Chapter 51
The imperial noble consort spoke softly and very gently. Yinzhen's ears twitched. His eyes gradually widened and he nodded heavily. The uneasiness on his young face disappeared and turned into pure joy.
He called his mother, his black eyes sparkling. "Your son knows, and your son will be good to his sixth younger brother!"
"Mother can rest assured," the imperial noble consort said warmly, stroking her hair. She then looked at the withering flowers and trees outside the window with a happy expression.
After looking for a long time, her eyes flickered, and she said casually, "In that case, mother would like to ask you something. Is Yinzhen closer to his second older brother or his sixth younger brother now?"
Yinzhen was stunned for a moment. He clasped his fingers together and thought for a while before saying seriously, "Second older brother treats me as his younger brother, and I treat sixth younger brother as my younger brother. Mother, this cannot be compared."
The imperial noble consort was surprised. She then curved her lips and smiled. "Yes! You are right, they indeed cannot be compared."
The fourth prince understood the saying that there was a difference between a king and his ministers.
It had been a year since he entered the study room. He had already memorised the 'Three Character Classic' and 'The Rules For Students' thoroughly, as well as concepts such as filial piety, brotherhood, etiquette, and justice. These were the teachings that masters often talked about.
Yinzhen wrung his fingers and hesitated. "Second older brother… Would second older brother really think so?"
No, that was not the case. His second older brother never put on a condescending air. He not only enlightened him and played with him, but also gave him a pony. How could he treat his younger brother as a courtier, as mother said?
"Your second older brother is still young. Who knows how it will be…" The imperial noble consort swallowed the unfinished words, smiled calmly, lowered her eyes. Her smile revealed a bit of ridicule. "But with Lord Suo here, it won't necessarily be the case."
Her voice was very soft, and it disappeared in the hall.
The imperial noble consort understood Yinzhen's personality. This child was stubborn. He was quite stubborn when he decided on one thing at a young age and would not be easily shaken. But it didn't matter. As time went on, Yinzhen would eventually understand what she meant, and gradually become more distant from the crown prince!
"You just need to keep mother's words in mind." The imperial noble consort took Yinzhen's hand lovingly and smiled slightly. She suppressed her cough and said, "Look at me. We have almost finished eating. I shouldn't mention these things. Wet Nurse Zhen, go get a plate of chestnut cake. Make sure it is hot, so it will be easy on the fourth prince's stomach."
Wet Nurse Zhen was standing aside respectfully. When she heard the order, she quickly responded and left with a smile.
Consort Hui had been very anxious these past few days.
It had only been a few days since the noble consort gave birth to the tenth prince. The palace affairs were still handled by the three consorts. As Consort Rong would trip her up from time to time, her words were full of pressure. The errands that had been so easy in the past were no longer so. It was very annoying.
Next to her was Consort Yi, who was watching the fun. The makeup and clothes Consort Yi wore every day made Consort Hui's already haggard face look even worse. She was obviously seven or eight years older, but she looked like someone two generations before Consort Yi.
When had Consort Hui ever been so angry? As soon as she returned to the palace, her expression darkened.
In her early years, when Mrs. Nala was still a concubine, she lost a prince who died in infancy and also experienced some twists and turns. Since the birth of Yinti, she had been promoted to a consort, and she was still the first of the four consorts. With the help of Ming Zhu, she had been pampered for many years. It was not an exaggeration to say that it had been smooth sailing.
This time, she was caught off guard.
The emperor personally gave her a grace. In the past, Consort Hui would have been delighted, but Imperial Concubine Wu had just come over to her side. Now, she had to preside over the fifth princess's one month ceremony. Not only did she fail to fulfill her promise to help her get out of house arrest, but she ended up taking over the duties of the fifth princess' mother. This was really…
All her plans were messed up!
Consort Hui was in the spotlight and everyone was glaring at her, but there was no room for her to reason.
Yinti had complained to her, asking why should she care about the other side of Yonghe Palace? It was a thankless job, and she could only get a superficial reputation.
"Imperial Concubine Wu has made imperial father disgusted. It's not like mother doesn't know that she can't stir up trouble anymore. Besides, there is eighth younger brother in the Yanxi Palace. If mother has to look after Moyaqi, can mother handle it?" The eldest prince murmured. When he saw his mother's ugly expression, he smiled and finally stopped talking.
Consort Hui glared at her son. Her liver hurt with anger, and she waved her hand and drove him out.
…
Who could she blame? Should she resent the emperor? Blame the empress dowager?
Consort Hui would never dare to do this, so she had to dispel the depression in her heart and try her best to arrange the ceremony.
Soon it was Moyaqi's one month ceremony. It was still dark, so Consort Hui got up early, dressed carefully for an hour, then got on the sedan chair and went to Yonghe Palace.
There was no sound in Yonghe Palace. It was desolate at first glance. Consort Hui squinted for a long time, and then ordered the people around her, "Make an announcement."
Someone called out, "Consort Hui has arrived—". Yonghe Palace's doors slowly opened. The group waited for a long time, but no maid came out to greet them.
Consort Hui's face darkened slightly. Ying'er was dumbfounded, and then she became displeased. "Consort, they are so rude! Is this what the hospitality in Yonghe Palace is like?"
"That's all…" Consort Hui shook her head and stopped her attack. "Imperial Concubine Wu is still reflecting, so We can't criticise her harshly."
After saying that, Consort Hui sat upright on the sedan chair and sighed softly. Imperial Concubine Wu was blaming her.
She calmly ordered, "Go and fetch the fifth princess. Remember to be careful! The fifth princess cannot be exposed to the wind. If there is even the slightest mistake, We will hold you accountable."
When Ying'er and Yan'er saw that the Consort was not ready to get off the sedan, they shuddered. Then they quickly led the palace attendants inside Yanxi Palace.
The main hall of Yonghe Palace seemed to have not been ventilated for a long time. It was filled with a strong medicinal smell.
This was the end of the house arrest. Ying'er saw Imperial Concubine Wu for the first time. She looked almost the same as before, but the feeling she gave people was quite different.
In addition to the snow-white tunic, she was wearing an ocher-coloured robe, which did not give off a gentle feeling. Her clear and beautiful face was like dust, reflecting layers of cloudiness. Her face was pale with a tinge of green, and an aura of mystery lingered.
"Imperial Concubine Wu, don't make things difficult for this servant." After entering the inner room, facing Imperial Concubine Wu's oppressive gaze, Ying'er paid her respects in a neither humble nor overbearing manner. She then said with a slight smile, "The wives have entered the palace. They must want to see the fifth princess. Consort Hui is waiting for this servant to return. Today is the fifth princess' one month ceremony. How can we make the emperor wait?"
Imperial Concubine Wu, who was lying on the couch, straightened up after hearing this. She stared at Ying'er for a long time, finally closed her eyes, and said in a hoarse voice, "…let the nanny bring Moyaqi."
There were sounds of rustling footsteps before the bright red bundle was gently placed in Ying'er's arms.
Ying'er carefully opened the bundle and saw that the little princess's face was rosy and that she was sleeping soundly. She breathed a sigh of relief, and her smile was sincere. "Thank you, Imperial Concubine, for being considerate of this servant! Our Consort said that the Consort will certainly give the fifth princess a glorious one month ceremony, and that there won't be any damage at all. Therefore, Imperial Concubine can just relax."
"Relax?" Imperial Concubine Wu looked at the baby with reluctance. When she heard this, her almond-shaped eyes gradually became cold and stern as if she had heard a joke.
"How can We relax?" she asked with a sneer. "We have a message for you to ask your Consort. Does she still remember the promise she made? We did our best, but she did such a thing… She has taken advantage of others. Is she not afraid of being struck by lightning?!"
Ying'er's expression changed instantly.
"Imperial Concubine Wu has misunderstood." She suppressed her anger and explained in a good voice. "The emperor has bestowed a grace. How can Consort Hui refuse? As for the promise, the Consort will keep her word."
Imperial Concubine Wu turned a deaf ear to her explanation and just sneered. "As expected of the head maid of Yanxi Palace, she has such a powerful mouth that she can turn black into white. Fine, We will keep Our eyes open and see if Moyaqi comes back, and if Consort Hui helps Us get out of this predicament?"
After that, she looked back at the baby in Ying'er's arms and said softly, "After the one month ceremony, if Our child is sick… just wait. Consort Yi is not someone who is easy to mess with…"
Ying'er resisted the creepy feeling in her heart. She forced a smile and nodded, then quickly retreated.
…
Consort Hui heard Ying'er's words on the way back to Yanxi Palace. She held Moyaqi's hand and paused. Her mouth flattened. "Is she threatening me?"
"Consort, Imperial Concubine Wu's condition is not right…" Ying'er said as she walked. Her tone was low and fearful. "It's like she's acting like she is in a life or death situation!"
Consort Hui frowned. She didn't expect Mrs. Wuya to be so arrogant.
But she couldn't ignore it!
Those who were barefoot were not afraid of those who wore shoes. Mrs. Wuya looked like she could no longer stand up. She had nothing to lose if she went crazy. The anger in her heart was rising steadily. Did she really think that she couldn't control someone who had been rejected by the emperor?!
"Stabilise her first, and then we can make long-term plans." Consort Hui closed her eyes and said coolly, "The most important thing right now is the one month ceremony. Put the rest aside. We have been delayed in Yonghe Palace for too long, and they may be impatient! Just speed back quickly."
"Yes."
One could tell from the emperor's satisfied look that Consort Hui clearly put her heart into the fifth princess' one month ceremony.
The meal on the table was very rich, and Yun Xiu was satisfied with it. After returning to the palace to eat, she ordered someone to bring Yintang over. She was smiling, ready to tease the little baby who looked the same every day.
In that room, before the nanny came in, Rui Zhu quickly opened the curtain and reported, "Consort, the master has sent someone to send news. The master is about to be promoted, and his official position in Shengjing has changed, but… …"
Yun Xiu's smile fell little by little.
"Going to the capital? The Vice President of the Ministry of Civil Personnel?"
That was the Nala family's territory, under the command of Ming Zhu, the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel!
Chapter 52
The Guo Luoluo, Sanguanbao and Suochuoluo, that is, Yun Xiu's mother and father, have three legitimate children in total.
The eldest son, Tuyue, was previously a second-rank guard in the palace, but later he was sent to Shengjing and served as a civilian in the army. Because of his outstanding ability and with the help of the Guo Luoluo name, his official position rose steadily. The eldest daughter, Yun Xiu, entered the palace and became Consort Yi, and the second daughter, Yun Shu, became a Noble Lady.
Because the family was based in Shengjing, it was not only Tuyue, but also the other young sons of the Guo Luoluo family who rarely served in court. They all held outside positions.
Although Yun Xiu's family was not involved in the court, Kangxi relied heavily on Sanguanbao and the Guo Luoluo family. Not only did he recognise Sanguanbao as 'maternal relatives', but most of the time when he was inspecting Shenjing, he stayed in Sanguanbao's private residence.
In terms of background, Guo Luoluo was inferior to the famous families such as Hesheli and Niu Gulu. But in terms of imperial family members and the power they had, Guo Luoluo was not far behind.
Half of the Manchu Eight Banners military camps were stationed in the suburbs of the capital, and the other half were stationed in Shengjing. The Guo Luoluo family's influence in the military was extremely wide. It was no different from the prestige of Imperial Concubine An's late grandfather, Li Yongfang, in the Green Camp.
…
To be a pure solo minister was also the way of Sanguanbao being an official.
He knew very well that he could not take sides and remained a loyalist from beginning to end. Nowadays, in the capital, the powerful ministers Ming Zhu and Suo Etu were fighting fiercely. How many forces and officials in the capital had been affected?
As he was far away in Shengjing, not only could he protect himself, but he could also grow his family steadily. More importantly, he could maintain his sacred heart.
Sanguanbao was thinking about the Nala family and the Hesheli family. One was the eldest prince's maternal family and the other was the crown prince's maternal family. If the situation was not checked, it would develop into a frightening party struggle which could grow into a fight for the throne. If the emperor relied heavily on Ming Zhu and Suo Etu, he would not just watch the chaos in the court.
There was beautiful scenery right in front of them, but they were just adding fuel to the fire. When the emperor's patience was exhausted, what would happen to them?
The more Sanguanbao thought about it, the more frightened he became. Despite his fear, he couldn't help but feel lucky again. Fortunately, the Guo Luoluo family had not fallen into those troubled waters.
The Consort in the palace also sent a message. The most important thing now was to accumulate strength. One must not interfere with the affairs of the capital, the affairs of the court, or join forces with anyone. The fifth and ninth princes have not grown up yet, so the Guo Luoluo family must be more careful and not let anyone take advantage of them. Once they made a mistake, they would be doomed.
Sanguanbao was convinced by Yun Xiu's words.
Consort Yi was favoured, which made him both happy and sad!
Earlier, both Ming Zhu and Suo Etu sent envoys to Shengjing to offer to join forces, but he politely refused. In order to avoid offending the two central officials, Sanguanbao sent the envoy back with generous gifts and treated him well.
Acting this way was effective. After the envoy returned to the capital, there was no unfavourable news for the Guo Luoluo family. He was relieved.
But before he could finish his sigh of relief, his heartrate quickened again –
The eldest son, Tuyue, had served for three years and was about to return to the capital to report on his duties.
He taught Tuyue. Although he was a bit stupid as a person, he was quite smart as an official. When he was in his early thirties, he took the position of an inspector of Shengjing.
The eldest son's ability was outstanding, and his work was naturally an A-grade. There was no need to worry about this. Sanguanbao was worried about another aspect. If Tuyue was promoted, where would he be promoted to?
His work report must first be submitted to the Ministry of Civil Personnel for review. The Ministry of Civil Personnel would write down the personnel changes for promotion or relocation, and submit the written notes to the emperor for approval.
Tuyue was already a third-rank inspector. If he was promoted to another level, he would be an official responsible for financial and civil affairs. After a while, it would not be impossible to become a governor of a province.
Sanguanbao thought that it would be best if the eldest son could stay in Shengjing. If not, then it would be good to go to a prosperous place.
…If Tuyue wanted to be an official in the capital, he must stay far away from Ming Zhu and Suo Etu!
He had to get a document to submit the matter to the emperor, then hopefully meet with the emperor.
Yun Xiu's eldest brother, Tuyue, did not know his father's worries.
The work report had been sent to the capital as quickly as possible. When a clear reply arrived from the official department, he could leave. In the past few days, he was packing his bags at home, with a rather expectant look on his face. When he returned to the capital, he wondered if he would be able to see the two princes, his nephews, and his niece, Yi'erha.
Tuyue's wife, Mrs. Gua'erjia, smiled brightly and directed the servants to help him pack his luggage. "Don't forget to bring this, and this. The Consort and Noble Lady in the palace grew up in Shengjing, so they must miss their hometown. The food from Shengjing should be packed separately… This is for the fifth prince and the fourth princess to try…"
Tuyue admired Mrs. Gua'erjia's vigorous and resolute behavior. He was a good man at heart and it was good to have a good wife at home.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of his little pudding poking his head out the door.
He put his hands behind his back, lowered his face, and coughed. "Fulu, why do you look like you are sneaking around?"
Mrs. Gua'erjia gave birth to a son and a daughter for Tuyue. The eldest daughter Ya'ertan was in her early preteens and their son, Fulu, was just five years old.
Ya'ertan was born with the self-restraint of a young girl. Even if she played wildly, she would not go crazy. However, Fulu was very naughty, and the use of the stick as punishment was not enough to control him. If there was nobody around to control him, he would go wild and cause trouble to everyone in the house.
Mrs. Gua'erjia was a cheerful character, but she was not a strict mother. Sanguanbao and Mrs. Suochuoluo doted on their little grandchildren and could not bring themselves to discipline them. Over time, only Tuyue's cold face could deal with Fulu!
Hearing his father's call, the little pudding, Fulu, reflexively covered his buttocks. He slowly walked forward and had a flattering smile on his face. "Father, mother."
"If you are not playing with your precious bug, are you here to cause trouble?" Tuyue asked him.
"I'm not going to cause trouble," Fulu muttered, his eyes sparkling. "Father, Mafa told me that I am going to the palace as a companion? Is that true?"
Tuyue thought to himself, of course it is true. This news was sent by my younger sister from the capital.
But why should he tell him?
He replied with a serious face, "It's nothing. You are so stupid, and you think you will be a reading companion for the fifth prince? On the first day you go to the study, you will be kicked out by the masters!"
Unexpectedly, Fulu was not disappointed at all. Instead, he smiled slyly.
"Father, you let it slip. Mafa didn't mention the fifth prince. So I am going to be the fifth prince's companion." He shook his head and muttered, then patted his chest and corrected his father. "How dare the masters kick me out? My aunt will protect me! Who would dare to mess with me when Consort Yi is there?"
Wait, this overlord looked like…
Tuyue didn't have time to curse. He was stunned.
While his father was still in a daze, Fulu shrank his neck and ran out quickly.
When he was halfway out of there, he ran back again. He scratched his head, craned his neck to look inside, and muttered in confusion, "Is that Mafa walking slowly? He usually runs like a rabbit… Is the sky falling? Why does Mafa's expression look so similar to when father hits me?"
Tuyue gradually came back to his senses and was angered.
He pointed to the door, his fingers trembling. "This little brat—"
Then, he noticed a person. He lowered his fingers and his voice gradually weakened.
"Who are you calling a brat?!" Tuyue was silenced. Sanguanbao was angry. "Okay, those who dare to point at your father are really something!"
Tuyue said, "Father, I am teaching Fulu a lesson. Why are you here?"
Sanguanbao got angry.
He didn't care about scolding his son, and kept circling in the hall. "Something is wrong. Something is wrong."
When Mrs. Gua'erjia realised that her father-in-law and her husband had serious business to discuss, she suppressed her smile slightly, stopped packing her bags, and retreated to the inner room to make tea for them.
In the blink of an eye, only Sanguanbao and Tuyue were left in the hall.
After Sanguanbao said those words, he let out a long sigh. "This time, not only will you stay in the capital, but you will also benefit."
When Sanguanbao saw Tuyue's expression of utter confusion, he shook his head and slapped him over the head. "Grand Secretary Ming has given a letter to the emperor. He wants to promote you to Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel."
The Ministry of Civil Personnel was the one with the highest status among the six departments. It was responsible for the promotion and performance evaluation of all officials. Employees made a lot of money and there were opportunities to meet the emperor. In the Ministry of Personnel, even a seventh-grade official position was among the best, and everyone was fighting for it.
In addition to the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel, the Vice-Ministers were basically the second-in-command. Between them, the Left Vice-Minister was one level higher than the Right Vice-Minister and had more real power.
Tuyue was shocked. Him? Become the Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel?
There was a difference between the grades of officials in the capital and officials outside the capital. Even though the Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel was only a second-rank official, it was a more respected position than a first-rank governor-general in a remote area!
Being promoted from Inspector to the Left Vice-Minister was an exceptional promotion. It was an unexpected windfall. It was hard to describe it.
When Sanguanbao saw Tuyue's somewhat surprised expression, he stroked his beard and thought with relief that this kid was quite easy to understand.
Not long after he felt relieved, he heard Tuyue happily say, "Father, the Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel! Although it is far away from home, your son can help the consort in the palace by staying in the capital."
Sanguanbao: "…"
He rolled up his sleeves and berated Tuyue. "Did you forget the first half of that sentence?!"
Tuyue didn't dare to reply, so he wiped his face miserably. He then thought about it carefully. What was the first half of the sentence?
Oh, Grand Secretary Ming handed the emperor a letter.
When he thought of Ming Zhu's official position, a high-ranking official who also held the position of Minister in the Ministry of Civil Personnel…
It was really like entering a lion's den!
Tuyue suddenly lost his smile.
Sanguanbao sighed again. He then said with a sad tone, "The account book is still being drafted, so Ming Zhu will take advantage of it. This is a good move. The whole world will know that our Guo Luoluo family will be tied to the Nala family…"
"Tied together?" Yun Xiu took a sip of tea and said with a serious expression, "That's not necessarily the case. Has the emperor approved Ming Zhu's proposal?"
Ruizhu said softly, "Consort, it shouldn't be approved."
Otherwise, it would be time for Consort Hui to come to Yikun Palace with great fanfare.
Yun Xiu hummed, held her forehead, closed her eyes slightly, and didn't speak for a long time.
After a long while, she whispered, "There is no way to take back the papers placed in the imperial study room, but the matter has not yet been finalised. There is always a way to break the situation…"
"We can't put Our hope in the emperor. If it is approved, who will We cry to?" Yun Xiu said. A cold light flashed in her peach blossom eyes. "Doesn't Suo Etu also want to win Us over? I will do as he wishes."
Chapter 53
Although the Guo Luoluo family was based in Shengjing, they also had a residence in the capital which was used for exchanging news between the two places.
Sanguanbao fully informed his daughter in the palace about the remaining manpower. Yun Xiu rarely used them, except to send regular messages. Recalling her father's arrangement in the capital, she pondered for a long time and whispered to Ruizhu, "Contact Suo Etu and tell him to not have any involvement with Imperial Concubine Ping. Find a trustworthy person, take my plate, and go out of the palace. Take care not to be seen…"
Ruizhu listened carefully and nodded solemnly.
After Yun Xiu gave her instructions, she relaxed and leaned back a little.
If her elder brother really took up the official position of the Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel, he would always be constrained by Ming Zhu. There would be little room for him to show his talents. He might even get involved in party disputes, arouse the suspicion of the emperor, and become hated by the Hesheli family.
But then she thought about it. In addition to the reputation of the Guo Luoluo family, they would also benefit from it. It would be a pity to give up such a cushy job.
There were advantages and disadvantages to this matter, but the disadvantages outweighed the advantages.
She didn't want her elder brother to take the post, and neither did their father. But the word 'wishful thinking' came to light. In the end, it was just an illusion that was beyond human reach.
Yun Xiu had a big dream. After letting go of her obsession of competing for favour, she became much more open-minded. She had done everything she could, and all that was left was to wait quietly…
She would do what she could and listen to the will of the heavens. If it didn't work out, then there was nothing to complain about.
For a moment, she squinted her eyes thoughtfully. Ming Zhu's move was very sinister and very different from his usual style.
She wondered who came up with the idea, and was it related to the harem?
When returning to the capital to report on work, the words 'return to the capital' come first, and then the words 'report on work' come after. Before that person arrived, they would put the report into their pocket and quickly write down the recommended candidates. It was as if they were afraid that someone would intercept it, so they quickly made their appearance in court.
This was against the rules.
This was acting first and reporting it after. Wasn't he afraid that the Guo Luoluo family would bear a grudge against him?
…That's right, Grandy Secretary Ming, don't think that she was afraid.
She smiled and asked, "Where's Yintang? It's been so long, and the nanny hasn't brought her. Could it be that he's sleeping soundly?"
As she asked, the solemn atmosphere in the main hall disappeared.
Wen Yuan said with a smile, "Just now, the Consort was talking to us about business. The nanny didn't want to disturb the Consort, so she is waiting outside. The ninth prince woke up earlier. This servant can just imagine that the ninth prince was kicking his legs outside the curtain to protest."
The words made everyone laugh.
Yun Xiu's eyebrows were curved and the corners of her lips were slightly raised. "You are right, he must have been waiting impatiently. To compensate, We will take him to Yongshou Palace today to see his tenth younger brother…"
The nanny's feet seemed to be rooted to the spot. She was standing outside, giving her a chance to eavesdrop on what the Consort was saying.
Yintang was huffing angrily. He originally wanted to howl at the top of his lungs and move his hands and feet some more, but when he thought that the nanny was a woman and not as energetic as the emperor, he gave up.
If he couldn't hold on anymore and let go, wouldn't it be him who suffered?
Immediately after, Yintang heard the sound of the curtain being lifted, followed by a wave of greetings. He was moved into his mother's arms.
What a happy surprise!
In Yun Xiu's eyes, Yintang's dark eyes were full of life, his white and tender cheeks were flushed with a healthy blush, and his chubby hands were placed beside his mouth, showing a rare well-behaved countenance.
She pinched her son's round cheeks affectionately. "Why are you so good today? This is not the Little Nine that mother knows."
Yintang snorted, the sound floating into the air. To everyone's ears, it sounded like he was being sweet and coquettish.
The ninth prince was so young, but could he actually respond to the Consort's words?
After being surprised, Wet Nurse Dong said with a smile, "Consort, the ninth prince does not only attract attention, but is also very smart. When he goes to school in the future, he will definitely be the one who comes out on top."
Yintang had been so happy, but when he heard this, his movements froze. Weren't Wet Nurse Dong's words harming him?
There was a limit to how she could make his mother happy. She could just praise him, so why bother mentioning studying?
Yun Xiu moved away Yintang's restless hand. After she heard what Wet Nurse Dong said, she nodded in agreement and suppressed her smile. "We think so too. If he can't get first place, then that would be a waste of his intelligence that is higher than the average person!"
Then, she sighed softly. "I hope that what happened in Shang Zhongyong1 will not happen to Little Nine."
Yintang was completely stunned: "…"
First?
Haha, who were they kidding? He would be the number one son of rich parents.
He was determined to be the biggest playboy. Of course, this did not involve studying.
If he really got first place, his masters in his previous life would die in peace… Bah, they were already dead.
No, that was not the point.
Did she not feel guilty for comparing a 2 month old baby to Shang Zhongyong?!
Wet Nurse Dong was a little confused. She was just giving a routine compliment, so why did the Consort bring up Shang Zhongyong?
Soon, her confused expression subsided. "That should not be. Don't worry, Consort."
Yintang: "…"
He really couldn't feel relieved in this situation.
The ninth prince's resentment was about to overflow. In the midst of his endless thoughts, Yun Xiu stepped into Yongshou Palace with a smile on her face. "Look who's here. I brought Little Nine to keep Little Ten company!"
The noble consort was covered in snow-white fox fur, leaning on the long seat. She looked at Yun Xiu with a smile. "I knew it was you. You came at the right time. Yin'e has just drunk his milk, so he is now very energetic. It is a good time for him to see his ninth older brother and hopefully familiarise himself with his face."
…
Yintang sighed when he thought of the noble consort in his younger years, and then was shocked when the noble consort said 'Yin'e'.
It took him a lot of effort to stop his excitement about meeting his tenth younger brother.
Before he could recover, Yintang met the other baby's gaze.
Little Ten was only half a month old now, and he looked a bit smaller than the ninth prince. He still had a light blush on his face. Overall, he looked very different from the little monkey he was when he was born.
One was upright while the other was lying down. One had double eyelids, and the other had phoenix eyes.
The two looked at each other for a long time…
Yintang's eyes widened little by little, and so did Yin'e's.
It was as if they were competing to see whose eyes were bigger. Sparks were flying and neither wanted to admit defeat. In the end, Yin'e was defeated—
First, he lacked the energy, and second, he was born with smaller eyes, which made him unable to fight.
Yintang waved his hand and squeaked. In addition to his excitement, there was deep dismay in his eyes
That little one thought he had bigger eyes than him? That little one was squinting at him like with his sunflower seed eyes.
He was overestimating his abilities!
Yin'e: "…"
Yin'e looked away and instead stared at the bed while drooling.
The ninth prince squeaked again, and then said 'gaga', which sounded like mockery. Then, with Yun Xiu's support, he worked hard for a while, trying his best to stretch out his chubby hand.
When Yintang saw that he couldn't reach Yin'e, he gave up angrily and switched to kicking his legs.
He kicked forward, heading towards Yin'e's drooling mouth. It looked like he wanted to put his feet into his tenth younger brother's mouth.
Yin'e: "…………"
The noble consort covered her mouth and smiled, but Yun Xiu noticed something was wrong.
She coughed, pinched her son's little feet, and stuffed them into his clothes without any effort. To the background sound of Yintang's protest, she said without changing her expression, "Little Nine is too naughty. I will have to teach him a lesson later."
"It's just the children playing. He's only a few months old. What does he know?" The noble consort found it funny. She reached out, tapped Yun Xiu, and scolded her. "I'm trying to teach you a lesson."
Yun Xiu thought to herself, how could this be considered just children playing?
Yintang, the devil incarnate, was openly bullying his younger brother!
If she ignored it and allowed Yintang to continue, the noble consort would definitely feel distressed. After feeling distressed, she would then come to settle the score with her.
Yun Xiu snorted and did not refute the noble consort. Instead, she stared at Yintang closely.
When she saw that he started to pretend to be innocent again by blowing bubbles and showing a sweet toothless smile to the noble consort, Yun Xiu had nothing to say.
"Look, the ninth prince is still smiling at me!" The noble consort said in surprise. "This child looks really good."
She looked at Yintang carefully. The more she looked at him, the more she fell in love with him. She was about to reach out and hug him. However, Yin'e burst into tears at the top of his lungs.
The sound of crying filled the air and now it was Yun Xiu's turn to feel distressed.
Before the noble consort had time to respond, Yun Xiu frowned and immediately said, "His throat is too tender. What should be done if he breaks down in tears?"
After saying that, she leaned down.
Before her fingertips touched Yin'e, an alarm bell rang in Yintang's heart. Some bold words appeared in his heart: Was he the only one who could cry?
As soon as the ninth prince closed his eyes, he also started to hear the devilish sound in his ears. "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—"
Yun Xiu: "…"
Noble Consort: "…"
After coaxing their children, they felt exhausted.
"Why do the two princes look like enemies?" the noble consort murmured. "Are they comparing themselves to each other?"
Yun Xiu felt guilty and suspicious at the same time. In the end, her guilty conscience prevailed.
She echoed the noble consort's words, then changed the subject and talked about Tuyue's upcoming appointment in the capital. "My father is so anxious. I can only hope that the emperor can be a little considerate and let my brother escape Ming Zhu…"
The noble consort was in confinement in Yongshou Palace these days. This was the first time she learned that such changes had taken place in the Guo Luoluo family.
She suppressed the smile on her face and said with a sullen expression, "This was done in a very unethical way. It is not like Ming Zhu's usual style. It is more like the intrigue between the concubines. Who else but Consort Hui could come up with such an idea?!"
Yun Xiu nodded. "It's not just Consort Hui. Have you forgotten the one from Yonghe Palace?"
A few days ago, Consort Hui hosted the fifth princess's one month ceremony, and the noble consort also heard about it. She was startled, then suddenly realised something. "Yes, Consort Hui can't think of such a sinister method. There must be someone helping her."
With a little thought, the cause and effect could be neatly linked.
"This is really, really…" The noble consort didn't know how to comment. She said with a sneer, "It's not enough for her to be arrogant in the harem, but she is so arrogant in front of the court!"
After saying that, she looked at Yun Xiu steadily. "I originally thought that when I was out of confinement, I would deal with Mrs. Nala and cut off her claws, then take advantage of this to establish power… Now It seems that the time has come and we can't wait any longer."
Hearing this, Yun Xiu raised her eyebrows. "Noble Lady Liang and the eighth prince?"
The noble consort had a smile in her eyes while she nodded slowly.
"It turned out that the trump card was hidden here." Yun Xiu chuckled, and then said in a low voice, "If another case like Imperial Concubine Wu's happened, wouldn't everyone be happy?"
The noble consort thought for a moment and her eyes brightened. "You mean…"
"Let Consort Hui lose her status as the eighth prince's adoptive mother. Instead, she can raise the fifth princess." Yun Xiu said with a smile, "She will win some and lose some, so she won't suffer, right?"
1.(傷仲永) Shang Zhongyong: a piece written by Wang Anshi, which describes the story of a young man named Fang Zhongyong. Fang Zhongyong was talented and intelligent, but did not continue studying. He eventually fell behind everyone else. The message was that, even if a person was very talented, it was difficult to succeed if one did not study hard. It also sent a message about how continual learning played a key role becoming more talented.
Please note that Mrs. Guo Luoluo has been changed to Mrs. Guoluoluo. Apologies for the confusion.
Chapter 54
Yintang's little ears quietly perked up when Yun Xiu mentioned that Tuyue was about to serve as an official in the capital.
He lay on his back on the brocade quilt, lined up with his tenth younger brother. He let out a sigh after hearing those words. He kicked his legs, and his eyes gradually widened.
Uncle Tuyue… The Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel?
Was this still Ming Zhu's recommendation?
Yintang felt that it was ridiculous. This didn't happen in his previous life!
In his memory, when he was in his teens, Uncle Tuyue was still in Shengjing. Uncle Tuyue gradually climbed to the position of Chief Envoy. Shortly after, he was assigned to a post outside the capital for a few years and was on the cusp of being promoted to a governor of a province. His network of connections could not be underestimated.
His uncle was a smart man, was a good official, and seemed to have inherited his grandfather's brilliance. His outstanding political achievements were a result of his own abilities, and the family's prestige was just the icing on the cake.
Moreover, Grandfather Guoluo and Sanguanbao were close to the emperor. Originally, he was going go through the proper procedures. Uncle Tuyue was the next pillar of the family, so it was not difficult for him to be promoted to a central official of the court in the capital.
But because he was duty-bound in helping the eighth prince seize the role of successor and dragged his maternal family into trouble. While his uncle's official position was rising steadily, his official career gradually became difficult.
Although his uncle was very prosperous for a while when the eighth prince was in power, the Guoluoluo family gradually lost the trust of the old man. It was like a building that was about to collapse. The emperor was then gone, the military power was gone, and eventually it slowly fell into ruin.
At the large gathering of the court that year, the old man personally crushed the eighth prince's ambitions. After that, Tong Guowei and Maqi, who supported the eighth prince, did not get any relief, so why would Mrs. Guoluoluo?
Guoluo Mafa came to a desperate end. His uncle was forced to retire.
When it came to regrets that had been buried for a long time, this was one of them. When Yintang was imprisoned and seriously ill, he still missed his maternal family. Every time he thought about it, he sighed deeply. It was he who had failed his mother and caused Guoluo Mafa and Uncle Tuyue to suffer.
…
When Yintang was reborn, he decided that he would never make the same mistake again in this life, and he would help Mrs. Guoluoluo avoid the disaster of losing her children, and help his elders have a smooth life.
But what did he hear just now?
Tuyue was going to the capital…
Ming Zhu actually acted first before reporting it, and promoted his uncle to the position of Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel…
The ninth prince was shocked. If he remembered correctly, Grand Secretary Ming at this time also served as the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel.
Then, he sighed inwardly. Ming Zhu was so shameless. He could do such things through such forceful means!
The consequences that Yun Xiu could predict, the ninth prince could also predict. Before he had time to worry, he heard his mother and the noble consort talking to each other, gently speaking words of revenge.
Yintang: "…"
This matter involved Noble Lady Liang and the eighth. Just the chill in the words of the two consorts was enough to make people mourn for Consort Hui and Imperial Concubine Wu.
The ninth prince shuddered slightly. One especially shouldn't mess with a woman whose temperament was very different from his previous life.
The tenth prince did not shiver. He silently turned his head and glanced at his ninth older brother with a flash of contempt in his small eyes. Then, he grinned obediently, and coquettishly called out to the noble consort, "Ah-"
Noble Lady Liang lived in the side hall of Yanxi Palace. She never usually left the palace, and had no ambition to win any favours. Her only concern was the eighth prince, Yinsi, who was being raised by Consort Hui.
However, due to the strict rules set by Consort Hui, she and Yinsi rarely met. It was only when she happened to meet Consort Hui in a good mood was she lucky enough to spend a day with her son.
Noble Lady Liang had a soft and kind temperament, and she was satisfied to just see Yinsi. Even if she was despised, her status withheld, and her life was miserable, she never complained.
Consort Hui hated her to waste such a beauty that could rival Consort Yi. While she hated it, she also felt relieved.
There were four or five young masters living in Yanxi Palace. Only Noble Lady Liang spent her days embroidering clothes, shoes, and hats for her son. She never neglected to pay her respects in the morning and at dusk. She kept quiet and behaved well. As time went on, Consort Hui gradually gave up on the idea of making Noble Lady Liang her pet, and found her much more pleasing to the eye.
—Compared to the arrogant and domineering Consort Yi, Noble Lady Liang was really nothing.
In order to organise the fifth princess' one month ceremony, Consort Hui was tense. She feared that there was something not quite right. After the one month ceremony, she heaved a sigh of relief. She finally no longer had to hold the hot potato. With a sullen face, she sent Moyaqi back to Yonghe Palace.
The threat of Imperial Concubine Wu made her feel like she had a knot in her throat, but the most important thing now was to win over the Guoluoluo family.
It was Mrs. Wuya's idea to pull the trigger and promote Tuyue. For this reason, she let Mrs. Wuya go first, and then she would deal with it when she was free!
…
About a month ago, Consort Hui thought for a long time before she wrote a long letter that she entrusted someone to deliver to her cousin, Ming Zhu, outside the palace.
After sending the letter, she waited anxiously in Yanxi Palace. Even when the eldest prince came to say hello, she waved her hand perfunctorily and told Yinti to go back to his place on his own. She told him not to indulge in riding and shooting, and to not neglect his studies.
Yinti curled his lips, smiled, and asked, "Mother, what are you busy with recently? You don't care about your son as much as before."
Hearing this, Consort Hui rolled her eyes at him. After Yinti teased her, she felt relieved.
She smiled and said softly, "What else would it be? We are doing what We can for Our son. Ming Zhu is there for court affairs. When you get involved in the affairs of the court, mother will explain things to you clearly."
Yinti would be thirteen after the new year. Among the Manchu, he was already at an age where he could discuss marriage and was not far away from participating in political affairs in the court. Just as Suo Etu often asked to see the crown prince, Ming Zhu would also analyse court affairs for him.
Hearing this, he thought for a moment. Then, he retracted his playful smile, looked serious, and cupped his hands. "Your son will listen to you! Your son will go to school now, and will definitely live up to the expectations of mother and uncle…" The crown prince could no longer be proud.
He also didn't know if Yinreng had taken the wrong medicine recently. He often made use of riding and shooting to ridicule Yinreng, but it was like hitting a ball of cotton. In the end, it was he who got angry.
When he received the top spot in his studies, he wanted to see if that annoying smiling face would crack!
Consort Hui looked at his retreating figure with relief, and the anxiety in her heart had lessened slightly.
That night, Ying'er quickly came to report to Consort Hui with a smile on her face. "Consort, Master Ming Zhu's reply has arrived…"
Consort Hui suddenly stood up and said, "Hurry and show Us."
When she opened the letter, her hands trembled slightly. After she unfolded the paper and took a quick look, Consort Hui let out a long sigh of relief and said happily, "Okay, great."
Ming Zhu said that his request had been placed on the desk in the imperial study room and that it was just waiting for the emperor's approval. It would be best if the emperor approved it. If he didn't approve it, they had nothing to lose.
Everything was done for the world to see! As long as others believed that the Nala clan and the Guoluoluo clan had joined forces, then even if Sanguanbao wanted to stay out of it, he would never be able to.
Consort Hui closed the letter with a happy expression. She looked up in the direction of Yikun Palace, squinted, and said, "We have been in the palace for so many years, and We don't often interact with Consort Yi, for fear that the affection between us will fade. Ying'er, prepare some gifts. In a couple of days, We will catch up."
"Yes," Ying'er paid her respects with a smile. "This servant will attend to it."
Consort Hui smiled and said, "Yesterday, when Noble Lady Liang paid her respects, she was so eager, so We allowed Yinsi to stay with her for one day. We are so kind and so she doesn't have to come to express her gratitude…"
On the same day, Ming Zhu returned to his home and was waiting on the emperor to call on him.
Unexpectedly, on the second day after the morning court, Kangxi did not call on him, but summoned Hang Ai, the Minister of Revenue. Hang Ai was invited to stay for lunch, and the two discussed matters for a long time.
Just like Ming Zhu, who was the grand secretary of Wuying Hall, the crown prince's master, and the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel, Suo Etu originally had put forth someone in the Ministry of Civil Personnel. At the beginning of the year, Suo Etu personally petitioned the emperor to resign from the Board of Revenue. Kangxi appointed Hang Ai as the Minister of the Board of Revenue, and extended kindness to Suo Etu, allowing him to discuss the affairs of the court. To be precise, Hang Ai was Suo Etu's person.
When Ming Zhu heard that the emperor summoned Hang Ai and not him, he was not disappointed.
Every year when winter arrived, the cold waves and heavy snowfalls were the focus of the court. The Ministry of Civil Personnel had to allocate disaster relief funds and materials early. It was inevitable that there would be difficulties in various places, but the capital was not able to respond in time.
During court, the emperor pointed out the disaster relief matters, and then announced for the Ministry of Civil Personnel to discuss the matter.
Ming Zhu stroked his beard and pondered a little. Maybe Suo Etu had been complacent for too long, and the Minister of the Board of Revenue… should also be replaced by one of his own.
When he was approaching the lower office, he waited in the cabinet office for a long time, but still did not receive a summons. Ming Zhu frowned and noticed something was wrong.
Was it possible that the emperor hadn't had time to read the request?
He deliberately put the note recommending Tuyue at the top for when the cabinet presented, so the emperor should have read it.
…
At the same time, Yikun Palace.
Kangxi took the tea cup from Yun Xiu and said with emotion: "Sanguanbao has taught his children well."
The heat blurred his face, and Yun Xiu could not tell whether the emperor was happy or angry.
There was no beginning to the end of these words, which made her heart tremble. She forced herself to smile calmly and asked, "Why did the emperor suddenly mention this concubine's father?"
After saying that, she lowered her eyes to hide her thoughts.
The emperor must have seen Ming Zhu's request.
She didn't know if Suo Etu had received the message, whether he would agree with her method, and whether there were any mistakes in the arrangement.
To save all this, the most important thing was time! There wasn't enough time, so she made arrangements in a hurry, but she didn't know what to do.
It was said that the emperor was unpredictable. Even if she could guess 80%, it was just a feeling. She intuitively felt that the emperor liked her, but who could predict the events of the previous court and the emperor's thoughts?
She wanted to use this to extricate herself, but if she offended the emperor…
Yun Xiu glanced at Liang Jiugong, saw him shaking his head slightly, and then looked away.
Also, the emperor rarely allowed people to be around when he was discussing matters, so Liang Jiugong must be unaware of this issue. When she thought of this, she took a breath and decided to see whether God loved her or not.
Kangxi gently put down the tea cup and looked deeply at Yun Xiu. "We have always thought that your father is loyal, but We didn't expect that he would be outstanding at teaching his children."
When Kangxi saw Yun Xiu's surprised gaze, he took her hand and smiled softly. "He has taught you, Consort Yi and Noble Lady Le. Noble Lady Le is gentle and demure, and her conduct is first-class."
Yun Xiu was unusually confused: "…"
Why did he start praising her again, and even Yun Shu?
"He also taught a good young man like Tuyue!" Kangxi continued talking to himself, with a pleased tone. "Not only did the Ministry of Civil Personnel ask me about him, but so did the Board of Revenue. Ming Zhu and Hang Ai had words of recommendation. One said: 'Integrity and humility must be present for the one in the position of Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel', and the other said, 'If he has great performance, then he should be in charge of the Board of Revenue.' Their eagerness is outstanding. This is the first time that We have seen such a strange thing."
The emperor laughed loudly. "Your brother, Tuyue, is a really talented man!"
—–