“Hungry… Hunger-niang.” Yinreng lay pitifully on the bed, his small face rubbing against his Imperial Mother’s cheek over and over again.
He was still too small to understand why his Imperial Mother was still lying in bed and didn’t want to get up. He kept rubbing against her, trying to nuzzle her awake, but she remained unresponsive. This caused his little mouth to pucker, looking terribly aggrieved.
Watching him nuzzle the Empress, Kangxi felt a pang of pity. He also secretly hoped that Mu’er would wake up soon at the sound of their son’s voice. The imperial physician said she had fainted due to excessive nervous tension and should wake within half a day, but after waiting a long time with no sign of movement, he had brought Yinreng over, hoping the bond between mother and child might rouse her.
Li Mu’s consciousness was actually communicating with her Space. Though she appeared unconscious, she was aware of every movement in the outside world.
Her fainting was no accident, but a deliberate move. The Grand Empress Dowager’s hostility and the Emperor’s burgeoning favoritism had put her in a difficult and headache-inducing position. She had been searching for a way to resolve this predicament, and the incident of Noble Lady Rong (Magiya) attempting to drug the Emperor provided the perfect opportunity.
Of course, the emotional outburst she’d had was genuine, but she had amplified her concern for Yinreng. To outsiders, it looked as though she cared only for the Emperor and the Crown Prince, even at the cost of her own health. She hoped this would put the Grand Empress Dowager at ease; she only wanted Yinreng to succeed the throne naturally and didn’t seek to usurp the Emperor’s power in other ways.
Now, with Yinreng nuzzling her so pitifully, she didn’t have the heart to keep “sleeping.”
As her eyes fluttered open, Kangxi was overjoyed. “Mu’er, you are finally awake!”
Yinreng also nuzzled her even harder in excitement. “Ah, ah! Hunger-niang!” Imperial Mother is awake!
Waking up to see father and son looking at her with identical gazes of expectation, Li Mu’s hand beneath the quilt stiffened. She pulled her son into the covers, feeling a bit strange. It was natural for her son to look at her like that, but why did the Emperor’s eyes look slightly… aggrieved?
“Your Majesty, what happened to me?” Li Mu was very calm upon waking, possessing a sense of emptiness following her emotional outburst. For the first time, Kangxi found the Crown Prince beside the Empress an eyesore. Had he known, he wouldn’t have brought him. What “mother-child bond”? A “husband-wife bond” would have worked just as well.
Despite his inner grumbling, he answered truthfully. “Mu’er, you fainted just now. But this is a cause for great celebration—you are carrying our child. This is our third; I wonder if it will be a Princess or a Prince.”
Whether it was a son or a daughter, he would love them regardless, so long as Mu’er gave birth safely. Kangxi’s gaze was tender. Li Mu followed his gaze to her stomach. She had heard the physician’s words earlier, so she wasn’t surprised. A legitimate heir—whether a Prince or a Princess—was enough to keep the concubines quiet for a while and ensure the Emperor stayed focused on Yinreng and the unborn child. In short, the original host’s wish was likely within reach.
Li Mu’s eyes crinkled with a smile, genuinely anticipating the child’s arrival. “That is wonderful. Your Majesty, I hope for a Princess. Then you can keep her in the capital, and she can visit me in the palace from time to time.”
“Indeed. If it’s a Prince, you and I will just have to work harder to try for a Princess next time,” Kangxi laughed, pulling both the large and small one into his arms.
“Your Majesty! You’re teasing me again.”
Li Mu continued her pregnancy regimen. The Blood-Coagulating Pill she had taken long ago had already restored her health, so this pregnancy wasn’t particularly difficult, save for some ordinary morning sickness.
She also learned of the Magiya lady’s fate from Nanny Zhou.
The investigation ultimately revealed the plot was the work of the Magiya lady and her maid, the Wuya lady. Wuya was audacious, and Magiya was no better. Both had intended to drug the Emperor; the only difference was that one was slightly bold and the other even bolder. But that distinction vanished the moment they actually attempted it—it was a capital crime of regicide.
Both disappeared from the palace simultaneously. Their exact whereabouts were unknown, but Li Mu knew they were gone for good, and their families would face a grim future.
As for the custody of Magiya’s biological daughter, the Third Princess, and her adopted son, the Third Prince, the decision hadn’t been finalized. According to the Emperor, the Third Prince would be raised in the Princes’ Quarters like the Eldest Prince, while the Third Princess would be raised by the Empress Dowager to ease her loneliness in the deep palace.
Li Mu didn’t concern herself with who raised Magiya’s children. Wuya was gone, Magiya was gone, and the Ulanara lady had long since perished. The last of the “Four Consorts,” Consort Yi (Guwalgiya), had not followed her original trajectory to become a Concubine and remained a Noble Lady. It would not be easy for her to make a comeback.
The remaining person to deal with was largely the Emperor himself. The “Nine Lords’ Dethronement” struggle of Kangxi’s later years—who knew what it would evolve into now?
Li Mu mused that she must ensure the Crown Prince always maintained a filial posture before Kangxi. As for the child in her womb, if it were a boy, he would be the Fourth Prince; if not, she would be a legitimate Princess of the Kangxi era like no other. Surely the Emperor would be pleased.
The situation with the Grand Empress Dowager was also settled; her attitude toward Li Mu was now unprecedentedly kind. She could finally breathe easy.
Of course, she secretly anticipated what the reward would be after completing this mission. This was her first time on a mission in ancient times. The Quick-Transmigration Bureau had specially given her a Space; she hoped future rewards wouldn’t just be common healing pills. It would be best to unlock a shop where the points earned were enough to buy what she needed for the next mission.
The pregnancy wasn’t too arduous. Three months passed, and her health remained excellent. The Emperor treated her with great care, giving her every good thing he found. Upon hearing that his Imperial Mother had a little brother or sister in her belly, Yinreng became more nervous about her than his favorite bracelets. At the slightest sign of movement from Li Mu, he would crouch beside her and babble stories to his unborn sibling.
With a considerate husband, a filial son, and a mother-in-law (the Empress Dowager) who proactively took over the management of palace affairs, Li Mu felt things were going quite smoothly. As for her clan, upon hearing she was pregnant again, they were grinning from ear to ear. Without her saying a word, they had already managed the clan members perfectly.
Except for one matter.
“Your Majesty, Consort Niohuru requests an audience,” Xuelian reported.
“Niohuru? Let her in.” Li Mu didn’t hesitate. Since Niohuru had pledged her loyalty, her sincerity had been evident. There was no harm in seeing her.
“This servant greets Your Majesty.” Shortly after Xuelian led her in, Consort Niohuru performed a respectful salutation.
“Rise and be seated.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Niohuru was as indifferent as ever, but there was a flicker of emotion in her eyes as she looked at the Empress. “Empress, I fear I can no longer handle affairs for you.” She couldn’t stop a light cough and gave a bitter smile. “Look at my body. I fear if I survive this year, I won’t survive the next.”
“What did the physicians say?” Li Mu knew Niohuru was destined to die within these two years, but she hadn’t expected her condition to be so dire already.
“They say it’s up to fate. Your Majesty, may I entrust one matter to you?” Feeling her time was short, Niohuru went straight to the point. “I fear I will not live to see my younger sister enter the palace. Furthermore, seeing how favored Your Majesty is, there is no need for her to enter. I only think of Your Majesty’s younger brother—could a marriage be arranged between him and my sister? If so, I could rest in peace in the Yellow Springs.”
“I have the same wish. I also have a younger sister, though she is still small. Perhaps our families can become relatives through marriage later.” Li Mu didn’t dare speak too certainly with the Emperor still around, but hearing this was enough for Consort Niohuru.
“That is good. I thank Your Majesty.” Niohuru’s eyes lit up, her spirit appearing much better than when she arrived. Watching her depart, Li Mu couldn’t help but sigh. “A beauty’s life is often short.”
All three of Kangxi’s Empresses were like this. Fortunately, the fate of “Heseri” would change. She would definitely see Yinreng ascend the throne.
On the way back, Consort Niohuru continued to cough, almost spitting blood. Her personal maid was worried sick. “Your Ladyship, please let me call the physicians.”
“No need.” She waved her hand. “The Empress is so sincere toward me; it’s a pity I haven’t had the chance to help her even once.”
“Your Ladyship, didn’t you make the Joogiya girl hide away last time?” the maid asked, puzzled.
“Even without me, Joogiya would never have touched the Emperor,” Niohuru said honestly. “Few of the Wuya clan survived; they were all exiled. I suspect the Empress would have dealt with Joogiya long before I had to act. How can my actions be considered sincere?”
In her remaining time, she wanted the Empress to owe her a bit more of a debt. Remembering her in the future would be beneficial for her clan.
The Empress was now so favored, had a Crown Prince, and a future legitimate Prince or Princess. Niohuru kept thinking about what she could do to help. A casual comment from her maid sparked an idea: “Your Ladyship, the Empress is truly favored. It seems she won’t lose the Emperor’s love for years. If only the Emperor could treat you the same way.”
Favored… Niohuru’s eyes lit up. Yes, she still held the dark secrets of many concubines. Years ago, when the inner palace was in chaos and the front court was facing rebellions, the Emperor and the Grand Empress Dowager didn’t have the energy to focus on the harem. She had framed others to save herself and had nearly been framed in return; she had collected many of the concubines’ methods.
For instance, Magiya’s children didn’t all die of natural causes, including the Empress’s first legitimate son. It only appeared seamless because of the tacit cooperation of many concubines. One shouldn’t think certain concubines were naturally harmless; in this palace, who doesn’t scheme? Only the Empress, who at that time had likely just entered the palace and wanted to establish her dignity—and being the supreme Master of the Central Palace—didn’t pay much attention to the concubines. Others couldn’t reach the Empress, and the Empress had no heart to harm others, so she naturally wasn’t involved in these schemes.
She had once wondered if the Empress, living in the palace long enough, would become like them. But given how favored she was now, that likely wouldn’t happen. However, ensuring the Empress remained favored was the best way to secure the Crown Prince’s position and make the Empress remember her kindness forever. The best way to do that was to ensure the Emperor had no desire to favor any other concubine.
Niohuru was already thinking of how to let the Emperor “discover” these secrets naturally. She couldn’t just charge in; her goal was to protect her clan, not harm it. She thought of ideas with more vigor than she’d had since entering the palace. She knew this act would leave a massive psychological shadow on the Emperor, but she didn’t care. Having been treated coldly by her nominal husband for years, she had long wanted a bit of revenge.
This was killing two birds with one stone! It would benefit the Empress and herself; she had to vent her frustrations before she died.
Soon, news of Consort Niohuru’s critical illness spread throughout the palace. After discussing it with the Emperor, Li Mu had her titled Noble Consort, as a gesture to “ward off ill luck.”
During these days, Kangxi rarely thought of this consort who had entered the palace when he first ascended the throne. He hadn’t treated her particularly well, and their relationship as husband and wife was cold, but she was a long-time companion after all, so he naturally felt the need to visit her.
Furthermore, Niohuru came from a great clan; he had to show proper respect. Thus, he personally appeared at the Jingren Palace to visit the new Noble Consort.
Niohuru no longer had the strength to host the Emperor. After greeting him from her bed, she coughed a few times. “I thank Your Majesty for remembering me.”
“Rest well and recover.”
Kangxi sighed. Although he had no deep feelings for her, he didn’t want her to die. Moreover, the Empress was constantly worried about her; this promotion to Noble Consort was first suggested by the Empress. He feared that if Niohuru died, the Empress would be distressed, affecting the child in her womb.
Niohuru shook her head. “Your Majesty, I know my own body and do not expect to live long. I have thought it over,” she hesitated for a moment before finally revealing everything. “I want to leave this world with a clean conscience. I don’t want my life to be mixed with murky things. I hope Your Majesty will not blame me for telling you only now; I was afraid.”
“Shuangyu, bring that item here,” she called softly.
A maid bowed her head and handed over a box.
“This is…” Kangxi said suspiciously.
“Your Majesty, these are the pieces of evidence I have collected over the years. You will understand once you see them.” Niohuru wasn’t afraid of being implicated; she had merely struck back when others framed her. The Emperor had thought his concubines too innocent. Of course, none of the evidence she gave concerned the deaths of imperial children, but if the Emperor followed the evidence to investigate further, it would be a different story.
Niohuru wore a faint smile as she watched the Emperor’s expression shift from initial calm to slow-burning rage. She knew she had made the right move. Sometimes she truly envied the Emperor; he had lived in this palace for so long and still didn’t know the true faces of his concubines. Yet, such an Emperor had a soulmate by his side. The Empress hadn’t been stained by the deep schemes of the harem yet; the Emperor should cherish her.
After all, which concubine enters the palace without competing? She had only become clear-headed after a period of sinking. As long as one was in the harem, there would be deception, unless someone of the Empress’s status could maintain their clarity. After this, almost every concubine the Emperor met would likely have something he detested; all of them would be shadows of those who had participated in palace struggles.
Empress, oh Empress, I have sent you a grand gift. Do not forget to look after the Niohuru clan after the Crown Prince ascends the throne.
Niohuru coughed softly, her gaze clear as she looked toward the window.
Upon his return that night, the enraged Emperor ordered a thorough investigation into the private misdeeds of his concubines. What he had known before was only what he could find; more details had long since vanished with time. But with the new evidence provided by Niohuru, it was only a matter of time before he discovered even more shocking things.
When Li Mu received news from the Niohuru lady, she only knew that the Noble Consort had done something to ensure her future was free of worries, and that she could now depart in peace. Li Mu didn’t probe into what she had done; if the Noble Consort wanted to tell her, she would. Not telling her was likely because she felt it was better for her.
Regardless of what happened, Li Mu accepted the sentiment and began considering other ways to repay her. It was not unusual for children of high officials to marry, such as the Heseri and Tunggiya clans. Her younger brother marrying the Noble Consort’s younger sister wouldn’t surprise outsiders, nor would it be seen as a mere repayment. Perhaps the Niohuru clan would produce a Side Consort for the Crown Prince or a Primary Consort for a Prince—that was something she could control. More would depend on the Emperor.
Thereafter, imperial physicians were constantly on duty at the Jingren Palace, but Niohuru’s health continued to decline. The Empress specially sent over her own collection of medicines, earning the Noble Consort’s deep gratitude. Under the Grand Empress Dowager’s praise, this cemented the Empress’s reputation as a good mistress of the household. The previous faint rumors of her being jealous or monopolizing the Emperor vanished without a trace.
By then, the Emperor had completely cleared up the investigation. Inside the Qianqing Palace, Kangxi was so furious he threw the documents he had just reviewed onto the imperial desk. It turned out that what he knew was only the tip of the iceberg. His concubines—every single one of them harbored private desires and knew each other’s true faces, yet they had kept him, the Emperor, completely in the dark.
Whether it was the past scheme of Concubine An (the Li lady) against his Second Princess, or the seemingly indifferent Concubine Duan (the Dong lady) scheming against his First Princess after giving birth to the Second—these people thought he only cared for Princes and would be heartless enough to poison his daughters. Such calculating and vicious minds were unprecedented.
Even the Guwalgiya sisters and the Zhaojia lady, who lived in the same palace as Magiya, had schemed against the three Princes Magiya had birthed. If they hadn’t been afraid of their methods being too obvious, even the Third Princess likely wouldn’t have survived. What a grand scheme.
Kangxi became eerily calm in his rage. He methodically ordered Liang Jiugong to deal with several concubines. After this, the inner palace underwent a major purge. Some concubines vanished, while others were demoted. Their families dared not utter a word. Watching her grandson present this evidence, the Grand Empress Dowager nearly fell ill from rage and began helping to clean up the more audacious concubines.
From then on, she completely turned a blind eye to the Emperor’s favoritism for the Empress.
During this period of dealing with these dark affairs, Kangxi would visit the Empress every half-day to “wash his eyes.” Li Mu had no particular thoughts, but little Yinreng seemed to have hit the jackpot, grinning as he went to meet his Imperial Father. Then… he would coax several jade bracelets out of his father’s hands and happily present them to his Imperial Mother.
Li Mu pointed to herself. “Is this for me?”
The little fellow nodded vigorously and pushed the bracelets forward, his eyes full of expectation, as if saying, “Imperial Mother, please accept them.”
Li Mu was instantly delighted and showered the child with kisses, making little Yinreng’s face turn red as he kissed her back several times.
“Good child!” Li Mu said with a smile. “Yinreng is so wonderful. How about you help me take care of your little brother or sister later?” Bonds formed this way between siblings would surely be strong!
“Mmhmm! Mm!” Whether or not he understood, the little fellow mimicked the action of thumping his chest to give his guarantee, making Li Mu burst out laughing as she rubbed his little belly. Yes, round and plump, feels great!
After the New Year, the Noble Consort could no longer hold on. However, that coincided with the time Li Mu was giving birth. After ten months of pregnancy, the time for delivery had come. Outside the door, Kangxi and the Empress Dowager had both arrived, anxiously waiting for good news.
Yinreng’s little face turned red as he refused to leave the scene. He would cry whenever anyone tried to carry him away, as if he knew his Imperial Mother was suffering inside.
As the hours passed, Kangxi became filled with unease. He recalled the scene where the Empress had nearly died of a hemorrhage while giving birth to the Crown Prince. Before, when he thought of something happening to the Empress, he merely felt that the Great Qing could not be without a Mother of the Nation. But now, as he watched her give birth, he sincerely hoped she wouldn’t be in danger. Neither he nor the Crown Prince could lose her.
Just as his mind was wandering and the Crown Prince also began to cry, the midwife brought news: the Empress had safely given birth! It was a little Prince.
Everyone on the scene finally breathed a sigh of relief, followed by a surge of joy. The Central Palace had another legitimate son. The Empress Dowager held the little Crown Prince and said happily to the Emperor, “Emperor, why don’t you go in and see? Leave the rest to me.”
Kangxi nodded, wiped the sweat from his palms, and hurried inside.
Thereafter followed a long period of tenderness and intimacy. After such a great upheaval in the palace, everyone realized clearly: the Empress had two legitimate sons, and her position would never be shaken again.