Chapter 137: The Fifth Princess Consort

Chapter 137: The Fifth Princess Consort

Whenever there's a clue, following it usually leads to uncovering more than just the surface issues. The case with Elder Brother Prince is a prime example.

Emperor Kangxi first ordered the Commander of the Nine Gates, Toheqi, to investigate the sorcerer mentioned by Elder Brother Prince. Unexpectedly, news came quickly. The sorcerer was named Zhang Mingde, who had been mingling among the nobility in Imperial City, exploiting the Manchu aristocrats' dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince to make outrageous claims and deceive people.

Toheqi apprehended Zhang Mingde swiftly. This man was weak-willed and confessed everything without much effort.

He claimed he had sixteen skilled brothers capable of assassinating the Crown Prince. Initially, he tried to join Eighth Prince's faction but was promptly dismissed. Undeterred, he approached Elder Brother Prince, who surprisingly believed him and seriously plotted the assassination of the Crown Prince. However, the Crown Prince was deposed due to an incident during the night patrol outside Imperial City, rendering their plan moot.

After Toheqi reported this, Third Prince suddenly presented another accusation, stating that Elder Brother Prince had used Mongolian lamas to bewitch the deposed Crown Prince. Even though Kangxi was prepared, he was still shocked. Assassination followed by bewitching—nothing was too extreme for Elder Brother Prince.

Especially the bewitching; the Qing people were extremely wary of it because it once caused significant social unrest, leading Great Qing to ban it upon entering the capital.

Thus, it's clear how reckless Elder Brother Prince's actions were, using something explicitly forbidden by the ancestors to harm the Crown Prince. Kangxi would not forgive such behavior and ordered a thorough investigation into the bewitching case. During this process, another issue arose: the opposition led by Elder Brother Prince was so brazen that they murdered a potential informant to silence them.

This act only added fuel to the fire. How could Kangxi allow such audacity in his realm, even if the perpetrator was his son?

When evidence of the bewitching was found in Elder Brother Prince's residence, on the first day of the eleventh month, Kangxi stripped him of all titles and permanently confined him, forbidding his release.

The turmoil that began at the end of September finally came to a close, bringing relief to many in the capital.

Although the investigation cleared Eighth Prince of involvement in harming the deposed Crown Prince, it still made Kangxi wary of him, ultimately stripping him of his Beile title.

When An Qing learned of this, she sighed silently. She knew Kangxi's actions stemmed from both wariness towards Eighth Prince and preparations to reinstate the Crown Prince.

Undoubtedly, Kangxi had found an excuse for the Crown Prince's previous erratic behavior—the bewitching.

However, an unexpected event occurred. When Third Prince reported the bewitching to Kangxi without any evidence, he vaguely suggested Thirteenth Prince might also be involved, deepening Kangxi's suspicion of him.

Later, Yinqi learned from Fourth Prince that Kangxi and the Crown Prince had a strained relationship, and Thirteenth Prince, being sent to the Crown Prince by Kangxi, faced difficulties. For a time, Elder Brother Prince tried to recruit Thirteenth Prince, but he refused, coinciding with Elder Brother Prince's plans to bewitch the Crown Prince.

"How could Third Brother act like this without any evidence?" Yinqi frowned, disapproving of Third Prince's motives.

An Qing scoffed. Anyone could see that Third Prince's actions were deliberate, exploiting Kangxi's suspicious nature to make him doubt Thirteenth Prince's loyalty, thus alienating him.

Despite knowing Thirteenth Prince had done nothing against him, Third Prince's sudden attack was clearly revenge for his earlier demotion.

An Qing was speechless. Third Prince's actions were indeed petty. He had been demoted for his own mistakes, yet now he retaliated out of spite, revealing his small-mindedness and poor character.

Not only Kangxi, but even after the Crown Prince's reinstatement, Thirteenth Prince's situation would not improve. The Crown Prince would likely hold a grudge against him.

Indeed, Thirteenth Prince's depression and lack of success in Kangxi's later years stemmed from this.

An Qing finally understood why, historically, Thirteenth Prince, known for his kindness, targeted Third Prince during Yongzheng's reign, leading to his suppression.

In the end, one reaps what one sows. Third Prince would regret his actions someday.

Thirteenth Prince's fall from grace was evident despite the lack of concrete evidence. After three months of confinement, he was released, but his favor had visibly diminished.

The once-bustling Thirteenth Prince's residence became desolate, and those who once flocked to him now avoided him, including Thirteenth Princess and her household.

Human nature's tendency to seek advantage and avoid harm was starkly displayed.

After this turmoil, the capital remained calm for a while. December arrived, and An Qing's due date approached. She became increasingly cautious, rarely leaving home.

But today, she entered the palace, heavily pregnant, as it was the tenth princess's wedding day.

Since Concubine Min's passing, when they hadn't yet separated households, Eighth Princess often brought the tenth princess to visit An Qing for comfort. Back then, the tenth princess was only nine, but now she was ready for marriage. Time truly waits for no one.

The tenth princess was marrying a minor noble from Southern Mongolia, a match arranged by Kangxi years ago, fulfilling his promise to Concubine Min. Both Eighth Princess and the tenth princess married into Southern Mongolia.

Today, however, the tenth princess looked worried instead of joyful, clearly concerned about Thirteenth Prince's current predicament.

"Thirteenth Sister-in-law, how is my Thirteenth Brother?" the tenth princess asked.

She had heard about Thirteenth Prince's recent troubles and was deeply worried.

Thirteenth Princess patted her hand, forcing a smile, "Don't worry, your Thirteenth Brother is fine."

Her words lacked conviction, and both women's eyes welled up.

An Qing saw this scene upon entering.

The tenth princess recovered first, rushing to greet her, "Fifth Sister-in-law, you should be resting at home. Why did you come?"

Seeing An Qing's condition, she couldn't help but worry.

Thirteenth Princess was equally surprised, knowing An Qing was due soon.

An Qing waved her hand, "No worries, today is your special day, and I must come to offer my blessings."

She instructed someone to bring in the gifts, which included jewelry, accessories, and valuable fabrics.

An Qing's gifts were generous, but her presence was even more meaningful. She had come despite Thirteenth Prince's situation and her pregnancy, leaving the tenth princess speechless with gratitude.

Soon, Fourth Princess Consort arrived, and the atmosphere lightened with their laughter.

As the auspicious hour approached, the celebratory attendants urged them to proceed.

An Qing, seeing the tenth princess's frail frame, held her hand and advised, "Take care of yourself on the long journey from the capital to the frontier."

She hesitated, then whispered, "I know what you're worried about, but your Thirteenth Brother is a prince. Once Emperor Father calms down, everything will be fine."

The tenth princess's eyes brightened, uncertain, "Will Thirteenth Brother really be okay?"

An Qing nodded gently, smiling, "Yes, he will."

Though he would face a long period of dormancy, Thirteenth Prince would eventually experience a warm spring after his harsh winter, for he was destined to be Yongzheng's 'Deputy Emperor.'

"Rest assured, we're still here in the Imperial City. It's you who should take care of yourself and not worry your Thirteenth Elder Brother and Eighth Sister."

Apart from her Eighth Sister and Thirteenth Elder Brother, the Tenth Princess trusted her Fifth Sister-in-law the most. Since she said it would be fine, it certainly would be.

"Alright, Fifth Sister-in-law, I will take good care of myself."

The Tenth Princess sat down in the bridal sedan chair with the help of Nurse Xi, while An Qing and the others stood at the entrance of Zhaoxiang Mansion, watching the wedding procession slowly disappear into the distance.

After everything was over, the three sisters-in-law also needed to leave.

As usual, whenever An Qing entered the palace, she would visit Yikun Palace and Ningshou Palace, but this time her belly was too big, making it inconvenient to walk around.

Of course, she was also feeling guilty, afraid of being scolded by Concubine Yi and the Empress Dowager.

Therefore, An Qing decided to sneak in and out quietly, heading straight for the palace gates, hoping to leave without a trace.

To her surprise, the Thirteenth and Fourth Princess Consorts were also accompanying her. The Thirteenth Princess Consort was understandable, as she had no proper mother-in-law in the palace, so it didn't matter if she left. However, the Fourth Princess Consort did have one.

A bitter smile appeared on the Fourth Princess Consort's face. These days, De Concubine had been cold towards her. Even if she went to visit, she would be turned away. Why bother to make herself unwelcome? Fortunately, today wasn't a day for paying respects in the palace, so it didn't matter if she didn't go.

An Qing quickly understood. Recently, it was no secret that De Concubine was displeased with the Fourth Prince and his wife. She had heard about it when she visited Concubine Yi's palace.

This all started from the incident when Kangxi wanted to execute the Fourteenth Prince in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. De Concubine blamed the Fourth Prince for not protecting the Fourteenth Prince.

To put it bluntly, she resented the Fourth Prince for not rushing forward like Yinqi to hold Kangxi's legs. According to Concubine Yi, De Concubine later berated the Fourth Prince in Yonghe Palace in front of the servants, calling him heartless and saying he disregarded his own brother.

These words were severe. De Concubine showed no concern for the Fourth Prince's reputation. After all, such words from a mother would deeply damage her son's dignity.

However, according to Yinqi's description, the Fourth Prince was some distance away from Kangxi at that time.

Putting aside whether it was possible, considering the situation, Kangxi was already angry due to the princes forming factions. He felt the Fourteenth Prince had defied him for the Eighth Prince. If the Fourth Prince, who shared the same mother, had rushed forward, it might have only fueled the fire even more.

In a fit of rage, Kangxi might have executed both the Fourth and Fourteenth Princes, leading to an uncontrollable situation.

Given An Qing's understanding of De Concubine, she believed De Concubine must have considered these possibilities but still blamed the Fourth Prince, showing how biased she was.

Indeed, sibling conflicts often arise from parents not treating their children equally.

This time, the Fourth Prince and De Concubine seemed to be drifting apart permanently.

The three sisters-in-law arrived at the palace gates. The Fourth and Thirteenth Princess Consorts were concerned about An Qing's condition and insisted on personally escorting her back. Fortunately, their residences were not far apart, so it wouldn't take long.

In the carriage, they chatted casually, but the Thirteenth Princess Consort seemed preoccupied and barely spoke.

"Thirteenth Sister-in-law, is there something troubling you at home?" asked the Fourth Princess Consort.

The Thirteenth Princess Consort hesitated but then decided to share her concerns. "Nothing much, just that Ten told me about Eight's letter. The doctor said she's expecting twins too."

Upon hearing this, An Qing and the Fourth Princess Consort immediately understood what the Thirteenth Princess Consort was worried about. Unlike An Qing, this was the Eighth Princess's first pregnancy, which was indeed concerning.

"Don't worry, Thirteenth Sister-in-law. My family has experienced midwives skilled in caring for and delivering twins. I'll write a letter to send to Mongolia and ask my Ama to send two midwives to the Eighth Princess. She's still early in her pregnancy, so with proper care, everything will be fine," An Qing reassured her.

Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner was far in Mongolia, but after hearing An Qing's words, the Thirteenth and Fourth Princess Consorts felt relieved.

The Fourth Princess Consort suddenly remembered the two Mongolian midwives accompanying An Qing. Previously, she had wondered why they were sent for this pregnancy when none came for the first one. Now she understood the reason.

The Eighth Princess's twin pregnancy was significant, so An Qing took it seriously. Upon returning home, she went straight to the study and wrote a letter to send urgently to Horqin Left-wing Rear Banner.

An Qing had known about the Eighth Princess's pregnancy since she was in Shengjing, but at that time, she was only a month along and couldn't determine if it was twins. Now, it was clear.

Over the years, she had corresponded frequently with the Fourth and Eighth Princesses, but since returning to the Imperial City, they hadn't written letters, to avoid unnecessary disputes.

Fortunately, the Thirteenth Princess Consort read the letter from the Tenth Princess today; otherwise, this important matter might have been overlooked.

After leaving the study, An Qing had a wicker chair moved to the courtyard. It was almost noon, and the warm sun made her want to close her eyes.

Perilla brought a blanket from the house. "Madam, cover up, don't catch a chill."

An Qing nodded slightly, though she didn't feel cold. But given her condition, she couldn't afford to be careless and obediently followed the advice.

Lying on the wicker chair, she enjoyed the view of the flowers and plants in the courtyard, and the four cats—Xuetuan and Meimei—basking in the sun on the cat tree.

Time flew by. Xuetuan and Meimei were now over ten years old, and even their kittens were eight. This family of four had entered the elderly stage of cat life, with an average lifespan of fifteen years.

When Xuetuan brought his family back, An Qing realized the importance of spaying and neutering cats. Fortunately, the procedures were well-established, so she arranged for them to be done. Thus, they remained a family of four.

When they left the Imperial City a few years ago, An Qing left them in the courtyard, where they were well-cared for. She was glad Xuetuan had a family; otherwise, leaving him alone would have been cruel.

An Qing touched her belly. Raising a kitten required so much care, let alone a child. Hong Zhi was growing up, and now two more were on the way. Her worries in this world would increase.

Just as she was lost in thought, she felt something wet between her legs.

With experience from her first pregnancy, An Qing knew what was happening. Calmly, she turned to the side and said, "Nurse Has, I think it's time."

Nurse Has, one of the midwives sent by An Qing's Ama, was experienced in delivering twins. Hearing An Qing's words, she calmly approached.

"Madam, don't panic. Let me help you inside."

She then instructed people to carry An Qing into the delivery room. After checking, it was confirmed that An Qing was indeed going into labor.

"Going into labor? But the due date is still over half a month away. What if something happens to Madam?" Cui Liu was almost in tears.

Nurse Has turned to An Qing and comforted her in Mongolian, "Madam, it's normal for twins to come early. Don't worry, everything will be fine with me here. You and the little masters will be safe."

An Qing smiled and nodded. "With you here, I'm at ease."

Mother Ha, an experienced midwife, had delivered over twenty sets of twins according to her own account, and every time both mother and babies emerged safe and sound. With her in charge, An Qing felt much more at ease.

Moreover, Doctor Xiao Qi and another experienced old physician from the Imperial Medical Institute had been invited by Yinqi to stay in the residence half a month ago. Given the commotion outside, they were likely already present and waiting.

An Qing silently encouraged herself. Everything was ready; there was nothing to worry about. She just needed to follow the process and not be afraid!

Inside the delivery room, everything proceeded in an orderly manner. Suddenly, Little Xizi, who was standing guard outside, realized something. "Oh no, I forgot to send someone to inform Beile!"

He hurriedly called over a young eunuch. "Quickly go and inform Beile that Lady is giving birth."

At the entrance of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Ma Xiang paced anxiously around a pillar, his eyes never leaving the gate.

Earlier, someone from the residence had come to report that Lady was giving birth. Unfortunately, their master had been detained by the Emperor for some reason today, and Ma Xiang watched as others came and went but saw no sign of their master. He was growing increasingly anxious.

After what seemed like an eternity, Ma Xiang finally spotted Yinqi emerging from inside. He rushed forward.

"Master, Lady is giving birth!"

An Qing is giving birth?

Yinqi's mind went blank for a moment, then he sprinted towards the palace gates, with Ma Xiang close behind. The two raced through the palace, creating a striking scene.

They had arrived by carriage, but upon reaching the palace gates, Yinqi immediately ran towards a nearby horse. Without hesitation, he snatched the reins from the young eunuch holding it and leaped onto the horse, galloping away.

The horse belonged to the Tenth Prince, and the eunuch was from his residence. He recognized Yinqi but was stunned to see the Fifth Beile riding off on his master's horse.

Fortunately, Ma Xiang arrived in time and explained, "Our Beile has an urgent matter and needs to borrow the Tenth Prince's horse. We will return it to your residence later."

He then pointed to their carriage nearby. "That is our carriage. When the Tenth Prince comes out, he can use it to leave."

Yinqi rode swiftly back to the residence, arriving just as a loud cry of a newborn baby echoed through the courtyard.

Has she given birth already?

He paused for a moment, then quickly walked to the delivery room. Just then, the midwife emerged, beaming with joy.

"Congratulations, Beile! Lady has given birth to a little prince and a little princess. Mother and children are all well."