Wen Shan paid no mind to the Niohuru Clan’s provocations, practically wanting to applaud as she sent Kangxi off to their palace. After several attempts to mock Wen Shan to her face, the Niohuru Clan member found her completely unresponsive. Wen Shan continued leisurely raising her child and strolling through gardens, which only made the other woman fume with frustration.
Eventually, the entire rear palace gradually understood Consort Xuan’s temperament—as long as her children weren’t involved, she remained the same peaceful and agreeable Consort Xuan.
Thus, after several failed attempts to pick fights, the Niohuru Clan member finally gave up. Of course, another important reason was that Kangxi was no fool. While he might indulge the Niohuru Clan’s willfulness once or twice, frequent displays of harem rivalry displeased him. After cooling toward the Niohuru Clan several times, she naturally became more subdued.
Reflecting on this, Yinsi came to a profound realization: his mother truly possessed great wisdom, responding to constant changes with unwavering consistency.
As for Wen Shan, she was genuinely grateful to the Niohuru Clan member—whoever wanted the task of serving the boss could gladly take it.
Repaying enmity with virtue? The Niohuru Clan member was truly a good person.
Recalling this incident during his leisure time, Kangxi once asked Liang Jiugong how the Niohuru Clan member had ended up at odds with Consort Xuan. While the Niohuru Clan member was somewhat spoiled, Consort Xuan usually only busied herself with culinary pursuits. When had these two developed a grievance?
Liang Jiugong hesitated to speak. Kangxi, constantly occupied with court affairs, paid little attention to such harem matters, yet everyone knew the only point of contention between Lady Niohuru and Consort Xuan was that Consort Xuan had reported Lady Niohuru over the Fourth Prince.
“This servant doesn’t know either. Perhaps Lady Niohuru has been in poor spirits since having her confinement lifted a few days ago,” Liang Jiugong replied evasively. He refilled Kangxi’s tea and retreated to the side.
Mentioning this reminded Kangxi—it was because of Yinzhen’s affairs.
Sipping his tea, Kangxi thought that Consort Xuan truly doted on children. Recently, visiting Xianfu Palace more frequently, he had seen how exceptionally well she treated Yinsi, no differently than a birth mother. When Yinzhen was under her care, his temperament had softened considerably, but since returning to Chengqian Palace, he seemed to have reverted to his former stubborn and unyielding nature.
Consort Xuan was sensible and gentle, had merits in raising princes, and didn’t hold grudges against the Niohuru Clan. After some thought, Kangxi waved his hand and ordered Liang Jiugong to send a large quantity of gifts to Xianfu Palace.
Wen Shan, bewildered by the sudden influx of jewelry and antiques, was somewhat puzzled. Yinsi, blinking beside her, once again confirmed his belief—his mother had won a full and complete victory. Indeed, stillness surpassed action.
Wen Shan had little interest in antiques but was utterly delighted with the jewelry and accessories. The exquisite craftsmanship of top-tier artisans was truly magnificent. As she held up a buyao hair ornament, she noticed Yinsi blinking as he watched her and immediately laughed, saying, “When our Little Eight grows up and needs to take a wife, Mother will leave all these to you.”
Yinsi thought to himself that he could never accept his mother’s possessions. He secretly noted her fondness for jewelry, resolving to acquire even more beautiful and luxurious pieces for her in the future.
When the weather grew warmer, Wen Shan would occasionally carry Yinsi to stroll through the Imperial Garden, then conveniently visit Yanxi Palace to check on Consort Wei.
Consort Wei gradually came to understand that Consort Xuan truly didn’t mind her interactions with Yinsi, though she still maintained proper decorum and seldom took the initiative to visit him. Wen Shan would occasionally bring Yinsi over for visits, which already brought her great satisfaction. Their relationship grew increasingly close, with Wen Shan often arriving with various snacks while Consort Wei did needlework as they chatted, occasionally playing with Yinsi together.
Lying in his crib, Yinsi felt profoundly warmed. He never imagined that in this lifetime he would have two mothers who cherished him so deeply. Wei Shi was his birth mother, while Wen Shan had long been acknowledged in his heart as another mother. With both mothers being so close, he now felt like the happiest child in the world!
He just wondered how Fourth Brother was doing these days. Yinsi smacked his little lips, thinking hard but unable to devise any good solutions. Well, he was just an infant after all – there was nothing he could do. Fourth Brother would have to fend for himself.
On this particular day, Wen Shan took Yinsi out for a stroll. As they turned a corner, a half-grown black puppy dashed out from the flower bushes. For a moment, Wen Shan thought it was Fuqi, the dog Yinzhen kept, but upon closer inspection realized it was the puppy belonging to Fifth Prince Yinqi.
Yinqi and several young eunuchs soon came chasing after. The prince’s face was flushed from running, but he obediently stopped to pay respects when he saw Wen Shan.
“Yinqi, slow down,” Wen Shan said, bending to wipe his sweat. Bao Quan had already swiftly caught the puppy and handed it to Yinqi’s eunuch.
“Where are you coming from in such a hurry?”
Wen Shan frequently visited Cining Palace and was quite familiar with Fifth Prince. Holding the squirming puppy, the child replied in his childish voice: “Consort Xuan, Yinqi just finished classes at the Imperial Study.”
The Imperial Study?
Wen Shan felt momentarily dazed. It had been some time since she last went to the Imperial Study to pick up Yinzhen after classes, and she’d nearly forgotten this was the time when newly tutored princes finished their lessons.
“Yinqi, how has your Fourth Brother been lately?” Wen Shan asked with a smile, crouching down. “Is he obeying his tutors at the Imperial Study?”
Even Yinsi, being held by Zhen Zhu, couldn’t help but perk up his little ears.
Yinqi thought for a moment before shaking his head: “Fourth Brother speaks even less than before. The people from Noble Consort’s palace wait for him right after class and won’t let him play with me.”
“And… is Fourth Brother happy these days?”
“Definitely not,” Yinqi stated firmly.
“Fourth Brother always asks how Consort Xuan has been,” Yinqi blinked. “When I asked why he doesn’t come pay respects to Consort Xuan, he said Noble Consort won’t let him go out. She won’t even let him play with Fuqi – the dog’s been kept outside.”
“Oh, and a few days ago Fourth Brother asked me to tell Consort Xuan that Noble Consort is permitting him to go moon-viewing on the fifteenth this month. Fourth Brother wants to meet Consort Xuan at the small pavilion in the Imperial Garden.” Yinqi scratched his head guiltily. “Fourth Brother told me days ago, but I forgot. Sorry, Consort Xuan.”
Being young and not particularly fond of studying, Yinqi was indulged by the Empress Dowager who allowed him to attend classes irregularly – he typically only went to the Imperial Study two days out of ten. Forgetting things while playing was quite normal for him.
“Today is only the thirteenth – your timing is perfect, Yinqi.” Wen Shan signaled to Zhen Zhu to take a plate of pastries from their food box for Yinqi.
Yinqi had already enjoyed Wen Shan’s culinary skills numerous times at Cining Palace. Seeing the situation, his eyes sparkled as he patted his chest and assured Wen Shan, “Consort Xuan, don’t worry. From now on, if anything happens to Fourth Brother, I’ll report to you immediately.”
Wen Shan watched helplessly as this little spy ran off, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
On the fifteenth day, Yinsi also insisted on going out with Wen Shan, thrashing about so vigorously in his wet nurse’s arms that he nearly fell. Wen Shan had no choice but to take him, tapping his little nose and saying, “Be good, Yinsi. It’s too cold outside for you to go.”
Moreover, if Yinsi were to cry and make a scene where others could see, it wouldn’t be good.
Yinsi stubbornly clung to Wen Shan’s hair, refusing to let go.
After all, he was just a baby now—such childish behavior was perfectly normal.
“…You ignored your brother when he was here before, and now you miss him?” Wen Shan had no choice but to take him along, teasing him playfully along the way.
When it came to being tsundere, Yinsi was even more extreme than Yinzhen.
Yinsi turned his head away, thinking to himself that he wasn’t missing Fourth Brother at all. He was just afraid that if Fourth Brother made some unreasonable request, Mother might soften and agree—what would they do then?
He was going to protect Mother!
A few small lanterns hung in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden. From a distance, Wen Shan spotted Yinzhen’s small figure standing there. She hurried over, and as soon as Yinzhen saw her and Yinsi, his eyes reddened. He was about to bow to Wen Shan when she quickly stopped him.
“Why have you lost weight?” Wen Shan examined Yinzhen carefully. He had grown noticeably thinner, with dark circles under his eyes.
“How could the palace chefs compare to Consort Xuan? Without your cooking, it’s only natural I’d lose weight.” Yinzhen didn’t want Wen Shan to worry, so he joked with her.
But Wen Shan’s expression turned serious. Recalling the strict discipline Noble Consort had reportedly imposed on Yinzhen these past days and seeing how exhausted he clearly was, her heart ached terribly.
“Yinzhen, tell me the truth—has Noble Consort been treating you poorly?”
Yinzhen froze, as if recalling something deeply upsetting, but found it difficult to put into words for Wen Shan.
Yinsi, nestled in Wen Shan’s arms, rolled his eyes. Fourth Brother’s demeanor made it obvious he had suffered grievances at Chengqian Palace. He began recalling how, in his previous life, Fourth Brother and Consort Tong Jia had also had a strained relationship. Consort Tong Jia was strict and not particularly close to Fourth Brother. After her death, when Fourth Brother returned to Defei, she already had Fourteenth Brother and, having experienced the loss of Sixth Brother, favored her younger son even more. Fourth Brother was never truly welcomed anywhere, and his temperament grew increasingly cold and rigid.
“If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t press you.” Wen Shan handed Yinsi to Zhen Zhu, then knelt down to look Yinzhen in the eye. “I just want to ask you one thing: Do you want to return to Xianfu Palace? If you do, I will find a way to bring you back, no matter what.”
Tears suddenly welled up in Yinzhen’s eyes. For the first time, he lost his composure, throwing himself into Wen Shan’s arms and choking back sobs as he said, “Consort Xuan, I want to go back.”
“I miss you, and I miss my brother.”
Wen Shan patted his back soothingly. “Alright, Yinzhen, be good. I’ll think of a way. Just wait patiently for me.”
Once Yinzhen had calmed down somewhat, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment over his earlier outburst. He withdrew his hands and glanced at Yinsi beside him.
“Did Younger Brother come too?”
Yinsi chuckled inwardly. It was too late to change the subject now—he had already memorized the incident of Fourth Brother crying in Mother’s arms. He would definitely use this to tease him mercilessly in the future!
Wen Shan held Yinsi close: “That’s right, your younger brother misses you terribly. He keeps the little dog you gave him by his pillow every day and cries whenever it goes missing.”
Yinsi: “……”
Ahhh Mother why did you tell him these things!
Now he has leverage against me in Fourth Brother’s hands too!
Yinzhen looked at Yinsi and smiled: “Then I’ll make more toys for younger brother and play with him every day.”
…
“Wen Shan, what are you thinking about? It’s your turn to draw a tile.” The Empress Dowager patted the Grand Empress Dowager and gestured toward Wen Shan with her chin.
After playing mahjong with them for this while, she had spaced out two or three times.
Sumalagu, who was accompanying the three mistresses in playing mahjong, said with a smile: “If Consort Xuan loses this round, you’ll have to make us some fresh delicacies.”
Wen Shan snapped back to attention and hurriedly drew a tile – it was a yaoji which she casually discarded.
“Oh, I win.” The Grand Empress Dowager’s eyes lit up as she reached out toward Wen Shan for payment.
Wen Shan sighed, having forgotten while calculating tiles that the Grand Empress Dowager needed yaoji to win.
She obediently picked up two golden beans from the table and handed them over. The Grand Empress Dowager casually set them aside and glanced at Wen Shan a couple of times. The elderly lady leisurely shuffled the tiles: “This old one can see that someone’s thoughts aren’t here – they’ve drifted off to Chengqian Palace.”
“Old Ancestor…”
The Grand Empress Dowager cut her off: “This old one advised you earnestly back then to take this opportunity to keep Yinzhen with you, but you wouldn’t listen. Now I won’t help you.”
“You’ll have to find your own way now.”
Wen Shan arranged her tiles: “Old Ancestor, don’t fool me. Last time at Cining Palace, it was the Emperor who refused. What could I have done?”
During that incident of lax management in Chengqian Palace, the Grand Empress Dowager had wanted to use that pretext to keep Yinzhen with Wen Shan, but Kangxi didn’t agree, so the Grand Empress Dowager had to compromise by having Yinsi stay with her instead.
“Anyway, this time you’ll have to find your own solution.” The Grand Empress Dowager said with a smile.
Wen Shan’s mahjong game this time could be described as a complete disaster. After losing all her golden beans, she quickly made her escape. The Empress Dowager said with a smile: “Your Majesty, are you really not going to help Wen Shan? I can see she genuinely cares for Yinzhen.”
“How much longer can these old bones of mine help her?” The Grand Empress Dowager sat cross-legged on the couch. “She needs to learn how to establish herself in this palace on her own. This seems like a good opportunity for that.”