Chapter 150 – Qing Transmigration Tale (59)
“Ye, do not lie to me, who did Ye use to talk to the emperor?” Eighth Princess Consort sat upright on the couch, her eyes looking down and not at Eighth Prince’s face. She knew, once she looked at him, she could not help but soften.
Eighth Prince sat down next to Eighth Princess Consort and reached to hug her with an arm. “Be good! Listen to me.”
Eighth Princess Consort’s heart trembled with his voice. He knew how to pluck her heartstrings the most. So, in these years, he had a death grip on her.
Other people said, how great was Eighth Princess Consort? How could she hold Eighth Prince so strongly that he would just live with her alone?
In reality, it was also Yin Si holding her strongly. The more they were together, the more she could not leave him and the more she did not want him to be close to other women.
The servant girls were of low birth. She knew that Yin Si had ill feelings towards people of low birth. He would not keep these servant girls on his mind. So, in these years, the two of them had been in harmony.
She was certain that things like the emperor elevating Consort De would not occur between Yin Si and some servant girl. To her, this was enough.
She loved him, and did her best to help him. Whatever he wanted, no matter what it was, she wanted to help him obtain it. She wanted him happy, satisfied, and to know that in her eyes, he was the best.
In these years, the two of them had lived like this. She always thought the two of them would keep on going like this. When they grew old, he would return to her side, only by her side. After they passed away, she would be the only person who was buried with him in his coffin, and no one else.
She had stupidly planned like this.
But now, she did not even have this hope.
Eighth Princess Consort did not know, what else could she hold onto?
A child. She did not have a child. In the future, she probably would not have any.
Husband. She was about to lose her husband. When this man was no longer only her husband and only her husband, then it was no different than having lost him.
She could not imagine how she would face it when he was with her and thinking of another woman.
She did not know if she truly could be calm facing all these things.
She feared. She feared that she would grow horrid, like she did today when she impulsively went to find Fourth Sister-in-law.
Eighth Prince could feel that Eighth Princess Consort was trembling. He pulled her fully into his arms. “Be good! Do not think so much. I am forced to do this. Nian Geng Yao is a servant who is two-faced. He went to Four’s establishment to beg for forgiveness. Four was vicious, and did not allow him to enter, and called for Ye to get the servant. What could Ye have done? It is a pity to abandon him but it will take effort to use him. Fourteen was there, so I was not able to go. It was He Zhuo and Nian Geng Yao who negotiated the conditions. Ye thought that it is just a woman. Four’s words today are right.The Nian Family has a good plan. But……” He whispered by Eighth Princess Consort’s ear. “If Ye does not allow her to have children, she will not be able to have children. Hong Wang will be recorded under your name, we can slowly plan this.Would I not be able to outplan a servant?”
Eighth Princess Consort looked in shock at Eighth Prince. “This Nian Family is not that simple……”
The Nian Family were not ordinary Han people. Before the Manchu entered through the passes, they had been servants of the imperial house. Only when Nian Xia Ling’s father passed the imperial examinations in the twelfth year of Shunzhi did they leave behind their servant status, and joined the Han Bordered White Banner.
People like these who were imperial servants before they entered through the passes no longer were like the Han. They were more deeply rooted than some of the Manchu.
Eighth Prince knew what Eighth Princess Consort was speaking of. He said, “This is why Ye values the Nian Family. The Nian Family is very deeply rooted. They are Han, but the emperor still trusts them. Such a person sent out to be an official will get the good feelings of the Han people naturally. So, it is not easy to find people to replace the Nian Family.”
Eighth Princess Consort nodded. She was about to speak when she found she had been diverted by Yin Si again.
Her face fell. “You speak well today, when you see the beautiful bride, you will not remember what you say now.”
Eighth Prince grabbed Eighth Princess Consort’s hand and kissed it. “Do not worry. In the future, I will return each night to keep you company, regardless of how late it is.”
“Even if you have your new bride?” Eighth Princess Consort could not help but change expression.
Eighth Prince nodded. “Yes! Even with the bride, I will return each night to keep you company.”
He was not a coldhearted person. He remembered the days they had lived in the palace when she first married him. Without the protection of his mother-consort, he himself without the favor of the emperor, husband and wife kept each other company together. No other woman would have endured hardship gladly through days like that.
Eighth Princess Consort’s tears came down along her face. She did not know if he could accomplish what he said now. But she knew that Yin Si was sincere right now.
All of her hurt seemed to find a vent. She cried, her heart like a black hole, so empty it was uncomfortable.
Lin Yu Tong was in Si Ye’s arms. She moved and still asked, “Ye, you do not feel it is a pity?”
Si Ye was stunned for a while and then realized that he spoke of the Nian Family.
He put a hand on her belly and gently caressed. Then he said, “You do not know, Ye does not just want Nian Geng Yao, but also Nian Xia Ling.” Si Ye sighed and said, “Nian Xia Ling. He was made governor of Huguang in the thirtieth year of Kangxi. He was the one to first promote merging the poll tax into the land tax. Back then, Ye paid attention to the Nian Family.”
Merging the poll tax into the land tax? Lin Yu Tong stilled and then said, “Poll to land tax?” She did not know that the first person to promote this revolution was Nian Xia Ling. It seemed that Si Ye’s high opinion of the Nian Family was not just Nian Geng Yao’s military abilities, and the little new year cake’s beauty, but also this Nian Xia Ling. It seemed that the two were similar in their opinions of the economy.
Si Ye heard Lin Yu Tong’s words and stilled. Then he said, “This is a good conclusion, poll to land, this is the matter.”
Lin Yu Tong was a bit embarrassed. Just now, she had been too shocked and blurted it out. Now, she understood that this was not called that at the present time. She laughed awkwardly, “I did not expect Nian Xia Ling to be a fierce reformer, and one to put them into practice.”
Si Ye shook his head. “Not really. In reality…… This poll to land tax was created during the Ming Dynasty. Back then, there were always kind people who wanted to pull back the dangerous situation, and had a general direction. However, before they could start this, the Ming Dynasty ended. Nian Xia Ling is a daring person. At least, he dares to use things from the Ming Dynasty, and use it after improving it a bit. The emperor likes him for this.”
So this was how it was.
If one was not close to history, she would never have imagined the main characters of the love story that was acted out countless times, between Si Ye and the little new year cake, had such things involved.
So, the truth likely was not as moving and beautiful as people imagined.
The next morning, Si Ye went to the study again, and called the advisors. Lin Yu Tong thought it was the poll to land tax that gave Si Ye inspiration. In reality, even if she had not spoken, Si Ye would still do it, it was just a matter of time.
However, if they started early, maybe it would be perfected early.
Lin Yu Tong could only comfort herself like this.
Later, even Hong Hui and Hong Yun were pulled by Si Ye to the study. They did not even come back to eat.
She could only send people each day to deliver their food.
After a few days like this, it was soon to be the eighth of the twelfth month.
Eighth Prince’s Establishment sent a note. On the eighteenth of the twelfth month, Eighth Prince would marry the princely lady Nian-shi.
“In such a hurry? They will not even wait until the new year. Which family will not prepare for at least half a year, a princely lady is very important,” Lin Yu Tong held the note and talked to Si Ye.
Si Ye chuckled. “In any case, we have to return to the establishment to prepare for the new year, it does not hinder us at all.”
It was true.
A day before the eighth, the couple took the children and left the garden to return to the establishment.
That night, the Laba porridge that had been cooked overnight by the kitchen was delivered to the families before the sun came up. Lin Yu Tong had prepared a lot of fruit porridge this year to reward the retainers of Si Ye, and the families of the officials who were close to Si Ye.
“Do not forget Commandery Prince Zhi’s Establishment, and Thirteen’s Establishment.” Si Ye reminded. “You will not be able to deliver to the deposed crown prince. You send someone to deliver to the Heseri Family.”
Lin Yu Tong thought, in any case, Songgotu had been dead for so many years. The people left were all not accomplished. This was just to give the deposed crown prince some face. This Ye was always good to people who could not make waves.
In the end, only Si Ye dared to deliver to Commandery Prince Zhi and Thirteen.
Commandery Prince Zhi looked at the Laba porridge that had been delivered. His expression could not be described. His establishment did not lack food or clothing. The standards were the same as before. No one had neglected him. But seeing that Four had delivered the milk porridge he liked, his hand that held the spoon trembled.
“Four, you remember your older brother, this brother will have to pay you back,” Commandery Prince Zhi murmured.
He turned back to look at Hong Yu. “How have you been in the palace recently?”
Hong Yu said in a low voice, “It is good. But this son does not like to play with anyone other than Hong Hui and Hong Yun.”
“Why? Do they bully you?” Commandery Prince Zhi put down the bowl.
Hong Yu shook his head. “They do not bully this son, but they have distanced themselves. Others have sympathy. Only Hong Hui and Hong Yun are the same as before, and are not abnormal. This son feels it is more comfortable.”
Commandery Prince Zhi choked. He grew more determined about his thoughts. He would pay Four back, and also pave the way for his son.
Eight, your big brother is not so easy to plot against……
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