Spring in the Hall of Paintings

During the imperial selection process, Yun Xin finally understood the importance of Nanny Yang’s teachings. Even after her marriage, she continued to hold great respect for Nanny Yang and once privately told Yun Wei, with whom she shared a good relationship, that remembering Nanny Yang’s advice would be invaluable in the future.

Nanny Yang, trusted by the family matriarch, had insight into the family affairs through the matriarch herself. Reflecting on the situation, Nanny Yang sighed and said, “It’s a shame if the sixth young lady doesn’t marry into the imperial clan.”

“What kind of talk is that? Must my little Wei be trapped in the inner courtyard? I don’t like hearing this,” the matriarch replied curtly.

Though Nanny Yang was speaking the truth, her words displeased the matriarch. Adjusting her tone, Nanny Yang continued, “Pardon my boldness, but the emperor feels a lingering sense of guilt toward the Tong family and you in particular. And as for the sixth young lady’s beauty… I’ve seen countless beauties in the palace—from the eighth prince’s mother, who overshadowed the entire harem, to the dazzling and graceful Concubine Yi. Forgive my bluntness, but none of them can compare to the sixth young lady. If she marries into an ordinary household, she may never step foot outside again. Would you really let your precious granddaughter be confined in such a life? Or make her deliberately dress plainly to hide her looks?”

“This… this…” The matriarch hesitated, clearly unwilling to see Yun Wei make such sacrifices.

Nanny Yang pressed further. “From what I’ve observed, the second madam cherishes the sixth young lady like a precious gem. Her living standards—though not ostentatious—are refined and meticulously arranged. Can any ordinary family support her lifestyle?”

“You can’t put it that way,” the matriarch countered. “Wei is steadfast and resilient. No matter the circumstances, she can adapt and find her own way to live comfortably.”

The matriarch’s mood visibly brightened at the mention of Yun Wei. “My little Wei will always find comfort in life. Look at the second household—it seems refined, but when you break it down, they spend less than the third household.”

“That’s true,” Nanny Yang acknowledged. “The sixth young lady doesn’t let external conditions dictate her happiness. Still, I must say this—marrying into the prince’s household isn’t a bad thing. Don’t forget that imperial selections often lead to arranged matches. For military officials who are useful to the emperor, their daughters are either married to princes or paired with close imperial relatives. You’ve been strong and proud your whole life, but wasn’t it this very matter that caused some setbacks? Military achievements are solid, but it’s only when a family has ties within the imperial lineage that the emperor feels secure. This is also how the emperor rewards loyal and capable subjects.”

The matriarch’s lips twitched, and she grasped Nanny Yang’s hand. After glancing around, she lowered her voice and asked, “Does the emperor… favor Rongxuan?”

Nanny Yang, a palace-trained woman, had left the palace primarily because of her bond with the matriarch. Considering the weight of the situation, she picked up the tea cup on the small table and handed it to the matriarch with a smile. “Haven’t you always held the second master, Rongxuan, in high regard? Why ask me?”

The matriarch was taken aback for a moment, then let out a long sigh. “I’ve always hoped Rongxuan would achieve greatness and bring honor to our family. But ever since he joined the emperor on campaign, my heart has been in constant suspense.”

“Don’t worry too much. The second master will be fine. From what I see, he is destined for great wealth and honor,” Nanny Yang comforted.

The matriarch sipped her tea and spoke softly, “I’ve never told anyone this before. When I gave birth to Xuan’er, I fell gravely ill. As a result, I couldn’t nurse him myself, and he was sickly from the start. When he was ten, he nearly died—I had even prepared his coffin. Then, a wandering Taoist appeared at the gates of the manor, claiming he owed Rongxuan a debt of gratitude and had come specifically to save him. I’d never seen this Taoist before. I wanted to turn him away, but I feared delaying any chance to save Xuan’er. So, I let him examine Xuan’er and administer his medicine. To my surprise, Xuan’er recovered and hasn’t fallen ill since. As the Taoist left, he kept muttering, ‘Just in time, just in time.’”

Pausing to gather her thoughts, she continued, “I thought the whole incident was too bizarre and ordered the servants to keep quiet about it. Looking back, the Taoist also said that the glory of the Tong family lies in the second branch.”

“What a remarkable story! With such a figure watching over the second master, nothing bad will happen to him. He might even achieve great military accomplishments and earn a noble title,” Nanny Yang said.

“If what you say is true, then Wei must marry well—no, she must marry very high…” The matriarch’s eyelids drooped as she shook her head. “If the emperor entrusts Rongxuan with military power, Wei will have no choice but to marry into the imperial clan.”

“Now you understand,” Nanny Yang sighed with relief. “My words haven’t been in vain. The fourth girl and the sixth girl are both entering the selection process, but in terms of prospects, the fourth girl might end up better off. It all depends on whether the second master earns a noble title through his achievements. If it were the third master instead…”

She trailed off, leaving the implications unspoken.

The matriarch shook her head firmly and said, “I gave birth to all my sons, and I know them well. Rongzhi lacks Rongxuan’s steadiness and strategic mind. He’s sociable but not dependable. Rongxuan, having faced the battlefield and seen blood, is the only one capable of earning military merit. If anyone is to achieve success, it will be Rongxuan.”

“I understand your point. I will teach the sixth girl how to fulfill her role as a consort to the imperial clan.”

Nanny Yang bowed and exited the room. The matriarch leaned back against her cushion, the corners of her mouth curling upward. The things she had said today were meant not just for those present but also for the Kangxi Emperor to hear. As for the matter of Yun Lan and the Fourth Prince, both the matriarch and Guo Luoluo, the third lady of the family, kept it under tight control. Yun Lan, wary of any slip-ups, also concealed it deeply, never sharing the secret with anyone except Yun Wei. As a result, Nanny Yang had no knowledge of the situation.

The matriarch suddenly sat up, her thoughts racing. If the hints she had dropped were taken seriously, Yun Lan would be expected to marry high. However, Yun Lan was fixated on the Fourth Prince. This realization gave the matriarch a headache and stirred a trace of resentment toward Yun Lan. How could she be so ungrateful? She had the opportunity to be a legitimate consort but insisted on settling for a secondary position.

The matriarch prayed at her Buddha altar, asking the gods to bless Rongxuan with victory and military merit while also pleading for Yun Lan to avoid causing an irreparable scandal that could drag down the Tong family, which was finally seeing hope of rising again.

Meanwhile, Nanny Yang was meticulously teaching Yun Lan and Yun Wei how to behave as proper noble consorts—how to manage a household, the intricacies of daily life, and the rules of decorum. Every action and decision was scrutinized. She even made them memorize the genealogies of prominent Eight Banner families and imperial clans, as well as the networks of noble marriages. These skills, she said, would be indispensable in their future.

Cousin Jing Yi watched from the sidelines, wringing her handkerchief in envy. No matter how much she tried to conceal it, the jealousy in her eyes was plain to see. She longed to learn the same things, but Nanny Yang simply smiled and shook her head. “You won’t need this knowledge.”

Her unspoken meaning was clear: even if Jing Yi learned, it would be useless. With her family background, marrying into the imperial clan was out of the question. Jing Yi grew increasingly bitter toward Yun Wei, blaming her for stealing the wealth and prestige that she felt should have been hers. However, Jing Yi dared not provoke the composed and sharp-witted Lady Fucha, nor could she contend with Yun Wei herself. Yun Wei’s ability to deflect and outmaneuver her was unmatched; every jab Jing Yi attempted was effortlessly neutralized. Even in verbal sparring, she couldn’t gain the upper hand.

Yun Lan, observing from the side, felt a growing admiration for Yun Wei. Were all ancient women skilled in household intrigue? Should she also learn such skills? Shaking her head, Yun Lan dismissed the thought. Yinzhen wouldn’t allow her to face any danger—he would protect her. A sweet smile tugged at her lips as Yun Wei gently tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “Fourth Sister, hurry up and memorize this. Nanny Yang will test us later.”

“What’s the point of memorizing all these genealogies and marriage networks? It’s so tedious,” Yun Lan grumbled.

Though the material was indeed dry and uninteresting, Yun Wei calmly replied, “It’ll be useful someday, Fourth Sister. Some things can’t be learned at the last minute.”

Whether Yun Lan took her advice to heart or not, Yun Wei had done her part. Beyond that, it was no longer in her hands.

The smoke of war was rising in the northwest. Emperor Kangxi, who had initially been pursuing victory, fell into a trap set by Galdan and was surrounded by enemy forces. His troops were scattered in all directions, unable to find their way. Emperor Kangxi, with only a few remaining soldiers, forced his way out of the encirclement but soon became lost. The pursuing forces were closing in, and there was little water or provisions left. Since his ascension to the throne, Emperor Kangxi had never faced such a predicament.

“My lord, look, is that the Emperor?”

Rongxuan, who had also broken through the encirclement with his men, was startled by the words of his subordinate as he studied the map. He looked up, and the bright yellow armor stood out clearly. The Emperor’s pursuers were getting closer and closer. Rongxuan narrowed his eyes and gave a few instructions to his deputy general nearby. The deputy nodded repeatedly, “You can rest assured.”

Rongxuan patted his shoulder, drew his waist sword, and shouted, “Brothers, follow me to protect the Emperor! Charge!”