbing managed to stand firm, greeting the guests with a smile and occasionally chatting with Suo Etu. In terms of kinship, Suo Etu was a generation older than him, so Shi Wenbing naturally had to respect this "elder." Suo Etu also accepted it with a smile. He didn't know that the Shi family had played a "contribution" to his forced dismissal in the first place, but now he was extremely polite. He repeatedly praised Shi Wenbing, saying, "A lot of good things have happened in the family."
Shi Wenbing smiled and asked Suo Etu to sit at Shi Lin's table. The two were of similar age and had shared experiences, so they had something to talk about.
Mingzhu's family was also the host, so Mingzhu did not come, but sent younger generations to see the bride off. Shi Wenbing took the lead himself, and the bride was received by brothers Shi Wenchao, Shi Wenying, and younger generations such as Fu Dali.
Seeing the faint excitement on the faces of the Shi family members, Suo Etu couldn't help himself. They all knew the inside story: the Crown Prince and his wife are coming today, and maybe they will bring the Crown Prince with them. That would be great! He tilted his head and whispered to Shi Lin, "Today is such a grand event."
Fortunately, the two old men were not deaf. Shi Lin whispered to him, "We still have to thank Mr. Suo for being the matchmaker."
The two old men picked up their wine cups and clinked them together.
Suo Etu was already quite old, and he had his own children and grandchildren to serve him. At this moment, the younger generation of Suo Etu's family was also being received by Shi Wenzhuo and others. When arranging the seating, the Shi family put a lot of thought into it. It seemed inappropriate to put the two families at the same table, and it was even more inappropriate to separate them far apart.
It was Xiluo Te who made the final decision: "Wouldn't it be better to put them on two tables facing each other? Since we want to reconcile, and we want to do it for everyone to see, we'll just give them a ladder. If they want to put the tables together, we won't stop them."
Both families had truly learned the family motto: Harmony! With the head of their own family now on friendly terms with their rival, the younger generations had an excuse to get close. And with the Shi family playing mediator, especially Qingde, a master of gags, they brought the two families together, mission accomplished.
This situation caught the eyes of all the guests. Everyone could see that this marriage was unusual, but no one could point it out, so they had to treat it as an ordinary happy event - it was just that the composition of the people attending the banquet was a little strange and there were a few more people, no big deal!
Look at Qingde. He was whisked away by Orondai right after he smoothed things over. He hasn't come to visit the Suoming and Suoming families since. The host family doesn't care anymore. Let's eat and drink. Try to get close to Shi Wenbing and talk to the other adults who are attending the wedding. Other people's banquets are a great place for everyone to bond.
Guanyinbao was accompanied by several of his brothers, but Shi Wenbing, the host, was not treated this way. Unfortunately, he was greeted by as many as the groom! The emperor's grandfather was reinstated in early February. Contrary to the fears of many during his mourning period, Emperor Kangxi made a major reshuffle of high-ranking officials. Shi Wenbing became the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard, while his son Fu Dali lost his position as Vice Commander-in-Chief and was appointed Commander of the Imperial Guard.
Facts have proven once again that as long as the emperor has you in his heart, position is not a problem at all—at most, they'll move someone else out and put you in. Some things don't matter how thorough your thinking is or how capable you are (unless you're incredibly powerful), but rather whether someone above you is thinking about you.
The Minister of the Imperial Guards, two from each banner, rotated around the palace, managing matters related to the banner's guards. Only highly trusted individuals could hold this position. To avoid suspicion, Qingde was transferred to the Censorate, becoming the Manchu Left Vice-Censor-in-Chief. The Left Vice-Censor-in-Chief was a third-rank official. Both Manchu and Han Chinese served. His subordinates included a sixth-rank official from the Ministry of Experience and a sixth-rank official from the Ministry of Public Affairs. Both Manchu and Han Chinese served.
The first-class palace guards were also of the third rank, but only after entering a ministry or being sent out as an official could one truly enter the officialdom. The Censorate was a crucial department; any major move in the court often began with impeachment, and the Censorate's business was to impeach people.
This was naturally Kangxi's intention. Although he had been cultivating the crown prince's abilities, he had not yet made arrangements for him to take over. Now that he realized his health was not good, he began to consider the issue of a smooth transition of power.
It didn't make sense to think through the future plans for his courtiers, arrange his nephew's future, and secure his youngest son's prospects, only to forget about the crown prince, whom he had loved his entire life. How could his son smoothly take over government and secure the throne without experiencing any turmoil? This was the question Kangxi constantly considered.
Cultivating a large number of princelings from scratch was unrealistic, and Kangxi also adopted the most primitive method of coalition. Soetu did not allow him to step out, and even after resolving his grievances, he did not want him to return to politics. Instead, Xinyu, Fabao, and others were appointed as generals or ministers of the interior. This was the prince's maternal family.
Kangxi had always been confident in the Shi family. Shi Wenbing's brainwaves were always on the same wavelength as Kangxi's. While the Shi family was indeed large, they were also known for their many talented individuals. They also possessed the most reliable qualities: loyalty to the emperor and patriotism. It was only natural for Kangxi to promote the Shi family. This was the family of the Crown Prince's wife.
There is also the ceremony of enthroning the Crown Prince next month, which is another affirmation of the Crown Prince’s status.
Kangxi now only prayed to God to let him live another five, six or seven years so that he could adjust the government to a stable state, help the prince build up his power, and make it possible for the prince to implement his policies smoothly as soon as he came to power without having to compete with court officials in wisdom and tactics.
Shi Wenbing was toasted once again by his new subordinates. For a new official, relationships with subordinates are crucial. These subordinates were still guards, and those who could make it to the guards were a group of people who came together to maintain their superior's reputation. He had to give them face no matter what. Shi Wenbing had no choice but to drink another cup. When he tipped the bottom of his glass, he was met with applause. Fu Dali saw that this was not going well, but he couldn't leave. He was also new to the position and had a lot of interpersonal relationships to deal with.
Fortunately, Shi Wenbing was followed by two nephews, each holding a pot of wine. In fact, only one of them was wine, and the other was... water! They also took on the task of blocking the wine in less important moments, so Shi Wenbing didn't fall down.
Shi Wenbing drank another cup, squinting as he watched Guanyinbao being similarly besieged. He grabbed a wet towel from the tray carried by the servant and wiped his face. At this moment, Fu Hai, the Shi residence's old butler, came running over: "Master! The Crown Prince and Crown Princess are here, and the guards have already come to seal off the street!"
——————————————————————————————————————————
It wasn't easy for someone in the palace to leave the palace. For example, the Crown Princess had only stepped out of the Forbidden City a handful of times since she entered the palace. Aside from returning to her parents' home, she had only left for matters related to the Aisin-Gioro family. This was the first time she had left the palace for matters related to her family, and not only did Shujia go, but Yinreng was also taken with her to the Shi family.
This was truly a nuisance! The Crown Prince's procession was different from that of other princes. His procession was nicknamed "half of the imperial procession," meaning half of the Emperor's. Needless to say, the Emperor's procession was so grand that even half of it could block half the street.
The Crown Prince came with his wife, and the Crown Princess's procession was even more lavish than that of the Prince. Their entourage alone could have blocked an entire street. Not to mention that the Crown Prince's travels were more elaborate than those of the Prince, and their importance was incomparable. If he wanted to leave, the roads had to be closed in advance!
You say, the Crown Prince was about to go out, the road was blocked in advance, and the couple's car was blocking the road. They came to bring honor to the Shi family's wedding, but there was no follow-up - if the road was blocked, how would the bride come? Without a bride, what's the point of the wedding?
Even if we arrive early, it won't work. If you two arrive first, this pile of ceremonial guards, even if they were all withdrawn to the house... the entourage and ceremonial guards alone would fill up two courtyards. You're just here to cause trouble, right?
So they had to arrive a little later, just in time for the bride to enter and the guests to arrive, and then clear the way and set off. After all, the important people were always the last to arrive, and at a party, the importance of the people was inversely proportional to the time of their appearance.
In Yinreng's words, "Go later and come back earlier, just sit for a while and show your gratitude. Whenever something like this happens, we don't keep track of it from beginning to end. If something is abnormal, it is a demon, and I'm afraid it will arouse speculation." Kangxi only granted this appearance because of political needs.
Shujia wanted to stay at her parents' house a little longer. Considering that the main characters today were supposed to be Guanyin Bao and his wife, her arrival would seem like an overshadowing of the others. If she stayed any longer, the newlyweds would be upset. "You just said you wanted to bring Hongdan along?"
Yinreng whispered, "I guess Khan Ama meant for me to be 'great through tolerance'. Why don't I do better and make him feel more at ease?"
"Khan Amarsh?"
"It's Khan Ama who said it. I'll just follow his advice."
Shujia smiled and said, "Okay." She then counted the things prepared for the rewards. The congratulatory gifts from the East Palace had already been given out, and now she had to prepare the rewards after arriving at the Shi Mansion.
Everything is ready, blow out the lights and take a rest.
The next day, they woke up at a normal time. Shujia went to Ningshou Palace to speak with the Empress Dowager, while Yinreng went to the Qianqing Gate to accompany Kangxi during his imperial court session. After both returned, they changed their clothes and left the palace. Despite the importance of the event, neither wore formal attire, like ordinary nobles, though the material was finer and the ornaments more elaborate.
The street outside the Shi residence was originally occupied by the horses of the officials and the carriages carrying the imperial edicts, but now they were all moved to the alleys and surrounded by foot barriers. The Crown Prince and his wife had arrived.
Yinreng was welcomed into the front hall, and everyone knelt to greet him.
Shujia was welcomed into the backyard, and everyone knelt to greet her.
Mingzhu's bride escort was Kuifang's wife, Jueluo, a distant relative of Qingde's wife. She, along with the Xiluo clan and others, welcomed the Crown Princess into the palace. Inside was the banquet hall, where a number of imperial decrees were already stored. Xiluo and the others welcomed Shujia into the room, and the women greeted her with another round of formalities.
Shujia smiled and said, "I am also a guest today. Everyone is welcome, so there is no need to be restrained." She was modest, but still sat in a seat of honor. Only then did someone suddenly realize that this seat had been vacant all along because it was reserved for the Crown Princess!
There were many people at the table whom Shujia knew, and she greeted everyone. There were quite a few important figures, including the wife of Orondei and the wife of Tong Guowei's son Yekeshu. According to them, Tong Guowei's wife had been unwell recently, so she didn't come. Longkodo's wife was at home taking care of the patient, so the host asked for understanding.
Shujia said, "Spring is a time when people are most susceptible to illness, so Madam should take extra care of herself. Fortunately, these are just minor symptoms, nothing serious."
There were also Tong Jia, the wife of Suo Etu, and He Sheli, the wife of Yisan'a. Shu Jia also expressed her gratitude to these two: "I heard from the Crown Prince that you were Suo Xiang's matchmaker and found such a good wife for Guan Yin Bao. I really should thank you very much."
Tong Jiashi was already old, so she replied slowly: "It's my duty."
They sat there for a while longer, and since everyone at the table had seen a lot of things, there wasn't much tension. They just fiddled with their chopsticks, commented on the chef's performance, and exchanged a few gossips.
Shuxian was seated at the end of the table. If it weren't for the Crown Princess's return, she would have sat with the other ladies of the Shi family. Because of her status as Crown Princess, she couldn't just mingle with her sisters; she had to have a companion, and so Shuxian was able to sit with the other ladies. She had always been the companion, and Hesheli had initially been puzzled by the Shi family's arrangement. It wasn't until the Crown Princess's arrival that all the irregularities were explained.
Shujia paused for a moment and said with a smile, "Please sit still for a while, everyone. It's a bit hot. I'll go change my clothes."
Xiluo Te stood up to accompany her, and Shuxian, quick-witted and quick-handed, came up behind Xiluo Te and helped her up. Guan Shi came up from the next table and took Shuxian's seat.
Shujia looked at Xiluo Te's main room, which was still roughly the same as before. She sat down and said, "We came here today with the emperor's permission. We originally wanted to join in the fun, but we hope we don't cause any trouble for the family."
Xiluo Te said, "The presence of the Crown Prince in person brings honor to our humble home."
Shujia stopped responding to these pleasantries. "I can't take too long, so I'll just ask whatever you want. How's everything going at home?"
Xiluo naturally replied that everything was fine.
Shujia then asked Shuxian, "How is your sister these days?"
Shuxian also said yes. Shujia saw that her face was rosy and her movements were smoother than usual, so she knew it was the truth. She then asked Shuyi how her preparations were going.
Xiluo Te replied, "Everything is ready."
"Why aren't my nephews and nieces here?"
Wendu and Jueluo said, "They are still young and are being watched by the maids. We are afraid they might cause trouble if they come out."
Shujia smiled and said, "Why don't you bring them here?" She asked Shuyi and Shuhui, "Why don't you go and see how they are?"
After sending the little girl away, he asked Xiluo Te: "How are the preparations for the third girl going?"
Xiluo Te said: "According to your instructions, some have been added. However... the third girl is going to be a second wife, it is not good to surpass the first wife. Prince Yu's first wife's family is not good, this..." Baotai's first wife Meng Jia, the daughter of Zhongshu Chang'an, came from a small family, had a low status, and was not rich. When she married Baotai, he was not a prince, and his family was small.
"We need the substance! What's wrong with giving up face? I heard that Prince Yu feels quite guilty towards his wife, and it would be bad if the third girl's marriage is too ostentatious." He stopped there.
Xiluo Te quickly understood, and the other children also arrived. Fu Dali and Qingde had been working hard to increase production and serve the country. Not only did they have a son and a daughter, they also had several children, both legitimate and illegitimate, though their clothing didn't reveal much. Shujia distributed the gifts one by one and offered a few words of encouragement, secretly raising an eyebrow. "Hey kid, you're playing tricks on me! Your expression is exactly like your father's when he was a child!"
Time was short, and it was impossible to settle the account in person, so Shujia had to put it aside and made a direct request - to see the bride. Considering her status, this request was reasonable.
In the bridal chamber, Nalan sat alone, accompanied by her maidservants. Originally, she had been accompanied by a few relatives, but with the Crown Princess's arrival, everyone had to go and greet her. She had initially felt a little embarrassed by the presence of so many people in the room, but once they left, a sense of loss gradually settled in.
Suddenly hearing that the Crown Princess had arrived, Nalan felt a surge of nervousness. Although she had no father, she had received good upbringing and training before marriage. "For their family to have raised a Crown Princess, they must have followed the rules very well. You should be extremely cautious."
Now that the Crown Princess had come in person, her comments would have a significant impact on her life in her husband's family, so Nalan couldn't help but feel nervous. Fortunately, her aunt Jueluo saw the Crown Princess leave the banquet and guessed that she was going to see the new bride, so she also came to see her niece, giving her some confidence.
Unexpectedly, the Crown Princess was an easy-going person. As soon as she entered the room, she signaled the palace maid to come forward and hold her down, not letting her get off the ground: "I came to see you. Today is your big day, and the bride is the most important." She did not sit on the wedding bed, but picked up a chair nearby.
Mingzhu's family was more aware of the implications of this marriage and desperately wanted nothing to go wrong. Jueluo had been following them all the way, genuinely worried about any minor mishaps, but seeing that the Crown Princess was so easy to talk to, she was finally relieved.
Shujia was initially not entirely happy with her sister-in-law. Even if her biological father was a huge hit with young girls, that couldn't mask the fact that she had no biological father—a father's genes were crucial for a daughter. Hearing that Nalan was somewhat fragile and vulnerable further displeased her. However, upon seeing the real person, these two considerations were rebutted.
Perhaps it was Nalan's eyes that captivated her. Nalan was indeed a slender woman with a very photogenic face. She appeared delicate and fragile, yet the tenacity in her eyes endeared her to Shujia. She could tell Nalan was a little afraid of her, and Shujia knew it. After all, after so many years as Crown Princess, her aura had reached a new level. But even if Nalan felt timid, she avoided her gaze rather than ran away.
In such a hurry, that's all we can see. It's best if you're satisfied, but even if you're not, you can't protest to Kangxi. So, let's just be satisfied.
Shujia smiled: "Mother is very happy, she has found another beautiful wife."
Both the Jueluo and Nalan families breathed a sigh of relief.
Shujia stood up and said, "Mother, where can I change my clothes?" She actually changed her clothes and distributed all the rewards for the family. She returned to the wine table and chatted with everyone before returning to the palace. Before leaving, she asked everyone not to see her off: "You are here to attend the wedding, and I am disturbing the party too much."
How could they really not send her off? In the end, they sent the Crown Princess onto the sedan chair.
Shuyi and Shuhui watched their sister leave, thinking to themselves, "She really changed her clothes! It's absolutely perfect!"
——————————————————————————————————————————
A trip out of the house was not enough to bother with, but the prince and his wife were very satisfied. Yinreng was satisfied with the consolidation of the rear. Apart from anything else, it was very refreshing to see the Shi family crowded with people. He also saw Soetu and Mingzhu. The best thing was that the two of them stopped fighting. The performance of the crown prince was also remarkable. He was no longer sitting high on the seat, but chatting and laughing. The court officials saw another crown prince who could play drinking games and speak eloquently. He could also call out many people's names and say, "Is your son the newly appointed pen-tieshi?"
He knows everything?!
This is nonsense! There are even fewer imperial guards than imperial clerks in the capital. A department has only about thirty or twenty imperial clerks, while a banner's imperial guards number in the hundreds.
The way everyone looked at the crown prince soon changed.
The Crown Princess also had some new news. Given the level of chaos in Longkodo's backyard, his mother was probably pissed off again. Tong Guowei had six sons, and when he had six daughters-in-law, the one-sixth chance of the child being born was with someone who wasn't the eldest or the youngest. That was incredibly accurate!
It was quite good. Tong Guowei had been ambivalent about his relationship with the Crown Princess, never making a clear statement. If he was being kind to her or truly neutral, that would be fine. But if there was something fishy going on, this alone would have been enough to make Longkodo's situation untenable, and Tong Guowei would have been implicated as well. However, doing so would have been somewhat unfair to Concubine Tong, and Shujia didn't want to bring it up unless absolutely necessary.
Really, why did Qingde choose to be the Left Vice-Censor-in-Chief when there were so many good options? Once someone impeached Longkodo, Qingde would inevitably be suspected.
When Shujia conveyed this to Yinreng, she was much more tactful: "The Tong family is also a prominent family. How could such a person have emerged? Not keeping the curtains in order is just a romantic sin. He is not only favoring a concubine over his wife, but also committing disobedience."
"You went out to a wedding and came back full of rage," Yinreng heard it all and just smiled. "The censors didn't report him, so what's the point of getting angry? They're just giving Tong Guowei face."
"I just don't understand. The Tong family is a well-behaved family. You can tell from the concubine's mother. How come... they didn't do anything about it?"
Yinreng said, "Do you think they don't want to intervene? Longkodo is just like any other person, except for this one thing. He said that if anything happens to that concubine, he will fight to the death. Judging from his actions, he really can do it, hitting the mouse and hurting the jade bottle. He is not a commoner, and if you really make him angry, the whole family will be in trouble. Now it's just people talking. If Longkodo does something wrong, then we will expose it to everyone."
"..." Shujia was stunned: "Uncle Long, how old are you? Your son is already working, and you're still acting in this romantic drama?" "Then there's nothing we can do about him? No, how did you know? I couldn't even find out this from all the women."
Yinreng patted Shujia and acted mysteriously.
Shujia couldn't help but think to herself, men are more gossipy than women, you are shameful!
The wide-eyed look on his wife's face pleased Yinreng: "If you have the time, you might as well think about your son's upcoming enthronement."
"The Imperial Household Department has confiscated some more porcelain and silverware, which have been counted and placed in his room." The Crown Prince's official residence was in the Eastern Palace, the courtyard originally assigned to Hongdan by Shujia and Yinreng. The rules hadn't changed much, only the furnishings had to be changed. However, Hongdan still had to live in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
As for the maids and eunuchs around Hongdan, Kangxi assigned him several, chosen from among the eunuchs and maids of the Qianqing Palace. Shujia had originally planned to have her own escorts, but now that was no longer necessary. Furthermore, on the day of the enthronement, the crown prince would receive congratulations in the Eastern Palace, which would also have to make the necessary preparations.
Shujia was busy with Hongdan's affairs from the end of February to the beginning of March. During this time, she also had to find time to check the gifts for Kangxi's birthday. In addition, Yinzhen's concubine Li gave birth to a boy who was both the third day of his birth and the full month of his birth. It made people want to practice the art of splitting themselves into two.
What was even more hateful was that Yinreng became a hands-off manager, leaving all these matters to Shujia, and no one knew what he was busy with outside. However, names such as "Chen Yuanlong", "Wang Fan", and "Li Guangdi" appeared in his mouth more and more frequently.
At this time, Concubine Tong told her: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has started to select women for servants, and they will be brought into the palace in a few days."
The next day, when the Empress Dowager was paying her respects, she pulled her aside and said, "I heard that the Imperial Household Department has already started selecting candidates. I'll ask them to bring the good ones to Ningshou Palace for me to see. You should come too."
"Okay!" Shujia answered with remarkable clarity despite having a lot on her mind. Anything you take seriously becomes exhausting, but if it's something you don't care about, whether it's done well or not, there's no need to waste your energy on it. With the exception of Yinzhen's son, all the other tasks couldn't be sloppy, especially the enthronement ceremony and the selection of palace maids, which Shujia had never done before.
Choosing a palace maid is different from choosing a maid at home. A maid's family lives in the mansion, so their loyalty is guaranteed. But the same can't be said for a palace maid. Even if they don't have any ulterior motives, their level of attentiveness varies. Shujia subdued Xiuniu and the others, using both soft and hard tactics, which took much more effort than Hongxiu and the others.
The Imperial Household Department was quite perceptive and was also busy with the enthronement ceremony. They wisely postponed the selection date for a few days and arranged it after the enthronement ceremony. Only then did Shujia breathe a sigh of relief.
Despite all this busyness, she couldn't witness her son's canonization: as a woman, she couldn't watch! Despite the shimmering music and deafening cheers outside, she could only wait in her Duanyi Palace for her son to don his uniform and pay his respects to her.
The handkerchief in his hand was almost crumpled to pieces before Hongdan came over.
Clothes make the man. Even a little child can look dignified when wearing a uniform specially made for him.
Hongdan came in and bowed, "Your son pays his respects to your mother."
Everyone in the Duanyi Palace was so happy that they cried. They had been looking forward to this day for so long. "Okay, okay, come over and ask mother to take a closer look."
The son was still the same son, but because the things he carried were different, he seemed to have suddenly matured. Shujia was reluctant to let go of his hand, touching his face, her eyes fixed on Hongdan.
Finally, the dust settled and their family made the game come to life.
——————————————————————————————————————————
When Kangxi was kind, he was truly kind. For example, Shi Wensheng was appointed Right Vice-Censor-in-Chief and sent to Guangdong. He had originally been the Governor of Yunnan. Although both Yunnan and Guangdong were remote southern regions, they offered different benefits. Guangdong had opened ports, while Yunnan had ethnic minorities to suppress and appease. Soon after, Shi Wenzhuo was also reinstated and sent to serve as the Taomin Dao in Gansu.
The Shi family was revived with full health.
The crown prince's position was once again consolidated.
The small election has also begun.
Choosing the right person from the Imperial Household Department's selections was a real science. The palace maids were chosen from the girls of the upper three banners' bondservants. While bondservants were called slaves, they were actually "sixth-rank officials in the prime minister's household." What about the slaves of the emperor's household?
Many people, known as Baoyi, were able to achieve successful careers in government, such as the weaving masters in the south. Their daughters were also pampered and had strong connections. Don't assume that bringing such daughters into your family would be a boon to you; you generally wouldn't be able to keep them. Their fathers, brothers, and relatives would petition the emperor for exemption from the selection process, or manipulate them into being eliminated.
If they unfortunately enter the palace, it wouldn't be a good thing. You expect these pampered girls to serve you? Just keep them for a while, then train them. Don't use too much force. They have a decent background, like a living ancestor! Unless you're the Empress Dowager or the Concubine Dowager, you can't use them.
A lady's body was once her life. After entering the palace, she could still attract men's attention. If she got her, and her husband fell in love with her, wouldn't that be a nuisance for her?
Even if none of the above situations happen, you can think about it: on one side is the family that has raised you for more than ten years and provided you with all kinds of conditions, and on the other side is the "master" you are only half-acquainted with. How can they help you pull your whole family on board your boat? Even if she is willing, her family will not agree.
So Shujia’s goal is: just choose an honest, hard-working girl from a small family. We don’t need any complicated things.
After accompanying the Empress Dowager to select the person, Yinreng asked, "What do you think?"
Shujia said, "I did pick a few honest and hardworking ones who looked capable of working. With the Empress Dowager and the Concubine of Chengqian Palace here, how could I take the lead? Our children are getting older, so they don't really need to be too clever."
Yinreng was currently concerned with state affairs, and Kangxi was planning to let him go, and his demands on him became increasingly harsh. At the slightest disagreement, he would resort to glaring at Yinreng, making him tremble with fear.
"You decide. I just want a peaceful home." Yinreng took a sip of tea. "For the first thirty years, I was so good, so nice. But these past two days, I've been wrong in this and that."
"What's wrong?"
Yinreng finally muttered quietly, "What can I do? Today we're discussing matters again, and it was Khan Ama who said he wanted to be executed. How could I object? Khan Ama changed his mind and ordered him to be executed and put on hold. This matter can only be dealt with by grace from above. I didn't say anything at the time, and Khan Ama said he should be lenient in governing and be kind to his subjects."
"The buyer is the picky one," Shujia heard herself say firmly. "Do you think I want Khan Ama to pretend you don't exist?" She wondered to herself, was I wrong? Was Kangxi not entrusting his son to someone else, but... flattering him to death?
Shujia's head was buzzing.
Yinreng quickly cheered up: "You are right. Perhaps it is because Khan Ama is not in a good mood."
"how?"
"The Qianqing Palace smells of medicine. Last night, Khan Ama felt a little unwell, so we urgently summoned the imperial physician. He took two doses of medicine, and he's feeling better today."
"I remember that Khan Ama didn't get sick often. He only got sick once or twice a year, and it wasn't serious. This has happened since last winter, right?" Kangxi still had nearly twenty years to live, so his health shouldn't be that bad.
In fact, it was six times. On one occasion, Kangxi concealed it. Yinreng found out about it but did not tell Shujia: "It really makes me worry."
The emperor, who had always been a cause of concern, was actually alive and well. Although he had been traumatized by his sons' fratricide and felt his health was not as good as before, his sons were still alive, and his body, which had been well-preserved since childhood, had not yet collapsed. His immune system was only slightly weaker than before, and he had suffered from minor illnesses and ailments.
After taking the medicine, Kangxi closed his eyes to rest. Yinreng's performance was indeed remarkable, and his fear mixed with respect, which made Kangxi feel a little better. He still didn't realize that, in addition to wanting his son to succeed, there was also a bit of jealousy, "I want to step down, and you want to take over." This alternation plan was tacitly planned in his mind.
You need to work harder to temper yourself! To be a king, you need not only vision and ability, but also persistence.
This old man is so contradictory that he's a little crazy.
Well, we can put it in a more polite way: God’s power is unpredictable!
In short, in the days that followed, the Emperor and the Crown Prince were at odds, finding fault with everything the Crown Prince did. At the same time, he treated the Crown Prince very well, praising the Crown Princess for her filial piety and her excellent service to the Empress Dowager. In short, he praised everyone around Yinreng except the Crown Prince.
He also made a difficult decision to improve the treatment of the East Palace again.
This two-faced behavior made Yinreng feel like he was dying, and he could only grit his teeth and endure it until Shi Lin died of illness.
Shi Lin is a retired cadre. Retired means too old to work. Death doesn't feel so sudden to people of advanced age.
Shi Lin died, and Shi Wenying was required to observe mourning! He held the title of Dutong, but now, that too was removed. Further calculations revealed that Shi Lin had more than one son, but Shi Wenying was in Beijing, so he was mentioned more often. His other sons also had to return to observe mourning. Kangxi reviewed the archives again, and found that, including sons and grandsons, there were five or six missing.
Kangxi asked Yinreng for his opinion again, and Yinreng said, "We should observe the rules."
Kangxi didn't complain this time and let him go. Looking at the pile of memorials requesting mourning arranged behind the memorial announcing the death, he slapped his forehead and thought, "What's wrong with me these days?"
There was nothing to be embarrassed about with his own son. He had done so many embarrassing things before that an apology was not a big deal. When Yinreng came to receive "instructions" again, Kangxi gently said to him, "I have been in a bad mood these past few days and I scolded you. Please don't take it to heart. I was too impatient and always wanted you to do everything to my liking."
Yinreng cried miserably: "Strict father, kind mother, Khan Ama's strict requirements for me are the real love and protection. Khan Ama, I am the emperor's father, and I should share the joys and sorrows. I would rather you vent your displeasure on me, because this is the real closeness. Just like now, you tell me everything you think of, and I am so happy. I only regret that I am dull and cannot satisfy Khan Ama."
Kangxi also wiped his tears: "You have always been smart and there is nothing wrong with you. I am angry at you. I am really sick and confused..."
"Khan Ama."
…
…
…
The characteristic of a son-control freak is that as long as his son acts cute in front of him, he can't tell the directions.
The author has something to say: I encountered four power outages, and this chapter was really difficult to write = =
I wish everyone a happy Lantern Festival~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
