Chapter Five: The Princess Consort Bestows an Attendant Girl

Hongli was quite taken aback by this.

He was not the only one; Hongshi and Hongzhou were equally surprised.

“The Lady Consort has never even invited me in to see her. Why would she allow Old Fourth to go in?” Hongshi asked Hongzhou, puzzled.

Hongzhou shook his head. “I do not know either. Third Brother, you should go back and ask the Consort Lady.”

Yongzheng’s principal wife, Lady Wulanara, came from an illustrious family. She was the daughter of Feiyangu, a high minister of the Plain Yellow Banner, and could not be compared with ordinary princely consorts.

After arriving at Lady Wulanara’s quarters, Hongli performed a deep bow. “Your son pays his respects to the Lady Consort!”

“Rise.”

“Good child.”

“I heard you are fond of the sachima from Chaoyang Tower?”

After saying this with a smile, Lady Wulanara asked Hongli in a gentle voice.

Hongli smiled and replied, “I only wanted to taste something new; I would not say I am especially fond of it.”

Lady Wulanara laughed. “Since you only wished to try something new, then taste the imperial confections instead. The palace once bestowed some upon me, and I have kept them. I shall give them all to you.”

“Thank you for your grace, Lady Consort.”

Hongli hurriedly offered his thanks.

By now he more or less understood. Lady Wulanara must have learned that Yongzheng had praised him, and, for Yongzheng’s sake, had begun to draw close to him and show him favor.

If Kangxi was the sky of the palace, then Yongzheng was the sky of Prince Yong’s residence.

Thus, the attitude of this principal wife, as the household’s stepmother, toward those children and concubines who were not her own blood would shift entirely in accordance with Yongzheng’s attitude toward them.

That morning, Hongli had already come once to pay his respects to Lady Wulanara, but as with Hongshi and Hongzhou, he had been turned away at the door.

This afternoon’s visit, however, was different. Lady Wulanara may already have known Yongzheng’s present disposition, and so her attitude toward him had changed as well.

“What need is there for such formalities between mother and son?”

“It is rare that your studies are so excellent and that you have pleased Fourth Master. Everyone in the residence is grateful to you for it.”

“I feel there are still too few attendants around you. You are such a diligent and studious child, so I have decided to bestow Haitang upon you, so that she may attend you. In future, you will also be able to focus more fully on your studies. What do you think?”

As she spoke, Lady Wulanara smiled and looked toward Hongli.

Hongli had not expected that Lady Wulanara would not only give him imperial sachima, but also reward him with a woman.

He had heard of this Haitang before. She was a maid in Lady Wulanara’s service, of fine appearance and good character, and she was well liked among the lower ranks of Prince Yong’s residence.

Now that Lady Wulanara was giving Haitang to him, her intention was plain enough.

Hongli smiled and replied, “As the saying goes, when an elder gives a gift, one dares not refuse. Since the principal wife is concerned for her son, how could this son fail to obey? I gratefully accept your grace, Lady Consort, and wish you a long life!”

“You child, you truly are sensible. Madame Niohuru has taught you well. You must come often in future to keep me company.”

“The Fourth Master is not often at home. In this vast household, we can only rely on you and me, son and mother, to worry over and sustain it.”

As she spoke, Lady Wulanara dabbed at the corners of her eyes.

Yet from her words, Hongli could tell that she intended to treat him as her own child and as the eldest son, utterly ignoring the fact that Hongshi was the household’s actual eldest son.

After careful thought, Hongli did not find this strange. Hongshi’s ostentation was likely not only displeasing to Yongzheng, but also to Lady Wulanara.

After all, as the daughter of Feiyangu, a high minister, Lady Wulanara came from a noble birth and possessed far keener political instincts than Hongshi. She naturally knew how foolish Hongshi’s conduct now was.

“I will come often to keep Mother company. It is only that in order to complete my lessons and schoolwork, there may be times when I am delayed, so I ask that Mother not take offense.”

Hongli cupped his hands and replied.

Lady Wulanara smiled. “Your studies are what matter. How could I blame you? Let Haitang accompany you back.”

Hongli then took his leave from Lady Wulanara.

On the way out, he glanced at Haitang.

Haitang was presently holding the sachima wrapped in gold paper, head lowered and manner submissive. She showed neither displeasure nor wild delight, only followed behind with a smile that did not reveal her teeth.

In Hongli’s view, she was indeed someone trained by Lady Wulanara’s side—virtuous and well-bred, just as expected.

And he could not help noticing that Haitang truly had the figure of a fruitful branch. Though her waist was slender, the pair of rounded curves hidden beneath her jacket were remarkably impressive.

This made Hongli think that at last he would not have to sleep on a porcelain pillow tonight.

But for now, all he could enjoy from Haitang was this small consolation. After all, he had not yet come into his maturity, and could not plant seed in her to fully win her heart.

When Hongli came out, Hongshi and Hongzhou had not yet left.

When the two saw Hongli emerge with Haitang, they were both stunned.

Hongzhou even pointed at Haitang and asked directly, “Fourth Brother, what is the meaning of this?”

“The Lady Consort has assigned her to me,” Hongli replied.

Hongzhou’s mouth fell open, his tongue protruding for a long while before it finally slipped back in.

Hongshi gave an awkward smile and said sourly, “I never expected the Lady Consort would favor you, Old Fourth, after all!”

“Third Brother is joking. The Lady Consort treats us all as her own children.”

Hongli answered once, then headed back toward the small courtyard where he lived.

Hongzhou, who lived nearby, followed along, draping an arm over his shoulder and whispering, “Fourth Brother, you are truly fortunate. Everyone in the residence says Haitang’s looks and bearing are no less fine than Cui’er, who left the residence with Li Wei. Now that the Lady Consort has assigned her to you, it is truly enviable!”

Hongli smiled at him in return. “If you perform well, the Lady Consort will also reward you.”

After Hongli and Hongzhou left, Hongshi gave a cold snort and, with an unhappy expression, walked toward the small courtyard of the side consort, Lady Li.

Since Yongzheng had once again departed the residence for secluded cultivation, they did not need to pay their respects to him.

But Hongli knew that ever since Yongzheng’s second removal of the Crown Prince, he had claimed to be devoted to Buddhist teachings and often secluded himself away from the world, yet in truth he was merely concealing his tracks while making more secret plans to seize the succession. The Buddha he worshipped, if one were to guess, was probably the Joyful Buddha.

Otherwise, Yongzheng would not have left the residence in seclusion while still taking along Concubine Nian, the sister of Nian Gengyao.

What was more, after Hongzhou, all of Yongzheng’s three sons were born within the span of only two or three years around Yongzheng’s accession, and all of them were born to Lady Nian.

Clearly, during this period, Yongzheng had not exactly spared Lady Nian’s bed.

As for whether Yongzheng was sleeping with Lady Nian so ardently because he genuinely liked her or because he needed Nian Gengyao, only Yongzheng himself would know.

Hongshi, for his part, had barely entered Lady Li’s quarters when he put his hands on his hips and said with great frustration, “I simply cannot fathom what the Lady Consort means. Why did she suddenly assign Haitang to Old Fourth? I am already an adult son, and ever since my marriage, she has not even bestowed a single maid upon me!”

“Is it not because Hongli has recently been doing well in his studies, while you keep making your father unhappy? Naturally she has grown distant toward you as well!” Lady Li said helplessly.

“What use is good schoolwork? Eighth Uncle said it himself: our Aisin Gioro clan won the empire through ingenuity, not by excelling in studies!” Hongshi gave a dry laugh, utterly unconvinced.

Lady Li sighed in helplessness. “You should keep away from Eighth Uncle and Fourteenth Uncle! You know very well that your father does not like them, yet you insist on going to them. Naturally your father will dislike you for it, and naturally the Lady Consort will follow suit.”

“What is there to say?” Hongshi stood up, still unconvinced and even somewhat indignant. “Father is truly something else. Now that Fourteenth Uncle commands the troops in the northwest and Eighth Uncle oversees the Ministry of Imperial Household, everyone in the world knows that the one who will sit the throne in future will be Fourteenth Uncle, while the one who will manage the affairs of state will be Eighth Uncle. Yet Father not only refuses to use the chance, as Fourteenth Uncle’s elder brother, to repair their relationship, he has instead become colder than before and does not even like me associating with them.”

Hongshi then sighed again. “For the sake of Prince Yong’s residence and your future, Mother, I cannot worry about so much. I can only first make Fourteenth Uncle and Eighth Uncle pleased, and ignore Father for now.”

Lady Li could only sigh as well. “I am but a woman of the inner chambers; I understand so little and cannot restrain you. I only hope you can remain safe and sound.”

At that moment, Hongshi asked her, “Does Mother still have any silver?”

Lady Li looked at him. “What do you need silver for?”

“After the New Year, it will be Hongwang’s birthday at Eighth Uncle’s residence. I must prepare some gifts for him, and my own silver has nearly all been spent,” Hongshi said.

After hearing this, Lady Li had no choice but to open the chest, take out a parcel of her private silver, and hand it to Hongshi. “It is not much, only this much. Hongli and Hongzhou’s birthdays are also nearly here, so you should prepare a share for them as well, to make your father happy and let him know that the brothers get along well.”

“Since the silver is not much, then fine steel must be used on the blade’s edge. Why think of that younger brother born of a concubine at all? When Fourteenth Uncle ascends the throne in future, they will be nothing more than the sons of a princely household’s concubine. Whether they can even have a title is hard to say.”

Hongshi gave a cold laugh.

...

...

After returning home, Hongli found the house piled high with gift boxes.

He could not help asking Madame Niohuru, “Girl, who sent all these?”

“Because your birthday is almost here, everyone has sent gifts. Some are from the consorts, others from the other girls and maids in the residence,” Madame Niohuru said with a smile.

Hongli nodded.

Because Yongzheng and the principal wife had shown much more favor to their mother and son, the rest of the household had also followed suit and sought to curry favor.

Such a world of looking at each person according to their station was, of course, unavoidable even in Prince Yong’s residence.

Hongli casually picked up a few exquisite gifts and examined them, then said, “Perfect. Hongzhou’s birthday falls on the same day as mine, so there is no need to worry about preparing a gift for him then.”

“What about Hongwang’s birthday at your Eighth Uncle’s residence? Should we prepare a gift for that as well?” Madame Niohuru asked.

After thinking for a moment, Hongli said, “Forget it. Father does not like Eighth Uncle, especially Eighth Aunt!”