May, the twenty-second year of the Kangxi reign, Yikun Palace of the Forbidden City.
After the Dragon Boat Festival, the weather turned muggy and stifling. Throughout the palace, cooling herbal teas were being prepared, but since two mistresses in Yikun Palace were currently pregnant, the kitchens continued to serve warm brown rice tea instead.
“Go and fetch me a bowl of the sweet curd the Fourth Princess is having.”
Consort Yi, of the Guo Luoluo clan, pushed her brown rice tea aside with a look of distaste. She stared longingly at the bowl held by the little girl sitting on the daybed, her mouth practically watering with craving.
The head maid, Liuya, hurriedly intervened. “That won’t do! The Fourth Princess is having hawthorn curd; you can’t touch that, Your Ladyship.”
The little girl on the daybed paused her spoon. She blinked her large, lashed eyes at Consort Yi and said in a soft, sweet voice, “Why don’t you have them stew some bird’s nest in milk for my Little Aunt? It’s delicious too.”
The girl’s tender, melodic tone made Consort Yi’s eyes crinkle with a smile, and the irritability in her heart dissipated significantly.
“Your Little Aunt doesn’t care for milk. Since you like it so much, Danqing, why don’t I give all of mine to you?” Consort Yi said with a chuckle.
Danqing nodded vigorously without a hint of politeness, sweetly accepting the “feeding” from her biological aunt.
It couldn’t be helped—in this Forbidden City, even cow’s milk was considered a rarity, and she simply couldn’t stomach the gamey taste of goat’s milk.
To this day, Danqing didn’t know why she had ended up in this place, transformed into Kangxi’s Fourth Princess, Aisin Gioro Galuo. Her childhood name was the same as in her previous life: Danqing.
Her biological mother was Consort Yi’s elder sister, Noble Lady Guo. Everyone in the palace referred to her as Noble Lady Guo. She lived in the rear hall of Yikun Palace and was currently seven months pregnant, further along than Consort Yi.
Perhaps due to the pregnancy affecting her temperament, Noble Lady Guo was always very dismissive of Danqing. Consequently, Danqing preferred spending her time with Consort Yi.
Consort Yi’s own biological son, the Fifth Prince, had been taken to the Empress Dowager’s palace to be raised as soon as he turned a year old. She had originally wanted to dote on Danqing like her own daughter, but before Noble Lady Guo became pregnant, she had always prevented them from getting too close. Consort Yi could only show her affection through extra rations and gifts.
Now that Danqing was coming over of her own volition, and Noble Lady Guo was focused entirely on her pregnancy and ignoring her daughter, Consort Yi was finally getting her wish to “raise” a daughter. Forget a jar of milk; she would even let Danqing pick freely from the precious jewelry on her dressing table.
Just as Consort Yi was pondering how to dress Danqing up, a clamor erupted from outside the room.
Liuya went out immediately to investigate and returned shortly to report: “To the Mistress: it seems the Noble Lady saw the sweet curd being sent to the Fourth Princess and wishes for some as well.”
Consort Yi frowned. “Did no one tell her it contains hawthorn?”
Liuya replied, “We told her, but the Noble Lady says she feels nauseous and craves something sour. She insists on having it, saying a little bit won’t hurt.”
“She’s a grown woman, yet she’s less sensible than Danqing!”
Consort Yi huffed. “She is not to have it. What ‘craving for sour things’? I’ve never heard of anyone starting morning sickness at seven months pregnant!”
Here we go again, Danqing thought, biting into a piece of hawthorn. This was already the third time today.
In the morning, it was sour apricots; for lunch, she insisted on a pickled cabbage hotpot; and now, she had her sights set on Danqing’s hawthorn curd.
This wasn’t Noble Lady Guo’s first pregnancy. Was it possible she didn’t know the things she was asking for were unsuitable for a pregnant woman?
She knew all too well. She was making a scene on purpose, wanting everyone to know she craved sour food—implying that this child was a boy.
But the old saying “sour for a boy, spicy for a girl” was hardly an absolute truth. Moreover, the current Emperor, her biological father Kangxi, was certainly not lacking in sons.
Leaving aside the Crown Prince, who had been appointed early on, there were seven other princes already ranked by seniority. Even the youngest, the Eighth Prince, was already three years old, yet his mother, Lady Wei, remained a mere Assistant Concubine.
The concept of a mother’s status rising because of her son didn’t exactly apply in Kangxi’s harem; it was more accurate to say a son’s status rose because of his mother.
Otherwise, her brother, the Crown Prince, wouldn’t be the only one enjoying such singular prestige.
“Danqing? Danqing?”
Consort Yi raised her voice. “You’re spacing out. What are you thinking about?”
Danqing finally pulled her drifting soul back, unaware that her dazed expression was exceptionally adorable.
Consort Yi was utterly charmed. “If only I could give birth to a little princess as cute as Danqing with this pregnancy.”
“Mistress, you mustn’t say that. The Emperor is hoping you’ll give him another little prince,” Liuya hurriedly advised.
Consort Yi curled her lip in displeasure, but with so many maids serving in the room, she couldn’t openly speak ill of Kangxi. Instead, she continued to tease Danqing: “Danqing, do you want a little brother or a little sister?”
This was the age-old question people loved to use to tease children, but Danqing answered effortlessly.
She puffed out her cheeks intentionally. “Little Aunt, you’re mean!”
Consort Yi was surprised. “How am I mean?”
“You just said I was your favorite little princess,” Danqing pouted aggrievedly. “It hasn’t even been that long, and you’re already thinking about liking another little princess!”
She knew that no matter how much women in the harem claimed to want a daughter, they all secretly hoped for a son.
Consort Yi burst into laughter and pointed at Danqing, saying to Liuya, “Look at her! So tiny, yet so bossy. Am I not even allowed to like other princesses anymore?”
Liuya laughed as well. “The Fourth Princess is clever; she’s just showing her closeness to you, Mistress.”
These words pleased Consort Yi. She said boastfully, “Indeed. This girl is as sharp as a spirit; she knows exactly who treats her best!”
As a child not yet five years old, Danqing could often pretend not to understand the hidden meanings in the adults’ words—like right now.
Consort Yi was indeed good to her, but they weren’t that close. Consort Yi said these things specifically so they would be spread back to Noble Lady Guo to spite her.
Although Noble Lady Guo was somewhat cold toward her, she was still Danqing’s biological mother. There were things others could say, but she could not.
“Danqing, I see you can’t finish that hawthorn curd. Why don’t you take it back and give your mother a taste? It’ll save her the heartache of missing out.”
Consort Yi’s eyes darted as she made the suggestion.
Danqing’s heart skipped a beat.
Though she wasn’t an expert in prenatal care, she had just heard them say a pregnant woman shouldn’t eat hawthorn. So why was Consort Yi asking her to bring it to Noble Lady Guo? What was she planning?
While a small amount likely wouldn’t cause problems, what if?
If something actually happened to Noble Lady Guo’s pregnancy, how could Danqing face her own mother in the future?
Danqing didn’t want to go, but she knew she had to.
Firstly, at her age, she shouldn’t understand these risks. Secondly, by going herself, she could make sure Noble Lady Guo didn’t actually eat it. If someone else went, something might actually go wrong.
“Okay! I’ll bring it to Mother.”
Pretending to be innocent and naive, Danqing hopped off the daybed. She let the maids put on her shoes, then personally carried the half-bowl of hawthorn curd and ran toward the rear hall.
After she left, Liuya said worriedly, “The Fourth Princess is so young, and the Noble Lady is so restless. Aren’t you afraid she’ll actually eat it, Mistress?”
Consort Yi withdrew her smile and leaned back against a soft cushion, letting out a yawn. “She might be foolish, but the people serving her aren’t. Nothing will happen. I just want her to know that if she doesn’t want her daughter, I’ll gladly take her.”
Danqing ran the whole way, the spoon clinking against the bowl as it wobbled in her hands.
As she reached the entrance of the rear hall, she aimed for the high threshold and “accidentally” tripped. She slammed onto the ground with a splat. The bowl naturally flew out of her hands, and the hawthorn curd spilled all over the floor.
“Oh, my Fourth Princess! How could you be so careless?”
A young woman in her twenties rushed over to pull Danqing up. This was Danqing’s wet nurse, Nanny Sun.
Since Noble Lady Guo had become pregnant, the rooms had been covered in carpets, so the fall didn’t actually hurt.
Danqing brushed off her clothes and said, “Liuya said Mother wanted some hawthorn curd, so I brought some for her. I ran too fast and didn’t see the threshold.”
She had tripped on purpose, of course.
She didn’t believe Consort Yi would dare to have a fresh bowl of hawthorn curd made specifically for Noble Lady Guo. As long as she broke this bowl, there was no way her mother would get any.
“I knew she would try to fob me off with your leftovers,” Noble Lady Guo said, emerging from the inner room while clutching her protruding belly, her face full of mockery. “Do you see? This is the fate of one who gives birth to a princess. Now, I can’t even ask for a bit of food! If I had given birth to the Fifth Prince back then, then—”
Danqing couldn’t help but interrupt. “Mother, can you stop talking nonsense?”
Even if she had given birth to a prince, what then?
Even someone as heavily favored as Consort Yi had to maintain a forced smile while handing her son over to the Empress Dowager and kowtowing in gratitude. With her mother’s temperament, how could she possibly have kept a little prince?
“I’m talking nonsense?”
Noble Lady Guo’s eyes widened in anger. “Do you really think that woman in the front hall means it when she coos that she wants a princess? You’re the only one who believes her!”
Danqing didn’t know what Consort Yi was truly thinking, but she knew for certain that Noble Lady Guo genuinely resented her for being a princess.
The preference for sons over daughters was common even in the era Danqing came from, let alone in this feudal society where men were superior to women. In that context, Noble Lady Guo’s mindset wasn’t exactly a unique “wrong.”
“Mother, I’m already here. No amount of wishing will change that,” Danqing tried to comfort her. “It would be better to keep your peace of mind and focus on the pregnancy. Give birth to a healthy child. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, it is of the Imperial bloodline, and they will surely be filial to you in the future.”
“Don’t you dare talk rubbish! The child in my belly is definitely a prince!”
Noble Lady Guo was not comforted at all; in fact, she grew angrier. “Because you are a princess, you hope I give birth to another princess so that a little prince won’t outshine you, is that it? Who told you to say this? Was it Consort Yi?”
Danqing said patiently, “No one taught me. I’m just telling the truth. Mother, even a princess receives a stipend after being officially titled. I may not have other talents, but you are my biological mother. I certainly won’t leave you uncared for.”
People always spoke of raising sons to provide for old age, but if a daughter could also provide, what was the difference?
Since her mother lived in the palace anyway, Danqing could simply provide her with extra support in the future.
To her surprise, Noble Lady Guo only sneered. “You’ll look after me? Once you grow up, you’ll be sent to the grasslands to feed the wolves. What power will you have to look after me then?”
Why would I, a princess, be sent to the grasslands to feed wolves?
For a moment, Danqing didn’t react, her face full of disbelief.
Noble Lady Guo walked up to Danqing and reached out to tilt her chin up, inspecting her face.
A little girl not yet five years old was at her most soft and adorable age. Her large, lashed eyes flickered, her nose was small, and her delicate mouth was paired with chubby cheeks so tender they looked like they would bruise at a touch.
Today, Danqing wore clothes made for her by Consort Yi, fashioned from incredibly soft moon-white satin. On her head were hair ornaments made of rabbit-fur pom-poms, making her look like a little dumpling fresh from the steamer.
“You look nothing like me,” Noble Lady Guo said with disdain. “You actually resemble her a bit. If you and the Fifth Prince hadn’t been born on different days, I would suspect she had someone swap the children.”
Danqing, displeased, raised her hand to swat her mother’s hand away. Noble Lady Guo, feeling the sting, jerked her hand back, accidentally flinging Danqing aside.
The little girl, with her short arms and legs, was sent tumbling to the floor. Although the carpet meant it didn’t hurt, her eyes reddened with a sense of grievance.
Danqing didn’t want to be like this, but perhaps because she didn’t truly belong to this body, there were certain reactions she couldn’t control. For instance, the tendency for a normal child to cry.
“If you keep bullying me, Mother, I’m going to tell my Imperial Father!” the little princess threatened, using the only leverage she had.
Noble Lady Guo sat down indifferently and waved her hand. “Go ahead. If you have the ability, go find your Imperial Father and see if he even acknowledges you. Oh, and while you’re at it, why don’t you ask him yourself if he plans to send you to the grasslands to feed the wolves in the future.”
A wave of indignation rushed to Danqing’s head. Uncontrolled, she snapped back, “I’ll ask him then!”
With that, she turned around and ran straight out of the hall.
Nanny Sun said worriedly, “Mistress, how could you let the Fourth Princess run off to find the Emperor like that? I’m afraid she’ll provoke his anger.”
Noble Lady Guo scoffed. “Do you really think she has the nerve to actually find the Emperor? Think about how long it’s been since the Emperor last visited her! Just wait; she’ll come back dejectedly on her own in a moment.”