"Unwilling to alter the imperial genealogy... Begging His Majesty to revoke the decree..."
The Imperial Noble Consort could never have anticipated that the child she took such pride in—the one she had meticulously schemed for, the future she had sought to pave with glory—would utter such words.
This blow was no less devastating than the premature death of the little princess she had nearly died giving birth to, nor the irreversible sealing of her path to becoming Empress.
Her lips trembled as if all strength had drained from her body, leaving her speechless in stunned silence.
How could he? How dare he?!
"Yinzhen..." Her voice quivered, blood rushing to her head as her legs gave way beneath her. In a whisper laced with disbelief, she murmured, "You believe their one-sided claims just like that... Have you forgotten how well your mother has treated you?"
Treated him well?
Hearing this, the Crown Prince felt only bitter amusement, followed by a deep surge of sorrow and irony. He regretted indulging Yinzhen’s wish to stay.
He wished he could cover his younger brother’s eyes and ears, shielding him entirely from Mrs. Tongjia’s influence.
The Imperial Noble Consort had lost her mind!
Yinzhen was still so young—how could he endure such torment?
Taking a deep breath, the Crown Prince knew this could not continue.
Glancing around the room, his palms slick with sweat, he prepared to speak—but Yunxiu, sensing the danger, swiftly intervened before he could.
"Your Highness, why not take Fourth Prince and withdraw? The banquet was rushed, and you both must still be hungry. Go and have the kitchens prepare something to settle your nerves."
Her tone was gentle, laced with unspoken warning. In such chaos, a single misstep could invite disaster—this was not a fire Yinreng should step into.
In an instant, the Imperial Noble Consort’s venomous gaze locked onto Yunxiu, brimming with a hatred so intense it seemed she wished to flay her alive.
Consort Rong shot Yunxiu a puzzled glance, equally unwilling to let Yinzhen leave. With a sigh, she remarked, "Sister Consort Yi, the Fourth Prince and Prince Rong are brothers by blood. Naturally, he cares for his younger sibling..."
Before she could finish, the Emperor, seated high above, slammed his hand on the table with a thunderous roar:
"Silence!"
His voice was icy, carrying a terrifying fury. The glance he cast at the Imperial Noble Consort and Consort Rong was devoid of any warmth.
Consort Rong jolted in fright, hastily dropping to her knees in fear, instantly regretting her words.
Initially, Consort Rong had exposed the truth with the sole purpose of crushing the Imperial Noble Consort, ensuring she could never rise again. She had even prepared herself for severe punishment—she would accept it, no matter the cost.
Years ago, when she had given birth to Yin Zhi, the imperial princes had not yet been formally ranked. Yin Zhi’s elder brothers—Chengrui, Saiyin Chahun, and Changhua—had all perished, but Changsheng had still been alive.
Changsheng had lived to three years old, just as Mrs. Tongjia entered the palace. At eighteen, Mrs. Tongjia had harbored an almost obsessive admiration for the Emperor, but with Empress Xiaozhao looming over her, she dared not openly display it. Instead, she resorted to petty schemes to draw the Emperor’s attention, ensuring his favor lingered in her palace.
But on that fateful day, Changsheng had caught a chill and developed a high fever. Consort Rong, frantic with worry, had sent for the court physicians on duty—only to find the Imperial Hospital empty. Both physicians had been summoned to Chengqian Palace to attend to Mrs. Tongjia’s "discomfort"...
Her servants had wasted precious time before finally retrieving a physician, but by then, it was too late. The delay had sealed Changsheng’s fate.
That very night, Changsheng passed away, his last breaths calling weakly for his mother. Even now, the memory tore at Consort Rong’s heart like a knife.
He could have been saved... He could have lived!
Yet the hours that meant everything to her were nothing to Mrs. Tongjia, who had merely sighed in vague regret before moving on.
A month later, Mrs. Tongjia was elevated to Imperial Noble Consort, and Changsheng was forgotten.
If not for the Imperial Noble Consort, her child would have lived. Consort Rong could not help but blame her.
But life went on. Numbed by grief, she buried her pain deep within her heart. She had her Little Princess and Yin Zhi—she had to raise them well.
Years later, the Imperial Noble Consort was promoted to oversee the Six Palaces, her power unchallenged. Consort Rong never forgot her grudge, but with her humble family background and fading imperial favor, how could she seek revenge?
It was nothing but a futile dream.
As time passed, Consort Rong grew disheartened, her desire for vengeance fading.
Then, two years later, the Imperial Noble Consort became pregnant. Consort Rong had not schemed against her—the difficult birth was Mrs. Tongjia’s own doing. But why was the little princess granted a posthumous title while her child lay forgotten in the earth?
Was it simply because she was a consort, and Mrs. Tongjia was the Imperial Noble Consort?
"Princess Gulun"—what a grand title!
That imperial decree reignited the hatred and resentment Consort Rong had buried for so long. She refused to endure it any longer.
After the Imperial Noble Consort’s difficult birth left her bedridden, Consort Rong seized the opportunity to gain temporary control of the palace affairs, vying fiercely with Consort Hui for influence. She sought to plant her own people, waiting for the perfect moment to ensure Mrs. Tongjia’s downfall.
To kill a snake, one must strike its head. Soon, Shaoyao stumbled upon the secret dealings between the deputy eunuch of Qianqing Palace and Nanny Zhen. Consort Rong saw it as divine intervention—she only needed the right moment to expose it.
She had thought the time wasn’t ripe, but then Mrs. Tongjia clung desperately to Yinzhen, even persuading the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to alter the imperial genealogy. If she succeeded, she would rise again—this could not be allowed!
Avenging Changsheng had been her lifelong wish. She could wait no longer.
Everything unfolded as she had planned—until now.
After Yunxiu spoke, Consort Rong recalled Yinzhen’s attachment to the Imperial Noble Consort and grew uneasy. If Yinzhen left now, Mrs. Tongjia would surely manipulate him into forgetting the truth, coaxing him into pleading for her.
No—he needed to stay. He needed to witness his mother’s true nature firsthand, to learn to despise her as she did. If Consort Yi wanted to interfere, she would not let her succeed.
—She had expected Kangxi’s fury, but not the sharp command directed at her: "Silence!"
Meanwhile, Liu Qin had already been bound and dragged away. Consort Rong knelt in terror, barely managing to utter, "Your Majesty—"
Kangxi’s voice was low and dangerous. "Baocheng, take Yinzhen back to Yuqing Palace. Do as your Consort Yi suggests."
Despite his rage, the Emperor’s tone softened slightly at "Consort Yi."
The Crown Prince, relieved, whispered to Yinzhen, "His Majesty is wise—he will never place you under her name," before hastily leading him away.
The Imperial Noble Consort watched Yinzhen disappear, consumed by fury and despair. In her daze, it felt as though her very spirit had left with him.
A metallic taste rose in her throat. Her body swayed unsteadily—Consort Rong... Ma Jashi... Guo Luoluoshi!
Nanny Zhen, eyes red with tears, fell to her knees in desperation. "Your Majesty, Her Highness is innocent! She is innocent!" But she could offer no further defense.
As the storm loomed, the crowd grew even more silent, with only the Imperial Noble Consort shaking her head and sighing, "At this point, one-sided words can no longer be trusted. His Majesty will handle this fairly and will certainly not wrong your mistress."
Yunxiu glanced at the dazed Imperial Noble Consort, her gaze sweeping past Consort Hui, who was trying to mask her guilt. She didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh—it seemed karma truly existed in this world.
If Liu Qin confessed, the Imperial Noble Consort would not escape unscathed, and neither might Consort Hui. The only difference would be the severity of their punishments.
Thinking this, she slightly raised her eyes and said softly, "This humble concubine begs Your Majesty to take care of your health. Do not let anger harm your noble body..."
The once joyous Lantern Festival banquet had been utterly ruined. There was no need to imagine how furious the Emperor would be. Moreover, the poisoning of Prince Rong had hidden complexities. Who could have guessed the Imperial Noble Consort, like a venomous snake, had been lurking in the shadows, concealing herself so deeply?
Just as Yunxiu had anticipated, Kangxi’s rage at this moment could no longer be described as mere fury.
A throbbing pain pulsed at his temples. Since his ascension to the throne twenty-three years ago, he had rarely lost his composure like this. Yet since last year, it was as if he had been cursed, repeatedly encountering foolish and wicked women. He had believed he had cleansed the Imperial Household Department and purified the harem’s atmosphere, only to remain deceived, played for a fool by Mrs. Tongjia.
If she had also been involved in the poisoning of Little Six, everything would fall into place.
Who had fed Mrs. Wuya false information? Who had framed Yinreng? Well, well—his dear cousin truly had remarkable skills.
How laughable that he had once considered registering Yinzhen under her name, going so far as to persuade the Empress Dowager out of pity for her frail health and her deep attachment to Yinzhen.
The Imperial Noble Consort raised by the Tong family, the fine daughter taught by Tong Guowei!
...
Having ascended the throne young, Kangxi had ruled for twenty-three years and seldom lost control like this.
Dishes grew cold one by one, their once-tempting aromas now grating. He shut his eyes tightly, fingers twitching as he fought the urge to overturn the table.
Fortunately, Yunxiu’s words of concern steadied his breathing, sparing Yongshou Palace from becoming a scene of wreckage.
Liang Jiugong nearly dropped to his knees in gratitude toward Consort Yi, nearly moved to tears—My lady, you are truly a lifesaving Bodhisattva...
Not just Liang Jiugong, but even senior concubines like Concubine Duan had never witnessed such a scene, wishing they could flee far away. The lower-ranking concubines and attendants shrank like quails, their minds blank except for one thought: The Imperial Noble Consort is finished.
"Interrogate Liu Qin thoroughly. Investigate everything meticulously," the Emperor slowly rose, bracing himself against the table, each word gritted through clenched teeth. "Including the gate guards Consort Rong mentioned—find them all. And the reason behind Fulu and Kuien’s duel..."
When Liang Jiugong tremblingly acknowledged the order, Kangxi paused before adding coldly, "Confine Mrs. Tongjia to Chengqian Palace to await judgment. Furthermore, the decree to amend the jade register for the Fourth Prince is hereby revoked. No edict shall be issued."
He had even used the word "confine," no longer addressing her as Imperial Noble Consort.
In the suffocating silence, the Imperial Noble Consort sat rigidly, her face deathly pale. Moments later, a trickle of blood escaped her lips, and she collapsed limply.
Nanny Zhen had no time to grieve before her soul nearly fled in terror—"My lady!"
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, such a scandal in the imperial harem was no less shocking than an earthquake.
Before the aftershocks could fully unfold, the next day, the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince lingered outside Qianqing Palace, peering in cautiously. Liang Jiugong hurried out upon hearing the news, "Your Highnesses, His Majesty has ordered this servant to escort you inside."
The Crown Prince gestured inside and whispered, "It’s Fourth Brother who wishes to see Imperial Father. I shouldn’t intrude..."
Liang Jiugong understood.
In the imperial study, Yinzhen knelt stiffly, head bowed, and murmured, "Imperial Father, this son no longer wishes to amend the jade register. You have exhausted yourself for my sake, but I do not want... to cause Second Brother distress..."
