Story of Yanxi Palace, Chapter 161: Who Is the Birth Mother

   “Your Majesty.” Hailancha knelt on the ground. “This humble servant has, as instructed, examined the imperial clan genealogy.”

Hongli sat behind the desk with a dark expression. The painting of maternal affection titled Spring Radiance had been rudely shoved aside by him. He said heavily, “Speak!”

Hailancha replied, “The imperial genealogy clearly records that Your Majesty was born on the thirteenth day of the eighth month in the year of the fiftieth year of Kangxi (1711), to the present-day Empress Dowager Chongqing of the Niohuru clan, daughter of Lingzhu, at Yonghe Palace.”

Hongli, however, was not satisfied with this answer. He said, “The births of imperial children are reported once every three months, noting the date of birth and the birth mother. Every ten years, the records are copied from the draft registers into the official genealogy.”

Hailancha was startled and quickly responded, “Your Majesty, even though it is updated every ten years, there are draft records preserved. That alone cannot prove the genealogy has been tampered with by human hands!”

Hongli’s mind was in turmoil—he didn’t know whether this result was good or bad. But once suspicion had taken root, he had to get to the bottom of it. He immediately pressed further: “What did you find in the Veritable Records of the previous emperor?”

Hailancha answered, “The Veritable Records are entirely consistent with the genealogy. An imperial edict to the Ministry of Rites, issued upon the gracious command of the Empress Dowager, decreed: Side Wife; Consort Nian to be elevated to Noble Consort; Side Wife; Consort Li to be made Consort Li; Lady Niohuru to be made Consort Xi—”

“…Since the records reveal nothing conclusive, it seems only one person can tell me whether what Lady Wenshu said was true or false!” Hongli abruptly stood up, leaving everyone in the Yangxin Hall behind as he strode straight out the door.

Shoukang Palace.

   The Empress Dowager was in the midst of Buddhist devotion, the wooden fish being struck rhythmically, when a sudden rush of footsteps burst in, shattering the tranquility of the Buddha hall.

“Your Majesty?” The Empress Dowager turned her head in surprise. “What’s wrong? Your face looks terrible.”

Hongli’s expression was thunderous. With a wave of his hand: “I have urgent matters to discuss with the Empress Dowager. Everyone, get out!”

Aunt Liu glanced at the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager nodded to her, and only then did she lead the others away.

Once the door was closed, the Empress Dowager rose from her prayer cushion, approached him with a kindly smile, and asked, “What exactly has happened? You can tell me now.”

Hongli stared at her smiling face, as though trying to discern whether the smile was genuine. “Before Lady Wenshu passed away from illness, she left me a deathbed letter. Empress Dowager, I only wish to ask you one question: my birth mother… was it truly you, or was it a woman of the Qian family?”

The smile on the Empress Dowager’s face froze.

That tiny change in expression did not escape Hongli’s notice. He pressed, “If my birth mother truly was a Han woman, then why have you, who reside in Shoukang Palace, always presented yourself as my birth mother?”

The Empress Dowager quickly regained her composure and turned the question back on him: “Your Majesty must not believe such absurd rumors. Would the imperial genealogy be falsified?”

“Both the genealogy and the edicts can be fabricated by later generations. No one knows the truth of what happened back then.” Hongli spoke each word deliberately. “That is why I have come in person to demand an answer. I ask the Empress Dowager to speak frankly.”

The Empress Dowager pressed her lips tightly together, her face showing the indignation of someone who had been insulted.

“…Lady Wenshu was my wet nurse. I know her character better than anyone.” In the past, Hongli would already have softened, but today he refused to yield. “If you will not tell me, I can investigate. I will track down every surviving servant from the old Prince Yong household, one by one. When that time comes, the choice will no longer be yours, Empress Dowager.”

After those final words, a deathly silence fell over the great hall.

Wei Yingluo had originally been carrying a stack of sutras over when she noticed the tense atmosphere. She could only hide behind the flower-and-bird screen, not daring to breathe a sound.

After a long while, she heard the Empress Dowager let out a soft sigh: “Yes, the Emperor’s birth mother was indeed from the Qian family of Jiaxing.”

Hongli was utterly shocked and pressed urgently, “Why, after all these years, has no one ever told me?”

The Empress Dowager slowly turned around, prayer beads wrapped around her hand. She walked step by step to the front of the Buddha statue, her back to him as she said, “At that time, the late Emperor was still Prince Yong. Lady Qian was merely a maidservant in the prince’s mansion. Once, when the prince fell gravely ill with an epidemic, she nursed him day and night without removing her clothes, attending to him with utmost care. The prince was deeply moved and, in an exceptional act, elevated her to the rank of lower rank consort. Unfortunately…”

“Unfortunately what?” Hongli asked quickly.

The Empress Dowager: “Unfortunately, your fate was too grand.”

Hongli was stunned. “I don’t understand…”

“Xin Mao, Ding You, Geng Wu, Bing Zi—your eight characters encompass the Five Blessings. Wealth and honor come naturally to you; you were destined to help the prince ascend the dragon throne and rule the Nine Provinces. With such an exalted destiny, how could you possibly be raised by a lowly Han woman of humble birth?” The Empress Dowager suddenly turned and stared straight at him. “The physiognomist said that if you were left in Lady Qian’s care, it would hinder your fate. Therefore, from the moment you were born, you were taken from her arms and brought to me, becoming my son.”

“Then…” Hongli’s voice trembled slightly, “…what about Lady Qian?”

The Empress Dowager sighed. “When Lady Qian gave birth to you, she damaged her vital energy. In just two or three years, her life force was exhausted, and she passed away. Before she died, she held my hand tightly, refusing to close her eyes until I promised her that I would raise you as my own flesh and blood. Only then did she finally pass in peace.”

Hongli fell silent. He seemed desperate to believe her, yet he couldn’t help doubting the truth of her words. After a long pause, he rasped, “Empress Dowager, is everything you have said… the absolute truth?”

“Emperor!” For the first time, a trace of suppressed anger appeared on the Empress Dowager’s face. “The debt of giving birth can never outweigh the debt of raising a child. Even if I am not your birth mother, I have raised you with care for all these years. Think carefully—have I ever neglected you in the slightest? I have held you in the palm of my hand like a precious pearl. And yet you refuse to trust me at all?”

Hongli stared at her furious expression for a long time before finally lowering his head slowly. “Empress Dowager, you are right. It was presumptuous of me. I beg the Empress Dowager’s forgiveness.”

Seeing him willing to bow his head, the Empress Dowager softened her tone and reached out to take his hand. “Emperor, Lady Wenshu truly left a suicide note. Why was it not brought out in all these ten years? That letter must have been forged by someone intent on driving a wedge between us, mother and son. They were certain that you are profoundly filial toward me; upon suddenly hearing such news, you would surely fly into a rage…”

Whether intentionally or not, Hongli subtly avoided her reaching hand. He turned away and said, “Empress Dowager, I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Today I have disturbed you—entirely due to my own unfilial behavior. Another day I will come to apologize properly. Your son will take his leave now.”

The Empress Dowager was stunned. She called after his retreating figure, “Emperor!”

Hongli acted as though he hadn’t heard her and walked straight out of the palace gate without looking back.

Behind him, the Empress Dowager hurried forward a few steps in pursuit. In her haste, she stumbled and fell to the ground. Seeing this, Wei Yingluo quickly emerged from behind the screen and reached out to help her up.

“It’s over.” The Empress Dowager looked completely dazed, murmuring the same phrase over and over. “It’s all over.”

“Please forgive me, Empress Dowager. I did not intend to eavesdrop.” Wei Yingluo first offered an apology. Seeing that the other woman seemed completely indifferent to it, she shifted the topic to the matter at hand. “Empress Dowager, everything you said just now was spoken with utmost sincerity. His Majesty will surely not develop any estrangement toward you simply because his birth mother was someone else.”

But the Empress Dowager shook her head, her face full of worry. “Merely because of this matter, the Emperor’s expression would not have been so terrifying. What I fear is… that the contents of that letter are not so simple.”

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