Concubine Mei has passed away.
However, as she died by her own hand, the Empress Dowager was deeply enraged upon learning of it, condemning her for having a perverse temperament and showing disrespect to the palace, deeming her unvirtuous and unfit for burial in the imperial mausoleum. Yet, considering there were extenuating circumstances and that she had once received the emperor's favor, she was specially pardoned and allowed to be buried in the concubines' cemetery with the rites befitting a Concubine, with no punishment levied upon her family.
Perhaps because Concubine Mei lost her life, Concubine Shu, who had driven Concubine Mei into a desperate corner, was also reprimanded by the Empress Dowager for being heartless and harsh, and was ordered to copy scriptures ten times as punishment.
It's said Concubine Shu smashed an entire celadon-glazed tea set in anger over this.
As for Consort Wei, who was innocently pushed into the Wanfo Lake... since Concubine Mei is already dead, she could only be considered an innocent casualty. She was granted some rewards as consolation.
However, Consort Wei was badly frightened that day and developed a fever that very night, which did not improve for several days.
And the Empress, saddened by Concubine Mei's death, became depressed, claimed illness, and did not wish to see anyone.
The Summer Palace sank into an eerie calm.
At "Upper and Lower Sky Light," Qin Saizhu came to chat with Qi Daiyu and inevitably brought up the matter.
"The Empress Dowager forbids anyone from paying their respects, not even to see her off one last time."
Qin Saizhu did not like Concubine Mei, but hearing the sudden news of her death left her somewhat dazed, even stirring a faint sense of sorrow for a shared fate.
"She was once among the most favored in the palace, yet in just a few months, the change has been so drastic it makes me sigh. Especially since the Empress Dowager issued the decree, and His Majesty has shown no reaction at all. It almost makes me wonder if I misremembered the extent of Concubine Mei's past favor."
Feeling sorrow for one's own kind, it was probably like this.
The Emperor treats his consorts with tolerance; Qin Saizhu had felt this herself. But discovering that Concubine Mei's death hadn't stirred even a ripple in that man's heart made her feel apprehensive.
Qi Daiyu leaned back in the rattan chair, her eyes closed.
"Sister, be careful with your words."
A feudal emperor—how much true affection could one expect from him? These consorts probably weighed less in the emperor's heart than a few important ministers.
Qin Saizhu sighed. "I'm only saying this to you."
She didn't know when it started, but the smiles on her face had grown fewer, while the worries in her heart had multiplied.
She couldn't find anyone in the palace to speak a few sincere words with. As she grew more familiar with Qi Daiyu, she could occasionally share a few thoughts.
"Oh, by the way, are you going to ask for a royal physician to examine you?" Qin Saizhu remembered something.
Qi Daiyu opened her eyes. "Examine me for what?"
Qin Saizhu: "Weren't you also there that day? I heard Consort Wei was so frightened she had a fever for days. Now the fever has subsided, but she still has nightmares at night."
Qi Daiyu shook her head. She had indeed been frightened that day, but perhaps having already "died" once, her ability to cope was surprisingly okay.
Compared to witnessing Concubine Mei die before her, she was actually more afraid of the scene from earlier at the Southern Mountain Hunting Palace, when those selected ladies were caned. Because she couldn't help but put herself in that era's context and imagine herself being caned by a superior.
She was more afraid of her own life being in danger.
"You forget, I'm someone who lay in bed for years, just one step away from the gates of hell. My body is weak, but my mind has been tempered." She fabricated an excuse for herself.
"That's true." Qin Saizhu found it reasonable. "Speaking of which, Consort Nie also seems largely unaffected." She thought of Nie Zhiyu's background. "She's someone who has weathered great storms as well."
Also a person of steadfast mind.
The two chatted casually, not sticking to one topic—sometimes palace gossip, sometimes the customs of Qin Saizhu's hometown. Qi Daiyu occasionally let her mind wander, checking trending topics.
Until Shiliu came up to the terrace. "Mistress, someone from Anlan Garden has come, saying Her Majesty the Empress wishes to invite you over."
Why would the Empress suddenly summon her? Qi Daiyu was taken aback.
She looked at Qin Saizhu.
Qin Saizhu smiled. "Her Majesty must have a reason for seeking you. You should go quickly."
Somewhat bewildered, she arrived at Anlan Garden, where Zhuyi greeted her and led her inside.
Entering the hall, she found the Eldest Princess there as well, being held in the Empress's arms, her eyes still slightly red.
Seeing Qi Daiyu enter, the Eldest Princess obediently got down and performed a curtsy. "Greetings, Auntie Hui."
Then she buried herself back in the Empress's embrace.
Qi Daiyu paid her respects to the Empress and asked with a smile, "What's the matter with the Eldest Princess?"
The Eldest Princess pouted at her, her eyes growing even redder, welling up with tears, looking utterly pitiful.
The Empress said helplessly, "She wanted to go out to play, and I wouldn't let her. She's throwing a tantrum with me."
Ever since the epilepsy was diagnosed, the Empress had been extremely strict about the Eldest Princess's movements, rarely allowing her to go out.
Although the Eldest Princess is at an age where she loves to play and be active, she is obedient and sensible. Since the Empress instructed her so, she never cried or made a fuss.
If things had continued like this, until the Eldest Princess grew a bit older and the epilepsy no longer recurred, the Empress wouldn't have kept her confined anymore.
But now the Empress is pregnant, and this pregnancy has been difficult, with constant nausea and morning sickness. It's hard for her to focus all her attention on the Eldest Princess as before, so her care for the Eldest Princess has inevitably diminished somewhat compared to the past.
The young Eldest Princess doesn't understand her mother's predicament; she only subtly senses that since the new baby appeared in her mother's belly, her mother doesn't dote on her as much as before.
The Summer Palace is vast and abundant, at least two or three times larger than the Forbidden City. The Eldest Princess hasn't had a proper chance to explore it, and every corner holds immense attraction for her.
Before, the Eldest Princess suppressed her natural instincts due to the Empress's instructions. But now, unable to go out for fun and feeling less of her mother's attention, she felt deeply wronged. Today, she cried and insisted on going out to play.
Hearing this, Qi Daiyu understood.
A common issue in families with a second child: how to balance the elder child's emotional state after the arrival of the younger one.
The Eldest Princess's tantrum today about going out to play was likely not just due to a child's natural curiosity about the outside world, but also an attempt to regain the Empress's attention.
But what did this have to do with the Empress summoning her?
Then Qi Daiyu heard the Empress say, "To be frank with you, because of what happened before... I am truly uneasy about letting Lingyi go out. Yet if I agree, it's impossible to have a royal physician following her every moment." That would undoubtedly tell everyone the Eldest Princess has a health problem.
"I asked you here today to entrust you with a matter. I would like to ask you to help look after and guide Lingyi for some time."
The Empress spoke earnestly.
Firstly, she trusted Qi Daiyu would certainly not harm the Eldest Princess, and the Eldest Princess herself was very fond of Qi Daiyu.
Secondly, recalling the previous interactions between Qi Daiyu and the Eldest Princess, and knowing Qi Daiyu has a younger sister at home, the Empress felt that although Qi Daiyu hasn't given birth herself, she is very good at caring for children.
Thirdly, and most importantly, Qi Daiyu knows how to treat someone having an epileptic seizure. If the Eldest Princess were to have a sudden attack, Qi Daiyu could provide timely aid.
After explaining these reasons, the Empress continued, "I am truly lacking in energy, yet I don't wish to confine her completely. She is a princess, meant to soar freely in the sky. If locked in a courtyard all day, she might inevitably develop a timid, submissive character."
Even though she was pregnant again, the Empress still cherished her daughter deeply. Previously, she had not allowed the Eldest Princess to go out much, confident that with her own tutelage—teaching her to read and write—the Eldest Princess could continue to grow splendidly. But now, with her pregnancy, the Empress herself found it difficult to rest peacefully and could hardly spare the focus to teach the Eldest Princess.
Confined to the palace halls all day, digging at flowers and plants, talking to little rabbits—if this continued, the Eldest Princess's character would become increasingly withdrawn and timid. The Empress had already keenly sensed this trend.
She absolutely refused to see her daughter become like that.
Thus, the Empress thought of Qi Daiyu.
After hearing the Empress's words, however, Qi Daiyu felt it was a tricky situation.
Taking care of a child? That was a small matter, her old profession.
The problem was, the child the Empress wanted her to care for was the Eldest Princess...
Not a flower of the motherland raised under the red flag, but a real princess, whose father was the Emperor and mother the Empress...
If anything went wrong, it could very well cost Qi Daiyu her head...
Your Majesty's meaning is clear to this concubine. I only worry that my own learning is shallow and my insight crude, that I cannot properly instruct the Princess...
Yet she saw the Empress looking at her with a face full of affection. "This Consort believes you are quite intelligent. Concubine Hui Zhao Yi, my hopes for Lingyi have never been for her to grow into someone merely proficient in the arts of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, or steeped in the teachings of women's virtues and conduct."
"She is a Princess. She can be proud, she can be uninhibited. She only needs to hold respect in her heart for her Imperial Father, and compassion for the common people. That is enough. And these two points, this Consort believes, you possess."
Qi Daiyu was left speechless.
"Moreover, the Eldest Princess is still young. There's no need for you to teach her anything profoundly difficult. Even if you just watch her play, what of it?"
Huh? Just watch over the Eldest Princess? If that's all, it didn't seem unacceptable. After all, it wasn't as if Qi Daiyu would truly have to do everything personally; the Eldest Princess's nurses and maids would surely accompany her.
This was actually much easier than being a gardener before.
“However, this Consort will also assign some writing and reading tasks, which will require you to urge Lingyi a bit.” The Empress changed the topic. Thinking of Qi Daiyu's somewhat lazy nature, she felt some pressure was necessary.
Qi Daiyu: "..."
And so, the Eldest Princess was entrusted by the Empress into Qi Daiyu's hands.
During the day, Zhuyi would bring the Eldest Princess to "Over and Under the Sky Light," and in the evening, she would be returned to An Cui Garden.
Still, to prepare for the possibility of the Eldest Princess staying overnight at "Over and Under the Sky Light," Qi Daiyu had Shiliu tidy up a room. The Empress's side also sent over some of the Eldest Princess's commonly used items.
For the Eldest Princess's arrival, Qi Daiyu made ample preparations.
Not only was the swing on the terrace fixed up by Little Cheng, but she also had him urgently craft a wooden slide.
The Eldest Princess's room was carefully tidied up. The corners of tables and other sharp edges were padded with cloth, a rug was laid on the floor, the bed was covered with various knitted dolls, and building blocks were brought out too.
Qi Daiyu also planned to have someone make a few sets of role-play toys, like chef kits, doctor kits, and so on.
These were for accommodation and play.
Food, clothing, and education couldn't be lacking either.
Regarding clothing, what Qi Daiyu could prepare couldn't compare to the Empress's, but she knew how to style various cute hairstyles and could do the Eldest Princess's hair.
For education, she didn't know how many characters the Eldest Princess had already recognized. Perhaps she had already exceeded the typical progress of a preschool-aged child. Also, Qi Daiyu's calligraphy... well, was quite poor, better not embarrass herself.
But she could teach the Eldest Princess nursery rhymes, and tell her stories.
How could that not count as being a good teacher?
Qi Daiyu's stern demeanor left Shiliu and the others looking at each other in confusion.
Clearly, their mistress had never given birth, so why did this series of actions feel like the experience of someone who had raised children for years?
Even though they didn't understand the purpose of many things their mistress had asked them to prepare, they just felt that if they were young children like the Eldest Princess, they would be very happy—what was that about?
