Chapter 486 – Extra: Rivalry in Elegance

Chapter 486 - Extra: Rivalry in Elegance

Qi Tongxi was an intelligent child from birth.

As the legitimate eldest son of a marquis household, he was doted on endlessly.

He lived up to expectations, passing the imperial examination at a young age, albeit not within the top three ranks, but still an impressive position.

His marriage was also satisfactory; he wed Jiang Shi, his mother's niece.

In her youth, Jiang Shi was beautiful, well-read, and held herself with pride.

Qi Tongxi was content with this match.

Life after marriage was blissful. Jiang Shi bore him a son and a daughter, both delightful children.

During those times, everything went smoothly for Qi Tongxi. In his political career, he progressed effortlessly. Starting as a newly-graduated scholar, he climbed the ranks to become the prime minister, all within two decades, leveraging his father's influence.

The only regret in his life was his mother's early departure, followed by his father remarrying.

But the matters of the inner household had long been under Lady Jiang's control, rendering even a stepmother powerless. Back then, he was both triumphant and somewhat delusional.

Until Qingluan was sent to the Eastern Palace, but not as the crown princess.

By that time, Qi Tongxi had been managing the Qi family for several years. He had assumed Qingluan would surely become the crown princess...

The crown prince was an exceptional individual, likely to be an excellent emperor in the future.

If the queen came from the Qi family, how glorious would their lineage be for generations?

Yet, Qingluan was not the crown princess.

It was the first time he felt a hint of unease. But he was still young then, and life had been too smooth sailing for him.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, Qingluan became a imperial concubine, second only to the empress.

Qi Tongxi was well aware of Lady Jiang's intentions.

However, conflicts within the royal family were an age-old tale. Even if Qingluan remained passive, there would still be those who sought to harm her.

It wouldn't be unwelcome if the Xie family were to fall from grace.

But it was a difficult task, for His Majesty did not favor Empress Qinglan.

Qī Tóngxī didn't understand back then – why wasn't Empress Xie any better, despite being the same person?

Jiǎng decided to send someone into the palace to aid Qinglan, and Qī Tóngxī did not refuse.

There were two candidates: one was his sister's daughter, and the other was a niece from his own family.

Naturally, Qī Tóngxī leaned towards the latter; regardless of the situation, it would benefit the Qī family more if one of their daughters entered the palace.

Yet, he was well aware that Jiǎng had intentions of removing the mother to protect her son.

Qī Tóngxī felt uneasy about it, but he didn't intervene.

The fourth son was born to the second wife and should, by right, hold higher status than the second and third sons. However, his mother had a gentle disposition, and he himself lacked capabilities.

Thus, he was overshadowed by his two younger half-brothers.

Now, they likely seized the opportunity to push forward their cherished daughter.

Madam Jiang was naturally pleased; in terms of appearance, Yun Li was indeed exceptional.

Thus, in the fourth year of the Chongzheng era, she was sent into the palace.

Qī Tóngxī later thought that if he had intervened back then, things might have turned out differently.

But...

Later on, he no longer entertained such thoughts.

Qingluan couldn't proactively pave her own path to success, but Yun Li was genuinely remarkable.

If Yun Li had not entered the palace, the Qi family might have fallen.

He'er's move against the eldest son of the Xie family was ultimately too foolish.

Perhaps they were pressured by Yun Li, but in the end, it was they who first pushed her into a corner.

Qiu Tongxi might favor his own children, but he was a man with clear judgment.

With the Qiu family's fall from grace, the title of Marquis was lost.

Qiu Xiang, despite his old age, had to bear the sorrow of losing his son.

Jiang could not comprehend, and in her grief, she sought to take Yun Li's life.

But Qiu Tongxi had already made one mistake. The realization he gained from sacrificing his own flesh and blood could not lead him astray again.

Qiu Xiaohao might be foolish and naive, but he was a child whom Qiu Tongxi had doted on for over two decades.

How could he not feel heartache?

At that time, his pain was so intense that he wished to die alongside his son.

Yet, he couldn't.

He was still the head of the Qiu family, responsible for an entire clan.

The Emperor still trusted him; he couldn't just abandon his duties.

Moreover, he had a young son.

Their main lineage was eventually dwindling in descendants. In truth, there were many times when he wasn't unaware of what Madam Jia had done.

But because he valued her, he had accepted it all.

Now that he was old and had only this one bastard son, he couldn't neglect him.

Yun Li's methods and character amazed Qi Tongxi.

When she entered the palace, she was a Baolin, clearly sent to compete for favor and bear an heir.

How could the Emperor, with his sharp insight, not know?

Yet step by step, she rose from Baolin to become the Virtuous Empress.

He had heard of many of her battles with the other concubines, and each time, he found it inconceivable.

She appeared to live without restraint, yet time and again, she managed to step on the softest spots of the emperor's heart.

Bearing the Ninth Prince and even vying for the position of crown prince.

All of this, she had never relied on the Qi family.

Indeed, his presence as the Prime Minister Qi was a natural source of support in this situation.

Yet, if one were to focus on the Qi family alone, they were actually in decline.

Yet Yun Li had managed to reach this point.

The higher she climbed, the more she understood the need to restrain her family.

The more enigmatic she was, the less she imposed her superiority on others.

Until the moment she was to become Empress, urging him to retire from his duties...

Qī Tóngxī recalled his deceased daughter, and he knew that Qingluan would never do such a thing.

Cygnus is too proud, her pride blinding her from the realities of this world.

Yet, he still thinks of them.

He thinks of Jiang, despite his hatred for her misguidance of their child. Their years of affection were not mere pretense.

He thinks of Crane, though his foolishness nearly brought ruin to the family. He was the child he loved the most.

Once upon a time, the son upon whom he had pinned all his hopes...

Also thoughts of the Azure Phoenix flitted through his mind. When they were young, the Azure Phoenix would pout and coax him endlessly. They were flesh and blood; how could he not feel affection for her?

Never mind; he would be reunited with them sooner or later.

In this life, there were twists and turns, nearly leading to the destruction of my family. Yet, in the annals of history, it will be recorded that there was once a Prime Minister in the Great Jin named Qi Tongxi.

He was not strict in managing his household, but he was an excellent statesman.

As for the Qi family, there is no need for concern. With the Empress Dowager's support, their prosperity is assured for three generations.

As for three generations later, who cared? All lords and nobles would eventually become common folk over time.

The imperial power couldn't even be guaranteed, let alone the status of ministers' families!

He was weary and only wished to rest each day, savoring tea and appreciating paintings while meeting old friends at his residence.

It was a life of unparalleled comfort that he hadn't experienced in decades.

Qī Tóngxī, at the age of eighty-nine, quietly passed away while taking his afternoon nap in a rattan chair within the garden, precisely during early autumn when the weather was delightful.

When chronicling the prominent officials of the Great Jin in historical records, Qī Tóngxī's name would always be mentioned.

He was also the maternal uncle of Empress Zhao Kang.

However, some anecdotal records stated that he was actually the empress's biological father.

The general consensus leaned towards him being her father rather than her uncle.

As for Empress Zhao Kang's real father, he eventually passed away without recognition.

Qiu Qingluan's reputation was even less than that of the Xie family. At least when historical records mentioned Xie, they would dedicate a passage to her fall from grace due to her crimes, noting that she bore a son and a daughter.

However, regardless of Qiu Qingluan's grand aspirations and straightforward name, all that remained for posterity was a mere mention of her surname when listing the empresses and consorts of the Jiaqing Emperor.

Qiu.

And because there was Empress Zhao Kang, who shared this surname, later generations would always wonder if there had been an error. How could there be two Qius?

Even if no mistake had been made, what could an obscure and unacknowledged Qiu possibly leave behind for people to remember?