Chapter 5

In the back hall of the Chengqian Palace.

Concubine Chen had neither eaten nor drunk for two days. Yesterday, she hadn't closed her eyes all night, curling up on her bed and refusing to move. Her attendants, fearing something might go wrong, rushed to the main hall to seek instructions from the Imperial Noble Consort. If the Consort was willing, they would request a physician; if not, any misfortune that befell Concubine Chen would have nothing to do with them.

The attendant seeking instructions didn't even get to see the Imperial Noble Consort; they were blocked by Pu Yu. When Concubine Chen had acted on her own initiative, she hadn't bothered to ask for permission, yet now that she was refusing food and drink, she was suddenly willing to defer to the Consort’s will.

Pu Yu smiled thinly and said, "Since your mistress is ill, it is only natural to summon a physician. However, I must ask one thing clearly: the next time your mistress takes a meal or goes to the latrine, must she also come to the main hall to seek the Imperial Noble Consort's instructions?"

Everyone in the Chengqian Palace knew that among the Consort’s most capable head maids, Pu Yu had the sharpest tongue. The attendant’s face flushed red, unable to argue, and they retreated in defeat.

In the main hall, Tong Jiahe had been ‘recovering’ for two days and was now fully restored. Once dressed, she had Pu Yu summon He Weilu. Having spent two days resting, she could delay no longer. There was much to face in the palace, and she needed to assess the capabilities of those around her. Pu Yu and He Weilu did not need to be extraordinary, but they could not be dead weight. One must settle internal affairs before dealing with external ones; she had to resolve the situation in the Chengqian Palace before finding a way to bring back the Fourth Prince.

Pu Yu lifted the curtain to let He Weilu, who had been waiting outside, enter. Two days had passed, and with his skills, he should have uncovered plenty of information—he likely would not disappoint the Consort.

He Weilu was delicate, fair-skinned, and slender. After paying his respects to the Imperial Noble Consort, he stood neatly in place, head slightly lowered, staring at his own toes. Tong Jiahe inexplicably thought of bamboo. As her thoughts wandered for a moment, she snapped back to reality and couldn't help but smile. "Speak."

Only then did He Weilu begin. Over the past two days, he had painstakingly gathered information, focusing on how Concubine Chen had slipped from the back hall to the main hall that day, as well as who else had entered or exited the Chengqian Palace.

"Your Highness, on that day, the people from Concubine Chen’s side went to the kitchen to fetch meals as usual and returned in the company of attendants from other concubines in the back hall."

"Did they usually go together?" Tong Jiahe asked.

He Weilu shook his head. "Rarely."

Tong Jiahe felt a pang of disappointment; the intelligence was still insufficient.

"Eunuch Xu from the Imperial Household Department told me that besides our Chengqian Palace, attendants from the Yi Palace and the Yonghe Palace also visited the department at the same time," He Weilu added.

When they had bumped into each other yesterday, Eunuch Xu hadn't asked his purpose. Instead, he had flicked his sleeves, pointed toward the direction of the Yi Palace and the Yonghe Palace, and said with a smile, "Quite a coincidence, isn't it?"

A clever person needs no further explanation. He Weilu had accepted his favor and did not forget to mention Eunuch Xu’s goodwill toward the Chengqian Palace in front of the Consort. The Yi Palace was the residence of Concubine Yi of the Gorolo clan, and the Yonghe Palace was home to Concubine De of the Uya clan; both were favored by the Emperor.

Tong Jiahe felt no panic at this news; rather, she felt relieved. Without someone to scheme and assist her, Concubine Chen would never have dared to challenge the Imperial Noble Consort. Even if she had the audacity, she wouldn't have found such a perfect opportunity. Whether it was Concubine Yi or Concubine De, she was now in the light, and so were her enemies.

"Your Highness, how should we handle this?" Pu Yu asked curiously.

Her mistress was indeed an Imperial Noble Consort, but she lacked the authority to assist in managing the six palaces, as most matters were currently overseen by the Empress Dowager.

"Has the Emperor not already dealt with it?" Tong Jiahe’s eyes curved into crescents, her mood quite pleasant. Concubine Chen could ignore the Consort, but she could not disregard the Emperor. Compared to the Consort’s retaliation, the Emperor’s displeasure was far more terrifying to her.

Concubine Chen’s matter could be set aside for now. Tong Jiahe had the Fourth Prince’s clothes and toys in the Chengqian Palace organized and selected a few of his favorites to be sent to him. She could not go herself; first, she had to maintain the pretense of being ‘ill,’ and second, the Empress Dowager’s attitude toward her remained unclear. A rash visit would only annoy the old woman and hinder her efforts to bring the Fourth Prince back.

Tong Jiahe specifically instructed a round-faced, cheerful second-rank maid to make a trip to the Cining Palace.

Pu Yu worried, "Your Highness, let me or He Weilu go instead; at least we could say a few auspicious words before the Empress Dowager."

Knowing Pu Yu was looking out for her, Tong Jiahe explained gently, "In this instance, the items are more important than the person."

The Consort had been ill for days, yet the Empress Dowager had not sent the Fourth Prince back to visit. The ancients valued filial piety above all; even if the Fourth Prince was not registered under the Consort’s name, they should at least be allowed to see one another. Pu Yu and He Weilu were high-ranking attendants; if the Consort’s right-hand people went to the Cining Palace only to find they couldn't even see the Fourth Prince, it would be a loss of face for the Chengqian Palace and provide fodder for gossip. Sending an obscure second-rank maid meant that even if she didn't see the prince, it would be of no consequence. It was enough to deliver the gifts, let the Fourth Prince know that Mother Tong was thinking of him, and let the Empress Dowager know that she loved and cared for him.

--

The following afternoon, the Cining Palace sent someone to summon the Imperial Noble Consort.

Once the news broke, the Chengqian Palace was filled with both joy and anxiety. Tong Jiahe’s worries were no less than theirs. The old ancestor in the Cining Palace was no ordinary person. She had only transmigrated here ten days ago—was this move too hasty? Before the Qing Dynasty entered the pass, they had married into the Mongol Khorchin tribe over thirty times. The Empress Dowager had lived through several reigns and had seen more people and events than she had in both her lifetimes combined.

Seeing the Consort’s outward calm but inner turmoil, Pu Yu comforted her softly, "Once you go, you will be able to see the Fourth Prince with your own eyes."

During the Consort’s illness, the Empress Dowager had sent people to inquire—that was a grace. Now that the Consort had recovered, she naturally had to go to the Cining Palace to express her gratitude. Pu Yu breathed a sigh of relief; fortunately, the Empress Dowager had left the Consort a dignified path. With this back-and-forth, the Fourth Prince could return sooner.

Before departing, the sky above the Chengqian Palace was as clear as washed jade. Tong Jiahe took a firm step forward, crossing the threshold of the Chengqian Palace. She was from the Tong clan and the Emperor’s own cousin; even if there had been unpleasantness before, for the sake of the fact that the Consort had truly been ill, the Empress Dowager likely wouldn't make things too difficult for her.

Cining Palace.

Tong Jiahe kept her eyes on her nose and her heart on her mind, almost carving the words "respectful and cautious" onto her face. The attendants of the Cining Palace asked her to sit, saying the Empress Dowager was inside changing her clothes. Concubines wore different attire depending on whether they were meeting people or not; in one's own residence, one could wear casual clothes, but meeting others required decorum. The Empress Dowager’s status was even more exalted, and every move she made represented the royal family; there could be no mistakes. Tong Jiahe nodded slightly to the attendant and sat down.

As she drifted in thought, the sound of pearl curtains clattering rang out. Tong Jiahe looked up abruptly to see a woman with half-white hair walking slowly toward her. Her face was square with a slightly darker complexion, appearing stern and dignified. A mere glance in her direction was enough to make Tong Jiahe feel uneasy.

Tong Jiahe stood up, waited for the Empress Dowager to sit, then curtsied and paid her respects, only sitting after receiving a nod.

"Is the Imperial Noble Consort’s health better?" the Empress Dowager’s voice was quite resonant.

She had heard from the physician that the illness had been fierce and sudden, a genuine bout of sickness, and the Empress Dowager had felt a measure of concern. Seeing her today, she looked closely and noticed that even the thin layer of powder on the Consort’s face could not hide her haggard appearance, and she was much thinner than before.

Tong Jiahe replied softly, "Many thanks to the Empress Dowager for your concern. The physician says that my body has been well-tended during this time and I have largely recovered."

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly. "Although you are young, you must not be careless with your health; you must take care of yourself."

Concubines of Mongol descent generally had better constitutions than the Manchus or Han, and the Empress Dowager had outlived many at her age. She had much insight into longevity, and because the Tong Noble Consort was the Emperor’s cousin and the niece of the late Empress Xiaokangzhang, the Empress Dowager offered a few more words of advice.

Pu Yu stood behind Tong Jiahe, her head bowed, her lips curling slightly as she listened. Not every concubine would have the privilege of such attention. If the Empress Dowager was willing to speak to the Consort in this manner, the matter of the Fourth Prince would be easier to broach.

Tong Jiahe stood up again. "I will take your teachings to heart."

The Empress Dowager had always been cold toward the original Tong Noble Consort, and they almost never had private contact, only exchanging polite pleasantries on major occasions to maintain a facade of cordiality. As expected, after a few exchanges of pleasantries, the Empress Dowager’s tone cooled, clearly not wishing to converse further.

People of advanced age had far less energy than before. Seeing the Empress Dowager’s face showing signs of fatigue, the maid beside her brought her a cup of strong tea. This was the unspoken signal from the Cining Palace to dismiss a guest.

Everything said so far had been idle chatter; the matter of the Fourth Prince had not been mentioned once. Tong Jiahe pretended not to notice, took a sip of tea, and looked at the Empress Dowager with a bright, smiling face.

After finishing a cup of strong tea, the Empress Dowager saw that the Consort was still sitting there, and she felt a sudden headache. She had never expected that the delicate Tong Noble Consort would truly fall ill after the Fourth Prince was taken away, nor had she expected that the usually prideful Consort would now cling to her seat and refuse to leave.

Since the Fourth Prince reached his first month, he had been taken to the Chengqian Palace. Initially, the Consort had cared for the child with genuine sincerity. But after the passing of Empress Xiaozhao, the Consort’s selfishness had grown, and she had slowly grown cold toward the Fourth Prince. Regardless of the birth mother’s background, the royal heirs were of the imperial bloodline; how could they be neglected by others? Since the Consort was unwilling to devote herself to him, there were naturally those in the palace who were. She and the Emperor had not yet decided on the Fourth Prince’s final placement, so they had simply decided to leave the Consort hanging for a while.

The Empress Dowager withdrew her gaze, catching a glimpse of something flashing by in the back, and looked toward that spot. At this single glance, her headache worsened.

Tong Jiahe had been closely monitoring every move of the Empress Dowager. Seeing her gaze shift, she couldn't help but look in the same direction, discovering a shadow curled into a ball at the corner. Because the shadow was so small, she couldn't immediately identify what it was, silently wondering if it was a cat or dog kept by the Empress Dowager that had run over upon hearing movement.

At this moment, the owner of the shadow was peeking out, and their eyes met.

Tong Jiahe’s eyes widened sharply. This was no cat or dog; the figure curled in the corner was clearly the Fourth Prince!