Chapter 23: The Fifth Princess Consort

Chapter 23: The Fifth Princess Consort

Under the persuasion of the ministers and princes, Kangxi finally agreed to change out of his rain-soaked court robes first.

As soon as he left, the eunuchs of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, following Liang Jiugong's instructions, brought in towels and handkerchiefs to help the ministers and princes who were still unable to leave wipe off the dampness. They also brought in some ginger tea, even though the weather wasn't cold; after all, they had been caught in the rain, so it was better to have some warming tea.

After everything was arranged, Liang Jiugong brought a freshly brewed cup of ginger tea to the eastern warm pavilion of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, where Kangxi usually resided.

When he entered, Kangxi was changing clothes under the service of his personal eunuch. His eyes and brows were filled with joy, and the tightness around his lips seemed about to break into a smile, indicating how hard he was trying to suppress it.

Liang Jiugong couldn't help but be slightly shocked. For a ruler who rarely showed his emotions, this was indeed a rare sight.

Having served Kangxi since childhood, Liang Jiugong was unparalleled in understanding the emperor's intentions. The last time he saw Kangxi like this was many years ago.

But reflecting on today's events, Liang Jiugong could understand why Kangxi reacted this way.

The earth altar ceremony has always been mysterious and solemn. This morning, Kangxi led the ministers to the earth altar for the ritual, and initially, everything proceeded according to plan. However, as if by coincidence or divine will, when the sacrificial offerings were placed on the altar, a ray of sunlight shone upon it, illuminating a peony among the offerings.

Under the sunlight, the golden edges of its petals suddenly gleamed brilliantly.

In ordinary circumstances, this might not have been significant, but in that setting, it was awe-inspiring.

The earth altar ceremony is meant to pray for a bountiful harvest, and the appearance of such an auspicious plant was clearly meaningful.

Liang Jiugong stood some distance from the altar but was close enough to hear the gasps from the officials and the surrounding crowd. He distinctly heard the collective intake of breath.

Immediately afterward, everyone knelt and bowed, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" Liang Jiugong, stunned, instinctively followed suit, kneeling and bowing along with everyone else. The scene was truly magnificent.

However, having served Kangxi closely, Liang Jiugong knew the whole story behind the peony and guessed that this outcome was one of Kangxi's intentions.

Using auspicious signs to stabilize the court and reassure the people.

If these events were within Kangxi's expectations, what happened next was completely unforeseen.

After the ceremony, as Kangxi led everyone away from the earth altar, the clear sky suddenly turned overcast, and soon rain began to fall.

Liang Jiugong vividly remembered the astonishment and shock on Kangxi's face at that moment.

The rain grew heavier, and the drought-stricken fields of the capital outskirts finally received much-needed moisture. The people rejoiced, embracing and cheering in the downpour, bowing toward the direction of the imperial carriage.

Later, when the ceremonial procession entered the Imperial City, the entire city's residents braved the rain to bid farewell, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" Liang Jiugong, even as an outsider, was moved to the point of wanting to cheer along.

This was a clear sign of the people's support. Any emperor hoping to achieve something would be deeply touched by such a scene.

Indeed, Liang Jiugong, being the closest to Kangxi, understood the emperor's intentions well. He grasped the deep thoughts of this ruler known for his profound wisdom.

Throughout history, emperors have used elaborate rituals to proclaim their authority, embedding the ideas of "Heavenly Father and Earthly Mother" and "divine right of kings" through dialogues with heaven and earth, permeating every corner of society.

They also collected various auspicious objects to create a grand spectacle, showcasing the prosperity and strength of the nation to reassure the people and maintain their authority.

This is the art of ruling, which Kangxi learned from a young age and mastered.

Thus, the auspicious sign of the peony today was intentional, or rather, the idea arose when he first saw the peony with its golden edges.

With precise calculations of angle and timing, achieving such an effect was not difficult.

Even the surrounding spectators were pre-arranged to ensure more people witnessed the peony's brilliance during the ceremony.

However, Kangxi did not anticipate the sudden downpour afterward.

To achieve the desired effect, the most crucial factor was ensuring sunny weather on the day of the summer solstice ceremony. Therefore, he repeatedly consulted the Astronomical Bureau to confirm the weather.

Seeing Kangxi's seriousness, the bureau officials worked tirelessly to verify the forecast, confirming no rain and clear skies, with no signs of rain in the coming days.

Thus, the sudden afternoon storm was unexpected.

Unlike previous emperors, Kangxi was interested in Western natural sciences. From a young age, he studied Western scientific knowledge, including mathematics, geometry, astronomy, geography, and Western medicine, with the palace missionaries.

Not only did he learn himself, but he also taught his sons and practiced together.

Therefore, Kangxi was far less superstitious than previous emperors.

For example, while eclipses were considered ominous signs by other rulers, Kangxi had a scientific understanding. Sometimes, during eclipses, he would observe them with his sons, explaining the principles behind them.

During the leap third month this year, there was a solar eclipse. While Kangxi was on campaign against Dzungaria, he ordered the Crown Prince to observe it in the Imperial City and report back, comparing the observations.

This shows that Kangxi advocated scientific thinking and rationality.

However, today's events gave him a significant impact, especially after such a long and solemn ceremony. It was hard not to think deeply about it.

Could this really be the gods' recognition of his achievements as an emperor?

In a time of unstable public sentiment, this was a clear sign that he was blessed by heaven!

The more Kangxi thought about it, the more he believed it was possible. After all, there are many things science and reason cannot explain, just like now.

If An Qing knew Kangxi's thoughts, she would accurately describe him as a qualified feudal emperor!

Everything he believed in was for the sake of ruling. Whether it was science or superstition, these were tools of governance. But he was ultimately human, with the pride of a "true son of heaven," which needed recognition.

And this recognition could come from the people or the gods!

The eunuch serving Kangxi had just helped him change his clothes when Liang Jiugong hurriedly presented the hot ginger tea, "Your Majesty, please have some hot ginger tea. Your health is paramount, and summer rain should not be taken lightly."

Kangxi, in a good mood, readily accepted the offer, drinking the hot ginger tea in one go.

Of course, his willingness also had other considerations. Today's rain was indeed wonderful, but if it made him ill, it would lose its charm.

"Have you sent ginger tea to the others?" Kangxi asked.

Liang Jiugong replied, "Your Majesty, this old slave has already had people deliver ginger soup and handkerchiefs to the princes and ministers. Please rest assured."

Those ministers were all cunning foxes, and the princes were no different. At such a critical moment, no one dared to fall ill. Even if they did get sick, they would likely try their best to hide it.

Kangxi nodded slightly, clearly satisfied with Liang Jiugong's handling of the situation.

However, after drinking the ginger soup, he did not rush out. Instead, he dismissed everyone around him and stayed alone in the room to calm his emotions.

As an emperor, one must keep emotions hidden; one cannot easily reveal true feelings in front of others.

In the main hall of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Kangxi had yet to appear. The ministers remained composed, closing their eyes to rest after drinking the ginger tea. However, the princes were much more restless.

The Crown Prince stood at the forefront among the princes, followed by Elder Brother Prince and Third Prince. All three of them couldn't help but look at Yinqi.

To think that Fifth Prince's luck was so good. Earlier, they had secretly mocked Fourth and Fifth Princes for getting such a tough assignment, running back and forth outside the capital outskirts to find some auspicious peony.

It was simply a waste of effort. When the golden-edged peony was first presented, they had all seen it. It was indeed rare, something none of them had ever seen before. Even His Majesty probably hadn't seen anything like it.

So how could they possibly find it just by searching the flower gardens on the capital outskirts? Even if they dug three feet deep, they wouldn't find it.

But who would have thought that Fifth Prince actually found it!

Of course, they didn't think Yinqi was particularly capable. After all, it was just a matter of finding something. If it were them, they could have done it too.

After all, in terms of ability, Fifth Prince had never been a match for any of them since childhood.

In the end, it was just luck. If they had known, they would have taken on this task themselves.

After all, today's events were truly shocking: the auspicious omen of the golden peony and the sudden rain. It was hard not to connect the two and consider causality.

If His Majesty believed that everything was due to the peony's auspiciousness, then Fifth Prince had certainly made a great contribution.

But as the three of them felt regretful, they couldn't help but feel sympathy for Fourth Prince Yinzhen. He must be even more frustrated, having shared the same task but being outdone by Fifth Prince.

Anyone in his position would be furious.

However, Yinzhen remained calm because he knew that the peony wasn't found in the capital outskirts; it was saved by Fifth Prince's wife, An Qing.

But since it involved the sacrificial ceremony, it was inappropriate to openly use a previously sick peony as an offering. So, His Majesty instructed everyone who knew about it to keep it secret, claiming it was found in the capital outskirts.

Fifth Prince had specifically asked His Majesty's permission to inform Yinzhen, as the task was shared between them.

When Kangxi reappeared in the main hall of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, it was half an hour later.

Coincidentally, the people sent to investigate had returned. After greeting everyone, Liang Jiugong hurriedly reported:

"Your Majesty, according to the guards who went to investigate, the rain covered not only the Imperial City but also parts of Zhili Province."

A glimmer of joy flashed in Kangxi's eyes. This rain was truly a relief. The drought in the Imperial City and Zhili Province had been a major concern for the entire court.

This was the time when crops needed water most. Without rain, the harvest would suffer.

The arrival of rain after a long drought was truly heartening.

Now, they hoped the rain would last longer, rather than stopping after a short while, which would be disappointing.

At that moment, the director of the Astronomical Bureau rushed in, panting, "Your Majesty, I just observed the sky. This rain is expected to last at least a day."

Kangxi stood up abruptly, "Really?"

The director hurriedly replied, "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. This is the result of our entire bureau's monitoring."

Overjoyed, Kangxi exclaimed, "Good, very good! Truly, heaven blesses our Great Qing."

The ministers knelt down to congratulate him.

In his elation, Kangxi began rewarding those involved in the sacrificial ceremony. After a round of rewards, he finally came to Yinqi and Yinzhen, crediting them for finding the auspicious peony.

Since the story of An Qing saving the peony couldn't be revealed, the credit naturally fell on the two princes. Initially, Kangxi intended to attribute the credit solely to Yinqi.

After all, in his view, husband and wife share everything, and it was reasonable to give the credit to Yinqi. As for rewarding An Qing, he planned to do so later under another pretext.

But Yinqi insisted on including Yinzhen, saying that the task was shared without specific division, so the credit should be shared. Kangxi was pleased to see such brotherly harmony and agreed without hesitation.

Yinqi had discussed this with An Qing beforehand. Since they had worked together, rewarding only Yinqi might make Yinzhen look incompetent, leading to ridicule.

Yinzhen, understanding the gesture, felt increasingly grateful towards his fifth brother.

Overwhelmed with joy, Kangxi also ordered the Crown Prince Yinreng, Fourth Prince Yinzhen, and Fifth Prince Yinqi to visit the Imperial Shrine on a designated day to offer incense and perform the ritual of gratitude.

Sending the Crown Prince and two princes showed the importance Kangxi placed on this event. Everyone sensed its significance.

*

The rain continued for three whole days, thoroughly alleviating the drought in the Imperial City and Zhili Province. Reports of good news poured in from various regions, bringing joy to the entire court. Kangxi was overjoyed.

Moreover, within a few days, tales of the auspicious golden peony and the heavenly dew spread among the common folk, who even composed songs praising Kangxi's achievements.

However, now that the peony was revered, the fact that it had once been sick needed to be kept secret. An Qing understood the seriousness and had insisted that everyone who knew about it remain silent.

She herself didn't mention it to anyone, not even Concubine Yi or the Empress Dowager. Such matters were best left to Kangxi to handle.

Kangxi was pleased with An Qing's discretion but couldn't openly reward her. So, he extended his favor to those close to her.

That night, he chose Concubine Yi's green card.

In Yikun Palace, after the eunuch from the Palace of Heavenly Purity had left, Concubine Yi was still in disbelief.

It was strange. The Emperor had already visited her twice this month, so he shouldn't call her again.

In earlier years, Concubine Yi wouldn't have found this unusual, but since she and the other three consorts were treated equally, the Emperor had started balancing his attentions among them.

What is meant by "evenly distributing favor" is that whether it's showing favor or giving rewards, the four of them are basically on par with each other.

For example, in terms of choosing a concubine to spend the night with, each one wouldn't exceed two times a month. Even though Concubine Hui and Imperial Concubine Rong are older and had their green plaques removed a couple of years ago, Kangxi would still visit their palaces as usual.

However, what is today's matter about? Could it be that the Emperor is too busy and has forgotten?

With this doubt in mind, Concubine Yi came to the Palace of Heavenly Purity and became even more confused because Kangxi actually started chatting with her about everyday life!

They talked about everything under the sun, from their youth to their children growing up. Some of the things they discussed were so old that Concubine Yi herself could barely remember, yet Kangxi still recalled them all.

Concubine Yi couldn't help but feel touched.

Unexpectedly, Kangxi, who was reminiscing just a moment ago, suddenly asked, "How have you been getting along with the Fifth Princess Consort these days?"

Concubine Yi almost didn't catch up; why would he suddenly ask this?

Could it be that someone has been talking behind their backs in front of Kangxi? But that shouldn't be the case; she believed she got along well with An Qing. Even if others wanted to say something, they probably wouldn't have any reason to do so.

Or could it be that Kangxi found out about An Qing's gardening activities in the courtyard?

The more Concubine Yi thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Previously, she used Kangxi's name to help An Qing with the matter, thinking that since Kangxi hadn't said anything for so long, he must have tacitly approved of the Fifth Princess Consort's actions. Could she have misjudged the situation?

"Your subject likes the Fifth Princess Consort very much. The Fifth Prince and his consort get along wonderfully. I was just saying the other day that I should find an opportunity to thank Your Majesty for arranging such a good marriage," Concubine Yi said sincerely.

Kangxi, with his sharp mind, immediately understood Concubine Yi's intentions.

She was trying to speak well of the Fifth Princess Consort, first praising the daughter-in-law, then mentioning the harmonious relationship between the Fifth Prince and his consort, and finally pointing out that the marriage was arranged by him. She was clearly worried about being blamed.

Seeing that Concubine Yi misunderstood, Kangxi laughed and said, "Don't worry. The Fifth Princess Consort hasn't caused any trouble. You don't need to go out of your way to speak well of her."

Caught off guard, Concubine Yi wasn't upset but instead patted her chest in relief. "Your subject was scared to death. I thought that girl had done something to offend Your Majesty again."

After saying this, she thought for a moment and decided to bring up the matter with An Qing.

But before she could speak, Kangxi waved his hand and said, "You don't need to explain. If that child wants to garden, let her do it. It's not a big deal. If anyone gossips about it in the future, just tell them it's with My permission."

Hearing such good news, Concubine Yi naturally agreed with a smile and didn't forget to thank him on behalf of An Qing.

Kangxi always appreciated Concubine Yi's straightforwardness. However, he was genuinely surprised that she could get along so well with An Qing, given that she didn't usually get along with the Mongolian consorts in the palace, especially those from Xianfu Palace.

At that time, he did worry that Concubine Yi might not get along with this daughter-in-law, which would make things difficult for him and the Fifth Prince.

Concubine Yi gave Kangxi a playful glare and said, "Is this how Your Majesty sees your subject?"

Kangxi tapped her forehead and laughed, "Stop trying to fool Me. Can you honestly say you weren't worried when I arranged the marriage for the Fifth Prince?"

However, what Kangxi most admired about Concubine Yi was that although she was initially dissatisfied with having a daughter-in-law from Horqin, she never complained to him.

Concubine Yi shrugged. She didn't complain because she knew it would be useless.

Having navigated the imperial harem for so many years, Concubine Yi had her own way of standing her ground: knowing the right balance.

While Kangxi liked her spiciness, it was only limited to jealousy between men and women. Other matters, especially those related to state affairs, were off-limits.

For the women of the harem, he must first be the emperor and then the husband.

This line must always be clear, otherwise, one might end up in a hopeless situation.

"At that time, your subject was indeed worried, but upon reflection, Your Majesty's arrangement must be trustworthy. Whatever Your Majesty does has its reasons, and your subject only needs to follow Your Majesty's arrangements," Concubine Yi added, half-truthfully confessing.

Kangxi was deeply moved and pulled her into his arms. The bed curtains were drawn, concealing their intimate moments.

Concubine Yi thought that this unexpected night of favor would be over, but the next day, a young eunuch from the Palace of Heavenly Purity came again!

If the first day could be explained as Kangxi being too busy or her being favored, being chosen three consecutive nights made her uneasy.

In the imperial harem, being favored is a good thing, but being favored without knowing the reason can be unsettling.

So, on the third morning, as she left the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Concubine Yi stopped Liang Jiugong at the door and inquired discreetly.

Liang Jiugong looked at the anxious Concubine Yi and couldn't help but find it amusing.

"Your Highness is blessed. Recently, the Fifth Prince and the Fifth Princess Consort have caught the Emperor's eye, especially the Fifth Princess Consort," he reminded her with a smile.

Concubine Yi was taken aback. "What does the Fifth Princess Consort have to do with this?"

Liang Jiugong shook his head, indicating that he could only hint so much. "Your Highness, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but please don't inquire further with the Fifth Prince or the Fifth Princess Consort."

Concubine Yi immediately understood. "Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch Liang. Your subject knows the limits."

Since Kangxi felt she shouldn't know, she would pretend not to know.

However, Concubine Yi was certain that her sudden favor was due to An Qing.

She couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated. In all her years in the palace, she had used various means to gain favor, even using her son to attract the Emperor to her palace, but she never imagined that she would gain favor through her daughter-in-law!

Who would believe this?

If she didn't know Liang Jiugong's character, she wouldn't have been able to convince herself.

Leaving the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Concubine Yi found it increasingly funny.

Many people in the palace had secretly mocked her, saying that marrying a Horqin daughter-in-law was to bring her bad luck.

How ridiculous! An Qing was clearly her lucky star.