Read Unconventional Qing Dynasty Transmigration - Passed the test without any danger

Passed the test without any danger

"Greetings to the Crown Prince."

"Come on, Lao Si, hurry up and get up. We are just brothers here, and there are no outsiders."

The relationship between the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince was quite good. They were not as close or devoted as one might imagine, but they were decent. One was the duty of an elder brother, and the other was to fulfill the duty of a younger brother.

After Princess Wenxian's marriage, the two of them got together to chat.

The Crown Prince's feud with the eldest prince was public, and even if the Crown Prince showed signs of friendliness, few would believe him. At best, they thought he had improved, but they absolutely refused to believe he truly had no grudges against his brother. If this was the case with outsiders, let alone the other party involved. Furthermore, Yinreng had recently developed a rift with the third prince, and among the Crown Prince's brothers, only the fourth brother had any say.

The Fourth Prince, on the other hand, had a bit of a solitary streak and wasn't very good at pleasing others. He wasn't very close to his brothers either. The legendary combination of the Fourth and Thirteenth Prince was already forming, but unfortunately, the Thirteenth Prince was still young and the Fourth Prince had already taken on a job, so the two didn't spend much time together.

It was a rare occasion for two lonely souls to come together. Their conversation flowed like a torrential river, flowing endlessly.

"Are you satisfied now? You and the Fifth Princess are now siblings and neighbors. What do you think of your husband's treatment of our sister?"

Although Yinzhen lacked family affection, he still had high hopes for his sister: "She is newly married, so we can't disturb her. However, her fourth sister-in-law went to see her twice and said that she is doing well and that her husband's family has brought her up well."

Yinreng smiled. "It has to be good, even if it's not good. Aren't you watching over me? It's a pity I didn't go to her place to take a look. Your second sister-in-law often says you have good taste. I think the princess's mansion you supervised is also very beautiful. I think the front hall was built according to the regulations and it's not good to go out of the ordinary. How did you build the garden? My new palace is almost finished, but I'm not very satisfied with the garden. Tell me about it so I can try to make some changes."

As soon as Yinzhen opened his mouth, Yinreng regretted mentioning something that Yinzhen was particularly interested in. This guy, who usually couldn't utter a single word, now spoke like a riverbank that had burst open: "You're too kind... the garden... the flowers and trees... the water diversion..."

Yinreng listened patiently. He had two purposes for today: first, to build rapport with the Fourth Prince; after all, this brother wasn't a nemesis. Second, to gather some information—not about the Fifth Princess's well-being, but about a mission Kangxi had assigned to the Fourth Prince.

"You're certainly quite capable. No wonder Khan-Ama entrusted you with the task of preparing the gifts for the Empress Dowager's sixtieth birthday. Your foresight is truly exceptional among our brothers."

The biggest royal celebration of the year wasn't Princess Wenxian's wedding, but the Empress Dowager's sixtieth birthday. Kangxi was a filial son, and the Empress Dowager's birthday was a major event during his reign. This year's sixtieth anniversary was even more significant, and the gift was, of course, carefully crafted.

One of the key points is: do not give the same gift as the emperor, or even if you have the same gift, do not exceed the emperor's gift in quality or specifications.

Kangxi entrusted Yinzhen with the task of preparing the birthday gift, making the best use of his talents. After comparing the gifts presented over the years, Kangxi found that the Fourth Prince's preparations were the most discerning. So he gave him the task this year.

Yinzhen's face flushed slightly, and Yinreng couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Calling the fourth prince innocent was an insult, but his temper was also incredibly straightforward and endearing. (In fact, Yinzhi was also straightforward, but in Yinreng's eyes, he was definitely not endearing.)

Yinzhen coughed lightly, tried to straighten his face and replied, "My brothers all have their errands, and I only have this little ability, so I took this errand."

"The Empress Dowager's birthday is no small matter, so why are you being so modest?" Yinreng teased. "Every time I see the things you pick out, I always feel they are elegant and quite good," he asked casually. "By the way, I seemed to hear someone from the Imperial Household Department say the other day that the birthday gifts aren't ready yet? What have you prepared that's taking so much trouble?"

Yinzhen accidentally blurted out, "I've already got three Buddha statues, 1,440 coral tributes, a self-ringing clock, a Shoushan stone hall of immortals, a Qianqiu mirror, a Baihua mirror. Nineteen rosary beads made of oriental pearls, coral, amber, and Yufeng stone. Nineteen fur coats. Nineteen brocade satin. Nineteen dolomai. Nineteen biji satin. Nineteen agarwood. Nineteen white sandalwood. Nineteen crimson incense. Nineteen cloud incense. Ninety-nine rhinoceros horn, pearls, Han jade, agate, carved lacquer, antiques from the official kilns. Ninety-nine scrolls of paintings from the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. Ninety-nine incense sticks. Ninety-nine large handkerchiefs. Ninety-nine small handkerchiefs. Ninety-nine gold. Ninety-nine silver. Ninety-nine satin. Six saddle horses."

Yinreng calculated that Shujia's list included ruyi and sewing clothes, and none of them were repeated... The chiming clock was heavy, so he asked about the style. It couldn't be taller than Khan Ama's. He had originally prepared a coral tree, but he had to put it aside and find another one. He would use the coral tree as a gift for next year's Wanshou Festival...

"What kind of fur is the fur coat made of? What does a chime clock look like?" Yinreng continued to extract useful information.

Yinzhen explained the specifications of these things from the beginning again, and he was surprisingly clear and logical. He listed several items one by one as if they were all in his mind, and it was clearer than reading them off a list.

Yinreng thought to himself, "The fourth son is really a man who gets things done. He'll be useful in the future." Hmm, what was he thinking? He couldn't help but say with concern, "You should do your job, but don't forget to prepare your own birthday gift. I have some things here. If you need them, just ask your wife to go to your second sister-in-law and pick some."

Yinzhen said, "I have almost prepared my portion. Thank you for your inquiry, Your Highness."

The prince still had more questions to ask: "What else do you need from your superiors? Is it urgent? Can you make it in time? The emperor's birthday is on the third day of October, and it's already late September."

Yinzhen proudly replied, "What's missing is a screen with the imperial poem "Longevity and Boundless Life", a branch of the imperial flower "Longevity, Ruyi and Peace", and a pair of imperial flowers with the tortoise and crane and longevity. The items are designed by Khan Ama himself, and the poem is made by Khan Ama himself. They need to be made more carefully, so they should be ready in about two days."

When Yinreng got the news, he chatted with Yinzhen again, asking him how Honghui was doing recently. When he mentioned the second princess of Yinzhen's family, he sounded quite envious: "It's great to have a daughter, so caring. I can't wait to have one."

This time it was Yinzhen's turn to comfort him: "There are four princes in Yuqing Palace. I heard that all of them are sensible and obedient. Are you happy about this?"

Through this conversation, the Crown Prince gained useful intelligence and won some favor with the Fourth Prince, gaining a deeper understanding of him. Yinzhen's friendship with the Crown Prince also deepened, and he left a good impression on his second brother as a "serious and useful" person. He also blustered a lot, fulfilling the plot of his chatterbox.

Everyone is happy.

When Yinreng returned to Yuqing Palace, he asked Shujia to bring him the list. "I met the fourth prince today. Khan Ama entrusted him with the gift for the emperor's birthday. I asked about the style. The chiming clock we gave was a little too big, so we'll get a smaller coral one for next year's emperor's birthday. That pair of foreign mirrors is a good idea, too. We'll find something else to add."

Shujia said, "For any emperor's birthday or the emperor's birthday, the gifts given are no more than those. A little extraneous is unavoidable, but it's just a rule, Khan Ama. I've also inquired about the emperor's birthdays in previous years, and I've also heard some news this year—the things we've prepared haven't exceeded the standard, so why change it? Especially the chiming clock, it's really not easy to find."

"It's not okay if it's almost the same. It has to be visible..." It has to be one level lower than the emperor's. Only then will it be okay.

"Okay..." Shujia had to go through so many roundabout ways to get the news, but Yinreng, on the other hand, just asked the person in charge directly. That's the difference! It's really heartbreaking. It's like you study until 11 o'clock every day and only get a 90 on the test, feeling smug. Then someone who's always failing starts working hard one day and slams a 99. Was he just paying attention in class, or did you motivate him by saying, "Study hard!"? How embarrassing!

Well, he's starting to put his heart into it, which is much better than working himself to death, Shujia consoled herself.

"How about using a tortoise-shell hairpin?"

"Alright. As for the pearls, agates, and other items, just don't exceed the grid. We'll also add a Buddha statue, but don't exceed the size."

On the third day of the tenth month, the Emperor's birthday arrived, and Kangxi ordered the kitchen to prepare 10,000 grains of rice to make Wanguo Yuliang rice. He also selected other delicacies, fruits, and other items to be presented as an offering.

Shujia, along with the other imperial concubines, wives, and ladies of state, went to Ningshou Palace to celebrate his birthday. Inside, everyone sat according to seniority. The Crown Princess continued to sit next to the Empress Dowager, and Concubine Tong sat at the head of the other side. Several large tables in Ningshou Palace were filled with Kangxi's birthday gifts, along with a selection of representative gifts from the princes, members of the imperial clan, and ministers.

The gifts everyone gave were just the same: Buddha statues, Guanyin statues, and treasures... In this palace, these treasures were the most common. No matter how valuable they were, they weren't particularly exciting, even though some of the items here would break the bank.

What most irritated Shujia was the Empress Dowager's now happy and relaxed smile. Thinking of the suffering she had endured during the Shunzhi reign, and then looking at the happiness she had enjoyed during the Kangxi reign, Shujia became even more resolute in her belief: only when her son is well, is she truly well!

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The stimulated Crown Princess returned to Yuqing Palace to continue teaching her son. The fat boy's academic performance was still very good, even better than the pseudo-child Erniuniu back then, which made Shujia speechless and choked. She had no choice but to bully her second son every day.

That’s right, bullying!

The second fat kid finally learned to talk. The little fat boy called him "brother" hundreds of times, but he ignored him. On the other hand, Yinreng only called him "father" a few dozen times, and he learned it. This made the little fat boy and his mother swear at the same enemy, and they always bullied the second fat kid.

Erpang: I'm so wronged! Is 'MA' the easiest sound to pronounce?

After making Erpang lie spread-eagle, Shujia felt guilty and said to the little fat boy, "Okay, stop playing with your brother. How are your homework going?"

The little fat boy saw his brother wrapped in a diaper, with his legs stretched out. Just as he was about to put him in an M shape, his mother suddenly felt guilty. She pouted and said, "Mom, you only allowed your son to play with his brother after you checked his homework."

Shujia quickly wrapped Erpang tightly: "It's cold now, don't let him get cold." She handed him to the nanny.

"You are five years old now. You should go out to study tomorrow. Don't just think about playing with your brother."

"Really?" The little fat boy jumped three feet high. "With big brother and second brother? Can I learn horse riding too? And will there be a proper master to teach me?"

Do you think going to school is fun?

"Yes, yes, why don't you go and memorize your lessons! Your brothers get up half an hour earlier than you every day and have to memorize them 120 times. What about you? If the teacher checks your memorization tomorrow and finds out you didn't memorize well, don't cry." How can I get him to sleep a little longer? Well, let him go to bed early! All the children in the family must go to bed early!

"I'm reciting the text a hundred and twenty times now, and I'm not afraid of getting up early. I won't let the teacher say that I'm not reciting it well!" He went to recite the text in a skipping manner, and turned his head halfway through the skipping, "I won't cry either." He also made faces at his mother lawlessly, as if he was laughing at his mother's unfounded worries!

Sometimes, having a studious son can be frustrating as a parent. He never gives you a chance to lecture. I wanted to comfort him, telling him he'd have to get up earlier and write more, but he shouldn't be afraid. This is enriching himself. After a dozen years, you'll be free. Mom will help you... Shujia was frustrated, unable to get the words out.

Fatty, just wait!

The Crown Princess grinned inwardly. This winter, she had work to do! Make school bags, sew school bags and pencil cases for the fat boy. From now on, she wouldn't let the eunuchs hold his books for him; he'd have to carry them himself! Exercise him, torture him! Make him lose weight! After all, the nutrition was good, and there weren't too many textbooks, so she didn't have to worry about him growing too tall.

Since these were school bags and pencil cases that were to be shown to others, they had to be exquisitely crafted, not embarrassing. Choosing a good, thick fabric, and measuring the size of the books, estimating how many would fit, Shujia began cutting the bag. Halfway through, she remembered: Hongyang, Hongxi... she hadn't even thought of making a bag for someone else.

this……

Shujia touched her nose, her fingertips sliding across the soft fabric, feeling a little troubled.

"Master," Qing Jin came in, lifting the curtain, "someone from the Empress Dowager's place came and said she wants to speak to you."

Shujia was stunned: "Did you tell me what it was?"

Two maids flashed out from behind Qingjin. Shujia recognized them as Yujing and Chongbao, two of the more valuable maids in the Empress Dowager's service. They both knelt down and bowed, greeting each other. Shujia said, "Sit down."

Yu Jing smiled and said, "The ancestor is urging us to do this, so we dare not delay."

Chongbao continued, "The Masters of Chengqian Palace, Yi, De, and Hui are all here, waiting for you."

Shujia looked at her casual clothes and told Hongxiu, "Change my clothes." Then she said to Yujing and Chongbao, "You have to sit down now, even if you don't want to."

The two of them saw that the Crown Princess was only wearing a jade-colored crepe jacket. It was mid-October now, so she really needed to wear more clothes before going out. They smiled and said, "As you wish."

The heating was warm, so she didn't have to worry about getting cold when changing clothes. Shujia changed into a jade-colored Jiang silk quilted robe and a royal blue brocade multicolored argent fur cloak. When she reached the door, Xiuniu put a bright red spring silk mink cloak on her.

Yu Jing clapped her hands and laughed, "Looking at it this way, he really looks much more energetic. The old ancestor must be happy."

Chongbao said, "That's right. I was just saying the other day, it's snowing, and the red plum blossoms are beautiful in the snow. I'm sure she'll want to see you again after seeing what you're wearing."

"That's right, when the old ancestor sees you like this, he will loosen his grip and might even give the other princes a few more concubines."

Shujia laughed and said, "You guys are really good at talking! I will give you some copper coins to buy some candy." She said copper coins, but in fact she put small silver ingots in her purse.

The two of them accepted it generously: "We would like to thank the master for the reward. Next time there is such a good job, we will rush to come."

The people around the Empress Dowager were all like this. One of the Empress Dowager's characteristics was that she tended to believe what those around her said, sometimes even Emperor Kangxi was helpless. This also cultivated these people's more lively personalities.

"That's great! With you here, my place will be a little more lively. Speaking of which—I hadn't heard about this news this morning, so why are you suddenly talking about it?" The Crown Princess didn't have much say in matters like selecting a grandson's wife. She usually just sat there as an observer, and the opinions of the elders were the main thing. Living in the palace, she'd hear a few rumors. Shujia had known about it during the summer at Changchun Garden when the Empress Dowager met with several young ladies.

"Grandpa just remembered it," Yu Jing imitated the Empress Dowager's tone, "Oh, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth have grown up too!"

Okay, I get it. The old lady is just saying that whatever she wants is what she wants. This matter also concerns her grandchildren, so it's hard for others to stop her.

Arriving at Ningshou Palace, Concubine Tong and the others were indeed there. They had no complaints. For Concubine Tong, this was a recognition of her status, and for Concubine De, it concerned her son. Even Concubine Yi, because the Empress Dowager remembered that the Ninth Prince still lived in the palace and that she had taken care of the Fifth Prince, wanted to add to their ranks, she summoned them all.

Shujia: ...Should I be glad that she didn’t want to give me two more people to serve me?

The Empress Dowager was a bit dull, but she did have her limits. For example, she wouldn't interfere in matters concerning the Crown Prince. She wouldn't speak up unless the Emperor made it very clear that she needed a way out. No one in the entire harem spoke about the Crown Prince.

What I want to talk about today is the selection of concubines next year. The eldest prince needs a concubine, and the ninth and tenth princes' legitimate wives should also be put on the agenda. In addition, the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth princes are also grown up.

Shujia was very upset. The eldest prince's second wife and the other princes' wives were matters a woman couldn't decide. And the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth concubines didn't need such a big fuss.

Conclusion: The old lady woke up from her nap and was too idle to talk to everyone. It's true that everyone has seen a few ladies in their daily lives, but they don't count. It all depends on whether the lady's father is suitable.

De Fei was only relieved: "Old Fourteen has grown up in the blink of an eye." Concubine Mother, your Fourteenth was born in the twenty-seventh year of Kangxi's reign and is twelve years old this year! The selection of concubines is not only torturing young girls!

Concubine Yi was thinking: "With Old Nine's temper, he needs to find a wife to calm down." Mother, even if you marry a wife, you can't control your son. The only one who can control him is his eight brother!

Concubine Hui was relieved: "With a wife looking after the family, the eldest son will have less worries." Damn! He'd better stay single!

twitter.

Since this matter concerned her brother-in-law, Shujia refrained from expressing her opinion, lest she get into trouble. Concubine Tong offered a more feasible suggestion: "Since they want to add more people to their family, shouldn't they clean up the East Five Residences or the West Five Residences? Currently, apart from the Ninth and Tenth Princes who are in the West Five Residences, the older princes have left the palace to build their own residences, while the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Princes are still living in the Zhaoxiang Residence. Furthermore, the Thirteenth Prince's mother's anniversary is coming up..."

Finally, they started discussing some substantive things, and Shujia listened carefully.

After listening to it, the final feasible conclusion was: the Empress Dowager proposed to Kangxi to clean up the Gandongwuso and move the princes in to live after it was cleaned up.

As the end of the year approaches and the palace is busy, the project might not begin until spring. Concubine Yi said, "Don't worry. Even if the marriage is arranged, the preparations alone will take some time, so it won't be delayed. Thirteenth Prince still has to fulfill his mourning period before he can take a concubine, so there's no need to rush."

From beginning to end, only Concubine Tong's proposal received unanimous praise.

Shujia returned from Ningshou Palace and told Yinreng about the incident. Yinreng frowned. His younger brother had grown up, and the situation was becoming chaotic! He saw the beginning of the chaos in the Eighth Brother. He still didn't believe that the Eighth Brother had any intentions for the throne, but he had already started to establish his own family.

This was actually a way to disperse power. Without these younger brothers, the ministers would be either A, B, or neutral, and the choice would be easy. It would also be easier for Yinreng to figure out their positions.

Now, the person who was originally required to remain neutral has now taken a stand, for example, he has defected to Lao Ba. Can you easily predict his next move?

He sighed: "You are right not to say anything. In these matters, the final decision is still made by Khan Ama." At this point, Yinreng was depressed again. What kind of look did his Khan Ama have! He actually wanted to give the daughter of Qi Shi, that monkey, to Lao Jiu.

Lao Jiu and I were not close to begin with, and now I have a father-in-law like this... He is just trying to disgust me!

Yinreng still had some thoughts of winning over the ninth brother. After all, the eighth brother no longer lived in the palace, and the geographical distance would be followed by psychological distance. Unexpectedly, the eighth brother and the ninth brother found that distance made beauty, and the ninth brother still kept his eighth brother in his heart.

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Don’t worry about other people’s affairs, just think about your own!

The Yuqing Palace was about to move! The East Palace had been completed, and Emperor Kangxi personally inscribed the plaque for the main hall. He used the old palace name, but changed it to a bilingual system in Manchu and Chinese.

The main hall in the front is called Duanjing Hall; the middle one is where Yinreng sleeps, called Duanben Palace; the main hall in the back where Shujia lives is called Duanyi Palace. [1]

The halls are where meetings take place, and the palaces are where people live. The three main halls are purely for regulatory purposes. With the Yuqing Palace already serving as an office, the Duanjing Hall...isn't really that useful. It's probably just...a place for the Crown Princess to receive congratulations during festivals. In this sense, the Eastern Palace seems to be the Crown Princess's domain.

According to the distribution plan agreed upon with Yinreng, the courtyards on the west side were almost all empty, which made Shujia a little apprehensive. Yinreng was completely unaware of this and was extremely demanding about the furnishings of the houses.

Shujia never knew Yinreng could be so picky!

"I want them all in rosewood. They're the same color, so they look good."

"Don't use a dark color for the curtain. It won't look good with the rosewood. Change it to a lighter color."

…

When he finished, Shujia had to admit that he had done a pretty good job. Before she could even offer her compliments, he headed straight for the back garden.

Shujia was gloomy. It was late October, and what was there to see in the frozen pond water covered with dead branches and leaves? Yinreng had gone to direct the repairs: "This place is too heavy with workmanship! Move the stones and throw them somewhere else! Add another one under the railing of the bridge over there. The brothers are still young, don't let anything leak in..."

This went on for several days.

Shujia was very upset. This was totally not Yinreng's style, okay?

Only after Yinreng finished giving his orders did Shujia ask, "Why are you doing this?"

"Ah? Ah! It looks so comfortable!" he muttered softly, "It's okay to be stuck outside, but it has to be comfortable at home."

The truth is: the Crown Prince couldn't express many of his ideas in the court because he was second in command! So he had no choice but to act recklessly in his place as the top official.

Shujia was stunned, but also felt infinite sympathy. Being the second-in-command was not easy. Especially when Yinreng was still a young and curious second-in-command. He had unlimited creativity and his political ability allowed him to make reasonable plans, but due to his status, he could only hold it in!

She reached out and stroked his bald head. "Who has wronged you? Just speak out in your own home. There's no one around. You'll feel better after you speak out. I can't speak, but I'll always listen. I'll help you remember. Whenever you want to do something, I'll recite it to you."

Yinreng began to mutter, "The money in the Ministry of Revenue's treasury is starting to run low. The population has multiplied over the years, and the taxes and levies for adults are hefty. I'm left with no other choice but to deport those of no importance as commoners. I was thinking, don't we have servants trading in Western toys? It's said that when they leave, they pass through Jiangsu and Zhejiang, collecting silk, tea, and porcelain. When they arrive in Guangzhou, they resell them for several times the profit. One round trip, they're like two businesses... If... we already have four customs offices, and we've seen the profits, why can't we open more?"

Shujia was extremely excited. In this day and age, no one is afraid of you opening up. "That's a good idea!" [2]

The look of approval and excitement was obvious. Yinreng hugged his wife and rubbed her: "I haven't said anything yet. As soon as someone brought it up, a group of people shot it back. They just said to lift the maritime ban and let the common people fend for themselves..."

Oh, it seems that crossing the sea was banned during the Shunzhi period, and it was also implemented during the Kangxi period to take over Taiwan, but it has been relaxed in recent years.

However, it's a good thing that Yinreng has this idea. More contact, as long as you stick to it, is better than closing the country to the outside world!

Write it down first! Even if Yinreng forgets it later, she will remind him. If she can't remind him, she will nag her son!

It is indeed necessary to write this down first, there is something urgent right now.

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Moving not only means that you live in a new place, but now it also means that the day has come for the emperor's grandchildren to be vaccinated.

Smallpox was a terrible infectious disease for Manchuria and Mongolia. Their population was not particularly large, and their immunity to smallpox was low. Many close relatives of the royal family died from smallpox.

Daishan, the Prince of Li's three sons, the eldest, Yuetuo, the fifth, Balama, and the sixth, Mazhan, all died of smallpox. Daishan's grandson, Duke Heerben, also died of smallpox.

Jinzhu, grandson of Nurhaci's seventh son Abatai, died of smallpox at the age of 22.

Nurhaci's fifteenth son, Prince Yu Duoduo, died of smallpox at the age of thirty-six.

The most famous smallpox sufferer was Kangxi's father, Shunzhi. Huang Taiji had never been vaccinated, and when he heard about the smallpox epidemic, he fled everywhere, claiming to avoid smallpox.

This is true for adults, not to mention young children with poor immunity.

Kangxi's success to the throne owes half of his life to his bout with smallpox. When Yinreng came down with the smallpox, Kangxi neglected state affairs to care for him for twelve days during the Three Feudatories Rebellion. Even if the crown prince had been ill, Kangxi wouldn't have taken such action in such a critical moment unless the situation was dire.

I have said so much just to illustrate one thing vividly: smallpox is a dangerous thing these days.

Vaccination wasn't so peaceful either. Essentially, it gave you a mild case of smallpox, which gave you immunity. Take away all the adjectives: smallpox! And the topic returned to the dangerous part.

The two women with children in the East Palace were so nervous that their hearts were in their throats.

Therefore, the joy of moving into a new house was not so joyful, and the brand new house was no longer enjoyable to live in. A quick glance at the new East Palace made Shujia feel confused.

Several royal families with children outside the palace were also in a state of chaos, cleaning up the houses, selecting suitable servants, and preparing various necessary items.

Because vaccination is a serious matter, it has strict operating procedures and strict requirements for the vaccinators.

Kangxi and Yinreng sat in separate seats in the eastern warm pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, listening to a report from the Imperial Medical Bureau's Chief Judge, Sun Zhiding, who led the smallpox physicians. As their leader, Sun Zhiding gave a brief overview: "We have taken the pulses of the imperial grandchildren by imperial order. The eldest prince of the Yuqing Palace is frail and unsuitable for vaccination. The fourth prince of the Yuqing Palace is under one year old and is not suitable for vaccination. The rest of the imperial grandchildren are eligible for vaccination this time. Now that the weather is cold, it's a good time."

The Imperial Physician of the Smallpox Department began to discuss his specialty: "When the eldest prince of the Yuqing Palace was vaccinated against smallpox in previous years, we all took his pulse and found him too weak to be suitable. Now that he is over seven years old, it would be dangerous to vaccinate him again. The rest of the Imperial grandchildren, the Fourth Prince of the Yuqing Palace, Prince Hongsheng of the Zhibeile Mansion, and Prince Hongshu of the Youbeile Mansion, are all in good health, but they are not yet old enough. They can be vaccinated together with the Seventeenth Prince and others after their fontanelles have closed next year."

Yinreng sighed. He still cared about his eldest son, but the situation was stronger than him, so he had no choice but to accept it. Of his four sons, three of them were able to be vaccinated, which was not bad.

Kangxi asked again, "Are the smallpox doctors in the Imperial Hospital available?"

"This vaccination will only be given to the Emperor's grandson, and it will not be given on the same day, so it will be sufficient to cover the cost. The Emperor's granddaughter will be vaccinated in the first month of next year."

"Where are the scabs?"

"The scab has been removed. It was taken from a three-year-old boy with sparse pox and no malignant symptoms. The scab was taken on the thirteenth day of the onset of the disease. The boy is now fully recovered," the smallpox physician replied in a serious tone. "The scab was taken less than a hundred days ago, so it is suitable for use."

After all, he was his own son, so Yinreng was a little anxious and asked anxiously, "Is there anything else you need to prepare?"

The smallpox physician replied, "The palace's rituals for offering sacrifices to the gods and sending off the gods have their own established rules, and are not the responsibility of the Imperial Hospital. We only need to prepare some decoctions to help the emperor's grandchildren recover. Let them drink them for ten days, and then we can take their pulses. If their pulses are favorable, we can vaccinate them."

Kangxi had only three words to say: "I understand."

After Sun Zhiding left the written report, he took the smallpox physician and left, leaving the emperor and the prince to continue the research.

Kangxi noticed that Yinreng was a little uneasy and comforted him, saying, "The current vaccination formula is much more reliable than before. Countless princes and princesses in the palace have been vaccinated, and many princes and princesses in the royal palaces outside the palace have been saved by vaccination. The smallpox doctors in the Imperial Hospital are used to doing this kind of thing. Don't be too anxious."

Yinreng was still uneasy. The two who were going to get smallpox this time were his legitimate son and his illegitimate son who had already grown up. Both were very important sons, so it was reasonable for him to be worried.

Kangxi reviewed the memorial, then the prescription the imperial physician had written for his health, and when he felt it was all right, he set it aside. "Send it to the Director of the Imperial Household Department and the Director of Ceremonies."

The position of Head of the Imperial Household Department was a lucrative one, but also a demanding one, requiring them to take care of everything from the birth, aging, illness, and death of the royal family to their food, clothing, housing, and transportation. This time, for the vaccination, they were in charge of rituals like offering sacrifices to the gods and sending them off.

He also paid his respects, and then the head of the Imperial Household Department reported, "The necessary charcoal and felt mats have been prepared. To prevent any accidents, double amounts have been provided for each of the imperial grandchildren. The bean goddess, incense, candles, offerings, tables, and other supplies for the sacrifices have all been obtained. We will now send for arrangements to be made at the location where the imperial grandchildren will be vaccinated. As for the expenses for the doctors and eunuchs who will assist with the vaccinations, the servants have already arranged them."

The reply from the Director of Ceremonies was even more detailed: "The paper crowns, robes, belts, shoes, incense pavilions, boats, umbrellas, sedan chairs, horses, banners, yellow money bills, gold ingots, incense candles, paper flowers, and other items needed for sending off the gods have been listed in detail and sent to various places for preparation. The pigs, sheep, drummers, and captains have also been prepared."

Kangxi flipped through the report and wrote, "Doctors and eunuchs will each receive an extra pound of meat daily. In cold weather, doctors will be given a fur coat, eunuchs a cotton coat, and hand and foot warmers. Starting from the day they begin serving the young princes, each will receive an additional 10 pounds of charcoal daily."

The arrangements were complete, and Kangxi added, "The second and third princes will be moved to Yuqing Palace for vaccination. Ask Gao Sanxie to clear out the room."

"Khan Ama?"

The decision to keep the little fat boy out of the East Palace this time was the result of careful consideration by Emperor Kangxi. He decided to keep the little fat boy and his second brother in the Yuqing Palace to recover. Hongyang and Hongtong would not be vaccinated this time; they would live in the East Palace. What if Hongdan and Hongxi accidentally infected them during the vaccination?

This is physical isolation.

Seeing such thoughtfulness, Yinreng had nothing to say.

Yinreng had appeared anxious in front of Kangxi, but back home, he had to display the composure of a head of household: "Why are you panicking? It's not like anyone in the palace or outside of it has been vaccinated before. Haven't they all been there?"

"Then isn't..." Isn't he my son?! Shujia opened her mouth, then closed it again and asked Yinreng, "So, everything is ready?"

She was still considered lucky. Li Jia had no right to ask questions and could only listen to the Crown Princess.

"Khan Ama's suggestion is that Hongxi and Hongdan should first recuperate at home, and then move to Yuqing Palace to cure the smallpox after the imperial physician has examined your pulse."

"Ah?" Shujia was surprised. "Why...are you going to move out?"

Li Jiashi couldn't stand up straight, and leaned forward, wondering what Hongyang should do.

Fortunately, the Crown Princess asked for his help: "Didn't they say they would move to a new place and vaccinate at home? Why do they have to move again? Also, they both got vaccinated, but where is Hongyang?"

Yinreng clearly expressed Kangxi's intention: "I'm afraid that if these two get smallpox, they'll catch the other two too. Hongyang's pulse isn't compatible, and Hongtong is still young."

Even a mother who loves her son dearly couldn't find fault with this arrangement. Shujia asked anxiously, "Will I be able to take care of him during the vaccination?"

Yinreng glanced at her sideways. "What are you doing?" He was also confused. "There's an imperial physician, but they don't need you. You should take good care of the child. What if you go and bring something back and the child gets infected? What will happen then?"

This was almost a remake of "Choosing One of Two Children." Shujia's heart felt like it was being scalded. Children are a debt!

"Don't worry, I'm here! I've had smallpox before, so I can go and take a look." Yinreng said uncertainly.

To prevent the children from overthinking, the two children who were about to get smallpox were kept in the dark about the dangers involved. Hong Dan even thought it was a test: "Having had smallpox before, I'm not afraid of anything? Okay! Mother, I'll be back in a few days. Don't miss me! When I come back, you have to teach your little brother to call me brother~"

After saying this, he laughed heartily.

"Okay..." As he said that, he grabbed Yinreng's arm.

Yinreng replied obediently: "In a while, only Father will be with you. Why don't you say something nice?"

"Yes, yes, good father~" The tone was exactly the same as when his mother coaxed him. His Royal Highness was pinched again.

It's not just the adults who are sad about this.

Hongyang was ill-fitting and therefore not suitable for vaccination. He was tentatively not scheduled to receive the smallpox vaccine this time. With his small frame, he could have lived a few more years without it. If he couldn't handle it, he'd be dead. This also meant that, even without the two fat men, he wouldn't have earned the title of heir.

This made Hongyang even more depressed, and he was sullen and unwilling to speak. On the one hand, he was worried about his brothers, and on the other hand, he resented his poor health.

Li Jiashi simply didn't know what to do. On the one hand, she had to watch Hongxi take the medicine, and on the other hand, she had to comfort Hongyang: "When you are well again, you can naturally get vaccinated."

Hongyang was almost nine years old and knew quite a lot, at least he knew about vaccination, but he didn't answer.

Li Jia could only say bitterly, "This is really the injustice brought upon me by my past life!"

——————————————————————————————————————————

After taking the medicine for ten days in a row, the imperial physician came to take his pulse and said that he was fully recovered and could start vaccination.

The two children were packed up and sent to Yuqing Palace.

The fat boy remained in his old quarters, while Hongxi stayed in the room where he had come to rest. Both places were covered with red felt. Shujia had two important eunuchs, Guo Chaoyong and Zhao Guoshi, take care of the fat boy, while Hongxi had Lu Yougong, both reliable men.

Before the vaccination began, Shujia was allowed to come and see, and she personally sent her son over. Then she was required to burn incense and offer sacrifices to the gods. Li Jiashi followed her. The Crown Princess, as the nominal mother of two children, burned incense twice, while Li Jiashi burned incense alone at Hongxi's place.

Then, the two of them were respectfully escorted out of Yuqing Palace, and a cordon was set up around the entire back hall of Yuqing Palace. Shujia could only wait in anticipation in the East Palace.

Yinreng did not return that day, although he brought a message saying, "Small pox is very dangerous, I'm afraid I might accidentally pass it on to my child." In fact, the situation was very dangerous.

While Hongxi hadn't shown any signs of trouble, the little boy had already developed pox that same day, and his condition was grave. A pox outbreak can occur sooner or later, but as long as it persists, it's not dangerous. But the little boy's current condition was tragic. The imperial physician reported, "There are small, dark red spots on his head and face, all over his body. He has a fever, a heavy breath, and is restless and thirsty."

Kangxi, sitting in the Qianqing Palace, couldn't sit still. He wanted to have smooth, plump granules of pox. He was originally going to go on tour, but he canceled his trip and ran to the Yuqing Palace. Yinreng was already spinning in circles. Seeing Kangxi was like seeing a savior: "Khan Ama!"

"Don't worry, what's going on?"

These two had both had smallpox before, so they weren't afraid of infection and came straight to the back. Yinreng hurried along the way, saying, "Hongxi hasn't shown any signs of any symptoms yet, and Hongdan... the smallpox is breaking out in small pieces, so I'm afraid things aren't going well."

"Hongxi, this is not a problem. Acne will appear sooner or later. It's fine as long as they all appear."

As he spoke, he had already reached the cordon and called the imperial physician: "Let's skip all these formalities for now. Tell me, what's wrong?"

The imperial physician was also sweating profusely: "The blood heat is too strong, which is a dangerous symptom. The pox has not yet fully emerged. We suggest using Qingjie Touxi Decoction."

Kangxi was well versed in smallpox vaccination, and Yinreng had also memorized a lot of books. They all urged him, "Then use the medicine quickly."

Kangxi also said, "Don't let the Empress Dowager know about this. She's old and can't stand being frightened. Spread the word that the Crown Prince and I will be staying here for the next few days! Any matters not related to military or national urgency will be handled by the Cabinet."

Yinreng followed his words and ordered: "Don't let any news leak out, let alone spread it to Duanyi Palace, and don't let people outside cause trouble!"

The two of them settled down there.

Even so, on the third day, the imperial physician didn't dare look at the two men's faces when he replied: "Although the pox has all appeared, the particles are still small and fragmented. The blood heat is too strong..." He trembled, "I suggest using a blood circulation and growth-promoting soup and pine pollen."

"Hurry up and go!" This was the first time in many years that Yinreng interrupted Kangxi, but Kangxi didn't care.

The father and son stared at each other, their teeth clenched, unable to speak. From that day on, Yuqing Palace was as quiet as a tomb, its solemnity rivaling that of the Fengxian Hall next door.

The imperial doctors and eunuchs on duty had been given a few decks of cards to entertain themselves, but now the emperor and the crown prince were worried about their children. Who could have fun in front of them? The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

At this time, Hongxi also had a smallpox, but it was going smoothly. However, the two of them were a little depressed.

As a princess consort who had no access to court officials, Shujia was unaware of what had happened and was simply worried about her son. Whenever the Empress Dowager went to Ningshou Palace, she was unaware of what was going on inside. It's important to remember that Kangxi didn't come every day to pay his respects. It was normal for him not to come, and she couldn't infer that something had happened outside.

Li Jiashi came to report on time every day, hoping to get some information from the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess herself didn't know, so she had to worry too. To make matters worse, Hongyang and Hongtong were both sick again!

Chaos and war are not enough to describe the current situation in the Eastern Palace.

At this point, Shujia calmed down: "What's all this fuss?! The imperial physician should be summoned. They all have their own nurses who are serving them diligently. They should just do what they need to do! Those on duty should just do their duties. The sky is not falling yet!"

"Don't be so confused. Hongyang is young and needs your care as his mother. From now on, you don't need to come to me to set rules. Just take care of Hongyang. When the child is well, bring him to me."

"Palace rules prohibit you from making irresponsible remarks about your master. Remember this, and don't let me overhear anything!"

The Crown Princess was unaware of the situation at court, but the eldest prince was. The Emperor and the Crown Prince had been missing for a week, so how could they not know? Yinzhi knew the emperor's grandson was going to be vaccinated, and his family was preparing for it, waiting for the imperial physician to arrive!

Meanwhile, the court officials were buzzing with discussion. It was supposed to be the time for New Year's preparations, but there wasn't a hint of joy at all. No splashing water, lighting lanterns, frying beans, setting off firecrackers... It seemed so dangerous! If anything unexpected happened, they had to prevent two men in a bad mood from causing trouble!

Kneeling before the Buddha, Yinzhi muttered something, but it was unclear what he was praying for. Halfway through, he noticed someone nearby and turned to see Bahanglong. He asked with a smile, "Your Highness, are you praying for the prince in your residence? I heard he's going to be vaccinated."

Yinzhi said dryly, "Ah." Yes, my son still needs to be vaccinated. He grabbed the real charlatan's hand and said, "Is this from the Buddha?"

Bahanglong answered seriously: "There is no ineffective Buddha in this world, only impious hearts." There is really a sense of solemnity in his words.

Yinzhi decisively asked to eat his food, live in his house, and use his magic stick to pray for his son: "Everything else is fake, as long as my son is well, that's the real thing."

——————————————————————————————————————————

Hongyang had an old ailment, and the prescription was the same old one. Hongtong had just caught a cold, and after taking a few doses, he gradually got better.

In Yuqing Palace, Kangxi and Yinreng, two men scratching their eyes, finally heard the good news. The imperial physician's voice trembled with excitement: "The pus is filling up, and the cheeks are gradually shrinking and forming scabs." Great! It's finally healed.

Kangxi and Yinreng both heard each other's breathing, looked at each other and smiled, and they couldn't stop smiling!

The imperial physician from the west also came to report: "The second prince's blood is full, and the scabs are gradually disappearing."

It’s really great!

On the twelfth day, the Emperor was sent off in accordance with the custom in Yuqing Palace.

Kangxi and Yinreng were too exhausted to move. They each sent messengers to various places to announce the good news. Kangxi then issued an order: "All princes outside the palace should be vaccinated in order." The two of them slept together in Yuqing Palace for the night. When they woke up, it was already late at night. They had slept for most of the day and half of the night.

Unable to sleep, he decided to chat. Yinreng sighed, "Children are all debts, Khan Ama, was it also like this when your son was little?"

"You? It was also twelve days. At that time, the Three Feudatories were still making trouble. You are much more comfortable this time than I was back then. I had no one to accompany me to take care of my son..." His voice faded away. The early death of his parents was a great pain in Kangxi's heart.

Yinreng held Kangxi's hand and fell silent. Kangxi reached out his other hand and placed it over his, their four hands clasped together, a warmth that washed over his heart. At this moment, the emperor and the crown prince were just father and son, and they both fell asleep again until it was time to get up for work.

After washing and changing his clothes, he appeared in front of the ministers in high spirits.

The eldest and third princes were the ones with worried faces again. Their children had started vaccination today. The fourth and fifth princes had anxious looks on their faces, and their families were next in line. The seventh prince's family would be vaccinated a little later.

The one with an envious expression was the Eighth Prince: I really want to worry too!

Kangxi, in high spirits, remarked that he'd been worrying about his grandson the previous two days, seemingly overdoing it. His grandson, blessed by his ancestors, was in excellent health. He was going out to play again! By the way, Crown Prince, you should stay and work. Oh, and when you go to pay your respects at the mausoleum, don't forget to visit your mother's grave as well...

It was almost as if "I am biased" was written directly on his face. The eldest prince was in no mood to hold a grudge about this at the moment. He was still thinking in his heart that the Buddha must be effective. I sincerely pray for my son's safety!

The author has something to say: First, some explanations: [1] The first two names are original, and the last one is made up by me.

[2] China’s earliest customs office was established during the reign of Emperor Kangxi.

Finally, regarding Shun Anyan, some students mentioned him yesterday. I remember it was written that he was Tong Guowei's grandson. Now it seems that he is not Longkodo's son. Tong Guowei had seven sons, and Longkodo was the third.

Since the Qing History only records Shun Anyan as the grandson of Tong Guowei, he couldn't have been Longkodo's son. Given Longkodo's influence at court, it's unlikely he didn't mention him and only mentioned Tong Guowei. However, there's no historical record of Shun Anyan's exact son. Based on the above information, his father likely held a relatively low-ranking official position or held no significant influence.

I wish the students who are taking the CET-4 and CET-6 exams the same as the title of this chapter