The matter of bestowing honors throughout the Six Palaces had long been circulating within the palace. By this month, Kangxi had completely dealt with the remnants of the Revolt of the Three Feudatories, and the matter was finally put on the agenda.
However, no one knew exactly how these promotions would be carried out.
The consorts began actively networking—some strengthening relationships, others gathering information, and some even attempting to gain favor by sending soups and beverages three times a day to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Everyone hoped to secure some advantage during this grand bestowal of honors.
After all, Kangxi had never been particularly generous with the ranks of his consorts. The last large-scale promotion had occurred in the sixteenth year of his reign. Over the past four-plus years, aside from newly arrived consorts, the positions of the older ones had remained largely unchanged.
Thus, Xianfu Palace became a key target for information gathering.
Consorts like Consort Yi and Consort Hui made multiple trips to Xianfu Palace. Although Wen Shan’s favor was modest, she enjoyed a close relationship with the Grand Empress Dowager. Since Kangxi would inevitably consult the Grand Empress Dowager on matters of palace promotions, they came hoping to glean some information from Wen Shan.
Wen Shan looked silently at the box of pearls sent by Consort Yi, the two gold hairpins from Consort Hui, and the assorted gifts from other consorts.
The Grand Empress Dowager truly hadn’t revealed anything to her, yet she happened to know the outcome of the grand bestowal of honors in the twentieth year of Kangxi’s reign.
The main developments were the promotion of four consorts to imperial consorts, the Niohuru clan’s consort being elevated to Noble Consort, and the Tongjia clan’s consort being promoted to Imperial Noble Consort.
But she couldn’t tell them. If she leaked this information, Kangxi would be watching her immediately.
So, with a sigh of regret and reluctant farewell to those exquisite jewels, Wen Shan had everything returned.
Yinsi, seeing his mother’s pained expression, toddled over to comfort her: “Don’t be sad, Mother. When Yinsi grows up, he’ll give you even more jewels.”
“You already know how to give gifts to girls at such a young age?” Wen Shan gently pinched his cheek and smiled.
“I won’t give them to anyone else, only to Mother.”
Wen Shan was utterly delighted by his words. Seizing the opportunity, Yinsi persuaded her to promise to make his favorite minced meat and asparagus egg custard for dinner that evening.
As soon as Wen Shan bustled off to the small kitchen to prepare dinner, Yinsi directed Bao Quan to close the gates of Xianfu Palace.
“Eighth Prince, it’s only the hour of Shen. Isn’t it a bit too early to close the gates?”
Bao Quan glanced at the still-visible sun with some helplessness. Who closed palace gates at this hour?
“Just do as I say,” Yinsi replied, sitting cross-legged on the couch. Though small in stature, his gaze was steady, and his tone, while calm, carried an undeniable authority—a stark contrast to his earlier coquettish demeanor with Wen Shan.
Bao Quan immediately broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly complied, closing the palace gates.
All the servants in Xianfu Palace knew that Consort Xuan doted most on the Fourth Prince and the Eighth Prince. Whatever these two said should be done without question, as Consort Xuan would never reprimand them for it.
Yinsi took a snack from the small bag Wen Shan had specially made for him and ate it slowly, thinking to himself that finally, no one would come to steal their meal today!
These consorts seemed to have coordinated their visits, arriving one after another right at mealtime. Not only did they come to mooch meals, but they also ate and took food away, causing the family to miss out on Mother’s pastries for several days.
Yinzhen, reading nearby, glanced over and nodded in approval of his younger brother’s actions. Then, he reached into Yinsi’s pocket and took a biscuit for himself.
Yinsi looked at him accusingly and hid the bag behind his back.
“I heard Emperor Father has scheduled the palace investiture ceremony for the twenty-fifth of this month,” Yinzhen made casual conversation with Yinsi. He knew his younger brother was more clever than ordinary children, so there was no harm in discussing such matters with him.
Yinsi naturally already knew the outcome of this investiture and showed little interest—it was merely a routine promotion of one rank for each consort.
The only difference from his previous life was that Consort Tong Jia was under house arrest, while his own mother was raising two princes. He wondered if Consort Tong Jia would still be promoted to Imperial Noble Consort this time. In his previous life, his mother had not been involved in the promotions, so he had no idea how things would unfold now.
So Yinsi merely uttered an “Oh” before lowering his head to fiddle with the nine-linked puzzle.
Yinzhen watched him for a moment before adding, “The edict will likely be issued in a few days. After that, the consorts won’t be visiting Xianfu Palace anymore.”
Yinsi’s hands stilled on the puzzle. He looked up at Yinzhen in disbelief.
He had thought Fourth Brother was just making small talk, never imagining he’d come specifically to comfort him, thinking Yinsi was annoyed by the constant visits from the palace consorts and assuring him it would soon stop.
No wonder Fourth Brother, who usually disliked gossiping about palace affairs, had suddenly brought this up today.
Silently, Yinsi retrieved his snack bag.
Yinzhen laughed and unceremoniously snatched half of its contents.
Yinsi: “……!”
Ahhh! There’s a robber!
When Wen Shan entered, she saw Yinsi and Yinzhen wrestling on the couch. Yinsi was perched on Yinzhen, trying to grab something clenched in his brother’s upraised hand. The two rolled back and forth, with Yinsi occasionally using a pillow as a weapon.
“Give it back!”
Yinsi puffed his cheeks and glared, but upon seeing Wen Shan, he immediately switched targets and rushed into her arms.
“Mother! Brother stole my things!”
Yinzhen sat up and opened his hand, revealing several pieces of pastry she had made for Yinsi.
“Little miser, can’t you share a couple with your brother?” Wen Shan chuckled, tapping Yinsi’s small nose.
Yinsi complained, “He stole them!Yinzhen quickly apologized, “Mother, I was just playing with my younger brother.””
He then returned the pastries to Yinsi.
Yinsi snorted and refused to take them back.
Wen Shan watched Yinsi’s sulking expression and told Yinzhen, “If you want some, just ask your brother or tell me. If you make him cry next time, you’ll have to comfort him yourself.”
Yinsi thought he would never cry—how could he be that childish?
Then he reconsidered—his recent behavior had been rather childish indeed…
It must be because of this young body!
How could anyone remain mature and steady after being an infant for so long!
Meanwhile, a major incident erupted at court.
The two most powerful ministers of the Kangxi era, Soetu and Mingzhu, had an open confrontation before the Emperor.
The conflict stemmed from Wu Sangui’s rebellion. It had been triggered when Wu Sangui submitted a memorial testing whether Kangxi intended to reduce the feudal lords’ power by requesting permission to retire to his hometown. The court had split into two factions: Soetu argued that Wu Sangui was cunning and this was merely a probe—approval would immediately spark rebellion. Mingzhu advocated seizing this chance to approve the relocation and permanently resolve the problem of overpowered feudal lords.
Ultimately, Kangxi adopted Mingzhu’s recommendation. The subsequent events proved Soetu correct—Wu Sangui launched his rebellion.
When the Revolt of the Three Feudatories first erupted, Soetu immediately submitted a memorial stating that all officials who had advocated for Wu Sangui’s relocation should be executed. However, Kangxi suppressed this proposal, issuing an imperial decree clarifying that the decision to withdraw the feudatories was his own and had nothing to do with Mingzhu and others. Moreover, what kind of emperor would shirk responsibility onto his ministers?
With the imperial court already at war with Wu Sangui, how could they possibly execute officials from the pro-war faction at such a critical moment—especially since Mingzhu was then serving as Minister of War?
From that point onward, Soetu and Mingzhu began obstructing each other openly and covertly. As the Crown Prince was born of Empress Hesheri, Soetu naturally supported him. Mingzhu, being Soetu’s sworn enemy, naturally opposed the Crown Prince’s ascension, fearing his own clan, the Yehenara, would face immediate downfall if that occurred. After surveying his options, Mingzhu settled on supporting the Eldest Prince, Yinti.
Though Yinti’s maternal family lacked prominence, he held the status of eldest son. Moreover, he was handsome, refined, and courteous, having been deeply favored by Kangxi since childhood and often accompanying the emperor on travels. Thus, Mingzhu’s decision to back the Eldest Prince was not a desperate gamble.
This further intensified the conflict between the two factions.
After the complete suppression of the Revolt of the Three Feudatories, both Mingzhu and Soetu were rewarded for their great contributions. Once the honors were distributed, everyone turned their attention to promotions within the imperial harem.
As the princes grew older, the front court and inner palace became inextricably linked. Soetu, wishing to stabilize the Crown Prince’s position, opposed the appointment of a new empress. Meanwhile, Mingzhu hoped for Consort Hui’s elevation, believing that if the Eldest Prince gained status through his mother and a new empress was installed, the political waters would be thoroughly muddied.
Thus, Soetu aligned with the Niohuru Clan, while Mingzhu joined forces with the Tongjia clan.
Both sides clashed fiercely. To officials who failed to grasp the situation, the court appeared engulfed in inexplicable chaos: one day, Tongjia-affiliated officials would accuse the Niohuru family of murder and land seizure; the next, Mingzhu would impeach Soetu for factionalism and corruption.
Even Wen Shan in the inner palace found herself frequently witnessing these dramas.
The Niohuru clan was furious but had no outlet for their rage, especially since Consort Tong Jia was under confinement. When the haughty Consort Hui crossed their path, the two sides clashed violently.
This conveniently diverted attention from Xianfu Palace, bringing relief to both Yinzhen and Yinsi, who had grown weary of the constant stream of visitors. To them, Xianfu Palace was the purest and most tranquil place within the Forbidden City—a warm home where their family enjoyed peaceful, happy days undisturbed.
Kangxi, too, was exasperated by the incessant infighting between the front court and inner palace, and his visits to Xianfu Palace noticeably increased during this period.
“Yinsi has grown taller again,” Kangxi remarked with a smile, embracing the boy.
Wen Shan sat nearby, watching the affectionate father-son scene. “Children change every day,” she said warmly. “The nurses tell me Yinsi is at the age when they grow fastest.”
Yinsi had learned to handle Kangxi skillfully. Knowing what kind of child his Emperor Father favored, he could easily play the part—pleasing the emperor benefited himself, his mother, and Fourth Brother alike.
Noticing Yinsi’s small satchel, Kangxi curiously tugged at it. “What’s in here?”
“Snacks Mother made for me,” Yinsi replied in his childish voice.
“Yinsi has been teething recently and loves to chew on things, so I made him some snacks,” Wen Shan explained.
Zhen Zhu added from the side, “The Eighth Prince likes them so much he wouldn’t even share them with the Fourth Prince.”
Kangxi raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Then could Yinsi give Emperor Father a piece?”
Wen Shan was speechless. She’d just said the child treasured them, yet here he was teasing the boy like this…
If the child really refused, His Majesty would be displeased anyway.
Unexpectedly, Yinsi, who usually guarded his possessions fiercely, immediately produced a piece without hesitation. “This largest piece is for Emperor Father!”
As long as Kangxi didn’t inspect the rest, who could tell if it was actually the largest?
Sure enough, Kangxi was delighted, beaming as he praised Yinsi for his filial piety and good sense.
Holding Yinsi in his arms, Kangxi fed him a piece of honeydew melon. “Yinzhen has been making progress in his studies too. The Crown Prince told me yesterday that Yinzhen has become much more mature lately – respectful to his elders and caring toward his younger brothers. Clearly, this is all your doing.”
Yinsi thought to himself that it was actually Mother’s snacks that deserved the credit. Her culinary skills were famous throughout the palace, and she often made extra for Fourth Brother to take to the Imperial Study. Gradually, everyone from the Crown Prince down to the Fifth Prince had started pestering Fourth Brother to bring more.
As the saying goes, “When you eat from others, you mind your words; when you take from others, you soften your hands.” Naturally, they would speak well of Fourth Brother.
Just then, Yinzhen returned from his studies. When he didn’t see Wen Shan waiting for him outside the Imperial Study today, he had already guessed the reason. Seeing the guards at the gate of Xianfu Palace confirmed that Emperor Father was visiting, which was why Mother couldn’t get away.
Yinzhen entered the room and paid his respects. In his good mood from being charmed by Yinsi, Kangxi smiled and told him to rise, inviting him to sit beside him.
“What did your tutor teach today?”
Yinzhen methodically recounted the day’s lessons, and Kangxi nodded in approval.
“Good, you’ve been studying diligently.”
“The Crown Prince had already memorized all this by your age. You should learn from your Second Brother.”
Yinzhen acknowledged the instruction. Yinsi’s eyes shifted craftily as he pestered Kangxi to explain the meaning of the text Fourth Brother had just mentioned.
Kangxi patted his head and turned to Yinzhen. “Yinzhen, explain it to your Eighth Brother.”
Yinsi had heard Yinzhen reciting this text perfectly just days before – every word memorized in detail, so explaining its meaning would be no challenge at all.
Only after Yinzhen finished his explanation did Kangxi show a satisfied expression.
“Raising Yinzhen under your care was clearly the right decision,” Kangxi said to Wen Shan. “In just a few months, he’s improved significantly.”
“That’s all due to Yinzhen’s diligent day-and-night studying.” Wen Shan couldn’t bear the suffocating atmosphere of this homework inspection any longer and quickly interjected, “The dishes in the small kitchen are all prepared. Shall we have our meal?”
Kangxi had been missing Wen Shan’s cooking. Honestly, this Consort Xuan of his was so obtuse – since that one time she brought food because of Yinzhen’s matter, she had never visited the Hall of Mental Cultivation again. If he wanted to eat her cooking, he had to come running to Xianfu Palace himself.
Initially, Kangxi had sulked for a while, determined to temper Consort Xuan’s disposition and make her understand what it meant to regard her husband as heaven and what constituted a consort’s proper duties. He had intentionally given Consort Xuan the cold shoulder for over two months. All the consorts in the rear palace could tell the Emperor was displeased with Consort Xuan – even the Grand Empress Dowager had specifically asked him about it. Yet Consort Xuan remained unperturbed, going about her business as usual, completely unaffected by the situation.
This one-sided cold war only made Kangxi angrier.
In the end, he was the one who had to go to Xianfu Palace first to end this inexplicable anger.
Yet Kangxi had to swallow this bitter pill in silence. Wen Shan never made any mistakes in etiquette, served the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager diligently, raised the princes with utmost care, and never engaged in jealousy or stirred up trouble. How could he punish her with the accusation that Consort Xuan was inattentive to him and never sent food to the Hall of Mental Cultivation?
He could only vent his frustration by making things difficult for her during their nights together, leaving Wen Shan questioning her life each time. Weren’t ancient people supposed to be conservative? This was even more liberal than what she, a modern person, was used to!
Wen Shan herself remained completely unaware that Kangxi was giving her the cold shoulder. Since Kangxi didn’t like her and the Niohuru Clan and Consort Hui were fiercely competing for favor at the time, wasn’t it normal for him not to summon her for a month or two? His absence gave her more time to spend with her two sons.
Later, Kangxi pondered whether Wen Shan had given up because he had refused her last request. He thought he should find an opportunity to let her ask again—this time he would agree, and then Consort Xuan would surely understand how to serve him properly.
So during a meal, Kangxi deliberately brought up the matter of promoting the imperial harem.
“With the Three Feudatories rebellion now quelled, it’s time to properly elevate the ranks in the rear palace.” Kangxi glanced at Yinzhen beside him. “The Noble Consort has been in the palace for many years and has recently lost a child—her rank should be raised. This will leave two positions of Noble Consort vacant.”
Worried that Wen Shan’s wooden head wouldn’t grasp his meaning, Kangxi pointed it out explicitly to her.
“I know you might feel somewhat wronged. If there’s anything you want, just tell me.”
Both Yinsi and Yinzhen looked up simultaneously, surprised that their Emperor Father had so openly revealed that Consort Tong Jia was to be promoted to Imperial Noble Consort or even Empress. Moreover, his words implied that as long as Mother asked, she could be elevated to Noble Consort.
But when Wen Shan heard Kangxi’s words, she wasn’t shocked. She had long known that Consort Tong Jia was to be named Imperial Noble Consort and now looked up somewhat blankly.
Why should she feel wronged about Consort Tong Jia’s promotion?
Then it occurred to her: the Tongjia clan had just been reprimanded for mistreating Yinzhen, and now, after only a few months, Consort Tong Jia was being promoted to Imperial Noble Consort. Since Yinzhen was raised by her, she probably should feel some displeasure.
Kangxi practically had “Hurry up and say you want a promotion too” written on his face. He had already considered that promoting Consort Xuan to Noble Consort wouldn’t be unreasonable—with the Tongjia clan as Imperial Noble Consort, having Consort Xuan and the Niohuru Clan as Noble Consorts would maintain balance.
Besides, given Consort Xuan’s background and the fact that she was raising two princes, promoting her to Noble Consort was justifiable.
Wen Shan blinked thoughtfully, set down her bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and performed a deep bow to Kangxi.
The corners of Kangxi’s lips lifted. Finally, he was about to hear Consort Xuan ask him for something.
“Consort Wei has contributed by giving birth to the Eighth Prince, yet she remains only a consort. I beg Your Majesty to promote Consort Wei’s rank this time.”
Wen Shan looked up and spoke with sincere earnestness.
“…”
Kangxi was so enraged he nearly choked, then laughed in exasperation. She had indeed made a request, but why was it for someone else?
Yinsi, standing nearby, was deeply moved. Mother was truly the kindest, gentlest person in heaven and on earth!
Kangxi calmed his emotions and said indifferently, “I understand. You may rise.”
Did that mean he agreed or not?
Wen Shan was baffled. After this incident, Kangxi’s attitude shifted back to being cold and distant. He finished the midday meal and left in a huff.
Perplexed, Wen Shan asked Zhen Zhu, “What did I do to upset the Emperor this time?”
Zhen Zhu was equally confused: “This servant also doesn’t know why the Emperor suddenly became angry.”
Though Yinzhen was a mere three or four-year-old child, his precocious nature allowed him to vaguely grasp the situation, yet he couldn’t articulate it clearly. Yinsi stood nearby, silently shaking his head with a sigh—wasn’t it obvious?
It was clear that Emperor Father, as a husband, had hoped to see Mother act coquettishly and vie for favor, but had failed.
With Mother’s temperament, the path of a favored consort was essentially out of reach. Better to wait until he and Fourth Brother grew up and let Mother directly become Empress Dowager.
That would be far more comfortable than trying to please Emperor Father.
The next day at noon, Sumalagu suddenly arrived at Xianfu Palace, saying the Grand Empress Dowager had summoned Wen Shan to Cining Palace.
After tidying up briefly, Wen Shan followed Sumalagu out, inquiring along the way about the reason for the summons.
Sumalagu smiled and said, “It’s a joyous matter. The Emperor wishes to select a consort for the Eldest Princess. Since this is an internal palace affair, the Grand Empress Dowager has invited all the consorts to discuss it together.”
Wen Shan recalled hearing about this before—the proposed consort candidate was her maternal nephew, who was also from the Grand Empress Dowager’s natal clan, the Borjigit clan of Khorchin.
However, the matter had subsequently gone quiet, as if temporarily shelved. She hadn’t expected it to be revived today.
Upon entering Cining Palace, Wen Shan realized she was the last to arrive. The Niohuru Clan, Consort Hui, Consort Yi, Consort Rong, Consort Duan, and Noble Lady Ping were all already present.
The Niohuru Clan sat at the forefront, with an empty seat opposite her likely reserved for Wen Shan.
After Wen Shan paid her respects, the remaining consorts saluted her according to their ranks. Surprisingly, the Niohuru Clan unprecedentedly returned an equal salute.
Though both held the rank of consort, Wen Shan possessed an honorific title, which technically made her superior to the Niohuru Clan. However, everyone in the palace knew the Niohuru Clan’s current consort rank was only temporary due to her recent entry into the palace—further promotions were inevitable. Moreover, with the Niohuru Clan currently managing the rear palace affairs, the two were effectively on equal footing.
Yet the Niohuru Clan, always proud, had previously only nodded in greeting and never offered an equal salute. Wen Shan didn’t dwell on such formalities and had always let it pass vaguely.
Thus, Wen Shan, both flustered and honored, returned the salute, thinking how great the Grand Empress Dowager’s influence was—even the Niohuru Clan behaved more meekly in her presence.
“Take your seat quickly,” the Grand Empress Dowager said with a smile, looking at Wen Shan. “You’re the latest to arrive. We’ve already finished a round of tea.”
“That was my oversight. I shall later make amends to all my sisters in the various palaces,” Wen Shan replied as she sat down, casually making a lighthearted remark.
The Grand Empress Dowager wasn’t truly reproaching her but merely teasing, and she laughed heartily before letting it pass.
Consort Hui pursed her lips below—the Grand Empress Dowager truly doted on Consort Xuan.
“I’ve summoned you all today regarding Chunxi’s marriage,” the Grand Empress Dowager began. “After the new year, Chunxi will be eleven. It’s time to make preparations. Selecting a consort, preparing dowry, and arranging the princess’ residence all require several years.”
“The Emperor intends to choose an upright and courageous young man for Chunxi. It would be best to allow two years for them to become acquainted beforehand. Moreover, the wedding should be celebrated with great pomp, ensuring Chunxi marries with dignity and honor.”
All present were aware of Kangxi’s affection for the Eldest Princess and offered flattering pleasantries, especially during this critical period of promotions.
Being astute individuals, they immediately understood that if they devoted themselves to the Eldest Princess’ affairs, the Emperor and Grand Empress Dowager would naturally remember their contributions.
“Rest assured, Venerable Ancestor, this humble consort and all my sisters will spare no effort to ensure the Grand Princess’s wedding is conducted with the utmost dignity and propriety.” The Niohuru Clan was the first to step forward, for she currently held authority over the inner court.
The Grand Empress Dowager nodded: “Since you now oversee the Six Palaces, it naturally falls upon you to devote more care to this matter.”
Niohuru Clan felt a surge of delight in her heart. The Grand Princess’s wedding preparations would take at least three to four years. Could the Grand Empress Dowager’s intention be that after this promotion, she would become the de facto mistress of the inner palace?
Observing the varied expressions among the assembled consorts, the Grand Empress Dowager smiled faintly and continued, “Chunxi is the first among the Emperor’s many children to marry, so it is only fitting that we pay special attention. That is why I have called all of you here. The Noble Consort is devoted to Buddhist practices, so we shall not trouble her with such worldly matters. Consort De is in her final months of pregnancy and should not be burdened with worries either.”
Consort Hui chimed in, “The Grand Empress Dowager is most considerate. We have all watched the Grand Princess grow up and will naturally give our utmost effort.”
Wen Shan, seated below, sipped her tea and idled away. Preparing dowries was a tedious and troublesome task, something she—being both careless and impatient—was ill-suited for. Fortunately, everyone else seemed enthusiastic enough that she likely wouldn’t be called upon to contribute.
With just a few words, the Grand Empress Dowager had skillfully swayed the consorts present, leaving each of them delighted with their assigned tasks as they departed.
Wen Shan’s own assignment was to spend more time chatting with the Grand Princess. After all, the Grand Princess was to marry into the Khorchin tribe, which happened to be Wen Shan’s maternal homeland.
The task was neither demanding nor unsuitable for Wen Shan—clearly, the Grand Empress Dowager had arranged it with her in mind.
After the others had left, Wen Shan remained behind. The Grand Empress Dowager glanced at her sideways and asked, “Did you come empty-handed?”
“Of course not,” Wen Shan replied, beckoning to Hupo outside the door. Hupo stepped in from behind the door, carrying a food box.
“I knew it would be time for Your Majesty’s midday meal, so I prepared your favorites: crab roe lion’s head meatballs, crystal-sliced pork, dry-fried winter bamboo shoots, and lotus root and pork rib soup that has been simmering for over two hours.”
The Grand Empress Dowager had a fondness for meat dishes, and Wen Shan was one of the few whose vegetarian dishes she would occasionally eat. Concerned about the Grand Empress Dowager’s advanced age and the need for a balanced diet, Wen Shan always made sure to include at least one vegetable dish to encourage her to eat a little more.
The Empress Dowager had taken the Fifth Prince outside the palace for Buddhist rites in recent days, so only Wen Shan and the Grand Empress Dowager were present for the meal, with Sumalagu keeping them company.
“What did you do yesterday?” the Grand Empress Dowager asked after savoring a piece of crystal-sliced pork, narrowing her eyes contentedly before casting a sidelong glance at Wen Shan.
“Huh?”
Wen Shan was baffled. “This subject did nothing of note yesterday.”
She had played cuju with Yinzhen and Yinsi, prepared some delicious food, and, oh yes, she had also arranged a midday meal for Kangxi—though he had left in a somewhat displeased mood.
Recalling this, Wen Shan suddenly understood. “Are you referring to the Emperor’s anger yesterday?”
“So you do know?” Sumalagu served a bowl of pork rib soup to the Grand Empress Dowager, who chuckled and said, “You, you… What did you do to upset the Emperor this time?”
“I’m innocent! This subject truly did nothing wrong.” After a moment’s thought, Wen Shan ventured cautiously, “I did request an honorific title for Consort Wei. Surely it wasn’t because of that, was it?”
Consort Wei had given birth to a prince, and according to custom, she ought to be promoted in rank. Unfortunately, the matter had been postponed when it coincided with Noble Consort Tong Jia’s miscarriage, leaving Kangxi in no mood to address it.
The Grand Empress Dowager also felt it unlikely to be related to that matter, as Wei Shi was already on the list for promotion.
Instead, it was Wen Shan whom the Emperor had visited in a fury the previous day, striking off her originally intended position as Noble Consort.
By making a special trip to inform the Grand Empress Dowager of this, the Emperor naturally knew she would relay the message to Wen Shan—or perhaps his intention was precisely for the Grand Empress Dowager to do so.
The decision to revoke the Noble Consort title was largely an act of pique.
The Grand Empress Dowager privately remarked to Sumalagu, wondering what kind of play the Emperor and Consort Xuan were putting on—and why they had dragged an old relic like her into it.
She coolly informed Wen Shan that Kangxi had removed her name from the originally designated Noble Consort position. To her surprise, Wen Shan showed no shock or panic. Instead, she paused for a moment, then calmly replied, “I understand.”
The Grand Empress Dowager was both amused and exasperated: “You foolish girl, should I call you unflappable or simply heartless?”
“Your servant never cared much for titles anyway,” Wen Shan said with a light laugh. “Since His Majesty has made this decision, he must have his reasons. I shall accept it as commanded.”
Suddenly, the Grand Empress Dowager began to understand why the Emperor had been so frustrated.
After returning to her palace, Wen Shan even treated the matter as a joke when recounting it to Bao Quan and the others—how she had inexplicably circled the Noble Consort position only to be just as inexplicably cast aside.
Bao Quan and the others nearly jumped in anxiety upon hearing this, while Yinsi, standing nearby, frowned deeply. He never expected that the Emperor Father would go so far as to revise an already finalized roster.
If this news spread, his mother would surely become the laughingstock of the entire rear palace.
But his mother’s attitude… left him with nothing but admiration.
“How could the Noble Consort position grow wings and fly away just like that?” Hupo lamented, genuinely pained on Wen Shan’s behalf.
Wen Shan, leisurely crafting a toy for Fuqi, remarked, “What’s so different about being a Noble Consort? It just means a few more servants.”
To her, there was little difference between being a consort and a Noble Consort. Her provisions and allowances had always followed the Noble Consort standard—a special arrangement the Grand Empress Dowager had made when she first entered the palace.
Zhen Zhu reminded her, “Your monthly stipend would have increased by three hundred taels of silver per year as well.”
“…”
Wen Shan clutched her chest dramatically: “Now my heart aches!”
When Yinzhen returned and learned of the matter, his expression darkened immediately. He ordered Bao Quan to assemble all the palace staff of Xianfu Palace and, through a mix of rewards and warnings, commanded them to keep their mouths tightly shut.
The servants fell silent under the stern gaze of the Fourth Prince. Both the Fourth and Eighth Princes were precocious children, and when they grew serious, they carried more authority than Wen Shan herself.
Xianfu Palace had always been somewhat lax in its management of servants, something Yinzhen had long disapproved of. Treating servants kindly did not mean indulging them; otherwise, their palace would eventually become as leaky as a sieve. In this, his views aligned unexpectedly with Yinsi’s. While Yinsi drew from the experience and tactics of his past life, Yinzhen seemed to possess an innate understanding. Yinsi, recalling how the Prince of the First Rank’s residence in his previous life had been impervious to leaks, thought to himself that Fourth Brother must have mastered these skills from a young age. Under the joint efforts of the two young masters, Xianfu Palace gradually became as tightly sealed as an iron barrel.
Wen Shan was content to let her sons handle the affairs. If anything went wrong, she would take responsibility. Such doting treatment made many princes and princesses in the rear palace green with envy.
Soon, the twentieth day arrived, and the long-awaited edict for the grand conferment of titles in the rear palace was finally announced.
As Wen Shan remembered, Consort Hui, Consort Rong, Consort Yi, and Consort De were elevated to the rank of consort. The Niohuru Clan was promoted to Noble Consort, and the still-confined Consort Tong Jia was named Imperial Noble Consort.
After all the commotion, no new Empress was appointed. Instead, the confined Consort Tong Jia was elevated to Imperial Noble Consort, while the Niohuru Clan became Noble Consort—creating a strangely balanced arrangement.
In terms of status, the Imperial Noble Consort held the position of deputy Empress, but in reality, she wielded no power, as Kangxi had not lifted Tongjia clan’s confinement. On the other hand, the Niuhulu Noble Consort, though nominally of lower rank, firmly held the reins of authority in the rear palace.
With the recent appointment of four new consorts, the palace’s inner court finally regained its lively atmosphere.
As expected, Wen Shan was not promoted to Noble Consort. She remarked to Yinzhen and Yinsi how fortunate it was that Kangxi had canceled the investiture ceremony, otherwise she would have had to attend the formal event in this freezing weather. It was much more comfortable roasting sweet potatoes together in Xianfu Palace.
Yinzhen and Yinsi could only sigh in resigned unison after hearing this.
Well, as long as Mother was happy.
Although Kangxi hadn’t lifted the house arrest on the Tongjia clan, the investiture ceremony for the Imperial Noble Consort still had to proceed to maintain appearances. After all, it was publicly claimed that the Tongjia clan was currently praying for the nation’s blessings.
Madam Tong Jia finally got to see her daughter at the investiture ceremony after days of anxious waiting.
Kangxi turned a blind eye to this, permitting Madam Tong Jia to have a brief reunion with the Imperial Noble Consort since she was from his maternal family.
“My daughter, let Mother take a good look at you,” Madam Tong Jia said with tearful eyes after dismissing the servants. “You’ve suffered.”
She looked even more haggard than right after her miscarriage.
“My health has fully recovered,” the Imperial Noble Consort comforted her mother. “There’s no need to worry about me. I’m just feeling rather bored being confined to Chengqian Palace all day.”
As they sat on the couch, Madam Tong Jia tightly grasped her daughter’s hands: “When you were suddenly placed under house arrest, we outside had no information at all. Thankfully, heaven blessed you with the position of Imperial Noble Consort. This shows His Majesty still holds affection for you and our Tongjia clan.”
When Madam Tong Jia pressed for details about what had angered Kangxi, the Imperial Noble Consort hesitated briefly before revealing everything that had happened that day.
“How could this have leaked out? And how did Consort Hui find out?” Madam Tong Jia exclaimed in shock.
She never imagined her daughter’s punishment was because of matters concerning the Fourth Prince.
If this were truly the case, then the Emperor had indeed shown mercy to their Tongjia clan.
Although Madam Tong Jia herself looked down on the Fourth Prince the most, she clearly understood in her heart that regardless of her personal feelings, the Fourth Prince was still the Emperor’s bloodline, a member of the imperial family. How could servants like them dare to criticize him?
The Emperor’s fury was completely justified.
The Imperial Noble Consort shook her head and whispered, “One day, Yinzhen overheard me unintentionally. Perhaps…”
She didn’t finish her sentence, but Madam Tong Jia understood her meaning – perhaps the Fourth Prince had spread the word himself.
“Ah, I’ve long said this child doesn’t get along with you,” Madam Tong Jia sighed. “If you had listened to me earlier and sent the Fourth Prince away, none of this would have happened.”
The Imperial Noble Consort didn’t respond, only offering a bitter smile.
Madam Tong Jia affectionately stroked her daughter’s hair, comforting her: “Perhaps this is for the best – there needs to be closure eventually. Now that you’re the Imperial Noble Consort, equivalent to a deputy empress, it shows His Majesty still cares for you. Be patient, submit a few memorials acknowledging your faults, and things will gradually improve.”
“Once you have another imperial son, all worries will disappear. Becoming Empress is just around the corner.”
The Imperial Noble Consort hesitated, “But now the Niohuru Clan has been appointed Noble Consort and holds authority over the six palaces. Consort Hui and others have also been appointed as consorts. The palace is no longer dominated by just one family anymore.”
“The same goes for the court affairs.” Madam Tong Jia advised her daughter, “Your father specifically asked me to remind you during this visit. Currently, Mingzhu and Soetu are fiercely contending, and the Niohuru Clan has also become involved. This is undoubtedly because several princes have grown up and begun harboring ambitions. Whether it’s the Eldest Prince or the Crown Prince, stay away from them. The Emperor is wise and discerning and will handle things appropriately.”
In such times, staying quietly in the background is the safest approach.
The Imperial Noble Consort nodded in agreement.
A few days later, a letter of repentance written in blood by the Imperial Noble Consort was delivered to Kangxi’s desk. It was said that after reading it, Kangxi was deeply moved but still did not lift the house arrest.
The Imperial Noble Consort did not give up. She submitted another plea every couple of days until the fifth one, when Kangxi finally sighed and issued an oral decree to release her from confinement.
That afternoon, he personally visited Chengqian Palace to see her and stayed overnight. The matter was thus completely laid to rest within the palace.
When Wen Shan heard about it, she thought to herself, “Thank goodness Kangxi softened his heart. Otherwise, all that bloodletting would have surely worn down the Imperial Noble Consort’s health.”
The first to feel threatened by the Imperial Noble Consort’s restored favor was the Niuhulu Noble Consort. Previously, she had been acting in charge of the six palaces due to the Imperial Noble Consort’s confinement. Now that the Imperial Noble Consort was free, should she return the authority over the six palaces according to rank and precedence?
Fortunately, Kangxi issued an edict stating that the Imperial Noble Consort was unwell and needed rest, so the Niuhulu Noble Consort would continue to manage the six palaces on her behalf.
However, for Wen Shan, this brought about a distressing matter.
With the Imperial Noble Consort no longer confined, the imperial consorts were expected to pay their respects morning and evening.
Thankfully, the Imperial Noble Consort was still “ill,” so these greetings were temporarily exempted.
Yet, the possibility of having to wake up early at any moment was truly agonizing for Wen Shan.
Even Yinzhen and Yinsi noticed that their mother had been somewhat downcast lately.
They assumed she had finally realized she missed the promotion to Noble Consort and was brooding over it, completely unaware that Wen Shan was merely reluctant to part with her warm blankets.
Damn it, it was still winter—was there no mercy for survival?
A couple of days later, Kangxi inexplicably issued another edict, promoting Consort Xuan to Noble Consort and placing her on equal footing with the Niuhulu Noble Consort in managing the six palaces.
When Wen Shan received the decree, her mind was filled with confusion.
What was going on?
Hadn’t her name been removed from the list of Noble Consort appointments?
That evening, when Kangxi visited Xianfu Palace, he wore a stern expression. The sight of Consort Xuan’s innocent face irritated him.
He had already informed her through the Grand Empress Dowager that her name had been struck from the ennoblement list, yet she remained cheerful and completely unfazed. Kangxi had originally intended to intimidate her, thinking that if Wen Shan pleaded, he would readily reinstate her.
Unexpectedly, she couldn’t care less about being a Noble Consort or not.
After seeing through Kangxi’s intentions, the Grand Empress Dowager leisurely watched the drama unfold, curious to see what else these two would come up with.
In the end, it was Kangxi who gave in first. There was no helping it—Wen Shan genuinely didn’t care about such things, so using them as leverage was practically useless.
Wen Shan’s perspective was simple: she had no worries about food or clothing, and she had two children. What was the point of striving so hard? Let someone else take the promotion.
Faced with such a mild, unyielding temperament for the first time, Kangxi felt somewhat defeated.
He knew full well that Wen Shan’s weak spots were Yinzhen and Yinsi, but as their father, he couldn’t bring himself to torment his own children.
After lifting the Tongjia clan’s house arrest, Kangxi grew increasingly soft-hearted, wondering if he had been too harsh on Consort Xuan.
Upon careful reflection, she seemed to have done nothing wrong—always adhering to rules and propriety, yet enduring considerable grievances.
The more he pondered, the more he felt his earlier decision had been somewhat rash, so with a grand gesture, he issued the edict of conferment once more.
On the day of the conferment ceremony, Wen Shan gazed at the thick snow covering the ground outside, her heart utterly shattered.
This was retaliation—absolutely retaliation!
It would have been better to be conferred along with everyone back then—now the weather was even colder!