The joyous news of the Imperial Consort giving birth spread throughout the capital. While the Niu Gulu Clan basked in triumph, Mingzhu and Suo Etu felt nothing but disappointment, devoid of any happiness.
Mingzhu had many concerns—the friction between their families due to the younger generation, the interests of the Nara clan in the palace, and the matter of the Imperial Consort taking charge of the six palaces once she recovered from childbirth. As for Suo Etu, his thoughts were entirely devoted to the Crown Prince’s interests, unwilling to tolerate even the slightest threat to the heir’s position.
The Imperial Consort’s son was of noble status. Behind the Tenth Prince stood the entire Niu Gulu Clan…
No matter what they truly thought, appearances had to be maintained.
One after another, lavish congratulatory gifts were sent to Duke Guoyi’s Mansion. The Imperial Consort’s seventeen-year-old younger brother, Arlingga, who had yet to marry, greeted them with beaming joy. When he saw Mingzhu, he momentarily forgot about his “rival” Kuixu and, unusually, gave him a pleasant look.
Mingzhu shook his head, thinking to himself, Without elders to guide him, this boy still has a long way to go.
Suo Etu observed this with a mix of pity and disdain, his tension easing.
After all, Ebilong was no longer around. Though the Imperial Consort held the Emperor’s respect, she was not favored. Worrying about the Tenth Prince was nothing short of unnecessary fear.
Besides, what use was a newborn babe? The Eldest Prince and the Crown Prince were nearly grown men!
They could wait until the child was older, observe the Emperor’s attitude toward the Tenth Prince, and then make plans accordingly.
Yongshou Palace.
The Imperial Consort was well aware of the undercurrents in the court, needing no investigation to understand them.
Night had deepened. After gazing long enough at the tiny, red-faced “little monkey” of a prince sleeping soundly in her arms, she handed him to the wet nurse. The smile on her lips faded, replaced by a trace of worry.
She was grateful that the Emperor had granted her a child.
The Niu Gulu Clan needed a healthy prince to stabilize their precarious position, to wait for Arlingga to mature and revive the family’s fortunes, aiming for greatness once more.
But given her status as Imperial Consort, the birth of the Tenth Prince was bound to shatter the palace’s tranquility and draw countless hidden arrows. If nothing else, the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Hui would never harbor good intentions.
The Imperial Consort sighed softly, frowning as she thought. Her situation was similar to Yunxiu’s, yet vastly different.
Yunxiu enjoyed the Emperor’s deep favor, and the schemes of other women were all directed at her in their struggle for his attention. But in her own case, any future schemes would target her child.
Having had a smooth delivery with little suffering, the Imperial Consort was still in good spirits. After some contemplation, she drifted into a deep sleep.
She slept soundly until dawn. When Nanny Qi announced that Consort Yi had come to visit, she paused in surprise before breaking into a delighted smile. “Please, invite her in at once.”
Yunxiu wore a pale pink dress, lightly adorned, with only a few jade hairpins in her hair. She looked as gentle and natural as a spring breeze.
The Imperial Consort struggled to sit up, amused. “What wind blew you here today? And dressed so modestly, too.”
Yunxiu reached out to steady her before sitting by the bed, her expression warm. “They said both mother and child were well, but I couldn’t rest without seeing for myself. As for this attire—” She glanced down and shook her head with a smile. “Bright reds and greens aren’t suitable for visiting a birth chamber. No, no.”
The Imperial Consort burst into laughter.
The laugh tugged at her wound, making her hiss softly. Nanny Qi, standing nearby, scowled darkly. “Your Highness!”
Yunxiu gave Nanny Qi a puzzled look, then turned back to the Imperial Consort, musing inwardly, She’s become livelier now that she’s a mother…
What was going on?
Shrugging off the thought, Yunxiu adopted a serious expression and began listing the taboos of postpartum recovery. “It’s only natural to feel unaccustomed after your first childbirth. To avoid lasting ailments, you mustn’t let your emotions run too high…”
The Imperial Consort nodded solemnly, taking the advice to heart.
Nanny Dong thought privately, Your Highness, when you were recovering, you even dared to lose your temper with the Emperor. Did you manage to stay calm yourself?
Unaware of the silent critique, Yunxiu continued earnestly. Then, glancing around, she asked cheerfully, “Where’s the Tenth Prince? Bring him here for me to see.”
In her dreams, she had only caught fleeting glimpses of Yin'e as a child. From the time he began his studies, he and Yintang were inseparable—partners in mischief, one taking the blame for the other, a pair of little troublemakers. Yet he had always held deep respect for Yunxiu.
After the Imperial Consort’s passing, the boy had been despondent for a long time… and he had only been ten years old.
Yunxiu’s eyes darkened slightly. This lifetime, I won’t repeat the mistakes of that dream. The Imperial Consort won’t die young.
Taking the peacefully sleeping Tenth Prince into her arms, she studied him closely, her expression softening. “Not only is he robust, but he seems far more well-behaved than the Ninth Prince… You’ve done well.”
The child looked simple-minded, but in truth, he was sharper than his elder brother. After the new emperor ascended the throne, though he faced many trials, he at least escaped mortal danger—though whether he lived to old age remained unknown.
The thought made Yunxiu seethe with anger.
Back in Yikun Palace, Yintang, excited about his new younger brother and currently chewing on his own toes, suddenly sneezed violently, freezing in confusion.
Who dares curse me?
…
Hearing Yunxiu’s words, the Imperial Consort smiled faintly, but Yunxiu detected a trace of melancholy beneath it.
“What’s wrong?” She handed the swaddled infant back to the wet nurse and asked softly, “On such a joyous day, why the long face? The physicians said you must keep your spirits up.”
The Imperial Consort snapped out of her thoughts, tearing her gaze from the child. With a sigh, she confided her fears in a hushed voice. “Though I am the Imperial Consort, I’m not confident I can evade every scheme. Yongshou Palace may be as secure as an iron barrel, impervious to outside forces, but if even the slightest mishap were to occur…”
Yunxiu paused, her gentle smile fading.
They say motherhood brings strength, but it also brings endless worries, with every thought consumed by the child. Especially in the palace—who wouldn’t be afraid?
Even someone as composed and astute as the Imperial Consort couldn’t escape the anxieties of pregnancy.
“I was afraid too,” Yunxiu murmured, clasping her hand. “But eventually, I stopped.”
As she spoke, her soft features sharpened, her modest attire unable to suppress her striking radiance.
“Call me arrogant or domineering if you will, but if anyone dares make me uneasy, I’ll return their schemes a hundredfold!” Yunxiu narrowed her captivating peach-blossom eyes. “If you can’t avoid their plots, drown them in their own poison. Once they’re terrified, who would dare provoke you?”
“You are the Imperial Consort, in charge of the six palaces. How could you fail to protect the Tenth Prince?” She laughed. “There will be no mishaps. If they extend one claw, we’ll cut it off. If they extend two, we’ll cut both. Sooner or later, they’ll have nothing left to reach with.”
With that, Yunxiu blinked and curled her lips slightly: "Your Highness, the Imperial Noble Consort, must keep your spirits up. This humble consort still hopes to bask in your reflected glory and receive your care!"
Hearing this, the Imperial Noble Consort's melancholy gradually dissipated, and her heart brightened.
By the end, she pointed at Yunxiu and couldn’t help but chuckle: "You..."
Seeing Nanny Qi’s expression darken again, the Imperial Noble Consort quickly waved her hand, composing her face, though her eyes still sparkled with lingering amusement:
"Since you’ve gone to such lengths for this consort, of course I’ll look after you!"
Riding her palanquin back to Yikun Palace, before even entering the hall, Yunxiu heard Yintang’s loud babbling from afar.
She already had an idea. Stepping into the warm chamber, sure enough, two figures—one in apricot yellow, the other in golden robes—came into view.
Yunxiu smiled and curtsied: "Greetings to the Crown Prince."
Then, with pleasant surprise, she called out to Yinqi, "What brings the two of you here today?"
"Mother." Yinqi scampered over, looking up cheerfully. "The imperial study has a half-month break. Fourth Elder Brother was summoned early by the Imperial Noble Consort. Second Elder Brother said he had nowhere else to go, so he came to play with me and Ninth Prince!"
The Imperial Noble Consort called Yinzhen away?
Yunxiu pondered this thoughtfully.
She continued listening with a smile, but Yintang in the cradle grew restless at the words.
Nowhere else to go?
So he came to bully me?
Seeing his mother ignore him again, her attention entirely on Fifth Brother, Yintang felt utterly aggrieved and babbled even louder.
The Crown Prince poked Yintang’s round belly and, under the infant’s furious glare, nodded with a laugh: "Fifth Brother is right. Besides that, I have a gift for Consort Yi. I hope you’ll like it."
He called for He Zhuer, and moments later, a few eunuchs carried in an exquisitely crafted double-sided screen.
One side was embroidered with peacocks, the other with red plum blossoms—each stitch meticulous, lifelike in its artistry.
"Last time, Ninth Prince ruined the floral screen, so I thought of giving you a new one..." The Crown Prince pursed his lips, uncharacteristically shy. "This one is well-made, large enough, and perfect for your inner chamber."
Yunxiu traced the screen’s surface with her fingertips, thinking it bore a striking resemblance to Consort Ping’s embroidered "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains," though the craftsmanship here was even finer, the design more ingenious.
Her eyes curved with delight: "I adore it! Your Highness has gone to great trouble."
The Crown Prince beamed, but then his smile dimmed momentarily, as if recalling something. His phoenix eyes—so like the Emperor’s—glittered with conflict and sorrow, softening Yunxiu’s heart. What troubles had this child encountered now?
She patted Yinqi’s head and gently nudged him. "Go play with your brother for a while. Mother needs to speak with Second Elder Brother."
Yinqi glanced left and right, suppressing his burning curiosity, and solemnly nodded. "Oh."
He tiptoed to the cradle, leaned over, and tugged at Yintang’s much-abused open-crotch pants.
When the first tug failed, he muttered, "Sturdy little thing."
Yintang: "..."
A large, fair face suddenly loomed before him, startling the Ninth Prince.
Indignantly, he thought: Why does everyone have it out for my pants? Who taught them this awful habit?!
While Yinqi amused himself tormenting Yintang, Yunxiu dismissed the attendants. The Crown Prince then brought up Suo Etu.
Lately, the Crown Prince had been troubled.
Had his grand-uncle played a role in the Imperial Noble Consort’s difficult labor or Yinzhen’s poisoning?
"...Grand-uncle may act out of self-interest, but his heart is devoted to the family—to me," the Crown Prince murmured. "I’ve never doubted that. Yet... he interferes too much."
His voice carried weight and uncertainty.
From childhood, Suo Etu’s influence had drawn the Crown Prince closer to his maternal clan. The memory of his late mother, Empress Renxiao, amplified this bond.
The Emperor never discouraged it, and the Crown Prince never questioned it.
But after the screen incident, the Crown Prince felt a dawning, chaotic realization: his grand-uncle had meddled in the Emperor’s harem!
Connecting the dots to the palace’s recent undercurrents, the Crown Prince grew uneasy.
What if the Emperor uncovered everything? Would Yuqing Palace remain untouched?
Recalling Hu Guang and Hu Ming’s testimonies, the Crown Prince’s eyes turned icy. For the first time, he understood—
Suo Etu had led him into a corner.
Yunxiu feigned surprise, though inwardly, she was delighted.
Suo Etu and the Hesheli family were bound to the Crown Prince’s fate. To secure her future as a dowager consort, she needed to dismantle that alliance—but it required patience.
The Crown Prince was young; there was still time. Yet now, he’d awakened on his own!
Gazing at the greenery outside, she smiled lightly and avoided direct judgment on Suo Etu. Instead, she said softly, "Setting aside other matters, tell me—would the Emperor want an heir apparent controlled by his maternal family?"
The Crown Prince looked up, his face paling instantly.
