Chapter 15

Tong Jiahe was momentarily stunned, then immediately realized that someone must have fabricated stories about Yinzhen in front of him, causing such a drastic change in just a few days. Yet no one had told her what Yinzhen had endured or suffered in Cining Palace—not the Empress Dowager, nor Kangxi himself. Regardless of whether the person behind this was aiming to counterbalance the Tong family or simply to hinder the Noble Consort, a child should never be used as a pawn.

Tong Jiahe’s anger flared, but now was no time for complaints. She spoke with unwavering resolve, “Yinzhen, I never abandoned you. Your Empress Dowager will always love you. You are my child, my only child. Wherever you go, as long as you look back, you’ll find that your Empress Dowager is always waiting for you.”

The anxiety and fear that had overwhelmed Yinzhen these days were dispelled by her words. Gradually, his sobbing ceased as he nestled into Tong Jiahe’s embrace, greedily drawing warmth from her presence. She held him gently, softly patting his back, until the palace attendants arranged the midday meal.

“Yinzhen, are you thirsty? What would you like to drink—sweet soup or milk tea?” Tong Jiahe asked with a smile.

Milk tea, also known as Mongolian tea, was a daily favorite of consorts of Mongolian descent, including the Empress Dowager and the Empress. If the Empress Dowager had taken charge of the Fourth Prince’s diet and routine, she would certainly have passed on this habit.

That day, after a cathartic cry that released his pent-up emotions and timely comfort from Tong Jiahe, Yinzhen was somewhat excited. Children’s moods come and go swiftly. He nodded obediently and happily said, “I want honey water.”

Holding his small hand in her large one, Tong Jiahe carried Yinzhen to the dining table, carefully seating him on the stool before letting go.

In the palace, consorts were treated with utmost luxury; tasks requiring physical effort, such as attending to princes and princesses, were usually left to palace maids, sparing the noble ladies from such toils.

The Noble Consort’s attentive care for the Fourth Prince left the waiting attendants exchanging glances in surprise. If she treated the prince so affectionately now, why had she behaved otherwise before?

Those who served in Chengqian Palace were sharp-witted; some thoughts were best kept to themselves.

Since the Noble Consort had recovered, she no longer allowed others to prepare her meals. At this moment, Pu Yu was on high alert, watching the Fourth Prince closely for any needs.

Yinzhen, seeing that Empress Dowager Tong was serving herself and did not require assistance, declined Pu Yu’s kind offer.

If Empress Dowager Tong could do it, so could he!

Though still mastering the use of chopsticks, Yinzhen managed to pick up a piece of stir-fried chicken with green bamboo shoots after several tries and finally put it into his mouth.

“Yinzhen, you’re impressive!” Tong Jiahe praised.

Throughout the meal, Yinzhen received a dozen or so compliments from Tong Jiahe, leaving him dizzy and blushing deeply.

He couldn’t help but steal glances at his Empress Dowager, who was enjoying a bowl of icy fruit dessert. She seemed to adore him immensely!

Wait! What was the Empress Dowager eating?

Tong Jiahe was savoring a bowl filled with watermelon, water caltrop, grapes, and pomegranate seeds atop crushed ice—a refreshing treat truly fit for summer.

Meeting Yinzhen’s plaintive gaze, she calmly swallowed a mouthful of icy watermelon and explained seriously, “Children shouldn’t eat ice; it can cause stomach aches. When you turn five, you can enjoy this icy dessert with me.”

Reasoning alone wouldn’t suffice with a child; one must also offer hopeful promises.

Five years? Yinzhen pondered. He recalled hearing his second brother tell stories about time fleeting swiftly; his fifth birthday seemed to approach in the blink of an eye.

He nodded obediently, promising to join the Empress Dowager in eating icy desserts at five.

Not long after the meal, palace attendants arrived at Cining Palace.

“Noble Consort, I have come to escort the Fourth Prince back,” said a matronly attendant in her fifties. Though ranked below Sumalagu, her words carried the Empress Dowager’s imperial decree. Naturally, Tong Jiahe responded with a smile and a nod.

Yinzhen peeked out from behind Tong Jiahe, clutching a dog-shaped pillow gifted by Consort Su.

“Yinzhen, come with the matron. Empress Dowager will visit when she has time,” Tong Jiahe winked at him.

The matron, tasked with escorting the Fourth Prince, had braced herself for his inevitable crying and fussing—this duty was a hot potato.

Yet, unexpectedly, as they were about to leave, Yinzhen neither cried nor fussed. Instead, he cheerfully promised the Noble Consort they would meet again. When they parted, the Noble Consort unexpectedly sighed, “Yinzhen has become quite the little man!”

Embarrassed by her words, Yinzhen hurried away but glanced back to see the Noble Consort standing outside the Chengqian Palace gate, watching them leave.

The matron was puzzled, inwardly remarking on the strange behavior of both the Noble Consort and the Fourth Prince.

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Back at Cining Palace, the matron wasted no time reporting these events to the Empress Dowager.

To her surprise, the Emperor was also present in the inner chamber.

“No matter, speak freely,” the Empress Dowager said, ignoring the matron’s hesitation.

The Emperor, as Yinzhen’s father, had every right to hear news about his son.

The matron recounted everything she had witnessed in Chengqian Palace, speaking honestly and in full detail. She felt a heavy, authoritative gaze upon her until she finished, then the Emperor withdrew his look.

After a long pause, the Emperor’s serious voice filled the hall, “It seems the Fourth Prince is having a good time in Chengqian Palace and gets along well with the Noble Consort.”

The Empress Dowager smiled faintly, saying nothing.

The matron had to confirm, “According to my observation, that is indeed the case.”

Since the Noble Consort entered the palace, the Empress Dowager’s attitude toward her had been neither warm nor cold. The Noble Consort never unnecessarily sought favor with Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager’s only complaint was that the Noble Consort had not cared well for the Fourth Prince. She wished to avoid conflict with the Emperor, adding, “The Noble Consort’s affection for the Fourth Prince is evident.”

When the two most respected figures in the Forbidden City spoke thus, the prince’s future was clear.

Only yesterday, the Empress Dowager had argued earnestly that the Fourth Prince be raised by the lady of Chuxiu Palace. Now, with a word from the Emperor, the matter was settled.

The palace staff lowered their heads, reluctant even to exchange glances, much less sigh.

Though filial piety weighed heavily on all, the Son of Heaven was ultimately the Son of Heaven.

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At Chengqian Palace, after seeing Yinzhen off, Tong Jiahe’s body felt flush. She ordered the small kitchen to send another icy dessert. Since the Fourth Prince had dined here earlier, she had not eaten freely and was still craving more.

“Be sure to add plenty of ice,” she instructed.

The Noble Consort’s daily ration of ice allowed her to treat the icy dessert as a staple meal. Items like chilled watermelon, luxuries for lower-ranking consorts, were everyday fare for the Noble Consort.

Tong Jiahe sighed to herself; in the harem, even a single rank difference meant a world of disparity in treatment. No wonder everyone fought so fiercely.

“Though summer’s heat is hard to bear, you shouldn’t indulge in cold treats like this,” a cool voice spoke from outside the door.

Only Kangxi could enter the consort’s chambers so freely without reporting.

Tong Jiahe rose immediately to greet him.

Kangxi strode in, feeling the chill from the palace’s abundant ice. He frowned, “You’re indulging in cold again.”

Without allowing Tong Jiahe to explain, he scolded the palace attendants serving the Noble Consort.

“Her health has just recovered, yet you are still careless in your care...”

By the time Kangxi finished lecturing Chengqian Palace, an incense stick had burned down.

“Noble Consort,” Kangxi’s tone bore slight dissatisfaction.

He believed that after showing concern for the Noble Consort’s diet and care, she would at least respond with tears of gratitude.

Instead, they simply stared at each other.

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Tong Jiahe had grown accustomed to Kangxi’s regular visits to the harem.

One day accompanying one consort to flower arranging and tea tasting, the next day joining another for moonlit strolls. His equitable treatment of the consorts was impeccable, leaving no room for complaint.

Perhaps Kangxi, feeling that visiting Yonghe Palace for five consecutive days had veered from the usual fairness among consorts, came to make amends at her palace.

Tong Jiahe felt her analysis was spot on.

Kangxi watched the Noble Consort’s confused expression, guessing it might be due to the Fourth Prince’s sudden visit and departure unsettling her.

Once, the Noble Consort had doted on the Fourth Prince, but now, seeing the Emperor’s joy in him and casting the prince aside, she truly longed for an heir bearing the Tong family bloodline.

The Fourth Prince was merely her second choice.

Whether the Noble Consort had come to terms with this during their separation was unknown.

Kangxi fixed his gaze on Tong Jiahe for a while before speaking, “You’ve suffered grievances these past days as well.”

Tong Jiahe felt inspired; Kangxi’s words were a sophisticated way of saying, “Let me test you.”

If the Fourth Prince’s meal at Chengqian Palace was a written exam, Kangxi’s question was the interview.

Her heart lifted, understanding Kangxi’s purpose in visiting. It meant both she and the Fourth Prince had performed well enough to warrant a personal interview.

Carefully reviewing her prepared response, she said, “Your Majesty, what you say is not true. I have suffered no grievance, only pitied Yinzhen for his anxiety. Today he cried heartily before me.”

Mentioning this made her heart ache; she instinctively placed her hand over her chest, looking deeply concerned.

Kangxi was unaware that the Fourth Prince had cried in Chengqian Palace. He only heard from Yinzhen’s elder brother that the boy cried bitterly in Cining Palace, haunted by dreams of being abandoned by the Noble Consort.

Kangxi pressed on, “What did Yinzhen tell you?”

“She said he lives well in Ciren Palace but misses Aunt Pu Yu greatly,” Tong Jiahe chided gently. “The child never said he missed me. How could I...”

She wiped away tears.

Kangxi chuckled, “Don’t you understand a three-year-old’s meaning? He clearly misses you.”

He then reached out to wipe the Noble Consort’s tears, offering gentle comfort. Their interaction was not flirtatious but filled with warmth.

Kangxi’s feelings for the Noble Consort were complex; she was both his consort and his childhood cousin.

Because his birth mother, Empress Xiaokangzhang, died early and his two uncles feared estrangement from the Tong family, they insisted on sending Tong Jiahe to the palace.

If given a choice, he would have found a better match to marry her off to.

At the time, selecting the Noble Consort was a necessity rather than desire.

“I can see that Yinzhen likes you very much. You have worked hard these years, raising him well. Even the Empress Dowager praises him as an understanding child.”

Tong Jiahe listened with surprise and joy, awaiting further elaboration.

“Mama Ma is getting old, and I am busy with state affairs, unable to be with him often. Let the Fourth Prince serve as my filial son for a while. After some time, I will bring him back.”

“Your Majesty!” This time Tong Jiahe truly cried with excitement.

In the Qing dynasty, one must abide by its survival rules. The lives of consorts with children and those without varied greatly. To be given Kangxi’s most promising son without effort was a true blessing for Tong Jiahe.

Very well, taking Kangxi’s son for free was a great gain indeed!