The time traveler who was popularized by science
Baotai's marriage could now proceed formally, not only because the mourning period for his ex-wife had expired, but also because the mourning period for his father had also ended. Fuquan, Baotai's father, had died in July of the 42nd year of the Kangxi reign. Fuquan was supposed to observe 27 months of mourning, and now it was November of the 44th year of the Kangxi reign, the period had expired. Of course, there was still one more formality to be completed.
Prince Yuxian passed away several years ago and is scheduled to be buried at Huanghua Mountain this December. Qing dynasty funeral rites often involved placing the coffin in a temporary burial hall until the mausoleum was complete, at which point the burial was moved. Empress Renxiao's death was sudden, and no mausoleum was built. She remained in temporary burial for several years. Emperor Kangxi planned the site and began construction, only moving the empress to her grave once the mausoleum was fully established. This is not to mention the case of Empress Xiaozhuang Wen.
Fuquan will be officially buried next month, and the concubine will be able to marry into the family after the spring.
Shujia thought about it several times but didn't say "wait another year." She wanted to ease the resentment among Prince Yu's sons, so they wouldn't resent their stepmother for marrying into the family while their mother's mourning was still ongoing. However, the marriage was arranged by Kangxi, and Yinreng approved, hoping to use it to prove his commitment to his father's orders and to care for Fuquan's lineage.
According to etiquette, Fuquan's mourning period had already ended, and Prince Yu's wife had passed away a year earlier, so there was absolutely no violation of etiquette. Postponing a politically significant marriage for personal gain would only bring consequences to the entire Shi family. He had no choice but to suppress the thought and worry about Shuyi in vain.
Soon, Shujia's thoughts were once again preoccupied with matters both within and without the palace. While there weren't many troublemakers within the Eastern Palace, her primary responsibility lay in socializing with those outside. Having handled these matters for years, she had accumulated considerable experience. The most taxing aspect of the New Year wasn't deciding what gifts to give, but rather... carefully accepting them!
History speaks of the "Kangxi and Qianlong Periods of Prosperity," but in reality, the reign of Emperor Kangxi was short-lived. Immediately after his accession to the throne, the four ministers and the emperor engaged in a bitter feud, with some dying, some surrendering, and others being imprisoned. Within two years of peace, the rebellion of the Three Feudatories broke out, and after the Three Feudatories were quelled, factional strife erupted, resulting in a life-and-death struggle.
Kangxi suppressed the Mingzhu, and the court was temporarily at peace. Then came Galdan again. Galdan was defeated... Administration deteriorated, rebellions arose one after another, and the national economy began to struggle, with signs of intensification. Fortunately, the princes were relatively well-behaved for now. Well, the restless one had already been rounded up.
I say this simply to make one point: gifts should not be accepted carelessly, nor should promises be made after receiving them. In today's world of poor governance and rampant corruption, if you accept money from a corrupt official and the emperor investigates, would you speak up for him or not? Even if you choose not to, you must have a plan in place, so you can reach out and get the account book so you can speak back to the emperor.
It's one thing to be greedy, but if there's another corrupt official who forces the people to rebel, you're also an accomplice!
When dealing with this part, Shujia had to be extra careful to avoid getting into trouble that she shouldn't be involved in, which would be difficult to deal with.
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This continued until Kangxi left for a trip. The old man took the seventh and thirteenth princes with him, partly to bury Fuquan and partly to tour the frontier. Even in the coldest days of winter, Hongdan had to accompany him, leaving Yinreng behind to handle government affairs.
Yinreng's handling of government affairs was becoming increasingly smoother. Kangxi continuously assigned people from the Imperial Household Department to various ministries as deputies. The newly arrived Grand Secretary, Li Guangdi, was also very familiar with the Crown Prince and handled matters with exceptional efficiency and shrewdness. Although it was nearing the end of the year, Yinreng seemed more relaxed than usual.
When he was free, he would chat with his pregnant wife, sharing small details to relieve his boredom. Yinreng worked all day, so of course, he was talking mostly about work. It's said that the harem shouldn't interfere in government affairs, but in reality, a wife who had a good relationship with her husband was definitely not completely ignorant of what was going on outside.
Yinreng was very selective when he talked about things. He would talk about things like "the country is short of money," "there's a rebellion somewhere," "I'll ask your brother to investigate the background of my father's confidants"... He would definitely not talk about such things. But right now, there was something new and interesting that didn't involve state secrets.
"What?! They really dare?!"
"Hey, why are you so excited? I'm telling you a funny story, why are you so anxious?" Yinreng thought carefully. He was just mocking the Roman Catholic Church for overestimating its own power and intervening in China's affairs. He also said that he and his son had handled the matter with great magnanimity. He had only said the first half of the story. Why did his wife react so strongly?
The cause of the incident was as follows, as summarized by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince: "The King of Education sent an envoy named Duo Luo, who was very rude. He wanted to forbid Chinese Christians from calling Catholics God and from worshipping Confucius and ancestors! He even forbade people from worshipping their ancestors! They didn't want to follow Matteo Ricci's rules. Isn't that ridiculous?" The Crown Prince used the Pope and Duo Luo as clowns to make his wife laugh.
Shujia was immediately shocked when she realized that "Prince of Education" was the "Pope." Besides the pigtails, opium, and closed-door policy, the Crown Princess's most profound impression of the Qing Dynasty was the various unequal treaties. The signing of these unequal treaties was always motivated by religion. The Ma Incident during the Second Opium War was a prominent example. At least that's what the history books say.
Over the years, many memories have been worn away, and what remains are the saddest traces from when I read them.
This time, the Vatican is meddling in Chinese rituals again. Isn't this stretching its hand too far?! For a long time in Europe, the authority of the church was superior to that of the secular monarchy. Shujia knew this. I seem to recall a king, whose name I've forgotten, from France or Germany, who defied the Pope and ultimately stood bareheaded, barefoot, and in penitential garments in the snow for three days before receiving the Pope's forgiveness.
The Crown Princess immediately formed an equation: religion = aggression. What the hell! "It's not their turn to control the people of the Qing Dynasty! They should be driven out!" What was the Pope going to do next? After controlling the believers, would he just collect tithes?
The crown prince was completely unconcerned and was just anxious: "What's wrong with you? It's not a big deal! There's no need to be angry about it. Khan Ama and I are not intolerant." The pregnant woman's emotions were indeed unstable.
Shujia was stunned for a moment, then realized she was too excited. Catholicism and the Qing Dynasty weren't a good association, especially after such a provocative move by the Pope. She took a deep breath. Oh no, she'd been too excited just now. She couldn't instigate a policy of isolation!
Shujia was a little worried. Although she knew Yinreng might not listen to her opinions, especially those on government affairs, she was worried that the Celestial Empire valued its reputation. If he felt that his reputation had been lost and she was in a dilemma, and she added fuel to the fire... She thought about what to say to save the situation.
Seeing his wife calm down, Yinreng raised one corner of his lip and glanced at the globe in the corner. "Many missionaries are quite sensible. They have served for many years and have made some contributions. Although Khan Ama and I are a little annoyed this time, we will not throw the baby out with the bathwater. It's just a matter of educating the prince. How can we not deal with him?"
"...You are so magnanimous." Shujia thought that her smile must have been very strange at that time.
"My Khan is wise," Yinreng praised Kangxi before continuing, "He told Duoluo that the Chinese practice of paying respect to a tablet isn't about praying for blessings and luck, but simply showing respect. This is a fundamental Chinese tradition and of immense importance. Every country respects its own grammar when naming things; how can we say the fundamental principles differ just because of a term?"
Shujia echoed his words, "That's right." This was exactly what she had wanted to say after calming down: everything should be considered in light of local conditions and not simply copied. She also wanted to say that while some Western customs might seem annoying, many of their things are still useful... You and your son had always treated them very well.
Yinreng continued, "Khan Ama wanted to send an envoy to see the King of Education. This Duola claimed to be a minister sent by the King of Education, but he had no letter from the King of Education. Whether he was sent by the King of Education or pretending to be one, it was difficult to tell with tens of thousands of miles between us. Fearing he might interfere, we decided to send Bai Jin and Sha Guoan to see the King of Education."
Huh? The old man is even sending envoys to Europe to negotiate? Too... too open-minded, isn't he?
"As for the domestic situation, as long as Westerners receive a ticket from the court and declare their willingness to abide by Matteo Ricci's rules, they can stay and serve. Khan Ama has just issued a directive to the governor of Guangdong: 'If you see any newly arrived Westerners who are uneducated and only serve to preach, they should stay in Guangdong for the time being and not go to other provinces. The time for their departure will be determined separately. If there are any Westerners with ingenuity or who are doctors of medicine or surgery, the governor should send his family to us immediately.' You see, they are very useful in medicine, music, and astronomy. Why should we delay our efforts for a few clowns?"
Shujia burst into tears. I, who came from more than 30 years after the reform and opening up, actually need you, the head of the "closed-door court", to teach me what it means to "learn from others' strengths, discard the dross and retain the essence, and absorb and learn selectively."
What the hell! Am I still wearing something from the Qing Dynasty?
In order not to leave the impression of an "ignorant woman" on Yinreng, Shujia added with a touch of anger, "I understand what you're saying. The clocks and watches we use every day, the Western doctor who cured the Ninth Prince's illness, the various mirrors, and the calendar are all useful. But hearing that Prince Jiaohua is so disrespectful to his superiors, and hearing that Duo Luo is so disgusting and rude to his superiors, I'm really upset."
Yinreng stroked her back to calm down: "I was a little angry at first, but how come seeing you like this, my anger has disappeared?"
"Oh, you're making fun of me for being impatient. Hey, that thing we talked about last time about asking Westerners to paint, do we have to wait?"
Yinreng looked her up and down and said, "We'll have to wait."
Shujia punched him in the face, clearly mocking the poor image of a pregnant woman! The two of them chatted and laughed again, and Shujia took the opportunity to ask a lot of questions about current Western affairs. Previously, she had been busy studying science and technology, thinking about increasing Yinreng's interest in Western languages and cultivating some interest for herself, and had forgotten about this.
What's the point of just fiddling with that? I don't know what the current superiors are thinking. How can you "guide" them? It's almost embarrassing.
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Given the Crown Princess's lack of common sense, His Royal Highness, after providing her with a wealth of common sense, departed, feeling immensely satisfied with his role as a teacher. The time traveler was left scratching his head, wondering: What went wrong? While the Kangxi dynasty wasn't exactly open-minded, it was certainly receptive to Western technology.
I've been thinking about this for a long time, but I can't figure out how this country, which is still considered tolerant, could have produced a fool like Emperor Daoguang! Look at all those missionaries. They've even brought in globes, people from France, Germany, and Italy have them, and Catholicism is even allowed to preach... How could Emperor Daoguang even ask such a stupid question as whether there's a land route from Britain to Xinjiang?!
Pat your chest, don't be angry, pregnant women should maintain a calm state of mind. Go out for a walk to relax, or call your family over to talk, there are still many things to do.
Because Shujia was pregnant, she was able to have her family come to the palace to talk more frequently than usual. Shuyi was about to get married, so she couldn't go out. Xiluo Te left the household affairs to her three daughters-in-law and brought her youngest daughter to the palace to visit her second daughter.
Looking at her daughter's bulging belly, Xiluotai was nothing but relieved. A woman, in the end, still depends on her son. Because Shuhui was also there, even though she was thirteen (in lunar years), Yunying was still unmarried, Xiluotai's words were not so explicit, but simply concerned about Shujia's health: "Are you feeling comfortable moving around? What do you want to eat this time? You always want something different."
Shujia smiled and said, "I go out for a walk every day now. There's always delicious food in Ningshou Palace. I can eat whatever I want. Mother, don't worry about me."
Xiluo Te couldn't help but advise: "The Empress Dowager loves you, which is your blessing, but don't be too harsh on her." After all, she was the Empress Dowager.
"I saved myself the trouble," Shujia said to Shuhui. "The Empress Dowager is the kindest person. You'll find out later." Then she turned to Xiluo, "The Empress Dowager always complains about having too much free time. Isn't this fulfilling her wish?"
Xiluo Te was worried again: "Don't say that."
Shujia could only agree politely, and then asked Shuyi, "How are things going with the third girl and me at home? The Imperial Observatory and the Ministry of Rites said the engagement date is in March? And the wedding is in June?"
Sirut answered "yes".
Shujia frowned and thought for a moment: "Did they discuss it? Or did they set this date?"
Xiluo Te was puzzled: "May I ask if there is any other explanation?"
"It's just my little thoughts," Shujia didn't shy away from Shuhui and expressed her concerns about Prince Yu and the other princes. "I haven't seen those children much, and it's hard to say what their personalities are. I don't know what they're thinking."
Xiluo Te said helplessly: "I think so too. But... marrying a prince is not something we can argue about." The Crown Princess's family is not a good choice either, as they are not the Emperor's family.
"She's a sensible person to begin with. I just hope she can continue to be sensible and get through this beginning. Everything will be fine from now on."
"Yes, she has to continue to be sensible."
Mother and daughter looked at each other, each sensing a different worry: even if Shuyi was sensible at home, she might not get along with her in-laws after marriage. A temper that worked well as the first wife might not translate well as a second wife. Even if she got better, her in-laws, especially her stepson, might not cooperate. If Shuyi misstepped, Shuhui's marriage would be jeopardized. These days, the daughters of a family truly share the same fate.
"Thank you for your concern, mother."
"After next year, you'll have to worry more."
Shujia didn't want the atmosphere to be so depressing when mother and daughter, or sisters, met. She would just face the challenge head-on. Even if things got worse, Shuyi and Shuhui's marriages were deeply political. As long as Yinreng and she made their positions clear, at least peace could be maintained for now, and things would be much easier in the future.
Changing the subject, Shujia asked, "Fourth sister's birthday is next month, right?"
Shuhui smiled and said, "Yes. The sixteenth of next month."
"Then we'll have a good time."
Xiluo Te said, "It's not a big birthday, just a casual celebration according to the old tradition." Although she said this, her eyes were gentle when she looked at Shuhui. The three of them talked about some things related to the New Year. Shujia wanted to test Shuhui and asked her some questions about the old servants in the family.
Shuhui's answer made her quite satisfied: "The aunts are not very old, and they are still being cared for according to the old rules. Recently, because of Third Sister's affairs, they have been working harder than usual. The other day, each of them was rewarded with a piece of satin, two hairpins and a full set of winter clothes. Second brother accompanied the emperor and brought back a lot of furs. He used the second-grade fur to make a cloak for each of the aunts..."
At least she knew how to do household chores, even if she hadn't personally assigned them. "If you can't write poetry, you can at least compose it." Following her example wouldn't be bad either. Shujia gradually felt relieved about Shuhui. Well, I'll go to Chengqian Palace again in a few days. It's a good opportunity to see Concubine Wang.
It was getting late, so Xiluo Te and her daughter took their leave. Before they left, Shujia said, "The big selection process is about to begin again. Although it's still two years away, there's only a month or so left this year, and the application will have to be submitted in the spring of the following year. We can't afford to be careless during this period. I'll choose a time later, and Fourth Sister, please come stay with me for a while."
After agreeing, Xiluo Te asked again, "Will this break the rules?"
"Mother forgot, the family has to prepare for the third girl's wedding. When I'm about to give birth, you and the sisters-in-law won't be able to spare any time. What's wrong with asking the fourth sister to accompany me?"
The start date of the second training course for royal daughters-in-law was thus set.
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Shujia decided on this matter and devoted herself to preparing for the New Year. Time passed quickly, and when Kangxi returned from his trip, the New Year was almost here. The palace was cleaned inside and out, spring couplets were hung, blessing characters were collected, door gods were hung... Amidst the busyness, the 45th year of Kangxi's reign arrived.
The New Year arrived, and as usual, men and women attended separate banquets. This year, however, the women received another piece of good news: Concubine Gao was pregnant again, and she was about two months along. Gao was Kangxi's favorite concubine in recent years, and no matter whether she was a Hepin or a Wangpin, they would step aside when they saw her.
She suffered from her background - Kangxi had always strictly controlled the titles of the harem, and without an adequate background, there was no possibility of promotion.
Although he didn't promote him, Kangxi was delighted when he learned the news after the banquet. Alone in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, he seemed quite overjoyed. The fact that he was in his fifties and had given birth to a son was a testament to his health, wasn't it?
The author has something to say:
Kangxi was really open-minded about the issue of Catholicism.
Contact with the West was not considered a breakthrough, at least before the arrival of the Pope's envoy.
Also, preview: In the next chapter, the Fourth Lady is about to give birth.
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