Chapter 14

July 15th, Consort De of the Uya clan had been favored continuously for five days.

When Pu Yu mentioned this matter, she carefully gauged the noble consort’s expression. In the past, the noble consort was unwilling and uninterested in hearing such things. Even if she asked on her own initiative, she would look listless after hearing them.

Since the consort recovered from her illness, she seemed less attentive to the emperor. Pu Yu was puzzled, unsure whether this change in her mistress was for better or worse.

“No wonder,” Tong Jiahe casually remarked, showing no concern about where Emperor Kangxi had rested the day before.

Within the palace, serving Emperor Kangxi for several consecutive days was considered a mark of great favor. A few days ago, when Pu Yu went to the Imperial Household Department, the servants of Yonghe Palace were lined up behind her, while those of Yi Consort’s Yikun Palace had to fall slightly behind.

Now, Yonghe Palace was riding high on its prominence, and various palaces and departments sought ways to accommodate it, avoiding overshadowing its influence—unless someone was openly displeased.

Tong Jiahe kept a constant watch on palace affairs—not out of gossip, but because the emperor’s harem was vast, and as the noble consort, she held the highest rank within the palace.

Although the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, two great figures, loomed above her, it didn’t mean that no turmoil could arise beneath them.

“Let’s go,” Tong Jiahe said with a casual tone.

It was the fifteenth day of the month, and everyone was to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

Having grown accustomed to sitting on a cold bench for half a day at the Empress Dowager’s place, Tong Jiahe regarded it as one of the few relaxing moments in the palace.

She only needed to sit quietly, listening to the consorts either whispering their disputes or flattering the Empress Dowager, then finish with a cup of tea from Ciren Palace, and the visit would smoothly conclude.

Upon arriving at Ciren Palace, Tong Jiahe took her usual seat, marking another successful attendance at the bi-monthly harem gathering.

Recently, the Empress Dowager had suffered a bout of headaches and found crowds noisy, so only the heads of each palace were allowed to pay respects at Ciren Palace. Though the hall was less crowded, it was far from empty.

Yi Consort Guoluo tried every means to cheer the Empress Dowager, while Hui Consort seized moments to mention how much her son missed the Empress Dowager.

The eldest prince, Yin Zhi, was the first son the emperor raised and was as robust as a calf on the grasslands. Naturally favored by the Empress Dowager, she had even suggested that Hui Consort and the eldest prince visit her palace more often, so they could also spend time with the fifth prince, Yin Qi.

“He’s often playing by himself, which isn’t much fun. It’s better to have more brothers around to keep him lively,” the Empress Dowager said enthusiastically when mentioning the fifth prince.

Hui Consort smiled and agreed.

Yi Consort’s smile stiffened momentarily.

Her son Yin Qi was raised in the Empress Dowager’s palace, but the Empress Dowager was cautious about allowing Yi Consort close contact with him, permitting only visits every three to five days. Yet now, she allowed the eldest prince and Hui Consort’s son to come and go freely in Ciren Palace.

Consort De noticed Yi Consort’s pale expression but felt no joy from it. Her own situation was even worse, as her fourth prince had yet to return.

At least the fifth prince still recognized Yi Consort as his mother, though they were not as close as those raised together. But the fourth prince called another woman “mother.”

Fortunately, she now had the sixth prince. Thinking of her youngest son, Consort De’s face softened.

The Empress Dowager glanced casually at everyone present. The noble consort’s demeanor was that of a spectator, while the expressions on the seven consorts’ faces were each uniquely telling.

For the sake of their children, even the gentlest women could lose their minds.

“Noble Consort,” the Empress Dowager suddenly called.

The hall fell into utter silence. The consorts, who had been joking and teasing, all turned their gazes toward the Empress Dowager.

Tong Jiahe: ?

As the emperor’s birth mother, it was natural for the Empress Dowager to reprimand the noble consort. Lady Borjigit of Chuxiu Palace looked on with schadenfreude, barely able to contain her laughter.

Consort De’s eyes darkened with a subtle gleam, growing brighter with the Empress Dowager’s words. The noble consort had never received a kind look in Ciren Palace, and this time would be no exception.

Could it be the Empress Dowager intended, before the six palaces, to dash the noble consort’s hopes of continuing to raise the fourth prince?

Yi Consort’s delicate face was filled with curiosity, but Hui Consort’s expression remained composed. The other consorts all leaned forward eagerly—the stage was set; all awaited the Empress Dowager’s words!

“You haven’t visited the fourth prince for several days. Today, you shall accompany him for lunch,” the Empress Dowager said in a bland tone, barely sparing a glance.

Tong Jiahe: !

So even with a fever over thirty degrees, the Empress Dowager could still utter such scorching words.

The consorts: ???

...

Tong Jiahe had believed this would be an ordinary day after her transmigration, until she left Ciren Palace, still holding a small hand.

“Noble Consort Tong,”

The child’s soft voice was gentle and sticky sweet, his eyes sparkling like little stars.

Adorable. Truly adorable!

Tong Jiahe smiled warmly, bending down to gently poke the fourth prince’s cheek, feeling its warm, soft touch.

She was not dreaming; all of this was real!

“Yin Zhen,” Tong Jiahe’s eyes curved in happiness, her mood immensely uplifted.

Though the Empress Dowager still disliked her and spoke reluctantly this time, the Empress Dowager was never within the scope of her needing to win over, so her favor was irrelevant.

What mattered most now was that she was one step closer to the fourth prince!

“Noble Consort Tong, let’s go back quickly,” Yin Zhen tugged her hand, pleading.

The words from his memory dampened the joy from seeing her, and deep unease was evident in his eyes.

Tong Jiahe gently stroked his head to comfort him, then smiled and asked, “What do you want to eat? Noble Consort Tong will have the little kitchen prepare it for you.”

Unsurprisingly, their lunch would be reported in detail to Emperor Kangxi and the Grand Empress Dowager. Judging from the Empress Dowager’s tone, this opportunity was hard-won and must be seized.

Yin Zhen pursed his lips thoughtfully before cautiously replying, “Whatever Noble Consort Tong eats, Yin Zhen will eat too.”

Back at Chengqian Palace, upon entering the inner hall, Nurse Wu joyfully greeted them, first bowing to the noble consort, then to the fourth prince.

Yin Zhen noticed this unfamiliar nurse. Her smile was warm but carried a seriousness similar to Nurse Ma.

She glanced at him once, then shyly looked away.

Nurse Wu expected the noble consort to introduce her to the fourth prince, but the noble consort bypassed her, taking Yin Zhen’s hand and moving to the inner room.

In the east side chamber, Tong Jiahe carefully observed Yin Zhen’s appearance. He was slightly thinner than she remembered, with a pointed chin, but these were minor concerns.

What saddened her deeply was the drastic change in Yin Zhen’s personality.

The once obedient and lovable child was now somewhat dull and taciturn. During the journey, he only softly urged her to hurry back to Chengqian Palace, saying nothing else. When he glanced at her, his eyes revealed obvious anxiety and inner conflict.

Pu Yu and He Weilü also noticed that the fourth prince was restrained this time, unlike his usual playful and lively self.

“What would Your Highness like to play? I can accompany you on horseback,” He Weilü offered with a gentle smile, free of flattery and naturally pleasant.

In the past, the fourth prince loved this game most at Chengqian Palace, always laughing joyfully.

Yin Zhen’s clear, expressive eyes silently declined the proposal.

Seeing this, Tong Jiahe waved for the servants to leave, so only she and Yin Zhen remained.

“Yin Zhen, tell Noble Consort Tong what you want to eat and play, okay?” Tong Jiahe smiled gently.

Since arriving at Chengqian Palace, Yin Zhen’s courage had waned. He timidly looked up at her, clutching her hand tightly, appearing small, confused, and helpless. After a brief glance, he quickly avoided eye contact, lowering his gaze to his shoes.

After a moment, perhaps feeling it improper not to respond to an elder’s question, Yin Zhen softly called out “Noble Consort Tong” again, but still dared not speak his heart.

Because of the noble consort’s neglect, the Grand Empress Dowager’s authoritarianism, and Emperor Kangxi’s indulgence, Yin Zhen was forcibly separated from the consort he had spent three years with and forbidden from meeting the closest person to him.

Such harsh measures terrified him, transforming his once cheerful and lively nature into what it was now.

The Grand Empress Dowager and the emperor intended to punish the noble consort, and had many means to do so. Though the fault lay with the adults, even the child was punished. At only three years old, how could one not feel heartbroken?

Tong Jiahe’s heart ached. Both her reason and emotions told her to cherish the fourth prince from now on, to make up for the noble consort’s past shortcomings.

Suddenly, Yin Zhen saw the noble consort, who had been speaking softly to him, begin to make strange movements.

Lifting a three-year-old with a body unaccustomed to exercise was taxing, so Tong Jiahe shook out her arms to loosen them, then calmly lifted him onto the couch, squatting to meet his eyes at level.

Yin Zhen’s nursemaid was absent today, and Chunyu, who usually accompanied him, was also not present—this was the Grand Empress Dowager’s deliberate effort to keep them apart. How much could a nearly three-year-old remember or understand, staying alone in Cining Palace these days?

“Yin Zhen, look into my eyes,” Tong Jiahe said firmly, no longer using a coaxing tone, her words leaving no room for refusal.

She gazed intently into his eyes and said seriously, “Today, the Empress Dowager allowed me to bring you back for lunch. I am very happy because whenever Noble Consort Tong sees you, her heart feels as sweet as honey.”

“Does Yin Zhen feel the same when he sees Noble Consort Tong?”

The child was stunned, never having heard such straightforward words.

Neither the Emperor, Nurse Wu, nor Nurse Ma had ever said they were happy to see him. Now he realized how much Noble Consort Tong liked him!

He longed to shout to her that he felt the same, but he could not speak.

The words he had heard that day left him frightened and wronged. Even now, while held in the noble consort’s arms, he felt uneasy. The palace servants said that Noble Consort Tong didn’t want him anymore because all the consorts favored their own children, and he was not hers by birth.

He was beginning to understand what “biological child” meant—that he had been abandoned, an unwanted prince.

Perhaps because the noble consort’s embrace was so warm, Yin Zhen could no longer hold back the words in his heart. Summoning courage, he clenched his small fists to steady himself, but before he could finish speaking, his voice cracked with tears.

Sniffling, he cried, “Noble Consort Tong, why don’t you want me anymore?”