Sorry for the delayed chapter. We still have one more bonus chapter to go. Will see if I can get that out next week.
Translator: Jalyss
Editor: Odyssey
Please note that Mrs. Guo Luoluo has been changed to Mrs. Guoluoluo. Apologies for the confusion.
Chapter 54
Yintang’s little ears quietly perked up when Yun Xiu mentioned that Tuyue was about to serve as an official in the capital.
He lay on his back on the brocade quilt, lined up with his tenth younger brother. He let out a sigh after hearing those words. He kicked his legs, and his eyes gradually widened.
Uncle Tuyue… The Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel?
Was this still Ming Zhu’s recommendation?
Yintang felt that it was ridiculous. This didn’t happen in his previous life!
In his memory, when he was in his teens, Uncle Tuyue was still in Shengjing. Uncle Tuyue gradually climbed to the position of Chief Envoy. Shortly after, he was assigned to a post outside the capital for a few years and was on the cusp of being promoted to a governor of a province. His network of connections could not be underestimated.
His uncle was a smart man, was a good official, and seemed to have inherited his grandfather’s brilliance. His outstanding political achievements were a result of his own abilities, and the family’s prestige was just the icing on the cake.
Moreover, Grandfather Guoluo and Sanguanbao were close to the emperor. Originally, he was going go through the proper procedures. Uncle Tuyue was the next pillar of the family, so it was not difficult for him to be promoted to a central official of the court in the capital.
But because he was duty-bound in helping the eighth prince seize the role of successor and dragged his maternal family into trouble. While his uncle’s official position was rising steadily, his official career gradually became difficult.
Although his uncle was very prosperous for a while when the eighth prince was in power, the Guoluoluo family gradually lost the trust of the old man. It was like a building that was about to collapse. The emperor was then gone, the military power was gone, and eventually it slowly fell into ruin.
At the large gathering of the court that year, the old man personally crushed the eighth prince’s ambitions. After that, Tong Guowei and Maqi, who supported the eighth prince, did not get any relief, so why would Mrs. Guoluoluo?
Grandfather Guoluoluo came to a desperate end. His uncle was forced to retire.
When it came to regrets that had been buried for a long time, this was one of them. When Yintang was imprisoned and seriously ill, he still missed his maternal family. Every time he thought about it, he sighed deeply. It was he who had failed his mother and caused Grandfather Guoluoluo and Uncle Tuyue to suffer.
…
When Yintang was reborn, he decided that he would never make the same mistake again in this life, and he would help Mrs. Guoluoluo avoid the disaster of losing her children, and help his elders have a smooth life.
But what did he hear just now?
Tuyue was going to the capital…
Ming Zhu actually acted first before reporting it, and promoted his uncle to the position of Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel…
The ninth prince was shocked. If he remembered correctly, Grand Secretary Ming at this time also served as the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel.
Then, he sighed inwardly. Ming Zhu was so shameless. He could do such things through such forceful means!
The consequences that Yun Xiu could predict, the ninth prince could also predict. Before he had time to worry, he heard his mother and the noble consort talking to each other, gently speaking words of revenge.
Yintang: “…”
This matter involved Noble Lady Liang and the eighth. Just the chill in the words of the two consorts was enough to make people mourn for Consort Hui and Imperial Concubine Wu.
The ninth prince shuddered slightly. One especially shouldn’t mess with a woman whose temperament was very different from his previous life.
The tenth prince did not shiver. He silently turned his head and glanced at his ninth older brother with a flash of contempt in his small eyes. Then, he grinned obediently, and coquettishly called out to the noble consort, “Ah-”
Noble Lady Liang lived in the side hall of Yanxi Palace. She never usually left the palace, and had no ambition to win any favours. Her only concern was the eighth prince, Yinsi, who was being raised by Consort Hui.
However, due to the strict rules set by Consort Hui, she and Yinsi rarely met. It was only when she happened to meet Consort Hui in a good mood was she lucky enough to spend a day with her son.
Noble Lady Liang had a soft and kind temperament, and she was satisfied to just see Yinsi. Even if she was despised, her status withheld, and her life was miserable, she never complained.
Consort Hui hated her to waste such a beauty that could rival Consort Yi. While she hated it, she also felt relieved.
There were four or five young masters living in Yanxi Palace. Only Noble Lady Liang spent her days embroidering clothes, shoes, and hats for her son. She never neglected to pay her respects in the morning and at dusk. She kept quiet and behaved well. As time went on, Consort Hui gradually gave up on the idea of making Noble Lady Liang her pet, and found her much more pleasing to the eye.
—Compared to the arrogant and domineering Consort Yi, Noble Lady Liang was really nothing.
In order to organise the fifth princess’ one month ceremony, Consort Hui was tense. She feared that there was something not quite right. After the one month ceremony, she heaved a sigh of relief. She finally no longer had to hold the hot potato. With a sullen face, she sent Moyaqi back to Yonghe Palace.
The threat of Imperial Concubine Wu made her feel like she had a knot in her throat, but the most important thing now was to win over the Guoluoluo family.
It was Mrs. Wuya’s idea to pull the trigger and promote Tuyue. For this reason, she let Mrs. Wuya go first, and then she would deal with it when she was free!
…
About a month ago, Consort Hui thought for a long time before she wrote a long letter that she entrusted someone to deliver to her cousin, Ming Zhu, outside the palace.
After sending the letter, she waited anxiously in Yanxi Palace. Even when the eldest prince came to say hello, she waved her hand perfunctorily and told Yinti to go back to his place on his own. She told him not to indulge in riding and shooting, and to not neglect his studies.
Yinti curled his lips, smiled, and asked, “Mother, what are you busy with recently? You don’t care about your son as much as before.”
Hearing this, Consort Hui rolled her eyes at him. After Yinti teased her, she felt relieved.
She smiled and said softly, “What else would it be? We are doing what We can for Our son. Ming Zhu is there for court affairs. When you get involved in the affairs of the court, mother will explain things to you clearly.”
Yinti would be thirteen after the new year. Among the Manchu, he was already at an age where he could discuss marriage and was not far away from participating in political affairs in the court. Just as Suo Etu often asked to see the crown prince, Ming Zhu would also analyse court affairs for him.
Hearing this, he thought for a moment. Then, he retracted his playful smile, looked serious, and cupped his hands. “Your son will listen to you! Your son will go to school now, and will definitely live up to the expectations of mother and uncle…” The crown prince could no longer be proud.
He also didn’t know if Yinreng had taken the wrong medicine recently. He often made use of riding and shooting to ridicule Yinreng, but it was like hitting a ball of cotton. In the end, it was he who got angry.
When he received the top spot in his studies, he wanted to see if that annoying smiling face would crack!
Consort Hui looked at his retreating figure with relief, and the anxiety in her heart had lessened slightly.
That night, Ying’er quickly came to report to Consort Hui with a smile on her face. “Consort, Master Ming Zhu’s reply has arrived…”
Consort Hui suddenly stood up and said, “Hurry and show Us.”
When she opened the letter, her hands trembled slightly. After she unfolded the paper and took a quick look, Consort Hui let out a long sigh of relief and said happily, “Okay, great.”
Ming Zhu said that his request had been placed on the desk in the imperial study room and that it was just waiting for the emperor’s approval. It would be best if the emperor approved it. If he didn’t approve it, they had nothing to lose.
Everything was done for the world to see! As long as others believed that the Nala clan and the Guoluoluo clan had joined forces, then even if Sanguanbao wanted to stay out of it, he would never be able to.
Consort Hui closed the letter with a happy expression. She looked up in the direction of Yikun Palace, squinted, and said, “We have been in the palace for so many years, and We don’t often interact with Consort Yi, for fear that the affection between us will fade. Ying’er, prepare some gifts. In a couple of days, We will catch up.”
“Yes,” Ying’er paid her respects with a smile. “This servant will attend to it.”
Consort Hui smiled and said, “Yesterday, when Noble Lady Liang paid her respects, she was so eager, so We allowed Yinsi to stay with her for one day. We are so kind and so she doesn’t have to come to express her gratitude…”
On the same day, Ming Zhu returned to his home and was waiting on the emperor to call on him.
Unexpectedly, on the second day after the morning court, Kangxi did not call on him, but summoned Hang Ai, the Minister of Revenue. Hang Ai was invited to stay for lunch, and the two discussed matters for a long time.
Just like Ming Zhu, who was the grand secretary of Wuying Hall, the crown prince’s master, and the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel, Suo Etu originally had put forth someone in the Ministry of Civil Personnel. At the beginning of the year, Suo Etu personally petitioned the emperor to resign from the Board of Revenue. Kangxi appointed Hang Ai as the Minister of the Board of Revenue, and extended kindness to Suo Etu, allowing him to discuss the affairs of the court. To be precise, Hang Ai was Suo Etu’s person.
When Ming Zhu heard that the emperor summoned Hang Ai and not him, he was not disappointed.
Every year when winter arrived, the cold waves and heavy snowfalls were the focus of the court. The Ministry of Civil Personnel had to allocate disaster relief funds and materials early. It was inevitable that there would be difficulties in various places, but the capital was not able to respond in time.
During court, the emperor pointed out the disaster relief matters, and then announced for the Ministry of Civil Personnel to discuss the matter.
Ming Zhu stroked his beard and pondered a little. Maybe Suo Etu had been complacent for too long, and the Minister of the Board of Revenue… should also be replaced by one of his own.
When he was approaching the lower office, he waited in the cabinet office for a long time, but still did not receive a summons. Ming Zhu frowned and noticed something was wrong.
Was it possible that the emperor hadn’t had time to read the request?
He deliberately put the note recommending Tuyue at the top for when the cabinet presented, so the emperor should have read it.
…
At the same time, Yikun Palace.
Kangxi took the tea cup from Yun Xiu and said with emotion: “Sanguanbao has taught his children well.”
The heat blurred his face, and Yun Xiu could not tell whether the emperor was happy or angry.
There was no beginning to the end of these words, which made her heart tremble. She forced herself to smile calmly and asked, “Why did the emperor suddenly mention this concubine’s father?”
After saying that, she lowered her eyes to hide her thoughts.
The emperor must have seen Ming Zhu’s request.
She didn’t know if Suo Etu had received the message, whether he would agree with her method, and whether there were any mistakes in the arrangement.
To save all this, the most important thing was time! There wasn’t enough time, so she made arrangements in a hurry, but she didn’t know what to do.
It was said that the emperor was unpredictable. Even if she could guess 80%, it was just a feeling. She intuitively felt that the emperor liked her, but who could predict the events of the previous court and the emperor’s thoughts?
She wanted to use this to extricate herself, but if she offended the emperor…
Yun Xiu glanced at Liang Jiugong, saw him shaking his head slightly, and then looked away.
Also, the emperor rarely allowed people to be around when he was discussing matters, so Liang Jiugong must be unaware of this issue. When she thought of this, she took a breath and decided to see whether God loved her or not.
Kangxi gently put down the tea cup and looked deeply at Yun Xiu. “We have always thought that your father is loyal, but We didn’t expect that he would be outstanding at teaching his children.”
When Kangxi saw Yun Xiu’s surprised gaze, he took her hand and smiled softly. “He has taught you, Consort Yi and Noble Lady Le. Noble Lady Le is gentle and demure, and her conduct is first-class.”
Yun Xiu was unusually confused: “…”
Why did he start praising her again, and even Yun Shu?
“He also taught a good young man like Tuyue!” Kangxi continued talking to himself, with a pleased tone. “Not only did the Ministry of Civil Personnel ask me about him, but so did the Board of Revenue. Ming Zhu and Hang Ai had words of recommendation. One said: ‘Integrity and humility must be present for the one in the position of Left Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Civil Personnel’, and the other said, ‘If he has great performance, then he should be in charge of the Board of Revenue.’ Their eagerness is outstanding. This is the first time that We have seen such a strange thing.”
The emperor laughed loudly. “Your brother, Tuyue, is a really talented man!”
—–
The author has something to say:
Tuyue far away in the horizon: ?????
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