Concubine of the Eastern Palace (Qing Dynasty Time Travel)

This dream was unlike any before.

Seasons were out of sync, and the oppressive heat of summer hung heavy in the air as he wandered through a quiet courtyard. Wild grass and overgrown foliage thrived unchecked, as if neglected for years. Yinreng strolled aimlessly, unable to recognize where he was within the palace grounds. Climbing a high pavilion for a better view, he noticed something strange—a tall brick wall stood beyond the red palace walls, enclosing the courtyard. Inside this fortified area, guardrooms replaced the usual living quarters. The dark stone wall had a single small gate no larger than four feet square, guarded day and night by armed sentries.

This place did not exist in his memory.

Unease gnawed at his heart. Descending from the pavilion, he followed a winding corridor but encountered no one. The vast palace seemed devoid of attendants, leaving only the incessant screech of cicadas filling the air. Their piercing cries rose and fell relentlessly, yet no one was present to silence them.

Feeling disoriented, Yinreng finally reached the corridor’s end, where he spotted a side gate. A few elderly servants struggled to haul in a cart of ice blocks. Following the clamor of their footsteps, he passed through gate after guarded gate until reaching the palace’s deepest recess.

The servants unloaded the ice into an underground cellar, but Yinreng stood still, staring ahead.

The brilliant summer sunlight could not penetrate the oppressive shadows of the building before him. Aside from the soldiers stationed at the door, only the cool breeze cut through the silence.

In a trance, he stepped inside. Beyond a weathered, red-lacquered door, he saw a thin man sitting motionless, his back turned. The figure seemed as lifeless as a carved statue.

That back seemed eerily familiar. Yinreng stood in stunned silence, his heart pounding louder with each step forward around the screen.

Suddenly, the man stood, and the clanking of chains echoed through the room.

Yinreng’s gaze sharpened in shock.

Heavy shackles dragged noisily against the floor with each unsteady step. The man slowly began turning toward him.

Yinreng held his breath, his pulse chaotic.

Abruptly, hurried footsteps sounded from behind Yinreng. The man in shackles paused, then slowly turned back to face the wall.

A figure strode briskly past Yinreng’s spectral form in the dream, addressing the prisoner coldly.

“Second Prince, why aren’t you kneeling to receive the decree?”

The shackled man finally turned around, revealing a pale face so wan it seemed nearly transparent. His disheveled braid hung loosely down his back, and his gaunt features spoke of hardship. Yet his jet-black eyes still gleamed with unyielding pride, piercing the newcomer like a sword.

“Eldest Brother, what now? What do you want this time? My position as Crown Prince was granted by Father. If he wants to take it back, so be it. But…” The man didn’t even glance at the imperial decree in the other’s hand. His mocking gaze fixed coldly on the visitor. “Even if I am deposed, it won’t give you the right to gloat!”

The Yinreng in the dream stood frozen, thunderstruck.

The figures locked in confrontation within the room were none other than an older Yinzhi and himself, Yinreng!

“Father commanded me to deliver this decree deposing the Crown Prince for your inspection.” Yinzhi raised the bright yellow scroll, his tone dripping with malice. “Second Brother, Father is determined to declare your sins before the heavens. Do you still refuse to admit your guilt?”

“Admit guilt?” Yinreng, now aged and worn, let out a bitter laugh before his expression turned grim. His eyes glinted coldly as he stared at Yinzhi. “If Father accuses me of various faults, I accept that. But to pin the crimes of regicide and treason on me? I will never confess to such charges. Even if Father holds a trial, my stance remains unchanged.”

Yinzhi snapped angrily, “You dare deny your intentions after being caught spying on the imperial tent in the dead of night at the hunting grounds?”

“If you wish to accuse, excuses are never lacking.” Yinreng turned his back with a chilling demeanor. “You’ve accused me of assaulting nobles, instructing my nursemaid Ling to embezzle tribute horses from Mongolia, and conspiring with Soinoto to seize power. Each of these accusations seeks my death. Aren’t those charges enough? Why must you come again with this nonsense? Admit guilt? Hah! Why not petition for my execution instead? Keeping me locked here doesn’t make you merciful. And if you think my downfall means you’ll become Crown Prince, you’re still as foolish as ever, Eldest Brother. Foolish enough to be laughable!”

Yinzhi’s fury boiled over. “Every word you’ve spoken here will be reported to Father!”

“Go ahead! Hasn’t Father already believed all your lies and condemned me as guilty of unspeakable crimes? I deserve death, don’t I? This place is fitting—quiet enough to serve as my coffin!”

With that, Yinreng seemed to collapse under the weight of his words. Silence enveloped the room, broken only by Yinzhi’s labored breathing and the harsh clinking of chains dragging across the floor.

Yinreng, dragging his shackled feet, lay fully clothed on the wooden couch and closed his eyes as if to sleep, ignoring everything.

Infuriated, Yinzhi flung his sleeves and stormed out.

The dream Yinreng, now merely a spectator, felt his heart shatter. He stood there dazed, immobile as if his body were a decaying log. His mind became a tangled mess, numb and confused.

Though past dreams had hinted at his deposition two decades later, he had never known the specific charges. Now, “regicide and treason”?

Yinreng couldn’t comprehend it. How could such accusations ever be true?

He couldn’t believe it—he would never harbor such thoughts against Father! It was impossible!

“Eldest Brother, what are you saying? How can you accuse me of spying on the imperial tent at the hunting grounds?” This was a completely new accusation that hit him with an impact far greater than the previous shattered and disordered dream. It was as if before, someone had only told him he would die, but now, the manner of his death was laid bare before him! The grief and sorrow within him surged like a tidal wave, as if a sharp knife were twisting in his chest. His face drained of color as he stood frozen, staring at the slender figure on the bed, gradually being engulfed by shadows. It was as if he had already died, never to move again.

Could this really be his fate? Shackled, worse than a criminal from the Department of Justice…

Yinreng was unsure how he managed to leave the room. When he descended the steps, his legs gave way, and he stumbled. In a daze, he walked out of the palace gates, standing in the narrow passageway, gazing up at the towering walls. In the sunlight, they seemed like an insurmountable chasm.

So, this unfamiliar palace was the place where he was held captive.

Not far off, two guards stood leaning against the iron bars of a small gate, lazily picking their teeth and chatting. Suddenly, Yinreng overheard one of them saying, “The woman who died from heatstroke the other day—wasn’t she taken out this morning?”

“Yes, the Emperor gave orders for the Inner Ministry to bury her according to the rank of the Concubine of the Heshuo Prince. He also said that from now on, ice should be supplied to Second Prince daily, just as it was when he was still in Yuqing Palace. No negligence is allowed.”

“Right, in this damn weather, if they don’t supply ice, something bad will happen sooner or later… Hey, who was that woman?”

As he listened, Yinreng felt his body grow lighter, as if it were about to be carried away by the wind.

“Didn’t you notice? The Second Prince is being held here in isolation, while the Crown Princess… Ugh, Second Concubine, with the womenfolk, is confined in Xiefang Hall. It was chaotic at the time, and the Second Prince was seriously ill. Only this woman refused to leave him, actively requesting to stay by his side, and the Emperor approved. After the summer began, the Inner Ministry sought an imperial order to continue supplying ice to the Second Prince, but it was blocked by the Duke of Zhi, so she became a victim of a senseless death…”

That was the last thing Yinreng heard in the dream.

He was swept away by the force of the dream, and the guards’ words felt distant, as if they would scatter with the unknown winds. The sounds, though faint, hit his ears like a heavy hammer, shattering his entire body and soul. His tears finally began to flow freely.

“That woman was the Second Prince’s concubine, Cheng…”

#

Struggling to wake up, Yinreng’s head throbbed painfully, his body trembling uncontrollably. He lacked the strength to even sit up. His hands shook as he tried to adjust, the sweat soaking through his nightclothes.

He immediately realized he was seriously ill.

This illness couldn’t be ignored as easily as before. He needed a plan… a good plan.

Seeing that it was still dark outside, he cared for nothing else. Battling the cold sweat, he staggered out of bed and immediately called for He Baozhong. Before he could even explain himself, he had He help him change into riding clothes.

“Let’s go… carry me out…” He gasped for air as he spoke, resting his weight on He Baozhong’s back. “Don’t stay here. We need to leave quietly, quickly!”

Without needing further explanation, He Baozhong understood what the Crown Prince intended. He knew how serious the Prince’s illness was and how it could lead to disastrous consequences. To preserve his life, he immediately hoisted him onto his back and hurried out, breathing heavily.

He Baozhong skillfully picked up the quiver and longbow hanging behind the door, and with his other hand, quickly grabbed the water pouch. When they reached the back gate of the temporary palace, he first settled the Crown Prince under the corridor and then went to the stable to bring out a horse and a dog. The old eunuch in charge of the stable, seeing that it was He Baozhong, the Crown Prince’s steward, immediately bowed and greeted him. Taking the opportunity, He Baozhong asked, “Has the Crown Prince’s horse been well-fed?”

Although it was still early, some nobles liked to hunt in the dark to demonstrate their power. The old eunuch, without thinking further, patted his chest and said, “Steward He, the Crown Prince’s beloved horse has been fed with a mixture of barley and soybeans, and yesterday, I even added some high-quality large-grain blue salt to the forage. It’s all well taken care of! You can rest assured!”

Seemingly satisfied, He Baozhong turned around and calmly led out the Crown Prince’s favorite yellow horse and the clever, silent old yellow dog. He returned to the corridor to assist the Crown Prince, helped him mount the horse, and used the same reason to order the guards to open the gate.

Yinreng, dizzy and weak, trembled as he held the reins but still forced himself to stay upright. It wasn’t until the palace lights were left far behind, and the gate guards could no longer see them, that he relaxed and collapsed against the horse’s back.

Fortunately, the horse had been with him for many years and was very intelligent, with a gentle nature. Seeing that he had no strength left, the horse didn’t become agitated. Instead, it snorted, gently took the reins in its mouth, and steadied its pace.

The nearest place was the moose reserve, so they headed straight there.

Since getting up, Yinreng had felt dizzy and disoriented. However, just before leaving, as he lay on He Baozhong’s back, he still looked back for a moment.

The bed curtain was lifted by the wind, creating a small gap, and the sight of A Wan sleeping peacefully gave him a little comfort.

Yinzhen hadn’t even brought his beads, only He Baozhong was with him. As He Baozhong was led by the dog, stumbling, Yinzhen remained half-conscious on horseback, and the two of them made their way to the moose reserve in the dark of pre-dawn.

They stopped in the dense forest, letting the dog go first. He Baozhong then made himself into a cushion so the Crown Prince could rest against him.

Yinreng couldn’t sleep. Cold sweat kept flowing from him, and it wasn’t until the first light of dawn started to appear on the horizon that he regained some strength in his hands. Not long after, the old yellow dog, who had been with him for ten years, emerged from the grass. It didn’t bark but simply lowered its head and nipped at Yinreng’s trousers.

Yinreng knew the dog had found the prey. After walking for about a quarter of an hour, they came upon a pond deep within the forest. The dense trees broke the cold morning light into beams that scattered on the thick layer of dead branches and fallen leaves on the ground. A few deer were drinking from the pond, including a newborn moose.

Yinreng pulled an arrow from the quiver, raised his bow, and took aim.

He had been able to shoot with both hands since he was eight, and by the time he was five or six, he had accompanied Emperor Kangxi to Jingshan for horseback archery and hunting. He had shot a deer and four rabbits, making Emperor Kangxi very pleased. It was said that Kangxi had praised him to the civil and military officials for three days during court sessions, saying, “My Crown Prince is excellent…” The officials, their teeth grinding in discomfort, had to agree, saying, “Yes, yes, Your Majesty, you are absolutely right…”

In the 21st year of Kangxi’s reign, during a hunting expedition, Yinreng even shot and killed a tiger.

In terms of horseback archery, Yinreng was not inferior. He simply didn’t enjoy it as much, which made others feel that he was not as eager as the competitive eldest prince in this area.

Though severely ill and uncomfortable all over, Yinreng still seized the right moment to shoot five arrows in quick succession. The arrows whizzed through the air, the sound of them disturbing the peaceful deer herd. The deer on guard let out an urgent call, and in an instant, the herd scattered in all directions.

But perhaps due to his lack of strength, only one of the five arrows struck the young moose’s leg. The moose herd, startled, ran wild, but the old yellow dog lowered its sleek body, darting like lightning toward the injured young moose. In one leap, it bit down on the young moose’s wounded leg, forcefully pulling it down to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The young moose let out a plaintive cry, its limbs still struggling, but the yellow dog pressed its body down with both front paws, then finally growled low.

This yellow dog had been given to him by Emperor Kangxi when he was five or six years old. He named the dog “Jifeng” (Swift Wind) because of its incredible speed. Even now, though the dog had aged, it was still as capable as any hunting dog.

Seeing the yellow dog dragging the moose’s hind leg back, Yinreng sighed in relief, throwing his bow and arrows aside and leaning against a nearby tree, panting heavily. He Baozhong quickly approached with the water pouch, and Yinreng took a gulp, but it was so difficult to swallow that he struggled.

“Wrap some salt around the deer’s injured leg, don’t let it die. Later, we’ll carry the deer directly to the Emperor and say that Empress Dowager has been having a poor appetite recently, and I’m concerned. I want to send a deer back to the capital to be served to her, and request that the Emperor immediately sends someone on horseback to deliver it so she can have fresh venison,” Yinreng said sharply, fixing his gaze on He Baozhong. “He Baozhong, you know what should and shouldn’t be said. The Emperor can punish you, but I can do the same.”

He Baozhong immediately knelt down and kowtowed deeply, saying, “I understand, Your Highness. Please rest assured!”

He was not ungrateful; he knew the Crown Prince’s intentions toward them.

Yinreng certainly knew that He Baozhong was often summoned to the Qianqing Palace to report to the Emperor. The Emperor learned everything about him through He Baozhong, and naturally, those things that were leaked had his tacit approval.

If he himself couldn’t resist the Emperor’s orders, how could the servants of the Yuqing Palace? Compared to them, He Baozhong was already quite loyal. However, the arrangements he was making now had to be kept secret from Kangxi.

When he was young, whenever he fell ill, those serving him in the Yuqing Palace would be killed and replaced with new ones. Especially in the 17th year of Kangxi’s reign, when he unfortunately contracted smallpox, the palace had a bloodbath, with people’s heads rolling and blood flowing like a river.

Except for the fortunate Ling Mama, who wasn’t on duty at the time, the two wet nurses who had been caring for him were executed, along with half of the eunuchs and palace maids who had been attending to him. Kangxi, still worried, moved him from the Yuqing Palace to the Qianqing Palace. It was also during this time that He Baozhong, who had survived smallpox, was selected by Liang Jiugong to be brought to his side.

Emperor Kangxi took care of him for over a month, even neglecting court matters. All official documents were sent to the Cabinet, and he remained by his side, never undressing, fully dedicating himself to his care. Only after he had safely recovered from this ordeal did Kangxi, overjoyed, go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pay respects and issue an edict announcing this great news to the subjects of the empire.

How could he possibly blame the Emperor for directing his anger at the people around him?

Back then, he was still young and didn’t understand the concepts of life and death. He only knew that he hadn’t seen the other wet nurses for a long time and that the little eunuchs who used to play with him had disappeared. As a child, he would sometimes ask about their whereabouts, but as he grew older, he understood where they had gone and what life and death meant.

Now, he had forgotten their existence, and he could hardly remember what they looked like, but he had learned to protect those around him. He was older now, and the people under him dared not defy his commands. As long as the mistakes were all placed on his shoulders, they would at most receive a few lashes, and at least their lives would not be at risk.

He dared not think too much. His mind was like a rusty axe, unable to even cut through a block of tofu. During the day, he was always with A Wan, but at night, he fell ill suddenly. Now that she was with child, the Emperor might not immediately act against her, but he would keep it in his heart.

Just as Kangxi understood him, he too knew Kangxi’s temperament all too well.

The reason for his illness could not withstand the Emperor’s suspicion or probing, so he needed to come up with a legitimate excuse. Saying that he fell ill while hunting for the Empress Dowager would be an act of filial piety. Kangxi might blame him, but he would not be angry.

This was the best course of action.

Yinreng relaxed and, leaning on the horse’s back, drifted back into a deep sleep.

#

When Cheng Wanyun woke up, it was just past the hour of Si (10 AM). She felt quite pleased with herself for not sleeping until noon. Today was another day of early rising and self-discipline!

Qingxing and the others had already prepared breakfast. Since they were in the frontier, where beef and mutton were the easiest to obtain, the eunuch Zheng, who had come with them, had prepared mutton soup and “guokui” (a type of flatbread) for her. Because she was pregnant, the mutton soup was made with mutton bones, dried rehmannia, and angelica, simmered slowly overnight. The marrow and collagen from the bones had dissolved into the broth, making the soup glossy and rich. Then, the mutton was sliced thin and added to the hot, but not boiling, broth, cooking just enough to be served.

The “guokui” was dry and tough, but once soaked in the mutton soup, it absorbed all the liquid, and chewing it was an absolute delight!

Cheng Wanyun ate until her belly was round. It was much colder outside than in the capital, but after drinking a bowl of mutton soup, she immediately felt warm. She had heard that the mutton had been brought from Mongolia by camel caravans traveling through the ancient desert route, and that Zheng, the eunuch, had gone to the market the day before. His sharp eye had immediately picked out the best sheep.

This mutton had been raised on the grasslands, very different from the farm-raised ones in the royal estate. It was lean with little fat, and it had no gamey taste. Cheng Wanyun thought of the Crown Prince and asked Eunuch Zheng to keep the mutton broth for the Crown Prince, so that when he returned, he could have a bowl as a snack.

When she woke up that morning, the Crown Prince was nowhere to be seen. However, this was not unusual, and most of the time it was because Emperor Kangxi had summoned him. So, she had gotten used to it and didn’t think much of it.

After breakfast, she and Qingxing and Bitao began tidying up the room. Emperor Kangxi had already decided to depart in the afternoon, and the imperial decree had arrived the day before. So, they needed to pack and load the carriages early, to avoid being rushed when it was time to leave.

But midway through packing, a eunuch came and informed them that they wouldn’t be leaving just yet. The specific time of departure would be decided by the Emperor.

Cheng Wanyun had to take everything out again and rearrange it.

That night, when He Baozhong returned to collect the Crown Prince’s things, she learned that the Crown Prince had fallen ill. He had been taken under Emperor Kangxi’s care, and all the imperial physicians were waiting with him. He wouldn’t be coming back for a while.

He Baozhong didn’t mention how the Crown Prince fell ill, nor did he explain why it had happened suddenly. Cheng Wanyun was a bit concerned and puzzled, but she didn’t dare to ask too many questions. Since the Crown Prince was being personally looked after by the Emperor, she assumed it wasn’t a serious matter.

She nodded vaguely and helped He Baozhong pack the Crown Prince’s daily belongings. To her surprise, He Baozhong quietly said, “The Crown Prince privately instructed me to bring back a handkerchief often used by the young lady, the one embroidered with a cat, made of red satin, with a butterfly-shaped clasp.”

Cheng Wanyun’s face immediately turned bright red.

He Baozhong didn’t understand, but… in the past, when she and the Crown Prince were engaged in intimate activities, that handkerchief had been used to blindfold her. It could be said to be a private item shared between her and the Crown Prince.

“Why does the Crown Prince want that? Could it be replaced with something else?” Cheng Wanyun felt quite embarrassed. After all, a handkerchief was a rather private item. What’s more, that very one had been used by her to bind her chest. Now that she was pregnant, her body had developed significantly, and her chest had become heavy. Her chest band couldn’t hold it anymore, so she had started using the handkerchief to bind it. But now, how could she give it to him?

The Crown Prince was ill, and yet he still thought about this! The person who usually scolded her for losing control was the same one now asking for such a thing! Cheng Wanyun’s inner voice was shouting loudly in protest.

He Baozhong grinned but said nothing.

Cheng Wanyun knew then that it wouldn’t work. She sighed and asked He Baozhong to wait outside. She went into the inner room, locked the doors and windows, removed her outer garment, untied the handkerchief, and carefully wrapped it up with several pieces of cloth. She then placed it in the Crown Prince’s bag, hiding it at the bottom and covering it with clothing.

She couldn’t bear to face anyone now!

But she had misunderstood the Crown Prince’s intentions. Yinreng didn’t want it for that reason.

He had just taken his medicine and was now lying in a drowsy state in Emperor Kangxi’s room, with a cool cloth on his forehead. Kangxi had moved his desk into the room and was handling state affairs while keeping watch over his son.

Yinreng had pushed himself too hard hunting deer, draining all his strength and energy. By the time he returned to the residence, he quickly fell unconscious, burning with fever. Although he woke up briefly, able to talk and take medicine, it still scared Kangxi half to death. In a hurry, he called all the attending imperial doctors, and only after everything had settled did he learn the reason for his illness. He was both angry and moved, feeling conflicted.

Although Kangxi was angry that the Crown Prince went hunting deer in the middle of the night, he couldn’t bring himself to scold him because he knew it was for the sake of the Empress Dowager. The anger had nowhere to go, and Kangxi started to blame the Eldest Prince instead, thinking that it must have been his bad influence. Didn’t the Eldest Prince also go hunting at night? But what happened? The Emperor hadn’t even seen a single deer, and the prey he had caught was all eaten by himself. He hadn’t thought at all about honoring his father or grandmother!

Compared to the Crown Prince, the difference was clear!

It was all his fault! He wasn’t behaving like an elder brother—look at how the Crown Prince followed his example and got sick!

Kangxi couldn’t hold back his anger and called for a eunuch, sending him to the nearby rooms of the temporary palace to drag the Eldest Prince out of bed and scold him severely. He scolded the Eldest Prince so badly that his eyes became circles, and his head was full of question marks, not even knowing what day it was.

Eldest Prince: Who am I? Where am I?

Finally, after venting all his frustration, Kangxi went back to check on the Crown Prince. He found him pale and with his eyes tightly shut, sleeping uneasily. His lips were dry and cracked from the fever, but his mouth moved slightly, and from the shape of his lips, it seemed he was silently calling out for “Father” in his sleep. Soon, tears began to fall from the corners of his eyes.

Kangxi immediately remembered when the Crown Prince had smallpox as a child. Back then, the little Crown Prince had been just like this—lying in his arms, crying and calling for “Father” in his sleep. Having no mother, whenever he was hurt or sick, he would only call out for his father, pursing his lips.

Even younger, when the Crown Prince was about one or two years old, his words were unclear, and he couldn’t learn to say the complicated term “Emperor Father.” So Kangxi simplified it and taught him to call him “Father” first. As a result, the first word the Crown Prince ever learned to say was “Father.”

At this moment, Kangxi felt an overwhelming pain in his heart. He hurried over to hold the Crown Prince’s hand, just like when he was little, repeating over and over, “Baocheng, don’t cry, Father is here.”