When Tong Guowei spoke of the Crown Prince, his eyes flickered slightly before he let out a sigh.
At present, the Crown Prince enjoyed unparalleled favor from the Emperor. Even when Mingzhu was still in power, the Eldest Prince could not compare to the Crown Prince. In Tong Guowei’s view, their past confrontations had been nothing more than petty squabbles. Now that Mingzhu had been stripped of his official position and his faction had collapsed, the situation was even more lopsided.
Every time he thought about it, Tong Guowei felt a chill run down his spine. It was as if the Crown Prince had received guidance from a master strategist. Over the years, the Crown Prince had deliberately distanced himself from Suo Etu and cut ties with the supporters of Mrs. Hesheli. Instead, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to studying, cultivating virtue, and showing filial piety to the two Empress Dowagers and the Emperor. On the surface, he appeared weak and unassuming.
But this very "weakness" had endeared him deeply to the Emperor, leaving no room for suspicion.
With Mingzhu’s faction unable to find any grounds for attack, the political infighting could not touch Yuqing Palace. The Emperor’s affection for the Crown Prince only grew stronger, to the point where he personally oversaw every detail of the Crown Prince’s affairs.
Just look at the officials selected for the Crown Prince’s household—each one was exceptionally talented, capable enough to form a small court on their own. Yet the Emperor still felt it was insufficient and sought to appoint renowned scholars to serve the Crown Prince. It was only after the Crown Prince declined that the Emperor relented.
Tong Guowei couldn’t predict whether there would be changes in the future, but for now, the Emperor would never allow the position of the heir apparent to be shaken.
Had Mingzhu truly been dismissed for allowing his subordinates to sell official positions and embezzle funds?
No. It was because his actions had grown increasingly audacious, and his ambition to covet the throne had become glaringly obvious. The Emperor could no longer tolerate it.
At the height of the Nara clan’s power, they had been struck down mercilessly. Their followers were either dismissed or demoted—who could have foreseen such a fall?
Such was the absolute authority of the Emperor. He could grant life or demand death with a single word.
Witnessing the sudden shift in the court’s dynamics, Tong Guowei realized that the Tong family’s favor with the Emperor had waned significantly. Even if they wished to remain neutral, they could no longer afford to sit idly by.
One misstep could lead to disaster. The thought of his two beautiful daughters—one lying cold in the grave, the other living a solitary life with only a flickering lamp and Buddhist scriptures for company—made his fingers tremble, his face twisting with deep anguish.
"Crown Prince… Crown Prince…" he murmured. "Our Tongjia clan must also secure a path for survival."
Longkodo lowered his eyes slightly and responded calmly, concealing the flicker of ambition in his gaze. A blazing fire seemed to consume him from within.
The Crown Prince had always been distant toward him. If he ascended the throne legitimately, where would that leave Longkodo?
And then there was Noble Consort Yi, whom the Crown Prince held in high esteem—the Emperor’s most beloved consort.
Before his sister had been demoted, she had held the title of Imperial Noble Consort, yet she had never enjoyed the same respect as Mrs. Guoluoluo. She had spent her life consumed by jealousy. And Ru Yue… When Ru Yue had gone to the imperial gardens, Noble Consort Yi had been the only one by the Emperor’s side.
Longkodo believed nothing but Noble Consort Yi’s arrogant and domineering words. If not for her, how could the Emperor have been so ruthless toward his sister and Ru Yue?
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Longkodo seemed to tacitly agree with Tong Guowei’s words and asked, "Father, has there been any news about the selection of the Crown Princess?"
He attended the Emperor daily, yet His Majesty had never mentioned it to him.
"If you don’t know, how would I?" Tong Guowei sighed. "At the very least, it won’t be from the Hesheli, Tongjia, or Nara clans."
Among the eligible noble maidens, there were countless with prestigious family backgrounds. If the Emperor was spoilt for choice, so were they.
"By tradition, before the Crown Princess enters the household, the Emperor will appoint a secondary consort or a few concubines to serve the Crown Prince," Tong Guowei said slowly, narrowing his eyes. "The grand wedding should be delayed as long as possible. If we plan carefully and ensure a Tong woman bears the Crown Prince’s first son… that child would be even more esteemed than the Eldest Prince."
If they could not secure the position of Empress in this reign, what about the next?
Longkodo thought his father’s plan was overly optimistic.
But even if the Emperor refused, what harm was there in trying?
Suppressing the urge to dissuade him, Longkodo clasped his hands and said, "I understand." With that, he turned to leave.
"Wait!" Tong Guowei suddenly remembered something and frowned, calling him back. "Your mother mentioned that you only visit your wife’s chambers once every ten days or so?"
Longkodo paused mid-step. After a moment of silence, he retorted coldly, "Did Mrs. Hesheli complain?"
"Complain? You know her temperament better than anyone." Knowing his son’s stubborn nature, Tong Guowei didn’t even bother scolding him. He flicked his sleeve and said sternly, "Treat your wife better. Our Tong family does not tolerate those who favor concubines over their lawful wives."
Longkodo curled his lips, ignoring his father’s words. His expression darkened as he strode away.
That puppet of a wife—his mother might adore her, but the mere sight of her filled him with disgust.
When news of Consort Tong’s fate reached Suo Etu, he chuckled and said to his confidant, "Her time was long overdue. That she lasted this long is nothing short of a miracle."
With Mingzhu now idle at home, Suo Etu faced no more obstacles. Riding high on his good fortune, the Prime Minister was in excellent spirits, his face glowing with satisfaction. Even his earlier frustration over the Crown Prince’s reluctance to associate with the Hesheli clan had faded somewhat.
More good news arrived—the Crown Prince’s wedding would soon be scheduled. Suo Etu was both delighted and apprehensive. Delighted because the Crown Prince’s involvement in state affairs was imminent, bringing him one step closer to the throne. Apprehensive because the identity of the Crown Princess remained uncertain—which of the upper three banners would she hail from, and would her clan align with the Hesheli?
Still, his joy outweighed his worries.
Among his confidants seated below him was Suolun. Since Suo Etu’s return to power, Suolun’s rank had risen. Smiling, he said, "The Prime Minister speaks wisely. This is Consort Tong’s good fortune. But the Tong household is shrouded in gloom, so quiet one could hear a pin drop. I suspect they’re secretly burning paper offerings in mourning."
Suo Etu burst into laughter. But soon, a shadow crossed his face as he recalled something.
"The Tong women dare to covet the position of the Crown Prince’s secondary consort?" he sneered. "Even if it costs me my life, I won’t let Tong Guowei succeed."
Suolun shook his head slightly. "Prime Minister, set your mind at ease. Before the grand wedding, the Emperor will at most appoint a concubine to Yuqing Palace—a secondary consort is out of the question. The Tong family is merely indulging in wishful thinking."
Though a secondary consort bore the word "secondary," she was still a member of the imperial family, recorded in the jade register. Her rank was equivalent to that of a primary consort to a prince, and she, too, would participate in the formal wedding ceremony with the Crown Prince.
If such a woman entered the household first, where would that leave the dignity of the Crown Princess?
Moreover, the Crown Princess was the Emperor’s carefully chosen daughter-in-law. He would surely consider her position.
After this analysis, Suo Etu’s expression eased slightly. "You make a fair point."
The group conversed a while longer before Suolun lowered his voice. "Prime Minister, Shuerdeku, the Commandant of the Light Cavalry, has sent word. I’ve seen his daughter—she’s quite a beauty. Does the Prime Minister have any interest?"
Shuerdeku had long sought to align himself with the Hesheli clan, but his lowly rank had prevented him from becoming one of Suo Etu’s trusted aides.
Suo Etu narrowed his eyes in contemplation.
Shuerdeku’s eldest daughter, Mrs. Lijia, was not qualified to be a secondary consort—at best, she could only serve as a concubine. But with the Crown Princess’s identity still undecided and her clan’s stance unclear, even a concubine could become a valuable asset to the Hesheli.
He had been troubled by his inability to establish a connection with the Crown Prince.
"Let’s wait a little longer," Suo Etu murmured, stroking his short beard. "We’ll see whom the Emperor selects as Crown Princess."
At the end of the ninth month in the 28th year of Kangxi's reign, the Grand Empress Dowager, who had long resided in Changchun Garden, issued an imperial decree. She declared that, having been bedridden for some time, she longed for the company of youthful and lively young ladies. Thus, she summoned the eldest daughter of the third-rank Viscount Shi Wenbing, the fifteen-year-old Guargiya, to the garden to accompany her.
This was as clear a signal as any to the world: the selection of the Crown Princess had been decided, and her precious great-grandson was soon to take a bride. Before the wedding, it was only proper for the future couple to meet, was it not?
Soon after, the Empress Dowager personally arranged for a palanquin to fetch the young lady from the Viscount's residence, demonstrating the high regard in which she was held.
The decree sent shockwaves through both the imperial court and the inner palace.
It was entirely unexpected.
Not that there was any criticism of the young lady’s status or family background. Her lineage traced back to the Guargiya clan, one of the eight great Manchu surnames. During the Ming dynasty, they had adopted the Han surname Shi, but after submitting to the Qing, they reverted to their original surname. They were founding heroes who had fought alongside Emperor Taizu.
Her grandfather, Shi Huashan, was a consort of a princess, and her father, Shi Wenbing, had inherited the title of Viscount. Most of their clan members were entrenched in the military and held in high esteem by the current Emperor.
Guargiya’s background was undeniably noble, far surpassing that of the primary consort, Lady Irgen Gioro. However, she belonged to the Han Army’s Plain White Banner.
Not one of the three superior banners of the Manchu Eight Banners.
The current Emperor’s two empresses—one from the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner, the other from the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner—were of unquestionably prestigious status. How, then, had Guargiya been chosen as the future Crown Princess, the mother of the nation?
Moreover, Shi Wenbing was not among the Emperor’s close advisors. Previously stationed in Hangzhou, he had been promoted to the position of Commander of the Han Army’s Plain White Banner. Now, he was far in the south, serving as the General of Fuzhou, not even close to holding a position among the Six Ministries.
At court, only a handful of officials grasped the true intent behind this decision. In the inner palace, Yunxiu smiled faintly and remarked, "As expected."
Even the powerful Hesheli and Tong clans, who dominated the court, had not anticipated this.
The moment the Grand Empress Dowager’s decree was announced, Suo Etu’s mood darkened instantly.
Shi Huashan’s granddaughter—
Her status as a Han Army bannerman aside, years ago, the Hesheli clan had clashed with the Guargiya clan. Shi Huashan, leveraging his status as a consort, had once beaten Suo Etu severely. Though the late Emperor had penalized him with a reduction in salary, it had been little more than a slap on the wrist for the Shi family.
Years had passed, and the Hesheli clan had risen to prominence. Shi Huashan had even personally visited to apologize, and the two families had reconciled, putting their past grievances aside.
Yet, in truth, earlier this year, Suo Etu had played a part in having Shi Wenbing transferred to Fuzhou.
Would a Crown Princess from such a family ever align herself with the Hesheli clan?
"To placate the Han officials, His Majesty would go so far as to slight the Crown Prince, disregarding all propriety!" He grew increasingly agitated, pacing back and forth in the hall.
The Crown Prince’s marriage—this could not stand.
What support could such in-laws possibly offer?
After a long silence, he said, "Summon Shuerdeku to see me. And bring his eldest daughter as well."
A servant promptly acknowledged the order. Suo Etu paused, then asked, "Has His Majesty recalled Shi Wenbing to the capital?"
"There has been no word from the palace. But logically, the father of the Crown Princess must be summoned to the capital, no matter what," Suolun replied quietly. "His Majesty has already ordered the Imperial Household Department to revise the wedding protocols. After all, the Crown Prince’s marriage is the first of its kind since the founding of the dynasty."
"Then delay him," Suo Etu said, his eyes gleaming with calculation. "Whether by illness or exhaustion from travel—any excuse will do."
If Shi Wenbing were to die, Guargiya would be required to observe a three-year mourning period. By then, the Crown Prince’s household would no longer be hers to command.
Perhaps the Grand Empress Dowager’s desire to see the Crown Prince wed had become an obsession. After Kangxi personally announced the selection of the Crown Princess, her health began to improve day by day.
On the eve of the future Crown Princess’s arrival at the garden, in the Yikun Palace:
Ruizhu, who had sworn off marriage and styled herself as an aunt, now leaned close to Yunxiu, who was washing her hands, and whispered, "Today, Consort Hui smashed a bowl."
Yunxiu raised an eyebrow, casting a glance at the Emperor reading on the couch, then lowered her voice. "What has upset her this time?"
"Your Majesty, this servant truly does not know," Ruizhu replied.
Yunxiu paid it no mind. After meticulously drying her hands, she turned and said gently, "Your Majesty, have the imperial physicians dispatched to General Shi set off yet?"
"I know your heart is kind. I urged them to depart the capital as soon as possible," Kangxi replied, setting down his book with a smile. "When Baocheng learns how concerned his Noble Consort Yi is for his future father-in-law, he will surely be deeply grateful."
