Chapter 58
Liang Jiugong repeated the message word for word, and Yikun Palace suddenly fell silent.
After hearing this, Wet Nurse Dong, Wen Yuan, and Rui Zhu could hardly maintain their original respect. They secretly showed the same sour look as Steward Liang.
Was His Majesty… flirting with the Consort?
Wet Nurse Dong thought, 'was it really okay for His Majesty to ask Liang Jiugong to tell the Consort this? The old servant was too old to deal with this.'
As for Yun Xiu, she was surprised for a long time. Her expression was indescribable. She didn't know what expression to make.
What kind of message was this?
After the dream, she couldn't figure out what the emperor was thinking about all day long.
Enduring the piercing stares of the palace servants… Even though Consort Yi had gone through great storms and her face had been tempered to the point of not being afraid of being flattered or humiliated, she still felt uncomfortable.
Very, very uncomfortable!
He was implying that, because she fell in love with him so much that she overcame her jealousy and was awkward with Noble Lady Liang. She was put on such a pedestal. It was arbitrary and unreasonable.
She scolded Kangxi several times in her heart. Her ears turned a little red. "… What else did His Majesty say?"
Liang Jiugong had completed his mission. It was as if he had broken through the psychological defense line and all his conflicting feelings had disappeared.
He remained indifferent, regaining his former demeanour as the Chief Steward who dominated the palace. He said with a smile, "His Majesty only had this sentence. There was nothing more. By the way, do you have anything for me to tell His Majesty?"
When Liang Jiugong thought of the way the emperor tried to suppress the hope on his lips before he left, he sighed silently, bowed slightly, and was ready to act as a messenger.
He pricked up his ears, wanting to hear the 'five-star praise' from Consort Yi.
"If We have something to say…" Yun Xiu came back to her senses and said expressionlessly, "The emperor is aware of it, but We did not notice."
She couldn't deal with it anymore. The emperor still wanted her to be moved?
She was used to this.
Liang Jiugong: "…"
After dealing with the disappearance of the eighth prince and then punishing Consort Hui, Kangxi was not in a good mood.
The women in the harem had one face in front of him, and another face behind his back.
He originally thought that Consort Hui was a dignified, virtuous, and well-managed householder, just like Consort Yi, who looked and behaved the same. He did not hesitate to reward and praise Consort Hui, and even praised Consort Hui as a loving mother. Unexpectedly, it didn't take long for him to take back his words.
What was the difference between Consort Hui's behavior and her deceiving him?
Even if Yinsi's biological mother was of low origin, and if Little Eight grew up in the mud, he was still his son, a noble prince of the Qing Dynasty. That was no reason why Mrs. Nala should indulge those unscrupulous servants and not care at all!
First it was the imperial noble consort who was like this, then Imperial Concubine Wu and Imperial Concubine Xi and Imperial Concubine Ping, and now Consort Hui… After realising their true personalities, the emperor became more and more aware of the endless tricks and calculations of the harem. He was getting tired of it.
Either they were stupid, poisonous, or their morals weren't good and their character was revealed.
It was better to look at Xiuxiu more and clear his eyes!
When he thought of Yun Xiu, he remembered the scene in Cining Palace this morning. The emperor's heart suddenly moved, his expression changed from gloomy to clear, and he gave Liang Jiugong a few words in a low voice. Then, the corners of his mouth curled up, there was some expectation in his eyes, and he looked over the book calmly.
After two hours, Liang Jiugong finally came back out of breath, complaining in his heart. He said with a clear voice on his face: "Your Majesty, Master Yi said…that she…didn't notice anything."
Emperor: "…"
This was not right.
Kangxi was stunned. He knocked on the table, and glanced at him uncertainly. "Did you misrepresent Our message?"
Liang Jiugong trembled and shook his head quickly. "Your Majesty, this servant wouldn't dare to."
Kangxi began to think deeply, and was hit by a sudden flash of inspiration.
"Were your Master Yi's ears or face red?" he asked.
Liang Jiugong responded in a daze… She should have… right?
"Yes, yes." Liang Jiugong replied with a guilty conscience as he patched himself up frantically. "This servant only took glanced at Master Yi and didn't dare to look directly at Master Yi."
That was it!
Kangxi twirled his fingers and chuckled. "We know that her shy personality has never changed, and she is also very jealous. If We don't appease her tonight, she won't know how to perform."
After a while, the emperor withdrew his gaze with satisfaction and read the memorial with pleasure. Liang Jiugong was left standing there with blank eyes as he swallowed his saliva.
Consort Yi was shy? Consort Yi was very jealous?
Why did he think this that this was the opposite?
Stop… He was the emperor! The emperor should…
Consort Hui lost her status as the adoptive mother to the eighth prince and was fined half a year's salary. The eighth prince returned to Noble Lady Liang, and the mother and son moved to the side hall of Cining Palace.
The rapidly spreading news quickly reached the Forbidden City, which was no less than a great calamity for Ming Zhu, who had been patiently awaiting the emperor's summons.
His expression changed dramatically and his eyes slightly hardened. Just a few days ago, everything was fine. How could the Consort be punished?
A fine was nothing, but being confined to the palace didn't seem to be too serious. However, without the eighth prince, how would the Consort continue her arrangements, and how would she pave the way for the eldest prince in the future?
The eighth prince's biological mother had a low background. She also resided in Yanxi Palace. There was no better candidate for assistance than her. A brotherly bond could be cultivated from a young age. No matter how close the crown prince was to the fourth and fifth princes, they couldn't compare to the relationship between the eldest prince and the eighth prince.
After all, the fourth and fifth princes did not live in Yuqing Palace!
…
This happened out of the blue. Why did Noble Lady Liang get the right to raise the child?
Ming Zhu intuitively felt that Consort Hui was being plotted against. His face darkened as he paced back and forth in the hall. He ordered his confidant. "Go and find out why Consort Hui was punished. Prepare a sedan chair. I need to go into the palace…"
He had some urgent matters to discuss with the emperor.
If he could plead on behalf of the Consort, then it would be best. If he couldn't, then he needed to retrain the eldest prince. He had to prevent the eldest prince from acting impulsively and rashly speaking out for the Consort. Otherwise, it would only add fuel to the fire and provoke the emperor, which would lead to more harm than good.
After considering everything, Ming Zhu frowned and solemnly handed the card to the palace.
Before long, someone came from Qianqing Palace. It was Liang Jiugong's personal disciple, Xiao Lizi. As soon as Xiao Lizi saw him, he said respectfully, "What a coincidence! Prime Minister Ming arrived just in time. The emperor is about to summon Prime Minister Ming for an audience."
The emperor was about to summon him?
When Ming Zhu saw Xiao Lizi's attitude, he narrowed his eyes and had many thoughts.
As they walked along the long palace corridor, when no one was paying attention, he quietly handed a red envelope to Xiao Lizi. "Eunuch Li, may I be so bold as to ask if His Majesty is in good health?"
This was a subtle way of asking if Kangxi was pleased or angry, and if he was in a good mood or not.
Xiao Lizi glanced at the red envelope and took it without changing his expression. He still smiled respectfully and kindly. "Lord Ming does not need to worry. His Majesty is in good health and has just summoned several important figures."
Because of Consort Hui's incident, Ming Zhu felt a little anxious, but he maintained a calm expression.
Xiao Lizi's words seemed to say nothing, yet they conveyed something. However, since he was willing to accept the red envelope, it indicated that the emperor was not currently angry with him. With this, Ming Zhu could relax slightly.
When they arrived at Qianqing Palace, Ming Zhu patted his robes and knelt down. "This servant, Ming Zhu, pays respects to Your Majesty."
"You're here? Rise." Kangxi glanced at him and continued to write without lifting his head. "Consort Hui's management was ineffective, which caused the servants to cause trouble. Yinsi disappeared, and the great empress dowager was furious. Noone's plea has been effective."
Ming Zhu was startled, and his movement to rise was a little sluggish. He was shocked that the emperor actually explained this to him and by the implication of the emperor's words.
Such a big mistake occurred in the palace. No wonder!
—The path to plead for mercy was blocked, so there was no choice but to take a detour.
"This servant should not pass judgment on Consort Hui's actions," he said in a low voice, thinking quickly. "This is an internal matter of the imperial family. This servant does not have any objections nor the qualifications to interfere! The purpose of seeking an audience with Your Majesty is regarding the situation in the north. Since the change of leadership, the Zhunga'er people have been selling horses, herding sheep, and have frequent interactions with other tribes. Their activities have been highly conspicuous. This servant thinks that the Zhunga'er will soon become a serious problem for the imperial court. "
Ming Zhu was the Grand Secretary of Wuying Hall and the crown prince's grand tutor. He was a leading figure of the cabinet. Kangxi frequently sought his counsel on various matters in the court, ranging from pacifying the three feudatories to appeasing the common people. Ming Zhu indeed possessed extraordinary insight.
Upon hearing the phrase 'this servant has no objections', Kangxi's expression softened a little. Aside from the power struggles and elimination of dissidents, Ming Zhu had a good understanding of the overall situation.
Kangxi put down his brush and said in a deep voice, "According to your words, what should be done?"
"To wage war. Shilang has just led the army through the area, and the climate and terrain of the north are completely different from the south. This war must not be taken lightly! This servant thinks that the Qing Dynasty needs to rest and recuperate and prepare meticulously in order to understand both ourselves and the enemy." Ming Zhu paused for a moment, then continued slowly. "During the pacification of the three feudatories, the Green Banner Army shone brightly, and our Eight Banners soldiers should not lag behind."
What Ming Zhu said was very insightful and coincided with what the emperor was thinking. The monarch and his ministers discussed the issue of military training for some time. Kangxi's anger towards Consort Hui also faded away somewhat.
Seeing that the emperor was satisfied, Ming Zhu thought that the time had come. He held his breath and struck while the iron was hot. He asked about the letter that recommended Tuyue. "This minister thinks that Guoluoluo Tuyue is very calm and his exceptional qualities make him suitable for a position with majorresponsibility…"
Kangxi paused, then smiled. "We had almost forgotten about this matter."
"If you hadn't come, We would have summoned you anyway. Hang Ai also submitted a letter recommending Tuyue to the Board of Revenue and even offered him the position of Left Vice-Minister, which coincidentally aligns with your recommendation." Seeing Ming Zhu's astonished expression, the emperor's smile widened a little. "We did not want you to be jealous. After careful consideration, We felt that the Ministry of War is a good place for young people to hone their skills. What do you think?"
Several important ministers in the Ministry of War were all Kangxi's close confidants, which was quite different from the officials in the Ministry of Civil Personnel and the Board of Revenue. In addition, in a few years, the imperial court would send troops to the northwest, and Tuyue would rise rapidly through the ranks. He would be completely removed from the struggles between the Nala and the Hesheli families… It was clear that the emperor had high hopes for him.
The scheme to involve the Guoluoluo family in this seemed to have failed.
Can this situation really be resolved?
When did Suo Etu become so responsive?
Putting aside everything else, if Hang Ai could recommend Tuyue as well without any suspicion from the emperor, did that mean that the emperor did not doubt the Guoluoluo family's intentions at all?
Mingzhu was incredulous and inwardly criticised this oversight. When he returned home, his expression was neutral, but he slammed the paperweight on the table.
With a loud 'bang', he then suddenly slapped his forehead. Damn it, he actually forgot about the eldest prince!
"Imperial Concubine Wu has urgent matters to discuss and requests an audience with His Majesty and Yonghe Palace. Imperial Concubine Wu asks in consideration of Second Rank Prince Rong's face," reported Liang Jiugong carefully after Ming Zhu left. It didn't take long for Liang Jiugong to advance a few steps and cautiously deliver the message after hearing the whisper of the little eunuch.
"Imperial Concubine Wu?" Kangxi threw down the brush and said quietly, "What trouble is she causing now?"
Liang Jiugong smiled apologetically and said, "Imperial Concubine Wu said that the situation is urgent…"
Kangxi frowned. Before he could reply, someone came to report that his eldest prince wanted to see him.
"Imperial father." Yinti knelt on the ground, his handsome face full of distress. "Mother has always done her best to take care of eighth younger brother with all her heart. Your son has seen all of it. Either those unscrupulous servants deceived mother, or mother was being plotted against! Your son begs imperial father to investigate!"
Kangxi laughed angrily, threw a memorial at Yinti, and cursed. "You've witnessed it all? Fine! We would like to know when and where you witnessed it! Were your eyes on Yanxi Palace's plaque when you were with your brother?!"
Chapter 59
His eyes were on Yanxi Palace's plaque?
When had he ever been scolded in such a creative way!
But the one who scolded him was the Supreme Emperor, whom he admired the most. Yinti could only endure it. He opened his mouth, his face turned red with a hint of anxiety.
It was like a bucket of cold water was poured over him. The eldest prince came back to his senses. His impulsiveness slowly faded away, and his red face turned pale.
Now was not the best time to plead for mercy. His imperial father had just issued the decree this morning. He rushed over after his studies and impulsively sought mercy for his mother. It seemed to have added fuel to the fire and may have had the opposite effect…
Yinti carefully picked up the memorial on the ground and stammered, "Imperial father…"
As he said that, he kowtowed deeply and stuttered, "Your, your son was just concerned and spoke out of turn. The remarks made were inappropriate. Please forgive your son, imperial father. But this is about eighth younger brother, and your son would not dare to lie! Mother…is really not that kind of person…"
His voice gradually trailed off.
"Forgive you? You have already tested Our patience." Kangxi glanced at Yinti and snorted coldly, cutting off his words. He then said sternly, "Kneel for an hour to calm your mind. You're already thirteen, yet you're always restless like this!"
The emperor merely threw the memorial casually just now. He wasn't really that angry.
He just wanted to knock some sense into his eldest son. The imperial edict clearly stated that Consort Hui had been 'negligent in her duties'. Could it be that Baoqing wanted him to change his decree and revoke the order?
Although he had no intention of forgiving, Yinti couldn't even find a good reason to plead for mercy…
Feeling resentful that iron could not become steel, Kangxi glanced at his eldest son again, feeling worried and sighing inwardly.
He was the one who misjudged Mrs. Nala. His eldest son still needed a lot more improvement.
…
A month ago, there was the matter caused by favouritism, where Yun Xiu mocked Imperial Concubine Xu for having her eyes on Yikun Palace's plaque. Liang Jiugong found out about this matter and clearly reported it to the emperor later.
Kangxi found that Yun Xiu's description was very vivid and appropriate. He repeated it casually and remembered it.
Yun Xiu didn't know that the emperor had taken inspiration from her remarks and then put what he had learned into practice, thus scolding the eldest prince mercilessly until he was ashamed. Since then, the eldest prince had a deep aversion to plaques. Yun Xiu also didn't know that, when the eldest prince left the palace to build his own mansion, he rejected the proposals of officials from the Ministry of Works and removed a series of plaques with excellent meanings such as 'Taoran1 Pavilion' and "Yanming2 Courtyard", leaving only the bare red pillars… This decision turned his mansion into a spectacle in the capital and earned him an even fiercer scolding from his father!
Currently, she was watching Yinqi and Yintang playing together with a smile.
Although she described it as playing, but in fact, it was the fifth prince who was playing with his younger brother. Because of his small arms and legs, the ninth prince had no power to resist. His babbling protests were in vain, and he could only stare at his older brother a blank expression akin to a dead fish.
"Mother, imperial father said that after the new year, I will move into eldest brother's residence and start studying in the study room." Yinqi held his younger brother's chubby hand and rubbed it lovingly. He then exclaimed joyfully, "Revered Elder has arranged a large and spacious courtyard for me. It will be next to my third and fourth older brothers, so that it will be convenient for me to visit and play…"
The fourth princess, Yi'erha, was copying characters on the table nearby. She blinked her big eyes when she heard this and said in a soft voice, "Fifth younger brother, you are always thinking about playing. Studying is the most important thing. If you fall behind in your studies, won't it be embarrassing? Not only is it embarrassing for you, but it also loses face for Mother Yi and imperial grandmother… Also, the crown prince has been teaching you Chinese for so long, so you should also consider his face."
She was just a few months older than Yinqi, but she already carried herself like an older sister. After saying that, Yi'erha smiled sweetly and said, "Fourth older sister is also keeping an eye on you. You can't slack off. If you do, I won't bring you delicious food!"
Yinqi was stunned at first. By the end of her words, he looked completely dejected.
Yun Xiu suppressed her smile and solemnly agreed when she saw a girl, just a few years old, earnestly advising her younger brother to study. It was quite amusing. "What your older sister said is right. Your mother's face is in your hands. You must strive to be on the same level as your second older brother. It is good to be diligent and progressive."
Feeling the sadness radiating from Yinqi, Yintang in the cradle pondered: "…"
What was the point of studying? It was better to learn foreign languages… No wait, being a playboy was more enjoyable!
With that in mind, Yintang kicked his legs, let out a long sigh, and let out a "Ah-".
Yes, fifth older brother was very honest. He would believe whatever mother said. His brain was incomparable to his own. Yinqi couldn't possibly become a playboy. Although honest people were easily deceived, shouldn't he, as a younger brother, be considerate of his older brother's feelings?
The ninth prince felt a little proud and a little superior, so he generously forgave Yinqi for putting on his pants backwards.
At that moment, the honest child in his eyes had a puffy face, with 'I'm not happy' written on the left and 'I don't want to study' written on the right. Yinqi moved his hands down and began to rub his younger brother's fair and tender chubby feet.
The wet nurse at the side was calm and composed, presumably because she was used to such scenes.
No one had ever questioned this. Although the fifth prince was young, he was considerate in his actions and his movements were very gentle… The most important thing was that they had never seen the ninth prince cry when he was with the fifth prince!
Yun Xiu had laughed enough, and then comforted her son gently. "Don't be afraid. Studying is not that boring. You have Fulu from Uncle Tuyue's family to accompany you, and there is another study companion who was appointed by the emperor. You will have classes together with your peers and that should be fun."
As she said that, she smiled. "The other mother doesn't know much about it, but that kid, Fulu, is mischievous like a monkey. Who knows how many sheets of paper your uncle has wasted when he writes to me to complain… With him around, you can relax. You will definitely not be punished by the masters."
At this time in the dream, the dispute between the imperial noble consort and Consort De was at its most intense.
The fourth prince started studying at the beginning of the year, and the number of study companions had not yet been determined. Consort De had intended to let her nephew from her mother's family enter the palace as a companion. She had already asked the emperor about this matter, but the imperial noble consort used a trick to stop this and replaced him with a young man from a branch of the Tong family.
After such an incident, and the fact that the children of the Tong family were not the imperial concubine's direct nephews, the emperor himself praised the imperial noble consort for her 'equal treatment of both close and distant relatives'. Yun Xiu had thought about it repeatedly and decided to give up on the idea of letting Fulu enter the palace.
Fulu was a child who grew up in Shengjing. He was very resistant to studying. His family even invited several teachers to no avail. After that, he joined the army. During the expedition to Zhunga'er, he made moderate achievements with his youthful bravery and became a moderate official. He was not qualified enough to lead the army, but he was more than enough when compared to others.
But if he was to be appointed as Yinqi's study companion, he needed to have shown his face in the palace since he was a child in order to leave an impression on the emperor. His starting point was already completely different.
Because of this incident, she was filled with resentment in her dream. Although it gradually faded away, there was always a knot in her heart. Now that heaven had eyes and bestowed this grace upon her, she had the opportunity to erase her regrets. How could she not grasp it firmly?
Besides…
The teachers were no ordinary teachers in the study room. Moreover, the emperor often went to inspect the children. Fulu couldn't resist!
…
After listening carefully to Yun Xiu's words, the little pudding, the fifth prince, fell into deep thought.
Yinqi: This seems to make sense.
Yintang: Don't listen to mother's deception!
When he heard the word 'Fulu', Yinqi's eyes were bright. He stopped playing with his ninth younger brother's feet and ran forward. He raised his head and asked Yun Xiu, his eyes filled with expectation, "Mother, when is uncle's family arrive in the capital?"
"They will be here soon. They will spend a good year here after all, and Yinqi will meet Fulu soon…"
Chengqian Palace.
"Ahem… We thought that Consort Hui was a rare smart person, but We didn't expect that she was also stupid, and was being plotted against without even realising it." The imperial noble consort folded her handkerchief slowly and laughed sarcastically. "She shouldn't be too arrogant. Did she really think that after giving birth to the eldest prince and having Ming Zhu as a shield that she could sit back and relax?"
Without the eighth prince, not only did she lose face, but she also lost a big helper for her son. This was a bit of a fall, but the imperial noble consort was happy to see the success and felt extremely happy.
Although there were no tangible results now, with the ambitions of Consort Hui and Ming Zhu, the eldest prince would definitely fight with Suo Etu and the crown prince until death to seek the throne. The eldest prince was now missing the eighth prince, and he would surely extend an olive branch to the other princes. If this continued, Yinzhen's road would be much smoother.
Consort Hui's arrogance was also suppressed. For the imperial noble consort, this change was of great benefit and of no harm. When she thought of this, she smiled happily. Her smile widened a bit as she thought of the layout at Yonghe Palace.
"Are all the sachets in place?" she asked.
"Everything is in place. On the fourth prince's side, due to his frequent visits, the nanny of Second Rank Prince Rong discovered the 'clues' created by Wet Nurse Xu. After several twists and turns, it finally reached Yonghe Palace…" Wet Nurse Zhen whispered, "With the traces of Mrs. Liu, Imperial Concubine Wu immediately lost her composure! Imperial Concubine Wu then requested an audience with His Majesty at noon. Now it is time to await the good news."
"That's very good." The imperial noble consort smiled slightly, suppressing the excitement that the great revenge was about to be repaid. She lowered her head and touched her belly. Her eyes were fierce and her tone was soft. "Anle, are you looking at mother from the sky? Are you not happy? Mother is venting anger on your behalf. It doesn't matter who is related to this, none of them can escape…"
By the time Imperial Concubine An and Imperial Concubine Xi finally copied the Buddhist scriptures and were no longer grounded, it was already December.
Just when they breathed a sigh of relief, they were shocked by the news of Consort Hui's punishment. A few days had passed since the eighth prince and Noble Lady Liang had moved out of Yanxi Palace. Then, the emperor arrived at Yonghe Palace!
This was the first time Kangxi had set foot in Yonghe Palace after more than a month.
As the emperor left sullenly, rumours and speculations swept through the harem. Some people said that Imperial Concubine Wu had given up and angered the emperor. Others said that Imperial Concubine Wu tried to regain his favour, but the emperor was unmoved and scolded her coldly… There were all kinds of rumours.
The next day was a rare sunny day.
In Yuqing Palace, it was not yet 5 in the morning and the sky was still dark. The crown prince had dressed and washed, ate hot congee and a few side dishes, and was preparing to go to the study for morning studies.
As he put on a thick coat, the crown prince was surprised when he walked out of the palace gate. He asked curiously, "Steward Liang?"
Liang Jiugong was waiting a short distance away and was followed by a large group of people. When he saw the crown prince, he seemed to be relieved. He took a few steps forward with a wry smile and said respectfully, "This servant pays respects to the Crown Prince."
The crown prince realised something extraordinary. This early in the morning, and Liang Jiugong came in person…
His expression changed slightly, and he asked in a low voice, "What orders does imperial father have?"
"This matter has something to do with Second Rank Prince Rong, but it has nothing to do with the Crown Prince." Liang Jiugong bowed. "This servant has been ordered to search the residence of the people in Yuqing Palace, and this servant needs the Crown Prince's permission. His Majesty has given orders and the Crown Prince needs to obey. If the Crown Prince refuses, this servant will leave immediately…"
The crown prince curled his fingers thoughtfully, and said nothing for a while.
A while later, he said in a clear voice, "Go search then!"
—-
The author has something to say:
Eldest prince: Take it off. Don't let me see any more plaques…
1.(陶然) Taoran: happy and carefree.↩
2.(燕鳴) Yanming: swallow's cry.↩
Chapter 60
Early yesterday when the government office was closed, a person from the first-rank official's residence came in a hurry to report the news. This person happened to bump into Suo Etu, who was returning home.
Suo Etu was wearing a feather ornament on his head and had not changed out of his court robes. He was sitting in a spacious sedan chair with his eyes closed as he took a nap. He appeared to be in a good mood.
The sedan slowly shuttled through a downtown street, and then entered Zhumen alley. This was the residence of rich and prosperous families, and the direct descendants of the Hesheli family naturally lived here.
The sound in his ears gradually fell silent, and Suo Etu seemed to feel something. He raised his eyes and looked out the window. He then withdrew his gaze and stroked his beard with satisfaction.
He smiled and thought, if Ming Zhu continued his dodgy practices, then he would eventually meet a bad end. Your Mrs. Nala still has her day!
He saw the emperor summon Hang Ai, and then arranged Tuyue's position, not to the Ministry of Civil Personnel nor the Board of Revenue, but to the Ministry of War. Suo Etu was surprised. He wished he could look up at the sky and laugh a few times. He was so happy that the anxiety in his heart disappeared.
It was beyond his expectation that Consort Yi's proposal would be successful. As there was no possibility of the Nala family and Guoluoluo family joining forces, he could sit back and relax.
Tuyue was so highly regarded by the emperor that he was appointed as the Right Vice-Minister of the Ministry of War at the age of thirty. He had a bright future. The fact that Consort Yi was on good terms with him also meant that Tuyue was on good terms with the Hesheli family. How could Suo Etu not be happy?
While Suo Etu was overjoyed, he was also secretly alarmed by Consort Yi's understanding of the emperor. He decided to strengthen his cooperation with Yikun Palace, selectively forgetting Imperial Concubine Ping's complaints in Chuxiu Palace.
His niece was still too young.
Consort Yi was a great help. If one couldn't be good friends with her, at the very least, one should not offend her. Imperial Concubine Ping was fine, but she continued to have conflicts with Consort Yi!
As far as Suo Etu knew, it was his niece who started the trouble.
—Consort Yi was not someone who helped others without taking care of her own issues. After thinking for a while, he was about 30% angry. It didn't matter if Imperial Concubine Ping had the support of the Hesheli family behind her.
First it was the promotion to Imperial Concubine, and then the Buddhist scriptures. Imperial Concubine Ping was repeatedly at a disadvantage. Consort Yi gave birth to two princes and raised a princess. How could Imperial Concubine Ping survive?
Why didn't she have some brains?
Suo Etu would not be easily shaken once he had determined something. He thought that if he indirectly helped Tuyue, it was equivalent to indirectly helping Consort Yi. Now that the one in Yikun Palace was on the same side, the petty conflict between her and Imperial Concubine Ping should stop.
When one entered the palace, one should always put one's family first, and the matter of the fifth prince must never be repeated. If Imperial Concubine Ping was still willful and went against Consort Yi, then he and the Hesheli family could always count on another beautiful girl from the family to take her position.
He put aside Imperial Concubine Ping's troubles and sneered. He thought with some satisfaction that the emperor was too wise and mighty to listen to the slander of Ming Zhu. Who gave Ming Zhu the courage to act first, then report the attempt to win over the Guoluoluo family?
Wasn't this a bitter pill? He thought he had a chance to win, but he didn't expect to be defeated. He really became the laughing stock of the capital, and his dignity was wiped out.
There was also Consort Hui. When she was co-managing the harem, she passed on so many messages to Ming Zhu overtly and caused so many obstacles for the Hesheli family. It was good now that such a person had been cowed. It was very satisfying.
Consort Hui was frustrated, and the eighth prince moved out of Yanxi Palace. Suo Etu was ecstatic when he heard that the eldest prince was scolded and made to kneel by the emperor.
Because he was happy, he threw away all the doubts in his mind. For example, at Yuqing Palace, Hu Ming and Hu Guang had not sent him any news for half a month.
…
When the official's mansion came into view, the coachman was about to stop when several men rushed forward and shouted in a loud voice, "Master!" Their tone was urgent.
Suo Etu dropped his smile. He frowned, opened the curtain, and was about to scold them, but when he saw their faces clearly, the thought of scolding them disappeared in an instant.
These were the men he sent to monitor Second-Rank Prince Rong's wet nurse, Mrs. Liu.
Suo Etu had a bad feeling. Before he could ask anything, the leader with a beard stepped forward and said urgently, in a low voice, "Master, Mrs. Liu… Mrs. Liu is missing!"
Suo Etu stood up suddenly and said angrily, "Missing? What do you mean missing?!"
Cining Palace.
"Your Majesty, this concubine doesn't ask for Your Majesty's forgiveness. This concubine just asks for Your Majesty to cherish Yinzuo a little and give him justice!" Imperial Concubine Wu cried so hard that her eyes were filled with tears and she could hardly breathe. "He is not even five years old. Not only is he facing the pain of separation from his mother, but his energy and intelligence are no longer what they used to be. This is simply tearing out this concubine's heart and cutting off this concubine's flesh…"
As she said that, she knelt down and kowtowed to the empress dowager and great empress dowager. She then said, with a tearful voice, "Revered Elder and Empress Dowager, even if Yinzuo is Second-Rank Prince Rong, he is still your great-grandson and grandson, and his admiration has not lessened. Now that the culprit has been found, this concubine has nothing to ask for except that the culprit will receive severe punishment!"
Kangxi's face was solemn, and the great empress dowager closed her eyes and said nothing. Both of them did not know what to feel in this moment.
Only the empress dowager picked up the paper on the tray and looked at it carefully. After a while, she said, "Don't kneel. Get up. We don't know whether this confession is true or false. If it is false, then there will be no justice to discuss."
The empress dowager's tone was a little calm, which was evident to everyone in the room.
The day that Imperial Concubine Wu 'made trouble' in Yuqing Palace and tried to attack Consort Yi still left a deep impression on the empress dowager. In addition, all of Mrs. Wuya's crimes were exposed by the emperor. After this incident, her disgust towards Imperial Concubine Wu reached an all time high!
The empress dowager felt sorry for Yinzuo, but because some time had passed since the incident, her feelings had quietly reduced. Most of her care was devoted to Yinqi and the crown prince. As time went by, the empress dowager almost forgot about Second-Rank Prince Rong's poisoning.
Now, she was not blaming Imperial Concubine Wu for asking for justice for Yinzuo, but she was frightened by the confession presented by the Department of Punishment.
If this was true, then what was the point?
It was absolutely impossible!
Kangxi turned the jade ring on his hand and said in a deep voice, "Imperial Mother, please don't worry. The truth cannot be faked, and what is false cannot be true. The confession mentioned Suo Etu and Yuqing Palace. The small courtyard where Mrs. Liu lived belongs to Suo Etu. The evidence for this matter is conclusive. As for Yuqing Palace…"
He paused and his voice became much softer. "Baocheng has approved the search and is just waiting for Liang Jiugong to return."
The great empress dowager sighed, but still did not make a sound. The empress dowager shook her head and said anxiously: "Emperor, you must not listen to just one side of the story. How could the crown prince be the messenger when he is only ten years old? Don't forget that it was he who saved Yinzuo's life!"
Kangxi thought exactly the same as the empress dowager, and did not believe at all that the crown prince was involved in this matter.
Baocheng was one of the best brothers in the world. If he wanted to harm Yinzuo, why would he bother to save him?
After Mrs. Liu was arrested and sent to the Department of Punishment, the investigation contained many things that could not be covered up.
In the early years, when Suo Etu was still the minister of the Imperial Household Department, he secretly replaced the officials with a large number of confidants who went to Yuqing Palace to serve the crown prince. They were still in contact with each other half a month ago.
This incident almost touched the emperor's nerves. He was shocked to realise that Suo Etu was plotting something so grand. After being furious, his first thought was that the crown prince was being held hostage by Suo Etu!
Baocheng knew about Yinzuo's poisoning, but because Yuqing Palace was controlled by Suo Etu, he couldn't reveal anything to others. Therefore, he had to do his best and use the opportunity of choosing a horse to rescue his sixth younger brother…
After Kangxi thought about it this way, he was moved and sad. Mrs. Liu's confession soon arrived.
The testimony: 'The sachet that poisoned Second-Rank Prince Rong was the crown prince's idea, and it was polished and perfected by Lord Suo, all for the sake of the 'Zuo' in Yin Zuo! The crown prince ordered Ming Yun and Ming Xin to make the incense sachet. Because the raw materials were hard to find, there were only two copies of the finished product. One was passed to the servant and the other was hidden in Ming Yun's dowry for future use.'
'If this is not believable, just search Ming Yun and Ming Xin's residence, which is on the east side closest to the sleeping chambers… The two of them are the crown prince's personal maids, and they couldn't be more loyal to their master. This servant retired after this servant's achievements, and was taken outside the palace by Master Suo and raised in honour. They will have the same destination in the future. The Crown Prince will never mistreat those who have made contributions!'
The confession was unambiguous, and it was very clear about Ming Yun and Ming Xin's residence and the hiding place of the sachet. It was very convincing.
But the crown prince usually only took He Zhu'er and a few young eunuchs with him. As for Ming Yun and Ming Xin, let alone Kangxi, Liang Jiugong had not seen them…
The only way to confirm Mrs. Liu's confession was to conduct a search.
Imperial Concubine Wu was still in confinement and was not supposed to appear in Cining Palace. Even though she was Yinzuo's biological mother, Kangxi did not want to see her.
The empress dowager also didn't want to see Imperial Concubine Wu, so in the end it was the great empress dowager who invited her to come, and that was when she cried out in grief.
After hearing the remarks about 'true or false confessions', Imperial Concubine Wu was filled with hatred. Every word that came from the empress dowager was to excuse the crown prince. How could she not understand?
And the emperor…
The emperor's love for the crown prince was no longer just at a whim. Even if the evidence was clearly placed in front of the emperor, he may not punish the crown prince, but let Suo Etu bear all the charges.
Even though Imperial Concubine Wu was mentally prepared for the crown prince to be unharmed, she was still trembling with anger at the scene before her.
She just wanted to seek justice for Yinzuo!
During these days of confinement in Yonghe Palace, she thought about revenge all the time. Now the mastermind behind the scenes had been revealed, and it was the crown prince in Yuqing Palace who everyone praised. Suo Etu was just an accomplice.
At only ten years old, with such vicious thoughts, he even plotted against his four-year-old younger brother because of a name. Was he worthy of the position of crown prince?!
The funny thing was that, even though the evidence was conclusive, the emperor was still so partial. Yinzuo was poisoned and this matter was closely related to Yuqing Palace. The emperor also asked the crown prince about his wishes, and defended everything in his words…
One after another, Imperial Concubine Wu's eyes were red with hatred, and her tears flowed even more fiercely. "Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, how can this testimony be false? It is a fact that Suo Etu protected Mrs. Liu. As for Yuqing Palace, it is also true that Suo Etu has frequent contact with the Crown Prince!"
As she said that, she smiled sadly. "If the people around Yinzuo hadn't discovered the clues that pointed to Mrs. Wulan becoming friends with Mrs. Liu, they would never have known where Mrs. Liu went! You said that the Crown Prince saved Yinzuo… Yes, this concubine will admit that this is true. But that was not the Crown Prince's purpose. He did not want Yinzuo's life… He wanted Yinzuo to stop being smart so that Yinzuo would not be a threat…"
One stone stirred up a thousand waves. Before Kangxi could take action, the great empress dowager closed her eyes and shouted sternly, "Mrs. Wuya, you are so presumptuous!"
Imperial Concubine Wu instantly fell to the ground and kowtowed. She said in a hoarse voice, "Revered Elder, Yinzuo's intelligence has been ruined, and so has this concubine's life! This concubine just wants justice -"
…
The way the emperor looked at her could no longer be described as 'full of foreboding'.
Just at this moment, Liang Jiugong entered the palace door panting. He had a complex expression on his face. When he saw Kangxi, he said, "Your Majesty, the sachet is real…"
After speaking, he pointed to the tray behind him. There was a poison sachet placed neatly on the top, which was exactly the same as the one Mrs. Liu handed to Yinzuo.
When the great empress dowager heard this, she stopped twisting her beads. Her face changed drastically. Imperial Concubine Wu smiled sarcastically and Kangxi frowned suddenly.
The Crown Prince, who happened to step into the palace gate, heard these words.
His hands and feet were cold, and his heart suddenly sank.
Ming Yun and Ming Xin were the palace maids sent in by his uncle. He thought they had been bribed.
Was even fixing Yuqing Palace futile? Such an insidious and ubiquitous means of infiltration…
Immediately afterwards, Liang Jiugong paused and said without changing his expression, "But it was not found in the east room. It was found in a cubicle next to the stable. Ming Yun and Ming Xin were not palace maids who served the Crown Prince personally, but servant girls who fed the horses! This servant thoroughly checked. Mrs. Liu's confession is not valid, and Imperial Concubine Wu's words against the Crown Prince are even more nonsense."
Steward Liang clearly said that this was a set-up.
…
The stable?
Everyone was shocked.
The crown prince was shocked. His nervousness and anxiety disappeared, and his mouth was left open in surprise.
He quietly turned to look at He Zhu'er, and then quietly turned back. He felt as if he was surviving a disaster. He was shocked beyond words.
A few days ago, he listened to Consort Mother Yi's words and made up his mind to deal with the confidants sent by Suo Etu. He also ordered He Zhu'er to keep Hu Ming and Hu Guang who had surrendered. He also ordered He Zhu'er to drive the others out and to closely monitor their movements as well as assign them any tasks as appropriate.
He thought that He Zhu'er sent Ming Yun and Ming Xin to the stables from the east chamber.
The crown prince tried to remember what else he ordered.
They were not allowed to send messages. If there was anything out of line in their words or actions, then the person who shadowed them must come and report it. Also, everything must be packed away and nothing was to be left behind!
The last two were what Consort Mother Yi taught him.
At the time, he disagreed a little and felt it was too cruel. After all, they were palace servants sent by his uncle. After serving him for so many years, there was no merit but hard work.
After he left Yikun Palace, and after much hesitation, the crown prince gritted his teeth and did as Yun Xiu said.
After coming back to his senses, the crown prince breathed in slowly, his eyes astonishingly bright.
Consort Mother Yi… was really good at predicting things!