Chapter 45: Attending School Together

Chapter 45: A Palace Visit

On September 1st, Fang Yu went to pay her respects to the Empress. After the formalities, she remained in the Kun Ning Palace.

"Consort, is there something else you need?"

"Your Majesty, I wish to see Yin Zhen."

"Yin Zhen was up late last night and is probably still asleep. You may come another time, Consort."

Paying respects usually took place early in the day, so perhaps the Empress was telling the truth—it was still early, and Yin Zhen might not have woken up yet. However, Fang Yu felt she couldn't simply allow the Empress to dismiss her so easily. She sat down and said she would wait.

The Empress had pastries and tea available, so Fang Yu wouldn't go hungry or thirsty. She decided to wait there with the Empress. Perhaps seeing that Fang Yu truly had no intention of leaving, the Empress finally had Yin Zhen brought over by a servant. When he was carried in, Yin Zhen was still crying.

When Fang Yu reached out to hold him, he turned away, refusing to let her hold him, and instead moved toward the Empress. The Empress took him, and he wrapped his arms around her neck, calling her "Mother" over and over.

"Your Majesty, I would like to take the Fourth Imperial Prince to the Jingren Palace for a while. Please allow me to take him."

Fang Yu reached out to take Yin Zhen, but the Empress dodged her and said, "Consort, Yin Zhen is crying like this and isn't ready to go to an unfamiliar place. For Yin Zhen’s sake, if you wish to play with him, it’s better to stay here in the Kun Ning Palace."

"Strangers at first meeting become familiar with time. The more he goes, the more accustomed he’ll become. Don’t you agree, Your Majesty?"

"Yin Zhen, do you want to go?" the Empress asked Yin Zhen.

Yin Zhen, who would turn three in three months, could understand adult conversations. When the Empress asked, he immediately said loudly that he didn't want to go. The Empress gave Fang Yu a look that said, "You see, Yin Zhen doesn’t want to go."

Fang Yu had tolerated many things for the sake of her child, thinking that since Yin Zhen was being raised in the Kun Ning Palace and the Empress had not made any major mistakes, the Emperor wouldn't likely go back on his word and return Yin Zhen to her. However, everyone has their limits. In her anger, she directly made a grab for Yin Zhen.

"Consort De, what are you doing?" The Empress hadn't expected her to dare snatch the child and shouted at her.

"Your Majesty, feel free to shout. We can let the Emperor come and judge this matter. I tell you today that when I leave the Kun Ning Palace, I will take him with me. I refuse to believe that in this harem, a birth mother isn't allowed to see her own child."

"Yin Zhen doesn’t want to go with you. How can you force the child?"

"I will force him today! Please let him go, Your Majesty!"

Perhaps the Empress had never seen her act so unreasonably and domineeringly before and was momentarily at a loss. Fang Yu snatched Yin Zhen from her arms and carried him out of the Kun Ning Palace.

Yin Zhen cried even louder, struggling desperately in her arms. Unlike the one-year-old Yin Zhu, Yin Zhen was older and stronger, and Fang Yu feared he might fall. She eventually put him down.

"Consort De won't carry you. Let the nanny hold you, alright? You, come hold the Fourth Prince."

Fang Yu pointed to the nanny who had followed them. Nanny Guo was one of the Empress’s people. After the Empress had sent away the two original nannies, she replaced them with two others who had connections to the Niuhulu Family.

When Nanny Guo held Yin Zhen, he, being familiar with her, gradually stopped crying.

Fang Yu brought Yin Zhen, along with the two nannies and two attendants attending to him, back to the Jingren Palace. She asked if Yin Zhen had eaten breakfast yet, and Nanny Guo said he had.

"Yin Zhen, would Consort De take you to see your younger brother?"

Yin Zhen turned his neck away and refused to speak to her.

Fang Yu was in no hurry. She directly dismissed Guo and the others, having them wait outside the hall. She knelt down and used a handkerchief to wipe the tears from Yin Zhen’s face.

"Even your younger brother doesn’t cry as much as you do."

"I want my mother. I want to go back. Did my mother not want me anymore?"

Fang Yu soothed him gently: "When it’s time, Consort De will send you back. Stop crying. Let Consort De peel a mangosteen for you."

A child’s attention is easily diverted. Fang Yu peeled a mangosteen for him, removed the seed, and fed him a segment.

Mangosteens in summer were very sweet, and the ones delivered by the Imperial Household Department were fresh. The flesh was sweet, and children usually liked it. Sure enough, after eating one segment, Yin Zhen looked at her with anticipation.

She fed him another segment, and they finished one fruit this way.

"Do you want more?"

Yin Zhen nodded.

"You can have more later. Come, Mother will take you to see your brother. You can play with him."

Fang Yu held Yin Zhen’s hand and took him to Yin Zhu’s room. When Yin Zhen saw the one-year-old Yin Zhu, he curiously went forward to take a look.

"This is your sixth brother."

Yin Zhu was still young and couldn’t walk yet. He lay in his little bed, excitedly waving his hands when he heard someone talking.

"Why doesn’t Sixth Brother get up?"

"He can’t walk yet."

"Oh."

Fang Yu stroked Yin Zhen’s head. Worried he might get bored, she soon took him to play with something else. The small wooden horse carriage sent by the Imperial Household Department’s workshop was suitable for children to ride. It had four wheels at the bottom. She let Yin Zhen sit on it and held him as they moved around the spacious inner hall.

Children were like this—if you played with them, they would smile at you. Fang Yu patiently played with Yin Zhen for more than two hours. When he got hungry, she had food served. Because the weather was hot, she had someone prepare wontons, pumpkin porridge, and a bowl of yogurt.

Yin Zhen really liked the wontons and finished all six. He also had a few bites of the pumpkin porridge and some yogurt.

After he finished eating, Fang Yu wiped his mouth.

"Yin Zhen, would you like to take a nap here?"

Yin Zhen shook his head and said he wanted to go back to his mother.

Fang Yu also felt it was about time. She needed to do this gradually. If she forced him to stay in the Jingren Palace for a whole day, it might make him even more reluctant to come back in the future. However, she felt she needed to gently correct him on the term "mother."

"Yin Zhen, Her Majesty the Empress is your official mother. Your birth mother is me—I gave birth to you. You should call me 'Mother' and Her Majesty 'Empress Mother.'"

"You’re not my mother."

"I am."

"You’re not."

"I am."

Fang Yu argued back and forth with Yin Zhen like a child. Seeing Yin Zhen pout and about to cry again, she stopped and soothed him, "Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. You’ll understand when you grow up. I have two sets of clothes for you, Yin Zhen. Let’s see if they fit."

Fang Yu had Pan Liu bring over two sets of clothes and held them up against Yin Zhen. They seemed to fit well, with the right length.

"Take these two sets of clothes back with you to wear. Mother made them herself."

A three-year-old clearly wasn’t very interested in clothes. Fang Yu called the attendants in and had Nanny Cao help carry them.

"Alright, Yin Zhen, you can go back now. Come again another time to play. Say goodbye to me."

Fang Yu waved at Yin Zhen. Yin Zhen, only half-understanding, waved back at her and then left with the nannies.

The next day, Fang Yu heard from Xiao Shunzi that the two sets of clothes she had sent were put away by the Empress and were never put on Yin Zhen. She had expected this and was not surprised.

Afterward, Fang Yu continued to visit Yin Zhen every now and then, bringing him to Jingren Palace to play when she had time. If the Empress tried to stop her, she would pretend to take it up with the Emperor. The Empress had to give in, as she was the one in the wrong. The Emperor had only said that Yin Zhen was to be raised by her, not that his birth mother couldn’t see him.

Perhaps because she was strong-willed, the Empress weakened and could only compromise temporarily.

After that, they reached a delicate balance. As far as she knew, when the Empress found an excuse to try to replace the other two wet nurses, the Emperor did not agree and suppressed the matter, stating that no one serving Yin Zhen could be replaced without his permission. The Empress had no choice but to yield.

As they spent more time together, Fang Yu and Yin Zhen grew much closer. At least Yin Zhen didn't push her away as much as before, though he still didn’t call her "Mom," only "De Mother."

Not long after, Lady Wei became pregnant. Nine months later, she gave birth to a little prince. One month after the birth, the Emperor issued a decree to have Lady Wei’s little prince raised by Consort Hui of the Nala clan.

...

Before they knew it, two years passed. On May 2nd, in the 23rd year of Kangxi’s reign, Yin Zhen, now six years old, had just woken from his nap. He didn't summon anyone, but heard people talking outside his bed canopy.

"Although the Fourth A-ge was also born by Consort De, the Sixth Prince is the one raised by Consort De. Consort De must like the Sixth Prince better."

"Of course, everyone in the palace knows Consort De prefers the Sixth Prince. Whenever the Sixth Prince gets sick, Consort De becomes very anxious. But our Fourth A-ge? When he was sick a while ago, Consort De only stopped by and didn’t seem worried. Only the Empress treats the Fourth A-ge as her own child, caring for him day and night."

Yin Zhen, now six years old, already knew that Consort De was his birth mother, the one who gave birth to him, his real Mom, while the Empress was the one who raised him. But Consort De usually treated him very well too; it’s just that Consort De didn’t have only him as a son—she also had Yin Zhu.

When he was sick a while ago, it was the Empress who took care of him by his side. Consort De only came to see him. What the servants said was true.

For some reason, Yin Zhen felt a bit resentful. He got up abruptly, making noise. The two nursemaids who were talking immediately came forward to open the bed canopy.

"Fourth A-ge, you’re awake."

Yin Zhen looked displeased at Nanny Sun and Nanny Ke. He didn’t say he heard them talking, only that he wanted to go to Jingren Palace.

"Alright, let me help the Fourth A-ge get dressed."

After dressing, Yin Zhen went straight to Jingren Palace. Actually, today wasn’t his scheduled day to visit Jingren Palace; tomorrow was. Perhaps because of what the nursemaids said, he felt upset and wanted to go ask his Mom whom she preferred—him or his sixth brother.

He didn’t let the servants announce him. As soon as he entered Jingren Palace, he saw his Mom playing with his sixth brother in the front yard. His sixth brother was laughing happily, which made him even more unhappy. It was Pan Liu who noticed him first.

Yin Zhen walked over and called out, "De Mother."

"I’ve told you to call me Mom."

Yin Zhen, holding his breath, deliberately called her De Mother. He knew she was his Mom. He looked at his four-year-old sixth brother and was about to speak when his sixth brother cut in, "Fourth Brother, play with me."

Yin Zhen said unhappily that he wouldn’t play with him and told him to play by himself.

Fang Yu could also see that Yin Zhen was a bit unhappy today. She ruffled his hair and asked him why he came today.

"Can’t I come? Does De Mother not welcome me?"

"Where did that come from? You don’t know how much I look forward to your visits. Whenever you come, my mood instantly improves. Are you hungry? Do you want some snacks? I had someone prepare your favorite dan huang su [a type of pastry]. Would you like one?"

"No, I’m not hungry."

"Who made my baby angry?"

Yin Zhen said stubbornly, "Don’t call me baby; I’m not a baby. De Mother, when I was sick, why didn’t you come see me often?"

Fang Yu knew Yin Zhen was sensitive. Perhaps because he had been caught between her and the Empress these past few years. When he was sick, she wanted to visit him often, but she was also sick—she had caught a cold, came down with a fever, felt dizzy and unsteady, with back pain. She was afraid that if she went to see him, she might pass on her illness and worsen his condition, so she didn’t dare visit him every day.

"Mom was also sick a while ago. I was afraid of passing my illness to you."

"But if I was sick and you were sick, how could you pass your illness to me? Weren’t we both sick?"

Fang Yu patiently explained, "Because Mom was afraid Mom’s illness might be different from yours. Having one illness doesn’t mean you can’t get another. What if multiple illnesses appear together? For example, when you fall, you might scrape your knee, but you could also scrape your elbow."

Yin Zhen seemed to understand but not fully. He murmured "oh" and then awkwardly asked if Mom had recovered.

"I’m already better. Yin Zhen, don’t worry about Mom; I’m an adult and can take care of myself. But you, in a few days, you’ll have to start studying at the study hall."

Yin Zhen was still a child. He started learning at four, but he hadn’t gone to the study hall yet. This year, His Majesty said he was old enough to attend classes at the study hall. Whether he liked it or not, he had to go.

"I don’t want to go."

"You have to go whether you want to or not. Studying is a good thing."

Yin Zhen grumbled, "Then why doesn’t sixth brother go?"

Fang Yu chuckled, "Your sixth brother will go soon too. How about having sixth brother attend classes with you? Would you like that?"

Yin Zhen thought studying was a bad thing, so having someone suffer with him naturally made him happy. He nodded eagerly: "Okay, okay, let sixth brother come with me."

Fang Yu thought it would be good for Yin Zhu to go to the study hall with Yin Zhen. The two brothers could grow closer; brotherly affection comes from spending time together.

"Alright then, I’ll talk to His Majesty about it. Did your Empress know you came to Jingren Palace today?"

At this, Yin Zhen stuck his tongue out. He hadn’t told the Empress he was coming to Jingren Palace. He knew the Empress didn’t like him coming to Jingren Palace often, though he didn’t quite understand why. Sometimes when he came to Jingren Palace to see his Mom, after returning to Kunning Palace, the Empress would be unhappy and would keep asking what he did at Jingren Palace and what De Mother said to him, demanding he tell her everything in detail.

He hadn’t told the Empress in advance about coming today.

"I... I should go back now."

Fang Yu nodded, gesturing that Yin Zhen could go back. Over the past two years, as she grew closer to Yin Zhen, the Empress had many grievances and had targeted her openly and secretly multiple times. Her discord with the Empress was now out in the open. Fortunately, she had not fallen out of favor these past two years, allowing her to hold her own against the Empress.

Yin Zhen had also grown up and become more understanding, starting to realize she was his birth mother and didn't resist being close to her. Of course, Yin Zhen was still closest to the Empress, who was still number one in his heart.

After Yin Zhen left, Fang Yu sent Xiao Fangzi to fetch a sweet geng from the kitchen, and she went to Qianqing Palace.

After one ke [approximately 15 minutes], Fang Yu arrived at Qianqing Palace with Pan Liu. Eunuch Zhang, standing at the palace door, immediately came forward. "Your Highness, what brings you here?"

"Is the Emperor available to see me?"

"I'll announce you."

Fang Yu nodded. Shortly after, Eunuch Zhang gestured she could enter. The Emperor was reviewing petitions.

"Your Majesty, take a break. I’ve prepared some lotus seed soup for you. Why not have some?"

Kangxi waved his hand, saying he wasn’t hungry.

Fang Yu set the lotus seed soup aside. She stepped behind the Emperor and began rubbing his shoulders.

"Use a bit more force."

Fang Yu tapped his back—as if she had come just to serve him! She quickly brought up the subject of Yin Zhu and Yin Zhen studying together.

"They’re only two years apart. Yin Zhu should be able to keep up with the lessons. Your Majesty, what do you think?"

Kangxi hesitated, "Yin Zhen has already begun his studies, but Yin Zhu hasn’t. They are two years apart, but Yin Zhen already recognizes many characters. Yin Zhu... hasn't learned his characters yet."

Emperor Kangxi suspected that Consort De might be spoiling Yin Zhu. It was true that Yin Zhu had been frail and sickly as a child, and Consort De had used this as an excuse to dote on him excessively. The child had been raised by her to be just as delicate and pampered as she was.

"Yin Zhu does know how to read. I’ve been teaching him characters in my spare time—he can already recite the *Three Character Classic*. Your Majesty, don’t underestimate him. Yin Zhu is very clever. Besides, I never expected him to become a scholar well-versed in both astronomy and geography. It’s enough that he recognizes a few characters."

Emperor Kangxi looked at her helplessly. She was indeed spoiling Yin Zhu, setting such low expectations for him. What did she mean by "it’s enough that he recognizes a few characters"?

Consort De truly didn’t have high demands for Yin Zhu. For one, the child had been sickly and frail, only improving in the past year. Secondly, she always worried that Yin Zhu might die young. Historically, the Sixth Prince had passed away at the age of six, so she naturally hoped Yin Zhu could enjoy a happy childhood. Her only wish for him was to grow up safely and peacefully.

"The study companions for Yin Zhen have already been chosen by the Empress. The ones for Yin Zhu haven’t been selected yet."

"I’ll choose them right away. So, does Your Majesty agree?"

Emperor Kangxi nodded.

Overjoyed, Consort De wrapped her arms around the Emperor’s neck from behind and kissed him on the cheek. Just as she was about to leave, the Emperor grabbed her wrist.

"Leaving just like that?"

"What else does Your Majesty want to do?"

Emperor Kangxi turned slightly, pressed the back of her head, and engaged her in a passionate kiss before finally releasing her. He told her not to leave, so she wouldn’t have to come back again in the evening.

"If you want me to stay, then I’ll stay. I wouldn’t dare disobey Your Majesty’s order."

Emperor Kangxi pinched her cheek and gestured for her to find something to do herself, as he still had to review memorials.

Naturally, Consort De occupied herself by reading storybooks—ones she had specially ordered from outside the palace. She kept a few copies at the Emperor’s place for whenever she felt bored.

As she read, she also pondered over the selection of study companions for Yin Zhu. Companions were usually chosen from among close relatives of the imperial clan or the sons of princes and high-ranking officials, typically around five or six in number.

Yin Zhen’s companions had all been selected by the Empress, including the grandson of Prince Gong and members of the Niuhulu Family.

The Emperor’s intention was for her to make the selections herself. She planned to compile a list and then submit it to the Emperor for final approval.

As an imperial consort who had given birth to two princes, she had received many gifts from princes and high-ranking officials over the years—some sent directly to her, others to the Wuya family—all in an attempt to curry favor with her. She had become quite familiar with many court officials and had a general idea of which families had children.

She mentally went through a list of children around Yin Zhu’s age.

After nightfall, she took her evening meal with the Emperor.

That evening, the Emperor summoned her to share his bed, and Consort De took the initiative tonight.

"Usually, it’s me who serves you."

"Your Majesty is talking nonsense. It’s always me serving you."

Emperor Kangxi smacked her bottom. How could she say that? She only took the initiative when she had a request or when he had granted her wishes. Over the years, she had grown lazier, yet he remained utterly captivated by her.

Consort De was now like a ripe peach, exuding a sweet fragrance that made it impossible to resist savoring her.

Emperor Kangxi grazed her shoulder, then moved downward to her bosom.

The two of them were intimate for quite a while before calling for water to bathe.

……

After returning to Jingren Palace from Qianqing Palace, Consort De wrote a letter to her father, asking him to spread the news outside the palace that Yin Zhu was selecting companions. Within a few days, she received many petitions of recommendation, some even including the birth characters of their children.

Consort De compiled a list, made an initial shortlist, and marked two children from the Wuya family with a check. She then submitted the list to the Emperor, who would choose the remaining four.

Less than two hours after the list was sent to Qianqing Palace, the Emperor returned it with four names marked, just as she had done.

Consort De couldn’t help but smile. She promptly informed the chosen households. According to her father’s reply, those chosen had sent many gifts to the Wuya family. Thus, the matter of selecting companions for Yin Zhu was settled.

Consort De also sent some essentials to Kunning Palace that Yin Zhen would need for his studies at the Imperial Study, such as writing implements, paperweights, book bags, and other items.

……

Ever since Niuhulu Yu Wan learned that the Sixth Prince, Yin Zhu, would be attending classes alongside Yin Zhen, she had been very unhappy. She knew Consort De’s intention was to bring Yin Zhen and Yin Zhu closer, thereby drawing Yin Zhen closer to herself as well. Over the past two years, Consort De had become increasingly bold. With the Emperor’s tacit approval, Yin Zhen had grown much closer to Consort De.

Initially, she had forbidden the servants from telling Yin Zhen that Consort De was his birth mother, but she couldn’t silence everyone around him. Now, Yin Zhen knew that Consort De was the one who had given birth to him.

Yin Zhen occasionally visited Jingren Palace. Although each time he returned, he would watch her expression carefully and dare not show too much joy, she still felt angry. Sometimes, she would deliberately cold-shoulder him.

Yin Zhen, aware that she disliked his birth mother, would reduce his visits to Jingren Palace when she was upset. But that wretched woman would either come to find Yin Zhen or summon him to her place.

Over the years, Consort De, relying on the Emperor’s favor, had grown increasingly dismissive toward her in the inner court and openly vied with her for Yin Zhen’s affection.

Fortunately, Yin Zhen was a dutiful child who knew who cared for him most. He always said she was his favorite.

"My Lady, these are items sent by Consort De for the Fourth Prince."

When Niuhulu Yu Wan saw the writing implements, she seethed with anger. Did Consort De think she wouldn’t prepare these things for Yin Zhen? How dare she send them.

"Throw them away. All of them. Don’t let the Fourth Prince see them. Dispose of everything."

Seeing her mistress angry, Nanny Gui quickly signaled the servants to take the items away.

"My Lady, please don’t be angry."

"That Consort De won’t rest until she usurps Yin Zhen’s loyalty from me. Having the Sixth Prince study with Yin Zhen is part of her scheme to take him from me."

Nanny Gui advised, "But My Lady, everyone knows the Fourth Prince is loyal to you. He merely sees Consort De as someone who treats him well. The Sixth Prince attending classes with the Fourth Prince isn’t a big deal. I heard the Emperor has also allowed the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince to attend the Imperial Study this year. The princes are all around the same age, so it’s not unusual for them to commence studies together."

Niuhulu Yu Wan still scoffed in irritation. She had been blind in the past, thinking Consort De was humble and compliant.

"Nanny, if this continues, Yin Zhen will eventually value Consort De above me."

"My Lady, that won’t happen. The Fourth Prince was raised under your care. You are the one he loves most. Everyone in the inner court knows how well you’ve treated him—even the Emperor knows."

Somewhat reassured by Nanny Gui’s words, Niuhulu Yu Wan calmed down a little and summoned Nanny Guo and others.

She instructed Nanny Guo to prepare writing implements for the Fourth Prince and to pack the required texts he would need for the Imperial Study in advance. She also had Yin Zhen summoned.

Yin Zhen must not grow up idle and undisciplined in studies. He needed not only the Emperor’s praise but also to outperform the Crown Prince. She had high hopes for him. When Yin Zhen arrived, she repeatedly exhorted him to study hard at the Imperial Study, to be prepared when the Emperor questioned him on his lessons, and to be diligent and serious, not lazy.

"Empress Mother, your son understands."

"You must strive to uphold my honor. Don’t lag behind your older and younger brothers. I know you’ve always been an astute and capable child. Don’t disappoint me."

Yin Zhen nodded in agreement.

"Also, don’t frivolize with your younger brothers. You’re there to study, not to play. I don’t want you forming close alliances with them. Yin Zhen, can you do that?"

"Empress Mother, your son can do it. I won’t disappoint you."

Niuhulu Yu Wan allowed herself a satisfied smile.