PFC Chapter 328 Consort Fucha
Chapter 328 Consort Fucha
Hongchang's tone was extremely calm, yet it was like a heavy hammer striking the gilded floor tiles of Cining Palace, making a buzzing sound.
Nian Shilan raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Fucha Peiyun.
Hongchang said, "If it weren't for the sake of having offspring, I think having only one Empress would be enough."
"With so many women in the harem, there will be many troubles, and I don't have that much time to enter the harem."
Nian Shilan chuckled and spoke:
"The emperor's words make it sound like he's afraid of us women."
Hongchang was taken aback, then chuckled and shook his head, saying:
"Mother, you're joking. I'm not afraid, I'm just lazy."
Too lazy to guess what's on someone's mind, too lazy to judge right and wrong.
They're even less inclined to waste their time and energy on things like "who will choose a concubine tonight."
Hongchang looked at Fucha Peiyun
"I have never forgotten the dangers that Mother went through when she became pregnant with me."
There's too much infighting in the imperial harem; I don't want my children to experience that.
Upon hearing this, Fucha Peiyun reached out and gently stroked Hongchang's head.
"I am very pleased that you think this way."
Nian Shilan nodded and said, "It is truly a blessing for the Qing Dynasty that the Emperor has this awareness."
Although the harem is small, it still needs to be managed well.
Don't let anyone with ulterior motives take advantage of the situation.
People's hearts can change; these young women all seem good now.
But whether things will change after entering the palace is uncertain.
Hongchang replied, "Your subject understands. Your subject will have the Empress assist in managing the six palaces."
She is intelligent and reasonable, and will surely be able to manage the harem well.
Your subject will also have people keep an eye on the harem.
Nian Shilan looked at Fucha Peiyun
"You really know how to raise your son."
Nian Shilan thought of Uya, whose son's ascension to the throne only served to exploit the cunning and manipulative tactics of those who manipulate women.
Or a despicable bastard who can kill his own child.
Nian Shilan said, "Then let your mother and I issue the imperial decree establishing the empress."
Hongchang was naturally pleased to hear this, and the two empress dowagers issued an imperial edict.
This is to declare to the ancestral temple, to all the civil and military officials, and to all the people of the world.
The decision to establish Lady Liang, a Han woman, as empress was made jointly by the two empress dowagers and the emperor.
This reflects the support of the two empress dowagers, representing the Fucha and Nian families, for Hongchang's decision.
It's also to give Liang Wanyi, the future empress, a better image.
Hongchang hurriedly thanked Nian Shilan and Fucha Peiyun.
"Thank you both, Mothers."
At this moment, Ye'er and Songzhi brought in dinner with their entourage.
The three of them moved to the dining table.
Braised sea cucumber with pork tendons, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, premium tofu, and boiled cabbage in clear broth.
And a bowl of clear ham and bamboo shoot soup.
Although the three were the most distinguished people in the Qing Dynasty
Hongchang personally served food to the two empress dowagers, but he himself only ladled out a small bowl of soup and stirred it slowly with a spoon.
The three ate quietly for a while.
Fucha Peiyun put down her chopsticks and spoke first:
"Your Majesty, what are your plans regarding arranging marriages for the remaining young ladies?"
Hongchang put the last spoonful of ham and bamboo shoot soup into his mouth before slowly nodding.
"Yes. This time, forty-seven women were selected for the imperial concubine selection. Besides the Empress and the six concubines, the remaining forty are..."
hope Yue has betrothed her to Fu Heng, and I, your humble servant, do not wish to arbitrarily matchmake the other candidates for the imperial concubines.
Nian Shilan asked, "What does the emperor intend to do?"
Hongchang touched the corner of his lips with a handkerchief, a hint of youthful mischief appearing in his eyes.
"Your subject is thinking that, a month from now, your two mothers should host a flower-viewing banquet at the Yuanmingyuan Garden."
At that time, these young ladies will be allowed to meet with princes, ministers, and members of the imperial family, and everyone can freely exchange ideas.
Horse riding and archery, drinking games and composing poems, playing other games.
...If they take a liking to each other, I will then bestow a marriage upon them;
Those who didn't find anything they liked will be reassigned.
It's perfect timing; Sister Shuhe and the others can come over and have some fun too.
As for urging the princesses to find future husbands, that's impossible.
As a royal princess, how could she possibly worry about not finding a suitable husband?
What if they are dissatisfied and remain unmarried for life?
Hongchang believes this is not a problem at all.
His sisters are of noble birth, wealthy, and have plenty of free time; their future depends entirely on themselves.
After the three finished their meal, they moved to the study.
Ye'er brought over some Chengxintang paper, laid it flat, and ground a bowl of Huizhou ink.
Fucha Peiyun looked at Nian Shilan and said, "Otherwise, you can write this imperial edict."
Nian Shilan directly refused: "My handwriting hasn't improved much despite all that writing."
Do you want to embarrass me in front of the whole world?
You should write it.
Who would dare laugh at you, the Empress Dowager?
Fucha Peiyun was just joking.
He picked up his pen and began drafting the imperial edict establishing an empress.
By imperial decree of the two Empress Dowagers:
Liang Wanyi, daughter of Liang Yuan, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, was intelligent and quick-witted.
He was virtuous, gentle, respectful, well-versed in poetry and literature, and knowledgeable in worldly affairs, making him a model for the six palaces.
She is now appointed Empress and granted residence in Kunning Palace. A wedding ceremony will be held on an auspicious day one year from now.
"By imperial decree"
Fucha Peiyun put down her brush, blew on the ink, looked up and asked with a smile, "Is this alright?"
Hongchang nodded. "Your Majesty's considerations are very thorough."
When the ink from Fucha Peiyun's writing brush had dried, she placed the imperial edict into Hongchang's arms.
"Alright, it's getting late. Go back and get some rest, don't work too late."
Hongchang carefully accepted the imperial edict. "Your subject thanks both mothers. May you both rest early."
Your subject takes his leave.
After Hongchang took Zhang Hude back to the Qianqing Palace,
He also wrote out the imperial edicts specifying the ranks of the other six concubines and detailing their palace arrangements after entering the palace.
When the imperial edict reached everyone the next day, it immediately caused a huge uproar.
No one expected that the biggest winner of this talent show would be a Han Chinese woman.
Those Manchu ministers, especially those whose daughters were nominated for the position, were particularly resentful.
When they held this selection of daughters for the imperial concubine examination, weren't they all aiming for the position of empress?
Unexpectedly, the emperor chose a Han woman as his empress.
Although Liang's father held a high-ranking official position.
But a Han woman is a Han woman; how could she possibly be superior to a Manchu noblewoman?
Moreover, neither of the two Manchu women selected this time became empresses.
He didn't even manage to get a concubine's rank, how could that not break the defenses of those Manchu officials?
In the imperial court, memorials accusing Hongchang of violating ancestral rules poured in like snowflakes.
The next morning at court, an old minister stepped forward, knelt down, and wept, saying:
"Your Majesty, making a Han woman your empress is truly unprecedented, and it may shake the very foundation of the nation."
"We beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree!" The other ministers echoed this sentiment.
Hongchang sat calmly on the dragon throne and slowly began to speak:
"Don't you know that a ruler's word is law?"
I have chosen Lady Liang as Empress because she possesses both virtue and talent, and is capable of serving as a model for the nation.
The Manchu and Han people are one family. My actions are precisely to break with convention and show the world my determination.
If you all only know how to cling to the old system and ignore the general trend of the world, how can the Great Qing Dynasty prosper?
After Hongchang said this, many people fell silent.
But some people are still unwilling to accept it, but what can they do about it?
From the moment he ascended the throne, this young emperor used one event after another to demonstrate to the entire court that...
He was not an emperor who could be manipulated at will.
Some people couldn't help but look at Prince Dun, Prince Zhuang, and other princes of the imperial family.
But the princes present all stood calmly to one side.
Hongchang then said
"Why don't I ask the people of the world in the 'Great Qing People's Daily'?"
Should I make a Han woman my empress?
A threat is definitely a threat; there are still more Han Chinese in the world.
If the people of the world knew that they opposed a Han woman becoming empress
Those ignorant people will surely sneak around in the middle of the night and smash their doors with rotten vegetable leaves.
Your Majesty, the various policies you have implemented since your ascension to the throne that benefit the country and its people have won the hearts of all the people.
Anyway, I'm just a tiny bubble, and this emperor, though young,
His prestige among the people far surpassed that of the previous emperors of the Qing Dynasty.