novelden Chapter 271 Consort Fucha
Chapter 271 Consort Fucha
Fucha Peiyun paused slightly, her gaze becoming somewhat solemn.
After a while, she slowly spoke:
"Your Majesty, I have recently discovered that there is extremely serious corruption among the bondservants of the Imperial Household Department."
Although her voice wasn't loud, it carried an undeniable seriousness and earnestness.
After saying that, she gently took out the ledger and continued:
"This ledger was compiled by Consort Zhao, Zhen Yurao, during her confinement."
Through her careful investigation and recording, this ledger detailed all the unreasonable aspects.
The sheer amount of money involved in the corruption is truly shocking!
As Fucha Peiyun spoke, she presented the account book with both hands.
She knew this matter was of great importance and that the slightest mistake could cause a huge uproar, so she was extremely cautious in her statement.
No matter what, she had to remove this cancer before Hongchang ascended the throne.
Upon hearing Fucha Peiyun's words, Da Pangju's face instantly darkened.
His relaxed expression vanished without a trace, replaced by a look of solemnity and anger.
The word "corruption" really hit a nerve with him.
Seeing this, Su Peisheng quickly stepped forward.
He took the account book from Fucha Peiyun and then presented it to the big fat orange with utmost respect.
After receiving the ledger, the chubby orange dog did not immediately look at it.
Instead, he fixed his sharp gaze on Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan.
They seemed to be trying to glean some clue from their expressions.
After a while, he slowly opened the ledger and began to browse its contents.
However, after reading only a few pages, Big Fat Orange's face became increasingly gloomy.
His brows furrowed tightly, and the anger in his eyes seemed about to burst forth.
Each line of numbers in that ledger felt like a heavy hammer.
It struck him hard in the heart, filling him with immense anger and shock.
The price of a chicken egg went from one or two coins to several taels of silver per egg.
The price difference is truly eye-opening.
Why don't these lackeys go rob people?
After a moment, the chubby orange cat finally raised its head, its gaze sharp as a knife.
He thrust straight at Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan, and asked in a deep voice:
"Is everything recorded in this ledger true?"
Fucha Peiyun quickly replied:
"Your Majesty, I would never dare to utter a single falsehood."
Every single entry in this ledger was witnessed and experienced by Consort Zhao herself; there is absolutely no falsehood in it.
Moreover, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Your Majesty, I suspect that corruption within the Imperial Household Department has infiltrated every corner of the palace, even threatening the stability of imperial power.
Nian Shilan quickly added:
"Your Majesty, these bondservants have been entrenched in the palace for many years, and their influence is deeply entrenched."
They not only controlled the supply of materials in the palace, but also the appointment of palace servants.
If this is not addressed promptly, the consequences could be dire.
The fat orange cat's face grew increasingly grim as he listened.
He only truly realized what a mess this was when he took the throne from the late emperor:
The national treasury is empty, the bureaucracy is corrupt, officials form cliques for personal gain, and embezzle and accept bribes.
He devoted countless hours and endured countless sleepless nights to reforming the court, replenishing the national treasury, and purging corruption among officials.
In his efforts to punish corrupt officials, he confiscated countless properties from their homes; he'd even heard that the common people called him the "Emperor of Confiscating Houses."
In order to replenish the national treasury, he had to cut spending.
Even the imperial concubine selection for his own coronation required Shilan to pay for it.
But who could have imagined that when he went to great lengths to crack down on corrupt officials...
It turned out that the backyard was on fire.
The appearance of such a large rat in the palace is nothing short of a mockery and an insult to him.
Big Fat Orange thought of the money he had painstakingly saved.
It all ended up in the pockets of these bondservants.
I feel like my lungs are about to explode with anger.
I want to kill all these bondservant servants.
Big Fat Orange slammed its fist on the table and roared:
"Outrageous! How dare they! I will have them beheaded!"
Seeing this, Fucha Peiyun quickly advised
"Your Majesty, these servants certainly deserve to die, but can we act rashly?"
Seeing this, Su Peisheng knew that this matter was of utmost importance, and quickly withdrew.
Only trusted servants were allowed to guard the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Under Fucha Peiyun's persuasion, the chubby orange cat gradually calmed down and began to calmly consider the current situation.
He realized that most of the servants in the palace were of bondservant origin.
These people often have intricate connections with various powerful families.
If they had known about today's events beforehand, these bondservant officials might very well have acted against him, the emperor.
After all, they were all too familiar with the power struggles and intrigues within the palace.
If these people unite against him, he probably won't even know how he died.
Thinking about this, Big Fat Orange couldn't help but feel a chill of fear.
This matter must be handled with care, and it must be executed flawlessly.
We must not give them any chance to catch their breath.
Fortunately, in the past few years, because of that poisonous woman Yixiu and the Empress Dowager,
He has already cleaned up the Uya clan and some bondservants closely associated with them.
This gave him a slight sense of relief, but he knew in his heart that it was far from enough.
Big Fat Orange began to silently plot in his mind how to catch all these wrappers in one fell swoop.
But after careful consideration, he rejected the idea.
There are far too many servants in the palace who were originally bondservantes. If they were all eliminated...
This could cause a huge uproar and even disrupt the order within the palace.
These bondservants had already established deep roots in the palace.
Their intermarriages were complex and interconnected, with one move affecting the whole situation.
Moreover, even among the royal family and nobles, bondservants were employed.
If a one-size-fits-all approach is taken against them as well, the consequences would be unimaginable.
However, if we don't take drastic measures, these bondservants will continue to collude with each other for years.
With such deeply entrenched forces, superficial rectification would likely only address the symptoms, not the root cause.
It should be understood that the masters' food, clothing, housing, and transportation were all in the hands of these bondservants.
The fat orange cat felt a chill run down its spine whenever it thought about this.
Just then, seeing that the chubby orange cat's emotions were gradually calming down, Fucha Peiyun seized the opportunity to speak:
"Your Majesty, I suspect that these bondservants are not simply engaging in embezzlement and bribery."
They might even interfere in matters concerning the imperial harem's offspring.
Upon hearing this, the chubby orange cat frowned deeply and pressed for an answer:
"Oh? How do you say this?"
Fucha Peiyun took a deep breath and continued:
"During the reign of the late emperor, many concubines suffered miscarriages or died unexpectedly."
Most of those who were able to give birth to princes safely were of bondservant origin.
"I believe this is no coincidence."
Upon hearing this, Fatty Orange's face grew even more gloomy, and a sharp, cold glint flashed in his eyes.
He slowly sat back on the dragon throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrests.
It makes a "thump-thump" sound.
Big Fat Orange began to reminisce about his brothers.
Eldest, Third, Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Fourteenth,
Their mothers were all from bondservant families.
His sisters are not included in the count.
Thinking about all this, the chubby orange cat felt only terror.
Thinking of herself, the Empress Dowager was also from the Uya clan, a bondservant clan, yet she had given birth to three sons and three daughters for the late emperor.
Fucha Peiyun spoke vaguely.
Big Fat Orange immediately understood what she meant.
These bondservant officials actually dared to attempt to control the royal offspring; they were truly audacious!
They clearly wanted to wait until these children grew up.
Then they use various means to influence and manipulate them in order to achieve their own ulterior motives.
Big Fat Orange couldn't help but think of the Empress Dowager, who had always tried to influence him.
Let him get close to the Uya clan and other bondservant families.
Even before he ascended the throne, he already had several princesses from bondservant families in his harem.
If it weren't for Yixiu, that ruthless and vicious woman, his children would probably all have been born to a concubine.
It's likely that the Empress Dowager's favoritism towards the fourteenth prince was partly due to his aloofness towards the Uya family.
Thinking about this, Big Fat Orange felt a wave of fear wash over him.
He was grateful to Fucha Peiyun, a woman from the Manchu Banner family.
She was able to give birth to Hongchang, a bright and talented child, safely and peacefully.
Without Hongchang, his successor would likely have to be either Hongshi or Hongzhou.
Hongshi's mother, Consort Qi, née Li, and Hongzhou's mother, Consort Yu, née Geng, were both from bondservant families.
In this way, wouldn't his Qing Dynasty fall into the hands of these bondservants?
Big Fat Orange started reminiscing again, from the eldest brother to the brothers who hadn't yet married.
Which household doesn't have several concubines and princesses who came from bondservant families?
These bondservants often entered the mansion earlier than the primary wife, and established a deep emotional bond with their master.
As time goes by, if they are able to give birth safely,
She would gradually rise to the rank of Gege (princess), Shufujin (concubine), or even Cefujin (secondary consort).
As for those legitimate primary wives born into Manchu banner families...
Despite their noble status, they often find it difficult to give birth and raise children successfully.
Even the Crown Princess, who was highly favored by the late Emperor, never gave birth to a legitimate son for her second brother.
The fat orange cat became increasingly alarmed as it thought about it.
This is not merely a problem of corruption within the Imperial Household Department, but also a manifestation of the erosion and threat posed by the power of the bondservant forces to the imperial authority.
These bondservants are so audacious; the game they've played is far too big and too ruthless.
If this situation is not addressed, the Qing Dynasty will likely be gradually eroded away by them.
Ultimately, it declined and perished.
This matter concerns the safety and rule of the entire royal family, and the chubby orange cat knows he cannot sit idly by.
However, dealing with these bondservants was no easy task.
He could not bypass the Zong family and take direct action against them.
The chubby orange cat slowly turned its gaze to Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan, and said in a deep voice:
"Ah-Jun, Shi-Lan, I already know about this matter."
You should all return to the palace first.
Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of worry in each other's eyes.
They knew that now that the Emperor knew about this matter, he would inevitably take action.
Big Fat Orange then said to Fucha Peiyun:
"Ah Jun, after you return to the palace, you must send more reliable people to protect Hongchang."
Hongchang's safety must not be neglected in the slightest.
Fucha Peiyun quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I will obey your decree."
"After I return to the palace, I will certainly increase the number of guards to protect Hongchang closely and ensure that nothing happens to him."
Big Fat Orange looked at Nian Shilan again.
"Shilan, after you return, have someone keep an eye on the inner palace and see if anyone makes any unusual moves."
If anyone acts up at this time, Shilan, you can simply pin them down.
Nian Shilan quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
Big Fat Orange nodded slightly, a hint of weariness in its eyes.
He waved his hand, signaling the two to step back.
Fucha Peiyun and Nian Shilan bowed and took their leave, slowly exiting the Imperial Study.
After the two left, the Imperial Study fell silent, leaving only the chubby orange-haired boy inside.
He slowly walked to the window, gazing at the deep night outside, his brow furrowed, his mind filled with countless thoughts.
"Bundle..." he murmured softly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"You are ultimately my servants, how dare you be so insolent!"
He must suppress these bondservantes; he cannot leave this potential problem for Hongchang.
Upon returning to Kunning Palace, Fucha Peiyun instructed Ye'er:
Send a message to Lanyi, telling her to be extra careful.
Hongchang must personally inspect all his food, clothing, daily necessities, and belongings, and must never delegate them to others.
In addition, Consort Jing and the others should also be on high alert.
Especially the princesses and pregnant concubines, their safety must be ensured.
Ye'er accepted the order and immediately went to arrange for someone to deliver the message.
At the same time, Nian Shilan returned to Lingkun Palace and gave instructions to Songzhi and Zhou Ninghai.
"From this day forward, keep a close eye on the every move of those spies in the palace."
"If there is any disturbance, report it to me immediately."
Songzhi and Zhou Ninghai accepted the order and left.
The chubby man sat upright in the imperial study, the flickering candlelight illuminating his slightly anxious face.
His brows were furrowed; the matter of the bondservant made him restless.
"Su Peisheng!"
Big Fat Orange suddenly shouted, his voice echoing in the empty Imperial Study.
Upon hearing the sound, Su Peisheng quickly walked in, bowed, and said, "This servant is here."
Without wasting any words, the big orange cat gave the order directly:
"Quickly summon Prince Heng, Prince Dun, Prince Zhuang, Prince Shuncheng, and other members of the imperial clan to the palace. Do not delay!"
After receiving the order, Su Peisheng dared not delay and hurriedly left the Imperial Study.
Prince Heng and others were sound asleep at home at this time.
They were suddenly woken up in the middle of the night, all of them still half asleep, their eyes barely open.
But they couldn't disobey the emperor's orders, so they could only force themselves to stay focused.
With the help of his wife, he put on his clothes, quickly washed up, and then rode in a sedan chair to the palace.
Prince Dun had always had a strained relationship with the fourth prince, and after being woken up, he was filled with resentment, muttering curses incessantly.
His wife pleaded and persuaded him for a long time before he finally managed to get dressed properly and head to the palace in a huff.
The night was deep and all was quiet; the palace gates were already locked. But the imperial decree was urgent, and who dared to delay? The guards at the gate, seeing that it was a prince's palanquin, quickly let it pass, not daring to ask a single question.
Before long, Prince Heng, Yunqi; Prince Dun, Yunyou; Prince Zhuang, Yunlu;
Prince Shuncheng, Yunli, and others arrived one after another outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The group exchanged bewildered glances, none of them knowing why they had been summoned so urgently in the middle of the night, and their hearts were filled with unease.
Su Peisheng had been standing outside the palace gates for a long time.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, he bent down slightly and lowered his voice to say:
"Your Highnesses, His Majesty has been waiting in the hall for some time. Please follow me inside."