Zhongcui Palace, Small Buddhist Hall.
The fragrance of sandalwood curled in the air, soothing the mind with its calming presence. Consort Rong scattered a handful of prayer beans from her palm and slowly rose from the kneeling cushion. The Second Princess, Rongxian, who had come to pay her respects, softly called out, "Mother."
The Second Princess was eighteen years old, with a classic oval face and delicate willow-leaf brows, resembling Consort Rong by sixty percent. However, the upward tilt of her eyes softened her delicate beauty, lending her an air of sharp intelligence.
She had always been referred to as the Second Princess in the past, but this year, she was granted the title of Heshuo Rongxian Princess. Everyone in the palace knew that her marriage had long been decided—she would undoubtedly be sent to Mongolia. The only uncertainty was which tribe she would be assigned to.
Consort Rong could hardly bear the thought of Rongxian marrying so far away, but she had no choice.
The Eldest Princess, Chunxi, raised in the palace, was the eldest daughter of Prince Gong, Changning. She had also been granted a title earlier this year, and her dowry had already been sent to the grasslands. Soon, she would be married into the Khorchin tribe—the homeland of the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. Though Rongxian was the Emperor’s own daughter, with the Western Mongols growing restless and external threats looming, an alliance with the Southern Mongols was necessary for defense. Staying in the capital was nothing more than a fantasy.
Rongxian’s dowry was already being prepared, and no one knew how many more years she could remain in the capital. Consort Rong, therefore, doted on her only daughter even more.
Patting her hand with a gentle smile, Consort Rong said, "Why didn’t you wait for me in the side chamber? I recall you’ve never had much interest in Buddhist rituals."
Rongxian grinned, her eyes alight with excitement. "Mother, you wouldn’t believe it—Longkodo was punished with fifty strokes of the rod today!" Her voice carried a note of satisfaction. "His legal wife finally got her justice. The Emperor is truly wise."
Consort Rong sighed inwardly. Longkodo’s scandalous affairs were known throughout the palace—how could she not be aware?
His actions had even provoked the usually uninvolved Empress Dowager to intervene, leading to the disgrace of Tong Guowei’s family. Moreover, Mrs. Hesheli, having received a great favor from Noble Consort Yi, would inevitably lean toward Yikun Palace.
Upon reflection, Noble Consort Yi’s schemes always seemed unpredictable, even baffling at times, yet they never failed. Even when she disciplined others out of anger, there was always some benefit to be gained. The Emperor never reprimanded the Guoluoluo clan for their audacity—such cunning was almost frightening.
At this thought, Consort Rong’s gaze darkened. Noble Consort Yi protected the Crown Prince, who would soon marry and assume political duties. Meanwhile, her own son, Yin Zhi, had no idea when he would establish his own household.
No one knew if the Grand Empress Dowager’s health would hold until Yin Zhi’s wedding. If a national mourning period were to occur, the selection of imperial consorts would be delayed yet again.
Keeping her expression composed, Consort Rong led the princess into the inner chamber and sat with her. "The Emperor is indeed wise. Longkodo’s fate is nothing but his own doing."
Rongxian nodded in agreement, smiling. "It’s exactly what he deserves! Though it’s a shame we couldn’t witness the punishment ourselves. Even the Fourth Princess said she regretted missing it."
Longkodo had allowed his concubine to poison his legal wife, sparking outrage among the princesses. Hearing that Noble Consort Yi had personally witnessed the whipping of the vile concubine, Li, only added to their satisfaction. Many had since approached the Fourth Princess for details.
Consort Rong did not restrict Rongxian from mingling with the other princesses, allowing her to understand their temperaments well. The Eldest Princess, Chunxi, being an adopted daughter, was cautious to the bone. The Third Princess, born to Noble Lady Bu, had been spoiled in her youth, growing somewhat arrogant before gradually mellowing.
The Fourth Princess, Yierha, born to Concubine Jing, was serene and composed, skilled in embroidery, and the Emperor’s favorite—even more so than Rongxian. The Emperor once remarked that as she grew older, she "increasingly resembled his ancestors." Consort Rong scoffed inwardly at this.
What resemblance was there? Just because the Fourth Princess was raised by Noble Consort Yi? Did the Emperor intend to keep her in the capital?
Every princess should be sent to Mongolia—no exceptions.
The Fifth Princess was still young, and her personality remained unclear. The only thing known was that Concubine Duan raised her with utmost care, and their temperaments were somewhat alike.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Consort Rong tapped Rongxian’s forehead. "You’re a young lady about to be married—why bother with such unsavory matters?"
She then added, "I’ve inquired about the Emperor’s intentions. The Gun Prince of the Bairin Tribe in the Southern Mongols is of marriageable age. As the grandson of Princess Shuhui, he is a distinguished and valiant young man—a fitting match for you."
Princess Shuhui was the Grand Empress Dowager’s own daughter and the Former Emperor’s sister, a figure of great prestige on the grasslands. With her protection, Rongxian’s life would not be difficult.
At this, a faint blush spread across Rongxian’s cheeks.
"Still, Bairin is rather far. In my opinion, the best match for you would have been Khorchin. But Chunxi has already taken that place..." Consort Rong stroked her daughter’s dark hair, her smile tinged with melancholy. "If the imperial decree hadn’t been issued, I would have fought for it."
Her voice dropped low, and Rongxian immediately protested, "Mother!" Her tone was playful. "The Eldest Princess marrying far away isn’t necessarily a bad thing. She isn’t as bold as I am—staying in Khorchin suits her. Rather than weeping in an unfamiliar tribe, it’s better to live peacefully from the start."
"I’ll surely earn honors for Third Brother, so he can stand tall among his siblings without falling behind." Sensing her mother’s unspoken worries, Rongxian paused before adding softly, "The Emperor will take notice."
Consort Rong’s eyes grew moist, her heart clenched as if by an invisible hand. After a long moment, she murmured, "Good... good..."
---
Yikun Palace.
"Young Lady Hesheli said that once she recovers and can move freely, she will come to the palace to express her gratitude and kowtow properly to you, Your Highness." Ruizhu poured tea as she spoke, smiling. "Your Highness, you wouldn’t believe the treasures stored in the Tong family’s vaults—it made even my eyes burn with envy!"
"My own vaults are filled with countless treasures, yet you covet another’s?" Yunxiu shot her an amused glance. "Shall I send you to the Tong residence to retire, so you can admire them to your heart’s content?"
Ruizhu hastily begged for mercy, patting her own lips. "Your Highness, spare me! What if I grow too ambitious, tempted by the Tong family’s wealth, only to be trampled underfoot by the madam?"
She winced dramatically, drawing laughter from everyone present.
Who wouldn’t rejoice at Longkodo’s downfall?
The early spring air still carried a chill. Concubine Jing, née Guoluoluo, leaned against Yunxiu, sipping a cup of hot tea to warm her hands. The thirteen-year-old Fourth Princess, Yierha, took a bite of pastry before picking up a sewing basket from the side table. She selected a red thread and held it against an embroidered fan, comparing the colors.
Concubine Jing, who had been smiling, now looked troubled. "I encouraged you to cultivate serenity, not to become a seamstress."
Yierha smiled demurely, her demeanor gentle and refined. "The Crown Prince’s wedding is approaching. As his younger sister, it’s only proper that I offer a heartfelt gift to fulfill my duty."
Yunxiu nodded in agreement. "It’s not as if you can perform a martial arts display instead."
Concubine Jing pressed a hand to her chest, speechless for a long moment. "..."
The imperial princess had been pampered since childhood, granted every wish without the restrictions imposed on other noble young ladies. By the age of five, Yierha remained a jade-like, soft-spoken child who often encouraged others to better themselves. But soon after the Fifth Prince, Yinqi, began his studies at the imperial school, everything turned upside down.
Yinqi would constantly chatter in her ear about his lessons—how the instructor had taught archery and horseback riding that day, how their cousin Fulu had been praised again, or how difficult the martial arts routines were to master.
Naturally, Yierha grew curious and asked her younger brother to demonstrate, whether it was spear techniques, swordsmanship, fist forms, or archery. Yinqi obediently performed, only to suffer an unprecedented blow—his fourth sister not only replicated everything he had learned but executed each move with far more grace.
From then on, Yierha’s method of "encouraging" studies evolved from persuasion to "beating sense" into others. Of course, she only practiced in secret, maintaining her usual image as the quiet and well-mannered Fourth Princess.
Few things in the palace escaped Kangxi’s notice, and before long, the emperor discovered his daughter’s unusual hobby—and was thoroughly amused. Not only did he wholeheartedly support her, but he even arranged for a skilled female martial arts instructor to train her, helping her keep it hidden from others. Naturally, her mother and aunt couldn’t be kept in the dark.
The former Noble Consort Le, now Concubine Jing, nearly fainted in distress. "If she turns into a tigress, how will she ever find a husband?"
Yunxiu, after a moment of surprise, fully supported the idea. The present circumstances were worlds apart from what she had once dreamed, and there was no harm in Yierha learning martial arts.
Given the current situation, whether Yierha remained in the capital or married into Mongolia, she would never suffer the slightest injustice—not with Yunxiu and the Guoluoluo clan protecting her. But health was personal.
She wished for Yierha to live a long life, surrounded by children and grandchildren.
Concubine Jing, unable to dissuade her daughter, reluctantly allowed this peculiar hobby. However, practicing martial arts alone wouldn’t do—she insisted that Yierha balance it with refined arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting to cultivate her temperament.
Unexpectedly, Yierha became obsessed with embroidery, declaring it a way to train her hand strength and control. "This craft holds profound wisdom, Mother. Did you know?"
Concubine Jing: "..."
Over time, the Fourth Princess’s reputation for exquisite needlework spread throughout the Forbidden City and beyond. At this point, Concubine Jing could only press her lips together, utterly speechless. After comparing the thunderous power of her spear techniques with the delicate beauty of her embroidery, she finally managed to choke out, "Just... keep embroidering."
With a deep sigh, she resigned herself to the fact that Yierha’s temperament was beyond correction. A faint hope flickered in her heart—if only her elder sister could conceive again after so many years. A sweet, gentle little princess would be perfect.
Lost in thought, Concubine Jing turned to speak—only to freeze at the sight of several empty plates in front of Yunxiu.
"Five—no, six plates of pastries. All gone?"
Suddenly, worry surged within her. "It hasn’t even been that long. Something’s not right with Sister. We must summon the imperial physician at once."
Meanwhile, in Qianqing Palace...
Yunxiu had not conceived in years, so Kangxi didn’t immediately consider the possibility. Once the mess involving Longkodo and the Tong family was settled, his mood improved slightly—until a sudden thought struck him. He immediately summoned Grand Imperial Physician Chen.
Five or six years had passed, and the emperor’s trusted physician, now white-haired, remained as spry as ever—a true evergreen of the Imperial Hospital.
Upon hearing the summons, Grand Imperial Physician Chen hastily packed his medical kit and hurried after the attending eunuch, his steps brisk and steady, defying his advanced age.
After paying his respects, the physician was about to inquire after the emperor’s health when Kangxi spoke first, contemplative.
"Noble Consort Yi’s appetite has grown alarmingly large. Every meal she consumes leaves even me astonished. Why is that?"
At the mention of "Noble Consort Yi," Grand Imperial Physician Chen stiffened slightly before tactfully replying, "Your Majesty, this old servant is... not well-versed in lovesickness."
Kangxi: "..."
