Chapter 21

In December, the ranks of the inner palace were finally settled.

The younger Niohuru, sister of the late Empress Xiaozhao, was enfeoffed as Noble Consort. Consort Hui, of the Nara clan, was promoted to Consort Hui; Consort Yi, of the Gorolo clan, remained Consort Yi; Consort De, of the Uya clan, was promoted to Consort De; Consort Rong, of the Majia clan, was promoted to Consort Rong; and the younger Heseri, sister of the late Empress Renxiao, was made a Concubine of the third rank (Pin).

The ranks of the remaining concubines were also meticulously adjusted, with the titles of Noble Lady (Gege) and Lady (Gege) being redefined into the tiers of Noble Lady (Guiren), First-Class Female Attendant (Changzai), and Second-Class Female Attendant (Da'ying).

The most surprising development of this grand enfeoffment was the Noble Consort in the Chengqian Palace, whose status remained as immovable as Mount Tai. Furthermore, the younger Heseri, sister of the late Empress Renxiao, was granted only the rank of Concubine. Compared to the Niohuru woman’s title of Noble Consort, the Heseri woman’s rank was truly lackluster.

For the moment, however, no one had the heart to mock the younger Heseri; all eyes were fixed on the Chengqian Palace. After all, the Noble Consort had fallen ill from anger when she missed out on the position of Empress last time. Surely, having failed to even reach the rank of Imperial Noble Consort this time, she must be fuming? The six palaces began to wait in anticipation, eager to see the Noble Consort’s reaction.

The person in question, Tong Jiahe, was actually quite content!

Perhaps feeling that he had slighted his cousin in terms of rank, the Kangxi Emperor sent rewards flowing into the Chengqian Palace like water. Beyond these, the Noble Consort’s daily provisions—originally twenty-seven catties of pork, two geese, three chickens, and six milking cows—were upgraded to thirty catties of pork, two geese, four chickens, and eight milking cows.

In other words, while her nominal rank remained unchanged, all of Tong Jiahe’s entitlements were elevated from those of a Noble Consort to those of an Imperial Noble Consort.

The concubines in the rear hall of the Chengqian Palace also received formal rankings: Concubine Su was promoted to First-Class Female Attendant (Changzai), while Concubines Wang and Chen were designated as Second-Class Female Attendants (Da'ying).

By custom, during a grand enfeoffment, the primary mistresses were expected to reward the concubines in their respective palaces. The next morning, Tong Jiahe had two bolts of fabric and a solid gold bracelet sent to each of the Second-Class Female Attendants, Wang and Chen. As for the First-Class Female Attendant, Su, He Weilu personally delivered her gift: four bolts of fabric and a pair of gem-inlaid gold bracelets.

In the rear hall, Attendant Su personally saw He Weilu out. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke: "My thanks to the Noble Consort for her care; I have lived well these past few years in the palace."

He Weilu smiled, his voice as clear as spring water, "I shall certainly convey your words to the Noble Consort."

Attendant Su’s lips trembled, as if she were struggling to suppress something, but in the end, she chose silence.

"Thank you, Eunuch He," the maid beside Attendant Su said politely.

"It is my duty," he replied.

He Weilu bowed his head, choosing to ignore the woman's intensely restrained gaze.

After he left, Attendant Su returned to her room. Her maid advised, "My Lady, why not go to the main hall yourself to thank the Noble Consort? Having someone pass a message is never as sincere as thanking her in person."

Attendant Su picked up her embroidery frame and smiled faintly. She had four maids and two eunuchs in total; only two young maids remained in the room to serve her. Having been with her since she entered the palace, they were close, and occasionally spoke without restraint.

As Attendant Su embroidered, she listened to the young maid tease, "Eunuch He is quite handsome, and his voice is pleasant. At first glance, one would take him for a scholar."

Attendant Su’s hand paused, her thoughts drifting back to when she was seven. A new family had moved in next door, and they planted many green bamboos in the courtyard. She could see the bamboo leaves falling into her own yard the moment she pushed open her window...

"My Lady is embroidering bamboo; is it a gift for the Emperor?"

Hearing the maid’s delighted voice, Attendant Su snapped back to reality. She hurriedly denied it: "It is not for the Emperor; it is for the Fourth Prince."

The maid looked visibly deflated, but thinking that if her mistress could maintain a good relationship with the Noble Consort, her future would be secure. After all, the Noble Consort had received unique rewards from the palace this time. The Emperor had even granted special permission for the women of the Tong Jia clan to enter the palace to visit the Noble Consort—a sign of immense favor!

---

Inside the main hall, the palace servants were overjoyed, even the usually composed Chunyu wore a smile. Three days later, the Noble Consort’s mother arrived at the palace. This was not a favor the Noble Consort had begged for, but one the Emperor had bestowed voluntarily. The Fourth Prince, infected by the inexplicable joy, was also in high spirits.

Tong Jiahe, however, deeply understood that human joys and sorrows are not always shared; she only found the commotion noisy. If the Kangxi Emperor felt guilty, he could compensate her with gold and jewelry, or distract himself with food and play; she had no need for a "family affection" package.

The happiest of all was Nanny Wu. Hearing the news, she wept with joy. She would finally see her mistress. The lives of her family were in the mistress's hands, and it was not her fault for failing to persuade the Noble Consort as requested—the Noble Consort was simply too headstrong! She would explain everything clearly when she saw her mistress.

Because she was to meet her mother, Heseri, in three days, Tong Jiahe kept Nanny Wu in the main hall to "cram" for the meeting. The Noble Consort had been in the palace for five years; her younger siblings must have grown up. Counting both branches of the Tong family, there were quite a few brothers and sisters.

Taking advantage of the casual conversation, Tong Jiahe asked, "Before you entered the palace, Nanny, was the marriage of my second sister settled?"

The Noble Consort was the eldest daughter of the Tong family; the one below her was the eldest daughter of her uncle next door, the second young mistress of the Tong family. Nanny Wu spoke freely about the Noble Consort’s own household but knew little about the neighboring branch. She replied honestly, "The marriage of the second young mistress is something the Master of the House might discuss with your father, but they would hardly consult us."

It seemed that even after the Noble Consort had spent years in the palace, the relationship between the two branches of the family had not grown any closer. They presented a united front to the outside world, but held their own selfish interests within. From the fact that the Tong family had insisted on the Noble Consort raising the Fourth Prince, it was clear that her uncle, Tong Guogang, intended to send his own daughter into the palace eventually.

But why would her own mother agree with her uncle? If the Noble Consort had children, it would only benefit Tong Guowei and the Heseri family, not harm them. Was there some court politics involved?

Tong Jiahe could not fathom it, and she drifted into a deep sleep filled with questions.

---

On the twentieth of December, the Forbidden City saw its first snow of the year.

The winter was exceptionally cold, and the heavy snow fell for several days. Many of the laborers responsible for sweeping the palace grounds fell ill. Along the palace path, a young eunuch passing by the Chengqian Palace glanced inside curiously. He saw the palace sweepers wearing double-layered padded jackets, and one particularly plump servant looked even bulkier in his thick attire.

It was said that the Noble Consort had used her own allowance to provide winter clothing for the servants; the Chengqian Palace was indeed the best place to work among the six palaces.

"What are you looking at?" a voice beside him muttered. "Stop looking. If you’re really jealous, I’ll show you a path: go find a powerful foster father tomorrow and have him send you to serve in the Chengqian Palace."

In the palace, foster fathers were a complicated matter—some might even end up sending you to their beds. Hearing the teasing tone, the young eunuch looked away, his eyes envious, his lips pressed shut. He didn't want to speak another word to his companion, hurrying through the snow, yet he couldn't help but steal one last look at the Chengqian Palace.

His eyes widened in astonishment: he had actually seen the Noble Consort playing in the snow with the Fourth Prince! Could a noble mistress of the palace really set aside her dignity to play with a child? In all his years in the palace, this was the first time he had seen such a rare sight.

"Mother Tong, do you think the snowman I built is pretty?" Yin Zhen asked proudly, pointing to a tiny, two-tiered snowman.

The snowman Yin Zhen had built was small and cute, with eyes, nose, and mouth clearly defined. Tong Jiahe’s eyes lit up. "It’s beautiful, Yin Zhen is truly clever!"

"And what is Mother Tong building?"

Yin Zhen looked left and right, unable to distinguish what the two mounds of snow before him were. Tong Jiahe looked at her masterpiece, which she had labored over for half a day, only to realize it looked worse than a three-year-old’s work.

Tong Jiahe... someone save me. The pride of an adult made it impossible to admit.

---

"My Lady, your mother has arrived!"

Chunyu, who had gone to welcome the Heseri woman early in the morning, returned. Her voice sounded like heavenly music to Tong Jiahe’s ears.

At the gate of the Chengqian Palace stood a middle-aged woman and a young girl. Tong Jiahe brushed the snow from her hands and smiled at Nanny Shen, "It’s cold outside; quickly take the Fourth Prince inside to warm by the fire."

No sooner had she spoken than Chunyu led the guests to her.

"Noble Consort..." The moment the Madam of Tong saw the Noble Consort, her eyes filled with tears. The young girl beside her looked at Tong Jiahe timidly and followed her mother’s lead in bowing.

Tong Jiahe personally helped them up and asked gently, "Before you came, did you pay your respects to the Empress Dowager and the Empress?"

The Madam of Tong nodded, tears in her eyes. "We did so as soon as we entered the palace. Their Majesties were compassionate and excused the formalities, then had someone bring us here."

Tong Jiahe said softly, "It is cold outside; let us go in and talk."

Once inside, Tong Jiahe’s gaze fell on the young girl. The Madam of Tong wiped her tears and gestured toward her. "This is your third sister, Yuruo."

"Yuruo, this is your own elder sister," the Madam said, choking back a sob.

With those two sentences, the Madam of Tong bridged the distance between the sisters. Tong Yuruo was no longer shy and called out clearly, "Elder sister."

When the Noble Consort entered the palace, Tong Yuruo was only six; now, at eleven, she was no longer the childish girl she once was. In terms of beauty, she was even more striking than the Noble Consort.

So, she was her own sister. The doubts in Tong Jiahe’s heart were finally dispelled. Smiling, she slipped a pair of bracelets from her wrist and put them on Tong Yuruo’s wrists. "I didn't expect Yuruo to have grown so much; I barely recognized you."

Perhaps because of the blood ties, seeing the original owner’s family made Tong Jiahe feel genuine joy. She pulled Tong Yuruo close, looking at her again and again, sighing from her heart.

The Madam of Tong laughed, "She was just a child when you entered the palace. Five years have passed; it is only natural that you wouldn't recognize her."

It had been a long time since she had seen her own mother as well. During the New Year, the wives of officials could enter the palace for ceremonies, but the distance between the imperial concubines and the visiting ladies was vast. The Madam of Tong had only been able to catch glimpses of the Noble Consort’s back for the past few years. Now that she was face-to-face with her daughter, she had thousands of things to say.

"Yuruo is visiting the palace for the first time. I wonder if you could have your maid take her around to see the sights, Noble Consort?" the Madam of Tong asked politely.

Tong Jiahe understood the subtext and signaled for Chunyu to lead the servants away, leaving only the two of them.

Once they were alone, the Madam of Tong’s tears began to flow. "My child, you have suffered so much all these years..."

"Mother, what is the matter?" Tong Jiahe hurriedly wiped away the tears rolling down the Madam’s face.

The Madam of Tong explained through her tears, and Tong Jiahe finally understood.

Today’s grace had actually been requested by her uncle. The intention of the neighboring branch was for the Madam of Tong to bring the *second* daughter of the Tong family into the palace, so that the Noble Consort could meet this beautiful cousin.

However, before they could leave, the third daughter, Yuruo, had cleverly snuck into the carriage ahead of time, outmaneuvering the second sister. The street where the Tong mansion was located was filled with prominent court officials; the second daughter, dressed to the nines, could not afford to cause a scene in public, so she had to swallow her pride.

She had prevented the second daughter this time, but it wouldn't be so easy next time. The court was pressing the Emperor to hold a selection, and once a date was set, the neighboring branch would be able to send the second daughter into the palace legitimately.

The Madam of Tong sighed. "Your uncle... he wants our family to produce another Empress."

The biological sister of Tong Guogang and Tong Guowei—Tong Jiahe’s own aunt and the Kangxi Emperor’s birth mother, Empress Xiaokangzhang—had entered the palace at fourteen and became Empress Dowager at twenty-two. She only enjoyed two years of prosperity before passing away at twenty-four. In reality, the glory of the Tong Jia clan only truly began after the Emperor took power.

When the two branches of the Tong family sent the Noble Consort into the palace, it was to ensure that the Qing Dynasty would have another Tong Jia Empress. Unfortunately, while the Noble Consort had the seniority and status, her family background was a cut below the late Empress Xiaozhao of the Niohuru clan.

A mother of the nation must possess a heart and measure far beyond ordinary women; having attained supreme status, she could not expect to monopolize the Emperor’s love. The Noble Consort, raised according to the standards of an Empress, understood this. But man proposes and heaven disposes—no one could have predicted that after entering the palace, she would truly fall in love with the Emperor and grow prone to jealousy. She wanted both supreme status and could not control her hatred for other concubines.

When the position of the successor Empress was decided, the Noble Consort had caused quite a scene with the Emperor. If not for the Tong family backing her, she might have been cast aside by him then.

As her mother, the Madam of Tong understood her daughter’s difficult temperament better than anyone. Her eldest daughter had entered the palace on the fourth day of the seventh month of the fifteenth year of Kangxi; it was now the end of the twentieth year. Five years had passed, and she remained a Noble Consort without children, which led the neighboring branch to decide to send another girl. They were cultivating the second daughter with the same standards used for the Noble Consort.

Tong Jiahe realized that her cousin entering the palace was an irreversible fact. Fortunately, it was not her third sister, Yuruo, who was being sent.

Now that the explanation was clear, the Madam of Tong’s eyes were still red. Tong Jiahe couldn't help but ask, "Mother, is there something else you wish to tell me?"

"Jiahe, you and the second sister are of similar age. Do you know why the Emperor and the Empress Dowager chose you to enter the palace?" The Madam of Tong’s voice trembled. "And why did I insist that you raise the Fourth Prince, rather than hoping for a pregnancy of your own?"

...

Cining Palace.

After handling state affairs in the Qianqing Palace, the Kangxi Emperor came to dine with the Empress Dowager. On the kang table were two plates of the Empress Dowager’s favorite mutton, along with various pastries. Because of the cold, the Emperor ordered two hot pots to be added.

"The snow outside is truly heavy!" The Empress Dowager took a bite of mutton and paused, looking out the window. "That year, when I first arrived in the Forbidden City, the snow was even heavier than this." She chuckled, recalling events from decades ago, her dark eyes filled with warmth.

The Kangxi Emperor had heard the Empress Dowager’s stories many times, but each time they carried a different meaning. As a child, he needed strength from her stories to grow up healthy. As an adult, he needed to listen for the subtext to judge the relationship between the Qing Dynasty and the Mongols. Now, he listened so that the elderly woman who raised him might have fewer regrets.

"The women of the Tong family have entered the palace," the Empress Dowager said, swallowing a piece of mutton. "The Noble Consort’s mother and sister have come."

The Kangxi Emperor looked at the Empress Dowager, listening intently.

"The inner palace does not need any more women from the Tong family. The Noble Consort already holds a high position; even if another one enters, she cannot surpass her. Why bother?" the Empress Dowager sighed softly. It was not just the Tong clan; the same applied to the Mongols. Even if they sent more young, beautiful girls, the Emperor would not spare them a second glance.

"You are right, Grandmother. I have no intention of letting another cousin from the Tong family enter the palace," the Emperor replied.

*Cousin...*

In terms of cousins, the concubines from the Khorchin Mongol grasslands were also his cousins, yet had he ever addressed them with such intimacy? The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, unwilling to think further.

The Emperor’s eyes were as deep as autumn pools. "In this grand enfeoffment, the Niohuru woman has been promoted to Noble Consort. The Noble Consort of Chengqian Palace remains as she is. With two Noble Consorts, the primary and secondary are unclear; I specifically raised the provisions for Chengqian Palace to show the distinction between the two."

He continued, "The lady from the Chuxiu Palace, of the Borjigit clan, allowed her servants to speak nonsense before the Fourth Prince, which nearly led to a disaster. Therefore, her rank will not be raised this time."

The Empress Dowager nodded. "You make the decisions on these matters, Emperor. I am old, and there are times when my judgment is lacking."

"Grandmother is not old. In my eyes, you look no different from the Empress Dowager."

With the end of the year approaching, the court and palace were busy. It was not easy to find time to dine at Cining Palace, and after speaking for a while longer, the Emperor rose to leave.

After he departed, the Empress Dowager called Sumalagu to stand under the eaves and watch the snow. They spoke softly in Mongolian.

"Do you remember the two children, Renxiao and Xiaozhao?"

Sumalagu smiled and pleaded guilty. "I am old, and I have forgotten many things. Only the memories of our time on the grasslands remain vivid."

"What good children they were," the Empress Dowager sighed to herself. "It is a pity they were both frail and passed away so young."

Sumalagu remained silent, watching the Empress Dowager’s face. Her eyelids were drooping, looking kind, and she always wore a faint smile when speaking. Sumalagu remembered every word the Empress Dowager said.

When the Emperor first ascended the throne, his position was not secure. To win over the Manchu noble families, the Empress Dowager had resolutely turned away from the Mongol Khorchin grasslands and chosen the Empress and concubines from the great Manchu clans.

She no longer remembered the faces of Empress Renxiao and Empress Xiaozhao. She only knew that these two deceased Empresses, like the current Noble Consort, had been frail—none of them looked like they would live long lives.

Sumalagu closed her eyes against the swirling snowflakes. She guessed this was a secret shared between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor from the days when they chose concubines from the Manchu nobility—a secret they both understood without needing to speak.