The new generation of the emperor's eldest grandson
A royal relocation might be considered a major undertaking, but it wasn't particularly strenuous. Someone would do the heavy lifting, but for those at the level of the emperor or empress, they didn't even have to count their belongings themselves. Someone would naturally understand their intentions and pack up everything they were used to and bring it back to the Forbidden City.
The Emperor and Empress didn't have to worry about their own belongings, but they did have to keep an eye on a few people. The first was the Grand Empress Dowager. The old lady was a treasure of the dynasty, and given her age, she couldn't be taken lightly. Yinreng and Shujia had repeatedly visited her personally or sent others to urge the Grand Empress Dowager's attendants to be extremely careful.
Next came the imperial family, including underage princes, unmarried princesses, and the emperor's younger brother, Kangxi's 20th prince, Yunyi. Their wet nurses and nannies had to keep an eye on them, if nothing else.
While these individuals are certainly important, the attendants have gained experience with the family after so many relocations. This year's move also brought a new giant panda—Karachin Ulianghai Zilmo, the wife of the Second Prince, Hongxi. Ahem, that's Gegentana. The reason I'm so solemnly stating her surname is because she's pregnant and about to give birth. Regardless of the gender, the household registration must include the mother's surname, XX, rather than her maiden name.
Gegentana's due date was in September, and thankfully she wasn't born in Changchun Garden, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to sit for the confinement period. Shujia breathed a sigh of relief when she still hadn't given birth by the time they were due to move back to the palace.
After returning to the palace and resting for a few days, Gegentana's belly still didn't move, which made both mothers-in-law worried.
Winter was approaching, and the sun was setting early. Just before the lights were turned on, two young eunuchs hurried to Kunning Palace to announce the news: "My Lady, the Second Concubine is about to give birth. The Second Prince has sent servants to inform you."
Upon hearing this, Shujia quickly stood up and said, "Zhao Guoshi, go to the front and report to the emperor. Hongxiu, let's go and take a look."
This time, he didn't walk on his own. Instead, he was carried on a sedan chair to the back of the building, heading towards the East Fifth Residence. A young eunuch from Hongxi's office also trotted along, occasionally answering Shujia's questions: "My lady, the Second Prince has also sent someone to Master Mao's residence. The imperial physician has also been summoned."
When they reached the edge of the field, Concubine Mao was already there. Her residence was closer to the Gandongwu House than Kunning Palace, so she had arrived earlier. Her sedan chair was parked outside the gate. Shujia entered the courtyard, and everyone inside was distracted. Some were whispering, some were looking around, some were stamping their feet and rubbing their hands. Not even the whistle of the eunuch clearing the way was heard. Lin Si'er stepped forward and clapped his hands twice, as if someone had hit the pause button. The palace maids and eunuchs froze in place, then suddenly fell to their knees. Then, there was no sound.
Shujia ignored all that and walked straight to the back, where she saw Hongxi at the main entrance porch. Hongxi was pacing back and forth when he suddenly felt something was wrong. He turned around and saw Shujia, who hurried over to greet him: "Greetings to Mother, Mother... This..."
Becoming a father for the first time is a complete mess.
Shujia said, "You should go to the side. You can't help here. Where's the midwife? Has she gone in? Is the imperial physician ready?"
Hongxi said, "They've all been called."
"Where's the wet nurse?"
"I'm here too."
"I'll go in and take a look."
Seeing Concubine Mao inside wasn't surprising; her sedan chair was still parked outside. Women of all ages were coming in and out, making their voices heard. The concubines living nearby also flocked in. Gegentana's cries were pitiful. It was her first birth, so it was difficult. Shujia couldn't bear to hear them. She didn't notice it during her own birth, but when others did, the sight of them was truly horrific.
The room was even more chaotic than the outside world, filled with the sounds of chaotic footsteps and voices encouraging and guiding Gegentana's delivery. Concubine Mao couldn't sit still; her grandson was being born inside, so how could she sit still? She was also pacing.
When Shujia arrived, Concubine Mao's breath became unstable when she paid her respects: "My Master."
Shujia waved her hand, and the room suddenly quieted down considerably. After they sat down, Shujia began to ask about the situation. "Hongxi is also panicking outside. He says the imperial physician, midwife, and wet nurse are all here. How have you arranged things here?"
Concubine Mao had given birth herself and had watched others do so, so she had some experience. "I asked them to get some ginseng, slice it up and boil it into a soup, to give the child some strength. This is her first pregnancy, so it's going to be difficult."
As they were talking, there was another shrill scream from inside, interrupting the conversation between the two.
Concubine Mao couldn't sit still anymore and stretched her neck to look towards the inner room. "She's screaming too loudly! Oh, this child! She's used up all her energy. How is she going to give birth? At least she can save some strength and give birth to a son first..."
Hong Xi even knocked on the door: "Mother, what's going on in there?"
Shujia felt a headache and shouted, "Call the imperial physicians to come over and serve. If anything goes wrong, they'll be informed. You, who can't help, don't get involved!"
Hongxi's stomping sound was heard outside.
Concubine Mao clasped her hands together and began chanting Buddhist mantras, mumbling something to herself. Inside the guest house, Gegentana's voice faded, and only the encouraging voices of the midwife and nanny could be heard.
After a while, Gegentana's voice sounded again. This time Shujia heard clearly that she was calling "mother".
Shujia was stunned. When she heard the word "mother", she absolutely did not believe that she was being called or Concubine Mao. She thought it was probably the Third Princess.
Shujia suddenly stood up and walked to the door: "Your mother also wants you to give birth to the baby safely! You better save your strength for me!" Shuhui hurriedly followed and stood with her. She looked at her sister's face and didn't dare to speak.
…
…
…
After a long struggle, it was not until late at night that Gegentana gave birth to a son, who was the emperor's eldest grandson.
Upon hearing the news, everyone outside cheered, regardless of whether it was night or not, and sent messages everywhere. However, the palace gates were already locked. Shujia issued another order, asking the nearby concubines to return and the palace maids and eunuchs to return to their positions. Two groups of representatives were sent to Ningshou Palace and Qianqing Palace respectively to announce the good news. Although it was good news, it was not enough to shake the palace order. The message was simply passed through the door, and then the eunuchs on duty at the gate reported it to the front.
After the assignments were complete, Shujia turned around to see Concubine Mao and her son, already laughing and merrily huddled around the freshly baked buns. A newborn baby, red and wrinkled, wasn't particularly cute, especially when it wasn't her own. Shujia glanced around and headed back to the inner chamber. Hongxiu said, "My Lady, please don't go into the blood room."
The door to the room was half-open. Shujia peered inside, only seeing half a folding screen. Pushing Hongxiu aside, she took a few steps inside. Surprisingly, Gegentana was still conscious, and with Shujia's eyesight, she could see a look of relief on her face. Shujia paused for a moment, then realized that she would be relieved, even without her husband and mother-in-law by her side.
Seeing Shujia come in, Gegentana was startled: "Mother, why did you come in?"
Shujia smiled and said, "You called me just now, how could I not come? The child is fine, Hongxi and your mother-in-law are taking care of him. You can rest assured and recuperate. I will go to see the child."
Gegentana was a little slow to react, and only when Shujia turned around the screen did she call out again, "Mother."
Shujia smiled and said, "Bring it here, little brother, for me to see."
Hongxi felt a little uneasy. When he held his son, he actually wanted to show off to both mothers. Without missing a beat, his stepmother disappeared, then reappeared from the inner room. Concubine Mao was still immersed in the joy of holding her grandson, so Hongxi didn't remind her to avoid overthinking it.
When Shujia came out, she winked at him again: "Talk to your wife, she's worked so hard."
Mao Fei suddenly realized: "Yes, yes, yes." She took a few steps inside and said to the room, "Child, you have worked hard."
Hong Xifang laughed again: "Hey."
It is said that outside the delivery room, the one who cares about the child is the mother-in-law, and the one who feels sorry for the woman in labor is the mother.
What a good thing to say!
Not to mention Mao Fei, Shu Jia also cares more about the child than the adult. If it really comes down to choosing between the two, don't expect anyone here to say "protect the adult." Shu Jia smiled self-deprecatingly. It was because Hong Xi was not her biological son that she didn't pay enough attention to the newborn, so she could take time off to look at Gegentana and then at the newborn.
Women!
Shujia lowered her head and looked at the child again, and she actually found him more pleasing to the eye.
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The emperor has a grandson!
The news spread throughout the capital by noon the next day. Unless the child died soon, you had to prepare gifts for him, especially the close relatives. Everyone had to add basins during the third day of the baby's birth.
Yinreng was in a good mood. He hadn't yet considered that he had become a grandfather and needed to be more careful in the future, otherwise he would be considered "old and undisciplined". He just felt that his family was prosperous. So in the past few days, Yinreng was particularly quick to approve any application that was not particularly important.
Prince Cheng also received the report he had submitted earlier. Yinreng approved his request to confer the title of Crown Prince on his son Hongsheng. However, the emperor seemed to be too happy and just wrote "I understand. Let the officials handle it." He did not expect that Prince Cheng was only a prince now, and he wanted to promote him to a higher level to show that "happiness is better shared with others than happiness alone."
There are those who are happy, and there are those who curse. Jiu Ye was unlucky enough to encounter one of them, and it was difficult for him to avoid it.
Yunlu had come out to see Concubine Yi, as the mourning period was about to end. After twenty-seven months, when the Yu sacrifices were offered to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the funeral would be over. Yinreng had allowed his brothers to live in the palace for the purpose of observing the mourning period. Now that the mourning period was over, they all had to move out. If they didn't move out, the mansion they had built would become a haunted house if left outside.
Yunlu came to see Concubine Yi and discussed with his fifth brother: When I move, should I bring our mother to live with me for a while?
Concubine Yi was willing to stay with Yunqi for a while, and Yunqi couldn't stop her, so he agreed, but with one condition: "Mother, please don't forget your son when you go to your ninth brother's place."
Concubine Yi said: "I can't forget it~"
Yunluo cheerfully asked Concubine Yi what flowers and trees she liked, what style of furniture and decorations she wanted: "Your son will get them all for you."
Concubine Yi said angrily, "My current place is good enough, but it would be even better if you could give me a pond of koi."
Yunluo took the responsibility: "I leave it to my son."
Yunqi thought to himself, let them get a whole pond of fish tomorrow! He said to Concubine Yi, "Mother, his house is also run by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If there is anything suitable or not, your son and brother can discuss it, so that he doesn't have to compete with the servants below!" He glanced at her, and Yunqi stuck out his tongue.
Concubine Yi smiled and said, "Go ahead."
When the two brothers arrived at Yunqi's study, the first thing they talked about was, of course, Yunlu's house. His title was there, and some of the systems were lacking, but Yunqi agreed to make some minor adjustments to Yunlu's garden and add a pavilion according to Yunlu's request.
Yunluo thanked him with a smile, and asked Yunqi how he was doing recently: "Is fifth brother busy with his work?" When they have free time, let's make money together.
It would have been fine if he didn't mention it, but as soon as he did, Yunqi got angry.
Even a clay figure has some temper, let alone this kind of back and forth. "We already went through this once when Prince Yu asked to be crowned the Crown Prince. We do have a spare hat, but the clothes we made originally have to be altered! That's fine, but these things aren't all ready yet. We've already got all the furniture we need for Hong Sheng's wedding, and the third brother is causing trouble again!"
Yunluo swallowed his saliva. He never knew his fifth brother could speak such a long paragraph of Chinese so fluently!
(Yunqi: Everyone speaks Chinese when I'm competing with them. It's been tough. Is it easy, bro? TT)
Yunluo: "..." He actually wanted to discuss a business deal with his fifth brother. His family business was growing, but he still felt it was insufficient. Jiuye dealt in high-end foreign luxury goods in the capital, and to the outside world, he sold large quantities of porcelain and silk, which were also considered luxury goods. However, the capital was still insufficient.
His fifth brother managed the emperor's treasury, so he had money, so he could borrow money as he pleased. Nothing could be more convenient. His plan: with the Imperial Household Department injecting capital, his business would have both capital and the official seal of approval. Previously, even if he had connections, they were still "private." With the Imperial Household Department, things were different. Of course, the Imperial Household Department could also send personnel to oversee the business.
After comforting Yunqi for a while, he said, "The Third Brother is always confused. You are not doing this mission for him. Just think of it as an errand from the Emperor, isn't that enough?" Because he and the Shi family were in partnership and had a decent relationship, he added, "Don't give face to the monk, give face to the Buddha. If you do a good job, Kunning Palace will also accept your favor. Besides, Hongsheng is also your nephew."
After finally convincing Yunqi to change his mind, Yunluo tentatively made a request.
Yunqi said in surprise: "Silver from the Imperial Household Department?" The Fifth Master felt a little pain in his balls.
The Imperial Household Department had a treasury, but it was located in the Forbidden City.[1] How could it be moved? Furthermore, in addition to the necessary working capital, the Imperial Household Department also had fixed investment projects, such as "rewarding" large merchants (perhaps salt merchants or other merchants) as capital, as an investment, and then waiting to receive dividends. This was all connected to a large number of interest groups, and an honest man like the Fifth Master did not want to do something that would offend people.
Yunlu was very depressed, and then he came up with another idea: "Fifth brother, are you interested? That's really a good deal!" He started to deceive people, painting a beautiful blueprint, with an expression that foreigners were stupid and naive, and there were a lot of money out there, so if they went there, they would get the money.
Wu Ye shook his head: "I don't have that much money."
No way! You established your government before me, yet you're so stingy and don't build up your influence in the court. And yet you're still crying poor?
Uncle Wu told his fat brother very embarrassedly that he had used his money to buy land and collect rent, and he would not engage in venture capital.
Yunluo looked defeated: "Fifth brother, you..." How could such a smart person like me have the same mother as this blockhead?
He could only instruct Yunqi, "Fifth brother, please take care of my younger brother's pavilion." After saying goodbye to Concubine Yi, the Ninth Master went back to think of some bad ideas.
This time, he finally managed to hold it in. There were two people in charge of the Imperial Household Department, and the other one was the twelfth prince, Yunluo. This one was also a background board, but a little more flexible than the fifth prince, and a little less stable. Uh, he would occasionally go crazy.
Being fooled by Lao Jiu, he said: "Fifth Brother probably wants to avoid suspicion, and he is a little slow to act, so I have come to Twelfth Brother for help. I have my own acquaintances in this business, so Twelfth Brother doesn't need to worry too much." Finally, he hinted that as the supervisor, you will get kickbacks~
Yunlu was fooled into a pirate ship: "I have to go and check the accounts. Then I will tell the emperor that you can't just stand by and watch."
"Is that even necessary?"
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Yinreng knew a bit about the Imperial Household Department's money-making methods, and he was no stranger to the practice of forcing capital into a winning industry. He was a little worried about his ninth brother, though, and looked at him with suspicion. He didn't agree outright, but instead returned to ask his wife, "Do you remember the time we were trading Western toys?"
Shujia blinked: "I remember, but I didn't do it myself. I just heard them talk about it."
Yinreng asked about the profit situation and learned that it was quite considerable, so he told Yunlu about his proposal.
"ah?"
"how?"
"Will the Imperial Household Department send someone? Or will they just pay the money? If they only pay the money, what if we lose money? Is there a guarantor?" Losses are the norm for large and medium-sized state-owned monopolies. If the losses become too much for the higher-ups to tolerate and they demand rectification, then there's bound to be trouble. No, I have to tell my family that I can't get involved in this anymore. The relationship between officials and businessmen is the most difficult to deal with.
Yinreng thought about it, probably thinking of the terrible deficit of the previous weaving factory: "Give some capital, and send someone from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to just look after the silver accounts, and let Lao Jiu and others handle other matters."
The Ninth Brother, who only takes in money and never gives out? Shujia was increasingly determined to get her family out of the deal. What about the Empress's family? If anything went wrong, the Ninth Brother's surname would be a talisman, and others wouldn't have the same luck. The court was now chasing the deficit.
Shujia asked cautiously, "Give it a little less first and try it?"
Yinreng said with a bitter face: "I don't have the money to give more even if I want to!"
"..." No wonder he agreed to invest without even struggling. His hesitation was only about whether Lao Jiu was reliable.
Regardless, Yunluo's initial wish was fulfilled. Shujia also sent a message home, but the Shifu's reply was quite interesting. The family had made a lot of money, but with a large family, and daughters marrying well, the dowry was substantial, so they really needed money.
The result of the family meeting was: wait and see for a while, and then we’ll take action if Jiu Ye really acts out of line.
Shujia was quite helpless. This was the downside of remote control! You think you're a party of truth, but no one wants to be a puppet, right? From anyone's perspective, state funding and government backing are a sure-win business.
The two of them were angry, but it was a letter from the Suzhou Weaving House that made the Shi family change their minds. Of course, the Suzhou Weaving House had heard about the Imperial Household Department's investment, and Jiang Ting hurried back to tell Shuyi, "This is incredible!"
Shuyi was quite puzzled: "It's a good time, what's the big deal?"
Jiang Ting said, "Do you think it's so easy to get the money from the Imperial Household Department?" He is now in this line of work and is quite familiar with the situation. He explained one by one, "For example, salt merchants, after taking the silver, are asked to make 'donations' whenever there is a famine, war, or southern tour... How can you bear that?" He gave another example. When Cao Yin was the salt administrator, there was a problem one time and he wrote a letter directly to Emperor Kangxi, saying that we are actively responding to the central government's call and donating one or two taels of silver for every stone of salt sold.
Don't think that salt merchants are fat and happy. What good can fat pigs and sheep do? Even if you have a backer, if they can't get you to do it, the business will fail and your capital will rot.
Shuyi was also anxious when she heard this, and she wrote a letter back to the capital. By the time she got back, the capital was already preparing for the sacrifice.
Thanks to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for preparing for the weddings of Jiji, Sixteen, Seventeen, Guangshan, and Hongsheng. It is also near the end of the year, and they are trying to get the money back. Although Yunlu is urging them, the money has not been distributed for a while.
After receiving the letter, the Shi family became a little anxious and quickly told Yunlu that they were quitting this business. Well, their son was getting married next year and they were short of money, so they would sell the shares to you.
Yunluo tried to persuade them, saying, "Now that the opportunity has arrived, what are you doing? If you're short of money, I can lend you some money."
The Shi family refused to comply, only asking for a fair price from the Ninth Master. Yunluo simply wasn't worth such a large stake, but they didn't want Kunning Palace to think they were bullying her family, so they arranged for his wife to go to Kunning Palace with the other women of the Shi family to explain the situation.
Shujia didn't need any explanation from them. She was extremely happy when she heard that they were breaking up.
Everyone is happy.
The author has something to say:
[1] I remember visiting the Forbidden City that year. I saw a large house in the working area (the front court) with a sign hanging on a pillar that read “The Treasury of the Imperial Household Department”. It was so shocking that I actually forgot the original name of the palace.
Stupid! It turns out that the emperor, the "biggest landlord in feudal society", still kept the simple characteristics of the rural landowners who hid their money under the bed and watched it for themselves!
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