Chapter 56: The Consorts of Emperor Kangxi Extend Their Goodwill

Consort Rong offered an awkward smile upon hearing this, glancing sideways at Consort Hui, Consort Yi, and the others who had arrived together with her.

Consort Hui, Consort Yi, and the rest also managed sheepish smiles.

Taking the initiative, Consort Hui stood up and addressed the Noble Consort, saying, "Sister, shall we go out to welcome the Primary Consort?"

The Noble Consort gave a slight nod.

As the biological mother of the Yongzheng Emperor, she naturally did not need to go out to greet the Fourth Prince's Primary Consort.

However, for Emperor Kangxi's imperial consorts like Consort Hui, it would be unseemly to stand on ceremony and fail to go out to welcome her.

After all, by relinquishing her authority to the Primary Consort, the Noble Consort had tacitly accepted Yongzheng as the new emperor and would not obstruct them from paying court to the new sovereign and his empress.

Naturally, they needed to show greater deference to the Primary Consort to avoid incurring the displeasure of Yongzheng, who stood firmly behind her.

Consequently, these consorts all rose and walked toward the entrance.

Hongli, accompanied by the Primary Consort and Hongshi, walked in at that moment.

"You've arrived?"

Upon catching sight of the Primary Consort, Consort Hui was the first to greet her with a smile.

Consort Rong hurried over, and after offering an apology to the Primary Consort, she turned her ire upon Qin Li, scolding him sharply, "You muddle-headed wretch! The Noble Consort told you to keep outsiders out, who gave you the authority to block the Primary Consort? It's a sign of immense grace that you weren't beaten to death on the spot."

The Primary Consort exchanged pleasantries with the several imperial consorts of the late Kangxi Emperor before walking up to the Noble Consort and greeting her, "I pay my respects to the Noble Consort, Mother."

Hongli and Hongshi likewise offered their respects.

With a sour and rueful sigh, the Noble Consort remarked to the Primary Consort, "You have a fine son indeed, daring to stand up to anyone on your behalf."

"It is entirely thanks to the blessings of the late Emperor and you, Consort Mother," the Primary Consort replied with a smile.

The Noble Consort continued, "I am getting on in years. From now on, all matters of the inner palace shall be entrusted to you. Do not claim you do not know how; everyone learns from a state of ignorance."

"Understood!"

With that, the Noble Consort turned her gaze toward Consort Hui and the others. "You may all disperse now. The hour is late; it is time for some sustenance."

Consort Hui and the others promptly took their leave. Before departing, each cast a complex and contemplative glance at Hongli. Shortly thereafter, they decisively dispatched their personal maids to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to present their greetings to the Yongzheng Emperor.

Presently, the Yongzheng Emperor was still handling affairs of state in the South Study of the Hall of Heavenly Purity.

Because the late Emperor Kangxi had conducted his administration, issued imperial edicts, and stored numerous vital archives right here during his reign, the location remained central.

However, the Yongzheng Emperor had chosen the Hall of Mental Cultivation as his private sleeping quarters.

Therefore, whenever Hongli wished to pay his respects to the Yongzheng Emperor, he had to proceed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Upon taking leave of the Noble Consort, Hongli first escorted the Primary Consort back to the Palace of Eternal Longevity.

Hongshi followed along as well.

After all, there was no propriety in abandoning one's principal mother midway.

Yet, along the way, the Primary Consort directly rebuffed Hongshi's company, her expression growing increasingly frigid as she said, "Enough. Go and visit the Secondary Consort. She is your biological mother; you ought to show her more filial piety."

So saying, she instructed Chen Shishun to retrieve the hibiscus-scented sachet Hongshi had previously offered, handing it right back to him. "Take this back to the Secondary Consort as well. I have no use for it!"

For the Primary Consort, she was never short of flatterers.

Born of noble lineage—the daughter of Fiyanggu, Duke of the First Rank of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner and Grand Minister of the Imperial Household—and holding the status of a Prince's Primary Consort, she was naturally accustomed to receiving endless sycophancy from many quarters.

Thus, she cared far more about whether a person could bring tangible value to her.

Especially when it came to sons like Hongli and Hongshi, who were not born of her own womb.

Her maternal affection naturally took on a more principled and utilitarian tint.

Because Hongshi had hesitated out of fear of offending the Noble Consort and had failed to step forward in her defense, she felt a deepening sense of disappointment, concluding that Hongshi could afford her no real value and that excessive closeness might merely invite trouble.

As for rare and precious fragrances, she held little regard for them.

What she truly prized, by contrast, were power and status.

Since Hongli had just helped her secure the very authority she had almost let slip through her fingers, she felt all the more inclined to embrace Hongli as her own son.

With that, Uala Nara, the Primary Consort, spoke to Hongshi and then pulled Hongli along with her, asking him with a gentle smile, "You've been up since early morning without a drop of water or grain, and walked such a long distance. You must be hungry, aren't you?"

Hongshi, well aware of why the Primary Consort's attitude had suddenly cooled, hurried forward, dropped to his knees before her, and pleaded, "Please grant me audience, Imperial Mother. It wasn't that your son didn't want to stand up for you just now; I simply didn't react quickly enough. I beg you not to be angry with your son."

"I am not angry with you. As long as you remain obedient and dutiful, you will remain a good son to both His Majesty and me," the Primary Consort said, waving a hand dismissively. "Go."

"Understood!"

Hongshi rose to his feet, forced to pick up his Rao kiln porcelain incense box and depart in sullen disappointment. He muttered under his breath, "Who could have foreseen that Imperial Grandmother would relinquish her power so decisively? Even Consort Hui, Consort Rong, and the others never expected it."

...

Having accompanied the Primary Consort back to the Palace of Eternal Longevity, Hongli proceeded directly to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to pay his respects to the Yongzheng Emperor.

The Palace of Eternal Longevity and the Hall of Mental Cultivation both lay on the western side of the Forbidden City's central axis, standing directly adjacent to one another with their gates facing across the courtyard.

Consequently, the journey required very little exertion of Hongli's legs.

"I pay my respects to Your Imperial Father!"

Upon entering, however, Hongli found the Yongzheng Emperor's expression as dark as a thundercloud, as if someone owed him a fortune.

There was none of the elation or relaxed magnanimity the Emperor had displayed the night before and earlier that morning upon ascending the throne—the easygoing demeanor that suggested he was ready to forgive and pardon anyone.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Hongli took the initiative to ask, "Imperial Father, what is troubling you? Who has displeased you?"

"According to protocol, upon the ascension of a new emperor, the consorts of the late Emperor are supposed to send representatives to pay their respects. Yet up to this very moment, not a single soul has come!"

"Are they, like Hongchun and Xiao Yongzao, refusing to acknowledge me as the true sovereign?"

"Just as your Imperial Grandmother remarked, the late Emperor's choice of me to inherit the grand succession is not what they had hoped for in their dreams, is it?"

The more the Yongzheng Emperor spoke, the colder and sharper his tone became.

Hongli was startled into asking, "So you did find out about what Imperial Grandmother said yesterday?"

"Hmph! It was impossible for me not to know!"

The Yongzheng Emperor gave a dry, humorless laugh, then seated himself on a side couch, picking up a memorial to read as he continued, "However, you did well. You persuaded your Imperial Grandmother to retract those words."

"I care little if she favors the Fourteenth Brother more; I merely require her to put on a fair and impartial facade in public!"

"If she fails to act like an Empress Dowager, it reflects poorly upon my own face!"

"Fortunately, she is still amenable to reason and not entirely impervious to counsel."

Even when venting his anger, the Yongzheng Emperor did not spare his own biological mother, bluntly declaring that she failed to conduct herself as an Empress Dowager should.

Hongli understood that the Emperor was telling him this in the hope that he would continue efforts to guide the Noble Consort, especially now that he possessed both the ability and the opportunity to do so.

Thwack!

Suddenly, the Yongzheng Emperor slammed his hand down on the desk. "It is all the fault of your Eighth Uncle! If he hadn't remarked last night, right after your Imperial Father passed away, that he hadn't heard clearly, your Imperial Grandmother would never have entertained such notions, and the late Emperor's consorts wouldn't be withholding their greetings! I daresay their absence is entirely the result of his instigation!"

The more he dwelt on it, the more furious the Yongzheng Emperor became.

Hongli suppressed a secret smile.

He had to admit whether it was due to receiving too little maternal affection in his youth or the result of Emperor Kangxi's prolonged trials of cultivation, the Emperor possessed an exceedingly sensitive inner nature. He was flying into a rage simply because the late Emperor's consorts had not yet sent emissaries to inquire after him, utterly unwilling to wait a few more days to see how things unfolded.

Noticing Hongli's smile, the Yongzheng Emperor glared at him. "You still have the heart to smile? What, are you like your Eighth and Ninth Uncles, secretly longing to see your grandfather's consorts refuse to send greetings to me, just so I can make a fool of myself before the entire realm?"

"Imperial Father, do try to calm yourself!" Hongli ventured.

Looking at him with extreme sternness, the Yongzheng Emperor demanded, "Am I agitated?"

"I smiled because I believe it is far too early to jump to conclusions."

"Perhaps they merely received the news from Imperial Grandmother rather late. Having just returned from her side, I already know that she is willing to hand over the authority of the inner palace to Imperial Mother," Hongli replied.

"In that case," the Yongzheng Emperor mused, "they might still send people after all?"

Hongli nodded. "They will."

Noticing that an untouched morning meal was still laid out before the Emperor—with one bowl of porridge sitting unopened right at his desk—Hongli stepped forward, lifted the lid, and urged, "Imperial Father, you should eat something first."

"I have no appetite!" the Emperor snapped.

Undeterred, Hongli picked up the bowl of porridge and placed it directly before him. "For the sake of the Great Qing Empire and its rivers and mountains, you must eat!"

"Well! Do you presume to manage me now?" The Yongzheng Emperor fixed his gaze on Hongli.

Hongli raised his hands in a respectful salute. "As the saying goes: a state with remonstrating ministers will not perish, and a household with a remonstrating son will not fall. Your son is offering advice and remonstrance, urging Your Majesty to place the welfare of the state above all else!"

"Therefore, will you partake or not?" Hongli asked.

Displaying surprising docility, the Yongzheng Emperor took the bowl and obediently began to eat.

He seemed strangely receptive to such frank, caring, and unvarnished words.

Yet no sooner had he finished his meal than Su Peisheng hurried in, announcing, "Your Majesty, Consort Hui, Consort Yi, Consort Rong, and the others... have sent people to deliver memorial tablets of greeting."

Upon hearing this, the Yongzheng Emperor hastily set down his bowl.

Hongli once again pressed his lips together in a quiet, knowing smile.