10 The Qing Dynasty Intrigue (10)

Seven years old...

Even in later times, that’s only the age of a first grader, and that too, those born before September.

But now, she had to enter the imperial harem’s arena, where life and death battles began.

A group of elementary school children scheming relentlessly, all while their bodies were still undeveloped, forced to bear princes and princesses. If fortune favored them and they survived, they would only earn the hollow titles of Empress Dowager or Imperial Concubine Dowager, their deaths met with empty lamentations.

The only ones who truly benefited were their maternal clans.

The sons gained social mobility through protection, and the daughters, by virtue of their titles, married into prestigious families.

“If one does not look out for oneself, heaven and earth will condemn them.”

It was evident that selfishness was a virtue!

Thus, the selfish Wen Yao began urging her younger brother to study diligently: “If you want to be a great general, you must master the art of war, not just grow into a brute who relies solely on force. The more military merits you earn in the future, the more respected your sister will be before the Emperor.”

What else could E’Lundai do?

He could only continue studying reluctantly. To be fair, he was not talented in literature. Although he had no martial tutor yet, Tong Guogang had already planned to take advantage of this trip to the camp to carefully select one.

After all, as the only legitimate son, Tong Guogang had to be attentive.

After urging her brother, Wen Yao turned to urge her father: “The storybooks say that generals’ households have family recipes for tonics that strengthen muscles and bones. Father, do we have any? If so, shouldn’t E’Lundai start using them?”

Tong Guogang: “…”

Well… we really didn’t.

Although upon entering the border they had seized many treasures—gold, silver, jewels, and various exotic medicines—there was nothing of this kind. Mainly because in the late years of the previous dynasty, factional strife was severe. The eunuch faction and civil officials fought fiercely in the capital, while the military faction was sidelined. Then, with continuous uprisings and natural disasters, most generals were fighting on the front lines and took any valuable items with them.

But the Tong family wasn’t among the first to enter the border. Could it be that those precious items had fallen into the hands of others?

The first family that came to mind was the Fucha clan.

They were not only among the earliest to enter but specialized in producing sons—all strong and healthy.

Tong Guogang’s heart stirred.

He felt he needed to make an effort. If such precious recipes existed, even one or two that healed internal injuries would be a treasure to pass down through generations. If he could obtain a tonic recipe to strengthen muscles and bones, the next generation of the Tong family would gain a competitive edge.

Moved to action, Tong Guogang immediately sent someone out of the capital to quietly inquire.

The manor was spacious, with tall beams and cross-ventilation front to back, indeed cooler than the capital. Except for Tong Guogang himself, who endured much hardship coming and going, Lady Jueluo and her three children lived comfortably.

Lady Jueluo wanted Tong Guogang to visit less often, but he was stubborn; the less she wanted him, the more frequently he came.

His diligence bore fruit.

Around late August, while having breakfast, Lady Jueluo suddenly felt chest tightness and a wave of sourness rising to her throat. After struggling for a while, she couldn’t hold back and turned aside to retch.

Wen Yao: “!!”

She immediately put down her chopsticks. “Mother, what’s wrong?”

Having borne two children, Lady Jueluo had an inkling and dared not stay at the manor any longer. She ordered her luggage packed immediately. By afternoon, the three of them were already on a carriage back to the capital. When Tong Guogang left the office, the family servant was waiting at the gate.

“The Lady is pregnant, sir.”

“Really?” Tong Guogang was overjoyed, his voice rising. “Quick, prepare the horses, I’m going to see her.”

“The Lady returned to the residence this afternoon with the two young masters.”

Hearing this, Tong Guogang didn’t rush out of the city. Instead, he first went to a pastry shop on the street and picked out several treats Lady Jueluo had liked when pregnant with E’Lundai, then returned home.

Entering the main courtyard, he saw two chambermaids hanging curtains at the door.

Unlike their usual simple appearance, today they wore brightly colored clothes, with fresh velvet flowers pinned in their hair, powdered faces, and blushed cheeks—clearly on Lady Jueluo’s orders, waiting at the entrance.

Tong Guogang glanced at them briefly, then hurried inside.

“How is your body? Any discomfort?” he asked with concern.

“No harm done; it’s not the first time,” Lady Jueluo answered confidently, as her pregnancy was still early and not yet uncomfortable, but her face showed little joy. “In a few days, the Emperor will marry. As for me, I just found out I’m pregnant, with the due date in April next year. I wonder if Wen Yao will live to see this child born. And Wen Yao’s dowry still needs arranging…”

Tong Guogang immediately took charge. “You just focus on this. Leave the rest to the housemaids. If anything important arises, just tell me, and I’ll handle it.”

“I won’t be polite with you, of course.”

Lady Jueluo gently caressed her belly. “I don’t know if it’s a boy or girl. E’Lundai alone is too fragile.”

Even though E’Lundai acted like a little ox, she couldn’t help but worry. She wanted the child to grow up safely, marry, have children, survive—life was perilous.

“Whether boy or girl, our family needs them all.”

This was honest.

Lady Jueluo wouldn’t openly urge Tong Guogang to take concubines, but she had made her stance clear. With nearly ten months of pregnancy ahead, it was up to the two chambermaids to prove if they could bear a child during this time.

The next morning, the imperial physician came to take Wen Yao’s pulse and casually checked Lady Jueluo’s as well.

Her health was good, and the fetus stable.

Only then did Lady Jueluo relax completely, though she still asked the doctor to prescribe tonic medicine to protect the pregnancy. Even if unused for now, it was better to be prepared. The doctor readily agreed.

A few days later, the Emperor’s grand wedding took place.

The capital was placed under martial law. The common people had been informed early. On the evening of the seventh day of the ninth lunar month, guards with yellow banners blocked the streets from both sides as much as possible to obstruct the view. The bannersmen of the Plain Yellow Banner took brooms and thoroughly swept the streets. On the eighth day, all businesses along the main road from the Plain Yellow Banner’s territory to the palace were closed. Citizens were to keep their doors and windows shut and forbidden from peeking out.

Lady Jueluo rose before dawn, donned her formal ceremonial robe, and accompanied Tong Guogang into the palace.

Being of imperial clan birth and the Emperor’s maternal aunt, she was required by both duty and sentiment to attend. Despite her pregnancy and discomfort, she entered Cining Palace early to stay by the Empress Dowager’s side. Also present were Hesheri of the second consort’s side and the titled ladies of Tong Yangxing’s branch.

The couple returned only at dusk, smelling of wine—clearly having attended the wedding banquet.

“Today, the Emperor didn’t seem very happy,” Lady Jueluo said anxiously.

“Probably just tired,” Tong Guogang replied.

He knew why the Emperor was unhappy, but it was not something to tell Lady Jueluo. She was pregnant, and worrying too much would harm her health.

“True, last night he probably hardly slept.”

Lady Jueluo sighed. “The wedding was lively, but poor Wen Yao won’t have such good fortune in her life.”

Though said to enter the palace as a mistress, she was still just a concubine.

Even with a dowry, no wedding ceremony, and unable to exit through the main Qing gates—it was no different from a concubine sneaking into the household through a side door, burdened with a secret.

“Who besides the Empress herself has such fortune to enter the palace?”

The couple spoke quietly for a moment before leaning their heads together and falling asleep.

They both knew that after the Emperor’s wedding, everyone else’s turn to hustle would begin.

The order in which the Emperor summoned the new consorts into the palace also indicated their future standing. Even though all were secondary consorts, there was a hierarchy. The couple was unsure which number Wen Yao would be, as other daughters from great clans were also entering the palace.

Sure enough, while the excitement of the Emperor’s wedding hadn’t yet faded, other banner territories began to bustle. Each banner prepared daughters to send into the palace—the upper three banners more ostentatiously, the lower five banners quietly but earnestly. Banner households began to scrape together their resources, hoping to produce a favored consort.

What about the Empress?

The previous Emperor’s Empress was never favored!

The Tong family was no exception. First, Hesheri of the second consort’s side sent gifts. Since there was no wedding, it couldn’t be called a dowry, only congratulations—an entire set of ruby headpieces. She praised Wen Yao a few times, uttered some auspicious words, and then left.

After seeing Hesheri off, Lady Jueluo’s face turned cold toward Tong Guogang. “What does that Hesheri mean? Shifty-eyed, constantly staring at Wen Yao’s face. Who doesn’t know what dirty intentions she has? Wen Yao is just a child, yet she’s entirely focused on rushing into the palace. Isn’t she afraid of injuring her back? E’Lundai is so sturdy, and I still worry for him. Can she guarantee Wen Yao’s health for life?”

What if her body turns out worse than Wen Yao’s in the future?

Lady Jueluo cursed viciously in her heart.

“Enough, enough, don’t be angry. As long as Wen Yao is fine, none of her schemes will succeed.”

Tong Guogang felt uneasy hearing this. His daughter wasn’t dead yet—why were they already preparing to take over? Wasn’t that too hasty?

“Let me warn you in advance: take more care of E’Lundai. No matter how well you treat the other branch, they’re someone else’s son. E’Lundai is your own. Don’t turn your back on him.”

Lady Jueluo’s sharp nails jabbed Tong Guogang’s chest, making him wince in pain.

Seeing his pained nod, her anger subsided.

Once Hesheri made a move, other relatives quickly followed suit. Even Prince Ping Guo, Luo Kedu, personally paid a visit. He was the eldest son of Luoluo Huan, the second son of Yuetuo, and the eldest grandson of Tong Yangxing’s legitimate daughter. His brother Nuoni had been stripped of his Beile title earlier that year for crimes, leaving the Yuetuo branch reliant on Prince Ping Guo. This visit was also to make connections on his brother’s behalf.

Wen Yao, once inside the palace, would indeed be a significant ally through her relationship with the Emperor.

Though Prince Ping Guo had his title, he lacked power at court. He also had sons and needed to secure a future for them so that this branch would not be entirely defeated.

As every family scrambled to gather resources for their children, rumors suddenly emerged from the palace. It was said that the Emperor and Empress, just three days after their wedding, were separated by the Empress Dowager, deemed physically immature and unsuitable to share a bed.

In truth, everyone knew the real reasons: Sony, the sly old fox, was uncooperative despite receiving benefits. The conflict between Ao Bai and Sukesaha had reached a boiling point. Sony, expected to side with Sukesaha, unexpectedly supported Ao Bai, leading to Ao Bai’s false imperial decree and the execution of three ministers.

Especially by the end of the year, with the land enclosure dispute resolved, three hundred thousand banner people abandoned lands they had cultivated for a lifetime and exchanged territories.

Daily news of deaths among the banner people arrived, chiefly from the Plain White Banner, infuriating Sukesaha.

Ao Bai’s victory made him even more arrogant.

The Empress Dowager, unable to move Ao Bai, grew to hate Sony more, using this as leverage against him.

With this news, families intensified their efforts.

The Empress Dowager’s dissatisfaction with Hesheri was a perfect opportunity for them.

On the first day of the lunar new year, the first imperial edict arrived at the Tong family.

Tong Guogang opened the main gate to receive it.

Wen Yao was the first future consort to receive the decree.

Meaning, after the Empress herself, it would be her.