Yiqing had been in the palace for about a month or two by now. She would turn her attention toward anyone who spoke, and gradually she began to understand bits and pieces of what people were saying, occasionally grasping the meaning of a few words or phrases.
Empress Heseri was greatly favored by the emperor, and Kangxi visited the Palace of Earthly Tranquility quite often. He always came to see Yiqing during these visits, and over time the child grew familiar with his presence.
She could tell that his status was extremely high, because every time he arrived, even the woman she regarded as her mother had to perform formal greetings and bows to him. What bothered Yiqing most was that he never seemed to know how to control his strength, yet he was especially fond of holding her in his arms. Every time he did so, it never felt nearly as comfortable or pleasant as when others held her.
Having cared for Yiqing over the past month or two, Empress Heseri had developed a deep affection for the child. Babies changed and grew more beautiful with each passing day, and watching her develop, especially when those large, bright, expressive eyes looked up at her with such focus, it was impossible for the empress’s heart not to melt with tenderness.
What made Yiqing even more endearing was that she was an easy child to raise. She rarely cried or fussed, and she always greeted people with a bright, cheerful smile. She was loved not only by Empress Heseri, but also by the wet nurses who tended to her daily and the senior palace maids who served by the empress’s side.
One day, after finishing her official duties and managing all matters within the inner palace, Empress Heseri prepared to take Yiqing to the Palace of Compassion and Peace to pay her respects to the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager.
She was a deeply filial woman, and both elders were warm and easy to get along with, so whenever she had free time, she would make the journey to keep them company and engage in conversation.
Before she could set out, however, she received word that Concubine Nara had come to visit, walking slowly and carefully with her heavily pregnant belly.
Empress Heseri was somewhat surprised by the news. She was known for her kindness and generosity, and it was customary for her to excuse any consort who was expecting a child from the daily formal visits and greetings, allowing them to rest and take good care of themselves within their own quarters. Concubine Nara was already more than eight months along, and in fact, she was due to give birth in just a few days.
At such a stage of pregnancy, most women would choose to remain safely within their own palaces, ensuring that their attendants and nurses remained alert and watchful at all times. After all, giving birth was a dangerous ordeal; it was often said that a woman stepped half-way through the gates of death when bringing a child into the world, and even the smallest mistake could cost her her life.
Please, show her in at once, Empress Heseri said, reacting quickly despite her surprise.
Moments later, Concubine Nara entered the room. Her pregnancy was clearly visible, and she moved with slow, heavy steps, supported carefully by the palace maid walking beside her.
Your servant… Concubine Nara began, placing one hand beneath her belly as she prepared to bow, but Empress Heseri immediately stopped her.
You are carrying a heavy burden, dear sister, so let us set aside these formalities for now, Empress Heseri said. Please, sit down. May I ask what brings you here today? Has someone in the palace treated you with disrespect or caused you any trouble?
Concubine Nara had lived within the imperial household for several years, and throughout that time, she and Empress Heseri had always maintained a harmonious and respectful relationship. Because of this, the empress’s first thought when seeing her arrive in this condition was that she had come to lodge a complaint against someone.
Concubine Nara had a delicate, beautiful appearance, with fine, elegant features set in a round, lovely face, and skin that was fair, smooth, and translucent. She naturally carried a soft, gentle smile whenever she looked at others, and she was not the type of person who sought out conflict or trouble. Now, however, her face was filled with worry and distress, and the sight of her brought a deep sense of compassion to anyone who saw her.
In response to Empress Heseri’s question, Concubine Nara forced a faint, difficult smile and spoke. Your Majesty is always so busy managing the affairs of the inner palace and caring for the young princess. I truly should not have come here to disturb you over such matters, but… but…
As she spoke these words, tears suddenly began to stream down her face, causing Empress Heseri to frown gently with concern.
I have heard rumors that His Majesty intends to send the child I am carrying to be raised in the household of a high-ranking official outside the palace, Concubine Nara said between sobs. I have come to beg Your Majesty to speak to His Majesty on my behalf. Now that the Grand Empress Dowager has already brought the young princess into the palace to be raised here, surely this means that my child will also be safe and thrive within these walls.
Concubine Nara had only heard this news from others a few days earlier, and it had felt as though the sky had fallen in upon her.
In the Qing Dynasty, not every prince or princess was granted noble titles and high status as had been the case in previous dynasties. Such honors depended largely on the affection the emperor held for the child, as well as the family background and rank of the child’s mother. It was well known that among the many sons and daughters born to the founding emperors of the dynasty, many were eventually granted only relatively minor titles, such as Defender General or Duke of the State, and several princesses were given ranks no higher than District Lady or Township Lady.
The very thought that the child growing within her might one day be granted nothing more than a minor title filled Concubine Nara with sorrow, and she could not hold back her tears. She was absolutely determined that her child must remain within the imperial household. It was easy to leave the palace, but far more difficult to return. The emperor had many consorts, and there was no way of knowing how many more children would be born in the coming years. Once he was surrounded by new sons and daughters to love and cherish, how could he possibly be expected to remember or pay attention to the child she had borne?
Empress Heseri’s expression turned to one of deep hesitation and difficulty. Given how many children born within the palace had failed to survive, she was always careful to avoid speaking too freely on such matters, lest she be accused of harboring ill intentions or being responsible for their misfortunes. Generally speaking, she simply provided whatever resources or support the consorts requested and avoided getting involved in sensitive discussions.
This topic was an extremely delicate one for her, making it difficult for her to bring it up in conversation with either the emperor or the Grand Empress Dowager. She knew in her heart that she had always acted with good intentions and a clear conscience, but she could not predict how others might interpret her words or actions.
Concubine Nara seemed to understand exactly what was going through the empress’s mind. Still weeping, she continued, I hold only a lowly position, and my thoughts and words carry no weight or significance in the eyes of His Majesty. But Your Majesty is different; His Majesty has always held you in the highest respect and esteem. Furthermore… Furthermore, this child will one day address you as his or her royal mother.
With these words, Concubine Nara rose from her seat and prepared to kneel down before the empress.
From the safety of the wet nurse’s arms, Yiqing listened to this entire exchange. She could only understand fragments of what was being said, and many of the words and phrases were still beyond her comprehension. However, by listening to the tone of voice and picking out a few key terms, she was able to grasp the general meaning of the conversation.
They want to send this child away to be raised elsewhere? Yiqing thought to herself, feeling confused. Is this some kind of tradition here? I myself was brought to this palace to be raised, and now they plan to send this woman’s unborn child away from his or her own home.
The Qing Dynasty was established by people of ethnic minority origin, and Yiqing did not know much about their customs or traditions. She had no way of knowing whether it was truly common practice in this era to send children away from their biological families to be raised by others.
Empress Heseri gave a quick signal with her eyes, and Dou Lü immediately stepped forward to support Concubine Nara carefully and speak words of comfort. Please, Your Ladyship, there is no need for such formality. Let us discuss this matter calmly and properly.
My dear sister, Empress Heseri said, shaking her head with a look of helplessness. If this were any other minor matter, I would gladly grant your request without hesitation. But this is a decision that His Majesty has already made and confirmed, and even I do not have the power or authority to change his mind.
Empress Heseri understood her position and circumstances perfectly. As empress, she held the highest rank and authority within the inner palace. Yet, this status was relative, and when compared to the emperor, her position was naturally secondary. Although they were husband and wife in name, and although the emperor treated her with great respect and consideration, she knew full well that this respect was built upon the foundation of shared life and the handling of daily matters. When it came to decisions that the emperor had already firmly made, even if she were to kneel before him and weep and beg, she knew it would not change his mind in the slightest. On the contrary, such actions would likely only cause him to view her in a less favorable light.
The hope that had burned within Concubine Nara’s heart slowly faded away. This had been her last remaining chance, her final hope. If even the empress was unwilling or unable to speak on her behalf, then she truly had no other options left.
Seeing the look of utter despair and sorrow on Concubine Nara’s face, a wave of sympathy and pity washed over Empress Heseri. In the end, she decided to offer the woman a possible solution. As the emperor’s wife, she could not interfere or speak out on such matters, but the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were the elders of the imperial family, and their authority and influence were different from her own.
The emperor was known as a man of deep filial piety. Ever since he ascended to the throne, he made it a point to visit the Palace of Compassion and Peace every morning and evening to pay his respects, unless he was completely occupied with urgent state affairs. If Concubine Nara could persuade these two revered elders to support her wishes, then while she could not guarantee success in matters of state, she was certain that any decision regarding the inner palace would be carried out exactly as they wished.
Upon hearing the empress’s suggestion, a small spark of hope once again ignited within Concubine Nara’s heart, though it was quickly replaced by anxiety and uncertainty. But… but the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager rarely grant audiences to consorts like myself…
In truth, they rarely received consorts who belonged to the Manchu or Han military banners, as both the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager were of Mongolian origin. The Grand Empress Dowager was more adaptable, having learned to speak both Manchu and Chinese fluently. However, the Empress Dowager, despite having lived in the capital for many years, still had very limited understanding of these languages. Because of this, she naturally preferred the company of consorts who were also of Mongolian descent.
For one thing, the Empress Dowager could understand their speech and communicate easily with them. For another, most of these Mongolian consorts came from the distinguished Borjigit clan of the Khorchin region, and many were related to the Empress Dowager by blood or marriage. Living in seclusion within the palace walls, the Empress Dowager always felt great joy and comfort when she was able to spend time with members of her own family and kin.
You are currently carrying a child, Empress Heseri said gently, and both elders will be more than willing to receive you.
In reality, consorts from the Manchu and Han banners were not strictly forbidden from entering the Palace of Compassion and Peace. However, because the Empress Dowager could not understand what they were saying, she would simply ignore them and continue conversing with the Mongolian consorts present. After experiencing such coldness and neglect several times, these consorts naturally stopped making the effort to visit.
Thank you so much for your guidance, Concubine Nara said, placing one hand protectively over her belly. I will certainly remember your kindness and repay it in the future.
Having said these words, Concubine Nara rose to her feet and took her leave.
Empress Heseri watched her depart, her heart filled with a complex mixture of emotions that she could not easily put into words.
Concubine Nara had already lost one child in the past, but now she was about to welcome a new life into the world. Empress Heseri could well understand why she was so determined to keep this child close and not send him or her away from the palace. At this stage, the formal ranks and titles of all consorts had not yet been officially finalized, and for the time being, they were all addressed simply as secondary consorts or noble ladies.
If this child were to be sent away to be raised elsewhere, and if in the future Concubine Nara were to lose the favor and affection of the emperor, then the child’s future and prospects would be left completely uncertain and unprotected. Empress Heseri asked herself how she would feel if one day her own child, born as a son or daughter of the emperor, were to be granted only a minor title and status—and she knew without a doubt that she would never accept or tolerate such an outcome.
Now that Concubine Nara had gone to the Palace of Compassion and Peace to make her request, it would not be appropriate for Empress Heseri to visit there on the same day. She decided instead that she would remain within the Palace of Earthly Tranquility for the day and spend some time playing and caring for little Yiqing.
With this thought in mind, she took Yiqing into her own arms from the wet nurse and began to play with and amuse the child.
Yiqing responded to her efforts with great enthusiasm, which brought even greater joy and delight to Empress Heseri’s heart. She could now understand why, after only bringing Yiqing to visit the elders a few times, the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager had both grown so fond of her.
She spent the entire afternoon playing with Yiqing, and by the end of the day, the matter that Concubine Nara had gone to request had been resolved.
That very evening, the Grand Empress Dowager brought up the subject when Kangxi came to pay his respects, and it was formally decided that Concubine Nara’s child would be raised within the palace. However, this was not the only decision made; it was also agreed that Yiqing herself would be sent to live and be cared for in the Palace of Compassion and Peace for the time being. Both children would remain there until they had reached their first birthday, after which they would be returned to their respective mothers.
Upon hearing this news, Empress Heseri was left standing in stunned silence, completely taken by surprise.