Chapter 44: Born Disabled

Chapter 44: A Disability from Birth

The Empress Dowager was kind-hearted and prepared a lucky silver gift for each of them. Though the amount wasn't large, it was meant for good luck. She also asked each of her grandchildren a few caring questions.

Fang Yu noticed that Yin Zhen said a few auspicious words to the Empress Dowager, likely taught by someone around him. Though he said them haltingly—after all, being only two years old, even with prior coaching, he was unlikely to remember them all—the Empress Dowager was delighted and presented him with a piece of jade.

Fang Yu was unable to speak more with Yin Zhen at Ning Shou Palace. The Empress had held Yin Zhen’s hand the entire time and left with him right after paying respects to the Empress Dowager, clearly afraid Fang Yu might try to talk to him again.

As Fang Yu and Ying Shan walked together down the palace pathway, Ying Shan asked when she planned to relocate to a new palace.

“It will probably be spring at the earliest.”

“That’s probably for the best. After all, you are now a Consort, and one palace cannot have two mistresses. Although you and Consort Duan are on good terms, over time, it’s hard to guarantee she won’t get other ideas.”

Fang Yu hmmed.

Noticing her distraction, Ying Shan asked if she was still thinking about the Fourth A-ge.

Fang Yu couldn’t help but sigh. She knew that as Yin Zhen grew older, the Empress would increasingly prevent her from having contact with him. The Empress was probably hoping for nothing more than for Yin Zhen to forget his biological mother entirely.

“Yin Zhen will understand when he grows up. Don’t worry too much.”

Let's hope so. For now, there was little she could do. Fortunately, the Empress truly treated Yin Zhen well—it was clear he was very well cared for. Putting thoughts of Yin Zhen out of her mind, Fang Yu returned to Yonghe Palace and went to see Yin Zhu.

A wet nurse was feeding Yin Zhu at that moment. Fang Yu took the opportunity to ask how many times he had gotten up last night and how many feedings he’d had. After the wet nurse answered each question, Fang Yu just watched as Yin Zhu drank.

Outside, the sound of firecrackers came one after another. When Yin Zhen was two or three months old, it had also been around the New Year. Back then, he had been terrified by the noise of the firecrackers. But Yin Zhu didn’t seem afraid at all—he went about his business as usual.

Once Yin Zhu was full, the baby got sleepy again. Watching his drowsy expression, Fang Yu couldn’t help but smile.

……

Kunning Palace, Eastern Warmth Chamber.

Yin Zhen was putting together a tangram puzzle on the heated platform bed (kang), while Niuhulu. Yu Wan sat nearby drinking tea.

“Mommy, mommy.”

Niuhulu. Yu Wan looked over. Yin Zhen had finished the puzzle and was waiting for her praise. Remembering how Consort De had praised Yin Zhen earlier at Ning Shou Palace, she patted his little face. “You're so clever, Yin Zhen! You finished it so quickly. Come here and give Mommy a kiss.”

Yin Zhen quickly crawled over and planted a loud kiss on her cheek. Niuhulu. Yu Wan couldn’t help but hug him tightly. She had already instructed the servants around Yin Zhen not to mention Consort De in his presence. She wanted Yin Zhen to be close to her and only her.

Fortunately, Consort De had given birth to another son. With Yin Zhu now in the picture, Consort De probably wouldn’t try to compete with her for Yin Zhen's affection.

“Mommy…” Yin Zhen squirmed, wanting to go back to playing.

Only then did Niuhulu. Yu Wan release him and let him continue.

“Nanny Gui, we haven’t yet sent Consort De a gift to congratulate her on the birth of her son. Pick out one or two pieces of jewelry and a few bolts of fine fabric to send to her. Say that it is from me to congratulate her on her new child.”

“Would Your Majesty like to send some of the Fourth A-ge’s old clothes for the little A-ge to wear?”

Niuhulu. Yu Wan immediately refused. “No need. Those are Yin Zhen’s things. What belongs to Yin Zhen stays with Yin Zhen. Keep what he can’t wear anymore stored away.”

“This old servant understands.”

Niuhulu. Yu Wan played with Yin Zhen a while longer before having the wet nurse feed him some food. At two years old, Yin Zhen was gradually starting to eat rice cereal and congee.

After Yin Zhen went down for his nap, she began reviewing the household expenditure ledgers for the inner palace, checking where the silver was being spent.

Not long after, a servant rushed in to report that Yin Zhen had had a fall—he had rolled off the bed. Niuhulu. Yu Wan rushed over to check on him.

“Mommy…”

Yin Zhen, crying hard, reached out for her to hold him. She hurried over to pick him up and asked the wet nurses if he was injured anywhere.

“The little A-ge rolled over and accidentally fell from the bed onto the footstool beside it. He shouldn’t have hurt himself—the footstool has a wool padding—but the little A-ge was frightened.”

“You two wet nurses can’t even watch a child properly? You actually let the little A-ge fall! What if he had hit his head? I don't want to hear your excuses. Both of you, pack your things and leave the palace in the next few days.”

Nurse Feng and Nurse Pan knelt, kowtowed, and begged for mercy, but Niuhulu. Yu Wan remained unmoved. In truth, she had long intended to replace the wet nurses. She knew they were the Emperor’s people—two of them were even related by marriage to the Uya clan. She didn’t just want to replace the wet nurses; she wanted to replace all the servants attending to Yin Zhen. But she couldn’t make such a drastic move all at once. She had to take it slowly, starting by driving these two out. This incident provided the perfect excuse.

Niuhulu. Yu Wan gave Nanny Gui a look, and Nanny Gui immediately understood, instructing others to escort the two wet nurses out.

“The rest of you serving the little A-ge must be careful! The little A-ge must not be harmed in the slightest, or it will be on your heads! I will not be deceived!” Niuhulu. Yu Wan sternly admonished the remaining servants.

The servants knelt and promised they would do their utmost to serve the little A-ge well.

Only then did Niuhulu. Yu Wan let the matter rest.

Yin Zhen cried for a while longer before calming down. He didn't seem to be hurt, just tired out from crying. He clung to her, and Niuhulu. Yu Wan was happy to hold him.

Since it was still the New Year period, Niuhulu. Yu Wan allowed Nurse Feng and the others to remain in the palace a few more days before leaving after the celebrations.

Fang Yu didn't find out until half a month later that Nurse Feng and Nurse Pan had been expelled from the palace. She had expected the Empress to make such a move eventually. The Empress would never feel at ease until she had replaced everyone around Yin Zhen with her own people. After all, none of those currently serving him had been chosen by her. That the Empress had waited over a year to act already showed considerable patience.

She didn’t believe the Emperor was unaware of this. But expelling two wet nurses wasn’t a major incident. For the Emperor to reprimand the Empress over such a small matter would seem like an overreaction, so he had tacitly allowed it.

Since the Emperor said nothing, she could only pretend not to know.

In the blink of an eye, it was early March of the twentieth year of Kang Xi’s reign. Fang Yu formally moved with her household from Yonghe Palace to Jingren Palace, becoming the principal consort there.

Answering Attendant Luo, Answering Attendant Gūwalgiya, and Secondary Consort Wei, who resided in Jingren Palace, came to pay their respects. Fang Yu rewarded them with some gifts. Since they would be living in the same palace from now on, it was best to maintain harmonious relations whenever possible.

It was worth mentioning that Secondary Consort Wei, like her, had been selected to become a mistress. Wei had also been a palace maid at the time, a servant from the Sin Jeku.

Fang Yu knew she was the future mother of the Eighth A-ge. Wei was elegantly beautiful, but from what she had heard, Wei had only been summoned to serve the Emperor two or three times over the years. She remained relatively unknown in the palace, and the Emperor might not even remember her.

Answering Attendant Luo and Answering Attendant Yin had entered the palace as court ladies two years ago during the selection, while Answering Attendant Gūwalgiya had entered seven years ago. Answering Attendant Gūwalgiya’s father was a Manchu company commander in the Bordered Blue Banner, holding a fourth-rank official position.

Fang Yu hadn’t had much interaction with the three of them and wasn’t familiar with their temperaments. But regardless, since their ranks were lower than hers, they ought to show her respect. She didn’t need to do anything special.

On the daytime of April 7 in the twentieth year of Kang Xi’s reign, Daijia Shi gave birth to a son. However, this child was different from others—he was missing two toes on his right foot, a congenital disability.

It was said that when Daijia Shi saw the child missing two toes, she fainted on the spot.

Rumors soon spread through the palace that Daijia Shi’s child was born under an ill omen, a sign of misfortune. Daijia Shi herself came to be regarded by some as an unlucky person.

When they went to pay respects to the Empress, she warned them to keep a tight rein on their servants—no gossiping. The punishment would be caning for minor offenses and death for serious ones.

Everyone assented.

Fang Yu also warned Xiao Fangzi and the others not to speak carelessly and absolutely not to bring up the matter of Noble Lady Daijia and the little A-ge.

Not long after, it was heard that the Emperor had put to death two servants who had spoken out of turn. Only then did the rumors gradually die down.

Fang Yu found time to visit Daijia Shi during her confinement. Daijia Shi clearly appeared deeply affected, looking utterly listless and dispirited.

Even before Daijia Shi gave birth, Fang Yu had vaguely heard that Noble Consort Tong intended to adopt Daijia Shi’s child. But since the child’s birth, she had heard nothing more of this rumor.

She offered a few words of comfort, but it was unclear whether Daijia took them to heart—likely not.

As she left Daijia's room, she ran into Consort Duan.

“You’re the only one who would specially come to see her. Everyone else is avoiding her, afraid of catching bad luck.”

“This isn’t something Daijia could have predicted. She’s pitiful.”

After learning that Daijia had attached herself to the Empress, Consort Duan had never shown her much concern. Now, with this incident, and since Daijia lived in Yonghe Palace, even the palace itself was rumored to be an unlucky place. Daijia’s presence had brought no good fortune to Yonghe Palace—only misfortune.

Since Daijia gave birth to the little prince after Consort De moved out, many whispered behind closed doors that Yonghe Palace had lost the protective blessing of Consort Wuya, hence the ill luck.

Even Consort Duan believed it to some extent. When Consort De lived in Yonghe Palace, not only did the Emperor frequently visit, but they also received some favor. Now, with this incident and Consort De no longer residing there, it was uncertain whether the Emperor would ever come to Yonghe Palace again. She feared the palace would fade into obscurity from then on.

“She might be pitiful, but it’s not our fault she gave birth to a child with a congenital disability.”

“Sister, I don’t think Daijia wanted this either. She hasn’t done anything wrong. This is a difficult time for her. Please look out for her a little.”

“You’re kind-hearted, speaking up for her. Fine, I’ll listen to you. I’ll do my best to ensure she doesn’t go hungry.”

Consort Wuya smiled. “If you have time, Sister, come to Jingren Palace to see Yin Zhu.”

“How is Yin Zhu? He’s almost a year old. Are you planning to hold a first birthday party for him?”

Yin Zhen hadn’t had a first birthday party—he was sent to the Empress before he turned one, so she couldn’t host one for him. As for Yin Zhu, she intended to hold one, complete with a Zhuazhou ceremony.

“I plan to, but it won’t be a grand affair. I’ll invite you when the time comes.”

After chatting with Consort Duan for a while, Consort Wuya left.

Shortly after returning to Jingren Palace, the Emperor arrived. She couldn’t read his expression—whether recent events had angered or troubled him.

“Why are you staring at me?”

“It’s been so long since I last saw Your Majesty. I’ve missed you terribly.”

Kangxi had been busy before and after the New Year, so he hadn’t had time to visit her. Counting the days, it had been a couple of months since he last saw her. He glanced over her figure—she had regained much of her shape, her waist slender again. It seemed half a year had already passed.

“If you really missed me, you should have hung up your green head plaque. It’s been half a year—surely you can attend to me now?”

Consort Wuya rolled her eyes. Why was he always thinking about this? Had it really been half a year? She felt she hadn’t fully recovered yet. Her previous pregnancy had been difficult, and the birth even more so. She was genuinely afraid of being intimate again, especially since this era lacked contraceptives. What if she got pregnant again? Two children in three years was terrifying enough—she truly didn’t want to give birth again. Childbirth was too frightening, which was why she still hadn’t hung up her green head plaque.

“Your Majesty, I’m not ready to attend to you yet. Look at my stomach—it still looks like I’m four months pregnant.”

“Nonsense. You’ve slimmed down quite a bit. Your waist is very slender.”

Kangxi had already put his arms around her waist and planted a light kiss on her lips.

The servants quietly withdrew.

“Your Majesty, I haven’t slimmed down. If you don’t believe me, compare for yourself. Your Majesty, I’m not fit to attend to you like this.”

Kangxi pinched her cheek. Her resistance made him think she didn’t want to attend to him at all. “You said you missed me, but were you just paying lip service?”

She was indeed just paying lip service. She looked up at the Emperor, putting on a pitiful look. “Your Majesty, I just don’t want to get pregnant again. When I gave birth to Yin Zhu, that child tormented his mother terribly. I’m scared—the pain was unbearable, almost enough to kill me.”

Kangxi had been outside the delivery room and heard her agonized cries. For someone as delicate as her to scream like that, it must have been truly excruciating.

“So, you plan to never attend to me again?”

She had considered it, but she didn’t dare say so. If he was fixated on this and she rejected him, it would be like pushing him away. She hesitated. “It’s not that… I just… I just don’t want to have another child for now. It’s not that I don’t want to attend to you.”

“Then when you attend to me, I’ll try not to finish inside. You can drink anticonception drink afterward.”

“Will the anticonception drink harm my body?”

“All medicine has some toxicity.”

Consort Wuya leaned against the Emperor and sighed deeply. “Your Majesty, I… I don’t want to drink medicine, and I don’t want to have more children. Is there a way for me to attend to you without getting pregnant?”

“No.”

Kangxi chuckled as he watched Consort Wuya’s face scrunch up. “You… others are eager to attend to me and get pregnant, but you’re unwilling.”

“If Your Majesty really wants me to attend to you, can I just use my hands?” Consort Wuya negotiated with him.

“Enough. I won’t force you. Where’s Yin Zhu? Have the child brought here for me to see.”

“I’m not being forced, really, Your Majesty. Let me help you.”

Kangxi had a certain fondness for her and wanted her to attend to him, but he wasn’t insistent on it. Still, since she was being so obedient and eager, he had no reason to refuse her.

They moved to the bed. Kangxi couldn’t resist kissing her, nor could he resist caressing her, leaving marks all over her body. She had filled out after childbirth, her flesh soft and pliant.

They had done this before, so both were familiar with the routine. He didn’t enter her, but he thrust against her thighs.

Afterward, both were panting heavily.

Having her “attend to him” after more than half a year left Kangxi very satisfied and content.

“You’ve already given birth—why are you still so short of breath?” he accused, noting how she gasped for air after just a few kisses, showing no improvement.

“I’m weak. My constitution is frail. Women are naturally more qi-deficient than men.”

Kangxi thought that made sense.

They lay in bed for a while longer before rising and getting dressed.

Consort Wuya had the wet nurse bring the child over.

Kangxi looked at six-month-old Yin Zhu and felt the child hadn’t grown much—still thin and small, not plump at all. He asked Consort Wuya if she wasn’t feeding the child properly, wondering why he was so skinny.

“Your Majesty, what are you saying? How could I mistreat him? Yin Zhu was never very heavy at birth. I’ve already told the wet nurses to feed him more each day, but he just doesn’t gain weight. It worries me to death.”

Kangxi held Yin Zhu. The child’s eyes resembled Consort Wuya’s—both brothers had inherited her eyes.

He felt a warmth in his palm and soon detected a peculiar odor.

Consort Wuya recognized the smell immediately—the child had soiled himself. She quickly had the wet nurse take him away. Although the Emperor hadn’t directly touched it, since the child was wearing a diaper, she still insisted he wash his hands.

“Your Majesty, why not stay for a meal?”

“I’m not hungry yet. I’ll go back to review memorials first. I’ll come find you tonight.”

After seeing the Emperor off, Consort Wuya realized it had been a long time since she last practiced calligraphy. She spent the afternoon practicing writing and reading. By evening, she was summoned to the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

...

No one wanted to raise Daijia’s child. The Emperor soon issued an edict allowing Daijia to raise her own child, naming him Yin You.

The Emperor visited Jingren Palace from time to time. With only a few ladies residing there, it was natural that he would encounter others during his frequent visits.

Fang Yu did not prevent them from appearing before the Emperor. It was only human nature for the three of them to compete for favor and seek the Emperor's attention. Whoever could get the Emperor to flip their green plaque was a testament to their own ability.

Sure enough, the Emperor flipped Lady Wei's green plaque.

The day after Lady Wei served the Emperor, she came to thank Fang Yu. Fang Yu encouraged her to focus more on the Emperor, striving to gain more favor and make him fond of her.

Fang Yu lived comfortably in the palace, with only one source of dissatisfaction: the Empress refused to let her see Yin Zhen. Even during daily greetings, the Empress kept Yin Zhen away. It was only after Fang Yu insisted several times that the Empress relented and brought Yin Zhen for a brief visit.

Since the Empress was always present, whenever Fang Yu tried to get close to Yin Zhen, the Empress would deliberately engage him in conversation. Having been raised by the Empress for a long time, Yin Zhen's attention was easily drawn to her, and he felt unfamiliar with Fang Yu, unwilling to get close.

After several such encounters, Yin Zhen would start crying upon seeing Fang Yu. If she tried to touch him, he would cry even harder, refusing any contact with her.

The Empress took advantage of this, using the excuse that the child was afraid of Fang Yu and unwilling to interact with her, suggesting that Fang Yu reduce her visits to avoid frightening him.

Fang Yu thought that Yin Zhen was still young and unable to discern right from wrong, believing that things would improve as he grew older.

...

Good news also arrived from the court: the warlord Wu Sangui had died of illness. As Geng Jingzhong, Shang Zhixin, and others surrendered one after another, and with Wu Sangui dead, the Three Feudatories lost their leader. Under the relentless attacks of the Qing army, the Three Feudatories Rebellion was completely quelled by early August, ending the separatist rule in Yunnan and Guizhou and other regions. The rebellion was declared over, and the Qing court emerged victorious, lifting a great burden from the Emperor’s mind.

On August 15th, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Emperor hosted a grand banquet, inviting many meritorious officials who had contributed to suppressing the Three Feudatories Rebellion. The celebration was held in Qianqing Palace, filled with singing and dancing.

The Emperor drank too much and had to be assisted back to his bedchamber.

After attending the Mid-Autumn palace banquet, Fang Yu returned to Jingren Palace. In the middle of the night, Yin Zhu developed a fever, and she, along with the nannies, spent the night busy trying to reduce his fever. They did not rest until dawn.

The next day, upon waking, she immediately asked about Yin Zhu’s condition.

"This morning, the young prince still has a slight fever. The nanny said he has a stuffy nose and is having some difficulty breathing."

Fang Yu dressed and went to Yin Zhu’s room. Seeing his flushed face and feeling his still-warm forehead, she sent Pan Liu to fetch the imperial physician.

Because he was uncomfortable, Yin Zhu cried incessantly. The nanny tried to distract him with toys.

Since young children cannot blow their noses, one of the nannies, Nanny Shi, suggested she could suck the mucus from the young prince’s nose with her mouth.

Fang Yu, who had never had children before, was unsure if this would work. Seeing Yin Zhu struggling to breathe, she allowed the nanny to proceed.

Fortunately, it was effective. After some mucus was suctioned out, the imperial physician arrived and advised wiping Yin Zhu’s body with warm water. They did this twice, and Yin Zhu seemed to improve slightly. He cried until he fell asleep.

As Yin Zhu was ill, Fang Yu was busy caring for him and did not leave Jingren Palace for several days. It was only when Yin Zhu’s fever finally subsided that she breathed a sigh of relief.

Unknown to her, during her time in Jingren Palace, something had happened in Yonghe Palace.

Lady Daijia was raising her son, Yin You, herself. However, Lady Daijia believed the child was born with a disability, considering him ominous and unlucky, which made others in the palace avoid her. She even thought to strangle Yin You. Fortunately, Consort Duan happened upon the scene, saved the young prince, and reported the incident to the Emperor.

With the Three Feudatories Rebellion recently concluded, the Emperor was in a good mood. The joyous news from the court had already dispelled the rumors that Yin You represented an ill omen, so the Emperor was naturally less resistant to the child.

However, Lady Daijia’s attempt to kill her own child enraged the Emperor. He initially intended to send her to the cold palace, but after Consort Duan interceded on her behalf, he relented. Instead, he confined Lady Daijia for three years, forbidding her from leaving Yonghe Palace. Yin You was entrusted to Consort Duan for upbringing.

Fang Yu could not understand Lady Daijia’s mindset. The child was alive, after all, merely missing two toes. As long as the child was not dim-witted, raising him should have been manageable. With so many servants to care for an imperial prince, even if she did not wish to tend to him herself, she could have left everything to the servants. Raising a child in the palace was not difficult—there was no lack of resources. Why resort to killing her own child? The child was innocent.

Moreover, whenever the Emperor thought of Lady Daijia in the future, he would only remember her attempt to kill her son. It was likely that Lady Daijia would never again receive favor or attend to the Emperor.

Fortunately, the child was now under Consort Duan’s care and should grow up safely. Consort Duan had always wanted a child.

Since Yin Zhu was still ill, Fang Yu could not visit Yonghe Palace, especially since there was another child there. She did not want to risk passing on the illness. Instead, she sent Pan Liu to deliver several sets of children’s clothing to Consort Duan.

Yin You was only seven months younger than Yin Zhu, so the clothes that fit Yin Zhu should also fit Yin You. Fang Yu knew Yin You would not lack for clothing, but it was a token of congratulations, a way to congratulate Consort Duan.

Yin Zhu’s illness persisted until the end of August before he fully recovered. He remained still thin and small, and Fang Yu was at a loss about what to feed him to help him gain weight.

A child under one year old could not eat much. Fang Yu heard that goat milk was good for a child’s resistance, so she occasionally fed him some, thinking that he needed to be raised delicately.