Throughout the Great Qing, who didn’t know of the cherished Gurun Princess Huihe, the apple of Emperor Kangxi and Empress Yunxiu’s eyes?
Not to mention how the Empress Dowager doted on her as if she were her own pupil, and the endless stream of elder brothers who adored her.
The nobility and high-ranking officials still vividly remembered the princess’s birth, when the Crown Prince Yinreng’s gift of 200,000 taels of silver sparked a wave of lavish presents—spanning her third-day celebration, full-month ceremony, first birthday, and every subsequent birthday.
As for the fortune amassed in the Sixth Princess’s private treasury, they could only gasp in awe, not daring to even attempt a calculation.
This wasn’t just a golden child—it was a veritable gold mountain.
Unbeknownst to Kangxi, some began scheming, gazing fondly at their own infant sons and dreaming of the possibility of marrying the Sixth Princess.
Yet such thoughts remained mere fantasies. After all, the Emperor had yet to decide whether she would be sent to Mongolia or remain in the capital. And even if she stayed, the competition among noble families would be fierce—how could they possibly stand a chance?
Little did they know, from the moment Wu Linzhu could speak, the Emperor and her brothers had already begun their preemptive defense against potential suitors.
Wu Linzhu grew up on tales of unfaithful men.
"A man’s sweet words are never to be trusted; smooth talk always hides ulterior motives," the Ninth Prince would lecture earnestly, recounting cautionary tales. "Take that Imperial Examination top scorer, for instance—born into a prestigious family yet coveting a princess’s wealth, weaving an elaborate scheme to deceive her."
"Never lower your standards or be swayed by some brat’s charms. What does it matter if he’s wealthy or brings you pastries? Such trifles could never win over my sister!" The Crown Prince would sigh gravely before producing a wooden box. "Second Brother forgot your allowance last month, so here’s this month’s—though it’s a bit light, only 10,000 taels."
"Appearances are the most deceptive. Our Wu Linzhu must keep her eyes sharp," the Tenth Prince would declare, gesturing grandly at himself. "A man like me, who knows how to cherish and pamper you, is rarer than a phoenix feather. You’ll never find another!"
Wu Linzhu would stare at him unblinkingly until he chuckled awkwardly. "Just a jest, just a jest."
"If you ever encounter a scoundrel, Eleventh Brother has a secret weapon," Yinzi would whisper, pulling out a silk pouch from his waist. "Empress Mother prepared this for me—just a sprinkle, and a villain’s eyes will go blind. No rogue would dare lay a finger on you."
Though still innocent, Wu Linzhu grew day by day, her features blossoming into striking beauty. Watching his precious daughter become ever more radiant, Kangxi’s sense of urgency deepened. During his rare free moments, he drafted a set of rules—a counterpart to his imperial edicts—and recited them to Wu Linzhu while cradling her.
"These are the principles your future consort must abide by," Kangxi intoned solemnly. "If a man’s first words praise your beauty, he is utterly untrustworthy."
Wu Linzhu nestled against him, her voice soft and sweet. "But Imperial Father, yesterday you saw Imperial Mother and immediately called her beautiful."
Kangxi coughed lightly. "These rules do not apply to fathers or brothers."
Wu Linzhu nodded obediently. "Oh."
Unbeknownst to Yunxiu, their daily lectures planted a seed in Wu Linzhu’s young heart:
Of all the men in the world, save for her father and brothers, none could be relied upon—each was a smooth-talking fraud.
In the blink of an eye, Gurun Princess Huihe turned fifteen.
At this age, marriage discussions were no longer taboo. Unable to withstand the hopeful gazes of his courtiers, Kangxi casually announced that the princess would not be sent to Mongolia—her consort would be chosen from among the capital’s elite.
The moment the decree spread, the capital erupted.
Though it wasn’t an election year for imperial consorts, tailor shops suddenly boomed with orders for men’s finery, jewelry stores were stripped bare, and gatherings once reserved for noble ladies now teemed with young men, their rivalry growing ever more intense.
Every noble household—dukedoms, marquisates, ministerial and general families—dragged out their eligible sons, so long as they were passably handsome or capable.
When encountering colleagues, fathers would feign humility: "Your son’s talents are exceptional; my unworthy boy pales in comparison."
"Not at all, not at all," the other would simper in return. "My son can neither shoulder nor lift a thing—how could he match yours in martial prowess? Truly shameful."
Then they’d stride off, each secretly sneering: As if your family stands a chance at wedding the princess!
As the Ninth Prince—now Prince Yintang—expanded his business ventures, rumors swept the capital overnight: the true mastermind behind his enterprises was none other than Gurun Princess Huihe.
The next day, Prince Yintang’s residence was flooded with countless calling cards, startling his wife, the Ninth Princess Consort. "What’s this? Did you owe them money?"
Prince Yintang scoffed. "Must everything revolve around silver in your eyes?"
"Darling, once bitten, twice shy," she replied sweetly, sending him scurrying away in terror, lest she stomp on his foot again.
Smirking as he accepted the cards, Prince Yintang noted the names—all promising young talents. But when he met them and heard their true intentions, his expression darkened.
Every last one sought to invest in his ventures, their ulterior motives glaringly obvious: they were all after his sister.
Burning with indignation, he forced a smile. "See them out."
Unable to let it go, Prince Yintang dressed formally and entered the palace to pay respects to Empress Yunxiu. Sensing his hidden agenda, she smiled. "Your sister is in the small garden. Go on."
Rushing there, Prince Yintang’s heart swelled with pride and melancholy at the sight of Wu Linzhu, now a graceful young woman. Those fools only know her reputation—if they saw her in person, their eyes would pop out!
Her delicate oval face, painted-brush brows, and naturally rosy lips outshone even the garden’s blooms. Though she bore only a partial resemblance to her mother, her beauty carried a serene elegance that soothed the soul.
Spotting Prince Yintang, she curtsied. "Ninth Brother."
He responded warmly before launching into complaints. "All those suitors are third-rate at best, offering a paltry 50,000 taels—how shameless! Just think, Wu Linzhu, how much do you spend on meals alone? Could 50,000 taels even sustain you?"
Wu Linzhu’s smile remained sweet. "Ninth Brother, last time Imperial Father asked if I’d suffered losses and whether I needed a new manager, I hadn’t answered yet."
Prince Yintang clammed up like a throttled chicken.
As silence fell over the garden, Wu Linzhu swiftly calculated: Men who chase wealth while coveting a princess’s fortune are insincere. Unacceptable.
"If they come again, refuse them outright," she declared. "I won’t have a consort reeking of money."
Yintang had just relaxed when his breath caught again, his lips trembling as if pierced by ten thousand arrows. The next moment, the little princess sat on a stone bench, propping her chin and smiling brightly. "Except for my father and brothers."
The Gulun Huihe Princess would not marry until she was at least eighteen. Using this as an excuse, the Ninth Prince rejected all the young talents who came forward. Those who still sent invitations were met with closed doors.
The princess resided deep within the palace, rarely seen by outsiders. Over time, the vibrant robes of the noble young men gathered dust, and their gatherings came to an end. Yet, they never received a definitive word from the Emperor.
By the time the princess turned sixteen, the question remained: who would win the golden prize?
The Empress Dowager was not in a hurry, nor was Kangxi, but the ministers grew restless.
Finally, one could no longer hold back and cautiously broached the subject during a private audience. But even this subtle hint struck a nerve with the Emperor, who erupted in fury, leaving the minister thoroughly chastised—a sight so pitiful it moved onlookers to tears.
"Wu Linzhu has me to provide for her. She won’t marry before twenty—why should you concern yourself?"
Once the Emperor’s wrath was unleashed, the ministers wisely retreated.
Yunxiu also felt that marrying at sixteen was too early and did not argue.
She had assumed the Emperor’s declaration of "no marriage before twenty" was spoken in anger, but he meant every word. Two more years passed, and Wu Linzhu turned eighteen. The Crown Prince’s responsibilities grew heavier, and Kangxi began considering abdication—yet there was still no sign of a son-in-law.
After betrothal, it would take at least half a year before the wedding. Any further delay would make her an old maid. Rubbing her temples, Yunxiu smirked. "As the eldest brother stands in for the father, is Your Majesty waiting for Yinreng to arrange her wedding?"
Kangxi was left speechless. Yunxiu concluded decisively, "We can’t delay any longer."
Summoning the Huihe Princess, the Empress cut straight to the point. "What kind of husband do you like?"
When the question was posed, Wu Linzhu found herself surrounded.
Above her sat Kangxi, tense with worry. To her left were the equally tense Crown Prince and the imperial princes, while to her right sat the Crown Princess Consort and various princess consorts, all wearing nervous expressions.
It was an interrogation in all but name.
Wu Linzhu replied calmly, "I like handsome ones."
Yunxiu thought for a moment. "I recall the current Tanhua Lang is exceptionally good-looking. He’s now serving in the Hanlin Academy—the most handsome among all the court officials."
Before the panel could voice objections, Wu Linzhu shook her head swiftly.
The Tanhua Lang was a heartless scoundrel who coveted her wealth—absolutely not.
Yunxiu tentatively suggested a few more candidates, including accomplished sons of noble families, but Wu Linzhu rejected each one. Back then, they had sought to invest in her ventures but failed, and their poetry was unbearably cloying. Their veiled praises and thinly disguised affection sounded utterly unreliable.
Sweet words with ulterior motives, coveting her wealth? No, absolutely not.
At last, Yunxiu understood why Chengfei had been so troubled when Yinzhen sought a wife.
Barely suppressing a sigh, she said coldly, "Your Majesty, what do you propose we do?"
Recognizing the warning signs of Yunxiu’s anger, Kangxi coughed heavily and quickly offered a solution. "A palace banquet—to select a husband."
This banquet was no different from a selection process, except that the prize was the Gulun Huihe Princess’s hand in marriage.
Once the imperial decree was issued, the entire capital buzzed with excitement. Applicants swarmed like fish in a river. After rigorous screening, only a hundred were granted entry—the finest among the young elite.
The banquet proceeded as scheduled, with the inner and outer halls separated by a screen. Wu Linzhu stood behind it, silently observing for a long time, her gaze lingering on a particular corner.
There sat a young man, strikingly handsome yet icy in demeanor, his brow carrying an air of severity. He had not spoken a single word the entire time, as if detached from the crowd.
"Who is he?"
The eunuch took a closer look and hurriedly replied, "That is the eldest grandson of the Fucha clan’s main branch in the Bordered Yellow Banner—General Rongfu of Wuwei."
Wu Linzhu mused, "The Fucha family—Ma Qi’s line?"
"Indeed."
Wu Linzhu fell into thought.
The Fucha family had been wealthy for generations—they didn’t lack money.
As the banquet neared its end, an announcement echoed from outside the hall: "The Gulun Huihe Princess arrives!"
Silence fell instantly.
Eyes filled with admiration and excitement turned toward Wu Linzhu, until a palace attendant reassured, "Her Highness is not one to impose. Gentlemen, feel free to speak openly."
Praise and flattery filled the air—except in the corner where Rongfu remained unmoved, like a statue, though a faint blush crept up his ears.
The more Wu Linzhu observed him, the more pleased she became. She made her decision on the spot and later sought out Kangxi. "Imperial Father, I’ve chosen Fucha Rongfu."
Kangxi nearly choked. "Who?"
That Fucha boy—though skilled in martial arts and upright in character—was as dull as a block of wood, incapable of uttering a single sweet word. How could he possibly dote on his precious daughter?
"Wu Linzhu, listen to your father—"
"Clear-eyed, wealthy, no sweet talk, never once praised my beauty—what a perfect candidate for a husband." Wu Linzhu sighed dreamily. "Imperial Father, it’s him."
