Chapter 18

In the twentieth year of the Kangxi reign, in October, the Wu family rebels, who had stubbornly resisted for two years, were utterly defeated by the Qing army’s siege. Wu Shifan, the legitimate grandson of Wu Sangui, took his own life.

The Qing forces took control of Kunming, bringing an end to the eight-year-long Revolt of the Three Feudatories. The heads of the rebel leaders, including Wu Shifan, were being escorted back to the capital.

At court, Emperor Kangxi was overjoyed, and his happiness spread throughout the entire harem.

When the emperor was pleased, naturally the consorts were pleased as well. Previously, he would go ten or fifteen days without visiting the harem, and even when he did, his face was stern, so they had to serve him cautiously.

Now, at last, they could relax and display their charms freely.

In the Yikun Palace, Consort Yi gazed at her reflection in the mirror repeatedly, feeling quite satisfied with her appearance.

“How do you find my makeup today?” she asked the senior palace maid beside her.

Tongyue smiled and said, “Your Highness’s beauty is unparalleled in the palace. Even without makeup, you outshine them all.”

Consort Yi chuckled softly, the light in her eyes glimmering, adding to her allure.

Today was Consort Yi’s birthday, and as per tradition, the emperor was expected to dine with her in Yikun Palace. So, she had risen early to prepare, and the entire palace was filled with festive cheer.

“And what of Concubine Guo and the Fourth Princess?” Consort Yi inquired.

Concubine Guo was Consort Yi’s elder sister. Both entered the palace in the sixteenth year of Kangxi’s reign and soon after became pregnant one after the other. The Fourth Princess, daughter of Concubine Guo, was only six months older than the Fifth Prince.

Though sisters, Concubine Guo’s beauty was not as delicate and charming as Consort Yi’s, only somewhat resembling her in their eyes and brows. Unlike Consort Yi’s spirited temperament, Concubine Guo was gentle as water. Their contrasting natures complemented each other well, and their relationship was strong—so much so that Kangxi himself praised their sincere bond.

“Concubine Guo sent some things earlier and took the Fourth Princess back to the side palace,” came the reply.

Favored consorts had the chance to see the emperor in both the side and rear palaces. Their family had sent the two sisters into the palace to support each other, and Consort Yi wanted to give her sister an opportunity, smiling as she said, “Bring the Fourth Princess here; she can join the festivities before the emperor today.”

The emperor had four princesses; the eldest was brought from outside the palace, so in truth, he had three biological daughters—all of noble birth.

Concubine Guo smiled upon hearing that the Fourth Princess would be brought to the main hall. She could avoid seeing the emperor herself but would not allow her daughter to miss such an occasion.

Inside the main hall, Consort Yi held the Fourth Princess, coaxing her with a scented sachet while occasionally glancing toward the entrance.

“Why isn’t the emperor here yet?” she muttered, checking the time. “Could it be that he’s delayed by state affairs again?”

Tongyue nudged Muyue, who was sent to find a young eunuch to wait outside and bring any news immediately.

The consort anxiously awaited, hoping the emperor would spend more time with her today.

“Your Highness!” Muyue hurried back, reporting, “The imperial carriage was stopped near the Palace of Eternal Longevity.”

“What!” Today was her birthday—how dare any consort be so bold as to intercept the emperor? Consort Yi was shocked and angry, immediately ordering inquiries.

After a short while, the truth was revealed.

It turned out that today, Consort De had gone to the Palace of Eternal Longevity to speak with Consort Xi. Unexpectedly, Consort De fainted there. In a panic, Consort Xi sent palace staff to summon the imperial physician, only to encounter the emperor's carriage en route.

Upon hearing of Consort De’s collapse, the emperor followed to the palace and had not yet returned.

Consort Yi’s expression darkened; she refused to believe this was mere coincidence. Surely, Consorts De and Xi were conspiring against her.

Muyue hesitated, sensing Consort Yi’s mood souring before revealing the most crucial detail.

“What did the imperial physician say?” Consort Yi asked, noticing Muyue’s reluctance.

“The physician said… well,” Muyue bit her lip and forced herself to speak, “Consort De is… with child.”

Consort De pregnant?!

Consort Yi felt the world spin before her eyes. Steadying herself, she cried out, “Today is my birthday. The emperor should be here with me!”

She bit back her frustration, her heart heavy, and finally unleashed a fierce tirade that even summoned Concubine Guo from the side palace.

“What’s going on?” Concubine Guo asked the palace maid upon entering.

Muyue whispered the situation to her.

Hearing of Consort De’s pregnancy, Concubine Guo’s face also fell.

She worried about her impulsive sister, imagining that once Consort Yi’s temper flared, no force could restrain her.

The Fourth Princess shrank to one side, too frightened to utter a sound when her aunt suddenly lost her temper, only bursting into tears upon seeing her mother.

Concubine Guo quickly embraced the princess, a flicker of pain in her eyes. Consort Yi’s outburst only frightened the child.

After a while, Consort Yi regained her composure, ordering the nurse to take the princess away and dismissing everyone else.

“Sister, I’ve come to a decision,” she said affectionately when alone with Concubine Guo.

Concubine Guo glanced up at her sister but couldn’t help looking toward the door, where the Fourth Princess had left reluctantly. She longed to return soon to comfort her daughter.

Though still angry, Consort Yi’s beauty was undiminished, her flushed cheeks lending her a delicate charm. She took her sister’s hand. “With Consort De expecting, she won’t be able to serve the emperor for a long time. This is our chance.”

“In a year or so, we can conceive another child.”

Concubine Guo’s eyes darkened. “The Fifth Prince has not returned yet, and the Fourth Princess is still young. I want to wait.”

“I can’t wait,” Consort Yi suddenly let go of her sister’s hand, looking at her with reproach. “As long as we are united, the emperor will come to Yikun Palace often.”

“I don’t want to be like Consort Hui recommending a little palace maid. Sister, I only have you.” Fearful of refusal, her eyes reddened. “I only have you, sister.”

Hearing this, Concubine Guo stiffened. After a long moment, she slowly nodded. “Alright, I’ll follow your lead.”

—

In Chengqian Palace, Tong Jiahe first learned of Consort De’s pregnancy from eunuch Zhang in the small kitchen.

“Consort De’s pregnancy came unexpectedly. After eating sweet jujube cake in the Palace of Eternal Longevity, she vomited and then fainted. This alarmed the emperor, and the entire kitchen is busy now.”

After Zhang left, Tong Jiahe happily finished the sour plum juice he brought along when delivering milk. The refreshing taste whetted her appetite. Later, she planned to prepare a few more bowls of milk to enjoy.

Nurse Wu, listening carefully, cautiously spoke up, “Your Highness, the emperor is still in his prime.”

Indeed, pregnancies among the consorts were nothing unusual.

Tong Jiahe nodded in agreement.

Kangxi’s harem blossomed like a garden in full bloom, with three sets of sisters among his consorts: the Hesheri sisters, the Niuhulu sisters, and Consorts Yi and Guo.

He had fathered over fifty children—far surpassing his ancestors and descendants. From the number of offspring alone, one could see Kangxi was no man of exclusive affection.

Tong Jiahe never expected an emperor’s true heart would remain fixed on a single person.

Kangxi was only twenty-eight years old; the number of children in the harem would only increase, until princes were everywhere and no one was particularly valued.

The weather was fine today, so Tong Jiahe had a lacquered and gilded banquet table moved beneath the pomegranate tree in the courtyard, intending to prepare refreshments herself.

Among her daily rations were twenty-seven catties of pork, two geese, three ducks, and six dairy cows.

Six cows! A full six!

After setting aside milk for herself and Prince Yinzhen, she had the kitchen transform the rest into various dairy products.

“Where are the osmanthus petals?” Tong Jiahe’s attention was drawn to the many dishes on the table, which made her eyes dizzy.

Chunyu reached out, placing a silver dish filled with osmanthus flowers before the consort. The master and servants chatted and laughed, seemingly unaffected by Consort De’s situation.

—

When Yinzhen entered, he saw Consort Tong making a beautifully presented bowl of milk.

His eyes brightened, and he hurried back and forth, “Consort Tong, what is this?”

Closer now, he noticed three silver bowls with different colored fruits and small flowers beside them.

Consort Tong had made so many pretty treats for him. Thinking of this, Yinzhen smiled sweetly and politely said, “Thank you, Consort Tong.”

Tong Jiahe: …

How do I explain, my dear eldest son, that none of these bowls are actually for you?

—

Children in the palace were carefully nurtured until age five. A single cold, headache, or bout of diarrhea could be fatal. Tong Jiahe dared not be negligent, and the original consort was particularly attentive in this regard.

Nurse Shen was worried, sweating profusely as she pondered how to persuade the Fourth Prince not to overindulge in cold foods and ice.

He was obedient but extremely stubborn—once his mind was set, it would not change.

“Yinzhen, have you heard the story from the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars about entertaining one’s parents with colorful plays?” Tong Jiahe asked.

Yinzhen shook his head.

“Would you like Consort Tong to tell you the story?”

Yinzhen nodded happily.

After hearing Tong Jiahe’s adapted version of the tale, the little Fourth Prince wept bitterly, tears streaming down his nose.

“Consort Tong, did Xiaohong’s father and mother really go to heaven?”

Tong Jiahe nodded solemnly, her expression regretful. “Yes, they went to heaven to look for Xiaoming.”

Yinzhen sobbed, asking, “Consort Tong, who is Xiaoming?”

“Xiaoming was their eldest son who died young from diarrhea caused by eating ice.”

Curious little Yinzhen was stunned.

For a child eager to try ice, this was a crushing blow!

Thankfully, three-year-olds were easily pacified, and after Tong Jiahe’s coaxing, Yinzhen transformed into the one preparing fresh fruit iced milk for her.

“Yinzhen is such a filial and sensible child!” Tong Jiahe sincerely praised.

The Fourth Prince, pleased by the compliment, beamed with pride, already forgetting Xiaohong and Xiaoming from the story but firmly remembering not to eat ice before age five.

If not before five, then after five, ice could be eaten.

In the midst of his joyful work, Yinzhen suddenly thought of someone and brightened.

“Consort Tong, may I make a bowl to give to someone else?”

Tong Jiahe smiled warmly and encouraged, “Of course you may!”

At three years old, children already made friends. Tong Jiahe hoped Yinzhen would be lively and outgoing to withstand the future burdens Kangxi might place upon him.

As for whom he befriended, the palace children were mostly Kangxi’s own offspring. It was good to foster good relations with his brothers; friendships formed in childhood were always stronger than those made in adulthood.

Tong Jiahe thought of the Fifth Prince Yinqi, who was raised in the Empress Dowager’s palace. Yinzhen and he had likely met many times there, and being close in age, Yinzhen must be referring to him.

Before she could ask, Yinzhen said, “I want to give it to the Crown Prince, Second Brother. When I was in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, he often came to play with me.”

Tong Jiahe was surprised—the first friend the little prince made was the Crown Prince, who was five years his senior.

“Also,” Yinzhen furrowed his brow as if making a serious decision, “Second Brother is already over five years old. After eating ice, he probably won’t go to heaven.”

“Your humble servant respectfully greets His Majesty!”

Just as the Fourth Prince finished speaking, many voices knelt in unison to greet the emperor, mirroring Tong Jiahe’s pounding heart.

She was certain Kangxi had heard Yinzhen’s last words: the favored consort and her three-year-old son loudly discussing the Crown Prince’s mortality within the palace walls.

Hiss—this was Kangxi’s most beloved and cherished legitimate son, his Crown Prince, whom he wished to protect as if cradling him tenderly in his mouth and swirling his tongue around him.

Seeing Kangxi stride toward her with an unreadable expression, Tong Jiahe felt as if she might ascend to heaven herself. She quickly glanced at Yinzhen, who was oblivious to the earth-shattering words he had just uttered.

Good boy, I keep you safe in my pocket, and you kick me into the ditch.