Chapter 10 – Rumors Spread Everywhere

The movements in the front court had not yet reached the inner palace.

It was only halfway through the hour of the rabbit when Yu Ying, still in her dreams, was reluctantly woken by Qingtiao.

“My Lady, quickly wake up, don’t sleep any longer. Today is our first day going to pay respects to the Imperial Noble Consort. We absolutely cannot be late.”

Yu Ying struggled to climb out of bed. Before she could even open her eyes, a cloth was pressed over her face, making her shiver all over and abruptly clear-headed.

Seeing the sky outside was just starting to lighten, Yu Ying felt as though the sky itself had collapsed. She had thought she’d escaped the horror of an eight o’clock start, only to be met with an even worse six o’clock start.

But no matter what she thought in her heart, she dared not slacken her movements in the slightest. After all, one rank higher crushes people to death—she, the lesser wife, was going to greet the senior wife. This naturally adversarial relationship meant she absolutely couldn’t afford any mistakes.

After being helped to wash and dress, Yu Ying flopped backward and collapsed back onto the bed.

“Ah…” Yu Ying felt like she was going to break down.

After Qingtiao finished tidying everything up, she saw her mistress lying on the bed again and couldn’t help stepping forward to persuade her.

“My Lady, allow this servant to help you dress. Otherwise we won’t have time. We absolutely mustn’t keep the Imperial Noble Consort waiting.”

“I know.” Yu Ying answered gloomily.

In the blink of an eye, Yu Ying was sitting before the dressing mirror, looking at herself in the reflection—at the unfamiliar traces of passion at the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t help lifting a hand to touch them.

She had truly lain with a stranger.

Even though she’d prepared herself mentally for all of this, she was still only a young woman who had never been tempered by society’s cruelty. Despite all her lofty resolutions, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of fear.

Would everything really go as she’d imagined?

Apart from this beautiful face, it seemed she didn’t have anything else she could rely on. But this face alone—in the eyes of Kangxi, who had seen countless beauties—would it truly be of any use?

“My Lady, shall we put on makeup today?” Qingtiao’s question interrupted her thoughts.

Looking at herself in the mirror, her hair already arranged, she said, “No need—just like this is fine. A natural look is best.”

“Everything is ready—let’s go.”

The Imperial Noble Consort, Lady Tongjia, lived in Chengqian Palace, which was quite far from Yu Ying’s residence in Changchun Palace.

By the time Yu Ying reached Chengqian Palace, the sun had already risen.

Yu Ying stopped at the palace gate to steady her ragged breathing.

Qingtiao stepped forward to report.

“My Lady is Wei Daying of Changchun Palace, who attended to His Majesty last night. Today she comes to pay her respects to the Imperial Noble Consort. Has Her Highness risen yet? If she has, may I trouble you, sir, to announce us?”

After Qingtiao finished speaking with the little eunuch from Chengqian Palace, she turned back to Yu Ying, and the two of them found a corner by the gate to stand and wait.

Soon she would meet the historical Empress Xiaoyi Ren. The thought made her feel a trace of anticipation. She wondered what the adoptive mother of the future Yongzheng Emperor was really like.

Meanwhile, in the inner chambers of Chengqian Palace…

“Your Highness, shall we get up? Just now Xiao Qingzi, who was on duty at the gate last night, came to report that the little concubine who served His Majesty has been waiting outside the palace doors.”

“Oh, is that so? She’s certainly come early. Very well, let’s get up.”

A languid voice came from behind the bed curtains.

“Xiangchun, help me wash and dress.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The palace maids waiting nearby quickly came forward, their movements orderly and practiced.

After more than half an hour, Lady Tongjia finally appeared in the main hall of Chengqian Palace.

Since there was no empress in the palace, the concubines didn’t have to pay respects to the central palace every day. They only needed to visit Chengqian Palace on the first and fifteenth of each month.

And today was neither the first nor the fifteenth, so the only person coming to pay respects was Yu Ying, who had served His Majesty for the first time.

Yu Ying had not yet steeled herself to face all of Kangxi’s other concubines. Luckily, today she only had to meet one person.

After the tea was served, Lady Tongjia lowered her head and took a sip before instructing her attendants to summon Yu Ying inside.

Having stood for over half an hour, all of Yu Ying’s earlier curiosity and anticipation had long since been blown away by the autumn wind. Though it was only late autumn, the morning chill had cooled her feverish excitement. Even after entering the hall and seeing the lavish splendor that was the complete opposite of Changchun Palace’s understated elegance, she felt no interest.

She didn’t dare look directly at the noblewoman seated above.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward and performed a full formal bow.

“This servant, Wei of Changchun Palace, humbly greets the Imperial Noble Consort. May Your Highness have boundless peace and blessings.”

Yu Ying knelt on the floor obediently, not daring to glance around, her eyes lowered as she waited for Lady Tongjia to bid her rise.

Lady Tongjia looked down at the girl kneeling before her. Such a frail, delicate figure, like a wind-blown willow. The wide Manchu robe on her body made her look like a sickly Xi Shi.

“Raise your head so I can see you.”

The sudden command made Yu Ying sigh helplessly in her heart: You might at least let me stand up first—if you’d just let me stand, I’d show you to your heart’s content!

She was already annoyed at being forced to get up early, and now she had to keep kneeling.

Damn this wretched feudal society!

Yu Ying lifted her head, revealing a face that inspired pity, still tinged with an unshakable allure after last night’s favor.

At the same time, she finally got a clear look at the woman above her…

While Yu Ying marveled at Lady Tongjia’s bright, noble features and the regal air that surrounded her, Lady Tongjia silently clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

Such a face…even she couldn’t help but feel a trace of fondness.

“Wei Daying is indeed a fine beauty.”

Lady Tongjia’s voice grew just a touch sharper.

“Since you have shared His Majesty’s bed, you are now a sister to us all within the harem. From now on, you must serve His Majesty well and strive to bear him a child or two.”

“Xiangchun, bring forward the gifts I prepared for Wei Daying. She may take them. I am tired now—Wei Daying may return.”

Having said this, Lady Tongjia rose to leave, never once telling Yu Ying to stand.

After all, she was merely a Daying. Lady Tongjia both resented her beauty and looked down on her status—nothing more than the arrogance of someone in power.

“This servant will remember Your Highness’s teachings!”

Even though Lady Tongjia hadn’t bid her rise, Yu Ying didn’t dare show any disrespect.

Only after everyone had withdrawn, leaving Yu Ying and Qingtiao alone, did Yu Ying finally let her expression twist into a grimace.

Qingtiao quickly stepped forward to help her up.

Leaning on Qingtiao’s support, Yu Ying finally managed to rise and rubbed her numb knees. The two of them helped each other as they made their way out of Chengqian Palace.

Yu Ying felt frustrated.

But in this palace, she, a mere Daying, would have many more days of kneeling ahead of her.

Maybe she really should learn from Little Swallow how to perfect the art of “kneeling gracefully” in case of emergencies.

When Yu Ying finally returned to her little domain in Changchun Palace, the rigidly straight back she had held all morning finally relaxed.

“My Lady, please rest a while. I’ll go to the kitchens to fetch your meal. After all this fuss, you must be hungry,” Qingtiao suggested almost as soon as they had sat down.

This was the downside of only having one attendant—everything fell on a single pair of shoulders.

Once again, Yu Ying felt grateful she hadn’t been born a palace maid herself. Otherwise, she’d never have lasted this long doing such work.

“Qingtiao, you’ve worked so hard. There’s no rush.”

“My Lady, it’s no hardship. I’ll be right back.”

Qingtiao looked at the young woman before her. No matter how she saw her mistress, she always felt she had the gentlest, kindest heart.

Though their life these past years had been plain and somewhat bitter, the two of them had relied on each other for everything in this deep palace—that was already a rare comfort.

But now that His Majesty had finally called for her mistress, who could say what the future would hold?

After that night, the Emperor did not enter the harem again for over half a month, nor did he summon any concubine to share his bed.

News that the Emperor had begun receiving ministers in Qianqing Palace and also meeting with each of the imperial princes spread like wildfire throughout all the palaces.

Everywhere, reactions were like drops of water landing in hot oil—immediate and explosive.

Never before had the Emperor so publicly summoned so many ministers, and after meeting them, he had separately received each of the princes.

For a time, everyone was gossiping endlessly—could it be…the Emperor was displeased with the Crown Prince?

But that made no sense. Over these years, His Majesty’s favoritism toward the Crown Prince was plain for all to see.

Still—what if?

The concubines without sons watched the drama with amusement. Those who had children quietly sent word outside, trying to find out what His Majesty truly intended.

The inner palace could not rest, and the front court was no less perplexed.

After court was dismissed, many hurried to the favored ministers who had stood by the Emperor’s side, all wanting to glean some hint of the truth.

“Lord Tong, Lord Tong—slow down—wait for this old man!”

Tong Guowei was heading toward the palace gates when he heard the shout. He stopped and looked back—it was none other than the ever-affable Nalan Mingzhu.

“Lord Nalan, what is it?” Tong Guowei asked in puzzlement.

“Lord Tong, tell me—what do you think His Majesty means by all this lately?”

Mingzhu moved closer, lowering his voice.

Tong Guowei stepped back.

“Lord Nalan, if even you don’t know, how could I possibly? Aren’t you always bragging about being the Emperor’s closest confidant?”

Tong Guowei had never cared for Nalan Mingzhu’s unserious manner. Naturally, he didn’t bother to be polite.

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and left.

“Ah, Lord Tong, you—”

But Tong Guowei was already walking away.

“I’m only curious, that’s all… Hey, hey—Lord Songgotu—wait up—”

At this time, the Emperor was still young, and the princes were all children. The future, when court factions would be clearly divided, had not yet arrived.

Mingzhu and Songgotu—who would one day be famous as the heads of the Eldest Prince’s faction and the Crown Prince’s faction—had not yet become enemies.

Mingzhu hurried up to Songgotu, clapping him on the shoulder as if they were old friends.

“My lord, I hear His Highness the Crown Prince is to return from Changchun Garden. Could all His Majesty’s recent actions be related to the Crown Prince’s return?”

Mingzhu envied the Heshere family’s good fortune in securing a Crown Prince.

If the Crown Prince succeeded the throne, their clan would become the Emperor’s maternal family, just like the Tong clan today.

And rumor had it the Crown Prince was especially close to Songgotu’s branch.

Mingzhu gave his shoulder a friendly pat.

“In the future, I must count on you to look after me, my brother.”

The days ahead were still long—time would tell.

Not waiting for an answer, he left the palace and went home.

The front court in turmoil, the inner palace in unrest—it all finally disturbed the Grand Empress Dowager, who had long since withdrawn to Cining Palace and ceased to concern herself with state affairs.

And so, after court that day, a summons arrived from Cining Palace—

The Grand Empress Dowager invited His Majesty to come take lunch with her.