Chapter 53 Chapter 53 It's a sad thing to say...

It's a sad thing to say. Kangxi's illness was a minor one, and he'd recovered in a few days, but the Imperial Noble Consort's health took a sharp turn for the worse. After enduring for over half a month, she was finally nearing her end. After Kangxi recovered, he visited the Imperial Noble Consort again. After leaving Chengqian Palace, he stood alone at the Qianqing Gate for a long time.

The Imperial Noble Consort knew her death was imminent, so Yinzhen often visited Chengqian Palace in the evenings after returning from the Shangshufang to chat with her.

That day, as usual, Yinzhen went to Chengqian Palace, while Yinsi and Yinxiang stayed with Wenshan in Xianfu Palace.

Winter had already arrived, and snow was imminent. Wenshan was under the window, digging out the furs Yinzhen and Yinsi had brought back from Mongolia, preparing to make them cloaks and mattresses.

While choosing patterns for the lining, Wenshan suddenly remembered something.

"Isn't it time for Yinsi to move to Ganxi Wushe next year?"

Such a big deal, she hadn't even thought of it.

Yinsi looked up and smiled, "Don't worry, mother. The servants will take care of it."

Yinsi still remembered Wenshan's near tears when Yinzhen was about to move out, and fearing she'd upset her again, he wanted to quickly put the matter behind him, so he didn't remind her.

Wenshan slapped her forehead, stepped forward, hugged Yinsi, and said apologetically, "I've been so busy lately that I forgot. I'll go get you things ready."

Yinsi was at a loss for words, and Yinxiang pouted beside him. With my big brother moving to Ganxi Wushe, he'd be all alone in Xianfu Palace.

Hmm... that's good too. He could have his mother all to himself!

Wen Shan began rummaging through boxes and drawers again, preparing things for Yinsi, thinking she'd go to the Ganxi Wusuo to clean up for him tomorrow. She'd taken care of everything when Yinzhen had been there, so now she naturally wanted to be fair.

Just then, Zhenzhu opened the door.

"Master, the Emperor just issued an edict promoting Consort Min, Consort Liang, and Consort Cheng to the rank of imperial concubines."

"Huh?" Wen Shan was a little surprised, but on reflection, it made sense. These three had all given birth to princes but were still consecrated, so a promotion seemed appropriate.

Yinsi keenly sensed something was amiss: "The Emperor seems to be promoting these people together, but I just can't help but feel something's off."

"Is the Emperor planning to send me back to Mother?" Yinxiang asked.

They'd discussed this before; having three princes in Xianfu Palace was too conspicuous.

Although Wen Shan felt a little reluctant, she said, "It would be good if you could return to Jingren Palace and spend time with your mother with your sister."

Having raised Yinxiang for so many years, Wen Shan was naturally reluctant to suddenly send him away. However, returning to his biological mother, not just someplace else, was only natural.

"It's hard to say," Yinsi thought for a moment and said, "The Emperor's thoughts are hard to fathom. His heart is as deep as the abyss."

The three of them had been planning to wait together for Yinzhen's return from Chengqian Palace, but Kangxi arrived before Yinzhen arrived.

"Everyone, get up," Kangxi said casually. Glancing around, he didn't see Yinzhen and asked, "Did Yinzhen return to Ganxi Wusuo?"

Wen Shan brought the brewed tea and said, "Yinzhen went to Chengqian Palace to pay his respects to the Imperial Noble Consort."

Yinxiang and Yinsi stood obediently to the side. Kangxi beckoned them over and, with a fatherly touch, offered each of them a piece of pastry.

Yinxiang thought that the emperor was really good at doing favors, using the things from their Xianfu Palace to show the deep love between father and son.

"Yinzhen has always been very filial. Yinsi and Yinxiang should also learn more from your fourth brother."

Yinsi and Yinxiang said a few polite words.

"Yinsi, take your thirteenth brother to the side hall to play. I have something to say to your mother."

Wenshan suddenly felt something was wrong and became nervous. Since Kangxi had spoken, Yinsi and Yinxiang had no choice but to retreat honestly, leaving Wenshan and Kangxi alone in the room.

"Come and sit." Kangxi smiled and patted the seat next to him.

"..."

Kangxi was sitting on the couch, and there was only more than a foot of space left from the edge. Could she sit half of it? She would be exhausted if she sat like that.

Since Kangxi had spoken, she had no choice but to sit over there. Kangxi sat inward a little, put his arm around her waist and sat forward a little, so that Wenshan could sit comfortably.

Wen Shan was now even more uneasy. What was Kangxi planning? Were they really that close?

Such intimacy left her feeling somewhat uneasy.

"I haven't been to Xianfu Palace often these past two years,"

Kangxi observed. Because of Yinxiang's upbringing, the room had been filled with children's toys and other cozy, inviting decorations.

Wen Shan could only reply, "Your Majesty is so busy with government affairs that he doesn't often visit the harem. My place is always a mess, unfit to serve you."

Indeed, Kangxi hadn't been visiting often since Yinxiang arrived at Xianfu Palace. It was only recently, as Yinxiang had grown up and taken a certain resemblance to Kangxi, that Kangxi would occasionally visit, only to see Yinxiang and then leave.

Wen Shan remarked on this, "It's fantastic!"

Having money, children, and no need to serve Kangxi—it was the harem life she'd dreamed of.

Kangxi might have taken such remarks as flattery, but Wen Shan said she knew they were sincere.

A few years ago, he'd been mad at Wen Shan for her lack of attention, but nothing ever came of it. She was like a ball of water, like a ball of cotton, making it impossible to do anything about it.

And even if Kangxi didn't want to, he had to admit that even if he'd stormed over to settle his score with Wen Shan, the sight of her smiling face would always inexplicably fizzle out his anger.

There was always a strange sense of calm in Xianfu Palace.

"I had Yinsi bring you a piece of black fox fur. Have you seen it?" Kangxi asked, remembering the fur he'd gifted Yinsi that day.

Kangxi wondered if Yinsi had given it to Wen Shan.

In truth, he hadn't. After receiving the black fox fur, Yinsi had put it away in the bottom of his closet. He, his fourth brother, and his uncle had already used up all the fur he'd made for his mother. Although it was a gift from the emperor, it wasn't something he considered precious.

Just this afternoon, Yinsi saw Wenshan sorting the fur and remembered this. He mentioned it to her, asking if she wanted to see it. If so, he'd have someone dig it out.

Wenshan wasn't interested when she heard it was a black fox fur; she didn't really like black, and it didn't flatter her.

"I saw it. I saw that the fur is pure and rare, and it's intact. Since it's cold these days, I'm offering it to Yinzhen to bring to the Imperial Concubine."

Kangxi simply said, "In that case, he'll find a few better ones later."

Silence fell again. Wenshan kept mumbling to herself, "If you have something to say, just say it quickly, and then get out of here. What's the point of torturing me here?"

The suffocating feeling reminded her of the Southern Tour; it was pure torture.

But Kangxi was clearly just trying to nag her today. He brought up the fact that it had been ten years since she entered the palace, and she still looked the same as when she first arrived.

Wenshan thought, "What a lie!" How could it be the same after ten years?

She was so much prettier than when she was a teenager, like a bean sprout!

Wen Shan and Kangxi were talking in the main hall, while Yinsi and Yinxiang were also looking worried in the side hall.

"The Emperor has come with ill intentions." Even Yinxiang, who was always carefree, noticed it.

The Emperor must have come here for something important today, and he wondered if Mother could handle it.

Yinsi frowned and thought, although the harem and court had been arranged, they had not yet started, and the Emperor should not make trouble at this time.

Could it be that the Imperial Noble Consort's actions angered the Emperor?

"Little Shunzi." Yinsi raised his eyes and said in a cold voice: "Go to Chengqian Palace and guard it. If the Fourth Master comes out, tell him not to come back yet."

"Yeah."

Little Shunzi took the order and retreated respectfully.

"Eighth brother, do you think the Emperor came here because of Fourth Brother's matter?" Yinxiang asked.

The candlelight flickered, Yinsi's face flickering in and out. He pondered, then tilted his head slightly and said, "It's hard to say, but it might be good news."

Inside the main hall, Kangxi pulled Wen Shan aside, reminiscing about the past. After a long chat, they finally got to the point.

"Today, I visited the Imperial Noble Consort. She's truly terminally ill, beyond hope of recovery."

Kangxi lamented. While he and the Imperial Noble Consort weren't childhood sweethearts, they had known each other since childhood. Seeing his cousin so emaciated at such a young age was heartbreaking even for him.

"Concubine Niuhuru had already begun preparing all the necessary items before the Mulan hunting trip, as a way to bring good luck to the Imperial Noble Consort," Wen Shan whispered.

These items were, of course, the same as when the Grand Empress Dowager was seriously ill—they were funeral rites.

Kangxi nodded, took Wen Shan's hand, patted it, and said, "What I've come to tell you today is from the heart. Don't tell anyone else."

Wen Shan, alert, knew this was about to begin.

"On the day I came back from Mulan Paddock, I went to see the Imperial Noble Consort. I wanted to enthrone her as empress."

"..."

Fortunately, you didn't enthrone her, otherwise it would be a death sentence.

Tong Jia was empress for only one day, and she died the next day after she was enthrone.

At this time, enthronement of empress was just to appease the Imperial Noble Consort and to celebrate the occasion. It didn't have much political significance. After all, the Imperial Noble Consort had no children. So Wen Shan didn't say anything to congratulate her, but only said that Kangxi was thoughtful

. But she didn't expect Kangxi's next sentence to surprise her.

"What I didn't expect was that the Imperial Noble Consort refused." Kangxi stared at Wen Shan with deep eyes: "She said she didn't ask for the position of empress, and wanted to ask me for a favor."

Wen Shan's heart skipped a beat. Could the Imperial Noble Consort want to exchange the position of empress for changing Yinzhen's jade book to her name?

As expected, Kangxi said calmly, "The Imperial Noble Consort begged me to register Yinzhen under your name, saying it was both the Imperial Grandmother's and her last wish."

Wen Shan pursed her lips and, after a moment's pause, said, "The Imperial Noble Consort has a loving motherly heart for Yinzhen."

To go this far for Yinzhen, even trading her title of Empress, truly gave her all.

"Today, I visited the Imperial Noble Consort again, and her heart remains unchanged. She still insists that I register Yinzhen under your name."

"So, I wanted to ask your opinion," Kangxi said.

Wen Shan was truly troubled. How should she respond?

Kangxi smiled at her expression and said, "I just said that everything I said to you today is from the heart. Just speak frankly. I want to hear the truth."

Telling the truth might be a physical act of heartfelt revelation.

Wen Shan hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke the truth about the matter.

From Yinsi, Yinxiang, and the Imperial Noble Consort, they'd all been working tirelessly to change Yinzhen's imperial certificate, so she had to try, too. If she could succeed, Yinsi and the others wouldn't have to risk their lives in the previous dynasty.

"Actually, I've also been thinking about changing Yinzhen's imperial certificate to my name,"

Kangxi nodded in anticipation, humming a sound and motioning for her to continue.

"Before the Grand Empress Dowager passed away, she asked Sumalagu to tell me about this. She simply loved me and wanted me to have a child to rely on throughout my life."

Wenshan spoke with such sincerity that Kangxi couldn't help but be moved by the memory of the Grand Empress Dowager's final moments.

The Grand Empress Dowager truly loved Wenshan like her own daughter, but this also showed that Wenshan's service was genuine. If there had been even a hint of pretense or ulterior motive, given the Grand Empress Dowager's temperament, she wouldn't have loved her so much.

Wen Shan continued, "After learning of this, I selfishly wanted to have Yinzhen registered under my name."

Kangxi interrupted, asking, "Because of Concubine De?"

Wen Shan nodded. "While it's a bit harsh to say so, since Concubine De is Yinzhen's biological mother, Your Majesty is clear-sighted and naturally knows that Concubine De has never had much of a motherly affection for Yinzhen."

Everyone in the harem knew this. In the past, Concubine De would have pretended to be nice, but after the Sixth Prince's death, she had stopped pretending.

Kangxi, with his well-connected harem, naturally knew all

about it. But he knew better why Concubine De acted this way, and since Yinzhen had never been around, Kangxi turned a blind eye.

"Yinzhen is still a child, so I can't see anything about him. When he grows up, gets married, has children, and leaves the palace to build a residence, he will have to go before Defei. As the saying goes, filial piety is the most important virtue. If Defei wants to make things difficult for him, Yinzhen will have no way to deal with it."

Now Yinzhen is still a child, so he is raised by her, but it will be a different story when he grows up. After all, Defei is his biological mother listed in the imperial edict, and she can interfere in many things. Moreover, Yinzhen has to deal with Defei frequently due to filial piety.

Kangxi knelt down and sighed: "The fact that you can tell me this shows that you have the same motherly heart for Yinzhen as the Imperial Noble Consort."

"I feel that this child had a hard childhood, and I feel sorry for him." Wen Shan lowered her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, do you still remember why Yinzhen came to stay with me for the first time?"

Kangxi seemed to be lost in memory. He thought for a while before saying, "It seems that the prince and Yinzhen had a dispute that day, and I punished Yinzhen by making him kneel in the Cining Palace, right?"

Wen Shan nodded, glanced at Kangxi cautiously and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. At that time, I felt that your handling of the matter was unfair. Yinzhen was very angry. He was very angry. I felt that your handling of the matter was unfair. Although Yinzhen did talk back to the crown prince, he was pushed down the stairs by the crown prince. He was already injured, but you punished him by making him kneel in the snow. At that time, Yinzhen was not even three years old.

Wen Shan stood up for Yinzhen for something that happened many years ago, but Kangxi was not angry. He just sighed and said, "Now I think that I did punish him too much. When I saw the crown prince fainted that day, Yinzhen's temper at that time was very stubborn and he talked back to me. I was angry and punished him too much."

Kangxi rarely spoke his mind.

"When I went to pay my respects to the two elders the other day, I saw him kneeling in the snow, his face red from the cold, his body erect. He was truly a stubborn child."

"The Imperial Noble Consort was pregnant at the time, and neither was the Virtuous Consort. To be frank, I did feel that the Emperor didn't love him, and neither his biological mother nor his adoptive mother cared."

Wen Shan didn't want to discuss the events that followed the Imperial Noble Consort's serious illness. Kangxi naturally understood that he had given Yinzhen to the Imperial Noble Consort to raise, only to have been blinded by her own delusions and neglected him, believing in some unfounded myths about life and death.

Wen Shan's words were bold, and Kangxi was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"You, you dare to tell me the truth, yet you dare to say anything."

Wen Shan said, a little frightened. "The Emperor said I must not be angry when I open my heart to you."

"I'm not angry." Kangxi, having laughed enough, frankly admitted his bias: "Everyone says that every finger has its own length. I have so many children, so it's impossible to treat them all equally. The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, and I raised him, so naturally I favor him."

Kangxi's self-righteous words left Wen Shan at a loss for words.

At this point, Kangxi understood why Wen Shan wanted Yinzhen registered under her name, and the Imperial Noble Consort naturally felt the same way.

"So, I would like to ask the Emperor to allow Yinzhen to be registered under my name." This was the first time Wen Shan had asked Kangxi anything in her ten years of entering the palace.

Kangxi held her hand and chuckled softly, recalling something. After a moment, he said, "In the end, I owe Yinzhen something. You're right, this child had a hard childhood."

Now that he thought about it, wasn't Yinzhen's stubborn and cold temper the result of all he had experienced at such a young age?

Hearing Kangxi's words, Wen Shan whispered, "If Yinzhen knew you said that, he would be very happy."

"What if I ask you to make a choice?" Kangxi suddenly straightened up, staring at her intently.

"I can register Yinzhen under your name, but Yinsi will be sent back to Concubine Liang."

Wen Shan looked up at Kangxi, somewhat bewildered, unable to comprehend what he had said.

"Well, what will you choose?" Kangxi pressed on.

The warmth in her eyes had completely vanished.

Now he was really asking Wen Shan a question.

She loved Yinzhen, Yinsi, and Yinxiang equally, treating them all as her own. If Kangxi simply wanted to send Yinsi back to Liangpin, she naturally had no objection. As she had said to Yinxiang before, she was their biological mother, and returning was the natural right.

Although she felt a little reluctant, she would not force him to stay.

But if Yinsi were to be exchanged for Yinzhen... that would undoubtedly tear her heart apart.

It would be unfair to Yinsi, and Yinzhen would not agree.

Kangxi waited patiently for her response. After a long pause, Wenshan said, "I treat Yinzhen and Yinsi as my own children. They are my children, not objects to be exchanged."

Kangxi's expression remained calm. He asked, "So you are rejecting my proposal?" "

You just pleaded so much for Yinzhen. Are you giving up everything?"

Kangxi's fear and anxiety gradually faded as he pressed Wenshan, and he calmed down.

"I have no children. It's the grace of the Emperor and the Grand Empress Dowager that these three children are raised in Xianfu Palace. Since the Emperor has entrusted them to me, I have fulfilled my motherly duties and will obey His Majesty's orders. However, as his mother, I cannot bring myself to exchange Yinsi for Yinzhen. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Kangxi was somewhat surprised by these words. He believed he had a good grasp of Wen Shan's character. She was simple-minded and timid. Whenever he put on a stern face, she would be frightened and trembling, not knowing what to say. Her words today were truly unexpected.

"Liang Jiugong,"

Kangxi called out. Liang Jiugong entered from outside, holding an imperial edict. Kangxi took it and waved him away.

Kangxi handed the edict to Wen Shan, saying, "Open it and see."

This was against the rules, but everything that had happened today was clearly against the rules, so Wen Shan bravely opened the edict.

It stated two things. He

appointed the Imperial Noble Consort as Empress and changed the Fourth Prince Yinzhen's imperial certificate to Noble Consort Xuan's name.

Kangxi had already drafted the decree before he arrived at Xianfu Palace.

"The Emperor just told me so much..."

Wen Shan clutched the imperial edict, unsure what to say. Yinsi was right; the Emperor's mind was unfathomable, and she couldn't fathom Kangxi's thoughts.

"What I just said to you was the truth, and naturally I want to hear your truth as well."

Kangxi looked leisurely, pondered for a while and said: "In addition to being the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, I am also their father. Although I favor Yinreng a little, I don't treat Yinzhen and others as grass."

"You and the Imperial Noble Consort have a loving motherly heart. If I don't agree, it would seem like I am an unkind father."

Wen Shan read the imperial edict several times and confirmed that there was nothing about Yinsi on it. She hesitated for a long time and asked: "Then, what about Yinsi?"

Yinsi will move to Ganxi Wusuo next year. If there is any difference between him returning to Liangpin and staying with her, it is that he can't come over often after school.

Kangxi leaned back, supporting his chin with one hand as he spoke, "Yinsi is a very clever child. I like him very much and hope that he will become a pillar of the Qing Dynasty in the future. However, the cleverer one is, the more likely he is to go astray. I'm just giving you a warning. Give him more advice and guidance on a daily basis."

In Kangxi's eyes, Yinsi was just precocious and intelligent, sensible and knowing when to advance and retreat. He naturally knew that the Crown Prince was wary of Yinsi, but just like he was with the eldest prince, Kangxi didn't think of them wanting to fight to the death with the Crown Prince brothers. It was normal for a prince to have ambitions for the throne, but Kangxi was confident that as long as he was still around, his sons wouldn't be able to cause any trouble. As long as they

didn't teach him too much, they would be fine. "It's better to keep Yinsi with you. I hope he can learn a little more honesty from you and Yinzhen."

"..."

It turned out that all the words he had just said to her were just a joke.

Kangxi found Wen Shan's pursed lips, a hint of irritation evident, amusing. He pulled her closer and said, "I'm not trying to tease you. What I just said was all sincere. I'm not entirely cold-blooded. Even the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Noble Consort were dying, and I couldn't help but be moved."

"Besides being moved, I can't help but think that I seem to have shown less concern for Yinzhen and the others."

There was another reason Kangxi had concealed from Wen Shan: the Crown Prince's perfunctory and careless behavior during his illness had made him wonder if he'd been overly indulgent in his upbringing, allowing him to have it all too easy, leading to his lack of respect for his father.

Perhaps it was time to give the Crown Prince some urgency, to learn how to be a prince worthy of his father and emperor, and admired and submissive to his brothers.

It was for these multiple reasons that he stood for a long time at the Gate of Heavenly Purity that day before writing this imperial edict.

Whatever the process, at least the outcome was what they wanted. Wen Shan sincerely thanked Kangxi. Kangxi smiled at her and suddenly, out of nowhere, said, "Actually, I've always been quite fond of you."

Wen Shan: "...?"

Was Kangxi crazy?!

He'd just said she'd barely enjoyed any favor in the ten years since she entered the palace. They'd only spent a few days together during his southern tour, when there were only a few concubines around. And then, when Concubine Mi showed up, she'd abdicated.

Now she's saying she likes her?

Who would believe him? Was he treating her like a young girl?

Kangxi was being honest. He didn't like women who were too clever. Wen Shan's simple, unpretentious nature was just right.

But Wen Shan clearly didn't care for him, and as the emperor, he naturally wouldn't try to please her. So, their lives continued to stumble and fall apart.

Of course, these stumbling and falling apart were Kangxi's assumptions.

Wen Shan would have cried if she knew this, she was clearly having a great time!

That night, Kangxi rarely stayed overnight at the Xianfu Palace, and Yinsi and Yinxiang waited for Yinzhen almost the entire night but he didn't come back.

Yinzhen sent word back that the Imperial Noble Concubine was critically ill and he would stay with her overnight at the Chengqian Palace. The next morning, Kangxi's imperial edict was announced to all the six palaces, and the Imperial Noble Concubine was officially canonized as the Empress, and the jade book of the Fourth Prince Yinzhen was changed to the name of Concubine Xuan.

Unfortunately, the Imperial Noble Concubine was not able to receive the edict in person. After the edict was issued in the morning, Empress Tongjia, who had just ascended the throne of Empress, passed away in the evening.