Chapter 5 Washing Three

Qianlong had phoenix eyes and an oval face, exuding an air of majesty when not smiling, yet appearing like a pure scholar when he did. He grew a beard upon ascending the throne in his twenties, and as the years passed, his Dragon’s Might grew heavier, leaving no one in court able to restrain him.

Yet as he held Yongcong, that majesty faded, and he became like any ordinary father.

Yongcong babbled, “Imperial Father!”

He still remembered how, in his first life, the emperor had doted on him excessively, visiting the Palace of Eternal Spring daily to play with him. Later, when he contracted smallpox and died young, the emperor had been as grief-stricken as the empress, suspending court for five consecutive days until ministers persuaded him to regain his composure.

The little child, immersed in joy, suddenly heard the clear laughter of his elder sister Hejing—she and the Imperial Grandmother had arrived!

The empress dowager chuckled merrily as she held Yongcong, pointing at Hejing and teasing, “You little rascal!”

Qianlong cast a light, sidelong glance at his daughter, feigning anger. “It seems I must marry you off sooner. Sebuteng came to request an audience just the other day, asking if next year’s wedding date could be moved up…”

“Imperial Father!” Hejing’s pretty face flushed crimson as a monkey’s bottom—how could such things be spoken of in public?

The empress dowager laughed while pointing at her, leaving Hejing too embarrassed to speak.

Yongcong widened his eyes—was Hejing getting married next year?

Sebuteng Balzhur was the husband carefully chosen for her by Qianlong and the empress. He was the direct descendant of the Khorchin Left Wing of Mongolia, the grandson of Princess Duanmin of the First Rank and her consort Bandi, his noble lineage making him a worthy match for the Qing’s principal princess. Moreover, Sebuteng had been raised in the palace since childhood, studying alongside the imperial princes and even serving as Yonglian’s study companion. Qianlong and the empress treated him almost like a son.

Sebuteng was tall and sturdy, his features regular if not strikingly handsome, and his honest, simple nature made him an ideal candidate to marry a princess. Yonglian had once subtly probed his thoughts, and upon hearing that the princess might be betrothed to him, Sebuteng’s face had immediately turned red.

“Whatever… whatever His Majesty and Her Majesty decide.”

Thus, Qianlong knew, the empress knew, and the empress dowager knew—Sebuteng had feelings for Hejing, and they couldn’t have been more pleased!

When the empress sought Hejing’s opinion, she had shyly agreed. Their wedding was set for the third month of the twelfth year of Qianlong’s reign.

Having scored a point against his daughter, Qianlong was in high spirits and stopped teasing her, instead praising Yongcong to the empress dowager.

The empress dowager beamed at the child in her arms. “Ah, Yongcong’s ears resemble the Buddha’s—he’s clearly blessed with great fortune…”

The Seventh Prince’s Third-Day Bathing Ceremony proceeded as scheduled in the front courtyard of the Palace of Eternal Spring’s main hall, presided over by the empress dowager herself.

As the auspicious hour approached, imperial princes, ministers, noble clansmen, their consorts, and the imperial concubines arrived one after another. Beile Yonglian walked alongside Prince He Hongzhou, Prince Lü Yuntao, and Prince Zhuang Yunlu. Prince He pointed at his nephew and said to the two princes, “Look how happy Yonglian is.”

After returning to Yuqing Palace that day, Yonglian had rested for several days before regaining his energy. Now, at the bathing ceremony, he was radiant with joy, obvious to all.

Prince Lü also smiled. “It hasn’t been easy, hasn’t been easy.”

The older Yonglian grew, the more he resembled Emperor Qianlong, inheriting his imposing presence. Such a cheerful expression was truly rare. After joining in the banter, Prince Zhuang asked Hongzhou, “What have you prepared for the Adding to the Basin?”

Hongzhou grinned. “The Longevity Lock that Yongbi once wore—a gift from the late emperor to me.”

Yongbi was the de facto eldest son of Prince He, aged thirteen this year, studying alongside the imperial princes in the Imperial Study. At three years old, he contracted a severe illness, and funeral garments were already prepared in the mansion. Yet, miraculously, he recovered after a few days, overcoming the calamity on his own.

Everyone said Yongbi was blessed with great fortune, so whenever a family had a newborn, they would seek Yongbi’s belongings from Prince He’s consort—be it a small garment or a used brocade quilt.

Prince Lü said, “My consort arrived early. The Empress Dowager asked her to bathe the Seventh Prince.”

Prince Lü’s consort, Fucha, was the eldest daughter of Ma Qi and a cousin of the current Empress, sharing a close relationship with her. Prince Zhuang cheerfully added, “My consort was also assigned the task of bathing.”

Chatting and laughing, they soon arrived in the courtyard.

Imperial Noble Consort Xian stood with the Eldest Prince, Yonghuang, and his consort, Ilaris. When Yonghuang saw Yonglian with Prince Lü and the others, his gaze flickered slightly as he greeted warmly, “Second Brother.”

“Eldest Brother,” Yonglian replied coolly.

By protocol, the Eldest Prince was still a bald-headed prince and should address the Second Prince as “Beile Duan”…

The atmosphere suddenly shifted, an undercurrent of tension flowing between them.

Imperial Noble Consort Xian’s smile stiffened. She shot Ilaris a glance, who inwardly winced—was the Noble Consort expecting her to mediate?

Yonghuang respected his consort, Ilaris, and usually stayed in her courtyard. Both hoped to conceive a legitimate son to claim the title of the Emperor’s eldest grandson. Yet, after three years of marriage, Ilaris’s belly remained barren. Though Yonghuang never voiced it, she knew he harbored some frustration.

A month ago, the Emperor sent Beile Duan south of the Yangtze. Yonghuang shut himself in his room for half a day without speaking. On the eighth day of the fourth month, the Seventh Prince, Yongcong, was born—giving Beile Duan a full-blooded younger brother while she remained childless. For the first time, Yonghuang lost his temper at her.

If she rashly intervened now, she might only invite more resentment!

Ilaris’s face paled as she struggled to lift her Flower Pot Shoes. Just then, Prince He arrived to defuse the tension.

Hongzhou’s gaze lingered on Yonghuang before he smiled as usual. “The auspicious hour has arrived—let us proceed to the ceremony!”

The oppressive atmosphere instantly eased. Ilaris felt grateful, and Imperial Noble Consort Xian exhaled in relief.

Imperial Noble Consort Chun shot her an ambiguous glance.

In his childhood, the Eldest Prince’s birth mother, the Fucha Maiden, passed away from illness. Just then, Lady Ulanara, newly married into the Prince Bao’s mansion, began sending gifts daily. Gradually, Yonghuang grew close to her.

She had assumed the consort would intervene, but to her surprise, the consort turned a blind eye, letting them be.

Watching coldly, she realized Imperial Noble Consort Xian had never intended to adopt the Eldest Prince. But after so many years without bearing a child, things might be different now…

Imperial Consort Jia, heavily pregnant, paid no heed. Noble Consort Yu kept her eyes lowered, maintaining a low profile. Noble Consort Shu was the least senior, while the remaining noble ladies and lower-ranked concubines huddled together like quails.

Finally, the Empress Dowager emerged with Yongcong in her arms, and Qianlong arrived at the Palace of Eternal Spring.

The infant was swaddled in a bright red cloth densely embroidered with the character “fu” (fortune), still fast asleep, his cheeks having shed some of their wrinkled appearance.

The assembled crowd rose and performed a grand salute: “Greetings to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager!”

“Rise,” Qianlong gestured.

“The auspicious hour has arrived—” announced the diviner from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Yongcong was then placed into a bathing basin filled with warm water infused with mugwort and locust leaves, exuding a medicinal fragrance.

He suddenly found himself submerged in water, his eyes blinking open in a daze as he gazed curiously at his surroundings.  

The consorts of Prince Lü and Prince Zhuang gently cradled Yongcong, stirring the water and pouring it over him while singing:  

“One stir, two stirs, three stirs in all, may you live long and free from illness…”  

Once the bathing was complete, the officials from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau chanted, “Adding to the Basin—”  

Prince He and his consort, Wukuzha, stepped forward first, placing a Longevity Lock into the basin and cheerfully offering auspicious blessings. The princes, commandery princes, and imperial clansmen who followed added dates, peanuts, gold, silver, and other items. Soon, the water was afloat with dazzling objects.  

A piece of green cloth dipped in tea was dabbed on Yongcong’s face, then lightly brushed over his tongue and lips. The slight astringency made him instinctively open his mouth and wail loudly!  

His cries were robust, and his thick baby hair marked him as a healthy prince.  

“The Seventh Prince is so strong—what a mighty cry!”  

“No doubt he’ll be a Baturu of our Great Qing, just like Prince Duan…”  

Amid the endless flattery, Qianlong was delighted, and the imperial clansmen grew even more effusive.  

“What a blessing for the old madam!”  

Old Mrs. Fucha, the Empress’s mother, had silver hair but a spirited demeanor. Her eyes crinkled with joy as she smiled. “The Seventh Prince’s health is a blessing for Her Majesty and for this old woman as well…”  

Empress Fucha had conceived in her thirties, and the old madam had prayed daily in her residence, fearing any mishap for her daughter. When news arrived from the palace that both mother and child were safe, her legs nearly gave way beneath her.  

Once she recovered, she was overjoyed, eagerly awaiting the Seventh Prince’s Third-Day Bathing Ceremony to see her newborn grandson and share heartfelt words with the Empress.  

As the ceremony concluded smoothly, Yongcong was swaddled in soft cotton blankets by Yu Momo and returned to the Empress’s arms.  

Old Mrs. Fucha, granted special permission, entered the inner chamber. Seeing her daughter’s rosy cheeks, her eyes reddened. “Greetings to Your Majesty.”