Having made a vague decision, Muxue pulled her knees to her chest and curled up within the bed curtains.
When the first rays of dawn touched her thick, dark hair, she had already finished calculating her past and future.
For her, a princess's marriage was a mix of blessings and curses.
The curse, naturally, was being sent to a place far from the capital in the northern lands to marry a complete stranger.
The blessing, however, was that this might also be a form of release from her long sentence.
In the Great Qing, a princess's marriage was equivalent to reaching adulthood, granting her a certain degree of economic security. Ever since she had transmigrated here, Muxue's monthly allowance had been forty taels of silver, fixed and never increasing. Meanwhile, the Ninth Prince, who was close to her in age, had seen his monthly stipend increase from an initial fifty taels to one hundred, and then to three hundred.
But once Muxue was married as a Heshuo Princess for Fumeng, she could receive a monthly stipend of four hundred taels. Although it could not compare to the two thousand five hundred taels of monthly silver received by princes who were titled Beile, her income would at least be tenfold what it was before marriage.
With economic security came her own territory. Since she was to be married, there would surely be a princess's residence, wouldn't there? With money and a place to live, the only tricky part was that tiresome consort. However, as a princess, she was an extension of imperial authority within the patriarchal clan system. As long as she handled things properly and politely isolated the consort to a corner of the princess's residence, keeping him out of sight and out of mind was not impossible.
She went through these trifles in her mind one by one. If she wanted to settle things properly, she would inevitably have to ask one person for a favor—Yi Fei.
However, when Muxue actually stood at the entrance of Yi Fei's bedchamber palace, she felt a bit uneasy.
She rarely offered flattery on ordinary days, yet now that she had a problem, she was bothering her. Was it a bit… Muxue pinched the corner of her clothes, feeling quite hesitant.
"The Fourth Princess is here."
Under the eaves of the corridor, several palace maids with long braids stood with their hands lowered. Seeing her from a distance, they all stepped forward with smiles, calling out "Blessings to the Fourth Princess" while inviting her to sit in the side hall.
Upon entering the hall, a wave of cool air met her; an ice sculpture had been placed there.
Behind a screen stood an enamel ice chest. As Muxue took her seat, the palace maids busied themselves removing the lid of the ice chest and brought out a double-layered food box. Opening it, they presented white porcelain plum soup and iced melon.
Two eunuchs then lightly carried in a fruit table, laying out various snacks and steamed buns.
Muxue first picked up the plum soup. The white porcelain was slightly damp with condensation and felt cool, a calming presence in the sweltering heat of summer.
"I remembered you don't care much for sweets, so I told them to put in less sugar. Is it to your taste?"
The beaded curtain swayed gently as a palace-attired beauty walked out gracefully. Dressed in purple, she wore a thin silk cloak adorned with a jadeite eighteen-bead necklace as a chest pendant, which shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight. This was none other than the Guo-lo-lo lady, Nalan-zhu—Yi Fei.
Muxue hurriedly put down her bowl and curtsied: "I offer my respects to Consort Yi Mother. Thank you for your consideration; the taste is indeed very good."
"If you like it, have more. Your Khan Father specifically sent some sweet melons, saying they were tribute from Hami. Try some of those as well."
Yi Fei glanced at the palace maids, who understood the signal and quietly withdrew, closing the hall doors behind them.
Yi Fei walked over and sat down beside the Fourth Princess, her autumn-water eyes carefully observing her. "You seem a bit different today."
"Do I?"
"I can't say exactly how, but you seem more spirited."
Yi Fei had raised the Fourth Princess for these past years and had some understanding of her niece's temperament. At such a young age, she lived like someone from another world; Yi Fei hadn't even dared to let the child participate in picking Buddha beans, fearing it would only deepen her detached and distant air.
Yet, no matter how calm her disposition, she was still only an eighteen-year-old girl. Regarding marriage, it was impossible to truly remain as still as stagnant water. Since the news of the Fourth Princess's Fumeng arrived, Yi Fei had been waiting for her to come seeking her.
Being assigned a designated marriage to such a distant place, how could she not be heartbroken? Yi Fei had been prepared for the Fourth Princess to cry, which was why she had signaled the palace maids to leave the moment she entered.
However, looking at the Fourth Princess now, one could see no ripple of emotion on her face.
Muxue only said softly, as she always did, "I wouldn't say I'm spirited, I've just come to understand a few things."
"Oh?" Yi Fei asked. "What things?"
Muxue was in no hurry to speak. Instead, she picked up a piece of melon. "When I was idle, I read some miscellaneous books from the Western Regions. The origin of this Hami melon seems to be near the Zunghar tribe. A few days ago, the palace was full of talk about Khan Father's great victory. Seeing this Hami tribute today, which we haven't seen before, I know that Khan Father's grace now shines upon the Zunghar tribe like the sun."
"I also thought of the Khalkha mutton that was sent along with it. Since they were sent together, it suggests the people of the Khalkha tribe are likely currently with Khan Father and the leader of Hami. This means the Khalkha tribe likely contributed to the war and is closely connected to it. In that case, the reason I was assigned a designated marriage to the Khalkha tribe is very clear."
It was a long speech. Muxue rarely spoke at such length in front of others. At first, her voice trembled slightly like ripples on water, but the more she spoke, the more fluent she became. Though her voice remained soft and gentle, it felt as vast as the moon shining over a great eastward-flowing river.
Yi Fei had been somewhat distracted, but upon hearing this, she sat up straight and looked at her intently. "Did you think of all this yourself?"
Muxue nodded.
The hall fell silent for a moment as dust motes drifted through the beams of light.
Yi Fei suddenly smiled, a smile filled with a sense of relief. "You truly possess inner brilliance."
She knew all the nannies and matrons around the Fourth Princess; few had the ability or the courage to explain the many considerations related to the imperial court behind a marriage. Most people only had a general impression—to maintain Manchu-Mongol relations. But why this specific tribe, and why a bestowed marriage at this specific time? Few cared to ask.
And yet the eighteen-year-old girl before her, upon learning of her bestowed marriage, showed no bashfulness of a new bride, nor any longing for her consort or married life. Instead, she immediately stood from the perspective of a ruler, considering what the Emperor and Empress Dowager considered, and analyzing the true logic behind the marriage.
As expected of her niece, Guo-lo-lo Nalan-zhu's own flesh and blood!
Yi Fei reached out and gently took Muxue's hand. "With such insight and spirit, your mother's soul in heaven will be at peace. If you have any concerns, feel free to tell me."
Muxue looked up and saw the genuine concern in Yi Fei's eyes. Moved, she cleared her throat and said, "In the past, I didn't manage matters much. In the future, I will be far from you, mother, and I fear being deceived. I ask you to teach me."
"Don't you worry," Yi Fei patted the back of her hand. "I will personally oversee everything related to you. As for teaching you…"
Yi Fei paused for a moment, then said, "In my opinion, managing household and employing people can be learned slowly. The most important thing is your Khan Father."
Muxue was somewhat surprised by this answer, but on second thought, it made sense.
In this era of the peak of feudal imperial power, whether as a daughter or a subject, the attitude of the sovereign father was always paramount.
Regarding Emperor Kangxi, Muxue had always kept a respectful distance. Although he was her father in this life, Muxue felt little father-daughter affection for him.
Before transmigrating, she had been an only child. She heard that when she was born, her father's relatives suggested sending her to the countryside to exploit a loophole and have a son. Her normally gentle father had been furious and chased them out with a broom. He then agreed with her mother, "We will only have this daughter in this life. If we have another child and stop loving her as much, what would we do? As a father, I must be loyal to my child. I will not take a second wife, and I will not raise a second child."
Having witnessed such "monogamous" fatherly love, Muxue didn't care at all about seeking love from Emperor Kangxi, who had a horde of children and a horde of consorts.
Perhaps it was a flaw born from being raised with abundant love? If it wasn't the best, it didn't matter; it was better to not have it at all.
However, given the current situation, she had no choice but to strategize.
Muxue pursed her lips and looked up at Yi Fei. "Aunt, can you… teach me?"
Having enjoyed great favor for many years, Yi Fei naturally had her own methods.
Yi Fei was unhurriedly stirring her plum soup, the spoon clinking softly against the white porcelain. She gave a soft smile upon hearing the request. "You are already learning. Did you not speak very well just now?"
What had she said just now? Muxue thought for a moment. "Just now was only my speculation about the reason for this marriage."
"Precisely."
Yi Fei set down the porcelain bowl and said word for word, "Think what the Sovereign thinks, resolve what the Sovereign worries about."
Thoughtful, Muxue nodded. "Thank you, aunt. I will remember." She sat quietly, her eyes cast downward, lost in thought.
Yi Fei said nothing more, quietly finishing her bowl of plum soup. Afterward, they exchanged a few idle words. When a palace official came to report matters, Muxue rose and took her leave.
The Emperor was about to return to the capital, and there were many trifles to attend to. By the time the reports were finished, the shadows had lengthened. When dinner was served, a large blue-and-white bowl appeared on a small lacquered red table, filled with broth and accompanied by a tray of mutton and rice noodles. It looked quite fresh.
The eunuch Zhang Qiyong replied with a beaming smile, "The Fourth Princess specifically sent this for your ladyship to try."
Yi Fei nodded and sighed with emotion. "She is a grateful one; she finally has some spirit now."
Ever since she was raised in the palace, the Fourth Princess had been quiet and easy-going. Her presence in Yikun Palace made little difference; she wasn't lively like the Ninth Prince and Eleventh Prince. She never caused trouble, was well-behaved, and stayed in her room all day.
Having a well-behaved and worry-free child was originally a good thing, but occasionally, Yi Fei would worry because of it.
This girl liked to stare blankly at the square patch of sky above the palace.
That expression was once very familiar to Yi Fei. Because it was familiar, it was frightening.
Guo Guiren, the lady Guo-lo-lo Buyinzhu, was Muxue's biological mother and Yi Fei Nalan-zhu's elder sister. In the sixteenth year of Kangxi, the two sisters had entered the palace together.
Twenty years had passed, and her sister had long since become a fragrant soul within the Forbidden City. Nalan-zhu remembered clearly that when Buyinzhu passed away, there was actually a smile on her face.
"Sister, don't cry." Buyinzhu had gripped her hand with effort, a slight smile appearing on her face, pale from illness. "It's a good thing. I'm going to become the wind, blowing wherever I please."
Nalan-zhu had wept uncontrollably, losing all sense of decorum, clinging tightly to her sister's hand. "Don't go."
"I'm sorry," Buyinzhu had said, lifting her hand with great effort to touch her sister's hair, just as she had when they were children. "My daughter… I must trouble you with her."
Choking with sobs, Nalan-zhu could only nod.
Time flies. Her sister's only flesh and blood, the daughter she had raised with her own hands, was now grown.
The Fourth Princess was more fortunate than her sister; she still had the chance to leave the palace.
The curtains hung low, the candlelight was dim, and amidst the sandalwood incense of the small Buddhist chapel, Yi Fei offered up the Buddhist sutra she had personally transcribed.
"Sister, if your soul is in heaven, please protect our daughter, so that she may be safe and everything may go smoothly for her."