Chapter 57: The Emperor’s Personal Campaign

Chapter 57: The Emperor Leads the Expedition Personally

After giving birth, Uya Shi once again began the process of raising a child. Most of the time, she only needed to check in on the baby, ask whether he was sleeping well or eating well, without having to take care of him personally. Several wet nurses took care of the child on a daily basis.

The Emperor occasionally came to see her and the child, but he had become busy again lately. It was said that Galdan of the Dzungar tribe continued to annex and plunder smaller tribes, gradually growing stronger. The Khalkha Mongols had requested support from the Qing court.

After completing her month of resting, Uya Shi took a comfortable bath.

"Sister, you are truly blessed to have another prince," Consort Duan visited her and said with a smile.

"After finally raising two children, I have to start all over again. Sister, I’m actually pretty annoyed about it."

Consort Duan gave her a look: "Sis, you can't say things like that. Many people envy what you have, yet you complain. A few days ago, the Imperial Noble Consort even requested permission to raise your child. If you really don’t want to raise him, you could hand the child over to her. Let’s see if you’d be willing to part with him."

Uya Shi let out a light laugh. She really couldn’t bear to part with her child. The Imperial Noble Consort was something else—she wanted to raise Uya Shi’s child but was unwilling to swallow her pride to make up and build a good relationship. She hadn’t even come to Jingren Palace but went directly to the Emperor to make her request. Of course, the Emperor did not grant it.

"Sister, please don’t tease me."

"I knew you wouldn’t be willing to part with him. Has the Emperor chosen a name for the little prince yet?"

Uya Shi shook her head. The Emperor had been so busy lately that he had probably forgotten. But there was no hurry anyway.

"The Emperor has arrived."

The Emperor strode in. Consort Duan stood up to pay her respects, while Uya Shi only gave a half-hearted glance, too lazy to rise.

Seeing that the Emperor had arrived, Consort Duan politely mentioned that she had matters to attend to at Yonghe Palace and took her leave.

"Your Majesty, my stomach hasn’t flattened out yet."

Kangxi smiled, his eyes filled with amusement. She had given birth only two months ago—it wasn’t so easy for the belly to shrink that quickly.

"Don’t worry, it will go down eventually. I asked the Imperial Astronomers to propose a few names. Listen to these: Yinti, Yinzhen, Yinxu. Which one do you think is best?"

"Your Majesty, show me how they're written."

Kangxi took Uya Shi’s hand, spread open her palm, and wrote the three names on it.

"Then the first one."

"Good, let it be Yinti. Have them bring Yinti out for me to see."

Uya Shi said, "The child is still sleeping. According to the wet nurse, he cried for a long time last night. Better not wake him. Your Majesty can just look at me."

Kangxi really stared at Uya Shi. She had become even more beautiful, and her features remained exquisite. She aged beautifully. He walked over and kissed her right on the lips.

Gui Yun and the others in the room immediately bowed and quickly slipped out, closing the door behind them.

"Your Majesty, you have dark circles under your eyes. Have you been staying up late going through reports?"

"Hmm."

Uya Shi could not help with court politics. If the Emperor wanted to talk about it, he would bring it up himself. She would not ask too much.

"I am preparing to personally lead the campaign."

Uya Shi raised her eyebrows. Was it that serious?

"When will Your Majesty depart, and how long will you be gone?"

"I leave in two weeks. It might take several months before I return."

Uya Shi directly wrapped her arms around the Emperor’s waist, snuggling against him, and said, her voice muffled, "Then I won’t be able to see Your Majesty for several months. Can you take me with you? I don’t want to be separated from you."

Kangxi directly gave her backside a pat. He was leading the expedition personally, off to war—how could he bring her? She had just given birth. But Uya Shi was right—this would be the first time they were separated.

"Wait patiently for my triumphant return. You are a temptress—if I brought you along, I would be distracted."

Uya Shi gave his lower lip a light nip and said in a fake annoyance, "Your Majesty is the temptress."

Kangxi also lowered his head to give her lips a quick kiss. He caught the faint, delicate fragrance on her and held her tighter and tighter.

"Your Majesty, you... you... I can’t breathe. Let go."

"Won’t let go."

The two of them played around like that for a long time before finally straightening their clothes. Both had a light sweat on their brows. Since it was daytime, they didn't call for a bath in the end, only using a towel to wipe off.

Kangxi was quite pleased with himself. Seeing Uya Shi’s flushed cheeks, he reached out to touch her face. Uya Shi swatted his hand away and, uncharacteristically shy, turned her back to him.

"I still have matters to attend to. I’ll come again in the evening."

"Your Majesty, don’t come. Jingren Palace does not welcome you."

"You say one thing, but your heart means another. Who was it that wouldn't let me go earlier?"

"Your Majesty, leave quickly."

Kangxi left with a laugh.

By evening, Kangxi came to have dinner with Uya Shi and spent the night at Jingren Palace.

Just one day later, news of the Emperor’s personal expedition spread throughout the inner palace, and a formal decree was announced.

Five days later, the Emperor appointed Prince Yu as the Great General of Pacification of the Distance, with the eldest prince Yinti as his deputy. Prince Gong was appointed as the Great General of Pacification of the North, while Prince Jian, Tong Guogang, Mingzhu, and others were all involved in military affairs. The Crown Prince, Tong Guowei, Suo Etu, and others remained in the capital for the time being.

If the eldest prince could achieve military achievements in this campaign, he would also accumulate a certain level of prestige in the court, just as the Crown Prince had been sent to Nerchinsk several months earlier.

The Emperor’s sons also needed to achieve merits to earn respect and prestige. Military achievements were an excellent opportunity, and the Emperor was giving the eldest prince a chance.

Uya Shi vaguely understood why the eldest prince resented the Crown Prince. First, because he was the Emperor’s eldest son, the Crown Prince’s older brother, and naturally outranked him. Second, the Emperor likely intentionally or unintentionally promoted the eldest prince. The art of ruling emphasized balance. Although the Emperor loved the Crown Prince, he did not spoil him. His first priority was to ensure his own throne remained stable and secure.

By the sixth day of the tenth month, only one day remained before the Emperor’s personal expedition. That night, the Emperor kept her up all night.

Early the next morning, Uya Shi rose early to help the Emperor dress. The Emperor returned to Qianqing Palace first, while she and the other consorts and ladies of the inner palace came to see him off at the Shenwu Gate.

A large, impressive procession set off from the Shenwu Gate. Uya Shi watched as the procession moved farther and farther away until it disappeared from sight. Suddenly, she felt a hollow emptiness in her heart. After all these years, she had grown accustomed to the Emperor’s company and affection. Now, facing such a long separation, she couldn’t help but feel down and sad.

...

With the Emperor gone, the inner palace grew even quieter.

Every day, aside from looking after her children, Uya Shi had little else to do.

Consort Hui still came to see her from time to time, chatting with her for a while.

Yinzhen and Yinzhu also came every few days from the princes’ residence to pay their respects to her and see their younger brother.

Yinzhu kept saying that Yinti was ugly. Uya Shi repeatedly told him that all children looked like that when they were young, and he had been the same way. Yinzhu refused to believe it.

Though he found his little brother ugly, Yin Zhu enjoyed teasing Yin Ti, but would become flustered and didn't know what to do after making him cry.

Fang Yu watched with a gentle smile.

In the blink of an eye, it was mid-November. The Emperor had been gone for a month, and Fang Yu had no news of the front lines.

Noble Lady Wei had fallen ill these past few days. Fang Yu went to her room to check on her and also summoned the imperial physician to examine her.

"Your Highness, you shouldn’t come here. You still need to care for the little prince. What if my illness spreads to him?"

"It’s alright, don’t worry about me. The most important thing is for you to recover soon."

Noble Lady Wei suddenly began to cry, and Fang Yu quickly asked what was wrong.

"I’m just... a little upset."

Fang Yu was puzzled. "What’s there to be sad about? The imperial physician said that as long as you rest well, you will definitely recover. Your illness isn’t serious, so don’t worry yourself unnecessarily."

It was Xiao Qing, Noble Lady Wei’s maid, who explained that she was missing the Eighth Prince.

"Missing the Eighth Prince? Then have him come see you. Does the Eighth Prince know you’re ill?"

Fang Yu didn’t think it was a big deal. Consort Hui probably wouldn’t prevent the Eighth Prince from visiting Noble Lady Wei. Besides, the Eighth Prince now lived in the Princes' Residence and didn’t need Consort Hui’s permission to visit.

But Noble Lady Wei held her back. "Your Highness, please don’t tell the Eighth Prince. I don’t want him to worry."

"If you wish to see the Eighth Prince, just send someone to inform him, or you could go to the Princes' Residence to see him yourself."

Fang Yu felt that Noble Lady Wei’s illness might be partly due to excessive worry. She always found Noble Lady Wei melancholic. Although Noble Lady Wei came from a humble background, she had given birth to the Eighth Prince and lived in Jingren Palace. Fang Yu believed she had never mistreated Noble Lady Wei, and the palace servants wouldn’t dare mistreat any mistress of Jingren Palace. Noble Lady Wei lacked nothing in terms of food and clothing; if she could adopt a more positive outlook, she could live quite comfortably in the palace.

"Never mind. The Eighth Prince doesn’t want to see me. Your Highness, please don’t tell him. I can handle it."

Seeing that Noble Lady Wei had made up her mind, Fang Yu didn’t push the matter, as it was a matter between mother and son. She only urged her to focus on recovering.

A few days later, having some free time, Fang Yu took Pan Liu and others for a stroll in the imperial garden.

She slowly walked to a corner of the garden where a wintersweet shrub was in full bloom, its yellow petals quite beautiful.

She leaned in to smell it and encouraged Pan Liu to do the same.

"It’s so fragrant."

Fang Yu plucked a petal and held it to her nose, enjoying the fragrant scent of the wintersweet.

As they were savoring the fragrance in the corner, they heard a commotion somewhere nearby. Fang Yu followed the noise and was surprised to see the Crown Prince and others.

At first, she thought the Crown Prince was beating a servant, but upon closer look, she realized it was the Eighth Prince. The Crown Prince was stepping on the Eighth Prince’s chest, looking down at him contemptuously, while the Crown Prince’s men restrained the Eighth Prince’s servants.

With their backs turned to her, Fang Yu heard the Crown Prince curse the Eighth Prince, calling him the filthy son of a lowly servant and a wretched thing.

Fang Yu shot a glance at Pan Liu, who immediately understood and called out loudly, "Your servant pays respects to the Crown Prince. May the Crown Prince be auspicious."

The Crown Prince noticed her and withdrew his foot, bowing to her. "Greetings, Consort De. May you be blessed."

"What is going on here? Has the Eighth Prince done something wrong?"

The Crown Prince replied, "Indeed, he has. Just now, Eighth Brother bumped into me carelessly and even insulted me. I was merely disciplining him."

Fang Yu went over to help the Eighth Prince up and, with uncharacteristic sternness, said to the Crown Prince, "Crown Prince, the Eighth Prince is your brother. If he hasn’t committed any major offense, there’s no need to humiliate him like this. Picking on your younger brother will harm your reputation if word gets out."

The Crown Prince smiled and said, "You’re right, Consort De. I was wrong. Eighth Brother, I apologize. You’ll forgive me, won’t you?"

"I was wrong. I was the one who bumped into Second Brother first. I should be the one apologizing. Please forgive my reckless behavior."

Fang Yu knew the Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince were at odds, and the Eighth Prince sided with the Eldest Prince. With the Emperor and the Eldest Prince away, the Crown Prince had likely seized the opportunity to torment the Eighth Prince. The Crown Prince was spoiled and did whatever he wanted.

Fang Yu looked at the Eighth Prince. His face was bruised and covered with small bleeding cuts and scrapes. He had been kicked several times by the Crown Prince, and she figured he was probably hurt elsewhere too.

"Since apologies have been made, let this matter end here. Eighth Prince, you may go back now."

The Eighth Prince replied with a grunt and left with his servants.

"Consort De, are you here to enjoy the flowers in the imperial garden?"

The Crown Prince had shed the ferocity he showed while beating the Eighth Prince and resumed his gentle act. Fang Yu glanced at him and replied, "Yes, I noticed the wintersweet in the imperial garden is blooming quite beautifully."

"Wintersweet? If Consort De wishes, I can have the Imperial Household Department send a few fresh pots to Jingren Palace so you can admire them there."

"That won’t be necessary. I’ve had my fill of admiring them for today. I shall take my leave."

"Consort De, take care."

After returning to Jingren Palace, Fang Yu summoned Xiao Fangzi and instructed him to deliver two bottles of ointment for cuts and bruises to the Eighth Prince.

"Does Your Highness plan to inform Noble Lady Wei?"

Fang Yu shook her head. Noble Lady Wei was still unwell, and she didn’t want to trouble her with this and add to her worries.

Compared to the Crown Prince’s status as the legitimate son of the empress, the Eighth Prince’s background was indeed lowly. Noble Lady Wei came from the Xin Zhe Ku, which mostly housed those with criminal backgrounds.

She hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to dare bully the Eighth Prince so openly. After all, the Eighth Prince was still his brother. This likely wasn’t the first or second time—it had probably happened many times before.

The Crown Prince had even bullied Yin Zhen in the past, let alone the Eighth Prince. She thought that whether it was Yin Zhen back then or the Eighth Prince now, if they were beaten by the Crown Prince, they could only endure it silently.

She wondered if Consort Hui knew about this.

Fang Yu sighed. The Crown Prince truly was out of control in the palace. She decided not to dwell on it further. Originally, before returning, she had thought of going to the study chamber to check on Yin Zhen and Yin Zhu, but the incident with the Crown Prince had made her forget.

"The weather is getting colder. Have Xiao Shunzi and the others remember to dress the Fourth Prince and the others warmly and ensure there’s enough charcoal in their rooms."

Pan Liu sent Gui Yun to the Princes' Residence to pass on the orders.

Fang Yu went to check on Noble Lady Wei again. Noble Lady Wei was drinking medicine and still didn’t look too good.

"Your Highness, there’s no need to worry about me. I’m feeling much better."

"Good, that’s a relief."

After leaving Noble Lady Wei’s room, Fang Yu initially thought of checking on Yin Ti, but since he was still young and susceptible to illness, she decided against it. The nursemaids would surely take good care of him—if they didn’t, they would lose their heads.

The next day, the Eighth Prince had a servant come to thank her, though he did not come in person.

...

Tong Guogang was killed by a stab wound while charging into enemy lines. The news took half a month to reach the palace. They said the Imperial Noble Consort had cried for a long time.

Fang Yu had considered going to comfort the Imperial Noble Consort but feared she might be seen as rubbing salt in her wounds or there to mock her, so she decided against it.

Tong Guogang was Tong Guowei’s elder brother and one of the pillars of the Tong clan. With his death, the Tong family was likely to be thrown into chaos for a while.

Tong Guogang's body was first transported back to the capital, where the Crown Prince presided over the mourning rites, and the Emperor personally conferred the posthumous title "Zhongyong" and granted five thousand taels of silver.

The Emperor returned to the capital in the third month of his personal campaign, and the day after his return, he went to the Tong residence to offer condolences.

This imperial expedition was not a decisive victory; the Qing army suffered significant losses and failed to capture Galdan, who managed to escape.

In the first few days after the Emperor returned to the palace, he did not come to see her, nor did she seek him out. She knew the Emperor must be in a foul mood, as the imperial expedition had not brought victory.

She knew the war between the Qing court and the Dzungars had lasted a long time, only ending with Galdan's suicide. It seemed the Emperor would personally lead three campaigns—this was only the first.

The Emperor was in a foul mood, and she didn't dare impose on him.

As the New Year approached, they still had to celebrate. Fang Yu asked the Imperial Household Department for red paper cuttings and joined the ladies of Jingren Palace, including Ying Shan, to cut window decorations together.

Noble Lady Wei had finally recovered from her illness, and they sat together happily, with the wet nurse holding Yin Ti off to the side.

Four-month-old Yin Ti watched them curiously, his eyes wide with curiosity, occasionally waving his little hands as if he wanted to join them.

"After all these years, you haven't improved at all—still clumsy. What is this supposed to be?"

Ying Shan chuckled, teasing her. Fang Yu picked up the window decoration she had cut and realized she had forgotten a few steps and messed up the cutting. She had intended to cut a fish, but it ended up looking nothing like one.

Consort Duan also smothered a laugh.

"Everyone's laughing at me. I'm just rusty. Wait, I'll cut a big fish to show you."

The others smiled faintly.

Just as Fang Yu was about to start cutting again, Xiao Fangzi hurried in and announced that the Emperor was on his way here.

Soon, the Emperor arrived at Jingren Palace, and everyone bowed in greeting.

Fang Yu said directly, "Sisters, let's stop here for today. You may go now."

The group dispersed.

Fang Yu was about to tidy up the items when the Emperor, with a stern expression, sat on the heated kang bed. She signaled the servants to leave the room but had Yin Ti stay.

She carried Yin Ti over to the Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, look at Yin Ti. He's grown so big."

Kang Xi glanced at the child. It had been three months, and the child had indeed grown significantly, and even his hair had grown in.

"Have him taken away."

Fang Yu thought the Emperor was in such a bad mood that he didn’t even want to see the child. She quickly called the wet nurse to take Yin Ti away and cautiously said, "Your Majesty, if you’re upset, you can scold me or even vent your frustrations on me. Whatever you need me to do, just say it. Don’t keep it bottled up."

"I will sooner or later tear Galdan into pieces."

"Absolutely, he deserves it. Cut him into eighteen pieces, have him hanged, drawn and quartered, or executed by lingchi."

Kang Xi was surprised to hear such harsh words from the usually kind-hearted Lady Wuya. He looked at her, and inexplicably, his mood improved a little.

"So you even know about drawing and quartering."

"I know a lot of things."

Kang Xi knew that too many Qing soldiers had been lost this time, and Galdan had escaped with his men. Galdan was cunning and would surely make a comeback.

"I feel like a failure."

Fang Yu took the Emperor’s face in her hands and said earnestly, "Your Majesty is not a failure. You are the most wise and courageous person I have ever seen. When the feudatory lords rebelled, you captured them and brought the traitors to justice. What is Galdan compared to them? Your Majesty will surely capture him."

Kang Xi sighed. The Revolt of the Three Feudatories had lasted nearly eight years, nearly depleting the national treasury. Another eight years would likely lead to widespread discontent. But there was no other way except to eliminate Galdan.

Now that Galdan was still alive, the Qing court had to continue fighting.

"Your Majesty, Galdan must die."

Kang Xi had already made up his mind. Knowing this would be a prolonged war, he shook off his gloom and looked at Lady Wuya. After months apart, her figure had returned to normal, and she had grown much thinner.

"Let me see how much weight you’ve lost."

"Only a little. I eat a lot, Your Majesty. Don’t laugh at me."

Kang Xi began to remove her clothes, but she fled to the inner room. He caught her and brought her to the bed. After months apart, he missed her deeply. She was soft and delicate, and touching her felt especially comforting.

He kissed her shoulder and slowly moved downward, then noticed something was missing.

"It's gone?"

Fang Yu pushed him. She hadn’t been breastfeeding, so it naturally disappeared over time. It couldn’t last forever.

"Your Majesty, why even ask? You’re really…" Fang Yu was at a loss for words.

Kang Xi gave a low chuckle and caressed her cheek.

By the end, both were exhausted and fell asleep.

...

After the New Year, by the third month, the Emperor began criticizing various ministers for their failures during the campaign. Many were fined, stripped of their salaries, and lost their privileges to participate in political discussions, including Prince Yu. Some were dismissed or demoted—many officials were punished.

Only then did the Emperor’s anger subside.

In the fifth month of the same year, the Emperor elevated the eldest princess, Consort Rong’s daughter, as Princess Rongxian of the First Rank, and three months later, she was sent to marry into the Barin Tribe of Mongolia for a political marriage.

The Barin Tribe fought alongside the Qing court to fight against Galdan.

On the day of the princess’s wedding, Consort Rong cried all day. Everyone knew that once the princess married so far away, it was uncertain when she would return to the capital—perhaps never. Leaving her homeland and family was a tragedy for the princess. Under imperial and patriarchal authority, daughters had no say in the matter.

Though Fang Yu had little interaction with the princess, she felt a sense of sorrow for her—a shared female plight. Even born into wealth, she had no autonomy.

In the thirty-second year of Kang Xi’s reign, Prince Gong’s daughter was granted the title of Gurun Chunxi Princess and was married into the Borjigin Tribe.

The war against Galdan lasted four years, ending only in the thirty-sixth year of Kang Xi’s reign. The Emperor led three imperial expeditions. By the third, the main force of Galdan was crushed by the Qing army. Deserted by his allies, Galdan took his own life, and the Qing court finally achieved true victory.

...

On the second day of the third month in the thirty-seventh year of Kang Xi’s reign, Yin Zhen married Ulanara Shuxiang, the daughter of Fei Yanggu, a Senior Minister of the First Rank.

The next day, Yin Zhen brought Ulanara Shi to present tea to his mother.

Fang Yu looked at the tall and grown-up Yin Zhen—it felt as if he had grown up in the blink of an eye. In another year or two, Yin Zhen might even move out of the palace. Her eyes reddened, but she held back tears and drank the tea offered by Ulanara Shi.

She gave Ulanara Shi two bracelets, one for each wrist, and a pair of earrings as gifts for the tea presentation.

"Mother, why are you crying?"

Fang Yu wiped her eyes and realized she was shedding tears. She glared at Yin Zhen and said irritably, "Can’t a mother cry?"

Yin Zhen chuckled, thinking his mother was becoming more and more like a child.

Ulanara, upon witnessing the interaction between the Fourth Prince and Consort De, had a general sense that Consort De was an easygoing person. She seemed much more amiable and approachable compared to their first meeting, without the intimidating presence she'd had at first.

Fang Yu held her daughter-in-law's hand and advised, "If Yin Zhen ever does anything improper in the future, you can come and tell me. I'll have your back. Don’t be afraid of him. I only hope the two of you live a good life together."

"Mother Consort, your daughter-in-law understands."

Fang Yu did not pressure Ulanara about bearing children for Yin Zhen. Since they still had to pay respects to other consorts, she let them leave without holding them back with endless chatter. She knew that nagging would just get on their nerves.

After they left, Fang Yu wiped away her tears and carried on with her usual routine.