Chapter 58: Enfeoffing the Princes

Chapter 58: Enfeoffing the Princes

Not long after Yin Zhen's grand wedding, the Emperor enfeoffed the various princes. The Eldest Prince, Yin Zhi, was enfeoffed as Doroi Giyūn Wang, the Third Prince, Yin Zhi, as Doroi Unenggi Giyūn Wang, while Yin Zhen, the Fifth Prince Yin Qi, Yin Zhu, the Seventh Prince Yin You, and the Eighth Prince Yin Si were all enfeoffed as Doroi Beile.

When Yin Zhen came to pay his respects to her, he dismissed the others. His expression was somber, and he did not look very happy.

Fang Yu quickly asked him what was wrong.

"Mother, I am very disappointed."

Fang Yu asked him why he was upset. Thinking something had happened, her tone couldn't help but carry concern.

"Why did Imperial Father only enfeoff me as a Beile, while Eldest Brother and Third Brother were made commandery princes?"

Hearing that it was about this matter, Fang Yu smiled, patted Yin Zhen's head, and said gently, "It's only for now that you are a Beile. Perhaps in a few years, you won't be a Beile anymore. In any case, your Imperial Father will definitely enfeoff you as a prince. There's no need to rush."

"Will Imperial Father really enfeoff me as a prince?"

"Absolutely. If your Imperial Father doesn't, I will see to it that he does. Being a Beile is actually quite good. If you really became a commandery prince, your Second Brother, the Crown Prince, might become as wary of you as he is of your Eldest Brother."

Yin Zhen thought about it and realized it made sense. Since he was currently supporting Second Brother, if he became a commandery prince, Second Brother might no longer trust him.

"Mother, but I still wish to be enfeoffed as a commandery prince."

Yin Zhen spoke his mind to his mother, not afraid that she would laugh at him.

"Yes, I understand. Back when I was an Answering Attendant, I also wanted to be promoted to Consort immediately. But at that time, I hadn't given birth to you yet. If I had been enfeoffed as a Consort then, some would have thought I didn't deserve the title. It was only after I gave birth to you and your younger brother that your Imperial Father enfeoffed me as a Consort. Only then did my position become legitimate. Otherwise, it would have been an empty title, like a castle in the air—hollow underneath and bound to collapse eventually. What you need to do is to let others see your contributions, how much practical work you've done in the court. With these achievements, your rise will not be seen as undeserved, and it won't be like a castle in the air."

Yin Zhen understood. He needed to achieve real results in the court. With merits to his name, it would be rightful for Imperial Father to enfeoff him as a prince, just as Eldest Brother had earned military merits and Third Brother had begun compiling books.

He nodded and told his mother he understood.

"Good that you understand. How are you getting along with Shuxiang?"

Yin Zhen said it was going well. Ula Nara Shuxiang was his Consort, and he was a prince, so of course she had to listen to him.

"That's good."

"Imperial Father said that in a few days, he will allocate some silver for us to build a residence outside the palace."

Fang Yu smiled and said, "That's good too. It'll be more comfortable outside the palace. If the silver isn't enough, I still have some here."

Yin Zhen shook his head and said he didn't want his mother's financial help.

"It's fine. I've saved up a lot of silver, and it's only for you and your brother. I have no use for it."

"Then Mother can leave it for Younger Brother. I also have plenty of silver."

Seeing that Yin Zhen didn't want to accept it, Fang Yu didn't force him. She asked him to stay and have a meal with her, as there wouldn't be many opportunities for mother and son to dine together once he moved out of the palace.

"Call your younger brother over too."

"Him? He went out of the palace with Eighth Brother and the others."

Fang Yu muttered about how this child was always leaving the palace.

Yin Zhen smiled. Sixth Brother had loved to play since childhood and couldn't stay put in the palace. In the end, he stayed and had lunch with his mother.

That evening, Fang Yu was summoned by the Emperor. After nightfall, they made love once. Both of them were not young anymore, so they didn't take too long.

While she was playing with the Emperor's braid, he suddenly said, "Don't you have anything to say to me?"

"Say what?"

"Aren't you going to say anything for Yin Zhen? I only enfeoffed him as a Beile."

After the edict of enfeoffment was issued, Consort Yi was the first to confront him. First, she complained that Yin Qi was only enfeoffed as a Beile, and second, that Yin Tang had not been enfeoffed, arguing that Yin Tang was old enough to be enfeoffed. Consort Yi felt he was being biased.

"Say what? Does the Emperor not want to enfeoff Yin Zhen as a Beile?"

"I originally intended to enfeoff Yin Zhen as a commandery prince."

Fang Yu thought to herself that if he wanted to enfeoff him, he should have done it. Saying he wanted to but not actually doing it just meant he didn't really want to. Still, she calmly replied, "Then why didn't the Emperor enfeoff him in the end?"

"I feel Yin Zhen is still young and needs more training."

"I think so too. In any case, I know the Emperor would never treat Yin Zhen unfairly. I know the Emperor must have his best interests at heart."

"It's good that you understand."

Fang Yu yawned and said she was tired.

"Sleep, then."

Fang Yu quickly closed her eyes.

Perhaps the Emperor felt guilty toward Yin Zhen. A little over a month later, Yin Zhen came to tell her that the Emperor had privately given him an extra five hundred taels of gold to build his residence, more than what Eldest Brother and Third Brother received, and told him not to speak of it.

Fang Yu told him that since his Imperial Father had given it, he should accept it. In the end, Yin Zhen received one thousand taels of gold and thirty thousand taels of silver for building his residence.

After the enfeoffment, the Emperor quickly allocated companies to the various princes. Yin Zhen was allotted two Manchu companies, one Mongol company, and one Han army company, totaling about a thousand people. These thousand people were considered Yin Zhen's private subordinates, whom he could command at will. Of course, there were also some bondservants and eunuchs.

Once Yin Zhen's Beile residence was built, he could take these bondservants to his estate.

Fang Yu was no longer worried about Yin Zhen at all. After all, he was grown up now and could handle his own affairs.

As for Yin Zhu, since he was not yet old enough to build a residence outside the palace, the Emperor had not yet allocated any personnel to him.

The child was always leaving the palace, but he still remembered his mother and occasionally brought her some local snacks from outside. She particularly liked the roasted chicken from a certain restaurant, and whenever Yin Zhu went to that restaurant, he would bring her one.

...

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was early July, and the summer heat was intense.

Yin Zhen had been busy with the construction of his residence lately. The layout plan for the estate had been drawn up, and construction had begun. He would occasionally leave the palace to check on the progress.

One noon, Yin Zhen had nothing to do and was about to leave the palace when the Crown Prince summoned him to the Palace of Eternal Spring. He brought Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Xingzi with him.

"Come, I'll take you somewhere."

Yin Zhen was puzzled and asked Second Brother where he was taking him.

"You'll know when we get there."

Yin Zhen followed Second Brother and the others out of the Palace of Eternal Spring and slowly made their way to the back of the Imperial Garden. Behind the Imperial Garden was an area of rockeries. He thought Second Brother was taking him to enjoy the flowers in the garden.

Unexpectedly, Second Brother signaled them to walk quietly. The group slowly circled to the back of the rockeries. This area was secluded, and due to the midday heat, few people came here.

Yin Zhen really wanted to ask Second Brother what they were doing here, until he heard movement behind the rockeries. Second Brother's men stepped forward and apprehended two lookouts, covering their mouths.

Yin Zhen had already seen those two servants; they were the Eldest Prince's men. He knew his Second Elder Brother must have caught the Eldest Prince's weakness. He didn't want to follow along, aware that getting involved would bring no good, but since he was already there, he had no choice but to walk in with them.

As he entered, he heard rapid panting, like the sounds of a man and woman engaged in intimacy. Being married, he naturally knew what those sounds meant.

With a clap from the Second Elder Brother, the two people having a secret rendezvous behind the rockery looked up in panic. The Eldest Prince was disheveled, and so was the woman. Yin Zhen found her unfamiliar; he didn’t recognize her.

Yin Zhen thought to himself that he should have known better than to come along.

"Eldest Brother, you certainly are quite the romantic," the Second Elder Brother said sarcastically.

The Eldest Prince hurriedly tried to straighten his clothes, but the more flustered he became, the less his hands obeyed. The woman’s face turned pale.

"Eldest Brother, do you know who this is? You even dare to lay hands on the Emperor’s woman—is there anything you wouldn’t do?"

Hearing this, Yin Zhen was shocked. Was this one of the imperial concubines? The Eldest Prince had truly lost his mind, daring to carry on with a concubine right inside the palace.

Soon, many servants gathered near the rockery. There was no hiding the matter now. The Second Elder Brother directly dragged the woman and the Eldest Prince to the Emperor’s Qianqing Palace.

As soon soon as they entered the hall, the Eldest Prince knelt down. The woman was trembling uncontrollably.

The Second Elder Brother remained silent, letting a servant speak. The servant reported that they had noticed movement behind the rockery and went to investigate, only to discover the Eldest Prince and Answering Attendant Yin.

After hearing this, the Emperor’s face darkened.

The Eldest Prince spoke up: "Emperor, this woman seduced your son. She seduced your son, and I had a moment of weakness."

Yin Zhen saw the Emperor’s cold, stern gaze sweep over them, and he couldn’t help but feel a chill. This matter had been allowed to unravel too far by the Second Elder Brother. In his eagerness to catch the Eldest Prince’s weakness, he had disregarded the Emperor’s dignity. If this woman truly was one of the Emperor’s concubines, the Eldest Prince had acted foolishly, but the Second Elder Brother wouldn’t come out unscathed either.

The Eldest Prince’s attempt to shift the blame onto the woman by claiming she seduced him was futile—such things couldn’t be done by one person alone.

"Shameless woman! Guards, take this shameless woman to the Cold Palace!" the Emperor ordered.

Soon, someone escorted the woman away. The Emperor then turned his cold gaze to the Eldest Prince.

"Emperor, your son had a moment of weakness and was seduced by that vile woman. Please forgive your son this once."

The Emperor strode over and landed a harsh kick on the Eldest Prince, then ordered him taken away. Furious, the Emperor shouted at everyone to leave at once.

Yin Zhen and the Second Elder Brother left the Qianqing Palace. Seeing how pleased the Second Elder Brother looked after succeeding, Yin Zhen couldn’t help but say, "Second Elder Brother, you acted too recklessly this time."

"It was the Eldest Prince who was carrying on with the Emperor’s woman. How can you say I was reckless? I merely reported what I saw to the Emperor."

Seeing the Second Elder Brother’s attitude, Yin Zhen decided it was best not to say more. Since he couldn’t leave the palace now, he headed straight to Jingren Palace after parting ways with the Second Elder Brother.

Fang Yu was still taking her afternoon nap, unaware of the huge commotion that had erupted in the imperial harem. She was woken up and, after hearing Yin Zhen relay the whole affair, was momentarily stunned.

The Eldest Prince and Answering Attendant Yin?

She remembered Answering Attendant Yin. There weren’t that many people in the imperial harem, and the Emperor hadn’t held a selection of consorts for a long time, so no new faces had entered the palace.

She recalled that Answering Attendant Yin had entered the palace the same year as Answering Attendant Luo. Answering Attendant Luo was assigned to reside in Jingren Palace, while Answering Attendant Yin was assigned to Changchun Palace. Back then, Answering Attendant Yin had aligned herself with Empress Xiaozhao and had some family connections to the Niuhulu Family. After Empress Xiaozhao passed away, Answering Attendant Yin had fallen out of favor.

Who would have thought she’d be so bold as to get involved with the Eldest Prince? And to be discovered by the Second Elder Brother! But the Second Elder Brother had been too hasty. If he wanted to undermine the Eldest Prince, this wasn’t the way to do it. By making such a public scene, he’d only incur the Emperor’s displeasure.

This matter concerned the Emperor’s dignity, his honor, and the reputation of the imperial family. If the Second Elder Brother wanted to spite the Eldest Prince, he could have informed the Emperor privately. Bringing it into the open only embarrassed the Emperor and would make him think the Second Elder Brother cared nothing for brotherly affection. It would only give the Emperor reason to note the Second Elder Brother’s actions.

By dragging Yin Zhen along, the Second Elder Brother had clearly intended to implicate him as well.

The Emperor would surely also be displeased with Yin Zhen for joining the Second Elder Brother in exposing the Eldest Prince’s "crime."

"Yin Zhen, what you need to do now is stay out of this. Don’t add fuel to the fire. Since you’ve already joined the Second Elder Brother in exposing your elder brother, pleading for leniency would only make the Second Elder Brother resent you. So, just stay out of it. If the Emperor asks, simply apologize sincerely."

Playing both sides would only cost him trust from both. In any case, the Emperor would investigate this matter thoroughly. Yin Zhen, having been dragged into it by the Second Elder Brother, would have to swallow this injustice.

"Just don’t get involved. This has nothing to do with you anyway. From now on, you must be more careful in your actions. The Second Elder Brother may act recklessly, but you cannot. The Second Elder Brother is not in the same position as you."

The Second Elder Brother had the Emperor’s full favored status; Yin Zhen might only have half.

Yin Zhen nodded in agreement.

Fang Yu signaled for Yin Zhen to leave. The fewer people who knew about this, the better. But the Second Elder Brother had made such a scene—Answering Attendant Yin’s life was certainly forfeit, and likely her family would suffer as well.

The Eldest Prince was the Emperor’s son; the Emperor would definitely not execute his own son. The one who would die was Answering Attendant Yin.

Within a few days, Fang Yu heard that Answering Attendant Yin’s servants had been executed, and a number of the Eldest Prince’s servants had also been executed. Answering Attendant Yin was now imprisoned in the Cold Palace; she would die sooner or later. She had no children—if she had, the Emperor might have shown some consideration for them.

In any case, most of the servants who knew about the affair were executed. News of Answering Attendant Yin’s death soon followed—it was said she had taken her own life to protect her family, though whether that was true or not, she was dead.

The Eldest Prince had not been punished thus far. The Emperor certainly wouldn’t demand his life. For now, the most important thing was to suppress the matter and keep it quiet.

In any case, Consort Hui had been making frequent visits to the Qianqing Palace lately.

After this, any servant who dared mention the affair would be executed by beating. No one dared bring it up again.

Fang Yu had no intention of approaching the Emperor at this time either. She would wait until his anger subsided.

She continued living her quiet life in the imperial harem. Occasionally, Wulanala Shi would bring Yin Zhen’s two lesser consorts to pay their respects and chat with her.

When she heard that Consort An was critically ill, she went to see her. Consort An was already elderly—in ancient times, forty was considered old. The year before last, Consort Jing had also suddenly fallen ill and passed away. Both Consort An and Consort Jing were peaceable people in the imperial harem, mostly keeping to themselves, neither competing nor striving, gentle in nature.

Seeing Consort An, Fang Yu knew she was not long for this world. Consort An mustered her strength to speak with her, saying she wished to see the Emperor one last time. Fang Yu then went to the Qianqing Palace and informed the Emperor of Consort An’s critical condition, asking him to go see her.

After the Emperor found time to visit Consort An, she passed away the next day. Although her funeral was conducted according to consort rites, it was simplified.

Consort An’s death did not cause much of a stir in the imperial harem, much like Consort An herself.

By the third day of September, the capital had been drenched by a heavy rain the previous day. Today, drizzle continued to fall, and the weather was chilly.

Fang Yu stood under the corridor, watching the wet ground in the courtyard.

"Baibai, don’t go out."

Fang Yu stopped the cat from going into the courtyard to play. If it went out, its white fur would surely turn black. She picked up the cat.

"Your Highness, it seems Baibai is just like the Sixth Prince—always wanting to play in the water. I remember when the Sixth Prince was little, he always wanted to play in the water whenever it rained."

"Exactly! If he plays, his white fur will turn black, and we’ll have to bathe him again."

Pan Liu laughed. "Baibai never behaves during baths. We have to tie down all four of his paws, or he’ll scratch people. Your Highness, let’s go inside. Don’t catch a chill."

Just as Fang Yu was about to carry the cat back inside, she saw a group of people approaching. Such a large entourage could only mean the Emperor. Through the misty rain, she saw the Emperor walking toward her.

"Why are you standing here? Your health is poor; you mustn’t catch a chill."

Fang Yu’s body couldn’t handle heat or cold. Heat gave her rashes, and cold seeped into her bones, making her feel pierced by cold.

"Your Majesty, it’s fine. It’s not too cold today. What brings you here? You shouldn’t risk getting wet in the rain."

"How could I get rained on?"

Fang Yu thought, *That’s true*. With so many people holding umbrellas for him, how could he possibly get wet? Since the Emperor had arrived, she led him inside. She set down Baibai, and the moment it was down, it darted into the courtyard, rolling around in the dirt. The white cat was instantly black. She told Pan Liu not to bother with it and just let it play to its heart's content.

"You even spoil your cat. Yin Zhen, you’ve spoiled him rotten too."

Yin Zhen had only angered the Emperor with what happened two months ago. Fang Yu had no choice but to play dumb and replied, "Yin Zhen is a very obedient child. How is he spoiled?"

"Obedient? Yin Zhen isn’t obedient at all. All he does these days is infuriate me. He and the Crown Prince…"

The Emperor suddenly stopped, as if realizing it was improper to continue. He was big on saving face in front of her and likely didn’t want to bring up something that made him lose face. Still, Fang Yu felt compelled to speak up for Yin Zhen: "Yin Zhen is actually too obedient. He listens to the Crown Prince—after all, the Crown Prince is his second elder brother. If the Crown Prince tells him to do something, how can he refuse?"

"That just shows he’s got no mind of his own."

"If Your Majesty were to make him a Junwang, I believe Yin Zhen would also have the confidence to refuse the Crown Prince. A Beile has to listen to the Crown Prince."

Kang Xi glanced at Wuya Shi, pinched her cheek, and said, "You still say you don’t blame me? I made Yin Zhen a Beile, and you’re resentful about it, aren’t you?"

Fang Yu lowered her head and didn’t answer, leaving him to figure it out.

Over the past two months, Kang Xi had been fuming—angry at Yin Ti, angry at the Crown Prince and Yin Zhen, and angry at that shameless woman. For their own selfish desires, they had one by one didn’t give a damn about their emperor’s dignity. If that woman hadn’t taken her own life, he would’ve had her sliced to pieces.

Even now, he was still boiling mad. He didn’t want to see any of his sons. He felt they were all scheming, extremely selfish, and couldn’t see the big picture. Now, seeing Wuya Shi, he was reminded of Yin Zhen, and he couldn’t help but sound harsh.

"As his mother, you didn’t raise him right. You always indulge them—that’s why they act out."

Kang Xi sat down angrily on the heated kang.

Fang Yu immediately had everyone else leave. She knelt at the Emperor’s feet and admitted her fault: "It is my fault. I didn’t raise Yin Zhen right. Yin Zhen hasn’t been by my side since he was young, and I have babied him too much. This time, Yin Zhen was wrong to go along with the Crown Prince’s nonsense. I apologize to Your Majesty. It’s on me."

In all these years, Wuya Shi had hardly ever bowed to him, much less knelt. He had never blamed her for it and had grown accustomed to her not paying him formal respects. Today, her kneeling threw him off, and he moved to help her up.

"What are you doing? I’m not actually blaming you. Why are you kneeling? Get up quickly."

Kang Xi tried to help her up, but she stubbornly remained kneeling.

"If Your Majesty does not forgive me, I will remain kneeling."

"I’ve never blamed you. I was just venting. Get up quickly. I know Yin Zhen was the Crown Prince talked him into it—it’s the Crown Prince’s fault."

"Your Majesty is right. Yin Zhen was at fault in this matter. The Crown Prince was wrong, and so was he. I should remain kneeling. I don’t deserve to stand and speak with Your Majesty."

Kang Xi simply picked her up and placed her on the heated kang. "You’re just trying to provoke me, knowing you’ve got me wrapped around your finger."

"Is Your Majesty still angry?"

"I’m not angry with you." Kang Xi certainly wouldn’t truly direct his anger at her. She had done nothing wrong—how could he genuinely take his frustration out on her? He couldn’t really punish his sons either, so he could only blame that shameless Yin Shi. He had her family executed—the Yin family’s poor upbringing was why they produced such a promiscuous woman.

"Your Majesty, don’t be angry anymore. It’s all in the past. Don’t harm your health over this."

"Who knows how many more like Yin Shi there are in this palace?"

Fang Yu thought the Emperor must truly be beside himself with anger to lump all the other consorts and concubines in the rear palace together. Those ladies and consorts wouldn’t have the nerve—each of them had families behind them. If such affairs were exposed, not only would they die, but their families would also be implicated. Not everyone is like Yin Shi.

"Your Majesty, I guarantee there is only one Yin Shi. Could it be that Your Majesty even suspects me?"

Kang Xi deliberately teased her, putting on a stern face: "I don’t know. I originally thought Yin Shi wouldn’t dare, but she ended up making a fool of me."

Fang Yu thought to herself, if this incident hadn’t happened, the Emperor probably wouldn’t even remember who Yin Shi was. He made it sound as if he had any clue who she was in the rear palace.

"If Your Majesty suspects me, perhaps I should find someone tomorrow to confirm Your Majesty’s suspicions."

"You wouldn’t dare!"

"Your Majesty suspected me first."

Kang Xi pulled her closer. If even Wuya Shi dared to betray him, then he truly could trust no one in the rear palace.

"You just want to infuriate me, don’t you? If you dare to be unfaithful, I’ll break your legs."

Fang Yu lightly pecked his chin and laughed, "Only break my legs? Not have me executed?"

"I’d want to torment you slowly. Execution is too easy."

Fang Yu chuckled softly: "Your Majesty can’t bear to kill me. Even if I were unfaithful, Your Majesty wouldn’t have the heart to execute me. Your Majesty, you’re so good to me. If I really were unfaithful, Your Majesty should punish me by making me serve you every day—nowhere to go, just locked in a room waiting daily for Your Majesty to come, attending to you in bed."

Kang Xi had actually wondered—if it were Wuya Shi instead of Yin Shi, would he be able to bring himself to execute her? The truth was, he couldn’t. He would hate her, torment her, but he wouldn’t kill her. As for her idea of locking her in a room to serve him every day, it wasn’t a bad notion.

"So Your Majesty loves me this much? I’m truly flattered. Don’t worry—how could I ever bear to betray Your Majesty? You treat me so well. In this lifetime, I will belong only to Your Majesty. My heart belongs only to you."

"You’d better not dare."

"It’s not that I don’t dare—it’s that I love you."

For some reason, when Kang Xi heard these words, his heart stirred again. Suddenly, he felt that although Yin Shi was detestable, she wasn’t all that hateful. He hadn’t loved Yin Shi—he hadn’t even remembered her. So, upon reflection, her betrayal was ultimately insignificant to him.

He covered Wuya Shi’s mouth with his own.