Concubine of the Eastern Palace (Qing Dynasty Time Travel)

When the Crown Prince arrived, it was raining heavily outside, accompanied by several claps of thunder.

Normally, Cheng Wanyun would already be asleep at this hour. However, E Linzhu, experiencing her first summer thunderstorm, was frightened by the thunder and crying. Cheng Wanyun had Mama Geng bring E Linzhu over to sleep with her.

At this stage, E Linzhu was slowly being weaned off night feedings. Since she had solid food during the day, she rarely felt hungry at night. After drinking a full bottle before bed, she would sleep through the night and have another feeding in the early morning.

One advantage of skipping night feedings was that it reduced the chance of bed-wetting. Mama Geng, familiar with E Linzhu’s bathroom habits, always made sure to take her to the potty before bed. Cheng Wanyun had already slept with her daughter a few times and had never experienced any accidents.

This arrangement also meant that Mama Geng or Mama Suo could sleep in the outer room, ready in case Cheng Wanyun needed them. So, Cheng Wanyun planned to enjoy a cozy night cuddling her fragrant little daughter, relishing the happiness of their mother-daughter time together.

Eventually, the thunder stopped, but the rain continued, creating a misty atmosphere. The sound of the pattering rain was soothing, and E Linzhu, curled up like a little kitten, quickly fell asleep in her mother’s arms.

Later, under the cover of darkness, Wang Cai seized the opportunity. When Mama Geng left the door ajar to step out, the dog stealthily slipped in with lightning speed. Its movements were silent, and its black fur made it nearly invisible. Cheng Wanyun didn’t notice it at first.

It wasn’t until she reached down to tuck E Linzhu in that she noticed a shadowy mass under the footstool near the bed. Two glowing eyes slowly emerged in the darkness.

“Woof,” Wang Cai softly barked, as if to say, ‘I’m here.’

“You’re worried again and came to stand guard, didn’t you?” Cheng Wanyun sighed helplessly but smiled. She extended her hand through the gap in the bed canopy, and Wang Cai gently pressed its large head against her palm. Its short, coarse fur felt like a soft brush. She rubbed its face and patted its ears.

That was when Yinreng entered the room.

Cheng Wanyun noticed that Wang Cai, who had been nuzzling her hand moments before, suddenly became alert. Its head turned sharply, nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air. It then stood up, skirting around the screen to the outer room, moving stealthily like an assassin. It crouched in the shadows near the doorway.

Hua La, holding a lantern to light the way, pushed the door open slightly when a low growl rumbled through the air.

“Wang Cai,” Yinreng immediately called out from behind, “it’s me.”

The growling ceased.

Hua La, still shaken, pushed the door open fully. The lantern’s light revealed a large black dog with a glossy coat and muscular build, sitting upright at the entrance. Its dark eyes stared at the two men without blinking.

Wang Cai barked once, got up, and circled around Hua La, sniffing him repeatedly, occasionally baring his teeth. Hua La was so nervous that he broke out in a light sweat. After a while, Wang Cai reluctantly stopped bothering Hua La and moved on to sniff Yinreng.

However, Wang Cai’s attitude towards Yinreng was much better. He rubbed against Yinreng’s leg and then licked his hand, but seemed somewhat displeased with the scent on his hand, licking it several more times.

Yinreng quickly understood. He had just handled the confession papers, and it was likely that some blood had stained his hands. He bent down and patted Wang Cai’s head. “Wang Cai, is it enough now? You’re even more thorough than the guards inspecting the palace gates.”

Wang Cai barked again, no longer blocking the way, and turned to enter the room.

Hua La, observing Yinreng’s expression, noticed that the Crown Prince’s previously somber mood had eased somewhat due to the dog. He quickly praised, “Your Highness, the young lady has really raised this Wang Cai well. His nose is sharp and seems almost human. I come here so infrequently, but even with two doors between us, he could still catch my scent and came out to stop me. And he knew not to bark—truly a good dog.”

Yinreng stepped over the threshold and gave a slight smile. “You don’t know, but our Cheng Gege can take care of anything—whether it’s flowers, plants, cats, dogs, fish, or even turtles—she can raise them all well.”

Hua La smiled obsequiously, complimenting, “Indeed, I was almost scared out of my wits just seeing Wang Cai earlier.”

“Wang Cai is a female dog,” Yinreng casually corrected. “Mi Mi is the male. You shouldn’t call her ‘Wang Ye’ (Master Wang); you should call her ‘Wang’er Gu’ (Aunt Wang).”

Hua La: “…I’ll remember, Your Highness.”

If He Baozhong were to see Hua La’s clueless, naive demeanor, he would likely snort in disdain.

The Crown Prince remembers the names, genders, and ages of every small animal in Cheng Gege’s courtyard. He even named the fish and turtles that the gege couldn’t be bothered to name. The two large tanks of koi at the entrance each had a name list drawn by the Crown Prince: the pure white one was called “Xuejin” (Snow Brocade), the red-capped white one was “Danding” (Red Crown), the red-and-white spotted one was “Fuxia” (Crimson Glow), the tri-color one was “Zhaomu” (Morning and Evening), and the black-and-white one was “Shuimo” (Ink). The two turtles were named Baishui (Hundred Years) and Yannian (Longevity).

After naming them, Yinreng was very satisfied.

These were the perfect names for beloved pets! The Crown Prince, who had been greatly disappointed by the names “Mi Mi” and “Wang Cai,” could finally let go of his fixation. (Especially since Mi Mi was a male cat and Wang Cai was a female dog—knowing their genders made it all the more upsetting for him.)

Judging by the affectionate tone the Crown Prince used, it seemed that not only did Cheng Gege care for those animals well, but she had also captured the Crown Prince’s heart without him realizing it. Hua La quietly noted to himself that from now on, anything related to Cheng Gege would be the most important matter in the entire palace.

No wonder He Baozhong had always been unusually lenient with the back chambers.

When Cheng Gege noticed that Wang Cai had gone out, she knew that someone must have arrived. This late at night, the only person who could directly come into her bedroom was the Crown Prince.

So, she put on her robe and sat up. As she lifted the light blue gauze curtain, Yinreng walked in behind Wang Cai, striding confidently toward her. As for Hua La, he wasn’t as tactless as Wang Cai and stayed outside, retreating when he reached the outer room.

Yinreng arrived by the bed and saw that Cheng Wanyun had already let down her hair, so he knew she was ready to rest. He felt a bit guilty and said, “I came back late and woke you up.”

“No, Your Highness. Since you said you wouldn’t return, I thought I’d rest early,” Cheng Wanyun replied, shifting a little and revealing their little daughter lying beside her, feeling a bit awkward. “E Linzhu is scared of the thunder, so I moved her over here.”

If The Crown Prince sent anyone to inform her in advance, she wouldn’t have let E Linzhu sleep there otherwise.

However, now that the thunder had stopped, Cheng Wanyun quickly called for Geng Mama to bring E Linzhu back to her own room to sleep. Wang Cai, seeing that the little princess was being carried away, wagged its tail and followed.

The Crown Prince didn’t mind Wang Cai freely entering the room. After all, Mi Mi, the cat, used to live in the room as well. Besides, Wang Cai was much more obedient than Mi Mi. It kept itself clean and had even learned to wipe its paws on the dog-shaped mat at the door before entering. Smart, with a keen nose, and naturally protective, Wang Cai had unwittingly helped Cheng Wanyun by preventing anyone from trying to take advantage of her. No one could approach Cheng Gege and E Linzhu, and knowing that Wang Cai was always guarding them gave the Crown Prince a sense of comfort.

Yinreng was very fond of Wang Cai, even though it wasn’t a rare breed. The servants in the cat and dog rooms said it was likely a Su dog, a breed common in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. It could have been brought to Rehe by officials who hunted with it, though it was unclear how it ended up abandoned. It had a pitiful past.

Cheng Wanyun helped Yinreng take off his outer garments, habitually brushing her hand across his arm. As she did, she wondered if he had come here because he wanted to talk or if there was something else on his mind.

Blushing and gathering up her courage, Cheng Wanyun finally said, “Your Highness, today… I… I can’t serve you.”

Yinreng paused for a moment, but quickly chuckled. After finishing his bath, he pulled Cheng Wanyun toward the bed, lying beside her. He intentionally elongated his words and said, “So, you’re saying the prince should leave? Just in time… maybe I should go see Tang Gege; it’s been a while.”

Cheng Wanyun huffed angrily, pushing him away and folding her arms to glare at him. “Go ahead, then.”

Yinreng lowered his head, chuckling quietly. “I was just teasing you.”

In his heart, Cheng Wanyun was different. She was someone irreplaceable to him. Although he still visited Tang Gege from time to time, it was usually during moments when Cheng Wanyun had her own private time or when it was inconvenient. He did this also for her sake, as he couldn’t shower her with too much attention before she officially became the Side Concubine. If Emperor Kangxi saw his behavior in the court records, he might form a negative impression of Cheng Wanyun.

Kangxi had been working to maintain balance in the imperial harem since his early reign. When he established Empress Hesheri, he ensured that she received respect and favor. However, this also led to the birth of his first child with the secondary concubine, Lady Rong, from the Manchu Maja family.

Before Empress He passed away, Lady Rong bore several sons. Although only the third son and the married Princess Rongxian survived, Lady Rong’s prominence in the palace was clear. But did Kangxi truly love Lady Rong? Looking at her now, ranked last among the four concubines, living in obscurity, it became clear that Kangxi’s favor toward her was more of a political strategy than genuine affection, much like an illusion.

Kangxi’s actions were clearly a lesson learned from the mistakes of his predecessors, Emperor Taiji and his exclusive favoritism for Concubine Chen from Guanju Palace, and the previous emperor’s excessive favoritism for Dong Eshi. As a child, Kangxi had endured the cold and warm extremes of favoritism and had witnessed the Emperor’s overwhelming devotion to Dong Eshi, even going as far as neglecting his own children during a smallpox outbreak. At that time, when Kangxi fell ill with smallpox, only his wet nurse, Mama Sun, remained by his side, providing constant care despite her own danger, which ultimately played a crucial role in her family’s rise to power.

Therefore, Kangxi applied the same principles with Yinreng. It was natural to have preferences for women, but there had to be limits.

As for the story of the Emperor and Dong Eshi, Kangxi was not shy about it. When Yinreng had his first Lin Gege, Kangxi took the time to explain the situation to him carefully, emphasizing that women were extensions of the previous dynasty, and balance had to be maintained. Yinreng understood that this was Kangxi’s unresolved issue and that he could only give Cheng Wanyun the best within the boundaries set by the Emperor.

If Cheng Wanyun knew, she would tell Yinreng that this was the result of Kangxi’s unhappy childhood, which would take a lifetime to heal.

He likely had PTSD.

Fortunately, Cheng Wanyun had never expected a lifetime of undivided devotion. Although the Crown Prince treated her very well—sometimes this affection tugged at her heartstrings—she channeled that feeling into a more physical desire for him, releasing her emotions through intense sparring to relieve any tensions.

The crumpled bedsheets, her swollen lips from kisses, their sweaty bodies—this pure bliss was far more reassuring to her than the misguided obsession that had unknowingly turned sour.

For her, being the sole favorite in the palace wasn’t necessarily a good thing. If the Crown Prince truly became infatuated with her, like in a typical “dominant prince’s heartthrob,” she might have to ask him to go to Tang Gege’s quarters for her own safety.

Wise people don’t fall into love; better to stew a whole goose in a pot.

So, she was just pretending to be angry—she couldn’t really tell the Crown Prince to leave and stop disturbing her sleep.

That would be too dismissive of him.

When the Crown Prince lay down beside her, he instinctively pulled her into his embrace. In the past, she would have curled up beside him, but tonight, she lay stiffly. Thinking of what she had just said about not being able to serve him, the Crown Prince asked, “Are you unwell?”

Cheng Wanyun just shot him a glance and stayed silent.

From her flushed face, he didn’t think she was physically ill. He then remembered her “little days.” He recalled that her cycle typically came at the beginning of each month, but he hadn’t heard from He Baozhong that it had arrived yet.

Could it be?

A flash of realization crossed Yinreng’s mind, and with excitement, he leaned closer to her ear. “Wanyun, could it be…?”

Cheng Wanyun didn’t intend to hide it from him. Although it had only been a short time, she wasn’t as inexperienced as before. She had become more aware of her body’s changes, and she suspected it was the case.

The Crown Prince was her greatest safeguard during this period, and there was no real benefit to hiding it from him, so she nodded. “It’s been over half a month since my cycle was due, and my appetite has changed. I haven’t called a doctor yet, though. I’m just guessing. If I’m wrong, please don’t laugh at me.”

Yinreng’s heart raced as he gazed at Cheng Wanyun’s oblivious face, feeling a strange sense of destiny.

It was the same when Wanyun was pregnant with E Linzhu. He had just learned from a dream that he would be deposed. He was in a state of confusion, feeling nothing but despair. It was then that he received the news of Wanyun’s pregnancy, which revived him, giving him the strength to fight against the cruel fate that awaited him.

Today, he had just learned of the candidate for the Crown Princess, and his heart was heavy. The actions of Li Gege had also delivered a blow to him.

Although he had matured mentally and wasn’t as affected by setbacks as before, his mood wasn’t good. Yet, despite these troubling circumstances, the news of Wanyun’s pregnancy brought him unexpected relief.

Yinreng couldn’t help but suspect that in his past life, he must have been wronged and died unfairly. Perhaps Heaven couldn’t bear it anymore and, in this life, granted Wanyun a blessing, so they could live peacefully and safely.

Cheng Wanyun was stunned by the Crown Prince’s gaze, feeling an overwhelming sense of affection from him…

Could it be…? Cheng Wanyun nearly reached out to shake his shoulder, ready to shout at him like a scene from a dramatic romance. “Your Highness, snap out of it! Love-struck thinking isn’t for you! Learn from your father, the Emperor! He’s great at being rational, level-headed, and responsible—a perfect central air conditioner!”

Yinreng couldn’t hear the roar in Cheng Wanyun’s heart. He simply wrapped his arm around her shoulders, feeling warmth and gratitude in his heart.

The next day, after the rain cleared, Cheng Wanyun was still struggling to recover from her panic over the idea that the Crown Prince might become love-stricken, when Yinreng had Hua La quietly summon the imperial doctor. The doctor entered through the small side door near the newly built corridor, stroked his beard after taking her pulse, and knelt to congratulate him: “Congratulations, Your Highness…”

Yinreng was in an excellent mood and generously rewarded the doctor. Afterward, he questioned the doctor carefully again, asking about the health of the gege, and whether there might be any concerns since the young princess was still under one year old and there was a second pregnancy.

The doctor had to conduct another careful examination, and upon seeing Cheng Wanyun’s glowing, healthy complexion, he repeatedly assured him: “The Gege is in very good health, and there is no concern.”

The doctor also mentioned that Cheng Wanyun had grown taller and healthier, and that having a second pregnancy now would make delivery easier than the first. Generally, the second pregnancy is quicker and more manageable, as long as she takes good care of herself.

Yinreng also had people go to Fourth Master’s place to bring back the nanny, as Song Gege was now almost fully recovered. To him, other geges were of no concern—he had to prioritize his Wanyun!

After sending off the doctor and arranging for the nanny to return, Yinreng turned to Cheng Wanyun, pulling her close and giving her a deep kiss.

Seeing the situation was not right, Qingxing and the others immediately backed off, stealthily retreating.

“Wanyun, you truly are my little lucky star,” Yinreng said between kisses, out of breath. He pulled her onto his lap and kissed her neck repeatedly, “Whenever something goes wrong, there’s always a pleasant surprise from you to comfort me.”

Cheng Wanyun wasn’t sure what troubles the Crown Prince had faced outside. Could it be about the marriage? But historically, the Crown Princess was said to be a kind person. Yet, from the gossip of the idle onlookers, especially from Tang Gege, it seemed that her family background didn’t quite measure up, considering the many noble families in the capital.

However, the Crown Prince had never seen the Crown Princess, so he didn’t know what his future wife would be like or whether they could get along. Despite his status as the Crown Prince, he still had to accept a blind marriage. Cheng Wanyun gently patted his head in sympathy.

“Your Highness, you should try to think positively, like I do. Those troubling things will soon no longer bother you. I always believe that every situation has two sides—blessings and misfortunes go hand in hand!”

Yinreng pinched her little nose. “You don’t seem to read much, but you speak quite philosophically.”

Cheng Wanyun puffed up her chest proudly. In her previous life, she had studied for over ten years—who said she didn’t read?

After they shared a tender moment, Cheng Wanyun got up to change the Crown Prince’s clothes. It was then that she heard some surprising news about Side Concubine Li.

At that moment, as she was fastening the last button at his neck, she was close enough to admire the sharp line of the Crown Prince’s jaw. Then, she noticed a small mole had appeared on his ear, faint in color, looking as though it had been pinched there by someone’s nail.

It stirred a feeling within her.

Cheng Wanyun swallowed nervously, and before she could stop herself, she boldly had the thought of reaching out to pinch it.

At that moment, Qingxing entered and saved the Crown Prince’s ear. She hesitated as she spoke, “Mama Jin is outside, kneeling and asking the Crown Prince to go see Side Concubine Li.”

Side Concubine Li never did things like this, and after having her son, she had become quite indifferent and no longer had any desires from the Crown Prince. So Cheng Wanyun turned her head in surprise, “Did she say what it was about?”

Qingxing shook her head.

“I’ll go take a look.” Yinreng said calmly.

Cheng Wanyun watched the Crown Prince leave, feeling certain there was something going on that she didn’t know about. But since the Crown Prince didn’t speak of it, it must have been something he thought was not appropriate for her to know. Her instinct to avoid danger and her nature of not prying into things she wasn’t meant to made her refrain from asking.

Yesterday, she had wanted to speak to the Crown Prince about her younger sister’s situation, but the topic was diverted, and she didn’t get the chance. Just as she was planning to wait until the Crown Prince returned from seeing Side Concubine Li to bring it up, Tianjin came in, his face full of joy, and said that Third Miss Cheng had been reinstated for the re-selection.

Cheng Wanyun was overjoyed.

Wanhe no longer needed to enter the palace and waste her life away! She still had the chance to find a good husband and live harmoniously. How wonderful! Moreover, being reinstated for the re-selection and then eliminated meant she had once been valued by the royal family—what an honorable matter. It would make her more competitive in marriage proposals in the future. Cheng Wanyun felt that her family was finally on a lucky streak!

Of course, she didn’t know—no one had expected that during Wanhe’s time in the palace waiting for the re-selection results, she had formed a good relationship with someone, and this connection would later help her and the Crown Prince navigate a very difficult situation.

Later that afternoon, Cheng Wanyun learned from Bitao and Tang Gege about what had happened with Side Concubine Li.

It was said that Side Concubine Li had a strange dream in which a Buddhist light illuminated everything, and a shabby monk appeared in the dream, enlightening her and causing her to experience sudden enlightenment. When she woke up, there was a red cinnabar mole between her eyebrows, identical to the red sandalwood Buddha beads given to her by the monk in the dream. Because of this, Side Concubine Li asked the Crown Prince’s permission to convert the side room of the Eastern Palace into a Buddhist temple, where she could house a statue of Shakyamuni. She intended to wear monk’s robes, grow her hair long, and devote herself to Buddhism, living a life of meditation and observing the precepts in the Eastern Palace, no longer concerned with worldly matters.

Bitao said, “The Crown Prince was very pleased that Side Concubine Li had encountered this Buddhist fate. He said that from the Empress Dowager to the Emperor, they were all believers in Buddhism. Now, Side Concubine Li had this opportunity, and it was a good deed to accumulate merit. He granted her request and even gifted her Buddhist scriptures and beads. He also ordered the little prince to move to the newly completed ‘Wei Yu Study,’ where the Crown Prince would temporarily oversee his education.”

Cheng Wanyun’s mouth dropped open, and her chopsticks fell.

Tang Gege immediately shared this information with her and also mentioned something no one knew. Last night, He Baozhong had gone to Side Concubine Li’s courtyard, and the next day, Side Concubine Li was “enlightened”!

This… well, everyone who understands would understand!

Thinking back to the previous targeted actions that had made her uneasy, it was obvious that the person behind them was the Crown Prince. But why did he suddenly deal with Side Concubine Li? Cheng Wanyun couldn’t think of any other possibility, and after thinking it over, she came to only one conclusion—perhaps the matter with Side Concubine Li’s dealings with Yang Gege and Wang Gege had been exposed!

She speculated that the Crown Prince must have suspected something for a long time, but without evidence, he had kept his patience. Now, with his decisive actions, he must have uncovered solid proof. Otherwise, Side Concubine Li wouldn’t be in such a helpless position.

Cheng Wanyun couldn’t clearly describe her feelings—her emotions toward Side Concubine Li were complex, and her feelings toward the Crown Prince’s actions were mixed with a sense of relief.

It seemed that the Crown Prince wasn’t someone ruled by emotions, like the so-called “love-struck fool.” He had methods, intelligence, and the depth to strategize. Despite all of Side Concubine Li’s schemes, in front of the Crown Prince, she had failed to escape his control, and in the end, all her efforts had been in vain.

But surprisingly, the Crown Prince still spared Side Concubine Li’s dignity. She couldn’t decide whether it was out of mercy or for his own reputation.

After all, the news of this would not be easy to hear.

The reason the Crown Prince decided to spare Side Concubine Li, Cheng Wanyun realized, was actually different from what she had thought.

Yesterday, He Baozhong had thrown the bloody confession in front of Side Concubine Li, causing her to collapse immediately.

She recognized the handwriting of Liu’er and knelt in silence on the floor for a long time.

He Baozhong conveyed the Crown Prince’s message: “Side Concubine Li, His Highness the Crown Prince has spoken. If you are wise and act according to the situation, Liu’er’s family will be spared. Otherwise, if it reaches the Emperor’s ears, you’ll all join each other in the underworld.”

At that moment, Side Concubine Li didn’t give up on trying to save herself. It was unclear how much time had passed, but eventually, she managed to suppress her trembling, fear, and resentment. She calmly put down the confession and knelt, saying, “Please tell His Highness the Crown Prince that I am fully aware of my deep sins. I ask for nothing but for my worthless life to be spared. The Li family has old ties with the Hesheli family. My father and two brothers are in the military, and His Highness can rest assured in using me.”

This had been in Side Concubine Li’s mind for a long time.

Side Concubine Li was different from Cheng Wanyun and Tang Gege. She didn’t relax her vigilance just because the results of the grand selection were over and no rumors about the Crown Princess had leaked out. Her background and perspective were much better than theirs. Raised in the capital, she understood the customary alliances between noble families very well.

The Crown Prince was already seventeen years old, and his brothers had already settled on their consorts. The Emperor wouldn’t allow the Crown Prince to delay any longer. First, there was no way to explain to the world, and second, the next grand selection wouldn’t take place until the 34th year of Kangxi’s reign, by which time the Crown Prince would be twenty!

Among the Eight Banners, no one from the Manchu or Mongolian banners had been chosen, which suggested that the Crown Princess would likely come from the Han Chinese banner. However, the Emperor hadn’t yet chosen a candidate, and none of the potential candidates were of the proper age for the selection this year.

The rumors about the selection of the Crown Princess had been circulating for a long time, with all sorts of gossip, but neither the Emperor nor the Crown Prince had shown any anger about it. In fact, they had allowed the rumors to escalate.

Side Concubine Li was sure the Emperor was going to settle the Crown Prince’s marriage this year, but she didn’t understand why the announcement had been delayed despite the whispers in the palace.

Perhaps this Crown Princess had an “extraordinary” background.

Another thing had also made Side Concubine Li suspect the Crown Princess’s identity.

Since returning from Mulan Paddock, the Crown Prince had been allowing Fifth Prince’s Liu Gege, Fourth Prince’s Song Gege, and Cheng Gege to be friendly with each other. Although the Crown Prince was usually gentle, he had never been so willing to lower his status to associate with his brothers like this before.

Although Side Concubine Li remained in the palace and had a son, she had never closed her ears to what was happening around her. When all the unusual events combined with the Crown Prince’s sudden change, everything became very clear.

— This year, the Crown Prince would undoubtedly be betrothed, and he had probably already known about the Emperor’s plans for his marriage!

Side Concubine Li’s eyes flashed with a strange light, and she even began to understand why the Crown Prince had chosen this moment to deal with her. Her previous arrangements probably hadn’t raised his suspicion, and it seemed that he had acted because the Yuqing Palace was soon to get a new mistress. He was preparing to place his people in the back courtyard, and her actions were just a matter of following the trail…

Side Concubine Li had a remarkable talent for navigating the complex intrigues of the palace.

She was certain that the future Crown Princess came from a humble background, possibly even one that made the Crown Prince uneasy, which was why he had worked hard to win over his two younger brothers, especially the powerful Fourth Prince. He also wanted to keep complete control over Yuqing Palace, unwilling to entrust it to the future Crown Princess.

This situation also proved something: since the Ling family was gone, there was no one left by the Crown Prince’s side who could be of help.

When the eunuch beside Side Concubine Li broke his coccyx and was bedridden, she had already prepared for the worst. She didn’t want to die. Even if she had to struggle on in a pitiful state, she had to stay alive. As long as she was alive, there was still a chance for a comeback. Once she died, everything would be over, and she wasn’t willing to accept that! Her father was a general in the Yellow Banner of the Han Army and a hereditary officer of the Yunqi Cavalry. Her two brothers were both officers as well. More importantly, the Li family had deep connections with the Hesheri family, and they were incredibly close.

When the Crown Prince heard Side Concubine Li’s words from He Baozhong, he couldn’t help but look at her in a new light.

Side Concubine Li was truly a resilient and intelligent person, but unfortunately, she applied these qualities in all the wrong ways, obsessing over things that couldn’t be shown in the light.

It could be said that Side Concubine Li’s suspicions were extremely close to the Crown Prince’s thoughts.

After having the third dream, the Crown Prince began to quietly approach his Fourth and Fifth brothers. Although Side Concubine Li mistakenly believed it was because he had already known the identity of the Crown Princess, it could be said that, by coincidence, she was correct in guessing his intentions, which aligned with the Crown Prince’s plans.

After learning that he would be deposed, the Crown Prince began to find ways to win over his brothers, so that he could later rely on their maternal families or the influence of their wives. The Fifth Prince had the favor of Concubines Yi, who, although from a humble background, had a father, San Guobao, who was the Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Works and the Deputy Commander of the Yellow Banner in Shenyang, overseeing the inner court’s security. When the Emperor visited Shenyang, he even stayed at the Guo family’s residence.

Even more impressive, Concubine Yi had nine brothers, all of whom were successful. Some held positions as the Deputy Chief of the Yellow Banner Mongol, the Treasurer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Doctor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Concubine Yi herself was always deeply favored by the Emperor. Apart from the Fifth Prince, she had the Ninth and Sixth Princesses. She didn’t side with the eldest son, and she wasn’t particularly close to herself, but the entire Guo family displayed loyalty to the Emperor, not forming factions or taking sides, which made them highly trusted by Emperor Kangxi.

This showed that San Guobao was a smart man, and his efforts in raising sons had paid off. There was no harm in forming a good relationship with the Guo family in advance.

There was no need to mention the Fourth Prince. Both the Tongjia clan and the Ulanara clan were influential families that made the Crown Prince, Yinreng, quite envious.

As for dealing with the Ling family and clearing out Yuqing Palace, the first was necessary because of the warning in his dream, and the second was for A Wan. If he were to marry, his spies would need to be present in the back courtyard, and he could never let the Crown Princess act freely. At least not until he fully understood her character; only then would he consider giving her any power.

Side Concubine Li, being as perceptive as she was, naturally understood the meaning behind Yinreng’s message through He Baozhong: “Know your place.”

Sure enough, she soon gave her answer. She would live in seclusion, shave her head, and dedicate herself to Buddhist practice, thus closing the door and no longer participating in worldly affairs. This allowed her to maintain some of her dignity.

Since this was the case, Yinreng instructed He Baozhong to rewrite her confession before delivering it to Emperor Kangxi, so he could be informed.

Yinreng also went to the Qianqing Palace to apologize, but Emperor Kangxi thought his actions were very appropriate. He appreciated that Yinreng wasn’t acting out of impulsive emotions and had considered the Li family’s reputation. This also demonstrated that Yinreng was preparing the back courtyard for his upcoming wedding, which made the Emperor very pleased. He granted them Buddhist scriptures and a statue of the Buddha as a reward.

Yinreng knew that Emperor Kangxi would react this way, which is why he felt confident to proceed. Soon, Side Concubine Li in Yuqing Palace had acquired a Buddhist fate, and her vow to spend her life praying for the royal family became the new gossip in the palace.

However, this topic didn’t last long in conversation, as it was quickly overshadowed by the Emperor’s two marriage edicts, which dominated the palace’s attention.

The first decree was for the marriage of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Princes, who were each granted a noble wife. This had already been known within the palace, so it was briefly discussed but didn’t attract much attention. But the second decree was the official selection of the Crown Princess!

It was as if a thunderbolt had struck above their heads. Once the name and background of the Crown Princess were revealed, everyone was stunned.

A dead silence filled the air.

Even Yinzhi, who had always hoped for the Crown Prince’s downfall, and Concubine Hui, upon hearing the decree, reacted with shock—one spilling soup while eating, the other pricking her hand with a needle. Together, they exclaimed, “Say that again, which banner is the Crown Princess from?!”