Farsightedness (Upper)

  Hui Zhu's mouth was slightly ajar and her eyes were filled with incredulity after hearing the imperial edict: Their family... is going to produce a future empress?!

  As the second daughter of the Fu Cha family, she had always felt stifled and suppressed by her elder sister's perfection. But at this moment, she suddenly found her past struggles laughable. This was a woman who had been favored by the imperial family and would one day become the empress dowager. She had the qualifications, with both virtue and beauty... She had always been clear-headed and composed, never complaining or showing fatigue. And as for herself, these years she had also learned etiquette and feminine accomplishments, but it was all just following the arrangements of her elders, never truly thinking about her own future... what kind of person she wanted to become, what kind of family she wanted to marry into.

  Fu Qian pulled his little sister back down to her knees, still in shock, as Su Peisheng unfolded a second imperial edict. This time, the recipient was Yunzhu's older brother Fu Guangcheng. Yongzheng promoted him from being a fourth-rank Imperial Guard to being a fourth-rank Vice Minister of Justice, with no change in rank but a transfer from a military position to a civil one, and fortunately still an official in the capital.

  In the Qing dynasty, Han people entered officialdom mainly through imperial examinations, while Manchu nobles could enter officialdom through various channels such as imperial examinations, military service, recommendation, purchase of offices, hereditary succession, and protection. Some even started their careers as bannermen or Imperial Guards, the Fuca family being a famous "Imperial Guard family", where sons of the family would inevitably enter the palace to serve as Imperial Guards when they came of age, and then be appointed to military or civil positions when the time was right.

  This is indeed a double happiness.

  Guarjia composed herself and ordered someone to bring Su Peisheng a cup of hot tea, smiling: "Lord Su, the hospitality is not good enough, please be patient."

  "Madam, no need to be polite, I have also known Fu Cha for many years..." Su Peisheng, due to serving the emperor, usually didn't dare to get close to the crown prince - even to avoid arousing the emperor's suspicion, he could be said to be somewhat arrogant and not giving face in front of the grown-up crown prince. He was a clever person, knowing that doing too much would inevitably offend the future successor to the throne and the future princes and dukes. Now that he had the opportunity to get along with his future relatives, he naturally wouldn't miss it.

  Li Rongbao also presented the prepared lucky money. "Su Gonggong, is there any instruction from His Majesty?"

  Su Peisheng never refused to accept the red envelope for such a happy occasion, and he stretched out his hand to receive it: "Also congratulations to Lord Fu Cha and his wife, the Imperial Household Department will send a female official to guide the wedding, the auspicious day selected by the Observatory is in early November, there is still plenty of time, the mansion can make detailed preparations..." After saying another string of auspicious words, he returned to the palace.

  After Su Peisheng left, the people at home were still in a daze.

  Fu Heng said seriously to Yunzhu: "Sister, rest assured, I will work hard to achieve success and not let people look down on you or our family."

  Yun Zhu was silent. Fu Heng in history did not live past his fate and died of illness, contracting malaria during the expedition was indeed a reason, but wasn't it also related to his long-term exhaustion and overwork? Other brothers and nephews, such as Fu Qing, Ming Ren, Ming Rui... all died on the battlefield... Was it that the Qing had no more generals? Or did they have to die? Even though the Fuca family sacrificed so many sons for the Qing, how did Jiaqing suppress the Fuca family after he came to power?

  "Ama, I have something to say." She raised her head and firmly looked at Li Rongbao. She was not the filial and virtuous empress of history, she would never let the Great Qing follow the old path with the Fuca tribe again, the throne could only be taken by her son, Fuca Yunzhu!

  "Come with me." Li Rongbao turned around and walked towards the study, followed by Fu Guangcheng and others.

  Guar Jia looked at several daughters-in-law and concubines, saying: "From tomorrow on, household matters will be handled by Bodun (Shu Mu Lu Shi, Fu Guang Cheng's wife) and Shu Yan (Nian Hu Lu Shi, Fu Wen's wife). Yin Lan (Ma Jia Shi, Fu Qing's wife) **(Xi Lin Jue Luo Shi, Fu Ning's wife) will follow me to prepare for Yun Zhu's wedding... Hui Zhu also follows to take a look."

  "Yes."

  After receiving the wedding gifts, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law felt that they had a lot of work to do next. Not only did they have to respond to congratulations from all sides, but they also had to prepare everything needed for the grand wedding banquet, which couldn't be subpar. Fortunately, the dowry had been prepared in advance, and Guarl Jia's family had already taken care of most of the necessary adjustments and additions.

  On this side, Li Rongbao and his group arrived at the main courtyard study, with the windows and doors wide open. The slaves guarding the door also stood far away, ensuring they couldn't hear their conversation.

  "Yunzhu, you——" Fu Wen couldn't bring himself to ask his sister if she wanted to marry into that place. He actually understood that what other families' noble daughters sought wasn't necessarily what his sister wanted. Besides, even if he asked, it would only add to their worries. They couldn't defy the imperial decree; this wasn't a problem for just their family, but for their entire clan.

  "Brother, in the face of unchangeable facts, we can only choose to face them and take the most advantageous path." This was her experience surviving in a post-apocalyptic world, never thinking about what ifs.

  Upon hearing this, Li Rongbao finally cracked a smile. A daughter with such an attitude can live well in the palace: "You're right, being down-to-earth, tenacious and only doing beneficial things is the family tradition of the Fuca clan. Yunzhu, be careful when you enter the palace later, the people inside are always scheming, their thoughts cannot be measured by ordinary standards... Outside, with us around, you don't have to worry, if you want to do something in the future, just send a message through someone... Your mother and brothers will restrain our clan members, they won't make you lose face."

  "Amado worried, as long as we don't do anything that goes against heaven and reason, which family doesn't have a few unruly sons?" Fu Cha Yun Zhu Er said to her father and brothers who were slightly thoughtful: "Our Fu Cha clan has already taken root in the imperial court, with a solid foundation laid by our elders. My brothers are all talented and outstanding, and the future prosperity of our family can be seen. However, as the saying goes, 'when things are full, they will be lacking.' The brilliant flowers and brocade, the fierce fire and boiling oil, are also the beginning of defeat. I don't want my brothers to all go out to battle and fight on the battlefield for me... it's too dangerous!"

  On one hand, let's not talk about other dynasties, just our Great Qing. How many high-ranking generals have passed away after reaching the age of heavenly fate? Even if they were lucky enough to avoid being wrapped in horsehide, they would still leave behind a lifetime of hidden wounds and pain... For the sake of my family, I couldn't bear to see all the pillars collapse on this matter. If something happened to any of my brothers, not to mention me, even Ama and E'niang wouldn't be able to take it. Although it's a man's duty to devote himself to the country, I still hope that my family can cherish themselves more.

  "On the other hand, with the current situation, the possibility of the Fourth Prince inheriting the throne in the future is 90%. As the legitimate Fu Jin, the Fu family will become the outer relatives and imperial clan. As the imperial clan, it's not acceptable to have too much power and pressure on the emperor, let alone easily arousing suspicion. What if, in the future, I don't have a legitimate son... Don't look at me like that, although I have confidence in protecting my children, we can't ignore the possibility of unexpected events. What if I don't have a legitimate son and another imperial prince ascends to the throne? If our family becomes too powerful, what kind of fate will we face?! Suppression is still better, but I fear being completely eliminated, leaving no room for revival. Think about the Emperor's ancestors and the Crown Prince, think about Suo Ertu back then."

  She softened her voice, looking at Li Rongbao and Fu Guangcheng, who were all solemn and serious, apparently taking her words to heart, and continued: "Only if you are all doing well, and the children are all lively and healthy, can I be at peace and feel secure."

  "Sister, what do you want us to do?" Fu Heng said directly.

  "I know that my brothers are all talented and have great ambitions to serve the country. If our family didn't have a daughter entering the palace, this would be the way for our Fuca clan to establish itself in the imperial court and expand its influence. Titles of duke or marquis would not be far off. But because of me, my brothers will have to make sacrifices..."

  Don't let all of them serve as officials, try to keep the foundation for the family. It's good to achieve merits and establish a career, but I hope that the Fu Cha clan can have many descendants and prosper forever. As long as I am in the palace, the family will be fine; conversely, as long as the family is stable in the court, I will also have support in the palace.

  There should be someone in charge of the morning Chinese affairs, and there should also be someone in charge of military affairs, but not too many. The rest can just serve as guards. If someone can take a boat out to sea for a trip away from the family, that would be best...

  The next sentence is really too absurd, the Manchu people can't leave their hometown and register with the flag, Li Rongbao has some black lines, and he can't help but scold: "Nonsense, how can it be like this?!" Right, sister thinks too much, everyone's face is strange.

  "What are you all thinking?! Cloud Pearl cried and laughed, "Although I have the idea of finding another way to preserve the family's bloodline, when it comes to going out to sea, it's not for this... Do you think going out to sea is a very safe thing? Sailing on the vast ocean, the danger is higher than on land by who knows how many times. Not only do we have to face storms at sea, but also various diseases that arise..."

  I just hope someone from our family can go out and see the world. Ama, brother, Chun and you, what do you think of the current Qing dynasty?

  "Nature is prosperous." Li Rongbao was very supportive of Yongzheng.

  "Today is a rare wise and diligent ruler in history." Fu Qing said.

  ……

  All show a spirit of pride and ambition for one's country.

  "I don't think so." Yunzhu's abrupt words made everyone pause, and Fu Heng knew that his sister never spoke without reason, so he asked hastily: "What do you mean?" which earned him a glare from Li Rongbao.

  "Let me calculate, how many new-born children of the Eight Banners are there every year? How many banner people were there during Kangxi's time, how many are there now, and how many will there be in ten or twenty years? The vast majority of these people do not engage in production and rely solely on the imperial court for support. They will eventually become a huge burden that will drag down the Qing dynasty."

  Li Rongbao was silent, but the question of the banner people, whoever has a long-term vision can't think of it? It's just that as soon as it's mentioned, all the Manchu people will be offended and their interests will be violated... To dedicate oneself to the country, not everyone is willing to die without a home or family, but in vain.