Concubine of the Eastern Palace (Qing Dynasty Time Travel)

The New Year is the most significant event of the year. After the court seals its affairs, the lower-ranked eunuchs and servants become exceedingly busy, with no time to rest. They sweep and clean the courtyards to remove dust and filth, purify the palace gates, replace the peachwood charms on both sides of the palace doors, and put up new door gods and couplets. This year, in addition to the usual generals, gods of fortune, judges, child immortals, and fairy door gods, the Imperial Household Department also distributed silk paintings of Zhong Kui. These were mounted on small three-foot wooden screens, adorned with copper rings for hanging on the doors.

Before the year’s end, all eunuchs had to cut their hair and bathe. Tianjin, leading the attendants of the rear chambers, organized everyone to queue at the Imperial Household Department for their haircuts, leaving their foreheads gleaming.

On New Year’s Eve, before dawn, Concubine Niu Hulu rose first. The Outer Imperial Kitchen had already prepared eight whole pigs for slaughter. Concubine Niu Hulu personally placed the eight pigs one by one into eight large pots, adding spring water brought from Jade Spring Mountain to cook them thoroughly.

On the first day of the year, it is customary for the Empress to prepare the sacrificial meat to honor the Eternal Sky and the ancestors. After Empress Hesheri passed away, her elder sister, Empress Xiaozhao, presided over the cooking for a year before falling ill and passing away. Subsequently, Empress Xiaoyi took over this duty for thirteen years. Now, it was Imperial Concubine Niu Hulu’s turn.

The eunuchs lifted the pigs as Concubine Niu Hulu, holding incense with a devout expression, performed the ceremonial bows. She then guided the sacrificial meat into the boiling water.

After this, her involvement was no longer required. While it was said that she personally cooked the meat, her role merely involved that initial step. She washed her hands in the water basin brought by a maid, carefully wiped them clean with a cloth, and slipped her protective finger covers back on.

Later, the eunuchs would process the pork, cutting it into even portions. The Emperor himself would carve off a piece to be sent by eunuchs to the wooden box atop the flagpole outside the palace. This offering served two purposes: to provide sustenance to the Eternal Sky and to honor the crows that once saved Nurhaci, the Great Ancestor of the Qing Dynasty.

After the deities and crows had consumed their portions, the remaining meat would be brought to the banquet at Qianqing palace. There, the Emperor would distribute the meat to Grand Ministers of Internal Affairs, Grand Academicians, and Secretaries. It would then be sent to the feast at Baohe Hall, a banquet specially arranged for foreign princes and Mongol nobles.

This year, the feast at Baohe Hall was reportedly to be hosted by the Crown Prince. It would be his first time leading a banquet alone since his engagement was finalized.

Concubine Niu Hulu thought carefully, then summoned a palace maid and whispered, “For the family banquet in the Qianqing Palace this evening, have someone prepare thicker cushions for the Crown Prince’s side concubine, Lady Cheng, and the young prince and princess from Yuqing Palace. Replace the foot warmers with the finest silver frost charcoal. Make sure Lady Cheng knows whose kindness this arrangement is.”

The palace maid accepted the instructions and left.

Next, Concubine Niu Hulu called for Lady Wang, who was already pregnant, and inquired about her daily diet and sleep. She spoke gently, “Before the banquet begins, have the nanny prepare you a bowl of chicken noodle soup to fill your stomach. The grand banquet is all steamed dishes and not very appetizing. Don’t eat anything outside. Recently, Yuqing Palace distributed those small, elegant thermos cups, and now everyone in the palace has one. I will gift you one as well. Fill it with hot soup for the evening. Since you are with child, no one will criticize you. For your sake and the prince in your belly, a little caution does no harm.”

Her words were full of consideration. Since entering the palace, it was true that Concubine Niu Hulu had cared for her sincerely, without a trace of negligence—sometimes even looking after her as if she were her own daughter. Lady Wang gratefully accepted the advice.

“Your seat is arranged at the very end of the concubines’ row, near the palace gate. If you get too tired and can’t endure, feel free to leave early; no one will notice.” Concubine Niu Hulu added, “Go change your clothes now; soon it will be time to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.”

Lady Wang expressed her thanks profusely before taking her leave.

Watching her retreating figure, Concubine Niu Hulu mused, “It’s been three or four years since the birth of the Fourteenth Prince. If Lady Wang gives birth to a son, it will be the good news the Emperor has long awaited. This child is bound to be cherished.”

She decided to burn incense before leaving, praying to Buddha to bless Lady Wang with a son.

Meanwhile, in Yuqing Palace, Cheng Wanyun was hastily eating with her two children. She ate a solid bowl of five-color fried rice, fish braised with edamame, and a plate of greens. The two children drank milk, ate a steamed bun each, and shared a small bowl of steamed pork ribs.

The Crown Prince had left before dawn to accompany Kangxi in the sacrificial rites to Heaven. However, he had briefed Cheng Wanyun thoroughly about the banquet. She understood her role clearly: say little, eat less, and behave like a silent bystander throughout.

Last night, the Crown Prince had emphasized how unappetizing the banquet food would be, repeatedly stewed on the stove until any nutrients were gone. He reminded Cheng Wanyun to make sure she and the children ate their fill at home beforehand.

As a result, what was originally meant to be a light meal turned into a full dinner spread, as Cheng Wanyun instructed Eunuch Zheng to serve dishes fit for an evening feast.

By the end, Cheng Wanyun and the two children were so full they began to hiccup. E Linzhu was hiccuping so hard that she nearly fell over, but luckily, Akedun instinctively caught her.

Although the many servants present would never have let E Linzhu fall, Cheng Wanyun still bent down and pinched Akedun’s chubby cheeks. “Thank you, Big Brother, for protecting your sister! You’re such a good older brother!”

Akedun, who had been sneaking meals at her place recently and had started learning horseback riding with the Crown Prince, had grown into a sturdy little chubby boy. Hearing this praise, he blushed.

Mother Cheng really loved to praise people! When he finished his meal, she would praise him, “Our Big Brother Akedun eats so neatly—how amazing is that?”

When he learned to spin a top on his own, she would praise him again, “Our Big Brother Akedun is so clever!”

The nanny, however, never praised him like this. She would only say that these were things a young prince should learn and do, and only by doing them well would the Crown Prince value him.

Because of this, Akedun often felt embarrassed by such compliments. He didn’t think he was doing anything particularly impressive.

Cheng Wanyun believed that positive encouragement was a great way to motivate children of this age. Even E Linzhu, who was much younger, could already understand the difference between kind and unkind words and knew how to read people’s expressions.

As a result, Cheng Wanyun never lost her temper with the children unnecessarily, and they felt secure in her presence. Both E Linzhu and Akedun had no separation anxiety and were instead quite bold.

Sometimes the two children would be taken by the Crown Prince to visit Emperor Kangxi to make their presence known. Other times, they would go to the Empress Dowager. On one occasion, E Linzhu even came back with a pouch full of gold melon seeds—given to her by the Fourth Prince, no less.

It was said that the Crown Prince once brought the children to the study just to show off. E Linzhu, being exceptionally beautiful, and Akedun, who wasn’t far behind, charmed all their uncles. The Fourth Prince, in particular, wouldn’t let go of E Linzhu. Holding her, he thought of his own little princess, who had passed away within a month of birth. If she had grown up healthy, would she have been as delightful as E Linzhu?

With this bittersweet thought, he suddenly noticed his little niece eyeing the pouch at his waist. Before he knew it, she had reached out to grab it!

Yinzhen: “…”

When E Linzhu couldn’t pull it free, she looked up at him and smiled with her crescent-shaped eyes.

Yinzhen’s heart felt as if it had been struck by an arrow. By the time he realized what he was doing, he had already untied the pouch and placed it in her tiny hands.

Afterward, the Crown Prince teased Cheng Wanyun, saying, “This child takes after you.”

Cheng Wanyun: “…”
She absolutely did not!

At the third quarter of the afternoon, Cheng Wanyun was finally dressed and ready. She wore the stone-blue auspicious robe she had donned for her title ceremony, with a matching ceremonial headdress. Walking in flowerpot shoes, she held a child’s hand in each of hers as they stepped out of Yuqing Palace.

E Linzhu and Akedun were dressed festively. Their New Year outfits were made from the same crimson-patterned silk brocade, and they wore matching capes with white fox fur trim. Around their necks, identical gold lock pendants sparkled. Standing together, they looked just like a pair of golden boy and jade girl figurines.

As she prepared to take the two children into the sedan chair bound for the Ning Shou Palace, Cheng Wanyun glanced back at the servants following them.

Hua La and Tianjin, her two personal eunuchs, each carried three insulated cups of varying sizes and colors, looking somewhat comical. However, neither of them seemed to mind and even wore proud expressions. Tianjin, though, with his monkey-like appearance, was quite the contrast to the handsome Hua La—rather an eyesore.

The invention of these shoulder-strap thermoses had been inspired by Qingxing when she was caring for E Linzhu. Finding the original cups without handles inconvenient for outings, she had worked overtime to sew fabric and brocade covers for them, adding rows of buttonholes and silk straps on both sides. The result was an adjustable, shoulder-strap thermos that closely resembled modern designs.

Cheng Wanyun hadn’t thought about creating this setup before because, well, when she went out, there were always plenty of people to carry water bottles for her. She never felt inconvenienced! Plus, bottles without covers looked better. So… she suddenly realized she might have been corrupted by the habits of the ruling class, becoming detached from the realities of daily life!

While reflecting on herself, she began actively promoting these bottle covers. She even embroidered one for E Linzhu with a “Kitty Head” design and one for the Crown Prince with a “Lucky Dog Head.” Bitao followed suit, embroidering koi fish and turtles for Akedun, while Qingxing opted for roses and camellias—patterns more suitable for her own use.

For this outing, Cheng Wanyun and the two children each carried two thermoses: one filled with hot milk and the other with warm water. The mamas carried a small shoulder bag containing fruit slices for Cheng Wanyun. E Linzhu’s nursemaid had her own bag, which contained diapers, handkerchiefs for wiping her mouth, bibs, a set of dining utensils, a change of clothes, and two small toys.

When they were preparing to leave, Akedun’s wet nurse was stunned. She had never seen such a fuss. Wasn’t this just a meal? If the little prince got hungry, she could simply pull out her clothes to nurse him. And as for handkerchiefs or towels, wouldn’t Qianqing Palace have plenty? Any eunuch could fetch them if needed! She didn’t bring anything with her, thinking Cheng Wanyun was making a big deal out of nothing. Yet, at the same time, she felt uneasy, wringing her hands nervously, afraid Cheng Wanyun might scold her for being inattentive.

After all, the Crown Prince often announced outings at the last minute, sending He Baozhong to deliver messages about leaving immediately. Akedun and E Linzhu’s wet nurses were often left scrambling. To counter this, Cheng Wanyun had prepared several pre-packed bags, each containing a full set of necessities. This way, they were ready to grab and go, ensuring her peace of mind and preventing any tampering—an age-old precaution.

Seeing the situation, Cheng Wanyun immediately ordered someone to retrieve another bag to address the oversight.

After all, Akedun hadn’t fully transitioned out of needing diapers yet. While he could sometimes alert others during the day, there were still moments when he couldn’t hold it in. The wet nurse had failed to bring a change of clothes for him, which was truly unacceptable. Cheng Wanyun shot her a cold glare, making the wet nurse so terrified that she dropped to her knees.

“Mother Cheng…” Akedun, who relied heavily on his wet nurse, tugged hesitantly at Cheng Wanyun’s sleeve. He already understood that kneeling meant someone had made a mistake. “Wet nurse wasn’t good… Mother Cheng can scold her, but don’t hit her, okay?”

Cheng Wanyun took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and said to the wet nurse, “It’s only because the little prince pleaded for you that I’m letting this slide. If I catch you neglecting him like this again, go back and report to Lady Tang for punishment!”

“Yes, yes… This servant will be diligent and won’t dare make another mistake!”

When the bag was finally retrieved, Cheng Wanyun led the children onto the wide sedan chair. She spread her arms to embrace both children, still fuming. She thought to herself that if Akedun weren’t so dependent on this wet nurse, she would have already advised the Crown Prince to replace her.

It was no wonder Side Concubine Li had been so upset before, though even she hadn’t succeeded in replacing the wet nurse.

Even though Akedun wasn’t her own child, spending so much time together had created some affection. Knowing that matters involving children who weren’t biologically hers were best left untouched, Cheng Wanyun sighed silently to herself.

By now, Ning Shou Palace was within sight. Concubine Xi had already sent her chief maid to wait outside. Cheng Wanyun brought the children in to greet Concubine Xi and have tea. The consort hugged the two children tightly, alternating between calling them “my precious hearts” and “dear little treasures.” Cheng Wanyun simply maintained a polite smile, striking a balance between not engaging in playful banter and not appearing too indifferent.

It seemed the Crown Prince wasn’t particularly… fond of this aunt of his.

This wasn’t something the Crown Prince had explicitly told her—it was something Cheng Wanyun observed herself. During festivals, the Crown Prince’s gifts to Concubine Xi were no different from those he gave to other concubine-ranked stepmothers. He never took the two children to visit her, and Concubine Xi also never reached out to him unless absolutely necessary, refraining from sending messages or notes.

There seemed to be a deliberate yet subtle distance maintained between them.

If not for this being Cheng Wanyun’s first time attending a grand banquet, and the fact that the Crown Prince had no one else in the harem he could entrust with the task besides Concubine Xi, he likely wouldn’t have sent her here with the children.

Unable to decipher the deeper reasons, Cheng Wanyun decided it was best to follow the leadership’s example and align closely with his approach.

Concubine Xi gave the palace maid two golden ornaments engraved with “Fortune and Peace” to present to the children, a gesture of affection from an elder. Cheng Wanyun didn’t decline and instead smiled as she thanked her. “Your Highness, there’s no need to go to such trouble—we’re all family.”

“Exactly, it’s because we’re family. I only give gifts to these two children because I feel a special connection with them. I wouldn’t waste money on anyone else.” Concubine Xi joked, making everyone around laugh. Then she glanced at the clock and said, “It’s getting late. Let’s hurry to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager!”

When they arrived at the open area in front of the Ning Shou Palace, it was already crowded with sedan chairs from other palaces. The eunuchs carrying the chairs were gathered along the palace walls, their gray-blue robes blending into a sea of muted colors.

This was Cheng Wanyun’s first time participating in such an occasion. Following Concubine Xi over the threshold of the Ning Shou Palace, she finally began to feel nervous.

Fortunately, someone of her rank didn’t attract much attention from the Empress Dowager. Instead, it was E Linzhu and Akedun who immediately caught her eye. The Empress Dowager spoke as soon as they entered: “Bring the Crown Prince’s eldest daughter and eldest son forward.”

Concubine Xi and Cheng Wanyun led the children forward, kneeling to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager. Once she called them to rise, her gaze didn’t linger on the adults but instead settled warmly on the two children. Smiling, she took their hands and pulled them close, holding one in each arm as she affectionately asked, “Akedun, can you draw your father’s small bow yet? E Linzhu, have you been naughty recently? Your father said you killed two of your mother’s fish under her window. Is that true?”

E Linzhu was too young to fully understand or respond, but Akedun answered on her behalf. “In reply to Great-Grandmother, I’m not strong enough yet and can’t draw the bow. Mother Cheng and Father both say I need to eat more meals and more meat so I’ll grow stronger and be able to pull it. As for my sister, she’s already stopped being naughty. Now Mother Cheng’s fish have grown fat again.”

E Linzhu then nodded earnestly with a serious expression. “pigeon, yes!”

Cheng Wanyun sighed helplessly from the side. Why couldn’t this child pronounce the word “brother” properly? No matter how many times she taught her, it still came out as “pigeon, pigeon.”

But E Linzhu’s mispronunciation had the Empress Dowager laughing heartily. She affectionately patted the two children on their cheeks and said, “Such clever, wonderful children.”

This was one of the benefits of the Crown Prince frequently bringing the children to appear in front of others—it left a positive impression. After sending the children back, the Empress Dowager glanced at Cheng Wanyun again.

The Empress Dowager, from the Borjigit clan, was already 51 years old. Her hair was streaked with gray, but she didn’t have many wrinkles thanks to excellent maintenance. She didn’t look like someone in her early fifties. However, she bore the distinct features of a Mongolian: yellowish-brown skin, a broad face, small eyes, and slightly prominent cheekbones. She wasn’t particularly attractive, but her years of living in comfort and detachment from worldly concerns had given her a warm and gentle demeanor.

The Empress Dowager’s gaze swept over Cheng Wanyun from head to toe like a comb before she spoke in a tone tinged with approval: “So you’re E Linzhu’s mother, Cheng? Hmm… You have a blessed look, and you’ve raised the children well. I hear you’re expecting again. Make sure to take good care of yourself and continue to give the Crown Prince many descendants!”

Cheng Wanyun respectfully curtsied. “Yes, I will humbly follow your advice, Empress Dowager.”

The Empress Dowager ordered rewards to be given, and Cheng Wanyun knelt to express her gratitude.

With that, the formalities of this political meeting were complete. Cheng Wanyun took the children to a side hall for tea. Concubine Xi went to the eastern side hall where the other concubines gathered, while Cheng Wanyun was escorted by eunuchs to the western side hall, where the prince’s wives, Side Concubines, and titled ladies were gathered.

As expected, Cheng Wanyun spotted “Lady Liu,” who had been promoted to the same rank of Side Concubine at the same time as her. Now called Side Concubine Liu, she was waving at her enthusiastically, her large pregnant belly prominent in the crowd. Cheng Wanyun, holding onto her nanny’s hand, quickly made her way over and greeted her with delight. “I knew you’d be here!”

“I’ve been here for ages. Concubine Yi left early, and I came with her. I’ve already had too much tea while waiting for you!” Side Concubine Liu complained before her gaze fell on E Linzhu. She immediately beamed. “So this is the eldest princess? She’s absolutely beautiful! Come, let me give her a kiss!”

“Take it slow! E Linzhu can be mischievous; don’t let her bump into you!” Cheng Wanyun, seeing how enormous her friend’s belly was, hurriedly pulled E Linzhu back. “Why is your belly so big? Aren’t you due more than half a month after me?”

“The imperial doctor said it might be twins.” Side Concubine Liu, unable to touch E Linzhu, regretfully straightened up. Then she leaned in closer and whispered softly into Cheng Wanyun’s ear, “Not everyone is as lucky as you to have the Crown Prince’s genuine affection. As for me… I’d rather not say. Fifth Prince has a new favorite in his courtyard lately. Sigh… It’s thanks to these two children that he finally agreed to promote me to Side Concubine. Otherwise, he’d have waited until I gave birth to his eldest son before asking for my title.”

Cheng Wanyun carefully placed a hand on her belly. “Are you feeling exhausted?”

Side Concubine Liu’s eyes immediately reddened. “You’re the only one who asks me that. Even my mother, after entering the palace, spends all her time happily praying for blessings instead of helping me. She even advised me to let the palace maids around me serve the Fifth Prince, so he wouldn’t be drawn to other women. I had to call Sister Hu over to confront her before she stopped talking nonsense.”

Cheng Wanyun gently rubbed her hand in sympathy. “You need to take care of yourself. Eat well, sleep well. To be blunt…” She lowered her voice. “Any favor gained through tricks like offering maids to men is as fleeting as smoke. It can disappear with a single gust of wind. What really matters is your own health.”

Side Concubine Liu nodded with teary eyes. “I understand.”

Both women were pregnant, with Side Concubine Liu being further along. After only a few exchanges, she shyly said, “I need to go to the restroom. Would you like to come with me?”

Cheng Wanyun, knowing how hard things were for her friend, nodded. Liu’s frequent need to relieve herself—a symptom that usually appeared late in pregnancy—had come early, highlighting how tough things were for her. “I’ll go with you,” she replied.

The restroom in Ning Shou Palace was located at the end of the corridor. As they entered, they nearly collided with another woman dressed in palace attire, who was also holding her belly as she came out. Startled, all three instinctively stepped back, clutching their stomachs protectively.

The woman was clearly a concubine from the palace, judging by her attire, but she looked quite young, and her rank didn’t seem high. Side Concubine Liu, feeling irritable due to her mood and condition, initially glared as if she were about to scold her. However, noticing the woman’s pale face and protective stance, she held back and merely muttered, “Walking so fast—do you want to risk your life?”

The young woman immediately bowed her head and apologized. “This Concubine Wang apologizes for startling the two Side Concubines.”

Cheng Wanyun and Side Concubine Liu’s formal attire made their ranks as Side Concubines easily recognizable.

“It’s no trouble. We were also being careless. Forgive us for alarming Lady Wang.” Cheng Wanyun tugged gently at Liu’s sleeve, reminding her to maintain decorum. After all, this was one of Emperor Kangxi’s concubines and nominally the stepmother to all the princes. Cheng Wanyun stepped aside politely. “Please, Lady Wang, go ahead.”

Lady Wang curtsied once more, and the three women passed by each other. However, as Lady Wang walked away, she couldn’t resist glancing back. The gentle demeanor of one of the Side Concubines seemed oddly familiar. She pondered this as she continued walking, but then her foot landed on something.

Looking down, she saw an embroidered handkerchief adorned with hydrangea flowers, intricately detailed and lifelike. Lady Wang’s eyes widened slightly, and she immediately instructed the maid beside her to pick it up. Holding it in her hands, she compared it to her own handkerchief and confirmed that the stitching was identical—they were clearly made by the same person.

Hydrangea embroidery was not common in the palace, and the handkerchief she owned had been taught to her by Wanhe shortly after she entered the palace. Clutching the handkerchief, Lady Wang hesitated for a moment. Her gaze lingered on the restroom door, and her feet seemed rooted to the ground.

“My lady?” her maid asked, puzzled by her delay. “Shall we return? The noble consort might worry if we’re late.”

Lady Wang snapped back to reality and smiled faintly. “You’re right. This handkerchief likely belongs to one of the Side Concubines we just passed. Let’s wait here briefly to return it to them.”

The corridor was bustling with people—maids, nannies, and eunuchs coming and going in service to various masters. It was hardly a suitable place for a private conversation. Moreover, all of Lady Wang’s attendants were loyal to the noble concubine. Still, Lady Wang held the handkerchief tightly, determined to find out which Side Concubine it belonged to.

When Cheng Wanyun and Side Concubine Liu came out, they noticed the graceful and poised Lady Wang still standing at the doorway. She was occasionally standing on tiptoe, glancing toward the room, as if waiting for the two of them to come out.