Secrets of Yuqing Palace

Now is a sensitive and special period.

During the first month of the year, Kangxi took his princes and ministers on a southern tour.

It was discovered that the Yellow River had burst its banks and floods were raging, bringing serious disasters to the Jiangnan region. Many areas, fields and tombs were destroyed, and tens of thousands of victims were affected.

But local officials concealed the disaster and failed to report it.

Even when the emperor asked how to deal with the disaster, local officials kept singing praises.

Every year, the national treasury spends a large amount of money to maintain the river. Now that a disaster has occurred, officials are shirking their responsibilities, deceiving their subordinates and concealing the truth from their superiors, which makes Emperor Kangxi furious. A large number of officials are dismissed and demoted.

Although the matter was dealt with, Kangxi was still in a bad mood after returning to Beijing.

Wanyu heard Yinreng mention the southern tour, and learned that Kangxi often reprimanded ministers and princes in the previous dynasty.

Following the principle of less trouble is worse than more, she only asked the maidservant around her to visit her two sisters a few times and gave them rewards.

So he did not invite his two sisters to meet him in Yuqing Palace.

The sisters Shi Wanqiong and Shi Wanyue were told at home that as long as nothing went wrong in the election, everything would be fine.

Just keep a low profile and stay vigilant, and don't be framed or involved in private matters.

Their families had already arranged their marriages, and informed the two of them and their biological mother in advance about their future husbands.

Both they and their biological mothers are extremely happy to have a good marriage.

So after entering the palace, the two sisters were very low-key and modest. They never caused trouble, nor did they compete with other concubines.

Their performance naturally caught the attention of those who were interested.

More than half an hour after the concubines entered the palace, the two princesses of the Guwalgiya clan were summoned by the empress dowager to pay their respects to the Ningshou Palace.

When Kangxi heard Liang Jiugong report the news, his face remained calm, but he was wondering in his heart what the Empress Dowager meant by this move?

Before the concubine entered the palace, Niuhulu Yinde submitted a memorial to him, hoping to hire the fifth princess of Guwalgiya as his principal wife for his eldest son Celeng.

After seeing the memorial, the two beautiful girls from the Guwalgiya clan were included in his selection list.

Originally, I thought of having two beauties, the fifth princess would be given to Celeng, and the fourth princess would be even better.

He was now hesitating whether to give the Fourth Princess to the Fifteenth Prince Yinyu as his principal wife, or to give her to his nephew Baotai as his successor wife.

I just thought that there is still some time before the final palace selection, so there is no need to jump to conclusions and we can observe and see.

Unexpectedly, he was caught off guard by the news that the Empress Dowager had summoned the two of them.

Putting down the list of concubines in his hand, Kangxi decided to go to Ningshou Palace to ask the empress dowager the purpose of summoning the two concubines.

The Empress Dowager was asking questions and secretly observing the two Guwalgiya princesses below. When she saw the emperor come in, surprise flashed in her eyes.

He ordered Aunt Ulan behind him to quickly serve tea to the emperor, and then asked.

"Why is the Emperor here? Have you finished handling the affairs of the previous dynasty?"

Kangxi first glanced at the two little girls who were squatting and bowing in the hall, then called them up and sat down next to the empress dowager.

He picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and then put down the cup.

"I'm a little tired from reviewing memorials, so I came out for a walk. It's a good opportunity to come and see the Empress Dowager."

He asked doubtfully, "What is the Empress Dowager doing?"

The Empress Dowager first waved her hand and asked Aunt Ulan to take the two little princesses out, and then she spoke to the Emperor jokingly.

"The emperor has given the prince a good wife, which has made many people jealous."

"Just a few days ago, Fu Cha from Prince Xian's family came to the palace to pay her respects."

"I'm asking for a marriage for Prince Xian. Fucha is attracted by Guaerjia's upbringing, so she came to me to ask for it."

A hint of satisfaction flashed through Kangxi's heart. It was he who arranged Baocheng's marriage to his wife, and he was happy to be praised by others.

Kangxi was delighted and said, "The Crown Princess is indeed quite good."

"For so many years, she was the only one in the prince's backyard, and she never took advantage of the favor and became spoiled and caused any trouble."

"She also manages the harem well, and the children are good too."

The Queen Mother smiled and said, "That's right."

"Alas~ Prince Xian's mansion had a lot of trouble in the backyard a few years ago because of Dan Zhen."

"Since Yanhuang is getting married, Fucha is worried that her grandson will end up like her son, so she has come to me for help."

"Knowing that the Guaerjia clan is well-educated, I want to hire a princess from the Guaerjia clan to the palace to help Yanhuang manage the palace's backyard."

Kangxi frowned and asked, "Have you chosen a candidate?"

The Queen Mother smiled and shook her head.

"No, Fucha thinks all the princesses of the Guarjia clan are good, no matter which one it is, she asked me to choose one for her."

"Just today, I summoned the two princesses to Ningshou Palace to take a look."

Kangxi asked, "Does Prince Xian's palace only have eyes for the Guarjia clan?"

The Empress Dowager nodded, then asked with concern, "But what's wrong?"

Kangxi's hand holding the teacup paused slightly, then shook his head.

"There's nothing wrong with that."

"But before the New Year, the family of the First-Class Duke Niu Hulu submitted a memorial to me."

"Yin De's eldest son, Celeng, has set his sights on the fifth princess of the Guarjia clan and intends to request my permission for their marriage."

The Empress Dowager showed a knowing and kind smile on her face.

"It seems that our Crown Princess is too outstanding. The good upbringing of the Guarjia family has been noticed by the wives of the Manchu nobles."

"The Emperor has good taste. The princess he chose for the Crown Prince is an excellent one."

Kangxi also nodded with satisfaction.

The Empress Dowager asked, "The Emperor just saw the two Shi family princesses. What did you think?"

Kangxi nodded slightly and said, "He is calm and dignified, without any impetuous air, and he didn't show any panic when he saw me."

"They are indeed two good kids."

The Empress Dowager's eyes lit up and she said, "The Emperor and I are of the same mind."

"If the Emperor has no objection, then I will make the decision and give this Fourth Princess Shi to the child Yan Huang as his wife."

Kangxi smiled gently and said, "The Empress Dowager can make the decision on this matter."

After learning the details in Ningshou Palace, Kangxi went directly back to Qianqing Palace.

Since the person he had chosen was not available, he could only choose good ones for his son and nephew.

Fortunately, there are many ladies of high status among the concubines this year.

I felt regretful for a moment, but soon a better candidate came to my mind.

.........

On this side, the Shi Wanqiong and her sister, after returning to Qianxi No. 5, received the attention of all the beautiful girls.

Especially the two princesses of the Tonggiya clan.

In recent years, because the emperor favored his mother's family, the princesses of the Tonggiya clan were very arrogant and proud, and they did not hide it at all.

When facing the public, he also looks arrogant and conceited.

At this time, when he saw that the two beautiful girls from the Guwaljia clan were summoned by the empress dowager, he was filled with jealousy.

She felt that if the Crown Princess hadn't been there, the Empress Dowager might have summoned the sisters first.

However, due to the relationship with the Crown Princess in the palace, they did not dare to do anything to the two sisters of the Shi family.

But he still treated Shi Wanqiong and her sister with cold eyes and cold nose, and occasionally made some sarcastic remarks.

He was even more disdainful of other concubines, verbally abusing them and even openly targeting them.

Only when others flatter and praise him will he give them a good face.