Chapter 66: Disaster

Chapter 66 The Crisis

In March of the forty-second year of Kang Xi's reign, Yin Zhen's household took in a new concubine, Niuhulu Shi, daughter of Lingzhu, a fourth-rank ceremonial official, and from the same clan as Empress Xiaozhao—Lingzhu's grandfather and Empress Xiaozhao's grandfather were cousins.

Fang Yu knew this Niuhulu Shi was the one who would bear Hong Li. After Niuhulu Shi entered the household, Wulanala Shi brought her into the palace to pay her respects and be introduced around.

Niuhulu Shi had a gentle and graceful appearance with fair skin, a real beauty. However, most girls of fifteen or sixteen were alike, especially in her presence. As she was a palace consort and their mother-in-law, they were all respectful and cautious around her, afraid of saying the wrong thing, always agreeing and never showing their true nature.

So Fang Yu said a few kind words, gave her some jewelry as a reward, and then started talking to Hong Hui. Every time Wulanala Shi came to the palace, she brought Hong Hui for her to see.

Hong Hui could now talk and walk, and Wulanala Shi had taught him well; he even called her grandmother.

She was only forty-five years old but already a grandmother. Fang Yu held Hong Hui, she could barely hold him anymore—she couldn’t deny she was getting on in years.

Wulanala Shi and the others stayed in the palace for two hours, and didn't leave until after sharing the noon meal with her.

Xiao Fangzi came in and told her that word had spread through the palace that the Crown Prince was seriously ill.

Fang Yu was shocked. When did this happen? When did the Crown Prince fall ill, and how had it reached such a critical state?

"This lowly one heard the Crown Prince has been ill since before the New Year, enduring without calling for an imperial physician, saying he didn’t want to worry the Emperor. He let the illness drag on until it became critical."

Fang Yu was doubtful, unsure if this was true or not. However, the Crown Prince’s serious illness was a major event. Since Suo Etu and his faction were dealt with, the Crown Prince had kept a much lower profile.

As a consort, there was little she could do about the Crown Prince’s illness. She had no interactions with him in the inner court, usually avoiding any appearance of impropriety. She did have some contact with the women in the Crown Prince’s household, sending gifts to congratulate the births of his children.

Two days later, in the evening, Fang Yu was summoned to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. She dined with the Emperor, and at night, they lay together but did not be intimate.

Fang Yu told him about Wulanala Shi’s visit to the palace two days earlier, mentioning how Hong Hui called her grandmother and how adorable he was—just sharing some trivial matters.

The Emperor would occasionally grunt in acknowledgement.

When she had said enough, Fang Yu wasn’t sleepy yet, but she stopped talking. She saw the Emperor so often that there wasn’t always something new to say every day.

"Do you think I’ve been too harsh on the Crown Prince?"

Hearing the Emperor’s words, Fang Yu felt a jolt. The Emperor always asked her these fatal questions, leaving her unsure how to respond. But the fact that he asked meant his heart was softening. Could the Crown Prince truly be seriously ill?

Was the Emperor harsh on the Crown Prince? Certainly not. The Emperor had indulged the Crown Prince greatly before. The Crown Prince had beaten his superiors, like brothers and ministers, and his subordinates, like servants, with rumors of his violence spreading repeatedly. He had even caused the death of the Eleventh Prince, yet the Emperor had never held him accountable. It could be said the Crown Prince’s current state was a result of the Emperor’s indulgence.

Whether the Crown Prince was truly seriously ill or not, this move was clever—he was showing weakness to the Emperor, using the self-injury ploy.

"Your Majesty, I heard the Crown Prince is ill. Is it true?"

Kang Xi gave a grunt of affirmation. He had already visited the Crown Prince. The imperial physicians said if he had been a few days later, the Crown Prince might have been fighting for his life. Seeing the Crown Prince lying weakly in bed, he couldn’t help but feel compassion. This was a child he had raised personally—how could he not feel heartache?

He asked the Crown Prince why he hadn’t spoken up sooner, why he hadn’t called for an imperial physician. The Crown Prince said he didn’t dare, afraid the Emperor would think he was seeking sympathy or pleading for Suo Etu, so he kept delaying and didn't report it.

Kang Xi didn’t really need Fang Yu’s answer; it was just a casual question.

Seeing the Emperor fall silent, Fang Yu closed her eyes, trying to find sleep to avoid any more fatal questions. Regarding the Crown Prince, she couldn’t comment too much; staying silent to protect herself was her priority.

Soon, she truly fell asleep.

The Crown Prince’s illness seemed to genuinely rekindle the Emperor’s care for him. The Emperor visited the Crown Prince at the Yuqing Palace for several consecutive days.

With the Emperor visiting, the other imperial sons naturally followed suit, though whether they genuinely cared about the Crown Prince was unknown.

Consort Duan also fell ill. Fang Yu went to the Yonghe Palace to visit her, where Ying Shan was also in Consort Duan’s room.

"How are you holding up, sister?"

Before Ying Shan could speak, Consort Duan said, "I’m old; my body is giving out on me. Illness is natural at this age. Don’t worry about me."

Fang Yu pulled up a small stool to the bedside and sat down. They were indeed no longer young—she was forty-five this year, and Consort Duan was fifty. Not only did Consort Duan feel her body failing, but Fang Yu sometimes felt the same.

"You’ll get better."

Consort Duan smiled. "No need to comfort me. Living to this age is already good. I entered the palace the same year as Consort An and the others, and now they’re all gone."

Ying Shan tightly held Consort Duan’s hand. "Sister, don’t say such things. The imperial physicians said it’s just liver deficiency and excessive menstruation. You’ll definitely recover."

Consort Duan wasn’t confident. She didn’t know if she would get better. The medicinal brews didn’t seem to work, and she felt weaker each day.

"Sister, Ying Shan is right. It’s just a minor issue; you’ll definitely recover."

While they were comforting Consort Duan, the Seventh Prince also came by to visit. Seeing him, Consort Duan propped herself up with effort, speaking softly to him, repeatedly urging him to mind what he eats and remember to wear more clothes.

Although the Seventh Prince wasn’t Consort Duan’s biological son, he was like a son to her.

After the Seventh Prince left, Consort Duan still had a smile on her face, saying he was a filial child.

Fang Yu said, "That’s exactly why you should gather your strength, sister, to see the Seventh Prince have many children and blessings."

The Seventh Prince had also married a consort, and his household had welcomed a son.

"Yes, I should rally myself. Don’t worry about me."

Fang Yu also held Consort Duan’s hand. Over so many years, they had been companions in the inner court, closer than biological sisters. She certainly didn’t want to see Consort Duan depart this world.

After a while, seeing Consort Duan was tired, Fang Yu and the others left her room.

Once they were gone, Consort Duan had a servant call for Daijia Shi.

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

Consort Duan looked at Daijia Shi, who, despite giving birth to a prince, was still only an Answering Attendant. She said, "All these years, have you resented me?"

"Consort, what are you saying?"

"Back then, I took your child. You must have resented me."

At this, Daijia Shi’s expression changed. Back then, she gave birth to Yin You, who was born with deficiencies, causing her to be mocked in the palace. But she had never thought of harming her child, never thought of choking the life out of him. Yet Consort Duan claimed to have witnessed her trying to choke the life out of her child, with several servants as witnesses. The case was closed against her, she was stripped of her right to raise her child, and Yin You was given to Consort Duan to raise.

She had long understood—Consort Duan wanted a child and had framed her for it. Consort Duan was already too old to bear children, so if she wanted one, she had to adopt someone else’s. That was how Yin You ended up with Consort Duan—Consort Duan had taken her child.

But she knew no one would believe her at the time, so she had to accept it. Yin You was raised well by Consort Duan, who never prevented her, the birth mother, from seeing him. Over the years, she had made herself let go of the matter. Only by letting go could she live well, instead of drowning in pain every day.

Now Yin You was grown, married with children, and Consort Duan was old, seemingly not long for this world. That was why she brought it up now.

Back then, she had indeed felt resentment and hatred, but over the years, those feelings had faded. Suddenly hearing Consort Duan mention it, she remembered again.

"Consort, you raised Yin You well. I’ve also lived well in the Yonghe Palace, thanks to your protection over the years. So I hold no resentment or hatred toward you."

Tears streamed down Consort Duan’s face. This was a secret she had buried deep in her heart. Back then, she had taken Daijia Shi’s child and falsely accused her of trying to choke the life out of the young Yin You so she could raise him. She had never told anyone, not even Consort De. After all these years, she knew she had wronged Daijia Shi. Nearing death, she finally dared to speak of it to Daijia Shi. Hearing Daijia Shi say she held no resentment, she felt relieved.

"Consort, it’s good for Yin You to have you as a mother. You must recover quickly. Yin You doesn’t want to lose you. I’ve seen all the kindness you’ve shown Yin You over the years. You never mistreated him or me, so I am grateful to you."

Seeing Consort Duan so ill, Daijia Shi felt there was no need to bring up old matters from years ago. The past was the past; Yin You was grown now, and dwelling on it was meaningless. She hoped Consort Duan would recover. Back then, she was just a lowly Answering Attendant. Raising Yin You under Consort Duan’s care had elevated his status—it was actually for the best. If he had been raised by her, Yin You would have had a harder life.

Consort Duan put her mind at ease. Exhausted, she fell into a deep sleep and never woke up again.

Consort Duan’s funeral was conducted according to the rites of an imperial consort, with the Seventh Prince serving as pallbearer.

Fang Yu was sad for a long time. The longer one lives, the more people one has to bid farewell to.

Before they knew it, it was early August. Heavy rains fell continuously along the Yellow River, flooding several areas and causing floods that required the court to send people for relief efforts.

The Emperor sent Yin Zhen and Yin Tang to lead several ministers in disaster relief, transporting grain to the affected regions.

Fang Yu knew that disaster relief was a big deal. This was Yin Zhen’s first time handling such a big responsibility. The disaster areas were sure to be a mess, with people taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble—looting and killing. Going there for relief work was risky.

But Yin Zhen could not refuse. This was the Emperor giving him an opportunity to get experience. Fang Yu had to prepare many things for Yin Zhen, including plenty of medicine, as outbreaks were likely to occur in disaster zones.

A son going far from home worries his mother. When seeing Yin Zhen and the others off as they left the capital, Fang Yu couldn’t help crying. It was only when the Emperor held her shoulder that she stopped crying.

After Yin Zhen’s departure, Fang Yu’s days in the palace went back to normal—easy and quiet, occasionally taking care of plants.

She had considered getting another small dog but worried it might not get along with the cat, so she dismissed the idea. Bai Bai was getting old too and not as quick as before, spending most of its time curled up in its little nest.

But Fang Yu felt she ought to move around more, so she wouldn’t get stiff. Every day, she went to the courtyard to kick a shuttlecock, jump rope, and loosen her joints.

But her quiet days didn’t last long. Soon, Fang Yu heard that Yin Zhu and Yin Ti had gotten in a fight. She called them over, and both appeared with bruises and swollen faces—they didn’t hold back.

“What happened? Why did you two start fighting?”

Neither of them spoke.

“Talk, or you’ll stand here two hours.”

Both had been made to stand by their mother when they were younger, and neither wanted a repeat. So they both started talking, blaming each other.

Fang Yu understood: the two had gone hunting outside the city and both spotted a rabbit. Each claimed to have seen it first, and neither would yield, leading to an argument that escalated into a fight. She couldn’t believe it—fighting over such a trivial matter. They really had nothing better to do.

“Yin Zhu, you’re the older brother. You should let your younger brother have it. It’s just a wild rabbit—was it necessary to come to blows? What should I do with you?”

Yin Zhu said grumpily, “Mother, I have to yield to my older brothers and now my younger brother too? Why should I always be the one to back down? I saw it first, and I shot it first. Yin Ti shouldn’t have fought with me, his elder brother. He doesn’t understand respecting his elders.”

“Mother, I saw it first. My arrow was released first. Sixth Brother insisted on taking it away from me. I don’t need him to yield to me—because I saw it first, so it’s mine.”

“I saw it first!”

The two started arguing in front of her again. Fang Yu thought it was a trivial matter and simply let them quarrel, didn’t bother to stop them. She even felt like covering her ears. Since they were in her presence, they didn’t dare throw punches—they just kept arguing.

Fang Yu couldn’t help but wonder who these two took after.

As Yin Zhu and Yin Ti quarreled, their voices got quieter. Mainly because their mother wasn’t stopping them, they eventually fell silent, though they still glared at each other.

“Get out. I don’t want to see you.”

Fang Yu waved her hand, signaling for them to leave.

Yin Zhu and Yin Ti left Jingren Palace. They glanced at each other and said in unison, “Is Mother angry?”

“It’s Sixth Brother’s fault. I’m the younger brother—you should yield to me.”

Yin Zhu looked at his brother, who was almost as tall as him. He had heard from his mother that he was frail and sickly as a child, and he wasn't very healthy. He was shorter than Fourth Brother, and now Fourteenth Brother was almost taller than him too. It seemed he was the shortest. Why should he have to give in to a younger brother who was taller than him?

“Younger brothers should also listen to their older brothers. I don’t see you listening to me.”

Because Sixth Brother often played with him, unlike Fourth Brother, who was busy every day at the Ministry of Revenue and now sent by their Imperial Father for disaster relief, Yin Ti acted more easygoing around Sixth Brother and didn’t always listen to him.

“You don’t act like a big brother either.”

Yin Zhu widened his eyes. “I don’t act like an older brother? Who took you hunting? Who took you out of the palace to play? Who was following me around?”

Alright, Yin Ti knew he had misspoken. Sixth Brother was the one most willing to take him out to have fun. He smiled and slung an arm over Sixth Brother’s shoulder. “Alright, alright, little brother was wrong. I shouldn’t have fought with Sixth Brother over that rabbit. In the end, we let it get away. Sixth Brother, don’t be angry with me. Look how you beat me up—it’ll take days to heal.”

“You had it coming.”

“I said I’m sorry, Sixth Brother. You should meet me halfway.”

“Just because you apologize, I have to forgive you?”

Yin Ti said, “You have to forgive me. We’re biological brothers, both born from the same mother.”

Yin Zhu elbowed him irritably.

“Let’s go to the tavern.”

“No.”

Yin Ti pulled Yin Zhu out of the palace to the tavern.

Back at Jingren Palace, a servant reported to Fang Yu that the Sixth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince had left arm in arm, seemingly reconciled.

Fang Yu cursed the two rascals in her heart—already so grown up, yet still squabbling and making noise, not the least bit mature.

But as for the matters between brothers, she, as their mother, shouldn’t interfere too much. It’s the quarrels that don’t break them apart that truly reflect brotherly affection.

The summer heat was intense, and Fang Yu suddenly noticed a rash on her skin. It wasn’t widespread, but she still called for the imperial physician.

The physician gave her two jars of ointment and instructed her to apply it regularly.

When Pan Liu saw the red rash, she hurriedly had the Imperial Household Department send more ice.

The Emperor came to see her and said worriedly, “Did you overheat again? Did the Imperial Household Department shortchange you on ice?”

Fang Yu smiled. “It’s not that serious. I was just cooped up indoors for a while. As one gets older, resistance naturally declines.”

“You’re not old at all. To me, you look as young as ever.”

Fang Yu looked at the sweet-talking Emperor and couldn’t hold back her laughter, bursting out with a chuckle. She touched the Emperor’s face. “Your Majesty, you’re talking nonsense with your eyes wide open. How could I look exactly the same as when I was young? My hair has turned white.”

“It hasn’t. To me, it looks jet black.”

Fang Yu laughed and gently pushed the Emperor’s chest. “You’re fooling me. Jet black? Since when did I learn that Your Majesty is so smooth-tongued?”

Kang Xi held Wuya Shi close. He knew that after Consort Duan’s illness and passing, she had been down for several months. He hoped she could be happier. If she enjoyed hearing such words, he could say more.

“I heard Yin Zhu and Yin Ti got in a fight.”

“Ah, those two rascals. Their squabbling is normal. They’ve already made up.”

Kang Xi mentioned that he used to quarrel with Prince Yu when they were young.

“How did you two eventually make up?”

“We just started talking again and made up.”

"That's just how brothers are. Quarreling and fighting is normal. Making up afterward can actually strengthen the bond." Kang Xi couldn't help but think of the Crown Prince and Yin Zhen. He hoped the Crown Prince could get along harmoniously with them, with brotherly affection and respect.

"I'll have more ice sent to you. Try to avoid going out these next few days—it's hot outside."

"I know, don't worry. This rash should fade soon. Your Majesty need not worry about me. You are the one who works the hardest; you must take good care of your health. The heat makes it easy to suffer from heatstroke. Make sure to drink more cooling sweet drinks regularly."

Kang Xi stroked Fang Yu’s back and grunted in reply.

"Your Majesty, please let go of me now. It’s sticky and hot."

Kang Xi released her and pinched her hand. "Are you afraid I might do something to you?"

Fang Yu watched as the emperor touched her here and there, and she really was afraid. The emperor no longer summoned other women to serve him at night. Whenever he wanted to relieve his urges, he came to her. But in broad daylight, she had no interest in such activities.

She gave a playful smile and put some distance between them. "No, how could Your Majesty think that? I know you are a gentleman and would never do such indecent things in the daytime."

Kang Xi was amused. When they were young, they had often done "indecent" things in broad daylight—she had even mocked herself.

"Don’t worry, I won’t trouble you during the day. Since you’re fine, I’ll take my leave now."

"I bid you farewell, Your Majesty."

Kang Xi left Jingren Palace.

The Imperial Household Department (Neiwufu) originally delivered ice three times a day. After she developed the rash, it increased to five times a day. Several large blocks of ice were placed indoors, making the room as cool as an autumn day.

Fang Yu’s rash soon faded, but she wondered whether Yin Zhen had arrived in the disaster area yet.

Some regions were experiencing continuous heavy rain, while others suffered from drought. The prolonged lack of rain led to food shortages, and many famine victims flocked to the capital—their numbers were not small.

The emperor ordered congee to be distributed both inside and outside the city. Yin Zhu was assigned to supervise the distribution points to prevent chaos or stampedes.

However, as the number of refugees continued to grow, this was not a sustainable solution. The capital’s food supplies were insufficient for long-term relief. Moreover, the increasing number of refugees posed a threat to public order, with many taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble. More imperial guards had to be dispatched to maintain security.

Hearing that the emperor intended to send the refugees back, the Eighth Prince volunteered to take on this task.

To prevent riots, the Eighth Prince first announced that relief would only last for ten days; after that, no more congee would be distributed.

If they returned home, the court would provide them with enough food for the journey to ensure they could return safely to their hometowns. Those who insisted on staying would receive nothing.

Some chose to return. The Eighth Prince ordered these willing refugees to be repatriated first. After ten days, when the court stopped distributing congee, more people decided to return.

In this way, the Eighth Prince sent people back in groups. As for those who still refused to leave, he confined them outside the city walls, barring them from entering the capital.

The emperor praised the Eighth Prince for his intelligence and capability in handling the situation well. At the same time, the emperor sent Tong Guowei and others to the disaster areas to investigate why there was such a severe food shortage. A few months of drought shouldn’t have caused so many refugees so suddenly—it must be due to the incompetence of local officials, their harsh treatment of the people, and poor governance.

After this incident, the Eighth Prince suddenly became known among court officials as a capable and hands-on prince who resolved the capital’s crisis, earning widespread praise.

The Crown Prince’s illness had not yet improved; he remained in recuperation, unaware of outside events.

Fang Yu felt that the Crown Prince had realized he had been too showy in previous years and was now learning to be more restrained. Meanwhile, the Eighth Prince, being older, naturally seized the opportunity to prove his competence. Only by doing so could he attract and rally more ministers to his side. The Eighth Prince could no longer restrain himself and began to show his ambition.

Princes like the Fifth Prince and Seventh Prince had never intended to join the struggle for the throne from the beginning; they avoided the spotlight.

The Eighth Prince would likely try to win over several other princes later on. Fang Yu knew that Yin Zhu had a fairly good relationship with the Eighth Prince. She couldn’t outright tell Yin Zhu to avoid his eighth brother, so she could only repeatedly remind Yin Zhu and others that Yin Zhen was their only true brother and not to betray him for anyone else.

Fang Yu didn’t know if they took her words to heart, but Yin Zhu and Yin Ti didn’t seem as driven as Yin Zhen or the Eighth Prince. They seemed content to be carefree noble sons.

Hong Hui fell ill again. Since Yin Zhen was not in the capital, Fang Yu left the palace to visit Hong Hui at Yin Zhen’s residence.

Hong Hui had a fever and a sore throat. The imperial physician prescribed medicine, and Wulanala Shi mentioned that after several days of taking the decoction, Hong Hui had already shown improvement.

Fang Yu knew that with such a young child, no symptom should be ignored, no matter how mild. But since Hong Hui was Wulanala Shi’s son, she would surely take good care of him. There was no need to add to her burden, so Fang Yu didn’t offer too many reminders.

After seeing Hong Hui, she also went to visit Li Shi’s son, Hong Yun. She stayed at Yin Zhen’s residence for over an hour before leaving.