Having the Noble Consort meant others didn’t count for much?
If it was the former, he and his brother-in-law could try a bit harder.
If the latter… sigh, Cao Yin held his backside and sighed inwardly— ‘next year’s court was going to be lively.’
If the palace maids sent in remained unpopular, news would inevitably spread.
The affairs of the rear palace and the court were closely linked.
If officials discovered the Emperor showing prolonged favoritism, they wouldn’t hesitate to overturn the Aisin Gioro family’s coffin lid.
Liang Jiugong calmly stuffed the light yet thick pouch into his sleeve, vague in speech.
“Chief Eunuch Qiao is said to be the late Consort Xi’s maternal uncle. The Department of Ceremonies’ Imperial Record is now, besides the Noble Consort and the Empress Dowager, probably no one else who can see it.”
Cao Yin was stunned, then immediately realized—the Emperor had placed the Noble Consort’s people inside the Department of Ceremonies?
Even without knowing Wei Zhu’s tasks, he couldn’t help but feel secretly alarmed.
The Emperor was making the Noble Consort’s power greater than the Grand Empress Dowager’s!
Even when the ancestors were alive, no one could leak all imperial affairs before the Emperor.
But Qiao Cheng… that depended on whether the Noble Consort wanted to know or not.
He immediately straightened up, despite his aching backside and veins bulging on his neck, biting his teeth with a serious expression.
“I forgot to tell Chief Eunuch Qiao, Liang An’da, you can leave first, no need to wait for me!”
He had to make it clear that those gifts were not from him.
He was grateful for the Noble Consort’s gifts but planned to sort out the servants in the villa later, ensuring those who couldn’t serve well would be dismissed.
Liang Jiugong: “…”
He hoped the Noble Consort, seeing his repentance and even blocking trouble from behind, would stop sending gifts in the future.
When Qiao Cheng reached Kangxi, he reported everything Cao Yin and Liang Jiugong said and presented the 30,000 taels of silver to the Emperor.
Kangxi smiled.
His gaze coolly accepted the notes and sighed, “It seems the salt merchants and the Qing Gang really aren’t short of silver.”
Cao Yin had been in Jiangning less than a year and a half, yet the villa had been completely renovated once, even the Cao family’s house replaced with golden silk nanmu galleries.
Being able to spend tens of thousands of taels meant the money was for the Cao family’s own sake, not just for honoring the Emperor.
Qiao Cheng bowed with folded hands, eyes downcast as if hearing nothing.
Though less skilled than the Imperial Record, his habit of doing more, seeing more, listening more, and speaking less pleased Kangxi.
Kangxi tapped the table with his thumb ring, thoughtful.
“The Noble Consort said there are many good things in Jiangnan. Bring them back to avoid the middlemen’s markup.”
“I don’t need you for the moment. Use these days to procure items for the Noble Consort.”
Qiao Cheng paused, then softly said, “Yes, Your Majesty. Tomorrow I will take people out to purchase fabrics and accessories for Noble Consort Zhaoyuan.”
The Emperor’s orders were grand and public.
This procurement would be well known.
Cao Yin would understand that Kangxi did not want to hide the favored status of Noble Consort Zhaoyuan.
Once the news spread, anyone with ambition—even officials—would swarm like flies drawn to honey.
This avoided Kangxi having to go undercover or send secret guards to spy on officials’ residences.
Those officials were wary, and once alerted, all would be ruined.
Kangxi’s eyes gleamed with a smile as he instructed Li Dequan.
“Bring me a fishing rod from Hunan. I want to go fish by the lake.”
According to Guoguo, this was called fishing with law enforcement in mind.
An emperor didn’t need to exhaust himself; playing Jiang Taigong once in a while was acceptable.
While Kangxi fished, memorials and letters from the Inner Cabinet arrived.
Li Dequan hurriedly handed the Noble Consort’s letter to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, the noble lady has sent a letter.”
Kangxi immediately put down the rod and opened the letter.
The first thing to catch his eye was three pairs of handprints.
The smallest was only walnut-sized, wrapped outside by a small palm one-third the size of his own hand, then covered by a pair of slender, soft fingers.
He raised an eyebrow—the style looked somewhat like Giuseppe Castiglione’s, Western painting.
It seemed Guoguo had many secrets he didn’t know.
His eyes flickered.
Sometimes the fresh words Fang He casually uttered, along with those quirky ideas, made him doubt whether this little fox was really the same Fang He who had served quietly in the Imperial Tea House for nine years.
He silently stroked the three pairs of little hands, his gaze unconsciously softening.
No matter if she was human or a spirit, he was now attached and she could no longer escape.
The rest of the letter was written by the Imperial Record’s scribe, concise and to the point.
It said the weather was too hot; his mother, daughter, and son couldn’t stand it.
They had moved to Changchun Garden, warning not to mistake the place.
“…”
Before he could return, this news had already reached the palace.
Kangxi: “….”
She really isn’t afraid of the censors!
That boldness to act first and report later was as plump as when she first entered the Qianqing Palace.
“Li Dequan, send my order. I tasted the lychees sent from Huguang—they are excellent. Have them sent by water route to Changchun Garden for the Empress Dowager to taste.”
Li Dequan nodded and turned to deliver the edict to Cao Yin, who was responsible.
Halfway there, he realized something was off.
When had the Emperor ordered the Empress Dowager to go to Changchun Garden? Wasn’t she still in the palace?
When Cao Yin heard this, he no longer felt alarmed but his gaze grew fiery.
The eldest prince had tried to win him over repeatedly, and the Crown Prince had sent messages hinting he should choose sides carefully.
Previously, Cao Yin was only worried—officially, he was loyal only to the Emperor.
But he didn’t want to offend the Crown Prince or the eldest prince.
The Emperor’s favor was unpredictable.
He had handled many secret affairs for the Emperor; if discarded later, he had to consider the Cao family’s future.
So he planned to secretly give the eldest prince and the Crown Prince some benefits, offending no one, keeping the Cao family’s path open.
Now, Cao Yin had a sudden realization.
The Emperor was young and vigorous; the Crown Prince too anxious.
The eldest prince… no need to mention.
In the future, who knew what would happen.
The Noble Consort had just given birth to a little prince.
When this little prince grew up, that would be the real moment.
And Cao Yin knew the Noble Consort’s preferences well.
He refused to believe the Noble Consort was uninterested in that position, so why reach far when it was so close?
Before this little prince was sensible, he would simply be a loyal subject.
After sending the lychees north by water route, Cao Yin encountered envoys from the eldest prince and the Crown Prince, whose words were clearer.
He told the eldest prince, “Chief Suo has been watching me closely, waiting to find my weakness. Though I have many difficulties, my entire family is here; there will be solutions. I dare not trouble the eldest prince.”
To the Crown Prince’s envoys, he said, “I am deeply favored by the Emperor. The entire Cao family will serve only the Emperor for generations. Please do not misunderstand my loyalty. However… sigh, I also have my difficulties.”
Yinzhi heard that Suo’etu was behind the obstacles and didn’t even need Mingzhu to analyze.
He knew the Crown Prince was blocking his efforts to win over Cao Yin.
Old grudges and new hatreds made Yinzhi ignore Mingzhu’s advice.
He could give up the position but would never allow Yinreng to take it.
If that happened, he would have no future.
Yinzhi found Mingzhu, resolute.
“This time, we absolutely can’t let it go!”
Yinreng was satisfied with reports from subordinates about Cao Yin.
Cao Yin was loyal to the Emperor now; when Yinreng ascended, the Cao family would serve him.
But hearing Cao Yin was threatened by Yinzhi and Mingzhu made him itch for revenge.
‘What was that reckless eldest brother trying to do?”
Yinreng knew he had been scheming to usurp the Crown Prince’s position for some time.
Now, he even wanted to take his future purse.
If Yinreng tolerated this any longer, once he fully controlled the Ministry of War, that dog would definitely try to trip him up.
The way of ruling was to strike first.
Yinreng summoned Suo’etu, teeth gritting.
“I want the eldest brother out of the Ministry of War!”
Mingzhu had once been corrupt and knew all the shady dealings well.
Yinreng knew he held evidence of Suo’etu’s dealings with Jiangnan salt merchants, but was saving it for the critical moment.
He directly handed this evidence to Cao Yin and Kangxi.
Coincidentally, the Crown Prince shared his thoughts.
Suo’etu had served as Chief Commander of the Imperial Guards and Crown Prince’s Tutor, as well as scholar at Baohedian, and held posts in the Ministries of Personnel and War.
He knew all about Mingzhu’s men’s misconduct.
He presented evidence of Mingzhu’s secret dealings and associations with ministers to the Emperor.
The ministers traveling to Jiangnan, even the censors, had no time to care why the Noble Consort was escorting the Empress Dowager to Changchun Garden.
They watched silently as Mingzhu and Suo’etu tore into each other again.
More accurately, the eldest prince and the Crown Prince stabbed each other, while others kept their distance to avoid trouble.
Officials from both factions frequently submitted incriminating memorials against each other.
Memorials snowballed onto Kangxi’s desk.
Kangxi held back his response until his return.
Entering Changchun Garden, Kangxi still hadn’t issued a verdict on the memorials from either faction.
Until mid-June, Kangxi announced at court a grand Hundredth Day banquet for Noble Consort Zhaoyuan’s son, the Fifteenth Prince.
The two factions argued again at court.
One side said, finally a new prince, and from the Noble Consort no less, should be celebrated properly with a grand National Banquet at Baohedian.
The other said, a National Banquet was reserved for legitimate sons; the Noble Consort’s son was barely a legitimate son and holding the banquet at Baohedian would be an insult to the Crown Prince.
The Jiugong Sanshi Hall was as chaotic as a vegetable market.
Kangxi remained calm, smiling and asking, “Yinzhi, Yinreng, what do you two think?”
Both Yinzhi and Yinreng were silent.
Yinzhi was reluctant to give a child his daughter’s age such prominence, but Yinreng didn’t mind the banquet being held to national banquet standards.
Yinreng calmly said, “I think the Fifteenth Prince, as the Noble Consort’s son and the first prince born after the Grand empress Dowager’s passing, should have a decent Hundredth Day banquet. Hosting it at Baohedian is acceptable. After all, he’s just a baby. Even if the Noble Consort has ideas, they must wait until the child no longer nurses.”
Yinzhi immediately retorted, “I oppose it. The Fifteenth Prince is the Noble Consort’s son. If he holds his Hundredth Day banquet at Baohedian, how would the Tenth Prince and Noble Consort Wenxi feel?”
If that little brat was presented with legitimate son’s honors, Yinzhi as the eldest son would truly be devalued.
The factions’ officials fell silent.
Not that you two can’t talk about each other beforehand?
Mingzhu stood and said, “Your Majesty, I think the eldest prince’s words are reasonable. Once a precedent is set, Noble Consort Wenxi and the Tenth Prince would lose face and the other princes would be uncomfortable.”
Suo’etu immediately responded, “Your Majesty, I think Mingzhu is mistaken. Noble Consort Zhaoyuan has merit in bearing imperial heirs and, per the late ancestor’s edict, manages the harem. It is appropriate that she and her son receive greater honor.”
“I think it is inappropriate…”
“Your servant thinks it is most virtuous…”
Regardless, arguments broke out again.
Even the neutral officials were dragged into the quarrel.
No one noticed Mingzhu catching Kangxi’s playful expression.
Calmly, he shifted the debate’s focus from whether the Noble Consort’s son could hold a national banquet at Baohedian to whether the Noble Consort’s merits justified it.
Some praised the Noble Consort’s great contribution in introducing Golden Grain; others accused her of extravagance in Jiangnan with fabrics and jewelry.
Kangxi smiled contentedly.
He interrupted the ministers.
“I forgot to tell you, the Noble Consort raised two hundred thousand taels of silver in Jiangnan to promote Golden Grain.”
Smiling, Kangxi said, “Since you all agree the Noble Consort has merit, I will elevate her to the Imperial Noble Consort. That will make everything official.”
Except for the secretly accomplished Mingzhu, Yinreng, Yinzhi, and all the civil and military officials were dumbfounded.
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