8 Qing Dynasty Time Travel (8)

“The actions of the Grand Empress Dowager…”

Jueluo hurried over to share the news with Wen Yao as soon as she heard it.

In just about half a year, the mother and daughter, who once seemed like unfamiliar strangers, had now transformed their way of interacting.

Wen Yao’s grand promises were enticing, and her attitude was unwavering.

Originally, Jueluo had gradually quieted down, focusing solely on raising Erlundai well. Whether the Tong family favored the second consort or how devoted Tong Guogang was to her, Jueluo maintained a “out of sight, out of mind” stance—neither opposing Tong Guogang’s efforts nor actively supporting the second consort.

But now, things were different.

With Wen Yao’s grand vision, she had rekindled her relations with the senior consorts of the clan over these past months. Previously, there was little motivation regarding the second consort, but now, for her own family’s sake, she was full of drive.

“She has finally voiced her feelings, but it’s a pity for that girl, Tana Gege, who must be sent far away to marry into Mongolia. That child was also doted on by the Niuhulu family.” Jueluo, who also had a daughter, felt a twinge of sympathy seeing Tana’s fate.

Even though she had not been particularly attentive to Wen Yao before, she could not bear to watch a child be sent away to marry into Mongolia.

She would rather have her child perish in the capital than die in some distant, unseen place.

Wen Yao glanced at Jueluo and sneered coldly, “That’s just the beginning, Mother. Watch closely—every princess born in the palace, one by one, will be sent to Mongolia. And the princesses from the clan as well…”

Jueluo’s expression immediately stiffened.

“No, that can’t be.”

The palace princesses were the emperor’s own daughters, true princesses.

And the clan’s princesses… Tana was even somewhat related to her. Tana’s mother was her cousin from the same clan, though they were years apart and had little contact, almost strangers.

“Trust your daughter, Mother. Life as a palace princess is not easy.”

Earlier, Khorchin had sent daughters into the palace, but many perished. Later, they were married off to old princes of the clan. Over generations, among the Manchu Eight Banners’ princes, how many did not have Mongolian blood?

The Grand Empress Dowager was determined to have Khorchin produce another empress and another prince.

If that wish were fulfilled, the prince’s Mongolian blood would be stronger than the Manchu’s, and the emperor would hardly approve.

The late emperor probably realized this, which fueled his resistance to Mongolia. Though the first empress was deposed because of Dorgon, his opposition to Mongolia was genuine.

Even the later true love, Consort Dong’e, was entangled in politics and not so pure.

Having been a spirit lingering for centuries, drifting on a mass grave, Wen Yao had listened to endless confused analyses. When she finally cultivated enough to leave the grave and started watching television with commoners, she heard much of these convoluted discussions.

The “love” between Shunzhi and Consort Dong’e had evolved over time—from the widely known “true love” to “political interests,” and ultimately, netizens’ sympathy for Consort Dong’e.

“Our emperor will surely adopt Mongolian methods in the future.”

Wen Yao shook her handkerchief, sat back on the kang, and sipped her tea. “So, the palace princesses will have a hard time ahead.”

“Then you must never give birth to a princess.”

Otherwise, she too might face a marriage alliance.

Jueluo did not believe that her family’s connection to the emperor would guarantee the privilege of staying in the capital.

“My constitution is such that it’s better not to have children.”

After giving Erlundai a precautionary talk, Wen Yao was now giving Jueluo one.

“As long as I live, I am the lady of our branch, the support of Erlundai. But if I die…” All that glory will no longer belong to the main branch.

But if she does not have children… then the Tong family would be without their own elder brother?

Wen Yao immediately saw through Jueluo’s thoughts and took her hand, soothingly patting it. “Because of my relationship with the emperor, if I ask to raise a prince or princess by my side, the emperor won’t refuse. Then won’t we have our own elder brother?”

This foster mother and biological mother…

“Tell Erlundai to work hard. When the Tong family becomes strong, the child will naturally know how to choose.”

“Remember what your daughter told you before? The children of those concubines in the front courtyard are also your children, aren’t they?”

Jueluo’s fingers curled slightly.

Though her daughter’s hands were soft and warm, for some reason, she felt a bone-chilling coldness emanating from them.

**

Imperial orders must not be disobeyed.

Though Ebilan was greatly shaken, he still mustered strength to prepare a dowry for his daughter.

Ebilan doted on his concubine Shushu Jueluo, naturally favoring the children she bore. Though the marriage alliance with Tana was a blow, he was not as anguished as Aisin Gioro’s primary wife.

Aisin Gioro fell ill but dared not collapse, fearing Ebilan would hand the dowry for Tana to Shushu Jueluo.

Shushu Jueluo also had a daughter and would never wholeheartedly support Tana.

Similar to the Tong family, after Wen Yao fell ill, resources shifted to the second consort Tong Wenyue. Upon receiving the imperial edict, the Niuhulu family did not stay overnight but convened and agreed to transfer all resources originally for Tana to Shushu Jueluo’s eldest daughter, Suoqiqi.

Suoqiqi was only five years younger than Tana.

Once Tana was sent to Mongolia, it would be only a few years before Suoqiqi entered the palace, destined at least for the rank of noble consort.

Aisin Gioro, thinking of her daughter suffering in Mongolia while Shushu Jueluo’s daughter entered the palace, seethed with resentment. In her mind, Suoqiqi had stolen Tana’s place.

Unable to direct her hatred toward the Grand Empress Dowager or the emperor, she could only vent it on the six-year-old child.

Aobai, caught off guard, held back his anger.

But after all, it was the Niuhulu daughter marrying into Mongolia, unrelated to the Guwalgiya clan, so his anger was limited.

Under the cover of night, he went to the Niuhulu mansion.

A few days later, he openly hosted a grand banquet and formally accepted Suoqiqi as his goddaughter.

The Grand Empress Dowager: “……”

Truly absurd!

Though secretly resentful, on the surface, they all quietly ceased their scheming, silently overlooking the conflict, pitying only the unfortunate Tana, caught in the crossfire with no way to refuse her marriage.

June.

In the capital, aside from the Hesheri and Niuhulu families busy preparing dowries for their daughters, all others seemed to have settled into peace.

Wen Yao, sweltering at home, urged Jueluo to go to the estate to escape the heat.

Jueluo came from the Daishan branch. Her father was the fourth son Wakda, her mother the secondary consort Nala, and she had an elder sister who married into Mongolia, becoming the wife of Nomutzi from the Khorchin tribe. Nomutzi’s younger sister was the current Dowager Noble Consort Shu, living with the Empress Dowager in Shoukang Palace.

Wakda had eight brothers and was the most low-key among them. He had the fewest wives and children. Apart from his early-deceased younger brother Mazhan, his rank was the lowest but he was content, holding the title of Prince Duolu and living to the ripe age of forty-seven.

Jueluo was a late-born daughter, doted on by Wakda from childhood and brought a generous dowry. The estates outside the city for summer retreats numbered three, the largest possessing a hundred acres of fertile land adjacent to the imperial estate.

Jueluo brought Wen Yao and Erlundai to the estate, then led them to see the hundred acres of farmland.

“This estate will be your dowry.”

Waving her hand with the air of commanding a country, she declared, “Whatever the Hesheri family has, you shall have too.”

“Mother…”

Wen Yao laughed wryly but did not refuse.

Unlike the near total isolation of the Qing imperial harem during the Qianlong era, the consorts of the Kangxi era were effectively salaried employees. Without clan support, relying solely on the small stipends from the palace, they would barely be better off than palace maids.

Wen Yao had already received notice—entering the palace as a consort meant she could bring in a dowry.

The empress’s dowry numbered 188 units; she could bring about 158.

The dowry had always been prepared, though previously modest. Now, adding estates and shops would suffice.

Of the 158 units, one-third came from Jueluo’s own dowry, another third from the clan’s budget, and the remaining third from palace rewards and clan additions.

“The emperor said that once you enter the palace, he would gift you some of your aunt’s dowry.”

So the total might not be less than the empress’s.

“The emperor still remembers the Empress Dowager.”

Jueluo pinched her handkerchief at the corner of her eye, as if moved to tears, but then shifted the topic, “Since the emperor cares for you, you must often care for him. Don’t let the palace or outside affairs drive a wedge between you.”

“The Hesheri entered the palace young and are the emperor’s childhood couple; that bond is different. No matter how deep your feelings are, you cannot overcome the disparity in status.”

Jueluo understood this feeling best.

Her cousin from the same clan had married He’erben of the Dong’e clan at eleven, widowed at twenty, then remarried Ebilan. Though married to He’erben for only seven short years, their youthful couple bond was strong. After marrying Ebilan, more than ten years passed childless and cold until she bore her only daughter, Tana, at thirty.

Now Tana was being forced into marriage due to her husband’s fate…

Jueluo thought her cousin must be utterly disheartened.

“Since the wheat is ripe, daughter will personally harvest some to send to the emperor.”

Wen Yao squinted at the bending stalks in the field, excitedly saying, “Our emperor intends to be a wise ruler. I send these wheat ears so he can see what wheat grown on prime land looks like.”

Erlundai, who had been silent, suddenly lit up, “I want to help too.”

“All right.”

Wen Yao ruffled his freshly shaved head, which still felt prickly.

Though Jueluo did not understand the significance of sending wheat ears, she did not object. Her daughter, growing up alongside the emperor, naturally understood his heart better. If it were up to her, she might have preferred a scented letter with a few sentimental verses.

Don’t men always like that sort of thing?

Wen Yao changed into lighter clothes, grabbed a sickle, and headed to the field.

Her health had improved somewhat recently; cutting a few handfuls of wheat was not exhausting, especially with Erlundai, a little stubborn calf, helping.

The siblings worked for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea and harvested a basketful.

Before evening, the basket of wheat ears was delivered to the palace, brought into the Qianqing Palace.

Xuan Ye, upon seeing the basket, immediately worried about Wen Yao’s health and asked Tong Guogang, “Is cousin’s health still all right? It’s so hot; she mustn’t suffer heatstroke from harvesting wheat.”

Tong Guogang clasped his fists, his voice booming yet honest like Erlundai’s, “Most of it was cut by that little rascal Erlundai. Wen Yao only managed two small handfuls before she had to rest.”

Xuan Ye felt both touched and pained.

“She’s in poor health; she should rest more.”

His fingers unconsciously stroked the wheat ears again, moved by his cousin’s concern for him.

The wheat ears were not fully plump and had some empty husks, yet they came from the best fertile fields. Xuan Ye dared not imagine what the wheat from the sandy lands looked like.

Food is the foundation of the people.

If only there were high-yield grains.

Seeing fresh wheat ears for the first time, Xuan Ye began to contemplate imperial control over rice and wheat.