Concubine of the Eastern Palace (Qing Dynasty Time Travel)

Faced with varying degrees of shock and questioning from the palace ladies, the eunuch delivering the decree appeared somewhat at a loss. He raised his voice and repeated the proclamation again:

“On the 28th day, it is decreed to establish the Crown Princess. Officials are dispatched to offer sacrifices to Heaven and the ancestral temple. The Shi family (Guarjia clan) is appointed as the legitimate Consort of Crown Prince Yinreng. Shi, the daughter of Shi Wenbing, Commander of the Han Army’s Plain White Banner and a third-rank noble, is hereby named Crown Princess. You, Shi, are virtuous and gentle, filial and harmonious, with renowned grace and virtue. By decree, you are granted the title and position of Crown Princess. You are to uphold morality, harmonize the foundations of prosperity, embody the beauty of thriving families, and be the source of blessings for the nation. This is the Emperor’s will.”

This time, Concubine Hui heard it loud and clear, leaving no room for doubt.

The Han Army!

Commander of the Han Army!

The daughter of a Han Army commander!

In that instant, Concubine Hui felt as though flocks of magpies were chirping in the branches outside Yanxi Palace. Swallows were flying in to build nests under the eaves, bats had flown into the storerooms, and fireworks seemed to erupt from the ancestral tombs of the Nala clan.

In short, all auspicious omens had descended upon her!

Concubine Hui was so overjoyed that she felt dizzy as she rose to her feet. The palace maids rushed forward to support her, only to find that tears were streaming down her face like pearls.

Lowering her head, Concubine Hui dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

Her eldest son… he could finally rise to prominence!

As the eldest son born to a concubine, Yinzhi had no choice but to fight. In this world, what good fate has any eldest son of a concubine ever met? Just look at what happened to Daisan back in the day. Daisan even supported Hong Taiji’s ascension to the throne, and what was the result? The moment Hong Taiji became emperor, he turned against Daisan, stripping him of his influence and accusing him of fabricated crimes: overstepping boundaries, disregarding his ruler, greed, violating laws, and mistreating his subordinates.

Daisan, being clever, understood the emperor’s intentions. To save his life, he voluntarily retired to his residence. Yet, his three most promising sons still died one after another in battle or from illness. Throughout Hong Taiji’s reign, Daisan, due to being the “Great Beile”—older and higher in rank than Hong Taiji—was continually suppressed and excluded from court affairs.

Concubine Hui knew that Yinzhi could not follow Daisan’s path. The emperor was not Hong Taiji. Ever since the emperor publicly praised Yinzhi as “Da Qing Batu Luru,” there was no turning back. That title, meaning “the iron-willed hero and valiant general,” was once bestowed exclusively on Daisan by Nurhaci. Before Yinzhi, no one else had received this honor.

Her eldest son was not just some mindless brute—everyone knew the emperor’s true intentions.

Now that they had already offended the Crown Prince, there was no choice but to press on to the end.

With the Crown Prince marrying such a wife, it was as if the emperor himself had broken another of the Crown Prince’s arms. How could Concubine Hui not be elated? The weaker the Crown Prince’s faction became, the safer her eldest son would be.

The daughter of a Han Bannerman commander? Ha! Concubine Hui couldn’t help but laugh at the thought.

Even if this Shi family were truly Manchu, it couldn’t hide the fact that their household had fallen into decline.

So what if they were descendants of founding heroes? The Great Qing had a plethora of founding families among its Manchu nobility—Sony, Suksaha, Ebilun—each more illustrious than the Shi family. Besides, the Shi family’s ancestors were defectors from the Ming dynasty. Since Hong Taiji’s reign, four generations had passed without a single member of the Shi family rising to the ranks of powerful ministers like Mingzhu or Soni.

If the decree hadn’t explicitly mentioned Shi Wenbing, the commander and third-rank noble, Concubine Hui wouldn’t even know who he was.

In contrast, Yinzhi’s main wife hailed from the illustrious Jueluo clan, a prominent Manchu family, and was the daughter of a minister!

As Concubine Hui celebrated, she ordered the kitchens to warm a pot of wine. While enjoying a few cups during dinner, she received a note from Mingzhu, delivered by a trusted confidant. The note contained only four words: “Stay calm, don’t rush.”

Confused, Concubine Hui wondered why Mingzhu was advising patience when the emperor’s stance was already so clear. If they didn’t take this opportunity to thoroughly crush the Crown Prince, wouldn’t it be a wasted chance?

She burned the note and dismissed the thought.

Buoyed by her good spirits, she gave her confidants a few instructions before stepping out onto the veranda, gazing into the distance. The evening glow painted half the sky red, and the fiery clouds were scattered by the wind into a haze of brilliant colors. It was truly a beautiful day.

For the first time, her eldest son had managed to overshadow the Crown Prince. What a delight… truly, what a delight!

While Yanxi Palace was filled with joy, the atmosphere at the residences of Concubine Yi and Concubine Rong was much more somber.

In the Palace of Yikun, Concubine Yi immediately summoned her fifth son, Yinqi, from Ning Shou Palace. Gently wiping the sweat off her silly son’s head, she smiled warmly and said, “My dear Fifth, how’s your Chinese character practice coming along? The Emperor will test you again next month!”

Yinqi felt as if lightning had struck him on a clear day. “What?”

“For the next few days, don’t go anywhere. Stay in your room and study diligently.” Concubine Yi lightly patted her son’s shiny forehead.

After enduring a tasteless meal with his mother, Yinqi returned to the princes’ residence, looking utterly defeated. Resigned to his fate, he forced himself to study.

The Crown Princess’s background was so unimpressive… such implications seemed ominous. After her son left, Concubine Yi unfolded a letter her father, Sangguan Bao, had entrusted to her elder brother to deliver. The letter contained just four words: “Preserve yourself first.”

Her father was right. Concubine Yi frowned slightly. The Crown Prince had been getting closer to her fifth son lately. If something were to happen… she needed to devise a way to help him extricate himself.

—

Concubine Rong had similar thoughts. In her palace’s small Buddhist shrine, she knelt before a statue of the compassionate Buddha, holding prayer beads and quietly praying. However, her mind was preoccupied with trying to decipher the Emperor’s intentions.

The Shi family’s status might be more than enough for an ordinary prince, but to elevate a Shi daughter to Crown Princess seemed too humble a match.

Why would the Emperor use this marriage to suppress the Crown Prince? Was he truly dissatisfied with him?

Yinzhong… fortunately, he had been preoccupied with compiling books recently and hadn’t been visiting the palace much. It was probably best to keep it that way. In June, he had moved out alongside the eldest prince. Their residences weren’t far apart, so perhaps this was an opportunity for him to strengthen his ties with the eldest.

Though being opportunistic might not sound commendable, sometimes placing bets on both sides was necessary for self-preservation.

Concubine Rong looked up at the serene face of the Buddha and softly chanted, “Amitabha.”

—

In Yonghe Palace, Concubine De ate an extra bowl of rice during dinner. Reclining on a heated couch, she watched her fourteenth son awkwardly grip a brush with his short, chubby hands. He lacked the strength to control it and ended up with ink spots all over his face.

A sense of satisfaction welled up within her.

When the first decree was read, it had taken all of Concubine De’s willpower to keep her face composed.

So, the Fourth Prince’s wife was indeed from the Ulanara clan.

Even though she had already known this, actually hearing the decree left her unable to suppress the hatred rising from her heart.

But then, the next decree—the one appointing the Crown Princess—shocked her. After all, she, of the Uya clan, was at least from the inner court of the upper three banners and one of the Emperor’s closest servants. But the Shi family? What were they?

When the decree naming the Crown Princess was read, Concubine De’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

A moment later, a flicker of pleasure arose within her.

The Fourth Prince had aligned himself so closely with the Crown Prince, showing such reverence for his elder brother and eagerly presenting himself as the perfect virtuous prince. And now? The Fourth Prince would surely regret ignoring her advice. The Emperor was still in the prime of his life—what good could possibly come from siding with the Crown Prince so early?

Yet, he was still her son, so she intended to offer him some guidance. Summoning her trusted eunuch, she said, “Go to the princes’ residence and deliver a message to the Fourth Prince. Tell him…”

Concubine De paused for a moment before continuing, “Next month, the Emperor will examine the princes’ studies. Tell the Fourth Prince to read the chapter on the ‘Tenth Year of Duke Heng’ from ‘Zuo Zhuan’ carefully.”

The eunuch took the order and left. When Yinzhen heard his mother’s message, he paused briefly, and then his face darkened.

He said nothing, merely waved the eunuch away.

There was no need to consult ‘Zuo Zhuan’; Yinzhen already understood what Concubine De meant—’a man with a prized possession invites his own downfall’.

The Crown Prince had done nothing wrong, yet his position made him culpable.

Yinzhen pressed his lips tightly together. Concubine De’s intention was clear: she wanted him to distance himself from the Crown Prince. But how did she see him? As someone who followed for profit and abandoned ship at the first sign of loss? Was that how his mother viewed him—so opportunistic? His loyalty to the Crown Prince wasn’t for gain; it was because the Crown Prince was his elder brother, someone who had cared for and protected him!

His mother had underestimated him.

Yinzhen found it laughable and became even more resolute in his decision.

He had always been true to his principles, acting with a clear conscience. Why should he tread cautiously or fearfully?

—

At Yongshou Palace, Noble Concubine Niu Hulu listened to the decree appointing the Crown Princess without so much as raising an eyebrow. She rewarded the eunuch who delivered the decree and then summoned Wang Ayu to enjoy some paintings together.

After the selection process, Wang Ayu remained in Zhongcui Palace to learn court etiquette. Under Noble Concubine Niu Hulu’s deliberate protection, neither the supervising matrons nor the head eunuchs dared to trouble this young woman of modest origins. After all, she was under the care of the Noble Concubine herself.

Unlike Cheng Wanyun in the past, Wang Ayu had only been learning the rules for about a month before being swiftly assigned to live in a side hall of Yongshou Palace. Noble Concubine Niu Hulu even arranged for experienced matrons, capable maids, and eunuchs to assist her, making Wang Ayu deeply grateful to the Concubine.

Every few days, Noble Concubine Niu Hulu would summon her to chat or share meals, always bestowing generous rewards.

Unlike Concubines Yi and Rong, Noble Concubine Niu Hulu had her own interpretation of the marriage arrangement. She did not see it as a sign of the Emperor’s dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince. On the contrary, she believed the Emperor would continue to favor the Crown Prince.

The Shi family’s humble status was a deliberate political move by the Emperor for the sake of the court. The title of “Crown Princess” carried too much weight. Had the Emperor chosen someone from a noble family like the Niu Hulu clan, it would have immediately disrupted the balance of power at court. The Crown Prince’s faction would have become unstoppable, and Mingzhu alone would never be able to counter Suoetu.

By appointing the Shi family, the Emperor’s move targeted the previous dynasty’s officials rather than the Crown Prince himself. Of course, the Crown Prince inevitably bore some collateral damage and gained no advantage from this arrangement. Still, whether the Shi family rose or fell was entirely up to the Emperor. If necessary, once Suoetu was no longer a threat, the Emperor could elevate Shi Wenbing with titles and ranks, just as he had supported the Tongjia clan in the past.

After all, wasn’t the Tongjia clan also once in decline?

Noble Concubine Niu Hulu had a far-reaching vision and had discerned Kangxi’s true purpose in these arrangements. Through her father and brothers, she had learned that the court was preparing for military action—likely a renewed campaign against Galdan. At such a critical moment, the Emperor could not afford any instability in the court.

Sacrificing the Crown Prince’s marriage to ensure political stability was a worthwhile trade.

Only the Crown Prince would have to endure untold grievances in the future. But for Noble Concubine Niu Hulu, this outcome was ideal.

Smiling warmly, she had a maid offer Wang Ayu a seat, speaking to her with even greater gentleness and kindness. Wang Ayu, overwhelmed by the favor, felt both honored and flustered.

The Crown Prince, now deprived of the powerful support of his wife’s clan, was left only with the Hesheri family by his side—already under suspicion from the Emperor due to concerns about the dangers of maternal relatives in politics. Sooner or later, he would need the Niu Hulu clan’s help.

Unfortunately, her earlier scheme to use the Cheng family to align herself with the Crown Prince had been seen through by the Emperor. When the roster of eligible women from the Bordered Blue Banner was sent over, Noble Concubine Niu Hulu couldn’t help but sigh.

This would certainly anger the Emperor and heighten his wariness.

However, she did not regret her actions. The Emperor would not punish her too harshly—he still needed the Niu Hulu clan and wouldn’t take drastic measures against them. Moreover, under the protection of the late Empress Xiaozhao’s legacy, she held a steady, unshakable position despite lacking favor.

If only Cheng Wanhe could have entered the palace alongside Wang Ayu, this strategy would have been even more perfect. What a pity! Still, with Wang Ayu alone, she could gain some immediate benefits. At the very least, seeing Wang Ayu might ease the Emperor’s anger toward her.

Looking at Wang Ayu’s modest and respectful demeanor, Noble Concubine Niu Hulu’s smile deepened. As Wang Ayu lowered her head to examine the painting, the Concubine signaled her maid with a glance. The maid discreetly left the room and walked to the gates of Yongshou Palace before instructing a eunuch to head to Qianqing Palace.

“Go to Qianqing Palace. If His Majesty is available, tell him that Noble Concubine invites him to view some paintings.”

The eunuch quickly complied, hurrying off toward Qianqing Palace. The maid watched as he disappeared down the long palace alley before returning to her duties, giving her mistress a subtle nod.

Noble Concubine Niu Hulu approached Wang Ayu and said with a smile, “I recall you mentioned that you have some skill in the arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Since we’re admiring paintings, merely viewing them feels lacking. Why not try your hand at copying one of these famous works? Let’s see how skilled you truly are.”

Blushing, Wang Ayu replied anxiously, “How could I dare show such amateur skills before Your Grace?”

“There’s no need to be so formal here. Someone, bring the brushes and ink!”

Noble Concubine Niu Hulu had Wang Ayu sit at a desk by the window to paint quietly, while she herself sat nearby, sipping tea. The steam from the hot tea rose as she blew on it gently and took a small sip. Lifting her gaze, she saw the bamboo shadows swaying by the small lattice window, framing Wang Ayu’s elegant silhouette.

Bright yet serene, she truly was a charming sight.

Not long after, the faint sound of carriage wheels and cracking whips echoed from outside the palace. Before the attendants could announce anything, Noble Concubine Niu Hulu rose with a smile, her gaze fixed on the long corridor where no figure was yet visible.

In her heart, she mused silently:

‘Just wait. When the Emperor realizes that those who thought they understood his intentions have taken this opportunity to humiliate the Crown Prince, he will be furious and will find ways to elevate the people around the Crown Prince again.’

‘Those who miscalculated will only reap what they’ve sown!’

That night, the sound of the ‘Phoenix Chime of Spring Favor’ echoed through Yongshou Palace.

—

At Yuqing Palace, the decree had also been delivered.

When Tang Gege heard the news, her face turned pale. She immediately dropped everything and rushed to Cheng Gege’s quarters.

After receiving the decree, the Crown Prince had returned to Chunben Hall, ordering no one to disturb him. Seeing He Baozhong’s sullen face as he guarded the door, Tang Gege surmised that the Crown Prince was likely in a foul mood.

And who wouldn’t be? Who could be pleased to have such a Crown Princess thrust upon them?

She and Cheng Gege had clearly been too optimistic before. Now, it felt like their joy had turned to sorrow.

The Crown Prince’s wedding preparations were truly overwhelming in scope. No matter how much effort was put into speeding things up, it would still take at least half a year. At the latest, by next year, they would have to kneel and welcome another mistress of Yuqing Palace.

Tang Gege let out a sigh.

The time wasn’t too long, but it wasn’t short either.

Tang Gege felt it was necessary to have a serious discussion with Cheng Gege about what to do in the future. Although the Crown Princess came from a humble background, as long as she was the Crown Princess, she would naturally outrank them. They, in turn, would naturally become her servants.

Morning and evening greetings, standing upright all day as required by palace rules, finding excuses to punish this one or that one—Tang Gege had seen it all when she used to work as a palace maid. When Concubine Xi was in a bad mood, she would call in junior concubines just to vent her anger. In short, whatever form of torment they chose would always be justifiable, and no one would care.

She is the Crown Princess, you are a mere concubine—you just have to endure it.

The only consolation was that the Crown Prince, with his decisive methods, had already sent Side Concubine Li, his secondary Concubine, away to practice Buddhism before the Crown Princess officially entered the household. At least this meant there was no need to worry about Side Concubine Li teaming up with the Crown Princess to make life difficult for them.

However, Cheng Wanyun seemed completely oblivious to this reality.

She truly didn’t have Tang Gege’s insight on such matters. Back at her family home, Master Cheng had never taken a concubine (mainly because they were too poor to afford one), and the Cheng family’s inner courtyard was simple and clean. Madam Wu held complete control, and the only conflicts arose from the usual disputes between a stepmother and her stepdaughter over resources for their children.

In Cheng Wanyun’s mind, she could simply treat the Crown Princess with the same attitude she had toward Side Concubine Li: show respect and keep her distance. That should suffice. Besides, she now had E Linzhu to take care of and was also pregnant again, which gave her an excuse to avoid interacting much with the Crown Princess.

So, when Tang Gege hurried over, Cheng Wanyun was leisurely giving E Linzhu a bath.

The sun was blazing that day, and the cold water left to warm in the sunlight had turned into lukewarm water. Cheng Wanyun simply let E Linzhu bathe in the courtyard. The child’s custom-made wooden bathtub, crafted by the imperial workshop, was square and spacious but not too deep, just enough for E Linzhu to sit with her shoulders peeking over the edge.

The bottom of the tub was engraved with anti-slip patterns, making it safe for her to splash around. With someone watching nearby, there was no worry about her choking on water.

Cheng Wanyun had even made various bath toys, such as little wooden ducks and crabs. Though they couldn’t float like modern rubber toys, E Linzhu loved fishing for them in the water, laughing like an otter catching fish, her joy splashing everywhere.

Qingxing had brought over a small stool and was sitting nearby, keeping an eye on the gleefully naked E Linzhu playing in the water.

From a distance, Tang Gege could hear E Linzhu laughter. When she stepped through the gate and saw the scene, she almost doubted the news she had heard. How could Cheng Gege remain so unaffected?

Even the maids, Qingxing and Bitao, looked perfectly calm and composed.

Tang Gege walked in, bewildered. E Linzhu spotted her and became even more excited, slapping the water with her chubby little hands and babbling, “Auntie,” as if she were welcoming her.

“You little monkey,” Tang Gege said, instantly won over by the child’s cheerful face. She crouched down and patted E Linzhu head, only for her damp little hands to grab at her clothes.

“Oh no, you’ve soaked Auntie’s clothes!”

Laughing, she scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on the little one, making E Linzhu laugh even louder. Her round, black eyes turned into crescent moons as she giggled with delight.

Cheng Wanyun and Tang Gege both felt their hearts melt into little bubbles of joy at the sight.

“Wait.” Tang Gege suddenly remembered why she had come and paused, feeling a bit dazed. How had she so naturally joined in like that? It was truly baffling!

“Wanyun, come here, I need to talk to you,” Tang Gege said, tugging on Cheng Wanyun’s sleeve. “Take E Linzhu out of the bath now. Her skin will wrinkle if she stays in too long. It’s hot in summer, yes, but don’t let her play too long, or she might catch a chill.”

Cheng Wanyun noticed her unusually serious demeanor and had a hunch about what it might be. She called for Mama Geng and Mama Suo to help E Linzhu dry off and get dressed, then led Tang Gege into the warm chamber. Once Qingxing had served tea, Cheng Wanyun dismissed all the servants.

Tang Gege sighed heavily. “We were wrong.”

“Well, that’s for the best. The Crown Princess… she’ll come eventually. Instead of living in constant fear of when she’ll arrive, it’s better for her to come sooner rather than later,” Cheng Wanyun said calmly. She sipped on her jujube tea, its sweet aroma wafting through the room. Since discovering her pregnancy, she had given up all kinds of regular teas and switched to health teas.

Tang Gege looked at her with frustration. “You! Always looking on the bright side! We’re completely unprepared. When the Crown Princess comes, won’t we just end up like fish on her chopping board?”

Cheng Wanyun, however, recalled that even when the Crown Prince was deposed and placed under house arrest, he had still fathered several children. Historically, the Crown Princess seemed to have only one daughter and never bore a legitimate son, but the Crown Prince’s other children, both legitimate and illegitimate, appeared to have fared reasonably well.

The Crown Princess should be a virtuous person, right?

It was said that her historical reputation was quite good. After the Crown Prince’s second deposition, she fell ill, and Emperor Kangxi even made an exception to send imperial physicians to treat her. After her death, she was buried with the honors befitting the wife of a prince, with a eulogy composed by the Imperial Academy.

Cheng Wanyun thought to herself: the Crown Princess must at least be someone like her stepmother, Madam Wu—a capable household manager, smart, and practical. Given her background and upbringing, she probably wouldn’t stoop to petty or malicious acts.

“But can we really pin all our hopes on the Crown Princess being kind-hearted?” Tang Gege took a deep breath. “To outsiders, even Side Concubine Li in our palace has a stellar reputation! People say she’s an excellent housekeeper and very gentle.”

Cheng Wanyun fell silent.

Was history even accurate? Cheng Wanyun wasn’t sure. After all, much of what was recorded about the Crown Prince was false.

In truth, she was a bit in denial. After all, even the Crown Prince couldn’t reject a marriage he didn’t want; he could only sulk behind closed doors. What could she and Tang Gege possibly do to oppose the Crown Princess?

The more she thought about it, the more pointless it seemed.

Tang Gege didn’t have any brilliant ideas either. The two sighed together several times, but in the end, they couldn’t come up with any solid plan.

Finally, they decided to focus on securing their immediate surroundings by tightening control over their close servants and appointing spies among the cleaning staff in the main hall. This way, they could exchange information and establish a round-the-clock strategic partnership in their diplomatic relations with the Crown Princess.

At least when facing the crown princess, they must gain the upper hand in the information war.

In the Chunben Hall study, Yinreng, who was mistakenly thought by Cheng Wanyun to be sulking, was actually going through the information that E Chu had gathered about the Shi family. A few days ago, he had already learned that the Crown Princess would be from the Shi family. Although he could not oppose the Emperor directly, he couldn’t remain unprepared either. He needed to understand the Shi family and Shi herself to better plan his next steps.

Once the imperial decree was issued, it truly became “a stone that stirs up a thousand waves,” and Yinreng could sense the various movements within the palace.

As for the Emperor’s reason for arranging this marriage, Yinreng had gradually figured it out.

It all came down to balance.

So now, Yinreng was calm and composed, deliberately instructing He Baozhong not to deal with the people who were probing the East Palace’s secrets, waiting for the clowns to make a scene. The Emperor would surely feel even more guilty and remorseful towards him.

Yinreng was just waiting for the right moment, even allowing He Baozhong and E Chu to push things along when they caught those people by the small details. The weaker and more precarious the East Palace became, the more certain Yinreng was that he would be compensated by the Emperor.

When the time came, asking for a secondary Concubine position for A Wan wouldn’t be so difficult.

As the golden sun set and the night deepened, He Baozhong quietly entered and lit the lamp. Seeing that the crown prince was calm and even leisurely reading, he cautiously mentioned that Tang Gege had gone to the back house.

Yinreng was still choosing a new name for A Wan’s unborn child. He had thought of many names for girls, but also included several Manchu boy names. Deep down, he was hoping that A Wan would bear a son first.

It wasn’t that he didn’t like girls; it was just that he hoped A Wan could have at least one son, adding another layer of security.

So when he heard He Baozhong’s careful tone, Yinreng smiled. After a moment of thought, he instructed He Baozhong to hand over the accounts and the label boxes from the Imperial Kitchen to Tang Gege. “Side Concubine Li wants to close herself off for Buddhist practice, and you can’t manage all the trivial matters in the rear courtyard. Let her take charge of them from now on. Just tell others that it’s my order.”

No, He Baozhong silently cried out in his heart. He could manage everything; he was capable!

But Yinreng didn’t want He Baozhong to hold all the power alone. There had to be a balance between the servants and the underlings in the house, which was why there was Hua La. This way, He Baozhong would be more loyal to his position as the most trusted person by the crown prince in order to maintain his status.

With a serious expression, He Baozhong went to fetch the label boxes and accounts, deep in thought. ‘Is the crown prince trying to promote Tang Gege? Why not let Cheng Gege take charge instead? Doesn’t he prefer Cheng Gege more?’