Chapter 43: The Place Where the Empress Dowager's Illness Came From...
The Empress Dowager's illness came on suddenly, and Wen Shan rushed over as soon as she heard the news. Soon after, Emperor Kangxi also arrived.
The Empress Dowager is getting old, and Wen Shan and Su Ma La Gu discussed that they were worried about her being frightened, so they asked the Fifth Prince to accompany her. They planned to keep it a secret for now and see how the Empress Dowager was doing before making any further decisions.
Although the Empress Dowager had a high fever, her face was pale and her breathing was very shallow, making her look as if she had aged ten years in an instant.
Emperor Kangxi examined the body for a few moments and then asked the imperial physician what was wrong.
Wen Shan sat by the bed with a damp cloth, wiping the Empress Dowager's body with Su Mala Gu. She heard the imperial physician outside the curtain say tremblingly that the Empress Dowager was getting old and hoped that Kangxi could prepare some things as soon as possible to bring good luck.
Wen Shan listened with tears streaming down her face. Su Mala Gu comforted her in a low voice, "Your Highness, please don't be sad. The Ancestor always doted on you the most. If she wakes up later, she certainly won't want to see you like this."
Hearing the imperial physician's words from outside, Kangxi's heart sank. He glanced inside and lowered his voice to ask, "Give me one answer: how much longer does the Empress Dowager have?"
Several imperial physicians prostrated themselves on the ground. The chief physician said, "The Empress Dowager is currently in poor health, and with the dryness of autumn and winter, even if I use all my medical skills, I fear she will not live to see the end of the year."
Kangxi closed his eyes briefly, then waved his hand and said, "Go down."
After Wen Shan finished wiping the Empress Dowager's body, a palace maid brought in the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician. Just as Wen Shan was about to take it, the palace maid curtsied and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor requests your presence."
Sumalagu took the medicine: "Your Highness, please go ahead. I will guard this place."
Wen Shan bit her lip, glanced at the Empress Dowager, and then got up and left.
Kangxi sat cross-legged on the couch in the outer room, stroking the thumb ring on his hand. When he saw Wenshan arrive, his gaze turned heavy and intense.
"Please sit down."
Kangxi pointed to the seat opposite him, and Wenshan responded with a "yes" and sat down.
Wen Shan could tell from his expression that things were probably not good. This year was supposed to be a calamity for the Empress Dowager, and even with her careful care, it seemed that she had not been able to survive it.
After a moment of silence, Kangxi said, "You and Consort Niohuru should have the Imperial Household Department prepare the coffin in the next two days. Make all the necessary preparations, as a way to bring good luck to the Empress Dowager."
Wen Shan should have said something comforting at this moment, but her heart was pounding with sadness, and she was about to burst into tears at the mere mention of the matter. She had no mind to deal with Kangxi and could only give a soft "hmm".
Emperor Kangxi sighed, and Liang Jiugong came in to report that Lord Ma Qi was waiting for Emperor Kangxi in the Hall of Mental Cultivation because of the floods in the south. Emperor Kangxi then left in a hurry.
The Empress Dowager finally woke up in the evening. Although her fever had not subsided, it had gone down considerably, though she still had a slight headache.
Wen Shan stayed in Cining Palace all day. As soon as the Empress Dowager opened her eyes, she saw Wen Shan serving by her side, her eyes red and swollen as she looked at her.
"Don't cry." The Empress Dowager patted her hand. "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are things that no one in this world can escape."
She is 75 years old this year, which is considered a long life.
"Grandmother, don't say that. You'll get better." Wen Shan forced a smile.
"I know my own body well. I've been feeling unwell since before the New Year." The Empress Dowager took a sip of warm water from Wen Shan's hand. "If this were a commoner's funeral, it would be considered a happy one. You all shouldn't be making such a sad face."
Wenshan didn't like hearing these words: "Grandmother, please don't keep saying these things, it's unlucky."
The Empress Dowager chuckled upon hearing this: "You little rascal, you're usually the least skeptical of these things, but now you're starting to care."
Wen Shan pursed her lips. Normally it's just normal, it's nothing like it is now.
The Empress Dowager woke up, drank her medicine, and fell asleep again. Wen Shan originally wanted to stay here that night, but the Empress Dowager, who had rushed over, persuaded her to go back, saying that the Thirteenth Prince was still young and needed someone to look after him, and that the Eighth Prince was also waiting for her at Xianfu Palace.
Wen Shan had no choice but to accompany the Empress Dowager until 7 PM before being urged to return home by the Empress Dowager.
Yinzhen and his two sons were also waiting for her at Xianfu Palace. The Empress Dowager was ill this time and did not summon any of the princes or princesses, not even the Fifth Prince. Therefore, Yinzhen and his sons could only wait for news at Xianfu Palace.
"Mother, how is Mother Huangwuku?" Yinzhen asked first.
Yinzhi helped Wenshan sit down and massaged her shoulders, while Yinxiang climbed over and sat down next to her.
"The imperial physician said it's because of his advanced age," Wen Shan choked up. "Perhaps he really has reached the end of his life."
When Wen Shan was in Cining Palace, Yin Si and Yin Xiang had already told Yin Zhen that the previous Empress Dowager had also passed away this year, and that fate could not be defied.
However, because Wen Shan often went to Cining Palace, Yinzhen and Yinsi often went with her, so they were well taken care of by the Empress Dowager. Both of them were depressed and very unhappy.
Only Yinxiang was young, and the Empress Dowager was not in good health the year he was born, so Wenshan did not often take him with her.
Yinzhi had people planted in the Imperial Hospital, and by the afternoon he had obtained the Empress Dowager's medical records. The brothers gathered together to discuss how to comfort their mother. Although this might mess up the generational order, their mother and the Empress Dowager were truly as close as mother and daughter. The Empress Dowager took care of everything for their mother, and the fact that Yinzhen and Yinzhi were able to be raised in Xianfu Palace was also due to the Empress Dowager's behind-the-scenes efforts.
The Empress Dowager has passed away; my mother must be heartbroken.
Although they had a lot of words to say to comfort Wen Shan, they couldn't say a word when they saw her appearance.
He could only stay with Wen Shan in silence. That night, Yin Zhen had no choice but to return to Qianxi Wusuo. Yin Si ran to the main hall with his small pillow and said he wanted to sleep with Wen Shan.
So he and Yinxiang each took turns sleeping with Wenshan.
After taking the medicine, the Empress Dowager's spirits improved for a while. Wen Shan went to Cining Palace every day. When the Empress Dowager was in the mood, she would play cards and chat with her. When she was not in the mood, she would rack her brains to read some leisure books to her.
Everyone in the palace knew that Consort Xuan and the Empress Dowager were the closest of friends. Consort Niohuru also understood Wen Shan's situation and said that she should just focus on accompanying the Empress Dowager and that she should be responsible for preparing all the funeral arrangements ordered by Emperor Kangxi.
Wen Shan also knew that Consort Niohuru was in a lot of trouble recently. The little princess, who was born last year, had always been in poor health, and her condition had recently started to relapse. Wen Shan vaguely remembered that Consort Niohuru's daughter did not seem to have grown up. After asking Yin Si and Yin Xiang, she confirmed that the little princess and the Empress Dowager had passed away in the same year, which meant that it was this year.
Therefore, Wen Shan felt embarrassed to put both of their work on Consort Niohuru alone, so in the end, Yin Si took over that part of the palace affairs, although on the surface, Wen Shan was still doing it.
In October, Consort Niohuru's little princess did not make it through and passed away before she was even a year old. Consort Niohuru was devastated and spent her days in tears. This daughter was hard-won; she had suffered a difficult childbirth and damaged her health, making it impossible for her to have any more children. Some concubines even thought that she would dislike this daughter, since she was already a princess and yet she was unable to have children.
But she never blamed the little princess, knowing that she had suffered in the womb and was born with poor health. The imperial physician said that she would be difficult to raise and that she needed to be carefully cared for and not exposed to any fright in order to ensure her growth. She carefully protected this daughter, but in the end, she still could not keep her.
The Tenth Prince also doted on this little sister. After the little princess died young, he was depressed and became less cheerful and talkative in the Imperial Study than usual.
The Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince were the same age and had played together since childhood. Seeing the Tenth Prince in this state, they had no choice but to come to Yinzhi for help.
Myna has a good temper and loves his two younger brothers, so the ninth and tenth brothers are very close to him.
Yinzhi gestured for the Ninth Prince to be quiet and pulled him aside, saying that the Tenth Prince might want to be alone for a while and that he should not disturb him.
The Ninth Prince seemed to understand, but he knew that the Eighth Prince was always right, so he obediently listened.
When the young princess died, Emperor Kangxi meant that since she was young and the Empress Dowager was ill at the time, her funeral should not be grand. He bestowed upon her the rank of Heshuo Princess and buried her according to the custom for a princess who died young.
Emperor Kangxi may not have had a deep affection for his youngest daughter, but Consort Niohuru was different. She personally handled everything for the little princess's funeral, and despite being overwhelmed with grief and falling ill, she was busy all day long, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, and refused to let anyone else interfere.
Wen Shan then took over the preparations for the Empress Dowager's funeral, and with the help of Yin Si and Yin Zhen, she managed to get by.
Although Emperor Kangxi decreed that the funeral for the little princess should be kept simple, rumors eventually reached the ears of the Empress Dowager.
When Wen Shan went to serve the Empress Dowager her medicine as usual, the Empress Dowager suddenly said, "I heard yesterday that another child in the palace has died?"
Wen Shan knew she couldn't hide it any longer, so she nodded and said, "It was the eleventh daughter of Consort Niohuru, who was buried a few days ago."
The Empress Dowager sat up and took a few breaths, recalling, "I remember that Consort Niohuru's daughter seemed to have been born with poor health."
Su Ma La Gu placed a soft pillow under the Empress Dowager's head and said, "Your Majesty remembers clearly that when the little princess was born last year, you sent me to deliver a white jade ruyi to the princess for her pillow."
The Empress Dowager's eyes were already somewhat cloudy. She coughed twice and continued, "Xuan Ye has had many children born in recent years, but many of them have also died young. The Sixth Prince has only been gone for a short time, and now another princess has passed away."
"Grandmother, don't worry. Many princesses and princes are healthy and strong," Su Mala Gu comforted her. "Look at the Fifth Prince, and the three princes under the Noble Consort's knee, they are all as strong as calves."
When the topic turned to Yinzhen, the Empress Dowagers suddenly perked up and sent someone to Xianfu Palace to bring Yinzhen and Yinsi to the palace, saying that they hadn't seen them in a long time and missed their two great-grandsons.
While waiting for Yinzhen and Yinsi to arrive, the Empress Dowager suddenly said, "Emperor Wen has been dead for many years. After I am gone, please do not disturb him anymore. Besides, I do not wish to be buried in such a far place as Zhaoling. I want to be closer to my children and grandchildren. So bury me near the Xiaoling Mausoleum of the late Emperor."
Wen Shan forced a smile and said, "Grandmother, it's too early for you to talk about these things now."
The Empress Dowager smiled but didn't say anything. Soon after, Yinzhen and Yinsi arrived.
After paying his respects to the Empress Dowager, she beckoned and said, "Yinzhen, Yinsi, come to Mama Wuku."
Wenshan led the two of them to sit by the Empress Dowager's bedside.
"Su Ma, have all the servants leave. I want to say a few words to Yinzhen and Yinsi."
Sumalagu exclaimed "Ah!" and then dismissed all the palace maids in the hall.
"Look at your mother, I've been ill for so many days and I haven't even brought you to see me," the Empress Dowager said reproachfully, giving Wen Shan a reproachful look.
Yinzhen said, "Mother said that Mother Wuku needs to rest quietly while she is ill, and she is afraid that our arrival will disturb her recovery."
The main reason was that the Empress Dowager had been ill and hadn't seen many of the concubines in recent days. Not a single prince or princess had been summoned. Even though Yinzhen and Yinsi had grown up in the Empress Dowager's presence, they had no choice but to avoid suspicion.
"Yinzhen has grown up." The Empress Dowager squinted and looked him over carefully, then smiled and said, "He's a big boy now, and in a few years he'll be ready to get married."
Yinzhen was somewhat embarrassed. Yinsi, wanting to please the Empress Dowager, deliberately said in a jealous tone, "Mother Wuku only sees Fourth Brother, not Yinsi."
"Who said that? Our Yinzhi has grown quite a bit taller too." The Empress Dowager, showing affection to all, touched Yinzhi's hand and said, "You are all good children. It's a pity that Mother Wuku won't be able to see you get married and have children."
Wen Shan was shedding tears, and the Empress Dowager saw this and said, "Your mother is so easily moved to tears. She's already like this before I'm even gone. What will she do when I'm really gone?"
Sumalagu came in from outside carrying several boxes. The Empress Dowager propped herself up and sat up, opening them herself. The first box contained some keys, probably dozens of them.
"Wen Shan, come here." The Empress Dowager beckoned to Wen Shan and handed her the box.
"This is what I've accumulated over the years. You can't take it with you when you die. My children all passed away before me, and in the end, there's no one left to entrust to me, so I'm leaving it all to you."
Wen Shan, with tears in her eyes, said, "Grand Ancestor..."
"Alright, be happy, don't cry." The Empress Dowager patted her hand and took another box.
The Empress Dowager handed the box to Yinzhi. Yinzhen and Yinzhi exchanged a glance, not understanding the Empress Dowager's intention.
"Your mother is honest, kind, and simple-minded. She's the only one I'm worried about." The Empress Dowager took a few deep breaths and continued, "She's raising three princes now. Although none of you are registered under her name, it's still quite conspicuous for her to raise you in Xianfu Palace. It's alright now that you're still young, but once you're all grown up, she'll inevitably become the target of everyone's criticism. What will happen when I'm no longer here?"
Yinzhen promised, "Don't worry, Mother Wuku, we will protect Mother."
Yinzhi nodded in agreement.
The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded: "They are all good children, especially Yinzhi. I know you have been smart since you were a child. You understand these things in the palace very well and are more adaptable than your fourth brother. That's why I'm leaving these things to you."
The Empress Dowager opened the box, which contained a stack of papers.
Yinzhi looked down and saw a list of names, followed by their respective positions, families, and contacts.
Yinzhi gasped. This was the network of connections the Empress Dowager had built in the palace over the past sixty years.
"Use it well, protect your mother and your brothers." The Empress Dowager continued, "Yinqi is a simple child, so protect him as well, but remember one thing: never go beyond the Crown Prince's reach, or the Emperor will be in trouble."
The Empress Dowager, needless to say, made it clear to both Yinzhen and Yinsi. Yinsi, in particular, understood immediately upon seeing the list, which was filled with people from the inner palace, none of whom had any connection to the previous dynasty.
After giving these instructions, the Empress Dowager seemed to finally breathe a sigh of relief and said to Wen Shan, "Take these keys and have Su Ma take you to the storeroom."
Wen Shan knew that the Empress Dowager was trying to get rid of her, so she nodded and followed Su Ma La Gu out.
Only Yinzhen and Yinsi remained in the room. After comforting the Empress Dowager, Yinzhen asked, "Is there anything else Mother Wuku wants to tell us?"
The Empress Dowager nodded and smiled slightly, "You two are both clever children, speaking is not difficult for you."
"Although Wen Shan now has the three of you, none of you are her biological children, and your biological mothers are still in the palace." The Empress Dowager's tone gradually calmed down. "I understand that the debt of birth and the debt of raising are difficult to measure, but you should ask yourselves if your mothers did their best to raise you with all their heart and soul?"
Yinzhen and Yinsi both nodded, already understanding in their hearts what the Empress Dowager wanted to say to them by deliberately sending their mother away.
The Empress Dowager was ultimately worried about her mother, fearing that they would favor their own mother in the future and not take good care of her, leaving her truly alone.
"Alright, you may all go back now." The Empress Dowager seemed a little sleepy. "Go back and think carefully about what I told you today."
Yinzhen and Yinsi bowed and then politely withdrew. Wenshan did not go to the storeroom with Sumalagu; instead, she stood guard at the door.
Upon seeing them come out, he inquired about the Empress Dowager's condition.
“Mother Wuku was a little sleepy, so she let us out first,” Yinzhen said.
Wen Shan nodded and said, "Then you should go back to Xianfu Palace first. Your mother will stay here a little longer."
Yinxiang, who had not been informed, was bored and waiting for his two older brothers to return alone in Xianfu Palace.
Yinxiang has been practicing walking diligently recently, but so far he can only take a few shaky steps while holding onto something, so he spends most of his time sitting on the couch.
"Fourth Brother, how is the Empress Dowager?" Yinxiang asked impatiently as he saw the two of them enter one after the other.
Yinzhi sat down next to Yinxiang, casually picked up a piece of melon, and ate it slowly: "It's not good. Physician Zhang said it might happen in the next day or two."
Yinzhen remained silent and sat down opposite the two of them.
The fact that the Empress Dowager summoned them today can be considered her dying wish.
Yinzhi was looking at the stack of contacts that the Empress Dowager had given him, and Yinxiang curiously came over to take a look as well.
“There are so many people here, and they’re all from different places. There’s Yikun Palace, Yanxi Palace, Yongshou Palace… even the Imperial Kitchen and the Four Treasurys.” Yinxiang raised an eyebrow. “Eighth Brother, you’ve only been back for a few years, yet you’ve already spread your manpower so far.”
As expected of a myna bird.
In terms of building connections, he and his fourth brother combined couldn't even match half of his eighth brother's abilities.
Yinzhi glanced at the list briefly and handed it to Yinzhen, but Yinzhen didn't seem to care to look at it at all: "This is from Mother Wuku, keep it safe."
Just as Uku's mother said, everyone has their strengths, and he is not as good as Eighth Brother when it comes to being worldly-wise and manipulative.
Yinxiang was somewhat surprised: "This was given by the Empress Dowager?"
That makes sense now. Such a profound foundation can only be acquired after decades of immersion in the palace. Yinxiang hadn't been to Cining Palace with Wenshan much, so he was somewhat unclear about the relationship between Wenshan and the Empress Dowager. He couldn't help but ask, "Why would the Empress Dowager entrust the people she's cultivated for so many years to Eighth Brother?"
"It's not being given to me, it's being given to Mother." Yinzhi said with his eyes lowered. "Not only these, but also Mother Wuku's savings accumulated over the years have all been left to Mother."
Yinxiang was shocked. He had only met the Empress Dowager a few times in his two lifetimes combined, and had heard more about her from other people.
Everyone says that Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, who served three emperors, was the pillar of the Qing Dynasty. She was deeply rooted in both the court and the harem, and single-handedly helped her grandfather and father secure their thrones. She was a remarkable person.
However, he never expected that the Empress Dowager would love his mother so much in this life.
Seeing his shocked expression, Yinzhen peeled an orange and handed it to him: "Your mother and the Empress Dowager have a very deep relationship. You are still young and there are many things you don't know."
Yinxiang seemed to be deep in thought. It seemed that there had indeed been many changes in the palace during the years he had been away.
The Empress Dowager's illness suddenly took a sharp turn for the worse after she finished giving instructions to Yinzhen and Yinsi, as if she had suddenly lost her breath and could no longer hold on.
Wen Shan began staying in Cining Palace from day to night, and also sent Yinxiang to Jingren Palace to be taken care of by Consort Min.
The entire harem is now eerily quiet. The Sixth Prince and the Little Princess have both died young, and the Empress Dowager is also in critical condition. Even the Imperial Garden is almost deserted. The entire harem seems to have been emptied out, with no one moving around.
Wenshan stayed in Cining Palace for a few days until one rainy day when Kangxi braved the rain to come over.
The autumn rain was chilly, and when Kangxi entered, his clothes were a little wet. Su Mala Gu stepped forward and offered to help Kangxi change his clothes, but Kangxi waved his hand and hurriedly asked, "How is Grandmother?"
He had just received news that the Empress Dowager was in bad shape, so he rushed over.
"The imperial physician is treating her inside." Wen Shan's eyes were red and swollen with dark circles under them, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept well for several days.
Emperor Kangxi went inside and took a look. The Empress Dowager was barely breathing, and the imperial physician was giving her acupuncture, hoping to lift her spirits one last time so that the Emperor could at least say a few words.
The imperial physicians were all busy, so Kangxi withdrew first and raised his hand to call Wenshan.
"I heard that my grandmother once said that she did not want to be buried with my grandfather in Zhaoling, but wanted to be buried near my father's Xiaoling?"
Wen Shan nodded: "The Empress Dowager said that Emperor Wen has been dead for a long time and there is no need to disturb his peace."
Kangxi didn't say anything more, only grunted in response.
Wen Shan could see his dilemma. It was against etiquette, but refusing would be against filial piety. He was indeed in a difficult situation.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has awakened and is inviting you in to speak." Su Mala Gu lifted the curtain and came out from the inner room.
Kangxi hurried inside. The imperial physicians had already left. The Empress Dowager, barely able to keep her eyes open, leaned against the pillow. When she saw Kangxi enter, she smiled and said, "The Emperor has arrived."
"Royal Grandmother."
Sumalagu brought a stool for Kangxi, and then quietly withdrew.
"These past few days, I've been thinking about the past," the Empress Dowager said, her gaze drifting. "I remember when you first ascended the throne, you were only eight years old, and now you're already a qualified emperor."
Kangxi was somewhat moved when he thought of the support the Empress Dowager had given him when he was young.
"I have nothing to entrust to you. You have done a good job. When I meet my ancestors in the afterlife, I will have no regrets." The Empress Dowager took a few breaths and then said, "I only have one thing I want to ask of you now."
"Grandmother, please speak freely. As long as it is within my power, I will do my utmost," Kangxi said.
The Empress Dowager propped herself up and looked at Kangxi, saying, "Wenshan has been with me for many years, and I treat her like my own daughter. Now I can't help but make plans for her."
"Of the three princes currently being raised in Xianfu Palace, I hope the Emperor can assign one to Wenshan's name, so that she can have someone to rely on for life."
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