Chapter 115 – Qing Transmigration Tale (24)
Coming out of Yonghe Palace, Lin Yu Tong followed behind Si Ye, suppressing her laugh so hard her stomach hurt. Si Ye secretly glared at Lin Yu Tong. You have the face to laugh? If Niangniang learned that you told Fourteen’s princess consort to throw a cup at him, will you end up well? See if Ye will protect you?
Lin Yu Tong did not know how other families lived after they went back. But whenever she thought of it, she would laugh, and be unable to stop.
After two days, the imperial edict of the emperor arrived. It summoned Five, Ten, and Fourteen to Rehe.
Tenth Prince was very irritated. Ever since his mother had died, the emperor did not have many times when he was remembered. He finally was remembered, but it was because “he hit his wife too hard.” Even the Empress dowager was alarmed. So he was being called to be scolded.
The old man always liked to move around. He would not just move around, he would have his sons move around. But to gain favor with the old man, the sons who were being called back and forth had to express with great happiness that being remembered by their Khan A-ma was such an exciting matter.
Now, the old man could not even wait to return to the capital, and called for his sons to travel so far to be scolded.
Was this such an honor?
Ten looked at his princess consort and wanted to kill her.
“Just keep on doing this, in the end, the old man will dislike your ye, and then you will feel good,” Tenth Prince said in grief.
Tenth Princess Consort twisted her lips. “I do not even have a son. Regardless of the assets that Ye gains, will it be my turn to enjoy the good fortune? Why should I not fuss? Even if Ye pulls the crown prince down, and you get up there, I do not want to be like the crown princess and be a mud bodhisattva.”
“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” Tenth Prince hurriedly went over and covered Tenth Princess Consort’s mouth. “How come you dare to say anything, you will lose your head.”
Tenth Princess Consort felt suffocated with his hand covering her mouth, and she opened her mouth to bite his hand.
Tenth Prince shouted and then covered his own mouth. He opened the door and looked around to make sure that the people outside had not heard. Then he turned back and glared at Tenth Princess Consort. He was angry for a while and then said, “Do not worry! Ye will not go anywhere after coming back. Have a son with you first, then discuss everything.”
You do not have a son, so you will destroy my family property. Between the family property and his little wives, the family property was more important.
Fifth Prince watched Fifth Princess Consort methodically pack his luggage. His lips pressed together. He had never done anything ahead of his brothers for Khan A-ma to remember.
Finally, he had done a thing, but it was because he had been hit by his wife. Right now, his brothers were likely laughing very hard in their establishments.
It was all due to this hypocritical woman.
Now, she was virtuously packing his luggage for him, like she was very considerate. In reality, how happy did she feel right now?
“If you want to laugh, laugh. It is so uncomfortable to suppress it,” Fifth Prince said coolly.
Fifth Princess Consort looked back and smiled faintly. “Laugh about what? What is there to laugh about? How Ye may be gone three to five months this time? I will try to have a son for Ye at home, so when Ye returns, you will be happy.”
Fifth Prince’s face immediately turned green. How could the woman hold such a grudge?
He furiously left, and headed for the outside of the city. He thought he was early, but he did not expect Fourteen to be earlier than him.
“Fourteen, you have your things?” He was so fast.
Fourteen shook his head. “The things will arrive later.” He did not tell Fourteenth Princess Consort when he left. He did not want to pay attention to her.
Fifth Prince sighed. Fourteen was young and did not know the temper of a woman. He said, “What if she pretends to not know and will not deliver them to you? You will just have one set of clothing and wear it to the end. Are you not making discomfort for yourself?”
Princes like him were not used to the clothing from outside, the tea from outside. Even the toilet paper from outside could not work.
Fourteen looked behind Fifth Prince. “Has Fifth Brother not brought any along? It cannot be that you have no extra.”
So shameless. Fifth Prince turned his face and said, “Your fifth sister-in-law prepared it. Guess if she will want to trip up your brother. The likelihood that there is not enough is much higher than having extra. Do not hope on this.”
Such a miser! Fourteen curled his lips. He laughed and did not speak. He was going to rely on them.
When Tenth Prince came, the three of them met up successfully and headed for Rehe.
On a hot day, riding horses, the dust and the sweat mixed together. It was very bad. Fourteen asked for clothing from Fifth Prince, and then Tenth Prince for things to use. He did all the things he disliked he had never done before.
This was all because of Wanyan-shi. If he was not holding a grudge with her, would he have slighted himself like this?
This bad woman.
Kangxi looked at the three sons kneeling in front of him and said, “The ancients say that one has to be able to have an orderly home in order to govern the world. You are not even able to order your homes. What can Zhen hope for you to do?”
“Us sons have disappointed Khan A-ma.” The three bowed their heads.
“The wife is the equal. Does Zhen need to tell you this principle again? I told you to learn to ride and shoot from young, and you use these skills to hit your princess consorts?” Kangxi reached out and threw the memorandums on the table at the three.
“Do your reputations look good? Zhen has raised a bunch of people like you, what hope is there for the dynasty?” Kangxi coughed hoarsely and had to drink tea to moisten his throat.
“All of you, leave. Zhen is angry looking at you,” Kangxi put down the teacup heavily and snorted.
Li De Quan watched the three imperial sons leave, and then carefully poured tea for the emperor.
“Do not be angry,” Li De Quan urged in a whisper.
Kangxi snorted again. He was not angry because these sons hit their princess consorts, but they had been hit by their princess consorts, and they were unable to speak of their hardship. He knew the words and conduct of these sons when they gathered together. Yin Ti could not conceal it for them.
Three was being muddle headed, and being soft hearted. His eldest di son died of unclear reasons. No matter what, he had to give his princess consort an explanation, and end the matter. As to the truth, it was not important at all. The key was to turn the page and not mention it again. Even if it was mentioned, he did not have to fear people blaming him. But he just wanted to brush it off, and his princess consort had a grip on his weakness. He was like this in family matters. He likely would be the same in court matters.
Four was clever. Regardless of the time, place, and reason, he would not say a wrong word. Among the sons, no one was better than Four in terms of caution. His princess consort was a bit strong in personality. But just like Four said, “The lid matches the pot”. Four was able to control her. If it was someone else, they may not be able to do it.
Five looked kind, but inside, he had no strategy. In order to have peace within the inner courtyard, the most important was to be fair. If the matters the princess consort decided were not major, do not interfere. Were you not seeking hardship for yourself putting yourself into the fight? If Five was in charge of court matters, he would not be able to do so, and the officials would use him as a weapon.
He did not even want to talk about Seven. He could live whatever he was happy with. In terms of birth and appearance, his princess consort was very good. At least, back then, she looked better than Four and Five’s princess consorts. Four’s Princess Consort had a dead father, and her brothers were not capable. Five’s wife came from the family of a rank five official. Seven’s princess consort’s father was an upper rank two official. But he preferred his princely ladies and concubines more. His concubines were not of low birth, but lacking a bit compared to his di-wife. But he picked her, so he could only blame himself.
In these years, all said that Eighth cared about feelings. His princess consort was childless, and he did not say a word to her. But he knew that Eight feared when his son was born, his son would face the same fate of him. He minded, he minded greatly he came from Wei-shi‘s belly. He cared about reputation, and he was skilled at maintaining his reputation. In the end, one could just say he felt inferior. When such a person got power, what would happen? He would go to the other end of feeling inferior, conceitedness.
Kangxi shook his head. The more he thought about his son’s personalities, the more he frowned.
Nine was easily persuaded, and not very daring. He was impulsive, he did not think about the consequences, but a soft hearted person. Such a person…… Kangxi shook his head. He did not even have the courage to set up his own household, he could not take on great responsibilities.
Ten, direct, rash, followed blindly. Giving him a princess consort from the Mongol Eight Banners was to tell him ahead of time he was out of the game. He could just live his days of peace. After his death, the new ruler, for the sake of their reputation, would care for him. But Ten got together with Eight. But this was not the most terrifying. If the Niohuru Family behind him also got involved, it would be lively.
In the end, his sons were misguided by these officials.
Bao Cheng was tied by Songgotu to their chariot.
Bao Qing was taken by Mingju to charge at the front.
These two sons were the two sons he had great hopes for. Now, they had become sacrifices for the conflict between factions.
Songgotu was dead. Mingju was done for. But there were the officials and the different factions who had supported them had to see hope. They had to have support.
If they did not see hope, they would make trouble. If they had no support, their hearts would be afraid.
In such a situation, he had to push Bao Cheng and Bao Qing to the front of the stage. Now, the situation had just barely managed to be stabilized.
But the tumor of factions had to be plucked off.
The deck of cards had to be shuffled for the new court. What to do with his two sons?
Bao Cheng was the crown prince. How could he not understand? If he was not protected now, he would be pushed by others to the step he had to take. If it was him being forced to kill his ruler and father, it would be Zhen being forced to kill his son. It was not something he wanted to see as a father. If he managed to make it through this, would Zhen live forever? There would be a day that Zhen would die. Did he not trust his a-ma who had brought him up?
Bao Qing was the eldest imperial son, talented in both literary and martial arts. He collided with the crown prince many times and sparks were truly about to start. Maybe, soon, the false would become true. Sometimes, when the mask was worn too long, one would be unable to take it off. Bao Qing was like this.
Thinking of this, Kangxi could not help but press on his chest. For the country, anything could be sacrificed. Born in the imperial family, they enjoyed the wealth, the glory and the power. So they had to pay with prices that other people could not imagine.
Back when he was very young, the previous emperor had passed away. His birth eniang passed away soon after. Even now, he did not understand how did such a young person, with a group of palace physicians watching over her, would die so easily.
He did not dare to ask, and did not even dare to think.
Because he was a young emperor pushed onto the throne by his imperial grandmother. He was not his grandmother’s only choice.
In order to govern on his own, in order to get Soni’s support, he married Heseri-shi as empress.
To balance the powers of court, after Heseri’s death, he made Niohuru-shi as the step empress. Pity that she did not live for long. She died. So he made her sister as noble consort.
Tong-shi did not have a child and wanted to have a child. She raised Yin Zhen. This meant that she could not become the empress when she was alive.
The emperor looked so high and lofty. But his life was spent contending and compromising with the officials.
As a son, he did not dare to pursue the cause of death for his own mother.
As a man, he used his marriage as a bargaining chip his entire life.
He did not even know which woman he had loved.
As a a-ma, seeing his daughters marry into Mongolia, and dying at young ages, did he not hurt? Whose heart was not made of flesh? But they could not lose the Mongolian Eight Banners. This concerned large areas and even more important things. There were not many Manchu people. They lacked the confidence to rule the world of the Han. So the Mongols, said to be their subordinates, were in reality allies. They were too important.
Daughters, granddaughters, and more descendants had to keep on sacrificing for this country.
Maybe, soon, it will include his sons. One, Two, and maybe others.
Thinking of this, he could not help but sigh.
Twelve and Seven were the same. He did not want to talk about them. He had been raised by Sumalagu. As a a-ma, he felt that he had let down his son, so he gave Maci’s daughter as a wife. Such convenient conditions. Such a pity.
Thirteen, rare for having such a sense of chivalry. He was also clever enough. When finding that something was wrong, he searched for Four’s protection. But he had gotten on the ship, and could not leave.
Fourteen. He did not know what to say. Four was his full brother, but he did not try to win the other over. What did he think he was doing following behind Eight? Did he want to be like Eight, digging at Eight’s walls like Eight had dug at One? Pity that Eight was not One. At least, One was more true to people. From inside to outside, no one could hope to hear true words from Eight. Who of the brothers would win?
They all said that rather than raise sons to be sheep, it was better to raise them to be wolves. Now, they were all wolves, and he regretted it slightly.
The situation was even harder to control. Regardless of whether they had the ability, who did not have ambitions?
He suppressed the discomfort in his chest. “Have Five, Ten, and Fourteen return to the capital tomorrow. Call for Commandery Prince Zhi and Thirteen to come to Rehe immediately,” Kangxi said to Li De Quan.
- Grafting Life Chapter 114 – Qing Transmigration Tale (23)
- Grafting Life Chapter 116 – Qing Transmigration Tale (25)
- Grafting Life Chapter 117 – Qing Transmigration Tale (26)
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