The Virtuous Concubine

After hearing the gossip in the palace, Yipin acted contrary to her usual attitude and sat on the Diaoyutai. However, today, even though she heard the palace people talking about how the Fourth Prince was very popular with the emperor, she just smiled faintly, as if she didn't care about the gossip at all.

Seeing this, her trusted maid Xiao Tao'er couldn't help but ask softly, "Madam, you can keep your composure. The Fourth Prince has spoken. I thought he was still mute! He might become a serious threat to our little prince in the future."

Yipin ignored her and just patted the Fifth Prince in her arms to comfort him. After a long while, she smiled: "We don't need to worry about this, right?" She scratched the Fifth Prince's delicate cheek with her slender fingers, and saw that the child was sleeping soundly, and her smile deepened. She was not panicked because the Empress Dowager seemed to have extended an olive branch to her, and her words were all about asking her to take the child to visit the Cining Palace and Ningshou Palace more often.

This is much more important than the Fourth Prince speaking! She didn't have the energy to care about anything else now. She just spent all her energy to make the child appear cute and well-behaved in front of the two old ladies every day. A child of this age couldn't control his crying and wetting at all, and he had to please and amuse himself. It was really too much for his mother.

After putting the child down, Yipin took a sip of tea and said, "Xiao Tao'er, the turmoil in the palace has always been unpredictable. Today's discussion may become a passing cloud tomorrow. The Fourth Prince's words are of course a great joy, but there is no need to get too excited."

Xiao Tao'er was a little puzzled. She knew that Concubine Yi had always been arrogant and never willing to give in to the struggles in the palace, but her attitude today surprised her. However, neither the master nor the servant had expected that Kangxi was arguing with the Empress Dowager over the Fifth Prince.

"Grandmother, I really don't see any need for the Fifth Prince to be fostered by you. Concubine Yi is an independent woman. She is a concubine herself and can raise the child by herself. The Fifth Prince is indeed adorable, but there are so many children in the harem and any one of them is worthy of your love. Why should you give the Fifth Prince special treatment? Concubine Yi is a smart person and she should know how to educate a child." Kangxi said a lot of things in a fluent manner, meaning that he did not want to raise the child in Ningshou Palace or Cining Palace.

After hearing this, the Empress Dowager smiled and shook her head: "Emperor, you misunderstood. I don't want to raise the Fifth Prince myself, but I want him to spend more time with your Empress. She has been lonely in the palace for a long time. Having a child around may bring her some comfort. How can my old bones help you take care of the child?"

Kangxi was stunned. He did not expect that the Empress Dowager had such considerations. While he was suspicious, he could not help but feel a little guilty: "Grandmother, it is my fault for not considering it carefully and failing to understand the Empress Dowager's feelings."

The Grand Empress Dowager waved her hand and said, "It's human nature. You're so busy that you're bound to be careless. I'm sorry to your mother. These days, Yipin always brings her child to honor us. She's much happier to see the child sitting by her lap. And Yipin may have the same idea herself, so I came to discuss this with you."

Emperor Kangxi pondered for a moment. He now understood that the Empress Dowager's intention was sincere, so he might as well give a son to the Empress Dowager, since he had many children. He knew that loneliness and solitude were the norm for many concubines in the harem, and the company of children was undoubtedly a kind of warmth and comfort.

As for Yipin's "hard work", humph! Don't think he doesn't know what Yipin is planning!

This woman is really too arrogant, she still needs to be punished. She dared to plot like this when the Spring and Autumn Period was at its peak. If she is not stopped in time, who knows what kind of chaos will cause trouble for Yinreng in the future.

"Grandmother, I understand. I will have a good talk with Concubine Yi to see what she thinks. If she also thinks that this arrangement is beneficial to the growth of the Fifth Prince, I naturally have no objection." Kangxi replied, leaving some room for Concubine Yi. In fact, he did not really believe what the Empress Dowager said, that Concubine Yi meant to send the child away.

How could there be a mother willing to send her own child away? Back then, my own mother had placed me in the care of my grandmother and was very reluctant to let her go. But the situation was stronger than people at that time. Now Yipin had a choice, and Kangxi didn't believe that she was really willing to give up. In his opinion, at most Yipin wanted to take advantage of the child and brush up her reputation as a filial son.

The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction: "This is the best, the emperor is wise. Concubine Yi is a smart child, I believe she knows what to do."

Kangxi stood up and bowed to the Grand Empress Dowager: "I will make arrangements right away and will definitely live up to your expectations."

After leaving the Empress Dowager's palace, Kangxi went straight to the Yikun Palace, wanting to have a good talk with Yipin and understand her true thoughts. Although he had doubts in his heart, he also wanted to give Yipin a chance to explain.

When Concubine Yi learned that Emperor Kangxi had suddenly arrived, she was inevitably nervous. She vaguely felt that this conversation might be related to her position in the harem and the future of the Fifth Prince. She quickly tidied her clothes, adjusted her mood, and hurried to greet the Emperor. When she saw Emperor Kangxi, Concubine Yi made a charming yet dignified salute: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. I wonder what you want to do for me?"

Kangxi waved his hand, signaling Yipin to stand up. His tone was calm, but with a seriousness that could not be ignored: "Yipin, I heard that you intend to send the fifth prince to the Empress Dowager for education. Is this true?"

Yipin's heart tightened. She didn't expect Emperor Kangxi to speak so directly, and even addressed her so coldly. But she quickly calmed down and replied crisply: "Your Majesty, I do have this intention. But I did it all for the sake of the Fifth Prince."

Kangxi frowned slightly. He looked at Concubine Yi, trying to find the answer from her eyes: "Concubine Yi, you should know that raising a child has always been the dream of many mothers and concubines in the harem. Are you really willing to send the child away?"

Yipin felt a suffocating pressure, but she could only reveal a trace of reluctance and determination: "Your Majesty, as a mother, I naturally don't want to be separated from the Fifth Prince. But I also understand that it is difficult for me to raise the Fifth Prince into a Baturu. What's more, the Empress Dowager is lonely in the deep palace. If the Fifth Prince can bring her some joy, it will also be the filial piety of us as younger generations."

Kangxi was silent for a moment. He looked at Concubine Yi, as if he was making a difficult decision: "Concubine Yi, I don't want you to make a decision that is unfavorable to the child because of temporary fame. I hope you can carefully consider the upbringing of the fifth prince."

Yipin noticed Kangxi's concession and said softly, "Your Majesty, everything I do is for the good of the Fifth Prince."

Seeing that he had given Yipin so many opportunities, but she was still stubborn and even unrepentant, Emperor Kangxi no longer hesitated and said slowly, "Then don't regret it." Yipin's heart trembled, and she realized that she might have touched the bottom line of Emperor Kangxi. She lowered her head, and her voice trembled a little: "Your Majesty, I dare not."

Kangxi stood up, his eyes were sharp, "That's good. I hope everyone in the harem can understand their duties and not do things beyond their duties. I will make other arrangements for the upbringing of the fifth prince."

After saying that, Kangxi turned and left, leaving Yipin alone to face this sudden storm. Yipin stood there, feeling mixed emotions. This... Is it done? Why can't she feel happy? Did she anger the emperor? But if the emperor was really angry, how could he agree to her?

Soon after, Kangxi returned to the Qianqing Palace and immediately announced that the fifth prince would be raised by the empress dowager. As soon as the decree was issued, the harem was in an uproar, and everyone was talking about it, speculating on the reasons behind it. When Concubine Yi heard the decree, she sat on the ground and cried loudly.