Yanxi Palace.
At the writing desk, Consort Hui massaged her sore wrist, her expression somber. After a long silence, she closed her eyes slightly and allowed Ying'er to press her temples.
"Your Highness, you've already written enough. Let this servant take over the rest?" Ying'er frowned at the towering stack of papers and spoke softly, "His Majesty won’t scrutinize them too closely..."
"The Emperor left it to me to handle—how could I dare falsify anything to deceive him?" Consort Hui knew Ying'er meant well, so her expression softened. After a dazed pause, she waved her hand wearily. "At this point... if your handwriting is discovered, everyone in Yanxi Palace will suffer the consequences."
One misstep led to another. She had made so many mistakes, and the glory of being the foremost among the Four Consorts was long gone. For Yinti’s sake, and for her cousin in the court, she couldn’t afford to err again.
Now, Consort Hui dared not imagine how much favor she still held in the Emperor’s heart. The mere thought made her stomach churn with bitterness and resentment!
It was her own carelessness, her lack of vigilance, that had allowed Mingzhu’s plan to win over the Guoluoluo family to fail. That wretched Mrs. Wei and the Noble Consort had conspired against her... Then she had stumbled over Liu Qin, fallen into Mrs. Tongjia’s trap, thoroughly offended Consort Yi and the Guoluoluo clan, and even dragged Yinti into the mess.
All she could hope for now was that the Emperor would remember their past affection. Perhaps, seeing how she had confined herself to her palace and sincerely repented—copying thick stacks of Buddhist scriptures—he might let the matter rest.
Steadying herself, Consort Hui picked up the brush again, just as she dipped it in ink, when a voice announced from beyond the curtains: "The Eldest Prince requests an audience."
"Mother." Yinti’s booming voice reached Consort Hui’s ears. "You’re still copying scriptures?"
After a pause, he muttered, "When did His Majesty issue this order? I wasn’t aware."
Realizing she wouldn’t be able to write now, Consort Hui set down the brush and shot him an exasperated look. "What, did your tutor at the Imperial Study take the day off? You have time to visit your mother now?"
Lately, for some reason, the Emperor had grown increasingly critical of Yinti—punishing him with kneeling, scolding him harshly. Compared to the Crown Prince, who enjoyed even greater favor, Consort Hui felt a pang of unease after her initial panic.
In her eyes, Yinti was undoubtedly the best. What did Yinreng have, aside from being the legitimate heir of the late Empress?
This resentment had festered for a long time.
Only when she immersed herself in copying the scriptures did Consort Hui calm down enough to see things clearly. If Yinti didn’t provoke his father’s anger, the Emperor would have no reason to vent his frustrations. In the end, it all came down to Yinti’s own reckless actions!
Once she understood, Consort Hui could hardly bring herself to greet her son with a pleasant expression.
Ah, Buddhist scriptures!
Honestly, who else was as tactless as him, barging in and poking at her sore spots?
Meanwhile, at the mention of the Imperial Study, Yinti’s handsome young face twisted in confusion before he remembered something. "Mother, haven’t you heard what happened earlier? Fifth Brother fell asleep during lessons and even started snoring. His Majesty summoned me to Qianqing Palace..."
His tone grew incredulous. "You told me to look out for Fifth Brother, but it seems unnecessary. His Majesty intended to punish Yinreng, but Consort Yi happened to request an audience, and suddenly, the Emperor forgot all about it! Hmph, letting him escape unscathed..."
As she listened, Consort Hui gradually sensed something amiss.
Bombarded with details of Consort Yi’s casual interactions with Kangxi, she took a deep breath, her temples throbbing. She interrupted him softly, "Yinti."
Even if Consort Hui had ten times the courage, she could never have imagined that Consort Yi and the Emperor interacted in such a manner.
If Yinti was shocked, so was she.
Not even Empress Renxiao, in her lifetime, would have dared speak to the Emperor like that!
For a moment, Consort Hui’s worldview shattered. She closed her eyes, suppressing the sour bitterness and shock in her heart, unable to regain her composure for a long while.
Before, when Concubine Xi and Consort Ping accused Consort Yi of monopolizing the Emperor’s favor, Consort Hui had scoffed dismissively. But who could have guessed the Emperor indulged her to this extent?
This kind of intimacy was far more terrifying than mere favoritism.
Ying'er shot Yinti a disapproving glance, and the Eldest Prince faltered, suddenly realizing his mother was also one of the Emperor’s consorts. Describing Consort Yi’s closeness so vividly was like twisting a knife in her heart!
He gave an awkward laugh, skipping over the details, then frowned and voiced his concern: "Consort Yi’s favor is no exaggeration. But in my view, His Majesty’s affection for her only benefits Yinreng. Mother, with her in the picture, how can Uncle’s plans succeed?"
After a long silence, Consort Hui replied coolly, "No matter how favored she is, she still ranks below me. She can’t influence court politics, nor can she openly approach the Crown Prince."
As a favored consort, any overreach on her part would invite censure from the censors.
In truth, if the inner court became unstable, court officials had the duty to advise the Emperor.
During the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, Noble Consort Zheng was deeply favored, and her son, the Prince of Fu, threatened the Crown Prince’s position, sparking the "Dispute over the National Heir." Throughout the court, upright ministers impeached the Noble Consort in droves!
Since punishment couldn’t befall scholar-officials, the Wanli Emperor had no choice but to suppress the impeachments with half-hearted reprimands. As a result, Noble Consort Zheng’s reputation as a "seductive consort" spread far and wide, and she could do nothing but endure it.
Though times had changed, and the current Emperor held absolute power—intolerant of his ministers’ dissent—they wouldn’t dare openly criticize him. But with Mingzhu’s influence, arranging for a low-ranking official to recklessly impeach a consort would be child’s play.
The Crown Prince was the foundation of the state, and his maternal family was the Hesheli clan. Consort Yi hailed from the Guoluoluo family—completely unrelated. If she grew close to the heir, it would be seen as undermining the state’s stability—what ulterior motives did she harbor?
The more the Emperor shielded her, the louder the opposition would grow. Would Suo Etu stand by and let someone else reap the rewards?
At this thought, Consort Hui’s mind stirred.
Having been meticulously educated by the Nara clan, she was somewhat familiar with Ming history. If Consort Yi repeatedly aided the Crown Prince, thwarting the Nara family’s schemes, why not take inspiration from the Wanli era’s "Scandalous Pamphlet Case" and circulate a satirical story to tarnish her reputation?
However, this method was too underhanded. She and Consort Yi didn’t have a blood feud...
Consort Hui hesitated for a long time before finally dismissing the idea.
Fuqing of the Fucha family had become the Fifth Prince’s study companion. Two neutral families aligning so closely was enviable. Not long ago, Mingzhu had again schemed to win over the Guoluoluo family—she couldn’t afford to hinder his efforts, could she?
If the smear campaign went too far, it would only breed true enmity.
"If Consort Yi’s closeness to the Crown Prince is exposed to the court, someone will inevitably impeach her." She smoothed the wrinkles on her robe and said to Yinti, "Don’t worry too much. This is my contingency plan. Return to the princes’ quarters now—have you practiced your archery?"
The Eldest Prince brightened, thinking how resourceful his mother was. He cupped his hands and laughed heartily, "Don’t rush me, Mother. I’ll go right away!"
Consort Hui watched his retreating figure and sighed helplessly, though her eyes sparkled with amusement.
The next day, in Cining Palace.
"Come, sit here. I don’t know what you said to Fifth Prince, but he woke up early without the nursemaid having to call him," the Empress Dowager beckoned to Yunxiu with a cheerful smile. "When the nursemaid came to report, I could hardly believe it—even the Grand Empress Dowager didn’t expect it!"
Yunxiu curtsied gracefully before taking her seat to the left, her eyes bright with silent laughter.
No longer lazing in bed—naturally, he had learned his lesson well enough to mend his ways and diligently study his Three Character Classic. Though she thought this to herself, Yunxiu refrained from explaining the disciplinary process, lest the two Dowagers accuse her of being a harsh mother.
Heaven knew that every mother’s heart burned with the same desire for her child’s success.
......
Half an hour earlier, when Sumalagu came to visit, Yunxiu had barely set aside the unfinished ceremonial robe she was preparing for the Emperor’s birthday celebration before hastily inviting her in.
Noticing the faint red marks on Consort Yi’s fingers, Sumalagu guessed the reason and smiled even more warmly. "The Grand Empress Dowager requests your presence for a conversation."
Yunxiu was uncertain of the purpose, but with the palace currently peaceful and no scheming concubines stirring trouble, she surmised that the Grand Empress Dowager likely wished to discuss Fifth Prince.
Now, upon entering the hall and hearing the Empress Dowager mention Fifth Prince immediately, Yunxiu felt reassured. After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she replied with a smile, "This concubine didn’t do much—just earnestly told him, ‘If you don’t fear disappointing your grandmother and the Grand Empress Dowager, nor dread your imperial father’s cane, then go ahead and laze about.’ At that, his face turned red as a monkey’s backside, and he stammered, ‘I was wrong, I won’t dare again...’"
Yunxiu’s vivid imitation recreated the scene perfectly, sending the Empress Dowager into fits of laughter. Even the Grand Empress Dowager couldn’t help but chuckle, pointing at her fondly. "You truly have a way with that little rascal."
"I summoned you here to announce joyous news," the Grand Empress Dowager said kindly once the laughter subsided. "The Emperor has informed me of his intention to elevate you to Noble Consort. The decree will be issued first, and the formal investiture ceremony will take place after the southern tour. What do you think?"
...Noble Consort?
The news struck Yunxiu like a bolt from the blue. She froze for a long moment before murmuring, "This... Grand Empress Dowager..."
Without warning—how had she earned this promotion?
In her dreams, she had exhausted herself for a lifetime striving for the rank of Noble Consort, never even coming close. Thus, in this life, she had abandoned such ambitions.
She didn’t need the Emperor’s favor—once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, a simple gesture of grace would effortlessly grant her the title of Noble Consort Dowager.
Consort Yi had calculated everything perfectly. Who could have predicted Kangxi would defy expectations like this?
Joy mingled with shock, but above all, she was utterly bewildered. A whirlwind of emotions left her uncharacteristically tongue-tied.
After savoring her dazed expression, the Grand Empress Dowager continued with a smile, "After waiting so long, your wish is finally granted. The Emperor couldn’t wait—he wanted to surprise you, but I insisted on summoning you first to share the news myself."
Her teasing tone snapped Yunxiu back to reality, her cheeks flushing crimson.
Her peach-blossom eyes shimmering, she pressed her lips together to suppress a smile before gracefully prostrating herself. "This concubine thanks the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager for your boundless grace!"
"Good child, rise quickly," the Empress Dowager said, her heart swelling with affection. She had always held Consort Yi in high regard. "I’ve always maintained that your seniority and the number of your children make you worthy of the Noble Consort rank. Additionally, I know you and Noble Consort Niu Gulu are close... The Emperor has decided to bestow an honorary title upon her, placing her above you in precedence..."
"Naturally," Yunxiu replied knowingly, her smile serene. "This concubine has little patience for palace affairs. Without Noble Sister shouldering the responsibilities, who knows what chaos might ensue?"
The Empress Dowager nodded in amusement, about to speak again when the Grand Empress Dowager shot her a meaningful glance and abruptly changed the subject.
"To be frank, my greatest concern is Baocheng..." The Grand Empress Dowager paused, then decided to speak candidly. With a soft sigh, she asked gently, "If I entrusted him to your care, would you be willing?"
