The turmoil has not yet ended
The Empress Dowager's proposal was reasonable, but it put Yinreng in a dilemma.
The affairs of the previous dynasty must be handled, and the state machinery must function; that was understandable. If even the arranged marriage was carried out, it would be overreaching, as if the emperor were already dead. But the Empress Dowager's words made sense. The Grand Selection had touched the nerves of the entire Banner People, and the Emperor was actually furious because of it, and he had to put an end to it.
But he has no legitimate right to make decisions! The harem is different from the previous dynasty.
Yinreng hesitated for a long time: "My grandson has never cared about this matter. I can't tell who is who. Originally, Khan Ama was the one who made the decision. Even if we want a result immediately, you have to make the decision." I can only tell who their father is.
The Empress Dowager took a while to react before she remembered that the Crown Prince had never seen a concubine. Not to mention the Crown Prince, no other man except the Emperor had ever seen a concubine. This was the rule.
She had never made a decision on such a major matter before. The Empress Dowager was in a dilemma: "How about we discuss it?"
Yinreng had already weighed all the implications and analyzed the current situation. The emperor's illness, particularly the severity of it, dragged on, neither wanting to recover nor die, was deeply disturbing.
In this era when corrupt officials are rampant, the people's hearts have begun to fray. Things like Prince Zhu San and the Ming dynasty title have been popping up all over the place. If we continue to drag it out at this point, not only will the people outside become demoralized, but the position of the bannermen will also be shaken.
At this time, we really need to do something to tell everyone: there are still leaders, so stay put.
But the idea of discussing arranged marriages just seems awful no matter how you think about it.
Still discussing! Whether in the former court or the harem, at this juncture, no matter how much backroom wrangling and whispering there is, when it comes to the surface, they must appear to be in control. The word "discuss" must never be mentioned in public. Discussing back and forth is weak and powerless, clearly telling everyone that the royal family is weak and powerless. Doesn't this invite bullying?
Yinreng decisively rejected the Empress Dowager's proposal for discussion.
To make a decision, one must appear to be the sole decision-maker. If the Empress Dowager were more reliable, issuing the decree would have been perfectly legitimate and perfectly acceptable. If one were the decision-maker, writing "By order of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor" on the order would have been fine. But now that this has to be done through consultation, that's not acceptable.
Kangxi was still in the Qianqing Palace, so Yinreng would not interfere in other matters. He was responsible for government affairs. This was his responsibility. As for this arranged marriage, he was overreaching. It was not good, not good.
The Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince pushed and resisted, one unable to bear the responsibility, the other unwilling to bear it. The Empress Dowager looked around, trying to gather some allies: "Crown Princess, you say."
Shujia was at a loss for words: "Grandfather, although this is a marriage between a man and a woman, it also involves many families in the previous dynasty. How can we, the younger generation, have the final say?"
Yinreng followed suit, saying, "That's exactly the logic. It has serious implications."
The Queen Mother then said to the princesses, "You can also give some advice."
Princess Rongxian was lamenting her bad luck. It was bad enough that her daughter was stuck on the bridge, and now she was dragged into this gossip. If the prince thought it was her instigation, she would never be able to clear herself of the blame.
Yinreng glanced at the princesses and silently thought, absolutely not to agree to this. If he did, Rongxian's daughter would have to find a good place to go. Although he didn't want to treat his niece harshly, he also wanted to take some "advantages and disadvantages" to take care of his own people.
If Kangxi had issued an order, he would have accepted it. Leaving him to make his own decision would have been a mistake—he was just jumping into a trap. He didn't want to make such a foolish move! Furthermore, Kangxi actually had a plan in mind, and everyone knew it. It was the emperor's true intention, not just some rumor. The prince's arrest and prosecution was merely a remedy. With a plan in mind, he had to consider how to handle it.
Princess Rongxian has already spoken: "We are married daughters, how can we interfere in our parents' affairs?"
The princesses all expressed their intention to stay out of this matter. The fourth princess added, "Why not ask the Khan for his opinion? The Khan can't speak in long sentences right now, so if you just state your intentions, you'll always be able to tell which ones are approved and which ones are rejected." So you can save me from forcing people to express their opinions! I don't have any daughters waiting to marry, and I'm determined to get out of this pit.
The Queen Mother clapped her hands and said, "That's a good idea."
A group of women took the crown prince hostage and headed towards the Palace of Heavenly Purity again.
After hearing what the Fourth Princess said, Yinreng wanted to die! Please give me an imperial decree! The Empress Dowager is not someone who can take charge of things. Khan Ama knows this very well. In the end, this matter will fall on me, okay? I have to think of a plan.
Along the way, he thought about how he would respond if Kangxi agreed, and he walked a little more briskly.
This time, the people who took care of the sick in the Qianqing Palace were replaced by a new group, namely Hongxi, Yinzhen, Yinqi, Yinluo and Yinyu.
Kangxi was already able to be helped up and sit up. The Empress Dowager was very relieved: "Is the Emperor feeling better?"
Kangxi nodded slowly, and the Empress Dowager was overjoyed: "That's good now. I feel relieved."
Yinreng also breathed a sigh of relief. It was great that he didn’t have to do anything against his conscience!
The Empress Dowager came forward and grumbled, "I've been terrified these past few days. Every day I pray to the Buddha for protection, hoping the Emperor will be safe. You're our backbone. With you around, we can rest assured. I hope you get better soon. The children are so worried about you. Look how thin they are."
The princesses and the crown prince came up together to express their feelings and persuade the queen mother.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Please come here. This will help us solve a difficult problem..." She actually told the story again.
Kangxi thought hard for a moment, then pointed at the crown prince. Whenever the emperor was delayed or unable to handle matters, he habitually passed them on to the crown prince. Even after his stroke, his mind wasn't quite sharp, but he still had this habit.
Yinreng wanted to cry: "Khan Ama, you are almost safe, so let's wait until you are safe before we talk."
The Empress Dowager was surprised and said, "The Crown Prince is right, Emperor, you should come."
Kangxi's hand was still pointing at his son.
The Empress Dowager immediately changed her tune: "Prince, the Emperor has already given the order, so please comply."
Conclusion of this incident: The Crown Prince's skill of making his wishes come true is not proficient enough.
If the Crown Prince was still struggling with how to arrange a marriage one moment, the next moment he would experience firsthand what it meant to "get worse."
The Empress Dowager, feeling a little better, clapped her hands cheerfully and said, "Ah! I remember now. The Emperor has already chosen some people. Let's settle Hongdan's matter first. With the happy event, the Emperor's illness might be cured. Oh, a marriage between relatives is really a good match. The Emperor has good taste."
She had been so anxious before, but now her mood had improved, her memory had returned, and she remembered this matter. Yes, although the old lady's work ability was limited, she was still an honorary leader. Kangxi did not allow her to participate in the discussion, but he still remembered to tell her the results, and then let her join in the fun and stamp the document.
Yinreng wanted to get up and hit her on the back of the head with a stick so that she would forget about it.
Crown Prince, don't rush to offend your father and hit your grandmother. Your father has reacted.
Kangxi was furious about this matter. Just as he was feeling better, he heard the Empress Dowager say she wanted to marry her grandson to the Tong family. Wasn't this a slap in the face? He was furious. He stretched his neck, trying to object, but after a moment's effort, he slid back down.
Yinreng rushed forward and said, "Khan Ama, Khan Ama!" He lowered his voice and said, "Grandmother Empress Dowager doesn't know about that yet. I will slowly explain it to her."
Kangxi muttered something incoherently, and the Empress Dowager was about to step forward, but Yinreng quickly stopped her, saying, "Go back first. I'll send someone to report anything. The imperial physician here is more useful than us."
Shujia heard something was amiss and called Zhao Guoshi over. "Go to Chengqian Palace and tell the Imperial Concubine to come up with a reason to tell the Empress Dowager why a girl from the Tong family can't be the Crown Prince's Consort. Remember, tell her that the Empress Dowager doesn't know the reason for the Emperor's illness yet. Don't scare the old lady!"
The Empress Dowager, embraced by the princesses, walked away, looking back every few steps. Yinreng slowly explained to Kangxi, "Khan Father, please don't worry. To avoid worrying the Empress Dowager, I didn't dare tell her these dirty things. I've already asked the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Personnel to punish the person who leaked the list. I didn't take it back to avoid any serious consequences..."
After a long explanation, Kangxi slowly calmed down.
Yinreng turned him over again. The imperial physician also arrived and felt his pulse. He said that his condition had worsened and asked in a trembling voice, "Could it be that he is angry again?"
Isn't it? Yinreng smiled bitterly and warned his son and brother again: "Don't mention the Tong family's affairs in front of the old man. Just now... ahem, Khan Ama can't stand hearing this now."
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As soon as the Empress Dowager returned to Ningshou Palace, she sent someone to Qianqing Palace to ask, "How is the Emperor?"
Yinreng took out the imperial physician's pulse chart and told the eunuch to memorize it: "If the ancestor asks, you answer like this."
While the eunuchs were going back and forth, Concubine Tong had already arrived at Ningshou Palace. The Empress Dowager even said to her, "What do you think? If we take care of the Crown Prince's affairs, will the Emperor be alright?"
Concubine Tong opened her mouth and looked at the Empress Dowager happily: "Let's take care of Sixteenth Prince's affairs as well, so that there will be more joy."
Unable to wait any longer, Concubine Tong said decisively: "I'm afraid that girl won't have this blessing."
"how?"
Concubine Tong had come up with this idea on the spur of the moment, fabricating the excuse that a close relative had died and the girl had to observe mourning. The Tong family was a large clan anyway, so the Empress Dowager had no idea how many people there were in the Tong family at the moment.
The Empress Dowager was somewhat confused. "Hasn't it already been reported that those who are not running for election due to filial piety? How come we only discovered this now?"
Concubine Tong had no choice but to explain: "He just died. This matter is ambiguous, but since we have the etiquette, we have to do it." She tried to persuade the empress dowager and came up with a lot of reasons, and finally confused her.
The Empress Dowager smacked her lips and said regretfully, "That's such a pity."
"Yeah." Everyone responded in unison, laughing bitterly.
"Then ask the Crown Prince to choose another one as soon as possible. The Emperor just agreed."
“…”How come you still remember this?
The Empress Dowager had become a hands-off boss, and the Crown Prince was nearly suffocated after returning to the Eastern Palace. The Emperor's inability to manage affairs was already putting enough psychological pressure on him; he couldn't even manage the men's affairs, let alone the women's! He told the Empress Dowager the truth: he didn't recognize any of the concubines, whether they were his own nieces or his wife's nieces.
The Empress Dowager had seen the concubines, but could her judgment be trusted? The concubines had seen the concubines, but could he discuss it with them?
Holding a pile of files, Yinreng entered the Duanyi Palace and said, "Let's take a look."
"Huh? What is this?" He was curious and glanced at the cover. "Is this a file? Why did you bring it to me?" Not to mention any nonsense like interfering in politics, even if you showed it to me, I might not understand it.
"Didn't the Empress Dowager find me a good job? Now that the concubine has gone home, I can't tell them apart. You've seen them all, after all. Let's discuss it." He held out two more pieces of paper. "Everything written here is true. It was Khan Ama's idea. But after this incident, we can't take it for granted."
Those two were the leaked lists. Now the Crown Princess certainly couldn't keep them as they were. The others had to be changed as well to cover up the past.
Shujia took the notes and looked at them carefully. "I've seen all of these before, and they're all acceptable to me." She couldn't help but feel a little happier. Could this mean I could choose my own daughter-in-law? I could ask Hongdan for his opinion.
The arranged marriages were arranged in batches. There weren't many names on the two papers, so the changes needed weren't too significant. The first paper was the name Kangxi had left for himself: Sehetu.
"This Sehetu—" Shujia said, but then changed her mind. "She wants to stay?" This is too bad, isn't it? This girl is only sixteen, and Kangxi has already had a stroke.
Yinreng nodded naturally: "This is the person that Khan Ama has chosen, so of course we have to keep her." He pointed at Shujia, "Now that you mention it, it reminds me that keeping her alone would be too conspicuous. We should keep another one."
Don't do evil! Shujia quickly stopped him: "Don't cause any more trouble now. Khan Ama likes one, so you keep one. When Khan Ama wakes up and sees another person, what will you say? How can a son take care of his father's palace?"
Only then did Yinreng give up.
Shujia's good mood, fueled by the fact that she had chosen her daughter-in-law, had completely vanished. Killing someone was not enough; keeping the lively young girls locked up in the harem was considered humane, but pairing them with a dying emperor who had suffered a stroke was practically the same as burying them alive.
Yinreng took out another thin booklet and said, "This is the list of unmarried members of the imperial clan submitted by the Imperial Clan Bureau."
Shujia didn't look at this first and asked the most concerned question: "What kind of daughter-in-law do you want?"
Yinreng sighed, "What do you think?" He felt a little guilty towards his wife. He was allowed to be partial to one of the concubines, but he couldn't go too far. He didn't recognize the concubines, so he first looked through the list presented by the Imperial Clan Court and immediately spotted someone—Prince Xian Yanhuang.
You may not be familiar with Prince Xian, but what about Prince Su? Yes, he is a descendant of Taizong's eldest son, Haoge. This branch is also an iron-hat prince. Although not as outstanding as Prince Jian and others, and a little inferior to Prince An, who is not an iron-hat prince, it is an iron-hat prince after all.
Of course, such a person should be left to one's own relatives, right? The Hesheli family also had a daughter, but her recent skills weren't very high, so she was eliminated during the reselection. Yinreng was very pleased with his wife's sensible decision not to create problems for him and not to choose a niece as a daughter-in-law, and he felt a little guilty and wanted to make amends. He had a good impression of the Shi family, so at least this would be a good choice for the Crown Princess's niece.
I told you before, do you think the talent show is a beauty pageant?
But calming down and thinking about it, he felt it wasn't feasible. His father had asked him to decide, so he had to choose Princess Rongxian as his son-in-law. He could have chosen another one who was also good, but not as good as Yanhuang. Now, to show his attitude, he had to move up a level. What a pity! A royal prince was gone.
Shujia was stunned. She actually wanted to ask her son's opinion: "How about calling Hongdan over to ask?"
Yinreng shook his head: "He is still young and his temperament is still not settled. How can he have his own opinions? Even if he has them, they will change. Why don't we choose someone who is reliable for him?"
Shujia pondered for a moment. "I really can't say. To be honest, I want to marry a virtuous woman, but her appearance can't be too bad. Also, the child's parents can't be out of place. She also needs to have a good character and be able to get along with Hongdan. I don't like girls with bad tempers."
Hearing that his wife had no intention of mentioning his niece, Yinreng felt that his wife was sensible and selfless, and decided to find a good match for the girl from the Shi family. However, now he wanted to talk about his son.
Yinreng gritted his teeth and finally said to Shujia, "I understand what you mean, but there is one thing I have to inconvenience you a little - this time, I don't intend to choose my daughter-in-law."
"Huh?" Shujia was merely surprised, not disappointed. Her son was still young, only fourteen, so it was a bit traumatic. He could still grow up at eighteen or twenty, and there was still time.
Having said that, Yinreng relaxed. "Let's wait a little. The troublemaker has sprained his back this time. Seeing how much they're making trouble, I don't want to let anyone get away with it. Let's wait and see," he kept them in suspense. "If Khan Ama is well, I'll ask him to make the decision."
Shujia quickly understood: "I'll do as you say."
The couple discussed for a while before they shortlisted about ten people.
Shujia fully understood Yinreng's intentions. She preserved Kangxi's wishes wherever possible and prioritized those whom Kangxi cared for, but she left the Tong family alone. The Tong Kingdom had a number of names placed, but only two remained: one for a certain Beizi and the other for a Zhenguogong. However, the Orontai clan had a Beile placed in its stead, replacing the Alinga girl's arranged marriage. The Alinga girl dropped her nameplate, while the Faka clan had a girl placed in its stead for a Fuguogong.
Shujia had seen the concubines and had made some assessments of them. The replacements weren't much different. Fortunately, the Qing imperial family had many members, and Dong E and the others were assigned to royal families of varying ranks, so they all had a place to go. Even the lowest-ranking royal family member would still receive an imperial decree upon entering the palace, and the lowest rank would be a general's wife.
——————————————————————————————————————————
While the Crown Prince and his wife were discussing the matter behind closed doors, people outside the Eastern Palace were already extremely anxious.
There's no such thing as a completely impenetrable wall; this saying holds true most of the time. This incident falls into that category. The fact that the Crown Prince had retrieved the files of the Imperial Household Department's concubines and the files of unmarried members of the Imperial Clan's Court speaks volumes.
News spread much faster in the harem than outside. Ningshou Palace was inside the palace, and when the Empress Dowager spoke, there were always a bunch of people standing by to tell her the truth. The palace officials soon got the news. Those with granddaughters, such as Concubine Rong and Princess Rongxian, became worried: "I wonder what the Crown Prince's rules are?"
They were still relatively lucky. At least for the sake of the Second Prince Consort, Rongxian's daughter wouldn't have a bad fate. After all, she was the Crown Prince's niece, wasn't she? The child's uncle, the Third Prince, had a good relationship with the Crown Prince and had even exposed the eldest prince's affairs.
With this in mind, Princess Rongxian hoped to ask the Third Prince to help raise the issue. Concubine Rong was still a little hesitant. She felt that she was a woman of her own, and that she couldn't neglect her son while caring for her daughter and granddaughter. After thinking for a while, she decided to call the Third Prince over to discuss the matter.
Someone from the Third Lady's family was also a candidate, and after hearing what Rong Fei and her daughter said, she felt quite emotional. She didn't even dare to mention her family's affairs to her husband. It was truly a different fate for the same person. The mother-in-law had spoken, and as a daughter-in-law, she had no choice but to agree. The princess had never offended the crown prince, so why not let the Third Prince pass on a message? Now that the child had married well, could she really forget her uncle?
The Third Lady agreed immediately: "I'll tell the Third Master when I get back. Mother agrees too. Just send someone to tell us. Why make it so formal?"
Rong Fei smiled bitterly and said, "Ever since His Majesty fell ill, the Imperial Concubine has been keeping the palace under strict control."
The Third Lady curled her lips. Who didn't know that the old man had actually caused the Tong family and Alinga to work together to make him sick? "I heard from the Third Master that Khan Ama can now sit up and will be well again soon. My niece's future is fine." If these two troublemakers were gone, others would have a chance to step forward.
Rong Fei then asked about Kangxi's condition: "With the princes here, we can't move too close. Please tell me more details."
Seeing her mother like this, Princess Rongxian held back and didn't tell her: The old man got angry again today and his condition worsened.
Those without granddaughters, and those with nieces and nieces, were also restless, speculating whether things would change. Those with daughters-in-law called them over for consultation, while those without daughters-in-law flocked to Ningshou Palace, hoping to pry something out of the old lady.
Concubine Tong was the most anxious person here, and her work was particularly exhausting. With the emperor ill, she had enforced even stricter palace rules than usual. It wasn't that she didn't want to discuss matters with her family, but at this point, discussions were pointless. Better to talk less and act more, to fight for a reduced sentence.
Furthermore, in addition to keeping a close eye on the harem, she also continued to cultivate a good relationship with the Crown Princess and visited the Empress Dowager more often. The only thing that really gave Concubine Tong a glimmer of hope was that the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess would jointly issue an order that anyone in the palace who dared to discuss the selection scandal would be beaten to death first and then tried!
It was clearly a conciliatory attitude. If there was to be punishment, it wasn't an outright execution. After this incident, it was impossible for the Tong family to regain their former glory, but preserving their bloodline was a good thing. Therefore, Concubine Tong was exceptionally cooperative. When the Crown Princess asked her to explain to the Empress Dowager why the Tong family girl had disappeared, Concubine Tong was particularly attentive.
The matter was settled, and Concubine Tong breathed a sigh of relief. Speaking of which, the Crown Princess was really a lovely person. Even though she was giving in to her, and the Tong family had such an incident, in the palace, the Crown Princess refused to take the lead - she was still respectful to herself.
Concubine Tong felt somewhat relieved, but she also wanted to find out what the prince's rules were for the Tong family. She wanted to see what the future held for the girls in the Tong family, and based on that, she could also judge the Tong family's fate.
Normally, the Eastern Palace wasn't allowed, but Ningshou Palace was allowed. The Eastern Palace would definitely report the matter to the Empress Dowager. Coincidentally, the Crown Princess had come to report to the Empress Dowager on the Crown Prince's orders, and Concubine Tong was also listening. Of the girls in the family, except for the one who was designated as the Crown Prince's Concubine, who had dropped the name, three others had been betrothed. Concubine Tong was relieved. All was well.
It’s too early to let go!
The Empress Dowager was delighted at first and said to Princess Rongxian, "Now you can rest assured."
Princess Rongxian also smiled and said, "With the ancestors, Khan Ama and the crown prince here, I don't have to worry." She also said that the crown prince really cared about his niece.
The Empress Dowager was amused for a moment, then immediately discovered the problem: "Why don't you choose a concubine for the Crown Prince?"
Shujia explained, "Khan Ama has shown some improvement, and I think he will be safe soon. The prince believes that Khan Ama is the most suitable."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "The Crown Prince is very thoughtful. The Emperor would be unhappy if he missed such an important event."
Shujia said: "That's what we said."
The Empress Dowager suddenly asked, "Why is the Prince confused? Didn't he say he was in mourning?" Mourning should be worn together.
The room was silent, with only the ticking of the needle on the treasure chest.
Shujia immediately admitted her mistake: "It's our fault. I thought that Khan Amading's men would be left alone if possible. I didn't expect..."
The Queen Mother quickly forgave this "mistake": "It would be better if you correct it quickly. I also know that the Crown Prince has been too worried lately, but it's a pity that I can't help."
Princess Rongxian quickly comforted the Empress Dowager: "Grandfather, you are doing well. This is a great help. With you around, we have a backbone."
The old lady was so happy that everyone in the room was so happy because of her.
Aside from Concubine Tong, the missing rank belonged to her family. Aside from observing mourning, she could think of no other solution. The old lady knew Kangxi had originally intended to marry a relative, and simply said that if the chosen girl fell ill or died, there would be a replacement. There had to be a reason for not having a replacement; it couldn't be the death of the maternal line, so the girls would belong to different branches; it had to be the paternal line.
From this point of view, the goal has been achieved, but there is a side effect - no one is in trouble.
Orondei was shot again.
Shujia gloated over Tong Guowei's misfortune for a while, then thought of another thing. She had to quickly send someone to tell Yinreng that all the members of the Tong family were eliminated and he should stop pointing fingers at them.
After a while of conversation, the Empress Dowager said she was going to chant sutras, and asked everyone to go back. Everyone expressed their desire to stay with her, but the Empress Dowager said, "There are too many of you. The small Buddhist hall can't hold all of you, and you all have your own things to do. If you truly have a sincere heart, you can go back and chant sutras, and that will be the same."
Many people felt nervous after hearing this and kept saying yes.
Shujia said hello to Shuhui again: "Slow down."
Shuhui's belly has grown quite large, and she has to hold her lower back when walking. Shujia has experience with this. Pregnant women holding their lower backs is not just pretending, but because pregnancy changes the entire body's condition, and the spine seems to be strongly bent. If she doesn't hold her back, she will feel like she is going to break and fall.
Shuhui smiled innocently and said, "I know how to do this. Mother taught me too."
Shujia burst into tears. The mother Shuhui was talking about was a royal concubine. She had experience with childbirth and lived in the palace with her daughter-in-law, so she could give her daughter-in-law advice every day. Unlike Shujia, who didn't have a mother-in-law to look after her, her mother had to approve her when she came.
Wangpin came over from behind and said, "Don't worry, Princess. I'm watching over her. Since Old Fifteen is nowhere to be seen, I brought her to my place to talk and cheer her up."
Shujia forced a smile: "When I was still at my parents' home, she was only this old. Now she's going to be a mother. I'm really worried. Fortunately, you are taking care of her."
Shuhui thought to herself, you two have each given me a list of taboos, which has already made me afraid to move, and now you want to hold a meeting to discuss it?
Seeing that Concubine Tong was about to speak, Concubine Rong nudged Princess Rongxian. Princess Rongxian smiled and said, "You two live so close, what are you worried about? It's so hot, you should hurry to a cooler place."
Wangpin wanted to take her daughter-in-law with her, and then looked at Concubine Tong, who lived in Concubine Tong's palace. Concubine Tong wanted to invite the Crown Princess to sit with her, but Sanfujin took over and said, "Come to think of it, I haven't seen Wuyunzhu for a while. How is she? Has she grown up?"
After hearing this, Princess Rongxian also expressed her desire to visit her niece, so Concubine Tong had no choice but to return to Chengqian Palace first.
Rong Fei said to Shu Jia, "These two children are just like that. They just do whatever they say and cause trouble for the Crown Princess."
Shujia kept saying no, so Rongfei went to talk to Huifei.
——————————————————————————————————————————
Arriving at the Eastern Palace, the nanny was already waiting in the room with Wu Yunzhu for Shujia's return. The little girl was three years old, and she could already speak a lot of sentences and walk. When she saw a familiar figure walking in, she called out, "Mother."
I looked up at people and almost fell on my back.
Princess Rongxian smiled and said, "What a filial daughter! She's waiting for her mother."
Wu Yunzhu had been reaching out for her mother to hold her in her nanny's arms, but upon hearing the call, she immediately withdrew her arms and looked at Princess Rongxian with her eyes rolling. After a round of recognition, Wu Yunzhu felt that she was more familiar with the Third Lady and called her "Auntie" in a crisp voice.
Shujia walked closer and taught her to call her aunt, and they recognized each other as relatives.
Princess Rongxian's theme was to thank the Eastern Palace for taking care of her daughter. The Third Lady also wanted to find out some information, and it would be even better if she could get the message across.
Shujia didn't take credit for Princess Rongxian's gratitude: "My niece is the emperor's grandson, how can I treat her poorly?" Regarding Sanfu's opinion, she was quite passive: "I'm not entirely clear on the inside either. The crown prince always has his own ideas. There's a lot going on outside. We only decided on a dozen or so yesterday. As you can see, most of them were already decided by the Khan."
All three knew that the note was the emperor's will. Princess Rongxian spoke first, "The Crown Prince is a blessed man. Even if there are some minor setbacks, good things come to those who wait. Just wait for a daughter-in-law you like."
The Third Lady said, "I'm going to say something that deserves a beating, but it's better to get the family's affairs settled first than to wait until they're settled. From now on, you don't have to worry about these things anymore."
Everyone chatted and laughed for a while before dispersing.
Shujia quickly ordered, "Lin Si'er, you heard everything that was said in Ningshou Palace just now. Go to Ganqing Palace now and tell the Crown Prince that the Empress Dowager asked about the Tong family girl in Ningshou Palace just now. Ask him to consider it."
Lin Si'er agreed and ran away quickly.
He arrived just in time, as the Crown Prince was about to report the situation to Kangxi. Lin Si'er quickly ran over and briefly explained the situation, which hit the nail on the head for Yinreng. "Tell the Crown Princess I understand and tell her not to worry. I'll have dinner when I get home."
Lin Si'er didn't dare to stay any longer and went back to the East Palace to report the news.
Shujia was teaching her daughter to read. The weather was hot, and holding her constantly made her sweat. Shujia placed Wu Yunzhu on the kang, a small table in front of her, covered with a literacy textbook. The Eastern Palace had considerable experience in early childhood education, but girls were different from boys, so Shujia was extra careful. She had been accompanied by the emperor on a tour of the Great Wall, leaving her daughter home for several months, a source of much worry.
After hearing Lin Si'er's report, Shujia nodded: "I understand."
Wu Yunzhu raised her head and asked, "Mother, will Ama be back soon?"
"Yeah~"
"That's great. Ama didn't come back a few days ago," he sighed like an adult. "Why is Ama so busy?"
Shujia took the opportunity to educate her daughter that a man being busy is also a sign of responsibility. Of course, a responsible man will not neglect his family, etc.
Wu Yunzhu nodded: "Father is a good man!"
Shujia: “…”
The crown prince, who was given the good guy card by his daughter, was busy at this time.
Yinreng's first task each day was to pay his respects to Kangxi, then personally turn him over and clean his body. Having suffered a stroke and being bedridden, and it being summer, the biggest fear was not only worsening of the condition but also the development of bedsores, so he had to frequently turn the patient over and clean him daily. With so many descendants and the need to perform, everyone competed for the job. The task of turning and cleaning the old man's body was thus shared among his children and grandchildren. They worked in shifts, with several people per shift, so the workload wasn't too heavy.
At this time, the old man was still a little dazed, so I just had to report to him that I was here.
Then comes the hearing of government affairs.
When he came back, Kangxi was relatively sober and could report to him on his work.
After reporting the work, help him turn over.
At this moment, Yinreng was helping Kangxi turn things around. Today's report was about arranged marriages. Yinreng explained that he would hand over Hongdan's affairs to the old man and deal with them later. He also mentioned that he had arranged for his niece to be married to Prince Xian.
Kangxi's illness was originally caused by some kind of stimulation, but now after hearing some good news, he has gotten better and can now move his body slightly. Yinreng was pleasantly surprised: "Khan Ama."
After helping Kangxi sit up, he saw that his eyes had cleared up a bit, so he continued, "The Empress Dowager is still hiding this. The Imperial Concubine said that the girls of the Tong family are filial and must observe mourning, so they can't be paired with Hongdan. Their excuse is not very thorough, uh, it's enough to fool the Empress Dowager..."
A faint smile appeared on Kangxi's face, and then it became flat again.
"My son thinks that everyone else in the Tong family is good, but they were implicated by Longkodo. They've only registered with the Empress Dowager, so it's not easy to arrange a marriage right away. Let's put it on hold for now. For the younger ones, we'll keep the registration card so they're not over the age limit next time. For the older ones, we'll have to give up the registration card to avoid any further delays."
Kangxi turned his head slightly, indicating that he didn't want to listen anymore.
Yinreng also carried out some of the court's affairs, only reporting good news and not bad news. Kangxi was feeling better. Seeing Kangxi's improvement, Yinreng thought that perhaps acupuncture had some effect. He ordered the imperial physicians to be more careful and to ensure the emperor's speedy recovery. He also awarded him the rank of court judge.
After a long sigh, Yinreng felt much more at ease and turned back to continue working.
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As time went on, more and more beautiful girls were arranged to marry, and the decrees were all issued in the name of the Empress Dowager, but everyone understood that it was the Eastern Palace that made the decision.
Many people tried to use connections, but found it impractical: Concubine Tong maintained a strict palace discipline, drawing widespread complaints. Concubines could enter the palace, flocking to the Eastern Palace in groups of two or three. The Empress Dowager, though easily influenced, was more likely to listen to the Eastern Palace's advice, so it was better to appeal directly to the Eastern Palace.
But to enter the palace, one had to see the Empress Dowager first. She had been so brainwashed that she would say to everyone she met, "The Emperor is almost well. Are you here to ask about his well-being? Go back and tell your husbands at home to do their jobs well." This silenced everyone, preventing them from even asking to be allowed into the Eastern Palace. The Emperor was still ill, so coming to inquire about his condition was a bit too much.
He returned with a feathered body.
Families outside the palace were anxious. If marriages weren't arranged immediately, and the emperor made a mistake, waiting another three years would mean the entire group of concubines would be wasted. Some were arranged for marriage, while others were dismissed. Those who had neither arranged marriages nor dismissed their names were eager to rush into the palace to question the crown prince. The biggest card had yet to be revealed: the Crown Prince's Consort.
Although the prince had hinted at it, everyone still held onto hope. Especially since the Shi family girl hadn't been chosen yet, could it be one of them? If we can't be the principal, then a concubine is fine.
Shi Wenbing was horrified when he heard the news. He couldn't just spread this kind of news. If it turned out to be true, his granddaughter wouldn't even be able to get married. He first called his family members over and scolded them harshly: "The Crown Princess said it before. If you go back on your word now, wouldn't you be slapping yourself in the face? How dare you believe it?"
The children and grandchildren looked at each other in confusion: Who believed it?
Shi Wenbing urged Xiluo Te to go to the palace to find Shu Jia to explain the situation.
Xilute was allowed to enter the palace and first met the Empress Dowager: "I am old and always have worries. I had a dream yesterday about the Crown Princess. I was really worried, so I had the nerve to come in and see her."
The Queen Mother found a kindred spirit: "Me too. Whenever I dream about something, I always feel uneasy. The day before yesterday, I dreamed..."
After talking for half an hour, Mrs. Xiluo was able to talk to her daughter alone.
Shujia was stunned for a moment: "I didn't mean that. Is it spreading like wildfire outside?"
"As soon as I got up, Qingde heard the news and came back to tell the master about the scolding."
"Please rest assured, my family. I will talk to the Crown Prince today and arrange for these two girls to be married as soon as possible."
Xiluo Te couldn't help but ask: "What is the future?"
Shujia said, "I'm here."
Xiluo Te left with worry.
At the same time, Yinreng smiled wryly and said to Baotai, who had come to the palace to pay his respects, "Can you feel relieved now?"
Baotai was already a bit of a talker, and now he found it even harder to argue. He was also worried that his step-wife would treat his first wife's son badly, especially with the title. Shuyi was a good person and likable, and Baotai liked her, but when it came to the family business, his mother kept nagging him, "This daughter-in-law isn't bad, and I love her, but you can't forget Guangshan. It's better for a family to keep things peaceful than not to have any bad things happen."
By the way, Prince Yu already knew that the Crown Prince had assigned Fudali's daughter, Guaerjia, to his eldest son, Guangshan, as his legal wife. He felt relieved now.
Yinreng said again: "Okay, let's go and report this to Khan Ama, so that he can be happy."
Kangxi, upon hearing the news and looking at Baotai's delighted face, was also pleased. This was a sign that the Crown Prince was willing to protect the entire Fu family. Yinreng took the opportunity to announce another arranged marriage: Qingde's daughter, Guaerjia, was to be married to Hongsheng, the son of Prince Cheng Yinzhi.
Yinzhi on the side also became happy. If he could not be promoted to prince, his son could only have the title of Beile. Now that he married the niece of the Crown Princess, there must be some benefits.
Kangxi was so happy that his movements became much bigger. Everyone came forward in surprise and helped him up: "Khan Ama."
Kangxi said with some difficulty: "Okay... get out of bed... walk... walk..." Being sick in bed in the middle of summer is such a torture!
Everyone helped him walk slowly, all of them were delighted. Someone was sent to Ningshou Palace to announce the news, and then to the other princes. They were all beaming with joy.
On the third day, the emperor was able to sit in a chair with a little support.
Yinreng also handed in his work in due time. Kangxi was still struggling to speak clearly at that moment, so whether he handed it in or not, Yinreng was still doing the work. This made the old man very happy.
However, the old man recovered and arranged the marriages of the two girls of the Shi family in his own name. In addition, members of the royal family, relatives, and ministers came to the palace to pay their respects. Seeing that the emperor was getting better day by day, the people outside were relieved.
The Shi family received the decree and settled down to prepare their granddaughter's dowry. They were also wondering: Is it really not for the Crown Prince's Consort? My cousin is already engaged, but my cousin is still single? What is the Crown Prince thinking?
Indeed, the old man readily agreed to arrange marriages for the two girls from the Shi family, knowing full well that the Crown Prince and his wife were kind enough not to take advantage of his illness. From this point of view, the Crown Princess had been consistent. The Shi family had good upbringing, and she was the future prince's wife. She had also fairly provided Rongxian's daughter with a good home, so she should give them face.
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When the court and the harem were in jubilation, everyone probably forgot that there was a saying in this world called "extreme joy leads to sorrow."
Kangxi's ability to control his temper had weakened since his illness. However, as he recovered, everyone, starting with the crown prince, still had to report to him. As has been demonstrated many times before, this country is full of bad people and a mountain of bad things.
On this day, two things happened in a row that made the old man very angry.
Ma Qi read the Ministry of Justice's investigative report on Xiao Yongzao, the Minister of Personnel, and others assigned to Hunan to investigate the case. The report included Zhao Shenqiao and Yu Yimo. The Ministry concluded, "Governor Zhao Shenqiao implicated Admiral Yu Yimo for embezzling military pay; guerrilla commander Tang Zhikui for exchanging silver for less and taking more; General Li Rusong for failing to control soldiers from opening pawnshops in his post; and Admiral Yu Yimo implicated Governor Zhao Shenqiao for being demanding and deliberately trying to frame others. They have been interrogated and their allegations are all true..."
Before he could even announce the punishment, Kangxi was already furious. Yinreng, sensing the situation was unsettling, immediately ordered Ma Qi to stop. Kangxi waved his hand, noting the pile of memorials still to come, and signaled to read the rest.
It was truly bizarre. The previous case was a summary, and the next was also a summary, concerning the Ministry of Revenue's comprador Caodou case. The Ministry's internal warehouses were short of comprador Caodou silver, and Xi Funa and others had embezzled over 200,000 taels of silver. This wasn't some distant Jiangsu province, but the Ministry of Revenue right under our noses.
Kangxi was angry, completely angry.
Such incidents had occurred repeatedly before, and as a ruler, it was impossible not to be angry at such an act of undermining one's own power. Kangxi had been angry before, but as a ruler, he should restrain himself, think about cleaning up the mess, and exercise restraint. Now, sick, he lost control and became furious. Everything in front of his eyes went black, and he fell headfirst.
Yinreng and Ma Qi were so panicked that they even forgot to call the eunuchs. They jumped up and supported Kangxi, who had already fainted.
Liang Jiugong stepped forward and said, "Prince, please let the servants come. You..."
Yinreng took a deep breath: "Where is the imperial physician?!"
The imperial physician had already been living in the duty room of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, carrying his suitcase. He rushed over quickly and was busy. The imperial physician was almost going crazy. The old man's illness couldn't be angered, and now it came back again! It would be fine if it didn't relapse, but it would be terrible if it did!
As expected, Kangxi fell into a coma. Yinreng saw that something was wrong and summoned all the princes and princesses. The ones he summoned were the young princes and princesses who were still studying. The princes who had already been assigned errands were all staying nearby.
The emperor was feeling better, although he still couldn't speak clearly. He was still "attending court" and the prince had to stand guard.
No matter how the children cried, after a while, the imperial physician announced with a pale face that the emperor had passed away.
The author has something to say:
I should have updated it earlier, but my roommate's girl got scared after reading a ghost story and kept running into my room @-@!
Give her an idea: put two pink Mao Zedong portraits under your pillow, there is no monster in the world that Taizu cannot defeat.
This person has now gone back to sleep.
Well, I plan to knock on her door after I finish the update and ask her if she is asleep and if she is scared. If she is really scared, she can come to my room and sleep on the floor.
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