The Grand Empress Dowager was so enraged that her chest ached with pain.
Upon hearing this, Kangxi’s expression instantly darkened. The reprimands he had been about to utter died on his lips. With a flick of his sleeve, he left the kneeling Eldest Prince Yinti where he was, his phoenix eyes flashing with agitation and a surge of regret.
Yunxiu took a quiet breath and softly called out, "Your Majesty," reminding him that the immediate priority was to summon the Imperial Physicians.
"Noble Consort Yi is right. It was my negligence and indulgence that provoked the Grand Empress Dowager’s anger," Kangxi admitted after his initial shock and fury. He closed his eyes briefly before urgently asking, "Are the Imperial Physicians here? Liang Jiugong, lead them there yourself!"
When the Eldest Prince’s consort was in labor, a group of Imperial Physicians had remained in the inner chambers on standby. The agonized screams had left them unsettled, but fortunately, the consort had safely overcome the ordeal, and the palace welcomed the birth of a new imperial granddaughter.
After deliberation, they left one physician specializing in women’s health to attend to the consort and the newborn, as both required careful recuperation and could not be left unattended. The others were packing their medical kits, preparing to take their leave, when Liang Jiugong rushed in, urgently announcing that the Grand Empress Dowager was unwell and His Majesty had ordered them to attend to her at once.
The physicians, who had still been wearing relieved smiles, exchanged uneasy glances. Their hearts plummeted, chilling with dread.
The Grand Empress Dowager had lived a long and blessed life, but all lives had their limits. Earlier in the year, after catching a chill, her health had declined significantly. Even after moving to Changchun Garden for rest and daily tonic treatments, it was only a temporary remedy.
"Such is the will of Heaven, beyond mortal power to reverse," Grand Imperial Physician Chen had tremblingly declared. The Emperor had remained silent for a long time before finally accepting the words without venting his anger on the physician, though the others remained on edge.
Recently, however, the Grand Empress Dowager had inexplicably regained her vigor. While the physicians were relieved, they also harbored deep unease, fearing this might be a fleeting resurgence before an inevitable collapse—or worse.
Now, with Liang Jiugong’s frantic summons and the implication that the Grand Empress Dowager’s condition had taken a turn for the worse, their lips trembled as a single, terrifying thought surfaced:
Heaven has forsaken us.
The more they dwelled on it, the more panic seized them. When they saw the Grand Empress Dowager lying motionless behind the gauzy bed curtains, seemingly devoid of breath, they had already begun drafting their own funeral arrangements in their minds.
Under the intense gazes of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, with Noble Consort Yi also present, the lead physician, Imperial Physician Liu, steeled himself. Silently praying to the gods, he gritted his teeth and took her pulse. After a moment, his mournful expression gradually eased.
A... feigned illness?
Hadn’t it been said that her chest ached and her head spun from anger?
Just then, Sumalagu, standing by the bedside, discreetly signaled him with a glance.
Imperial Physician Liu was no fool.
Understanding dawned, followed by overwhelming relief—thank the heavens, no funeral arrangements were needed after all.
"Your Majesty," he began gravely, fabricating on the spot, "the Grand Empress Dowager was suddenly overwhelmed by agitation, causing an excessive surge of liver fire. Old ailments have resurfaced, and she must recuperate with utmost care, avoiding any further distress. In addition to maintaining a tranquil state of mind, she should be treated with a soothing and mild medicinal prescription."
He listed a series of herbs, and as Kangxi nodded solemnly, Sumalagu quickly interjected, "Many thanks, Imperial Physician Liu. Please follow me to prepare the decoction."
The Grand Empress Dowager, being advanced in years, could no longer indulge in sugary drinks. Sumalagu would have to think carefully—perhaps a lightly sweetened broth would suffice.
The palace servants burst into a flurry of activity. The Empress Dowager, finally regaining some composure, trembled as she called out, "Imperial Mother," before sitting anxiously by the bedside and asking, "Does your chest still ache?"
"I am fine," came the Grand Empress Dowager’s weary, aged voice after a long pause. "I am old and useless now."
After another silence, she sighed. "Pass on my words: Let Yinti’s wife rest well. Once the little one is strong enough to be brought outside, have her brought to me. If Consort Hui does not cherish her, I will."
As the words fell, Yunxiu clearly saw Kangxi’s fingers twitch. His expression darkened instantly, a mix of guilt and worry flashing across his face as he murmured, "Grandmother."
"Enough, enough. Who doesn’t suffer the occasional ailment? I am fine. Attend to your duties."
Kangxi assented quietly. As he turned away, his eyes darkened, his lips pressed into a thin line—a sign of suppressed fury that made Liang Jiugong tremble and bow his head deeply.
Before Yinti had even been formally named, his elder brothers had all passed away. Kangxi had inevitably doted on his first healthy, lively son, naming him Baoqing ("Protected and Pure") and, fearing he might not survive childhood, reluctantly sending him out of the palace for safekeeping. Soon after, he elevated Lady Nara to Consort Hui, and during the next round of promotions, raised her from the lowest-ranking consort to the highest-ranking noble consort—truly a mother honored through her son.
The care he had poured into Yinti, while not surpassing that given to the Crown Prince Yinreng, far exceeded what his other sons received. Yet in recent years, he had grown increasingly disappointed by Yinti’s relentless "competition," egged on by Consort Hui and Mingzhu, as he vied at every turn to outshine the Crown Prince.
Previously, Kangxi had turned a blind eye to these minor squabbles, even seeing them as a way to temper Yinreng. Each time he observed the Crown Prince’s composed responses, his satisfaction grew.
But disappointment followed. Yinreng still regarded Yinti as an elder brother—but did Yinti see his younger brother as the rightful heir?
Punishing Mingzhu had been for the stability of the court—and as a warning.
Now, it seemed that with a mother like Consort Hui, Yinti had not learned his lesson but grown even more misguided.
Lady Nara, who spent her days tormenting her daughter-in-law—what a fine mother she was.
Yinti—confused in state affairs, confused in household matters. But this time, by provoking the Grand Empress Dowager’s anger and crossing his bottom line, Kangxi would not let it pass with a mere slap on the wrist.
The Grand Empress Dowager’s fury and subsequent illness had thrown the Emperor and Empress Dowager into distress, sending Cining Palace into chaos—while the Eldest Prince and his mother were left in the cold.
As Sumalagu relayed the Grand Empress Dowager’s words, a ringing filled Consort Hui’s ears. She staggered back uncontrollably, her face already pale turning ashen, nearly collapsing where she stood—not just from her son’s reprimand, but from the Emperor’s unfinished accusation: "controlled by a woman."
"'If she doesn’t want her granddaughter, I do.'" The Grand Empress Dowager’s words were a blade to her heart.
When Lady Irgen Gioro had given birth to a daughter, she had been unable to hide her disappointment—but when had she ever harbored such thoughts?
This was her own flesh and blood!
A wave of panic surged through Consort Hui, quickly solidifying into despair. The Emperor revered the Grand Empress Dowager above all else—this time, he would surely not spare her.
A careless remark—how had it come to this?
The Emperor turned a blind eye; the Empress Dowager was biased. If anyone deserved punishment, it was that sharp-tongued shrew, Mrs. Guoluoluo!
These thoughts flashed through her mind, but Consort Hui had no time to plot revenge. The Emperor’s visible disappointment in Yinti was the greatest crisis at hand.
Her son was her pride—her very life!
"Yinti, what does 'controlled by a woman' mean? I will beg the Emperor for mercy!" For once, she was at a loss, instinctively turning to her son for support—only to meet his bloodshot eyes, filled with a turmoil of pain, shame, confusion, and self-reproach.
Yinti remained kneeling, his fists clenched tightly, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Mother, when did I ever agree to the matter of taking a secondary consort? Even if I had mindlessly consented in a daze, how could you bring it up this morning when the primary consort is heavily pregnant? She can’t endure such stress."
Consort Hui was momentarily stunned.
Her lips parted in disbelief, the guilt she had buried deep within vanishing instantly. Yinti was actually reprimanding her, his own mother, for the sake of Lady Irgen Gioro?
The Eldest Prince paused, his voice trembling as he continued, "The second princess is also your granddaughter. Why do you despise her so much?" The imperial eldest grandson—everyone was eager for him to sire one. At this thought, he gave a bitter smile. "The Imperial Physicians have said that premature birth has damaged her health. She must recuperate for at least two years before conceiving again. You’ll have to wait."
Two years of recovery...
Just as the Crown Princess was about to enter the palace...
Consort Hui’s temples throbbed violently, her vision spinning.
"Yinti," she hissed through gritted teeth, her chest heaving, "do you mean to drive your mother to her grave? To anger your maternal uncle?"
Then, lowering her voice to a chilling whisper, she added, "What kind of bewitchment has Lady Irgen Gioro cast upon you? To think you’ve become such a lovesick fool. How laughable—she’s truly succeeded in driving a wedge between us!"
Hearing this, Yinti felt his heart grow cold with despair.
No one knew how his limbs had turned to ice, his heart frozen in terror, when his consort had cried out in the agony of childbirth. His mother had claimed to adore this daughter-in-law—yet it was all a facade. Had it not been for Noble Consort Yi’s furious rebuke, he would never have known the truth.
The Eldest Prince’s lips moved slightly, his brow heavy with exhaustion.
He was tired.
The Emperor had berated him harshly, accusing him of failing to cultivate virtue and govern his household, of being controlled by a woman. How could he not feel disheartened? How could he not ache as if his very life’s efforts had been dismissed? Yinti’s face flushed crimson, his entire body trembling, nearly bringing him to tears. With such a verdict, he could no longer contend with Yinreng.
Yet deep within, the tightly wound floodgates of his heart loosened ever so slightly.
Seeing his silence, Consort Hui spat out three sharp "Good!"s, her fury boiling over. She raised her hand, ready to strike—
"Nara!" Kangxi strode in, his face dark with rage, not even addressing her by title. "How dare you! Have you forgotten who stands before you?"
Yunxiu followed behind, casting a cool glance before lowering her eyes. Even a marketplace couldn’t be this chaotic.
Liang Jiugong shrank back like a quail, inwardly lamenting. Where was the dignified, virtuous Consort Hui of the past? To provoke the Empress Dowager’s wrath was a grave offense—yet instead of removing her hairpins to beg forgiveness, she had turned to scolding the Eldest Prince!
As if doused in icy water, Consort Hui stiffly withdrew her hand, her senses returning at last.
Her actions had been utterly improper.
"Your Majesty," she dropped to her knees with a thud, desperate to explain, "This consort—"
Before she could speak, Kangxi let out a furious laugh. "Consort Hui, for misconduct before the Emperor, you are demoted to Consort Hui. Confined to Yanxi Palace without leave. You are forbidden from interfering in the affairs of the princes’ households. You shall reside in the prayer hall, offering devotions for the Empress Dowager’s blessings!"
As for when she would be released—that would be for the Empress Dowager to decide.
Having spoken, he turned to Yinti, who knelt with his head bowed, and rubbed his temples. After a pause, he declared, "You are relieved of your duties in the Ministry of War effective immediately. Do not attend court. Reflect on your conduct within your quarters. You may emerge only when your temperament has been tempered."
Yinti’s eyes reddened instantly. He kowtowed, about to plead, but Kangxi cut him off with a cold wave. "No appeals." Then, as if recalling something, the Emperor’s expression softened slightly. "You are permitted one daily visit to the palace—my granddaughter cannot be left unattended."
Without another glance at Consort Hui, who had fainted on the spot, he swept out in a whirl of robes.
The demotion of Consort Hui to Consort Hui and the confinement of the Eldest Prince for reflection sent shockwaves through the imperial court and the inner palace like a thunderclap.
In Zhongcui Palace, Consort Rong stood by the window, a gentle smile on her lips as she trimmed the flowers.
"Your Highness, the incense has proven quite effective," her personal maid murmured, lifting the curtain as she entered and curtsying lightly. "It induces irritability and aggression, altering one’s temperament entirely."
Consort Rong set down the shears, her smile deepening, her entire being suffused with the serenity of incense.
"Nara brought this upon herself," she said leisurely. "What has it to do with me?"
