Chapter 16

Outside the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, Consort De waited with the Sixth Prince. The Emperor had previously promised that she could bring the Sixth Prince to see the Fourth Prince, but it wasn’t until a month later that she took the initiative to come.

“Mother, mother, brother…” For the Sixth Prince, being able to go out was a novel experience, and laughter and joy accompanied them all along the way.

Consort De gazed at her son’s smiling face, her heart filled with sweetness. Recently, the Emperor often visited the Palace of Eternal Harmony, deepening his affection for the Sixth Prince. Consort De firmly believed that in the Emperor’s heart, apart from the Crown Prince and the eldest son, her own Sixth Prince was the most favored.

A palace maid emerged from within the hall, her round, honest face showing her sincerity as she spoke in halting Manchu, “The Empress Dowager has summoned you directly to the rear hall to see the Fourth Prince.”

Consort De understood immediately; this was someone close to the Empress Dowager.

In the rear hall of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, the Fourth Prince, Yin Zhen, curiously held the gifts just delivered by Nurse Tong, turning them over and over in his hands.

Nurse Shen praised repeatedly, “Consort Su’s needlework is exquisite; her stitches are fine and dense. Even palace servants who have been here for ten years may not have such skill.”

He Wei Lu, who brought the gifts, explained their origin. Consort Noble and Consort Su were close friends, so their attendants maintained cordial relations. Nurse Shen fondled the dog doll carefully before setting it down gently.

The Fourth Prince cherished these toys, even clutching them to sleep at night. Apart from Nurse Shen and Aunt Chunyu, no one else dared touch them.

Since the last time the Fourth Prince had secretly cried in his bedchamber, Chunyu and Nurse Shen had taken even greater care of him. Chunyu sat on an embroidery stool by the door, occasionally glancing at the palace maids outside while never pausing her sewing.

Though young, the Fourth Prince was shrewd. Excited by the gift from Consort Noble, he insisted on giving Nurse Tong a return gift. Grasping the pen seriously, he drew a flower and solemnly handed it to Chunyu.

“This is a pomegranate flower I want to give Nurse Tong.”

He had seen the pomegranate blossoms outside her window during his last visit to the Palace of Eternal Harmony; they were as beautiful as her smile.

Chunyu was one of the best embroiderers among the palace maids in the Palace of Eternal Harmony and gladly accepted the task.

With Chunyu outside and Nurse Shen inside, the two guarded the rear hall firmly, determined to prevent any intrusions.

Just then, Chunyu looked up and saw a beautiful woman approaching with a child. Upon closer inspection, it was Consort De with the Sixth Prince.

Chunyu cleared her throat softly at the door. Inside, Nurse Shen asked alertly, “What is it?”

After hearing this, Nurse Shen hurried to the windowsill, peered through a crack, and her expression changed. Consort De’s arrival at the rear hall meant she had permission to pass through the main hall. Even if Consort Noble were present, she could not be stopped.

Voices from the outside called greetings, accompanied by soft female voices.

Nurse Shen feigned ignorance and played with the dog doll alongside the Fourth Prince.

— When Consort De entered, she saw the Fourth Prince sitting on the couch, happily playing with his new toy.

Her son, whom she had longed for over three years, was so close now, yet she halted abruptly, an inexplicable unease rising within her.

Since his one-month birthday, the Fourth Prince had not been close to her. What if he refused to be near her or the Sixth Prince?

“Brother… brother…” The Sixth Prince’s loud voice startled the Fourth Prince on the bed.

Nurse Shen quickly rose to greet Consort De and the Sixth Prince.

Consort De scrutinized Nurse Shen carefully but did not press her, allowing her to serve quietly by the side.

— The slowest to react was the Fourth Prince, Yin Zhen. He looked curiously at the newcomer, feeling he should recognize her but unable to place who she was.

Clutching his little dog toy tightly, he asked uncertainly, “Who are you?”

Consort De’s carefully controlled emotions shattered at that moment. The son she had borne after ten months of pregnancy was asking who she was.

The Fourth Prince’s features were handsome but bore little resemblance to her; he looked more like the Emperor.

Consort De studied him repeatedly, desperately searching for any sign that would prove he was her child at a glance.

After a long silence, she finally said, “I am Consort De of the Palace of Eternal Harmony, and this is your sixth younger brother.”

Yin Zhen only caught one phrase in his mind: “sixth younger brother.”

The little one before him was his brother.

His eyes brightened with curiosity as he walked over, looking at the chubby face of the Sixth Prince, reaching out to poke him just as the Crown Prince, his second older brother, often poked his cheek.

But just as his hand was about to touch the Sixth Prince, it was sharply slapped away!

His arm throbbed painfully, numb and sore, the sensation confined to his small arm. At only three years old, he could not withstand the force of an adult.

Seeing the Fourth Prince stagger and nearly fall, Nurse Shen was alarmed, snatching him into her arms and exclaiming, “Fourth Prince!”

“It hurts, nurse!” Yin Zhen nestled in Nurse Shen’s arms, tears streaming from the pain.

Consort De’s protective hold on the Sixth Prince stiffened, her expression full of panic. She had not meant to slap the Fourth Prince away, but in that instant, she thought he might hurt the Sixth Prince.

The Sixth Prince was still so small; she always touched him with utmost care. The Fourth Prince was only three and could hardly control his strength.

Consort De wanted to explain but realized that in this room, apart from herself, the two princes, and their nurses, there was no one else.

She need not explain her loss of composure to a crowd of servants.

At last, the Fourth Prince, comforted by Nurse Shen, stopped crying but looked at Consort De with suspicion.

He no longer wished to approach this Sixth younger brother.

He had only wanted to play with his brother but was slapped by Consort De. The Fourth Prince pouted in grievance—if it had been Nurse Tong, she would never have treated him so.

No matter how gently Consort De spoke afterward, the Fourth Prince refused to get close to her or the Sixth Prince.

Half an hour later, Consort De was exhausted in body and spirit.

The Sixth Prince was likely sleepy now. She cradled her youngest son tenderly, careful not to hurt him in the slightest, casting a complicated glance at her eldest son. She had not expected the Fourth Prince to be so stubborn and resentful, even toward his own mother and brother.

Forcing a smile, she spoke as gently as she could, “Yin Zhen, when I have time, I will bring your younger brother to see you again.”

—

The towering palace walls of the Forbidden City stretched into the clouds, the glazed tiles gleaming brilliantly under the setting sun. Consort Yi hurried along the bluestone path toward the Palace of Compassion and Benevolence with her personal maid.

She had lost count of how many times she had walked the route from the Palace of Nurturing Kindness to the Palace of Compassion and Benevolence; she could find her way with her eyes closed.

She had not seen the Fifth Prince for two or three days and missed him dearly.

“Your Highness, when will Consort Noble…” Maid Tongyue whispered as they passed the Palace of Eternal Harmony.

In March of this year, Empress Xiaozhao and Empress Renxiao’s coffins were buried together at Jing Mausoleum. Normally, the central palace could not remain vacant; since the three-year mourning period for Empress Xiaozhao had ended, the consorts of the harem all watched closely to see who would assume the position of Empress.

The two strongest contenders were Consort Noble Tong and the younger lady from the Niohuru clan. Consort Noble Tong was the Emperor’s mother’s niece and also his paternal cousin, while the young lady from the Niohuru clan came from a prestigious family and was the full sister of Empress Xiaozhao.

By rank and seniority, Consort Noble should be the rightful candidate, but she had been childless in the five years since entering the palace.

“Perhaps she simply lacks the fortune,” Consort Yi could only attribute it to fate.

Although the Emperor spent many nights in the Palace of Eternal Harmony, Consort Noble had not conceived in five years. A faint trace of regret flashed across Consort Yi’s charming face.

Had Consort Noble borne her own children, they would surely be kept close by her side, unlike them, whose children were raised by others.

Consort Yi sighed softly, thinking again of her own child.

After the Fifth Prince’s full month celebration, he was taken to the Palace of Compassion and Benevolence to be raised by the Empress Dowager. This was far better than handing the infant to a high-ranking consort. Over time, the lines between birth mother and foster mother blurred, breaking her heart.

There was a ready example in the Palace of Eternal Harmony.

Thinking of Consort De’s successful pregnancy, whose Fourth Prince was entrusted to Consort Noble Tong and who soon after conceived the Sixth Prince, now well-nourished and plump, with the Emperor frequently visiting the Palace of Eternal Harmony.

She reached out and gently touched her flat belly. Consort De had already borne two sons; since she was favored even more, she would surely have another child.

When the two arrived at the Palace of Compassion and Benevolence, palace maids informed them that the Empress Dowager had taken the Fifth Prince to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. Consort Yi hurried there at once.

By chance, she met Consort De returning from the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.

Seeing Consort De still holding the Sixth Prince, Consort Yi’s gaze lingered on the pair. Consort De guarded the Sixth Prince like the apple of her eye and rarely took him out. This time, she must have come to see the Fourth Prince.

Though unclear what the Emperor had promised Consort De to give her such confidence, Consort Yi could tell from her expression that she had been rebuffed.

If Consort De were in a difficult position, her smile would be even more forced and resolute—just as when the Fourth Prince was sent to the Palace of Eternal Harmony, Consort De smiled at everyone, afraid of gossip behind her back.

Consort De was momentarily stunned when she saw Consort Yi but quickly smiled brightly, “Sister Yi, have you come to see the Fifth Prince?”

“I just saw the Empress Dowager with the Fifth Prince, keeping the Great Empress Dowager company. The family was joyful and harmonious; I didn’t want to disturb them and was about to take the Sixth Prince back,” Consort Yi replied.

“Your luck is better, Sister Yi. The Fifth Prince is so well cared for by the Empress Dowager,” Consort De sighed.

Consort Yi smiled lightly, “Sister De, your good days are still ahead.”

Then she gestured to the Sixth Prince in Consort De’s arms, teasing, “If you want more fortune and honor, isn’t there still the Sixth Prince?”

Among them, each had fought to rise from low-ranking consorts. Consort De’s Fourth Prince was entrusted to Consort Noble Tong; her own Fifth Prince was handed over to the Empress Dowager. Consorts Hui and Rong secured their positions through seniority and multiple births.

Yet her own little Fifth Prince could have stayed with her.

She had almost persuaded the Emperor to let her raise the Fifth Prince herself, but Consort De of the Uya clan chose the safest route, voluntarily sending her Fourth Prince to the Palace of Eternal Harmony, thus securing a certain palace mistress rank.

With such a ‘thoughtful’ example, the Emperor was reluctant to entrust the Fifth Prince to her. Reluctantly, he sent the Fifth Prince to the Palace of Compassion and Benevolence to be raised by the Empress Dowager.

Consort Yi’s heart ached thinking of how her little Fifth Prince had never grown up by her side.

Every time she met Consort De, she couldn’t help but jab at her. Yet the Emperor adored Consort De’s occasionally spoiled nature, leaving her with no outlet for complaint.

All women in the harem longed to bear children; if possible, the more the better.

Consort De held the youngest son in her arms and coldly stared at Consort Yi’s flat belly, speaking each word with biting sharpness, “I doubt you will easily have your wish granted.”

Consort Yi snorted coldly, ignoring Consort De’s poisonous words.

The two parted on unfriendly terms.