L.F-Hist.Novelist Chapter 36 Is this the Emperor?
Chapter 36 Is this the Emperor?
Yin'e's heart sank; Kangxi wanted to see him.
So fast.
He originally thought that the emperor would not summon him for questioning until at least tomorrow.
But now, less than two hours after he left the Wei residence and less than half an hour after he returned from the Eighth Prince's residence, Kangxi's decree has arrived at his doorstep.
What does this tell us?
This indicates that everything that happened in the mourning hall had been reported to the palace as quickly as possible.
Moreover, the Emperor attached far more importance to this matter than he had anticipated.
He took a deep breath and suppressed his surging emotions.
Then he turned to Fuquan and said, "Go back to the Fujin and tell her that Father Emperor summoned me, but I have urgent business in the palace. I will have tea with her another day."
"Have Su Mo'er put in a good word for me, so that the Princess Consort doesn't think I deliberately stood her up."
"Yes, sir!" Fuquan replied and ran off in a flash.
Yin'e straightened his clothes and looked at himself in the bronze mirror. His complexion was fairly normal, and his eyes were calm and composed.
He strode out of the study, crossed the covered corridor, went around the screen wall, and headed towards the gate of the mansion.
Outside the mansion gate, a small blue sedan chair was parked.
The sedan chair was not large, but it was exquisitely crafted. The curtains were embroidered with subtle cloud patterns, and the chair rails had brass-wrapped corners that were polished to a shine.
A person was standing next to the sedan chair.
Liang Jiugong.
Yin'e had seen this person many times in the original owner's memories.
The most trusted eunuch by Emperor Kangxi's side served the emperor for over twenty years, rising from a palace eunuch to the chief eunuch—a feat few could accomplish.
Those who could stay by Kangxi's side for so long were all extremely shrewd and capable.
He was fair-skinned and clean-cut, with a smooth complexion that didn't look like someone in their fifties. His eyebrows were neatly trimmed, resembling two paper cutters.
There was always a perfectly timed smile on his lips, just the right amount, making people feel friendly without being overly enthusiastic.
Yin'e strode forward, his tone respectful yet affectionate: "Eunuch Liang, what brings you here?"
Liang Jiugong quickly bowed and greeted him, his smile deepening.
"Oh dear, Your Highness, you flatter me. How could I allow Your Highness to personally come out to greet me? It's just that the Emperor is pressing me urgently, and I dare not delay."
"Father Emperor summoned me?"
"Yes." Liang Jiugong nodded, turned slightly to the side, and made a "please" gesture. "His Majesty said that the Tenth Prince should enter the palace immediately."
The sedan chair is ready, please proceed, Tenth Master.
Yin'e glanced at the sedan chair, then at Liang Jiugong, his mind racing.
He didn't ask any further questions and nodded, "Thank you for leading the way, Eunuch Liang."
After saying that, he bent down and climbed into the sedan chair.
The moment the sedan curtain was lowered, he leaned against the sedan wall and let out a long breath.
Emperor Kangxi summoned him.
Was it because of what happened at the funeral hall?
Or is it because of the rumor about the Crown Prince receiving 500,000 taels of silver?
Or perhaps, both?
he does not know.
But he knew that what was coming would eventually come.
The sedan chair was lifted up shakily and headed towards the imperial city.
He closed his eyes, his mind racing as he went through what he should say and how he should say it when he met Emperor Kangxi.
Don't say too much, or you'll seem calculating.
Emperor Kangxi hated it most when his princes formed cliques and schemed against each other in the court.
But we can't say too little either, because saying too little would seem irresponsible.
After all, he had publicly taken on a debt of 300,000 taels of silver at the funeral hall, and this matter could not be easily dismissed.
The best approach is to admit that you acted "impulsively," but also to make Kangxi feel that this "impulse" was justified, morally sound, and showed consideration for his old ministers.
That's quite difficult.
The sedan chair swayed and wobbled for about half an hour before gradually slowing down.
Yin'e lifted a corner of the sedan curtain and looked out, only to see that the buildings on both sides of the street had changed from residential houses and shops to high walls and deep courtyards.
The pedestrians on the road changed from peddlers and laborers to officials in official robes and guards with long swords at their waists.
An indescribable solemn atmosphere permeated the air, and even the wind seemed a few degrees cooler than elsewhere.
We've arrived at the Forbidden City.
The sedan chair stopped in front of the dismounting stele outside the Meridian Gate.
This is the rule: civil officials must dismount their sedan chairs here, and military officials must dismount their horses here; even princes are no exception.
Meridian Gate is the main gate of the Forbidden City. There are three gate openings in the city wall. The central gate is the imperial road reserved for the emperor. Princes and ministers use the east gate, while members of the imperial family use the west gate.
Yin'e was a prince, so he naturally went through the west gate.
He straightened his clothes and walked towards the west gate.
Liang Jiugong followed behind at a leisurely pace, without urging him on, but he carried a bright yellow palace lantern in his hand.
Although it wasn't dark yet, this was standard attire for imperial eunuchs and a symbol of their status.
After passing the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony, and passing through the Gate of Heavenly Purity, one enters the inner court.
The Qianqing Gate marks the boundary between the outer court and the inner court.
Inside the gate was where the emperor and his concubines lived, while outside the gate was where court officials held meetings and conducted business.
A door separates two worlds.
Yin'e stopped in front of the Qianqing Gate.
According to palace rules, officials from outside the capital must stop at the Qianqing Gate and wait for the emperor's summons before entering.
But princes are different. They are the emperor's sons, family members, and there are not as many taboos associated with them.
Even so, permission must be obtained before entering.
Sure enough, a moment later, a young eunuch trotted out of the door and whispered a few words in Liang Jiugong's ear.
Liang Jiugong nodded, turned around and said to Yin'e, "Tenth Prince, His Majesty is waiting in Qianqing Palace. Please come with me."
Yin'e nodded and stepped across the threshold of the Qianqing Gate.
The Qianqing Palace is the first main hall in the inner court and the main place where Emperor Kangxi summoned his officials and handled state affairs.
The palace is tall and spacious, with nine bays in width and five bays in depth, signifying the "supreme status of the emperor".
Liang Jiugong led Yin'e through the west gate of Qianqing Palace, through a short passageway, and arrived at the West Warm Pavilion.
The West Warm Pavilion is a small hall on the west side of the Qianqing Palace, where Emperor Kangxi usually reviewed memorials and summoned his close ministers.
This place is much smaller and more private than the main hall. The furnishings are not as magnificent as those in the main hall, but rather have a more scholarly and homely feel.
Liang Jiugong stopped outside the screen, turned around and whispered to Yin'e, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness, I will go in and inform you."
Yin'e nodded, took a deep breath, and stood up straight with his hands hanging at his sides.
He waited for a while.
The curtain was lifted from the inside, and Liang Jiugong peeked out, giving him a slight nod: "Tenth Prince, His Majesty invites you in."
Yin'e straightened his clothes, stepped around the screen, lifted the curtain, and entered the West Warm Pavilion.
The warm pavilion was not large, about three or four zhang square.
The north wall is lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, neatly stacked with various classics, including historical texts, philosophical works, Western maps, astrologers, and other unidentifiable items.
A faint scent of ambergris filled the air, mixed with the smell of ink and old paper.
In the candlelight, an old man was sitting in a rosewood chair behind his desk.
The moment Yin'e's gaze fell on the old man, he froze.
Could this person before me be Emperor Kangxi?
How come he is so different from the Kangxi Emperor I imagined?