Yunxiu let out a soft "Hmm" and smiled faintly, "Naturally, it’s all yours."
By sheer coincidence, Cao Yin took Lady Wang as his concubine, leaving the Cao and Li families utterly humiliated. It would be strange if they didn’t resent it.
Now, the world knew that Yinreng was close to her, and the head of the Cao family, Cao Xi, couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Over time, when it came to choosing sides, they might either remain aloof like Mrs. Tongjia or bet on the Eldest Prince like the Nara clan, eager to see the Crown Prince dethroned. In any case, they would no longer serve as the Yuqing Palace’s endless purse, as they had in the dream, allowing the Crown Prince to take whatever he pleased.
In the early days, the Cao and Li families had been staunch supporters of the Crown Prince, maintaining close ties with Mrs. Hesheli. Suo Etu, leveraging the Eastern Palace’s name, meddled in Jiangnan affairs and later clashed fiercely with Mingzhu, constantly in need of funds—where the money came from went without saying. After Mingzhu’s downfall, the textile offices spared no expense in currying favor with the Crown Prince, unknowingly creating a massive deficit. One day, the Cao family couldn’t even scrape together the silver needed to host the Emperor’s visit and had no choice but to submit a memorial pleading guilt. This enraged the Emperor.
An investigation revealed that hundreds of thousands of taels of official silver had flowed into the Crown Prince’s Yuqing Palace, deepening the already fragile rift between father and son.
Embezzling official funds was a grave crime, regardless of any hidden circumstances. The Emperor’s gaze toward the Crown Prince grew increasingly disappointed. In the 42nd year of his reign, Suo Etu, under impeachment, was imprisoned as the "greatest criminal of the dynasty." During an inspection tour beyond the Great Wall in the 47th year, the 18th Prince, born to Concubine Mi, Lady Wang, fell ill and died. The Emperor furiously rebuked the Crown Prince for his lack of filial piety, saying he showed "no sign of grief." Upon returning to the capital, the Emperor, heartbroken, announced the edict deposing the Crown Prince.
Ironically, even after the Crown Prince’s downfall, the Cao and Li families remained unscathed, continuing to govern Jiangnan on the Emperor’s behalf.
Year after year, they petitioned about their deficits, borrowing vast sums from the imperial treasury, and the Emperor turned a blind eye, granting their requests. Later, they switched allegiance to the Eighth Prince, Yin Si, secretly sending many beauties to Prince Lian's Mansion. As a result, the Eighth Prince gained countless supporters in Jiangnan, creating immense trouble for the new Emperor.
In Yunxiu’s opinion, the favor the Cao and Li families enjoyed likely surpassed even her own peak years of imperial favor.
While the Emperor lived, no one dared touch them. But afterward?
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. The new Emperor ordered their households confiscated, but by then, the two families were no longer the wealthy powerhouses of old—reduced to utter poverty. How lamentable.
In the dream, they had been Yinreng’s personal treasury. Since indulging in extravagance was no longer an option, Yunxiu decided on a more permanent solution to prevent the national coffers from being emptied by the time the Crown Prince ascended the throne—lest it tarnish the dignity of the Great Qing.
Yunxiu gazed tenderly at the celadon vase on the cabinet, as if looking at a golden goose that laid eggs, and patiently explained the reasoning to the Crown Prince: "The Emperor keeps them around for your sake in the future. Why not learn from your Fourth Brother?"
"Noble Consort Yi is right. This humble one is enlightened and will not disappoint His Majesty’s painstaking efforts," the Crown Prince said, his eyes gleaming with realization. He glanced around, feeling somewhat unreal, as if he had stumbled upon sudden wealth.
At the mention of "Fourth Brother," he froze momentarily in confusion. "Fourth Brother? What about him?"
"Nothing. I misspoke," Yunxiu said with a light cough, pressing her lips into a smile. "There’s still half a month left on the water route. I wonder how the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager are enjoying themselves and whether they’re in good spirits."
The imperial barge sailed smoothly along the way.
It was not yet summer, but the spring river was warm. Not only did the Grand Empress Dowager find the scenery fresh, but the Empress Dowager was also experiencing her first journey to Jiangnan.
In the eyes of the two dowagers, everything was splendid—the mountains, the waters, the scenery along the banks, the storytellers on the boat, and the opera performances. There wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t delightful. Compared to this, staying in the Cining Palace day after day seemed stifling and dreadfully dull.
In high spirits, their health naturally improved, and even seasickness was no issue. Within a day or two, the Grand Empress Dowager’s face brightened with smiles, as if she had grown years younger.
Sumalagu observed this with quiet joy, thinking to herself, "Thank heavens we followed the Emperor’s wishes. The Grand Empress Dowager’s vigor has returned. Had we missed this southern tour, it would have been a lifelong regret."
Amid the leisure, the Grand Empress Dowager still worried about the Emperor’s large family back in Jiangning. To ease her mind, attendants regularly delivered messages from Kangxi. One day, the Grand Empress Dowager cheerfully opened a letter, read it carefully, and her expression shifted from joy to concern before finally darkening, casting a heavy silence over the room.
"Imperial Mother?" the Empress Dowager called softly.
"Baocheng wrote this letter himself. Let me read it to you," the Grand Empress Dowager paused before recounting everything the Crown Prince had described about the textile office’s affairs.
Noble Consort Yi was pregnant?
Before the Empress Dowager could rejoice, news of Yunxiu’s fainting spell shocked her. After hearing the full story, she trembled with anger. "Outrageous! The southern tour is taxing enough as it is. If anything were to happen, the imperial heir could be lost! How dare the Cao family act so recklessly? Imperial Mother, offering beauties is one thing, but this—this is sheer audacity!"
Thanks to the Crown Prince’s "embellished" account, Lady Wang’s incident had reached the two dowagers.
Indeed, how precious were the imperial princes and princesses? If anything went wrong, who could bear the regret?
The Manchus valued large families, especially when the pregnant woman was Noble Consort Yi. As long as she didn’t commit grave errors, the Grand Empress Dowager would always protect her firmly. Now, the Cao and Li families had jointly presented a Han woman, nearly causing irreparable harm—striking right at the Grand Empress Dowager’s sore spot.
While she still lived, they dared to defy palace rules and lead the Emperor astray. What were Cao Xi and Li Xu plotting?
The more the Empress Dowager spoke, the darker the Grand Empress Dowager’s expression grew. Finally, she suppressed her fury and rebuked, "They’ve gone too far. The women of the Cao family are foolish, and the men did nothing to stop it. Flattery and disrespect toward their masters—if the Emperor won’t act, I will!"
The attending maids knelt in terror. "Grand Empress Dowager, please calm your anger!"
"Imperial Mother is right. You must step in to rectify this. Noble Consort Yi’s approach aligns with my thoughts," the Empress Dowager said, soothing the Grand Empress Dowager before frowning. "Yet, she was far too lenient."
Thinking of the delicate, willow-like Han woman, the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but recall the once highly favored Consort Donggo. Skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—truly born in the wrong era. How similar she was to today’s Lady Wang!
If such a woman entered the palace, it would sicken her.
The Cao family had no regard for her or the Grand Empress Dowager!
On the day the Empress Dowager’s procession arrived, the textile office was met with a storm.
Hearing that Cao Xi had not yet fully recovered, the Grand Empress Dowager, displeased as she was, still granted the Emperor’s wet nurse and trusted minister some face, refraining from making a scene at the gate. She allowed the matriarch to escort her inside with gentle words.
"Noble Consort Yi is with child. Make time to accompany her and have the kitchen prepare varied dishes," the Empress Dowager said to Kangxi, ignoring the Cao family’s astonishment as she held his hand and urged, "If my grandchild is neglected, I won’t stand for it."
The two dowagers settled in the South Garden. After resting briefly, Sumalagu came to report, "Grand Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, Lady Sun and the other women of the household have gathered to pay their respects and kowtow."
Lady Sun, the royal nurse, had been personally selected by the Grand Empress Dowager. In those years, Lady Sun had tended to the Emperor with utmost dedication, leaving no room for criticism, and Cao Yin, as the Emperor’s study companion, was equally unwavering in his loyalty. Thus, for all these years, the Grand Empress Dowager had allowed the Emperor to bestow favors and rewards upon them. Even when the Cao family’s honors grew excessive, she turned a blind eye and never voiced dissent.
In short, it all came down to one thing.
Ambition had grown too great.
The Grand Empress Dowager’s gaze carried a palpable authority, leaving all present in awe, too fearful to harbor even the slightest improper thought.
Though the old matriarch prided herself on her status as the Emperor’s wet nurse, she dared not act presumptuously before the Grand Empress Dowager. With lowered eyes and a deferential posture, she addressed herself humbly as "this old servant."
The Grand Empress Dowager’s expression remained indifferent as her gaze swept over the assembled women. Suddenly, she spoke, "Lady Sun, do you admit your guilt?"
At these words, the hall fell deathly silent.
Her father-in-law was so enraged that he took to his bed. Her husband treated her coldly, no longer as tender as before. Even her mother-in-law, who had once favored her, had subtly changed her attitude. These days, Lady Li could only weep while holding her son, realizing too late the depth of her regret.
Gradually, she came to understand—Lady Wang must never be allowed to gain favor.
To win back Cao Yin’s heart, she had exhausted every means, becoming ever more gentle and attentive. Meanwhile, she confined Lady Wang to a side chamber in the remote courtyard, ordering strict surveillance to ensure she never stepped beyond its bounds.
As for Yunxiu, Lady Li no longer dared to approach her.
Yet, to her horror, the nightmare from days ago repeated itself—the Grand Empress Dowager was now holding her mother-in-law accountable!
Lady Li’s legs gave way beneath her. Would she be next?
In the main hall, the Grand Empress Dowager’s reprimand was merciless. "Presuming upon your status as a wet nurse to meddle in affairs beyond your station—who gave you such audacity? If I were no longer here, would you presume to call yourself the Emperor’s birth mother?"
The accusation was too damning.
The old matriarch trembled violently, her face ashen. Abandoning all pretense of dignity, she kowtowed repeatedly. "This old servant begs for mercy! The Grand Empress Dowager must believe me—such treasonous thoughts have never crossed my mind!"
"Age has made you foolish. Daring to present Han women to the Emperor," the Grand Empress Dowager glanced at Lady Li, now drained of color, and continued icily, "flouting ancestral laws—even if I were to have you executed, Cao Xi would not dare utter a word of protest."
A bone-chilling dread surged through the old matriarch. She knew full well the Grand Empress Dowager was not bluffing.
At this point, no amount of pleading would help. The old matriarch pressed herself to the floor, trembling with terror, teeth chattering before she managed to force out a plea: "This old servant begs the Grand Empress Dowager for mercy!"
The women of the household paled in fright, and Lady Li, unable to endure any longer, collapsed in a faint.
The Grand Empress Dowager sneered, ignoring her, and decreed, "Out of pity for your age, you shall kneel here for two hours. That is all. Dismissed."
To everyone’s surprise, Lady Li escaped punishment, while the once-revered matriarch of the household was left stripped of all dignity and authority.
Lady Sun knelt for the full two hours. Afterward, the Grand Empress Dowager summoned physicians, who diagnosed her with a chill—cold had seeped into her body, requiring careful recuperation.
Lady Li, the eldest daughter-in-law, also took to her bed. As for who would now manage the household affairs, a new round of power struggles ensued.
"I have decreed that she should enjoy her remaining years in peace, free from burdens," the Grand Empress Dowager said with a faint smile, patting Yunxiu’s hand affectionately. "Has the imperial physician examined you? How is the pregnancy? Have you been eating well lately? The Emperor has caused you such hardship..."
"This concubine does not suffer," Yunxiu replied, her cheeks flushing as Kangxi arrived to pay his respects and overheard her words. "With the Emperor’s kindness and the Grand Empress Dowager standing up for me, this concubine finds it all sweet as honey."
Sweet as honey.
Sweet as honey.
In an instant, the Emperor’s heart swelled with a bittersweet ache, mingled with an overwhelming joy that rooted him to the spot.
Liang Jiugong, torn between amusement and delight, whispered, "Your Majesty?"
Hearing the commotion, the Grand Empress Dowager laughed heartily. Taking Yunxiu’s hand, she said warmly, "Look at you, so delighted. I am weary now and shall retire. Let Noble Consort Yi accompany you for a stroll."
At this, Yunxiu’s face flushed even deeper. Kangxi, enchanted by the sight, cleared his throat and touched his nose. "This grandson respectfully bids the Grand Empress Dowager farewell."
In the blink of an eye, the lush, rippling beauty of the Jiangnan garden held only the Emperor and his noble consort.
"So, Xiuxiu truly finds it sweet as honey?"
Yunxiu did not answer immediately. After a pause, she countered with a smile, "Does the Emperor doubt this concubine’s sincerity?"
Without waiting for his reply, she murmured, "After the incident with Lady Wang, this concubine no longer doubts the Emperor’s heart."
She spoke no lie.
If he offered, she would accept—there was nothing she could not bear.
For the sake of the noble consort title within reach, for the chance to live freely in the years to come, she must cling tightly to what was before her.
Even if it was a fleeting deception, once exposed, it could still stir the Emperor’s guilt, could it not?
Yunxiu turned, her peach-blossom eyes lifting slightly as she fixed her gaze on Kangxi’s face, pressing closer step by step. "If I do not betray the Emperor, will the Emperor betray me?"
For a moment, all was silent save for the rustling of leaves.
The Emperor’s throat tightened uncharacteristically.
"I—"
Her eyes shone brilliantly, brimming with hope. How could he bear to sadden her?
"The word of an emperor is unbreakable," he said, his voice low and solemn. "I will not betray you."
Yunxiu lowered her lashes, a faint smile gracing her lips. After a pause, she leaned in and whispered by his ear, "I will remember this."
