"Planning to monopolize the emperor's favor?"
Yunxiu let out a cold laugh—what a preposterous accusation.
The Manchu valued large families and abundant offspring, and the imperial family was no exception. Monopolizing the emperor's affection had always been the greatest taboo in the palace, something the Grand Empress Dowager despised most.
Back in the day, when Lady Dong'e, Empress Xiaoxian, was alive, the late emperor refused to even glance at other consorts. Lady Dong'e enjoyed near-exclusive favor, turning the other palaces into desolate, neglected quarters. After her passing, the emperor's heart died with her. He neglected state affairs, disregarded public opinion, became obsessed with Buddhism, and even intended to renounce the throne, clashing repeatedly with the Grand Empress Dowager...
The late emperor died young, and it was hard to say Lady Dong'e wasn't partly to blame.
Decades had passed since then. Though the Grand Empress Dowager was now elderly and no longer involved in palace affairs, her authority lingered. The current emperor revered and respected her, allowing no one to defy her in the slightest.
If the words "monopolizing favor" reached her ears and stirred memories of the past, her fury could easily turn against the Palace of Eternal Spring, leaving Yunxiu in a precarious position.
She had just emerged from her postpartum confinement and had only recently had her name plaque turned over for imperial summons—was someone already making moves?
"...What monopolized favor?" Yunxiu set down her teacup, her voice cool. "This consort has little fortune and even less courage. Such 'praise' is beyond my means."
To accuse her of monopolizing favor when there wasn’t even a hint of it yet—what next? Would they brand her a seductive temptress who endangered the empire?
"Exactly so," Consort Cheng nodded slowly, her voice soft. "While Your Highness was pregnant and unable to attend to His Majesty, he still remembered you fondly. Now that you’ve recovered, it’s clear what the future holds. They’re anxious—and terrified!"
Already lacking the emperor’s favor, they had only just managed to scrape together some attention. To have it snatched away again—who could accept that? That was why they were so desperate to smear Yunxiu, hoping to diminish her standing in the emperor’s eyes.
Back when Consort Cheng was still a low-ranking concubine, she often overheard the lesser consorts whispering about Consort Yi, their voices thick with envy.
Setting aside the matter of heirs, in terms of imperial favor alone, Consort Yi was the most secure woman in the harem. Every month, the emperor spent at least ten nights in the Palace of Eternal Spring—enough to make countless others seethe with jealousy.
From what Consort Cheng could see, the emperor’s affection for Yunxiu had only deepened.
At the Ninth Prince’s full-moon celebration, the emperor had openly cut off Concubine An mid-sentence to praise Yunxiu’s beauty, leaving the other consorts visibly shaken.
Such blatant favoritism struck at their weakest spot.
Consort Cheng observed the expressions of Consort Ping and the others, her fingers twitching slightly.
With one consort position vacant, the ambitions of the concubines had been stirred, and their former docility was gone. Several imperial noble ladies, emboldened by having borne children, were also eager to suppress Yunxiu’s influence... At such a sensitive time, with someone fanning the flames, their jealousy could no longer be contained.
Though they had kept their scheming from Consort Cheng’s Palace of Universal Happiness, secrets had a way of leaking out.
Just before dinner, Seventh Prince Yin You had slipped into the imperial gardens to play. While picking wildflowers in the bushes, he overheard two palace maids hurrying past, muttering indistinctly: "Ask the Grand Empress Dowager... to deal with Consort Yi..."
From their silhouettes, they seemed to be heading toward Consort Ping’s Chuxiu Palace.
Yin You was old enough to remember things and knew his way around the palace. Over the past few months, Consort Cheng had often taken him to Ningshou Palace and repeatedly reminded him: "Consort Yi has been kind to your mother. You must stay close to the Palace of Eternal Spring, understand?"
Yin You nodded earnestly—he liked playing with Fifth Prince.
Born with a limp, he was naturally shy and somewhat insecure, but his powers of observation were sharp, and his memory was excellent. Yin You obeyed his mother faithfully, quietly memorizing the maids’ words before returning to the palace and repeating them to Consort Cheng as best he could.
Grateful for Yunxiu’s past kindness in elevating her status, Consort Cheng rushed to pay her respects early the next morning. After summarizing the situation, she whispered, "It’s unclear whether the Imperial Noble Consort or Consort Hui are involved. Thankfully, Yin You overheard something..."
Yunxiu’s gaze sharpened momentarily before relaxing. A moment later, her peach-blossom eyes curved into a smile as she turned to Yin You, who was crouched by the bed teasing Yintang.
"Little Seven has done a great service this time," she said warmly.
Then, patting Consort Cheng’s hand, she murmured, "I won’t forget this kindness."
Consort Cheng smiled gently and shook her head. "I should be the one saying that. Merely passing on a message is nothing compared to the countless favors Your Highness has shown me."
For years, the emperor had felt some paternal affection for Yin You, but it paled in comparison to his regard for the other princes.
Back when they lived in Yonghe Palace, the "virtuous" Consort De had deliberately sidelined Yin You, not wanting him to divert the emperor’s pity—or his love for the Sixth Prince. She had employed no small number of underhanded tactics.
Consort Cheng had watched helplessly, heartbroken but powerless. Without favor or influence, what could she do? She had resigned herself to fate long ago.
All she wanted was for Yin You to grow up safe and sound—she asked for nothing more. But then, the tides of the harem shifted, and their circumstances improved dramatically.
She became the mistress of the Palace of Universal Happiness, while Consort De was demoted to Noble Consort Wu...
At Yunxiu’s suggestion, Fifth Prince often played with Yin You, and with the Crown Prince’s occasional attention, Yin You gradually appeared more often before the emperor. The Palace of Universal Happiness even received several imperial rewards.
To Consort Cheng, Yin You was her life. Even setting aside her promotion, the Guo family’s exclusive remedy for correcting foot deformities—sent by Yunxiu—was enough to make her willing to risk her life in return.
Yunxiu pressed her lips together in a smile and tapped her lightly. "You..."
The next day, Yuqing Palace.
Today was a rare day off from the imperial study. The Crown Prince rose slightly later than usual and leisurely spread out a copy of The Art of War to study.
"Entice them with profit, take them by confusion..." The Crown Prince murmured the words, lost in thought, before suddenly writing furiously on a sheet of paper.
He Zhuer hurried in from outside, peeking around for a moment before stopping by the window, not daring to disturb his master’s reading.
"What is it?" The Crown Prince glanced up and set down his brush.
He Zhuer replied softly, "Your Highness, Minister Suo has sent someone with a gift."
The Crown Prince hummed and waved a hand, his eyes still on the page. "Bring them in."
...
"Your servant Suo Mao pays his respects to the Crown Prince." The visitor was slightly plump, with a shrewd, prosperous air. Suo Mao, a secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, was a trusted subordinate of Suo Etu.
The Crown Prince looked up, recognized him, and smiled. "Rise."
"Many thanks, Your Highness." Suo Mao straightened with a grin. "After court this morning, the Grand Secretary was summoned by His Majesty and couldn’t come himself, so he sent me to pay respects and deliver this."
With that, he had attendants carry in an enormous folding screen.
Finally intrigued, the Crown Prince set aside his book and examined it.
The screen was exquisitely crafted from fine rosewood. On the silk panel, a vivid blue peacock was embroidered, its head raised in a cry, wings spread as if ready to take flight. Its iridescent tail feathers shimmered, lifelike and resplendent.
What was even more remarkable was that this screen was a double-sided embroidery. Walking around to the back, one could see several red plum blossoms standing proudly in a courtyard—some in bud, others in full, vibrant bloom—resembling the dignified elegance of a painting.
In both craftsmanship and symbolism, it was of the highest quality, and the Crown Prince took an immediate liking to it.
"His Excellency the Grand Secretary mentioned that this screen was painstakingly stitched with great effort, gifted to Your Highness as a present for the future Crown Princess," Suo Mao said. "Does Your Highness approve?"
At these words, the Crown Prince felt slightly uneasy.
The Crown Princess?
His granduncle was thinking far ahead. He was barely over ten years old—marriage was still years away...
But to be fair, the screen was truly exquisite.
As he gazed at it, a wave of delight rose in his heart. Smiling, he nodded. "This prince is very pleased. Convey my gratitude to Granduncle."
Just yesterday, when he had gone to the Palace of Eternal Spring to carry the Ninth Prince, the little one had been particularly mischievous, twisting away from his embrace and kicking about, accidentally ruining the floral-and-bird screen that Consort Yi cherished.
Tsk. After scratching the Emperor’s imperial face, the Ninth Prince had now set his destructive hands on Consort Yi’s beloved possession. Though the young prince had been disciplined afterward, the screen was beyond repair.
Granduncle’s gift had arrived just in time! Once sent to the Palace of Eternal Spring, Consort Yi would surely be delighted.
As the Crown Prince pondered this, Suo Mao bowed slightly, beaming as he said, "It gladdens this servant that Your Highness is pleased. Truly, Consort Ping’s efforts were not in vain."
"..." The Crown Prince paused mid-step. "Consort Ping?"
"Indeed," Suo Mao replied. "Consort Ping personally embroidered this screen for Your Highness. Some days ago, she had it sent to the family residence, intending it as an additional wedding gift. But His Excellency the Grand Secretary thought differently—why let such a fine piece grow old in storage? It was better to send it to Yuqing Palace early for Your Highness’s enjoyment."
The rules of the inner palace were strict. Only consorts of higher rank, with the Emperor’s permission, could summon noblewomen. Those of lower rank, like Consort Ping, had no authority to send gifts directly to Yuqing Palace and had to go through their families.
—Listening closely, the implications ran deep.
The Crown Prince maintained his smile, the curve of his lips unchanged, as he said lightly, "This prince understands... Please also convey my thanks to Consort Ping."
Once Suo Mao departed, the Crown Prince’s smile faded slightly. He clasped his hands behind his back and paced back and forth, occasionally glancing at the screen standing prominently in the center of the room.
Consort Ping was only seven years his senior—a half-sister his mother had never met. Not sharing the same mother, she could hardly be considered his true aunt. What bond could they possibly share?
...Originally, he shouldn’t have thought this way.
After all, Consort Ping bore the surname Hesheri. Her rise would benefit the Hesheri family, and Granduncle would gain even more influence in court.
But her every move was calculated—scheming against the Imperial Household Department, scheming against the Fifth Prince. Consort Yi had told him all of it.
"The Emperor despises her. A consort’s rank is the highest she’ll ever reach," Yunxiu had said softly. "Don’t blame me for cutting off her path. Those who dare lay hands on Xiao Wu will not escape punishment."
At the time, the Crown Prince had thought Consort Yi was right—though she had been too lenient.
Had it been up to him, the retaliation would have been far harsher!
How vile must one be to harm a child?
Staring at the screen, his emotions tangled, laced with quiet scorn, he couldn’t quite define what he was feeling. Abruptly, he called out, "He Zhuer, summon Hu Ming and Hu Guang."
Hu Ming and Hu Guang were trusted men sent into the palace by Suo Etu, serving the Crown Prince while maintaining ties to his maternal family and relaying messages for Suo Etu.
At the summons, the two hurried in, knelt, and kowtowed. "This servant greets Your Highness."
The Crown Prince studied them, a sudden irritation tightening his chest. Pressing his lips together, his clear eyes darkened with unreadable emotions.
"What were Granduncle’s instructions regarding Consort Ping?" he asked coolly, not permitting them to rise.
Caught off guard, Hu Ming and Hu Guang paled, flustered. "Your Highness, this servant—this servant—"
The same scene, the same master and servants. Last time, the Crown Prince had ordered them not to disclose anything about the Palace of Eternal Spring to Suo Etu.
Facing the imperial heir’s authority, they had truly grasped the meaning of "heavenly nobility" for the first time—too terrified to resist, they had obeyed without question.
A mere ten-year-old, yet his presence was more daunting than Suo Etu’s. What heights would he reach in a few years?
Gradually, they realized Yuqing Palace had only one master—the Crown Prince.
This time, his direct interrogation was both a test and a threat.
Forcing them to choose—between Suo Etu outside the palace or their true master within.
Once they entered Yuqing Palace, they were bound to the Crown Prince for life, with no way back. But Suo Etu...
They were torn between two impossible choices.
Before they could gather their thoughts, the Crown Prince narrowed his eyes. "Drag them out—"
"Your Highness, spare us! We’ll speak!" Hu Ming kowtowed repeatedly, trembling as he whispered, "Suo Etu ordered us to persuade Your Highness... to use subtle means... to urge His Majesty to elevate Consort Ping to consort rank."
The Crown Prince thought, Just as I suspected.
Lowering his gaze, his expression unchanging, he pressed, "And then?"
"And then..." Hu Ming faltered, at a loss.
That was all Suo Etu had said about Consort Ping. Desperate, he glanced at Hu Guang—what else was there?
After a moment of frantic thinking, Hu Guang blurted, "Aside from Consort Ping, Suo Etu also said Noble Consort Wu is of little concern. Only the Imperial Noble Consort... He ordered us to gather as much information about her as possible, ensuring she never extends her reach into Yuqing Palace."
This was unexpected.
The Crown Prince blinked. Why drag the Imperial Noble Consort into this?
Stripped of real authority, the Imperial Noble Consort had long faded from prominence. Why would Granduncle still fixate on her?
And that line—"Noble Consort Wu is of little concern"...
Turning back to the lifelike double-sided embroidery, a sudden chill pierced his heart, as if a gaping hole had been torn open, letting in the icy night wind.
Slowly, he clenched his fists.
Meanwhile, in Cining Palace.
"Your Majesty, Concubine An, Concubine Jing, Concubine Xi, and Consort Ping request an audience, claiming urgent matters requiring Your Majesty’s guidance," Sumalagu murmured as she adjusted the brocade quilt over the Grand Empress Dowager’s lap.
"Urgent matters?" The Grand Empress Dowager opened her eyes, pausing before turning to the Empress Dowager. "What do you think? Why come to me instead of the Emperor?"
The Empress Dowager smiled, replying in Mongolian, "Why not summon them and find out?"
Straightening, the Grand Empress Dowager waved a hand. "Let them in."
Once the four consorts entered the inner chamber, they greeted her with soft, reverent voices before taking their seats.
They exchanged glances, and the most beautiful among them, Concubine Xi, seemed unable to hold back any longer. She spoke first: "Esteemed Ancestor, this concubine should not trouble you, but..."
Before she could finish, an announcement echoed from outside the hall: "Greetings to Consort Yi!"
In an instant, Yunxiu's laughter rang out, cutting off Concubine Xi's words: "Esteemed Ancestor, they have come to accuse me. They wish to say that I, favored solely by His Majesty, deserve severe punishment—"
