The Concubine of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty

In the inner palace, ever since Qin Rou diagnosed the twins, undercurrents have been surging, and the court is also not very peaceful, with the commotion even overshadowing that in the inner palace.

Kangxi once again bared his fangs, took up the power that belonged to the emperor, and ruthlessly wielded the butcher's knife. He was decisive and ruthless. Today alone, more than ten court officials have had their homes confiscated and have been imprisoned and are awaiting execution. Kangxi clearly had no intention of letting them go and wanted to continue the investigation.

The ministers of the previous dynasty would not submit to execution; the power of the emperor and the monarch was something that could be contested. And Kangxi was not afraid to wield the butcher's knife.

The young and brilliant ruler even took Emperor Taizong of Tang as his role model. Holding great power, being decisive in killing, and not tolerating disobedience are ancient genes engraved in the blood and bones of emperors. They are the inviolable authority of the emperor.

He was not yet old enough to fear history books or to be a benevolent ruler. Between domineering and benevolent rule, Kangxi clearly leaned more towards the former.

Throughout history, emperors who held great power have tended to favor tyranny. Benevolence was merely a means to appease and win people's hearts.

Emperor Kangxi's methods were forceful and left no room for compromise. He saw the chaotic situation in the previous dynasty becoming increasingly turbulent and chaotic, and the power struggles in the previous dynasty were also spreading to the inner palace.

Even the fact that Qinrou was pregnant with twins didn't seem like a big deal. Between others and themselves, they naturally cared more about themselves.

Seeing that they might be implicated at any moment, the imperial court and the harem, though they claimed to be unrelated, were actually closely connected. Their well-being might not have much impact on the family, but if the family was in trouble, they would inevitably be affected.

The daughter of a sinner is also a sinner. The infamy she carries for life is tantamount to a death sentence for the rest of her life.

How could they not be anxious and fearful!
The imperial harem, along with the previous dynasty, was in a state of panic and uncertainty.

"The father of Consort Irgen Gioro, Lord Irgen Gioro, has been imprisoned." Fu Shun was also somewhat frightened, and even saying it made him feel shocked and afraid.

The imperial court and the harem were closely connected, but the Qing imperial family always strictly guarded against and controlled the communication and exchanges between the two.

Even so, the mere fact that Consort Yiergenjueluo was about to have a criminal father in the palace was enough to shake the harem.

Qin Rou raised her head. The father of the Irgen Gioro Concubine held a high official position, a third-rank official. Among the millions of people and numerous court officials in the world, the father of the Irgen Gioro Concubine was enough to make so many minor officials look up to him in awe.

Such a person ultimately met such an end. Aside from feeling heavy-hearted, Qin Rou didn't seem too surprised that he had ended up this way.

In the power struggles of emperors and royal families, there are always many victims. Let alone a third-rank official, even the emperor's own son could still meet a tragic end in this extremely cruel arena, his blood spilled at the Meridian Gate.

Having already been drawn into this struggle, whether one lives or dies is irrelevant; one must bear the consequences, regardless of right or wrong. When mistakes are made, one should simply take responsibility.

"That depends on whether she will be convicted. If she is convicted and sentenced, it will be difficult for Consort Irgen Gioro." Qinrou understood this clearly, but she didn't care much and just said.

But now that things have come to this, at this time and at this critical juncture, having already been to prison, it will be difficult to get out of jail!

Whether it was a concubine of the Irgen Gioro clan or any other concubine, if they encountered the same thing and were in the same situation, the outcome would be the same.

No matter who's in charge, the result will be the same.

"Descendants of criminals are also children of criminals. It's only natural that life is difficult. Everything in this world has a price. If you enjoy blessings, you must also suffer hardships," Aunt Chen said carefully.

Within the palace, ranks are clearly defined, yet not so clearly. With a bit of luck and a stroke of divine intervention, one might be able to carve a bloody path through the thorns and reach the pinnacle again, perhaps even higher. But most sinners rot in the mire, and she wants to rise again. No one in the palace will allow it. Targeted and besieged by the entire harem, and deprived of favor, how could such a person possibly have a chance to rise again?
Without any support or backing, trying to get back up is as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

Moreover, the palace was severely polarized in terms of contempt for the Manchu bannermen and the Han bannermen. The noble ladies of the Eight Banners looked down on the concubines of the bondservant class, while the descendants of criminals were at the very bottom of all the concubines. In the entire palace, all the concubines were vulnerable to being bullied.

Even if Aunt Chen didn't want to, she had already seen the fate of Consort Irgen Gioro. Consort Irgen Gioro was finished!
Even if she gains favor in the future, unless the emperor likes her enough to be willing to overturn the verdict for her and her family, she will always be the descendant of a criminal.

But the imperial decree had already been issued, so why would the emperor reopen the old case just because of her?

Even without Aunt Chen mentioning it, Qin Rou could almost guess that the Irgen Gioro concubine was ruined. She just didn't expect that the Irgen Gioro concubine would be ruined here.

One has to admit that life is unpredictable, fate is capricious, and heaven is merciless, always playing tricks on people. You never know which person it will toy with next, which good or bad person it will send to hell, never to be rescued.

Lord Irgen Gioro was a proponent of peace and, along with Soetu, was one of the court officials who opposed the reduction and abolition of the feudal lords.

If he can get away scot-free after being imprisoned, how can Emperor Kangxi maintain his authority? Wouldn't everyone then treat the emperor sitting on the dragon throne as a pushover to be bullied and manipulated?

Therefore, Qinrou said that Consort Yiergen Gioro was deposed; Lord Yiergen Gioro was also finished. The crimes he committed could not be washed away, not even if you jumped into the Yellow River or moved the Yangtze River along with it.

Qin Rou stopped thinking about Consort Yiergen Gioro, but through Lord Yiergen Gioro and Consort Yiergen Gioro in the palace, she thought of herself.

Qin Rou frowned and asked the servant beside her, "Where is my father? Is he behaving himself? None of my brothers have done anything wrong either?"

Qin Rou couldn't help but believe it. In this palace, the easiest thing for her to take advantage of was her surname. And its most valuable asset was also this Manchu surname.

To ruin her surname, or to taint it, is tantamount to destroying her very foundation. Such an obvious weakness, such a golden opportunity, and for almost two years she's remained obedient.

Why doesn't she believe it so much?

Qin Rou didn't care about those people or whether they would implicate her, because she knew that the ending was inevitable, and no matter how much she struggled, it would be in vain and she would only become a laughing stock.

So she doesn't ask whether they're doing well or not. She doesn't care. It's better if they're not doing well! That would make her feel better. That's the only thing she does: hold grudges.

I'm not a saint! I can't be a bodhisattva either.

"The struggle for favor in the harem should be resolved within the harem itself. It's inappropriate to involve the court!" Aunt Chen understood Qin Rou's implication, but still replied with this statement.

It is a grave taboo for the court and the harem to collude, for the affairs of the harem to involve the court, and for the court to intervene.

Before, whether there was a future was unknown; once you do it, there really is no future to be had.

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence wouldn't do that.

(End of this chapter)