Chapter 20

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In the upper study room, the palace attendants on duty today were terrified out of their wits. The eldest prince, humiliated and furious, actually tried to physically reprimand the fourth prince. The crown prince stepped forward to protect the fourth prince, but seeing his two elder brothers about to come to blows, the fourth prince cried even harder.

The crown prince’s and eldest prince’s attendants hesitated, unsure whether to intervene, and stood aside anxiously. Eventually, the attendants on both sides began to quarrel among themselves, and before long, a scuffle broke out between the two groups.

The entire upper study room descended into chaos, filled with shouting and confusion.

The crown prince was the heir apparent; the eldest prince was the emperor’s firstborn son; the fourth prince was the adopted son of Noble Consort Tong, whose biological mother, Consort De, still enjoyed great favor.

None of these little princes could be offended.

The palace attendants dared not step forward, fearing they would be blamed later for taking sides, so they sent the swiftest runner to report the incident to the emperor in the Qianqing Palace.

Meanwhile, the fourth prince’s crying had not yet ceased when the boys were summoned to Qianqing Palace.

Inside the main hall of Qianqing Palace, Yinzhen stopped crying under the crown prince’s soothing, while the eldest prince, Yinti, still wore an angry expression.

Emperor Kangxi looked at his two sons who had fought and scolded them with repeated “Enough!” How could they be fighting during reading time? It was a betrayal of the efforts of the esteemed scholars he had invited to tutor his sons!

He took down a bamboo board from the antique shelf and stepped before his sons. “Today, you have shown no brotherly respect and no filial piety. Each of you shall be punished.”

“Hold out your hands,” Kangxi commanded.

The eldest prince blushed and asked, “Father, how many times will you strike us?”

Kangxi regarded the crown prince with special care, and the eldest prince feared favoritism might extend to the punishment.

Kangxi’s face was stern. “Yuqing, ten strikes; Baocheng, six; Yinzhen, one.”

“Father, I object! Why am I punished ten times on my palm while the crown prince only six?” The eldest prince’s tone was defiant.

Kangxi’s forehead veins bulged with anger. Was the eldest prince’s temper so stubborn that all the sage teachings had gone in one ear and out the other?

Silence filled the hall for fifteen minutes. The eldest prince belatedly realized he had spoken out of turn and fell silent, frightened. The crown prince remained quiet, while the youngest, the fourth prince, tried hard to sniff without letting tears or snot fall.

Kangxi’s sharp gaze swept over them again and again before he spoke: “Yuqing, you threatened your younger brother with words, and now you show no remorse by disobeying your father. I shall strike you twenty times. Do you object?”

The eldest prince finally sensed the emperor’s wrath in his tone and nervously replied, “No objection.”

Kangxi then turned to the crown prince. “Baocheng, it was right of you to stand up for Yinzhen, but to come to blows with Yuqing afterward was foolish.”

Yinzhen lowered his head and muttered, “I know my mistake. I accept Father’s punishment.”

Though the crown prince did not openly show defiance like the eldest prince, there was a subtle hint of grievance in his voice.

Kangxi’s tone grew heavy. “Baocheng.”

The crown prince looked up and met the emperor’s deep gaze. Unease stirred within him. His mistake was no greater than the eldest prince’s, yet why did the emperor look at him this way?

“You are virtuous and outstanding, the heir I place my highest hopes in. When Yuqing spoke out against me, why did you not stop him?”

“The crown prince is the nation’s heir, above all brothers in status. It is his duty to restrain his own conduct and to discipline and guide his elder brothers and younger siblings,” Kangxi said sternly. “Baocheng, I shall strike you twenty times. Do you object?”

This time, Yinzhen’s voice was much calmer. “No objection.”

The eldest prince’s defiance earned him only ten strikes, but the crown prince, for failing to timely admonish the eldest prince, was punished with twenty—fourteen more than Yuqing. Liang Jiugong looked at the crown prince with a fleeting tenderness, silently thinking the emperor was too harsh on his heir.

After punishing the two eldest, Kangxi faced the youngest, who was half their height and still sniffling. Kangxi’s head ached.

The fourth prince had just been brought back to Chengqian Palace by the noble consort, tenderly cared for. Yet mistakes required punishment. Kangxi softened his tone. “Yinzhen, hold out your hand.”

Seeing Yinzhen obediently extend his hand without resistance or coquettish avoidance pleased Kangxi.

“Father, can you strike my palm lightly?” Yinzhen looked up innocently and asked earnestly.

Kangxi readily agreed. “Very well.”

The eldest prince: ...

Wait, what? Why him?!

Seeing the emperor only lightly strike the fourth prince’s palm once, the eldest prince was once again dissatisfied. “Father, why—”

Outside the hall, hearing the emperor’s anger and the eldest prince’s backtalk, the eldest prince’s attendants knelt on the ground in fright.

—

The news of the princes’ fight alarmed the inner palace. Noble Consort Tong Jiahe and Consort Hui arrived at Qianqing Palace one after the other.

Outside, Tong Jiahe and Hui met with a nod—an acknowledgment of each other’s presence. Both worried for their sons, neither cared for formalities.

Consort Hui knew her son’s fiery temper well and had brought a palace maid skilled in medicine.

Tong Jiahe glared at the closed door, cursing the emperor silently.

Yinzhen had only intended to kindly deliver something to the crown prince but ended up punished with a light strike on the palm. Fortunately, Kangxi was not rigid in educating his sons; Yinzhen’s punishment was light, and the red mark faded before he reached Chengqian Palace.

The eldest princess, upon hearing that the eldest prince had made the fourth prince cry, hurried over. Soon, a crowd gathered outside the hall.

The Eldest Princess was the eldest daughter of Prince Gong Ning, raised in the palace from childhood and adopted by Kangxi. Though not biological, Kangxi held her in high esteem. Her attendants were carefully selected, and her treatment was no less than the eldest prince’s.

Since her arrival, the palace children had gradually settled, and many believed in her noble fate—Consort Hui among them.

“Eldest Princess, why have you come? It’s hot outside; be careful of the heatstroke and return soon,” Consort Hui said sincerely.

The Eldest Princess stayed in Consort Hui’s Zhongcui Palace before being taken to Shoukang Palace to be raised by the Grand Dowagers. Naturally, she was closer to Consort Hui than to Noble Consort Tong.

Consort Hui welcomed the Eldest Princess before Noble Consort Tong could, leaving Tong Jiahe momentarily speechless.

The Eldest Princess stepped forward, first greeting Tong Jiahe, then Consort Hui, speaking gently, “I worry about my brothers. Perhaps I should stay a while with Noble Consort and Consort Hui.”

The emperor would likely show leniency toward the younger princes for her sake, and Consort Hui gratefully glanced at her.

They waited and waited, but no one came out.

Someone sighed. Consort Hui’s tears silently began to fall.

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After a long wait, the great hall’s door creaked open, and Tong Jiahe dashed forward.

Consort Hui watched in shock as a figure flashed past—Noble Consort Tong actually ran to fetch the child!

Had she been only crying and not running, was that a disadvantage?

“Mother Tong—” Yinzhen’s face brightened upon seeing her.

Though scolded inside and tearful from injustice, at that moment, seeing Mother Tong, he smiled, filled with an inexplicable joy and pride.

Many surrounded them, including the eldest prince’s mother, but his own Mother Tong was the first to rush over!

Tong Jiahe scooped up the little one, fondling his face. “What’s the matter? Want to tell Mother Tong?”

Yinzhen suddenly recalled the pain in his palm and showed her the red mark, tears welling up. He choked back his sobs, “Mother Tong, my hand hurts a lot.”

Nearby, the eldest prince, surrounded by Consort Hui and the palace physician, heard the fourth prince’s voice and glared with fiery anger.

After backtalking, he had been struck twenty times, the crown prince twenty times, yet the fourth prince only once! How painful could a single strike on the palm be? Why was the fourth prince so aggrieved?

No, wait—why should he feel aggrieved?

Consort Hui quickly pulled back her hot-tempered son, whispering sternly, “Stop this nonsense! Don’t you think the pain is enough?”

Then, she tenderly applied medicine to the eldest prince’s hand.

The Eldest Princess greeted the group upon their exit, first inquiring politely after the crown prince, then checking on the fourth prince with Noble Consort Tong, and finally expressing concern for the eldest prince with Consort Hui.

Outside Qianqing Palace, the crown prince stood alone. Seeing his eldest brother and youngest brother surrounded by their mothers, he felt isolated.

He had no mother—only Father Emperor.

But Father Emperor seemed disappointed in him just now.

Since moving alone to Yuqing Palace at six years old, he had less time with the emperor. The emperor was the Son of Heaven; state affairs came before family and could not always be with him.

Yinzhen noticed Mother Tong’s gentle gaze upon the fourth prince, smoothing the wisps of hair on his forehead. He recalled that when he and the eldest prince fought, his hair was disheveled and his clothes rumpled, yet no one dared to step forward to tidy him.

The senior eunuch of Yuqing Palace stood watch with several palace servants but dared not approach.

Master and servant had no intimacy; only a mother and siblings could offer that closeness—a bond no palace attendant could provide.

When Yinzhen raised his head again, only the Yuqing Palace attendants remained; the others had left.

Noble Consort had taken the fourth prince away; Consort Hui had taken the eldest prince.

They each had mothers who constantly thought of them, waited for their return, with whom they could cry, act spoiled, throw tantrums, and share meals.

Yinzhen’s eyes stung; he wanted to cry but resisted. Even if he cried now, no one would wipe his tears, only making him the object of ridicule.

He felt lonely but had no one to confide in.

If only he had a mother too...

—

“Your Highness,”

A soft, soothing female voice entered Yinzhen’s ears, making him tense. He looked up in disbelief.

Hadn’t everyone left moments ago?

Tong Jiahe smiled calmly and beckoned him over.

Perhaps it was Noble Consort Tong’s gentle tone or the quiet outside Qianqing Palace, but Yinzhen unconsciously moved toward her.

Before coming, Tong Jiahe had no idea Emperor Kangxi would resort to corporal punishment, striking palms to discipline. Today, the crown prince had argued with the eldest prince to protect Yinzhen. For both public and private reasons, Tong Jiahe felt she ought to thank the crown prince properly, so she brought ointment herself.

Kangxi was still angry. Liang Jiugong had not reported inside but took it upon himself to bring some ointment, subtly hinting to Tong Jiahe that the crown prince had suffered the harshest punishment.

Tong Jiahe took Yinzhen’s hand and saw the palm was swollen and discolored. Yinzhen’s fair skin only made the red mark more striking.

To not disrupt the princes’ writing, Kangxi had struck the left hand.

How cruel!

Tong Jiahe cursed silently to feel better and began to apply the ointment, only to be stopped by a eunuch.

“Consort, let me do it,” said the senior eunuch of Yuqing Palace, responsible for the crown prince’s daily care.

He had arrived before Consort Hui and Tong Jiahe, but as the emperor was chastising the princes, the concubines could not intervene, and he could only wait outside.

Now seeing the consort offer to apply ointment, he was cautious.

He reached to take the ointment from her hand.

The crown prince showed no objection and even a faint happiness in his eyes. Tong Jiahe paused, then gently applied the ointment, causing the eunuch to freeze mid-motion.

“Your Highness’s attendants, if he says nothing, who are you to interfere?” Tong Jiahe retorted. “Who taught you these rules?”

The eunuch immediately apologized, sincere in words but stiff in posture.

Tong Jiahe’s smile faded.

Whether appointed by Kangxi or arranged by the Hesheli clan, a palace attendant able to control the crown prince’s actions was never a good sign.

Yinzhen noticed the eunuch’s dismissiveness toward Tong Jiahe and scolded, “Step back!”

He inhaled deeply, feigning composure to thank her, “Yinzhen thanks Consort Tong.”

Tong Jiahe smiled and tidied his disheveled clothes. “Your Highness is too kind.”

Yinzhen stood obediently beside her. After she finished, he asked, “Second Brother, does your hand still hurt?”

“No, it doesn’t,” the crown prince said quietly, looking at his palm and repeating softly, “Not hurt anymore.”

Yinzhen turned to Tong Jiahe happily. “Mother Tong, I’m hungry. I want big meat buns and fried little fish.”

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After crying so long, he was indeed hungry. Still wanting to eat and drink showed Kangxi’s ‘lesson in love’ had left no psychological scars on Yinzhen.

The crown prince, however, drew an extra glance from Tong Jiahe. Most palace children matured early; at seven, he thought deeper than his peers.

“All right, we’ll go home and fry some fish, then add sweet sauce to make little sweet fish,” Tong Jiahe smiled, offering plenty of emotional support.

Children never disliked sweets. Hearing “little sweet fish,” Yinzhen was delighted.

The crown prince watched Tong Jiahe chatting and laughing with the fourth prince, feeling an inexplicable loneliness.

If only Noble Consort Tong hadn’t helped with the ointment, he wouldn’t have gotten the illusion of having a mother nearby.

Tong Jiahe walked a few steps ahead then turned, puzzled. “Your Highness, why don’t you come along? Aren’t you hungry?”

Yinzhen called back, “Second Brother, come quick, let’s go have dinner.”

Noble Consort’s words struck like thunder, stunning Yinzhen.

She had included him in “we,” naturally bringing him back to Chengqian Palace, as if he belonged there all along.

Without hesitation, Tong Jiahe took the crown prince’s hand and headed toward Chengqian Palace.

The spicy shredded chicken made in the small kitchen today was best eaten hot! A seven-year-old who worried so much couldn’t let his food go cold.

Under Tong Jiahe’s recent oral training, the small kitchen’s skills had improved by leaps and bounds. The thought of the delicious meal awaiting filled her with joy.

Yuqing Palace’s attendants watched as the consort casually took their crown prince away, wide-eyed and speechless. No one dared stop her. In the end, they had no choice but to report to the emperor in Qianqing Palace.

“Your Majesty, something’s wrong!”

“The crown prince has been taken away by Noble Consort Tong!”

—

Inside Qianqing Palace, Kangxi fell into deep silence.

The ointment on the crown prince’s hand was applied by Noble Consort Tong.

The crown prince’s dinner would be at Noble Consort Tong’s palace.

Today, in anger, he had forgotten to keep the crown prince in Qianqing Palace for his meal.

Kangxi thought of his late Empress Renxiao. Had Hesheli still been alive, any shortcomings in educating Yinzhen could have been compensated by her.

If only Hesheli were still here...

Enough.

Kangxi paced the hall, troubled. At last, unable to settle his thoughts, he rose and went to the Kunning Palace.

—

Yonghe Palace.

News of the quarrel in the upper study between the crown prince, eldest prince, and fourth prince soon spread through the inner palace. Consort Yi brought many nourishing gifts to see the pregnant Consort De and took the chance to discuss the incident at Yonghe Palace.

“Sister De, will you go see the fourth prince?” Consort Yi smiled brightly.

After some polite talk, Consort Yi moved to the point.

With justification, Consort De could not refuse. Besides, she had already celebrated her birthday earlier than Consort Yi.

Consort De spoke softly, “Sister Yi, the fourth prince is under Noble Consort’s care. No matter what others say, I have peace of mind.”

“We both know Noble Consort’s character. If you still worry about Yinzhen, why not visit Chengqian Palace for me?” Consort De’s eyes flickered with a sharp glint.

Consort Yi stood and replied lightly, “Sister, you have the sixth prince with you and another on the way. Naturally, you have no time for the fourth prince. Well then, if Sister De is reassured, what is there left to worry about?”

“Take good care of yourself, Sister De. I shall visit again.”

Under Consort De’s gradually cooling gaze, Consort Yi left the hall briskly.

Within moments, Consort De’s emotions churned wildly.

Since Consort Yi’s birthday visit, the emperor had not come to Yonghe Palace for several days. Even if Consort De wished to coax Kangxi gently, no opportunity arose.

These days, she shrank within Yonghe Palace, waiting for the day the emperor would relent and come to see her.

“Mother, I want Father Emperor.” The nearly two-year-old sixth prince could walk steadily from the side hall to the main hall without the nanny’s help.

He hadn’t seen Kangxi for days and refused all coaxing, insisting on coming to the main hall to tell Mother.

The sixth prince clung to Consort De’s leg, throwing a tantrum. The nanny hurried to pull him away. Now pregnant, Consort De had to be cautious; the young prince’s ignorance could cause dire consequences.

But Consort De paid no mind. She held the sixth prince in her arms and softly explained, “Little Six, whatever you want to eat, Mother will have made for you.”

The sixth prince shook his head, pouting, “I want Father Emperor.”

Recently, the sixth prince often mentioned the emperor. Seeing her son’s hopeful eyes, Consort De could not disappoint him. She sent Shi Liu to the Imperial Hospital to fetch the imperial physician, saying she was unwell, then reported to the emperor in Qianqing Palace.

The emperor must come for the heir.

Unexpectedly, he was absent.

Shi Liu returned dejected. “The emperor is not at Qianqing Palace. I asked around among the palace staff; for several days after lunch, His Majesty has been at Kunning Palace.”

Kunning Palace...

The emperor went there only to mourn Empress Renxiao. Everyone knew how important his primary wife and heir were to him; no one dared to cross them.

Consort De was distressed but helpless, forced to give up.

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