Chapter 55: Southern Tour

Chapter 55 Southern Tour

The lasting effects of Fang Yu's previous poisoning meant her body couldn't withstand the cold. As soon as the weather turned chilly, the cold seemed to seep into her bones along her spine, causing a sharp, persistent ache.

This winter in the capital was particularly cold. Fortunately, her hall had underfloor heating, keeping the room warm and making her feel somewhat better.

Another New Year arrived. On the first day of the lunar year, Fang Yu took the lesser consorts of Jingren Palace to Cining Palace to pay their New Year respects to the Empress Dowager.

After the Grand Empress Dowager died, the Empress Dowager moved from Ningshou Palace to Cining Palace. The Empress Dowager was not the emperor's birth mother; she had been the successor empress and was only thirteen years older than the emperor.

Consort Xuan arrived early. As the Empress Dowager's younger sister, she naturally had a close relationship with her.

Fang Yu and Consort Xuan nodded to each other, exchanged informal greetings, and sat down. Others arrived one after another. When the Empress Dowager emerged from inside, everyone paid their respects.

The Empress Dowager told them not to stand on ceremony.

On the first day of the lunar year, eating meat was forbidden. Everyone ate a bowl of vegetarian dumplings at the Empress Dowager's place, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

The Empress Dowager was much more amiable than the Grand Empress Dowager had been.

Afterward, they left Cining Palace.

Fang Yu glanced at Consort Niuhulu walking ahead. She was three months pregnant but still had a slim figure. Consort Niuhulu had been in the palace for a year and remained inconspicuous, never seeming particularly close to anyone.

"What are you looking at?"

Ying Shan nudged her elbow. Fang Yu gestured with her chin toward Consort Niuhulu ahead.

With people both in front and behind, they only exchanged a glance. It wasn’t until they returned to Jingren Palace that Ying Shan spoke, wondering if Consort Niuhulu could give birth to a prince for the Niuhulu Family.

"It should be a prince."

"Why are you so sure?"

Fang Yu knew that Consort Niuhulu would give birth to the Tenth Prince, so she was naturally certain.

"Your Highness, have a bowl of ginger soup to warm yourself. Nala minor consort, you have one too." Pan Liu brought over two bowls of ginger soup.

Ying Shan waved her hand, saying she wouldn’t drink it as she was full from the dumplings earlier.

Fang Yu, feeling cold, slowly drank the ginger soup.

After a while, the two of them played card games with a few servants, using their lucky money as bets on the table.

Fang Yu had a lucky streak and won quite a bit.

It wasn’t until the beginning of the Weishi hour (around 1 p.m.) that Yin Zhen and Yin Zhu returned. As princes, they had to accompany the emperor in religious rites and sacrifices.

Fang Yu asked if they were tired. Yin Zhen said no, while Yin Zhu said yes. She smiled and quickly had servants bring some hot food.

The day passed just like that.

Due to snow disasters in many places this year and insufficient national treasury funds, no opera troupes had been invited to perform in the imperial harem after the New Year. After all, it wouldn’t be right to indulge in revelry and merrymaking while the people suffered.

The New Year was very quiet. Shortly after the celebrations, word spread through the harem: Consort Yi was pregnant.

Fang Yu's relationship with Consort Yi had warmed. Thinking of her pregnancy, she went to visit her.

"It’s so cold outside. Why did you come, sister? Please, have a seat."

Fang Yu took off her cloak and sat down, looking at Consort Yi. There was no visible sign of pregnancy yet. She said, "I heard you’re pregnant, sister. I came to congratulate you."

Consort Yi smiled. "You’re very quick to hear news, sister. But it’s not confirmed yet. The court physician said it’s still early, and the pulse is still faint. We’ll know for sure in a little while."

Fang Yu knew it was almost certain if the news had spread. The dates of the imperial consorts' nights of conjugal visit were scrupulously documented by the Office of Imperial Affairs, so there was no mistake.

"Yes, it takes some time when it’s early. Are you feeling any discomfort, sister?"

"Just these past few days, I’ve had no appetite and don’t feel like eating anything. Did you feel this way when you were pregnant?"

Fang Yu said that when she was pregnant, she had severe morning sickness, vomiting whatever she ate.

"When I was pregnant with Yin Qi, I often vomited too. That was really hard."

Fang Yu and Consort Yi discussed the trials of pregnancy. Both had given birth to two princes, so they had much in common in this regard.

After talking for a while, Fang Yu left.

As soon as she returned to Jingren Palace, she saw the emperor sitting on the heated kang, flipping through a book she had been reading.

"Your Majesty, when did you arrive?"

"Can’t I come?"

"I wish you would come every day. I just returned from Consort Yi’s place. She’s probably pregnant."

Kang Xi noticed that Lady Uya’s tone when mentioning Consort Yi’s pregnancy didn’t sound happy. He dismissed the attendants, took her wrist, pulled her over, and made her sit on his lap.

"Are you being jealous again? If she can get pregnant, why can’t you? You’re clearly the one I attend to most frequently. I’ve come to you so many times—why is there no sign of pregnancy?"

Fang Yu pouted. "Your servant is inadequate and has disappointed Your Majesty. I deserve to die for my failure. I have let you down."

Kang Xi sighed helplessly. He hadn’t even said anything, and she was already acting as if she had committed a crime. He stroked her face—it was chilled, probably from being outside. When he touched her hands, they were cold too.

"Why are you so cold?"

"I’m always like this in winter—my hands and feet are cold and never seem to warm up."

"I’ll have the court physician examine you."

Fang Yu tried to get up from the emperor’s lap, but he held her by the waist. "Your Majesty, please let me get up. Aren’t you afraid your legs will go numb?"

Kang Xi breathed in the light, fresh scent from her body, buried his face in the curve of her neck, and licked it.

"Your Majesty, why are you like Bai Bai, licking everything?"

Kang Xi bit her playfully. She was comparing him to that cat—how bold! Wasn’t she afraid he would punish her? He slowly removed her outer garments. Although the room was warm, he worried she might catch a chill, so he wrapped her cloak around her.

"What is this? This is like 'No silver here'?"

She was only wearing a cloak with nothing underneath—what was the difference between wearing it and not wearing it? It still made things to his advantage. The emperor was becoming increasingly impulsive, acting on his whims whether by day or night.

"I’m afraid you’ll catch a chill."

"If you were really afraid I’d catch a chill, you wouldn’t have taken off my clothes."

Kang Xi laughed lightly, drew her to face him, and said, "I don’t want you to envy others. If we try more often, you can get pregnant too. There’s no need to envy others. Bear me another prince."

Fang Yu rolled her eyes, but then her mouth was covered. At first, she was sitting on his lap, but later she was pinned down on the heated kang.

At the end, she was too exhausted to engage with him.

Kangxi called for water and, without letting the palace maids assist, cleaned her himself. Afterward, he helped her get dressed, garment by garment.

"Do you want to rest for a while?"

"I can't sleep. Why would I sleep in the middle of the day?"

Kangxi knew Lady Uya was angry with him at the moment and just smiled, asking if she was hungry and if she wanted a meal served.

"I want spicy chicken feet."

Kangxi immediately sent a servant to inform the kitchen that she could have whatever she wanted.

When the spicy chicken feet were brought in, Kangxi watched as Lady Uya ate with great relish, and he felt happy himself.

After spending some time with her, Kangxi left.

In the blink of an eye, it was early March. Fang Yu, at leisure, sat in the courtyard crafting hair ornaments with the other ladies of Jingren Palace when the Eighth Imperial Prince came to offer greetings to Lady Wei.

The Eighth Imperial Prince was now six years old and cared for by Consort Hui. Occasionally, Lady Wei would go to Yanxi Palace to see him, but whether it was because Lady Wei was naturally cautious or Consort Hui didn’t want her to get too close to the Eighth Imperial Prince, her visits were infrequent. Previously, when the Eighth Imperial Prince was younger, he never came on his own accord. This was the first time he had actively come to Jingren Palace to offer greetings to Lady Wei.

"Sister Wei, you should go. Don’t worry about us."

Lady Wei excitedly stood up and led the Eighth Imperial Prince to her room.

A little later, when the Eighth Imperial Prince came out, he also came to pay his respects to them, appearing very polite and thoughtful.

"The Eighth Imperial Prince has grown taller again. Feel free to come to Jingren Palace to play more often. Lady Wei often talks about you," Fang Yu said gently.

"I understand, Mother Consort."

Seeing how proper the Eighth Imperial Prince was, Fang Yu didn’t say much more. How the Eighth Imperial Prince and Lady Wei interacted was their own business, and she didn’t want to interfere in their bond.

Lady Wei perhaps felt that her humble origins might embarrass the Eighth Imperial Prince. Usually, she didn’t dare to bring the clothes and shoes she made for him to him.

Moreover, with Consort Hui standing between them, it was clear to Fang Yu that the Eighth Imperial Prince and Lady Wei were not close.

"Sister Wei, let’s continue crafting hair ornaments."

"Alright."

Lady Wei sat back down with them to work on the hair ornaments, though her expression was not as joyful as before. It was unclear what the mother and son had discussed in the room.

Just half a month later, news spread through the palace that the Emperor intended to arrange a marriage for the First Prince. Fang Yu also heard about it. The First Prince was sixteen this year, the age for marriage, and she wondered which family’s daughter he would wed.

She had someone look into it and learned that the Emperor intended to betroth the daughter of Minister Kolkhon to the First Prince. Kolkhon held a first-rank official position, which was quite high.

The Emperor hadn’t mentioned the marriage arrangement for the First Prince to her beforehand. Since the First Prince was Consort Hui’s son, perhaps the Emperor had discussed it with her.

Time passed quickly. The Emperor’s eldest son was already getting married, and in a few years, it might be Yin Zhen’s turn.

When the Emperor summoned her to attend to him, afterward, Fang Yu lay on the Emperor’s chest and couldn’t help saying, "Your Majesty, if you plan to arrange a marriage for Yin Zhen, you must tell me in advance."

Kangxi knew immediately that she must have heard about him arranging a marriage for Yin Ti. Yin Ti was his eldest son, and it was only natural for him to marry at his age. As for Yin Zhen, he was only ten this year, still four or five years away from marriageable age, though it was time to start considering suitable families.

"Don’t worry, I won’t hide it from you. I’ll definitely tell you in advance. I will choose a dutiful and meek principal wife for Yin Zhen."

Fang Yu said discontentedly, "What do you mean by dutiful and meek? Does a woman have to be dutiful and meek to become a principal wife?"

"Of course. To become the principal wife of my son, she must be dutiful and meek."

Fang Yu asked, "Does Your Majesty think I am dutiful and meek?"

Kangxi was taken aback and felt it was best not to answer this question.

"Your Majesty, answer me honestly. Am I dutiful and meek?"

"I think you are refined and wise."

Fang Yu pinched the Emperor’s waist and glared at him, saying, "Your Majesty means I’m not fit to be a principal wife, right? That I can only be a concubine?"

Kangxi thought to himself that Lady Uya truly wasn’t suited to be a principal wife. She was inherently pampered, averse to serving others, often easily jealous, and her appearance was too strikingly beautiful, with a mesmerizing gaze—hardly the image of dutifulness and meekness. Her jealous nature would likely prevent her husband from taking concubines. She was only suited to be a favored concubine.

"A principal wife must serve the prince. You don’t know how to serve others, and besides, whose principal wife do you want to be? You already belong to me."

"Why should women only serve men? Isn’t it enough to have servants? You even want your wives to serve you. You all have such lofty ideas."

"Alright, how did we get to this? Do you want Yin Zhen to marry a principal wife who stirs up daily discord and disrupts the household?"

Fang Yu knew the Emperor’s views couldn’t be changed—he was deeply traditional—so she didn’t press further and turned away, refusing to speak to him.

Kangxi didn’t understand how a conversation about Yin Ti and Yin Zhen’s marriages and their future principal wives had upset her so much.

Soon, the imperial decree for the marriage was issued.

As a consort in the inner court, Fang Yu didn’t need to do anything special. She just sent a present to the First Prince and left the rest to the Imperial Household Agency and Consort Hui to handle.

On April 10th of the 27th year of Kangxi’s reign, Lady Niohuru gave birth to a little prince.

Fang Yu sent another present to Lady Niohuru.

When Lady Niohuru’s son reached one month old, the Emperor named him Yin’e. At the same time, the Emperor appointed Lady Niohuru as a Consort, while Consort Tong was elevated to Imperial Consort. With this appointment, Fang Yu became even more certain that the Emperor had no intention of appointing another empress, meaning the inner court would remain without an empress for decades to come.

On July 12th of the 27th year of Kangxi’s reign, Consort Yi delivered a prince, whom the Emperor named Yinzi.

In late October of the same year, the First Prince married.

In early November, news spread that Lady Wanliuha and Lady Zhangjia were pregnant.

The following July, both delivered princes.

These princes were all raised by their birth mothers.

...

In early September of the 29th year of Kangxi’s reign, the Emperor decided to embark on a southern imperial inspection tour. The princes accompanying him were the First Prince, Fifth Prince, Yin Zhu, and Yin Si. The Crown Prince, Third Prince, and Yin Zhen remained in the capital.

Fang Yu, as a consort, was also on the list for this southern tour. In the days leading up to the departure, she began preparing luggage. The tour would last three months, so it was essential to bring enough food for the journey.

"Mother..."

"Yin Zhen, you’re here. Come, have some of the dried beef strips you like. I had people make a lot of it. Take it back to the imperial princes' residence to eat."

Eunuch Shun accepted it on Yin Zhen’s behalf.

Since Yin Zhen wasn’t accompanying them on this trip, Fang Yu couldn’t help but start advising him before she even left: "While I’m away, make sure to eat on time, and no late-night reading."

"Mother, I know."

"Just saying you understand isn't enough; you must actually do it. Don't make your mother worry. Also, you can send letters to me—just hand them to Eunuch Zhang at the Palace of Heavenly Purity."

Yin Zhen listened to his mother's nagging and couldn't help saying, "Mother, I'm not a little kid anymore."

Fang Yu flicked Yin Zhen's forehead. "You might not be a child anymore, but you're still my child. Don't complain about your mother's nagging."

Yin Zhen grinned. His mother really had been nagging a lot just now. He was already twelve, yet she still treated him like a little kid, often worrying that he wasn't dressed warmly enough or eating well. He knew she cared about him, but sometimes, after hearing too much, he just let it go in one ear and out the other.

"By the way, Mother, Eldest Uncle has been promoted. He's now the Deputy Commander of the Plain Yellow Banner."

"Promoted? When did that happen?"

"Just recently. It was the Emperor who promoted him, but Eldest Uncle is being transferred to Shengjing."

"A promotion is good news. Is Shengjing far from the capital?"

Yin Zhen chuckled softly. Sometimes he thought his mother was very clever, and other times he found her a bit silly. He told her it wasn't particularly far, at least much closer than Jiangnan.

Shengjing was the former capital of the Qing Dynasty, where Emperor Taizong ascended the throne and established the nation. Now it's a secondary capital. Eldest Uncle said that the Emperor intended to test him, and this transfer to Shengjing was a good thing.

If Fang Yu knew what her son was thinking, she would have defended herself, saying she was just unfamiliar with geography.

"That's good then."

Fang Yu looked at Yin Zhen. Her child had truly grown up. Some matters from the court were even relayed to her by Yin Zhen; living in the inner palace, she wasn't as well-informed as he was.

She patted Yin Zhen's head and said, "I heard you've been spending a lot of time with the Crown Prince lately."

"Yes."

Yin Zhen knew the Crown Prince was the heir apparent, the one who would inherit the throne. It was important for him to maintain a good relationship with the Crown Prince.

Fang Yu knew Yin Zhen had his own thoughts and plans. In fact, relying on the Crown Prince for now wasn't a bad thing. As these princes grew older, she could see clearly that they were divided into two factions. One was led by the Eldest Prince, who, as the eldest son, subtly resented the Crown Prince. The Eighth Prince was closer to the Eldest Prince because he was raised by Consort Hui and naturally familiar with him. The Crown Prince, on the other hand, had a good relationship with the Third Prince, along with Yin Zhen. The Fifth Prince, raised by the Empress Dowager, had a calm temperament and got along reasonably well with both the Eldest Prince and the Crown Prince.

Yin Zhu and the younger princes were still young, more focused on playing, and hadn't yet realized the need to join any faction.

Fang Yu didn't consider herself smarter than them. Sometimes, she let Yin Zhen make his own choices. As long as Yin Zhen got along well with the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince treated him as one of his own without bullying him, it was fine.

"That's good. Just remember to yield to the Crown Prince in everything."

"Avoid confronting him directly—you've told me that, Mother. I still remember."

Yin Zhen had learned his lesson once and knew to yield to the Crown Prince. He remembered what his mother had told him earlier. He knew she would never steer him wrong and that her advice made sense.

"Our Yin Zhen is so clever."

Fang Yu kissed Yin Zhen directly on the cheek.

Yin Zhen immediately blushed, saying he wasn't a child anymore and she shouldn't kiss him like that.

Fang Yu found her child adorable. She recalled how, some time ago, the Emperor had suggested she, as his mother, select a few attendants for Yin Zhen. The Emperor's meaning was clear: Yin Zhen had reached the age to be introduced to intimacy.

Although she had refused at the time—she felt Yin Zhen was only twelve and, in her eyes, still very much a child—she couldn't even imagine Yin Zhen taking a wife or concubines.

The Emperor had said she was useless as a mother, that she couldn't keep treating Yin Zhen like a child forever.

Fang Yu had ignored the Emperor then, not bothering to argue.

By evening, the mother and her two sons sat together for dinner. After the meal, Yin Zhen and Yin Zhu returned to the princes' quarters. Yin Zhu had moved in with Yin Zhen at the beginning of the year.

On September 10th, the entourage set out from the capital.

Not many consorts were accompanying them this time—only she, Noble Consort Niuhulu, and Consort Ping.

The Emperor made her ride in the same carriage as him. Inside the Emperor's carriage, Fang Yu spent her time eating, drinking, and sleeping.

She was almost always with the Emperor, entering and exiting together. Whenever they stopped to rest, she stayed with him, so she was also responsible for sharing his bed.

The Emperor didn't idle during the tour of inspection; he still reviewed memorials and handled court affairs.

By September 30th, they had reached Dezhou for a stop.

As during the previous inspection tour, local officials held a banquet to welcome them. At the banquet, they arranged for beautiful dancers and singers, their graceful movements a pleasure to watch.

Fang Yu sat to the right of the Emperor, watching those beauties intently when her hand was suddenly grasped. She turned to look at the Emperor, somewhat confused.

The Emperor stroked her palm, and she realized he was afraid she might be jealous—she had been jealous once before.

She found it amusing but played along with the Emperor's intention to "tease" him, deliberately pulling her hand away.

Under the table, their hands engaged in a back-and-forth, a game of chase, until the Emperor finally held hers firmly.

After the banquet, the Emperor did not accept those beauties, unlike last time when he had housed them in the rear courtyard.

Returning to their temporary quarters, Fang Yu deliberately kept a cold expression. While removing her hairpins, she purposely slammed one down on the dressing table.

"Are you angry?"

"Your servant saw Your Majesty couldn't take his eyes off those beauties."

"Nonsense. I didn't look at them at all." Kang Xi walked up behind her and began undoing her hair.

"Your Majesty is the one talking nonsense. Your servant saw it clearly. Those women are young and beautiful. Why doesn't Your Majesty accept them and summon them to serve you? Your servant is old and unattractive—I shouldn't be here obstructing Your Majesty's view."

Fang Yu stood up to leave.

Kang Xi stopped her, laughing. "Where do you think you're going? You live here. Where else would you go? When did I look at them? You're making things up."

"You didn't look?"

"I was only looking at you, you little jealous thing."

Fang Yu leaned against the Emperor, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Really? I don't believe you."

"I can prove it to you." Kang Xi kissed her.

Fang Yu laughed and pushed him away. "Alright, alright, I believe you. Your Majesty, let's take a bath first."

"Together."

A while later, both were lying in bed. Kang Xi gazed at Uya Shi's rosy skin and voluptuous figure, unable to resist kissing her all over.

"That tickles, Your Majesty. Stop teasing. Get on with it—I'm tired and want to rest early."

Hearing her lazy, teasing voice only made him more restless. He never grew tired of her; he wished he could make her a part of him.

"Tired? You didn't do anything today."

"Just riding in the carriage is exhausting too."

Kang Xi knew she couldn't possibly be tired. Traveling on the official road, which was not bumpy at all, she always complained of exhaustion—it was merely an excuse, not genuine fatigue.

"You're just being high-maintenance. I’ve never seen anyone as fussy as you, so quick to get lazy."

"Your Majesty, I really am tired. Your Majesty can have those other beauties attend to you tonight."

Hearing this, Kang Xi bit her gently and tickled her, making her laugh joyfully. The two of them played around for quite a while before calling for bathwater.

"Your Majesty, you shouldn’t always have me alone serve you. The Noble Consort and Consort Ping are on this trip too."

Fortunately, both the Noble Consort and Consort Ping were easygoing. Over the past twenty days, the Emperor had only summoned her to serve him, yet they hadn’t made any fuss. If it had been the Imperial Noble Consort, she would likely have caused a scene long ago.

Fang Yu, having served the Emperor frequently, was worn out. She didn’t want to attend to him every night—she simply didn’t have the same energy as the Emperor. Thus, she didn’t mind letting the Noble Consort and Consort Ping take their turn.

"I only want you to serve me."

Fang Yu scoffed, thinking to herself that if he truly meant it, he should have brought only her along. Since he had brought the others, he must have intended for them to serve him as well.

Over the past two years, however, the number of times she had been summoned had increased significantly. The Emperor seemed determined to have her all to himself—out of ten summons in a month, seven would be for her, while the remaining three were distributed among the little consorts in the rear palace.

This was, perhaps, a good problem to have. It might also be that the Emperor wanted her to bear another prince. After all, Wanliuha Shi and Zhang Jia Shi had served him far less frequently, yet both had given birth to princes.

"Your Majesty, I don’t want to incur the jealousy of the Noble Consort and Consort Ping."

"Don’t talk nonsense. I decide who serves me—it’s none of their business."

Fang Yu couldn’t be bothered to argue further and let him do what he wanted. She was getting sleepy and closed her eyes to sleep.