The swansong of the swansong

Chapter 272 Mountain Collapse (1)

With the sixtieth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign fast approaching, this is the most important event of the moment, and no carelessness is allowed.

Since Qin Shi Huang, there has been no emperor who reigned for 59 years except for Kang Youwei!

After all, apart from Emperor Kangxi, the longest-reigning emperor before him, Emperor Wu of Han, only ruled for fifty-four years.

With the grand celebration of Kangxi's sixtieth anniversary on the throne fast approaching, all the civil and military officials were scrambling to curry favor with him!
Although Yinwu now holds real power, he is not a member of the central core decision-making circle and is not qualified to participate in discussions on important military and national affairs.

Kangxi's strategy of balancing power can be summed up in one sentence: those with real power should not be given decision-making power, and those who participate in decision-making should not be given real power!

Interestingly, Emperor Kangxi repeatedly warned his officials against extravagance and waste.

However, Nian Gengyao, who had long understood Kangxi's thoughts, became the first to take the plunge and presented a stalk of grain with fifty ears of grain.

Although Emperor Kangxi did not publicly praise Nian Gengyao, he also did not reprimand him.

Having grasped the general trend, the regional officials in various places presented various treasures and auspicious omens.

The fourth brother originally didn't want to get involved, but he couldn't resist the advice of his trusted confidants.

So the fourth prince asked Yinwu, "How should I deliver it?"

Yinwu put down his teacup, pondered for a moment, and said softly, "The most important thing in the world is agriculture. Fourth Brother, why don't you ask Lang Shining to paint a picture of farmers working in the fields?"

The fourth brother's eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "Fifteenth brother, you understand me best!"

Yinwu smiled slightly, but did not respond to the fourth prince's words.

Especially now, there are certain trends that shouldn't be flaunted!

Yinwu knew exactly what the fourth prince was thinking.

To be honest, the fourth brother wanted to stand out but didn't have much spare money, so he could only come up with a unique way to please Kang Mazi!

Yinwu's suggestion was exactly what the fourth prince wanted to hear, and he couldn't help but smile.

"Fifteenth brother, when thirteenth brother arrives, you two can have a couple of drinks with me." The fourth brother wasn't good at drinking, but when he was in a good mood, he couldn't help but make an exception.

Yinwu smiled and nodded, saying, "Fourth Brother, you mustn't drink too much, lest your wives complain that I'm being unreasonable!"

The fourth brother smiled and said, "Only you dare to joke about my private affairs?"

Su Peisheng, standing to the side, glanced at Yinwu without showing any emotion. Even the Thirteenth Prince wouldn't dare to say such a thing!
"Fifteenth brother, what are you planning to give him?" The fourth brother glanced at Yinwu and asked him seemingly casually.

Yinwu smiled faintly and said, "Fourth Brother, I'm a rough man and don't know what to give as a gift. I'll just give you some mundane things."

"Give gold and silver?" The fourth brother smiled, shook his head, and sighed, "That's too vulgar!"

Yinwu smiled, the more commonplace the gift, the more it proved he had no ambition to seize the throne.

Putting the fourth brother at ease is the most important thing right now!

Given Yinwu's position in the fourth prince's heart, as long as he doesn't reveal his ambition to seize the throne, everything will be tolerated by the fourth prince!

The fourth prince glanced at Yinwu with a smile, and the last bit of doubt in his heart vanished instantly.

That day, after Yinwu finished his shift, he was stopped on the way by Yang Qiqian, the chief eunuch of Jingren Palace.

"Your humble servant Yang Qiqian greets Your Highness, the Fifteenth Prince!" Yang Qiqian bowed deeply with utmost respect.

As soon as Yinwu saw Yang Qiqian, he knew that it must be Consort Mi who wanted to see him.

"Speak, what are your instructions, Mother Consort?" Yinwu frowned as he looked at Yang Qiqian, who was lying on the ground.

"Reporting to Fifteenth Prince, Her Majesty says she has important matters to discuss and has instructed this servant to invite you over!" Yang Qiqian was well aware that Yinwu was a person who would respond to gentle persuasion but not force.

However, Consort Mi had given a firm order, so even though Yang Qiqian was unwilling, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and relay Consort Mi's message in its entirety. Yinwu knew what Consort Mi had said before, asking him to promote his maternal uncle, but he had vaguely brushed it off.

However, when it comes to protecting her family, Consort Mi is unlikely to compromise easily.

To be honest, once the fourth prince ascends to the throne, the Wang family's uncles will definitely rise to prominence along with Yinwu.

However, Yinwu was unable to clearly explain this point to Consort Mi.

Therefore, Consort Mi mistakenly believed that Yinwu did not want to take care of his uncle.

Seeing that Yinwu remained silent, Yang Qiqian blinked his small eyes, deliberately put on a mournful face, and said, "Fifteenth Prince, if you don't go to Jingren Palace, this servant will have no way to survive!"

Yinwu laughed in anger and cursed, "You dog, how dare you threaten me?"

Yang Qiqian kowtowed repeatedly, crying out in despair, "Fifteenth Prince, how could this servant have the guts..."

"Hmph, your dog's life is worthless."

Soon, blood appeared on Yang Qiqian's forehead, showing how forcefully he kowtowed.

Yang Qiqian was, after all, the most trusted eunuch by Consort Mi's side. Even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner. Yinwu couldn't possibly push him to the point of causing any real harm.

"Stop pretending, get up, lead the way!" Yinwu grunted, stepped out, and was the first to board the carriage.

Yang Qiqian quickly got up from the ground, took off running, and followed the carriage with great enthusiasm.

The former owners of Jingren Palace included Empress Hu, wife of Emperor Xuanzong of Ming, and Empress Xiaokangzhang, the birth mother of the current emperor, of the Tongjia clan.

In order to win over Yinwu and ensure his loyalty, Emperor Kangxi was truly willing to invest heavily.

To put it bluntly, the fact that Consort Mi was able to be promoted to the rank of Consort and enter Jingren Palace is truly a case of a mother gaining status through her son!

"Your Majesty, the Fifteenth Prince has arrived."

As the palace maid announced his arrival, Yinwu stepped into the rear hall of Jingren Palace.

"Your subject respectfully wishes Mother a speedy recovery." Yinwu knelt down to pay his respects as usual.

Consort Mi raised an eyebrow at Yinwu, but did not immediately wake him. Instead, she asked him calmly, "If I hadn't sent someone to look for you, you probably wouldn't even have remembered how to get to Jingren Palace, would you?"

"Mother, look at what you're saying, I've been busy lately preparing for my uncle's promotion..."

Since Consort Mi was truly angry, Yinwu, her own son, had no choice but to lower his head, bend over, and try to please her with a supple posture.

"Really? You're not lying to me?" Mi Fei looked incredulous.

Yinwu grinned and said, "It's true, how could I dare to lie to you?"

"Hmph, that's more like it!" Consort Mi calmed down, then waved her hand and called for Yinwu to get up.

After Yinwu was seated, Consort Mi ordered tea and snacks to be served.

Yinwu was not hungry, but he deliberately picked up a piece of rose cake and stuffed his mouth full.

As the saying goes, no one knows a child better than their mother!
Consort Mi also knew that her elder brother, Wang Sheng, was only good at raising birds and had no ability to do proper work.

However, since she had softened her heart and agreed to help Wang Sheng find a good job, she could only ask Yinwu to make do.

Consort Mi knew perfectly well that with Yinwu's current power, securing Wang Sheng a desirable position as an assistant minister in one of the Six Ministries would be effortless.

“You yourself are a powerful prince, you can’t just stand by and watch your uncle fall into a lowly position, can you?” Consort Mi ignored Yinwu’s stuffed mouth and forced him to make a statement in person.

(End of this chapter)