Dressed as Su Peisheng

Kangxi 40 years

紫禁城

It was raining heavily, and the sky was so gloomy that it seemed to be stained with ink.In the midst of lightning and thunder, beside the lotus pond in the imperial garden, two most noble men in the world stood and sat, looking at each other speechlessly.The rain slid down the face, no one knew how much bitterness and pain there was.

"Baocheng," Lord Kangxi took a step forward, his voice was vicissitudes, and his outstretched hand was in the air, but the crown prince turned his body and fell backwards.

"Your Highness!" Xiao Chuzi rushed forward.

Seeing the prince's tightly closed eyes, Lord Kangxi immediately turned pale, "Come here! Imperial doctor! Save my son!"

A group of people flocked to the prince, and there was a thunderous roar among the busy hands and feet.The crown prince was lifted and put down, the hands of the imperial physicians who fed medicine and checked the pulse were entangled, and the servants around him were like ants on a hot pot.

"Get out of the way!" The fourth elder brother shouted, accompanied by a thunder that pierced the sky.

The prince was carried to the soft sedan chair by the fourth elder brother, covered with a poncho, and carried all the way to the nearest palace.

The elder brother of Yuqing Palace died young, the prince was overwhelmed with grief, and developed a high fever.Su Wei followed the fourth elder brother to work until the evening before returning to the mansion.

East courtyard

The bedroom was steaming with steam, and the fourth elder brother soaked in the wooden barrel so that his cheeks were flushed. Su Wei stood beside him holding a basket and threw various herbs to dispel cold and dampness into the water.

"Don't add it," the fourth elder brother raised the water surface, "I have already drank ginger soup in the palace. You add all kinds of condiments indiscriminately, making me feel like a frog boiled in a pot."

Su Wei pursed his lips, put down the almost empty basket reluctantly, moved a small wooden stool and sat by the bucket, and wiped the back of the fourth elder brother every now and then.

"What's wrong?" The fourth elder brother turned around and faced Su Wei face to face, "Are you scared?"

Su Wei didn't say a word, lying on the side of the wooden barrel, Brother Ren patted his face, "Are you feeling uncomfortable? Come in and go out with me, I've been messing with my father this day, don't you also get wet?" Are you feeling cold?"

Su Wei shook his head, drooping his shoulders listlessly, the fourth elder brother reached out to pinch his face, but was held firmly.

"Yinzhen," Su Wei raised his head, "Is it okay to stop being the emperor?"

After a day of violent storms, it became clear at midnight, and the moonlight sprinkled on the steps, reflecting the rain that hadn't flowed completely, like a fairy forest.

The East Courtyard was as quiet as usual, but the two people on the bed kept their eyes open.The fourth elder brother didn't answer Su Wei's words, and Su Wei didn't ask any more.

Actually, for Su Wei, he knew the answer to that sentence better than anyone else, but he just didn't want to admit it.Kangxi, historians commented on the eternal emperor, but when he was in the imperial garden, what Su Wei saw was the most powerless father in the world.The crown prince, the only crown prince in the Qing Dynasty, that weeping, interpreted the tragedy of the whole life.

Sitting on the world, easier said than done?And his Yinzhen was the shortest-lived emperor in the prosperous age of Kang, Yong and Qian.

Su Wei shuddered, shrank back under the quilt, wrapped a hand behind his back, and hugged him into his warm embrace.

The night was as cold as water, and the two hugging each other slowly fell asleep at dawn.

The next day, the news of Yuqing Palace eldest brother's death spread throughout the palace and beyond.In the Yuqing palace, the crown prince and the side Fujin Li Jia were both lingering on the sick bed.Lord Kangxi stayed in the prince's bedroom for a few days, feeding the medicine and taking care of him himself, imperceptibly the voice of controversy over the position in the court has weakened a lot.

In mid-November, the imperial concubine Tong Jia presided over Hongrui's funeral, and almost all the noble families in Beijing invited orders to enter the palace to pay their respects, which was much more solemn than other children who died young in the palace.

Qianqing Palace

Grandpa Kangxi sat behind the desk blankly, with a booklet in his hand without writing for a long time.Liang Jiugong bent his body slightly, always paying attention to the emperor's expression.

There was a sudden noise at the main entrance, Master Kangxi raised his head, and saw a small head poking in slowly.

"Hongxi?" Grandpa Kangxi beckoned, "Come to Grandpa Huang."

Hong Xi struggled across the high threshold of the Qianqing Palace, and trotted to Lord Kangxi, "Hong Xi pays respects to Grandpa Huang."

"Get up," Lord Kangxi pulled Hong Xi into his arms with a loving face, "Who brought you here? Ask Grandpa Huang if you need something?"

Hong Xi lowered her head and twisted her fingers, "The grandson came here by himself, the grandson misses the grandpa."

Grandpa Kangxi smiled and patted Hong Xi's head, "Then stay with Grandpa Huang today, and Grandpa Huang will teach you your homework later."

Hong Xi nodded vigorously, her voice was a little hoarse, "Ama and elder brother usually teach their grandchildren, but now that Amma is sick, and elder brother—" Hongxi lowered her head, her little mouth tightly pursed.

The emperor's eyes dimmed, and he patted Hong Xi's back reassuringly.

At the end of November, the prince's health improved. Although he was still not very energetic, he didn't spend his days in Yuqing Palace as before, but started going in and out of the South Study to discuss state affairs with the emperor.The matter of measuring the land in Huguang is at a critical moment, and the emperor has not issued an order for the case of Li Jin in Huangmei County.

At the beginning of December, Nian Gengyao visited Siye Mansion.

Su Wei said, Master Belle was busy and left Nian Gengyao until the afternoon.When the fourth elder brother finally came out after a thousand calls, he agreed to help Nian Xialing speak without any effort, and finally asked Nian Gengyao to work hard, and when he was studying in the Shuchang Hall, he asked the emperor to mention him to the Imperial Academy.

In the evening, Nian Gengyao left with gratitude, and Su Wei cocked his tail, proud all day long.

After Laba, the fourth elder brother interceded for Guo Xiu and Nian Xialing by taking advantage of the matter of land measurement in Huguang. Kangxi Lord ordered Guo Xiu and Nian Xialing to be degraded to stay in their posts despite their negligence and dereliction of duty.

The end of the year is approaching, and the big and small court banquets at the beginning of the year are the most hated period of time for Su Wei every year.In addition to constantly giving rewards and spending money, running back and forth in the palace every day from dawn to dusk, and watching Manchu culture and martial arts with a sharp edge and hypocrisy, I really can't feel the festive spirit at all.

However, this year seems to be slightly different. Suo'etu asked for retirement, Nalan Mingzhu was sick, and Prince Yu and Prince Chang did not attend because of their health.Tong Guowei did not show any intentional closeness or objection to the prince and eldest elder brother at the court banquet, and his attitude towards fourth elder brother eased a lot.

When the courtiers were toasting, the fourth and eighth elder brothers were surrounded by many people.Because the fourth elder brother participated in the Huguang land matter, many officials who came to Beijing to report their work heard the news and came to see him.The eighth elder brother is surrounded by high-ranking officials from the capital, obviously because of the Guangshanku incident before, he has his own appearance outside.

The thirteenth elder brother and the fourteenth elder brother have officially moved to the palace, and people have entered the backyard, and they are more calm than before.The Fourteenth Lord didn't run around at the banquet, and stayed by Si elder brother's side all the time, which made Su Wei heave a sigh of relief.

After the end of the new year, the fourth elder brother will no longer enter the South Study Room, and the prince will take over the Huguang land matter.At the end of January, news came from the Ministry of Officials that Li Gege's father, Li Wenye, was promoted to the magistrate.

Su Wei tidied up specially, and took Er Gege Yirha to Xipei Hospital to convey the good news to Li Gege.Yilha was very happy, and kept counting the things to report to Er Niang along the way, and stuffed a huge purse to Su Wei when he entered the door.

Sitting on the couch in the inner hall, Li Gege tidied himself up neatly. Apart from his pale complexion, he was quite energetic.

"Er Niang," Ilha shouted all the way and ran into the house, startling Li Gege.

"It's one year older, why are you still blah blah?" Li Gege gave Yilha a reproachful look, and stretched out his hand to take his daughter into his arms.

Xi'er turned her head away from the side, her heart was very sore, no one can understand how they have lived in the past six months, but whenever she has the opportunity to see Er GeGe, the little master never misses the slightest bit of sadness.

Su Wei followed into the room, and leaned over to Mrs. Li, "Slave pays my respects to the young master."

Li Gege's complexion changed slightly, and his voice was suppressed at the bottom of his throat, "Why is Mr. Su coming to this small courtyard in person?"

Su Wei raised the corners of his mouth slightly, bowed his body and said, "The slave came here to announce the good news for you. It happened that Er Gege missed you, so Lord Belle asked the slave to bring Er Gege along."

Li Gege sneered, "Thank you so much, Eunuch Su. I have been sick for a long time, and I have never even been out of the house. What happy event can there be?"

"It's Grandpa," Ilha interjected.

Li Gege was taken aback, then lowered his head to look at the baby girl in his arms.

Yilha pursed his lips and smiled, "Grandpa got promoted, Eunuch Su told me."

"Er Gege is right," Su Wei took over the conversation, his voice became softer, "My lord's father was promoted to prefect, from the fourth rank."

The room fell into silence for a while, and Ilha looked at his mother-in-law strangely.

With a sullen face, Li Shi thought for a moment, then turned to Xi'er and said, "Take Ilha to the bedroom and try on some small clothes I made for her."

"Yes," Xi'er bent over and led Ilha into the bedroom.

Li's eyes turned cold suddenly, he looked at Su Wei, and said sharply, "What are you trying to do? Why did my father get promoted for no reason?"

Su Wei raised the corners of his mouth, and his voice was calm, "Young master, don't be nervous, it's a good thing for your father to be promoted. Your family is well-off, and it will benefit you and Er Gege in every way—"

"Don't tell me these twists and turns," Li interrupted Su Wei, and turned his head to look out of the window, "I know my situation, and Lord Baylor will never promote my father for my sake. Ilha also Little, I don't know if Master Baylor can put her in my name in the future, so how can it benefit my grandparents' family? You must be planning something, don't think you can fool me!"

"Young master thinks too much," Su Wei bowed his head respectfully, "You are Lord Baylor's concubine, Er Gege's biological mother, and the serious young master of our family. The wealth of this family is not just a word from Lord Baylor." It's a matter of words."

Mrs. Li turned her head to look at Su Wei, but Su Wei raised his head at this moment and straightened his body, "However, there are a few words that I still want to mention to the young master. You have a noble body and a wealthy family , your father Gaotang is also a prominent party now, and Er Gege is a real relative of the emperor. You are like that one-in-a-million jade that cannot withstand a little flaw. The slave is different. This crippled body is unrestricted and unfettered. A humble life is like a broken tile on a beam, which is nothing but a pile of dust when it is blown to the ground by the wind."

Mrs. Li glanced at Su Wei, but did not say a word. Su Wei continued, "The slave has self-knowledge, and dare not confront the young master. But the ants still steal their lives, and the slave accompanied Lord Baylor from Chengqian Palace to Baylor Mansion, and went to the careful punishment." Secretary, scolded the imperial guards, contradicted the imperial physician, and endured the board of the Queen Daxing, but in the end they all survived. So, please think carefully before acting, the little master, this is better than a whole. In the end, is it worth it? Is it worth it? Can it be done?"

Mrs. Li pursed her lips, and before she could speak, Su Wei leaned over and saluted, "I still have something to do, so I'm leaving. Lord Belle has something to say, and the young master is well, so let's go out for a walk."

Su Wei stepped out of the West Secondary Courtyard neatly, Li Gege's back was straight, and he immediately collapsed on the edge of the couch, the corners of his red eyes were wet, and his pale face let out a deep breath.

"Er Niang, do you look good?" Ilha ran out wearing the new clothes, but was startled by Li Shi, "Er Niang, what's wrong with you?"

"Little master," Xi'er also hurriedly surrounded her.

"I'm fine." Li Shi propped himself up, took Yi Erha's hand and looked at it, "It seems a little tight, Er Niang hasn't seen you for a long time, and I don't know what size you can wear now. Wait for Niang to change it again, and send it to you later."

Yilha's eyes lit up, "Emiang, can you go out now?"

Mrs. Li nodded Yi Erha's forehead, "Er Niang is cured, of course she can go out, so be careful, don't think about it all day long."

Yilha pursed his lips in joy, his eyes crooked with a smile, and he twisted his body and rubbed into Li Shi's arms.

Mrs. Li pursed her lips, touched her daughter's braids lightly, and sighed secretly.