Yunxiu cast a faint glance at the black crow lying dead in a ghastly state and waved her hand dismissively. "That bird is an ill omen. Dispose of it quickly. Move the chest to the innermost part of the storeroom—don’t let it block the path."
The set of gold hair ornaments was exquisite, but there was no chance Her Majesty would ever wear them. Nanny Dong’s expression shifted from distaste to a smile as the palace maids nodded in acknowledgment. Soon, a few burly eunuchs were summoned, and within moments, the congratulatory gifts were carried away.
"Yinqi said he was going to pick out a pony. I wonder how that’s going?" Yunxiu mused, glancing at the bright sunlight outside. She smoothly steered the conversation away from the topic of the Imperial Noble Consort and chuckled softly as she chatted with her maids. "He prefers pure white, just like my own taste..."
Lately, Yikun Palace had grown increasingly busy, filled with an air of celebration. In just five days, it would be Yintang’s full-month ceremony.
Thanks to the unending supply of nourishing tonics and her dedicated rest, Yunxiu’s state of mind had cleared after resolving her inner turmoil. Now, she was no different from how she had been before childbirth—perhaps even more radiant, her beauty enhanced by a touch of newfound softness.
With her confinement period nearly over and the imperial physician’s approval secured, Yunxiu had finally been able to wash away the lingering discomfort of the past month. Now, wrapped in a warm fox-fur collar, she lounged lazily against a cushion.
After watching the Imperial Noble Consort’s gifts being taken away and sharing a few amusing stories about Yinqi, she half-closed her eyes, lost in thought for a moment. "What time is it?"
"It’s the hour of the Monkey, Your Majesty," Wenyuan replied softly. "The Ninth Prince must be awake by now. This servant will fetch him at once."
Yunxiu hummed in acknowledgment, then paused, sensing something amiss. After a moment’s reflection, it struck her.
Ah, the Emperor.
He had made it a habit to dine at Yikun Palace every noon, yet today, there was no sign of him—not even a messenger to announce his absence.
This was unlike his usual behavior.
His absence left her feeling more at ease, though a flicker of curiosity passed through her mind before she dismissed thoughts of Kangxi entirely.
"Go and bring little Jiu—" she began gently, but before she could finish, Nanny Dong hurried in with a familiar young eunuch in tow. The moment the eunuch saw her, he dropped to his knees as if grasping for salvation.
"This servant Fu Shun pays respects to Noble Consort Yi! The Sixth Prince has been poisoned—after taking medicine, he fell into a deep sleep and hasn’t woken. And now... now Consort De has caused a scene in Yuqing Palace, even venting her anger on the Fifth Prince..."
Fu Shun quickly recounted the events at the stables, then repeated Consort De’s accusations verbatim, his voice frantic. "His Majesty is furious, but Consort De refuses to let go of the Sixth Prince’s hand, showing no fear at all. Instead, she began lamenting her grievances. Yuqing Palace is in chaos, filled with weeping. Amid the commotion, the Crown Prince ordered this servant to slip away and beg for Noble Consort Yi’s intervention!"
As Yunxiu processed Fu Shun’s words, her expression darkened inch by inch.
Fu Shun caught his breath and continued in a rush, "The Crown Prince said Noble Consort Yi need only send someone to request an audience with the Empress Dowager and dispatch Nanny Dong to accompany this servant back to Yuqing Palace. His Majesty holds Your Majesty in high regard—he will surely temper his anger..."
He Zhuer had specifically warned him that Noble Consort Yi was still in confinement and must not be troubled. There was no need to repeat that part.
Before he could finish, Yunxiu closed her eyes briefly, then spoke in a frosty tone, "Ruizhu, go to Ningshou Palace at once. Do not delay for even a moment."
Ruizhu hastily lifted the curtain and dashed out. Fu Shun scrambled to his feet, exhaling in quiet relief—only for that breath to catch in his throat as his eyes widened in shock.
What was Noble Consort Yi doing?!
"Consort De needs to be taught a lesson. I won’t indulge her whims," Yunxiu declared, shrugging off her fox-fur wrap and rising swiftly from the divan. Her red lips pressed into a thin line, her peach-blossom eyes sharp with icy fury. "Prepare my palanquin!"
Yuqing Palace.
The attendants serving the Third Prince knew better than to involve themselves further and had long since escorted Yin Zhi away. But Yinzhen and Yinqi refused to leave, standing vigil by the bedside—one stealing glances at Consort De, the other staring anxiously at Yinzuo.
After Consort De’s shrill accusations against the Fifth Prince, Yuqing Palace fell into complete silence.
Yinqi had never witnessed such a scene before.
Raised under the Empress Dowager’s doting care and showered with his mother’s boundless affection, even the Emperor’s growing attention had only sweetened his life.
Now, confronted with the sheer venom in Consort De’s almond-shaped eyes, the Fifth Prince froze completely, taking an involuntary step back as his own eyes reddened.
In stumbling Manchu, Yinqi tried to explain, "I didn’t know... didn’t know Sixth Brother was poisoned... I held his hand when we picked the horse, and it was so hot..."
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened instantly. He shot He Zhuer a meaningful glance before stepping protectively in front of Yinqi. His clear voice carried a warning. "Consort De, it was Yinqi who saved Yinzuo. I, along with the Third and Fourth Princes, saw it with our own eyes! The Sixth Prince took medicine and is now resting. He will recover soon."
Consort De stared at the Crown Prince for a long moment before letting out a hollow laugh, her rage cooling into something more calculated.
Turning back to Yinzuo, her tears fell unchecked, each drop a knife twisting in her heart.
With a bitter smile, ignoring the sudden pain flaring in her lower body, she murmured, "This is Your Highness’s Yuqing Palace. Naturally, whatever you say must be true."
Her gaze then fell upon the embroidered sachet resting on a nearby tray, carefully examined by the imperial physician. It was utterly unfamiliar to her.
This very sachet, laced with poison, had somehow found its way onto Yinzuo’s person...
"Yinzuo wasn’t poisoned in Yonghe Palace! How did this thing appear? Can Your Highness enlighten this consort?" She paused, then let out a cold laugh, her eyes locking onto the trembling Yinzhen. "Was it you?!"
The accusation sent Yinzhen stumbling back with a cry of denial. He wiped his face and bolted from the room, leaving the others aghast.
"Fourth Brother! He Zhuer, after him!" the Crown Prince barked.
Taking a deep breath, the Crown Prince let out a humorless laugh, his anger simmering.
Even as a youth, he was the Crown Prince of the Qing Empire—how dare a low-born consort question him?
The next moment, Kangxi’s voice, sharp as ice shards, cut through the hall. "Wuya-shi, that’s enough."
...
Few had noticed how long the Emperor had been standing there, listening. But one thing was certain—today would not end peacefully.
Consort De turned her head, her face draining of color as her tears flowed harder.
She collapsed to the floor, all traces of her earlier fury vanishing as she covered her face and wailed, "Your Majesty, Yinzuo is only four! He’s always been bright and clever—you bestowed such a fine name upon him, praised him time and again... Whoever poisoned him has a heart of stone! This is killing me, Your Majesty! Just this afternoon, Yinzuo was so excited to see the ponies. He laughed and said it was the first time his Second Brother had invited him... He was willing to leave his mother, even his frail little sister, just for this chance..."
Her voice was raw with despair, and several younger maids couldn’t help but look on with pity.
Kangxi stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his face unreadable as he watched Consort De silently.
The Crown Prince’s fists clenched tighter.
What a masterful performance from Consort De...
Yinqi lowered his head, tears welling up in his eyes, his heart overwhelmed with grievance.
He had seen it all! His Imperial Father had arrived later and hadn’t heard the accusations Consort De had hurled at him. He wanted to go find his fourth brother now.
...
Consort De wept bitterly, her sobs stretching into an unbearably long lament, nearly fainting from despair: "...I beg Your Majesty to stand up for this concubine, to stand up for Little Six!"
With that, she clutched Yinzuo’s feverish hand, trembling as she rose unsteadily to her feet, about to kneel before the imperial physician: "This consort would rather sacrifice her dignity, ruin her health entirely, if only Yinzuo could recover safely..."
Just then, a cold, sharp voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall: "Sacrifice your dignity? How noble."
Under the stunned gazes of everyone present, Yunxiu stepped into the room, wrapped in a deep blue cloak and holding a hand warmer, her silhouette backlit by the light. A mocking smile played on her lips...
She had come in haste, without a moment to adorn herself, yet her presence was like a streak of red dawn, casting a radiant glow into the dimly lit hall.
Yinqi immediately lifted his head, his eyes brightening in an instant!
Kangxi was startled and couldn’t help but stride forward, taking large steps to reach Yunxiu in seconds. The deep furrows between his brows smoothed momentarily before tightening again.
"Reckless!" Kangxi suppressed the fury rising in his chest, careful not to direct it at her.
Grasping Yunxiu’s icy hands, he scolded in a low voice, "You should be resting after childbirth—what are you doing here? Wenyuan, escort your mistress back to bed at once!"
Yunxiu forced a weak smile and shook her head, raising her eyes to meet Kangxi’s. "This concubine heard that the matter of the Sixth Prince’s poisoning... involves Little Five..."
Her voice broke, tears glistening on her lashes. "Little Six fell ill with fever, and it was Yinqi who discovered it first. But what did Consort De say? She accused Yinqi of being the poisoner—even dragging the Crown Prince into her baseless claims!"
Yunxiu swayed unsteadily, her sobs making her seem on the verge of collapse. "If not for Yinqi’s attendants informing me, I would never have known. Your Majesty, how can this concubine rest peacefully when my child is wronged like this?!"
At the same time, Yinqi stifled his tears, sniffling as he called out softly, "Mother..."
The sound was faint, but it seemed to shatter Yunxiu’s composure completely.
She released Kangxi’s hand and stepped slowly to the bedside. Without hesitation, she raised her hand and struck Consort De hard across the face.
The Crown Prince’s lips parted slightly in shock. "...?"
Aunt Yunxiu... stopped crying so quickly?
One slap wasn’t enough. Yunxiu examined her work for a few seconds, then delivered another—this time to the left cheek, ensuring perfect symmetry.
Another crisp smack echoed through the room, leaving Consort De utterly dazed!
After his initial shock, the Crown Prince felt only numbness, unable to summon even a flicker of anger. He glanced at Kangxi’s expression before raising his voice in protest, "Aunt Yunxiu, what is the meaning of this?! Yinzuo is still ill! Even if Consort De resents me and took it out on Little Five, it was merely a moment of desperation. Your actions are too—"
"Baocheng," Kangxi interrupted sternly. "Enough."
The Crown Prince fell silent at once, bowing his head in obedience before retreating to the side.
"Your Majesty." Yunxiu turned slowly, her tear-filled eyes meeting Kangxi’s as she began to kneel. "This concubine acted in anger. Scold me, punish me—I will accept it all."
Kangxi caught her arm with a sigh, offering not a single word of reprimand.
Instead, he turned to the bewildered Fifth Prince. "Yinqi, your mother is weak from childbirth and shouldn’t be exposed to drafts. Help her sit and rest."
Consort De clutched her stinging cheek, barely regaining her senses when these words reached her ears. She could hardly believe it.
So brazen, so tyrannical—she wished she could tear Mrs. Guoluoluo apart with her bare hands...
Yet the Emperor showed no displeasure, his tone even laced with tenderness. The bitter irony of it struck Consort De like a blade.
All these years of scheming, and she had never truly grasped the depth of the Emperor’s favoritism. She had been a fool all along.
A broken laugh escaped her. "Your Majesty, my Yinzuo was poisoned. He drank the antidote, yet he still hasn’t awakened. If you despise me, I accept it—but what of Yinzuo? His mother has been humiliated before everyone, and you turn a blind eye?!"
Kangxi cut her off coldly. "I saw everything."
"I saw how you manipulated the palace servants, planted your spies, used your own child as a pawn in your schemes. I saw you disrespect the Crown Prince and slander others without proof..." His gaze bore into hers, filled with such revulsion that Consort De’s eyes widened in dawning fear.
"You are Yinzhen’s mother, and Yinzuo’s mother. It was for their sake that I raised you to the rank of consort." Kangxi twisted the jade ring on his thumb, chuckling darkly. "Yet you showed Yinzhen no maternal love, while clinging to Yinzuo with unnatural possessiveness."
"I tolerated you for Moyaqi’s sake. But you—venomous, unrepentant—no longer deserve the title of 'Virtuous.'"
"As for Yinzuo..." Remembering the physician’s warning about lasting effects from the poisoning, Kangxi steadied himself, pain and faint regret flashing in his eyes.
"By decree, Consort De of the Wuya clan is demoted to the rank of noble consort, stripped of her honorific title, and confined to her quarters for two months of reflection." He paused before adding quietly, "...The Sixth Prince, Yinzuo, is to be posthumously adopted by my late brother, Prince Rong. His title shall be reduced accordingly, inheriting the rank of commandery prince. Given his youth, he will remain in the palace, receiving the same provisions as the imperial princes."
The two edicts struck the hall like twin bolts of lightning, leaving the occupants of Yuqing Palace reeling.
Finally, Kangxi said calmly, "Liang Jiugong, draft the decree."
