The Virtuous Concubine

Malu didn't feel sorry for Kangxi. She and Kangxi were in a relationship of one person doing the first day of the month and the other doing the fifteenth day. Moreover, according to Kangxi's tricks, she didn't cut Kangxi's beef because she was not as powerful as him and had to bow her head.

But she needs to think about the child again.

It was a deep dream, but when I woke up the next day, the whole palace was filled with jubilation - the admiral of the Fujian Navy, Shi Lang, led his troops to annihilate the main force of the Ming Zheng army in the waters of Penghu, promoted peace through force, forced the Prince of Yanping, Zheng Keshuang, to surrender, and recovered Penghu and Taiwan!

Kangxi naturally held a grand banquet and continued to celebrate. The palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful lights, music was deafening, and the entire capital was immersed in a sea of ​​joy.

The few cabinet scholars who advocated war in the previous dynasty were even more popular, including Li Guangdi, the cabinet grand scholar targeted by both Malu and the Fourth Prince.

Like Dai Duo, he had made great contributions in the Geng Jingzhong Rebellion. In the 13th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, Jingnan King Geng Jingzhong rebelled. Li Guangdi and his family hid in the mountains and valleys. Geng Jingzhong sent people to persuade them to surrender, but Li Guangdi firmly refused.

Li Guangdi then secretly wrote a secret memorial, hid it in a wax ball, sent someone to secretly deliver it to the capital, and finally presented it to the emperor through Cabinet Scholar Fu Hongji.

Emperor Kangxi was deeply moved after reading the secret memorial and praised Li Guangdi for his loyalty and wisdom. Later, Li Guangdi made many military achievements and was promoted to the current position of Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

But he was a staunch royalist and a very upright person. Facing all the good intentions from the Fourth Prince, he rejected them either indirectly or directly, and only had Kangxi and the Crown Prince in his heart and eyes.

Although the Fourth Prince is now a very favored prince, Li Guangdi has rejected all the good intentions of the Fourth Prince, either indirectly or directly, leaving the Fourth Prince feeling frustrated.

Fortunately, it was not completely without gain. Li Guangdi introduced Dai Duo, who was still unknown in the officialdom of the capital at that time, but had made contributions in the Geng Jingzhong Rebellion like him!

This was truly something that came without any effort. The Fourth Prince wanted so much that he wanted to look up to the sky and shout that this was truly the destiny. He happily followed Li Guangdi to meet Dai Duo, and was extremely polite, treating him as a guest of honor.

Li Guangdi observed the interaction between the two and nodded secretly in his heart.

He knew that although Dai Duo was young, he was talented and had performed well during the Geng Jingzhong Rebellion, making him a rare talent. However, it was still beneath his dignity to let the Fourth Prince, the only prince with the title of Beizi, ask a young man like him for advice.

Unexpectedly, the Fourth Prince did not take his suggestion as an offense, but was very happy instead.

The Fourth Prince's reaction surprised Li Guangdi and made him re-examine this prince.

Li Guangdi suddenly felt that the Fourth Prince either truly recognized his vision or had a keen eye for talent. In either case, this boy was a promising talent, and his favorable impression of the Fourth Prince increased a bit.

Compared with the prince's arrogance, he still prefers gentlemen who are humble, low-key and have outstanding virtues.

Li Guangdi added: "I have always believed in Mr. Dai's ability. If the Fourth Prince can receive Mr. Dai's guidance, he will surely be even more powerful."

Dai Duo smiled modestly when he heard Li Guangdi's praise. "You are too kind, Grand Secretary Li. I am just doing my duty. It is my great honor to be appreciated by the Fourth Prince."

The Fourth Prince stood up, clasped his hands together, and said with a gleaming look in his eyes: "Mr. Li, Mr. Dai, it is my honor to have the opportunity to communicate with you two wise men today."

As he spoke, he presented the apprenticeship gift and thank-you gift, which made the two learned men feel that the Fourth Prince was thoughtful. The Fourth Prince was relieved when he saw that the two accepted the gift.

This line is finally connected! Not to mention Dai Duo, Li Guangdi can't escape either!

He knew very well that in his later years, the emperor relied heavily on Li Guangdi, and even said, "I know you best, and you know me best." He praised Li Guangdi for his profound knowledge and his cautiousness, and said he was one of the most trustworthy ministers in his heart.

I really wanted to have contact with him earlier. Thanks to my mother's guidance and cooperation, I was able to find an opportunity to make friends with the prince first, and through the prince, I got to know Li Guangdi and found Dai Duo, whom my mother had been thinking about.

Then he turned around and asked the eunuch Gao Wuyong beside him: "What did Suo Etu send someone to say?"

Gao Wuyong lowered his head and whispered, "It is said that the female prisoner from Luosha Country is dead. She committed suicide."

The Fourth Prince frowned and said, "What a waste! She couldn't even take care of a prisoner, and she committed suicide. It's a good thing for her."

I still have to tell my mother, he thought, and walked towards Yonghe Palace.

Malu was playing the piano. She was practicing a modern piece today. She had agreed with the prince that she would play it for him next time she recovered.

It was just that it had been so long since she came to the Qing Dynasty that she only remembered fragments of the melody.

So she played the piano intermittently. It was not enough to just play the section smoothly, she had to try hard to recall it, and even fill in the content of the next section herself.

The Fourth Prince stood at the door, watching his mother playing the piano intently. He felt that life was peaceful and quiet, and did not want to disturb her for the moment.

When she was young, she would sing to herself, but unfortunately she only liked to appreciate it and found it very difficult to learn it. Fortunately, her mother was really versatile and trained her to have an ear comparable to Zhou Gongjin.

But the music theory of this Western iron harp is different from that of the Qing Dynasty's musical instruments, so he can't really tell whether it's good or bad.

Now in the palace, only my mother, the crown prince, and my father know how to play the harp, as if the three of them are a real family.

I really envy the prince, he thought. Not only the emperor, but also my mother seemed to like him very much. If I were not my mother's biological child, my mother might not like me as much as the prince.

Malu finally finished the whole song and played it again. She stopped when she saw there was nothing else that needed to be changed. She turned around and wanted to ask Bai Xia to put away the score, but she saw her eldest son standing outside, looking at her with a smile.

Seeing her son so happy, Malu put down the music sheet and waved gently, "Why are you standing outside like an idiot? How long have you been waiting?"

The Fourth Prince sat obediently on the piano stool and curiously poked the keys with his fingers, producing scattered musical sounds. "It won't be long. Seeing how devoted Mother is, I naturally don't want to disturb her."

Malu nodded: "You are so happy today. You never come to visit me for no reason. Tell me, what's wrong?"

The Fourth Prince then told his mother about his recent acquaintances with Li Guangdi and Dai Duo, as well as some other achievements, and some news from the previous dynasty.

"Mother, you really have a keen eye for talent." The Fourth Prince was very excited. "Mr. Dai Duo, although young, has extraordinary insight and courage, and his ideas are also very unique. He is truly a rare talent."

Malu listened carefully and nodded in agreement: "You are growing up very fast, and I am happy for you. You will be able to stand on your own soon."