Secrets of Yuqing Palace

Regardless of his son's constipated expression, the old man made a decision after thinking for a moment.

"Report!"

"This matter must be reported!"

"The emperor of the Aisin-Gioro family is not a man of broad mind."

"Especially with what happened with Empress Xiaoyi a few years ago."

"Although the Emperor didn't say it, he must still be somewhat sad about the death of the Eighth Princess."

"Although it has been a few years, if what you said is true, reporting it would make the emperor feel better."

"And now that we've found out, we can't hide it from the emperor."

"Otherwise, if the emperor finds out that we didn't report it, he might become petty and bear a grudge."

"Although exposing this matter may cause dissatisfaction among other families and harm their interests."

"But you've shown your face to the Emperor and have a good reputation. It's a good thing that the Emperor will remember you."

"You have been in the position of Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple for many years now. Perhaps this incident will be your chance for promotion."

Shi Wenzhuo's eyes lit up. He had indeed been in this position for many years.

Now my eldest nephew’s rank is almost surpassing mine.

If I don’t get promoted, I will lose face as an uncle.

"Then my son will listen to my father and write a memorial when he gets home in the evening."

Shi Huashan nodded and stroked his beard with his big hand.

"And reporting this matter will not only benefit you, but our family as well."

Shi Wenzhuo looked up and asked, "Father, have you thought of anything?"

"Do you know which families' princesses are most likely to be the Crown Princess, besides our Wanlin?"

Shi Wenzhuo thought for a moment and then said, "There are many families eyeing the position of Crown Princess, but the Emperor doesn't have many that he's interested in."

"In addition to our Guarjia clan, there are also the Niuhulu clan, the Hesheli clan, the Wanyan clan, the Shumulu clan, and the Yehenara clan. The princesses of these five clans are vying for the position of Crown Princess."

"Then do you know who poses the greatest threat?"

Shi Wenzhuo analyzed them one by one and said, "The Niuhulu family has already produced a queen and a noble concubine, and there is also the tenth prince in the palace. My son thinks their chances of winning are slim."

"Although the Wanyan clan is a descendant of the Jin Dynasty royal family and has a certain aristocratic bloodline, it is precisely because of this that the emperor is wary of them."

"After all, as the crown prince and heir to the throne, he carries the bloodline of the Aisin-Gioro clan and inherits the throne. The bloodline of the previous dynasty cannot be mixed."

"It is the pure Manchu bloodline that convinces the emperor, his clan members, and the Manchu ministers even more."

Shi Huashan nodded with satisfaction, but he still wanted to think about it a little more.

So he continued to ask, "What about the Shumulu clan?"

"The candidate for the selection of the Shumulu branch is a descendant of Yangguli, one of the founding fathers of the Qing Dynasty."

"His status is even higher than ours. Founding hero Yangguli married the daughter of Taizu Nurhaci. He was successively awarded the title of First Class General and the title of Super-Rank Duke."

"Emperor Taizong posthumously conferred upon him the title of King of Military Merit, and Emperor Taizu ordered that he be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

"This Shumulu Gege is the great-grandson of Yangguli, and the youngest daughter of Fushan, the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard and a First-Class Duke."

Shi Huashan sighed, "Your status is beyond words."

"Although our family is also very good, both of our wives were princesses, and your eldest brother also inherited the title of third-class earl."

"She also married the great-granddaughter of Daishan, Prince Lilie, and the second daughter of Chang'adai, Prince Duoluo Huaimin."

"But the difference between an earl and a duke is not that small."

Shi Wenzhuo shook his head.

"Father, although Wanlin's status is not as high as that of a duke's daughter, our Guarjia clan often marries into the royal family."

"From this, we can see how much the Emperor values ​​our Suwan Guwalgiya clan."

"Plus, Wanlin also has royal blood. Just from this point of view, she is more likely to win than the princess from the Shumulu clan."

"Also, when the Emperor selects a princess for the Crown Prince, he must also consider increasing the power of the Crown Prince's wife's family."

"Although Shumulu Fushan is a first-class duke and the Minister of the Imperial Guard, there are not many outstanding talents in the Shumulu clan nowadays."

“There are only a few who can rank high and have potential.”

"Shumulu Fulun, a member of the Manchu Plain White Banner, served as Governor of Shandong in the 28th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi."

"Although I am highly regarded by the Emperor, I have already reached the age of knowing my destiny, and I really lack the stamina."

"The next is Xu Yuanmeng, young and talented, and considered a rising star of the Shumulu clan."

"In the 22nd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, he was appointed as the Daily Records Officer and later promoted to Imperial Tutor. He was considered a close minister to the Emperor and had a bright future."

"But in the 26th year of the Kangxi reign, he and Degeler were impeached and imprisoned in the Imperial Household Department because of their rivalry."

"Now they have become bondservants, and it is unknown when they can regain their banner status."

"There was another young Shumulu named Shumulu Heshou. In the 24th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi, he was appointed as a clerk in the Ministry of Works. He was soon transferred to the Ministry of Justice and concurrently managed the Guangshan Treasury."

At this point, Shi Wenzhuo said with some shame: "My son and I are now officials of the same rank."

Shi Huashan shook his head. "Although you are now of the same rank, you have been in the position of Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple for many years."

"Don't be discouraged. As long as you can remain calm and composed, and with the support of your family and your wife's family, your next promotion will be to the third-rank Guanglu Temple Minister."

"Compared to the one you just mentioned, the young man from the Shumul clan was promoted step by step much more easily and quickly."

Shi Wenzhuo bowed and said, "Son, I understand."

Shi Huashan motioned for him to continue.

Shi Wenzhuo spoke directly when he mentioned the Yehenara clan.

"In the court, the Prime Minister Ming clearly stands behind the eldest prince, and he and Prime Minister Suo are in opposition and check and balance with each other in the court."

"Not to mention that Prime Minister Suo and Prime Minister Ming are unwilling, even if they are willing, I think the emperor is unwilling to break this balance."

Shi Huashan nodded in satisfaction, then picked up the teacup on the table and asked in confusion.

"So you think the princesses of the Hesheli clan are the most competitive?"

Shi Wenzhuo looked directly into his father's eyes.

"My son, Prime Minister Suo, will surely be unwilling to give up the position of Crown Princess to someone else."

"The Hesheli clan has benefited greatly from the rich benefits brought to them by the Empress and the Crown Prince."

"Besides, they are the prince's mother's family. How could they be willing to give up this opportunity?"

Shi Huashan was very satisfied with his son's analysis.

Although the consideration is not comprehensive, it is already very good, at least it can give a general analysis.

"What you just said is all true, but that old fellow Suo Etu is unwilling to let go for more than just these reasons."

Shi Wenzhuo bowed and said, "Please enlighten me, Father."

Shi Huashan put down the teacup in his hand and said, "Sit down."

"You should understand how much the emperor values ​​his mother's family. The Tong family was originally just a small Han army banner."

"In the eighth year of the Kangxi reign, he was promoted from the Han Army's Zhenglan Banner to the Han Army's Huangqi Banner."

"In the 27th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, the Han army's Bordered Yellow Banner was upgraded to the Manchu army's Bordered Yellow Banner."

"And because of Empress Xiaokangzhang, the Tong family sent daughters to the palace one after another, and even produced Empress Xiaoyi."

"And because the Emperor promoted the Tong family, they have become the new elite of Manchuria."

"After our current emperor ascended the throne, Tong Guogang and his brother Tong Guowei were both called uncles of the emperor."

"Brothers Tong Guogang and Tong Guowei have been promoted repeatedly."

"Tong Guogang was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Han Army of the Plain Blue Banner (from the first rank), inherited the title of First-Class Duke, and was later transferred to Commander-in-Chief of the Han Army of the Bordered Yellow Banner, commanding the Han Army Firearms Battalion."

"In the 21st year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, Tong Guowei was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Guard. In the same year, he was appointed Minister of State Affairs."

"In the 28th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi, he was conferred the title of First Class Duke, joining Tong Guogang as a member of the same clan and two other Dukes."

"If Tong Guogang hadn't died on the battlefield last year while accompanying the Emperor to fight against Galdan, who knows how high his position would have risen, and how prosperous the Tong family would have become."

"Not only that, the emperor also values ​​Tong Guowei's third son, Longkodo."

"In the 27th year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, Longkodo was appointed a first-class imperial guard, and later promoted to Imperial Envoy and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Zhenglan Banner Mongolian Army."

"Who wouldn't be jealous of the Tong family's rise these days?"

"So Soetu must be very concerned about the selection of the Crown Princess and won't give up!"

"Especially since the Crown Prince is the heir to the throne, as long as a princess from the Hesheli family becomes the Crown Princess, the Emperor and the Tong family can be successfully replicated."

"Not only can the prince with Hesheli blood become the emperor, but a Hesheli princess can also become the new empress, or even the mother of the next emperor."

"In this way, the glory of the Hesheli clan can be maintained for a hundred years."

Shi Wenzhuo's heart trembled as he listened to his father's analysis.

It is indeed as Ama said, who can resist such temptation?!