Fang He had always refused to admit she was growing old.
Ever since she entered the palace for the second time, she had the Grand Empress Dowager as her support, so she hardly ever suffered grievances from either the front court or the harem.
Then she had Kangxi and Yin Hui, the father and son, doting on her like a beloved child.
Fang He always felt she was still a baby…
At least, in her mind, she remained young.
It wasn’t until the winter of the fiftieth year, when she suddenly experienced sharp abdominal pain, her lower belly swelling up like a drum so that she could barely get out of bed, that she finally realized she was getting old, and her mood sank as well.
Kangxi was so alarmed that he skipped morning court and gave strict orders for the Imperial Medical Institute and all imperial physicians to take Fang He’s pulse.
After more than ten doctors confirmed her condition, and with Liang Madam, the renowned expert in gynecology, personally examining her, it was finally diagnosed as shijia disease—what future generations would call uterine fibroids.
This illness, if simple, is simple: as long as the patient’s emotions remain untroubled, a treatment of warming the meridians and relieving stagnation can dissolve the fibroid.
But it’s also the trickiest kind—if the patient’s emotions remain pent up, it’s easy for it to trigger complications, with persistent bleeding that could even threaten one’s life.
The body Fang He transmigrated into had always been especially weak.
Even though Fule and Liang Madam had taken great care to nurse her over the years, after three childbirths she still suffered a depletion of her vital energy and blood.
She constantly felt as if her end was near.
No matter how much the Princess of Chengyuan tried to hint otherwise, she couldn’t listen; if she couldn’t see Kangxi and the children, she would quickly fall into a bad mood.
Yet when she did see the children, she’d feel unbearably reluctant to part with them, secretly making all sorts of arrangements, almost like preparing a will in advance.
Kangxi never said much, only threw more government affairs to Yin Hui, and aside from paying respects to the Grand Empress Dowager and comforting her for fear she’d catch a chill, he spent all his remaining time with Fang He.
Fortunately, in recent years, with Kangxi turning a blind eye and Fang He’s strong support, Liang Madam and the Imperial Medical Institute had become much more adept at abdominal surgery, and performed a small operation to remove the fibroid for Fang He.
Still, no matter how well they disinfected, it couldn’t match the sterile environments of the future.
Plus, Fang He was aging.
Not until after the New Year did she finally manage to get out of bed and walk a few steps.
Kangxi canceled the New Year’s Eve palace banquet and the grand feast on the fifteenth day, staying by Fang He’s side the whole time.
When she was finally able to eat and drink normally again, he himself suddenly collapsed with a high fever, scaring Fang He, Yin Hui, and the others half to death.
Luckily, Kangxi’s body was strong and nothing serious happened—he’d just exhausted himself running between Shoukang Palace and Qianqing Palace, and caught a chill from nursing Fang He.
By the time these three “mountains” of the harem had all recovered, it was already March of the fifty-first year.
For everyone in the court and harem, the fifty-first year was truly special.
March brought the fiftieth birthday of Imperial Noble Consort Yuan Zhen, as well as the coming-of-age ceremony for Prince Rui.
After the New Year, March also marked the Emperor’s sixtieth birthday, and in October, the Grand Empress Dowager’s seventieth birthday.
Preparations for the longevity festivals and birthday gifts had to start a year in advance.
These four major gifts alone gave the princes, ministers, princesses, and even the lords from Beimeng plenty of headaches.
During that time, a visit to Liulichang meant running into one noble or minister after another—nine out of ten people there were of that sort.
The third time Prince Cheng visited Liulichang, the new arrivals had already been snatched up by someone else.
Drunk at Tianya Inn, he couldn’t suppress his anger any longer and, in a fog, started gossiping about Fang He and her son with Yin Yu.
“After Imperial Mother celebrated her longevity in such grand style, that’s already an incomparable honor. Why does Yin Hui have to join in the excitement too? It’s exhausting all us elder brothers until our legs are about to go thin.”
“If you ask me, with such a partial Father, he’ll have his fill of receiving gifts in the future. The Ministry of Rites is so sycophantic it’s unbearable—aren’t they just pushing Yin Hui to repeat Second Brother’s old path—”
Before he finished, he was punched from the table by the usually good-tempered Yin Yu, flipping over the railing and into the rock garden pond.
Yin Xi was stunned by the fall and splashed around, cursing, “Damn it, Sixteenth, are you crazy…”
Yin Yu interrupted coldly, “I think it’s you who’s lost your mind, Third Brother. A dip in cold water should sober you up, help you remember what ought and ought not to be said.”
“My mother rightfully celebrated her longevity—not because she couldn’t be Empress, but because Father cherishes her. Yet from your mouth, it sounds like my mother took advantage of it. If you don’t like Imperial Mother, no one’s forcing you!”
“If you resent Fifteenth Brother for his coming-of-age, why not just point at Father’s nose and scold him? Twenty years ago, he decided to have the Fifteenth Brother, as if this vast world can’t fit you alone, Third Brother!”
“Everyone knows exactly what you’re scheming—why does no one ever mention it? Is it because as the third son you’re not as smart as Yinzhi, or that the Fourth Brother isn’t as capable as you?”
“Even Fifth Brother and the rest are clearer-headed than you; they know exactly where Fifteenth Brother’s favor comes from!”
“If you really can’t see it, then go ask the other brothers for advice, stop embarrassing yourself outside so we don’t have to clean up after you!”
After cursing him out, Yin Yu left Tianya Inn with a darkened face, ignoring Yin Xi shivering in the water.
Everyone knew that Tianya Inn’s Liang Madam and Naren were as close as sisters with Imperial Noble Consort Yuan Zhen.
Nowadays, the inn has become a must-visit for Great Qing nobles and Beimeng lords coming to the capital.
Previously, few paid much attention to the Sixteenth Prince, but after this incident, everyone learned what kind of temperament he had…
All in all, none of the Consort’s children were easy to deal with.
Back when their Lady fought her way through the harem, plenty of people still remembered her fierce days.
So although Yin Xi made a big fuss, aside from the inn servants, not a single person dared to speak up for him.
After all, he wore the yellow belt—the Emperor wouldn’t take his life, but with such a venomous mouth, people preferred to stay away and avoid bad luck.
Not even a few days later, Seventeenth Prince Yinshi appeared in court, cold-faced and sharp-tongued, listing every violation of the Great Qing laws by Prince Cheng and his retainers.
These included, but were not limited to, the disgraceful matters in the back courtyard of Prince Cheng’s concubine’s relatives and in-laws.
Civil and military officials listened, their heads spinning, feeling as if someone were reading the court gazette aloud on the spot.
After presiding over court gazettes for years, Prince Cheng finally became the main character in one… In a word: karma!
Kangxi listened with a straight face as his youngest son rattled off accusations as long as a foot-binding cloth, giving his third son, who looked about to cry, just a fleeting glance, making no move to stop it.
Yin Xi, once sober, had already slapped himself twice—he never expected he could be foolish enough to rant in front of Yin Yu.
Honestly, he bore no real malice.
He even recognized Yin Hui’s abilities.
He just felt Kangxi had overlooked all the elder princes and directly favored the Imperial Noble Consort’s son, being overly partial.
It left him feeling uncomfortable, so he habitually spouted off.
Once he sobered up, he hurried to Qianqing Palace to admit his fault.
Even Consort Rong came along, wielding a bamboo rod and giving Yin Xi a solid beating.
It had been hard enough to move past her prior dispute with the Imperial Noble Consort; how did she end up with such a blockheaded son?
Consort Rong was almost angered to death!
Kangxi didn’t embarrass Consort Rong and Yin Xi, simply had Liang Jiugong announce that the two should be more prudent with their words and actions in the future.
After listening to Yinshi’s lengthy accusation in court, Kangxi finally asked blandly, “In your opinion, how should your third brother be dealt with?”
Yin Hui frowned slightly—his Father used “Third Brother” rather than “Prince Cheng” in court, reminding Yinshi to keep fraternal bonds in mind and not make a mortal enemy.
He hoped this kid would understand.
All the civil and military officials, old foxes as they were, heard the Emperor’s true intent and looked toward Yinshi.
But no one could tell if Yinshi understood; he simply knelt and replied with a blank face, “To answer Father, as a younger brother, I dare not judge Third Brother’s fault. According to the Great Qing laws, only you as father can decide.”
“Article Thirty-Seven of the Great Qing Code: as a son, one must be filial, not recklessly criticize parents. Any verbal offense or disobedience is punishable by thirty strokes…”
“Article Forty-Two: as a subject, one must be loyal, not rashly criticize the monarch. Any writing or insinuation to that effect shall be punished by the Ministry of Justice…”
“Article One Hundred Twenty: Princes breaking the law are to be punished as commoners; if their families oppress the people, take lives, or deceive superiors, punishment ranges from reprimand, flogging, to monastic retreat…”
He went on to enumerate over a dozen laws, making Yinzhen nod along in spite of himself.
He’d really misjudged this brother—this one was the most likable, the one who suited his taste best.
Yin Hui, too, found it amusing and delightful.
The two mischievous brothers often did things that left people seeing stars, but… they did please people’s hearts.
There were some things he and Father couldn’t say openly, but those two brats, thick-skinned as they were, dared to say and do anything.
Maybe, just maybe, they could continue the good stories of Father, Fuquan, and Uncle Changning.
Kangxi stifled a laugh as he glanced at his third son, who was wiping his sweat, and didn’t make a decision on the spot.
After all, Third Brother was no youngster—if he were punished in open court, he and Consort Rong would lose face, and who knows if they’d hold a grudge against Fang He and her son.
Some days later, Yin Xi failed to shave his head at the funeral of Concubine Zhang, mother of the thirteenth prince Yin Xiang, and got punched by Yin Xiang.
Kangxi took the opportunity to strip Yin Xi of his Prince title, demoting him directly to Beile.
Yin Xi felt both ashamed and relieved, as if the sword hanging over his head had finally dropped.
He couldn’t blame Fang He and her son for this.
It was his main consort Dong E and Side Consort Tian who had gotten him drunk and shaved his head on purpose.
They’d done it on their mother-in-law’s instructions, to teach Yin Xi a lesson and give the Emperor and Fang He’s family an explanation.
Kangxi was quite satisfied.
If he didn’t deal with Yin Xi, others would think Fang He and her child were overbearing; after all, Yin Hui would be Emperor someday and needed to maintain his reputation.
On the other hand, Kangxi wanted to see if Yin Xi’s family was still fit to remain in the capital.
After all, he’d already sent one son abroad—sending another wasn’t a big deal…