The swansong of the swansong

Chapter 271 Raising the Banner for Consort Mi

Back then, the Tong family was known as half of the court. However, Longkodo, whose talent was ordinary, was completely inconspicuous within the Tong family.

Therefore, Orondai was already the Grand Minister of the Imperial Guard of the Bordered Yellow Banner, while Longkodo was merely a second-class imperial guard of low rank.

Interestingly, as the Crown Prince's faction grew stronger, Longkodo's bad habit of tattling became a special skill that Kangxi desperately needed.

While suppressing the power of the crown prince, Longkodo gradually gained the trust of Emperor Kangxi.

Before deposing the crown prince for the second time, Kangxi replaced Tuoheqi with Longkodo as the commander of the infantry.

Yinwu entrusted the task of framing Wang Chongcheng to Longkodo, which can be considered as making use of his strengths.

Longkodo was originally a trusted confidant who did dirty work for Kangxi, so whether he did one more or one less scandalous thing was actually insignificant.

After agreeing on the price, Longkodo left happily.

Just as Yinwu picked up his teacup, he heard that his brother-in-law, Nuogang, had arrived.

In the families of Han officials, only the relatives of the principal wife were considered legitimate relatives of the family.

However, this was different for Manchus, especially members of the imperial family. In other words, the relatives of both the primary consort and the secondary consort were legitimate relatives.

Throughout the Qing Dynasty, the rulers were remarkably consistent in elevating the status of secondary consorts, with the aim of preventing the primary consort from establishing a one-woman rule in the palace or the prince's residence.

Nuogang, formerly an assistant director of the Qingfeng Division of the Imperial Household Department, has become the third commander of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner under the continuous promotion of Yinwu.

In plain terms, Nuogang has about 1,800 soldiers under his command.

According to the Eight Banners system, the commanders and captains were appointed officials, while only the captains could be hereditary.

Inside Huixiang's room, Nuogang held his nephew Hongang and kissed him several times.

"Big brother, you're holding me too tight, don't squeeze Fourth Prince."

Hong Ang is only a little over a year old. Hui Xiang only has him as her only son. She is really afraid that if anything happens to him, she will be devastated.

"What are you afraid of? You're a grown man, what are you afraid of if I hug you too tightly?" Nuo Gang said this, but he automatically loosened his grip a little so as not to really hurt his precious nephew.

In the current Prince Yu's mansion, Yinwu has four sons. Hongang is both the youngest son and the one with the most noble status.

Despite giving birth to the eldest prince Hongyun, Wang Xiyue was specially elevated to a higher banner and even promoted to a secondary consort.

However, Huixiang was a genuine Manchu bannerwoman, while Wang Xiyue was originally a Han woman.

Among the Qing dynasty's imperial family, especially Emperor Kangxi, the most important principle was that a son's status depended on his mother's.

Of course, the so-called rules were subject to change at any time based on Kangxi's actual needs.

The most typical example is Lao Ba!

Initially, when the Eighth Prince was still young, Emperor Kangxi, captivated by Consort Liang's stunning beauty, extended his favor to him as well.

At this moment, it is only natural that the son's status is elevated because of his mother!
However, after the power of the Eighth Prince's faction threatened the imperial authority, Kangxi cursed Consort Liang and the Eighth Prince.

This turns out to be a case of "the mother is inferior, and the son is lowly!"

In the Yu Prince's Mansion today, Huixiang has a son and a daughter, while the primary consort Cuiqing has only one daughter.

Anyone with eyes to see, including Nuogang, could see very clearly that as long as Cuiqing didn't lay an egg, Huixiang's son, the Fourth Prince Hongang, would be the most likely to inherit Yinwu's title of prince in the future.

It is worth mentioning that Nuogang and Huixiang's husband, Amanomuqi, was the fourth wife's uncle.

With this special relationship as a foundation, it's no exaggeration to say that Nuogang has always treated his nephew Hongang as his own son. "Third sister, there have been rumors circulating that the current emperor intends to make the Fourteenth Prince the crown prince." Nuogang, holding Hongang, sat down opposite Huixiang and tentatively asked her.

Huixiang glanced at Nuogang, pondered for a moment, and said, "Brother, I know what you mean. However, our master and the fourth master are closer than blood brothers. Even if our master now supports the fourteenth master, his future will not be good."

Nuogang nodded and sighed, "Yes, changing allegiance midway is a major taboo in the court. After all, no one likes a weather vane who sways between two sides!"

“Brother, I’m just a woman and I don’t usually care much about what men do outside. But I must tell you one thing: you must never have any other thoughts.” Huixiang reminded Nuogang in a serious tone.

Nuogang laughed and said, "Don't worry, how could I be so insensible?"

Yinwu had no way out, and Nuogang, as a relative of the two princely families, had even less of a way out!

Just as Huixiang was about to speak, she suddenly heard a voice outside announcing, "Consort, the master is here."

So, Huixiang led Nuogang and Hongang out to greet them.

"Greetings, sir."

"Your humble servant Nuogang wishes Your Highness good health."

Yinwu could politely address Nuogang as elder brother, but if Nuogang actually dared to call himself brother-in-law, he would be an extremely ignorant fool.

"Greetings, Father." Hong Ang was only a little over a year old and did not yet know etiquette, so his wet nurse held him and knelt down to greet him.

"That's all."

Yinwu stretched out his hands and took little Hongang from the wet nurse's hands.

After entering the room, Yinwu sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) with little Hongang in his arms. Huixiang and Nuogang greeted him again and then stood respectfully by the kang.

"Brother, please sit wherever you like. There are no outsiders here." Yinwu pointed and forced Nuogang to sit opposite him.

The title "Fujin" has an extra "Ce" in it, meaning that although she is not a concubine, she is not the principal wife.

No matter how close Nuogang was, they weren't family after all. So, unless Yinwu spoke, Huixiang could only stand there obediently.

However, in the past, when Yinwu and his wife were indoors, Huixiang could always find a seat.

After serving tea, Yinwu asked Nuogang with a smile, "There must be a lot of talk among the neighbors in the alley where you live, right?"

Given Yinwu's status, it's impossible for him to spend his days wandering the streets and alleys, gathering information from all sides.
Nuo Gang quickly stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Replying to Prince Yu, this servant has heard..."

As for the rumors circulating that the fourteenth prince was the inevitable successor to the throne, Yinwu naturally didn't care and simply laughed it off.

However, another matter that Nuogang mentioned attracted Yinwu's great attention.

As the saying goes, there's no smoke without fire.

Some say that Emperor Kangxi planned to elevate Consort Mi's status to a higher banner (a Manchu banner system).

Upon hearing this, Yinwu became alert. If Consort Mi was raised to a higher banner, it would mean that he was also qualified to compete for the throne!
"Who spread this message?" Yinwu immediately pressed Nuogang for an answer.

Nuogang thought carefully for a moment and replied in a low voice, "It seems to be news from the Xin Zhe Ku (a place for servants to receive imperial gifts). I heard it from a relative."

"This matter is of utmost importance. Once you get back, go find your relative immediately and find out who he heard it from, understand?" Yinwu narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, and then gave the order.

"Yes, sir." Nuogang quickly accepted the order.

(End of this chapter)