Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Fortunately, the deposed crown prince's marriage...

Fortunately, although the deposed crown prince's marriage had been put on hold for a while, Wen Shan and Concubine Tong Jia had already made nearly all the necessary preparations, though the status of a prince would have to be reduced somewhat.

Kangxi's resurrection regarding the deposed crown prince's marriage was clear: he intended to release him after the wedding.

Yinzhen and the others no longer cared much about the deposed crown prince. Even if Kangxi showed any favoritism, the most he could do was raise his title to prince. Now that Soetu was dead, the former crown prince's faction had scattered, and they could accomplish nothing.

Kangxi hadn't visited the deposed crown prince once since returning from the campaign, yet the deposed crown prince, now a prince of Li, still insisted on submitting a petition requesting a meeting with Kangxi.

On the day before New Year's Eve, Kangxi finally visited Yuqing Palace and spoke with the deposed Crown Prince for a long time. It's unknown what they discussed, but Kangxi personally visited Wen Shan afterward to arrange a seat for the deposed Crown Prince at the New Year's Eve palace banquet.

"Do you also think I favor Yinreng too much?"

Kangxi considered himself and Wen Shan an old married couple. Wen Shan was quiet and gentle, and he would tell her many things he couldn't share with anyone else.

"Your Majesty is both the Emperor and your father. You raised Prince Li single-handedly. No other prince or princess can compare. Even if you favor him a little, it's perfectly normal," Wen Shan said.

Kangxi was somewhat surprised by her calm, almost matter-of-fact tone.

Wen Shan: "Your Majesty, why are you looking at me like that?"

Wasn't it enough to just go along with him?

Zhenzhu quietly went outside to replace the incense burner. The delicate, lingering scent of sandalwood filled the air, dispelling the dampness from the recent snowfall.

Kangxi lay sideways on the couch, twirling a string of jade beads in his hand. He narrowed his eyes in thought, then asked, "Which of Yinzhen, Yinsi, and Yinxiang do you favor more?"

Wen Shan replied, "...I raised all three of them, so naturally I like them all." He was

judging others by his own standards!

Just because he was partial, did that mean she would be partial as well?

Kangxi smiled and said, "I think you care more about Yinsi, but Yinsi has been sensible and steady since he was young. It's normal for you to like him."

Kangxi had always believed that Wen Shan favored Yinsi. The few times she contradicted him were always to defend him.

Furthermore, Kangxi's own partiality for the deposed crown prince was justified, believing that even parents were not fair and always favored one over the other.

Yinsi was indeed the most adept of the three children, skilled in socializing and pleasing the elders.

Hearing Kangxi's words, Wen Shan seriously reflected on whether she'd shown any favoritism towards any of the children. If she had, unintentionally, done so, it would be incredibly unfair to the other two.

Kangxi, observing Wen Shan's frown and deep thought, waved his hand before her eyes.

"What are you thinking about?"

Wen Shan honestly explained that she was considering whether she had a particular preference for any of the children.

Kangxi laughed heartily.

"I was mistaken. I shouldn't have asked you that," Kangxi said. "None of Yinzhen's children are your biological children. It's inappropriate for you to favor any of them."

Kangxi felt a little regretful when he brought up the topic. He had always dreamed of having a child with Wen Shan, whether it would be a prince or a princess, but it seemed a pity that they might not be destined to have children.

Wen Shan, unaware that Kangxi was still considering having her bear a child even at this point, propped herself up and said, "Yinsi is sweet-talking and a very considerate child. Emperors Yinzhen and Yinxiang know this, and he's just as good as Yinsi in both his conduct and filial piety. Therefore, I love him equally."

Kangxi, upon hearing Wen Shan's words, pondered his feelings about the children in the palace.

He knew the temperaments of every prince except the younger ones, but he hadn't even seen many of the princesses in ages.

Kangxi had brought this up with Wen Shan today because the dethronement of the crown prince had forced him to confront the fact that he wasn't a very good father to the other children.

Wen Shan, knowing full well what Kangxi was thinking, scoffed.

It was too late to question whether he was being partial at this age.

Wen Shan also remembered Kangxi once discussing this with her. At that time, Kangxi had confidently said that it was normal for him to favor the Crown Prince, regardless of finger length.

It seemed that his age, feeling his sons were gradually slipping out of his control, had led him to reflect on himself.

Yet, even so, the deposed Crown Prince had a peaceful wedding, and afterward, he moved, somewhat hastily, from Yuqing Palace to a mansion in Beijing that had been hastily prepared by the Imperial Household Department.

Concubine Tongjia breathed a sigh of relief upon witnessing the deposed

Crown Prince's wedding. "Finally, Prince Li's marriage is complete! It was such a grueling task," she complained.

Everyone knew the Emperor favored Prince Li, having let his rebellion go unpunished and, despite deposing the Crown Prince, given him the title of Prince, this wedding had to be prepared with utmost care.

Otherwise, it was hard to say what Kangxi might do next.

"Sister Tong, you've certainly worked hard."

Wen Shan and Concubine Tong Jia had also attended the wedding banquet at Prince Li's residence and were now on their way back to the palace. Once inside, they disembarked from their sedan chairs and prepared to take a stroll and chat.

Concubine Tong Jia said, "This is my duty, and it's nothing to worry about. Fortunately, the new sisters who have entered the palace are quite favored by the Emperor, so I'm exempt from serving him any longer."

This was said with a hint of bitterness.

Among the newcomers selected through the imperial selection, there were indeed some exceptional ones. For example, Concubine He was particularly favored by Emperor Kangxi, and now shared equal favor within the palace with Concubine Mi.

Concubine Tong Jia, still young, still dreamed of giving birth to another prince for the Tong Jia clan. Unfortunately, Emperor Kangxi generously offered her a position, granting her the authority to assist in the management of the six harems. However, the favor she received was truly mediocre.

"I heard that Concubine He's handwriting was so beautiful that even the Emperor was amazed," said Concubine Tong Jia. "Concubine Jin

is a skilled player of the Yueqin (pipe lute) and a talented woman." Kangxi's current tastes favored gentle and talented women, and Concubine Tong Jia even began to search among her attendants for suitable candidates to secure his favor.

Wen Shan no longer cared much about Kangxi's favors or the talents of these newly crowned concubines. Her thoughts were focused on Yinzhen's children and Yinsi's marriage.

The thought of Yinsi's marriage made Wen Shan feel a little guilty.

"Sister Tong, the Empress Dowager's memorial service will be next month, and I'd like to attend in person. Yinsi's wedding is only a few months away, so I'll have to trouble you to look after him while I'm away."

This wasn't a deliberate act of laziness; it was simply a chance encounter.

Imperial Concubine Tong Jia: "...This is as it should be, Your Majesty, please go with peace of mind."

The marriages of these princes and princesses are really one after another, and there is no end to the busyness.

Concubine Tongjia thought practice makes perfect. Having just completed Prince Li's wedding, she figured she'd follow suit for Prince Lian's wedding. However, less than three days after Wenshan left the palace, Kangxi posed another major challenge to Concubine Tongjia.

After Prince Li moved out of Yuqing Palace, Kangxi ordered its renovation and then sealed it. Everyone in the palace assumed it would remain vacant until the next crown prince was appointed. However, just as preparations for Yinsi's wedding were underway, Kangxi visited Chengqian Palace and

informed Concubine Tongjia that Yinsi wouldn't have to move out of the palace after his wedding, but would reside in Yuqing Palace.

Concubine Tongjia exclaimed, "…" This

is going to cause her trouble.

With Wenshan away from the palace, Concubine Tongjia had no one to consult with, so she had to recruit several concubines to help with the preparations.

Kangxi's decision not only caused an uproar in the harem but also shocked the ministers of the previous dynasty.

Even Yinzhen and his men were somewhat caught off guard.

"Fourth brother, what does the Emperor mean by this?"

Yinzhen, Yinsi, and Yinxiang secretly held a small meeting in Chonghua Palace.

Yinxiang came running over upon hearing the news, mainly because the news was too shocking.

Yuqing Palace... The Emperor wants the Eighth Brother to live there?

Yinsi also frowned for a rare time, full of doubts about Kangxi's decree.

"Yuqing Palace is where the Crown Prince, no, Prince Li has lived since he was a child. Letting the Eighth Brother move in..."

In a sense, Yuqing Palace represents the Eastern Palace.

"The Emperor probably just wants to distract everyone." Yinzhen said carefully: "This means that the Emperor wants to see me and my Eighth Brother compete." The

deposed Crown Prince has already withdrawn from the fight for the throne. He himself has no interest in these things now. After getting married, he rarely goes out and does not see guests. He is honest and dutiful.

Kangxi knew the eldest prince's strengths and weaknesses perfectly well. If he had to choose another to challenge Yinzhen, it would be Yinsi.

There were ministers who objected to Yinsi moving into Yuqing Palace. Kangxi dismissed it as a mere palace, saying it was nothing unusual even if the deposed crown prince had lived there.

This was true, as Kangxi never claimed Yuqing Palace was the Crown Prince's residence or the Crown Prince's East Palace.

The situation was now clear.

Kangxi's preferred new crown prince's popularity was likely somewhere between Yinzhen and Yinsi.

Prince Yong, according to his imperial genealogy, was the son of the Imperial Noble Consort and the only prince in the lineage. He had resided within the palace since his marriage and had recently been appointed Regent.

Prince Lian, also the Imperial Noble Consort's adopted son and the youngest prince, was now allowed to reside in Yuqing Palace by the Emperor, allowing him to avoid moving out after his wedding.

Thus, the two were evenly matched.

However, Yinsi's personality was milder than Yinzhen's, so he attracted many more ministers. After all, everyone wanted such an easygoing prince to ascend the throne, which would make their lives easier.

Naturally, there was still a small group supporting the eldest prince, but most of them were former subordinates who had fought with him, as well as members of his in-laws.

As the princes gradually grew up, their sides became clear.

Yinzhen was a notorious loner, and he was only close to Yinxiang, barely a partisan.

Yinsi, on the other hand, continued to be surrounded by the ninth and tenth princes.

The remaining princes mostly had no ambitions of their own and were unwilling to side with anyone. The ministers

, however, were even more opportunistic, mostly surrounding Yinzhen and Yinsi.

Kangxi observed all of this. Although he had promoted Yinzhen and Yinsi, he was displeased to see the court officials placing their bets on the next emperor.

He's not even 50 yet, so why are they all hoping for his death and abdication?

Wen Shan, busy with the funeral rites for the Grand Empress Dowager, learned the news just as she was about to return to the capital.

"I've only been away for a few days, and yet something like this has happened," Wen Shan rested her hand on her forehead, feeling rather helpless.

She knew the old man Kangxi was full of evil intentions.

But Yinzhen was right.

Wen Shan returned to the palace, but before she could even meet Yinzhen, she was blocked by a swarm of concubines in Xianfu Palace.

Her return, as luck would have it, happened to be the fifteenth day of the lunar month. Now that she was an Imperial Noble Consort, the concubines were supposed to pay their respects daily, morning and evening. However, Wen Shan found it troublesome and didn't want to get up early, so she reduced her visits to the first and fifteenth of each month.

Today was the fifteenth day, and since Kangxi had arranged for Yinsi to live in Yuqing Palace, the concubines were eager to establish a good relationship with Wen Shan.

After all, she was raising two of the most talented princes.

Wen Shan had no choice but to chat with the beauties in the room.

Elders like Concubine Hui and Concubine Rong were merely checking in for the usual check-in; at their age, jealousy wasn't a thing anymore. After they sat down, they didn't exchange much. Imperial Concubine Tong Jia had always flattered Wen Shan, and now she was even more so, not letting a single word escape her lips.

It was mainly the younger, newly arrived concubines who wanted to get close to Wen Shan. They arrived late, so even if they gave birth to a prince right away, it would be too late. To live a comfortable life in the rest of their lives, they naturally needed to curry favor with the Imperial Concubine.

"Is Concubine Yi not here yet?"

Concubine Hui, tired of the young concubines' flattery, glanced at the seat across from Concubine Rong and saw it was still empty, so she mentioned it.

Rong Fei said casually, "Ever since the death of the Eleventh Prince, Concubine Yi hasn't gone out much. It's hard for her to have to endure the pain of losing a child at this age."

"Humph," Concubine Hui snorted, "It seems like I haven't seen Concubine Yi for almost a year. We've been sisters for many years, and I really miss her."

"Didn't Concubine Min come either?" Concubine Ping took over.

Ever since the Crown Prince was deposed and Soetu was killed, Concubine Ping had been much quieter in the palace. Kangxi had not pursued her faults for many years and continued to support her as Concubine Ping, but everyone knew that Concubine Ping was not a big deal.

Concubine Mi listened for a long time. When the topic turned to Concubine Min, she was afraid that she would say something unpleasant soon, so she quickly said, "Royal Noble Concubine, Concubine Min's health has improved a lot recently. She's busy with the Fifth Princess's wedding and looks energetic." It would have been fine if Concubine

Mi hadn't mentioned the Fifth Princess, but as soon as she did, Rong Fei's anger flared up again.

"The Fifth Princess is lucky, after all. Her mother is guilty and her brother is plotting rebellion, yet she's still

able to marry in the capital. Who wouldn't envy her?" Rong Fei sarcastically remarked. Her own Princess Rongxian was the Emperor's eldest daughter, beloved since childhood, and even traveled thousands of miles to Fumeng. How could the Fifth Princess marry into the Tonggiya clan without suffering the hardship of marrying far away?

Rong Fei and the other concubines, whose own princesses had also married far away to Fumeng, were not alone in feeling

uneasy. In the past, everyone had gone to Fumeng, and there was nothing that could be done about it. But this time, the Fifth Princess had chosen to remain in the capital, leaving them feeling uneasy.

"Well, the Princess is a princess of noble birth, and her marriage is a matter for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to decide. It's not for us to discuss," Tonggiya Concubine said coldly, frowning impatiently.

Putting aside the fact that Concubine Min and Wen Shan were close friends, the fact that the Fifth Princess was marrying her own brother, Tonggiya Concubine, wouldn't tolerate these gossips.

After Rong Fei finished speaking, she realized that the Fifth Princess had been granted a marriage to Concubine Tong Jia's younger brother. Feeling she had spoken out of turn, she quickly offered a few words of apology.

"Alright, the princess's wedding is a happy occasion. The Emperor has ordered it to be handled with care." Wen Shan interrupted them, saying, "In recent years, the princes and princesses have grown up, and their weddings have become more frequent. You sisters will have to work hard to help."

The first event to be held was Yinsi's wedding.

Because Kangxi had decreed that Yinsi move into Yuqing Palace after his wedding, this wedding was held with even higher standards than a prince's wedding. Besides Wen Shan and Concubine Liang, the happiest person about Yinsi's wedding was Tong Guowei.

On the day Kangxi issued the decree for Yinsi to move into Yuqing Palace, Tong Guowei had a rare drink behind closed doors with Longkodo and his son.

He felt that the Tong family had made a good bet this time. Wasn't it just the beginning of a meteoric rise to power?

Furthermore, with the fall of the crown prince, Tong Guowei's actions became increasingly bold. His interactions with Yinsi, previously private, had now slowly surfaced, and he was essentially the leader of the Eighth Prince's faction.

Yinsi showed no reaction, merely silently condoning, and naturally, Kangxi did the same.

The day before Yinsi's wedding, Concubine Yi left the Yikun Palace for the first time and visited the Xianfu Palace to present Yinsi with a gift.

"Finally, you're out! I've been so worried these days," Wen Shan said to Concubine Yi, noting that she looked okay and hadn't lost much weight before she felt relieved.

Concubine Yi had stayed indoors to find some peace and quiet. Wen Shan pondered for a long time, but ultimately decided not to disturb her. Fortunately, she had now moved on.

"For the past year, I've stayed indoors to bathe, fast, and pray for Yinzhen. This is the last thing I, as his mother, can do for him." Concubine Yi smiled and said, "A few days ago, I heard from Yin'er that Prince Lian would be getting married soon, so naturally I came to offer him a gift."

"Your presence is the best gift."

Zhenzhu poured Concubine Yi's favorite Biluochun tea and said with a smile, "Our master often talks about Concubine Yi. Knowing you were coming today, I specially made your favorite thousand-thread cake and will serve it to you later."

Concubine Yi felt relieved. Ever since the Eleventh Prince's death, she had been feeling awkward and unsure how to face Concubine Min. Her deep involvement with Wenshan also left her feeling uncertain about how to face Wenshan.

After almost a year of hiding, she finally felt some relief.

For the sake of Yinqi and Yin'er, she couldn't continue to be depressed.

"Tomorrow, Yinsi's wedding will be a day for you to join in the fun," Wenshan said with a smile.

Since Concubine Yi hadn't been leaving the house before, she hadn't forced herself to discuss with Concubine Tongjia. If Concubine Yi didn't come, it was fine, and there was no need to rush her. Concubine

Yi nodded, "Of course."

A steaming bowl of Thousand Silk Cake was served. After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Your Majesty, how is Concubine Min now?"

She knew only that she had been ill since that day, but she had no idea of the severity of her illness.

Naturally, the main reason was that she had deliberately avoided mentioning anything about Concubine Min.

Wen Shan whispered, "The imperial physician said she was suffering from a mental illness. You know why."

"It's not easy to cure, but the Fifth Princess marrying in the capital has helped Concubine Min feel much better. She's doing okay now, I guess."

Relying on her single-minded determination to see the Fifth Princess off to marriage, Concubine Min had survived her previous life's fate, and Yinxiang was practically overwhelmed with joy.

Though Concubine Min still looked frail, at least she had pulled through, and Yinxiang hoped for a turn for the better.

Concubine Yi was silent for a moment, then said nothing.

The day of Yinsi's wedding was unusually lively. Emperor Kangxi personally visited Yuqing Palace, and the ceremony was attended by princes, ministers, princesses, and other high-ranking officials. The scene was even more lively than Yinzhen's wedding.

Wenshan felt something was amiss when she saw Yinsi moving into Yuqing Palace.

Yinxiang, standing beside her, observed her solemn expression and whispered, "What's wrong, Mother?"

Why didn't Mother look happy about her eighth brother's wedding?

"Yuqing Palace..." Wenshan hesitated for a moment, but the words remained silent.

She felt the location was unlucky.

Primarily, the impression the Crown Prince had left on her was too negative.

Furthermore, the land allotted to Yinsi's residence in the capital had already been completed, and when Yinsi moved to Yuqing Palace, the Ninth Prince volunteered to take it over.

Wenshan had even visited the residence and found it elegant and impressive, and she was quite impressed.

But she couldn't bring herself to say such unlucky things on Yinsi's wedding day.

Yinxiang, assuming Wenshan was still worried about Yinsi's move into Yuqing Palace attracting jealousy, offered some words of comfort.

The Ninth and Tenth Princes were the most jubilant, as if they were the ones getting married. It was these two brothers who, during the final bridal chamber prank, refused to let anyone in to bother their eighth brother.

Wenshan thought Yinsi's love for them was well-deserved.

Prince Li had excused himself from attending Yinsi's wedding, claiming illness. Everyone knew that allowing Prince Li to attend Yinsi's wedding would be like stabbing him in the heart, so they all kept silent.

Yinzhen, also in high spirits, dragged Yinxiang out to drink with Yinsi, determined to get him drunk.

Fortunately, Yinsi slipped away quickly and they didn't catch him. After

a night of excitement, the day after the wedding, Yinsi brought his wife, Guo Luoluo, to Xianfu Palace to pay his respects to Wenshan.

Last night, Kangxi stayed at Concubine He's place and had Liang Jiugong convey that there was no need to pay his respects to him yet, but to go to Xianfu Palace first.

Yinsi followed suit and arrived with his wife.

Guo Luoluo possessed a rather heroic and dignified demeanor, never failing to observe proper etiquette, and possessed a magnanimous and tolerant demeanor.

Yinzhen and Fucha had also arrived early in the morning, bringing Yi'an and Hongxi. Before marrying Yinsi, Guo Luoluo naturally assumed that Yinzhen and Yinsi were at odds, but despite this, she had prepared thoughtful gifts for Yi'an and Hongxi. On their wedding night, Yinsi had kept everything secret from her, revealing everything about his relationship with Yinzhen and Yinxiang. They would be husband and wife in the future, and naturally, they could not conceal anything.

Although Guo Luoluo was somewhat shocked, she quickly accepted the news. This way, she no longer had to worry about how to get along with her fourth sister-in-law.

"Will you be disappointed?"

Tired after a day of undressing, the two men, with no intention of engaging in sexual rituals, suddenly asked Yinsi as they lay side by side.

Guo Luoluo tilted her head to look at the man who had just become her husband and whispered, "What are you talking about, Your Highness? I don't know, but I'm content to marry you."

Guo Luoluo, naturally intelligent, knew what Yinsi was asking. He was asking if he'd be disappointed to learn that he had no plans to become emperor.

After all, in the eyes of the outside world, Yinsi was now a strong contender for the throne, and Guo Luoluo was a likely future empress.

And now, Yinsi had made it clear to her that he had no intention of vying for the throne, only that he wanted to assist Yinzhen.

After hearing her answer, Yinsi knew that she understood, so he smiled and closed his eyes and said, "Go to sleep. We still have to pay our respects to the Emperor and Mother tomorrow."

The red candles with dragons and phoenixes were still burning outside. Guo Luoluo looked at Yinsi for a while and thought that no matter whether Yinsi would become an emperor or a commoner in the future, what she had just said was from the bottom of her heart.

Since the two of them got engaged, Yinsi has helped Guo Luoluo a lot, both openly and secretly. Her father, mother, and even her married sister have all been taken care of by him.

She will naturally not regret marrying such a man.