Chapter 44: Kangxi considered the Grand Empress Dowager...

Kangxi had expected the Grand Empress Dowager to ask for something on Wenshan's behalf, but he hadn't expected such a grand favor.

Wenshan was able to raise three princes, not only out of affection for her, but also out of his generosity for the Grand Empress Dowager's sake. Although none were registered under her name, raising so many princes was unique in the palace.

If the imperial genealogy of one of them were changed to Wenshan's, it would somewhat disrupt Kangxi's plan to balance the harem and stabilize the crown prince's position.

"Grandmother," Kangxi thought for a moment. Even though the Grand Empress Dowager was nearing her deathbed, he still said, "Yinzhen and Yinsi are both filial sons. Even without this title, they would still support Concubine Xuan."

Yinxiang was still young, so Kangxi hadn't included him in the calculations.

"How can they be the same?" the Grand Empress Dowager forced herself to cheer up. "Each of them has their own biological mother. When they leave the palace and set up their own residences to take Wenshan to live with her, each of them will have two children. Wenshan will inevitably be embarrassed and unhappy."

Honestly, in Kangxi's eyes, the Grand Empress Dowager was being a bit overreaching. Wenshan had no children to begin with, and without these adopted sons, she would have lived with the concubines in Shoukang Palace. The Grand Empress Dowager had meticulously planned for her to be taken away by her son for care, and now she was starting to think about not living in the same residence with the biological mothers of Yinzhen and the others.

But he didn't completely fail to understand the Grand Empress Dowager's words.

She was speaking the truth.

The Grand Empress Dowager also noticed Kangxi's hesitation and continued, "The Emperor may not like what I say, or may feel that I'm overly partial to her. It's just one thing... Wenshan has been at my side for so many years, never tirelessly fulfilling her filial duties. For this reason alone, the Emperor should reward her."

The Grand Empress Dowager forced herself to speak at length, her voice faltering mid-sentence. Kangxi couldn't bear to see the grandmother who had raised him so earnestly pleading on her deathbed.

Furthermore, the Grand Empress Dowager didn't intend to impress her grandson solely on sentimental ground, so she ultimately resorted to the principle of filial piety.

Since Kangxi assumed power, the relationship between them hadn't been as close as before, and Kangxi didn't visit the Cining Palace often. It was indeed Wenshan's constant presence at his side that allowed him to claim the Emperor was preoccupied with state affairs, leaving the Imperial Concubine to perform filial duties.

Kangxi had hit a sore spot, and with the Empress Dowager nearing her deathbed, Kangxi had no choice but to relent and promise to give Wenshan a child, but the child would be decided later.

This left some wiggle room.

Reassured by his promise, the Empress Dowager glanced outside and said, "What a shame! We didn't get to see the snow this year." Wenshan waited anxiously outside for almost a full cup of tea before Kangxi finally emerged

.

Seeing his expression, Wenshan's heart skipped a beat, and she knew something was wrong. She rushed inside, but Kangxi grabbed her and stopped her.

"The Empress Dowager has passed away. Let's prepare for the funeral." Wenshan

felt dizzy and unsteady, but Kangxi was quick to steady her, scooping her up in his arms and helping her sit down.

"I want to see the ancestors one last time."

Wenshan sat for a moment before she recovered. She clutched Kangxi's arm, pleading tearfully.

Kangxi sighed and let her in.

In the 26th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the Grand Empress Dowager, who had

weathered the vicissitudes of three dynasties, passed away. Kangxi withdrew from court for a hundred days to mourn her, officially naming her "Empress Xiaozhuang Wen." He remained vigil for many days, even refusing to eat or drink.

Finally, Wen Shan and Consort Nianhulu, both weeping themselves to death, persuaded Kangxi to return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation for a day's rest.

Yinzhen and Yinsi also attended daily vigil for the Grand Empress Dowager. The princes and princesses knelt on either side of the concubines, with the Crown Prince leading the way, kneeling in front, each shedding tears.

Wen Shan had lost her appetite and was unable to eat, but seeing the children kneeling all day, she forced herself to prepare some vegetarian food for Yinzhen and Yinsi.

The other princes and princesses were cared for by their respective mothers.

"Mother, please eat a little too," Yinzhen said with heartache, observing how much weight Wen Shan had lost in just a few days.

Yinsi also advised, "You've only drunk a little water all day, so please eat at least."

Wenshan patted their heads and said, "Mother really can't eat much. You two are growing, so please eat quickly."

Yinzhen and Yinsi had no choice but to try every possible means to get Wenshan to eat something.

They had to keep vigil that night, so the concubines stayed. Meals were delivered from the imperial kitchen and their respective small kitchens, and everyone ate in the side halls.

Wenshan took Yinzhen and Yinsi to a small room in the Cining Palace for dinner. She was so familiar with the palace from her frequent visits that she avoided the side halls. Seeing Wenshan's absence, Concubine Hui started gossiping about her.

"I heard that before the Empress Dowager died, she asked the Emperor to transfer the imperial genealogy of one of the Fourth, Eighth, or Thirteenth Princes to Concubine Xuan's name?" Concubine

Hui was simply observing the situation, her eyes flickering to Concubine De, Concubine Liang, and Concubine Min.

Concubine De and the Fifth Princess seemed oblivious to the incident, merely feeding her dinner. Concubine Liang and Concubine Min, who had always had a good relationship with Wen Shan, remained silent, each minding their own business.

After Concubine Nianhulu finished tending to the Tenth Prince, she looked up and said, "So many princes and princesses are here, Concubine Hui, why are you saying this?"

Concubine Ping chimed in, "The mourning period for the Grand Empress Dowager hasn't even ended yet, and isn't it disrespectful for Concubine Hui to be talking about her like this?"

Only the younger princes and princesses, accompanied by their mothers, were dining in a side hall. The eldest prince, the crown prince, and the third prince were all elsewhere. So, with Concubine Ping's accusation so severe, the eldest prince had no way of defending his mother.

"Concubine Ping, what you said is too alarming. I was just saying it casually. The Grand Empress Dowager's spirit tablet is above us, and naturally, no one would dare disrespect her."

Seeing no one was interested in discussing the matter, Concubine Hui realized now was not the right time, so she quickly made her exit.

Meanwhile, Yinsi also questioned Wen Shan about the incident.

Wen Shan was a little surprised. "How did you know? Those were the Empress Dowager's last words, spoken only to the Emperor. I only found out when Su Malagu privately told me she would ask the Emperor for this favor."

"It's been all over the palace, Mother," Yinsi said. "You were just too consumed with grief for Mother Wuku that you didn't know."

The Empress Dowager passed away that afternoon, and the news spread throughout the harem that evening.

It certainly couldn't have been Kangxi who spread the news. The only possibility left was that the Empress Dowager deliberately spread the news. While Kangxi was 80% certain to fulfill her dying promise, that wasn't guaranteed. So the Empress Dowager spread the news, putting Kangxi in a difficult position, unable to repent.

Wen Shan felt a mixture of emotions. She had raised the three brothers and treated them well, not so they would provide for her in her old age or have their names changed in the imperial genealogy to become her children.

With them in Xianfu Palace, her dull life was filled with joy and happiness, and she was content.

Especially Concubine Min and Concubine Wei, who only have one child, Yinsi and Yinxiang. If the birth certificate is changed to her name, I wonder how sad these two people will be.

She could console herself with the fact that she couldn't raise the child she'd painstakingly given birth to, saying it was the ancestral rule that the child could return when he grew up and be taken care of by a son in his old age. But now, he was someone else's son. Putting herself in her shoes,

she certainly wouldn't have agreed. So, after some thought, she said, "How about we go and tell the Emperor that none of you three need to change the Imperial Book? I'll intervene and the Emperor will have a way out."

With her, the person involved, saying this, Kangxi could easily back down.

Yinzhen and Yinsi naturally understood Wenshan's thinking. Yinsi said, "Mother, the matter is done now. The Emperor has already agreed to a delay, at most. Besides, this was the Empress Dowager's last wish, and out of filial piety, the Emperor can't go back on his word. If you suggest this now, he'll think you're playing it safe, forcing him to make a quick decision."

"..."

Their minds were truly devious.

"My fourth brother, my thirteenth brother, and I have already discussed this and are working hard to get the Emperor to change Fourth Brother's imperial certificate to your name."

As soon as the news broke, the three brothers quickly held a small meeting. They thought the best thing to do now would be to place Fourth Brother under Mother's name. That way, when Fourth Brother ascends the throne, they won't have to honor Concubine De as Empress Dowager. After all, in her previous life, Concubine De had caused quite a stir for Fourteenth Brother

. Even after Fourth Brother ascended the throne, she refused to acknowledge his throne and publicly expressed her unwillingness to be Empress Dowager. It would be better to take this opportunity to completely sever ties with Concubine De. When they reached this conclusion, Yinzhen was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Your sons will find a way. Mother, don't worry. After you finish mourning for Mother Wuku, you can rest well for a few days." Yinsi's heart ached at Wen Shan's expression.

Kangxi was also struggling with this issue. Due to his imperial motives, he was unwilling to allow Wenshan to have a son of her own. Given her birthright, a revised imperial genealogy would be equivalent to having a biological child. This prince, with the support of two brothers raised together, would be a unique opportunity in the palace.

Although Concubine Yi had three biological sons, the Fifth Prince had been raised by the Empress Dowager since childhood and wasn't particularly outstanding. Kangxi had already assumed that he would be a son who, as long as he didn't commit any serious crimes, would live a life of luxury.

The Ninth and Eleventh Princes were too young to be considered a success.

While the Thirteenth Prince was younger, Yinzhen and Yinsi were undoubtedly his two most outstanding sons, and they had been close since childhood.

Kangxi reasoned that since Wenshan must have a child, it would be better to raise Yinxiang elsewhere, which would provide a more balanced situation.

Moreover, Kangxi was more inclined to give Yinsi to Wenshan over the other two. After all, Concubine De had just lost the Sixth Prince, and he felt a little reluctant to alter Yinzhen's imperial genealogy. Furthermore, Yinsi's mother was of humble origin, so it would be a good idea to raise the child's status.

The more Kangxi thought about it, the more he felt that this was the most appropriate approach: register Yinsi under Wenshan's name and raise Yinxiang elsewhere. That way, there would be nothing wrong.

Then Yinzhen and the others anticipated his prediction.

"Considering the overall situation, the Emperor will definitely register me under my mother's name," Yinsi said.

The three of them met in the east wing of Xianfu Palace, with a number of snacks on the table. Now that the mourning period for the Grand Empress Dowager had passed, they no longer had to attend the wake every day.

"And he might take Thirteenth Brother to be raised in another concubine's palace, which is in line with the Emperor's usual style of doing things."

Yinxiang immediately refused when he heard this. He was fine staying with his fourth brother and eighth brother in Xianfu Palace, and he could visit Concubine Min often. He didn't want to go to another concubine's place!

Yinzhen thought about it for a while and felt that what Yinsi said was very realistic. The Emperor probably really planned to do so.

These days, whenever Yinzhen came back from the Shangshufang, he would grab Yinsi and Yinxiang to sort out the things of their previous life. The two of them didn't expect that they would be forced to sort out the things of their previous life from beginning to end.

Yinxiang spoke passionately, and told the story of how he and Yinzhen supported each other in their previous life and stepped on the eighth brother and punched the crown prince to fight for a bloody way out in the battle for the throne among the nine princes.

As for Yinsi... it was a bit difficult to say the tricks he secretly used on his fourth brother in his previous life.

So Yinsi began to try to cover up some things, and was then ruthlessly exposed by Yinxiang.

His image as a good little brother in front of his fourth brother!

Damn old Thirteenth!

So Yinsi and Yinxiang secretly formed a feud again, and the two began to quarrel again.

So at this time, Yinxiang, who could not even walk properly, knew that he might be sent away, and immediately began to ask his two brothers for help.

"Fourth brother, eighth brother, you two should think of a way."

Yinsi held his chin and looked at him, pretending to be embarrassed: "Thirteenth brother, you know very well in your heart that there is no room for maneuver in this matter."

Yinzhen was helpless, and the eighth brother was teasing the thirteenth brother whenever he got the chance.

"Just go with peace of mind. Fourth brother and I will remember the sacrifice you made."

Yinxiang: "..."

Eighth brother is unreliable. Yinxiang looked at Yinzhen with tears in his eyes: "Fourth brother..."

Yinxiang directly turned his little face over: "Why are you looking at fourth brother? This matter is not your business. Say a few nice words and eighth brother will think of a way for you."

Ever since Yinzhen knew about the things in the previous life, he doted on Yinsi even more, so now he could only watch the two of them fooling around helplessly.

Three black lines crossed Yinxiang's head. He now understood that it was the fourth brother who was really unreliable!

There was no way. Yinxiang could only imitate Wenshan's usual way of praising them. He could only say with a dull face: "Eighth brother, you are the best brother in the world. I love you the most..."

"Stop, stop!"

Yinsi rubbed his arms. "Why does it sound so scary to me?"

Yinxiang snorted. She was threatening him and you still expected him to have much emotion?

"Thirteenth Brother, Eighth Brother is teaching you a lesson: You should be able to read people's expressions and be flexible. Keep your emotions to yourself, and don't let your feelings show on your face." Yinsi pinched his cheek. "Because I'm your brother, I'll help you. If you ask others for help, there will be many who will be even more rude than me."

In his previous life, Thirteenth Brother's straightforwardness and willingness to show his thoughts on his face had led to his father's imprisonment for so many years. Later, when his fourth brother ascended the throne, he was released and hit it off with the more straightforward Fourth Brother, a man who remained the same until his death.

Thirteenth Brother despised such evasiveness, but he wasn't foolish. He knew Yinsi was doing this for his own good, and he humbly accepted the advice.

But accepting was one thing, and acting on it was another.

After all, he was the youngest. In this life, with Eighth Brother's help, he could be more open and honest about what he wanted to be.

Yinsi was unaware that his painstaking efforts to soften his younger brother's temper had, in Yinxiang's eyes, transformed him into a professional mess-cleaner.

The burial rites for the Grand Empress Dowager continued until April of the following year, and the coffin was temporarily placed in the Zan'an Fengdian. This was a decision Kangxi made only after much hesitation.

The Grand Empress Dowager did not want to be buried with Emperor Wen in Zhaoling Mausoleum, wanting to be buried next to the previous emperor's Xiaoling Mausoleum. However, this was a major violation of etiquette. The court argued furiously over the matter, and no rules could be agreed upon. In the end, Kangxi decided not to bury the Grand Empress Dowager, but to place the coffin in the Zan'an Fengdian. As for the location of the Grand Empress Dowager's tomb, since they couldn't reach a consensus now, they would discuss it later.

The astute officials understood perfectly well that the Emperor's intention was to follow the Empress Dowager's wishes and have her buried in the Xiaoling Mausoleum. However, with so many court officials opposing the decision, they couldn't force it. So they delayed the matter until it became less pressing and a burial near the Xiaoling Mausoleum was possible.

The Empress Dowager's burial location was delayed, as was Kangxi's promise to transfer the imperial edict of a prince to Wenshan's name.

Months passed without Kangxi even mentioning the matter.

Yinzhen and his colleagues were bewildered by Kangxi's procrastination. They considered countless possibilities, but they hadn't anticipated Kangxi's willingness to bury the matter.

After all, Kangxi had promised the Empress Dowager that he would discuss it later.

Naturally, he could wait until the right time was right.

While Yinzhen and his colleagues hadn't anticipated the delay in changing the imperial edict, they had anticipated Kangxi's desire to move Yinxiang to another palace.

After the mourning period ended, Kangxi began to favor his concubines, and soon both Defei and Min Guiren became pregnant.

Wen Shan couldn't help but sigh that Defei's physique was truly remarkable, but such frequent pregnancies and childbirths, interspersed with the loss of children, were quite difficult.

This child gave birth to the renowned general, the fourteenth prince, Yinzhen.

The pregnancy of the two concubines in the harem dispelled the gloom brought on by the passing of the Grand Empress Dowager. With the current smooth sailing of the previous dynasty, Kangxi's mood could not have been better. One day, after meeting with the court officials, he suddenly felt interested and took Ma Qi, Mingzhu, Suo Etu and others to the Shangshufang to watch the princes study.

The eldest prince had originally been scheduled to marry this year, but the wedding was postponed due to the three-year national mourning period following the passing of the Grand Empress Dowager. Furthermore, Kangxi, who had been secretly accepting bribes, discovered his recent bribery and, after his confinement, temporarily withheld him from court, saying he was being urged to reread the sage texts, then sent him back to the Shangshufang. The remaining princes, down to the tenth prince, were studying there once they reached the age limit.

Zhang Ying was lecturing in the Shangshufang today. Upon seeing Kangxi arrive with a large group of important court officials, he hurriedly joined the other princes in greeting.

"No need for formalities. Everyone, rise," Kangxi said with a casual wave, moving to the head of the table. "I've brought these ministers here today to see how you're doing. There's no need to be so formal. Zhang Ying, continue your lecture." "

Yes,"

the crown prince privately exchanged a glance with Soetu, who nodded gently, indicating that there was nothing else to do today and that it was indeed the emperor's impromptu decision to bring them all to see.

Mingzhu and the eldest prince's current relationship remained under wraps, so they feigned unfamiliarity in public, especially before Kangxi.

The remaining Tong Guowei and his companions hadn't yet placed their bets on either side. The emperor was still in his prime, so they weren't as daring as Mingzhu, who was eager to stake her bets on the next emperor. They weren't so concerned about whether any of their daughters could give birth to a prince

. So, they simply remained loyal to Kangxi, remaining loyal only to him. Zhang Ying calmly picked up his book and began his lecture as usual, seemingly oblivious to Kangxi, who sat at the head of the table, and the other important officials flanking him.

But before he could begin, Kangxi interrupted him.

"Are we talking about the History of Ming today?" Kangxi flipped through the volume on his desk and happened to come across the chapter on the Jingnan Campaign.

Starting in his eighteenth year, Kangxi had commissioned Xu Yuanwen, a Hanlin Academy scholar, to oversee the compilation of the Ming History, but the work was never completed, so this was only the first half of the final draft.

Zhang Ying bowed and said, "Yes."

"Good, it's good to study Ming history." Kangxi picked up the Ming history and clapped it in front of the others. "History is a mirror that can reveal the rise and fall of dynasties. Reading Ming history will help you understand how the Ming Dynasty gradually lost the support of the people and ultimately collapsed, and how our Qing Dynasty was able to unify the country and recover the Central Plains. There's a lot of knowledge here."

"Your Majesty is right. We, your sons, have benefited greatly from it." The eldest prince complimented him.

Kangxi put the book down and glanced at him. "Is that so? Since you have such insights, please tell us what you have learned from it."

Although the eldest prince seemed a little proud, he was a diligent student. Kangxi's questions were not tricky, and he immediately began to talk freely.

"Didn't Your Majesty say that Master Zhang would give the lecture? Why are you asking about history books again, brother?" The fifth prince lowered his voice and tugged at Yinzhen's sleeve from behind, complaining to him.

He had never been well-versed in these historical texts, usually falling asleep while listening, and slacking off in class whenever possible. Unfortunately, today, Kangxi came to inspect the class, forcing him to sit up straight and listen intently, making him feel as if ants were crawling all over his body.

Yinzhen whispered, "Be quiet, just listen carefully."

While they were talking, the eldest prince had already finished his answer. It was clear that Kangxi wasn't trying to embarrass the eldest prince today, so he offered a few compliments. Soetu and the others also took advantage of the situation and praised the eldest prince.

After the eldest prince finished his answer, Kangxi turned to the crown prince.

"Yinreng, you too, speak."

A question of this magnitude wouldn't faze the eldest prince, let alone the crown prince. His answer was insightful and insightful.

Until then, everyone present had assumed Kangxi was just trying to show off the excellence of his sons, until Yinsi was suddenly called upon.

Passing over Yinzhen, Yinqi and Yinyou in the middle, Kangxi directly picked up Yinsi who was at the back.