Yonghe Palace.
Nanny Wu reported in a low voice, "The little eunuch sent word that over at Chengqian Palace..."
Consort De, her face pale, cradled the swaddled infant in her arms as the faint, fragile cries of her newborn daughter reached her ears. Her expression darkened gradually.
Two days had passed since the birth of the little princess. Though the joyous news had prompted gifts from Cining Palace and Ningshou Palace—some even rare treasures—the scale paled in comparison to the lavish offerings bestowed upon Yikun Palace when Consort Yi gave birth to the Ninth Prince.
But that was to be expected.
By convention, princes were always valued more than princesses. Even Consort De herself had been disappointed. The little prince she had longed for had not come, and instead, she had a frail daughter who required meticulous care.
The imperial physician had warned that the slightest negligence could lead to dire consequences—the little princess might not live past twenty.
After the initial grief, fury, and resentment, Consort De gradually calmed and accepted reality, turning her tender gaze upon her delicate child.
Having both a son and a daughter was an auspicious blessing... Yinzuo would surely adore his little sister.
This was her daughter, the child she had carried for ten months, her future confidante and comfort. How could she not cherish her? She would devote herself to raising the girl, watching her grow, marry, and live a life of happiness and peace.
As for her original plan—to have the Empress Dowager raise the little princess...
Consort De closed her eyes. She no longer dared, nor could she bear to part with her.
Even if the Empress Dowager did not refuse, the princess’s fragile health could never match the robust constitution of Yinqi. Without her mother’s care, the child would surely not survive in Ningshou Palace.
Perhaps maternal instinct prevailed. Consort De, heart aching for her kitten-like daughter, pushed through her postpartum weakness, relentlessly overseeing the imperial physicians’ treatments and issuing strict orders to ensure the little princess’s recovery.
Meanwhile, the decree from Qianqing Palace arrived belatedly...
The Ninth Princess was bestowed the name Moyaqi, officially recorded in the imperial lineage as the Fifth Princess. Likely aware of Moyaqi’s frailty, the Emperor sent several rare medicinal herbs—gentle enough for an infant—alleviating Consort De’s urgent need.
Liang Jiugong personally delivered the herbs, easing Consort De’s spirits somewhat. Even her disappointment over Kangxi’s continued absence began to fade.
Perhaps the Emperor was detained by state affairs. He would surely visit soon... He still cared for her, for Moyaqi.
But before she could rejoice, gifts from the other consorts arrived in an unbroken stream.
Led by the Noble Consort of Yongshou Palace, the high-ranking consorts seemed to have coordinated—flooding Yonghe Palace with medicinal herbs. Within two days, the side chambers were piled high, the entire palace steeped in the bitter scent of medicine.
Among them, Consort Yi of Yikun Palace sent the most extravagant gifts—and the most herbs.
While the Emperor’s medicinal gifts were a gesture of concern, the same could not be said for the consorts’ offerings.
Especially Consort Yi’s!
Consort De’s face twisted with fury, her composure shattered. Before she could recover, a shocking piece of news arrived from her informant in Chengqian Palace.
Thanks to the Tong Family’s repeated pleas and the imperial physicians’ efforts, the Imperial Noble Consort’s condition had improved day by day. The Emperor had finally relented—she would soon resume her duties, and Chengqian Palace would no longer be sealed off.
"Wasn’t Mrs. Tongjia driven to madness?" Consort De stammered after hearing Nanny Wu’s report, disbelief written across her face as a sharp pain shot through her lower body. "How could her ruined body possibly recover?!"
The dream of becoming Empress shattered, the child lost in a difficult birth—all coinciding on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival. One blow after another had driven the woman to the brink. Consort De was certain that even a young man would struggle to endure such torment, let alone the obsessive Mrs. Tongjia.
After this ordeal, if she didn’t die, she would at least be bedridden for life, powerless to cause further trouble.
Consort De wasn’t afraid of retaliation. A madwoman had no capacity for revenge.
A tiger with its fangs pulled was no threat—and Mrs. Tongjia was little more than a stinking weasel.
She had accounted for every possibility, yet now, Mrs. Tongjia was about to reemerge!
Consort De clutched the edge of the swaddling cloth, taking a deep breath, her expression grim.
The difficult birth had left her body weakened. If she failed to properly recuperate during her confinement, she would suffer endless ailments in the future.
Beyond her own recovery, she had to care for the frail princess and young Yinzuo, leaving her no energy to concern herself with affairs beyond the palace walls.
Yet that wretched Mrs. Tongjia had chosen to reappear precisely during her confinement—her intentions were obvious.
And then there was Consort Yi. In five days, it would be the Ninth Prince’s full moon celebration!
After the celebration, Consort Yi’s name would be restored to the imperial selection board after a year’s absence. With the Emperor’s favor, no one could curb her arrogance then. Who knew what she might do?
...
Yonghe Palace was surrounded by wolves.
Consort De gritted her teeth, a throbbing pain pulsing in her temples. Before she could devise a flawless strategy to counter them both, an announcement came from outside—a messenger from Yuqing Palace had arrived.
Upon learning that the Crown Prince had invited Yinzuo to select a pony, Consort De’s expression stiffened. Though reluctance churned within her, she ultimately said, "Summon the Sixth Prince."
The Crown Prince was the legitimate heir of the late Empress, the future ruler of the Qing dynasty. To speak bluntly, even if all the other princes were combined, they could not match his status.
For the Crown Prince to invite his brothers—including four-year-old Yinzuo—to choose horses would earn him universal praise for his fraternal kindness and magnanimity.
But if she refused, what would the Emperor think? What would the court officials think?
She no longer enjoyed her former favor. She could not afford a single misstep.
"Yinzuo, don’t be afraid. Your mother will send Luping with you." Consort De pulled Yinzuo close, her heart heavy with worry as she repeatedly instructed him, "If you don’t wish to play, rest on the side or ask your Second Brother for help. Above all, remember—do not go near your Fourth Brother. He is stubborn and still holds a grudge over the incident during the Emperor’s birthday..."
Still weak from childbirth, her face pale and voice laced with exhaustion, Consort De failed to notice the unnatural flush on Yinzuo’s cheeks.
Thrilled at the prospect of going out to play, Yinzuo earnestly memorized his mother’s warnings.
But concern for her and frail little Moyaqi gave him pause. Hesitantly, he murmured, "Mother, what about my sister...?"
"Your sister is sleeping soundly. Don’t worry, Yinzuo." Consort De smiled tenderly, lifting the swaddling cloth to show him. Though her voice was weary, her eyes shone with warmth. "Go now. I’ll be waiting for you."
Only then did Yinzuo relax, dashing off in excitement.
"Sixth Prince, wait for this servant!" Luping’s breathless voice called from behind.
The moment the words left her mouth, Yinzuo halted abruptly. As he turned to bounce back toward her, an unbearable wave of dizziness surged from the depths of his mind.
The Sixth Prince’s face drained of color—but in the next instant, the dizziness vanished, leaving only an even deeper flush on his cheeks.
He blinked in confusion but quickly dismissed it.
Clutching something precious hidden in his collar, the Sixth Prince shouted, "Hurry, Auntie! If we’re late, all the good ponies will be gone!"
...
Yinzuo cheerfully rushed to Yuqing Palace, where He Zhuer, who had been waiting early, respectfully led him to the martial arts training ground in the rear courtyard.
The Crown Prince’s private training ground was vast, no different from the one at the Imperial Study, and similarly connected to the stables. On the southern side stood several large black drums, carved with dragon patterns, exuding grandeur and imperial majesty.
“Your Highness, the Sixth Prince has arrived.” As He Zhuer’s announcement faded, the Crown Prince emerged from the stables, patted Yinzuo’s head, and greeted him warmly with a smile, calling him “Sixth Brother.”
Yinzuo, usually guarded like a treasure by Consort De, rarely ventured out and had little interaction with his elder brothers, making him somewhat unfamiliar with them. Thus, he restrained his excitement and appeared reserved.
However, after Consort De’s repeated reminders, he knew the man before him was his second elder brother, the son most favored by their imperial father… Yinzuo smiled shyly and softly called out, “Second Brother.”
Fourth Prince Yinzhen, who had been following the Crown Prince, happened to hear this greeting. He snorted and turned his head away, though his eyes secretly darted glances at Yinzuo.
The thought of what Consort De had said—that Fourth Brother still remembered his mistake during the Emperor’s birthday celebration—made Yinzuo’s heart ache with grievance.
He hadn’t done it on purpose! He had merely overheard two palace maids chatting in the imperial garden and, thinking their words made sense, repeated them to Fourth Brother.
Fourth Brother was also born of their mother—his own blood brother! Shouldn’t he be filial to their mother and close to him?
Mother was right. If Fourth Brother didn’t want to be friends with him, he wouldn’t be friends with Fourth Brother either.
Yinzuo snorted as well, and the two brothers’ mutual hostility gave the Crown Prince a headache.
Third Prince observed the scene and quickly took a step back, tilting his head to gaze at the sky. Meanwhile, Fifth Prince Yinqi’s dark eyes rolled mischievously as he grabbed Yinzhen with one hand and Yinzuo with the other, swiftly dragging them toward the stables.
As he ran, Yinqi shouted, “Fourth Brother, Sixth Brother, pick any horse you want! Second Brother is very generous! I want that Black Whirlwind—don’t you dare take it from me…”
His voice was so loud that the Crown Prince froze for a moment before shaking his head with a chuckle.
Black Whirlwind? It was just a small, pure-black pony, barely reaching his waist.
…
Once inside the stables, Yinqi grinned but still didn’t let go of the two. After a while, however, he sensed something odd.
Fourth Brother’s hand was cold, though not much colder than his own. But Sixth Brother’s hand… why was it so scalding hot?
As if on fire!
Still young, Yinqi couldn’t understand what this meant. He glanced left and right, then down at their hands, his mind filled with confusion.
Yinzhen and Yinzuo remained stubbornly turned away from each other, occasionally letting out identical childish snorts.
Yinqi unconsciously released their hands and scratched his head. “Stop snorting, or you’ll ruin your voices. Hurry up and pick a horse! What’s that saying again? ‘Once this chance slips by… slips by… it won’t come again.’”
This proverb was something he had learned from his tutor, and now little Yinqi could use it so fluently—much to the Crown Prince’s pride as he too entered the stables.
The next moment, Yinqi tugged at the Crown Prince’s sleeve and whispered, “Second Brother.”
“What is it?”
“Sixth Brother’s hand is so hot, like fire,” Yinqi said quietly. “Did he wear too many layers?”
The smile on the Crown Prince’s face faded, replaced by sudden seriousness. “Hot?”
Fifth Prince nodded firmly.
At five years old, Yinqi didn’t understand, but the Crown Prince did.
After a moment’s thought, he instinctively wondered—was Sixth Brother running a fever?
The weather was turning cooler, and the shift between seasons made it easy to catch a chill. Moreover, Consort De had just given birth to a little princess and was likely overwhelmed, so she might not have noticed…
But if Yinzuo fell ill in Yuqing Palace, the blame would inevitably fall on him.
If he summoned the imperial physician, alerting the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, and it turned out to be just a cold, that would be one thing. But if it was a false alarm, he, the Crown Prince, would face endless criticism.
And then there was Consort De’s temperament. He had some idea of it—quite different from Consort Yi’s.
She guarded Yinzuo fiercely. If she blamed him for this…
After all, it was he who had invited Yinzuo.
Hesitating for a few breaths, the Crown Prince flexed his fingers, sighed softly, and finally made up his mind.
Over in the stables, the sulking Yinzuo ignored the equally sulking Yinzhen, instead admiring the ponies, stroking them now and then with awed exclamations.
The Crown Prince strode over and pressed his cool hand against Yinzuo’s forehead, making the boy look up at him in confusion.
After holding his hand there for a moment, the Crown Prince’s expression darkened. He immediately called for He Zhuer. “Summon the imperial physician—”
After seeing Yinzuo off, Consort De suppressed her worries and, unable to resist exhaustion any longer, lay down on the couch and slept an unusually long and deep sleep.
In her drowsiness, Nanny Wu’s urgent voice reached her: “Your Ladyship, Your Ladyship…”
Consort De’s lashes fluttered, and after a long pause, she finally opened her eyes with displeasure.
Half-lidded, she was about to ask, “What is it?” when Nanny Wu pointed behind the screen and whispered joyfully, “His Majesty is here!”
Consort De was instantly both shocked and delighted, her fatigue vanishing as a healthy flush colored her pale cheeks.
She struggled to prop herself up against the pillows, her hoarse voice laced with tenderness. “Forgive this concubine’s impropriety for being unable to greet Your Majesty properly. The precious herbs Your Majesty bestowed upon me recently, as well as the name granted to Moyaqi… this concubine is endlessly grateful…”
Her tone was as gentle and demure as ever, but Kangxi had no patience to listen.
He kept twisting the jade ring on his thumb, so fast it nearly blurred.
The Emperor closed his eyes briefly, cutting off Consort De’s words, and asked in a low voice, “Yinzuo has been poisoned… As his mother, did you know?”
Under Nanny Wu’s horrified gaze, Consort De trembled violently, her face draining of color in an instant—before she fainted dead away.
