Chapter 55 Chapter 55 So the three Yinzhen brothers…

So the scene was so awkward when the three Yinzhen brothers returned.

The Emperor was clearly almost half full, and their mother sat to the side with a look of disdain.

"Since you're back, then take a seat and dine with me and your mother." Kangxi said calmly, not seeing anything wrong. He was both the emperor and a father; how could he wait for his sons to eat?

Yinxiang muttered quietly, "I think the Emperor has almost finished his meal. Why does he still need us to accompany him?"

This was a table of dishes that their mother had finally found the leisure to prepare for them!

All of their favorites!

Wen Shan pulled them to sit, glanced at the already scattered dishes on the table, sighed, and said, "Why don't you, Your Majesty and Yinzhen, sit for a while? I'll have the kitchen prepare some more dishes."

She didn't know where Kangxi had gotten such a good appetite today; she had prepared enough for three adults.

"No need to bother. I've almost used up the land." Kangxi waved his hand, not wanting Wen Shan to wait on these brats after serving him.

They ate here every day, their mouths drooling with grease; a little less now and then wouldn't matter.

Wen Shan was speechless, thinking to herself, "You've just finished eating and drinking, so you've left the children alone."

Sure enough, all that talk of self-reflection about mistreatment of Yinzhen and his brothers was just a random lie.

Wen Shan ignored Kangxi's advice and went to the kitchen to whip up something quick to fill Yinzhen and his brothers' stomachs.

It was too cold to go out and come back without food.

Kangxi smiled as he watched Wen Shan leave, then raised an eyebrow at his three sons, who seemed a little reserved in front of him. "Your mother loves you dearly. When you grow up, remember to be filial to her."

Need I say more?

Yinsi grumbled inwardly, but still replied respectfully, "Yes."

Kangxi was very fond of Yinxiang, and seeing Wenshan dress him up like a New Year's picture doll was a source of affection. She patted his head and asked him gently how he was doing. Yinxiang was still a bit awkward around Kangxi, unlike Yinsi, who quickly adjusted himself. Honestly, he still had a fondness for Kangxi, having truly loved him when he was young.

So, even now, Yinxiang still struggled to accept his father's subsequent coldness.

Kangxi also noticed that his youngest son seemed both close and reserved towards him, his father, and privately asked Wenshan what was going on.

Wenshan could only explain that Yinxiang was still young and hadn't seen much, so the awkwardness was inevitable. Kangxi

nodded seriously and promised to spend more time with Yinxiang to cultivate their father-son bond.

Wenshan's hair stood on end at this, and she silently shed a tear for Yinxiang.

She felt like she had let her youngest son down.

"Next year, Yinxiang will be three years old. It's time for him to go to the Shangshufang for his initiation." Kangxi teased Yinxiang, "Your two older brothers are both extremely diligent. The Crown Prince will also return to the Shangshufang next year. You should get closer to them, understand?"

Yinxiang nodded. "I will follow the Emperor's instructions."

Kangxi smiled, then turned to look at the two older children.

"Let's have dinner. What are you all sitting there for?"

They had sat down and hadn't touched their chopsticks yet.

Yinzhen and Yinsi exchanged a glance and silently took two bites of a dish of untouched stir-fried vegetables.

As Yinsi ate, he thought to himself that he now understood why his mother was so annoyed with the Emperor. Mealtime was supposed to be their family's happiest time, but the Emperor's arrival ruined everything, making them feel uneasy.

Kangxi had recently been trying to spend more time with his sons. He'd previously been so preoccupied with the Crown Prince that he'd neglected the others. The younger ones were fine, but the older ones were the ones he found difficult to communicate with.

They all reacted like mice to a cat, with Yinsi being the only one who was a bit more at ease, but he wasn't nearly as comfortable around him as he was with Wenshan.

"Yinzhen, I heard your eldest brother and the Crown Prince had been arguing again. Do you know what's going on?" Kangxi suddenly asked.

The Crown Prince had gone to study at the Wenhua Hall and wasn't seeing them much anymore, but the eldest prince was always trying to get in touch with him. After all, they were bound to run into each other in the Forbidden City.

The very mention of Kangxi's actions alarmed the three of them.

The reason was simple: the conflict between the eldest prince and the Crown Prince was indeed related to them.

The matter wasn't a big deal. It involved the appointment of an official in the Ministry of Personnel. Though the Crown Prince hadn't officially entered the court, Soetu had already secured numerous officials under his wing thanks to his connections. A vacant position for the Ministry of Personnel had become vacant, and both the Crown

Prince and the eldest prince had their followers vying for it, leading to a dispute. Yinzhen and Yinsi had begun to gradually gain control of the palace's affairs, thanks to the staff the Grand Empress Dowager had entrusted to them. Those who worked under the Grand Empress Dowager were naturally capable, and Yinsi had found ease in using them. Over the past year or two, integrating his previous staff, he had forged a network of connections spanning the harem.

They were constantly apprised of any developments, and whenever they had the opportunity to incite a conflict between the Crown Prince and the eldest prince, they would simply add fuel to the fire.

It was all done with ease.

For example, this time. While

the matter wasn't a big deal, the eldest prince's relentless nagging of the Crown Prince not only irritated the Crown Prince, but also gradually resented Kangxi, who felt Yinsi was too impulsive.

Although Kangxi intended to temper the Crown Prince's temper with the other princes, the eldest prince's excessive activity gradually became a source of frustration for Kangxi, so he deliberately disciplined him, hoping to calm him down.

He then brought out the third prince, who had always been somewhat obscure behind the Crown Prince and had recently been favored.

Consequently, with the instigation of Yinzhen and his associates, the Crown Prince in this life began to feel the pressure from his brothers eight years earlier and more quickly.

In his previous life, it wasn't until the end of the three campaigns against Galdan in the 37th year of Kangxi's reign that the Crown Prince's disregard for the father-son bond and his absurd behavior with his subordinates finally reached the limit of Kangxi's tolerance.

Upon his return, he executed several of Yinreng's closest followers and began the first major conferment of titles on the Crown Princes that same year.

From that moment on, the Crown Prince seemed to have finally awakened from his dream and became wary and cautious of Kangxi.

While the Crown Prince hadn't reached this point yet, it was clear he was already feeling distraught. Given his temperament, once he started to falter, things were bound to go wrong.

After all, at just fifteen, he was still full of youthful energy, so he immediately took the bait once the eldest prince provoked him.

Yinzhen was still debating how to respond when Wen Shan arrived and came to their rescue. Worried they were hungry, Wen Shan brought up a pot of food she had simmered in the small kitchen early that morning. She had originally planned to simmer it overnight for lunch the next day, but now it was time for them to eat something to warm their stomachs.

Wen Shan ignored the princes' quarrels and focused solely on nurturing her sons. Kangxi stopped discussing the matter once Wen Shan arrived, urging them to finish their meal and return to their respective places for bed.

Wen Shan helped Kangxi change into his pajamas, but since it was still early, he didn't retire immediately. Liang Jiugong arrived with some memorials, and Kangxi leaned back on the couch to read them for a while.

Wen Shan was bored, playing with beads. Ever since Yinzhen and Yinsi began operating outside the palace, they had stopped drawing from her treasury and instead filled it to overflowing. Jewelry and jade filled several boxes, but just sitting there wasn't much fun, so Wen Shan took some out to make some pendants and necklaces.

Kangxi was indeed in a good mood today. Early in the morning, he received reports of civil unrest in the Khalkha Mongols. The Dzungars had always been a major concern for Kangxi, and several ministers at court, understanding his intentions, had submitted secret reports, hoping to seize this opportunity to retake them.

Seeing the opportunity he'd been waiting for finally arrive, Kangxi was now filled with ambition. After finishing his work, he saw Wen Shan still stringing her jade beads in the candlelight, and he walked over to watch her for a moment, his hands behind his back, in high spirits.

"Your Majesty, you are blocking my light,"

Wen Shan said, looking up helplessly.

She'd spent more time with Kangxi and was slowly learning the ropes. He was actually quite easy to talk to when he was in a good mood, and he didn't mind his occasional outbursts, instead viewing them as a sign of intimacy.

Sure enough, Kangxi wasn't annoyed. He uttered a "hmm" and moved the palace lantern towards Wen Shan.

"You're quite calm. I see you've been stringing these beads for days," Kangxi said, fiddling with a few jade beads. "If you like them, I'll pick out some jewelry for you from the storeroom."

Wen Shan wasn't exactly short of jewelry, but, adhering to the principle of never giving anything away for nothing, she happily agreed.

Consider it Kangxi's free lunch money.

"You have to give something back when you take something from me," Kangxi reminded her.

She'd made so many little trinkets these days, so surely one of them was for him?

Wen Shan blinked, unsure at first, until Kangxi tapped the sandalwood box on the table. It dawned on her.

"These are just for girls. What's the Emperor going to do with them?"

Wen Shan choked, speechless. Her creations were all about extravagance and extravagance, all garish and embellished. Could it be that Kangxi actually liked that?

Could it be that Qianlong inherited his aesthetic taste from his grandfather?

Kangxi knew Wen Shan enjoyed handicrafts, especially since she had made the things Yinzhen used herself. She also crafted many of the ornaments in Xianfu Palace, piece by piece. While not as exquisite as those crafted by the Imperial Household Department, the care and thought put into them was unmatched.

"Making a fan pendant wouldn't be too much trouble for you, would it?" Kangxi asked, then recalled the year he'd encountered Wen Shan embroidering with such dismal grace. He teased her, "I wonder how your needlework is doing now, Concubine? I'm still missing a sachet." "

Wouldn't you be utterly overwhelmed with so much?"

"Just make a fan pendant. My embroidery hasn't improved much, and it's not worthy of a formal occasion." Wen Shan quickly dispelled Kangxi's terrifying thought.

She hadn't practiced embroidery long ago. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't quite get it right.

Why bother putting herself in such a difficult position? Unexpectedly, Kangxi insisted on making her one, saying it didn't matter what style. Wen Shan was so angry that she almost wanted to punch him.

He didn't understand her. He was truly impressed.

Just when he was about to annoy Wen Shan, Kangxi withdrew his hand. After they both settled down for bed, Kangxi said, "I might have to personally campaign against the Dzungars soon. I've asked for something you made yourself, but you wouldn't even agree. It's a shame I dote on you so much."

A personal campaign against the Dzungars?

Wen Shan's eyes snapped open, and she reflected on the matter. It seemed the time had indeed come.

She hadn't noticed it before, reading the history books, but now, having experienced it firsthand, she realized Kangxi had a bit of a warmongering streak. He

'd been at war non-stop for years.

Almost immediately after pacifying the Three Barbarians, he'd taken Taiwan. After a break of three to five years, he'd gone to war with Tsarist Russia again, conquering Yaxica. And just as the treaty was signed, preparations for a personal campaign against the Dzungars began again.

"Are you scared? Why aren't you talking?"

Kangxi turned over to look at her, thinking that Wen Shan was scared by what he said about leading the army in person.

Wen Shan thought to herself, what's there to be scared about? Even if he really went to the front line, it's impossible for him to fight on the battlefield. He would just be commanding in the camp. Even if he lost, he could retreat in time and his life would not be in danger.

So Wen Shan laughed it off and told Yinzhen and others about it the next day.

Kangxi had news reported early in the morning and had to deal with it urgently, so he didn't have breakfast in Xianfu Palace but took away two trays of steamed dumplings made by Wen Shan.

When Yinzhen came, she, Yinsi and Yinxiang were talking about what happened last night.

"To be honest, it will be around the next New Year. It won't happen so soon." Yinsi said vaguely after taking a sip of porridge.

Just then, Yinzhen entered through the curtains. After sitting down, he asked, "What do you mean by 'after the New Year'?"

Yinxiang, standing by, quickly replied, "The Emperor mentioned to Mother yesterday that he wanted to personally lead the expedition against Galdan."

Yinsi and Yinxiang had already informed Yinzhen of this major event, so Yinzhen wasn't surprised. After a moment's reflection, he said, "If I remember correctly, it's my eldest brother who's accompanying us on this expedition, right?"

The eldest prince would be nineteen next year, so he could naturally be taken out.

Yinsi finished his porridge and pushed Wenshan's steamed dumplings toward Yinzhen.

"My eldest brother's greatest glory has been in these past few years."

Not only had he received praise from the Emperor for his military achievements, but he also had numerous ministers who had come to visit

him. Yinzhen and the other two had no intention of interfering with such a major matter. In Yinxiang's words, the eldest prince and the crown prince had driven themselves to this point, especially the eldest prince, who was naturally so arrogant. He needed to achieve something.

Therefore, the few of them didn't discuss the matter of personally conquering Galdan much, waiting to discuss it next year when Kangxi left Beijing.

After finishing his meal, Yinxiang ran to Wenshan, massaged her shoulders and legs, and asked her if serving the Emperor was tiring. After all, the Emperor's ambiguous personality truly lived up to the saying, "Serving the emperor is like living with a tiger."

Wenshan nearly burst into tears as she and Yinxiang held hands. Serving a superior was never easy.

However, Wenshan occasionally found a way to find joy in the midst of hardship. She thought that Kangxi was already thirty-five years old. While he was still young and strong, she should use her as soon as possible, catching the last train. Waiting a few years until he was forty or fifty would be disastrous.

Wenshan naturally wouldn't tell the children about this, but she tactfully suggested that the Imperial Medical Bureau secretly prescribe her some contraceptive herbal medicine.

Although records indicate that Concubine Xuan was childless, it was difficult to say for sure. If she had gotten pregnant but didn't keep the pregnancy, it would be troublesome. Besides, it's unlikely that Kangxi had favored Concubine Xuan so often before.

So she had to make plans early. Although she wasn't considered an older mother yet, she still declined the idea of having a child.

So Doctor Zhang was brought to Xianfu Palace.

By the way, he should be called Yuanpan Zhang now. Last year, he had successfully taken over the position of head of the Imperial Hospital, having successfully replaced the previous incumbent.

But Wen Shan still used to call him Doctor Zhang. After Doctor Zhang took my pulse and put away the pulse pillow, Wen Shan couldn't wait to ask, "How is my health? Am I feeling well?"

"Your Majesty, you are in good health."

Doctor Zhang replied timidly. He looked up and saw the Eighth Prince looking at him with a half-smile. He then glanced at the Fourth Prince, who also had a cold and gloomy expression. Although the Thirteenth Prince was young, he felt pressured when he looked at him with his chin in his hand.

When he entered, he was startled by the sight, thinking Concubine Xuan was suffering from some sort of emergency. Only after taking her pulse did his nerves ease.

Concubine Xuan was in perfect health, completely healthy.

Wen Shan grumbled, and since there was no one else in the room, she went straight to the point: "I asked Imperial Physician Zhang to come here today not only to check her pulse, but also to prescribe a contraceptive."

Imperial Physician Zhang: "......!"

His half-relieved nerves sank back into him.

Prescribing contraception for a concubine?!

Putting aside the question of whether this was a serious offense, the mere thought of this sentence had already caused Imperial Physician Zhang's mind to falter. Concubines from various palaces usually came in seeking fertility treatments, but this was the first time one had actively requested one.

Wasn't it for herself, but for the other concubines?

That made sense.

The next moment, Yinzhen frowned and spoke, "It needs to be mild and harmless. It absolutely cannot harm Mother."

Doctor Zhang's heart sank. So, it was truly prescribed for Concubine Xuan herself.

After the Fourth Prince finished speaking, the Eighth Prince slowly said, "Please carefully consider and prescribe a good prescription."

The Thirteenth Prince grinned, "If anything happens to Mother, we'll hold you responsible."

Doctor Zhang's back was drenched with sweat, and he simply nodded repeatedly.

Wen Shan thought that constantly taking bitter medicine wasn't an option, so she pondered for a moment. As Doctor Zhang carefully wrote the prescription, she asked, "Is there a permanent solution that wouldn't require constant medication?"

Doctor Zhang's hand trembled, and he nearly dropped his pen.

Sterilizing Concubine Xuan?!

He had no brains!

Fortunately, as soon as Wen Shan said this, Yinzhen and the others objected.

"Mother, all medicine is harmful to the body. If you want to prevent pregnancy, you must use strong medicine. Absolutely not." Yinzhen's face was tense, and he refused to agree.

Yinsi also said, "Fourth Brother is right. Besides, what if Mother changes her mind and wants a child in the future?"

That was absolutely impossible.

Yinxiang also hugged Wen Shan's arm, firmly disagreeing with her direct approach of eliminating the problem.

Doctor Zhang wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Fourth Brother is right. If you want to prevent pregnancy, you must use strong medicine. Not only is it harmful to the body, but the process is also extremely painful."

It would be painful, so forget it.

Wen Shan thought about the various TV shows and novels she had read and suggested, "Is there any perfume like musk that can be worn to prevent pregnancy?"

That would be much easier.

Doctor Zhang was already paralyzed: "Your Highness, if you need to wear this medicine for a long time, there's no guarantee you won't get pregnant. Wearing it constantly will definitely harm your health."

Knowing that this medicine was for Noble Concubine Xuan, he had pondered over it for a long time before choosing a prescription. She could just boil the medicine and drink it after serving the emperor. The medicine was mild, and he could prescribe a nourishing prescription for the Empress to help her recover.

"Mother, we are already your sons, unable to persuade you to drink this medicine every day. Don't think of any other solutions," Yinsi sighed.

Wen Shan could only nod; taking medicine was better than getting pregnant.

Doctor Zhang finished writing the prescription and left the main hall.

Yinsi followed and beckoned. Xiao Shunzi entered, carrying a small, gilded box half filled with gold leaves.

Doctor Zhang was flattered and thanked him profusely.

"You know the seriousness of this matter," Yinsi said calmly. "If word gets out, this box of gold will be more than enough to cover your family's funeral expenses."

"Don't worry, Eighth Prince. I'll keep this a secret. Concubine Xuan doesn't go through the Imperial Hospital's daily prescriptions. I personally get them, saying they're tonics."

Yinsi nodded, "Then you can go back."

Imperial Physician Zhang breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped out of the Xianfu Palace. His apprentice was waiting for him outside. When he saw him come out, he hurried over. Seeing the gold leaves in Zhang's hand, he said flatteringly, "It seems Master has done a good job again today and received such a valuable reward."

Imperial Physician Zhang glared at him, not knowing what to say. He tossed the box of gold to the apprentice, who fumbled to catch it. Imperial Physician Zhang snorted, "Hold it tight. If it falls, it can kill you."

The apprentice was puzzled. He couldn't understand why his master looked so bitter and resentful despite receiving so many rewards.

In Xianfu Palace, Yinxiang tried to persuade Wenshan again. After all, medicine is sometimes toxic. If Mother was indeed pregnant and gave birth, it wouldn't matter. He and his fourth and eighth brothers would naturally protect the child.

Wenshan patted his head and said she didn't understand. There was no comparison between taking medicine and giving birth.

In modern times, it would be a near-death experience, let alone in the Qing Dynasty.

"Thirteenth brother, since Mother doesn't want to, stop trying." Yinsi entered and said, "Zhang Ming repeatedly assured me that the medicine is mild and prescribed a tonic."

Yinzhen nodded and said, "As Mother wishes."

Wenshan took this rare opportunity to chat with them about modern medicine and technology. She rarely brought up these topics because she worried they wouldn't be able to accept them or wouldn't understand them at all.

Yinzhen and the others had initially dismissed the conversation as casual, but their expressions grew more serious as they listened.

Was this really just a few hundred years after the Qing Dynasty?

The gap was truly enormous. According to Mother's description, it was a truly earth-shattering, unimaginable change. Machines replaced human labor, and even electricity, the most common energy source in later generations, was beyond their comprehension.

Furthermore, Wenshan explained that it was the Industrial Revolution in the West that first produced these marvels, and that this revolution had only occurred a few decades before them.

Couldn't that mean they could start making these machines now?

The brothers grew increasingly excited. Yinxiang calculated the timeframe Mother had given him and said excitedly, "So, wouldn't it be during Hongli's reign that our Qing dynasty underwent a dramatic transformation? No wonder Hongli fought so many wars; he made the country prosperous and the people strong." Wenshan

: "..."

Only then did Wenshan remember that she hadn't told them what happened later, fearing they wouldn't be able to accept the humiliation of the Qing dynasty's demise, and the loss of their territory.

And then, she kept putting it off until she forgot about it.

So she thought for a while before saying, "Well, during the Qianlong period, the Qing Dynasty was closed to the outside world, so these emerging technologies from abroad did not reach the Qing Dynasty."

Yinzhen's heart skipped a beat, and he felt something was wrong.

Sure enough, Wen Shan's next sentence was,

"So the Qing Dynasty later fell far behind Western countries, and was forced to open its doors to the outside world and was destroyed."