People's minds began to change
As Yinreng expected, there were two people in his life he found himself helpless against. One was Kangxi, the emperor and his father. As a crown prince unwilling to rebel, he could only play nice with Kangxi. And Soetu, even more difficult to deal with, was even more difficult than Kangxi. While Yinreng could influence Kangxi on many matters, he found it incredibly difficult to change Soetu's mind.
When it came to the Eighth Prince's contact with Prince Yu, Yinreng could immediately see the shadow of the eldest brother, and then quietly flirted with both of them. When it came to colluding to request the canonization of the crown prince, no matter what Yinreng said, he could not convince Soetu.
Look, here comes another unsuccessful communication.
The Imperial Envoy was busy again, as was Soetu, the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard. The only thing keeping them busy simultaneously was the Emperor's upcoming tour. Yinreng admired Soetu for finding time at such an important time and amidst such a busy schedule. He continued his lobbying: "Your Majesty has already ordered us to prepare all necessary arrangements for the tour beyond the Great Wall. The Fourth Princess will marry the Borjigit Khalkha Prince Dundubdorji this year, and Your Majesty would like to take this opportunity to further evaluate his son-in-law. The Emperor's departure is in July, and if we don't submit a petition now, it will be too late."
Soetu thought it would be best to get the Crown Prince's approval. He almost regretted telling Yinreng about his plan last time. This time was different. If the Crown Prince's legitimate son wasn't the Crown Prince's grandson, then what was he? Judging by Kangxi's usual behavior, he valued the fat boy more than his other grandsons. He should have quietly contacted everyone and submitted a petition instead of informing the Crown Prince first. He received opposition as a result, forcing him to take time out of his busy schedule to lobby the Crown Prince for his approval.
Yinreng firmly expressed the opposite attitude: "When Khan Ama wants to do something, he will do it naturally. We just need to fulfill our duties as subjects." He made an unprecedented gesture while speaking, raising his index finger, "I said, you are not allowed to move!"
"Your Highness!" Suo'etu's tone also became serious. "If we really wait for the eldest prince to leave the palace and set up his own residence, it will be easier for us to unite with Mingzhu. By then, it will be even more difficult for us to serve in the court."
In Yinreng's opinion, Soetu wasn't worrying about the point at all! Hardship, huh? Even before, the greatest pressure he'd felt from the eldest prince was this: This guy is like a mosquito, biting once, but that buzzing sound is so annoying, I want to smack him into silence. He never thought of him as a hungry wolf, capable of biting him to a bloody pulp and bleeding to death.
"If we make a fuss now and make Khan Ama unhappy, everyone's life will be miserable, okay? Why worry about him? What can he do? What's wrong with you now?" Yinreng felt that he had made himself clearer.
Suo Etu still refused to give in. He had never felt so tired talking to Yinreng before: "My Lord, the eldest prince doesn't have much ability, but Mingzhu does. Mingzhu is a thousand-year-old fox. He will definitely use the eldest prince's enthronement to stir up trouble. His sons Kuixu and Kuifang are already grown up, and they are not good people either. When that happens, we will be in real trouble."
"Don't worry! I have my own place."
Soetu returned home frustrated, bewildered and a bit irritated. He had always been Yinreng's pillar of support at court, not necessarily obedient, but persuadable. Now the Crown Prince seemed to have transformed into a tyrant, even taking advantage of the situation. He saw the Crown Prince's familiar expression return: indifference, a hint of boredom between his brows, the same one he'd used when he'd mentioned he was tired of the Ru kiln vase and wanted to replace it with a cloisonné one.
Soetu tactfully went back with a lot of doubts and excitement in his heart.
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As soon as Soetu turned around, Yinreng's face fell.
Kangxi taught him that to be a wise ruler and a good prince, one must learn to listen to all sides and accept advice, but this does not mean that one should succumb to the wishes of his subjects when there are differences of opinion. Yinreng was repeatedly rejected and his suggestions were repeatedly raised, but the other party still showed an attitude of fighting to the end, which made Yinreng very annoyed.
They had always worked together seamlessly, but now a disagreement had arisen. Why was it that something so clear hadn't been implemented despite his repeated statements? Wasn't Suo-etu supposed to be on his side? Why hadn't Suo-etu listened to him this time?
All he could say was that Soetu had his own agenda, not the previously held belief that he was working for him. Soetu had his own goals and ambitions, and there was no fundamental difference between him and his cronies. If there was, it was only in terms of weight. Soetu's dedication over the years was also for his own sake: to expand his power, exclude dissidents, confront Mingzhu, and control the government. He needed a crown prince.
Yinreng's chest tightened. When this realization suddenly flashed through his mind, it felt no better than the midnight realization that Kangxi wouldn't indulge him endlessly, that there was even a minefield between father and son. He had few close friends in this world, and after carving a deep wound between him and Kangxi, he and Soetu began to cut the umbilical cord.
Yinreng's thinking, like this, already showed some potential for being a tyrant. He believed that those who followed his lead were good people, while those who acted recklessly must be plotting something. From this point of view, there's essentially no difference between a tyrant and a wise ruler; the only difference lies in perspective and luck. If someone persists in a goal and proves it's right, they're a wise ruler; otherwise, they're a tyrant.
Fortunately, he was right this time.
Very good, Your Highness. I really hope you can stop him in time before he makes another mistake, and use the right method.
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At the Suo Mansion, Suo Etu returned home. The housekeeper came to greet him. Seeing that Suo Etu looked unhappy, he said cautiously, "Master, there are thirteen people waiting for you to see them today. What do you think?"
Suo Etu took a deep breath. These people who came to wait for him to see him could not be offended casually. In order to enter the mansion, they had to be received, but they had given a lot of gate gifts in advance: "Tell them to wait." Lord Suo now wanted to see a few people who could enter without paying gate gifts.
In the outer study, there were already several people waiting for him, all of them old friends.
As soon as they saw him coming, they all stood up. Seeing Suo Etu enter, they stood up and formed a semi-encirclement around him. One of the skinny old men stepped forward and asked, "Prince Suo, what did the prince say?"
Suo Etu frowned and shook his head.
Everyone looked disappointed; they had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. Suo Etu walked up to the main seat and sat down, raising his hand: "Everyone, sit down and talk."
Everyone took their seats, their gazes like hungry chicks, hoping for an explanation from Suo-e-tu. Suo-e-tu waited until the servant brought him tea and he took a sip before saying, "I really don't know what our master is thinking."
Another square-faced old man who looked a bit wealthy said, "This doesn't seem right. It's such a good opportunity, why doesn't the prince agree?"
Suo Etu glanced at him and said, "If I had known, I wouldn't be sitting here glaring at you."
The skinny old man asked, "What did the prince say?"
"Don't worry about the eldest prince, and don't be afraid of Mingzhu! My master, if you don't worry, then I will!"
"How about we... just write a letter directly?"
Suo Etu's heart moved, but he suppressed it: "You didn't see the look in his eyes. He acted like that. Even if this thing succeeds, he won't be happy."
Everyone looked at each other.
A middle-aged man who had been silent the entire time said, "Even if the Crown Prince doesn't agree, I just feel... we don't have enough people to sign on. This is a good opportunity for the Prime Minister to go and persuade the Crown Prince. And how about finding a few more people here?"
Suo Etu said, "That's all that matters. What on earth is he thinking?"
The skinny old man twirled his goat beard and said, "Prime Minister Suo, now that you mention it, there are still quite a few people missing from our memorial. Why don't we make it look good and show it to the Crown Prince? That way, he'll know that this thing will definitely work out. You've done so much for the Crown Prince, and by then, I'm sure it will work out."
"I was thinking that if the crown prince and the prince were canonized together, who would everyone in the court look to? This will take time. Now the court robes of the princes are half ready, but the crown prince's matter has not been submitted yet. I have to tour the frontier this month, and it will be November when I come back." Soetu shook his head regretfully. Why didn't the crown prince cooperate?
A red-faced, bearded man beside the middle-aged man smiled a sinister, somewhat servile smile. "You're mistaken," he said, successfully drawing everyone's attention. He smoothed his mustache with his fingers. "Just think about it. If the eldest prince is overjoyed and ready to show off, and we submit a memorial here and the emperor approves it, without having to start preparing for the crown prince's enthronement, that single approval will draw the attention of the entire court. We won't even need to set up a stage, and we've already attracted his audience here. What do you think Mingzhu's expression will be?"
All the old men in the room smiled in a silly way.
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"What's going on at court?" Kangxi idly read a memorial as he spoke. It was a joint memorial, signed by all the court officials. Seeing Soetu and Mingzhu's names neatly listed together, Kangxi felt the urge to burst out laughing. Only then would they sign a joint memorial, requesting the title of Empress Dowager.
Kangxi certainly had a few trusted figures in the court, but this time, he was asking about his uncle and father-in-law, Tong Guowei. Tong Guowei was skilled in archery and horsemanship, but his appearance was quite gentle. Although he was not young, he looked like a handsome old man.
Hearing Kangxi's question, Tong Guowei bowed slightly and said clearly, "It's just some old talk, discussing the joint application of the imperial seal, running back and forth for official positions, and some of the discussions about the victory in Mobei have not yet been completed. The capital is really bustling."
Kangxi picked up his red brush and wrote a disapproval comment on the joint memorial. He threw the memorial down. He had seen the signature on this memorial once two days ago. He probably would receive a third signature after this disapproval comment, but what difference did it make?
He turned to look at Tong Guowei: "Is there anything new?" Kangxi liked to chat with his favorite courtiers, sons, and eunuchs when he was in a good mood. Tong Guowei was now his close friend.
Tong Guowei said, "It's funny. Before the court meeting, I seemed to overhear two people talking. They were saying something like... if you don't agree, you will give them a hard time. When I turned around, I couldn't tell them apart. Maybe my eyes are blurry."
Kangxi frowned. He had some suspicions about such an arrogant man. "That's interesting. You're also the Minister of the Imperial Guard. Are you almost done with your duties as an attendant to the Emperor?"
"Yes, we will depart only after the officials have finished offering sacrifices to the suburban temples, mausoleums, and teachers, as well as completing the palace examination. The Ministry of Rites has already submitted the sacrificial texts, and I saw them this morning. They are right here." He stepped forward, gently flipped through several drafts, and respectfully handed them to Kangxi for review. "The questions for the palace examination are still awaiting your majesty's decision."
"I see," Kangxi said casually, burying his head in his draft. "You kneel down and pay your respects. Oh, and while you're at it, let's see if the Imperial Household Department has prepared the rewards for Mongolia."
“Yeah.”
After Tong Guowei left, Kangxi put down the draft in his hand and waved to his advisors, "What's going on in Yuqing Palace recently? What about the East Fifth Office? What about the West First Office?"
The advisor bowed and said, "The Crown Prince has lost a lot of weight recently, perhaps due to the hot weather. The Crown Princess had the kitchen prepare some ice cream, which seems to suit the Crown Prince's taste. He has been eating a small bowl of it every day lately, which has stimulated his appetite and increased his food intake. The eldest and second princes of Yuqing Palace come to pay their respects every day, and the Crown Prince wants to assess their studies. The third prince of Yuqing Palace has begun to learn to read, and the Crown Prince makes time to accompany him every day, and the Crown Princess is also teaching him to read. The two people in Xiefang Palace also visit the Crown Princess every day."
"Um."
"Suo Etu went in and out of Yuqing Palace several times, having private conversations with the Crown Prince. He would come out after a while, and his face was always quite depressed."
Kangxi sneered. Tong Guowei had forgotten one thing. The weddings of the fifth and seventh princes were also taking place this month, making it a double celebration.
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Shujia watched the Fifth and Seventh Princes, who had gone through so much trouble to find wives, and couldn't help but sigh: marrying a daughter-in-law was even more arduous for the royal family than for others. She herself had been delayed for years by arguments over etiquette. The Fifth and Seventh Princes' marriages were even more complicated; their father and their second brother alone spent nearly half a year discussing an auspicious date.
In any case, the palace welcomed two new brides, two... ready-made mothers. Shujia always felt that the expressions of these two new brides were not very good. She understood this feeling, she had experienced it too.
Unsurprisingly, these two were chosen according to the "royal daughter-in-law template," graceful and elegant, with beautiful faces. However... if they continue to behave like this in private with their husbands, there's no guarantee they won't become icy.
Shujia was originally sitting next to the Empress Dowager. When the Fifth Lady, Tatara, and the Seventh Lady, Nara, came over and kowtowed, then greeted the other concubines' mothers and sisters-in-law, she stood up and, one in each hand, pulled them over to the Empress Dowager. She slipped in a comment: "The old ancestor stared at the new bride without blinking, clearly in love with her. Great! I've snatched her away for you. Aren't you going to thank me?"
Everyone laughed. The Empress Dowager was close to the Fifth Prince, and she also felt close to him. She pulled him over and asked him about his life: "Are you feeling comfortable living here? How is our Fifth Prince? I've watched him grow up since he was a child. He's a good boy."
The Seventh Lady sat aside, feeling a little uneasy. She was a new bride, her husband was disabled and had no future, her mother-in-law was not favored, and she had to be a mother first after marrying in... It was really a lot to deal with!
Everyone present noticed that the Seventh Lady was being somewhat neglected. Many who knew the Empress Dowager well began to feel helpless. This old lady had never been one for smooth dealings. Concubine Tong reluctantly spoke to the Seventh Lady, "Are you doing well with the maids and eunuchs assigned to you by the Ministry of Internal Affairs?"
The Seventh Lady replied gratefully, "All is well."
Her sisters-in-law looked at her wildly, wondering if she could get better! Shujia and the Fourth Lady had both muttered to themselves: being a prince's wife was glorious, but being an ordinary woman was also quite humiliating. The First Lady and the Third Lady were among the luckier ones, and they hadn't failed to use these comparison groups to celebrate their own happiness.
Compared to the subtle joys and sorrows of women, the world of men is undoubtedly vaster. The Fifth and Seventh Princes, now married and seeking a mansion, are undoubtedly happy; their expectations for marriage are not high. While their wives may seem a bit less feminine, they are still fresh and new. The Fifth Prince's father-in-law is a bit short, but the Tatara clan is a prominent and prestigious family. The Seventh Prince's father-in-law is the Vice-Governor, a respectable position.
The brothers gathered together and, as expected, congratulated the groom, made fun of him, and some took the opportunity to show off their happiness and build relationships.
Yinzhi acted like a good brother to Yinsi and said, "Speaking of which, it's Eighth Brother's turn next! Congratulations to Fifth and Seventh Brothers today, but you can't let him off! Eighth Brother, you did a good job yesterday by not getting involved in the bridal chamber pranks. Otherwise, if you were careful, they would have made trouble for you."
The Third Prince's face twitched. "Big Brother, isn't this too arrogant?" He completely thinks he's the head of the family. Even if Khan had kicked the brothers out to bond, you wouldn't have to act like this, right? The Crown Prince was still nearby. Glancing sideways, he saw that the Crown Prince hadn't lost his temper. He was playing with the fan in his hand, not even cracking the ribs. On the contrary, Yinreng was smiling, looking at the Big Brother with great indulgence.
Oh my god! The sky is falling, the earth is sinking, and I’m dizzy! How is this possible?
The Fourth Prince wore a typical brotherly smile and said, "Congratulations, Fifth Brother and Seventh Brother." Inwardly, he was already cursing in all sorts of colors and fonts: "Are you done yet? Are you done yet? We're still outside the Palace of Heavenly Purity! Under the scorching sun! It's July!"
Even the Eighth Prince, despite being treated so warmly, felt uneasy. The sun was one reason, and the Crown Prince… was another. As for the eldest prince, Yinsi no longer cared what he said. The Crown Prince didn't glance at him sideways, didn't curl his lips into a contemptuous smile. This was terrifying!
Yinsi's mind wandered, remembering how he'd been dragged to the Palace of Heavenly Purity two days earlier, while mulling over how to act at his fifth and seventh brothers' wedding banquet. Kangxi had a brief conversation with him, beginning with him: "Your wedding will be next year. When you leave Beijing with me in a few days, I'll have them renovate your residence and let your people know when you return."
Yinsi said respectfully, "Thank you, Khan, for your grace. I will ask them to put it back when I get back."
"Come to think of it, you are going to get married too. In the blink of an eye, you have all grown up." Kangxi sighed.
Kangxi was such a person, calm as a rock when doing things, but he never forgot to show his feelings from time to time. Yinsi listened quietly, occasionally saying: "It is the Khan's father's grace in raising me."
"Giving birth and raising a child is not difficult. You'll understand once you have a son. Raising a child into a man is the hardest."
Yinsi fell silent, not knowing what to say next. He felt Kangxi was a little strange. Even stranger, Kangxi brought up a completely unrelated topic: "Did you go to see your uncle?"
"yes."
"How is he?"
"The prince is still in good health, but he is a bit old and has some minor illnesses. The imperial physicians are taking good care of him." Why do you ask this?
He immediately understood what Kangxi meant. "You seem to have nothing to do while I'm swamped with work. How could you find time to visit me? Who taught you that? Now that you've grown up, you'll start taking on errands next year and share my worries. Now that you're an adult, you should have your own opinions. Don't just follow others around. Use your brain and think about me more. You're also a prince. Do what you should do."
Yinsi had every reason to believe that Kangxi was warning him not to be a follower of the eldest prince. He had been tricked, targeted by the crown prince. The crown prince, believing that he was running around for the eldest prince, went to the Khan Ama to complain, which led to his being summoned.
You have everything, why are you still picking on me? Yinsi thought bitterly, he just wanted to take this opportunity to build more connections and relationships, so that the eldest prince wouldn't find out that he wanted to leave the organization. There was no doubt that going against Kangxi was an unwise choice, so what should he do?
One thing is certain: no matter which choice he makes, his path will not be easy. At least one of the Crown Prince and the eldest prince will be against him, and there is no guarantee that the other will be able to get along with him.
The author has something to say: I should have updated earlier today.
Unfortunately, I spent an hour struggling with the heater in my apartment, and then Pangpang called again, demanding spoilers. I crawled back up to update, but Jinjiang has been down again, so I have to add a little more content to this chapter and repost it, because the revised word count for V chapters must exceed the original word count.
OK, I'll try to update earlier tomorrow.
Um, go send a TXT to Pangpang... Everyone check Jinjiang, Pangpang check the mailbox! You can't afford to hurt the kid who has a younger brother who is a fan of the novel!
I repaired it again. Can you see it now?
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