Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 106: Occupying the Word “Legitimate”

   Good news is good news only to some people.

   To others, it is catastrophic misfortune.

   Having finally coaxed Yongrong to sleep, Noble Consort Chun said with visible weariness: “Is His Majesty staying in Changchun Palace again tonight?”

Yuhu: “Yes.”

Her finger gently brushed across Yongrong’s cheek, wiping away the lingering tear bead.

“Yongrong cried for his Ama again today.” Noble Consort Chun placed her finger to her lips and lightly licked the bitter tear. “…Help me change. I am going to Changchun Palace.”

At the entrance to Changchun Palace.

The farther she walked inside, the clearer the sounds of laughter and joy became.

One man, one woman, one child.

A perfect family of three.

Noble Consort Chun’s footsteps halted at the threshold. It took her a long while before she finally stepped over it.

Then she saw the scene she least wanted to see.

The Empress sat in a chair, holding a tiny garment in her hands. Every so often she stitched a needle, then looked up with a smile at the large and small figures opposite her. Lord Hongli no longer looked the least bit like an emperor—he was completely like a foolish, doting father, lifting the swaddled infant high and then lowering him again, making the baby giggle with delight.

The family of three was filled with warmth and harmony, making Noble Consort Chun feel like an outsider.

Forcing herself to rally, Noble Consort Chun stepped forward with a smile: “Greetings, Your Majesty, Empress… Oh, this must be the Seventh Prince. Look at him—such a full forehead and square jaw. What a naturally noble and prosperous face!”

A newborn child whose features had not yet fully developed—how could anyone speak of a full forehead or square jaw? Yet Lord Hongli believed it. Not only did he believe it, he even seemed a little dissatisfied and said: “This child resembles me greatly in appearance. With such features, how could it be merely ‘naturally prosperous’? His future blessings will be limitless!”

Noble Consort Chun’s expression stiffened. Seeing that all his attention was focused on the child, with no trace of herself in his eyes—nor any concern for Yongrong, who had been crying and waiting for him—her heart filled with a tangle of emotions, the taste indescribable.

After lingering a while longer, she truly could not stay any longer and had no choice but to rise and take her leave.

Upon returning to Zhongcui Palace, she discovered an unexpected guest had already arrived ahead of her and was waiting inside the palace.

“You’re back.” Noble Consort Xian was holding a tangram puzzle, amusing little Yongrong on her lap. With a smile, she asked, “Did you see the Seventh Prince?”

Noble Consort Chun nodded and replied insincerely, “The Seventh Prince is clever and adorable—truly very likable.”

“Yes, indeed.” Noble Consort Xian continued smoothly, whether intentionally or not, “His Majesty values the Seventh Prince greatly. He just issued instructions that this year’s New Year’s reunion banquet will be held at Qianqing Palace, and it must end early so the Seventh Prince won’t catch a chill from the wind.”

“Ah… ah…” Seeing his mother arrive, Yongrong—still in Noble Consort Xian’s arms—stretched out his two chubby little hands toward Consort Chun.

Noble Consort Chun’s heart softened at the sight of him. She stepped forward and lifted him into her embrace. At that moment, Noble Consort Xian’s sigh sounded beside her ear: “Though there are many princes in the palace, I have never seen His Majesty treasure any prince as dearly as this one.”

“Yongcong is the legitimate son of the principal wife; naturally he receives more favor than others,” Noble Consort Chun forced herself to reply.

“Exactly—legitimate son of the principal wife, different from the rest.” Noble Consort Xian smiled. “Do you know? On the day he was born, sweet rain fell from the heavens, ending the severe drought in Gansu. Not only His Majesty, but even the Empress Dowager said this child is blessed and protected by Heaven, destined for great fortune! Everyone is saying that once the Seventh Prince grows up, he will be the best candidate to inherit the throne.”

“Inherit the throne?” Noble Consort Chun could not hide her shock. “But didn’t the late Emperor issue a clear decree long ago that the succession would be kept secret?”

“That was merely the surface rule,” Noble Consort Xian said with a soft laugh. “Have you forgotten? In the past, though the late Emperor never said it openly, every prince of the imperial clan, every minister at court—everyone knew His Majesty was the future heir. Now that His Majesty dotes on the Seventh Prince so extraordinarily, the imperial clan and the court officials naturally understand his intention. Even the vassal kings and foreign envoys have sent congratulations and gifts one after another.”

Noble Consort Chun held her beloved son tightly in her arms. After a long silence, she slowly said, “In the history of the Great Qing, there has never been a precedent of a legitimate son of the principal wife succeeding to the throne…”

“Precisely!” Yuhu chimed in from the side. “The Seventh Prince hasn’t even grown up yet—who knows what kind of character he’ll have? How can he possibly inherit the throne!”

Her words were far too blunt. Noble Consort Chun frowned. “Yuhu! Don’t speak nonsense!”

Though she scolded her aloud, her eyes flicked toward Noble Consort Xian, as if waiting for her to nod in agreement.

But Noble Consort Xian only shook her head with a bitter smile. “To have borne the legitimate son is to have won the hearts of the entire realm!”

To have borne the legitimate son is to have won the hearts of the entire realm.

Even after Noble Consort Xian had left, those words continued to ring like a bell in Noble Consort Chun’s heart, striking her again and again. Over time, her mind grew increasingly restless and troubled. Suddenly, Noble Consort Xian—no, wait, it was Noble Consort Chun herself now—waved her hand abruptly. Her sleeve swept across the table, and the half-completed tangram pattern scattered in all directions as though caught in a gust of wind.

Yongrong had spent great effort piecing it together. Seeing this, he froze for a moment. Then his little face crumpled, and he burst into loud wails.

“Don’t cry, Sixth Prince. This servant will rearrange it for you right away.” Yuhu hurriedly knelt on the floor and began picking up the scattered tangram pieces one by one.

Yongrong’s cries jolted Noble Consort Chun awake. She stared blankly for a long moment before suddenly pulling Yongrong tightly into her arms, her voice trembling with tears. “Yongrong, it’s all my fault. I lost my temper and frightened you…”

Though still very young, Yongrong was an exceptionally considerate child. Seeing his mother cry, he sniffled, wrapped his little arms around her head, and cried along with her.

The mother and son cried together for a good while before finally stopping. Noble Consort Chun took the warm towel from Yuhu’s hand and gently wiped Yongrong’s tear-streaked face. Softly, she asked, “Yuhu, tell me… in what way is Yongrong inferior to the Seventh Prince?”

“Our Sixth Prince is not the slightest bit inferior to the Seventh Prince,” Yuhu replied loyally on behalf of her young master. “Not only is he not inferior—he surpasses him in every way.”

One’s own child is always perfect in every respect. Noble Consort Chun smiled. “You’re right. Yongrong is clever, thoughtful… among all the princes in the palace, none is more outstanding than he. The only difference, the only difference is…”

Her voice melted away like the first snow, vanishing into the air.

   At the same moment, outside Zhongcui Palace.

   The forest flowers are in full bloom—why the hurry?

   Noble Consort Xian strolled leisurely through the garden, passing beneath one plum tree after another. Suddenly, the hand holding her beauty fan lifted upward, pressing the fan down against a branch.

   On the branch, one large and one small: a big crimson plum blossom nestled right beside a tiny bud, intimately close like a mother and child.

   “Zhener,” Noble Consort Xian said with a smile, “do you know? Though children under heaven may differ, the mothers of the world are all cast from the same mold… They all want to hold the very best things in the world and place them before their own child.”

She withdrew the fan and continued forward with a smile.

Behind her, both the large crimson plum and the small bud fell from the branch, landing in the muddy footprint she had left on the ground.

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