The imperial boat set sail for a southern tour
"Why did you change your mind?" Shujia was bewildered. Her husband had just confessed to her that he was faking illness to avoid the Southern Tour, and now he was asking her to pack her bags? Are you kidding me? If you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?
Yinreng's mouth was bitter. "Khan Ama, you have to take me with you this time. Do you think I'll get sick again? Let's pack up quickly." The right to speak and decide was Kangxi's. If Kangxi didn't decide, then it was fine. But once he did, there was no room for others to object - and even if they did, it would be useless. Might as well save their breath and just do it. Kangxi had mentioned the southern tour several times, both overtly and covertly. All Yinreng could do was to accompany him obediently.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince once again experienced what it meant to be powerless: "This time, you and Hongdan must accompany me. Don't forget."
"Huh?" Shujia had truly forgotten. If Yinreng wasn't going, she naturally couldn't go either, so she let it slide. In this day and age, relaxing in the suburbs was fine, but a long journey was undeniably painful. As a child, she'd suffered from seasickness and heatstroke from the trips back and forth from the capital to Hangzhou, and it was unbearable. In this 'pure environment untouched by modern civilization,' the desire to travel faded considerably. Modern civilization's contribution to human society was truly evident.
"What about our three children?" Shujia would not stay so long as to think that Kangxi would include the entire Eastern Palace in the accompanying list. What she needed to confirm now was which of Hongxi, Hongtong and Honggui would go with her so that she could make arrangements for the rest of the people.
The fifth prince of the Eastern Palace, the youngest son of the Crown Prince and his wife, was named Honggui after he turned one. Regarding this name, his mother could only silently say, "Gui means bright, so don't associate it with red ghosts or horses. Even if the name the emperor gave sounds ridiculous, we have to accept it."
Yinreng, now free, sat down at the table, picked up his teacup, and said, "Hongtong is going to school in the spring. He's just started school, so I'm afraid he won't be able to leave. Honggui is too young, but Hongxi is old enough, but the Khan hasn't said he should go. I'm afraid all three will have to stay."
Shujia was flipping through books, trying to decide which ones to take with her, when she paused. She was torn between two options. If she didn't go, she'd have to assign a woman to accompany Yinreng on such a long journey, taking care of his food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. This was clearly not her ideal. If she did go, Hongtong and Honggui were too young, and she felt a little uneasy leaving them at home.
Her situation was different from Yinreng's. If she said she was sick, she wouldn't go. To be frank, it was less important. "Yes, Hongtong needs to study. Oh, I haven't prepared everything he needs for study yet. Oh, and the second and third princes of Prince Jian's family are the same age as him, right?"
The current Prince Jian was Yarjiang'a. His eldest son, Delong, was born in the 33rd year of the Kangxi reign, making him older than Hongdan and already a student in the palace. His second son, Arta, and third son, Yongqian, were the same age, both born in the 37th year of the Kangxi reign. Shujia's question was to find out whether Yarjiang'a had petitioned for these two sons to enter the palace. If so, and if approved, then Hongtong would have classmates of the same age, indicating a relatively good relationship between the Eastern Palace and Prince Jian's residence.
Yinreng patted his head and said, "I haven't heard of this. I'll ask Yarjiang'a tomorrow. His second son is a concubine's son, so I don't think he can come."
"That's true... Hongxi started school earlier, so he might not be able to go to the same school as Hongtong."
"Why should we worry about this?" Yinreng didn't think it was a problem. "Wasn't Hongdan alone at that time?"
"When Hongdan was in school, we didn't go south with the emperor."
"He doesn't live with us yet."
Yinreng waved his hand and said, "Leave Gao Sanxie to look after the house. Khan Ama did not go out with the Empress Dowager this time, and she is still in the palace. Besides, Honggui still has Nanny."
Shujia lowered her eyes. "That's right." No matter how painful it was, she had to go along after being named. She could just treat it as a belated honeymoon with Yinreng, even though there were a bunch of light bulbs around. Well, considering men's hairstyles these days, the term "light bulb" is quite descriptive.
Hongtong was about to start school, so Shujia put aside her luggage and took stock of her son's stationery. The Imperial School had only a few days off a year, and the start date was still early. Even before Kangxi left, the three children of the Eastern Palace were about to start school. As the Crown Princess, her time for needlework was limited, and one such activity was to sew small items for her children, fostering their affections.
Shujia had made a schoolbag for Hongdan a while ago, and she had put a lot of effort into it. It was still in good condition. Although it looked a little worn, Shujia didn't plan to replace it just yet. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing for a child to use old things. This time, she only made two schoolbags, one for Hongtong: "Your third brother carried his books to school by himself. Since you got something from your mother, you should do the same as your third brother."
The other one was from Hongxi: "Hongdan went to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to serve you, Mafa. I packed his luggage, and I got some extra needlework from him, which you didn't have before. This year is perfect, and you three brothers are all the same. Remember, be polite to your master."
Hongtong held his schoolbag, forcing himself not to spin around with it hanging on his body, and said to Hongxi, "My son will follow my mother's instructions."
Hongdan puffed out his cheeks, and Shujia noticed, so she stayed to talk. Shujia abandoned the usual palace conversational style and sat on the kang with Hongdan, hugging her son. "Some of your things are still usable, so I didn't exchange them for you. You can get any good thing you want in this palace, but it's hard to use old things."
It had been a long time since the mother and son had such long physical contact. Hongdan held his back very straight at first, but as he spoke, he leaned against his mother and said, "Mother, I understand these principles. There are also some things in Mafa that have been used for many years."
"That's not what Mother wants to say," Shujia touched Hongdan's forehead. "Your Mafa, Father, and Master must have told you a lot about the great principles of frugality. Mother is getting tired of nagging me."
Hongdan raised his head from Shujia's arms: "What does mother mean?"
"People always have to go through things to grow up. Whether it's joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, they are all tests of cultivation." Regardless of whether he can understand it now, it's always good to talk about it more. Shujia wants her son to be more open-minded from a young age, so that when he encounters difficulties, he will be able to minimize the psychological trauma.
For example, when both of them lost their lovers, Shunzhi died too, but Kangxi was stronger and appointed a successor.
In comparison, from a mother's perspective, Shujia absolutely did not want a son like Shunzhi. Now it seems that her wish has come true, which makes her a little amused and sad - she clearly feels the influence of Kangxi in Hongdan.
"Alas, mother never did any needlework for your brothers when they were studying, so this is a good opportunity to make up for it. Now, what do you want to eat tonight? You have to go to the Palace of Heavenly Purity again tomorrow."
While it's true that Hongdan gets annual leave during the Lunar New Year, his time home is limited. He's not only the crown prince's eldest son, but also the emperor's legitimate grandson. His personal likability is one thing, but his political significance is clear: Kangxi keeps him around for extended periods. Shujia has to seize the limited time she has to bond with her son, lest Kangxi, a man with a history of corrupting the crown prince, lead him astray as well.
At the dinner table, the custom of "not talking while eating" was practiced. Since we were eating at home, there was little room for courtesy. Before the meal began, Shujia simply pointed out a few dishes everyone liked and had them served to them. After the meal, they washed their hands, rinsed their mouths, and took a sip of tea; that was when it was time to socialize.
Shujia had been reluctant to tell Hongtong about the Southern Tour so early, but it was a major event, many people knew about it, and the Eastern Palace had to prepare for it, so sooner or later everyone would be told. Yinreng also had this in mind, so he decided to simply announce the outcome to his sons. King is king, minister is minister, father is father, son is son, protests are futile, just accept it.
Shujia's fear of Hongtong crying and throwing a tantrum never occurred. Both Hongxi, who had always been left at home, and Hongtong, who was experiencing their parents' absence for the first time, accepted reality with resignation. It was only at moments like these that Shujia had to admit that the traditional way of parenting can sometimes save a lot of trouble.
"Ask Gao Sanxie, Lu Yougong, Lin Sier, Xiuniu, Zishang and the others to stay. If you have any matters, ask Gao Sanxie to handle small matters. If you cannot decide on big matters, you can ask the Empress Dowager of Ningshou Palace for instructions." Shujia set the tone.
Yinreng put down the teacup in his hand and said, "That's it. It's getting late. You guys shouldn't slack off even though you're on holiday. Go review your lessons before going to bed. Hongtong, come with me. You're going to start studying after the New Year, so you need to study harder now."
The fathers and sons each had their own things to do, and Shujia began to make arrangements after leaving home. Li Jiashi and Li Jiashi were summoned. "The Crown Prince and I will be accompanying the emperor on his southern tour. We estimate we won't be back until March. For more than two months, you two adults will be the only ones left at home. Please be attentive to everything."
Li Jiashi and Li Jiashi knelt and saluted: "Servants obey the master's orders."
"Hongxi and the other two are still young, so you should all be alert. If anything happens, call Gao Sanxie. The three brothers are all being looked after by their maids and eunuchs, so I'm not overly worried. After the Crown Prince and I set off, we'll stay in the East Palace and live our lives behind closed doors."
“Yeah.”
Regarding the remaining palace maids and eunuchs, there were other arrangements: "Gao Sanxie will take Lin Si'er and Wu Mingli to stay. Hongxiu, Xiuniu, Zishang, and Xiaoman will also stay. You must guard the gates. No outsiders are allowed to enter, and no one inside is allowed to wander around. Hongxiu and Xiuniu, you two have always been steady. Other things can be handled easily. You must take good care of the young prince! Also, for the next two months, all of you must be smart. According to the rules of the Eastern Palace, do not conflict with others casually. If there is anything, wait until I and the prince return to discuss it."
“Yeah.”
Then he spoke separately with the nannies of Hongtong and Honggui: "I have never left my brother's side since he was born. This time, I cannot refuse, so I have to part ways temporarily. For the next two months, I will leave my son to you!"
The maids all knelt down and said, "How dare you, slaves, not be attentive!"
Shujia was still not at ease after doing this, so she took the opportunity of visiting relatives and friends and gatherings during the Spring Festival to ask the Empress Dowager for help in Ningshou Palace, and also went to Chengqian Palace to ask for help from Concubine Tong, who was not accompanying the emperor this time.
In Chengqian Palace, Concubine Tong touched Hongtong's chubby face with great joy: "Our Fourth Prince has grown taller again. I heard from the Emperor that he will be going to school in a few days?"
Hongtong nodded seriously: "Yes, Hou'er."
Shujia gave Concubine Tong a mischievous smile: "Look how happy he is. Ever since he heard that Khan Ama allowed him to go to school, the nanny said that he has been laughing until midnight for several days."
"It's a good thing for my brother to study, and you should be happy," said Concubine Tong, and asked for the gifts prepared to celebrate Hongtong's study. In addition to the four treasures of the study, she also gave Hongtong two purses containing pen ingots and ruyi gold ingots. "This is just for you to play with."
Hongtong thanked Concubine Tong loudly, leaned on Shujia's legs, winked at her, and made her smile: "Our Fourth Prince is really likable."
"If you think so, then I have something to ask of you, and I'm not afraid you'll dislike it."
Concubine Tong leaned towards Shujia and said, "Why are we still talking about please or no please? It's so formal."
"That's great," Shujia clapped her hands, "I think my mother knows. In a few days, the Crown Prince and I will accompany the emperor south, and there's no one useful to look after this family. Although I asked the old ancestor in Ningshou Palace this morning, I think the old ancestor has been more and more in bed in recent years and hasn't been paying much attention to things. If anything really happens, I'll have to count on my mother to make the decision." She held Hongtong's head with both hands and faced Concubine Tong, "especially these Monkey brothers. The boys are naughty, so I'll have to ask my mother to take care of them."
Concubine Tong reached out and pulled Hongtong over. "My brother and I are so compatible. I couldn't ask for more. He's a student. He has a teacher during the day and a nanny at night. If there's anything you need to do, my brother," she said to Hongtong, "just send someone to Chengqian Palace to tell me, okay?" She pointed to the maids and two chief eunuchs in her palace and said, "Recognize them. Once you've made sure they're there, if I need to talk to you, I'll definitely send them. No one else will."
Shujia secretly thought that Concubine Tong was very considerate: "Thank you, my mother." She stood up and bowed.
Concubine Tong hurriedly gave him a false support and said, "It's my duty."
After entrusting the matter, Shujia couldn't rest yet, so Yinreng took out a small notebook and gave it to her: "Take a look at this."
The cover was white and blank. Confused, Shujia peeled it open. Inside, on the first page, on the right, the first vertical line read, "Li Guangdi, Governor of Zhili." Further to the left, a brief biography of Li Guangdi was listed.
Shujia continued to flip through the pages and discovered that it was a popular handbook on geographical knowledge. From north to south, it listed the provinces that the line from Beijing to Nanjing passed through - in order, and the names of officials from each place - the complexity of the introduction was determined by the official position and importance.
The Crown Princess accompanied the emperor on his trip, so of course she had to meet the local officials' families. Although the Crown Princess was not as important as the Crown Prince, Kangxi did not mind showing off his son's happy family if he had such a person accompanying him.
Okay, memorize it.
Yinreng said, "You don't have to memorize everything. Just remember the few people listed at the front of each page. When you meet their wives, you can probably mention them a few words and that'll be enough. Carry the booklet with you and take it out and look at it before you go to a place."
No need to memorize, which saved Shujia a lot of trouble. I was quite interested in learning about half of the Chinese officials, and not surprisingly, I finally discovered the ancestors of Cao Heipang, who had deceived countless people. Yinreng commented that "he was good at poetry, had literary talent, was extremely favored by the emperor, and was quite trusted."
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With her worries gone, and having repeatedly emphasized the importance of family discipline before the trip, Shujia finally began packing with considerable trepidation. Though spring had arrived, the weather was still chilly, but the breeze felt gentle on her face, so she didn't need to pack too many heavy sweaters. Since she was returning in March, she had to pack both layered and lightweight clothing, resulting in two suitcases of clothing alone—and that was after some simplification.
While packing, he still had to attend the inevitable New Year's social events. The scheduled departure date was the first month of the lunar calendar, so Kangxi couldn't leave until after the Lantern Festival. Before then, he had to participate in various sacrifices, appoint people to participate in various sacrifices, receive congratulations from all sides, and so on. The palace also had to organize various activities.
This year's entertainment also featured a revamp. A troupe of eunuchs trained within the palace had been officially recognized after undergoing assessment. A stage was set up in Ningshou Palace, and the Empress Dowager and her female relatives attended the performance. Shujia and Concubine Tong sat on either side of the Empress Dowager, providing narration.
The Empress Dowager was old and her eyesight was a bit presbyopic. She had a glasses case on the table beside her and took out her glasses to watch the show. Wearing the Empress Dowager's uniform and glasses, this look was a bit funny no matter how you looked at it. Shujia actually laughed.
The Empress Dowager asked Shujia through the lens: "What's so funny about this play? Tell me about it, I just don't understand it." There was a lot of regret in her words.
Shujia: “…” The Empress Dowager’s innocent lethality has never diminished!
The Crown Princess's ability to change things up wasn't exaggerated: "It's just a show, it's just for fun. I've heard people say that hearing this singing style and that lyrics too much can make you dizzy."
The Crown Princess had always been the Empress Dowager's confidant. She took off her glasses. The Empress Dowager stopped watching the show and forgot about her previous question. "That's right. I don't understand what they're singing, but that little voice is really pleasing to the ear."
The deviation was successful.
In addition, they had to go around the palaces and pay their respects. The palaces could not go to the East Palace to pay their respects in person, but the sons of the palaces went to the East Palace to pay their respects, uh, in front of the court officials.
Whenever this happened, Yinzhi would feel depressed because he was the first one to go. To go first meant that he had to face the crown prince face to face, kowtow to someone he disliked face to face, two kneelings and six kowtows, how embarrassing for a brother!
It was New Year's Day, and one had to be auspicious and refrain from speaking harshly, which made Prince Zhi feel quite frustrated. The Crown Prince sat on the throne, looking at his elder brother's frustrated head, feeling secretly pleased.
While the men were openly and covertly fighting, the women seemed much more peaceful. The sisters-in-law drank tea and chatted together, much more harmonious than before. The Southern Tour was a hot topic, and only three princes were accompanying him: the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince, and the Thirteenth Prince. The trip would last over two months, and it wasn't a campaign or an official business trip, so of course the women had to be brought along.
The news that Shujia would accompany them on their journey south was known to everyone. The Third Lady said, "The Crown Princess is so lucky. We have always dreamed of visiting the water towns south of the Yangtze River. We have only read about it in poems, seen it in pictures, and heard about it from others, but have never been there ourselves. The rain from the apricot blossoms wets my clothes, the wind from the willows blows on my face without making me feel cold—" Her longing was strong.
The Seventh Lady said, "That's right. Speaking of which, isn't Fourth Sister-in-law going this time?"
The Fourth Lady said, "I'd like to go, but who can I leave my family to? It's New Year's Day."
Shujia knew it wasn't a matter of celebrating the Lunar New Year. They'd already left after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, which was already past the Lunar New Year. The reality was that Kangxi's birthday was in March, and she had to prepare gifts for his birthday. She was deeply troubled by this, fearing any mistakes would be made without her personal oversight. No matter who she asked for help, if anything went wrong, it would still be the Crown Prince's fault.
Fortunately, the treasures and toys have been prepared, and the embroidery is being rushed. Her maids are very capable, so she feels more at ease leaving it to them to supervise.
Shujia didn't point it out: "What Fourth Sister-in-law said is true. It's been almost eight years since I entered the palace, and I've never left the capital. I'm really worried about going out for a walk. But, there really isn't much to see in the south right now."
The Eighth Lady asked, "What do you mean?"
"It's just the beginning of spring, how can there be beautiful scenery right away? When I was little, I lived with my father in Hangzhou for a few years. It snowed in the winter as well, and after the beginning of spring, it still took until February to see the truly beautiful scenery. By February, the emperor would have returned."
The Eighth Lady pondered for a moment, "I remember now. My second sister-in-law has indeed been to the south. Does this count as a revisit to an old place?"
They chattered, mixed with jokes like, "There's no scenery at all. If you come back with anything new, you should tell us who have never seen the world about it."
The Ninth and Tenth Concubines were still newlyweds, maintaining a dignified, shy new bride demeanor. The Twelfth Concubine was even newer. Kangxi had planned to hold her wedding after returning from his southern tour last year. However, the Crown Prince's illness prevented the tour, giving her more time for the ceremony. The Twelfth Concubine was carried into the Forbidden City in November. She joined the Ninth and Tenth Concubines to form a trio of newlyweds, quietly listening to the sisters-in-law chat about all sorts of topics.
The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes had not married, so it would be inappropriate for them not to come to pay their respects to the Crown Princess on such a grand occasion as the New Year. It would be rude to come under their own name. Finally, it was Concubine De who spoke up: "The Fourth Prince's wife should take the Fourteenth Prince's wife to meet the Crown Princess." She also sent a maid from Yonghe Palace to accompany the Fourteenth Prince's concubine.
As for the Thirteenth Prince's concubine, Guaerjia, she was accompanied by a maid sent by Concubine Tong. Concubine Tong did this to do the Thirteenth Prince a favor and to save face for the Crown Princess, thus pleasing both sides.
Seeing Ning Hui wearing the attire of a prince's wife and sitting just behind the prince's wife, Shujia winked at her. Ning Hui understood and deliberately fell a few steps behind. After everyone had left, Hongxiu came over and led her to the back to have a private conversation with Shujia.
"There's something I don't know if you know about." Shujia always spoke casually to Ninghui.
Ning Hui was also used to it: "Are you talking about our Second and Third Princes' studies? Our grandfather has already come back and told us. Thank you, Prince, and you for thinking of us."
"We are here because Hongtong is going to school, and we remembered that you have two children of the same age in your family."
"Our master did submit a memorial, but unfortunately the emperor only approved Yongqian." Ning Hui said it with regret, but her tone was not serious. The third son was her biological son, and the second son was born out of wedlock. Of course, it would be better for her own son to move around in the palace more often to increase her political capital.
Shujia completely understood her feelings and pretended to be ignorant to comfort her: "I am sorry, Second Prince. It is true. There are more and more children in the palace. Guang Hongdan and his cousins are now almost ten people who can go to school. If there are also the princes and royal family members, it depends on the Khan's mood. Whoever is chosen will be the one. It is impossible to bring all the children here."
Ning Hui said, "If there are difficulties in the palace, how can we not be sympathetic? Speaking of which, Yongqian and Prince Hongtong studied together, right? I would like to ask Prince Hongtong to take good care of my monkey."
Shujia said, "Hongtong is still a little kid himself, but I think Yongqian will definitely be more sensible than him. Hongxi is much older than him, and Hongdan can't always watch him. I'm worried that no one will help me teach him a lesson. Speaking of which, Yongqian is two months older than Hongtong, so he's really like a big brother."
Ning Hui said, "If my brother and younger brother yell, I'm afraid they'll all go to hell together."
The two women smiled knowingly.
Ning Hui stood up and said goodbye: "It's getting late, I have to go back, otherwise my family will rebel."
"Hongxiu, send Fu Jin off."
Ning Hui bowed again, Shujia extended her hand to support her, Ning Hui took two steps back, turned around and left, and this meeting was over.
Shujia blinked and raised her eyebrows. Delong was the same age as Hongxi and they got along well. The next generation of the Eastern Palace and Prince Jian's Mansion should live in harmony.
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When interacting with the wives and ladies-in-waiting, pretense was a major factor, but when speaking to the women from one's own family, there were fewer concerns. This time, the women were more comprehensive. The Shi Lin and Hua Shan factions were the two largest, all of whom were in the capital. In addition, there were those who had been assigned to external posts, such as Shi Wensheng, and no family members came with them.
The Shi Lin faction and the Hua Shan faction are close, and it is quite convenient for them to talk to each other.
Madam Shi Lin's temples were gray. When I met her years ago, she still had a hint of southern style. Now she was wearing the color of the first rank imperial edict, and she looked like a standard noble lady. She was completely different from the one I met in Hangzhou, who looked like she had traveled through time from the Ming Dynasty.
The old lady smiled and said, "Everyone can see how blessed the Crown Princess is. This time she is going south with the Crown Prince and our prince." The latter sentence is a footnote to the former.
Xiluo Te smiled and said, "A woman's happiness lies in her husband and her son." This is more straightforward.
Madam Shi Lin said, "Jiangnan is a wonderful place. The Crown Princess must have met some ladies on her way south. You may be of noble status, but they are also quite capable. You must be careful."
This is the key point.
Shujia smiled and said, "The prince has already told me some old news about the governor. I wonder if it's any use?"
The old lady and Xiluo exchanged a glance. Xiluo coughed and whispered, "Cao Yin's mother, Old Lady Sun, was the High Lord's nanny back then. While not as good as Madam Fengsheng, she wasn't much worse. This... you probably know. However, Cao Yin is not ordinary in the High Lord's heart. You should be aware of this. Don't treat them as ordinary servants. There are also Li Xu and Sun Wencheng. Although they are a little inferior to Cao Yin, they are also of ordinary status."
Cao Yin, Li Xu, and Sun Wencheng—to put it more seriously—were Kangxi's spies stationed in Jiangnan. They would periodically submit secret reports to the capital, reporting on various matters. Even if they had no intention of stirring up trouble, any word they said would be a minor nuisance—Kangxi trusted them greatly.
Shujia understood and nodded with a smile: "By the way, next year's big election, is your family ready?"
Xiluo Te said, "The third girl has already finished her mourning period. She will naturally run for the election next year. The aunts in the family have already started training her."
Shujia said, "It's too late now. Let's talk about her in detail when I come back from the south." The third girl Shuyi and the fourth girl Shuhui came with them. After paying their respects, they were led to sit somewhere else because they had to talk about serious business.
Xiluo Te was relieved after receiving her daughter's disguised assurance. "Is Prince Hongdan going this time too? What about the other princes? Speaking of which, among the younger princes, Prince Hongdan is the one I see the most. But our Fifth Prince, I've only seen him twice."
Shujia stood up and said, "It's not difficult. He's playing in my room. If mother wants to see him, just bring him here. Ask the third and fourth sisters to come over and play with them."
Women who have few entertainment activities can still have fun for a long time looking at a little fat baby.
"Look, he's smiling."
"Ah, I'm drooling!"
"Hey, he crawled to mother's place."
…
Little Honggui, diligently doing his duty, finally grew tired after being watched by a group of women for a long time. He flopped down on the kang with a plop. Then, a perfectly round ball moved about on the kang, and then, with a plop, he turned over, his legs spread out in the air... asleep!
Shujia pulled out a thin baby pillow and placed it under his head. Hongxiu pulled out a quilt and covered him with it. Xiluotai watched Shujia's deft movements with a sense of relief: "My daughter has grown up." She turned to look at her fourth daughter, who stood beside her. She knew she would finally be able to rest easy when her daughter could live as comfortably as the Crown Princess.
Shujia, however, was observing Shuyi. She already had a good handle on children. It wasn't that her elder sister didn't want good things. If Shuyi didn't put on a sign and arranged a marriage, the man wouldn't be too bad. Having a concubine's eldest son was common in a decent royal family. Shuyi already had the objective conditions to handle children. As long as she was willing, even if she had to pretend in the future, she could still be a generous mistress who would be beyond reproach.
Shuhui...is still young, let's wait and see.
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After the Shi family women left, Yinreng also returned from the front. Shujia shared the news brought by the Shi family women with him. Even if they didn't tell her, she knew that the Cao family had received the emperor four times, causing huge losses and finally being confiscated. Only then did Cao Xueqin break away from his original life trajectory as a playboy and write "Dream of the Red Chamber".
The fact that they were able to receive the emperor four times only shows that their family has a close relationship with the emperor. Even if you don't make friends with such people, you cannot offend them.
Yinreng only said three words: "I understand." He paused and then explained, "You don't have to be nervous. They are very cautious. They dare not offend any of the masters in the capital easily. We just need to not give them a hard time and not exploit them, and we will be fine."
Is it that simple? Shujia was skeptical. Because Yinreng had said, "Don't give them face," she wasn't worried that he would lose face.
Just drive with peace of mind.
It’s too early to be relieved!
Just two days into the trip, he met a difficult person - Li Guangdi.
Mingzhu and Suo'etu were also included in Kangxi's delegation, on a government-funded trip. They accompanied Kangxi in reminiscing about the past, playing chess, and enjoying food. Both former Grand Secretaries, they possessed profound insights into state affairs. Kangxi occasionally inquired, but his questions were never incoherent. This pleased him greatly.
On the second day of his trip, Kangxi received a memorial from Li Guangdi, the governor of Zhili: "The emperor is passing through the border, and the frontier officials are here to pay homage." The crown prince wasn't around yet, having gone to tutor his son. Kangxi casually handed the memorial to the two elderly men: "Li Guangdi is coming! You haven't seen him in years, have you? It's a good opportunity. I've approved his memorial, so you can catch up."
What the hell! Suo Etu cursed inwardly. Of the three, he knew best that Li Guangdi was a slippery and problematic figure, and… he didn’t have a very good impression of the crown prince.
He replied, "My Lord, that's what I think." He was thinking, "I need to get the prince to come up with a solution!" He rolled his eyes, saw Mingzhu, and began to think—how could he help Mingzhu turn the situation around?
Mingzhu and Li Guangdi do have some similarities.
Mingzhu was also a bit torn. The Crown Prince's teachers had always praised his academic performance and his ability to handle government affairs, and on these two points, Mingzhu agreed with them. However, everyone had some issues with the Crown Prince's character. They felt he was pretentious and lacked social skills, and on this point, Mingzhu agreed with them.
It turns out Mingzhu was very proud of this last point. To bring down the Crown Prince, if the right way didn't work, he would use the side door. As long as it worked, the side door was still a door! Now this last point is costing him his life! He now has to get closer to the Crown Prince to ensure that Yinzhi will not be blamed after the incident.
Damn it! The elegant and beautiful master Mingzhu made an uncivilized gesture. Fortunately, I was prepared.
Kangxi's trip was not just for tourism, he also had to work. When the memorials from the capital arrived, Mingzhu and Soetu wisely took their leave.
A little further away from the cabin where Kangxi was, Suo Etu pulled Mingzhu's sleeve and said, "Behave yourself."
How could Mingzhu not know what Suo'etu was thinking: "How about going to see Prince Hongdan?"
Suo Etu understood and said, "I have never been convinced by you, but now I am."
Hand in hand, let's move forward, we are all good friends~
Yinreng had been prepared for Li Guangdi. He had feigned illness last year to avoid the old ministers, including Li Guangdi, who had a negative impression of him. This year, seeing that he couldn't avoid it, he had to bite the bullet and go into battle.
After the class was over, Hongdan was asked to perform **120 times. Yinreng came out to discuss politics with Kangxi, but was blocked at the door by two old men.
The boat was small, and Yinreng was very close to the two men. When they bowed, he grabbed one of them and lifted him up. "Why are you two here? Is it Khan Ama who wants to see me? Or Hongdan? You don't need to deliver a message."
Suo Etu made a gesture: "Silence."
Mingzhu cooperated and whispered, "Prince, Li Guangdi is coming to see you."
Yinreng acted calmly and said, "It just so happens that he was once my teacher. Although there are many teachers in the palace now, I still think he is quite knowledgeable. Now that Hongdan has come out with me, it's a good opportunity to ask him for advice."
Mingzhu looked at Soetu.
Soetu looked at the pearl.
They laughed out loud simultaneously. Both were both happy and worried. Happy for the Crown Prince's maturity and foresight, but also worried about this. On the one hand, they were now more or less on the Crown Prince's side, and since he was safe, they could lean on him and enjoy the shade. On the other hand, their room for development was much smaller, making it difficult for them to achieve anything, and therefore less likely to boast about their achievements.
Yinreng's gaze moved from Mingzhu's face to Soetu's face, and then from Soetu's face back to Mingzhu's face: "You - you are not just here to tell me this news, right? Could it be that...?" You think so too?
Yes, you can tell from the expression on his face.
Mingzhu said: "I still have to say hello to the young prince, you..."
Yinreng said, "I'll give him a few more instructions."
When it comes to interpersonal relationships, little Hongdan really doesn't need much teaching: "Father, I understand. In terms of knowledge, treat him like Master Xiong. In terms of intimacy... like that old Mr. Nalan?"
Yinreng: “…” Who does he look like?
Hongdan didn't have to worry about not meeting Li Guangdi. Kangxi had brought him along primarily to show off. Li Guangdi was also a target of his attention, so the chances of the two meeting were high. Throughout the entire meeting, Hongdan was kept by Kangxi's side.
When Li Guangdi entered to meet Kangxi, he saw a young child standing beside the throne and immediately guessed it was Hongdan. He feigned ignorance and simply greeted Kangxi, replying to his questions. "Zhili is so close to the capital!" Any news... They'd already spread it all over the place, passing small notes back and forth. Soon, Kangxi was showing off.
"Come, look at my grandson. Hongdan, this is Li Guangdi, the governor of Zhili. He taught your father."
Li Guangdi's already rolled-up sleeves struck again. Hongdan took a step forward and said, "Master Li, please stand up." A child's voice was clear and crisp.
Watching Li Guangdi rolling up his sleeves, Kangxi said after he finished, "Sit down." The two of them sat down at the same time.
Hongdan spoke first: "I heard from my father that your question is very good. How long can you stay in the audience with Mafa? I have many questions, may I ask you?"
Li Guangdi said modestly, "I have only done a little research. Speaking of scholarship, Your Majesty is the most knowledgeable, both ancient and modern, and the Crown Prince is also a man of wisdom and intelligence. My brother has the guidance of both of you, so I really don't have much room to interrupt."
Hongdan wrinkled his nose. "Of course, Mafa is a man of learning and vision. But if a man of learning and vision like Mafa chose you to teach his son, then who are you?"
Li Guangdi: "..." He couldn't say that the emperor didn't wear glasses! He also had a preliminary understanding of this little prince. When Li Guangdi was depressed, Hongdan finished speaking and ran to Li Guangdi and bowed: "I'll rely on you first."
Kangxi stroked his beard and laughed. He loved to see his child knock out his subordinates and make them bleed. After laughing enough, his conscience finally came to his senses and he came to the rescue of his favorite minister: "Hongdan, you are naughty again."
"It's so hard to find someone I can ask for advice, so of course I can't let him go. How many people's knowledge can my father really respect?" He counted on his fingers, imitating Yinreng's accent perfectly. "Tang Bin, Geng Jie, Xiong Cilü, Li Guangdi, Zhang Ying," he muttered aggrievedly. "Of course I have to grab them! Mafa, I'm thirsty for talent, not being naughty."
"Your father and I have spoiled you!" Kangxi pretended to be displeased, "Jin Qing, you should teach him a lesson!"
Li Guangdi obeyed the order, then discovered that the child's father was not there, and he became suspicious. Hongdan imitated Yinreng very well, and Li Guangdi was willing to believe that Yinreng admired his knowledge. He still had some confidence, but the prince's previous attitude towards everyone...
Because they were sailing, physical education class was skipped. Kangxi looked at the weather and said regretfully, "You can't go into the water now. You can learn to swim after you return to Beijing."
Hongdan spent the afternoon with Li Guangdi, who had been brought by Yinreng to see his master. Yinreng stopped Li Guangdi from bowing and addressed him as "Master," saying, "We've already discussed official positions with Khan Ama. For now, let's just talk about learning." His attitude was very kind.
With Hongdan's presence as a buffer, Li Guangdi's impression of Yinreng improved slightly. He now appeared completely devoted, suggesting he must have been bewildered by the talisman ash. Yinreng didn't take it seriously. Zhang Ying, Xiong Cilü, Zhang Yushu... which one of them could he easily win over? As long as his impression of them didn't erode, it was good!
If this is the only standard, then it has been achieved.
Li Guangdi stayed on the imperial boat until the next day. Before leaving, he praised the emperor's grandson highly. He knew that Hongdan was now under the care of Kangxi, and praising the child was praising the child's grandfather. Kangxi was indeed very happy.
Li Guangdi's inner assessment of the prince and his son was far less pure than his words suggested: "The younger one, whose future is known only at the age of three, is a child who is not easily fooled. The older one, originally a jerk, is now quite the jerk."
The emperor liked this father and son, and they had no ill will towards him and even showed some goodwill. Of course, it was not ruled out that the emperor wanted him to get close to this father and son.
After careful consideration, Li Guangdi decided to respond to this kindness, which led to the scene of praising Hongdan. He still obeyed Kangxi. As the crown prince, he still had a long way to go.
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