Some time ago, General Shi Lang successfully reclaimed the lost territories in the south, officially restoring them to the empire. With the threat of the Zheng family, which had long weighed on the emperor’s mind, now eliminated, the entire court and the nation rejoiced.
Now, with the birth of the Ninth Prince and no further worries from the southern borders, Emperor Kangxi, eager to dispel the gloom brought by the early passing of the Eighth Princess, gave the order for Yintang’s third-day bathing ceremony to be celebrated with grandeur and festivity.
Those who bathed Yintang included not only the esteemed noble ladies of the imperial clan but also his maternal grandmother, Lady Wanyan, the birth mother of Yunxiu.
News of Consort Yi’s childbirth was swiftly relayed to Shengjing, along with an edict from the Grand Empress Dowager permitting Lady Guoluoluo, the wife of Sanguanbao and mother of the Guo’luoluo clan, to enter Yikun Palace for a visit. This unexpected favor delighted the entire Guo’luoluo family.
Lady Wanyan had not seen her daughters, Yunxiu and Yun Shu, for a long time since moving to Shengjing with her clan, and her heart ached with longing. Now, as she gazed at her robust little grandson, whose cries were loud and limbs strong, her still-elegant face softened with maternal affection. She remarked to those around her, "Look how much the Ninth Prince resembles Her Majesty..."
Since Lady Wanyan had been absent from the capital for years and had little social interaction, she was an unfamiliar face to many noble ladies and consorts. Yet, given her status, none dared slight her.
Consort Yi enjoyed the emperor’s deep favor and had two healthy princes to secure her position. Her influence in the palace had grown steadily, a fact everyone observed keenly.
The Consort of Prince Yu chuckled, "He resembles Consort Yi by half and His Majesty by the other half. Truly, he’s taken the best from both!"
The Consort of Prince Jian joined in teasing, "I’d say he resembles His Majesty by sixty percent!"
As the women chatted animatedly, the Fifth Prince Yinqi, who had been watching the ceremony on tiptoe, muttered under his breath, "Maternal Grandmother is lying. Ninth Brother looks like a monkey—how could he resemble Mother?"
His mother was beautiful and gentle, but his little brother bore no resemblance at all.
The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince Yinzhen stood on either side of Yinqi, catching his quiet complaint.
Yinzhen studied Yintang seriously for a moment before nodding in agreement. "You’re right! To have such an ugly child—Mother Yi must be heartbroken."
Hearing this, the Crown Prince stifled a laugh, clasped his hands behind his back, and cleared his throat. "Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, don’t speak nonsense. Little Ninth is just wrinkled now—he’ll grow into his looks. Weren’t you the same as babies?"
Yinqi’s eyes widened in shock, while Yinzhen nodded solemnly before falling silent.
He thought of his Sixth Brother and the Seventh Sister born to Mother De. He had been thrilled to see her at her full-moon celebration, only for her to pass away the very next day.
And then there was Eighth Sister, born to his own mother—he hadn’t even gotten the chance to meet her...
Mother must have been devastated.
Unaware of Yinzhen’s thoughts, the Crown Prince, after a brief laugh, watched Yintang splash in the water with fascination and praised, "...Ninth Brother is so strong!"
Then, with enthusiasm, he declared, "When he grows up, he’ll surely be a mighty warrior. I’ll personally teach him horsemanship and archery..."
Third Brother and Fourth Brother studied with him in the imperial school, their ages too close for him to act as their instructor. When Yinqi had joined, he had been willing to teach, but Fifth Brother had bluntly refused, admitting he was too slow-witted and didn’t want to frustrate his Second Brother.
Sixth Brother was guarded like a treasure by Consort De, and after the incident during the emperor’s birthday celebrations, he had cut ties with Yinzhen. The Crown Prince had no intention of meddling in such troubles.
Seventh Brother’s leg ailment set him apart from the other princes, while Eighth Brother, raised by Consort Hui, was naturally aligned with First Brother. Approaching him would only bring Eighth Brother trouble.
After much deliberation, the Crown Prince had found no younger brother to fulfill his wish of being a martial mentor—a fact that left him deeply regretful.
But now, here was Ninth Brother.
Ninth Brother shared the same mother as Fifth Brother and was born to Consort Yi, so there were no political concerns. Moreover, the little one’s strong limbs made him the perfect candidate!
Little did Yintang, blissfully unaware during his bathing ceremony, foresee the hardships awaiting him...
When Emperor Kangxi arrived, Yintang clung to his imperial robes and wailed dramatically, sulking inwardly.
What a miscalculation.
If he’d known, he would have held his bladder and relieved himself all over the old man in front of everyone—now that would’ve been satisfying!
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had slipped through his fingers. What a shame.
...
Meanwhile, before the Crown Prince could finish speaking, First Prince Yinti’s booming, laughter-laced voice cut in, "Why trouble the Crown Prince with teaching horsemanship? As the eldest brother, I should set an example and ensure Ninth Brother doesn’t fall behind."
The surroundings fell abruptly silent.
Consort De, feeling unwell, had not attended. Noble Consort, her belly rounded with pregnancy, remained smiling as if she hadn’t heard. Only Consort Rong cast a meaningful glance at Consort Hui.
The Crown Prince’s smile didn’t waver, but fury surged within him.
What a wonderful elder brother!
Not only was he competing for Ninth Brother, but he was also implying that the Crown Prince’s martial skills were inferior...
The more the Crown Prince thought about it, the angrier he grew, his eyes flashing with cold intensity.
Ever since losing to Yinti in their last horsemanship contest, he had endured countless veiled taunts. Even a saint would lose patience.
First Brother assumed the Crown Prince avoided conflict to maintain his dignity, but in truth, he simply couldn’t be bothered!
He had sought peace, yet this man insisted on provoking him again and again.
A forced smile tugged at the Crown Prince’s youthful yet handsome face. Meanwhile, Emperor Kangxi, noticing the unusual tension, handed Yintang to the wet nurse and strode over, asking sternly, "What’s going on here?"
The crowd hurriedly bowed.
The Crown Prince sneered, about to speak, but Consort Hui swiftly curtsied and interjected with a bright smile, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince expressed his wish to teach Ninth Brother horsemanship. Yinti, overcome with eagerness, also volunteered—he’s too impulsive. This humble consort was just about to reprimand him."
"Is that so?" Kangxi glanced between Yinti and the Crown Prince, his lips curling in delight as he pointed at Consort Hui. "Their brotherly affection is commendable! Why reprimand him? They should be praised!"
Consort Hui nodded repeatedly before apologizing, "Your Majesty is right. This consort was mistaken."
In this exchange, Yinti’s face lit up with joy, while the Crown Prince maintained his impeccable smile, though his fists clenched slightly.
With Consort Hui’s blatant fabrication now cemented before the emperor and the entire court, how could he possibly reveal the truth?
His father longed for harmony among his sons. The Crown Prince couldn’t bear to disappoint him, let alone risk being misunderstood as a schemer sowing discord...
A wave of helpless bitterness washed over the Crown Prince. He gritted his teeth, thinking, First Brother has Consort Hui to speak for him, but I have no mother to stand by my side, to strategize, to defend me.
If only his mother were still here...
The Ninth Prince’s third-day bathing ceremony concluded smoothly, leaving no doubt about the emperor’s doting affection for his youngest son.
The noble consorts mentioned the matter to their lords upon returning home, and the men, already well-informed, increased the prepared full-month gifts by an additional ten percent. They also did not forget to send congratulatory gifts to Shengjing, observing the utmost propriety in their gestures.
Everyone praised the grand scale of the "washing ceremony," but that very night, whispers of an unknown origin began to circulate in hushed tones.
The rumors claimed that the Ninth Prince’s washing ceremony paled in comparison to the Sixth Prince’s—not only was the scale inferior, but even the duration fell short.
More importantly, the names bestowed upon the two princes clearly reflected the Emperor’s favor.
One was named "Tang," the other "Zuo"—any discerning person could tell which held greater weight.
The character "Zuo" symbolized the nation’s foundation—the throne itself!
The rumors did not spread to the inner palace, only causing faint ripples among the court officials before vanishing without a trace, as if they had never existed.
......
Meanwhile, the arrival of Lady Wanyan filled Yikun Palace with joy.
Inside the birthing chamber, Yunxiu reunited with her mother, and the two shared heartfelt words before summoning Noble Consort Le from the side hall. Noble Consort Le rushed over in excitement, immediately bursting into tears and choking out a cry of "Mother!"
Lady Wanyan also shed tears, holding her younger daughter’s hand and examining her closely for a long while.
"Look at you all, crying on such a happy occasion," Yunxiu teased from her reclining position on the bed, her peach-blossom eyes slightly reddened. "Dry your tears now, and let’s have a proper chat."
"Quite right, quite right," Lady Wanyan agreed with a smile, patting Noble Consort Le’s hand affectionately. "Listen to your elder sister—no more tears, alright?"
The birthing chamber was filled with warmth and laughter, while Yintang, unusually "neglected," lay in Nanny Dong’s arms, pricking up his little ears to eavesdrop on his mother and maternal grandmother’s conversation.
The words came in fragments, barely intelligible: "Your father says that with the Fourth Princess, the Fifth Prince, and the Ninth Prince, Her Majesty and the Noble Consort have finally risen above hardship... For now, we should observe cautiously, lean toward Yuqing Palace, and wait until the princes grow older... Then we can plan further..."
Yintang let out a soft whimper, kicking his tiny feet inwardly with a sigh. Over two lifetimes, his maternal grandfather had always been a wise man.
Unfortunately, he had compromised his integrity in his later years, dragged into Eighth Brother’s faction by Yintang himself, unable to extricate himself ever after.
The Ninth Prince felt both guilty and sorrowful—it was all his doing.
"Grandfather, you need not worry," he thought resolutely. "This time, I have no intention of striving for power or meddling in the succession struggle. No future events will implicate you.
Our family will remain in the Emperor’s good graces.
You can rest assured!"
Perhaps aware that Yunxiu and her mother had not seen each other in a long time, Kangxi sent word that he would not visit Yikun Palace in the afternoon. He also instructed the palace attendants to report to Qianqing Palace immediately if Her Majesty needed anything.
When Little Lizi delivered the message, Lady Wanyan happened to be standing nearby. After a moment of surprise, her face lit up with unconcealed delight.
They said Consort Yi was highly favored, but seeing was believing—today, her worries were finally put to rest.
This was more than mere favor—the Emperor had truly taken Yunxiu to heart!
After Little Lizi withdrew, Lady Wanyan sat by the bed, her face beaming as she lowered her voice. "The Emperor cherishes you, so you must reciprocate with equal devotion. Don’t neglect daily soups and tonics—do everything to keep his affection."
Yunxiu listened with a smile, offering no rebuttal, only a soft murmur of agreement. "Mother, don’t worry. I understand."
Ruizhu, who was attending nearby, opened her mouth as if to speak but hesitated for a long while.
Was this what Her Majesty called "understanding"?
She muttered inwardly, "If His Majesty heard this, he might just storm out of Qianqing Palace to settle accounts with Her Majesty..."
After Lady Wanyan reluctantly took her leave, Yunxiu composed herself and instructed Nanny Dong to bring the Ninth Prince into the inner chamber. She then carefully took the swaddled infant into her arms.
Her movements remained gentle, carrying a faint, pleasant fragrance that made Yintang’s heart swell with happiness. He gazed up at his mother with wide, dewy eyes.
Similarly, Yunxiu stared intently at Yintang, as if trying to peer into the depths of the child’s soul.
Why is Mother looking at me like this?
Only when the Ninth Prince squirmed shyly and abruptly shut his eyes did Yunxiu finally look away, the tension in her heart easing slightly.
Even at such a tender age, though expressions could shift, the adoration in his eyes could not be feigned.
It was the pure, wholehearted devotion of a child to his mother!
And there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity—where had she seen it before?
Lost in thought, Yunxiu lowered her gaze to her son once more, so absorbed that she failed to hear the announcement from outside.
It was only when the Crown Prince softly called out "Consort Yi" that she suddenly snapped back to awareness.
Looking up, she saw the Crown Prince standing by the screen in his apricot-yellow robes, gazing enviously at the swaddled infant in her arms.
He had just witnessed the way Consort Yi looked at her son—a look he had never seen before.
After the tumultuous events of the washing ceremony, the Crown Prince, unable to shake off his lingering grievances and sorrows, found himself inexplicably drawn to Yikun Palace.
Having lost Empress Renxiao at a young age, the Crown Prince had never known his birth mother, piecing together her image only through fragments from palace servants and elders—
She was virtuous, dignified, gentle, and had loved him deeply.
Over the past six months, the Crown Prince had often taught Yinqi Mandarin and frequently brought Yinzhen to Yikun Palace, gradually forming a clear impression of Yunxiu.
Both Fifth Brother and Ninth Brother were deeply cherished by Consort Yi.
The way she had just looked at her son had moved him profoundly.
At only ten years old, beneath the aura of the heir apparent and his cultivated refinement, the Crown Prince harbored sharp, sensitive emotions.
These feelings remained buried in his heart, never shared with anyone—not even the Emperor.
Consort Yi harbored no ill will toward him; in fact, she was quite kind. How could he not notice?
The kitten-shaped brush rest she had sent through the Emperor now sat on his desk.
In that moment, countless thoughts raced through the Crown Prince’s mind.
Yunxiu had never expected the Crown Prince to visit alone. After her initial surprise, she quickly said, "Your Highness, why have you come here? You shouldn’t be in such a place—Ruizhu, escort His Highness out at once..."
Ruizhu hurried to comply, but the Crown Prince waved her off, his lips pressing together. "I’m not afraid of any ill omens. I came to see Ninth Brother... Mother Yi."
The address "Mother Yi" left Yunxiu stunned and sent Yintang, half-asleep, reeling in shock.
Good heavens!
The Crown Prince had been raised by the Emperor to be proud and aloof from childhood. Rumor had it that even during Empress Xiaozhao’s time, he had only ever addressed her as "Empress," never as "Imperial Mother"—a practice the Emperor had tacitly permitted.
If even the Empress Dowager was addressed so formally, how much more so for the imperial concubines? He referred to them by their titles—"Imperial Noble Consort," "Noble Consort," "Consort Hui"...
Good heavens! Since when had the Crown Prince adopted Third Brother and Fourth Brother’s habit of calling his mother "Mother Yi"?!
Ruizhu stood frozen, equally astonished.
Yunxiu was momentarily speechless. After a brief silence, she offered a gentle smile. "...Ninth Brother has already fallen asleep. Your Highness, perhaps you could visit another day?"
"Ninth Brother has been born not long ago and spends most of his time sleeping," the Crown Prince murmured, shifting his feet slightly. "I shall visit him again another time."
Just as he was about to turn away, a sudden surge of emotion overwhelmed him. The Crown Prince took a deep breath and slowly brought up the matter of the third-day celebration ritual.
After speaking, he asked in a dazed tone, "Mother Yi, what should I do?"
He wanted to confess everything to the Emperor—to complain about Yinti’s insolence and bullying, about Consort Hui’s unreasonable demands and malicious intentions. Yet reason held him back; he couldn’t do it.
This time, Yunxiu remained silent for a long while.
The Crown Prince murmured, "I have overstepped," and heavily lifted his boot to take his leave when Yunxiu suddenly spoke.
Softly, she said, "The Emperor cherishes brotherly harmony, so you must show him exactly that—perform it flawlessly, to the point where the Eldest Prince can no longer endure it. The Emperor values fraternal respect, so you must yield to the extreme, retreating again and again until the Eldest Prince can bear it no longer."
"This way, Consort Hui will have nothing to say. You may suffer grievances, but the Eldest Prince will suffer even more. If you remain patient while he grows restless, who wins and who loses will be plain for all to see."
Finally, Yunxiu smiled. "...When wronged, you need not always endure it silently. As long as you cry at the right time, and cry sincerely, everyone’s heart will ache for you!"
