The newborn Ninth Prince was not particularly handsome at first glance—his skin was wrinkled, his eyes tightly shut, yet his cries were remarkably loud, and his flailing arms were surprisingly strong.
He wailed until exhaustion overtook him, then fell into a deep slumber. Both the midwife and the palace maids attending him wore expressions of immense joy.
The Ninth Prince had been considerate to his mother, emerging after just an hour of labor, robust and healthy, free from any ailments—a sure sign he would grow up safe and sound.
With two princes now under her care, along with the Fourth Princess she had raised, and the Emperor’s undivided favor, Consort Yi’s position in the palace was now truly unshakable!
Nanny Dong was equally delighted. She swiftly tidied the swaddling cloth and carefully wrapped the infant.
But her joy was short-lived. The memory of the Fifth Prince’s fall into the lake resurfaced, and her smile faded, replaced by anxious worry.
Though the weather was warm, the water was icy. The Fifth Prince, so young and fragile compared to an adult, might catch a chill or develop a fever that refused to break… What then?
Earlier, Ruizhu had brought news that the Fifth Prince had been rescued immediately after falling in. The Empress Dowager had urgently summoned imperial physicians without delay—a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
They claimed that the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince had quarreled, leading to a scuffle that ended with the Fifth Prince being pushed into the lake. But Nanny Dong didn’t believe it.
The two princes had always gotten along well. There must be more to the story.
The blame lay solely with the schemer behind this—how utterly malicious!
The Yikun Palace was impenetrable, like an iron fortress, so they had shifted their target to the Fifth Prince, striking while Consort Yi was in labor. Their vile intentions were obvious to all.
They hoped Consort Yi would be distraught during childbirth, that shock and grief would ruin her health—or worse, claim both her and the child.
Thankfully, both mother and son were safe!
After murmuring something about the newborn being a "little debtor," Yunxiu had exhausted herself and fallen into a deep sleep, still unconscious.
Her sweat-drenched hair clung to her cheeks, and her once-rosy lips were now dry and pale, like petals battered by rain—yet she remained beautiful.
Nanny Dong gazed at her mistress’s weary face, relief mingling with lingering fear. Her hands trembled slightly as she held the swaddled infant, when suddenly, an announcement came from outside—the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had arrived.
The Empress Dowager leaned on her cane, her aged face lined with worry, her thoughts divided between the Fifth Prince and Consort Yi.
The elderly woman, having weathered countless storms, remained composed. Kangxi, however, strode in like a gust of wind.
The Emperor’s face was etched with impatience. He twisted his jade ring restlessly and barked at a maid, "Where is your mistress? Why is there no sound?!"
Earlier, Kangxi had been holding court in the Qianqing Palace when Liang Jiugong discreetly lifted the curtain. At first, the Emperor paid no mind, but moments later, Liang Jiugong whispered urgently, "Your Majesty, the Yikun Palace—"
Upon hearing that Consort Yi had gone into labor, Kangxi’s expression darkened. He immediately dismissed his ministers and rushed over. Midway, another report arrived—the Fifth Prince had quarreled with the Fourth Prince and fallen into the lake at the Ningshou Palace.
The timing was too coincidental. Who would believe this was mere chance?
Someone in the harem dared scheme against Yunxiu!
A fire of fury burned in Kangxi’s chest. He feared Yunxiu might hear of Yinqi’s accident and suffer complications.
But when he arrived at the Yikun Palace and heard no cries of pain, his temper exploded like a firecracker.
Chunbai, a second-rank maid serving tea, dropped to her knees, trembling as she answered, "Your Majesty, Her Ladyship entered the birthing chamber before noon. All must have gone smoothly—"
Smoothly? How could it be smooth?
The thought of Yinqi’s accident stoked Kangxi’s rage. "Useless wretches! Have you gagged your mistress—?"
Liang Jiugong cowered nearby, silently praying for Consort Yi and the child’s safety.
The Emperor rarely lost his temper like this—he was nearly incoherent.
If anything happened to Consort Yi, the consequences would be unimaginable!
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, Her Ladyship delivered a healthy prince in under an hour. Both mother and child are well… She is now resting," Nanny Dong interjected, stepping forward to cut off Kangxi’s tirade.
The sight of the crimson swaddling cloth drew everyone’s attention. The Empress Dowager paused in her prayer beads, exhaled in relief, and smiled. "Good, good, good!" she repeated three times.
Consort Yi was truly blessed.
She would protect Yinqi, and the newborn Ninth Prince would protect his elder brother.
"Your Majesty, look—the Ninth Prince is strong, his features mirroring Consort Yi’s!" Nanny Dong said cheerfully, then turned to Kangxi. "His nose and mouth are the very image of Your Majesty."
At her words, Kangxi’s fingers stilled. His anger dissipated instantly. After a long pause, his lips curved into a gentle smile. "Let me… see him."
If moments ago had been a winter storm, now it was spring sunshine.
Liang Jiugong exhaled in relief, his wrinkled face breaking into a grin as he joined Kangxi in admiring the infant.
The little prince slept soundly, his lips occasionally puckering in contentment.
"Just as Nanny Dong said—he resembles both Your Majesty and Her Ladyship. In the future, he’ll surely charm countless young ladies!" Liang Jiugong chuckled.
The Empress Dowager nodded fondly. "He also looks very much like Yinqi."
A hush fell over the Yikun Palace.
Kangxi resumed twisting his ring, wanting to ask after Yunxiu—had she slept uneasily, worried for Yinqi?
Just then, a faint announcement echoed: "The Empress Dowager has arrived—"
Both the Empress Dowager and Kangxi were taken aback.
"Emperor, Yinqi is already recovering. He slept, sweated out the chill, and is no longer in danger. The physicians say his robust constitution will prevent any serious illness…" The Empress Dowager entered briskly, speaking rapidly in Mongolian. "Once he was settled, I hurried here. How is the girl? Has she given birth?"
Yinqi was already better?
The weight lifted from the Empress Dowager’s shoulders. She clasped her hands and murmured, "Amitabha, all is well, all is well. See—Yinqi’s mother has given him the healthiest little brother!"
With the Empress Dowager’s arrival, Kangxi’s gloom vanished. He laughed heartily.
Yunxiu was truly a blessing—her fortune shielded their children and himself.
"All servants of the Yikun Palace shall receive three months’ extra wages. Liang Jiugong, announce to the realm that the Ninth Prince is named Yintang, to be recorded in the imperial genealogy… Dispatch a courier to Shengjing to inform Sanguanbao—let him share in our joy."
Liang Jiugong beamed. "At once, Your Majesty!"
Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager cradled the Ninth Prince, unwilling to let go. Nanny Dong watched with a contented smile, her worries finally eased. The main hall brimmed with jubilation.
By dusk, news of Consort Yi’s delivery and the Emperor’s decree naming the child Yintang had spread throughout the six palaces.
"The Ninth Prince has been born, and both mother and child are safe?" In Yonghe Palace, Consort De set down her chopsticks, suddenly losing her appetite.
Could it be that Yinqi’s fall into the water had no effect on her at all?
Just how cold and heartless must Mrs. Guoluoluo be!
She let out a cold laugh and spoke slowly, "It seems I underestimated her."
Nanny Wu, well aware that Her Highness would not be pleased, sighed softly and gently massaged her temples. "Word from Ningshou Palace is that after the Fifth Prince fell into the water, the Fourth Prince immediately tried to rescue him but was stopped by the servants. The Empress Dowager did not reprimand him either… His Majesty has ordered the matter sealed for now. It seems punishment will wait until the truth is uncovered."
"Those servants were mere pawns to be discarded. What does it matter if the oil spill is investigated?" Consort De’s expression darkened. "What I wanted was for Consort Yi to be unable to deliver her child safely. At the very least, if Yinqi’s health had been ruined, he might have grown to hate Yinzhen. That would have been something."
To receive such devastating news at her weakest moment, after carrying a child for ten months—who could say if the shock would have cost her the baby?
If both mother and child had perished…
Yet here was the result: both were safe and sound. Consort Yi was truly fortunate.
And the Fifth Prince? Unharmed, not even a fever or a chill. The carefully plotted scheme to kill with a borrowed knife had come to nothing, and instead, Consort Yi had won the Emperor’s pity.
Just look—the Ninth Prince was given a name at birth, while her own Yinzuo had to wait until his full month.
It was clear how doted upon the Ninth Prince would be!
"Enough." Consort De suppressed her fury and picked up her chopsticks again, her lips curling in a faint, mocking smile. "Though my plans have failed, I can still endure the disappointment. But I wonder who else is even more disheartened than I…"
Chuxiu Palace was the residence of Concubine Hesheli. Though she enjoyed the privileges of a consort, she had not been formally enfeoffed and thus could only occupy a side hall.
Since noon, Concubine Hesheli had been leaning by the window, her gaze frequently drifting toward the direction of Yikun Palace. Her youthful face bore an air of dignified grace, but her almond-shaped eyes held a hidden smile as she murmured to herself, "Consort De is his birth mother, yet she could still strike at him."
Still, dragging the Fourth Prince into this had saved her much effort. There was no need to meticulously arrange any more "accidents."
She had been waiting for good news from outside…
As evening approached, Concubine Hesheli barely touched her meal before having it cleared away. Soon after, her chief maid, Zhu Chai, hurried in and whispered into her ear. Slowly, the light in Concubine Hesheli’s eyes dimmed.
"How could this be?" She gripped the armrest tightly, murmuring in disbelief. "How is she so lucky?"
The Fifth Prince had fallen into the water, yet she had still given birth safely to the Ninth Prince—and the Emperor had immediately bestowed the name Yintang!
Concubine Hesheli’s nails dug into her palms as her chest heaved with emotion.
Meeting Zhu Chai’s worried gaze, she took a sip of tea and asked softly, "Have you informed my uncle? What did he say?"
"Lord Suo reprimanded you, saying this move was reckless. He entrusted you with the old servants of Empress Renxiao, yet you acted rashly against Yikun Palace—completely unnecessary." Zhu Chai chose her words carefully, omitting the word "foolish."
"Unnecessary? How could it be unnecessary?!" Concubine Hesheli took a sharp breath, her teeth clenched. "Uncle only fears the Imperial Noble Consort, quietly having the Imperial Household Department make trouble… Fine. But to think of winning over Mrs. Guoluoluo? Meanwhile, the Crown Prince is practically being swayed by Consort Yi!"
She was the Crown Prince’s legitimate aunt, yet he kept his distance from her. How could an outsider like Consort Yi deserve such favor?
Worse still, the Emperor’s heart and eyes were filled with Consort Yi—when had he last remembered her?
It had been so, so long since she had received his favor.
On the Emperor’s birthday, the screen she had painstakingly embroidered with a landscape of a thousand miles had been overshadowed by the few volumes of Buddhist scriptures Consort Yi had casually copied. How laughable.
Recalling the fleeting glimpse she had caught of the Emperor in the imperial gardens when she first entered the palace, Concubine Hesheli’s heart ached with bitterness.
That one glance had sealed her fate, yet the Emperor doted on another woman—how could she not resent it?
She hated Consort Yi with every fiber of her being!
Zhu Chai called softly, "Your Highness…"
Concubine Hesheli snapped out of her thoughts and gave a bitter smile. "Without an official rank, merely a concubine, nothing I do carries authority. When will the Emperor remember me?"
"You are the younger sister of the late empress, the daughter of a first-rank duke, a noble lady of the Hesheli clan. Your status speaks for itself," Zhu Chai consoled her. "Even the rank of Noble Consort would not be beyond you!"
Noble Consort?
Hesheli shook her head with a cold smile. "You’re mistaken. Noble Consort is impossible."
She was too young, her standing too shallow—this alone barred her from standing alongside Noble Consort Niu Gulu.
The four consort positions were already filled, while the six concubine positions remained vacant. Unless the harem’s regulations were broken, the highest she could reach was concubine.
Would the Emperor make an exception for her? Unlikely.
Thus, if she wanted something, she would have to seize it herself.
If the four consorts became three, there was a strong chance she could rise to consort rank.
With Consort Yi pregnant and nearing delivery, an "accident" would have been a heaven-sent opportunity!
It needn’t have cost both lives—just leaving her bedridden would have been enough. Over time, who would remember her? Eventually, Mrs. Guoluoluo could have faded away…
But now, all her schemes had come to nothing.
Concubine Hesheli closed her eyes briefly before instructing Zhu Chai, "Clean up the traces. Do as I say. Prepare gifts—tomorrow, I will visit Noble Consort Le again."
The moon hung high, stars dotted the sky, and the scent of blood in the birthing chamber had been replaced by the faint fragrance of fruit from the bronze incense burner.
The pillows, quilts, and undergarments had all been refreshed. When Yunxiu awoke, her long lashes fluttered as she found herself clean and dry.
The lingering pain below was overshadowed by the gnawing hunger in her belly.
Yet she ignored both, clutching the brocade quilt as she asked hoarsely, "How is Yinqi?"
Nanny Dong, who had been keeping vigil by her bedside, brightened at her awakening and called out, "Her Highness is awake! Bring the broth at once!"
Then, with a smile, she reassured her, "Your Highness, set your heart at ease—the Fifth Prince is fine! After the imperial physicians examined him, they said his constitution is strong. He has no fever, no chill, and will recover fully after a good sleep. Right now, the Fifth Prince is pestering the Empress Dowager to visit Yikun Palace to see his mother and baby brother."
The light returned to Yunxiu’s peach-blossom eyes as relief washed over her. A faint smile touched her lips. "Good… that’s good…"
Had anything happened to Yinqi, she wouldn’t have known how to go on.
What use was foreseeing the future if she couldn’t even protect her own child?
With Yinqi safe, Yunxiu’s worries melted away. Leaning on Nanny Dong’s arm, she slowly settled against the pillows.
Accepting a bowl of thick chicken broth, she took a small sip, her expression calm but her eyes glinting with cold resolve. "Those who plotted against me… it must have been Consort De and her ilk."
This time, they had truly crossed a line—targeting her child, targeting the Empress Dowager’s Ningshou Palace.
"After being kind for too long, they think I only know how to talk sweetly," Yunxiu murmured after finishing a bowl of chicken soup, wiping her lips delicately. "Little do they know, when it comes to action, I am second to none."
Nanny Dong sighed deeply and said gravely, "Your Highness may not provoke them, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. With the Emperor’s favor resting solely on you, envy will always follow."
Then, her expression softened slightly. "That said, with His Majesty protecting you, what is there to fear? This afternoon, the Emperor stayed by your side for so long, his face full of worry... Just now, Liang Jiugong sent word that His Majesty will visit again later..."
"His Majesty’s favor?" Yunxiu repeated the words, ignoring the rest, and let out a mocking laugh, suddenly overwhelmed by an unprecedented weariness.
One scheme after another, endless calculations—wasn’t it all because of the Emperor?
The grand phoenix procession, the Fifth Prince’s near-drowning... Wasn’t the root of it all the Emperor himself?!
Yunxiu set down the porcelain bowl with a sharp clink and declared firmly, "From now on, let them fight however they wish. It has nothing to do with me."
After this ordeal, she no longer had the patience to pretend.
A favored consort?
Let someone else take the role!
...
The Ninth Prince’s bright red swaddling clothes lay at the innermost part of the bed. Just as Yunxiu called for someone, Yintang stirred slightly, his tiny hands moving as consciousness slowly returned.
The euphoria of rebirth still echoed in his mind. Yintang listened eagerly to his dear mother’s conversation with Nanny Dong, his heart overflowing with gratitude—to Buddha, to the Daoist deities, to the Eternal Blue Sky, even to the foreigners’ God. He thanked them all in his heart.
But soon, he caught a troubling detail.
The Fifth Prince was in trouble?
No wonder his mother was so furious after giving birth, even making such harsh declarations. And it seemed Consort De, the Fourth Prince’s mother, was involved...
Hmph! Anything connected to the Fourth Prince was bad news.
Relief washed over him when he heard that the Fifth Prince was unharmed.
But wait—this didn’t make sense!
How could his mother say something like "I won’t compete for favor anymore"?
Hadn’t she loved the Emperor wholeheartedly in his past life? Even in old age, when her beauty faded, she never wavered.
Back then, no matter how much he tried to persuade her, she wouldn’t listen. He could only lament inwardly—his mother was beautiful and clever, but her judgment when it came to the Emperor was utterly blind.
What was so great about the Emperor anyway? Just a crooked old tree!
And yet people called him a wise ruler—ridiculous.
For now, he buried his confusion deep inside.
But then came something even stranger—
Yintang felt deeply wronged. He was right here, a whole person! How could his mother ignore him like this?
After all the effort of giving birth to him, she didn’t even glance his way, only worrying about the Fifth Prince.
And Nanny Dong—she had watched him grow up in his past life! If his mother forgot about him, how could she do the same?!
Yintang’s tiny lips trembled, and he let out a loud, piercing wail, his cries strong enough to shake the heavens.
Nanny Dong immediately stopped speaking, guilt flashing across her face. She lightly patted her own cheek. "Oh dear! This old servant was so caught up in conversation that I neglected the little prince. I deserve a scolding!"
With that, she bent down and picked up Yintang, her face softening into a warm smile. "Your Highness, look—the Ninth Prince is so healthy! His Majesty named him Yintang on the spot. The Empress Dowager and the Empress were overjoyed, showering him with gifts..."
Yunxiu’s lips curled slightly as she took the swaddled baby into her arms. Instantly, Yintang’s cries stopped.
Nanny Dong gasped in amazement. "Your Highness, it’s the bond between mother and child! The little prince is so clever."
After studying him for a long moment, Yunxiu chuckled and tapped his tiny nose affectionately. "You little troublemaker, not as well-behaved as your Fifth Prince brother."
Yintang: "..."
Mother, must you insult me like this?
Indignant, Yintang flailed his arms and legs, letting out a dramatic howl. To Nanny Dong and the others, it was a clear sign of hunger.
"Call the wet nurse," Yunxiu ordered softly. Ruizhu, waiting outside, quickly complied.
Before the wet nurse arrived, the Emperor’s entourage did.
Kangxi, his eyes warm with affection, motioned for the servants to remain silent. He strode swiftly to the birthing chamber, stopping just outside the painted floral screen.
"Yunxiu," he called gently, "are you feeling better? Any discomfort?"
Without waiting for her reply, he added eagerly, "Where’s my little Ninth Prince? Let me hold him."
Earlier, with the Empress Dowager and the Empress present in Yikun Palace, Kangxi had restrained himself from cradling his newborn son—adhering to the ancestral rule that emperors should not hold their own children.
But now, with no elders around, why hold back?
After some rustling, Yintang was transferred into his imperial father’s arms.
Recognizing the familiar scent of dragon’s saliva incense, Yintang pursed his lips, struggling against his infant instincts to pry his eyes open—revealing large, bright pupils and rare double eyelids.
He stared intently at Kangxi, but all he could make out was a blurry black-and-white figure.
Giving up, Yintang shut his eyes again, grumbling inwardly.
How shameless of the Emperor—calling his mother "Yunxiu" so intimately? Disgusting!
Of course, Kangxi remained oblivious to his youngest son’s disdain.
A healthy prince was always a joyous sight. His phoenix eyes softened as he glanced toward the inner chamber and declared loudly, "You’ve worked hard."
"I certainly have," came Yunxiu’s icy reply from behind the screen. "On the day I gave birth, I was nearly frightened to death. That I survived at all is a miracle."
Nanny Dong stared at her mistress in shock. Outside, Liang Jiugong trembled and bowed his head deeply.
Yintang’s eyes flew open, his tiny body stiffening in disbelief.
Kangxi frowned, pain flickering in his gaze. He tightened his hold on the swaddled baby and said solemnly, "Yunxiu, I will give you justice for what happened today."
"Justice?" Yunxiu’s voice grew even colder. "It’s all just petty jealousy. They’ll do anything to win Your Majesty’s favor. This time, it was the Fifth Prince—who’s next?"
Then, Yintang heard his mother let out a bitter laugh before enunciating each word clearly:
"I am jealous, cruel, and narrow-minded. I do not deserve Your Majesty’s affection—nor the right to be called ‘Yunxiu.’ Spending time on me is a waste. Please seek out someone else—Consort De, for instance. She longs for you dearly!"
