Worried about causing trouble, the Jia family members insisted the physician must preserve her life first—keep her alive as long as possible.

The physician was in a difficult position. This wasn’t something he could preserve just by saying so.

Madam Wang: “Physician, we have treasured ginseng in our collection. Please see if it can be used.”

However much it pained her, Madam Wang still brought it out at this moment.

At this time, she absolutely could not die!

That Fourth Prince was not a magnanimous figure. If this entered his sight and he bore a grudge, could the Jia family still have good days?

As soon as this ginseng was brought out, the physician’s eyes lit up.

He recognized quality goods—this was something several hundred years old!

Lifting the red cloth to look, half a piece remained, but this half piece was sufficient.

Jia She: “Physician, with this ginseng, how long can she be sustained?”

The physician hesitated, then conservatively estimated: “About ten days to half a month.”

Hearing this timeframe, the Jia household members secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Even if it was the shortest period of ten days, that would still get them past the new Emperor’s enthronement.

It was just… in the new Emperor’s eyes, it might still be somewhat inauspicious—dying not long after he ascended.

Wang Xifeng had someone present silver, very regretfully: “Physician, our family’s old ancestor’s condition cannot handle excessive emotional fluctuations. She just heard good news from the younger generation and couldn’t control her emotions. Please help the physician, let our old ancestor allow us to fulfill our filial duties for a few more days.”

This excuse was ready-made—Xue Baochai was pregnant.

She had previously given birth to a daughter and was now pregnant again. Perhaps it would be a legitimate son. The old ancestor had always doted on Baoyu, so hearing this good news and becoming overly excited wasn’t unreasonable.

The physician had no intention of investigating deeply. Even though he had taken her pulse and clearly knew this Old Madam of the Jia household had suffered an attack of rage.

What he shouldn’t say, he wouldn’t say a word of.

Having finally sent off the physician and looking at the old ancestor’s deathly pale face, the Jia household members could finally calm down and think.

Prince Yong was going to ascend the throne.

He was the next new Emperor!

The more Madam Wang thought about it, the more anger choked her, with blood and qi churning in her chest.

Xue Baochai stood quietly to the side, hands loosely placed on her lower abdomen, not speaking.

Even she knew that previously, if sister-in-law Yuanchun had wanted to go to Fourth Prince’s household, it would have been very easy. If she had truly gone, her prospects would definitely have been far greater than in the old Emperor’s harem. Unfortunately, it was fate and destiny. By today, saying she regretted it was too late.

She lowered her head to look at her belly. She only hoped this pregnancy would be a son. In the future, she would carefully educate him and absolutely wouldn’t let him view fame and fortune as filthy things like his father did.

Jia Baoyu silently looked at the old ancestor, dazed, not knowing what he was thinking.

Wang Xifeng’s thoughts drifted. After her surprise, she felt this might not necessarily be bad.

Cousin Luo Yu’s son Hongli had great favor before the old Emperor and was very outstanding in Prince Yong’s household. In the future, he might well be the next new Emperor!

Although Luo Yu had no Jia family bloodline, speaking of it, she was still the Jia family’s granddaughter—sufficient to deceive outsiders.

Moreover, there was still Daiyu!

Her relationship with the Lin family was inseparable, and her relationship with the Jia family also couldn’t be severed. As long as they carefully maintained it, in the future they might not be unable to borrow support.

There were many others who couldn’t believe this result, such as Imperial Concubine De.

Hearing others’ congratulations, the expression on her face was stiff. How could it be Fourth Prince?

It should have been Fourteenth Prince!

But this was what the Emperor had said with his golden mouth and jade words, in front of so many ministers and princes, leaving her with no place to voice objections.

Although her previous rivals now didn’t dare to act tough in front of her anymore and she could hold her head high, Imperial Concubine De still couldn’t feel happy.

She worried about Fourteenth Prince. At this time, he didn’t even know this news yet!

After Imperial Concubine De learned the news, she immediately had someone send word to her younger son. She also wanted to have the Emperor summon Fourteenth Prince back, but unfortunately, she had no opportunity to be alone with the Emperor, so this couldn’t be brought up…

In Prince Yong’s household, everyone carried joy on them. Although because of the Emperor’s physical condition they had to maintain composure and show no emotion, that aura from their bodies uncontrollably drifted out. Sensitive people who observed carefully could detect it.

Everyone could also understand.

As the saying goes, when one person attains the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Prince Yong becoming the new Emperor meant Prince Yong’s household became the former residence, and the personnel previously used were the new Emperor’s natural confidants.

After hearing the news, the Fourth Fujin stayed alone in the inner chamber and laughed for a long time. She had finally waited for this day! In the end, they were the ones who won!

As she laughed, tears came. She knelt in the small Buddhist hall, looking at her son’s treasured clothing. If only her Honghui were still here, how wonderful it would be.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During these three days, many people spent them very intensely. The busiest were the people of the Ministry of Rites, because they were responsible for all the ceremonies of the enthronement. Others were also spinning around busily.

The new Emperor was ascending the throne—there was too much to do.

The ceremonies could not have errors. Everyone urgently searched through examples of throne succession from previous dynasties for reference. This was the first time in the Great Qing—there were no precedents to follow. All these complex matters had to be finalized within three days.

Because the Emperor couldn’t guarantee he would still have breath after three days, the Ministry of Rites had no way to extend the time.

Should they negotiate with the King of Hell?

Over those procedures and attire, the Ministry of Rites even staged full martial displays. Some people shouted until their voices were hoarse, some had black eyes and swollen faces. If there hadn’t been someone to suppress them, they might not have been able to argue out a result.

If the time hadn’t been fixed, discussing these ceremonies for half a year would be normal.

But now, everything had to be condensed into three days.

In three days, the enthronement matters were finalized, well-fitting dragon robes were rushed into production. Other matters, such as the new Emperor’s harem ennoblement and how to arrange the old Emperor’s harem, were all set aside first.

These three days went smoothly because Kangxi’s condition didn’t continue to deteriorate. He smoothly made a simple appearance on the day of the enthronement, allowing the ceremony to proceed perfectly.

The other princes also didn’t cause trouble. Thus, Yongzheng ascended to the throne under the gaze of all.

The era name had already been decided. This year would still use Kangxi’s era name. Starting next year, it would be the first year of Yongzheng.

After returning from the palace, Yun Shuyao, the Old Madam, Lin Ruhai, Chen Yu, and others had a small banquet, also to fill their stomachs.

In the imperial palace, one shouldn’t expect to eat or drink well.

Lin Ruhai raised his wine cup: “A toast to our Emperor.”

The cup contained low-alcohol fruit wine that wasn’t intoxicating. Even the women could drink it, so everyone raised their cups and drank in one gulp.

Fourth Prince’s enthronement was naturally a good thing for them.

This represented another generation of stability.

However, the next generation… Thinking of this, Lin Ruhai filled his own cup and drank another cup of wine, worries rising in his heart.

Now Hongli’s momentum was flourishing. If the next heir wasn’t him, he would be in danger. Similarly, the Lin family would also be in danger.

However, speaking from the heart, even if Hongli had no relationship with him, comparing him with Third Prince Hongshi, Lin Ruhai would still be more optimistic about Hongli.

His natural gifts were more outstanding.

If Hongshi could be competent for the position of prince in a prince’s household, a dynasty was another matter.

Moreover, this current period wasn’t easy for the new Emperor either. The various princes’ power remained undiminished. Fourteenth Prince still held military authority. Even though the possibility of his rebellion under current circumstances was low, it still required attention.

If they went mad and worked together to obstruct the new Emperor, if not making every step difficult, it wouldn’t be far off.

The Grand Emperor should also know, but his current condition…

Yun Shuyao knew his worries and poured him another cup of wine: “The new Emperor is not without skill.”

As for the next Emperor, if Yun Shuyao said she wasn’t tempted, that would definitely be false.

Of course she also wanted her grandson to go further.

Actually, unless the Empress could give birth to a legitimate son to suppress them, otherwise if the future heir wasn’t Hongli, he would definitely be feared, and his outcome wouldn’t be good.

Did Hongli not understand this point? Even just for self-preservation, he would perform before his father. Moreover, he currently occupied a great advantage.

What he needed to do was maintain this advantage.

——

Yinzhen sat in the palace hall at this moment, not as happy as one might imagine. Although his wish was fulfilled and he could implement his aspirations and execute his principles, the Emperor Father hadn’t escaped danger yet. The person who made him look up like a high mountain now lay on the sickbed, his face and hands showing exposed age spots, weakness revealed completely.

Watching the Emperor Father sleeping deeply, Yinzhen was lost in thought.

He had once envisioned this scene, but when it truly happened, he only felt his shoulders were heavy. “You all wait here and don’t leave.” Instructing his two sons to keep vigil by the bed, Yinzhen returned to his desk.

The Emperor Father couldn’t handle affairs. All the memorials were sent before him. He both kept watch by the Emperor Father’s side and reviewed memorials.

Looking at these memorials, Yinzhen often had to gulp down a large bowl of tea to suppress the anger in his heart.

The inner treasury was empty, the national treasury was also empty. Looking again at those greedy rats lining their own pockets, and those parasites, yet they still sang and danced of peace and prosperity in their memorials. He wished he could immediately send troops to surround them, confiscate their homes, and appropriate their wealth.

But Yinzhen also knew he couldn’t be so hasty.

Becoming Emperor didn’t mean acting willfully. He still needed restraint, needed patience.

Haste makes waste.

Moreover, these people were basically all promoted by the Emperor Father. Even if the Emperor Father passed, there was still the saying of three years without changing father’s way, let alone that the Emperor Father hadn’t passed yet. He couldn’t be hasty.

However, although it wasn’t convenient to conduct large-scale purges, it also didn’t prevent Yinzhen from promoting some of his own people.

Lin Ruhai was already valued by Kangxi. Now the burden on him was even heavier. Additionally, the Emperor had previously been close with Thirteenth Prince. Now Thirteenth Prince was clearly his most relied-upon confidant, with unlimited glory. He also promoted several other people, such as Li Wei and Tian Wenjing.

After promoting these people, the Emperor didn’t move further.

Lin Ruhai also had to sigh that the Emperor was a filial son.

When reviewing memorials, if he saw important ones, he would still consult the Grand Emperor for advice. Additionally, medicinal soups were either personally attended to by him or Third Prince and Fourth Prince, not delegated to others. Although some people said they were putting on a show, Lin Ruhai considered himself not old and could distinguish false sentiment from true.

On the twelfth day after the new Emperor’s enthronement, white mourning cloths were hung at the Duke Rong household.

The Old Madam of the Jia family had passed away.

The Jia household was shrouded in gloom. Even Wang Xifeng, who had hoped for family division to drive out the second branch because there was little profit to be had, felt a wave of panic at this moment.

The sky of the Jia family was gone. From now on, they would have to rely on themselves.

The First Master?

It would be good if he didn’t add to the chaos!

However, she soon had no time to think about these things.

Because with the old ancestor’s passing, family division was imperative.

This was a major matter.

There wasn’t much left in the public holdings to divide, but one thing remained—debts.

Wang Xifeng insisted on splitting it half and half with the second branch.

Jia Lian also strongly agreed: “When dividing the storerooms, they were active. Now wanting to withdraw is too late!”

Previously, they had obtained over two hundred thousand taels of silver from raiding servants’ homes and repaid it. That still left two-thirds of the silver unpaid. Now that Fourth Prince had ascended, they understood in their hearts that sooner or later, these debts would have to be repaid.

The second branch had taken advantage. Now they wanted to cleanly divide the family and leave?

No way!

The Jia family staged scene after scene of drama over this. Wang Ziteng was invited to mediate fairly, but he favored Madam Wang.

Wang Xifeng was his niece—the relationship was separated by a layer. Moreover, ultimately, the second branch had a consort with the Grand Emperor and a prince.

What did the first branch have?

A princess in Eighth Prince’s household.

Did the Jia family have anyone who could suppress the Wang family?

No.

Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng had to pinch their noses and swallow this bitter fruit. All the debts were shouldered by the first branch.

Heartbroken, Wang Xifeng immediately fell ill.

Also because of these scenes of drama, Grandmother Jia’s funeral was not particularly grand.

“Unfilial descendants with only profit in their eyes—you needn’t be unwilling. This is just like you.” Old Madam Lin watched as if viewing a play, very pleased. She had ultimately outlived her!

As the saying goes, extreme joy easily begets sorrow. Right after Yun Shuyao heard the news of Grandmother Jia’s passing, she heard news of Old Madam Lin falling ill.

Before she fell ill, it was reportedly heard that maids occasionally heard her delighted laughter.

Yun Shuyao: “…”

It seemed the Old Madam’s obsession with Grandmother Jia ran even deeper than she had imagined.