Chapter 1, Spring of the 20th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign. ...
Spring of the 20th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign.
Although it's spring, the weather isn't as warm as in previous years. There was a heavy snowfall last night, and when I opened my eyes this morning, everything outside the window was a vast expanse of white. It looked especially beautiful through the vermilion window frames. Inside the house, it was very warm, and Wen Shan, wrapped in a blanket, sat up and enjoyed the snow scene for a while, listening to the soft crackling of the charcoal stove.
Fortunately, the position of empress is currently vacant, so she doesn't have to get up early in the morning and brave the snow to pay her respects.
When it was lunchtime, I went to the small kitchen and made a crucian carp and tofu soup and fried milk, which I then carried to Cining Palace.
As soon as Wen Shan entered Cining Palace, she saw a small figure wearing a small blue hat kneeling on the steps in front of the main hall.
Wen Shan frowned. How could such a young child be made to kneel in this freezing weather?
Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the four princes, Yinzhen, were only three years old.
The future Yongzheng Emperor.
Yinzhen looked rather thin without a cloak, a thin layer of snow on his body, his small body trembling slightly, yet he still gritted his teeth and stubbornly remained silent.
Wen Shan walked to the corridor, where Aunt He Yu, who was standing next to the Empress Dowager, saw her coming and hurriedly came to greet her.
"This servant greets Consort Xuan. It's unfortunate that you've come at the right time; the Emperor is inside speaking with the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager."
Aunt Yu's expression was also somewhat serious. Wen Shan keenly sensed that something was amiss today and said, "It's alright, I'll just wait here for a while."
After speaking, he looked at the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, who was kneeling upright on the ground: "What's going on? Why is the Fourth Prince kneeling here?"
At this point, Aunt Yu sighed, her face showing reluctance: "This morning, the Fourth Prince offended His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness has not been feeling well lately, and after getting into a fight with the Fourth Prince, he fainted from anger. When the Emperor found out, he was furious and made the Fourth Prince kneel here, not allowing him to get up without the Emperor's decree."
"They took action?" Wen Shan asked in surprise, "The Fourth Prince hit the Crown Prince?"
Everyone in the palace knows that the Crown Prince is the Emperor's darling. He has raised him from childhood with the utmost care and affection. All the princes and princesses combined dote on him, but not as much as the Crown Prince alone. So why would the Fourth Prince fight with the Crown Prince?
"No, that's not it." Aunt Heyu quickly explained, "His Highness the Crown Prince was so angry that he kicked the Fourth Prince, and the Fourth Prince happened to fall down the steps. His Highness the Crown Prince was so angry that he fainted."
"..."
Wen Shan was speechless with emotion; Yinzhen was also in a bit of bad luck.
Not only did he get beaten up, but when the person who did the beating passed out, it was all his fault.
The one who fainted was Kangxi's beloved crown prince, and there was really no one to reason with.
"Didn't the Imperial Concubine come to plead for mercy?"
Consort Tongjia was Yinzhen's adoptive mother. Yinzhen was brought to her palace just a few days after he was born, so there's no reason for her not to come and see him now.
Aunt He Yu sighed again, her eyes filled with even more heartache as she looked at the Fourth Prince: "The Imperial Concubine is pregnant and not feeling well, so she said she's taking a break."
"..."
Wenshan fell silent again; it did sound rather terrible.
My father doesn't love me, and my mother doesn't care about me either.
"Give Fourth Prince an extra layer of clothing. It's freezing cold, don't let the child catch a cold." Wen Shan was also a little distressed. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a bruise on Yinzhen's forehead, which must have been from falling down the steps.
Aunt Yu was in a difficult position: "His Majesty is in a bad mood, how dare we servants?"
Wen Shan understood their predicament and simply said, "I will take responsibility if anything goes wrong. Go and fetch a cloak."
This is the advantage of having a strong family background.
Although she didn't have a high profile in the palace, her background was incredibly strong. She was from the Borjigit clan and was related to Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang and the Empress Dowager. Emperor Kangxi would usually give her some face.
Aunt Yu quickly ordered someone to fetch a cloak. Wen Shan took it, walked down the steps, squatted down in front of Yinzhen, took out a handkerchief to wipe his little face which was already red from the cold, and then tied the cloak on him.
Yinzhen was surprised that Wenshan would come over to put a coat on him, and even dodged for a moment. He said in a serious tone, "Thank you for your kindness, Consort Xuan. Father Emperor has punished me to kneel here and reflect on my mistakes. I dare not put on any more clothes."
His tone was full of grievance, stubbornness, and resentment.
Is he still just a child, or is he just angry with his parents?
But his father... probably wouldn't feel sorry or guilty because Yinzhen got cold.
Wen Shan forcibly tied a cloak around his neck and brushed the snow off him: "Your father is in a bad mood, but he'll be fine in a bit. Don't get angry with your father, your health is the most important thing."
Yinzhen loosened his clenched fist. He had never had any contact with this Consort Xuan before, only seeing her a few times from afar. He thought she was gentle and mild-mannered, but he never expected her hands to be so soft and warm.
Inside the Cining Palace, Emperor Kangxi and his two elders were also in a silent standoff.
Finally, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang couldn't help but speak first: "Your Majesty, it's just children playing around. The Crown Prince has already woken up. Let's get Yinzhen up first. That child also has injuries."
The Empress Dowager also chimed in.
At this time, Kangxi was in his prime. Having ruled personally for many years and eliminated his biggest political enemy, Aobai, he had long since shed his youthful naiveté and become a mature emperor who held absolute power and made strategic plans.
“Grandmother, Yinzhen has been unpredictable since childhood, and today he dared to talk back to the Crown Prince. He really should be taught a lesson.”
Kangxi still respected and was close to his grandmother who had raised him, but the thought of Yinreng being carried back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation unconscious this morning made him angry.
"Heseri died young, and Yinreng was raised by you and is the Crown Prince, so the bond between you is naturally different. But Yinzhen is also your flesh and blood. Yet you didn't even ask about the three-year-old child who fell down the steps. Even if the ten fingers are not the same length, you can't go too far," the Empress Dowager advised earnestly.
Su Ma La Gu, who was standing nearby, brought over tea and served it to the three masters. She smiled and said, "His Majesty is young and will naturally understand these principles in the future. Empress Dowager, please don't worry too much. You were so anxious when you heard about this today that you didn't even have breakfast."
Upon hearing this, Kangxi's tone immediately softened: "It is my fault for causing Grandmother such worry."
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang waved her hand, took a sip of the milk tea that had just been served, and said slowly, "I just felt sorry for Yinzhen. He was not raised by his own mother since he was a child. Now that Consort Gui is pregnant, she is also very uncomfortable and cannot take care of him. If you, as his father, do not pay more attention to him, everyone in the palace will dare to mistreat him."
Since the Empress Dowager had already said so much, Kangxi could only let Yinzhen get up first and send him back to Chengqian Palace for treatment.
Su Ma La Gu breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Kangxi's attitude had finally softened. The emperor had become increasingly autocratic in recent years, and it would be bad if he and the Empress Dowager got into a fight over this.
Sumalagu said, "Consort Xuan just came to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager. She saw that the Fourth Prince was weak and cold and was taking care of him. Your Majesty need not worry."
In recent years, Wen Shan has come to Cining Palace almost every day to keep the two old ladies company, chat and make them laugh, and also bring them some fresh food. The palace servants in Cining Palace also like this unpretentious Consort Xuan very much. Therefore, Su Ma La Gu is also willing to take the opportunity to say a good word for Wen Shan and make her presence known.
Emperor Kangxi did not have a deep impression of Consort Xuan, who liked to spend time in Cining Palace trying to please the Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager. He only remembered that she was of noble birth but not arrogant, and could be described as gentle and obedient. Therefore, he simply nodded and said, "Consort Xuan is very thoughtful."
The Empress Dowager, however, had a change of expression. She took a sip of tea and said, "Consort Xuan is diligent, cautious, and meticulous. Since Consort Gui is unwell and unable to take care of the Fourth Prince, why not let Consort Xuan look after him before Consort Gui gives birth?"
The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement: "Wen Shan has always been meticulous in her work, so it would be good for her to take care of things for a while."
Kangxi hesitated. Consort Tongjia was his cousin, and he had favored her since she entered the palace. The two had a deep bond. Now that she was pregnant, he wondered if taking Yinzhen away from her would hurt his cousin's feelings.
The Empress Dowager and the Empress Mother must be a little angry because my cousin deliberately avoided coming today to avoid suspicion.
"This is a win-win solution. It only means that the Consort will take care of the Fourth Prince for a period of time, and then the Fourth Prince will be sent back after the Consort gives birth," the Empress Dowager decided. "This way, the Fourth Prince will have someone to take care of him without disturbing the Consort's pregnancy."
Having said all that, Kangxi had no choice but to agree.
Meanwhile, Wen Shan, who was waiting under the eaves, had no idea that she was about to have a son.
The curtain, draped with a thick bearskin, was suddenly lifted, and a bright yellow figure walked out. Wen Shan was startled and quickly curtsied.
"Get up." Kangxi gently helped her up, and for the first time seriously looked at his Consort Xuan.
Unlike the other Mongolian concubines who were bold and spoiled, Consort Xuan appeared more delicate and gentle, with a peaceful and composed demeanor, more like a Han Chinese woman raised in the water towns of Jiangnan.
Even Emperor Kangxi had to admit that she did seem very suitable for raising children, and she had the demeanor of a virtuous wife and loving mother.
Wen Shan lowered her eyes, wondering what was going on today. Usually, Kangxi would just glance at her and then ignore her, so why wasn't he leaving today?
She kept praying in her heart that this person would leave quickly; just seeing him annoyed her.
Fortunately, Kangxi was not familiar with her and had nothing to say to her. He only glanced at her a few times before walking toward Yinzhen, who was still kneeling.
Yinzhen straightened his back even more, stubbornly refusing to look up and staring at the snowflakes on the ground.
Wen Shan's heart jumped. Looking at Kangxi's imposing manner, she couldn't help but worry that this dog emperor might hit the child.
Fortunately, Kangxi only stopped in front of Yinzhen, looked down at him for a while, and then said, "Get up."
Yinzhen gritted his teeth and insisted, "Your subject dares not."
Wen Shan: "..."
He didn't listen to a word I said to him; he's still sulking.
As expected, Kangxi's anger was reignited by his defiant attitude.
He snorted coldly, laughing instead of getting angry: "Fine, your temperament is indeed not suitable for being raised in the Imperial Concubine's palace. When the Imperial Concubine gives birth in the future, you will probably hold a grudge against your younger siblings and have no filial piety whatsoever."
Kangxi's words were extremely harsh. Yinzhen looked up at his father in disbelief, tears welling in his eyes. The three-year-old child was still frightened, and he stammered, "Father..."
Kangxi turned and left, leaving Yinzhen alone, kneeling in the snow in defeat.
Wenshan was furious watching from the side.
Is that something you should say to a three-year-old?!
As soon as Kangxi left, Su Mala Gu came out, greeted Wen Shan, and said with a smile, "Your Highness Consort Xuan, just now the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager agreed that you would take care of the Fourth Prince for a period of time before the Consort gives birth."
Wen Shan was stunned. "Auntie, what did you say?"
Let her take care of Yinzhen?
Su Ma La Gu took the food box from Wen Shan's personal maid, Pearl, and urged, "The Empress Dowager said that you should hurry up and take the Fourth Prince back to the palace to summon the imperial physician for treatment. There's no need to come in to express your gratitude. I'll take today's food in now; the Empress Dowager is thinking about it."
After saying that, he curtsied and then lifted the curtain to go inside.
Wenshan was left alone, bewildered in the wind.
She just came to deliver food, how did she end up taking a child home out of nowhere?
Yinzhen, who was still kneeling at the bottom of the steps, also heard Su Ma La Gu's words. He secretly observed Consort Xuan's expression and saw the surprise and blankness on her face. His heart sank little by little. Sure enough, he could not please anyone.
His mother had a sixth brother and didn't want him anymore, his noble mother didn't want him either, and Consort Xuan was unwilling to take him back.
Just as he was feeling down, a pair of embroidered shoes with light pink flowers appeared before him, and Consort Xuan smiled gently and patted his head.
"Alright, Xiao Yinzhen, then come home with me."
Even after a long time had passed, so long that when Yinzhen was about to leave this world, he still couldn't forget those warm, soft hands that lifted him up from the snow and said they would take him home with a gentle smile.
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