Concubine of the Eastern Palace (Qing Dynasty Time Travel)

Autumn had arrived, but the weather hadn’t cooled down. The “autumn tiger” was in full force, heating the stone slabs of the Forbidden City to the point where they could scald feet.

It was the hottest time of the day, and Yinqi stepped into the gates of Yikun Palace. The palace was quiet; under the scorching sun, not a soul was in sight. He roused a dozing eunuch slumped on the doorstep and asked, “Is Her Ladyship resting?”

The eunuch quickly wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, greeted Yinqi with a bow, and said, “Greetings, Fifth Master! No, she’s not resting. Lady Guo Luo and Lady Wan Liuha are keeping Her Ladyship company in the east wing, playing cards.”

Yinqi nodded. Lady Guo Luo was Concubine Yi’s younger half-sister. Ever since entering the palace, she had depended on her elder sister and lived in Yikun Palace. Lady Wan Liuha, who entered the palace through the selection process in the 23rd year of Kangxi’s reign, was a lesser-known figure who resided in a side hall of Yikun Palace. She was raising the Twelfth Prince. Yinqi was familiar with all these people, so he said no more and walked through the front hall of the main building, around a long corridor, until he heard his mother’s cheerful laughter.

Following the sound, Yinqi entered the east wing. Sure enough, inside was a square card table where Concubine Yi was playing Ma Diao, accompanied by Lady Guo Luo, Lady Wan Liuha, and a palace maid to complete the group.

The palace maids and eunuchs attending to them saw him enter and quickly knelt in small groups to greet him. The two concubines also put down their cards immediately and stood to greet Yinqi.

“Ah, Fifth Son is here,” Concubine Yi said just as she finished a winning round. With her son present, she lost interest in continuing the game and instructed Lady Guo Luo and Lady Wan Liuha to go to the side hall for tea. She also asked them to check on Ninth Son, who had been unusually quiet. “I haven’t heard him making a ruckus all afternoon—I wonder what mischief he’s up to! Yesterday, that rascal used up all my rouge and powder, saying he was experimenting with new colors. Then he had the audacity to demand a thousand taels from me as capital to start a cosmetics business! He nearly made me faint with anger!”

Lady Guo Luo rose and covered her mouth with a laugh. “The Ninth Prince is truly a child of the Guo Luo clan.”

The Guo Luo clan, in charge of the imperial estates and ranches in Shengjing, were naturally adept at business. Every child in their family began learning abacus and arithmetic after their first birthday and started trading under the guidance of elders by the age of ten.

Yinqi scratched his head awkwardly after hearing this. ‘What does that make him? Just because he’s not as clever, does that mean he isn’t his mother’s child? No wonder this aunt was never favored; her way of speaking was bound to offend people!’

After the two concubines left and the attendants were dismissed, Concubine Yi gracefully rose, holding her round fan, and moved to the cool chaise. She waved the fan lightly at Yinqi and said, “Fifth Son, come here.”

Yinqi walked over sulkily.

Concubine Yi tapped him lightly with her fan and said, “Stop looking so glum. Simple people have their own kind of blessings! You’ve been studying behind closed doors for several days, and didn’t the Emperor praise your progress? You’ll be getting married soon, so you must learn to be more steady.”

Yinqi was baffled. He had always been straightforward and honest, much like the Empress Dowager, and wasn’t skilled at catching on to subtle hints. He pulled over a chair, sat down, and asked, “Why did you call me here, Mother?”

Though Concubine Yi had borne several children and was now older, she still possessed the enchanting beauty that could captivate hearts. She glanced at Yinqi from the corner of her eye, her gaze sharp with a hint of cunning. “Are you aware of the Emperor’s plan to renovate Qianqing palace?”

Yinqi looked confused. “No, I haven’t heard about it.”

Concubine Yi was exasperated, nearly poking his nose with her fan. She snorted coldly and said, “Of course you wouldn’t know about such a lucrative and favorable task! The Emperor has assigned the Crown Prince to oversee the project, and he’s picked a few brothers to each take charge of specific aspects and work with the Ministry of Works. You’re getting married in a couple of years. If you don’t seize the chance to earn some benefits from this task before your wife enters the household, do you plan to rely on me for support after you’re married?”

Yinqi retorted, “But Mother, didn’t you tell me before not to visit Yuqing Palace too often?”

Concubine Yi was momentarily speechless, nearly choking in frustration. She raised her fan and swatted her foolish son’s head. ‘Wasn’t she worried before that the Emperor might be displeased with the Crown Prince due to the ‘Empty Horse Rations’ scandal? If there were punishments, she didn’t want her dim-witted son to get dragged into it! That’s why she told him to stay away and avoid suspicion. But who would have thought he’d take her words so literally and not adapt to the changing situation?’

Now it was clear that the Emperor wanted to save face for the Crown Prince. Hadn’t he recently made a grand show of holding the Crown Prince’s and his grandson’s hands, escorting them out of Qianqing palace for all to see? It was a public declaration to the entire court and harem: the Crown Prince still held a special place in the Emperor’s heart.

‘And if nothing else, shouldn’t he be getting involved just for the various profits and benefits of the palace renovation project?’ If the Ninth Prince weren’t so young and unreliable, she would’ve pushed him forward like the Eighth Prince, whom the First Prince and Noble Concubine Hui had recently tried to promote.

A few days ago, Noble Concubine Hui and the First Prince had deliberately visited the Qianqing palace to curry favor, even securing an opportunity for the Eighth Prince to participate in the project. Their efforts had even softened the Emperor’s previously harsh view of the First Prince, who was now seen in a more favorable light.

The Emperor had recently settled the ‘Empty Horse Rations’ scandal by returning the report with his judgment: He docked one year’s salary from Shang Zhi, removed Sol from his role as minister of the Imperial Stables, and demoted him to a low-ranking clerk. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince and Chief Steward Ling remained unharmed. Ironically, it was Noble Concubine Hui’s faction that suffered the most!

To make matters worse, the Emperor later berated Mingzhu in court for “delaying matters,” an accusation without much basis. The scolding was so severe that Mingzhu retired to his home to reflect.

When Concubine Yi heard about this, she had clutched her chest and gasped for air. Thankfully, she hadn’t foolishly joined in on kicking the Crown Prince while he was down. She had only told Yinqi to stay home and study. Look how tightly the Emperor is protecting the Crown Prince! He’s practically shouting, “You all better listen: only I am allowed to criticize the Crown Prince—no one else!”

Shortly after, the Emperor granted the Crown Prince’s request to elevate his concubine, Lady Cheng, to the rank of Side Concubine and frequently praised and rewarded him.

Although the Emperor had stopped taking the Crown Prince to court after his brief regency during the campaign against Galdan last year, this situation had changed in recent months. The Emperor had resumed allowing the Crown Prince to accompany him in managing state affairs from dawn to dusk.

The Crown Prince once again became inseparable from his father, and the political winds in the palace shifted accordingly.

However, in October, news arrived that Shi Wenbing had fallen ill and died on his way to the capital.

The Emperor, upon hearing the news, took swift action. He made an exception to allow Shi Wenbing’s eldest son to inherit his title immediately, retrieved the records of the candidates from the halted imperial concubine selection, and hastily gifted the Crown Prince two new concubines. He even assigned the lucrative task of renovating Qianqing palace to comfort the Crown Prince’s deeply wounded heart.

Still, this didn’t change the grim reality for the Shi family. The loss of its two most prominent pillars in succession was devastating. The Crown Princess now had to observe mourning rites, which delayed the wedding. Shi Wenbing’s two sons, already in mourning for their grandfather Shi Huashan, now had to mourn for their father. Combined, this meant six consecutive years of mourning!

In a family already short on manpower in the capital, six years of mourning effectively obliterated the next generation’s prospects. Even someone as unrelated as Concubines Yi felt pity for the Crown Prince. ‘How could his luck be so terrible? If Shi Wenbing had died just a little earlier, the imperial decree conferring the title of Crown Princess wouldn’t have been issued, and the Emperor might have had a chance to reconsider. But now the decree had been announced to the entire empire. Even if the Emperor regretted it, there was no way to reverse it.’

Of course, it was impossible to retract the decree. How could the Emperor ever admit he had made a mistake?

Leaving aside the Crown Prince’s troubles, the opportunity to earn merit and profit from the renovation of Qianqing palace was still worth fighting for. The Emperor’s intentions were always unpredictable, and Yinqi maintaining a neutral stance with the Crown Prince wasn’t a bad approach either.

Concubine Yi didn’t plan to personally ask Kangxi for this matter. Instead, she wanted Yinqi to seek out the Crown Prince himself to appear more sincere. She rubbed her son’s broad, shiny forehead and said, “Mother has already calculated everything. Fourth Brother is always close to the Crown Prince, so he’s sure to have a share in this. Eighth Brother was given permission by your father to take part, too. Qianqing palace is massive—adding you to the project won’t make a difference. The day is still early; go now and submit your request at Yuqing Palace. And don’t let Third Brother beat you to it!”

Luckily, the Third Prince was out of the palace because Concubine Rong had recently fallen ill and didn’t have the energy to scheme for her son. Besides, her son was already working on revising the calendar, which might make him too proud to care about this. In any case, Concubine Yi believed her silly Fifth Son now had a rare opportunity to gain the upper hand.

“Quick, go, go!” Concubine Yi began shooing him away, tapping her son on the backside with her fan. Yinqi, mortified and furious, tried to dodge her as she added, “Use the same excuse that the Eldest Brother used to help Eighth Brother get this job. Say that you’re struggling financially and worry that your future bride will look down on you. Wait—no, don’t bring up your bride in front of the Crown Prince! Just say that your concubine, Lady Liu, is pregnant, and you’re afraid you won’t be able to support your growing family…”

The Eighth Prince could use such excuses because his situation was genuinely difficult. His mother, Noble Lady Wei, was from the penal servant class and lacked status, and he himself didn’t enjoy much favor from the Emperor. But with the wealthy Guwalgiya family backing him, Concubine Yi ranked second among the Four Consorts, and he was raised under the Empress Dowager’s care—when had Yinqi ever lacked money? How could he claim to be so poor that he couldn’t support a wife and children? The Crown Prince would surely laugh at him!

Yinqi dared not contradict his mother, so he reluctantly agreed, sweating profusely as he left Yikun Palace. On the way, he decided he’d have to come up with his own excuse. Perhaps he could say he’d been idle for too long and needed something to do? Though it didn’t sound great, at least it was more believable!

So, braving the scorching autumn sun, Yinqi made his way to Yuqing Palace.

Meanwhile, in Qianqing palace, Kangxi rested his head on one hand, frowning as he sat on the dragon throne with his eyes closed, trying to clear his thoughts.

The Crown Prince’s marriage was indeed troubling him now, filling him with regret. Who could have predicted that Shi Wenbing, a military officer, would have such a weak constitution? He couldn’t even survive escorting his daughter to the capital for her marriage preparations. How absurd! Where could one even find logic in such a situation?

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau had already selected an auspicious date, and the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department were busy preparing for the Crown Prince’s grand wedding. But with the sudden misfortune in the Crown Princess’s family, everything had to change. These logistical adjustments were minor compared to the larger problem. Kangxi hadn’t expected the Shi family to end up in such a state. With Shi Wenbing alive, the Shi family was at least a respectable mid-level household. Kangxi could have elevated Shi Wenbing’s rank slightly to make the match more suitable for the Crown Prince. But now that he was dead, the marriage appeared as if Kangxi, as the Emperor and father, was deliberately slighting the Crown Prince.

Kangxi felt deeply irritated. As the Emperor, he had the power to decree that the wedding proceed as planned, but with the Crown Princess in deep mourning, what would be the point of such a marriage? It would only add to Baocheng’s burdens.

A three-year mourning period meant Baocheng wouldn’t marry until the 34th year of Kangxi’s reign—by then, he would already be 21 years old. Kangxi sighed heavily. When he opened his eyes, he saw Liang Jiugong enter, bowing deeply, and said with a smile, “Your Majesty, the two Korean dishes you sent to the Crown Prince have been well received. His Highness greatly enjoyed them and said he would have two fresh dishes prepared tonight to share with the Fourth and Fifth Princes for Your Majesty to try.”

“The Crown Prince has always been filial,” Kangxi replied, his previously troubled expression softening as if the ice and snow in his heart had melted. Thankfully, Baocheng harbored no resentment over the situation. On the contrary, he even comforted Kangxi, urging him to look on the bright side. He said that blessings and misfortunes often go hand in hand; perhaps the trials the Shi family was enduring would motivate its younger generation to work harder and restore the family’s former glory.

Nowadays, Baocheng often gathered his younger brothers for reading and discussions. He even shared opportunities for earning merit with them, allowing them to accumulate achievements. That way, when they left the palace to establish their own residences in the future, they could secure noble titles more easily. Kangxi was deeply moved when he heard this and grew even more kindly disposed toward the Crown Prince.

—

At Yuqing Palace, the young eunuch stationed at the gate had just ushered Yinqi inside when the eunuch delivering food to the Crown Prince from Qianqing palace had departed. Yinqi immediately spotted the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince seated in the west wing, warming a pot of fruit wine and enjoying some light refreshments at a small table.

The table held two dishes of foreign origin—sticky rice chicken and spicy kimchi rice cake soup, offerings from Joseon envoys that Kangxi had ordered to be delivered. There were also two simpler dishes: pan-fried radish and egg and sweet bean paste cakes, both made by Lady Cheng Wanyun.

Since this was not a formal meal, the Crown Prince had only ordered a few dishes. Now that the “empty horse stipend” case had been resolved and the Emperor had not pursued Chief Steward Ling’s embezzlement, the Crown Prince had become even more frugal. Thus, after discussing matters with the Fourth Prince until midday, they had settled for this modest meal.

It was clear that the sweet bean paste cakes were originally intended for the Crown Prince’s sons, Akedun and E Linzhu, but had ended up being intercepted by their father.

The Crown Prince noticed Yinqi’s sweat-drenched appearance and laughed, “Why the rush? Did you catch the scent from a distance and hurry over?”

He Baozhong quickly brought a chair for Yinqi and added a set of tableware. Yinqi sat beside Yinzhen and, picking up his chopsticks, chuckled awkwardly. “Second Brother, I came to ask a favor.”

The Crown Prince smiled in return and scooped a bowl of rice cake soup for him. “I know—you want to join the renovation of the Qianqing palace, don’t you? There’s no need to ask. I brought even the eleven-year-old Eighth Brother along; how could I not include you? Even if you hadn’t come to me, I would’ve sent someone to fetch you. If Seventh Brother weren’t too frail to handle the workload, I would’ve included him too. All of you are growing up, and one day you’ll leave the palace and establish your own households. I understand the challenges that come with that—believe me, your Second Brother knows them all too well.”

“Thank you, Second Brother!” Yinqi hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. All the excuses he had prepared on the way were entirely unnecessary.

Yinzhen, noticing Yinqi’s cheerful grin that resembled a blooming chrysanthemum, asked a eunuch to serve him a full bowl of sticky rice chicken. He said, “Fifth Brother, eat up! Eat plenty! These are imperial dishes bestowed by Father!” Then he turned back to picking out the chili flakes from the spicy kimchi soup. After a long while, he still hadn’t taken a single bite, opting instead to eat two more of the sweet bean paste cakes.

The dishes were truly unappetizing, but since they were bestowed by the Emperor, both Yinzhen and the Crown Prince had forced themselves to eat with pained expressions. Fortunately, Yinqi arrived to share the burden.

Yinqi, unaware of the situation, was indeed hungry after traveling from Yikun Palace to Yuqing Palace. He eagerly took a big bite of the rice, only to nearly spit it out from the strange, greasy texture. Remembering Yinzhen’s comment about it being an imperial dish, he flushed red and forced himself to swallow it. The effort left him choking, so he hastily picked up the soup bowl and took a large gulp.

The soup was overwhelmingly spicy and salty, making his throat burn. Yinqi puffed his cheeks and turned bright red, unable to decide whether to swallow or spit it out.

“Hahaha…” Yinzhen burst out laughing.

“Pfft…” In the end, Yinqi couldn’t hold it in and spat half the bite onto the ground, but stubbornly swallowed the other half. Weakly, he muttered, “It’s… very delicious… Thank… Thank you, Father, for the reward.”

The Crown Prince couldn’t help but pity him. Chuckling, he quickly had the eunuchs bring tea for rinsing. “You’re far too honest.”

Didn’t he notice that the two dishes had barely been touched? The Crown Prince was planning to discreetly discard them later anyway. The Joseon envoy was set to leave today, and the Emperor had used this opportunity to host one last banquet. These dishes, made from the tribute brought by the envoy, must have looked appealing to Kangxi, who hadn’t tasted them himself. Hence, they were sent to the Crown Prince.

Even after spitting out the food, Yinqi was still retching.

Yinzhen lowered his head, his shoulders shaking as he tried to suppress his laughter. He finally had to lean on Su Peisheng for support to keep from collapsing to the ground. Normally, he was a serious and composed person, but he couldn’t resist teasing Fifth Brother whenever the chance arose—it was always so easy.

Eventually, Yinqi managed to recover after eating three sweet bean paste cakes. The three brothers sat together, drinking wine and eating the pan-fried radish and egg, while discussing the division of tasks for Qianqing palace renovation. They continued until dusk, when two eunuchs arrived from the rear chambers with dinner. The Crown Prince stood up and led his younger brothers, saying, “Let’s go. We’ll have dinner with Father.”

—

The renovation of Qianqing palace was clearly a task Kangxi had deliberately assigned. Otherwise, given how long the hall had been in disrepair, it would have been renovated years ago. That it was being repaired now, of all times, was clearly meant to provide some comfort to the Emperor.

Understanding this, the Crown Prince was determined to handle the project efficiently and flawlessly. He also planned to share the credit with his brothers who were willing to ally with him, showing them that staying close to him brought tangible benefits.

Having been unintentionally enlightened by Lady Cheng Wanyun, the Crown Prince had gained newfound clarity. He now frequently brought his brothers to Qianqing palace, giving them more opportunities to interact with their father. In conversations with the Emperor, he often praised his brothers, ensuring that Kangxi would notice and value them more.

It all started with A Wan’s “picture book reading activity” for the children.

Recently, Cheng Wanyun had been setting aside an hour each day to create illustrated storybooks for the children. Of course, the actual drawing was done by the newly arrived Li Gege, while Cheng Wanyun simply provided ideas.

Cheng Wanyun’s confident way of assigning tasks to Li Gege amused Yinreng, but it also sparked an idea in his mind.

Li Gege often came to the rear chambers to pay her respects. Since it wasn’t polite for Cheng Wanyun to ignore her every time, she assigned her a task. Surprisingly, Li Gege worked with great enthusiasm and even seemed proud of it.

In Li Gege’s mind, she believed this meant she had earned Cheng Wanyun’s favor and that it wouldn’t be long before she gained the Crown Prince’s favor as well.

In Cheng Wanyun’s mind, she simply wanted someone to do the heavy lifting. Whether the Crown Prince would favor Li Gege or not had nothing to do with her. As someone with a title, love, and children, she was the undisputed first lady of Yuqing Palace, a position difficult to shake.

In the Crown Prince’s mind, A Wan’s actions demonstrated her broad-mindedness and kind nature, which made him admire her even more. As for Li Gege, he only saw her ambition and remained indifferent to her.

But wasn’t this a reflection of his own relationship with his father and brothers? When his brothers were assigned tasks or built their own factions, would that shake his position as Crown Prince? And would his father see their ambitions because of this? In this triangular relationship, he was A Wan, his father was himself, and his brothers were Li Gege.

When the picture book was completed, Cheng Wanyun used the small square notebook to read stories to the children. It sounded like a heavily altered version of ‘Journey to the West’. She had even renamed it ‘The Story of a Monk Traveling Abroad with Three Pets’, and not even Li Gege knew what she had drawn.

These stories were adapted from books written by Ming dynasty literati, which Yinreng had secretly found to amuse her during her pregnancy. Cheng Wanyun, however, interpreted them in such a unique way that gave Yinreng a lot of inspiration.

The two children sat on a thick woolen blanket. E Linzhu was playing with her wooden blocks and wasn’t paying attention at all, but Cheng Wanyun claimed this was “ear training,” and that one day it would sound familiar to her.

Akedun, however, was old enough to listen and even ask questions. “Mother Cheng, why does the monk keep chanting spells at the monkey?”

“Because the monkey wasn’t listening to him.”

“But the monk was wrong. The monkey pointed out his mistakes, but not only did he refuse to admit them, he even punished the monkey. Isn’t that wrong?”

Cheng Wanyun was pleasantly surprised by Akedun’s logical thinking. He was starting to form his own thoughts!

“Big Brother is absolutely right. But the monk didn’t realize he was wrong. He thought he was doing the right thing. In the end, it was proven that he was wrong, but by then the damage was done. The monk was the master, the elder, the authority, so he had the power to discipline the monkey. But all hearts are made of flesh. After being misunderstood so many times, the monkey chose to leave and return to his home in Flower Fruit Mountain to be a mountain king again. What does this teach us?”

“It’s because he didn’t apologize.”

“When you make a mistake, you must apologize!” Akedun’s voice was soft and clear. “That way, the monkey won’t feel sad.”

“Exactly! Admitting your mistakes isn’t shameful. You must also learn to communicate. Your mouth is there for speaking. For example, if E Linzhu takes your toys, you should tell Mother Cheng. Don’t cover for your sister, and don’t be upset in silence, okay? You’re her older brother, but that doesn’t mean you have to give in to her all the time. We also need to teach her the rules of being a good person. Even if it’s her brother’s belongings, she cannot take them without your permission. Isn’t that right?”

Akedun was stunned. Everyone had always taught him to yield to his younger sister, but now Mother Cheng was telling him he didn’t have to. His lips quivered, and he suddenly flung himself into Cheng Wanyun’s arms, sobbing softly.

Outside, Yinreng, who had been eavesdropping by the window, had initially intended to interrupt. What kind of story was she telling the children? Shouldn’t they be learning proper texts like the ‘Thousand Character Classic’ or ‘Three Character Classic’?

But hearing the end of the conversation, he sighed and decided not to disturb the atmosphere inside. Deep in thought, he returned to the Chunben Hall.

Once there, he immediately instructed He Baozhong to fetch some of his books, specifically histories of the Ming, Song, and Tang dynasties.

The Ming dynasty was so recent compared to the Qing that even Emperor Kangxi acknowledged how much the Qing inherited from it. Kangxi had even personally paid homage at the Xiaoling Mausoleum of the Ming founder, Zhu Yuanzhang.

As the first Crown Prince of the Qing, Yinreng only knew what his father wanted him to be but not what a Crown Prince truly should be. The Ming dynasty was so close to the Qing, and they had had many Crown Princes. How did they perform their duties?

Histories of the Ming dynasty had long been banned outside the palace, but several volumes were still stored within. Kangxi’s approach to the Ming was to take the essence and discard the dross. Yinreng had read them before, but back then, he had skimmed through, mainly to learn how Han people governed. To govern the Han, one had to use methods from the Ming, as they still nostalgically clung to that dynasty even now.

This time, Yinreng dived into the texts with a new purpose: to find the key to securing his position as Crown Prince. His efforts yielded insights and comfort.

It turned out that his father wasn’t unique. Throughout history, emperors had always been wary of their Crown Princes. Emperor Wu of Han had his witchcraft disaster, Emperor Taizong of Tang saw Crown Prince Li Chengqian attempt a coup, and Emperor Renzong of Ming lived under the surveillance and restrictions of Emperor Chengzu. Ministers and the Jinyiwei even secretly collected intelligence on the Eastern Palace’s every move.

Yinreng suddenly felt a sense of relief. It wasn’t just his father—no emperor in history had ever fully trusted their Crown Prince!

Even under the harsh conditions of Emperor Chengzu’s favoritism toward the Prince of Han and his dissatisfaction with Emperor Renzong, the latter still successfully ascended the throne. He had endured twenty years as Crown Prince! Twenty years under suspicion, restrictions, and vigilance, yet he prevailed.

This was an encouraging omen.

Knowing he wasn’t alone in his struggles brought Yinreng a rare joy. Now, when he saw the guilt Kangxi occasionally expressed over the misfortune of the Shi family, he could accept it calmly.

He, too, could become a Renzong of Qing, Yinreng thought. The Eternal Heaven had granted him A Wan as proof. Thinking about A Wan’s upcoming official installment as Side Concubine next month filled him with hope. He felt the bleak future he had once envisioned gradually shifting course.

This time, he vowed to seize the wheel of fate and steer it away from the dark abyss.

After reading historical records, Yinreng shifted his perspective once more. He no longer rushed to cultivate the people under him or worried about whether he had sufficient support around him. Regarding the death of Shi Wenbing, he could only sigh at fate, yet he recalled A Wan’s words: “Blessings and misfortunes are interdependent.”

Just as he was contemplating the need to feign weakness and lay low, the Shi family lost their leader. It was as if Heaven itself knew his intentions!

He began frequently taking E Linzhu and Akedun to Ning Shou Palace and Qianqing Palace. The repair work on Taihe Hall served as the perfect stepping stone. Using it, he supported his fourth and fifth brothers, and even ensured the eighth brother wasn’t left out when dividing credit.

He was already the Crown Prince. What more could he gain by fighting for recognition? Conversely, if he stopped competing now, could his brothers really overthrow him?

He realized he needed to emulate Emperor Renzong of Ming: remain steady and patient. No matter how many “Princes of Han” there were, he could afford to wait.

Better to bide his time and keep a low profile.

—

In the rear quarters, Cheng Wanyun had no idea about the Crown Prince’s newfound energy or his strategies to break through his predicament. She didn’t concern herself with such matters. Her focus was on whether the Crown Prince was eating well, sleeping soundly, and whether the children were happy.

Today was no different. While the Crown Prince was away, she handed small rice cakes to Akedun and E Linzhu, encouraging them to feed themselves.

Akedun, who now often visited to play, also stayed for meals more frequently. Cheng Wanyun had a child’s dining chair made for him through the Imperial Household Department. Children loved saying, “I want one too!” After noticing that Akedun refused to eat while sitting on the wet nurse’s lap because he envied his sister’s chair, Cheng Wanyun quickly adapted.

Within two weeks, Akedun had learned to feed himself. At two years old, his motor skills surpassed E Linzhu’s, who wasn’t even a year old yet, and he could handle utensils better.

After their meal, the two children went to play in the sandbox. Cheng Wanyun had prepared two sets of sand toys for them, including small wooden buckets, shovels, and a windmill-like contraption. Sand poured through the funnel would spin the windmill beneath. The children immediately became engrossed in the sandbox.

E Linzhu, however, was quite bossy. She refused to let her brother play with the windmill unless he followed her instructions. She directed Akedun to pour the sand, and only then could he do so.

Fortunately, Akedun was mild-mannered, without the aggressiveness typical of children his age. He readily listened to his sister’s every word, resulting in the amusing sight of a not-yet-walking, wobbly toddler giving orders to a taller, older boy. Even Cheng Wanyun hadn’t anticipated that E Linzhu’s upbringing had made her a little spoiled.

Children are highly attuned to the attitudes of the adults around them. Without much attention or a mother, Akedun could sense the Crown Prince and the servants’ deference toward E Linzhu. Instinctively, he yielded to her, even though Cheng Wanyun had told him he didn’t have to. Meanwhile, E Linzhu unconsciously bullied her brother. The favored child always feels entitled, and the root of the problem may well lie in that.

This is why Cheng Wanyun wanted to use picture book lessons to improve the relationship between Akedun and E Linzhu. While she was glad that E Linzhu had a strong personality and was not easily taken advantage of, she worried that too much of it might lead to unnecessary aggression.

Time flew by as Cheng Wanyun pondered child-rearing methods and the Crown Prince busied himself with showing love for his brothers and filial piety to his father. Soon, the second day of the eleventh month arrived—the day Cheng Wanyun was officially conferred the title of Side Concubine.

Early in the morning, she was pulled out of bed for an elaborate dressing session. She donned the formal attire of a Side Concubine: a coronet adorned with rubies and gold ornaments holding pearls, a ceremonial robe in stone blue, a coral bead necklace, and three intricately carved gold nail guards on her fingers.

The conferral envoy was Zhang Yushu, a Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy. Kneeling on a soft cushion, Cheng Wanyun listened as the decree praised her virtuous character in great detail. The compliments made her blush; the language felt a bit exaggerated. Who was the overly sentimental scholar who wrote this? Of course, she had no idea that all the phrases were personally chosen by Yinreng.

Words like “upright and virtuous,” “benevolent and humble,” “pure as jade, noble as orchid,” and “noble yet frugal” flowed one after another. Cheng Wanyun couldn’t help but count—there were at least a dozen compliments. This level of praise was exceptional for a Side Concubine’s decree.

Yinreng had deliberately taken leave from his studies and skipped the morning court session with Kangxi. He stood quietly to the side, watching. Today, A Wan was not just an appendage dependent on him; she was the center of everyone’s attention, the star of the day.

The day of the conferral wasn’t bright and sunny. Heavy clouds covered the sky, but from afar, a gentle beam of light pierced through the thick clouds and fell directly on A Wan’s face. It illuminated her lowered lashes, turning them a golden hue. Bathed in this ethereal light, she finished listening to the decree, gave thanks for the imperial favor, and waited as Zhang Yushu departed. Then, she suddenly looked up and smiled at Yinreng.

Her smile was light and radiant, like a bird taking flight from her very being. In that moment, a wave of intense love surged in Yinreng’s heart. He stared at her bright, smiling face and thought to himself: he must lead A Wan to a completely different destiny. He would give her a secure and vast future.

No longer trapped behind oppressive walls, no longer under the threat of deadly heat, no longer shackled to a life of mutual despair.

He would be the steadfast mountain behind her, always standing firm, always guarding her. Just as he was doing today, he would give her the strength to face any storm or misfortune with unwavering calm and warmth, and he would tell her:

“Don’t worry. I will protect you.”