Even though Mingzhu and his faction had plotted numerous schemes, no one dared to act under the watchful gaze of the Grand Empress Dowager. Her presence was like an immovable pillar, steadying the turbulent waters. Though they were eager to win over the Cao family and make contact with Lady Wang, who had been confined by the First Madam, they had no choice but to restrain themselves.
Before long, news of the matriarch being punished with kneeling spread throughout the Weaving Bureau, throwing the Cao household into chaos. Even Cao Xi, despite his ailing health, pleaded with the Emperor for mercy—but to no avail.
In truth, the accompanying officials were all stunned.
Aside from Tuyue, who was thoroughly pleased, and Ma Qi, who remained detached and merely waited to watch the drama unfold, those with any vested interests frowned, pondering the implications of this sudden turn of events.
It was all too abrupt.
How had the Cao family, merely by presenting a beauty, suddenly shown signs of decline?
That the Emperor had ordered Cao Yin to take a concubine to appease Noble Consort Yi was understandable. But why had the Grand Empress Dowager reacted so harshly?
Just as they were lost in thought, a well-informed whisper spread: "Lady Wang has bound feet—she’s a Han woman."
At this, realization dawned, followed by silence.
According to ancestral rules, Han women were forbidden from entering the imperial harem. Combined with the Grand Empress Dowager’s disdain for frail, delicate women, her intervention in disciplining the household made perfect sense.
"A once-prosperous family, ruined by an ignorant woman," someone lamented.
"Not quite—it was said to be Li Xu’s idea."
Li Xu, the Chief Steward of Changchun Garden, was not among the entourage. At this revelation, the officials exchanged uneasy glances.
Hadn’t he just doomed his own sister?
No matter how much regret Cao Xi now felt, it was too late.
Days later, an imperial decree stripped Li Xu of his position as Chief Steward and demoted him to a minor role in the Imperial Household Department—a far cry from his former power and prestige.
Originally, within two or three years, Li Xu was to be assigned to Suzhou as the next Weaving Bureau Commissioner. Now, with this disgrace, he would have to endure years of obscurity.
Though the officials sighed in sympathy, none dared plead for him—not when the Grand Empress Dowager herself had spoken.
Was Li Xu the Emperor’s confidant? Cao Yin’s brother-in-law?
The Emperor had many confidants—one less made no difference. And since Cao Yin himself had suffered repercussions, it was only fitting that Li Xu shared the hardship.
During this southern tour, the Cao family’s wealth remained intact, still serving as the Emperor’s eyes and ears. But their household was in disarray.
When the imperial procession departed for the capital, Mingzhu quietly extended some aid to Lady Wang, further muddying the already turbulent waters of the Cao household. He also sent a message to Cao Xi, who now looked decades older.
No one knew what the letter contained.
As for the chaos in the Cao family and Mingzhu’s schemes, Yunxiu paid them no mind.
Having long devised a plan to cut the problem at its root, why bother with the desperate struggles of a doomed house?
If the Cao family shifted allegiance to Mingzhu, the Emperor himself would deal with them—no need for her to intervene.
Lowering her gaze to her still-flat belly, her eyes softened, and a faint smile curved her lips.
Would it be her Yinzi, or a new little princess?
The imperial procession remained in Jiangning for nearly two months. Once Noble Consort Yi’s pregnancy stabilized and the imperial physicians assured that travel would pose no risk, Emperor Kangxi ordered the return journey to proceed leisurely by water, detouring through Yangzhou so the two Empress Dowagers could enjoy the sights along the way.
Meanwhile, Suo Etu had regrouped, rallying his old faction to clash fiercely with Mingzhu. The Emperor watched coldly from court, occasionally fanning the flames. Liang Jiugong observed in silent alarm—
This was nothing short of setting them up for a fall.
Had His Majesty grown impatient?
But the power players were already trapped in the abyss, unable to escape.
Mingzhu, wielding immense influence, was untouchable. Suo Etu, furious at the Crown Prince’s closeness to Yunxiu, had initially planned to act but found himself reduced to a pawn in the Emperor’s game before he could strike.
Stripped of his position as a tutor and barred from Yuqing Palace, he never even saw the Crown Prince upon his return from the southern tour.
The rift between the two factions deepened daily. With the Emperor’s deliberate maneuvering, the focus shifted from the rivalry between the Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince to the deadly feud between Mingzhu and Suo Etu.
One day, accusations of corruption; the next, dereliction of duty—the attacks grew ever fiercer.
Too embroiled in his struggle with Mingzhu to act elsewhere, Suo Etu, overwhelmed, could only instruct Consort Ping in the palace to drive a wedge between the Crown Prince and Noble Consort Yi—by any means necessary.
But Consort Ping, barely recovered from a serious illness, had somehow offended Noble Consort Wen, who now controlled the palace administration. Barely able to manage her own affairs, she lacked the means to carry out any schemes.
After the incident where Yinqi nearly drowned, Yunxiu had placed Chuxiu Palace under close surveillance. No matter how Consort Ping schemed, her efforts were in vain.
Though she seethed with envy at Yunxiu’s new pregnancy, she could only watch helplessly as the Eleventh Prince was born, as the Emperor, overjoyed, bestowed the name Yinzi and cradled the child in his arms, unwilling to let go.
The Eleventh Prince was born on New Year’s Eve of Kangxi’s twenty-fourth year.
The child was exceptionally beautiful, rivaling even his Ninth Older Brother. With sparkling eyes that melted hearts at a glance, the infant Yinzi swiftly dethroned the Second Elder Brother and Fifth Prince in the Grand Empress Dowager’s affections, becoming the Emperor’s most cherished treasure.
By Kangxi’s twenty-sixth year, the sixteen-year-old Eldest Prince, already attending court, received an imperial decree to marry Lady Irgen Gioro, daughter of the Minister of Revenue. The following year, the Eldest Princess Consort gave birth to a Little Princess—the Emperor’s first grandchild.
In Kangxi’s twenty-seventh year, evidence of Mingzhu’s corruption, bribery, and selling of official positions was laid before the Emperor. The Nara clan, like a collapsing edifice, crumbled overnight.
Mingzhu followed Suo Etu’s fate—stripped of office and left idle at home. Meanwhile, his ally Kerkun, the Minister of Revenue, lost his position with no hope of reinstatement.
By the end of the twenty-seventh year, the seventy-six-year-old Grand Empress Dowager caught a chill and fell gravely ill. The Emperor wept in Noble Consort Yi’s arms before ordering the Ministry of Works to renovate Changchun Garden, preparing it for the Grand Empress Dowager’s convalescence.
Kangxi’s twenty-eighth year, early autumn, Changchun Garden.
"Grandmother, it’s time for your medicine. The Emperor said he’ll visit with the princes after court." The heavy brocade curtains parted as Sumalagu entered with a jade bowl, the bitter yet invigorating scent of medicine filling the air.
After a pause, the Grand Empress Dowager’s voice came weakly but with a hint of cheer, as though the mention of the princes had lifted her spirits.
Gasping slightly, she added, "Don’t forget Yinzi."
"Everyone knows the Eleventh Prince is your favorite. He’s a filial child—you needn’t worry." Sumalagu soothed gently. "But don’t let the Crown Prince hear you say that."
The Grand Empress Dowager chuckled weakly. "Good, good."
The two conversed quietly, murmurs of "Yinti" and "Princess Consort" drifting through the curtains before fading into the soft sounds of medicine being sipped.
After a long while, Sumalagu lifted the curtain and stepped out, her gaze settling on the woman in a pale green Manchu gown seated in the hall. A gentle smile graced her face as she said, "Princess Consort, the Old Ancestor has retired and asked this old servant to escort you out of the garden. You must take extra care, especially in your condition."
Upon hearing this, the Eldest Princess Consort, Lady Irgen Gioro, smiled softly and rose with a hand supporting her lower back, revealing a slightly rounded belly. "Thank you for the Old Ancestor’s kindness. I’ve troubled you, Sumalagu."
Her features were delicate and refined, adorned with simple yet tasteful hair ornaments that complemented her natural grace. Though not a stunning beauty, her composed demeanor earned admiration from all who saw her.
Lady Irgen Gioro hailed from one of the Eight Great Clans, the daughter of the former Minister of Revenue, Kerkun. Kerkun had been a pillar of Mingzhu’s faction, but at the end of last year, Suo Etu exposed Mingzhu’s "Eight Great Crimes," including involvement in factionalism and selling official positions.
The Emperor was furious, ordering a thorough investigation by the censors. Mingzhu’s faction collapsed overnight. As a close ally of Mingzhu, Kerkun was stripped of his position and now idled at home, occasionally relying on support from his daughter, the Eldest Princess Consort in the palace.
With the devotion of the Eldest Prince, Yinti, and having borne the Emperor’s first granddaughter, the Eldest Princess, she now carried another child. Her standing was unshakable. Even though her maternal family had fallen from grace, her position as Kangxi’s highly praised eldest daughter-in-law remained firm, earning her even more sympathy from elders like the Empress Dowager.
Sumalagu escorted her to the waiting sedan chair, instructing the bearers before adding warmly, "The Eldest Princess’s first birthday is next month, isn’t it? This old servant has prepared some toys and gifts to add to the celebration and perhaps share in some of your blessings."
"How could we impose?" The Eldest Princess Consort replied sincerely, declining politely. "Sumalagu, you’ve served with such dedication and earned the Old Ancestor’s trust. Our little princess is still young—if anything, she should be blessed by your good fortune."
Since the Grand Empress Dowager fell ill, the Eldest Princess Consort had tirelessly attended to her daily at Changchun Garden. Now, with another pregnancy, she could no longer serve as before, but she never missed paying her respects. Sumalagu saw all of this clearly.
After helping Lady Irgen Gioro into the sedan chair, Sumalagu paused thoughtfully and quietly asked a nearby maid, "With the Princess Consort pregnant, has Consort Hui taken the Eldest Princess under her care?"
"This servant hasn’t heard of such arrangements."
Sumalagu sighed. "Only seventeen or eighteen, yet burdened with managing the household, serving her mother-in-law—it’s truly a heavy load."
And with Consort Hui’s temperament, even the sturdiest of souls would struggle, let alone a delicate young woman.
She could only hope the Eldest Prince would cherish his wife and spare her from hardship.
The sedan chair entered the Forbidden City, heading steadily toward Yanxi Palace.
Catching sight of the familiar upturned eaves in the distance, the Eldest Princess Consort gently touched her belly, her smile fading slightly.
Upon entering the hall, she brightened her expression and performed a flawless curtsy. "Your daughter-in-law greets Mother."
Consort Hui’s pleased smile appeared briefly before she waved her hand. "Rise, rise. In your condition, why trouble yourself with these formalities? Don’t neglect my grandchild!"
"Mother, propriety must be observed. If our lord found out, he would surely reprimand me," the Eldest Princess Consort replied, quickly taking Consort Hui’s arm as they strolled along the corridor. "I’d feel guilty otherwise."
Patting her daughter-in-law’s hand affectionately, Consort Hui’s smile deepened, her entire demeanor radiating contentment as she regarded the Eldest Princess Consort with maternal warmth.
"Did the Grand Empress Dowager say anything during your visit to Changchun Garden today?"
"Mother, the Old Ancestor was weary and didn’t receive me. She took her medicine and rested," the Eldest Princess Consort replied, lowering her eyes and omitting any mention of the Crown Prince and the Eleventh Prince. "Before retiring, she inquired after our lord and had Sumalagu escort me out."
She repeated Sumalagu’s words softly, and Consort Hui’s eyes lit up, her smile widening. "My Eldest Princess is truly beloved."
She had longed for the Emperor’s first grandson for years, only for her daughter-in-law’s first child to be a girl. Though Consort Hui never voiced her disappointment, she had privately felt somewhat disheartened. But the flood of lavish gifts from Qianqing Palace, Cining Palace, and Ningshou Palace swiftly eased her grievances, and she grew genuinely fond of her plump, rosy-cheeked granddaughter.
That affection, however, was now divided—half redirected to the child in her daughter-in-law’s womb, the grandson Consort Hui was certain would come.
Yet, to the Eldest Princess Consort, such expectations weighed on her unbearably.
At least once she left Yanxi Palace and retreated behind closed doors with her lord, she wouldn’t have to endure others’ scrutiny.
"The Old Ancestor adores children. If you have the time, bring the Eldest Princess to pay respects more often. Your pregnancy is of utmost importance—other matters can wait or be delegated," Consort Hui advised earnestly, squeezing her hand. "If you’re truly overwhelmed, aside from attending to Yinti, Ladies Wu and Guan are both dutiful and can assist you."
Ladies Wu and Guan...
The Eldest Princess Consort sneered inwardly, a bitter taste rising in her throat.
Mere concubines, not even titled as secondary consorts, yet daring to encroach on her authority? What nonsense!
Unable to pressure her lord into taking a secondary consort, Consort Hui now pinned her hopes on these lowly women. How undignified.
And as for bringing the Eldest Princess to see the Grand Empress Dowager more often—did she think her daughter-in-law hadn’t tried?
Between severe morning sickness sapping her strength and the Grand Empress Dowager’s own concern—"I fear passing my illness to the child; your thoughtfulness is enough"—it simply wasn’t feasible.
The Eldest Princess Consort lowered her eyes demurely and murmured her assent, her demeanor flawless. Yet, sensing her reluctance, Consort Hui could guess her true feelings.
Of course. A woman who held Yinti’s devotion so firmly that he wouldn’t visit his concubines even while she was pregnant—how could such a wife willingly relinquish her authority?
Her daughter-in-law was perfect in every other way: filial, attentive, fertile. But her controlling, jealous nature made persuasion futile.
And then there was her family...
Consort Hui maintained her smile but gradually released the Eldest Princess Consort’s hand. After a few more perfunctory words of concern, she feigned weariness. "I’m tired. You may leave."
The Eldest Princess Consort’s smile vanished the moment she stepped out of Yanxi Palace.
Seeing that it was still early, she closed her eyes briefly, exhaled, and walked toward the nearby imperial gardens, a hand resting on her waist.
After only a few steps, she heard a eunuch’s frantic voice in the distance—one she recognized. "My lord, my lord, please stop climbing! If Noble Consort Yi sees you, this servant will be beaten to death!"
"Scram, out of the way," the Ninth Prince drawled from his perch on the rockery, lazily flicking his eyelids. Beside him, the Tenth Prince, crouched in the grass catching grasshoppers, waved dismissively. "Quiet. You’re annoying."
"Tenth Prince, have mercy! Persuade our lord and spare this servant’s life!" Xiaogouzi pleaded, on the verge of tears. "Even if Noble Consort Yi skins me alive, how will I explain myself to His Majesty?"
At the mention of the Emperor, Yintang’s expression shifted slightly, and his swinging leg slowed.
Yin'e took one look and immediately exclaimed, "Ninth Older Brother, what are you afraid of? Times have changed—the Eleventh Prince is now the Emperor's darling. How would he even have time to mind you?"
Yintang thought for a moment and realized, That’s true. With Eleventh Younger Brother around, the Emperor won’t have time to bother with me.
Feeling entirely justified, he continued his antics, even switching to a more difficult pose just to show off. This earned an awed "Wow!" from Yin'e, who rubbed his hands together, looking eager to join.
"Ninth Older Brother, wait for me! Your younger brother is coming up right away!"
The artificial mountain was built almost like a pavilion, jagged and steep, intimidating just to look at. At this point, not only was Xiaogouzi terrified, even Xiao Dengzi, who served the Tenth Prince, looked ready to faint.
"Quick, go to the Qianqing Gate and see if the Crown Prince has returned to the palace yet!" Before Xiaogouzi could finish speaking, a young eunuch stationed at the side gate of the imperial garden, tasked with keeping watch for the two princes, came rushing over. "Ninth Prince, Tenth Prince, someone’s coming into the imperial garden! This servant faintly heard the Eldest Prince speaking with someone, saying the Eldest Princess Consort is here admiring the flowers."
Yintang’s foot slipped, and immediately, the servants gasped one after another.
Finally steadying himself, Yintang scoffed, "After all these years, the Eldest Prince still hasn’t improved. Whenever Eldest Sister-in-law is in low spirits, she comes to the imperial garden to relax. Admiring flowers? Might as well give him a good knock on the head!"
Just then, the Eldest Princess Consort had already approached.
Before she could even feel alarmed and urge her two younger brothers-in-law to come down, she overheard this heartfelt remark.
A six-year-old child understands me better than my own husband.
Overcome with mixed emotions—both sorrow and joy—her eyes reddened, and she choked out, "Ninth Younger Brother..."
