Chapter 3

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Kangxi’s expression grew calm as he stopped speaking, and Consort De tactfully changed the subject. As a consort, the most important skill was to gauge the situation and flatter the emperor to keep him pleased, never to lose one’s head over fleeting favor. Since the emperor had already agreed to let her see the Fourth Prince, there was no need to rush; she could plan carefully for the future.

What pleased the emperor most in the harem were young, beautiful consorts and healthy offspring. Seeing that his gaze frequently shifted between her and the Sixth Prince, Consort De felt reassured and gently accompanied Kangxi in conversation. She knew the emperor had lost many children, and his favorite was the robust First Prince, strong as a young calf. She had spared no effort raising the Sixth Prince to be strong, determined to show Kangxi that this child was no weakling and could thrive within the palace.

Of course, she had other motives. When she heard that the Fourth Prince, taken to the Empress Dowager’s palace, had lost much weight, she thought that the stronger her own Sixth Prince grew, the more it would highlight the favored consort’s incompetence in caring for the Fourth Prince.

After the Sixth Prince had eaten and played a while, he lazily yawned in his nanny’s arms. Seeing this, Consort De had the nanny carry him to a side chamber to rest. But the boy insisted on staying with her, clinging to her arm. Every morning upon waking, he wanted to see Consort De; they ate and lived together, and being young, he did not yet understand the imperial rule forbidding princes from becoming too close to their birth mothers or maternal relatives. No matter how much the nanny coaxed, he refused to rest alone.

Consort De helplessly held her son in her arms and explained to Kangxi, “Your Majesty, I intended to visit the noble consort, who is ill, but the little Sixth Prince kept clinging to me. I did not want to trouble the noble consort with this mischievous child, so I was delayed.”

Hearing his mother mention him, the Sixth Prince struggled to lift his drowsy eyes to look at her. The two bore a strong resemblance, and even though Consort De’s attention was mostly on Kangxi, she could not help but soften at her son’s dependence, tightening her grip on his hand.

Kangxi, knowing the boy was young and his affection natural, comforted her gently, telling her not to worry. Having not seen the noble consort for a long time, he prepared to leave for Chengqian Palace.

Consort De watched the bright yellow figure fade into the distance, finally allowing the tension within her to ease momentarily. Yet a trace of worry lingered in her eyes; she glanced subtly toward the door and, seeing the palace servant who had gone for ice had returned, finally breathed a real sigh of relief.

Many consorts lived in the East and West Six Palaces, and even Chengqian Palace, where the noble consort resided, housed several lesser consorts. Chen, one of the lesser consorts, had long complained in private about lacking the luck to meet the emperor. Now, Consort De would help her by “sending luck” her way. Whether Chen could hold onto it depended entirely on her own abilities; success or failure was no one else’s fault.

—

Kangxi strode swiftly to Chengqian Palace but halted at the entrance, unable to bring himself to step inside. Soon, the noble consort would surely ask about the Fourth Prince, perhaps even request to bring him back. Yet it was well known throughout the Six Palaces, and personally affirmed by the Empress Dowager, that the noble consort had failed to care for the Fourth Prince properly.

Liang Jiugong, bent forward in attendance behind him, noticed Kangxi’s reluctance and knew the emperor was powerless with the noble consort—due in part to their years of acquaintance and partly because of her family name.

The two stood outside for some time until muffled sobbing came from inside. Kangxi’s heart raced as he strode in and saw an unfamiliar consort weeping bitterly at the entrance to the noble consort’s main hall. Only then did he relax.

Earlier, he had feared it was the noble consort crying.

Liang Jiugong, seeing Kangxi’s furrowed brow and confusion, quietly informed him, “Your Majesty, this is Chen, a lesser consort residing in the back hall of Chengqian Palace.”

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“Consort Chen?” Kangxi paused, only slowly recalling who she was.

When Consort Chen suddenly knelt before the noble consort with a thud, Kangxi’s frown deepened, his irritation growing as he watched her tears flow freely.

Liang Jiugong, overhearing the commotion inside, glanced quickly through the palace gate and caught sight of the noble consort collapsing in grief…

Back at the Qianqing Palace, Liang Jiugong was still unsettled by the incident. Kangxi’s remark of “overwhelmed by fright” effectively confined Consort Chen to the back hall, while a steady stream of tonic supplements was sent to the noble consort. The matter even drew the attention of the Empress Dowager herself.

Kangxi was vexed with the Chen family. When the noble consort was favored, Chen yielded. Once the noble consort fell out of favor, Chen sought to rise by stepping on others. Regardless, the noble consort was from the distinguished Tongjia clan—different from the rest.

Consorts competed in various ways: music, chess, calligraphy, poetry; excellence in any earned extra glances from the emperor.

Moreover, the noble consort was proud by nature. She would not have fainted in public if she could endure the insult. Clearly, Consort Chen had provoked her severely. Thinking of the noble consort’s emaciated, haggard appearance, Kangxi added arrogance and disrespect to Chen’s list of offenses.

Kangxi asked Liang Jiugong, “The noble consort has been unwell lately, staying in Chengqian Palace for days. Has no one gone to keep her company to lift her spirits?”

This was a pointed question about the lesser consorts residing in the back hall of Chengqian Palace.

Liang Jiugong wiped cold sweat from his brow. Everyone knew the noble consort’s delicate state; who would dare stir trouble in the main hall at such a time? Even if some consorts wished to visit, the noble consort might not have welcomed them.

But since the emperor asked, he had to reply, “Your Majesty, the noble consort has remained ill these days. To avoid passing her sickness to other esteemed consorts, she has not summoned anyone.”

Liang Jiugong added earnestly, “The noble consort truly has a compassionate heart.”

Kangxi paused, then slammed the memorial on the desk, casting a cold glance at Liang Jiugong. Startled, Liang Jiugong shivered inwardly, suspecting the emperor’s anger was still directed at the other lesser consorts of Chengqian Palace. He silently prayed for the noble consort and emperor to reconcile soon, sparing them their servants further hardship.

—

When Tong Jiahe opened her eyes again, Pu Yu informed her that the emperor had just left. Consort Chen, overwhelmed by fright, had been sent back to the back hall, where the imperial physician administered a calming decoction, and she had fallen asleep.

Overwhelmed by fright?

Tong Jiahe suspected this was likely true, as no one had expected the usually strong-willed noble consort to be so fragile.

Since Kangxi’s visit to Chengqian Palace, the palace threshold there had nearly worn down from constant foot traffic.

Tong Jiahe sat in the eastern side chamber, sipping strong tea while reviewing the day’s events. She didn’t know whether to be grateful for Kangxi’s timely appearance or relieved that Consort Chen’s methods were not more cunning.

If today’s incident was mere coincidence, it would be understandable. But Tong Jiahe doubted that. Just as the mantis stalks the cicada unaware of the oriole behind, she was uncertain if she was the cicada or the mantis; she could not afford complacency.

After some thought, she summoned He Weilu, the chief eunuch serving the noble consort, ordering him to investigate the palace staff around Consort Chen—where they had been and whom they had met today—and to report back to her. She would also use this to test the loyalty and capability of the noble consort’s attendants.

This was her first palace intrigue since transmigrating. To the palace’s powerful figures, her and Consort Chen’s conflict was merely a minor squabble between consorts. Only she knew that a native Qing consort like Tong Jiahe could vanish without a trace in this unfamiliar world. One misstep and she would become a cautionary tale, just like the noble consort before her.

But for now, the utmost priority was to bring the Fourth Prince back. Everything else could be set aside.

Pu Yu noticed the noble consort’s exhaustion after today’s ordeal and eased the pressure when massaging her shoulders and back. “Coincidentally, today the Imperial Household eunuch Xu also came by. Seeing the mistress wasn’t well, he left and said he would return in a few days to pay respects.”

Tong Jiahe recalled that when she spoke with Consort Chen, a group of Imperial Household servants had been lurking in the corner, led by the plump eunuch Xu. The fact that he dared to visit amid recent turmoil suggested a close relationship with the noble consort.

“Your Highness, after today’s incident with Consort Chen, Consort Su came to deliver a handmade embroidered forehead cloth. The beads sewn onto it are of excellent quality, likely worth two months’ allowance from Consort Su. Following custom, a bolt of cloud-patterned satin and a bolt of gauze were sent to her in return.”

Pu Yu recounted all the day’s events in detail.

Three lesser consorts resided in the back hall of Chengqian Palace: Chen, Su, and Liu. According to later-known Qing harem rankings, their status corresponded to that of secondary consorts.

Among them, Consort Su was the most beautiful and had a good relationship with the noble consort.

The items Consort Su sent were exquisitely made, making Tong Jiahe sigh, “Such work is painstaking and taxing to the eyes. Order the small kitchen to prepare several dishes at dinner to send to her.”

She recalled that Consort Su came from Jiangnan. When she first entered the palace, she fell ill after struggling with the palace cuisine.

Before Pu Yu could say more, a young eunuch announced from outside, “Consort Hui has arrived!”

This news startled both master and servant inside the hall.

Tong Jiahe racked her memory; the noble consort had almost no contact with the First Prince’s birth mother, and no private dealings with her.

Now, unexpectedly and at such a critical moment, what was she doing at Chengqian Palace?

Pu Yu looked hesitant, glancing at her mistress. Several consorts had come today, all sent away by the noble consort. But Consort Hui held the rank of consort, and dismissing her could displease the emperor.

Moreover, with the recent estrangement between the noble consort and Kangxi, to preserve the emperor’s dignity and their relationship, it was unwise to turn her away.

Yet if Consort Hui spoke of the Fourth Prince in front of the noble consort, it would cause her deep sorrow.

Tong Jiahe was less worried. She only considered that Consort Hui was the First Prince’s mother, and by moving through the palace under his name, she carried his honor. Refusing to see Consort Hui would be to shame the First Prince, something the emperor would never favor.

Whether Consort Hui acted with this in mind, Tong Jiahe was unsure. Though hesitant, she dared not test fate and had the servants invite Consort Hui inside.