In the early spring of the 34th year of Kangxi's reign, the imperial decree for the selection of imperial consorts was issued by the Ministry of Rites, setting the entire capital abuzz with excitement.
This selection was meant to choose primary consorts for three imperial princes. At present, the Third Prince was eighteen, the Fourth Prince seventeen, and the Fifth Prince sixteen—all of marriageable age. Yet, none of their households had a primary consort to manage affairs, and the matter could no longer be delayed.
As for the younger princes after Prince Rong, they were still too young. Following the wishes of the Emperor and the Empress, their marriages would be arranged in the next selection.
With the decree announced, noble ladies and young maidens flocked to hire palace etiquette instructors, and gatherings among aristocratic young women became filled with whispered secrets and unspoken hopes, as if the very air carried the fragrance of peach blossoms.
The three princes awaiting marriage were equally unsettled in their hearts.
The eldest prince, now titled Prince Zhi, had already moved out of the palace to establish his own residence. Among those still in the imperial quarters, the Third Prince was the eldest. His mother, Concubine Rong, had long "passed away," leaving only his elder sister, Rongxian, as his sole companion. At first, he could not accept it, but a stern admonishment from Prince Zhi jolted him awake.
The Emperor's will was absolute, and his mother’s transgressions had not been minor. If he continued wallowing in grief, he would only drag his sister down with him.
Yin Zhi wept bitterly, then called for a bronze mirror. Tracing the faint scar at the corner of his eye, he suddenly recalled the moment during the expedition against the Dzungars when Fulu had broken through enemy lines to save his life at great personal risk.
After sending lavish gifts and personally visiting to express his gratitude, he stared at the mirror in silence, realizing how immature he had been—dreaming lofty, impractical dreams and clashing needlessly with Fulu.
With this scar, what more was there to resent?
The grand principles in books paled in comparison to the lessons learned through experience.
Rongxian had long been betrothed to Prince Gun of the Balin Tribe, originally set to marry in the 30th year of Kangxi’s reign. But out of concern for Yin Zhi, she had begged the Emperor for permission to remain in the capital a few more years.
She wished to see her brother wed, but then national mourning forced the cancellation of the selection in the 31st year. If she waited until the 34th year, she would be considered an old maid.
She was not anxious, but the Third Prince was. His sister’s marriage could no longer be delayed, and he was now of age—a man who should bear his own burdens. How could he still rely on her care?
"Second Sister, if Mother knew, she would blame me," Yin Zhi said solemnly.
In the summer of the 32nd year of Kangxi’s reign, on the eve of Rongxian’s departure for the grasslands, she smiled through her tears. "I have begged one final favor from the Emperor—permission to return to the capital with my husband when you marry, so I may meet your future consort."
And now, he was truly about to take a wife.
Without his mother to guide him, the Third Prince was utterly lost when it came to choosing a consort.
Amidst excitement and nervousness, he couldn’t help but hope for a refined and scholarly lady. Appearance mattered little; if she was well-versed in Han studies, that would be ideal.
The Fourth Prince had Concubine Cheng to worry for him, but her worries were in vain. Though the child she had raised was filial and devoted, when it came to marriage—
Concubine Cheng fretted so much she lost sleep. When she asked Yinzhen what kind of consort he preferred, he simply replied, "One who can manage a household."
Any woman qualified to be a primary consort would surely have impeccable upbringing—who couldn’t manage a household?
Concubine Cheng, deeply troubled, sought out Yunxiu. "Your Majesty, the boy is grown, yet he remains oblivious. He is taking a wife, not hiring a steward! If on their wedding night he hands his bride an abacus and asks her to balance the books, how could I ever sleep peacefully?"
The mere thought made Concubine Cheng faint with dread.
Yunxiu coughed lightly, suppressing a smile as she reassured her, "It won’t come to that."
Concubine Cheng shook her head with a sigh. "Your Majesty does not understand. Yinzhen may appear cold, but he is exacting in nature. He does not yet realize that a wife is his lifelong companion. I fear they will become estranged, living under the same roof yet distant as strangers. If he cannot charm his own wife, what then?"
With the Crown Prince setting a sterling example and Longkodo’s disgraceful infatuation with Li Si'er serving as a cautionary tale, the imperial princes had long internalized the Emperor’s decree against favoring concubines over wives. The eldest son must be born of the primary consort—disorder in the household stemmed from blurred lines between legitimate and illegitimate heirs.
Under such circumstances, the Fourth Prince had taken a concubine and a maidservant at sixteen, yet treated them as if they were invisible, visiting them less than once a month. It seemed he truly had no grasp of romantic matters.
Concubine Cheng’s concerns were not unfounded.
After seeing off the distressed concubine, Yunxiu pondered for a moment before saying, "Summon the Fifth Prince."
Yinqi was handsome and far more obedient than the Ninth Prince. Aside from a mischievous phase in childhood, he had always been dependable. Hearing his mother’s summons after his studies, he hurried to her chambers and bowed. "Imperial Mother."
Yunxiu smiled and bade him rise, then got straight to the point. "What kind of consort do you prefer, Little Five?"
Yinqi’s cheeks flushed slightly as he considered the question, then clasped his hands respectfully. "I leave it entirely to Imperial Mother’s discretion."
His answer was sincere, without a hint of evasion, and Yunxiu could see that clearly.
Now her head ached too.
After a moment’s thought, she continued, "In that case, promise me you will treat your future wife well. Can you do that?"
Yinqi’s face reddened further, but his expression was resolute. "This son swears it."
Yunxiu raised a brow and beckoned him closer. "Then I have a task for you—"
The Fifth Prince returned from Yuqing Palace like a thief, clutching three small booklets in his arms.
He recognized these booklets well. The Ninth Prince’s only punishment—a ruler to the palms—had been for leaking their contents, which so enraged the Emperor that even their collective pleas for mercy went unheard.
When he first read them, he had been too young. Now, revisiting them, his perspective had changed.
Lost in thought, Yinqi tightened his grip on the booklets as he slipped into the Third Prince’s courtyard in the western palace quarters. "Third Brother!" he called out.
The Third Prince set down his book and stepped into the courtyard, surprised. "Fifth Brother?"
He smiled. "What brings you here?"
Yinqi noticed how the Third Prince had changed—his scholarly demeanor more pronounced, the arrogance Fulu once described as "insufferable" now faded. He got along far better with his younger brothers these days.
With that in mind, Yinqi handed over the booklets mysteriously. "Essential pre-marital reading. A treasure personally penned by the Emperor."
For a man of letters, wasn’t this the perfect guide to romance? With this, he’d surely charm his future wife effortlessly.
The Third Prince eyed him skeptically but took the booklets. The bold characters "Imperial Edict" leaped out at him.
His expression instantly turned reverent, as if he ought to purify himself and kneel in solemn reception. Waves of joy surged in his heart—was the Emperor offering him encouragement and guidance?
Holding his breath, he turned to the first page—and his pupils constricted. "This—?!"
"On top is Second Elder Brother's handwritten notes, genuine without a doubt." Yinqi leaned in and lowered his voice, "Do you know how the Emperor managed to appease the Empress, or how Second Elder Brother won over Second Sister-in-law?"
The Third Prince slowly gaped, stunned for a long moment before clutching the Imperial Edict and sighing, "Fifth Brother, I truly must thank you."
Arriving at the Fourth Prince's courtyard, however, presented an entirely different scene.
Though the Fifth Prince and Fourth Prince were close, for some reason, Yinqi felt a trace of unease around him. Recalling the Ninth Prince's complaints about Fourth Brother, Yinqi couldn't help but sympathize. He straightened his expression, smiled politely, and respectfully handed over the booklet.
Before Yinzhen could flip through it, Yinqi carefully reminded him, "Fourth Brother must study this thoroughly. It’s an assignment from the Emperor—memorization isn’t mandatory, but familiarity is essential."
Yinzhen glanced at the bold characters "Imperial Edict" and nodded solemnly before correcting him disapprovingly, "Fifth Brother, you’re mistaken. The Emperor’s personal writings demand nothing less than flawless recitation. Mere familiarity is far too lax."
"..." Yinqi took a small step back, awestruck by the phrase "flawless recitation." With deep admiration, he said, "A true man’s word is unshakable. I’m far from matching Fourth Brother’s dedication."
As he turned to leave, Yinqi suddenly smacked his forehead, remembering Yunxiu’s instructions.
"On your wedding night, if you find yourself at a loss for words, just recite the Imperial Edict to your bride," Yinqi whispered. "This is the Empress’s decree—don’t forget it, Fourth Brother."
The Empress’s decree?
The Fourth Prince was utterly baffled but found no grounds to argue. After a hesitant pause, he nodded.
Yinqi exhaled in relief and fled as if chased.
Lowering his gaze to the Imperial Edict, Yinzhen steadied his excitement and slowly turned to the first page.
"..." His ears gradually flushed red.
As he read on, the blush spread to his cheeks, his face soon rivaling a monkey’s backside.
Yinzhen felt his entire body heat up, as if steaming with regret.
Flawless recitation?
His fingertips trembled slightly.
Time flew by, and by early summer of the 34th year of Kangxi’s reign, the imperial selection concluded.
After the Empress and consorts reviewed the candidates, the Emperor personally made the final choices, ultimately selecting the principal wives for three princes.
Third Prince’s consort: Lady Dong'e; Fourth Prince’s consort: Lady Ulanara; Fifth Prince’s consort: Tatara. Notably, Tatara’s father was no longer a mere fifth-rank official as in the past. Years earlier, Tuyue had given him a boost, and he had since proven himself, rising to a second-rank position.
During the selection, the Ninth Prince dragged the Fifth Prince up a rockery, claiming they’d sneak a peek at his future bride.
Word of this inevitably reached Yunxiu, who later summoned Yinqi and asked, "You said you’d leave the choice to me. Now that I’ve picked Tatara for you, are you satisfied?"
Yinqi hemmed and hawed before murmuring in a barely audible voice, "Very satisfied."
With the brides selected, the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department sprang into action.
The princes’ weddings proceeded in order. When the Third Prince married, Princess Rongxian and her husband traveled all the way back to the capital. Learning that his bride was Peng Chun’s daughter, Lady Dong'e, Rongxian was thoroughly pleased and earnestly advised Yin Zhi, "Lady Dong'e is cultured and refined, renowned as a talented lady even before marriage. You must treat her well."
Yin Zhi agreed wholeheartedly, eagerly counting down to the wedding, his eyes alight with anticipation.
After all, how could he betray the Emperor’s Imperial Edict?
Post-wedding, the Third Prince’s bliss was evident in his bride’s bashful glow, their harmony the envy of many.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince grew increasingly nervous.
His habit of reciting the Imperial Edict whenever anxious had solidified over time—so much so that he often lulled himself to sleep mid-recitation.
On his wedding night, Yinzhen lifted the veil with the ceremonial wedding rod, locking eyes with his bride, Lady Ulanara.
Her heart raced, cheeks flushing as she lowered her gaze to escape his cool, composed stare.
Yinzhen opened his mouth, but his throat seemed stuffed with cotton. After a long silence, his ears reddened.
The bridal chamber fell into stillness.
Lady Ulanara knew a little of the Fourth Prince’s temperament. She hadn’t expected him to speak first and was about to break the silence herself when suddenly, a stream of earnest, heart-fluttering sweet nothings poured from his lips without pause.
Clenching his fists, Yinzhen murmured, "I’ve long admired you..."
Lady Ulanara jerked her head up, composure shattered by shock and delight. "Truly?"
"..." Yinzhen paused, his face reddening further, then continued flawlessly, "Never doubt my feelings for you. My consort, you are breathtaking tonight."
