Chapter 49 The Crown Prince's Tenth Son's Salted Fish Feast
Consort Guo Luoluo was Consort Yi's elder sister and the eldest daughter of the family. She was engaged at a young age and did not enter the palace to become a maid, but married in her prime.
However, Consort Guoluo's husband died unexpectedly just one year after their marriage.
It was common for Manchus to remarry. Consort Guoluo was the eldest daughter of the principal wife. Her parents felt sorry for her, so they took her home and planned to find her a good husband after the mourning period and let her live a good life.
But it was at this time that Consort Yi, who was selected for the imperial concubine selection, caught the eye of Emperor Kangxi and rose from a palace maid to a concubine.
Consort Yi's appearance greatly pleased Emperor Kangxi. Hearing that Consort Yi's elder sister was equally beautiful and was living as a widow at home, he issued an imperial decree to bring her into the palace. Once the imperial decree was issued, regardless of what Consort Guoluo and her parents thought, they could only be happy and grateful as they happily sent Consort Guoluo into the palace.
The Manchus did not place much importance on chastity, and it was not uncommon for emperors to marry remarried widows in previous years. Half of Emperor Taizong's concubines were remarried widows, such as his favorite Consort Chen; and Emperor Shunzhi also defied convention by taking his brother's wife, Lady Dong'e, as a concubine.
However, since the Qing Dynasty entered the Central Plains, it gradually became Sinicized, and by the time of Emperor Kangxi, the rites and customs had become even more complete. The emperor took a widow as a concubine, especially one who was still in mourning for 100 days. This would have been criticized in the previous dynasty.
Could the Emperor be wrong? Of course not! Then who was wrong? It could only be Consort Guo Luoluo, who entered the palace during the mourning period. It was she who bewitched the Emperor, causing him to do something unwise.
However, Consort Guo Luoluo, who was widowed at the time, did not leave the palace. She was waiting for the mourning period to end before discussing marriage. She had never even met Emperor Kangxi before entering the palace, so how could she be accused of seducing the emperor?
However, Emperor Kangxi found Consort Yi to be beautiful and to his liking, and also heard that she had an older sister who had just become a widow, so he brought her into the palace.
After entering the palace, Consort Guo Luoluo's life was not very good either.
Consort Yi always held a slight edge over her, enjoying greater favor from Emperor Kangxi. In the sixteenth year of Kangxi's reign, Consort Yi was promoted to the rank of Consort Yi, while she remained a minor concubine. Two years later, the sisters gave birth one after the other; she gave birth to the Sixth Princess, while Consort Yi gave birth to the Fifth Prince!
In the twentieth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, Consort Yi was promoted to the rank of Consort again, while Consort Guoluo remained a Consort. Two years later, the sisters became pregnant again. Consort Yi gave birth to the Ninth Prince, and Consort Guoluo also gave birth to a young prince, who was named Yinyu.
But fate seemed to enjoy playing tricks on her. Consort Yi's son, Yin Tang, was healthy and lively, while her son was born weak. When Yin Yu was born, he was like a kitten, unable to even cry, and needed medicinal soup to stay alive from the moment he was born.
Consort Guoluo, being of low rank, was not qualified to raise a prince. Since Yinyu was born in Yikun Palace, he was cared for by Consort Yi, the head of Yikun Palace. However, Yinyu died in June of this year, before he was even a year old, leaving Consort Guoluo behind.
Consort Yi's right hand, resting on her stomach, trembled. She tried to clench her fist but couldn't. She just looked at Consort Guo Luoluo, her own sister, and said in a low voice with an expression that was both crying and laughing, "So you have so much hatred in your heart. So you have only felt torment all along."
Consort Guo Luoluo remained silent, while the two sisters, in perfect unison, fell silent at the same time.
They all knew in their hearts that the person who truly caused Consort Guoluo to enter the palace and spend her life in misery was not Consort Yi, but the Emperor who issued the decree to summon Consort Guoluo to the palace.
But that's the Emperor! Consort Guo Luoluo couldn't and dared not resent the Emperor, so she could only hate Consort Yi. She couldn't even reveal a trace of her true hatred, otherwise, not only she would suffer, but also the Sixth Princess and the Guo Luoluo couple outside the palace would be disliked by the Emperor.
Consort Yi closed her eyes, her face, though her beauty had faded slightly, still radiant and lovely, showing a look of pain.
After the untimely death of Prince Yinyu, Consort Guoluo often wept bitterly and frequently quarreled with Consort Yi. After the Golden Festival, the princes were re-ordered according to their birth order, which caused Consort Guoluo to suddenly unleash many of her pent-up emotions.
Later, Consort Guoluo became close to Yinzhen. Consort Yi was aware of her ill intentions, but she was too soft-hearted to expose her. Consort Yi did her best to separate Yinzhen and Consort Guoluo, preventing them from having more contact and avoiding Yinzhen being won over by Consort Guoluo.
Consort Yi's soft-heartedness towards Consort Guo Luoluo stemmed from her guilt towards her sister.
When Consort Guo Luoluo entered the palace during her mourning period, she was met with considerable taboo.
She suffered the cold shoulder of many concubines, and even made Emperor Kangxi feel a growing dislike for her. Over the years, although Consort Guo Luoluo had always been favored and had given birth to two children, she had never been promoted in rank and remained only a lowly and insignificant concubine in the palace.
Consort Yi could forgive her sister's resentment towards her, and she could also keep quiet about Consort Guoluo's attempts to sow discord between her and Yinzhen, silently separating the two without revealing the matter. However, she could not accept that Consort Guoluo wanted to harm Yinzhen and take his life.
Thinking of this, Consort Yi's heart, which had softened, hardened again: "I never imagined that you would hate me so much that you would want Yinzhen's life."
Consort Yi originally thought that Consort Guoluo only wanted to sow discord between her and Yinzhen.
After carefully interrogating Yinzhen's wet nurse and nanny, Consort Yi discovered that some of them had been bribed by Consort Guoluo. Before Yinzhen became close to the Tenth Prince, he had suffered several minor illnesses, which were deliberately neglected by the bribed wet nurse and others.
Consort Guoluo coldly looked at Consort Yi sitting at the head of the table. The expression of madness on her face suddenly calmed down. She sneered: "Whether you believe it or not, I never thought of killing Yinzhen."
After Yinyu died young, Consort Guoluo initially only wanted to get close to Yintang.
Because he did not receive much love and response from Consort Yi during his early childhood, Yinzhen lacked sufficient trust in her.
Consort Guoluo thought that as long as she showed affection and attention to Yintang, and then stirred things up a little, Yintang would never be close to Consort Yi again. Even if Yintang was not sent to be raised by his foster mother, Consort Yi would have essentially lost the child.
Consort Guoluo bribed Yinzhen's wet nurse and others to make Yinzhen fall slightly ill and uncomfortable, just to take the opportunity to get closer to Yinzhen.
If it weren't for Consort Guo Luoluo's outburst of emotions after the Golden Festival, which made Consort Yi wary of her...
When Consort Yi experienced severe morning sickness and Prince Yin Tang was frequently ill and had various health problems, it would be natural for Consort Yi to temporarily entrust Prince Yin Tang to the care of her older sister.
Unfortunately, Consort Guoluo's original plan was disrupted. After the Golden Festival, the princes were re-ordered according to their birth order, but Yin Yu had already died and was unable to obtain a place in the order. This incident ignited the suppressed emotions in Consort Guoluo's heart, and she could no longer control herself, revealing her resentment and hatred to Consort Yi.
"I'll give you two choices." After a long silence, Consort Yi looked at Consort Guo Luoluo again. "First, you can ask the Emperor to let you move to the Eastern Six Palaces, citing the reason that you are far away from the palace where Yin Yu died. Second, I will report your madness to the Emperor and confine you to the rear hall of Yikun Palace, where you are not allowed to leave."
Consort Guo Luoluo paused, her eyes filled with undisguised surprise as she looked at Consort Yi: "You still don't intend to reveal the truth?"
She suddenly burst into laughter twice, but there was no gratitude in her eyes. Instead, she revealed deep resentment: "I hate it when you pity me. What right do you have to pity me? Do you think that just because you pity me, I have to forgive you and that this will erase all the suffering I've endured because of you?"
Consort Yi clenched her fists. She looked at Consort Guo Luoluo and said in a low voice after a long while, "I don't pity you. I'm just afraid that if things are exposed, it will implicate my father and mother outside the palace."
At this point, Consort Yi suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Father and Mother have always cared more about you. They love you more than I do. All the money I've given them over the years has been given back to you—if you're talking about dissatisfaction and resentment, don't you think I have any?"
Before Consort Guoluo could say anything more, Consort Yi had already reached out and stood up with the help of the head palace maid: "Tell me your answer before tomorrow—think about the Sixth Princess, you have more than one child, Yinyu."
Consort Guo Luoluo was dragged out of the main hall by two strong maids. As she stepped out, a subtle smile suddenly appeared on her lips, seemingly mocking, yet also radiating the joy of a successful plan.
My silly sister... she still thinks she's drifting apart from her son because I'm stirring things up. Haha, when will she realize that this is all her own doing, that she pushed her own son away?
He raised his head and had his wet nurse button up his python robe.
After buttoning up, he twisted his head uncomfortably from side to side, feeling uncomfortable, as if something was stuck in his throat. He then put on a pitiful expression and said, "Can I unbutton one of these buttons? It's too tight and I'm uncomfortable."
"No." The Imperial Concubine nodded to Yin'e's forehead. "If you unbutton it, you'll be exposed to the wind and easily catch a cold; moreover, unbuttoning a button is very unseemly and will be criticized for not knowing manners."
Yin'e pouted, and the Imperial Concubine pinched the little chubby cheek of his: "You've gotten fat again. Look at your Ninth Brother, he's wearing a brand new python robe, and it fits him perfectly without him feeling uncomfortable at all."
Even though Yin'e accompanies her for walks and exercises every day, his daily exercise level is always kept to a minimum. His body is constantly moving, keeping him healthy, but it doesn't reduce the chubby cheeks on his face by even a fraction.
Although today's family banquet was something Emperor Kangxi decided to hold on a whim, it was probably following the custom that the more important the person is, the later they arrive. When Consort Gui arrived at Cining Palace with Yin'e and Yin'tang, Emperor Kangxi had not yet arrived and was still handling state affairs at Qianqing Palace.
In the spacious main hall of Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress Dowager sat at the head of the table, while several concubines of the rank of Consort and Concubine sat below them.
No concubine below the rank of Consort had the honor of attending the family banquet at Cining Palace, not even Consort Daijia, the birth mother of the Seventh Prince, or Consort Wei, the birth mother of the Eighth Prince.
A beaded curtain hung on the side of the main hall, separating a small room inside. The princes were placed in the inner room, where they stayed together, without their adoptive mother or biological mother in the outer room.
Apart from the Crown Prince, who was nestled in the Empress Dowager's arms, looking very affectionate, the Empress Dowager also doted on him, clearly treating him differently and showing him the utmost care and affection.
The Imperial Concubine was highly favored by the Grand Empress Dowager, and the cosmetics she had recently presented were especially appreciated by the two powerful figures. After paying her respects, she was pulled to sit in the first seat on the right and was then spoken to by the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager.
After paying their respects to their elders, Yin'e and Yin'tang greeted the Crown Prince, whom they were meeting for the first time, and were then led by a palace maid to an inner room separated by a beaded curtain.
Before leaving, Yin'e turned back to look at the Crown Prince, who was wearing an apricot-yellow python robe.
The crown prince was handsome and had a dignified demeanor. He was surrounded by an air of elegance and nobility, making it impossible for anyone to imagine that he would end up being deposed and reinstated twice, and imprisoned for life.
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The author says: I have always believed that there are no winners in palace intrigues and the struggle for the throne; while gaining, one also loses.
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