Chapter 61
The crown prince was still in shock. The great empress dowager sighed, and then her eyes darkened. The empress dowager and the emperor were stunned for only a moment, which was quickly followed by relief. Then, it finally turned into anger.
Their anger was directed at Imperial Concubine Wu and Mrs. Liu. This anger gradually turned into a huge wave that was about to sweep through all of Cining Palace.
Liang Jiugong's words disturbed the silence of the whole hall. The first one to bear the brunt was of them was Imperial Concubine Wu.
After hearing those words, Imperial Concubine Wu opened her eyes wide in disbelief and murmured, "Stable? No, it shouldn't…"
According to the report from Wet Nurse Wu, Ming Yun and Ming Xin clearly lived in the east chamber of Yuqing Palace. In order to be on the safe side, she sent out a few of her absolutely trusted confidants to investigate. When they came back to report, they told her: "Master, they are indeed in the east chamber."
The east chamber… The Crown Prince…The hatred in Imperial Concubine Wu's heart almost overflowed.
Then there was that wretched Mrs. Liu. The emperor sent her to prison and tortured her a few times. How could her confession be false?!
Because of her preconceptions, at this moment, Imperial Concubine Wu could not believe that the crown prince had nothing to do with Yinzuo's poisoning.
Liang Jiugong, that cheap servant, had his heart set on helping the crown prince. He deceived his superiors, deceived his subordinates, and even dared to deceive the emperor! He also stated that Ming Xin and Ming Yun lived next to the stables and did rough work. Who would believe such a clumsy lie?
This was what Imperial Concubine Wu thought, and so she could hardly control her emotions. Her eyes were red and she looked straight towards the palace gate. She laughed and said coldly, "A set up? The sachet is real. It is true that poison appeared in Yuqing Palace. The evidence is conclusive. The rest are just words from you, Liang Jiugong! He easily confuses right and wrong, almost forgetting his duty as a servant. What kind of power does Steward Liang possess?"
When Liang Jiugong heard this, his expression darkened greatly.
What Imperial Concubine Wu was implying was that he colluded with the crown prince to fabricate the lie about the stable, and intended to deceive the emperor, revered elder, and empress dowager.
Haha, she was indeed the 'virtuous' consort in the past. Even after she was reduced to an imperial concubine, she never forgot her true nature. She was so 'kind' that she had given him such a label.
Liang Jiugong bent down slightly, suppressed the anger in his heart, and showed a sly smile. He was about to refute, but at this moment, a choking sound suddenly came from behind him.
He was startled and could not care less about 'clearing his name'. He quickly turned his head and looked around.
He saw the crown prince, dressed in apricot yellow, walking quickly from the shadow of the corner. His phoenix eyes, which were exactly the same as Kangxi's, were slightly red. Clear tears gathered in his eyes. He called out, "Revered Elder, Imperial Grandmother, and Imperial Father."
The little crown prince had a clear voice and his words were full of heart-breaking grievances.
Immediately afterwards, the crown prince wiped his nose. He held back the tears that were about to fall, looked down at Imperial Concubine Wu kneeling on the ground, and whispered, "It was just a coincidence that We saved Yinzuo, and it was not what Imperial Concubine Wu thought. Steward Liang is loyal to Imperial Father, so how can he collude with Us?"
As he spoke, the crown prince's voice became louder, and his grievances were mixed with anger. "Ming Yun and Ming Xin have never served beside Us and the harmful sachet was not Our idea! We did not know what Our uncle was doing! We felt sorry for Little Six, so how could We harm him?!"
…
This was a big deal.
When the crown prince was about to shed tears, Liang Jiugong's heart skipped a beat and he stammered, "Crown Prince, Crown Prince". He was anxious.
Currently, it was time to go to classes, but the crown prince suddenly appeared in Cining Palace. They were caught off guard. Had the masters in the study permitted this?
The palace attendants outside the palace also became mute. They didn't even announce the crown prince's presence, and allowed the crown prince to see this scene for who knows how long.
He stamped his feet, feeling uneasy.
Regarding Mrs. Liu's confession identifying the crown prince, the emperor specifically told him to keep it a secret and only briefly mentioned the palace search… But now he could no longer hide it.
His Highness was not yet an adult. No matter how smart and self-controlled he was, he was still just a child. Now, Imperial Concubine Wu accused him of having malicious intentions, of plotting against his younger brother, and of bribing the personal attendants around the emperor. How could he endure the aggressive behaviour of Imperial Concubine Wu and the hatred in her words?
Even adults couldn't handle it!
Liang Jiugong heard that the crown prince commented on his 'loyalty'. Before he could be moved, he was startled by the glint in the crown prince's eyes. Was His Highness crying?!
That wouldn't do!
When he came back to his senses, he even forgot to refute. He looked at Kangxi, who was looking up at him. He then thought that the emperor would definitely be absolutely furious and that the emperor would not be kind.
Liang Jiugong guessed well.
When Kangxi saw the crown prince, his furious mood froze a little. Before he could be surprised, his heart immediately tightened.
After Baocheng recovered from smallpox, he became increasingly independent. He often walked with his hands behind his back, assuming the posture of a 'little adult', and he strongly disapproved of crying. As he grew older, Baocheng never cried again. At the most, he was unhappy.
Although the crown prince had only shed his tears for a moment and his nasal voice gradually faded away, the scene just now hit Kangxi's heart like a heavy hammer.
Apart from the emperor, how could the empress dowager and the great empress dowager not be distressed?
After glancing around briefly and taking in the situation, Kangxi's face became darker to the point where Liang Jiugong was frightened.
The emperor saw it himself, that Mrs. Wuya's expression was very disrespectful after she recovered from her shock. Not only did she not pay her respects to Baocheng, she even sneered and said softly, "Yinzuo's lowly life naturally can't compare to the noble crown prince. It is a pity that Lord Suo's promising has been ruined in an instant…"
Kangxi stood up suddenly and strode forward. As everyone held their breath, he kicked Imperial Concuine Wu. "You framed the crown prince and disrespected him. Who gave you the courage to do so?!"
At that moment, Imperial Concubine Wu's mind went blank for a moment. She felt a pain in her heart, and waves of metallic sweetness filled her throat. She fell to the ground clutching her chest, her eyes filled with disbelief. She couldn't pronounce the words 'Your Majesty'.
There was silence in Cining Palace. The crown prince quietly took a step back and slowly opened his eyes.
"Yinzuo has been poisoned. We will naturally give him justice. Why do you need to randomly attack here? Framing the crown prince will shake the foundation of our Qing Dynasty. Mrs. Wuya, you are not even worth pitying in death!" Kangxi said every word as he looked down at Imperial Concubine Wu. It was as if he was looking at a dead thing.
After he said that, he sneered and was about to kick her a second time. At this moment, the old voice of the great empress dowager stopped him: "Xuanye!"
"Mrs. Wuya has fallen ill with madness. There is still no improvement despite the long period of rest and recuperation." When the great empress dowager saw that the emperor stopped moving, she twisted her prayer beads and sighed deeply. "While she is addled, she had these hallucinations, therefore confusing Yinreng and Suo Etu. It's not entirely implausible – don't argue with her."
As soon as she said this, everyone in the room was shocked!
Imperial Concubine Wu's heart was filled with despair. She was still distracted, so she had not yet come back to her senses. In the haziness, the distant voice of the great empress dowager came from the horizon. "…Her madness has become more serious, to the point where she can't recognise people clearly. She can no longer be the mother to several children. Emperor, please go back and determine where Yinzhen and Moyaqi will go…"
The great empress dowager narrowed her eyes and turned to say a few words. When she saw that the empress dowager nodded, she then turned to the limp Imperial Concubine Wu and said calmly, "Collusion? Liang Jiugong is not so courageous. You can relax because We also provided manpower for the search, and there was no sign of favouritism."
Finally, she patted the table and said tiredly, "Servant, please bring Imperial Concubine Wu back to Yonghe Palace. When her madness is cured, she can come out."
When the great empress dowager gave the order, Kangxi's anger gradually subsided and he remained silent.
After Imperial Concubine Wu was dragged out of the hall, the palace people suppressed the turmoil in their hearts and respectfully withdrew. In the blink of an eye, only the crown prince, the elders, and the 'conclusive evidence' of the testimony were left in the hall.
After a rush of emotion passed, a sense of shame surged in the crown prince's heart.
He actually cried!
In front of so many people!
Even if he listened to Consort Mother Yi's words and he showed his grievances for the first time… Even if the effect was extraordinary, Yinreng still blushed.
The crown prince's face was red along with his eyes. This was the aftermath of the tears he held back and it hadn't dissipated yet. He looked at the ground with some embarrassment and his little eyes darted around wildly. He did not dare to look at Kangxi at all. In the eyes of the emperor and the two empress dowagers, the mood completely changed – they felt even more distressed.
The impact today was too great. Was Baocheng feeling uneasy because of Suo Etu?
"Baocheng, come to Revered Elder." The great empress dowager lowered her voice, which was completely different from the way she had just issued the order.
She held the crown prince's hand and gently wiped his red and swollen eyes. "Good child, We are sorry for you. Don't be afraid. Revered Elder is watching. As long as Baocheng studies peacefully, nothing will disturb you."
The empress dowager acted in a more straightforward manner. Her words were full of kindness with a hint of caution. "Even your Imperial Grandmother knows! No matter what, this matter will not implicate you. Your Imperial Father is here so don't cry."
Yinreng nodded very obediently and whispered, "We won't cry anymore."
If he cried again, he would lose face!
Next it was the emperor's turn.
Kangxi reached out and touched his son's head. His phoenix eyes displayed extremely complicated emotions. He said warmly, "Baocheng, Imperial Father knows your grievances…"
Was the crown prince aggrieved?
Of course he was.
It would be hard for anyone to deal with being wrongly accused, let alone being accused of plotting against a younger brother. He was the crown prince of the country. If rumours spread, what would he do in the future?
If Mrs. Wuya really succeeded, not only would he have his reputation besmirched, but the favour his Imperial Father bestowed upon him would not be as good as it was previously. If it went on for a long time, what would happen to him?
He also wronged Suo Etu in this matter. His sixth younger brother's poisoning was actually caused by Suo Etu, but he wasn't afraid of his imperial father noticing it or implicating Yuqing Palace.
…These were just his thoughts.
"Imperial Father, your son is not wronged," the crown prince said dully as he lowered his eyes.
He suddenly remembered something, and a hint of guilt flashed in his eyes. "By the way, today's homework…"
He just quickly spoke to the masters and hurried to Cining Palace. If the emperor knew that he had skipped classes, would he be angry?
Normally, he might have been disciplined with the cane. Well, during the Kangxi era, there seemed to be no cases of truancy…
"What's the point? You can make up for the missed lessons tomorrow." Kangxi's tone was gentler than ever before. The crown prince got goosebumps all over. "We know you study hard, but don't push yourself too hard."
Crown Prince: "…Oh, oh."
The crown prince walked out of Cining Palace in a daze and returned to Yuqing Palace. He stayed in the study for a long time, as if deep in thought.
He didn't know how much time had passed before Yinqi's loud and energetic voice called out. "Second older brother, are you skipping school today?"
The fifth prince stood outside the door and poked his head inside. After watching the crown prince for a long time, he suddenly exclaimed as if he had discovered a new world. "Why are the second older brother's eyes red? They are as red as a rabbit!"
The crown prince's face turned red again.
He coughed, thought about it, and said seriously, "We admired Consort Mother Yi so much that We shed tears… We couldn't help it…"
Yinqi opened his mouth wide and was stunned.
Chapter 62
The fifth prince wondered what this had to do with his mother.
His second older brother skipped school this morning and went to Cining Palace. Why did he admire mother to the point of tears?
Yinqi's white and tender face was wrinkled. His little brain couldn't figure it out.
When the crown prince saw Yinqi's confused expression, his mood suddenly became clear. He forgot all the anger, grievances, and happiness he felt just now.
He waved to Yinqi, pinched his fifth younger brother's cheek, and then asked with a smile, "Why are you at Yuqing Palace today?"
Yinqi came back to his senses, smiled, and replied honestly, "Second older brother disappeared halfway through classes. Third and fourth older brother were very curious, but they didn't dare to ask. Eldest brother was sure that you skipped school. After a while, everyone in the palace knew about it…I also heard about it from others."
Because he was very curious, Yinqi hurried over to find out.
After that, he hesitated for a moment, obviously not believing the crown prince's 'excuse' for crying. He stood on tiptoes and said quietly to the crown prince, "Second older brother, I understand you. There are times when everyone doesn't want to study, so there is no shame in hiding and crying secretly! Are you going to complain to Revered Elder that the master has given you too much homework?"
Crown Prince: "…"
The crown prince's face was a little dark, and his hands were itchy, not only towards his eldest brother, but also for the troubled younger brother in front of him.
It was okay for the boss to make such a loud noise that everyone in the palace knew about it. What is Little Five thinking about all day long?
As if he would complain if he had too much homework!
If he did that, his shameful reputation would spread, and he would become the first prince in history to cry bitterly because of too much homework. This would be passed down through the ages… The crown prince hissed and his expression instantly became indescribable.
Why didn't Little Five inherit Consort Mother Yi's intelligence?
"No." He squeezed out the word through his teeth and showed a loving smile. "Fifth younger brother, We think you are still too idle. Why doesn't second older brother teach you how to write?"
Yinqi was not an inquisitive child. When he saw the crown prince's quick denial, he nodded in realisation and stopped worrying about the matter. Then, he said happily, "Thank you, second older brother. Second older brother is the best."
Previously, Yi'erha's serious words to persuade him to make progress finally left an indelible mark on the fifth prince's young mind.
After the New Year, he would go to the study. In order not to embarrass his mother and imperial father, he must study hard, write well, and strive to come out on top just like his fourth older sister said.
Wait.
When he thought of this, he scratched his head. What did it mean to come out on top?
If he didn't know, then he just wouldn't think about it. Yinqi felt happy. He didn't expect that his second older brother would have time to teach him when he was crying like this. This was a good older brother who was unparalled!
Yinqi was so moved that he held the brush with his little hand and solemnly wrote the first stroke.
"The first stroke is crooked. Do it again!"
"Oh, okay."
"The sharp edge of the brush is not there. Start again."
"Yeah! Second older brother is right. Your younger brother will change it now."
…
"The word 'big' has become small. It has become a timid character in your writing, which is no good. It has no momentum at all. The character 'big' that covers the entire paper should be 'big'. Do you understand?"
Yinqi's mind was a mess, as if the wheels were spinning pointlessly. He muttered something. "The 'big' that covers the entire paper is big… It makes sense… Your younger brother knows!"
This morning was really different from usual.
The gate of Yonghe Palace, which had been closed for a long time, opened wide. Imperial Concubine Wu, who was still in confinement, was taken to Cining Palace in a sedan. This was not over yet. After the emperor went to morning court, he went to Cining Palace where the great empress dowager lived!
Combined with the rumours in the palace in recent days, the concubines in the harem suddenly couldn't sit still.
They each sent people out of the palace to inquire about the news. They saw it as the calm before the storm. Some people secretly wondered if Imperial Concubine Wu was really going to return to favour?
Yanxi Palace.
Consort Hui was half leaning on the couch as she rubbed her temples with one hand. Her expression was extremely serious. "What did you find out?"
"Consort, the great empress dowager ordered the servants of Cining Palace to keep silent. Not a single bit of news was leaked," Ying'er whispered. The arrogant look on her face was no longer visible. "Our people… can't do anything in this situation."
Today was no better than in the past. Since Consort Hui suffered a serious loss and lost her eighth prince, Yanxi Palace was no longer high-profile. It gradually fell into silence, and had lost the vague and aloof status it had before.
As soon as the emperor handed down the punishment, Ying'er and the others tucked their tails between their legs. This time, when they were sent out to investigate, they were also cautious in their actions. They did not dare to make any big commotion in fear of attracting the attention of others.
Because they were careful, their efficiency in snooping had naturally decreased. How could they still be as well-informed as they were in the past?
Consort Hui knew all this. When she heard this, a stern look appeared on her face, which then quickly disappeared.
The emperor hated the one from Yonghe Palace. She didn't believe that Mrs. Wuya could return to favour! But Cining Palace's stance was too unusual. Something big must have happened that she didn't know about.
…
Consort Hui had lost so much face not long ago, and her spring breeze was suddenly shattered. Her heart was as frozen as if she were in the middle of a harsh winter.
The noble consort and Noble Lady Liang… Consort Hui closed her eyes. Her chest kept rising and falling as she felt angry and full of hate. It was also her fault that she lost because she was less cautious after she became the assistant in charge of the harem. She was not as vigilant as she was before. She underestimated Mrs. Niugulu, who was in confinement, and actually allowed her to succeed without being able to defend.
Consort Hui was met with an unexpected failure and she took great damage.
Naturally, without help, Yinti's prestige was reduced greatly. All the hard work she had put in over the past few months had been plucked by the noble consort. The most important thing was the emperor! How far had her status in the emperor's heart fallen?
This also involved Yinti. When she learned that her eldest prince was punished by the emperor by kneeling down for interceding for his mother, Consort Hui's face could no longer be described as pale.
No matter how much she hated, those damn servants were gone, and complaining would not help. She could only swallow this down so that she could return the favour one day and repay the servants of Mrs. Niugulu and Mrs. Wei a hundred times over.
Before she could recover, bad news came one after another. Ming Zhu finally sent a message to the palace, but it said that their plan failed. Suo Etu instigated Hang Ai to do the same trick. The emperor used this matter to decide that Tuyue should be placed in the Ministry of War.
How could this be? The plan to remove the firewood under the cauldron failed?
Consort Hui thought of how she had pretended to be close to Consort Yi, just like a clown. She covered her chest, her face was on fire, and she almost couldn't breathe!
Since she gave birth to the emperor's eldest son, Consort Hui had never suffered such a big loss, but she would have to lay low no matter how unwilling she was.
Those days were the most difficult for her. After she finally calmed down, her rationality gradually returned. Consort Hui did not dare to plan for Yinti in a big way anymore, so she had to tell her son to come to Yanxi Palace. "It won't be too late to talk to your mother again after your imperial father has calmed down."
At the same time, she strictly ordered everyone in Yanxi Palace to keep a low profile and not to make any public moves. This was all that could be done. As time passed and the matter of Yinsi's disappearance slowly left the emperor's mind, she would still able to gain momentum…
After a few days, the disadvantages of being low-key appeared. She was just like a person whose hearing and vision had suddenly been covered with a black cloth. Consort Hui had no idea why Imperial Concubine Wu was released from her confinement, and she was extremely anxious.
There was nothing else she could do, but it was important to know if Mrs. Wuya would be a hidden danger.
Could it be that the emperor discovered that she and Imperial Concubine Wu were teaming up to plot against Mrs. Guoluoluo? If questioned, would Imperial Concubine Wu implicate her?
Agitated and uneasy, Consort Hui experienced firsthand what it meant for a day to feel like it was stretched out to a year. At this moment, Yan'er quickly came to report: "Consort, this servant is not sure where the eldest prince heard this news about the crown prince skipping lessons… This matter became known to everyone, and it was not long before the noble consort suppressed it."
Consort Hui suddenly grabbed the edge of the bed. Her vision went dark and she suddenly felt dizzy.
She gritted her teeth. "What kind of trouble is Yinti making at this time?! Does he not think that he has knelt long enough?"
In Chengqian Palace, the imperial noble consort also felt as if the time in a day had been stretched out to a year.
But her mood was completely different from that of Consort Hui. There was even a smile on her face. She held the handkerchief and admired the bare flowers and trees in the yard by the window.
Anle, are you happy? Mother has avenged you.
The imperial noble consort remained motionless in this posture. She coughed lowly from time to time. An indetermined amount of time passed before the sound of chaotic footsteps was heard. She stood up suddenly, ignoring her body that was shaken by exhaustion, and asked with burning eyes, "What's wrong?"
Wet Nurse Zhen opened her mouth. There was a complicated look on her face, but she still said, "The great empress dowager personally ordered that Imperial Concubine Wu is not allowed to come out unless she is cured of her madness… She also said that people with madness are no longer suitable to be mothers…"
The imperial noble consort's eyes became brighter. When she heard the last words, she clenched the handkerchief tightly, and a trace of joy appeared on her face.
She was not suitable to be a mother!
Her plan for Yinzhen, the jade records… Her plan was about to become a reality.
Unable to suppress her joy, the imperial noble consort took a deep breath and asked in a hoarse voice the thing that mattered the most to her. "What about Suo Etu, and… the crown prince?"
"As Suo Etu's crime has been proven, the revered elder and the emperor are furious. As for his fate, we will just have to wait and see!" As she spoke, Wet Nurse Zhen paused and lowered her voice. "As for Yuqing Palace, the crown prince was unscathed. We are not sure how, but the crown prince was not implicated in the slightest. Instead, the crown prince received pity…"
The imperial noble consort raised her lips slightly, but soon her smile disappeared.
Overwhelmed with joy and sorrow, her face turned ferocious. She couldn't believe it at all. "They reported that this matter was foolproof. How could they be negligent? How dare those lowly servants deceive Us?!"
Wet Nurse Zhen lowered her head, whispered for the imperial noble consort to calm down. She then told the imperial noble consort everything about the stable and the poison sachet.
"Because there is no news from Yuqing Palace, our people don't know when Ming Yun and Ming Xin were demoted to the stables. And then… then…" Wet Nurse Zhen shook her head, her voice becoming almost inaudible.
The imperial noble consort slowly sat down and didn't speak for a long time.
Perhaps she had figured it out, and her ferocious expression gradually faded into a look of disappointment that could not be concealed.
"Is it God's will, or is Yinreng's destiny greater?" the imperial noble consort murmured. "How could he avoid such a seamless situation?"
Yes, the crown prince didn't know about it, so how could he avoid it?
Why were Ming Yun and Ming Xin demoted to the stables?!
This was also a question that Wet Nurse Zhen couldn't figure out.
"If this opportunity did not come to fruition, there will be such a good chance again." The imperial noble consort smiled bitterly and closed her eyes.
In order to take revenge, she reached out to all her connections and even used the trump card left to her by Empress Xiaokangzhang.
How could it be so easy to plot against the crown prince in the future? It was almost impossible…
Even if the traces of Suo Etu were exposed, and even if the bitch Mrs. Wuya never recovered, the imperial noble consort still didn't feel happy.
If he didn't fail, how could Yinzhen have a chance to get ahead?
How could she become the powerful Mrs. Tongjia again, to be crowned the empress by the new emperor a hundred years later?
She coughed heavily, and after a long while, she muttered, "The Crown Prince, Yinreng…"
Yun Xiu also knew that there was a lot going on in Yonghe Palace and Cining Palace. They were making so much noise.
Compared with the other concubines who were rushing to send people to inquire, there was no movement at all in Yikun Palace.
There was no need for Consort Yi to use her best efforts. The news would naturally reach her ears, because…the emperor arrived at dinner time without any hesitation.
Kangxi rarely showed expressions such as anger or happiness as the emperor. Most of his expressions were indifferent, but today was very different. Yun Xiu was dressed in fine clothes and had been waiting at the palace gate early. She finally saw the sedan chair in the distance, and then looked at the emperor's face. After studying it for a long time, she had a rough idea of his mood.
She pondered… How could she make the emperor willingly act as her mouthpiece when he was angry?
She saw the mouthpiece get off the sedan and stride towards her. His expression softened a lot, and he said with slight surprise, "Why did you come out to greet Us today? Go in quickly. It's cold outside. Don't freeze outside."
No wonder Kangxi was surprised. Consort Yi was becoming more and more arrogant because she had his favour. This was the first time since the beginning of winter that she had come out of the palace to greet him…
After hearing this, Yun Xiu smiled, half angry and half complaining. "Recently, the emperor's heart has been set on the Imperial Concubine Wu. If this concubine doesn't welcome the emperor, then this concubine will become yesterday's flower!"
If these words were normal, Kangxi would definitely be overjoyed. He would think that Xiuxiu was jealous again, and then quietly grin.
It was the first time that he could eat food so straightforwardly!
Now.
The emperor's heart was complicated. He was happy, angry, and resentful at the same time. He was angry about what happened this morning and resentful about Imperial Concubine Wu… and the first half of Yun Xiu's sentence!
What did she mean that his heart was set on Imperial Concubine Wu?
When he thought of such a scene…
Kangxi couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth at first. Then, his face turned faintly blue, changing very quickly, before finally sighing quietly.
He took Yun Xiu's hand and said with a straight face, "Even if We are blind, We will not pamper Mrs. Wu! She actually went crazy and framed the crown prince, saying that the crown prince was the mastermind behind Yinzuo's poisoning…"
Yun Xiu's heart skipped a beat, and then she regained her composure. The word 'mastermind' already explained everything.
In that room, Kangxi was finally able to express the anger that he had been holding back for a long time. He had already regarded Yun Xiu as the person he could confide in, and when he opened up, he spilled everything.
He included the part when he said 'Mrs. Wuya is not worthy of being a mother', 'We feel sorry for the crown prince who had been wronged', "Yinti is preaching that Yinreng had played truant, so he needs a lesson since he is still so impetuous', and so on.
After listening to the long speech in silence, Yun Xiu stroked the emperor's back while he was taking a breather, and said softly, "Your Majesty, calm down! It's still early. Don't get so angry. Tell this concubine slowly and this concubine will listen."
Chapter 63
The emperor had been venting the anger that had been pent up for a long time. In front of him was his beloved concubine who was his most favourite. Although Kangxi had a sullen face, he showed a little smile.
"Okay, okay, We will listen to you. We are not angry anymore." He slowly led Yun Xiu to the inner hall, and he gradually calmed down. "Although what happened this morning was unbelievable, anger hurts the body. It's really not worth it."
Liang Jiugong followed cautiously. When he heard those words, he breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God, he was almost moved to tears.
What did the emperor think this was all about?
A group of women were fighting each other, causing the emperor's harem to be uneasy all day long. Not long after the incident with Consort Hui passed, Imperial Concubine Wu caused trouble again. She was making a fuss, but she went out of her way to frame the crown prince.
That was the child that the emperor cared about most about. It was not an exaggeration to say that the position of the crown prince was as stable as Mount Tai. Imperial Concubine Wu even dared to poke this hornet's nest. For the sake of Second-Rank Prince Rong and her own selfish motives that she could not express, she would not care about anything else.
Even if the emperor did not take action, the great empress dowager could simply and easily destroy her!
Liang Jiugong shook his head. How did the former Consort De become like this?
He suddenly had a treasonous thought: If she could still be granted the title of Consort when she was like this, could the emperor be blind?
Of course, these words would rot in his stomach. He cherished his life.
Apart from the fighting between the women, there was also the serious crime committed by Suo Etu. This made Liang Jiugong frightened. He feared that the emperor would be so angry that he would injure his body.
Because of the character 'Zuo'1, he actually reached into the harem and tried every possible means to poison the sixth prince. How audacious was this?!
He was just a minister, and he thought of himself as the crown prince's elder. Did he really think that Yuqing Palace was his back garden where he could enter and leave as he pleased?
A long time ago, Suo Etu tampered with the imperial noble consort's honour guard. Although the emperor was angry, he let it go. Because the imperial noble consort had bad morals and behaved strangely after she became pregnant, his master only took measures to inspect the inner palace and rectify the Imperial Household Department, but the emperor did not punish Suo Etu.
Times had changed. If the emperor remembered these previous events and settled them together with plotting against a prince… Liang Jiugong didn't dare to think about it in detail. He complained in his heart and he only hoped that the emperor would not take out his anger on them.
It was hard to be a servant in Qianqing Palace. After he left Cining Palace, it wasn't long after when a young eunuch whispered to him that the rumour that the crown prince was playing truant suddenly spread and it was the eldest prince who was responsible.
Liang Jiugong felt that he didn't read the divining almanac properly when he got up, and today's conflicts were out of the ordinary.
He went in, trembling, to report. Sure enough, a red brush dipped in ink flew towards him, followed by the emperor's roar: "That bastard! Tell him to come see Us!"
With ink all over his face, the chief steward accepted the order and stepped back, feeling sad. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind. At this moment, only Consort Yi could comfort the emperor.
That was what he thought, but his imagination really turned into reality. Liang Jiugong still wanted to cry. He was so happy.
When Liang Jiugong saw that Kangxi's clouded face had become clearer, he shouted to his ancestors in his heart, wishing he could set up a memorial tablet for Yun Xiu to worship her properly.
Master Yi was truly a god!
…
After Kangxi was surprised by Yun Xiu's considerate behavior, he almost forgot about his troubles for a moment, and everything was right in the world.
Xiuxiu spoke beautiful words in a very gentle and considerate tone. This was a rare scene. Kangxi deeply remembered that before and after Little Nine was born, her attitude towards him was as ruthless as an autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves, and she dared to say treasonous things.
Compared to now…
Emperor: Boiling a frog in warm water is indeed useful! Xiuxiu loves Us more and more.
When Kangxi saw Yun Xiu's eyes blazing, full of comfort and care, he felt very at ease. He slowly told her about the scene in the main hall of Cining Palace, and then said lightly, "We do not deny that Mrs. Wuya has treated Yinzuo well, but if it involves Baocheng, she will be punished."
Was he heartbroken that Yinzuo was poisoned? Mrs. Wuya didn't believe him and asked for justice with her every word. Where did this put him as an emperor?
And then Imperial Concubine Wu hated the crown prince so much that she offended him. Just for this reason, she had to stay in the palace to cure her madness!
Yinzhen and Moyaqi could not have a mad mother.
The great empress dowager mentioned it to him. Kangxi was angry and thought about it when he had time.
Fortunately for Moyaqi, the child was just one month old. She could not recognise Mrs. Wuya. It was possible to change the jade record and cultivate a good relationship with her future mother. The emperor thought about who would raise the fifth princess. He already had a candidate in mind.
Imperial Concubine Duan entered the palace early and had sufficient qualifications. She lost her daughter in her early years and had to recite sutras in the small Buddhist hall every day. She was low-key by nature and had never been involved in spreading rumours. She was very different from those idiots, Imperial Concubine An, Imperial Concubine Ping, and Imperial Concubine Jing. She had kept to herself for many years and it was appropriate for her to raise Moyaqi.
But Yinzhen was different.
He was old enough to remember, and he knew that Mrs. Wuya is his biological mother, and the imperial noble consort was his adoptive mother. If he wanted to change it, he could only record Yinzhen in the imperial noble consort's name!
This matter still required discussion with the revered elder.
After saying that, Kangxi rubbed his eyebrows and mentioned Suo Etu in a cold voice. "We gave him the honour of having great power in the court, but how did he repay Us? Not only did he plot against Little Six, but he also planted spies in Yuqing Palace. We don't know how many times Baocheng was fooled by him! We will never let him go…"
Yun Xiu knew that Suo Etu would not bring her any favours, but she was far from finished.
The emperor knew a lot about checks and balances. The two families fought in the previous court. Once they were leaderless, they would cause chaos in the court. If Suo Etu was executed, who would be able to restrain Ming Zhu?
The same was true in dreams. When the powerful officials declined from their peak, and the party disputes gradually disappeared, and the remaining accounts would be settled slowly…
Yun Xiu had been listening quietly without speaking. She only smiled and said softly, "This morning was dangerous. Fortunately, the crown prince is safe and sound. The emperor should be relieved. No matter how many clever tricks Suo Etu came up with, the crown prince didn't believe him or the people he sent. Even if he revealed the news, there is nothing he can do! Otherwise, how could Ming Yun and Ming Xin work in the stable? As this concubine sees it, the crown prince clearly knows how things are, so what else do you have to worry about?"
Yes, what else are did he have to worry about?
These words reached Kangxi's heart, and they were as refreshing as eating iced watermelon during the days of summer.
Previously, the Hesheli family was close to the crown prince, but the emperor did not stop this. He thought that after the early death of Empress Yuan, Baocheng had not had a mother since he was a child, so it would be good to have his maternal family looking out for him.
He roughly knew that Suo Etu had stretched out his hands, but the crown prince needed support and someone to protect him, so he turned a blind eye and acquiesced to the matter.
But Suo Etu was very ambitious. At first, he had political disagreements with Ming Zhu, but later, the two forces gradually developed into a party struggle… The harm caused by this… Nobody dared to forget how the previous dynasty perished!
In addition, the Hesheli family was the crown prince's maternal family, and the Nala family was Yinti's maternal family. If things continued like this, what kind of trouble would the two brothers get into when they grew up?
Kangxi felt unhappy.
Along with his psychological troubles, he would occasionally and awkwardly wonder if Baocheng was extremely dependent on his great uncle, if Baocheng got along well with his great uncle, and if Baocheng was closer to his great uncle than his imperial father.
Because the crown prince was still young, all these suspicions were mere fantasy. The emperor was just jealous.
It was just that in places he did not oversee, there were various hidden dangers being planted and secrets in the depths just waiting to surface in the future. These may become the catalyst for the father and son to drift apart.
It was good now that the catalyst was gone, and the thing that made the emperor awkward was gone!
Yun Xiu's words just woke him up. If Baocheng trusted Suo Etu, why would he arrange for his cronies to do menial jobs, drive them far away, and not allow him to inquire about the news or serve him personally?
According to what Liang Jiugong reported, this was not just the case for Ming Yun and Ming Xin. This also applied to the rest of the servants.
The words 'Don't believe in Suo Etu' played repeatedly in Kangxi's mind, and countless feelings of joy surged up.
None of the things he worried about happened, and the spy arranged by the old man was nothing more than a decoration. Unbeknownst to him, the crown prince grew up, became sensible, and consciously alienated Suo Etu…
He was indeed the child he valued the most. There were people who would succeed Daqing, and there would be people who would succeed them.
The emperor held Yun Xiu's hand tightly and sighed with relief. How could he still remember how angry he was when he came?
There was a glimmer of light in his eyes, and a deep feeling. Xiuxiu always hit the nail on the head and spoke every word from the bottom of her heart. No one in the palace was more understanding and outspoken than her.
It was no wonder that the emperor regarded Consort Yi so highly.
After witnessing the imperial noble consort's 'complete loss of self-restraint', Consort Hui's 'shattered image', Imperial Concubine Wu's 'heart like a snake', and other events, Kangxi did not say anything. He felt resistance and boredom. He was simply afraid of these women.
Who knew what kind of temper they were hiding beneath their docile appearance?
When Kangxi recalled that he had favoured Mrs. Wuya repeatedly and even gave her the title "De", Kangxi was speechless.
He didn't even have a good lunch today!
The emperor secretly thought that he would visit Yikun Palace more often in the future, where he could wash his eyes and get along with Xiuxiu at the same time. It was the best of both worlds.
When he thought of this, he took Yun Xiu into his arms and said warmly, "You are right. We have nothing to worry about. It's just that the crown prince is young and very affectionate. If Suo Etu has made such a mistake, he might secretly cry. We will have to comfort him tomorrow."
If Kangxi loved the crown prince in the past, then his love has turned into doting after this event. After seeing the crown prince being wronged and seeing him shed tears with his own eyes, his heart ached.
He wished he could send all the good things in the world to Yuqing Palace!
Yun Xiu nodded lightly, holding back her laughter. "This is what the emperor should do."
The crown prince not only escaped criticism, but also washed away the mark left by Suo Etu, earning the emperor's pity. She did not expect this outcome.
Kangxi was happy. She smiled and thought that she was one step closer to becoming a consort dowager.
…The emperor didn't know what Yun Xiu was thinking. If he knew, then he would be so angry that he would faint.
The atmosphere was thick at the moment, and the light fragrance of Consort Yi's hair lingered on the edges. His eyes were deep, and he was about to lean over and kiss her, but before he could succeed, he was interrupted by a burst of urgent footsteps.
"Your Majesty, Consort, the ninth prince refuses to drink milk and keeps pushing his hands and feet out. This servant can't coax him…" Rui Zhu lowered her voice and whispered, "The nanny said that the ninth prince misses the Consort. Consort, please go and have a look."
Kangxi: "…"
Kangxi became angry instantly when he saw Yun Xiu's red face as she started to rise.
Brat, how many times was it this month?
His face was sullen and his expression was a bit uglier than when he arrived!
Liang Jiugong was waiting outside the curtain with a smile on his face. The second the atmosphere inside was not right, he quietly stepped out. That tooth-rotting scene was something he could not watch.
He was still smiling when he suddenly noticed that Master Yi was going to Nuan Pavilion. After a while, the emperor followed her with a black look.
"Your Ma–"
Before Liang Jiugong could say anything, Kangxi glanced at him seriously, and his anger increased.
That dog slave, smiling and laughing all day long. What was so funny?
"If you don't cultivate your manners, you will be fined two months' salary!" Kangxi said this coldly, and strode away with his hands behind his back.
Liang Jiugong: "…"
Kangxi was sure that the brat, Yintang, was born to be against him and was not as well-behaved as the crown prince at all.
It wasn't just the crown prince. Even his older brother, Yinqi, was at a lively age. The ninth prince wasn't even a thousandth as good.
He couldn't be beaten or scolded, so how could he be so aggrieved!
The emperor, who couldn't steal the fragrance, resentfully hugged Yun Xiu and fell asleep. He got up early the next day to drive to the crown prince's Yuqing Palace. Because of his heartache, Kangxi specially granted Yinreng a day off, thinking that he could have a good rest and recuperate.
As for the eldest prince who complained about the crown prince's truancy, Kangxi scolded him severely for 'spreading rumours' and made him kneel for half an hour. He also said that he approved the crown prince's leave. Did he have any objections?
Yinti shook his head so vigorously that there was almost an afterimage. Kangxi sighed with disappointment for such a shameful son.
He had more than one bad son. Little Nine was the worst…
The crown prince was the most lovable.
The emperor was mentally and physically exhausted, but he stepped into Yuqing Palace full of pity. His expression slightly solemn.
He thought, if Baocheng saw him with tears in his eyes, what should he say?
Before entering the study, Kangxi heard a cry, and his expression changed instantly.
Baocheng was so sad in private?!
The wailing continued, and Yinqi's choked sobs resounded throughout the study. "Waaaah, second older brother! I don't want to write anymore… the word 'big' is so difficult to write…"
Why did it need to have momentum? Why did it need to cover the entire paper?!
It was already the second day. Could he change the word?
Immediately afterwards, the crown prince's clear voice sounded, with a hint of coldness, "How is this possible? Don't give up halfway. You must finish writing even if you cry!"
He coughed and followed the instructions. "Writing on the entire piece of paper is a good way to exercise your arm strength. If imperial father sees it, he will be very happy."
1.(祚) Zuo: the Zuo in Yinzuo means 'throne'.↩
Chapter 64
"Oh? What can you do that would make Us happy?"
A sudden and low voice sounded, and the crown prince almost jumped up in shock.
Immediately afterwards, a bright yellow figure came into view. Wasn't this imperial father he casually mentioned?
Crown Prince: "…"
His heart and his thoughts had never come true so quickly.
Kangxi's expression was complex, and his heart was full of various emotions. He originally thought that the one crying was Baocheng, but he didn't expect that Little Five was inside.
When he saw the siblings respecting each other with his own eyes, he felt relieved at first, and a trace of pride spread from the bottom of his heart. He secretly thought that the crown prince was strong after all and was not disturbed by external things. He was really suited to be a crown prince.
Yinqi was also worthy of praise. He had been diligent in learning and doing good things at a young age. Imperial mother taught him well, and Xiuxiu taught him well!
But, if one listened carefully to what the crown prince said, why did it sound like deception?
Yinqi clutched the pen with tears in his eyes. His dark eyes brightened when he heard this, as if he had found a saviour. He cried out, "Imperial Father, I don't want to learn to write anymore… It is so difficult to practice my arm strength."
Kangxi thought about it for a while and came to his senses.
He waved his hand to ask Liang Jiugong and the others to move away, then took a step forward. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "Which word should fill the entire paper?"
The crown prince had a bad premonition that the carriage would be overturned. The next moment, Yinqi picked up a red painting as if offering a treasure. His little fat finger pointed at the spectacular 'big' and said, "Second older brother said that writing should not only be beautiful, but also have a powerful image. If the 'big' character is not spread all over the paper, it is not a 'big' character!"
As he spoke, he pointed to the ant-like 'small' character in the lower right corner. "This is a clear contrast! It can also exercise arm strength. But writing is so difficult…"
The crown prince quietly moved away, gritting his teeth. This was such a shameful little brother.
The wailing reappeared. When Yinqi thought of the miserable life in the future, his nose turned. "The difference in size is so terrible. In the future, there will also be the thickness and the length. What should I do?"
Kangxi knew what was going on in an instant.
The corner of his mouth twitched, and he looked sideways at the crown prince, who had turned his head and pretended that nothing happened.
Who practiced calligraphy like this? Why didn't he know?
Well, the crown prince was young and playful, so the emperor had no objections and was even relieved – he would have been worried only if he was frowning and if his eyes were red.
There must be a limit to how much one could play with their younger brother. Little Five was naughty, so it was good to just teach him a lesson. Look how frightened this child was!
Although this punishment for practicing calligraphy was not a punishment, children under six years old had been instilled with a lot of wrong ideas. It was very tiring to raise their hands to write on the entire paper.
Kangxi immediately felt distressed.
Facing his beloved legitimate son, he couldn't curse and scold him. He could only secretly say how sorry he was for his other son. He then took Yinqi aside and coaxed him for a while.
"How many times did your second older brother ask you to write in total?"
"Six."
"…What about today?"
"Two."
Kangxi was silent.
The well-behaved fifth prince wiped away his tears and asked him with great hope, "Imperial Father, can your son skip school like second older brother? After the New Year, your son doesn't want to study anymore."
Hearing this, the crown prince immediately lowered his head and shook his shoulders to suppress the gushing smile.
Kangxi: "…"
The words 'skip school' and 'don't want to study' accurately poked at the emperor. He took a deep breath and warned himself that Little Five was Xiuxiu's child, and Little Five had cried just now. He was not as thick-skinned as his eldest brother, and could not be beaten or scolded.
Kangxi almost laughed out of anger. After a long time of thought, he said calmly, "You are honest."
Which of his brothers was not studying hard and learning martial arts in fear of falling behind the others? Only Yinqi was really, really…
He only had to do it six times!
Yinqi stopped crying. He accepted the compliment, his face flushed. "Thank you, Imperial Father, for the compliment. Mother said the same thing."
Kangxi rubbed his temples, with a stiff face. He restrained the urge to beat his son, and said very slowly, "You can't skip school, and you can't stop studying. We won't allow it!"
Throughout the palace, there was not a single son who was not in trouble!
Whether it was the truth about Yinzuo's poisoning or the shocking news that the crown prince was framed, the great empress dowager and the emperor ordered it to be kept secret. The news was not revealed at all.
As for Imperial Concubine Wu's visit to Cining Palace… Just when everyone was amidst their speculations, the great empress dowager suddenly issued several decrees, which shocked the entirety of the Forbidden City.
Imperial Concubine Wu, Mrs. Wuya, suffered from madness and could not be cured for a long time, so she was moved from Yonghe Palace to the west courtyard of Jingqi Pavilion to rest. The fifth princess Moyaqi's jade records were changed, and she was recorded in Imperial Concubine Duan's name. Moyaqi was moved to the main hall of Jingyang Palace from that day forth.
Jingqi Pavilion was located at the northernmost end of Ningshou Palace. It had always been inaccessible and the furnishings were old. It was just like a cold palace1. One stone stirred up a thousand waves. Imperial Concubine Wu was mad, and she lost her son. Was Imperial Concubine Wu being thrown into the cold palace, unable to climb back up forever?!
What did she do to end up like this?
Everyone wanted to find out everything that happened yesterday morning, with the exception of the imperial noble consort who planned everything and Yun Xiu who had 'special channels', no one knew what happened.
When Consort Hui saw that Yanxi Palace was not implicated, she was relieved and at the same time her face fell.
Mrs. Wuya's move was completely useless. She worked hard to hold a one month ceremony for Moyaqi, but got nothing in return.
Although she hated it, it didn't matter anymore. Yinti was once again punished by the emperor to kneel down, and Consort Hui was fighting for her son. She was so anxious that she couldn't find the energy to deal with other things.
When Consort Rong heard this, her eyes flashed. She then waved away the palace servants.
There were many possibilities in her mind, but she was not sure whether this matter was related to Second-Rank Prince Rong's poisoning.
When she thought of the scene that the eldest palace lady encountered a few months ago, Consort Rong pinched herself. She paced back and forth in Zhongcui Palace, and slowly exhaled. Now was not the right time. She would have to wait for a long time…
In Chengqian Palace, the imperial noble consort had already anticipated the great empress dowager's wishes, but she didn't hear the decree she was most looking forward to. She smiled faintly, and then coughed. "My body is so broken, but the Revered Elder and the Emperor are still on guard."
Moyaqi had her jade record changed, but Yinzhen did not. However, the imperial noble consort was not in a hurry.
According to the news from Wet Nurse Zhen's son-in-law, the clan members convinced mother and father to send her second younger sister to the palace.
As the imperial noble consort, she was of no use to her family, so she would naturally be cruelly abandoned. Tongjia needed a prince who was connected by blood. She couldn't give birth, but her second younger sister could!
Could they get what they wanted?
It was just a delusion.
The imperial noble consort sneered. The family was confused, but her father was not. Despite this, he still wanted to take the gamble.
They hadn't yet understood the ruthless nature of the emperor. Did they think that if her second sister looks like that, she would be pampered and eventually give birth to a prince when she was older?
What a joke!
The imperial noble consort did not want to stop it and would not stop it. Her family abandoned her like a pair of worn-out shoes, so why couldn't she take advantage of her family?
Soon… the fourth prince could only be her child.
With that decree, Imperial Concubine Duan was about to be knocked unconscious by the unexpected windfall!
The loneliness in the palace was no lie. The concubines all looked forward to giving birth to a dragonborn so that they could have a son and a daughter by their side. It was said that the first half of one's life depended on how much pampering one received, and the second half of life depended on the children. Who wanted to end up alone?
Being a mother was more valuable, so who wouldn't be jealous of her?
Imperial Concubine Wu had been moved to Jingqi Pavilion. Only Imperial Concubine Duan gave birth to a princess in her early years. Unfortunately, she was weak and died before she was one year old.
As she grew older and became less favoured year by year, Imperial Concubine Duan had thought of raising a child. Out of all the princes, only the seventh and eighth princes were suitable. However, the seventh prince, whose biological mother was just a concubine, was suffering from foot disease. According to the emperor's wishes, he had no intention letting someone else raise him.
The most suitable eighth prince was given to Consort Hui. As for the ninth and tenth princes… How could she be qualified?
Among the princesses, the second princess was Consort Rong's daughter, and the third princess is the daughter of Noble Lady Bu. Because Noble Lady Bu was short-sighted and begged the emperor for mercy, the third princess had no adoptive mother and lived in Nansansuo since she was a child.
The fourth princess was Noble Lady Le's daughter and was raised by Consort Yi… As for the fifth princess, Imperial Concubine Wu was qualified to raise her, so even if she was jealous, it did not matter.
Over the years, Imperial Concubine Duan also gave up her interest in raising children and became devoted to the Buddha, praying for her daughter who died early every day.
Not long ago, Imperial Concubine Xi encouraged her to go to Cining Palace to protest against Consort Yi for being the only favourite. Imperial Concubine Duan hesitated and finally refused.
If she had been younger, she might have been extremely tempted. But now she had no children and no favour. Even if Consort Yi was cast aside, what would happen?
No matter what happened, the emperor would never come to her Jingyang Palace.
When she saw that the four imperial concubines who complained suffered disaster one by one, Imperial Concubine Duan sighed in relief and was extremely happy at the same time.
Times were uncertain now, and it didn't take long for Consort Hui to suffer a big fall. Imperial Concubine Duan became more determined not to get involved, and just managed her own area.
However, without any warning, she suddenly had her own child!
She was not the adoptive mother of the fifth princess, but her mother. The jade record had been changed, and the traces of Mrs. Wuya had been erased. From now on, she could hear Moyaqi's beautiful 'mother', sweet and full of admiration.
Imperial Concubine Duan took the bundle and cried with joy, her face covered with tears.
She said incoherently, "The little princess is weak, so you will all have to help me… Pack up my residence and use it as the princess's boudoir… Move the boxes in the inner room to the side hall next to it!"
The palace servants responded quickly. They were all smiling.
Jingyang Palace had not been so lively for a long time. People were coming and going, and it was a joyous scene. Not long after, Imperial Concubine An, Imperial Concubine Jing, Imperial Concubine Xi, and Imperial Concubine Ping visited, saying enviable words and sending congratulatory gifts.
Among them, Imperial Concubine Ping was relatively calm, only because she was still young and confident that she could have children. The other three imperial concubines couldn't calm down. They talked and laughed on the surface, but in fact they were secretly glaring daggers at Imperial Concubine Duan. They were jealous, regretful, and unwilling.
Even if she was just a princess, they had longed for a child for a long time. The more important thing was that Imperial Concubine Duan was to be recorded on the jade records as Moyaqi's biological mother. This could not be changed!
How could Mrs. Dong be considered so virtuous and capable just because she didn't get involved in their complaint?!
Yikun Palace.
The noble consort took a sip of hot tea and smiled at Yun Xiu. "…Of course it's because she wisely knows how to protect herself and did not get involved in the complaint."
The tenth prince's one month ceremony was held just five days ago. The noble consort appeared in front of everyone again after a long time. She was radiant and full of energy. She was plumper than when she entered the palace, and she had recovered to being extremely healthy.
In the situation where the Imperial Noble Consort lost her honour, and Consort Hui fell into silence, Noble Consort Niugulu was truly the powerful one. Perhaps Consort Rong realised this and no longer refused to give in when she was fighting for power with Consort Hui. She was very knowledgeable and did her duty as an assistant.
Yun Xiu was happy that she could shirk her duties. Recently, she didn't like to go out. The noble consort had no choice but to bring a few account books to 'cure her laziness'.
The two laughed and joked for a while, and then the topic moved on. When they reached the topic of Imperial Concubine Duan, Yun Xiu became serious and said warmly, "I underestimated the emperor's dislike of Mrs. Wuya…" He actually changed the jade records of the fifth princess and took back Yonghe Palace.
Now that she was moving further and further away from the events in her dream, Consort De would no longer be the empress, and part of her original goal had been achieved. At the same time, she sighed softly. What was the point in fighting in the palace?
The sadness came and went quickly. Yun Xiu smiled slightly. If someone wanted to fight, she would naturally accompany them.
The noble consort didn't like Imperial Concubine Wu, and she felt a little regretful when she heard this news. "It was a perfect move to contain Consort Hui, but now it's useless."
"You really have no plans left. If you asked me, wouldn't it be better if she didn't come out to act like a monster?" Yun Xiu covered her lips and smiled. Just as she was about to ask about the daily life of the tenth prince, the eldest maid next to the noble consort quickly lifted the curtain. She came in, paid her respects, and said in a low voice, "Master, Consort Yi, something big happened in the court…"
The noble consort's expression changed slightly. "Speak."
Yun Xiu put down the tea cup and asked, "Did something happen to Suo Etu?"
"It is about Lord Suo." The eldest maid took a breath and said, "The emperor summoned the ministers to discuss the matter, and dismissed Lord Suo from his post. The emperor also demoted Lord Suo one level for 'misbehavior and arrogance'. He was made a first-class count and was fined five years of his salary, and of Hesheli, Xinyu, Fabao, and others were also removed from their official positions…"
Xinyu and Fabao were both Suo Etu's younger brothers. They were both punished by Kangxi for being 'lazy'.
Hearing this, the noble consort's face was extremely solemn. She pondered for a long time, closed her eyes, and said, "The sky is going to change."
In the future, won't Ming Zhu have all the power, and be able to cover the sky with one hand?
After suppressing Consort Hui, Yanxi Palace began to worry again.
Yun Xiu shook her head gently, smiled, and reassured her. "It won't change. Everything depends on a balance, just wait and see. As for Consort Hui… how she rose was also how she fell!"
disgraced concubines were left in an isolated courtyard and this area was known as the Cold Palace.↩
Chapter 65
The noble consort has read poetry and books since she was a child and so she was a smart woman. Normally, when Aling'a was in trouble, she would send letters to her older sister in the palace to find a solution. For the sake of her family, and even more for the sake of her silly younger brother, the noble consort asked people to pay close attention to the affairs of the previous dynasty, especially the dispute between Ming Zhu and Suo Etu. She told Aling'a not to get involved in order to protect themself.
This time Suo Etu was dismissed. Within half a day, the noble consort received the news. How could the other concubines have such good ears and eyes?
Consort Hui was still in the dark.
After saying a lot of comforting words, Yun Xiu winked at her and said with a smile, "I have benefited from your honour and have become a person with sharp ears and eyes. This concubine is very grateful to the noble consort."
One sentence made the noble consort calm down suddenly.
She laughed. "What kind of honour? You will definitely bury me…" But in her heart, she accepted Yun Xiu's kindness.
Indeed, the matter regarding Suo Etu did not involve Yongshou Palace or the Niugulu family, and she was far from being distressed. Moreover, as the new year was approaching, Consort Hui would not choose this time to cause trouble. That would be stupid.
Suppressing all kinds of thoughts in her heart, the noble consort stood up with the support of her palace servant. With a faint smile on her lips, she pointed to the account book on the table and said softly, "As the new year approaches, these palace affairs will be handed to you. The Emperor has not retired for the day, and the Yongshou Palace will be busy… We not only have Little Ten to take care of, but We also have to arrange palace banquets, so it is really difficult to manage. We will talk more when the matter is over, and when Yin'e can also come out to meet people."
Yun Xiu glanced at the account book slowly, with a resentful look in her eyes, but finally nodded.
She wanted to hide but couldn't. Look, if the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Hui were replaced, who would obtain the authority they had?
Before she could complain for long, Consort Yi was distracted by the last sentence.
After the New Year, Yintang would be four-five months old. Right now, he dared to kick his younger brother's mouth. In a few months, it should be okay.
What should Little Ten do if he was badly bullied?
He was a genuine child, not like the little devil sleeping soundly in the Nuan Pavilion…
Yun Xiu almost blurted out her worries, but then she thought about it. The noble consort definitely would not believe this, and would even scold her for being such an inconsiderate mother.
But she wasn't sure about the brothers meeting!
Yun Xiu sighed sadly, thinking that it was still early, so she would wait and see.
Little Nine had caused trouble more than once, and there was one issue that needed to be solved urgently.
Every time the emperor came to Yikun Palace, she would hear Yintang's ear-piercing demonic voice. She especially recalled his livid face last night, which made her panic when she saw it.
When she recalled Kangxi's expression, Yun Xiu thought it was annoying and funny. The little baby, who was only a few months old, cried at all the right times. Was he pretending to be clairvoyant?
Yun Xiu vaguely felt that Little Nine did it on purpose, but there was nothing she could do about it. Nuan Pavilion and the bed chambers were next to each other, and she couldn't ignore the wailing. She always felt distressed when she heard her son cry. She was afraid that her son would injure his throat from crying, so she always went to take a look and coax him. This almost became a habit before going to bed.
Before going to bed, the emperor told her through gritted teeth that this was not going to work and that he would find someone to treat him.
His expression could not be more solemn, and he was not joking. Yun Xiu could only coax him. Not long after, Kangxi was coaxed so much that he didn't know what day it was and immediately forgot about it!
Yun Xiu was a little unsure. If the emperor thought of this problem again, would he take action…?
Later, when the emperor selected her name, could Yintang be left with Yun Shu for one night?
Before she could figure out a reason, Kangxi smiled warmly when he saw her that night. "We and Xiuxiu are rarely close together. After much thought, We found a good place for Yintang. It's just one night, with the nanny taking care of him, so you don't have to worry too much…"
Yintang didn't know that his mother disliked him for being a bully, and he didn't even know that the old man disliked him for being an eyesore.
The ninth prince was very proud of himself recently. His ability to cry had become even better. He had used deafening cries to warn imperial father, who had evil intentions towards his mother, countless times. It could be called a tried and tested magic weapon.
On this day, the warm afternoon sun made people drowsy. He held his little hand loosely, huddled under the blanket and slept well. When he woke up, he didn't react in time and was shocked to see a familiar face.
This… Was this not the crown prince!
Yintang was only surprised for a moment, and then calmed down. The crown prince came to Yikun Palace a few times, so it was nothing surprising.
He yawned as usual, his eyelids lazily opened and closed. He consciously mourned the pants he had just changed into.
Second older brother, can they get it right this time?
Because he was lying in a very familiar rocking bed, with a familiar scent lingering on the tip of his nose, the ninth prince did not notice that the surrounding environment had suddenly changed.
The crown prince looked at him for a long time, with unspeakable pity in his eyes. His tone was soft and gentle. "Ninth younger brother, Yuqing Palace is Our residence, and this is your first time here. Imperial Father doesn't want anyone to disturb him and Consort Mother Yi. After Imperial Father thought for a while, Imperial Father remembered that We and fifth younger brother got along well, and ordered Us – it will be for just one night. Second older brother will take good care of you."
Although he knew that Imperial Father thought that Little Nine was naughty and an eyesore, he remembered the scene where he tricked Little Five into practicing calligraphy a few days ago, so he volunteered, but he couldn't say this.
The little crown prince felt a little melancholy. Imperial Father wouldn't be disappointed because of this, right?
Well, entrusting Little Nine to him was considered an important task. He gradually became firmer and solemnly repeated, "Don't be afraid! Second older brother will take good care of you."
Yintang: "?"
Outside the palace, the first-rank count's residence.
"I actually lost contact with Yuqing Palace…" Suo Etu paced back and forth, his face gloomy, and furious in the hall. "It's been a month, and Hu Ming and Hu Guang haven't sent any news. Is it possible that they have betrayed us ?"
The imperial edict clearly stated that he was demoted to a first-rank count, but Suo Etu still did not change his tune. The confidant in charge was standing by with a very sad look on his face. He was still shocked. "Hu Ming and Hu Guang have been the sons of my Hesheli family since they were young. They have been loyal to the master, so why should they betray us?"
After saying that, the housekeeper hesitated for a moment and said cautiously, "Could it be by the instruction of His Majesty…"
This sentence made Suo Etu's face turn pale. He walked faster, with a trace of fear.
The meeting of the court convened without warning, and the dismissal was even more of a shock. Before he could react, the emperor announced his exit to the palace, scolded him, accused him of countless crimes, and finally asked slowly, "Do you have any objections?"
There were objections! Of course there were objections! But Suo Etu didn't dare to say anything.
The emperor had grown up, and was no longer the young man who was restricted by others. The emperor could not tolerate the slightest disobedience from his ministers. He could no longer be above the rules, and his heart slowly sank. Could it be that the emperor discovered the matter of the sixth prince's nanny, Mrs. Liu?
He sent people to search for her for several days, but could not find her. In the entire world, there were only a few people who could compete with the government, let alone kidnap Mrs. Liu without alerting the people who were keeping watch over her…
The more Suo Etu thought about it, the more frightened he became. He secretly believed that this was the truth. Slowly, cold sweat ran down his back. At the same time, he realised one thing very clearly: he had failed.
It didn't matter why Mrs. Liu was exposed. It was too late to say anything. If the emperor wanted his life, he wouldn't be able to reason with him!
Suo Etu gradually calmed down and became extremely confident. For the sake of his late father, Empress Yuan, the Crown Prince, and for his great contributions… His muscles and bones may have taken a hit, but his life would not be in danger.
There was still Ming Zhu in court who was causing trouble, and only the Hesheli family could contend with him!
Everything went as he expected, and the emperor had no intention of taking his life. However, Xinyu and Fabao were implicated by him, and were accused of being 'lazy'. They were also dismissed from their posts, and the family's reputation was greatly damaged.
Suo Etu had no regrets about the poisoning. The character 'Zuo' was too frightening.
Now that this had happened and the emperor showed no mercy to him, how should the crown prince of Yuqing Palace deal with it himself?
When he thought of this, Suo Etu became very anxious and immediately tried to find a way to contact Yuqing Palace's spies.
After being dismissed from his post, he lost his title as a government official and could not freely enter and leave the palace, but that didn't matter. He had already left a backup plan with the Crown Prince…
Suo Etu ignored the underlying uneasiness in his heart. He selectively forgot that Yuqing Palace had not spoken for a long time.
When Suo Etu saw that there was no movement on the other end of the line, he, who had been all-powerful for a long time, finally panicked.
Suo Etu always regarded himself as an elder of the crown prince, so it was no wonder that he was furious. Without the spies in Yuqing Palace, how could he plan for the crown prince? How could he win over his opponents when he was weak? How could he suppress the eldest prince, and avoid the plots of Ming Zhu?
The housekeeper's words were like a revelation. Yes, if the emperor did not allow the crown prince to communicate with him, he would naturally block the channel. Forget receiving news from Yuqing Palace, not even a fly could escape.
Suo Etu put his hands behind his back and sighed. "The emperor doesn't care about the crown prince's feelings at all…"
"Go find Mrs. Guoluoluo's people. Don't delay for even a moment!" His tone was a little tough. "Send a message to Yikun Palace for me. For now, only Consort Yi can do something about it."
Imperial Concubine Ping had not been eating or sleeping well recently, because the emperor had not set foot in Chuxiu Palace for a long time.
Before, she was not favoured, but she could always get two or three visits a month. Now, she was looking forward to the emperor's arrival every day, but she was disappointed repeatedly…
This was not unrelated to the fact that she defamed Consort Yi for being the only favoured one, and was punished to copy Buddhist scriptures.
Imperial Concubine Ping felt bitter, angry, and resentful. She thought of several ways to make the emperor change his mind, but because of her status, she hesitated and did not take action.
Not long after, there was a rumour that her uncle was dismissed from his post and demoted!
Like a bolt from the blue, Imperial Concubine Ping fell down on the sofa. Her face changed drastically, and her heart was in turmoil.
After the massive purge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there were only a few of Empress Renxiao's old people left. Imperial Concubine Ping could only rely on the few spies of Suo Etu's in the palace. Her uncle was her biggest supporter, and now that the supporter had fallen, she could really be said to be walking on thin ice, isolated and helpless…
She bit her lips tightly, almost to the point of bleeding. She subconsciously thought of the crown prince of Yuqing Palace. Her eyes brightened, and then dimmed.
How could they know if the crown prince was in trouble when his uncle was in trouble? Without the support of his maternal family, the crown prince's situation was exactly the same as hers.
She was unsure whether the crown prince would accept her desire to be close. Imperial Concubine Ping thought things over and gritted her teeth. She prepared to embroider something to give it a try.
Just as she took out the needle and thread, she didn't expect to hear that the emperor actually entrusted the ninth prince to the crown prince!
Imperial Concubine Ping couldn't believe what she heard.
Was the emperor out of his mind?
The crown prince was busy with his studies. How could he have time to take care of his younger brother? It was such a ridiculous proposal, but Consort Yi didn't stop it!
Imperial Concubine Ping's chest kept rising and falling. She couldn't help but want to plead for rectification, to even beg for mercy for her uncle…but reason finally stopped her.
She no longer cared about her identity and did the most shameful thing in the past – she spent a lot of money to learn the whereabouts of His Majesty from the eunuch of Qianqing Palace.
Although it was only a rough idea, it was enough.
It was a cold day, but it was a rare good day. Kangxi was in a good mood and went to the Imperial Garden to appreciate the plum blossoms after the court session.
A pure white figure came into his view. He paused and looked up to see Imperial Concubine Ping greet him gracefully, her eyes full of affection. She was indescribably gentle and beautiful.
It was obviously winter, but she was wearing a special gauze, which shone brightly in the sun.
When Kangxi saw Imperial Concubine Ping's surprised expression, Kangxi frowned and said coldly, "It's cold. Has your brain been frozen? Don't come out if you are not wearing the right clothes!"