Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Yinzhen and Yinsi hadn't discussed it beforehand...

Yinzhen and Yinsi hadn't discussed it beforehand, but once Yinsi brought it up, Yinzhen thought it was indeed a good match.

"Although it's a second marriage, Tian Wenjing is an honest official and even more so a man. He has no concubines, no maids, and no children. I think my eighth brother and I will treat your daughter well," Yinzhen added.

Dai Zi was still a little hesitant. It wasn't that he thought second marriages were bad, but rather that the social status of the two families was indeed somewhat different.

"Fourth Master, Eighth Master, thank you for your consideration. However, Lord Tian is a prefect, and I'm just an ordinary citizen who was recently convicted. I'm afraid we're not a good match."

Dai Zi had heard of Tian Wenjing's official title and knew he was an honest and upright official. He would naturally be happy if his daughter really married him, but he was worried that his daughter would be bullied because of the disparity in social status.

Although he considered his daughter to be perfectly fine, he had to admit that her age was indeed what those gossips called an "unmarriageable old maid." His recent dismissal from his position in the palace only made matters worse.

A hint of melancholy crossed Dai Zi's eyes, and he said with a wry smile, "Gentlemen, I won't hide it from you. I had originally intended to save a bit of my family fortune and leave it to my daughter. It would be best if I could find her a live-in son-in-law someday. I'd be patient, waiting for her to have a child, raising him to be filial to his mother. Then, passing on my skills to my grandchildren, I'd probably ensure she has a carefree life, and I could leave with peace of mind."

Dai Zi touched Yinzhen and Yinsi's heart, and they couldn't help but sigh at his fatherly sentiments.

The three of them walked to the pavilion in the backyard and sat down to discuss the matter in detail. The autumn wind was picking up, and the lotus flowers in the lake were almost completely withered. Occasionally, a few gray birds would fly by, startling ripples in the water.

"I understand. Master Dai is worried your daughter will be treated poorly after marrying into the family, right?" Yinsi asked.

Dai Zi rubbed his head sheepishly. "The person you two gentlemen favor is naturally a good one. I've heard of Lord Tian's reputation for integrity, but officials often aim for a good marriage and a prosperous career. If Lord Tian becomes my son-in-law, that would be the end of all hope."

He couldn't help but worry that even if Tian Wenjing married his daughter out of respect for the two princes, he would be reluctant.

This would inevitably lead to resentment.

Dai Zi's words were a testament to his sincerity. Yinzhen said, "You're worrying too much. Tian Wenjing comes from a poor family. His first wife was the daughter of a teacher. His in-laws couldn't offer him much help. He's come this far thanks entirely to his own political achievements." "Of course,

my fourth brother and I also helped him," Yinsi replied. "Tian Wenjing's greatest reliance is my fourth brother and me. Marriage and family connections are completely irrelevant to him."

Yinsi's words were both arrogant and blunt. Tian Wenjing's political background was sufficient with just the two of them; there was no need to marry the daughter of a wealthy and prominent family.

Dai Zi remained hesitant. He always gave his daughter a lot of thought when it came to her marriage. If she married the wrong man and her life was unhappy, it would be better for her to remain single. He would plan for her whole life.

Seeing this, Yinsi offered further counsel, "Master Dai, we simply wish to arrange a marriage as we see a good match. There's no need to underestimate yourself. Your achievements are no less than those of the prefect, Tian Wenjing." Yinsi

was speaking the truth. Once these improved muskets were deployed on the battlefield, they would be truly powerful weapons for the nation.

It's just that the Emperor still had to work in secret. Once Fourth Brother ascended the throne, the artisans in the courtyard would undoubtedly be rewarded one by one. Especially for a skilled individual like Dai Zi, a title would be a nobility a simple matter.

"Very well, since you two have considered so much for us, it would be ungrateful to refuse," Dai Zi finally resolved. "Thank you very much, you two. This marriage is beyond my wildest dreams."

Putting aside his previous concerns, this marriage was truly the best choice.

Tian Wenjing's favor with Yinzhen and Yinsi meant he would surely have a prosperous career. Although he was a second wife, Tian Wenjing didn't have any children, and a second marriage would also help to bridge the gap between their family backgrounds. 

"You 're welcome," Yinsi said with a smile. "We don't practice blind marriages. Tian Wenjing will be in Beijing in a few days to report on his work. I'll find a chance for your daughter to meet him first, and if she's interested, we can get married." Dai Zi was even more delighted. "You two don't know, my daughter is very opinionated. If she were to marry like this, it would probably cause a huge uproar." 

With the marriage almost settled, Yinzhen and Yinsi left the villa to dine at Zuixianju. 

Before leaving, Yinsi tried to take the musket back to show Yinxiang, who loved playing with these toys and would be delighted to see him. 

But Yinzhen stopped him. 

There was no place to test the gun in the palace and Yinsi felt his arms go numb when he used the musket, not to mention Yinxiang who had small arms and legs now. 

This thing was dangerous and it would be even more troublesome if it went off accidentally. 

Yinsi thought it made sense after listening to it and had to let it go. He thought that he would bring Yinxiang to visit here when he had the chance. 

When they arrived at Zuixianju, they booked an elegant private room. When they opened the window, they saw a field of autumn chrysanthemums in full bloom. 

"Why did you suddenly think of arranging a marriage between Dai Zi's daughter and Tian Wenjing?" 

After ordering the dishes, Yinzhen looked at Yinsi who was looking at the decoration across from him and asked. 

Yinsi took a sip of water, waved the fan in his hand, and said in a rather romantic manner: "Since you have never paid attention to these things, it is natural that I have to worry about them." 

"Dai Zi is a useful person. It is even more important to know the details of a useful person. His only concern is this unmarried daughter. If we solve this problem for him, he will naturally be grateful and loyal to us." 

Yinzhen: "Dai Zi himself is also a loyal person." 

"As the saying goes, skills are better than talents. It is always good to have an extra layer of insurance." Yinsi said. 

Yinzhen thought about it and nodded: "From what Dai Zi said, his daughter's personality is very compatible with Hetian Wenjing." 

Yinsi also smiled. He thought so too. This was not a random matchmaking. He had thought about it for a long time and found it to be a suitable marriage. 

Later, when Tian Wenjing came to Beijing to report on his work, Yinzhen and Yinsi arranged for a meeting between them. As expected, they hit it off immediately and were very compatible. Not long after, they were officially engaged and married, but that's a story for another time. 

... 

When she returned to Xianfu Palace, Concubine Yi was already waiting for her, and she had brought the Eleventh Prince with her. 

"Your Highness, you're finally back! I've been waiting so long," Concubine Yi went to greet her. 

Wen Shan rolled her eyes at her: "Don't bother! Look at the pastry plates in front of you. They've been changed twice, haven't they?" 

Concubine Yi smiled: "These aren't for me to eat, but for Yinzhen, that little glutton." 

The Eleventh Prince also politely greeted Wen Shan. 

Wen Shan patted his head: "Yinzhen, just eat. Tell Empress Xuan what else you want to eat, and she'll have someone get it for you." 

The Eleventh Prince was very well-behaved. He pursed his lips and hesitated for a long time before whispering that he liked the peach blossom cake. 

It was a glutinous rice cake that Wen Shan made when she was free. It was filled with red bean paste and shaped like a peach blossom. It was sweet but not greasy, and Yinzhen liked it very much too.

"Zhenzhu, go to the kitchen and get some more for the Eleventh Prince." Wen Shan turned to Concubine Yi and said, "I'll pack you some snacks before we leave."

Concubine Yi didn't hesitate to greet Wen Shan. She nodded, pulled her to a seat, and said, "I came to see Your Majesty today to discuss the vaccinations for Yinzhen and the Thirteenth Prince next year."

Yinxiang, whom Wen Shan had already vaccinated with cowpox, was already due next year. Concubine Yi

had already had the Fifth and Ninth Princes vaccinated, and she was quite experienced, but for some reason, she felt a surge of anxiety about the Eleventh Prince's vaccination.

"I thought I'd send a few more people in to look after him, and I'll have to ask Your Majesty for help later."

Wen Shan was in charge of the Six Palaces, so she had some influence over the arrangements for the palace staff in the other courtyards.

It wasn't a big deal, and a mother's anxiety over her child's vaccinations was immense. Even if Kangxi knew, he wouldn't say anything.

So Wen Shan agreed immediately.

"Okay, if you have someone you trust who can help, please let them know."

Wen Shan agreed, and Concubine Yi breathed a sigh of relief. Then she turned to the young Tong Jia, who had just arrived in the palace.

"I heard you met Concubine Tong while flying a kite with the Thirteenth Prince?"

Wen Shan said helplessly, "Everything spreads so quickly in the palace."

Concubine Yi fanned herself and said, "That's just how it is in the palace. Besides, it's a newcomer's first day, so naturally everyone's watching."

Then, Concubine Yi added mysteriously, "I heard Tong Jia went to see Concubine Nianhulu, and they parted on bad terms."

Wen Shan was shocked. Had she fallen out with Concubine Nianhulu, now in charge of palace affairs, on their first meeting?

This young Tong Jia was quite powerful.

But on reflection, it wasn't surprising. Their personalities were so similar, so it was understandable that they wouldn't get along.

Kangxi naturally favored Concubine Tong on her first day, but the fact that she did so for two consecutive days had many people on edge.

It wasn't that she was trying to win favor, but rather that she was a bit worried that, given Tong Jia's family background and current favor, she might become another Concubine Niohuru in the future.

Niohuru, on the other hand, remained quite composed and didn't bother Concubine Tong. However, Tong, being young and hot-tempered, saw that Niohuru was tolerant and instead took the initiative to cause trouble. Not only did she fail to harm Niohuru, but she also annoyed Kangxi, who reprimanded her.

Then Concubine Tong became obedient.

Wenshan and the children privately lamented, "Time truly is merciless! Concubine Nianhulu, who was so fiery-tempered, has now learned to use calmness to control movement."

Yinzhen and the other two huddled together, muttering something. Wenshan approached to ask what they were discussing. Yinsi smiled and said, "Mother, we're planning to present our steelmaking method to the Emperor first."

Yinsi and the others pondered. In a few years, Kangxi would personally lead his second expedition against Galdan. They needed to at least report on the progress of steelmaking and musketry before that battle.

However, both required extreme caution, especially with such a lethal weapon in their hands. A misjudgment could lead to trouble.

After returning from the separate courtyard, Yinsi had told Yinxiang about the new musket that Dai Zi had just invented. Yinxiang was genuinely interested and urged Yinzhen and Yinsi to take him to see it.

Yinzhen helplessly thought that it would have been better to have asked Yinsi to bring him a handful of vaccines, so he wouldn't have to be constantly pestered by his thirteenth brother.

However, Yinzhen and the other two felt that a third personal expedition was unnecessary. It was not only laborious but also costly. The previous life had left Yinzhen with a nearly empty treasury, forcing Yinzhen and Yinsi to scramble to fill the gap.

They were both exhausted and ill.

In between Yinzhen's busy schedules, Wen Shan found time to tell Yinsi about what Concubine Yi had said today. It was Yinsi who had always been in charge of manpower deployment.

"Mother, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten." Yinsi slapped his forehead. "It's time to implement the cowpox vaccination." Even

the most carefully cared-for princes might not survive, and even more ordinary people died from vaccination every year. These were all citizens of the Qing Dynasty. In an era before machines were commonplace, population was naturally the most important resource.

However, Yinzhen and his companions had never figured out how to implement this plan effectively while keeping Kangxi on the sidelines. Now was definitely the time.

Yinxiang raised his hand, expressing a different opinion.

"Isn't it a bit too conspicuous to bring up steelmaking, musketry, and cowpox all at once?"

Yinzhen rubbed his fingers and nodded. "Thirteenth brother, you're right. We need to prioritize."

"Let's start with cowpox," Yinsi said. "It's a major issue that benefits the country and the people, but it has nothing to do with economics or politics. It's a good place to test the waters."

The three brothers quickly approved the proposal.

Wenshan watched them discuss their long discussions until they finally reached a conclusion, then beckoned them to dinner.

"Dinner's getting cold! Come and eat!"

Yinsi was the first to jump down, rubbing his hands together. "I haven't had Mother's meal properly in days. Thirteenth Prince, don't fight with me! I want this fish!"

Wen Shan said helplessly, "That's because you've been fishing every day lately, and I haven't seen you bring back many."

Wen Shan had never imagined Yinsi would become a fisherman. He would rush out after dinner and then go fishing in the Imperial Garden with the Ninth Prince, the Tenth Prince, and sometimes the Fourteenth Prince.

Even the several golden fish that Concubine Nianhulu kept there were ruined by them.

But since her precious son was among those being harmed, Concubine Nianhulu could only accept it with a pinch of her nose.

"Mother, how could I fish then?" Yinsi took a few mouthfuls of rice, "I went with the ninth and tenth princes, and they insisted on dragging me along, there was nothing I could do."

Initially, the fishing craze was started by the fifth prince, but unexpectedly, the fifth prince lost interest after a few days and instead aroused the ninth and tenth princes' addiction.

These two were timid and insisted on dragging Yinsi along, so Yinsi had no choice but to follow them and feed mosquitoes for several days.

Yinxiang was a little jealous of this, but he never said it directly, so he just said awkwardly: "If my brother is willing to go, then he must like it."

Yinzhen also added a stab at the side: "Do you like fish or people?"

Yinsi: "..."

Can these two people talk properly?

Yinzhen and Yinsi acted quickly, and a few days later, the method of cowpox was presented to Kangxi.

"Good, good!"

Kangxi was overjoyed. Looking at Yinzhen and Yinsi who were standing below, he hurriedly asked: "Have you tried this method?"

"Your Majesty, this method was discovered by a folk doctor named Huang Qi. According to him, it has been somewhat effective. After receiving the news, I was worried that it was sensational, so I brought him to Beijing and tried it on thirty children." Yinzhen said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. These thirty children are about to get smallpox and their families are poor. They are worried that they cannot be cured, so their parents sent them here." Kangxi

nodded, and then asked: "What were the results?"

"All thirty children were successfully vaccinated, and the process was mild. Even the weakest children could survive within a day or two."

"Good, good, good!" Kangxi clapped his hands and laughed.

This is truly a great thing that benefits both the country and the people.

"Yinzhen, well done." Kangxi patted Yinzhen on the shoulder and said approvingly, "The sword I gave you is truly the right one."

Then Kangxi looked at Yinsi, who was standing nearby, and said, "Yinsi is also good. You should assist your fourth brother and do your job well in the future."

Yinsi replied respectfully, saying that since today wasn't his home court, he would just stay put.

"Liang Jiugong."

Kangxi unfolded the imperial edict, picked up his pen, and began to write. He quickly wrote a decree and handed it to Liang Jiugong.

"Go and announce the decree immediately, summoning Huang Qi to the palace."

When Yinzhen and Yinsi returned, Wen Shan was still worried about them.

"You're back. How's it going? Did everything go well?"

Yinsi smiled and stepped forward, saying, "Don't worry, mother. How could it not go well?"

"The Emperor has summoned Doctor Huang to the palace," Yinzhen added. "I'm sorry, mother, I can't tell you about your achievements."

Wen Shan didn't mind. In fact, this wasn't her idea. Speaking out would have caused a lot of trouble. Finding a trustworthy doctor would be the best option.

Kangxi acted quickly. Within a day, he found another hundred children of appropriate age to test the cowpox method. Finding it indeed worked, Kangxi, overjoyed, went to worship his ancestors that very night after the results came out and informed the heavens of the good news.

The cowpox vaccination method was also vigorously promoted. Kangxi had originally intended to invite Doctor Huang Qi to the palace as an imperial physician and reward him with a third-rank official position, but Doctor Huang steadfastly refused, stating that he still wanted to travel the country to help the common people. Although Kangxi felt sorry, he respected Doctor Huang's intention and bestowed upon him a thousand taels of gold and the honorary title of a first-class earl, granting him no fiefdom but a stipend, and then he was safely released from the palace.

Doctor Huang explained that the cowpox method was more effective and would recover more quickly in younger children, so he suggested that Kangxi raise the vaccination age to three years old. After careful consideration, Kangxi agreed and planned to vaccinate all the princes and princesses over three years old who had not yet been vaccinated.

To promote this among the common people, it was natural that the royal family should set an example.

The news immediately caused chaos in the harem,

as there were indeed many children of the appropriate age.

All the princes, from the eleventh to the fourteenth, were to be vaccinated. Among the princesses, the seventh, eighth, and ninth were also of appropriate age. Seven children, all at once, were to be sent to the imperial courtyards, facing the gates of hell. This was a heartbreaking experience for all the mothers. Concubine

De was particularly worried. Besides the fifth princess, who had already been vaccinated, all her sons and daughters had to undergo the vaccination. Even before they were even in the courtyards, she was already halfway to death.

The sixth prince had died from the vaccination, and now the fourteenth and seventh princesses would also be vaccinated, using the newly introduced cowpox vaccine. Concubine De felt dizzy upon hearing the news.

Concubine Min's situation wasn't much better. The eighth princess, just four years old and still dependent on care, was heartbroken to have to go to the courtyards alone for vaccination. Furthermore, she had recently been diagnosed with pregnancy, and her health was already failing.

Yinxiang spent a few days with Concubine Min, who gradually recovered, but he remained visibly worried. Perhaps due to her pregnancy, she was particularly sensitive, and would burst into tears whenever she saw the Eighth Princess.

The youngest among them was the Ninth Princess, who had just turned three and was about to be vaccinated. Her mother, Concubine Yuan, fainted from tears several times and repeatedly pleaded with Emperor Kangxi for a delay.

After all, no child under three had ever been vaccinated; they usually waited until six. Even with the introduction of the cowpox vaccination, three was just the beginning of the vaccination period. How could Concubine Yuan be so reassured with such a young child?

Kangxi was annoyed by her tears, but he also sympathized with Concubine Yuan's feelings. However, the new vaccination policy had just been implemented, and if it were his own daughter, it would be an exception, and how could the people of the country follow it? So, Kangxi had no choice but to harden his heart and send the Ninth Princess, who had just turned three, to a separate courtyard.

However, to appease Concubine Yuan, Emperor Kangxi made an exception and promoted her to the rank of concubine, bestowing upon her the title of Rui, expressing his hope for the Ninth Princess's good fortune.

Ruipin knew Kangxi's decision was unshakable. The Ninth Princess was determined to be vaccinated. She had received a reward, so she gave up, fearing she might truly anger Kangxi.

When the auspicious day calculated by the Imperial Observatory arrived and the princes and princesses were escorted out of the palace, the entire harem was in a state of panic. The Fengxian Hall and the small Buddhist shrines in the various palaces were packed, and even Kangxi visited Fengxian Hall several times to burn incense.

Although Yinxiang had been vaccinated before, Wenshan was still concerned. She wore a sullen face as she escorted him there. Yinxiang tried to cheer Wenshan up, saying he would be back in two or three days. Wenshan sighed as she

watched Yinxiang go in. Even with her confidence, her heart still hung heavy.

"Don't worry, my lord. The Thirteenth Prince will be fine. The princes in our Xianfu Palace are all blessed. Look at the Fourth and Eighth Princes, they both survived," Zhenzhu reassured her.

Amber also said: "That's right, and after the 13th prince is vaccinated, all your worries will be gone. You just have to wait for the brothers to get married, start a family, and have grandchildren."

After hearing this, Wen Shan thought vaguely that it seemed to be true. Time passed too quickly. In the blink of an eye, Yinxiang was about to be vaccinated, and in two years, Yinzhen would be married, and Yinsi would follow suit.

The children have all grown up.