RPAGF Chapter 284 Hongchang Enters Khorchin
Chapter 284 Hongchang Enters Khorchin
Chapter 284 Hong Chang Enters Khorchin
On the tenth day of the first lunar month in the seventh year of the Kaiyuan reign, the funeral bells tolled once again over the Forbidden City, and everyone knew the Empress Dowager had passed away. She was posthumously named Empress Xiaohuizhang (Xiaohui Renxian Duanyi Cishu Gong'an Chunde Shuntian Yisheng Zhang). She was buried east of the Xiaoling Mausoleum, in a building called the Xiaodongling Mausoleum, and enshrined in the Taimiao.
On the first day of March, after completing all the procedures for the Empress Dowager's death, Hongchang requested permission to send the Empress Dowager's relics and Nanny Tuna back to Khorchin, and the emperor agreed.
The north wind was still a bit chilly, especially as they headed towards Khorchin, where it grew colder. The cloak they had already taken off in the capital was now put on again. This was the tenth day since Hongchang left the capital, and they had just arrived in Khorchin.
As soon as they entered the grassland, they were greeted by Bakshigur'eji'er, the Doroberel of the Borjigit clan. He was the nephew of the Empress Dowager and had inherited the Doroberel title in the 21st year of Emperor Kangxi's reign.
"The Borjigit tribe pays homage to the Second Prince. May the Second Prince be blessed with good fortune."
"My Lord, you are so polite. Please don't be so polite. I am here to escort a few things left by our ancestors back to our homeland. I will also be escorting Madam Tuna back to Khorchin. I wonder if your preparations have gone smoothly?"
"Second Prince, everything is ready. Do you want to go there now or rest for a while?"
Thinking of the instructions given by his ancestors before they died, Hongchang felt that it would be better to complete them first. So, Hongchang waved his hand and said, "My Lord, in my opinion, let's go check on the preparations for the relevant matters first. After the dust settles, it won't be too late to come here and have a good rest!"
Hearing this, Duolo Baylor hurriedly nodded and agreed: "Okay, okay, I will follow your orders!" No matter from which angle you look at this matter, it can be regarded as a blessing bestowed by the great-aunt.
Moreover, seeing the Second Prince's proactive attitude, he obviously attached great importance to this matter. This undoubtedly ignited a glimmer of hope in the heart of Doroberel Ojir - perhaps he could use this opportunity to leave a deeper and better impression in front of Tian Khan.
It's important to note that despite the vast territory and considerable power of the Khorchin, the lineage of Wu Keshan has been the true ruler and dominant force in recent years. In contrast, his own Chahan lineage, while legitimate, has long been at a disadvantage due to its lack of primogeniture. This situation has left the Chahan branch feeling resentful and unwilling.
However, at this moment, Eji'er had a vague feeling that a new turning point had arrived. Putting aside other factors, the fact that the Second Prince and the Crown Prince were brothers from the same mother alone meant that if they could establish a close relationship in the future, the power structure within Khorchin might undergo a significant shift, and their branch would most likely become the master of the clan.
According to E Ji'er's inner thoughts, this was undoubtedly a perfect opportunity. He secretly made up his mind not only to complete the task entrusted to him by the royal family flawlessly and perfectly, but also to spare no effort in bringing his second daughter to the Second Prince's side.
As for the Crown Prince, he didn't even dare harbor the slightest illusion. You have to know that since the reign of Emperor Kangxi, the highest rank of the Mongolian concubines in the harem was no more than that of a noble lady. The rest of those who were granted the title of consort were generally granted posthumously.
Moreover, in recent years, the only Mongolian woman who had thrived in the prosperous capital was Prince Dun's wife. However, this wife was from the Abagai Borjigit clan, and her father was the Prince of Wuerjin Galapu. Such a prominent family background was completely unrelated to their family.
E Ji'er's expectations for his daughters weren't particularly high. As long as one of them could successfully marry into the prince's mansion and become his wife, then it would be a natural progression for him, their father, to benefit. If he was even luckier and could be promoted to a prince in his lifetime, that would be perfect!
With this in mind, E Ji'er repeatedly weighed the pros and cons between his two legitimate daughters. After careful consideration, he ultimately decided to choose his second daughter to take on the important task. It wasn't that he disliked his eldest daughter, but rather that she was born to his first wife. Since the death of his first wife, the child's temperament had become increasingly eccentric and erratic, lacking the cuteness and liveliness of his second daughter, born to his second wife.
I've heard that the Second Prince is a steady and composed person, a personality that would complement the Second Daughter perfectly. Presumably, the Second Daughter's unique temperament would surely attract the Second Prince's attention. At this moment, E Ji'er's mind was ablaze with thoughts, but Hong Chang, standing beside him, remained oblivious, preoccupied with his own mission.
The original plan was to build a cenotaph in Khorchin as a tribute to the deceased. However, after careful consideration, the emperor decided it would be more appropriate to follow the style favored by the Grand Empress Dowager. Consequently, a yurt-like structure was constructed on the site. Within it, the Grand Empress Dowager's tablet and commemorative items brought back from the capital were enshrined, effectively bringing her back to her beloved homeland.
The entire project was supervised by Hongchang himself. When he saw that some details were not handled to his satisfaction, he immediately ordered the craftsmen to make corrections. He himself chose to ride on horseback and go out for a walk to relax.
After all, not only had his father, mother, and other brothers and sisters been immersed in endless sorrow for the past few days, but even Hongchang himself had been in a state of depression and difficulty in cheering up. Although outsiders might think that the Empress Dowager's most beloved grandchildren were Hongye and Jingyi, this did not mean that the Empress Dowager did not favor Hongchang.
In fact, Hongchang's resolute decision to go to the Ministry of Works was not without the support and encouragement of the Empress Dowager. You must know that it was the Empress Dowager who first knew about Hongchang's plan. It was she who first supported and affirmed Hongchang, which made him determined to find his fifth uncle.
Hongye waved his hand gently, signaling the guards beside him to withdraw and telling them to just follow from a distance. He longed to enjoy a moment of solitude and tranquility.
Looking around, he saw nothing but lush green, like an endless ocean of green. After a moment's thought, Hongchang whipped his whip and launched his horse off like an arrow. When the guards noticed his movements and tried to catch up, they found he and his horse had already vanished without a trace.
Unfamiliar with the vast grasslands, and in high spirits, Hongchang whipped his whip, urging his steed to gallop faster and faster. However, as he finally realized the sky was getting darker, the sun was setting, and the surroundings had become unusually quiet and eerie, he realized with a start that he was far away from the crowd. Looking around, he found no one besides his steed.
Just as Hongchang was hesitating whether to stay where he was and wait, or turn around and go back to look for the guards, suddenly, the horse under him seemed to sense some danger and began to stamp its hooves and neigh anxiously.
Then, a gray wolf slowly emerged from the bushes, its fierce gaze fixed on Hongchang. Then, a second, a third... and more wolves appeared before Hongchang's eyes.
Hongchang couldn't help but gasp at the sight of the pack of wolves staring at him. He'd only been out for a casual stroll, and the only weapons he had for self-defense were a short dagger at his waist and a few hidden arrows in his sleeves. Facing so many aggressive wolves, Hongchang thought to himself, "Am I going to die here today?"