Tormenting a daughter-in-law was true, and secretly plotting to seize the throne was also true—it was simply following one's desires. How could that be considered a drastic change in temperament?
Consort Rong's smile faded slightly, her gaze growing distant.
"Your Highness is right. Consort Hui—no, Concubine Hui—brought this upon herself. She has no one to blame but herself," her personal maid replied respectfully before hesitating and adding, "But now that the Emperor has ordered her to pray in the Buddhist hall, eating and sleeping there without leaving, the incense can no longer take effect."
For years, Her Highness had painstakingly obtained a special incense blend, mixing it into sleep-inducing incense and secretly delivering it to Consort Hui's chambers. It was lit every night, day after day, for five long years, working its influence subtly. But the Buddhist hall was different—they had no way to intervene there. If Concubine Hui regained her clarity, wouldn’t all their efforts be in vain?
"Stop it. It’s no longer needed now," Consort Rong said softly, lowering her eyes as she smoothed the wrinkles in her wide sleeves and touched the prayer beads coiled around her wrist. The beads gleamed with a polished sheen, infused with the scent of sandalwood.
"The tide has turned. The Nara clan has fallen out of the Emperor’s favor, and so has the Eldest Prince. There’s no need for further action," she murmured.
The maid bowed in acknowledgment and quietly withdrew. Consort Rong turned her gaze toward the half-open window, where the sky was overcast, swept by a biting cold wind.
After a long silence, she whispered, "My Chengrui was the true firstborn prince. What does Yinti amount to?"
Years ago, she and Consort Hui had become pregnant around the same time, both vying to bear the Emperor’s first child. She had given birth to the healthy Chengrui first, while Consort Hui’s Chengqing was sickly and died within two months.
A healthy imperial firstborn—how many saw him as a thorn in their side? The late Empress had secretly suppressed him, and the Nara clan had pushed him down as well. She didn’t need to investigate to know.
Her wet nurse, who had served her like a shadow all these years, felt her nose sting with emotion. "Your Highness..."
Even now, Her Highness had never truly moved on.
Consort Rong was only in her mid-thirties, yet she already bore signs of premature aging. Fine wrinkles had begun to form at the corners of her eyes, deepening whenever she smiled. She patted the nurse’s hand and said calmly, "Enough. It’s all in the past. Has Yin Zhi returned from his studies?"
"The Third Prince has gone back to his courtyard to review his lessons. It’s almost mealtime," the nurse replied, suppressing her sadness with a smile. "He’ll come to pay his respects soon."
"He only cares for books and shows no interest in archery or horsemanship," Consort Rong sighed, rolling the prayer beads between her fingers. "He buries himself in words all day. Will he even listen to my advice anymore?"
The nurse chuckled. "The Third Prince has always been filial. He obeyed Your Highness’s words to befriend the Crown Prince. This old servant thinks he couldn’t be more sensible."
Consort Rong had only meant to complain, but at the mention of Yin Zhi, a faint smile touched her lips.
"Now, we must follow the Crown Prince’s lead without question. In the future..." She trailed off, lowering her voice. "The Eldest Prince is no longer a threat. The Crown Prince stands alone."
Yet when she thought of the one in Yongshou Palace and the Emperor’s deep affection for the Crown Prince, Consort Rong pressed her lips together, her eyes darkening.
Who hadn’t indulged in fantasies?
She would keep a backup plan. She could afford to wait.
If the edict punishing Concubine Hui and the Eldest Prince had stirred waves in the inner palace, its impact on the court was nothing short of a storm.
For Mingzhu and the Eldest Prince’s supporters, the Emperor’s sudden decree was a bolt from the blue, crushing their restless hopes in an instant.
The Eldest Princess Consort had given birth to another daughter, dashing their hopes for a royal grandson once again. Rumor had it that the premature birth was linked to Concubine Hui’s meddling. And when the Emperor’s remark—"controlled by a woman"—spread, their faces turned ashen. How had things come to this?
Yes, how had things come to this?
Yinti, who had yet to establish his own residence outside the palace, had now been stripped of his role in overseeing the Ministry of War. He was nowhere to be seen at court, leaving his officials in a panic. Requests for an audience were denied; chance encounters were impossible. They could only gather in secret, inviting the once-powerful Mingzhu to discuss their next steps, their faces lined with worry.
With the New Year approaching, Concubine Hui was confined, and the Eldest Prince was ordered to reflect. What could they do? Petition for leniency?
After the incident years ago when censors had dared to criticize Noble Consort Yi, none—regardless of their stance—dared to openly discuss the Emperor’s household affairs. In the end, disciplining a concubine or prince was a private matter. If even the censors wouldn’t speak, how could ministers without advisory duties intervene?
Their hopes had shattered abruptly, with no certainty they could be pieced back together. For now, they could only suppress their unease and wait for the Eldest Prince’s return to court before making further plans.
In contrast, the Heseri clan celebrated openly, as if the dark clouds hanging over them had finally lifted. Suo Etu, once again stripped of rank, had been forced to swallow his pride and borrow money everywhere to fill the imperial coffers. No longer the formidable Suo Etu of old, who would grant him face now?
Within days, families that had once associated with him turned cold. If this continued, alliances would turn into grudges. Recalling the secrets he had collected over the years, Suo Etu felt a chill in his heart—the Emperor wanted him isolated, despised by all.
But he had no choice.
The silver he had hidden away was meant for greater purposes.
Gritting his teeth, a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. If the ruler was unjust...
After finally repaying the debt to the imperial household, Suo Etu had exhausted all his connections and favors. In the capital, people avoided him, and his former influence had vanished entirely. The Heseri clan, too, had suffered greatly—their daughters found no suitors. Yet no one had expected that, suddenly, fortune would smile upon them again.
The Crown Prince’s greatest obstacle had fallen. Concubine Hui could no longer stir trouble, leaving only the Emperor himself as the final barrier.
Anyone could see that no one could challenge the Crown Prince now—at least not while the younger princes were still too young. The Heseri clan’s status quietly rose once more.
No matter the turmoil outside, nothing could dampen the festive atmosphere of the New Year in the Forbidden City. Palace maids donned new clothes with red ribbons, and the senior staff wore genuine smiles. The Eldest Princess Consort, finally out of confinement after giving birth to her second daughter, remained in the side hall of Cining Palace to recuperate.
On New Year’s Eve, the Grand Empress Dowager permitted the Eldest Prince and his consort to stay in seclusion for the celebrations, exempting them from the banquet. After all, Concubine Hui was still confined, and the Emperor had ordered him to reflect. If he hadn’t yet come to his senses, it was better to keep his wife company in quiet reflection.
Yinti, unshaven but with eyes burning with intensity, accepted the arrangement without protest—not that he dared to. His only thought was that, at last, he could remove the screen between them and speak to his wife properly.
But his consort had grown thinner, wearier, and colder toward him. Holding their child, she calmly ordered a hot pot to be served, her first words to him being, "It is my fault that I cannot pay respects to your mother."
Yinti’s heart ached with guilt and shame, his longing stuck in his throat.
He opened his mouth but found no words, then let out a bitter laugh. I’ve failed you.
Then, her expression softening slightly, his consort spoke again. "The Ninth Prince and Tenth Prince said they wanted to see their little niece. They’ve been visiting often, and their gifts for the full moon were lavish. You should send proper tokens of gratitude."
What kind of gifts do six- and seven-year-olds even give?
Yinti frowned. Something felt off. Since when were the Ninth and Tenth Princes so thoughtful?
Had she grown tired of teasing the Fourth Prince and turned her mischief toward him instead?
Though inwardly reluctant, he put on a face of utmost sincerity. "This servant will heed your every word," he said. "Even the advice you gave me before, I’ll follow."
Yet, he still received no favorable response.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Emperor received civil and military officials at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, leading the Crown Prince in ancestral worship and offering prayers to heaven and earth, the imperial ancestors, and the gods of land and grain, beseeching favorable weather and peace for the people in the coming year. Finally finding a moment of respite, the Emperor and his son returned to the palace together. Kangxi dispatched the Crown Prince to handle various minor affairs before turning toward Yikun Palace.
Earlier, he had received officials, and later, noblewomen would be granted an audience. With two noble consorts currently managing palace affairs, both Yongshou Palace and Yikun Palace were bustling with activity. Though Yunxiu maintained a flawless smile, the endless stream of flattery and ever-inventive praises wearied her.
Still clad in the golden robes befitting a noble consort, she reclined on the divan without bothering to change, resting her eyes. Ruizhu massaged her shoulders, her round face—once oval—still youthful and cheerful.
After a long silence, Yunxiu curved her lips. "When they see me, they hardly dare breathe. One glance, and all I see is fear, as if I truly am the domineering, ruthless woman from the rumors—one who slaps people at the slightest provocation. Some steal furtive glances, only to lower their heads in panic the next moment, terrified they won’t leave Yikun Palace alive."
Her tone held a trace of amusement, entirely free of irritation.
After all, the incident involving Concubine Hui had spread beyond the palace, adding a layer of notoriety to her reputation as the Emperor’s unwavering favorite. Even a long-standing consort who had raised the Eldest Prince dared to mock and provoke her—only for Concubine Hui to fall from grace while Yunxiu remained untouched.
Thinking of Concubine Hui, Yunxiu sensed something amiss. Her actions had been too rash, too unlike her past behavior—publicly mentioning the "switched heirs" scandal? What else could that be but a direct challenge to the Emperor’s wrath?
Unable to unravel the mystery, she dismissed it. If it curbed the Eldest Prince’s ambitions, so be it.
Harassing the Eldest Princess Consort, infuriating the Dowager Empress—these were indeed Concubine Hui’s misdeeds, but that didn’t stop the uninformed from weaving their own tales. The thought made Yunxiu exhale in relief. Had they heard the words "The Emperor is a fool," the consequences would have been dire.
The maids stifled their laughter nearby. Noticing something, Ruizhu adopted a solemn tone. "Your Highness exaggerates. It isn’t fear but reverence and envy. Reverence for your majesty, envy for the unparalleled imperial favor you enjoy. Who in this world could boast such fortune?"
Such words!
Yunxiu coughed lightly. This girl Ruizhu was becoming far too adept at echoing the Emperor’s flattery.
She didn’t respond, instead shifting the topic with a sigh. "The Eldest Prince is hopeless at charming people—not even a tenth of his father’s skill. Yinreng has studied this for so long; he ought to share the Emperor’s teachings so both brothers might improve."
"One might blame the Emperor," Yunxiu mused. "Had he gifted each prince a manual on marriage, things might have been different."
Ruizhu remained silent, though the pressure on Yunxiu’s shoulders increased slightly, the massage growing more soothing.
After a pause, Ruizhu’s voice drifted in, faint and trembling. "When did the Crown Prince share the Emperor’s teachings with you, Your Highness? This servant was unaware."
Yunxiu, her delicate brows relaxed, noticed nothing amiss.
She smiled, eyes crinkling. "The Ninth Prince is filial. He stole a glance at his elder brother’s manual and recounted it to me at once. Once he knew, the Tenth Prince did too—yet both conspired to keep it from the Eldest Prince."
Ruizhu’s voice shook harder. "Yesterday, Master Fulu sent someone to inquire—"
"Yinqi is the Ninth Prince’s own brother. Of course he told him," Yunxiu mused. "As for Fulu, they likely didn’t dare."
If the manual spread beyond the princes, the secret would be out.
Frowning, she added, "Ruizhu, that’s too hard. Lighter."
Kangxi’s hands stilled, his face darkening. After a long moment, he gritted out four words: "As you command, Your Highness."
