Kangxi Year 51

    Thick clouds gradually scattered rain, and lightning fiercely struck the tree tops, shattering them. A group of ten robust men knelt before Qianqing Palace.[1] The most prominent man among them wore a pufu[2] embroidered with a five-clawed dragon, signifying his position as Heshuo Qinwang.[3]

    He was rare in his elegance. His sharp brows matched his cold eyes, his nose was high and defined. He had thin lips that barely smiled, added to his sharp, emotionless demeanor. His formidable frame stood drenched amidst the pouring rain, enhancing his fearsome presence. Despite the pounding rain drops, the size of a thumb, and the howling wind, these young men remained stoic and unyielding, silently waiting.

    The Crown Prince Yin Reng was accused of bullying his younger brothers, amassing forces, and accepting bribes, leading to Kangxi’s order to strip him of his title and confine him within the palace until his death. This incident greatly tensed the atmosphere within the Forbidden City, as no one had anticipated that the Crown Prince's power would be so thoroughly dismantled.

    As the rain continued to pour from the murky grey skies, obscuring the sunlight completely, Kangxi's mood was as dark as the storm clouds overhead.

    "Go and tell them that if they do not leave, I will dismiss them all! And if anyone dares to plead on his behalf again, I will have their heads cut off!"

    His voice thundered louder than the storm. The sound of a teacup smashing echoed from within the palace before Zhang Eunuch, Kangxi’s trusted eunuch, emerged with a troubled expression. A young man at the end of the line quickly stood up as he saw Zhang Eunuch.

    "Zhang Eunuch, may we be granted an audience with His Majesty?"

    "Please, Tenth Prince, His Majesty is in a foul mood right now. If you insist on interceding for the Crown Prince, I fear you may also be punished. The storm is fierce; please return now for the sake of your royal mother if not for yourselves. The constant inquiries are causing chaos."

    "No! I must see my father."

    "Calm down, please, Tenth Prince. Even if you go in now, it will only make things worse." Zhang Eunuch gestured for an attendant to bring an umbrella for the prince, but it was refused. Sweating, Zhang Eunuch struggled to restrain the impetuous young prince and turned to help from the Ninth Prince kneeling beside him.

    "Yin'er, you usually aren’t close with second brother, so why this sudden aggression today?"

    The implication from the Ninth Prince was clear: Keep your mouth shut! But the Tenth Prince, known for his hot-blooded nature, spoke without forethought, often without considering the consequences.

    "Every... year on my birthday, the Second Prince would gift me a fine horse from Mongol. Now that he is in trouble, how can I not help him? Or does His Majesty really think he can cut out his own heart so easily? His Majesty is too heartless."

    The twenty-seven-year-old Tenth Prince spoke rashly, speaking his mind without regard to whom he might offend. Although he had not accomplished as much as his brothers, the emperor favored him, granting him the title ’Junwang[4],' and naming him ‘Dun Junwang.’ The Tenth Prince then raised his voice, only to quickly fall silent when the man at the front of the line shot him a sharp look.

    "Yin'er, do not presume to overstep with His Majesty. What His Majesty hates most is quarreling and factionalism among brothers. Did you come here just for the sake of the expensive gifts you used to receive?"

    The commanding tone changed the atmosphere instantly.

    The man was Yinzhen, the Fourth Prince of the Qing Dynasty.

    "I... I... The brotherly affection between us has no hidden agenda. His Majesty must understand me. How can you say such a thing!"

    "Brotherly affection? Your concubine and the Second Prince's wife are sisters... but that doesn't mean you can challenge His Majesty on their behalf."

    "You!" The Tenth Prince's face flushed. Indeed, he had come kneeling in the rain today because his favorite concubine had truly begged him to help.

    "Fourth brother, you know very well why the Second Prince ended up in this situation. You are the one behind this. Stop pretending to care. You manage this affair too perfectly," the Tenth Prince pointed accusingly, not sparing him. The other party, however, did not take offense; his expression remained calm and stoic, undisturbed by the pouring rain. Yinxiang, the twenty-four-year-old Thirteenth Prince, then took it upon himself to silence the foolish one.

    "Tenth brother... there is a saying that a scholar seeks what is right, while a scoundrel seeks only gain. Are you suggesting that the Second Prince's bribery and embezzlement, which led to His Majesty's punishment, was overlooked by His Majesty himself?"

    "You!!"

    "And by extending your help to the wrongdoer for minor gains, aren’t you afraid that His Majesty might misunderstand you as being foolish and thoughtless? People will think that the noble Dun Junwang is currying favor with the concubines in the palace in such ways. Be careful, lest your primary consort grieve."

    "You!! You!!" The Tenth Prince was furious but could not find the words to counter his younger brother, his face turning a deep red, but Yinxiang paid him no heed.

    "This is something that Wang Ye, our righteous Eighth brother, would surely understand better than anyone, Tenth brother."

    Above in the Qianqing Palace, clouds illuminated by lightning resembled a dragon crossing the sky. Thunder cracked loudly. Yunsi Beile[5], the Eighth Prince, smiled subtly, his facial features as dignified as a stern scholar. His eyes were piercing, seeing through everything. Although born to a lower-ranked Han Chinese mother and with little chance of ascending the throne, the number of nobles supporting him was a force not to be underestimated.

    "Thirteenth brother... This matter is for His Majesty to decide. I am merely presenting evidence of the Second Prince's bribery. I would not dare to overstep His Majesty's decision. I only wish to request His Majesty's mercy for the Second Prince's family."

    The Eighth Prince clasped his hands in respect towards the Qianqing Palace.

    "What I didn't expect was that it would be the Fourth brother, a close associate of the Second Prince, who would reveal the information. If it weren't for him, the Qing dynasty under His Majesty would undoubtedly face the danger of corrupt officials. I greatly respect your integrity; this achievement rightfully belongs to you."

    "Eighth brother, while promoting virtue is important, those who stab others in the back cannot be considered honorable men."

    The Tenth and Ninth Princes quickly added their agreement. The Eighth Prince, Yunsi did not respond, though did not stop his younger brothers, effectively using their words to accuse the Fourth brother of being a cunning fox who bites even those who support him. All eyes then turned to the tall figure kneeling at the front.

    The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen.

    The sharp gaze of the Fourth Prince made Zhang Eunuch involuntarily bow his head.

    Originally, Kangxi had assigned the Fourth Prince to be the companion and caretaker of the Crown Prince, to serve him closely so that when the Crown Prince grew up, he would have a confidant to help him with his duties. After that, the Fourth Prince followed the Crown Prince everywhere, knowing everything that happened to him. The Crown Prince also took good care of him, as if he were a brother of the same mother.

    Thus, this event of overthrowing the Crown Prince could be seen as a betrayal.

    There were several suitable candidates for the position of heir, although no one could predict the emperor’s heart as to who he would appoint, the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, was definitely a contender. This was because the Consort De Fei, was the closest descendant of Emperor Nu'er Ha Chi, exceeding any other consort in lineage, and she administered six palaces on behalf of the deceased empress. Moreover, the Fourth Prince had the emperor’s trust to recover embezzled funds for the royal treasury, so everyone in the palace knew who was behind the downfall of the Crown Prince, but no one dared to say it outright.

    "Ninth and Tenth brother, Fourth brother has always tried to curb the Second Prince’s bribery. Not only was he refused, but the Second Prince also resented and oppressed him. The Second Prince, being a favorite of His Majesty, even feared losing his position and caused such improper trouble. It’s not the Fourth brother’s fault that the Second Prince was removed from his position. You should know right from wrong."

    The Thirteenth Prince, Yinxiang, argued on his brother’s behalf, but Dun Junwang did not listen, continuing his irritation. The Eighth Prince, respected among the brothers, apologized on his behalf.

    "Yin'er has always been hot-tempered and speaks without knowing the full story. Please, Fourth brother, don't take it to heart. What I mean is that I admire that you stand on the side of what's right. The country must come first, and morality precedes all. Right and wrong will be judged as they are. The decision you made this time was incredibly brave. Today’s events shake the very heavens, and even I am apprehensive about the future. Going forward, please don’t be so hard on me."

    The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, slightly lifted the corner of his mouth, his eyes reflecting a deep and calm... fierce... reserved sharpness. "It is I who should be saying that."

    Both of them were clever and sharp. If only Tenth Prince would consider more carefully, he would realize that this was a strategic plan to surround Wei and save Zhao[6]. Without the Fourth Prince's cooperation in revealing the secrets of the Crown Prince, how could the Eighth Prince have pinpointed and gathered the evidence to report? While it was true that the Crown Prince’s actions deserved his dismissal, the fact that the Fourth Prince allowed the Crown Prince to repeat his mistakes without any intervention was also quite ruthless and vicious.

    And the one who intensified the emperor's anger…

    The one who first knelt and pleaded in front of Qianqing Palace…

    was the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen... the dignified Heshuo Qinwang, known as Yong Qinwang.

    This chess move was extremely cunning. The Eighth Prince had to bring his brothers who were under his influence to kneel as well, so as not to be criticized. After showing enough brotherly love, he saw it pointless to kneel in the rain and let his body suffer because of that person. “I will return when His Majesty has calmed down. Excuse me.”

    “Go on.”

    “Farewell, Your Highness,” Zhang Eunuch bowed, his face lightened.

    The Eighth Prince led his brothers to rise before bowing in front of the palace and then swiftly departing. The Fourteenth Prince, Yunti, a full brother of Yinzhen, stepped back without saying a word. He closely followed the Eighth Prince, leaving his full brother with the Thirteenth Prince. Yunti was a brave young man, skilled in horse riding and archery, favored no less than his brother, but the two siblings had never liked each other. Yunti, being closer to the Eighth Prince, chose to follow him.

    "Congratulations, Eighth brother, you have won.”

    “I am not the winner. The winner is the one who reaps the most benefits.”

    “But the one who fully achieved the results this time is you, Eighth brother.”

    “You are mistaken. I am the one who lost.”

    Everyone was puzzled. “Why?”

    “Do you think the Fourth brother just decided to act? Gathering evidence and waiting for the right moment requires no less than three years. He simply sat back, kept himself out of trouble, and let me do all the dirty work because he knew that deep in the emperor's heart, he would not be pleased with someone who harms his favorite son. Therefore, the Fourth brother knelt in the rain partly to show that he is a loving brother, not a heartless brute, and partly to provoke the emperor to punish the Second Prince even more severely. So, avoid making an enemy out of him if you can.”

    Those listening felt the chill.

    “Only the Eighth brother could see through the Fourth brother's intentions so clearly. However, we all benefit from this. Eighth brother’s ascension to the position of Crown Prince must not be far off.”

    “Not yet, Tenth brother. It’s too early to say,” Prince Yunti felt uneasy as the Eighth brother, whom he respected, was about to enter fully into a fray against his own brother. The pouring rain from above seemed like a signal for a battle for the throne among the princes. He had to make a decisive choice on whom to support.

    “Your brother is a master of using others to execute his strategies. He managed to bring down the Second Prince without lifting a finger and shielded himself completely from blame. He truly knows how to hide a knife behind a smile. If he targets someone, that person is doomed to die mercilessly.”

    The Eighth Prince, Yunsi, sincerely admired him. Among all twenty-four princes, only Yong Qinwang, Yinzhen, was truly worthy to compete. "Distance tests a horse's strength, time reveals a person's character. Even though he has never shown interest in the position of Crown Prince, one cannot simply overlook this man."

    "Shall I have our people draft a decree tomorrow nominating the Eighth brother as the Crown Prince?"

    "Ninth Prince, don't be hasty. His Majesty is currently upset about this matter. If we push too hard, it might pressure him, which wouldn’t be good."

    "Yes, brother."

    "Now, the officials are watching the princes to see whose side they will choose. We still have time to gather these people to our side. Everyone, go back and keep a low profile for now. If any official wishes to meet, refuse them to avoid accusations that we are conspiring. And Fourteenth, you should quickly send someone to reassure Consort De Fei that you and your brother are well. Don’t make her worry. When you return to the palace, don’t forget to order some warm bird’s nest soup to eat, and be careful not to fall ill."

    "Yes, brother."

    Yunti smiled warmly, appreciating the special attention from the Eighth brother. As the younger brothers said their farewells and dispersed to their respective palaces, the thunder still rumbled fiercely. The Eighth Prince looked up at Qianqing Palace for a moment before turning away with a calm demeanor.

    When he was younger…

    His mother held only the position of guiren[7] and was fully of Han descent. No matter how favored, she suffered greatly from hardships. He himself, wanting to see His Majesty, was blocked by the Manchu consorts. He could only stand from afar and gaze at the roof of Qianqing Palace.

    The more he looked, the more resentful he became. He did not want to watch from a distance, pitifully, until death. He wanted to own that palace. Thus, the Eighth Prince studied harder than anyone to push himself to the position of Beile at only seventeen, raising his mother's status to equal that of the other consorts. With the political power he amassed, he was more than eighty percent confident he would emerge victorious in this battle.

    If the Fourth brother willingly stepped aside, he would be glad to continue employing this brother. But if not…

    The answer was death.

    Yong Wangfu... The palace of the Fourth Prince.

    "Don’t worry too much, Fourth brother. You have been entrusted by His Majesty to suppress the corrupt officials. The Eighth, Ninth and Tenth brothers have been quietly taking bribes from those people for a long time. When you act, it’s natural that they feel the impact."

    The Thirteenth Prince, Yinxiang, sipped his wine at the edge of a balcony in the Yong Wangfu garden. The perfectly handsome man leaning against a pillar nearby also raised his glass to drink. In the imperial palace, home to tens of thousands, it was rare to find a confidant to drink with like this.

    "They are willing to let go of these benefits to pull the Crown Prince down from his position. It’s worth it for the Eighth brother."

    Yinzhen spoke in a calm voice, turning to watch the rain drizzle down, creating a trail like teardrops on the grass... In the distance lay a quiet pavilion beside a serene pond, yet beneath the surface, the rivalry among brothers intensified relentlessly.

    "During this time, they need to keep a low profile, waiting for the right moment to make their achievements known and propose nominating the Eighth brother as the Crown Prince. The emperor surely cannot deny them."

    "Who can truly understand His Majesty's heart..."

    Both fell silent. Every royal enjoyed a life of comfort filled with power and privilege, but it came at a price ordinary citizens could never have. Every joy and sorrow were under command. Yinxiang himself, when his mother Noble Consort Jingmin Guifei fell gravely ill and passed away, was taken in and raised alongside the Fourth brother by the former empress. Thus, the two grew up together from a young age. Yet sometimes, Yinxiang could not fathom the thoughts behind those piercing eyes.

    Neither joyful in gain nor sorrowful in loss... it seemed his brother might as well have been carved from stone.

    "Stop looking at me like that, Thirteenth. All I want is to live in peace."

    "Peace?... I’m afraid that Yong Wangfu may find that hard to come by."

    The two brothers looked up at the dark slate-gray sky. Night birds called faintly in the distance. Yinzhen had been granted Yong Wangfu since he was a Beizhi, located northwest adjacent to the Forbidden City’s walls. People believed Emperor Kangxi favored this quiet and beautiful prince, treating him with high regard and speculating that he would be the next master of the Forbidden City.

    But Yinxiang knew better.

    The Fourth brother never cared for wealth or honors. Even though he held the high noble title of Heshuo Qinwang, equating to a sovereign in his own right, Yinzhen desired none of it. The more he was perceived as favored, the greater the danger he faced. Nowadays, all Fourth brother could do was resist the currents, build defenses to seek tranquility for himself—which was becoming increasingly difficult with each passing day.

    “Wang Ye... it's getting quite cold now. Please, put on another layer,” urged Jun Yi, the Fourth Prince’s Consort, bringing him a fur coat. Jun Yi was a woman of beauty and gentle nature, a daughter from a high-ranking royal family in charge of the Yellow Banner. She was known for her sweet, delicate fragrance. Whenever Emperor Kangxi needed to cite an example of an exemplary daughter-in-law, Jun Yi’s name was invariably mentioned.

    "Greetings, sister-in-law."

    "Thirteenth, no need for such formalities. Take this coat and wear it; if you fall ill, your consort will worry." Jun Yi, considerate, offered another coat for her brother-in-law, which Yinxiang gratefully accepted. "I’ve ordered the kitchen to prepare some snacks. They will be brought up shortly. Please continue your chat, gentlemen. I won’t disturb you any further."

    "Thank you, sister-in-law."

    "You should rest now. You’ve been running in and out of the palace non-stop these past few days. It’s been hard on you."

    "Consort De Fei’s condition has worsened recently. As her daughter-in-law, I must take good care of her. It’s not a bother at all." Jun Yi smiled gently, tying the fur coat around her husband with adoring eyes. The Fourth Prince, Yinzhen, was a distinguished figure in the empire, highly skilled in governance and horsemanship, majestic as if forged from stone. Jun Yi had never truly felt the warmth of this reserved man; her delicate hand retracted slowly after touching his arm.

    “My father recently sent us some Longjing tea from Hangzhou. I’m thinking about sharing some with the Empress Dowager as well.”

    “Thank you. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

    Jun Yi's sweet smile faded momentarily before she bravely smiled again. The Fourth Prince always treated her with soft-spoken courtesy, perfectly so, but Jun Yi could feel the distance he maintained, honoring her as the primary consort granted by the emperor, but not as a wife.

    Jun Yi hoped he would open up to her, but unfortunately, it never happened.

    She had to work hard to find moments of closeness, not to mention competing with the secondary consorts and various concubines from noble and merchant families who sought the same. Being the principal consort put pressure on Jun Yi to secure her position by producing an heir before any other, to prevent these women from superseding her. Yet, Jun Yi sighed, unwilling to engage in such battles as it was not in her nature.

    After Jun Yi left with her maid, Yinxiang turned to look at his brother and smiled.

    “Sister-in-law really loves you a lot, doesn’t she?”

    The Fourth Prince of Yong Wangfu chuckled lightly, a sound that could mesmerize any woman, “She is a completely perfect consort in every sense – beautiful, noble, and was from a powerful family in the court. She has no flaws.”

    Every woman in the realm aspired to be the principal wife of the handsome Fourth Prince of Yong Wangfu. Jun Yi was the only one who succeeded, through matchmaking facilitated by the emperor and the former empress. He could not possibly reject her.

    “Then why… oh well... never mind.”

    Yinxiang saw that his brother offered no love to any woman. The majority of the wives in Yong Wangfu were there out of formality, while Jun Yi brought the other half in to please him. Even now, many women are still aiming to marry into this Wangfu. Thirteenth Prince stared at the stars in the night sky, while Yinzhen intently watched a particularly bright star momentarily flash across the south,

    “If you had a son with her, you would love each other. Fourth brother, you’re so well-versed in every aspect, except for producing an heir, where you are even more foolish than an old man. Even my twenty-second brother’s consort is pregnant, and he’s only sixteen.”

    “Perhaps.”

    Yinzhen sipped his drink unconcerned before Yinxiang pointed out a star, the same one Yinzhen was observing, “Look at that, a shooting star appears right beside your patron star, how unusual.”

    “A spouse star,” Yinzhen murmured softly.

    “Are you talking about my sister-in-law?”

    “No, Jun Yi’s star is in the opposite direction.”

    Seizing the moment, Yinxiang quickly set down his wine jar and clasped his hands in a prayer, “My secondary wife said that when a shooting star appears, if you fervently wish for something, it will come true.”

    "This is nonsensical women's talk. Ever since your daughter was born, you've become increasingly soft," said the older brother, showing no interest in the falling star. However, Yinxiang continued to pray intently, Yong Qinwang raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You usually don't care about these trivial matters. What are you praying for from that star?"

    "Why would you want to know, Fourth brother? You don't believe in these things anyway."

    "Drinking my wine and still daring to talk back? Tell me quickly."

    A sly smile slowly spread across the Thirteenth Prince's face as he opened his eyes. "I'm praying for a woman to enliven your life... She'll be a beauty that falls from the sky. No... She will be stunningly beautiful, sharp-witted, and come with a 'No!' to challenge the cold Yong Qinwang, igniting a fiery passion in you. Ah... Fourth brother, I will watch with great interest."

    Yinzhen laughed softly before looking up at the southern sky. "You're already defeated before you even begin, for it will never happen."

    Yinxiang raised his wine jug. "Let's wait and see then."

    [1] Scriptorium Hall

    [2] During the Qing Dynasty, the embroidered robe known as pufu was a significant article of clothing for both the civil and military officials, and it was also considered formal attire for the era. The pufu featured embroidery on the chest and back that served as a means to distinguish the ranks of officials. The imperial family used round embroidered patterns, divided into five-clawed dragons and four-clawed serpents. Officials from various government departments wore robes with square-shaped embroidery.

    [3] The highest-ranking prince, informally referred to as "Wang Ye."

    [4] Secondary Prince

    [5] Third-ranking Prince

    [6] A strategy to draw and separate the enemy, causing their forces to be scattered and distracted, before attacking.

    [7] A sixth-tier consort has a position but no noble rank, thus not considered part of the royal lineage, comparable to a commoner's minor wife. This level includes consorts of the ranks guiren, changzhai, and daying, of which the emperor can have an unlimited number.