Kangxi Emperor 1 Seize the Palace

Author: Erhuhe
Publisher:
Publishing Time: 2000-10-01
Features: Please read the excerpt: The second prince ascends the throne, eunuchs urge Jamba to encircle land, officials deceive the emperor. The "great mourning" of the Shunzhi Emperor is conducted with great solemnity. The "mourning hall" is set in the Yangxin Palace. A set of Tara prayer flags, embroidered with Sanskrit scriptures in gold thread on a yellow satin surface, are spread over the emperor's coffin—golden casket. Incense is placed in a gilded Xuande furnace before the coffin, and fine, thread-like smoke swirls in the hall, announcing that the master's soul has ascended to the beyond. An edict is issued, and all civil and military officials remove the red tassels from their hats. The Minister of Rites has already prepared the various ceremonial procedures for the new emperor's accession—the new emperor should first enter mourning, then promulgate the will, and hold the coronation ceremony. At the beginning of the ninth hour, the late emperor begins his funeral rites. Outside the Qianqing Palace, the princes, dukes, beile, beizas, and ministers of various departments stand solemnly. The chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, Wu Liangfu, stands on the Danchi with a grim face, his neck twisted, his upper lip pressed against his lower lip, and a deep wrinkle forming on his smooth chin. Anyone unfamiliar with the situation might think he is angry. In fact, he is extremely pleased at the moment. Wu Liangfu was originally a senior servant in the of the Prince of Khorgos Joliktokto. Since Boqijin was selected for the palace, as he had no capable person by his side, the prince had him castrated and sent to the palace. In terms of status, he was originally a eunuch who accompanied the empress, so within a few years, he became the deputy director of the six palaces. Boqijin was demoted to concubine, and the emperor, seeing him as Jamba's adopted son, did not make things difficult for him. Today, during the funeral rites, before the mourning begins, the chief ministers hold a meeting, and Abai proposes that Wu Liangfu be the master of ceremonies, requesting the empress dowager's approval. He feels that the tide of fortune is turning again and walks with his head held high, ignoring others. At this moment, he is a bit restless but also a bit sweet. In the past eight years since Boqijin was sent to the cold palace, he has never had the face he has today—the Grand Councilor Wang Jieshu, the first-class boar Soren, and Suksaha, these princes and ministers who usually look down upon palace attendants, as well as the group of beile and beizas standing solemnly under the drip—must all listen to his orders. What a great prestige, what a great honor! At the second hour of the ninth hour, Soren, the chief of the trusted ministers, goes to the Palace of Compassion to seek instructions and the crown prince Aixinjueluo Xuanye to Qianqing Palace for the funeral rites. The new empress dowager, Tongjia, is taciturn and poor at speech, and finds it difficult to cope, so she looks at the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and says, "Please mother's kindness." The Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang sees the frail Soren weeping and kneeling to seek instructions and thinks of her own life: entering the palace in her youth, losing her husband in her prime, going through so many twists and turns, experiencing so many dangers, maneuvering between Dorgon and Jirgalang, even sacrificing her chastity, and finally managing to secure her son's throne. She has only had a few days of peace when this misfortune strikes again! A wave of bitterness stirs in her heart, and tears flow down her face: "You are an old minister of the former dynasty, you must observe mourning and accept the changes of fate. The emperor has insisted on his departure, and there is no way around it. The third prince is indeed clever, you must well support him, and he will not disappoint you when he grows up! Pass this message to the trusted ministers, and also tell them that I have also secured my little grandson. You know my nature well, and if you make me angry, you will regret it! Just these words, Su Malaga, take the crown prince to Yangxin Palace." Su Malaga comes from behind the pavilion, leading the eight-year-old Xuanye. He seems a little awkward, making a bow to the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress and saying, "Mother, I want Ama to go with me!" "Ama" is the wet nurse. Sunshi hears the crown prince call her and quickly comes out, holding Xuanye's hand and saying, "Well, brother, I heard that starting today, you are the emperor and can no longer be arbitrary. Ama is just a bondservant, and this place is not a place for her." "Su Malaga told me that everyone must obey the emperor, right? The emperor's words are imperial decrees, right? Now I issue the imperial decree: 'Ama accompanies me!'" Xuanye insists. Su Malaga watches from the side with a smile, looking at the empress.